#g/t writer

[t3a-tan]

What if...

James was a size shifter, became friends with human Oliver, and then accidentally grew right in front of him at one point.

Little did James know, Oliver already found out he was a size shifter and doesn't mind in the slightest.

[lovely-lovely-roses]

Hello there!!! Welcome to my account!!! I'm a Murder Drones lover and vore lover so I'm making this my new vore blog!!! Congratulations if you've seen this!! I hope to bring you some Murder Drones vore content soon!!! For now. You get a hug!!! See y'all around!!!

[marvinswriting]

ménage, chapter five

previous chapter, masterpost  this reads like a filler but when you look back youll see it sets up for so so so much riley pov

Riley couldn't remember a time when Sunday mornings were calm. All mornings in the home were hectic and loud. Nobody could really sleep in unless they were Megan, who trained herself to. But Sundays were the day when Rebeckah went to town to run errands. Sometimes one of the younger kids tagged along with her but they typically found it boring, and the older kids stayed home to keep the house from falling apart.

 Riley didn’t mind. She liked watching over Kenny and Lenna. But recently Sundays had become tense. Because Sunday was when Evan and Matteo couldn’t avoid each other. They couldn't dance around each other like they did the rest of the week. They had to interact and talk to watch over the young ones and help dish out chores. And if they refused? Then the work fell on Riley’s shoulders. Judging by the sound she woke up to, it might be one of the latter days. “He’s insufferable!” Evan stormed into their room as Riley finished making her bed. “He won’t even listen to me! My name's Matteo and I’m right, screw everyone else's opinions!” “Rough morning?” “Loud enough to wake Meggie.” Riley hummed. “I doubt it.” She didn’t sleep well the night before. Her mind never quite shut off after Megan amped her up. Every creak felt too loud, and Evan snored a bit. But the boy didn’t seem put off by her lack of emotions in the response, he just kept on talking. “He’s all, this is my life not yours! So screw you and how you feel!” “He’s not entirely wrong, you know.” Riley yawned. “I mean, the second part no- but it is Matteo’s future. Ultimately what he wants is what he will do.” Matteo wanted to move out and far away, distancing himself from his life in their town. Even from a young age, he hated being orphaned. He hated the lack of a biological family. He wanted nothing more than to leave. The small home, small town, small circle lifestyle made him restless. But Evan saw the people living in the home as more than housemates. Biology meant nothing to him. Family is family. And Matteo was his older brother. That’s not to say Matteo didn’t see Evan as a younger brother. Riley was sure he did. Matteo just didn’t verbally declare it like Evan did. “Besides,” She continued, “No matter what Matteo does, he’ll still keep in contact. We won’t lose him just because he wants to see the world.” “You don’t get it.” “Sure I do.” “Then why are you siding with him?” “Ev, I’m not. I just see both sides. I think Matteo could handle distributing the news a lot better, but it’s not our decision to make for him.” “Are you even sad about it?” “Yeah, of course I am,” “Yeah because you look really torn up.” “Evan, it is eight am and I did not sleep well. Pardon me for not being a weeping mess over something we knew would happen.” “I came for you for comfort, you know.” Evan crossed his arms, “I am always there for you and the one time I need you to side with me you just shoot me down and make me feel dramatic.” “I wasn’t trying to- I just,” Riley sighed. “He’s not dying y’know.” “You don’t get it. You and him and the oldests. You get to leave and not look back.” “I’m only four weeks older than you-” “And half the home looks up to you! You can’t just leave once you're bored and leave us all here!” “Evan, I’m not the one leaving!” Great, now Riley was part of the yelling. “Of course you’re not. I know that. I just-” Evan bit his lip. “Whatever, Rye. Thanks for trying to make me feel better.” He didn’t sound thankful. Megan was, shockingly, still asleep as Riley walked past her room. Most of the home got up around seven on Sundays, but it wasn’t an official rule set by Rebeckah, just the time most of the home naturally got up. So Riley slept in until eight or nine, and Megan would sleep well into the afternoon if nobody woke her up. The only night owl in a home of early birds. Matteo was already in the kitchen by the time Riley walked past. He nodded to her briefly before continuing to prep breakfast. Lenna and Kenny were keeping eachtoher nicely entertained in the livingroom, so she sat on the sofa to keep an eye over them. There was thirty seconds of peace as Riley got comfy before Lenna noticed her arrival. “Riley! Guess what? Guess what?!” “What?” “No, guess!” Lenna clambered over the back of the sofa, leaning half on top of Riley with excited eyes. “Uhhh, I don’t know!” “I saw the tiny people!” It took Riley’s tired brain a moment to realize what she was talking about before smiling.“A borrower?” “Mhm! A girl! Not a boy like the stories.” “Was she friendly?” Lenna deflated. “I dunno she ran away.” “Aw” Riley ruffled her hair, “Maybe next time.” “You don’t believe me.” Lenna frowned. “Of course I believe you!” “Why aren’t you more excited?” “I am very excited, Lenna. I’m just tired, too.” “Oh.” The nine year old seemed momentarily stumped perking up. “Then you need coffee. Let’s go!” Lenna grabbed Riley’s arm before leaning all her weight backwards to pull the girl off the sofa and drag her into the kitchen. “Good morning.” Matteo says, still at the stovetop. “Morning.” Riley smiled as Lenna rushed around the kitchen, shoving an empty mug and spoon into her hands. .”Get coffee!” “Alright, alright!” Riley laughed, stepping over to the coffee maker. “Lenna, while I do this will you wake up Meg for me?” “Okay!” Riley could hear her bounding up the stairs as she stirred her cup. “She really looks up to you, y’know.” Matteo says, leaning against the counter. “Meg too.” “We’re the three girls of the house. We gotta stick together.” “You say that like you’re outnumbered or something.” Matteo rolled his eyes. “But that’s not what I mean. They don’t listen to Evan or I like they do to you. I’ve been trying to get Lenna to wake up Meg for the past hour. She refused until you waltz in.” Riley grinned. “Maybe I’m simply better.” It was almost deja vu, to be told the younger kids looked up to her twice in the same hour. It wasn't new news, Riley could tell she was admired. For Lenna and Kenny the bar wasn’t exactly high. But nobody ever really said it to her face before. And now she was going on twice before noon. It was almost hyporticical too, at least to hear it from Matteo. He was not one to talk. “You really should try talking to Evan in a calm manner.” She was brought up. “Not by fighting. Just- explain to him why you want to leave. He thinks you hate him.” “He knows that’s not true.” Matteo rolled his eyes, shutting off the stove top. “No, he genuinely is blaming himself.” “Well he shouldn’t.” “I’m not telling you how to feel, don’t get defensive. I’m just-” “Literally telling me how to feel.” “No?” “Yes, you are. I’m Riley and I know what is best for everyone so I’m gonna interfere in topics that have nothing to do with me. You think I don’t know how Evan feels? He’s screamed at me like a dozen times in the past four days. Stay out of it.” It appears this is a sensitive topic. Great, not both older kids were mad at her. Breakfast was- Tense. Lanna and Kenny were too young to tell what was going on, but even they could tell something was wrong. The only conversation longer than a couple sentences at the table was Lanna telling Megan about the tiny person she saw. Megan finally got her taste of revenge by shutting Lanna down with the same thing Matteo told her. The difference was Lanna was nine and started to cry. “Megan!” Riley hissed as Lanna ran away from the table. “I’ll get her,” Evan sighed. “What!” Megan was exasperated. “You don’t have to be right every time, Megan. If Lanna wants to believe in borrowers, why's that so bad?” Matteo said. Megan blinked, her mouth slightly open like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. “Matteo, you are so hypocritical!” Riley didn’t disagree. Today was a mess.

