#dont mind me im doing this so i can put an about link for the mobile app in the blog description :-)

[zarvasace]

Look, Vidow will always have my heart, but IM JUST SAYING in "closer-to-canon" post-manga AUs, there is absolutely a case to be made for Link/Shadow

[stevie-petey]

episode eight: the battle of starcourt

He fights with it, tries desperately not to let it fall, all while his resume hangs from his mouth. “Shit! Oh, Fast Times! Ever heard of it? Top three for me, Keith.” Robin laughs and Steve turns the cardboard cutout to you, wiggling his eyebrows. “Own any red bikinis?” You flick his forehead, though you laugh as well. “In your dreams.” “I can sleep right now and find out–” “I will flick you again.” “A kiss is preferred, but whatever.”

Summary: jonathan becomes a certified surgeon, hopper returns and is oddly sentimental (wonder what that could mean !), you and dustin show off your musical theater talents, the mind flayer becomes a track star, fireworks become weapons, and really a lot just happens so suddenly it gives you whiplash. dont worry though, the rest of your summer involves painful goodbyes and the scary realization that youre growing up. absolutely disgusting. but at least steve gets to kiss you whenever now, so hooray for that ! side note: you keep making promises to people, surely there wont be narrative foreshadowing as a result !

Rating: general, violence and swearing

Warnings: blood, swearing, major character death, graphic depictions of violence, fem!reader, use of y/n

Words: 21.2k (ouch)

Before you swing in: this was my magnum opus. truly. so so so much happens in this chapter, this episode is INSANE. it took me a while, the scenes were hard and complex, but im happy with the final results :) ive been waiting a long time to write this ending, to set up the strings for later in season 4 <3 i sincerely hope this chapter is all yall have wanted. if theres any glaring typos, pls ignore because its 21.2k words and im weak from rereading it. anyways, i have a sneaky lil link right here that will make sense at the end of the chapter (spoiler alert: it's a mixtape jonathan makes for bug). enjoy !

-

El’s screams tear out of her body. She writhes in pain, sobs claw out of her throat. It’s unbearable to watch, the sight of her in immeasurable pain. It breaks your heart. 

No one knows what to do. 

Mike thrashes in your arms still. He tries to escape your hold so that he can cover his body with El’s. Take away her pain somehow. But you won’t let him. You know that it hurts him to see her this way, but his panic will only drive El’s panic further.

“What is that?” Disgust litters Erica’s face as she stares at the moving creature within El’s leg. Gently you push the girl away, not wanting to crowd El too much. She needs space to breathe. 

“There’s something in her leg,” Mike sneers into your face as he fights against you again. He’s furious, he’s overwhelmed, he just wants to help. “Let go!”

Your arms tighten around the boy. He isn’t in the right state of mind. Frantic, you look to your left and start forming a plan. “Jonathan, my switchblade is in my left back pocket. Grab it.” He stares at you, unsure what to do, and you raise your voice into a yell. “Grab it.”

Jonathan jumps at the command and his hand disappears behind you. You feel him find the weapon and pull it out. He holds it in front of you, offering it, but you don’t accept it. “Go and disinfect it. There’s a gas stove where you found us. Heat up the blades so that we can–” you swallow as nausea fills you. “We–we have to cut it out of her leg.”

The moment Jonathan is gone, you turn your attention to Mike and Steve. You try to keep your voice leveled, try to contain the blinding panic that screams in your head. El needs you right now. Swallowing again, you start to speak to them. “I need you guys to talk to El. Keep her awake.”

“Right, okay.” Mike nods, and you finally release him. He hovers over El, his voice is gentle as he tries to calm her. “Hey, stay awake, okay?”

You tug Steve towards El’s legs so that he can help you move her into a better position. “Get her onto her side. Mike, put her head in your lap.”

Both boys do as they’re told. Everyone watches, and Robin tries to make light of the situation. She rambles about a girl from her soccer team who once broke her leg. How the bone had ripped clean through her skin. The story makes you shiver, and Steve sees the discomfort. “Robin, hey. You’re not helping.”

“I’m sorry.”

Jonathan returns, out of breath. “Okay. Alright, El?” He looks down at the girl. Tries to steady his breathing. “This is gonna hurt like hell, okay?”

El whimpers out that she understands, and you take hold of her hand. “Sweetheart, you need to brace yourself. I promise it will be over soon.”

“I’ll be fast, but I need you to stay real still. Here,” Jonathan hands a wooden spoon to Mike. “You’re gonna want to bite down on this, okay?”

Teeth bared, El clenches her teeth around the spoon. Her body braces for what’s about to come. Kneeling next to her, you angle your body over hers and pin her arms down with your hands. You look at Mike, ordering him to do the same. “Hold her shoulders. Don’t let her go, no matter what.”

He pales, but swallows deeply and nods. When Mike is in position, you signal to Jonathan to start cutting. “Do it.”

“Okay,” Jonathan inhales. The knife you’ve given him shakes as he holds it over El’s wound. He’s fucking terrified, but he knows it’s the only way. Exhaling, he cuts into her flesh. Blood pours from the wound and El’s screams tear from her chest. 

Everyone makes a sound of disgust and horror. Your own stomach lurches at the sight of Jonathan cutting into the leg. The image, the way El’s body convulses, the screams she releases, it’s all too much. You don’t feel yourself shaking until Steve guides your head into the nook of his shoulder, shielding you. 

“Thank you,” your breathing is shaky. You aren’t even sure if he’s heard you, but Steve nods and his hand rubs up and down your back. He’s doing whatever he can to help, being the solid surface you need to lean upon. Lending you the strength you need to hold El down and save her. 

You hear your knife glance against the ground, followed by El’s scream becoming deafening. Unable to stop yourself, you pull away from Steve to look at what’s happening. When you do, you almost gag. Jonathan’s fingers are now in El’s leg, digging underneath the flesh and muscle to find whatever the hell is in there. A horrible squelching sound fills the air. Faintly you think you can hear Will crying behind you. 

Jonathan struggles, digs deeper into the leg, but it only seems to be making everything worse. El twists and contorts beneath you, in agonizing pain. Her screams only intensify. A tear from your eye lands on her shirt, and you force yourself to hold her down despite how desperately you want to end it.

“Goddamn it!” Jonathan can’t find it. He can’t find whatever the hell is in El’s leg. It keeps moving the moment he thinks he has it. Everything is slick from blood. 

“No!” El spits out the wooden spoon, her voice raw from screaming. “Stop it!” 

You can’t stomach her pain any longer. The moment she pleads for it to stop, you move off of El and push Jonathan away from her. Nancy helps, touches his shoulder to alert him as well. The moment she has the room to, El sits herself up. “I can do it.

“Do what, El?” You ask, though you think you know anyways.

She breathes heavily. Tears flow freely down her face. She’s sitting down, one of her knees is pressed against her chest. The injured leg remains flat on the ground, her hand outstretched above it. Static, the one you always feel when El uses her powers, surrounds you. There’s a low hum, she grunts and screams, and yet her hand remains steady. You rub her back, offering her all the strength you can give her, in awe despite the poor timing of it. 

To have the strength to expel a foreign object from your body. You can’t imagine it. 

El releases one final long, harrowing scream. The lights flicker, the windows behind you rattle violently. You only just barely manage to cover Dustin and the kids from the shards of glass before they explode. At the same time, a small, writhing creature shoots from El’s leg. It stalls in the air, hovering in front of her face as she continues to scream. The creature is no bigger than the size Dart had been when Dustin first found him. The idea that it had been buried in El’s leg makes you feel ill. 

With the last of her energy, El flings the creature across the room. It lands with a sickening thud on the floor, before it starts to move. You watch in horror as it scurries away, releasing its own screech, until Hopper’s boot crashes down upon it, killing it. 

You’ve never been happier to see that cranky son of a bitch. 

Joyce stands behind him and you whimper pathetically when you see her. You miss your own mother. It’s been days since you’ve last seen her. You’re more homesick than you’ve ever been before. 

Alongside Joyce and Hopper is a man you’ve never seen before. He has glasses and a beard. As you study him, Jonathan makes a surprised sound. “Murray?”

“You know him?” 

Jonathan nods at you. “He’s the detective Nance and I visited last year.” 

“He’s insane.” Nancy says, though there’s a nostalgic smile on her face. 

Hopper steps forward, investigating the scene. Glass crunches beneath his boots. He stops in front of you and El. He looks down at you. “Always at the scene of the crime, huh?”

“Yeah,” you blow hair out of your face. “Can’t seem to ever stop myself.” Then, finally noticing his aggressively bright and floral shirt that he’s wearing, you tilt your head to the side. “Nice shirt, by the way. I like the color on you. You’ve been direly needing some color in your life.”

Dustin snorts and El manages a tired smile. Hopper rolls his eyes at you, though you can tell it’s more from fondness rather than annoyance like it usually is. You watch as his eyes drift towards Joyce, uncharacteristically shy. “Thanks, kid.”

“Anytime, old man.” 

– 

“The Mind Flayer, it built this monster in Hawkins, to stop El, to kill her and pave a way into our world.” 

You sit on the fountain’s edge. Dustin is next to you, Steve leans against you on the other side. Mike’s words surround you. 

He explains what he and the others have been dealing with while you’ve been gone. Innocent people have been getting possessed and turned into chemicalized substances. Their bodies melting together, conjoining to create a monster meant to kill El. With every detail Mike remembers, your stomach twists uncomfortably. It doesn’t sound real. It sounds like a thing from nightmares.

And somehow Billy has become the face of it. 

The last time you saw him, he had been a shell of who he used to be. He had been in pain. Obvious pain. Sweat had run down his flushed skin and his eyes had a frost in them unlike anything you had ever seen before. Instead of helping him, instead of telling anyone about this, you had abandoned Billy. 

“How big is this thing?” Hopper asks, shifting so that El can rest more comfortably against him. 

Jonathan sighs. “It’s… It’s big. Real big. Thirty feet, at least.”

“You’ve seen it?” Your eyes draw to the bruise on his forehead. The pained noise he made when you hugged him still rings in your ears. 

“We’ve had a rough night.” Nancy whispers, eyes downcast. 

“It sorta destroyed Hopper’s cabin.” Lucas looks up at the chief, a poorly feigned apologetic smile on his face. “Sorry.”

Steve interjects now. He asks questions, tries to make sure he understands. As he speaks with the group, your head falls onto his shoulder. Your head spins. Only hours ago you were dealing with Russians and national emergencies. Now, you and Steve try to wrap your heads around the idea of a giant human goo creature wreaking havoc on Hawkins.  

Which, according to Max, is still very much alive. 

But that doesn’t stop Will from trying to help. “But if we close the gate again–” 

“We cut the brain off from the body.”

“And kill it.” Lucas finishes for Max. “Theoretically.”

It sounds so simple, but you’ve been here before.

You’ve heard this conversation already; you were standing in the Byers’ dining room. Steve had been next to you, just like he is now, and Jonathan had been on your other side. The people surrounding you were the same, only now Robin and Will join. That November, the conversation had terrified you. Closing the gate. Killing the Mind Flayer and destroying its army. 

It had been the exact same conversation. And it terrifies you still, now. Only this time the fear is accompanied by an emptiness.

You’ve been here before. It hadn’t been enough. 

“How many more times are we going to kill it?” Your head remains pressed against Steve. Your eyes don’t lift from the ground. Exhaustion sags your body. “We thought we already killed the Mind Flayer. We went through hell and back to close the gate, only for it to be opened again not even a year later. By another country. I mean,” laughter crawls out of your throat. “Who’s to say that they won’t just open the gate again? They’ve already done it once–”

“Loverboy over here,” The bearded man from earlier, Murray, suddenly appears and slaps the back of Jonathan’s head. The man has a mad smile on his face, the kind that tells you he’s an insane genius. After Jonathan shoves him away, Murray stops in front of you. He looks down, a curious glint in his eyes. “He told me you were a ray of sunshine. Gotta be honest. I’m not really getting a real sunshine vibe from you.”

Steve subtly shifts your body so that he’s in front of you. His eyes are narrowed, body tense. “What’s that in your hands?”

Murray seems to now remember what he interrupted the group for. He clutches the pieces of paper in his hands, waves them in the air. “Ah. These, my perfectly coiffed haired friend, are blueprints.” 

“That’s just a poorly done drawing of squares and lines.” You squint at the papers. They’re no better than the map Mike had scribbled to navigate the tunnels last year.

“Seriously,” Murray turns back to Jonathan again. “I thought she was supposed to be the nice one.”

You open your mouth to argue, not at all liking whatever this random man is insinuating, but Hopper steps forward first. “Just start talking.”

He sighs, but agrees. Motioning everyone to follow, Murray guides the group to a nearby table so that he can lay his drawings out for everyone to see. “Okay, this is what Alexei called ‘the hub’.” Murray points to the center of the first drawing. “Now, the hub takes us to the vault room.”

“Okay, where’s the gate?” Hopper hovers over him, attentive. 

“Right here.” Murray now points to a random box, far from where you know the gate actually is. You bite your lip, unsure if you should speak up just yet. “I don’t know the scale on this, but I think it’s fairly close to the vault room. Maybe fifty feet or so.”

You snort obnoxiously loud, getting everyone’s attention. “You’re so wrong that it physically pains me.”

“I’m sorry?” Murray gives you an odd look. When Jonathan and Nancy showed up on his doorstep last year, the two of them had nothing but great things to say about you. Jonathan had waxed poetry about you while Nancy had sat at the dinner table, resentful. Now, meeting you, Murray is really struggling to understand where that all came from. 

“It’s more like five hundred feet.” Erica says. When she sees Murray’s exasperated expression, she can’t help but laugh at the old man. “What, you’re just gonna waltz in there like it’s commie Disneyland or something?” 

“And who are you?” 

“Erica Sinclair. And who are you?”

“Murray… Bauman.”

“Listen, Mr. Bunman.” You have to stifle a laugh into Steve’s shoulder. You love Erica, you really do. “I’m not trying to tell you how to do things, but I’ve been down in that shithole for twenty-four hours. And with all due respect, you do what this man tells you, you’re all gonna die.”

“I’m sorry, why is this four year old speaking to me?”

You slide off the fountain’s edge and stand. Whoever this guy is, you don’t like his snippy attitude. “She’s ten, actually, and she’s right.”

“Yeah, you bald bastard!” Lucas reprimands her, but she doubles down. “Just the facts!”

While you enjoy her quips, you gently grab Erica’s shoulders and place her behind you. There isn’t time for her to make a grown man cry. “We went through hell down there. It won’t be as easy as walking fifty feet. The place is huge.”

“They’re right.” Dustin speaks up. “You’re all gonna die, but you don’t have to. Excuse me, may I?” Even before Murray has consented, your brother is already grabbing the blueprints. He sits down and starts explaining. “See this room here? This is a storage facility. There’s a hatch in here that feeds into their underground ventilation system.”

“It’s how we accidentally got in.” You add, figuring any extra information could help.

“Wait, you accidentally broke into a secret Russian lair?” Mike tries to hide it, but you can see that he’s impressed. You know that once this is all over, he’ll grill you for details later.

“No, we thought it’d be fun to get tortured by commies on the fourth of July.” Steve points to his swollen eye. “Yes, Wheeler. It was an accident.”

“Guys!” Dustin shouts. When he has everyone’s attention again, he sighs. “Jesus. Anyways, these vents will lead you to the base of the weapon. It’s a bit of a maze down there, but between me, Y/N, and Erica, we can show you the way.” 

Hopper stares down at the three of you, unamused. “You can show us the way?”

Dustin is about to agree, but you cover his mouth with your hand. “Yes, I can show you the way. The kids can stay here, but I remember everything from when we were down there. If you want all the hero glory, then fine. Fight some Russians. But I can be your navigator.”

“No.” Hopper, Steve, Dustin, and Jonathan say at the same time. 

You roll your eyes at all of them. “Okay, I was only talking to Hopper. The rest of you,” you glare at your brother and the two teens next to him. “Aren’t a part of this conversation.”

“There isn’t a conversation to be had, kid.” Hopper scoffs at you. He doesn’t want to hear whatever you’re about to say. He won’t let you back down there again. From the state Steve is in, Hopper doesn’t even want Joyce coming with him. “You’re not going. End of discussion.”

“You don’t seriously expect me to let you walk into a death trap, right? I mean, I know we argue a lot, but you can’t be that dumb.” Hopper has started to walk away now, trying to put an end to the conversation, but you follow him anyways. “Listen to me!” He ignores you, doesn’t turn around. Instead, Hopper starts gathering bullets as he picks up a shotgun from one of the guards on the ground. Groaning, you continue to chase him. 

You don’t care how annoying you’re being. You’ll nag him until your last dying breath. If he doesn’t want you getting hurt, then he has to understand that you don’t want him getting hurt either. “Hopper, I’m serious. El…” You look at the girl, who is far behind the two of you now as she rests near the fountain. Your voice grows thick. A wave of emotions rush over you, seeing her. She’s so small. She’s still just a kid, despite the power that lies within her. “She needs you. You–you can’t get hurt.”

“And I won’t.” 

“You don’t know that,” you grab the man’s shirt, but he tries to walk anyways. You plant your feet on the ground and grit your teeth. He’s frustratingly strong. “Please, just–you’re her father. You–you can’t leave her–” You stumble over your words, try to think of how to convince him. There has to be a way, a middle ground. Isn’t he the one who taught El what compromise means? 

In your nagging midst, you overhear Dustin and the party all catch up. Talk about how they missed one another. It’s a sweet reunion, seeing them come together again after being separated for so long; your boys are together again. It feels like a lifetime ago where they were all together on Weathertop hill. Seeing them together again, it hits you. 

The walkies. Cerebro.

“What if I could still communicate with you from above?” You shout, frantic. Hopper stops walking. He still doesn’t look at you, but he indicates that you have his attention. Taking a deep breath, you don’t waste any time. “We have walkies. Dustin, all the kids. It’s how they communicate with one another. Always have. What if… what if I give you directions using them? That way, you’ll fulfill your annoying need to be a hero while I fulfill my annoying need to protect everyone.”

Your words come rushing out, messy and jumbled, but Hopper seems to understand. He’s quiet, mulls what you’ve said over and over again in his head. He inhales, closes his eyes, and then exhales agonizingly slow. When he opens his eyes to look at you, he’s resolved. “You’re really annoying, you know that?”

A relieved smile graces your face. Knowing you’ve gotten through to Hopper, you finally release his shirt. You straighten it back out, wipe some dirt off of it. It really is a good shirt, one you know was almost definitely purchased for a woman named Joyce Byers. “It adds to my charm.”

Hopper chuckles, shakes his head, before walking over to where your brother stands with the others. He fishes a walkie from his back pocket, tosses a spare one to Dustin. “Hey, heads up. Your sister came up with a shockingly genius compromise. You guys can navigate, just from someplace safe.”

Dustin sighs. “It’s not that simple.”

“The signal won’t reach.” Erica clarifies for him. 

You motion at them to explain faster. “But…”

“But,” Dustin quickly explains your idea. “We’d need something with a high enough frequency band to relay with the Russians’ radio tower. But for that to work, you need someone who has both seen their comms room and has access to a super-powered handcrafted radio–”

“Dustin,” you hit his shoulder, urging him to get to the point already. “Just tell him about Cerebro.”

“I was getting there! Look, we have one already situated at the highest point in Hawkins.” Your brother shakes his head. “If you need us to navigate, we got you. But we need a head start… and a car.”

“Hey, chief.” You stand beside Hopper now, grinning ear to ear. “Don’t you have a car?”

He stares past you, and the rage in his eyes amuses you immensely. It’s taking everything within him not to start yelling, which only causes your shit eating grin to grow. You extend your arm, hold your hand out palm-facing upwards. This is the best day of your life. “Come on, give me the car keys, Hopper.” 

Sucking his teeth, Hopper drops the car keys into your hand. “I hate you.”

Hopper stands in front of you, annoyance and irritability in his eyes as he stares at you, but you don’t care. A surge of warmth cascades through you instead. He listened. It means more to you than the man could ever know. Your arms find their way around him, surprising both you and Hopper, as you pull him into a hug. “Thank you for listening to me.”

“Yeah, well. Don’t make me regret it.” Hopper says, his voice rough. He clears his throat, allows his hand to pat your shoulder. He may not know what you’ve gone through, but he thinks he can understand the weight the history has left you. It’s the same weight that he carries every day. The guilt, the anger that follows it. He clears his throat again and pulls you off of him, keeping you at arm’s length. “Do me a favor, will you? Make sure El and the others are safe.”

You sniff, wipe away tears. You’re not sure why you’re crying. “I will, I promise. Good luck, old man.”

“Good luck, kid.” He hesitates, still holding your shoulders. His breath hitches and his eyes don’t leave yours. There’s something in them, almost a certain kindness that once reflected in your father’s eyes when you were younger. The gaze burns you at first, but you stare back at Hopper through it. After he seems to find what he’s looking for, Hopper swallows. He says what Joyce has always said about you; from his conversation with the woman back at Melvald’s. “You’re the best of them.”

More tears well in your eyes, but you wipe them away before he can tease you. Hopper releases you, shoves you in a playful manner, and you can’t help but laugh. It’s a warm moment. His words simmer on your skin. You’ve heard them before, you know what people say about you, but the words are different coming from Hopper. 

Praise doesn’t come naturally to him. Words have always plagued him; the ones he has just told you hold a weight that’s even heavier than the guilt the two of you carry within yourselves. You’ve known Jim Hopper for three years now, but as you watch him walk over to El, soft smile still on his face from his conversation with you, you finally understand him. 

–

Steve is waiting for you at the fountain, whispering quietly with Robin. The two of them stand off to the side, away from the others. He’s nervous, uncomfortable. He stands with his back away from Jonathan and Nancy, who are a few feet away talking to Murray. His arms are crossed over his chest and his fingers tap together in an anxious tick you’ve become familiar with. 

The moment he sees you approaching, all the tension in Steve’s body melts away. 

He grabs your hand the second you’re within reach. Pulling you into his chest, he kisses the top of your head. “Any updates, angel?”

You hum against him, allowing yourself a moment to bask in his warmth. It’s been a long day. It’ll be an even longer night. “You know Weathertop hill?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Good.” You place Hopper’s keys into Steve’s hand. “You’re driving us, then.”

Robin points at Jonathan, who sneaks glances at the three of you. “Define ‘us’. Because, no offense, he seems nice and all, but he keeps looking over at you like a lost puppy and it’s making me uncomfortable.”

“Be nice, he’s still my best friend.” Flicking her forehead, you silently scold Robin. “And it’s just going to be the three of us with Dustin and Erica. Jonathan and Nancy are taking the rest of the kids to Murray’s bunker. He’s just… He’s worried. Probably wants to make sure he says goodbye to me before we leave.”

Robin makes a confused face, reminding you that she’s new to all of this. That she hasn’t had to say goodbye to her loved ones every year with the fear of them not returning. You sigh. “It’s… Kinda a tradition, at this point. A final goodbye before all hell breaks loose.”

“How many times do you guys almost die on a weekly basis?”

Steve snorts. “Depends on the month. November seems to be our worst one, though.”