Breakfast didn’t last long after that. Megan stormed off to her room, Kenny grew bored of scrambled eggs, and Matteo just cleaned up in a huff. The day was already hell, so Riley began to clean the living room in an attempt to cross off some chores from Rebeckah’s list. She could already see Rebekah’s reaction to ‘sorry, we did nothing today besides learn to hate each other’. A stressed, sad, smile. Rebeckah did so much for all of them. The least Riley could do was clean the house if peace maker wasn’t going well. “Hey.” Megan stepped into the room as Riley began cleaning up Lanna and Kenny’s toys. “Feel any better?” Megan ignored the question. “Let’s hang out.” “Not today, Meg. I’m sorry, I’ve got chores.” “I can help.” “It’s really a one person job. Why don’t you hang with somebody else? We can go to the shops in town tomorrow together. I’ll pay to make up for it.” “I can’t hang with somebody else.” Megan crosses her arms. “Evan and Matteo look ready to cry or go into another screaming match and Kenny and Lenna are babies.” “Careful- don’t let Lenna catch you saying that, she’ll take it personally.” “I dont care.” Megan crossed her arms. “I’m stuck in the middle. Too young for the older kids and too old for the younger kids. I don’t want to play princess but I don’t want to talk about college.” “I’m sorry.” Riley mumbled, not looking up from where she was tidying up. “Yeah, I can tell you feel horrible about it.” She sighed, turning to the younger girl. “Megan, I do feel bad, honestly. You’ve just- picked a bad time. Today has been a lot so far and it’s not even noon yet.” “Right. Of course. Sorry to be a bother.” “I didn’t say that.” “It was implied.” Megan sunk into the sofa, crossing her arms over her chest without giving Riley a chance to defend herself to correct her poor choice of phrasing. Riley stood with a frown. Everyone was fighting today. “Meg-” The other girl turned away. Kenny was crying a couple rooms over. Evan was yelling at Matteo to help him. Matteo was MIA. There was no telling if Evan was still with Lanna or if she was unsupervised. Rebeckah wouldn't be home for another couple hours and at this rate they were not lasting that long. Megan was sniffling and Riley just stood there. Everything that could go wrong in a day went wrong. She didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t quite sure where it all went wrong either. Everyone seemed to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed except for Lanna, who was instantly shot down everytime she brought up the borrower she saw.

That’s it.

Riley was lucky that Rebeckah’s office was opened. She made her way to the back of the room, running her fingers along the familiar book spines until she found the one she was looking for. Megan was still at the opposite end of the sofa, curled into herself, when Riley sat down in the center of the sofa. The younger girl noticed Rebeckah’s storybook quickly, but she didn’t mention it, only stealing glances at Riley through the corner of her eye. Riley flicked open to a random story, staring at the page. She didn’t even begin to read, just counting in her head. One… Two… Three… “-Wait.” Megan crawled closer to her. “Can you-” She hesitated. “Can you read it out loud?” “Why of course.” Riley smiled. “It was another midnight adventure when the young girl learned about Audwin’s past.” Megan rested her chin on Riley’s shoulder to read it too, a soft smile on her face. “The young girl didn’t know much of Audwin’s family, but she assumed he at the very least had one. But when he said he didn’t, he asked her not to be sad for him. That it was just how things were for him. The young girl said that was how things were for her too. For she was an orphan.” “Wait!!” Lanna bolted into the room, Evan close behind. “Are we missing a storytime!” Riley shushed her. “No more yelling at each other if you’re gonna listen. Inside voices okay?” “Start from the beginning!” Lanna did not use her inside voice. Evan sat down next to Riley, hooking his arm over the back of the sofa to also touch Megan. His was contrite, and Riley could tell in the way he smiled softly, but it was a conversation for later. It was a start. “Okay, okay, are we ready now? Riley asked as Lanna sprawled over her and Evan to see the pages too. “No!” Kenny’s voice came from the stairs. “We heard Lanna say storytime and came as fast as we could.” Matteo explained as he leaned on the back of the sofa and Kenny sat next to Megan. Unlike the other two older kids, he didn’t seem too remorseful for earlier- but he was no longer yelling at everyone to Riley would take it. “Now are we ready?” She asked for the final time. “Yes! Go already!” Lanna said. “It was another midnight adventure when the young girl learned about Audwin’s past.”

wc:2296 taglist!: @smallsoysauce @musicallygt

[entomolog-t]

🖋 G/t Writer Appreciation Challenge🖋

Just in time for February! Let's show the writers in the community some extra attention and engagement and let them feel our appreciation 💕

This challenge involves interacting with others, so please remember to be respectful and have fun! This is a great opportunity to interact with new creators or a wonderful excuse to leave some extra love on a fic that's near and dear to your heart!