“Astounding…”

You leave Steve to deal with Robin’s amazement on his own, though you laugh as you walk away. Ever since the events of Will’s disappearance, you’ve done everything you can to not think about what you’ve all been through. However, seeing the bewildered amazement on Robin’s face the more you reveal to her, you can’t help but laugh. 

Jonathan sees you approaching him and Nancy and steps aside to make room for you. They’re still talking to Murray, although the man is more lecturing them than anything. He holds up a bunch of keys, explaining in great detail which one goes into specific locks. It’s dizzying trying to keep track of it all. 

Secretly, you’re grateful that you’re going with Steve and the others. Easier key instructions. 

“This one is for the second to last bottom lock–”

“Murray, can I cut in real quick?” You try to be polite about it, but truly you don’t care whether or not you have the man’s permission. 

He glares at you. “Aren’t you already?”

“Good point!” You grab Nancy’s and Jonathan’s arms and pull them away with a wicked smile on your face. When you’ve dragged them far enough away from Murray, you wrap your arms around them both. Jonathan sinks into the unexpected embrace. Nancy stiffens. You try to ignore it. “Get to that old man’s bunker safely, please?”

“Of course, bug.” Jonathan has wrapped an arm around you. He closes his eyes, his fingers span across your back. “Stay at Weathertop, get to safety. Maybe even get some rest while you can.”

“I’ll try, bee.” Your laugh is wet. This will never get any easier. 

Nancy shifts in your embrace, and for a moment you’re afraid she’ll pull away entirely, but instead she surprises you by wrapping an arm around you as well. Her chin is tucked against your neck, she still hasn’t melted into the embrace like Jonathan has, but she’s trying. Lips close to your ear, she whispers, “I’ll keep him safe.”

You suck in a breath. You hadn’t known how desperately you needed to hear Nancy’s reassurance, to hear her silent apology. Pulling away from them, you look at Jonathan and Nancy. “I love you. I love you both.”

Jonathan smiles, the same way he did the night you met him on the Wheeler’s porch. Nancy ducks her head down shyly, the same way she did the night she opened the door to let you into her home. 

You squeeze their hands one last time before leaving to say goodbye to the others. 

Lucas wishes you luck, Will hugs you as tight as ever, and El offers you a partial smile. She’s still recovering from whatever the monster did to her leg, so you brush some hair out of her face and kiss her head.

“Sucks you were down in hell this whole time. Could really go for a brownie right now.” Mike says, a light in his eyes as El’s head rests in his lap.

You stick your tongue out at him. “Sorry, couldn’t find a way to bake while getting chased by Russians with guns.”

“Lame.”

“Goodbye, Wheeler.”

Then you turn to Max, who has been silent this entire time. She hugs you tightly when she sees you. “He’ll be okay, right?”

Your body goes stiff. Somehow, in the midst of Hopper and the others, you had forgotten about Billy. How he’s infected. Flayed. It hasn’t escaped your notice that no one seems to want to bring the matter up, either. When it had been Will, everyone had wanted to make sure he wouldn’t die if the gate closed. 

But no one has asked the same question for Billy. 

Swallowing, you slowly reciprocate Max’s embrace. “We’ll… We’ll find a way. We always do.”

Though the words aren’t meant to be a lie, you can’t help but feel that you’re breaking an oath when you say them. 

– 

Steve hadn’t noticed what brand of car the keys belonged to at first. However, the moment his brain recognizes the iconic Cadillac logo on its keychain, he practically starts to drool. A fucking Cadillac.

It doesn’t take him long to round everyone up and drag you outside.

“I was saying goodbye to Joyce,” you grumble, struggling to keep up with Steve’s quick footsteps.

“It’s a Cadillac, Y/N!” Steve can almost feel the foam pooling around his mouth. His footsteps increase even more, his body vibrating at the knowledge that he gets to drive his dream car. His dad hadn’t wanted to buy him one, said that the BMW was more practical. Reliable. When Steve pushes the mall’s front door open and sees the beautiful, timeless car parked perfectly in front of him, he almost collapses. “Oh, man, now this…This is what I’m talkin’ about!”

“‘Toddfather’?” Robin points out the license plate and its horrible name.

You make a face, but Steve doesn’t let her ruin his moment. He’s ecstatic. This is arguably the best thing that has happened to him all day (besides maybe kissing you). For fuck’s sake, it’s a goddamn Cadillac. “Oh, screw Todd! Steve’s her daddy now.”

Steve hops into the car’s front seat like a little kid with a toy car. Meanwhile you, Robin, Dustin, and Erica retract your heads in disgust at what he’s just said. Robin looks at you, repulsed. “Did he just talk about himself in the third person?”

Erica follows up with her own creeped out question. “Did he just call himself daddy?” 

“I’m choosing to ignore him right now.” You say to both of the girls, pressing a hand to your forehead as you walk to the car. There’s so much you don’t want to unpack with what Steve has said. 

“You can’t ignore me, Y/N.” Steve leans over the center counsel and opens the passenger door for you. “We already established that I’m really annoying.” 

“Just take us to Weathertop, please.” You buckle yourself in and make sure the kids have their seatbelts on as well. When you see that Robin has found herself in the middle seat, you snicker at her. She’s squished between Dustin and Erica, her knees are pressed uncomfortably to her chest.

“Why did I get stuck in the middle?” She complains.

Steve fixes one of the mirrors before revving the engine. As he pulls out of the mall’s parking lot, he offhandedly responds, “Passenger seat is reserved for girls I’m dating.”

Everyone in the backseat gags, and you blush furiously. You and Steve haven’t had the time to talk about your relationship. Or if there even is a relationship. But he’s just referred to you as the girl he’s dating. He kissed you yesterday, or was it today?

Time has blurred together, but Steve’s hand rests on your thigh as he drives and you’re his girl. 

There will be time to talk about all of it later. You’ll make sure of it this time. 

Steve’s foot presses on the gas, speeding through Hawkins. Neither of you were given an exact time frame from Hopper, but he presses down harder on the pedal and sends the car flying. There’s music on the radio, doing its best to distract everyone, but your hands are still antsy. You’re nervous, there’s still so much left unspecified within the plan. Steve notices your fidgeting fingers and removes his hand from your thigh to play with them; he’s trying to soothe you. 

You intertwine your fingers through his and smile at him. Steve winks back at you, and you admire how lovely he looks as he drives. The moment is broken when Robin shoves her head between the two of you. “What the hell is a Cerebro?”

“It’s basically a radio tower that Dustin built for his girlfriend, Suzie.” You explain to her, voice raised to be heard over the music and wind. “She lives in Utah.”

Robin raises an eyebrow, intrigued. She leans back in her seat and pokes Dustin’s shoulder. “Suzie must be really special, huh? I mean, if you built this thing and lugged it all the way to the middle of nowhere just to talk to her.” 

Your brother preens at this, pleased someone has recognized his romantic efforts. “I mean, nobody’s scientifically perfect, but Suzie’s about as close to being perfect as any human could possibly be.”

“She sounds made up to me.” Erica snarks from the backseat. She looks over at Steve, tries to get his opinion. “She sound made up to you?”

Steve hesitates for just a fraction of a second too long, and you sigh. Dustin notices it, too. “Why are you hesitating, Steve?”

“I–I’m not!” He looks to you for help, but you only shake your head at him. All he had to do was respond promptly. This is his own fault. “I’m not hesitating! I–I think she sounds real. You know, totally, absolutely real.”

“Not really loving your uncertain tone, Steve.” You say, and Dustin nods in agreement. “Suzie is real. I mean, I’m almost positive that she is.”

Dustin does a double take at your use of the word “almost”. He’s about to say something, demand to know why you’re not certain Suzie is real, before he notices that Steve is about to miss the Weathertop turn. “Left, turn left!”

“There’s not a road here?” Steve argues, squinting his eyes in the dark to see whatever the hell the kid is seeing.

Dustin screams at him again to turn, and you only have a second to brace yourself before Steve jerks the wheel. The car’s tires screech on the asphalt as your body gets thrown forward. You scream, getting war flashbacks to when you’d been in the back of Billy’s car as Max had very recklessly driven you and Steve to the tunnels. Somehow, this is so much worse. 

The car breaks through a fence and your screaming only intensifies. “What the fuck?”

“Hendersons, where are we going?” Steve screams to you and your brother. He’s desperately trying to keep hold of the steering wheel as the car struggles against the hillside’s grass. 

“Up!” You and Dustin exclaim. One hand clutches the door, the other clutches the seat. The entire car is practically at a ninety degree angle as Steve continues to drive up the hill. It’s bumpy, your head hits the back of the seat more times than you would like, and your heart races. 

The car makes a concerning amount of strange noises the further up the hill you drive. Robin clutches her stomach. “We’re not going to make it!” 

“Yes we are!” Steve does everything he can. His foot never leaves the gas. “C’mon, baby. C’mon!” 

“Sweet talking the car won’t help!” You shriek after a particularly rough bump leaves you nauseous. The poor car strains against the giant hill. The tires, not at all made for off-roading, get caught in the grass. 

Steve hits the wheel and curses. “C’mon! Please!” He presses harder on the gas, but the car comes to a stop. The tires move uselessly against the slick mud underneath.

Ill and desperately wanting to get out of the car, you unbuckle your seatbelt. “We can walk the rest of the way, Steve.” He gives you a despaired look, pleading with you to let him continue playing with his new car, but you roll your eyes at him. You’re five seconds away from vomiting, he can deal with abandoning the car. “The Toddfather is dead. We can mourn her later.”

Steve groans but turns the car off as everyone gets out, preparing for the walk ahead. The hill is just as steep as it had been earlier this week when you were with the party. While you’re annoyed you have to walk it again, at least this time it’s night and the heat isn’t as suffocating. 

When you reach the crest of the hill, Dustin immediately runs to Cerebro. He crouches next to the radio and turns it on. “Bald Eagle, do you copy? Bald Eagle, I repeat, this is Scoops Troop, do you copy?”

Bald Eagle had been your idea. 

“Scoops Troop?” You ask your brother.

He nods, proud. “Thought of it myself.”

“Not bad, buddy.”

Murray’s voice crackles over the walkie. “Yes, I copy.”

Everyone lets out a breath of relief when you hear him. So far, the first phase of the plan seems to be working. Cerebro can reach all the way down to the lair; you can communicate with Hopper and Joyce. So far, so good.

Dustin starts to give Murray the directions he’ll need for the vents. You and Steve roam the perimeter of the hill, weary and needing something to do. While you’re far from the Russians below you, you still don’t necessarily feel like you’re out of harm’s reach. Robin stays with the kids, figuring it’s best to give the two of you some time alone. 

You stare out into the view of Hawkins from so high above. Weathertop has always been your favorite spot in the small town. Your first summer in Hawkins, Jonathan had introduced you to the hill; you used to spend all your time up here with him. You’d spend hours running up and down the length of it, giggling and sunkissed. If you stand still enough, you can still hear the laughter in the breeze. You miss Jonathan and being kids with him. 

“I haven’t been up here in years.” Steve stands next to you, voice soft. He stares out into the field as well, admires its beauty the way you are, though really he just wants the excuse to look at you. “Forgot how peaceful it was.”

“I love it here,” you tell him. “Late in the summer, dandelions appear. They scatter the entire hilltop. I like running through them.”

“Well, when they start to bloom,” Steve wraps his arms around your waist, pulls you back into his chest. He presses a soft kiss to your cheek, lingers. He hasn’t held you in so long, his body aches with the weight of yours against it. “We can run through them together.”

You smile into the embrace, lean into the kiss, tremble into the words. He will always make you weak. It’s an exhilarating feeling, knowing someone can dismantle every bone in your body with less than six words. “I think I’d like that–”

From the corner of your eye, you see lights flickering in the distance. They catch your attention, standing out against the black backdrop of the night sky. You shrug Steve off, feeling a tug in your chest to walk closer to the hill’s edge. You need to figure out what you’re seeing. With every step you take, the more your vision focuses in on the lights, the more dread fills your body.

It’s the mall. The lights are coming from the mall. 

You freeze. 

The lights are going haywire, flickering wildly. It’s supposed to be deserted. Jonathan and the others were supposed to have left already, but still your stomach sinks. Something isn’t right. 

Steve stumbles after you, confused as to why you pulled away, but when he sees the mall as well, he stills. “What the…?”

“They left. They said they would be gone by now.” You try to calm yourself down, try to focus on the reasoning. The mall is empty. It’s supposed to be empty. Jonathan promised you he would make it to Murray’s safely. He wouldn’t lie, he would never lie to you. 

Robin, Dustin, and Erica come up behind you and Steve. You all stand there at the crest. No one moves, transfixed by what they see. The lights continue to flicker, miles below, impossibly too far away from help.

Someone has to help.

Your feet move, twisting your body to run back to the radio. You need answers. You need to know what the hell is going on, if everyone is safe, and Dustin is right behind you. He falls to the grass in front of the radio and frantically brings it to his lips. “Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troop. Do you copy? Over!”

He repeats the call over and over, but no one responds. With each passing moment of silence, your panic turns into blind fear. “I repeat, do you copy–” A sudden, horrifyingly familiar screech, one that has haunted your nightmares for years now, rips through the radio’s speaker. It’s loud and gruesome and sends ice into your body. Your brother’s concern rivals your own. “Griswold Family, please confirm your safety. Are you enroute to Bald Eagle’s nest?”

Dustin is screaming into the radio at this point, demanding answers, but there’s only snarling on the other side. Your breathing quickens, the edges of your vision blur. Sweat trickles down your neck. You can’t breathe. Jonathan is still at the mall. Mike and Will. Nancy, Max and Lucas. 

El.

The Mind Flayer has them. 

Steve tries to grab your hand, but you’re blind to it all. In raw desperation, you tear the radio out of Dustin’s hands and bring it to your own lips. “Jonathan! Nancy! Mike, anyone.”

Your pleads fill the void of a response in the night air. Steve sits next to you, all he can do is watch as your pleading turns into begging. Your voice cracks, the words scratch your throat. Seeing your white-knuckled grip on the radio, Steve can’t take it anymore. 

“C’mon,” he takes your hand and pulls you up. Numb with fear, your body is limp. You try to fight him, you don’t know why he’s pulling you away from the radio when your friends need help, but Steve has made up his mind. He takes the device out of your hands and makes you look at him. “They need our help.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do!”

“Y/N, look at me.” Steve motions to the car, and finally you understand. “We’re going.”

Relief threatens to make your knees weak. Too wired from the debilitating combination of fear and helplessness, all you can do is nod at Steve and allow him to guide you down the hill. Dustin and Erica see that you’re leaving and try to stop you. “Where are you going?”

“To get them the hell outta there!” Steve calls over his shoulder, fumbling through his pocket to retrieve the keys. “Stay here, contact the others!”

Dustin calls out your name, anxious. He doesn’t want you to leave, and you hate that you have to leave him. But right now, he and Erica are as far from danger as physically possible. Weathertop hill is miles away from Starcourt. Right now, Jonathan needs you, and so do the others. Breaking out of Steve’s grasp, you run back to your brother and kiss his forehead. “I’ll be back, I promise.”

You run back to the car where Steve awaits, and Robin is quick to follow. She runs after the two of you and catches the walkie that Dustin tosses her. “Stay in touch,” he orders the three of you, still entirely against the whole thing. 

“We will!” You shout back at him, already crawling into the car. “Stay safe, don’t do anything stupid, and stay here.”

The backdoor closes, Robin’s seatbelt clicks into place, then the Cadillac’s engine roars to life.

–

Your hands won't stop shaking as Steve drives. Nothing he says can reassure you. The car hasn’t gone below seventy miles an hour despite the narrow road, and still it doesn’t feel like it will be enough. 

“I’m sure they’re okay.” Steve tries again to sound convincing, like his hands also don’t shake as he grips the steering wheel. “I mean, they have El. She’s a superhero.”

“Total superhero.” Robin unhelpfully chimes in. Her own nervousness is on display as she twists her fingers together. 

You draw your knees into your chest, trying desperately to make yourself smaller. You’re terrified for your friends, you should’ve never split up. The party always does better when it’s together. Forcing air into your lungs, you stare out the windshield. “How much farther?”

“A minute, maybe even less.” Steve promises, pressing down even harder on the gas pedal. The engine’s roar deafens your ears, and you welcome the distraction. 

In the distance you see Starcourt’s blinding neon lights. They grow bigger and bigger with every passing second, and you release the breath you had been holding when you see that you’re close. The moment of relief is short lived, however, when you hear gunshots pierce through the night. The sound rings in your eyes and the sight of Nancy firing the gun chokes you. 

“There!” You point towards where she stands and Steve changes the direction of the car. The tires screech and your body thuds against the door but you don’t care. All you can focus on is Nancy standing in front of Jonathan’s car, unmoving as she fires bullet after bullet. Something seems to be wrong with his car, you can hear the engine fail each time he turns the key.

You squint your eyes. At first, you can’t see what Nancy is firing at, but within seconds you see the third car barreling straight towards her at a terrifying speed. In the driver’s seat is Billy. “Steve!”

“I see him!” He floors it. 

The impact knocks all the air out of your body. It all happens so fast. Glass shatters. Metal hits metal. Your body gets thrown, your head roughly hits Steve’s shoulder as the car spins out. Your eyes squeeze shut at the momentum. You can’t remember if you scream. 

“Are you guys okay?” Steve asks, panting, as soon as he car comes to a stop. His head is spinning yet the first thing he does is look to see if you’re hurt. There’s some glass in your hair, but for the most part there isn’t a scratch on you, which he’s thankful for. 

“Ask me tomorrow?” Robin stares blankly ahead, still trying to process what’s just happened. 

It takes a few moments for you to come to. Your ears are ringing. Your neck aches from being thrown so suddenly to the left. “Let’s never do that again.”

“Agreed…” Robin swallows, but quickly her mouth goes dry. “Oh, shit.”

You follow her line of sight and nearly throw up. The Mind Flayer crawls over the mall and releases a thundering screech, and the size of it alone makes you want to cry. It’s huge, bigger than anything you’ve ever seen before. 

A car honks behind you, breaking you from your terror. Your head whips around, finding Nancy in the passenger seat of Jonathan’s car. “Get in!”

Quickly the three of you scramble out of the wrecked car. There isn’t room in any of the passenger seats, so you yank the trunk door open and scream at Robin and Steve to crawl in. It’s a tight fit, you have to press your back against Steve’s chest, but it’ll have to do. 

As soon as the trunk is closed, Jonathan steps on the gas. You’re thrown further into Steve’s chest and Robin, who sits in front of you, lets out a quiet yelp when she sees the Mind Flayer chasing after the car, not far behind. Seeing this as well, Jonathan takes a rough turn and everyone in the car tries to brace for the rest of the ride. 

“Are you okay, bug?” Jonathan shouts over his shoulder, eyes still on the road.

“Fine and dandy,” you pick a piece of glass out of your hair. Steve helps, carefully combing through your hair as well. The Mind Flayer screams, tries to lunge at the car, and your heart skips a beat. You try to distract yourself. “I crash cars every day. How about you guys, what brought y’all out here tonight?”

“Billy.” Everyone in the car says in unison.

You wince. “It’s always him, isn’t it?”

No one answers. Your quips don’t land. Robin hasn’t looked away from the Mind Flayer yet, Steve doesn’t want to look at it. Jonathan stares at the road ahead of him and Nancy flinches every time the Mind Flayer’s body thuds against the earth. The rest of the kids are silent, the echoes of its footfalls pounding against their eardrums. 

It’s grim in the car. Really fucking grim. 

“Dusty-bun, you copy?” A girl’s voice comes through over the radio. It’s not a voice you recognize; never in your life have you heard anyone besides your own mother refer to your brother as Dusty-bun.

Steve’s bewildered expression matches your own. Then Dustin’s voice crackles through the radio, and your bewilderment turns into relief. At least your brother is far away from whatever the hell is chasing you right now. “I copy, Suzie-poo. It sounds much better now, thanks.” 

“Suzie,” Steve and Robin breathe out at the same time. You smile at them, smug. They had their doubts, but you were almost certain she had been real. Serves them right. 

The nickname Dustin has for his girlfriend, however, is awful. “‘Suzie-poo’? That’s the best nickname he could’ve come up with?”

“I like bee, better.” Jonathan agrees.

Steve scoffs. “Honey has a nicer ring to it.”

“Both of you shut up!” You don’t have time for their weird ‘my horse is bigger than yours’ competition. Dustin’s started speaking over the radio again and you’re trying to listen in case it’s important. He’s asking Suzie whether she knows what Planck’s constant is, and you have no idea how any of this is relevant to the situation at hand. 

“Okay, so I know it starts with two sixes, and then a…” Dustin’s voice trails off. Apparently this Planck thing is a number, one he can’t seem to remember. “W-What is it?”

“Okay, let me just be clear on this.” The tone of Suzie’s voice makes you pity your brother. It’s an angry tone, annoyed and fed up. Whatever she’s about to say, it won’t be pretty. “I haven’t heard from you in a week, and now you want a mathematical equation that you should know so you can… save the world?”

You whistle, commending the girl’s sense of self worth. “She’s got a point.” 

Dustin pleads with her, promising that he’ll make it up to Suzie as soon as he can. You feel a bit bad for him, honestly. He really had been trying to contact her ever since he got home from camp. How was he supposed to know his week would end up being dominated by Russians?

“You can make it up to me now.” Suzie’s voice lowers a frightening octave. You have no idea what she’s about to say, and a large part of you wants to throw the radio out the window before you’re forced to find out. 

“What?” Dustin sounds frightened as well, which doesn’t make you feel any better. 

“I want to hear it.”

Horror fills you. It’s worse. So much worse than you ever could’ve imagined. You know exactly what Suzie wants from Dustin. “Oh, no… He told her.”

“Told her what?” Steve asks you, confused by this entire ordeal. Dustin and Suzie argue in the background. She’s insistent and your brother tries his best to convince her otherwise. 

Jonathan’s eyes meet Steve’s in the rearview mirror, mischief in them. “Theater camp.”

“Jonathan Byers, I will hurt you!” You hiss at him, utterly mortified. Sometimes you despise the fact that he’s your closest friend. He knows far too much about you. 

Steve has so many questions, but he forgets all of them when Dustin starts to sing. “Turn around, look at what you see.”

His voice is clear and beautiful, a testament to the countless hours the two of you were forced to endure in vocal lessons. When you were younger and still living in Virginia, your mother made you and your brother attend a musical theater camp every summer. She loved having you guys perform little shows for her around the house. Said your voices were like angels to listen to. 

The day you and Dustin moved to Hawkins, you both swore to never tell anyone about the camp. The secret would die with you. 

Jonathan only knows about it because your mom had him video tape Christmas carols a few years ago (like the traitor that he is). It had taken several batches of cookies, numerous pleas, and a handful of threats to ensure he wouldn’t tell anyone what he saw. 

“In her face, the mirror of your dreams.” Dustin’s melodic voice floats through the car. The song had been one the two of you sang frequently at camp, its verses simple yet fun to sing together. 

Steve and Robin share a look of disbelief. They’ve completely forgotten about the Mind Flayer still chasing after the car. Suzie, a surprisingly good singer as well, now joins Dustin. They sing together, in a sweet, childish way. You can’t help but sing along, harmonizing with them. 