[tomfrogisblue]

I just wanna thank cc!Cellbit for fulfilling my personal Wishlist of Fuckery while he was rampaging with Baghera today

Fucking with each member of Fuga Impossível individually ✅️

Searching out Pac specifically with The Voice ✅️

Messing with Ljoga and Malena ✅️

Threatening Natalan ✅️

Generally having fun torturing his friends and strangers alike ✅️

And finally, murdering anyone he wanted ✅️

[smolgirlbigdreams]

HEY YOU, G/T WRITER!!!

Yeah, you! C'mere!

I've seen some talk in the community recently about writers not really getting the attention they deserve/not getting as many notes as artists (and no prob with artists! We love you artists ❤️). So I thought, why not call all the g/t writers together so we can support each other? Y'know, kinda get a little g/t writing sub-community going here on Tumblr if that makes sense!! The idea being that if we band together, it's harder to get lost in the heaps of short-form content that's out there. Plus, we can read each other's work and support each other! :D

Here's an idea:

Reblog with a little bit about you and your writing! (If you write anything that might make anyone uncomfortable please leave a warning as well.)

Link your awesome g/t stories!!!

Check out other awesome stories by other g/t authors and show them some love~

I'll start!

Hi! I'm Eliza and I've been writing since around 2016, although I was a bit too scared to post anything until I started working on my current story!

Right now I'm working on a book called Too Small To Be Afraid, about a human girl living on a distant planet who has a fear of the giant race, pertheans. Only, she has to learn how to share a desk with one at school!

But enough about me! I want to hear about you! I'm excited to hear about you all and see what you're writing!!! :D

[certainwizardlady]

Idk she fell outta my brain.

[bittykimmy13]

🍂PROMPTOBER 2023 🍂

Autumn is my favorite season creatively. October is my special girl. 🍄

Any and all are welcome to participate with art, writing, etc.

No rules, no pressure, just vibes 🍁🍂📚☕️🌥

[rosella35]

Okay, so I’ve been meaning to post something about this for over a week now and figured using it as a very productive way of procrastinating on writing an assignment is the perfect time.

G/T community, and to all the incredible people who have supported my writing of Borrowed Courage over the years:

Go read @fireflywritesgt s ‘The Art of Love and War’. I cannot stress this enough.

This story has been my hyperfixation for the past week and will in all likelihood stay that way for many more to come because it’s just that damn incredible. Even if you’re not a huge G/T fan, I continue to be blown away by Warren’s writing style and the way they capture every character’s personality and emotions so beautifully. I only wish I could do this so well.

Joe and Harry, my god. Those two have been rotting away inside of my head all week because I just can’t get enough of their relationship and its complexities. This story is practically preying on my love of psychology and exploring those tricky and taboo themes of prejudice and power imbalance that got me into G/T in the first place. The way Warren has slowly built up the lore of their world and the culture of the miniatures captivated me from the moment I started reading. It’s the kind of thing I love exploring in my own writing, but done in a way that’s completely authentic, and a whole new spin on the classic borrower trope - I just love it!

So yeah, to sum it all up in one sentence, please check out their story, it honestly does not disappoint. But also to Warren, thank you for sharing your world with this community. I’m sure I’m not the only one you’ve inspired with your writing, and I look forward to more of Harry and Joe’s misadventures in the future! ☺️

TL;DR:

Read The Art of Love and War by @fireflywritesgt it’s very good

[sucker-for-shifters]

For Day 4 of GtWAC:

Share one of your favorite scenes from a creator.

~~~

I was tempted to put the whole thing, so I’m putting the whole thing.

I’m obsessed with this little comic by @might-be-tiny-gt, and for good reason! IT’S FREAKING AMAZING! (Also because I wanted to share something that wasn’t fandom stuff for a change. XD)

Even though there isn’t any speech at all, and most of the text that you read is on the potion bottle itself, it conveys all sorts of emotions so well, just from expressions! Also, the attention to detail is just astounding, and, admittedly, I’m kind of jealous of their art skills. XD

But to be serious, it’s also relatable as hell. Sometimes, you just don’t want to deal with people and have a low social battery/energy for anything. It’s the G/T equivalent of a spa day, and I’m totally here for it.

Also this comic from @eightyuh. AU be damned, this simultaneously made me go “Aww~” and bawl my eyes out. Like DAMN, it’s both well-written and WAYYY too relatable. (Also, please, for Pete’s sake, read the original story. Not only will it provide more context into their relationship, but it’s just a damn good story in general.)

[t3a-tan]

Okay, we know Oliver isn't scared of James but.. what if James (accidentally or not) actually did something that would scare the shit outta Oliver? Make Oliver feel totally vulnerable and terrified?

We really need to see their angst!

(love your work🥰)

You guys asked for it. Ironically @justme315 also just made a post whilst I was in the middle of writing it about wanting some good angst-- hopefully this is filling enough. I also tied this into the injury prompt 31 which was requested!

31) "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Word count: 1,685

---

“We all make mistakes, James. It's a part of life. You shouldn't hold onto that guilt forever. You said yourself that Emily forgave you for—”

“Emily forgiving me doesn't fix anything! Fuck, Oliver— I… I don't want your therapy-speak right now, it's just pissing me off!” James interrupted, a slight growl in his tone as he levelled a half-glare in the borrower's direction. His hands gestured as he spoke to emphasise his point. He knew Oliver was only trying to help, but he always made it sound so simple when life just wasn't like that.

Oliver winced at the volume but didn't let it bother him too much, sensing that if he told James to quiet down that might just aggravate him further. He focused instead on what James said. Therapy-speak?

“That's…just how I speak, James. I'm sorry if it made things worse, I’ll try to…hm.” He paused, thinking over what to do to fix his speech in the moment. “I’ll try not to say too many words. I understand that can be overwhelming for some people when they're in distress. My apologies.”

James groaned, slamming an elbow onto the edge of the table as he buried his face in one of his hands for a moment. He looked up, brows furrowing with irritation clear in his expression. “You are literally doing it right now—”

Oliver bristled.

“Oh. I'm…sorry. I'm just trying to communicate clearly so my intentions and feelings aren't misunderstood.” He hesitated again for a moment as he tried to figure out what about his speech was therapy-speak. Did James not want comfort..? But then what was Oliver supposed to do? He certainly wasn't going to participate in James's self-loathing. He offered a reassuring smile. “How would you like me to speak? I just want to help.”

James inhaled slowly before letting out a huff, closing his eyes and burying his face in both hands now. Rather than answering Oliver he stayed like that; silent, annoyed but trying to hold it back. He knew Oliver just wanted to help— but sometimes that just made James feel worse because Oliver had it all figured out and James didn't.

Sometimes he admired Oliver so much, but other times he felt so jealous. Even now, James knew that he was being the bad guy. Oliver wasn't a malicious person and clearly only cared but James really didn't want care right now. He wanted to shout and yell and throw things and collapse in a corner and cry to himself as the thought of one drink wouldn't hurt kept replaying in his mind over and over again.

Sometimes he just needed that time to get it all out so it wouldn't keep bubbling up inside of him, and Oliver was the one who was keeping him from that. Ultimately neither option would fix the relationships he had broken, so it didn't matter which one he picked, right? Self-destruction was probably some fucked up form of self-love in some way.

“I’m sorry—” Oliver began, feeling slightly on edge seeing James be so quiet and simply assuming, correctly, that he had spoken wrong again. He didn't like the feeling at all. He hadn't felt it before when facing an angry human; even angry dangerous humans; because James was his friend and he wasn't used to seeing him in that way. It felt wrong.

And something was clearly wrong because before Oliver could react, he was snatched up into a fist and lifted up to eye level. The position he was grabbed in was less than comfortable, and Oliver had been startled seeing the movement come from someone who hadn't really grabbed him much since their first meeting. Fully facing James's glare felt almost akin to staring down a gun barrel and Oliver felt nervous despite himself.

“Would you shut up?!! I didn't ask you for help or advice, so stop fucking telling me how I’m supposed to fucking feel!! I'm not stupid— I already know that this isn't bloody productive, but for God sake Oliver, you don't know shit about what I've done!!” James knew he was taking out his anger at himself on Oliver right now, but he just wanted him to stop trying.

Oliver grimaced at the further increase in volume, especially from up close. Even after the shouting and swearing though he could still only see that his friend was suffering and all he wanted to do was help. James might not want it, but he needed it at that moment… He needed to break free of these self-destructive patterns.

“I know you aren't a monster.” He responded simply, and despite his slight unease Oliver still managed to meet James's gaze with his own; seeing right through him and into the hurt that was beneath all of the anger. He could see how watery his friend's gaze was.

And that was what made James snap.

He just wanted to get a reaction— some confirmation of his own thoughts and feelings about himself. He wasn't thinking straight.

James squeezed his hand slightly.

He regretted it in the same second he did it, breath hitching and his hand immediately dropping back down to the table and releasing Oliver onto it like a reflex. His expression of anger quickly became one of horror as he processed the small crack he had heard and felt when he had squeezed. Oliver always seemed so invincible that the harsh reminder that he wasn't hit James like a ton of bricks.

“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.” James gasped, blinking quickly to try to keep the water out of his eyes. Why did I do that? Why on Earth did I do that?? His hand covered his mouth slightly seeing Oliver's alarmed and dazed expression as he raised his arm and looked upon his newly broken wrist. I did that. Oh god.

“I'm…fine…” The borrower uttered slowly, still focused on the injury. The adrenaline rush was likely responsible for the numbness he felt buzzing through his whole body and keeping the pain from being unbearable, so he was fine. For now. His voice wavered slightly and he found it difficult to look up at his friend at the moment.

Is this fear? Why am I afraid..? James is my friend, and this was an accident. He wasn't trying to break anything I'm sure… Oliver brought his other hand up to cradle the injury only to notice his hand was shaking. Not just his hand…his whole body. No. I can't be scared. It will only make things worse…