Everyone in the car looks at you as if you’re insane, but you’re too tired and exhausted to care. You’ve had the weirdest two days of your goddamn life. Sue you for singing along. It’s a good song. 

That, or maybe you’re just delirious from dehydration.

After a minute or so, the song comes to a close, and you’re almost saddened by that. You’ve missed singing with your brother. You make a mental note to bug him about it later. “Planck’s constant is 6.62607004.”

Dustin laughs into the radio, happy that Suzie finally revealed the number. “You just saved the world!”

“Gosh, I miss you, Dusty-bun.”

The two continue to go back and forth with their baby talk, which you cringe at. It’s disgusting to overhear, although you guess you understand now why Dustin hates being around you and Steve. You’ll apologize to him later. 

Dustin’s voice cuts off unexpectedly, which you assume is Erica’s doing. You’ll also thank her later. The car goes quiet again. No one knows what to follow Dustin’s impromptu performance with. 

“So, theater camp, huh?” Steve finally breaks the silence, squeezing you gently in his arms as he teases. 

“Tell anyone and I swear I’ll–” The Mind Flayer suddenly turns around, catching your attention. It runs away, back towards the mall. It doesn’t make any sense. Everyone is here, in the car. It only wants El. Unease twists your stomach. You lean forward and look at who is in the car. When you see Will and Lucas in the seat in front of you, you panic. “Where are the others?”

You’re practically crawling over the seat to try and get to Jonathan and Nancy. “Where’s Max and El? Where the hell is Mike?”

Nancy tries to distance herself from your anger. “We got separated, but they’re–they’re fine. We had to guide the Mind Flayer away from the mall–”

“So you left them?”

“We didn’t really have much of a choice, Y/N!” Nancy screams back at you now, insulted that you truly believe she would ever leave her brother behind willingly. She wouldn’t do that. She knows that you know this. 

“It’s going back for them! It fucking turned around, can’t you see that? We need to follow it, now!” 

“Y/N–”

“Turn. Around.”

“Steve, sit Y/N back down!” Jonathan’s yell cuts in between you and Nancy. You’re about to start spewing curses at him, but Steve’s arms are strong and force you back into his lap. You’re livid. “Hold on!” 

Jonathan knows you’re right. He tightens his hold on the steering wheel and stomps on the brakes. The car spins, he twists the wheel, controls it as best as he can, before he steadies the vehicle and accelerates back towards the mall. 

– 

When you get to the mall, Lucas announces that he has a plan. 

“Fireworks have an insane amount of gunpowder in them.” He explains to the group, waving around a handful of fireworks he left in the trunk. You’re all carrying some as you run through the mall’s parking lot. “If we tie them together, we can mimic the damage of dynamite.”

“Think it’ll be enough to kill the Mind Flayer?” Nancy asks, hesitant.

“If we throw them from above, yeah!”

You kiss Lucas’ cheek, only barely managing not to trip over your feet as you run. “I think you’re a genius, Sinclair.”

Inside the mall, everyone quickly sets the fireworks up. Faintly you can hear the Mind Flayer lurking somewhere, its roars echoing throughout the building, but it hasn’t found you guys yet. Lighters get passed around, fireworks get messily taped together, groups are divided in an attempt to cover the most ground. Jonathan with Nancy. Will with Lucas. You and Steve with Robin.

You’re taping together the last of your fireworks when you look down over the railing. You almost drop the fireworks in your hand when you see Billy hovering over El. He’s so much bigger than she is. She’s hardly even visible beneath him. Your stomach churns. “He’s here.”

Thuds shake the ground. The Mind Flayer descends from the rooftop and crawls over to where Billy has placed El. Its mouth opens, preparing for the kill, and Lucas throws the first firework. “Flay this, you ugly piece of shit!”

Bursts of light collide into the monster. It hisses, turns to face the direction the firework was thrown, and Lucas throws another into its mouth. 

Smoke begins to fill the air. The whistle of the rockets sting your ears. The light blinds you. It’s loud and messy and fireworks rain down upon the monster. Everyone throws the bundles they have, and yet still you hesitate. Billy’s eyes flash through your mind. How the red in them overtook the icy blue. The sweat that poured from his face. The cruelty that seeped through his skin. 

It’s horrible what’s happened to him. He didn’t deserve to become a pawn in this maddening game. 

But someone has to end it. You breathe in, relax your body, and bring your lighter to the first firework. Its heat licks at your skin as you release it into the air. You hit the side of its body, sending the Mind Flayer stumbling back. 

“Hey, asshole. Over here!” Steve throws a firework and its blasts almost scorches the two of you. It’s dangerous, stray fireworks threaten to crash into everyone, but the plan seems to be working. WIth every hit the Mind Flayer takes, the more he weakens. 

Your thumb burns as you light fireworks over and over again. The motion is repetitive, just enough to keep the fear in you at bay. It’s deafening within the mall. It’s exhilarating. It’s dizzying. Reds, blues, yellows, greens all light up the sky. 

Distantly, through the haze of smoke, you watch as the fireworks affect Billy as well. He cowers each time the Mind Flayer gets hit, but it also seems to enrage him as well. He grabs El’s wounded leg and drags her closer to the monster.

Helplessly you wish you were down there with El, helping her. However, all you can do is continue throwing fireworks in a crazed attempt to save the ones you love. You scream with every throw, exerting all your strength to throw them as far as you physically can. But you’re quickly running out of ammunition. 

“Dustin, we’re out of time!” Steve screams into the walkie, breath heaving with soot on his face. 

Your brother screams back, pleading with Hopper to close the gate. No one answers him, and you hold back exhausted sobs as you throw the remaining fireworks. They won’t be enough. Someone has to close the gate, sever any connection the Upside Down has to your world. It’s the only way any of you are making it out alive. 

Yet it remains open, and Billy has now crawled back on top of El. 

She seems to be saying something to him, but in the cloud of smoke and explosions you can’t be sure. Robin helps you light the last firework, Steve aims it, and you’re numb to it all. He throws it, it explodes into a shower of purple. Its ashes scatter around Billy, singes his back, and you see now that he’s stopped moving. 

“That was the last one!” Robin shouts over the screams of the fireworks. Steve runs a hand through hair and curses. There isn’t anything else the three of you can do.

You run to the railing and look around, feverish to find any way to help. Jonathan catches your eye from across the plaza. He looks just as distraught as you are. Your palm hits against the metal of the railing in frustration. There has to be something. Then you see Max and Mike below, standing on the outskirts of where Billy and El are, all alone. 

“I’m going down!” You scream to Robin and Steve. You have to get down there. Someone has to be with them. They’re too close to the fire and explosions and monsters. 

“Y/N, wait–” Steve tries to stop you, but you plead with him. 

“Steve, I need you to trust me.” There’s a raw, overwhelming feeling within you that something bad is about to happen. You can’t shake it, the feeling of loss being inevitable frightens you. For three years now you’ve saved everyone, done everything right. For three years, you’ve gotten lucky. You don’t know how to explain all of this to Steve, the fear that has followed you ever since you first intercepted the Russian code. “Please.”

Maybe it’s the way you say it. Maybe it’s the tears that stream down your face as you look at him. Whatever the reason may be, Steve reluctantly lets go of you. Endlessly thankful for him, your hands cradle his face as you kiss him. He makes a cute, surprised noise, and you wish more than anything that you can bask in the warmth of his lips, but you can’t. 

You force yourself to pull away. “I’ll be back, take care of the others.”

And then you’re gone. 

Footsteps echoing against the walls of the mall, you run down the stairs and straight towards Max and Mike. They hear you approach and suddenly they’re both in your arms. They hold onto you tightly, none of you can tear your eyes away from the scene in front of you. Billy slowly stands up and away from El. His movements are labored as he walks in front of the Mind Flayer, blocking its path to her. 

They stand, face to face, unmoving. Predator against prey. Your heart pounds in your throat as you watch, too scared to move. In an almost imperceptible velocity, the Mind Flayer extends its claws. 

Billy raises his arms, stopping the monster from piercing through El, protecting her. “No!” A guttural, animalistic scream tears apart his vocal chords. He screams, over and over again, as the Mind Flayer struggles against him. 

Max freezes in your arms, you feel her choke on her gasp. 

Everything happens slowly after that. 

The first claw that penetrates Billy’s side. 

The second one that cuts through his other side. 

Then the third one, the fourth and the fifth and the sixth. They pierce through his skin, sink into the flesh. His body goes limp as he’s suspended into the air. The Mind Flayer hisses down at him, its teeth bared, and Billy, who has never been afraid, screams in the face of death as the monster fatally punctures his chest. 

Everything stops.

“Billy!” You will never forget the pain in Max’s scream. It will become yet another sound that haunts your nightmares. 

As you stand there with a paralyzed Max in your arms, the Mind Flayer drops Billy’s body onto the ground. He lands with a sickening thud. The Mind Flayer’s body crashes into the walls, it convulses, spasms, leaving destruction in its wake. Then, all together, it stills and falls to the ground.

The gate has been closed. 

Mike tears himself from your arms and runs over to El. He pulls her into a hug and she begins to sob. You and Max walk numbly over to them, neither of your eyes leave Billy’s bleeding body. He shudders weakly where he lays, a pool of blood encasing his body. 

“Billy?” Max knees next to him. She’s crying, she doesn’t know what to do. There’s so much blood. “Billy, get up. Please, Billy. Get up, please.”

You kneel next to her, at her side through it all. 

Blood pours from Billy’s mouth. He coughs and the wet sound only makes Max cry harder. He looks up at you, his eyes are finally blue again. “Talking to you… sweetheart.”

But if you need anyone to talk to, about anything, come find me, okay?

Those had been your last words to him. 

“Billy…” He had tried to find you. He had been lost and scared and alone. He didn’t know what had been happening to him, why his anger became venom. A sob is wrenched from your mouth. He had been all alone, and he had tried to find you.

Billy coughs again, more blood leaks from his wounds. With the last of his strength, he turns his head to Max. “I’m sorry…” His chest heaves in pain, he labors two final breaths, before his chest falls entirely. It doesn’t rise again. 

Max shakes his shoulders, uncaring for the wounds there. She shakes him, begs and pleads with him to wake up, but his body remains lifeless. She lets out one final, anguished sob. “Billy.” 

She buries her face in your chest and sobs. You hold her, El joins. The girl tries to soothe Max, she tries to keep you together, but you break as well. 

You cry for the boy Billy had once been. Max had told you stories from before. How he would drive her to the skate park, scare off any older boy who tried to taunt her. She told you about how he used to love surfing in California, before his mom had left them and his dad became violent. 

Max told you about how kind Billy had once been, she knows he used to be kind. How she could see it in him still, hiding the bruises from his father to not scare her. To make her feel safe in their own home even if he intimidated her as well; it was the violence in him that was created by a monster far more vile than the Mind Flayer. 

You cry for Max, too young to lose such a complicated loved one. You know the pain better than anyone else. How it hurts to grieve them, how it makes you feel pathetic to miss someone who has only hurt you, but the tenderness of knowing them tethers you to it all. Billy had been her brother. There is no greater tether than that. 

You cry because you loved and have lost. You will blame yourself for having not said anything about Billy’s off behavior. You had seen the first signs of what the Mind Flayer did to him. He had been stranded on the side of the road, bloodied and bruised, blue eyes darker than normal, and you had done nothing except tell him to come find you. 

And then you had left him. 

Billy Hargrove died alone.

You and Max will share the burden of this guilt. 

– 

Jonathan finds you first, then Steve. You’re on the floor, kneeling with Max in your arms, two broken pieces finding solace in the other. Billy’s body lies next to you, neither you nor Max can bear to look at it. 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” they’re the only words you can say to the girl. 

Max clutches your arms around her and her tears soak your shirt. El and Steve try to coax her out of your arms, but she doesn’t move. She refuses to let go of you, though she allows Jonathan to drape his arms over you and hold you as your own sobs echo within the mall. 

Nancy and the others join. They leave a wide berth around the dead body before them. Nancy sees that you’re in no condition to guide, so she takes over for you. She instructs Steve and Lucas to take Max from your arms so that they can stand the two of you up. The fire from the wreckage is quickly spreading and you’ll need to evacuate soon.

“It’s okay, bug. You’re okay.” Jonathan whispers in your ear, one hand delicate on your arm. Steve’s hands rest upon your other arm, and together the two of them are able to get you onto your feet. 

Your body shakes, grief sits heavily upon your chest. Steve’s eyes never leave your weak frame. 

It’s all a blur after that. 

Firefighters break through the mall and evacuate the building. Nancy and Jonathan do all the talking. Someone, you think it’s Steve, carefully guides you through the maze of burning rubble and bodies. It’s raining outside and the soft thunder almost drowns out the drone of the helicopters that swarm the building. 

There are ambulances amongst the military trucks and you’re shoved into one by a concerned medic. The woman explains to you that you’re in shock, that your body is in a state of perpetual flight. She allows Steve to sit and stay with you only after she’s finished patching up his split lip and bruised eye. 

“It’s going to take some time to heal,” the medic explains to you. She’s soft spoken, maternal, and in your numb state she reminds you of your mother. “You kids went through a lot tonight.”

Time. 

It always goes back to time. 

Steve rubs your back and kisses the top of your head every few minutes. You rest your head against his shoulder, body pressed against his, a blanket draped around both of your shoulders’. Neither of you say anything. His hand on your back is warm, it unthaws the ice that the shock has left behind. His touch grounds you, keeps you afloat. 

A car pulls up in the distance and its doors slam. Your eyes drift up, finding Joyce’s as she stumbles through the crowd of armed soldiers and firefighters. She stumbles around, lost in some haze that clouds her once shining face. Joyce looks around in concern, trying to find her sons, and somehow you know, even before her face crumbles when she sees you, that something terrible has happened.

Her eyes meet yours. 

Hopper isn’t with her.

Will rushes towards his mother and almost knocks her down with how hard he hugs her. Joyce clings onto him and breaks into heartwrenching, bone crushing, sobs. You can hear her from where you sit with Steve, you can feel the weight of her loss like thickened water in your lungs. 

In the other ambulance next to you, El, who had been resting in Mike’s lap, stands up when she sees Joyce. She walks towards the woman as she embraces her son. Though El faces away from you, standing alone in the middle of the parking lot, the way her shoulders shake as she begins to fall apart indicates the remnants of her childhood have died tonight.

“Hopper’s dead.” They’re the first words you’ve spoken all night. Your voice is hoarse from disuse and the words echo, taunting you. 

Steve doesn’t say anything, only a heavy sigh leaves his body. 

There were three deaths tonight. Billy, Hopper, and El’s childhood. One for every year you got lucky. The fear that had been creeping through the back of your mind finally presents itself to you. It manifests in the humid July air and it laughs at you. Saving Will, closing the gate, destroying the Mind Flayer. They were debts needed to be fulfilled, and they were paid for tonight.

You see Max and Robin sitting on a stretcher across from you. Max also hasn’t said anything all night, lost in her own grief and remorse. Joyce still sobs in Will’s arms. El grieves alone, mourning the closest thing she’s ever had to a father. 

You see Jonathan and Nancy whispering quietly to one another in another ambulance. They share a blanket like you do with Steve, but Nancy’s eyes are sunken in and Jonathan’s face is pale. Lucas and Mike sit together, too exhausted to say anything. 

You’re all bleeding or burned or bruised and you’re tired. 

“Sometimes…” Your voice cracks, tears threaten to silence you, and you force yourself to breathe in. Force yourself to focus, to get the words out. They’re important, somehow, even if you don’t know why. “Sometimes it feels like I’ve used up all my luck.”

Steve draws small circles into your ribcage. His fingers catch on the raised skin, the scar from when you saved his life last year. “Luck?”

“When Will went missing… It was pure luck that I found him. Brought him back home.” You weren’t supposed to have been with the kids when they found El. You were lucky that night, it was luck that threw you into the middle of it all. “It was luck that saved Will last year, too. Those tunnels…” Your body shivers at the memory. It had been so cold down there, the smell of the damp earth is a scent you will never forget. “And now I–”

Your words catch in your throat. Steve’s body presses against yours, he waits for you, patient. When your voice returns, you try again. “And now I… I’m not sure how I feel.”

“Why’s that, angel?” Steve listens, he tries to understand. “I mean, the Mind Flayer is gone. We won.”

You saved Hawkins. You saved El. You know this, and it should be enough, but it isn’t. “All the deaths that took place tonight stain everything.”

El’s father is dead. Joyce had come so close to loving again. Max no longer has someone to call a brother. Billy, who endured so much hurt when he was a child, never got the chance to experience kindness when he grew up. 

Billy never got the chance to become good, not like you did. You were lucky to have even become kind again in the first place. It had taken years to turn the hurt from your childhood into empathy. You had a mother who called you her sweet girl even when you screamed horrible insults at her. You had a brother who held your hand through the anger that your father left behind. You had a best friend who taught you that not everyone leaves. There had been people who loved you, who were gentle, who showed you that anger can be turned into something soft. 

But all Billy ever knew in his life was violence and cruelty. It isn’t fair. 

“My entire life I’ve been lucky,” your chest constricts as you confess everything to Steve. All your fear, the doubt, the insecurity. “Now it–it feels like I’ve used up all my luck.” Your fingers find Steve’s, a mind of their own as your body seeks the solace only he can bring. He doesn’t know that he’s the reason you believe you’ve had more luck than anyone else in their life. “I… I was lucky to have met you, to become your friend, someone you trust. How could I possibly have any luck left over after everything we’ve been through together?”

Everything burns in Steve. He understands what you’re trying to say, he does, but he doesn’t agree. Steve hooks the pad of his fingertip underneath your chin and coaxes your head up, he wants you to look at him as he speaks. He needs you to hear him. To understand. “Well, that’s where you’re wrong.”

You wipe your eyes, uncomfortable under Steve’s open and earnest gaze. “I’m wrong?”

He hums, strokes a finger from the dip of your cheek up to the crest of your brow. He admires you, memorizes the skin beneath his. “You’ve taught me a lot of things, but you’re wrong about that luck theory of yours. See, I have my own theory that you can never run out of luck if you love, and you taught me that to love and be loved is the luckiest thing a person can give and receive.”

Steve remembers the first day he ever saw you. He’d been thirteen, you had been twelve. He remembers how small you looked to him, yet lovely nonetheless, even back then. You had always been so lovely to Steve, kind, delicate, admirable. 

Your eyes stare into Steve’s and he remembers the first day he spoke to you. The squeal of your bike tires as you almost crashed into his car. The way the setting sun cast you in a golden glow in the ditch you landed in as Steve offered you his hand. How, the moment you laughed at what he said, he felt breathless. 

You smile at Steve now, the same smile all those years ago, the smile he saw when he was thirteen and believed in knights and dragons. Now, at eighteen, you smile at Steve and he believes in fates that attach people to one another and mold them into one being. 

“And I’m lucky enough to be able to love you, angel.” 

Steve’s words cut through you. They’re the good that remind you of the light of the sun that follows the dark of the night. It’s almost like an awakening, a slow remembering, how can someone run out of luck if they love with everything within them?

You see Mike now consoling El. She’s in pain, but Mike bears the hurt with her. You see Jonathan and Nancy sleep soundly against each other, safe in the other’s arms. Lucas holds Max’s hand as Robin cracks a joke that gets the young girl to laugh. Will strokes his fingers through his mother’s hair, offering her love that only a son can. 

Even while there is so much grief and pain within this world, the love that follows overwhelms it.

Steve stares down at you, eyes soft with contentedness. There isn’t a pressure behind them, he doesn’t need you to say anything to him. He’s simply happy to have you in his arms, to have you with him now, to remind him of how lucky he is, and you’re so full of love for him. 

“I’m lucky enough to be able to love you, too, sweet honey.”

Steve Harrington smiles the boyish smile that you fell for long before you knew what love even was, and he kisses you. He breathes you in, he has you right where he wants you. 

You finally, finally, have come home. 

– 

Time passes slowly afterwards; you take it one day at a time. 

After the mall burns down, your job is practically all but saved. It’s a small, bittersweet thing. Mrs. Waters had told you the news with her own bittersweet smile, mourning her dear friend Mrs. Driscoll who died in the fire. She will never know the truth, that the woman had become part of an army created by a monster. 

“But at least Doris would be happy that I still have my store,” the woman said as she stacked books with you at the counter. It had only taken you two days before finding yourself falling back into old habits. Your mother had wanted you to stay home for the rest of the summer, but Bookstrordinary has always been a second home to you, and you couldn’t bear the silence in the house. Mrs. Waters sighed sadly, looking down. “I miss her.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Waters.” You squeezed her hand, mourned with her.

Hopper’s funeral took place a week after Starcourt burned down. The entire town showed up, something that you know the old man would’ve hated, and he was crowned Hawkins’ hero. You spent the ceremony in the very back, holding El’s hand, so that the two of you wouldn’t be seen.

Billy’s funeral was a few days after Hopper’s. Max sat alone at the front of the church, Billy’s father had been too drunk to attend and her mother couldn’t get the time off of work. After the ceremony, the girl silently followed you into your car and spent the rest of the day at Bookstrordinary with you. She hadn’t wanted to go home to an empty house, and you understood the feeling. 

Max spends most of her summer with you at the store after that. Some days she helps restock the shelves, singing along to your set of tapes, bright and cheery. But some days she’s quiet, sits in a corner and pretends to read whatever you hand her. El stops by the store sometimes, too. You read comics to her, bake her the oatmeal raisin cookies she loves so much, and gossip about Mike and Lucas if Max is having one of her good days. 

During the first week you bake Joyce’s favorite muffins, the second week you bake her brownies. You offer her a shoulder to cry on every time you stop by the Byers home, you reminisce over Hopper and his disdain for you; she appreciates everything you do. 

Steve spends every single day with you, it doesn’t matter where you are. Without a job, he follows you everywhere. Whether you’re at work, at home, even at Jonathan’s or Nancy’s, he’s always able to find you with Robin right behind him. Nancy thinks the newfound trio is bizarre, but Jonathan can’t help but laugh whenever he sees Robin talking your ear off while Steve follows you around like a moth to a flame.

Together, you all try to heal.

Two weeks pass and you’re woken up by the ringing of your phone. 

“Hello?” Annoyance seeps through your greeting. You’ve only just managed to fall asleep, the nightmares at bay for once. 

“Come outside, angel.”

His voice wakes you up, the annoyance now replaced with confusion. “Steve?”

“Wear something warm, okay?”

“What–?” He hangs up, the line disconnects, and you’re completely taken aback by the phone call. You didn’t make any plans with Steve tonight, at least not any that you can recall. He had spent the day with you at work, ate dinner with you and your family, before watching a movie with Dustin and going home. 

You’re not entirely sure why he’s called you at nearly two in the morning to come outside, but you listen anyways. On your desk chair lays the cardigan Steve bought you for Christmas, his initials stitched into the sleeve. Sliding it over your shoulders, you quickly put it on before climbing through your window.

Steve’s car is parked two houses from yours, headlights off. There’s music faintly playing that can be heard through the window, and a familiar melody has you running to get inside. “The Beatles?”