Oliver looked down at his shoes, trying to gather himself again but failing miserably.

“I.. I'm sorry that I hurt you so much, James. I don't mean to.” He felt something wet roll down his cheek and drip onto the floor. Stunned by the fact that he was crying right now, Oliver wiped it off with his uninjured hand before looking at his slightly dampened fingertips with a furrowed brow of confusion.

“Fuck. Oliver don't apologise, I…” James trailed off. He had never seen Oliver shake or cry before— and even if Oliver was still talking fine James could hear the fear in his voice. “I can help. Just—”

As he reached forward to offer Oliver a hand and take him to where the medical supplies were kept, the usually stoic borrower suddenly backpedalled, stumbling back so suddenly that he ended up falling backwards and onto his behind. James's hand snapped back like it had been burned and his lips pressing into a stressed line.

Oliver's heart was pounding as he stared up at James. He had never been like this before, and he didn't like it at all… I need to get a hold of myself. It was an accident. It was an accident… Despite him assuring himself of that again and again his mouth felt dry as he met James's horrified gaze. He was reminded of the glare that had been there only moments ago.

“It…it was an accident. You wouldn't break anything on purpose… It was a mistake.” He murmured to himself, shoulders bunching up and knees being brought closer to his chest. Even when other humans had given him similar injuries, Oliver had never felt like this. He hesitated, looking down again. “Could I have some medical supplies?”

James stood up quickly, wincing as he saw Oliver flinch in response. He opened his mouth to apologise again before deciding against it and quickly going to the kitchen to retrieve the first aid kit. You haven't changed. Even after everything you haven't changed.

He took a deep breath to try to settle his nerves as he grabbed everything needed and walked back in. Oliver was still sitting in the same position; still not looking at him. I took it for granted again. James set the kit down before resting his hands on the edge of the table. He bit his lip.

“Can I help..?” He asked, desperate to try and right his wrong at least a little. He deflated as he saw Oliver's small shake of the head.

“I would like to be alone for a while, please. I..I don't like how I'm feeling at the moment…” Oliver spoke and James hated how he could hear the nervous trembles in his voice. Still, he nodded, standing up more slowly this time. As he looked down at his friend from this position it became clear just how small and vulnerable he was… He blinked again but it didn't help with the tears this time as one simply rolled down his cheek anyway.

“I’m sorry…” He uttered softly. Why did I think it was okay to grab him in the first place? Just because I can? What kind of monster would do something like that..? Lip trembling slightly, James turned and began to walk away only to pause when he heard Oliver's voice again.

“I forgive you.”

James stood still for a few more moments before leaving the room and sitting at the edge of his bed, cradling his head in his hands. He grit his teeth, shutting his eyes tightly.

Forgiveness wouldn't fix anything.

[stardust-bubble-tea]

not sure if someone mentioned this before but perhaps one of my favorite g/t tropes is when the giant and tiny get separated somehow, and while the tiny is on their own journey to be reunited, the giant has this perspective shift when they realize just how big their world is to their smaller counterpart,,,,it gets me everytime

(also the angst of searching for one another and comfort when they’re back together is just so good ack)

[marvinswriting]

ménage, chapter four

previous chapter, masterpost now we can really get started clare pov

Teddie looked about to laugh. His face was so full of disbelief, like the situation at hand was so absurd it could never happen. That enough, made Clare want to laugh.

“Otis you idiot.” The eldest said. “Mistakes happen!” Otis put his hands up in defense. “As if I dropped my hook on purpose, you look like I tried to sabotage us.” “Intentionally or not you almost did!” “She didn’t see me!” “She sure as hell heard you!” The two boys went back and forth, standing just inside the outlet. Nobody was expecting a human to enter the kitchen so late at night, certainly not mid borrow. Clare had been closest to the wall and first to reenter the outlet, so she missed the chaos behind her. Teddie made sure to fill her in while yelling at Otis, who in the panic of a human’s presence bolted for the outlet like the other two. But, his arms were full of crumbs and other finds so his hook slipped from his grip. How the girl heard such a small clatter was beyond Clare, but by the time the Human looked their way they were already out of sight. “Listen, if there were ever a time I was going to purposely get us caught I will not be sacrificing my favorite hook.” Otis said. “Sorry, Teddie. Not everyone can be the Audwin 2.0 prodigy borrower who's stealthy and fast. Some of us panic and drop things.” Teddie pinched the bridge of his nose. “I never said you did it on purpose. But you need to be more careful. That was a rookie mistake.” Add that to the reasons we’ll never have Audwin tell us about the rest of upstairs- Clare thought bitterly. “If the lights had been on-” Teddie didn’t finish. “But they weren’t.” Otis pushed. Teddie sighed. “Let’s just- not tell Audwin. You’re right. It was an accident and nothing happened. The girl didn’t see you and everyone’s okay. Hopefully he wont notice we’re down a hook. He’s under enough pressure with Kye tonight, we’ll just sweep this under the rug.” “Meaning?” Clare asked. “Pretend it didn’t happen, push it away and ignore the problem. What Audwin dosen’t know can’t sure him.” So that’s what they did. They ‘swept it under the rug’. Even through they lost a hock, it wasn’t the worst hit the group had ever taken. Adrenaline inducing? Yes. Scary? For sure. But it wasn’t a true scavenge if everything went right.

They make it back to their pocket of the wall without talking much. The living area looked just as it was left and there were no signs of Audwin and Kye’s return- so they were probably still out. “I’ll unpack, you two go sit.” Teddie said, taking Otis’ bag from him and motioning for Clare to pass her weapon. “Need any help?” She asked. “No, it’s okay. Go relax, it’s been a tough night.” Otis sat on an empty spool and Clare sunk to the ground beside him. Teddie could be heard rummaging around in the ‘other room’. It was just an offshoot of the living space where everything was stored. There was a wall of fabric dividing the two areas, similar to the one covering the entrance to the bedroom. “Do you-” Otis breaks the silence. “Do you ever think of moving out? Finding our own place to borrow?” “No, not really. Why?” Clare answered. It was partially true. Before tonight it wasn’t even on her radar. But after Teddie’s talk before the incident, it was the only thought on her mind. “Because we’re sixteen, Clare. Typical borrowers move out of their parent’s area at age fifteen.” “Well we aren’t typical borrowers, huh.” She shrugged. “Besides, those aren’t official rules. Just tradition. Audwin isn’t our parent, more like- a mentor.” “Don’t you think we’ve been mentees long enough?” Otis asked. “Where is this coming from?” Otis shrugged. “With Kye starting to borrow, I realized how long we’ve been here. Seven years, Clare. Roughly at least. It gets boring doing the same routine all the time. I want something new.” “Oh, so almost