They were the band that you and your dad used to listen to. His fingers would strum their songs on his guitar as the two of you sat side by side on the front porch of your childhood home. He would hum the words to you. Told you that you should know about real music. 

When your dad left, he took the music with him.

Jonathan had tried to get you into his favorite artists. The Smiths, David Bowie, the Clash. He would sit you down in his room and play their songs over his record player and watch your reactions. While the music was good, and you’ve come to love them because the artists reminded you of Jonathan, it was never the same as listening to the Beatles with your dad during early July mornings. 

Then one night, when you and Steve had been driving around Hawkins, a Beatles song began to play over the radio. Unknowing of your history with the band, Steve started to hum along the same way your dad would do, and it was finally then that music was brought back into your life.

“What, I don’t get a hello?” Steve is smiling ear to ear, seeing the flushed joy on your face and the cardigan you wear. 

You throw your body over the center console and hug him. “Hi, honey.”

As he drives, Steve is unusually quiet. His initial smug greeting upon your arrival is quickly overshadowed by a shy demeanor. Steve’s fingers fidget on the steering wheel, his foot taps against the car’s floor. The Beatles play softly within the car and somewhere along the route you find that the wooded scenery starts to look familiar.

He’s driving you to Lover’s Lake.

“Why are we heading towards the lake?” You ask Steve, but he pretends not to hear you. Instead, he turns the radio up and sings along to Paul McCartney. Your eyes wander to the backseat and notice a small box nestled against the leather. 

A few minutes later Steve parks the car and wordlessly the two of you get out. It’s dark, the moon reflects off the lake’s water. Crickets sing in the air and the waves lap at the shore. It’s a beautiful night, the July heat is masked by the night’s breeze; your cardigan keeps you warm. 

Lost in admiring the view, you don’t notice that Steve has left your side until he returns with a picnic basket. The box you saw earlier is tucked underneath his arm. You tilt your head at him, quizzically. “What are you planning, Harrington?”

Steve grabs your hand. “You’ll see.”

He leads you down to the lake’s edge where the water meets the sand. There’s a trail that Steve once found when he was nine. It had been during the last fishing trip he had ever taken with his dad. The man commanded him to hook the worm and Steve cried. Embarrassed and ashamed, Steve had run towards where the sand met the woods and found a meadow hidden within it. 

There are flowers in full bloom within the meadow, and you gasp when you see their vibrant pinks and blues. The flowers are delicate yet their stems are long. Steve sets the picnic basket down and pulls a blanket out from it. He sets it onto the grass and lays down, motioning you to join him. 

The stars are clear tonight, shining bright above the two of you. They almost seem to wink at you as you lay side by side with Steve. His hand is in yours, as it always is these days, and with only the stars as his witness, Steve whispers into your ear, “Thank you for staying.”

His breath warms your neck, and you know, without having to ask, what he’s thanking you for. Your promise to him last year, that you’d wait for him. He hadn’t been ready. The timing of it all wouldn’t have been right, but you knew, even back then, that you’d wait forever for Steve Harrington if it meant you’d receive even half of his love. 

Take your time, I’ll be here. 

“It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done.” The words come easily to you, raw with truth and vulnerability. 

A soft sigh escapes Steve. He turns his head to you, eyes finding yours, and you’ve never seen such tenderness within him. He opens his mouth, sighs out the words you’ve longed to hear again since that night at Starcourt. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” You don’t think you’ll ever tire of saying those three words to him. There’s so much love within you, so much you’ve ached to give out ever since you were a little girl, and now you finally can. 

Steve kisses you with a softness that releases a sigh from your own lips, and you know he’s wholly, truly, yours now. With a swift motion, Steve places himself on top of you as you kiss. His weight presses down on you, one hand cups your cheek and the other steadies him. His hair tickles your face, his cologne clouds your brain, and the sweet taste of July honey coats your tongue. 

Minutes, maybe even hours, pass as you kiss Steve. It’s lazy, no sense of urgency as your lips move against his. It’s warm, it’s soft. Eventually he manages to pull himself away from you, he’s brought you here for other reasons tonight. 

“Hold on, I got you something.” Steve fixes his hair, clears his throat, and pulls out a container from the basket. He reveals a freshly baked loaf of banana bread on a beautiful glass plate. There’s a small, lopsided candle on top of it.

“You came prepared tonight,” you tease him, still breathless from the kisses and love.

“My mom did, actually. She’s the one who made this.” You sit up and look at Steve, wide eyed. He laughs at you, finding your stunned reaction endearing. “Relax, angel. She really wanted to bake you something, and I had to make up for allowing Russians to ruin your seventeenth birthday, didn’t I?” 

Words escape you. Steve’s mom made you banana bread, a woman you have still yet to meet, though you’ve only heard fond stories about. She had insisted on doing this kind thing for you. 

Steve lights the candle and holds the plate up for you. “C’mon, make a wish, Y/N.”

You close your eyes, smiling, and the wish comes easily to you.

For time to stay like this, forever.

You blow the candle out, Steve cuts the banana bread, and you take turns feeding it to one another. The dessert is delicious, freshly baked and still warm. It’s sweet and nostalgic and everything you could ever ask for. 

When you’ve finished eating, Steve claps his hands. “Alright, now onto the real event of the night!” 

You raise an eyebrow. “What, the kissing wasn’t enough?” Steve makes a panicked noise and you laugh at him. “I was teasing, honey.”

“You terrify me,” he huffs, before revealing a box from behind him, the very same one you’ve been curious about all night. 

“I aspire to be terrifying,” you stick your tongue out at Steve before turning the box over in your hands. It’s light, lighter than you expected. “Is this my gift you’ve been bragging about?” For months leading up to your birthday, Steve had been boasting about this amazing gift he had thought of, how he had convinced the party to help him. 

“Open it and find out.” There’s a glint in Steve’s eyes, yet you also see the shyness return as well. He’s nervous to see your reaction, he wants more than anything to have gotten this right. 

You roll your eyes at him but open the box. It isn’t wrapped like your other gifts from Steve have been. Instead the box is made of a dark oak, and its lid opens with a soft click. The silver catches your attention first. It’s a small chain with two silver ovals on opposite sides. In between the two ovals is a collection of charms. 

“Is this…?” The charms are all roughly the same size, but each vastly different from the other. 

Steve nods at you, rubs the back of his neck. “It’s a charm bracelet.” 

Moonlight reflects off of one of the charms, revealing it to be a frog, another one to be a cookie, and slowly you piece it together. There’s six charms, one for each member of the party. “Steve.”

“Have you figured it out–oomph!” He lands with a thud on his back as you attack him with a hug. Slightly out of breath, he laughs and wraps his arms around you. “I’ll take that as a yes, then.”

“How did you get the kids to do this?” You lay on top of him, blinking back tears as you hold the  bracelet delicately in your hands to admire it. 

Steve sighs in exasperation. “Money and a lot of begging. They were all for picking out charms for you, I just had to pay them to spend more than five minutes with me at the jewelry store.”

You laugh, that sounds exactly like them, and you love those kids with everything within you. Holding up the frog pendant, you know which kid picked it out for you. “Mike?”

“Yup. Said something about Kermit the frog?”

“He’s such a little shit,” you say with fondness. Last year, when Billy had nearly choked you to death, your voice had been lost and Mike wouldn’t stop referring to you as Kermit. Your fingers skim over the pendant next to it, a simple blue one, and you smile. “Dustin?”

“He told me about your code blues.” Steve rubs your back, content to have you resting against him. You hum, touched that your brother trusted Steve enough to confide this to. No one else knows about your code blues, it’d been a special thing just between the two of you. 

With your ear pressed against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, Steve explains the rest of the charms to you. His voice is lazy, slow, lilting with fondness, and his hand a firm weight against your back. Max chose a knife charm to remind you of how badass you are. Will chose a bee, because he’ll always be your little bee. Lucas was able to find a small, white flower that resembles a dogwood, knowing that it’s your favorite. As for El, she chose a cookie based solely on her love for the ones you bake for her. 

“What about the ovals?” You ask Steve after he’s done explaining what the kids chose for you. The ovals are slightly larger than the charms, almost serving as a divider between them. The metal is smooth underneath your fingers. 

He brushes hair out of your face and winks. “Turn them over.”

With slight confusion, you do, and discover that they’re engraved. Etched onto the back of one oval is honey, and, on the other, angel is written. They’re your names for one another, nestled between charms from the kids you love so dearly in your life; this is a gift made from pure, unadulterated love. 

“Oh my god,” it’s perfect, absolutely perfect. Your lips are all over Steve’s face before he even has time to blink. You scatter millions of kisses upon his face, drown him in them, With every kiss that you press upon his pretty skin, you shower him with praise. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” 

Steve laughs and tries to move his face away, but really he leans into the onslaught of love. His cheeks burn from smiling so hard and from the heat you always make him feel. He grabs your waist and enjoys the skin he holds. “You like it?”

“I love it, Steve!” 

“Does this make up for the whole Russian fiasco?” He asks, only joking a little bit. He still feels awful for dragging you into everything, but with time he’s learning to forgive himself. Before he overthinks it, Steve adds, “Am I now the best boyfriend in the world?”

His words make you blush, and you don’t think you’ll ever get used to Steve being yours. You’ve waited so long to be his, to hold him and kiss him like you do now. You cherish the feeling, the sensation of knowing a boy loves you the way that Steve does. “You’ve definitely redeemed yourself for getting me trapped in a Russian lair on my birthday. And you’re definitely the best boyfriend in the world.”

Steve, despite being underneath you, does a victory dance and whoops into the night. He’s elated, his face shines when you look down at him, and you’ve never been so in love before. You once thought you knew what love was, what the burn of it could feel like. But now, with Steve lying beneath you as his arms keep you from falling, you know that love is airless, light, cool to the touch and warm on the skin. Love isn’t supposed to hurt, it’s supposed to feel like coming home after a long day of being out in the cold. 

After Steve helps you put on the charm bracelet, you lay together in the meadow. The lake’s waves can be heard in the distance. Crickets chirp their greeting, the stars wink hello above you. Their noises serve as a lullaby to you, soothing you to an almost sleep-like state. You nestle your head into the crook of Steve’s neck and let out a sleepy exhale. 

Feeling this, Steve strokes the back of your hair. “You fallin’ asleep on me, Henderson?”

“I’m resting my eyes.” 

“Very convincing,” he chuckles, tightening his embrace to try and stave off the cold that creeps in. He lets out his own tired sigh, your weight upon him has always put him at ease. He inhales, smells your perfume, and he can’t believe that he’s here right now with you. After everything he’s been through, he can’t believe that somehow he’s come out of it with you next to him. Last year he thought he had lost you forever. This year he can see forever with you. “I think I like this July a whole lot better than the last one.”

It’s meant to be a joke, a gentle tease. More of a reflection of how far the two of you have come in such a short amount of time, but still Steve’s words remind you of something. You’ve never told him the real reason why you left last summer. Why you ran away from him. 

“I was scared, last summer.” 

Steve tilts his head at you. “Scared of what?”

“I was scared of falling in love with you,” the confession lifts from your chest. It hangs over you both, the weight of it tangible. Steve’s eyes soften, he lets out a soft oh, and you duck your head shyly. “Last July, you were… Everything. You were everything to me, and it terrified me. I was still figuring my feelings out for Jonathan back then, you had Nancy, but you were so lovely and I just–I couldn’t do it. It wouldn’t have been fair, not to anyone, but I’m sorry.”

“Y/N…” Steve hadn’t known. All this time, he thought he had done something wrong. But really you had been trying to protect yourself, protect him, and he understands now why you had to leave him for a while. He sees the distress on your face and he shushes you, kisses your forehead. “Don’t apologize, okay? I honestly would’ve run away too, if I were you. I’m just… You came back to me, in the end. That’s all I care about.”

He’s too good for you. “I still hurt you.”

“You’re human,” Steve brushes more hair out of your face. “We all make mistakes. You ditched me for a few months and I almost got you killed by crazy Russians. I think we’re pretty even now.”

Despite the guilt in your throat, Steve manages to draw a smile from you. It’s what he’s always done best. Even on the day Will had gone missing, he had been the one to ease the loss by pretending not to have known your name. He had made you laugh when you thought you could never laugh again. Steve would do anything to get you to smile, and you cannot imagine where you’d be without him. “We always even our debts, huh?”

“It’s tradition at this point.”

And you laugh, full-bellied and loud and recklessly. It echoes into the night, Steve’s reverberates into your ears, and you’re happy. 

– 

A month passes, and in the mid-August heat, Jonathan knocks on your window late one night. 

His knuckles rap against the glass and it’s a sound reminiscent of before, when you were little kids who didn’t know how yet to hurt each other. You crawl out of your bed, curious, though happy nonetheless to let him in. 

You go to open your curtain, ready to tell the boy all about what Dustin had done today, unaware that when you open the curtain, everything will change. 

Jonathan is crying. 

“Bee, oh my God.” You quickly open the window and he manages to crawl through, though sobs wrack his body. He’s shaking, and for a terrifying moment you think that something has happened to Will. “Is everything okay?”

He stands before you, chest heaving and eyes red, and with two words your world comes crashing down. “We’re moving.”

Time stands still. You’re seventeen and your childhood is coming to a close.

Somehow you’re holding onto Jonathan as he explains everything through his tears. He’s moving in early September, going all the way to California. He and his family are leaving Hawkins, leaving you. 

Your legs give out, or maybe it’s Jonathan’s, but you hold each other on the floor, intertwined, mourning the loss of growing up together. Your tears mix with his, his breathing becomes yours. The two of you cling onto each other, scared that one day soon you’ll never be able to do this again. 

“We need to–” Your breathing is shaky, your eyes sting. You feel a desperate franticness claw out of you, you grasp at what little sanity you have left. “We need to promise each other that–that we’ll see each other every day before you leave, in some capacity. It–it doesn’t matter how but–”

“I’ve already talked to Nancy about it, bug.” Jonathan wipes your tears, lets his own fall freely. He knew you’d say this, and he loves you all the more for it. “It’s been agreed.”

You nod, relieved. It isn’t much, it still doesn’t change the fact that Jonathan will leave you in the end, but at least you’ll make every last second with him count. You’ll move into the Byers home if you have to, they’re your family. He’s your person. He’s embedded into your skin, he’s nestled between your bones. 

Last year you and Jonathan promised you would never let go of each other. 

The year prior to that you promised each other that nothing would change between you two. 

Now, holding onto each other as the world you’ve been building together for five years comes crumbling down, you have to believe that the promises will be enough.

–

Steve and Robin rope you into helping them find a new job.

You innocently pointed out that Family Video was hiring, figuring it was an easy enough place to work at, and suddenly the two of them had shoved you into Steve’s car with resumes in their hands. Honestly, you should’ve seen it coming. 

“You put your mom down as a reference?” Robin questions Steve as you all get out of the car. She had agreed to proofread it after you politely declined, stating that if you proofread anything Steve wrote, it might ruin your relationship. 

“Yeah, why not?” Steve slams his door, straightens his shirt, and grabs your hand as you walk inside. “She’s like, super well respected.”

You share a look with Robin. “Rich kids,” you both groan at the same time. As much as you love Steve, you’ll neve quite get over how well connected he is. It’s bizarre and slightly terrifying how much the Harrington name can get you in this town.

“Whatever, call me a rich kid, but it’s my car you guys get free rides in.”

Robin rolls her eyes. “You’re such a dingus.”

“I didn’t ask to be here,” you remind Steve, though you thank him when he holds the store’s door open for you and Robin. “I think this could count as kidnapping.”

Robin bumps her hips against yours. “Not technically. Besides, I thought we agreed to leave our kidnapping days behind us after Erica?”

You shove the teen and follow her into the store. You look around at all the movies, slightly impressed. You’ve never really visited Family Video before, only really stopping by if you were picking up Dustin from the arcade next door. The store is nice, albeit small, but you can see Steve and Robin enjoying themselves. There’s good music, few customers, and the uniformed vest is less mortifying than Scoop’s small shorts and sailor hats. “It’s not so bad in here.”

“Why thank you, pretty lady.” A greasy looking man at the register smiles at you, leaning over it in a very unappealing manner. His name tag informs you that his name is Keith.

Steve immediately steps in front of you and stares the guy down. “She doesn’t need you thanking her, buddy.”

You can tell that he wants to say more, but you see the “general manager” on Keith’s name tag and quickly try to deescalate the situation. If your idiot boyfriend wants the job, he can’t piss off the guy hiring. “Steve, why don’t we take a look around while Robin does all the talking?”

“What–” He doesn’t have a chance to argue, you’re already pulling him down a random aisle, throwing a quick “good luck!” to Robin as you leave. 

She talks with Keith, and it seems to be going well. She shows him their resumes, smiles at him kindly. before she shouts across the store to Steve. “Dingus, what are your three favorite movies?”

Steve nearly drops the movie he had been looking at. “Uh, Animal House?” You can practically hear Robin’s disappointed sigh from where you stand, and Keith looks unimpressed. Panicked, Steve whispers to you, “What are my favorite movies?”

“I don’t know!” You hiss, frantically trying to get this poor man a job. “Just, name two other movies. Animal House can’t be too bad, right?”

“Star Wars,” Steve manages to get out, now walking back to the register. You stand next to him, looking nervously at Robin, who makes a pained noise at his responses. 

The manager stares blankly at him. “A New Hope?”

“A new what now?”

You drop your head into your hands and sigh. He’s hopeless. Already knowing it’s a lost cause, you mumble to him, “It’s a Star Wars movie, Steve.”

He snaps his fingers. “Right! Yeah, it’s the one with the teddy bears, isn’t it?” Steve makes what you think is supposed to be an Ewok sound, which only makes you sigh again. Sensing he’s fucked up, Steve tries to backtrack. “No? Uh… Oh! The one that just came out, the movie. The one with DeLorean and Alex P. Keaton and he’s trying to bang his mom.”

“Oh, dear.” It’s a trainwreck, one you can’t look away from, and Robin can only shake her head at you. “Steve?”

“Yeah?” 

“Stop talking.”

“Uh, yeah.” Steve clears his throat, he knows he’s rambling. Had he known he would have a goddamn pop quiz about movies, he wouldn’t have dragged you here for the interview. “Those are my top three. Classics.”

Keith looks between you, Steve, and Robin. He points to Robin first, “You start Monday.” He points to Steve, “You start never.” And then he points to you, “You can start whenever.”

“Okay, I get why you’re telling me no,” Steve waves a hand in front of you, “but she didn’t even apply!” 

You’re also confused by how this day is turning out, and you look at Robin, wide eyed and pleading. She’s good with people, Keith seems to like her. When she sees you silently begging her to fix this, Robin sighs and steps in front of Steve. “Will you just, um… Will you guys give us a minute?” 

“Why?” Steve doesn’t move, and you want to throw a shoe at him. 

“Let’s go, pretty boy.” You grab the back of his shirt and yank him back to the aisle of movies. He doesn’t fight you, he simply accepts his fate and allows you to drag him away. Before turning the corner, you nod at Keith. “Thanks for the job offer, but you should really give it to the guy I’m currently dragging.”

Robin snickers at Steve’s offended huff as the two of you leave, before she starts trying to convince the manager to let Steve work there. From where you stand, it seems like a heated discussion. You try to lean closer, nosey, and while you’re distracted, Steve runs into a life-sized cardboard cutout of Phoebe Cates wearing a red bikini. 

He fights with it, tries desperately not to let it fall, all while his resume hangs from his mouth. “Shit! Oh, Fast Times! Ever heard of it? Top three for me, Keith.” Robin laughs and Steve turns the cardboard cutout to you, wiggling his eyebrows. “Own any red bikinis?”

You flick his forehead, though you laugh as well. “In your dreams.”

“I can sleep right now and find out–”

“I will flick you again.”

“A kiss is preferred, but whatever.”

– 

When the Byers move, you spend the entire day fighting back tears as you help them pack. 

You spent the night in Jonathan’s room, both of you dreading the morning to come. Neither of you had slept, instead spending the entire night taking turns sharing your favorite memories together. The day you met. The time a dog chased you. When Jonathan mistook your sweater for his and wore it to school. Late night drives. Movie nights with your brothers. You relive it all that night. 

As the morning sunlight began to stream into Jonathan’s room, the warmth the memories brought started to fade away. Slowly, as the sun rose, you and Jonathan packed his room. You helped him organize his vinyls, sort through his mixtapes. When he isn’t looking, you steal a few t-shirts and flannels from his closet. He won’t notice they’re gone until he’s halfway to California. 

When it gets too much, seeing all of Jonathan’s life dwindling down to only a few boxes, you wander into the living room and help Joyce pack as well. She sees the tears in your eyes and gives you things to do, but eventually you can’t take it anymore. You go into Will’s room, and it’s the same. You cry, he cries with you, and it’s bittersweet. The rooms empty, the boxes grow.

El’s room is the hardest to pack, she has so few items to call her own, and you’re both silent as you move through the room together. 

With each box that you tape full of things you grew up with, you feel a piece of your childhood being packed away as well. The plates you used to eat off of, the books you used to bring from your job, the toys you passed down to Will. It’s all there, pieces of you frozen in time.

As you tape a box labeled “games” in Jonathan’s messy handwriting, you hear Max and Lucas singing in the living room. The sound makes you smile. It’s one of Max’s better days, she’s teasing Dustin for singing with Suzie, and she’s in a good mood. The rest of the party keeps her occupied. The kids all arrived as early as Joyce allowed them to, Nancy and Mike were the first to knock on the door. 

You place the box next to the others and walk towards Jonathan’s room. He’s leaning against its door frame with Nancy beside him, and you join them. You stare at the empty room, the one you’ve called your second home ever since you were twelve. It hurts, seeing it stripped of everything. 

All of Jonathan’s boxes are in the living room, filled with the things that make him who he is. There’s a drawer in your room of things Jonathan has left over the years, and you’re never giving them back. They’re all you have left of him. 

You and Jonathan take in his barren room, and you sigh against the door frame. “It’s so… empty.”

Nancy crosses her arms. “Is that everything?”

“I guess so,” Jonathan stuffs his hands in his pockets. His room feels cold somehow, its emptiness devoids it of the warmth it once had. He can still hear your laughs echoing in the floorboards, he can still smell your perfume that clings onto the walls. There’s scuff on the closet door from the time the two of you thought it’d be a good idea to play blind-folded baseball in the small room. 

Jonathan steps into his room, taking it all one last time. The sunlight from his window illuminates his silhouette, making him appear even smaller within the room. “Seventeen years of my life… packed up in one day.”

His voice is melancholic, his body is sad. You nudge Nancy, nod your head in Jonathan’s direction, urging her to go after him. She nods, understands that you’re telling her to say goodbye, giving them the space to do so. She smiles at you appreciatively.

You do it because they love each other, but selfishly a part of you leaves because you can’t say goodbye just yet. 

“Thank you,” she whispers, following after Jonathan. 

You find El as she’s leaving Joyce’s room. She’s holding a piece of paper, clutched closely to her chest. There are tears in her eyes, though you know better than to ask why. It’s a sad day for everyone, you’ll let her grieve on her own. However, that doesn’t stop you from pulling the girl into a fierce hug. 