getting caught today is boring?” I tease. “God I hope not,” Teddie said, pushing past the fabric to join them. “If this is Otis’ new way of switching it up then I’ll be the one to leave instead.” “Do you ever think of doing that?” Otis asked. “What, switching it up?” “No, leaving.” “I like it here.” Teddie says simply. “You guys are family. Audwin will have to drag me out of here himself. It’s safe, relatively warm, there’s not bugs or mice. Aside from lots of people living here making it hard to borrow, this place checks off almost all a borrower’s boxes. Besides, at this point I would say we’re more like a borrowing group rather than a family with kids waiting to move out. With the exception of Kye, we’re all adults here making our own decisions. Audwin’s obviously in charge, but I’d call him more of a leader than a father figure.” Clare nods. “I said the same thing.” “No you didn’t.” “I said a similar thing.” Otis sighed. “It’s just- I’ve just been thinking about it a lot recently. I overheard two of the humans talking about it. Evan and Matteo. Apparently for the beans it’s normal to move out at eighteen, which Matteo will be at the end of the summer. He wants to go to a school far away and Evan hates the idea.” “Huh,” Teddie said. “If we were humans, I guess I’d be long gone.” “You’re only nineteen.” Clare reminds him. “Don’t be dramatic.” “Yeah yeah, still three years older than you guys.” “I guess the human’s have got some group drama as well.” “Oh so much of it,” Otis said “When I get bored, I just walk far enough away from base so I can’t hear you guys, and I just listen to them instead. It’s entertaining when it's not relatable.” “Interesting hobby,” Teddie said. “I am judging.” Otis rolled his eyes. “That’s what you pick up on? Jeez, last time I open up.” He smiled. “But really, every time I think about leaving I get two thoughts. First off, no mater how antsy I am staying here, leaving sounds scary as hell. Second, I think about you guys. Would Kye react like the younger human is reacting? I don’t think she’s capable of ever getting mad, but more of the underlying emotions I guess.” “Abandoned?” Clare supplied. “Yeah, like- she looks up to us. If we leave then-” “Otis, if you’re thinking of leaving you need to make that decision for you.” Teddie said. “None of us here will ever stop you from conquering the word yourself.” “But that’s the thing, you guys are part of me.” “Gross, too sappy for you. You sound like Audwin, tone it down.” Clare made a face. “It’s true!” Otis said. “Like, you for an example. Clare you are my twin sister. Never once in my entire life have, I been separated from you for longer than an hour. Never once have I gone borrowing without you or outside without you. I have never been alone before. And every time I picture leaving, I’m not. You guys are with me. Which is fucked up of my brain because logically we will never be anywhere but here.” He sighed. “I want to leave. That much we’ve covered. But I’m not ready to.” “Mentally maybe, but if it helps Audwin had prepared you so well for this.” Teddie said. “Boss, a half hour ago I dropped a hook and you yelled at me for making an amateur move.” “It was in the heat of the moment! We all make mistakes.” Clare didn’t contribute to the conversation. She knew her brother was antsy living in the walls for seven years. It was the same trips everyday with the same five people. He loved to go outside to borrow because the nature and wild animals were different each time. But she didn’t know it went as far as Otis actively ready to leave. He was right, the two of them were attached at the hip. It was hard to not be in such a small area with such a repetitive life, but even then- Clare didn’t go on borrowing trips with Teddie everytime. Clare didn’t train with only Audwin. She didn’t go everywhere with Kye. But Otis was always at her side. Even the smallest- one person job- runs, were done with him. They found a way to make everything a two person job. But Clare liked it in the home. She liked the repetitive and predictable nature of it. Teddie was right, it ticked off so many boxes on the “perfect home to borrow from” list. There were no pests or pets. With a lot of people, it was easy for things to get left out and “misplaced”. It was easy living and she was comfortable. If Otis left, she would stay. But they weren't like humans. There was no cellphone or way to keep in touch. She would never see Otis again. Never know if he found a good house or if he was even alive. Part of her said if he left, she would go too. But like Teddie said- those decisions needed to be made for yourself. And when nothing else was considered, Clare liked it here. Nobody talked for the next couple hours. Clare went back to bed, lying on her side and staring at the flickering tea light. Teddie sharpened weapons and looked for supplies to make a new hook, with Otis helping. It wasn’t until morning came and noises on the other side of the wall began to pick up when Otis shook her out of her half asleep daze. “Have you seen Audwin or Kye?” “Not since before we left.” He cursed under his breath. “It’s morning and they aren’t back yet.”

The three borrowers regrouped in the living space. “Before we panic, may I suggest the very real possibility that they aren’t borrowing anymore and Kye is just getting an in depth tour of the paths through the walls. When Audwin takes his time, those routes can take hours to cover.” Clare said. “It’s better safe than sorry, though.” Teddie said. He already had his borrowing pack on again. “We should go look for them just in case.” “Yes, because then they come back here, see that we’re gone, and go looking for us. We could be in a cycle of searching for each other for days!” “Don’t be dramatic, Clare.” Teddie rolled his eyes. “I’ll stay back then.” Otis said. “It’s morning, I am tired. Willingly opening up took a lot out of me, man. I’ll just nap in the living space until their return. You guys do a run of the common paths and then come back, if you guys are here before them again, then we can panic. But I’m too tired to panic right off the bat.” “That’s fair.” Teddie said. “I’ll take the left. You go right.” “Wow, giving me the longer path.” Clare said. “I see, I see.” “Your’s is straight forward, though. If you want the path with the climbing and ducking then be my guest.” “Nah, you can have it, I insist.” Teddie shook his head. “I’ll be back.” Clare grabbed her tools and followed him out the ‘door’ before turning where the path broke.  It’s Sunday morning and there were people moving all around her. The path she was on covered the kitchen and living room, but the two locations were pretty spread out. As she walked past the living room, the voices got louder. “Across the country?! You want go to college across the fucking county?” “Language Evan. Christ.” “Have you told Rebeckah yet? What about Riley or Megan?!” “It’s my life. Why do you care so much?” There’s silence. Clare couldn't see them, but she assumed somebody walked away. Either that or w=they were choosing their next words very carefully. “I don’t,” One of the voices finally spoke up. “I don’t care. You’re right. Your life, not mine. Do whatever you want, it doesn’t matter.” “Evan-” There’s no response. Yikes. Otis was right. Eavesdropping was no fun if you related. Hopefully Otis’ “will I, won't I” wouldn't come down to a screaming fight. Clare reached the end of the path, standing right in front of the kitchen outlet. Audwin and Kye had to be on Teddie’s route or back at the base by now. She should just turn around, go home, and go to bed- but the outlet was still pushed slightly out. Through the sliver of light, she could see Otis’ hook out on the open counter. She assessed the room. It was empty, and there were no human voices nearby. They were all loud and talking to each other, Clare would be able to hear them coming. And the hook was literally right there. But it was also Sunday morning. Even forest borrowers knew humans loved the kitchen in the morning. It was where their coffee was, breakfast too. It wouldn’t stay empty for long. Without lingering on the cons for too long, Clare made up her mind. She pushed the outlet further and sprinted across the counter. The kitchen being highly populated just meant she had to be quick. It was scary being in the open during the day. She felt exposed with no shadows to keep her hidden. But at the same time, the heavy footsteps as she run across the marble were not loud or echoey. The kitchen was prettier in the day, too. She scooped up the hook, and turned around quickly. There was maybe twenty paces left between Clare and safety when there’s a gasp. Fuck. She froze, turning to the kitchen entry. There was a small girl standing at the kitchen entrance, grinning widely. She had a gap tooth smile and a blonde bedhead that reminded Clare of Kye. She waved, eyes bright and curious. “You’re real!” She exclaimed softly. The sudden talking snapped Clare out of the paralysis and she booked it towards the outlet. She could hear a sad ‘wait’ from behind her, but she didn’t listen. The second she’s back in the walls and the outlet was shoved into place, she sunk to the ground, chest heaving. Holy shit. 0-2 today, borrowers zero and humans two. In the span of eight hours, her and Otis had not only been suspected, but flat out seen. All over one stupid hook. It wasn’t even a nice hook. It was Otis’ favorite one, his “lucky” one, which is why Clare saw the value in grabbing it. But practically it was old, dull, and dented. There was no reason to risk her life for it. What was she thinking? Out of sight in the walls. Ihe first rule a borrower gets taught. And she totally disregarded it for some stupid old and rusty hook. It made Clare want to toss it back onto the counter. Tee girl could have it as a stupid keepsake. She hated humans and hated borrowing when she knew even one of them was awake. The risk always just seemed so unnecessary. She didn’t know what possessed her to think going for the hook when they were all always was a good idea, but she went for it anyway. It was amateur, reckless, and embarrassing.

Audwin and Kye were back when she returned. Kye and Teddie were already asleep, but Otis and Audwin stayed up for her. She wordlessly tossed Otis his hook before heading to bed herself. He didn’t dare question her in front of Audwin- because it would require more explaining the either of them wanted to do- but Clare could see the confusion on his face. Maybe she’d tell him later. Or quite possibly never.

wc: 2647 i cant see how this could possibly escalate or snowball making everyhting go wrong tag lsit lmk if you wanna be on it: @smallsoysauce @musicallygt

[entomolog-t]

Bite Me - Chapter 10

What is this? Highschool musical?

June stress cleans, and Aedes stresses.

Pumped out another promptober prompt!! Glipse

Taglist: @smallsday @ratcatcher0325 @not-a-space-alien @bittykimmy13 @naive-bias

- - - -

Previous Chapter : Chapter 9

Next Chapter: Chapter 11

Word count: 2520

CW: Mentions of blood, Adult language, mild depictions of anxiety

As if a passenger in her own mind, June watches her actions playing out before her as her mind hums, buzzing with thoughts of the night- thoughts of Aedes. The shock of realization, the way he moved both too fast and too rigid. She remembers his voice, silky smooth and deep- how it cracked as he begged her to stop. She grimaces as she remembers the fear so clear on his face- and how deeply she desired it. 

As her hands numbly move from task to task her thoughts seem to ebb and flow- at times, however briefly, placated by the monotony of cleaning. At first it was easy- she made her bed, picked up discarded clothing, and straightened the various contents of her desk. Yet, as her room became more and more tidy, she became desperate to find more tasks to occupy her mind. 

She rearranged her plants, switching their positions from her desk to the shelves to the window sill. 

Play with me, my human

She optimized the layout of her room, moving her laundry basket right beside her dresser to keep things thematically consistent- to find a logical flow. Or so she told herself. There had to be some reason- some excuse to think about anything other than him. 

Indulge your delusion

His words seemed to echo in her mind and June found herself craving more stimulating tasks to busy herself- to quiet her mind. To quiet him. 

So she continued on. The guitar should go near the desk, not the stand mirror.  The rug looks better at the side of the bed, not the foot of it.  Maybe the bed should face the other way? 

June sighs. 

This was getting ridiculous. 

Looking at the space in front of her, her room was as meticulously kept as it had ever been. Immaculate by her standards, and yet the thoughts of him persisted. Her lips drew into a tight line. How could they not? Everything about the night was so far beyond her realm of normalcy she hadn’t even initially believed it herself. 

Even now she found herself full of questions and doubts. The reality she was apparently living in felt inconsistent with the reality she’d always known. Why was he so small? How could vampires exist- what even constituted a vampire? Was he immortal? Or was he just some guy who drank blood? Two lines of thought thrashed against one another, competing for her attention. Logic, alight with curiosity, demanded answers, while the more empathetic part of her wanted a conclusion- needed an apology to be heard, a way to show him she was sorry.

Each question seemed to compete for her attention, growing louder and more desperate as she shoved them to the back of her mind while simultaneously shoving book after book back into her bookcase. Though she meandered about in silence her thoughts were loud. Unbelievably so- as if they were drowning out all actual sound. Her mind was loud- but she could be louder. 

A song, gentle and familiar, starts to form on her tongue. 

I fall to pieces

Each time I see you again

The notes felt smooth in a way it was hard to describe. Smooth in a way that seemed to soften the sharpness in her mind, as if the softness of the song could dull the edge of her emotions. The melody a soothing balm on her agitated mind. 

I fall to pieces

How can I be just your friend?

The tangle of thoughts that constricted around her mind seemed to relax, coming undone as though the song pulled just the right thread to untangle the mass, pulling the thoughts further and further from her, as if sending them floating away on her melody. 

You want me to act like we've never kissed

And yet, for as placating as it was… something felt off. June couldn't shake the thought that something was amiss- an unsettling undercurrent lingered just beneath the shallow tranquility of the song. A particular unease seemed to creep at the edges of her mind. Not a foreboding dread, but instead something lighter, almost like deja vu, as if it was something she should have known- The feeling of forgetting something but not being sure what; The feeling of pulling a loose thread only to unravel a crucial stitch…

You want me to forget 

Pretend we've never met

As she sang she felt as thoughts, abstract and formless, seemed to shift in the back of her mind. As if the words of her song had breathed life into something dormant lurking in her subconscious. The words were familiar, yet not, taking on an enigmatic allure-  as if they held secrets she ought to have known. With each lyric that escaped her lips, a subtle transformation occurred, as though the music itself was a conduit, channeling something she felt compelled piece together. 