“I’ll miss you so much, sweetheart.” You mumble, kissing the top of her head. “I don’t know who’s going to paint my nails now.”

El laughs through her tears and holds you tight. “I can ask Mike to.”

You kiss her head again, close your eyes, and pray to whoever is above that this girl will stay who she is forever. That she will never change. Her kindness is genuine, her joy is admirable. All her life she only knew cruelty, and yet she still came out of it so full of love. “I’d love to hear how that goes.”

“I will write you,” El promises, and you nod eagerly at her. She pulls you in for one last hug before finally releasing you to go see Joyce. 

The woman greets you with a tired smile when you walk into her room. She’s kneeling on the floor, folding clothes. They’re baggier than what she normally wears, darker, and you finally realize that they’re Hopper’s. 

A lump forms in your throat. She shouldn’t be doing this alone, packing away the remnants of his life. “Here, let me help.”

Joyce accepts, and together you sit in comfortable silence as you go through the clothes Hopper left behind. They still smell like him, old cigarettes and whiskey. It’s a nostalgic scene, a part of you wishes you could keep one of his shirts. He had been dear to you, regardless of the constant bickering you faced with him. 

“I don’t blame you, you know.” Joyce speaks softly next to you, catching your attention. “At all.”

You look up at her, sucking in a breath. “I don’t… I don’t know what you mean, Mrs. Byers.”

“The guilt, honey.” She places a hand on your arm, gentle as she always is with you. “I know you blame yourself for what happened to Will, but you shouldn’t. You have to let go of it. I want…” Joyce pauses, looks into your eyes the way a mother does to her daughter. “I want you to promise me that you’ll live the life that you deserve, because you’ve spent half of your life making sure my boys lived the lives that they deserved. Can you do that for me?”

“I…” You’re crying, you don’t know what to say. For years you’ve carried the guilt of Will’s disappearance, and for even longer you’ve done everything you could to ensure that he was loved. That Jonathan was loved. Never once had it felt like a burden to you, but Joyce’s words undoes something in you. “I promise.”

Joyce pulls you into her arms and hugs you, tears in her own eyes. She strokes your hair, hugs you as she’s always done since you were a little girl. She echoes the final words that Hopper told you. “You’re the best of them.”

You’re not sure how long you cry in Joyce’s arms, but when she soothes you and wipes your tears away, she tells you to go find Will. They’re leaving soon, he’ll want to see you, and you wish the woman one final goodbye before going to find her son. 

Will ends up being in the hallway, you find him just after he’s said goodbye to Mike. You note the longing in his eyes, the uncertainty in his posture as his friend leaves. There’s a wistful look on his face, one that you once had on your own when Jonathan was around. Even if Will may not know yet, you do. 

“Hey, little bee.”

He turns around, the softness in his eyes when he sees you makes you homesick. “Y/N!”

Will buries his face in your chest, and you hug him just as tightly back. He’s grown so much since you first met him. He’s no longer the shy little boy who had been afraid of his own shadow, and you can’t believe you won’t get to finish watching him grow up. “I swear, you’re going to be taller than me next time I see you. Won’t be able to call you little bee anymore.”

“I’ll always be your little bee,” Will squeezes you tighter, afraid to let go of you. 

“Good,” you ruffle his hair, making him to laugh. “I’ll miss you, but I’m sure you already know that.”

“I’ll miss you, too.” Will’s voice is wet, more tears come. He pulls away from you, he looks as if he wants to say something, but he stops himself. As if he’s afraid of something.

You frown. “Hey, what is it?”

“I’m scared,” The words rush from his mouth. “What if… What if I don’t make any friends?” He lowers his voice, looks around nervously, before trusting to say the words out loud to you. “I–I’m different, Y/N.”

Will’s fear hurts you to see, you wish you could do more, promise him that it will all be okay, but you can’t. Instead, all you can do is kiss his cheek and hope he can feel all the love you have for him within it. All you can do is remind him that you will love him through it all. “You’re the bravest kid I know. I have no doubt that you’ll be fine. I mean, you’ll have Jonathan and El with you, but if you ever need me, I’m just a phone call away. I love you, and that will never change.”

You stroke the boy’s cheek with your finger, and he leans into the gentle touch. “I’m rooting for you, always.”

Will squeezes you tight when he hugs you for the last time. He thanks you, his body relaxes into yours, and you know that in the end he’ll be okay. He’s a brilliant kid, he’s been through more than anyone else his age ever has. He’s resilient, his kindness is his strength, you just hope that he can recognize that himself one day. 

As you pull away from the hug, Will’s eyes catch on someone, you turn around. It’s Jonathan, standing by the front door, waiting for you. 

It’s time to say goodbye. 

Taking a deep breath, you walk towards him, and Jonathan takes your hand and guides you to the porch outside. Everyone else is still inside, packing. You sit side by side in silence, absorbing the final remaining moments alone with each other. Saying goodbye to your childhood best friend leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. 

A ladybug crawls on a leaf next to you, a bee flies past you and lands on a sunflower nearby, and a bird chirps in the blue sky above. You rest your head on Jonathan’s shoulder, he presses a kiss to your temple. Your fingers interlock and the cool September air surrounds you.

“I made you something,” Jonathan breathes out, clears his throat. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a mixtape, its front covered with a piece of paper listing all the songs on it. “I, uh, used the money I won from the betting pool to make it. Dustin was pretty annoyed with me for winning.”

You snort at the image of your brother berating your friend for winning a betting pool about how long it’d take Steve to ask you out. Taking the mixtape from Jonathan, you read the songs. There’s eight songs on it, the first one being a Beatles song from your childhood; you don’t know how Jonathan knew that. Though most of them are familiar, the writing on the paper is old, faded with age. “How long have you been making this, bee?”

Jonathan looks away from you and swallows. “A while, I guess. Listen to it after I leave, okay? That way, if you hate it, I’ll never have to know.” His demeanor is odd, there’s something he’s not telling you, but it’s your last day with him. You leave it alone for now, not wanting to ruin it. 

“You’re not allowed to find a new best friend.” You tell him instead, the silence becoming too much to bear. It’s a joke, though truthfully you don’t want Jonathan to find another best friend. He’s supposed to be yours, only yours, and you’re supposed to be his. 

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Jonathan lets out a soft laugh, and you’re going to miss feeling the way his body moves as he does so. He sucks in a breath, releases it slowly, and shakes his head. “I mean, we were kids together, bug.”

You start to cry, and he does as well. You’ve never had to say goodbye to each other before. Not like this. The two of you sit on the porch of Jonathan’s childhood home and cry. You cry into his neck, he buries his face into your hair, and it’s all so unfair. 

Jonathan touches his forehead to yours. You look into his eyes and know that your childhood will always live within him, and his within you. Jonathan brings his finger up to your bee necklace, his ladybug ring knocks against the pendant. The jewelry glistens in the sunlight. 

“Bee, we were more than just kids together.”

And it’s true. You were everything together. Now, you have to figure out how to be everything while apart. 

– 

The last of the boxes are placed in the moving van. Everyone is crying, you’re all gathered around one another, hugging and saying goodbye. 

You hold El tight and whisper good luck to her. You remind Will that everything will be okay, knowing how scared he’s been of high school and remorseful that he has to do it all alone. The kids all cry as they share the final hugs, Jonathan and Nancy cry as they hold one another. Everyone says goodbye, and you watch them with tears in your eyes. You turn to Joyce to kiss her cheek, but she grabs your arm instead. 

“Remember what you promised me, okay?” She catches your eye, makes sure you hear what she’s telling you. “Live the life that you deserve.”

“I will,” you exhale, and she seems content with that. Joyce hugs you, kisses your cheek, and you tell her to drive safe as she gets into the van. 

Jonathan stands by his car, waiting for you, and you pull the boy into your arms. He crashes against you, clutches you to his chest, and you breathe him in one final time. “I’ll always love you the most, bee.”

“And I’ll always love you the most, bug.” 

Joyce drives away first, El in the van with her, before Jonathan and Will follow. The car pulls out of its driveway one final time, and you hold Nancy’s hand as you both cry. Slowly, their cars fade into the distance, and one by one the kids hop on their bikes and pedal away. No one wants to stay, the empty house feels too permanent, solemn. Eventually Nancy gets into her own car, wishing you a quiet goodbye, until it’s just you and your brother standing in front of the house. 

Dustin stays beside you, as he always does, and you take a deep breath. Nothing will ever be the same again. 

You take one last look at the Byers home, the house you grew up in and discovered pure love and joy and naivety in, and inhale the final scent of your childhood. Dandelions are in bloom, its yellow surrounds the home, soon they will wilt and its seeds will litter the sky

Joyce’s words ring in your head.

It’s time to live the life that you deserve. You’re on your own now, though you know that really you aren’t. Dustin is next to you, Steve and Robin are waiting at your house with movies stolen from work because they knew how hard today would be. Your mother has your favorite cookies ready and waiting for you. Mike and the others have already planned their first letter to Will. 

The charm bracelet from the party and Steve is cool against your wrist. 

You’re no longer the scared, angry twelve year old you had been when you first moved to Hawkins. You’re loved, you have so many incredible people in your life who now get to watch you grow up into someone new. 

Slowly, you exhale your childhood, with a single promise of keeping it within you forever. To live the life that Joyce has told you that you deserve.

And you believe her. 

[END OF SEASON THREE]

-

⌑ series masterlist

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[dizscreams]

hobie brown x sunshine reader hc's like that would be so cute like hobie is goth while reader is more softcore ig and "innocent" I feel like he would think that's adorable!!

THIS IS SO CUTE!!

Hobie Brown x Sunshine!Reader HCs — ★

first time you guys met was at a little record shop because i said so

"you got good taste." even if he didn't like that specfic song he would say this anyways, just so he could talk to you!

"really? thanks! i like your piercings, all i have are my ear piercings."

you were the one to put stickers on his guitar and he never took them off bc he loves them

LITTLE CONCERTS IN YOUR/HOBIES ROOM

like you put on a song at full blast and you're dancing and singing around your room with a hairbrush as a little microphone

hobie is just sitting on the edge of the bed watching you with a smile on his face

you making him help you pick out an outfittt

"hobie which dress should i wear? this one is cute cause it has little hearts on it but this one is cute because its really colorful!"

"try em both on, lets see"

you always have your hand on his arm in public or your arms are linked

he doesn't mind it

you both like going on rants so after a long day i can see both of you sitting on the bed just talking about everything while you play with his rings or smth!

he had to get used to all the colors in your room but after he did its his favorite place

adores your smile. makes it his goal everyday to see you smile

if youre a littleee obvlivious then you don't know hes spiderman and one thing he loves is to give you really obvious signals that you wont catch

for example he saved you one time and it went like this

"make sure to keep outta the way, sweetheart"

"wow! you remind me so much of my boyfriend he talks exactly like you and he calls me sweetheart all the time! i think he has that jacket too-"

he just gives you a quick yeah and swings away (under the mask he was grinning like an idiot)

youre always screaming at his concerts and he sends you a wink everytime

you like stealing his band t-shirts even when you dont know who they are

"this shirts cool! im taking it!"

"do you even know what band that is?"

"no.."

short but sweet!

[pansyfemme]

jude + he/him + twenty

art account: @fagboyfriend

music recs/indie pop uploads blog: @upforabit

i'm a trans, queer, and disabled art student, diehard indie-popper, colorfreak and amateur tboy appriciator from the east coast. i post about music and comics and art and my boyfriendddddd💖💖💖 and all my other favorite topics with frequency.

testimonals from real life jude pansyfemme friends on why i’m epic and you should follow me:

“jude is one of the sweetest people to ever grace this planet and one sexy motherfucker” - M, jude’s number one coffee shop buddy

“he’s just a little guy” - L, jude tolerator (and fan) since 2022

“you’re legally not allowed to be mean to him” - F, jude’s bestie for life maybe

“1# boyfriend. in the world. 💖” - you can probably guess this one

follow at ur own risk, i do not tag and i reblog nudity, sex jokes, discussions of kink or other things generally considered nsfw <3

putting a short faq under cut bc. i get the same questions a lot. check it before you ask about my icon or header or anything

faq:

Art blog/Commissions? @fagboyfriend is the blog. dm me and i can send you my professional portfolio site/organized portfolio/past commission work if you’re interested in commissions. closed for a little bit since im moving into college atm but still hmu if you have interest in originals ive posted or have a project you dont mind a few months waitlist on <3

How long have you been on T/How long have you been transitioning? I came out at 12 years old, started blockers at 14 and HRT later that same year, and had top surgery at 17, making me 5.5 years on t and 3 years post op, and transitioning/out for about eight years.

What’s your tagging system?/What does this tag mean? #Jude pansyfem irl is for selfies and ootds. #songposting is my now retired method for posting song links. (all new song links are now at @upforabit) #echo is the name of my boyfriend, it’s posts that remind me of him, my interactions with him, etc. (that tag is very lovey-dovey and really just for him to look through) other than that i don’t usually tag. you can expect untagged nudity and sex, at this point you have been warned twice so dont get on my ass about it 👍 my blog my rules

What show/game/comic is your icon from? its a cropped version of the album cover of the 1999 album “shake the pounce” by vancouver based twee pop band Gaze. It’s a favorite album of mine as well as just a cool little guy i like a lot

Where is your header from? a painting i did in gouache a year or two ago and thought would make a nifty header.

How do I refer to you/How do you identify? I’m a queer femme transgender man. I use he/him pronouns and masculine terms. i like many genders, i’m strictly t4t and primarily interested in men though. i enjoy femme/gnc gender presentation, but i do not identify as anything other than a binary ftm transgender person. I do not use they/them and have not at any point in recent history. referring to me as such is misgendering/degendering and will probably get you blocked like any other misgendering.

What compliments are okay? most are okay, masc or fem. so pretty, handsome, all thats good 👍 i am a taken man tho so if you flirt with me hard or dm me looking for pics or something you prob wont get much of a response.

What style are you wearing/where do you get your clothes? I originally identified as a decora boy, but i kinda do my own thing these days. I like bright color and clashing patterns and maximallism. I shop a variety of places, but a lot of my stuff is from Kei Collective and Candy Trap. All of my kandi and most of my jewlery is homemade.

What is Twee/Do you Make Music? Twee is a music genre I developed a special interest in a few years back. It's a style of indie pop that originated after the UK rise of the famous c86 compilation tape in the late eighties, and was developed with a focus on low-fidelity, diy sound combined with upbeat, bubblegum-y pop sentiments and a naive, childlike outlook. It's both cute and somewhat rough around the edges. I do not make music, and don’t hold any musical skill. I’m just a major fan.

Do you have a DNI? I haven't in a long time, due to it being pretty frequently ignored and my following count growing to the point i can't really control that anymore. I can and will block people, but i feel my opinions are made fairly clear through what I post here.

[the-s1lly-corner]

*explodes into your request box*

HEY HEY HEY, im back.

Came to ask an platonic Child!reader with the rest of the gang.

BUT HEAR ME OUT

Child reader is like an wolf in sheep's clothing, like reader has an cute expression on their face but when someone tries to touch them, they'll go like: "touch me and ill rip your hand off" in a full innocent voice and that cute smile.

And child reader has shark teeth.

Tyy!

*explodes*

- 🦭

The cast x child!reader (platonic)

throwing this together after waking up from a really nice nap! i still have the kinger request to work on but my brains still stumped.. sobs.. requests are still open by the way! you can find the link to my rules in my previous post, or you can look in my pinned! :O apologies if some sections for the characters are a little short, my brains still a lil okfvokffvovf from waking up TToTT

CAINE:

a child? in the circus?

he doesnt quite know how to make of it, i mean... its not like he has to make any accommodations, the circus is a place for all ages afterall!

i give you this new concept: dad caine

lightly scolds you when you threaten someone, bad manners!

i think he would be like a stereotypical eccentric dad

in house adventures seem to tone down just a touch so theyre not too intense or dangerous for you, keeps an eye on you to make sure you dont get stuck anywhere or flung across the room

rip bubble, you probably pop them when theyre within a foot of you

pinches your cheek only to have his hand comically chomped off ("now now (reader)! what did i tell you about biting! time out!)

POMNI:

similar confusion that caine has, but like, more so

how did a kid even get their hands on one of the headsets??

honestly i think pomni might be the type to be uncomfortable around kids; she doesnt hate them she just doesnt know what to do with them

also kids can possess a different kind of cruelness when they really put their minds to it and shes already in a mentally precarious position as it is

she doesnt avoid you though!

was bitten a grand total of one times, she made the mistake of trying to take you somewhere during an IHA and she didnt make you aware that she was going to put her hand on your shoulder

JAX:

okay you cant swear in the circus, but i feel like jax has some very creative ways to work around that, making these new colorful euphemisms that dont skip out on the crudeness. he teaches you some of his favorites just to watch the world burn

lightning fast reflexes, should you try to bite or hit him; not that hes going to try to put his hands on you

actually

i can see him picking you up via scooping his hands under your arms, or literally just holding you up by the scruff of your next

congrats theres now the image of jax holding a flailing sheep child in our heads. his shins will be kicked in the second you get put down

thinks its funny when people have to do double takes when you let out a threat or say something dark

RAGATHA:

i think she would be a cool babysitter, or big sister figure to you

similar to caine she will lightly scold you when you're being 'rude'

doesnt try to figure out why you dont like being touched, also respects it. respects your space as well, she doesnt totally baby you

she is a little sad that a kid so young got stuck in the digital world, though

even if you could remember things, i dont think she would ask out of fear of possibly upsetting you

likes making you little things (small pillows, plushes, ect) since i can see her being into sewing.. might be because shes a doll, though

KINGER:

i said it once and ill say it again, kinger is dad. like i already hc he had kids before getting stuck in the digital world, but i also like to hc that he and gangle have a dad/kid relationship, at least when kinger was less... paranoid

like he still has the capacity to be a father figure to you, but i think with you being a little... ermrmfl.. he might be a little put off

tells you stories about "being a king" (ie embellishing the one time he was put in charge during an IHA ages ago) and tells you about some previous in house adventures

youre so short he genuinely doesnt see you approaching sometimes so he either gets jumpscared by you or literally trips over you on accident

is so so apologetic once he gets over the initial shock of suddenly meeting the floor

really if you follow this guy around and show interest in his interests hes gonna adopt you

he knows your threats arent empty, even if they arent hes not going to try to find out

ZOOBLE:

zooble seems like the type of person to find some vague amusement in kids swearing or saying out of pocket stuff, i cant explain why

cant teach you swear words thanks to the censoring of the digital world but hey... they can still spell it out...

honestly i hc that zooble themselves doesnt like being touched so hey you dont have to worry about that, they personally get it

cool older sibling energy. while ragatha gives off sweet n caring older sister, zooble gives off the energy of a cool older sibling who like. idfk skateboards or something

zooble skateboarding real

not much else to say here

GANGLE:

similar to pomnis but this is more so because gangle is intimidated by other people thanks to her shyness!

i think gangle would be in the same boat as you and zooble, in terms of touching, but in gangles case its because shes made of ribbon and thus can be pushed around very easily

would cry on the off chance you snap at her :(

she lets you into her room sometimes to let you draw with her! kids like drawing right?

thats her reasoning, at least

i mean hey, it gives you something to do and gives you a break from all the chaos

actually pretty okay when her comedy mask isnt broken, actually makes an attempt to properly get to know you and crack a few jokes

[xuune]

Hii first of all, I FUCKIN LOVE YOUR ART! ITS GORGEOUS AND IM SURE EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND YOU REALLY GIVE YOUR SOUL INTO THAT🤧 Your color palette looks so good, What do you pay attention to when painting? (Like when do you think its better to use multiply or something like that and etc.)

first off, I'M HAPPY YOU CAN TELL THAT I PUT MY SOUL INTO MY ART!!! im genuinely in love with drawing and am always finding ways to make creating art enjoyable and impress myself with what i can achieve and learn :D

second, thanks for asking your question!! i dont mind answering it, but my response is quite long. here's my thinking process:

(you specified layer modes like multiply, so im gonna gear my answer towards that a bit) 1. REFERENCE SEARCHING IS KING. color is actually extremely hard for me, so i search around for artworks with palettes i'd like to use and study how an artist uses it. some situations i have a clear idea of what i want, but usually the images in my head are extremely vague, so i borrow palettes from various other artworks that fit the vibe of what i want. an example is this one. my main palette reference were from these artworks. im looking at this artist's use of high saturates and how drawings are overlayed on top of each other. while looking at references, im asking myself how is this artist using warm/cools, where are these warm/cools placed, if their illustration used any form of texturing (like halftones, hatching), how do they use their palette to render form/shape/gradient, when/where do they saturate/desaturate their colors. those questions inform my decisions when using colors too.

2. USING LAYER MODES WHEN NECESSARY. i used to be reliant on multiply for everything, which atp i dont do since i can definitely push colors more first before using layer modes. only when i feel like my current colors are lacking do i start tinkering with tone curves and/or brightness/contrast/hue/saturation/luminosity settings. and if that doesn't work, then i start using layer modes. using layer modes do help with achieving certain effects, color corrections, or when i want to fuck around and find out. i think having a better understanding of what these modes can do makes you more decisive on how you can properly utilize them and to achieve a particular look (like using multiply for a cel shaded style). here's an example:

this leads into my next point:

3. BALANCING OUT VALUES. big thing that makes an illustration hard to read is if values blend together which affects the hues and contrast. i check for what elements need to be distinguished from one another and if it can be read clearly. using layer modes can either help with this or not help at all. it's very dependent on the type of layer mode. here's this example where i applied pin light:

back to #2, there are various instances where i'm using layer modes for quick color corrections and/or to help with readability:

other times, i start off having my entire subject in gray and to figure out main shadow/lights (similar to the multiply cel shaded process i linked ealier). im thinking about what this should look like if i only used 2 value tones:

when in doubt though, i check my artwork in grayscale to ensure values aren't overly blended into each other, especially if i didnt start with grayscale like this one:

painting for me takes into consideration a lot of different aspects. im thinking about how colors should interact, where/when to give contrast, checking/balancing out values, etc, but im also making it a time to study off of how other artists use their colors through the references i collected.

hope this answered your question! lmk if there's more :]

[agirlwithglam]

Hi!! I hope I'm not disturbing you but I wanted to ask how do I work hard. Because when I was younger I got really good marks without trying and now the subjects are hard and social media is distracting but I can't seem to delete it. This is also why my grades are even low then before and I'm really afraid to disappoint my parents (being the eldest daughter doesn't help). So can you please just give me some pointers on how can I actually study and not just cry because I don't know how to. Have a great day!! <3

literally omg. is this past me asking me a question?? like actually u have no idea how much i relate and understand this. the "gifted child" who always got good grades without needing to study now finds things more difficult. i know many people have said this, but i actually have been through this not too long ago. i hope these tips help <3

how to work hard + actually study (realistic)

forget hard work. at least do the work! (its so funny because i literally had a post about this all ready in my drafts about to get posted, so i'll keep this short and link the post.) stop focussing on doing hard work like studying 24/7. just put in the basic necessities you need to get a better grade. hard work post link

use the disappointment and embarrassment as fuel. (basically find a very strong why) (mini story-ish thing coming up, skip to the blue text for the actual advice) i still remember the day i got such a bad score on my math and science test, i was FURIOUS at myself and i cried about it! telling it to my parents was one of the hardest things i had to do and feeling their disappointment was even worse. but that became my turning point. i was so ashamed of myself and i resented me so much that i basically just told myself "i dont freaking care what you feel *with distaste*. you brought this on yourself you failure" (a bit very harsh, yes i know) but the way i studied that week- i studied more than i every had before! also doing this doesnt really lower my self esteem a whole lot, but if it does with you, please be gentle with yourself. : so what i'm trying to say it; use that feeling of shame and disapointment as a fuel, a motivation. The big “why”.

ALTER EGOOOSSSS. this helps SOOOO MUCH its so underrated. embody the energy of your fav people who are the academic inspiration you wanna be! example: rory gilmore, paris geller, elle woods, blair waldorf, etc etc! not only is this so helpful but it also makes it so much more fun and easier!!

parent yourself. i used to tell myself to do stuff like "go study now!" or "get up lazy-butt" but in my mind. but what if you tried to say those stuff out loud to yourself? it just creates a whole new level of real. So start telling yourself to do stuff out loud.

honestly just start. stop letting yourself think about how "uncomfortable" and how "annoying" it will be. All you need to know is that you need to get it done. Right? Ok. So now what’s the next smallest step you can take to getting to do the unwanted task? It may be taking out your material, opening your book, etc.

( !! tough love, but very important rant coming up)

You privileged brat. Your parents gave up EVERYTHING so you could have the education that you are having. They worked so so hard for YOU. So YOU can have the life you want. And all for what? Just for you to throw it all away and say “oh im lazy”. HELL NAH.

And also, do you realise how fortunate you are to be even living in such a time/ era where you have access to basically EVERYTHING? You’re stuck on something? You could easily search it up!! And whats more is that you can further learn. You can search up and find out more about the thing that you’re studying, become the smartest person in your class, get so ahead in life. I hope you realise that if you do use all the resources and materials and help that’s been given to you, just imagine how far you could go! Further than Albert Einstine, Elon Musk, etc. you may be like “what! No that’s gonna be too hard!” But did they have the tools that you have right at your hand? No! They made it all the way with just simple stuff and having to work super hard. But you live in a time where you can do TWICE as much without working as hard!!

And one more thing, QUIT WHINING. “Oh school is so hard!” “Oh school is so boring!” Like whattt???? You are so FORTUNATE and LUCKY to be even getting access to such education! MILLIONS of kids out there would kill to be able to learn what you are so easily dismissing right now. So TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOU HAVE. Put your ALL, your very BEST into studying and getting good grades because THAT is whats gonna take you so SO far in life.

Thank you very much, *mic drop*. (i still ly pookie)

dealing with social media:

put the screen time widget on your phone home screen. i did this, and i became so embarrassed by the amount of screen time i had in one day (*cough* 12 hours *cough*) that i made certain to stop using it as much.

screen time limits. this may or may not help you, bc i know that when i knew the screen time password, it didn't do a lot of help but when someone else did (like parents or someone you trust), then it definitely worked. this is probably only best if you're a child around under 14 ish bc thats around the age when most parents put screen time limits + after that age you're gonna be a lot more independent.

more *extremely* helpful resourses:

tips to decrease your phone screen time by @imbusystudying

how to reduce your screen time in the digital age? (an article)

studying tips from a straight-A student by @universalitgirlsblog2

how to study like paris geller by @4theitgirls

more blogs i recomend:

@elonomhblog @mindfulstudyquest @study-diaries @thatbitchery

xoxo, vanilla

[ritz-writes]

if i see "credit to the original artist <3" one more time i might actually lose it

im gonna say it again and im going to say it loud. this is the proper way to go about reposting art:

do you know the artist? if not, go find them. if you cant find them, dont repost it

you found the artist or already knew them? ask to repost with credit

they said no? dont repost it

they dont respond? dont repost it

they said yes? go for it with proper credit

they later ask for it to be taken down? take it down immediately

thats it. its that simple.

"but i want other ppl to see the art!" thats great. link the original post then. not a link on a repost, a link on a post that says "hey guys, this artist is rlly good u should check them out!" if you repost and then link to the og post, most ppl are just going to like the repost. they arent going to take the time to go to the link when they can already see the art

"but i found the art on pinterest!" pinterest is not an artist. it is a site notoriously known for having reposted art. its nice to use to make mood boards and get inspo, but its also almost impossible to find og artists thru posts half the time. if you want to find the artist, you do a reverse image search. if you dont know how to do that, then look it up

"they already gave me permission. why are they telling me to take it down now?" ppl are allowed to change their minds. it can be nice to have more ways for ppl to see ur art, but it can become disheartening when all the attention is on a post that isnt ur own. sometimes ppl are okay with it, and sometimes they arent. if they arent then you need to respect their wishes

artists are not machines. we are humans. we have feelings.

we make art for fun and it sucks a lot when that art we spend hours on is just copy and pasted onto some elses account.

dont repost art. and if you want to, follow the steps above. end of story. there are no loopholes or exceptions. if you want ppl to keep making art free to see, dont be rude. follow the steps and be respectful

i dont normally like ppl taking screenshots of my posts and putting them elsewhere, but im giving blanket permission for this one post. spread the word. put it where you want. tiktok, insta, reddit, etc etc. ive seen so many artists get so upset putting their art behind paywalls like patreon just to keep ppl from stealing it. and i know multiple who have stopped posting altogether and some that are debating stopping.

respect artists, guys. follow the steps. seriously

[iloveapplejacks]

WET DREAMZ P2

Inspired by Wet Dreamz by J.Cole

“The teacher always got mad so we passed notes

It started off so innocent

She had a vibe and a ***** started diggin' it

I was a youngin' straight crushin' tryna play this shit cool

But a ***** couldn't wait to get to school”

P1 P3 P4

It was English class and Chris was sat with Matt and Nate

Although he wasn't paying much attention to their conversation, his ears pricked when he heard Y/N’s name.

"The new girl is so bad bruh" nate exclaims stretching out his 'so'

"Bro I would tap that any day" Matt says

Both boys noticing that they suddenly caught Chris’ interest, turned to him

"Ain't she in your math class?" Nate asks, Matt leaning in slightly

"Yeah, Y/N is cool" Chris shrugs, wanting to say more but holding himself back.

Truth is, Y/N was more than cool.

In fact she was just perfect and it may have been the intense lust speaking but Chris really wanted her.

"Damn bro, well can you put in a good word with me?I'm tryna see a lil sumn"Nate laughs

"I don't know tbh, don't really know her" Chris shrugs

He knew what he was doing was selfish but he knew that All the girls fell at Nate’s feet and for once, just once he wanted one girl to fall at his feet.

So if that came at the cost of being a little selfish, then so be it.

Nate turned around to reply but the bell signalling the end of the lesson interrupted him.

Chris begins putting his books into his bag and puts it onto his back.

Grabbing his phone and earphones, and beginning to make his way out of the classroom

"Chris!" Someone shouts, causing him to turn around to see who was calling him.

He sees Y/N running over to him and once she reaches him she stops

"Hey Y/N" he says smiling

"We got math, let's go" she chuckles looping her arms with his and beginning to walk.

This catches him by surprise and he looks around to see everyone in the hall way staring at them with shock

the two began walking together until Nate stood in front of them

More specifically, Y/N

"Hey I'm Nate" he says flirtatiously holding his hand out for Y/N to shake

"Y/N" she smiles shaking his hand causing Chris to roll his eyes

"what you heading bro?" nate asks raising an eyebrow to him "Math, matter fact, we are kinda late so if you don't mind." Chris says shooting Nate a fake smile

He loved Nate like a brother but he knew that if he wanted to stand a chance to get to know Y/N Then he'd need to be selfish

"Okay well, I'll see you later, and Y/N it was lovely to meet you" Nate winks at Y/N before moving out of their way

After Nate’s departure, Y/N links her arms with Chris

"It's math time Christopher" she giggles, causing Chris to laugh loudly as the two continued to walk.

They both got to their math class and sat in their usual seats and immediately started laughing and bickering.

“You do realise that i’m teaching math lesson?" Mr Martinez yells frustratedly

"Ok I've had enough, Chris move to the front, and

Y/N move 2 seats down" he instructed

Both of them muttered something to themselves as they moved to where Mr Martinez instructed them to

Once they did, Chris kept calling for Y/N across the room

Both continued to talk to each other via notes for the remainder of the class and before they knew it, the bell signalling the end of the school day rang

"You're all dismissed but Y/N and Chris, I'd like to talk to you for a moment" mr martinez says

Y/N and chris looked at each other with confusion and waited until the class emptied out before walking over to mr martinez

"Now you're both very bright students who I enjoy teaching but you have to cut out this chatter" he says and both nod understandingly

"I just want you both to do really well in this class and that requires a bit of listening, so please I don't want to talk to the both of you about this again" he continues, the two muttering a 'yes sir!

"Okay you're both dismissed”

STOP I ACTUALLY DONT KMOW WHAT IM DOING RN but this song is one of my favorite so why not continue the good stuff is coming soon promise 🙏🏼

[candy8448]

Nothing like opening my eyes to a new linked universe update

Dawn pt8

My occasional source of dopamine XD

Its very satisfying seeing how all the traveling layers are put on. You can really imagine this scene animated

So a lot of important things were discussed, stuff the fandom have noticed before but its good that jojo finally mentioned them herself:

Shadow is the only this associated with the portals (pg1)

I LOVE how so many traits and experiences of the characters are shown here!!

Wild taking the blame first, he's got one heck a guilt complex (pg2)

We are just hit with everyone's emotions right off the bat and i love that!

I kinda like how blunt Time is

Wars talking about how "helping the wound isn't an option," things they must consider during war (pg3)

Legend trying to lighten the mood again like he always does (pg4)

I like to see how what they think of wolfie has changed now that they know it was twilight. Wars thinking its fine if the animal goes off alone cuz it doesnt understand but now making it clear that he doesn't like it

Secrets are getting in the way (such as wolfie) and hindering their process. Maybe it wouldn't have been so clunky if tgey knew exactly who wolfie is

WARS' SCARF IS BACK BABY! I got so excited when i saw it that page, dont worry guys, he has it back now!

Legend with his puzzle mind :))) my legend-centric brain is happy (pg5)

But his teasing almost boastfullness ("it just got lucky") but then turning in to actual contemplation, i love that he is also taking things seriously

Its actively seeking them out, Hyrule is wary that it will find them, like in his adventure (pg6)

They need to get better at teamwork

Four bringing in the joke about friendly fire. He definetly knows a lot about that (im reading the four swords manga for the first time and am near the begining sooo)

They need to use their arsenal

I just gotta say that i love this shot, very pleasing to my eye for some reason. But im so excited to see how everything goes with this! Im guessing in the near future, they will be taking these but to the extreme that it hinders them so they need to practice or something

Oof poor hyrule so tired of strong monsters, his games were HARD (pg7)

The power up on the sword! Ive seen a post about it before so its cool that they are noticing it, very important too!

I like the firmness with sky and time's ideas of the sword. Even though time says nothing about her we can see it, and the fact that she still sees him as her master (obviously!) It seems like they both need to sort out this dissagreement in order to not impact them even more (Pg8)

I love this especially because i just made a fic about exploring sky's and others' relationship with the master sword

I can't help but think that sky is thinking about more than just this quest in this update and back to his own adventure and maybe ghirahim. More bits in this update also make me think that ("he wants to fight" "yeah, 'cause he wont")

Wind being the one most eagre to fight! And Hyrule being the one most ready to go! I love that!

I was just thinking a few bays ago about what happened to those letters, i guess we get to see now! It seems like it might be one more update before we set off properly again (pg9)

Sky looking so happy about the mail at the end :)))

We really do get a piece of everyone and their personalities in this one

Im so excited for them to be on the road again!

[hoesheez]

Destined…

Yeosang/Mingi

WARNINGS: mentions of drinking and slight fuckery 🤭 oh and its GAY so if you dont like then dont read!!

A/N: so i really really really love this ship so fucking much?? idk if its the thing where they say they don’t have each others phone numbers or they are supposedly “awkward” around each other got the gears turning and had me think up so many scenarios 🤭 and besides some fics on ao3 i couldn’t really find much?? (please link me some if im wrong)

MINIRS DO NOT INTERACT!

Yeosang!” Wooyoung’s voice rang in Yeosang’s ears as he finally snapped out of his sudden trance while playing their usual silly drinking game. “Did you hear me? I said, never have i ever gotten road head.”

The younger explained and Yeosang immediately put his last finger down, taking a sip of his drink and causing the others seated around the coffee table to cheer loudly. “Damn, what haven’t you done?” San asked with a chuckle as he cleared the empty beer bottles from the table. Yeosang sighed, “It’s exactly why I didn’t wanna play, I always lose.” He said as he stood up from his spot on the floor and headed to the bathroom.

He shut the door behind him, slumping down to the floor to catch his breath. His heart ached, his gut almost nauseous as he replayed Mingi’s prior prompt during the game.

“Never have I ever fucked a guy.”

The nerve of him to say that, right in front of the guy he had definitely fucked. He sighed deeply, standing up and checking his reflection in the mirror. Yep, he indeed was that same Yeosang that Mingi had denied, and he hated that it affected him so much.

There was a knock at the door, “Hold on,” Yeosang called out. “It’s me,” a familiar deep voice resounded from behind the door. Yeosang groaned audibly, earning a small laugh from Mingi as he opened the door to face him. He was met with a sly smirk on the taller man’s face, “You good?” he asked as he walked in.

Yeosang closed the door and leaned against it, avoiding eye contact with the younger man. “Yeah, you?” Mingi checked himself out in the large mirror, “Yeah.”

A short conversation, unnecessary even, as Yeosang watched Mingi run his fingers through his thick red hair, forming it back into whatever well quaffed hairstyle he had before the girl he brought with him messed it up as they made out in front of everyone.

Mingi moved back over to him, his eyes looking Yeosang up and down with a bite to his lower lip. “You look so good,” his voice trailed off to a whisper as he leaned in, easily caging the shorter man against the door. Mingi’s lips began kissing gently along his neck, trailing a hot path up to his ear where he nibbled on the older man’s earlobe. “Thanks, so do you.” Yeosang huffed as Mingi’s hands moved to rest on his bare waist exposed beautifully by the tight crop top he opted to wear that night. Mingi hummed into his ear, “Can I sleep over tonight?”

Yeosang pushed Mingi back, “Are you serious? After what you said? And what about your girlfriend?!” Yeosang spat, that same devilish smirk appearing on Mingi’s face once again. “What about her?” he said as he cocked his head to the side. Yeosang shook his head, of course he was just playing everyone he kept around him. Did the girl even know about him? Yeosang’s mind began to race with thoughts, his heart beginning to ache again cause of the man before him and his carefree attitude towards whatever relationship he thought they had. “Didn’t you just wanna be fuck buddies? What’s the problem?” Mingi asked as he walked towards the door. He looked down at Yeosang, as if waiting for a response while still opening the door to leave. “It’s nothing,” Yeosang said, walking ahead of him and heading back to the living room.

Upon joining the others, Wooyoung tried to get him to play another drinking game but he refused and grabbed his phone he had left on the coffee table. “Try to keep it down please, I’m going to bed.” Wooyoung simply nodded in response as he shuffled the deck of cards in his hands. Yeosang walked by Mingi on the way to his room, neither one of then acknowledging the other.

After a warm shower to clear his mind of the night’s events, Yeosang slipped into his pajamas and settled into bed. The laughs and cheers of his roommates and guests dying down as the night went on. After scrolling through his phone for about an hour, he finally got that usual message from Mingi.

“You up?”

Yeosang rolled his eyes by how comically cliche his life had become, all for sex with a guy that probably didn’t even like him.

“Just make sure you shower before getting in my bed.”

Mingi walked in after about half an hour, shirtless and with the most unnecessarily tight boxers that Yeosang had ever seen. He admired the way they hugged his lower half perfectly. The absolute fuckery of this situation suddenly the last thing on his mind as the muscular man walked over to him.

The bed dipped under Mingi’s weight, his bare face and glowing skin from his nightly routine causing Yeosang’s breath to hitch in his throat. Seeing him like this always made him realize just how lucky he was to be able to be around someone as gorgeous as he was. And how lucky he was to share a bed with him.

“You like me or something?” Mingi asked as he moved closer, laying next to his older bandmate. Yeosang sighed holding back a blush, “You can’t possibly be that full of yourself,” Yeosang moved to straddle Mingi, not wasting any time in rubbing their clothed bulges together with a swift move of his hips. Mingi chuckled, “I can’t? Have you seen me?” he teased with an eyebrow raised. Yeosang playfully put his hands around Mingi’s neck, “Please shut the fuck up.”

He then closed the gap between them, their lips meeting in a fervor. Yeosang hated him, he was sure of it. He hated his soft plump lips, his strong hands that gripped him tightly and that dumb, deep sexy voice of his that coaxed him so sweetly through every orgasm.

Mingi was unlike any other lover he had before, it’s probably why he kept coming back despite everything. If only his personality matched everything else, he’d be the perfect boyfriend for him.

Mingi gripped his hips tightly, easily pushing Yeosang onto his back, hovering over him before leaning in to suck hickeys onto his skin. His lips trailed down his lean body, kissing the soft outlines of his chest and abs. “Fucking perfect.” Mingi’s raspy voice echoing through his ears as his hands and mouth worked frantically to arouse him even further.

Yeosang grabbed Mingi’s bright red locks, tugging hard as the younger placed gentle kisses on the stubbly skin right under his belly button, then moving lower to kiss the bulge in the elders shorts. “Mingi please,”

The younger man took notice of his pleas and finally pulled the older’s shorts down, letting his hard dick finally spring free. He tossed the shorts aside and took Yeosang’s legs by his ankles, opening them wider and moaning when he caught a glimpse of his cock and asshole.

“Are you?” Mingi asked as he lowered his head and began licking Yeosang’s tight asshole, slobbering all over his skin and pushing the tip of his tongue into him. “Y-yes, fuck please hurry up.”

Mingi pulled away with a loud smack of his lips, replacing his mouth with two of his thick fingers. “I like seeing you react like this though,” his thick fingers plunged into Yeosang’s asshole, just barely pushing up against his prostate to tease him.

Yeosang was about to plead once more, his mouth opening to complain but Mingi relented and went to the bedside table. He grabbed the lube and a condom, putting the foil package in between his lips gently. He squeezed a generous amount of lube onto Yeosang’s hole, the sudden chill causing him to shiver.

He tore the condom open with his free hand and his lips and slipped it over himself swiftly. The elder turned to lay on his belly, looking back as Mingi lined himself up with his entrance, arching his back to give him better access. Mingi pushed the head of his cock against Yeosang’s slicked asshole, entering him slowly. Yeosang relaxed against him, the stretch as Mingi thrust in him fully making him whimper. God, he was so glad he skipped dinner, he thought to himself as Mingi bottomed out with a groan. Mingi’s big hands held Yeosang’s hands against his lower back, using them to pull himself further into him. He rolled his hips against the older man as he sighed deeply, “So much tighter than her, fuck!”

Yeosang turned back to look at Mingi, who seemed in an almost trance as he thrust into him faster and faster. Why the fuck was he talking about someone else right now? Mingi groaned and cursed as he picked up speed. Yeosang moaned along with him, the sudden pricking of tears at his eyes taking him by surprise as he felt Mingi’s hands on his shoulders, using him as leverage to fuck deeper. “Yes Sangie, yes.”

Hearing his nick name fall from his lips was enough to break the damn and the tears began to fall. Yeosang buried his face in the blankets, crying and moaning at the same time awkwardly, his body betraying his mind as he craved more of the big man behind him. It was in this moment he realized he was just another one of Mingi’s toys being used, in whatever way he liked. The younger man began thrusting faster, chasing his high as Yeosang began tugging on his own cock. “I’m close Sangie.” Mingi huffed as he leaned down to place kisses on the older man’s neck and back. Mingi pumped into him a few more times, coming into the condom with a deep grunt. Yeosang cane into his hand as Mingi’s cock brought him over the edge, a muffled moan accompanied by what sounded like a whine met Mingi’s ears. “Yeosang?”

Mingi’s voice was hoarse as he moved the sweaty hair from Yeosang’s face, seeing the tears that were falling from his eyes. “You’re crying?” Mingi pulled out of him, the older man quickly reaching for his shorts and putting them back on. “Did I hurt you?” he asked as he stood up, pulling the condom off and discarding it in the nearby trash.

Yeosang wiped at his tears and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m fine, please just go.” Confused and wanting answers, Mingi didn’t budge. He moved to Yeosang’s side. “Please just tell me what I did?”

“Do you like me? Or am I some kind of sick fantasy for you? You have a girlfriend you fuck and then you come and fuck me like that? What exactly is this?” Yeosang spat, his sudden rambling catching even him by surprise. He turned away from Mingi, who just sat next to him and looked at the floor. “I’m not gay Yeosang, I just like having sex with you, and her, and I don’t want that to change.” He stood up and grabbed his boxers, shuffling into them and heading towards the door. “So you are just using me?” Yeosang sighed deeply, the younger man turning to him. “That’s what we agreed on isn’t it? Are you catching feelings? Is that why you were crying?” Yeosang stood up, taking one of the pillows on his bed and throwing it at Mingi, “Get the fuck out!” The younger obliged and quickly left, leaving Yeosang to cry his eyes out until he went to bed.

Yeosang would spend the next few days completely ignoring Mingi and pretending everything was fine. The argument they had the other night just another incident in his life of chasing after a fuckboy. He even blocked his number funnily enough, after finally having the real thing for only a few months.

After a long practice day, the four roommates were hanging out in their living room. Yeosang sat next to Wooyoung and watched as the man he was trying to ignore sat in front of him playing video games with San.

“Yeonjun is another really cute 99er, don’t you think?” Wooyoung asked as he watched the men play a fighting game in front of him, waiting patiently for his turn. Yeosang sighed and rolled his eyes, “Wooyo, please stop trying to hook me up, I’m not interested in dating right now.” His friend shook his head, “Who said anything about dating? I’m saying you should fuck him.” Wooyoung said bluntly. San chuckled, “Wow! So romantic, Youngie,” his boyfriend said sarcastically. Wooyoung rolled his eyes and ignored San’s comment.

“I don’t need help getting laid, but thanks, I guess?” Yeosang laughed and busied himself with his phone, tired of burning holes with his eyes into the back of Mingi’s head. “So, you are fucking someone? I knew it!” the younger man said as he moved closer. “Who is it? Do i know them? Are they in our company?” Wooyoung’s rapid fire questions went unanswered as his friend ignored him.

Mingi continued to click the buttons on the remote like it was nothing, reaching over San and grabbing a chip to munch on. “It’s none of your business.” Yeosang said and Wooyoung just moved in closer to him, “Ohhh? So you like them then huh? Not telling me about it means it’s serious.” he poked Yeosang’s cheek playfully as he waited to hear more.

Yeosang shook his head, laughing awkwardly, “Actually no, you just don’t need to know him thats all.” He immediately regretted saying too much as Wooyoung smiled wide showing all of his teeth “HIM?!” Wooyoung’s voice practically shattered the windows as he screamed and stood up on the couch.

“You’re having hot gay sex and not giving me any details?! What kind of a friend are you?!” Yeosang wanted to implode, to run away without having to answer and started inching his way off of the couch but Wooyoung held him down with his body, throwing himself on top of his friend.

San turned to them, a thick eyebrow raised, “They 99 too?” Yeosang scrunched his mouth into a line, “Absolutely not telling you that.” he said as he tried pushing Wooyoung off of him. “Okay okay, just tell me one thing then,” Wooyoung said with a sinister smile, “How’s the sex?”

Yeosang’s breath hitched as he involuntarily looked at Mingi, wondering what he could be thinking. He quickly darted his eyes to the TV, then in about twenty other directions. He soon realized however that he didn’t owe Mingi anything, not any kind words or even any kind of sympathy. And he still felt like shit after what he said to him the other night. He stilled his resolve and sighed.

“Not great.” Wooyoung let out a loud laugh and Mingi suddenly stopped pressing the buttons on the remote. San quickly took the opening and knocked out Mingi’s character. A loud “KO!” was heard in the silence of the room. San elbowed him, “The hell was that? you kinda just gave up there.” Mingi handed him the remote and stood up, “Tired,” was all he said before saying goodnight and heading off to his room.“Youngie,” San said with his deep voice as he handed his boyfriend the remote.

“Anyway, do you want Yeonjun’s number or not?” Wooyoung asked before eating a handful of gummy bears. Yeosang didn’t know how to answer, he was still taken aback by Mingi’s sudden departure after what he said. Did he strike a nerve? He couldn’t help but feel good about having that effect on him though, wondering if Mingi had ended up catching feelings too? Why else would he just get up and leave like that? He wondered how his former lover would react to seeing him with someone else, and decided to seize the opportunity to make him jealous. “Sure, give me his number.”

———————————————-

It wasn’t long before 2Yeo became a thing, the term of course coined by Wooyoung. Yeonjun was sweet and so kind to him, the perfect boyfriend honestly. Yeosang couldn’t complain about much. But when it came to the sex, it just wasn’t as good as it was with Mingi.

They came back to the dorms late after another perfect date. They giggled and stumbled along the dark hallway to Yeosang’s room and were on each other as soon as the door was closed.

“Yeosang, fuck you feel so good,” Yeonjun’s voice was low and raspy as Yeosang rode him slowly. Yeonjun met his thrusts, his eyes practically rolling to the back of his head. Yeosang tugged on his own cock, feeling Yeonjun’s dick so deep inside prodding at his prostate, his peak bounding near. He shut his eyes, the sudden thought of Mingi’s deep voice in his ears praising him huskily. How could he even be thinking about someone else at this time? He was no better than Mingi in that regard as he remembered their last time together. Yeonjun was the first person he’d hooked up with since Mingi, so he couldn’t help but compare the two, but this was the absolute worst time to do so.

He shook the thoughts away and tried to focus on Yeonjun’s sweet moans under him as the man gripped his thighs tightly. His euphoric peak came over him, his next words betraying him and the person he was on top of. “Fuck, Mingi!” Yeosang cried out as he came, his hot seed spurting out onto Yeonjun’s abdomen.

Yeonjun was almost frozen under him as he opened his eyes finally, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. It only registered in his mind when he saw the look on Yeonjun’s face, “Oh shit, Yeonjun I’m sorry.” he yelped as he covered his face with his hands.

The man under him sat up on his elbows and looked at him, his cheeks red from embarrassment. “Wow,” he huffed as he looked at Yeosang, who had finally moved off of him. “God I’m so sorry, I was thinking of him and“ Yeonjun’s eyes went wide, “While you were fucking me?”

Yeosang shook his head trying to still the other’s anxiety, getting up and grabbing some tissues to clean him up. He wiped his release from Yeonjun’s stomach and took the condom off of him, “I promise it’s not like that, there’s nothing between me and Mingi, I swear.” He leaned over and gave Yeonjun a kiss once he was finished. “It just came out by mistake.” Yeonjun moved to stand up, “Don’t worry about it, its fine.” he lied and collected his scattered clothes off of the floor.

He quickly put his clothes back on, reaching for his phone on the nightstand and checking the time. “I have an early schedule tomorrow, so i should go.” Yeosang threw on some shorts and a shirt and hurried after him, “Let me walk you out.”

They exited his room and walked by the kitchen on the way to the front door. The last person Yeonjun probably wanted to see currently in the kitchen, shuffling around making something to eat. “Oh, hey Yeonjun.” Mingi said with a wave, one that Yeonjun simply ignored.

Yeosang suddenly felt sick, his stomach in knots and a cold sweat beginning to form on his brow. Yeonjun turned back and gave him a kiss once they reached the front door. He pulled away and rested his forehead on Yeosang’s, “Sorry if i was rude just now, I just wasn’t expecting to see him.” he said with a sigh and a roll of his eyes. Yeosang shook his head, “It’s okay, just call me later.”

After saying their goodbyes, Yeosang went back into the kitchen. “Your boyfriend’s fucking rude,” Mingi’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

“He’s just tired,” the older man said, trying to excuse his boyfriends behavior. Mingi scoffed, his hands busy cooking as he looked over at Yeosang. “You hungry?” Yeosang shook his head, “No, I’ll probably just have some water and go to bed” He opened the cabinet that housed the cups and before he could even reach for one, Mingi came over and grabbed one for him. He took the glass, looking up into Mingi’s eyes, wanting to tell him about what happened but also not wanting to hurt Yeonjun in that way. He knew Mingi would just laugh and make fun of him so he just kept it to himself. “Thanks.”

Yeosang stood there watching him, a question still on his mind. “Do you remember when me and Wooyoung were talking and you suddenly left the room after what I said?” he asked as he filled the glass with water. Mingi chuckled, “You mean when you said I was a terrible lay?” he scraped his food out of the pan and onto the waiting dish near the stove.

“I didn’t say terrible,” he said and took a sip, “but I was trying to hurt your feelings.” Yeosang said reluctantly, unsure of how he’d take it. “Well, it worked.” Mingi took a big bite of his food. “We both know it’s not true, unfortunately.” Yeosang said with a sigh, his heart skipping a beat as a sudden heat washed over him. Mingi turned to him, a cocky smirk on his face. God he’d be lying if he said his dick didn’t just jump from that. Mingi walked up to him, backing him up against the counter and placing his hands on either side of the elder. “Really? Then why aren’t you in my bed right now?” Mingi practically growled as he leaned closer and inhaled Yeosang’s scent that he had missed so much.

Mingi brought Yeosang’s face to look up at him, “I probably deserved that, what you said to Wooyoung, I was horrible to you, I’m sorry.” Yeosang’s heart skipped a beat as Mingi kissed him softly. He wanted nothing more than to just melt against him, to pull him closer and kiss him back, but he knew he couldn’t. Yeosang pulled away first, “I have a boyfriend, Mingi.” His voice betrayed him as it cracked, his heart aching in his chest.

“Break up with him, please?” Mingi asked desperately. Yeosang felt tears stinging his eyes suddenly, the situation growing worse by the second. “But you said you didn’t feel the same, why are you saying all of this now?” Mingi turned away, rubbing his hair roughly, a loud groan escaping his mouth. “Cause I didn’t think it’d bother me so much seeing you with someone else!”

Yeosang realized in that moment that he finally got him, but at a price. The price being Yeonjun’s heart. “It’s a little too late now.” Yeosang turned away from him with a heavy heart. “I know,” the younger said, walking back to his food and taking a bite of his food angrily. Yeosang left without another word and headed back to his room before he did something he’d seriously regret.

The next day, there was a knock at Yeosang’s door, “It’s me,” Mingi said from the other side. Yeosang went to open it and was met with his bandmate in workout gear. “Uhm, did you wanna go to the gym?” Yeosang couldn’t help but smile at the younger’s shyness. The ultra charismatic rapper that always dazzled on stage, was currently in front of him avoiding his eyes. “Just the two of us?” Mingi nodded and turned to look down the hall, “Some of the guys are at the studio and Wooyoung and san don’t wanna go so,” Mingi sighed, “Actually forget it, it’s fine.” Yeosang grabbed his arm, “No I’ll go just give me a few minutes.”

Once Yeosang was done getting ready he met Mingi in the living room. Wooyoung looked over at his friend, “The two of you going somewhere?” his voice lowered as he stared between the two of them, “Alone?” Yeosang eyed his friend, wondering what he meant by that. Wooyoung flashed him a smile however, “Have fun!” he exclaimed and blew them both a kiss. Once they left, Wooyoung turned to San, “Yeosang said Mingi’s name while he fucked Yeonjun.” he said quickly, covering his mouth with his hands as if that would take back the words he just spoke. San choked on his drink at the news and then laughed way too hard at what he just heard.

After an intense workout session, one that was surprisingly as un- flirtatious as possible, they arrived back at the dorm. They heard a familiar voice coming from the kitchen and Yeosang sighed deeply. “Fuck, he’s gonna think we were doing something together.” Mingi looked down at the shorter man, “We were though? We went to the gym? Why does it matter?” Yeosang just looked at Mingi, realizing he was making a big deal about it and should calm down or he’d have to tell Mingi why it would be a problem with them walking in together. “It’s nothing.” Yeosang headed to the kitchen and greeted his boyfriend that he wasn’t expecting to see.

“Hey babe.” Yeosang said with a sigh and came over to give Yeonjun a kiss. “Well I really hate to be a horrible host, but i should go.” Wooyoung’s voice was in a high pitched tone as if he knew he was in trouble. “Why?” Yeosang questioned his friend, seeing his demeanor suddenly change as Mingi walked in. Yeonjun’s eyes immediately went to Mingi and they exchanged a greeting, albeit a very awkward one. Yeosang then realized why his friend was acting so weird. He went over to him and pinched his arm playfully, mouthing a “You know?” so that only he could see.

San emerged from the hall and Wooyoung cheered. “Oh thank fuck, baby don’t we have something?” he asked as he walked over to his boyfriend, who was taken aback by his sudden statement. “What?” San asked and finally took in his surroundings. He looked between 2Yeo and Mingi who was now looking in the fridge. San chuckled and pulled Wooyoung into a back hug. “No I think we’re right where we’re supposed to be.” he said and gave him a small peck on the cheek. “Why are you shaking?” he asked Wooyoung as Mingi closed the fridge and looked amongst them all, “Can we order something? I’m starving.”

They all sat awkwardly in the living room, waiting for the food. Mingi stared at Yeonjun as he sat closely to the man he already accepted as his. Yeosang stared at Wooyoung, silently seething and regretting ever inviting him to audition at KQ. San did his best to hold back his laughter at the whole situation, his boyfriend next to him practically vibrating with anxiety. “So anyway, Hongjoong suggested we throw a party,” San’s voice finally broke the silence, “Yeonjun, you’re more than welcome to come of course, and tell your members too.” Mingi rolled his eyes at the suggestion, his body language getting tense as he absentmindedly watched whatever was on the TV. “Cool, I’ll let them know,” Yeonjun said and turned to Wooyoung, “You should see if Changbin is free, and the others.” Wooyoung went on his phone and began typing, “Thats a great idea!”

“Mingi are you single?” Yeonjun asked as he pulled Yeosang closer. Yeosang looked at his boyfriend, wondering where he was going with this and if he should stop him. “Yeah, why?” Mingi turned to their guest, his position on the couch changing as he focused. He leaned forward, his forearms on his thighs, looking ready to jump up and fight him if he had to for whatever reason. Yeosang felt a wave of heat erupt over his body as he looked between Mingi’s legs, his manspread in his workout shorts leaving nothing to the imagination. God he hated how attracted he still was to him.

Yeonjun cocked his head to the side, “I hear Felix is single too and he seems like your type.” Yeosang’s heart fell to his stomach, what the fuck was Yeonjun trying to do? “How would you even know my type?” Mingi asked, but before Yeonjun could retort, the doorbell rang, signaling that their food was here. “Finally!” Wooyoung yelped as he stood suddenly, “I’m in a hell of my own creation.” he said under his breath as he opened the front door and grabbed their food.

The presence of food meant that the conversation ended, the men too busy enjoying their meals. They soon cleaned up and San offered everyone some beer as they relaxed. Yeosang could tell there was something on Yeonjun’s mind so he reached over and put a hand on his thigh, “What’s up with you?” His question fell on deaf ears however as Yeonjun seemed determined to find out some kind of truth.

“Are the two of you fucking?” Yeonjun said unprompted. Wooyoung turned to San slowly, hoping he had an answer for their current predicament. “Who the fuck are you talking to?” Mingi cursed as he looked over at Yeonjun, already on edge having to see them so close to one another. “Babe, why are you asking that? There’s nothing between us, there never was.” Yeosang lied and averted Mingi’s hurt gaze. “Then why did you say his name when we fucked? There has to be a reason right?” Wooyoung and San stood up in unison finally ready to make their escape. They shuffled around the coffee table awkwardly as they made their exit, quickly running to their room and closing the door. Those who remained in the living room could hear Wooyoung let out a muffled scream.

“You didn’t have to bring that up in front of him, are you trying to embarrass me?” Yeosang’s voice was low as he looked down at his hands. Mingi who hadn’t responded with much more than a frown upon seeing Yeosang so upset, swallowed his pride, although he wanted nothing more than to put Yeonjun in his place. “Like he said, there’s nothing going on, and nothing has ever happened between us.” Yeonjun sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair. “Okay, then I’m probably just overthinking things, sorry.”

After the awkward conversation and a kiss of reassurance to Yeonjun as he left, Mingi and Yeosang were now alone. Yeosang felt a pang of guilt in his chest, even though technically he hadn’t done anything wrong. “Do you even like him, Sangie?” Mingi’s soft and low voice pulled him from his thoughts. Yeosang nodded, “He’s good to me. He’s kind and genuine, he’s caring and says all the right things.” the man’s voice trailed off in thought as all he could do was compliment his boyfriend, but not admit that he didn’t really feel anything towards him.

“But do you like him?” Mingi asked again as he moved closer to Yeosang. He looked at Mingi with tears in his eyes and shook his head. “I haven’t stopped liking you, Mingi.” Mingi pulled him in close, embracing him tightly as he cried.

That night Yeosang lay in bed, messaging Wooyoung about his dilemma. His friend offered him his best advice, which just ended in him having to break up with Yeonjun. A message from Mingi appeared, his number now unblocked thanks to their gym date.

“did you really say my name while he fucked you?”

Yeosang’s face got hot as he read the message. He then let out a groan as he contemplated his life choices.

“Yeah I did“

He watched the three dots dance as Mingi typed, hoping whatever he had to say wasn’t going to embarrass him further.

“That’s so fucking hot Sangie”

Yeosang felt his stomach jump at the message, biting his lip as he teased the idea of flirting.

“I was thinking of you, while i was riding him, and it just came out”

Yeosang reached down into his shorts and began to tug on his dick, waiting for Mingi’s response.

“You’re making me so fucking hard right now, want you so bad.”

Yeosang contemplated letting the man into his bed, the fleeting thought sending a pang of guilt to his heart. He didn’t stop touching himself though. He reached into his bedside drawer, pulled out the lube and squirted enough in his hand to aid in his ministrations. He shut his eyes and thought about Mingi. He remembered the delicious stretch of his big cock going in and out of him relentlessly. A small moan escaped his lips as his phone buzzed.

He opened the message and watched in awe as Mingi stroked himself in the video he just sent him. His hand pumped fast, the sound of his slicked skin made Yeosang buck up into his hand harder. He knew what he was doing was wrong, in every way, but he couldn’t stop himself. He moved to position himself on his knees, putting a pillow in front of him to support his phone as he recorded himself. He tugged on his dick harder and faster, his abs clenching as he let out a moan. “M-Mingi, fuck me.” he huffed out as he fucked up into his hand seeking his release. He came in no time, his cum spurting out in thick ribbons over his hand and abs. He shakily took the phone, quickly sending the video to Mingi.

“fuck i love it when you say my name.”

Yeosang cleaned up with a tissue, quickly laying back down after putting his shorts back on. His mind reeled as he waited for whatever Mingi had to say next. He fall asleep unfortunately, not seeing Mingi’s response video until the next morning, a wave of guilt washing over him once again. ———————————————-

The night of the party finally arrived and as promised TXT and Stray Kids members were in attendance. Yeosang stayed on his boyfriend’s arm all night, feeling the need to redeem himself even though Yeonjun had no idea about his sexting session with Mingi.

Mingi managed to stay away from him too, chatting with his bestie Yunho and the other guests. Wooyoung observed their distance and chugged his drink, hoping this situation would work out in Mingi’s favor. Yeosang didn’t know that the two of them had been talking about what happened and how he was secretly rooting for his two bandmates to get together. The tension between them was thick and Wooyoung could only pretend to be nice for so long. As he contemplated his previous decision to introduce 2Yeo, he watched as Felix sat down next to Mingi. He was suddenly on high alert, as if he was tasked to be Yeosang and Mingi’s matchmaker. He went to his friend, smiling at Yeonjun as he asked to borrow his boyfriend.

Wooyoung pulled Yeosang into the bathroom, closing the door and breathing deeply. “We’re suddenly not the hottest twinks here!” Yeosang rolled his eyes knowing what he meant immediately. “He really didn’t need to wear a damn mini skirt but fuck his legs look incredible.” the older man said, referring to Felix’s choice of attire. “And Mingi’s all over him!” Wooyoung said and threw his hands in the air.

Yeosang raised a brow at him, “So what?” The younger man sighed dramatically, taking his friend’s shoulders in his hands and lightly shaking him. “That should be you! Fuck why haven’t you broken up with Yeonjun yet?!” Yeosang was taken aback, why did Wooyoung suddenly care about what happened between him and Mingi? “If I had known the two of you liked each other, I never would’ve given you Yeonjun’s number.” he said with a sigh.

“Mingi told you?” Yeosang asked as he placed a hand on his hip. “Don’t blame him! I basically forced it out of him, I needed to know after Yeonjun told me about uh, the incident.” Yeosang realized that Wooyoung knew the whole time, but didn’t pry even though he was the most nosy out of them all. “Do you think we’d be good together? He was kind of an asshole to me at first.” Yeosang explained letting wooyoung know it wasn’t always a mutual interest, or so he thought.

Wooyoung nodded, “I know, and he hates himself for it, he was just really unsure of his sexuality. I told him he doesn’t need to put a damn label on it! If he likes you then that’s all that matters right?” he sighed and checked himself out in the mirror, “The two of you are making me age rapidly.” Yeosang elbowed him playfully, “Thanks Wooyo, you’re nice when you’re not plotting.” he said and checked himself in the mirror next. “Oh I’m still plotting! And If you don’t break up with Yeonjun, I’ll do it for you!”

The two of them hugged and went back to the party. Wooyoung quickly went to San and kissed him deeply, surprising the man and pulling him from his conversation with Changbin. “Thank god you’re my soulmate.”

Yeosang laughed at his best friend’s interaction with his boyfriend and turned to finally deal with his “problem” next. He sighed deeply and stilled his nerves, contemplating how he’d start the conversation. He looked at Yeonjun who was talking and laughing with the others, his bright smile making his heart melt. He went through a couple of different scenarios in his mind, his attention suddenly turned towards the hall however. He watched in shock as Mingi and Felix walked out of Mingi’s room, his heart sinking to his gut. The hot blonde that stole the eyes of most of the men at the party adjusted his skirt as he walked by him and back to the couch. Mingi cleared his throat as he walked up to Yeosang, “It’s not what it looks like, he just wanted to see my PC.” the taller man explained, feeling as though he needed to explain himself. With the way Yeosang was fed up with this whole situation he just ignored Mingi and went to Yeonjun, whispering in his ear.

Mingi couldn’t help but smile as he watched 2Yeo head out of the apartment together. He turned to Wooyoung who gave him a very excited thumbs up with a face that looked like he wanted to cry.

Yeosang held Yeonjun’s hand in his as they walked outside. “Yeonjun I-“ as the man spoke Yeonjun cut him off with a sigh. “Did you ever even like me?” he asked as he pulled his hand away. “Did I do something wrong? Or was I not doing enough?” Yeosang took both of Yeonjun’s hands this time, meeting his gaze, “Yeonjun! You’re literally the perfect boyfriend, okay? I’m just, in love with someone else, I’m sorry.” he rubbed his hands with his thumbs, pulling him closer.

“Mingi?” he asked and Yeosang nodded. Yeonjun pulled away with a sigh, “Shit.” Yeosang began to feel lighter, his worries and burdens floating off of him with every word as he spoke. “You’ll make someone really happy Yeonjun, I’m sorry that I couldn’t be that person for you.” Yeonjun just nodded, “Right, I’m sorry too, for wasting your time.”

Mingi sat next to Felix as he waited for Yeosang to come back, the blonde going on about how many different gacha games he was currently playing. Yeonjun walked in first, going straight to his members Soobin and Beomgyu and whispering something to them. He then went and thanked Wooyoung for the invite and left without another word. Soobin and Beomgyu awkwardly waved goodbye to the other guests snd followed Yeonjun out of the apartment.

Yeosang went and poured himself a shot, throwing it back quickly as Wooyoung walked up to him. “Me too.” he said cheekily and pushed a shot glass next to Yeosang’s empty one. Yeosang poured them both a shot and they clinked the glasses together before clearing the shots with ease.

The party went on without any other issues, the guests laughing and enjoying themselves as the night went on. The party guests soon began to leave, but the twink of the hour came up to Mingi and gave him his number. He kissed him on the cheek and headed out with his members. Yeosang rolled his eyes snd went off to his room, Mingi following close behind as Wooyoung and San laughed loudly.

Mingi huffed as he entered Yeosang’s room, “Please don’t be mad at me I-“ the man’s words caught in his throat as he saw Yeosang clad in the tightest lace lingerie. “Close the door.” the older man commanded and Mingi obeyed, shutting the door loudly. Yeosang walked over to him, his lean and muscular body looking absolutely stunning as he strutted over. Mingi licked his lips in anticipation, gulping audibly as Yeosang reached down and palmed the taller man through his jeans. “You were wearing this the whole time? you look so fucking good, Sangie,” Mingi’s voice was so gravely and needy it made Yeosang whimper. “This isn’t the only thing I’ve been wearing all night.” he said and took Mingi’s hands, bringing them to rest on his plump rear. Mingi’s jaw dropped when his hands explored the expanse of Yeosang’s ass and his fingers landed on the plug in his asshole. “I’m going to be so fucking good to you, I promise Sangie.”

Yeosang’s heart swelled as the man of his dreams leaned in to kiss him, pulling him closer and walking him backwards to his bed. Yeosang turned and got on his knees, slowly crawling in front of Mingi to give him a better look at his rear. He heard the younger man’s breath hitch in his throat as he arched his back and moved his rear teasingly.

Mingi eagerly removed his clothes, got on his knees and pulled the plug from his lover’s asshole. Mingi immediately spit on the stretched out hole before him, burying his face into it tongue first. “Ah! Mingi!” he yelped out, not caring for a second who heard him. He reached back and tugged Mingi’s hair harshly, signaling to the man that he wanted more and needed him deeper inside. Mingi spat and slobbered all over him, using his thick fingers to pump into him while he licked down his taint and began sucking on his thick ball sack from behind. Yeosang felt his head spin from his touch, moaning wildly as Mingi worked on him, pouring every bit of his passion into what he was doing.

Mingi pulled off of him, earning a whine from the smaller man as he stood. Mingi slapped his ass in appreciation before pulling off his boxers. Yeosang turned to meet Mingi’s big, hard cock, taking it into his mouth while holding onto his thighs. He moaned as the dick he had missed for months was finally back in his mouth. “I’m so fucking stupid, shit!” Mingi cursed as Yeosang took him in further, “You’re perfect for me and I’m a fucking idiot.” Yeosang pulled off of him with a pop, “Let’s not talk about that anymore.” he said as he pumped him and leaned up for a kiss. “What we have from now on is way more important.” He wrapped his arms around Mingi’s neck and pulled him down to hover over him.

Their lips met and Yeosang held him closely as if he was scared he’d disappear right then and there. Mingi reached down and tore the lace bra Yeosang was wearing, his hot mouth moved to trail kisses down Yeosang’s neck and chest. His tongue licked and swirled around his now exposed nipples, sucking on them desperately before pulling away. Mingi looked down at him with a smile before getting the lube from the nightstand. Yeosang shimmied out of his underwear and waited for Mingi to finish prepping himself. He licked his hand and tugged on his dick, “Did you want to, fuck me without a condom?” Yeosang huffed as he fucked up into his hand. “You sure?” Mingi asked waiting for Yeosang’s nod of approval before he coated himself generously with lube. The older man reached out for Mingi to pass him the lube. He squeezed a glob onto his own asshole and pushed his fingers inside. Mingi moved to replace Yeosang’s hand with the tip of his bare cock, sliding in smoothly and bottoming out inside of him. Mingi leaned down, kissing him briefly before pulling away to look at him.

Yeosang’s face contorted in pleasure as Mingi picked up his pace. The younger man looked down at the older, taking in his soft beautiful features and kissing him all over his face. Yeosang giggled, “So gentle, you’re allowed to be rougher with me, you know.” Mingi moaned against his neck, feeling the tightness of Yeosang molding against him. “I’m trying to make love to you Sangie, not just fuck you.” He pulled away and placed his hands on either side of the man under him, looking down into his eyes intensely. Yeosang wrapped his legs around Mingi’s waist as the man above him thrust in an out agonizingly slow. “Feels so good,” Yeosang sighed, his hands coming to hold the back of Mingi’s head. “Better than Yeonjun?” Mingi said with a smirk and Yeosang blushed, “Stop it!” he chastised him but moaned when Mingi’s fat cock hit his prostate. “But yes, ahh!” his moans were like a song as they fell on the younger’s ears, his lips kissing his neck and chest before moving back to kiss his lover on the mouth.

They held each other close as Mingi started to move faster, Yeosang meeting his hips desperately. “Just like that Sangie, fuck.” Mingi growled into his ear as they chased their highs. The sound of skin slapping against skin accompanied with the occasional moan filled the room as they loved on one another, fucking each other with true love for the first time.

“Mingi!” Yeosang cried out as his peak crashed into him, causing his body to shake as he came all over himself and Mingi. As Yeosang came, Mingi pumped into him a few more times, letting out a soft moan, the softest Yeosang had ever heard, and filled him with his release. As he stilled inside of him, Yeosang rubbed his back and praised him softly. “Mmm, so good Mingi, no one has ever fucked me like that, so fucking good.” his voice was deep in Mingi’s ears, giving the younger man the praise he knew he loved as he kissesd wherever he could reach on Yeosang’s soft skin.

After cleaning up, they dressed in pajamas and got comfortable in bed. “Have you ever even been to my room?” Mingi asked as Yeosang lay on his chest. “Not since we moved in, why?” Yeosang asked as he looked at Mingi, who had a concerned look on his face. “Do you want to, sleep in my bed tonight?” Mingi asked with an eyebrow raised. Yeosang nodded, the beginning of many firsts for the new couple making him feel just that more special.

Mingi got out of bed first and picked Yeosang up bridal style and they giggled through the hall towards Mingi’s room. He placed his prize down on his bed and continued to kiss him, telling him just how great they’ll be together and how much he loved him.

A/N: honestly i didn’t know how to end it but i think it turned out cute?? i just love them together they’re so awkward and adorable together? 🤭❤️❤️❤️

[pinkiepie20000]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ PINKIEPIE20000 X MALE READER ((ANGST!!!)) (MPREG) (PINKIEPIE20000 IS NOT A FUTA)

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ synopsis: you're pregnant and pinkiepie20000 is the father! while you dream of becoming a family, pinkiepie20000 has other things in mind.

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pinkiepie20000 blinked at the small bump in your stomach, scratching her ass intently, digging at the crack with fervor.

"why are you pregnant"

You gazed tearfully up at pinkiepie20000, fondling at your dinger donger.

"how did this happen? I'm not a futa..." pinkiepie20000 sighed, scratching her ass with disappointment. How could you have gotten yourself a fetus to develop in your stomach? You literally have a dingle dongle...

"so... pinkiepie20000" you smiled at your beautiful pinkiepie20000. "What are we going to name the baby..? Do you think it'll be a girl or a boy?" you giggled gently, caressing the baby egg with love in your eyes.

"kill it"

"..."

"kill it"

"that's a weird name for a baby...!"

"KILL THE BABY"

"WHAT"

"EVERYONE IS GOING TO TELL ME IM A FUTA IF THIS GETS OUT. YOU NEED TO GET OUT AND KILL THE BABY"

"can we honestly e date? you’re so beautiful. You always make me laugh, you always make me smile. You literally make me want to become a better person... I really enjoy every moment we spend together. My time has no value unless its spent with you. I tell everyone of my irls how awesome you are. Thank you for being you. Whenever you need someone to be there for you, know that i’ll always be right there by your side. I love you so much. I don’t think you ever realize how amazing you are sometimes. Life isn’t as fun when you’re not around. You are truly stunning. I want you to be my soulmate. I love the way you smile, your eyes are absolutely gorgeous. If I had a star for everytime you crossed my mind i could make the entire galaxy. Your personality is as pretty as you are and thats saying something. I love you, please date me. I am not even calling it e dating anymore because I know we will meet soon enough heart OK I ADMIT IT I LOVE YOU OK i hecking love you and it breaks my heart when i see you play with someone else or anyone commenting in your profile i just want to be your girlfriend and put a heart in my profile linking to your profile and have a walltext of you commenting cute things i want to play video games talk in discord all night and watch a movie together but you just seem so uninsterested in me it hecking kills me and i cant take it anymore i want to remove you but i care too much about you so please i’m begging you to eaither love me back or remove me and never contact me again it hurts so much to say this because i need you by my side but if you dont love me then i want you to leave because seeing your icon in my friendlist would kill me everyday of my pathetic life."

"no i need you to get rid of the baby"

You tearfully look at pinkiepie20000. Did she really just reject your confession of love and desire to edate her??????? A-and to tell you to get rid of your beautiful baby that probably looks like an oversized lizard right now..?

"N-no!!! I'll never do that!! It's my baby!!!" You scream, clutching your stomach, your legs shaking. "I SHOULD'VE CHOSEN THE BEAR INSTEAD OF YOU!!! I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!! I LOVED YOU!!!!" you fall to the floor on your knees in a full blown sob. "I THOUGHT THE GIFT OF YOUR TEMU DINOSAUR DILDO WAS A SIGN OF OUR LOVE!! A KEEPSAKE!! A SYMBOL OF OUR ETERNAL AFFECTION FOR EACHOTHER!!!!"

pinkiepie20000 simply looked at you and turned into the shark memoji, winking at you and sticking her tongue out before returning to her main form, Jeffery from Class of 09.

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO OUR CHILD!! YOU.. YOU...." you sob, groveling at pinkiepie20000's feet. Much to your dismay, she starts reciting the lyrics to Look at Me from TWICE, the KPOP group. "YOU DEMON!!!!!!"

pinkiepie20000 started eating grass silently. You scream in pain. "PINKIEPIE20000 I SWEAR ON MY LIFE THAT ON SEPTEMBER 5TH, AT 3:26 AM THIS CHILD WILL BE BORN AND I WILL COME FOR YOU FOR CHILD SUPPORT!!!!"

"im telling you to kill the baby not raise it that's your problem" pinkiepie20000 returned to scratching their ass with great enthusiasm.

"WH... WH-" You choke and sob, glaring at pinkiepie20000 with betrayal. "ARE YOU GOING TO LEAVE ME TO GO AND PEG THAT REDHEAD???"

pinkiepie spared you one last glance, smiling with a hand on their asscheeks, obviously giving them a good scratch. "I'm a Diluc pegger."

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Copyright © 2024 sofa [DO NOT REPOST.]

this was honestly so beautiful i shed a tear, im violently sobbing, write more i'll shoot the man next to me WHY IS THE TEMU DINOSAUR DILDO THERE THATS FROM JANUARY

[miralunawritez]

"Need you now.."

Veneer x fem!reader

angsty angst

based off of the song that is linked 😋

Plot: Veneer and the reader had a horrible argument and ended up breaking up after 3 years of dating. Its been weeks and they are both hurting horribly. Wishing they still had each other

green: veneer

mixed: reader and veneer

"Hey sorry I missed your call, just leave a message after the beep"

...

"Hey uh..its me, I'm still thinking about everything that I uh..- I dont know. I just..I just miss you so much.. Give me a call back if you can."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You sat on the floor, looking at the "picture perfect" memories that were scattered all around the floor. Each picture reminding you of how good it was with him. You thought hard before reaching for your phone, unable to fight the pain anymore.

"I wonder if I ever cross his mind.." You thought, wondering if you were making the right decision by reaching out to him. "For me it happens all the time.." You thought again before opening your messaging app, your hands shaking as you click on his name and start typing.

"Its a quarter after one, Im all alone and I need you now.."

"Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now.."

"And I dont know how I can do without, I just need you now.."

.

.

.

Another shot of whiskey slid down his throat as he looked at the door, he wished you would just come sweeping in the way you did before.

"And I wonder if I ever cross her mind.." He thought to himself, "For me it happens all the time.." he thought again before feeling his phone buzz multiple times, opening his phone quickly when he saw they were from you. He read them with tears in his eyes, his heart going a hundred mph.

"Its a quarter after one, Im all alone and I need you now.."

"I'm a little drunk and I need you now.."

"Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now.."

"And I dont know how I can do without, I just need you now.."

.

.

.

You saw that he read it and decided to send another text.

"I just need you now.."

You laid down on the floor, the tears hitting the hard floor as you lay in the dark, the only light coming from your phone. The silence was broken by the sound of your sobs os desperation and heartbreak.

"Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all.."

A thought that killed both you and Veneer. He couldn't take it anymore, he dialed your number and put the phone up to his ear, hoping you would answer.

.

.

.

You felt your phone buzz in your hand. It was a call. Your heart raced, hoping it was Veneer. Your sobs grew louder when you saw it was him. You immediately picked up the phone.

"Its a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now!"

"And I said I wouldn't call, but I'm a little drunk and I need you now!"

"And I dont know how I can do without..I just need you now!"

"I just need you now!"

.

"Oh baby, I need you now.."

.

.

.

You said before he hung up the phone. You immediately returned to crying on the floor, your body limp as you laid on your side, the tears rolling off of your cheeks and leaving a small puddle next to your head.

.

.

.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[halfpricedpages]

intro post (finally)

ive debated making an intro post because first off ive been on tumblr for two years and I never got around to it and secondly I am really really horrible at talking about myself because what is to much info and what it to little info and the cycle continues but im giving it a shot because I feel like my mutuals have no idea who I am lmao

HAI my name is Charlie im 15 (18+ I dont mind if you follow me but please dont dm me thank you :]) I use jasper as an online name kind of (at this point its just reserved for my best friend ace but I dont mind if other people call me jasper since I still love the name)

my pronouns are he/him but im also perfectly comfortable with common neopronouns (it/its xey/xem) if you wanna get funky with it.

im a self diagnosed autistic and ARFID (if you dont know what that is its an eating disorder where certain factors make you avoidant and restrictive of the food you eat and it has nothing to do with physical appearance. for me its linked to my autistic sensory issues(ALSO OCD NOW?!!? WHAT THE FUCK?!!?)) I have depression and anxiety and the only reason I mention this is because I relate my mental health to my fav characters in tv shows and books and stuff so if you see me posting about them like everything is connected lol

(my a03 is ghostwithfeet if you want to see me be silly and project my weird life onto fictional characters (I am the most inconsistent updater in the world please expect nothing from me if you even ask about a project it will scare me and like I turtle I will crawl into my shell never to see the light of day again))

my interests really vary about current hyperfixations but heres the master list

current hyperfixs

stranger things specifically Byler but mostly mike wheeler (this has turned into a special interest(I DO NOT support Noah schnapp or another of the other cast members who are in support of the inhumane actions the Israel government are doing. I am pro saving innocent civilians. I know that this can be controversial to be such a big fan of this show and honestly I have a lot of complex feelings on the matter but im autistic as previously mentioned and its my special interest and It won't leave my brain even if im not directly interacting with the media so im gonna yap about it on my blog thank you.))

also just Finn wolf hard for some reason (check out his band the Aubreys its awesome. also check out a recent movie he was in called when you finished Saving the world. it means a lot to me)

donna tarts the goldfinch book

old special interests/hyperfixs

the percy Jackson universe specifically nico di Angelo

the IT universe specifically reddie and Beverly marsh but more leaning towards richie tozier (see what I mean with the Finn wolf hard thing)

dead boy detectives !!

doctor who (I haven't even finished David tenants doctor yet so please no spoilers)

Alice oseman content (never read loveless or iwbft but ive read all of her other stuff)

paper girls graphic novel

other interests

the good place tv show

Kathleen Glasgows book girl in pieces

the walking dead comics including the clementine spin off graphic novels

um yeah thats all I can think of for now

my fav musicians/bands

florence and the machine

indigo de Souza

Kevin Atwater

searows

the Aubreys

sadurn

the cranberries

soccer mommy

runo plum

nep

lala lala

the smiths

hospital bracelet

Chappell roan

AURORA

Madilyn Mei!

Elliot smith

(my music taste is all over the place and is also very seasonal and I have a bunch of underground artists I dont listen to but I am here to give good recs I promise my playlists are fire)

we've gotten to the part of the intro post where im wondering if this is way to much information so sorry if I overshared idk but hope we can be silly mutuals or friends if you want (never be scared to shoot the friendship shot I would love to yap with y'all)

also since this is taking over my other pinned post I just want to put this as an honorary spot and let everyone know that my old pinned post was a quote from radio silence and that Aled last is me and I am him and the February Friday plot line is actually me and it makes me sick how much I resonate with that book

[minheelovelee]

lovelovelove ur works ! would u mind doing a harua nsfw a-z? thank uuu

thank you for requesting!!!! 6 months later i actually wrote this piece… BUT. i wrote it yaaayyy. anon this gave me horrible horrible rua brain rot. i want a pretty boy with a little waist and long eyelashes. :(((

side note: i’m sooo so scared of switch/dom harua??? i’ve seen some discourse, but im not convinced. if anyone has anything to say about dom rua, id love to hear it :)))

harua nsfw a-z

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

- being dirty and sticky is a big no for rua. he likes to shower or take a bath after sex, no exceptions. wash his hair for him, please. he gets so clingy after sex. he likes to be babied, just for a little bit. </3

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

- he likes when his waist and tummy are touched. slipping your hands under his shirt is a guaranteed way to hear some of his pretty sounds.

- arms are kind of his thing. he likes to link arms throughout the day and grab onto your biceps when getting ridden. arms also give hugs. he likes hugs.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

- he cums so fast. he is so sensitive.

- usually he’ll finish on his tummy or chest. he doesn’t cum inside without a condom, but hates wearing condoms. :|

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

- he wants to get pegged. tied up and forced to take cock until he cries. :) he wouldn’t tell anyone that. obviously.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

- no experience. he’s a real virgin and doesn’t know what he’s doing. he just tries to go use on your reactions. what actions cause this. and what actions cause that.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

- cowgirl. he loves being ridden. especially if he can get tits in his mouth. he holds on really tight when u ride him, so it’s hard to move up and down. moving forward and back does the same for him. so sensitive :(((

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

- it took a while for him to warm up to sexual stuff. he liked to goof around at first, so he could get comfortable. now that he’s okay with different situations, he can focus more on the task at hand rather than his anxiety or awkwardness.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

- i think he shaves well. he leaves a little something to look at. otherwise, he likes it mostly bare.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

- he likes to be roughed up during sex, so intimacy isn’t the first thing on his mind during the actual deed. some days he likes to be wined and dined before sex, other days he wants to be choked against the wall. romantic aftercare is preferred, though :)))

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

- he doesn’t jerk off often. he saves himself for the actual deed. he cums buckets and it makes him sooo much more sensitive.

- if u bought him toys or told him to play with himself, he would. but on his own accord, probably not.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

- choking. he likes the pressure mixed with the mindless feeling he gets. brain tingle. feel good. he’ll scratch your arm and shove you away, then ask for more.

- power play. playing hard to get is his specialty. he can be so, so easy sometimes. it’s cute. other times, he is such a pain in the ass. overstimulating him until he cries usually does the trick. then he’s putty in your hands once more.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

- the couch is a favorite for him. it’s risky and gets his little heart pumping. he loves to act like he doesn’t want your hand down his pants.

- the bedroom is another fav. when he wants to put more effort in. especially if ur gonna overstimulate him. get some privacy, he’s so loud.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

- the word “no”

- threats and talk of punishment. dont tempt him with a good time.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

- absolutely no armpits. he’s so ticklish. please don’t tickle him.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

- he’s not very experienced with oral, so it’s hard to judge his skills. he does a nice job for a beginner. he would 10/10 suck the strap.

- receiving head is one of his favorite things ever. anywhere and anytime. he would give up a lot for a single blowjob.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

- he likes things slow. the build up really gets him going. sex with him consists of a lot of sloppy groping and messy kissing.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

- he’s so down. he’d be fine having quickies often. after a few too many, he’d be pretty desperate for the real deal.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

- he would be okay experimenting. he wants to learn from his partners and try new things. there’s a lot to be said about his interest in the human body.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

- he can go two rounds typically. he’s wiped after one, so he needs recovery time. after morning sex, he’s ready by mid-afternoon for round two.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

- he’d be open to using toys. but he’s not the type to buy them for himself. he is very interested in different types of toys, he might ask for a certain one to try out.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

- rua only strikes when provoked. he’s very gentle and receptive to feedback. after being teased a bit by his partner, you won’t be surprised to see him acting like he’s clueless. suddenly he’s too tired to be on top and he doesn’t know where the clit is. top-tier actor.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

- he’s soooo whiny. if one hand is on his cock, the other better be over his mouth. he can’t help but be loud when he feels good.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

- rua is so inquisitive. he’s constantly asking questions.

- “did i do a good job?”

- “i need more. can i have more?”

- “can i taste you, please?”

- “i was so close. why did you stop?”

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

- average or slightly below. maybe 5 inches? he’s a small guy in general.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

- his sex drive is a bit higher than you’d expect. he’s often finding ways to get home faster so he can indulge himself in his partner. he feels guilty for all of two minutes before he remembers why he craved this so bad.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

- out like a light. if he’s worn out, he’s going right to sleep. if he’s hugged tight enough, he could sleep anywhere.

- but before he falls asleep, he likes to talk about little things. “i saw a cloud that looked like an elephant today.” “would you still love me if i was a worm?” “why do our feet smell and our noses run?”

[raihanijulie]

[ LEMNISCUS GUIDE BLOG!!! ]

☆Reading until end of blog will be much appreciated!!! (Psst, theres a discord server link i slipped in btw....)

You may be wondering... "What is Lemniscus? Why do you keep mentioning it in your posts?"

TO BEGIN WITH, Lemniscus is one of the planets in this universe with Ribbaniuns the living beings in it! The population of Lemniscus consist the various anthropomorphic animals.

And thats where we begin sharing the story and contents of these characters by the name LEMNISCUS! You could say Lemniscus is a series/project my friends and i worked on together!!! (We took Lemniscus bc we literally only focus on this planet... No else.)

Ah... So then, "Who are the characters? Why do they look like the characters from Sonic series?"

THIS. is a good one to explain and i reallly want you guys to keep in mind with this!!!!

Yes! The Lemniscus cast does look like the characters from Sonic the hedgehog because they do take the design and traits inspiration from them! BUT! The personality, backstories, interractions, lores, all of those... We worked and develop on it ourselves!!! (Theres similiarities still, but its only SLIGHT!!! Theres some differences when compared)

Thats why this is NOT counted as Sonic au, instead, its their own universe and story! The Lemniscus cast are original characters/ocs based on existing character that later we develop so they wont look EXACTLY like the existing char they took inspiration of!

I could say that this universe's origins of making is basically 'based on Sonic'. Throughout time, there are improvisasion little by little as we worked on building chars and stories, making it their own thing :D!! So, again, Lemniscus and Sonic are two different thing... I appreciate yall's understanding. I dont want any miscommunication between Lemniscus and Sonic franchise! <"3

The original characters belong to their respective owners <3 (Keep in mind we are 4 person putting our characters in ONE and worked together in this)

Alright!!! Now INTRODUCE THE CAST/CHARACTERS!

Here ill list out the characters name with their profile links AND respective owners too! Get to know each of them by clicking their names:

Hz Railstar, Alora Quinn, Victoria Opal, Ezra (JULIE/HANA!!! ME!!! :D HOIHOI!!! I link you guys to my chars' masterpost in tumblr hehe,,, its more detailed!!!)

Gausberto, Nova, Puffin, Xenophone (Hani! NOTE: She doesnt put much infos of her characters, i'll most likely be the one to share the infos through source from her she is my own sister after all Infos about Hani's chars are most likely in the discord server!)

Aero and Noire ( @m3tr0n0m333 )

Rambutan Stoneheart ( @cherriosblog )

OH!!! But thats not it!! Theres more infos i'd like to share....

Slowly but surely, we noticed our Lemniscus contents dragged people to start being curious about it, even interested with the series/project we worked! Of course, with a warm welcome, we opened a discord server, ☆LEMNISCUS (Hz Universe), for the little community we have :D!!!

The server is a great place for you to learn more about the characters (bc again, SOME of the Lemniscus cast here are explained alot more in the discord server instead!) and LORESSS obviously! Its even easier and you can keep on track whenever new things are shared by us :)

The characters arent only the ones shown here... In fact, there are more than you think. Yes! Im talkin bout the side characters! Theyre mostly explained and digged alot more in the server soo....

Hop in and join to get more familliar of Lemniscus!! ☆

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This must conclude the blog. Thank you everyone for the consideration and supports of this little project we worked on! <3 I, the one to start all this fun chaotic universe is very grateful that i'd make it this far by sharing contents of these silli cast, not only me, but by you dedicated supporters and friends that worked alongside me ☆

Live, laugh, burn Hertz!🔥🔥🔥🔥