And I've tried and I've tried

But I haven't yet

Movement out of the corner of her eye catches June’s gaze

All at once, her heart stops and the gears that were futility catching finally seem to clunk into place. Aedes… he hadn’t left.

You walk by and I fall to pieces

I fall to pieces

The lyrics became a prophecy to unfold, as June falls to pieces. The words barely register in her mind, her lips numbly singing the words as her eyes stay locked on him for the longest second of her life. Something in her feels as though it crumbles. She’d sung the song countless times, and yet it was as if she’d never known it. The words seemed to resonate in more than just her chest. Her very being shaking under the resonance, it was as if she’d unlocked a new understanding- a whole new song. The words hadn’t changed, neither did the notes. It was something in her. 

June looks away, feigning that she was looking at something just near enough, but not him. Heart beating wildly in her chest she desperately fought to keep her face as neutral as possible. How could she bring herself to look at him after all that she'd done…

He… he was still here…

He hadn’t left…

June felt a lightness in her chest. Like a flower pushing up through the concrete, a small fragment of hope seemed to bloom from within her. 

Should she- 

No. She dismissed the idea before it could fully form. She’d done enough damage. 

But maybe she could make it right if she just- 

June chews her lip.

Just what was she supposed to do? Just waltz up and say ‘Hey I’m really sorry for scaring you- it's just that you being terrified really turned me on and I kinda thought you were into it’ ??

Embarrassment hot on her face, June flops to her bed, wishing she could just scream into her pillow, but the awareness that she had company forced her to keep some sort of decorum. Instead she reaches for her nightstand, pulling out the relic that was her childhood mp3 player. 

God, she wanted to make this right. 

He hadn’t left yet… maybe she still could. 

---

Aedes' heart seems to jump in his chest as for the briefest of moments he is once again trapped in her stare- captive in her overwhelming gaze. 

Or… not? 

She moves on, still singing that enchanting melody. 

He releases a breath, his body all at once relaxing. She hadn’t seen him. 

Slowly, he backs away. He’d been stupid. He’d nearly gotten himself caught, and for what? To watch some natural disaster of a woman sing? He sighed, making his way back to the far corner beneath the dresser. 

He could have sworn they’d locked eyes… 

A part of him, as terrified as he was, almost wished they had.

Her song finishes, fading off into a melodious hum as he hears her settle on her bed.

Something felt off-

No, not felt- sounded.

While his spike of bloodlust had abated for now, his ears could still pick up the faint sound of her heart beating in the distance.

It was fast.

Far too fast for someone laying down.

Fuck.

She had seen him hadn't she? But she hadn't said a thing- she hadn't even made a move in his direction…

Was she just waiting for her chance- wanting to catch him off guard? 

He scowled. That didn't make sense. He was cornered. If she wanted to catch him she absolutely could.

The sound of her movement makes him jolt- nearly thwacking his head off the low cover of the dresser. He watches with his heart in his throat as she pads away from the bed and towards her closet, rummaging around in boxes she had moments ago neatly stacked away. His eyes follow her as she moves to sit at her desk- back to him. 

He swallowed. 

She wasn’t acting like it but he couldn’t shake the suspicion she had seen him. He frowned, not fond of staying in the spot where she had glimpsed him. He needed a better spot, and thankfully he had quite literally been delivered one. The freshly placed laundry bin perfectly covered the once bare space between the dresser and standing mirror. Carefully, Aedes made his way out from underneath the dresser, squeezing himself between the wicker laundry bin and the wall. 

Nothing. 

She continued to sit at her desk, idling fiddling with something. 

Aedes frowns. 

While entering the window and getting to the bed had been a quick and easy drop, the same couldn’t be said for the way back up. With no headboard to the bed Aedes found himself eyeing her desk as the only means to scale back up the window sill. 

With her back still turned, Aedes darts from the laundry bin to the mirror- peaking back to see the human still occupied at her desk. She hummed softly to herself as she sat hunched over something, her scale and his relative angle completely obscuring whatever it was that had her focus. 

Aedes sighed. Whatever it was that she was doing, he didn’t get the impression she’d be moving on anytime soon. He let him slump back against a large potted plant that sat decoratively beside the mirror. The cool ceramic felt nice against his skin. He felt his body once again start to relax, the sudden heaviness of exhaustion finally hitting him, as if he only now was bearing his full weight. 

Once again, he was back to waiting. 

Waiting for her to open the window.

Waiting for her to leave the room. 

Waiting to get away. 

The sun cast the room in a smothering warmth. Cozy, yet too much. Her hum droned on in the distance, with the occasional odd sound of her fiddling at her desk. Even in this relative calmness, the light of day was still so busy. Aedes found himself longing for the night- a cool breeze and fresh air. Peace and tranquility and freedom. He couldn’t wait to leave. To feel the crunch of dirt under his boots. The tall grass providing cover as he searched for something to feed on. A dark sky above him, stars bright and clear- the compelling song of a heart beat singing in his ears even more clear- Crystalline. A soft wordless melody filling him with vigor- resonating in his chest. The blood, sweet on his tongue, filling him with a hazy warmth. A cozy warmth. Enveloped in soft hands. Lips on his stomach. Her inaudible whispers hushed against his chest. What was she saying? He couldn’t hear her over the sound of her heart beating. Thunder in ears. So loud he could feel it- a vibration shaking him. The floor trembled beneath him

The… floor?

Aedes jolts awake.

His breath catching in his throat as her steps shake the floor. Fuck. 

He scrambles to his feet, peaking around from the cover of the plant.

There she was, in all her magnitude, walking straight towards the dresser. His throat tightened as she knelt down. 

No. 

She had seen him. 

Fuck. 

Was she looking for him?

He held his breath, heart slamming against his chest as his body tensed, preparing to run the second she turned her attention his way. 

Only- she didn’t. 

She knelt for only a moment, and then moved on- standing up and exiting the room, a soft hum fading into the distance as she left. She hadn’t reached under the dresser, hadn’t even looked. Aedes felt as his brows knit together. She had left something. A small vaguely rectangular shape sat just beneath the dresser. 

He swallowed. There was no denying it. She had seen him. She knew he was here. 

So just what was she doing?

His eyes flicked from the strange rectangle back to the door. She had left. the air around him felt lighter. More crisp, as if the tension of her presence left some kind of haze. His relief however, was short lived, as he attention was brought back to the window- still closed. 

Trapped. 

She wasn’t even here and he was still trapped. 

He drags his hands along the length of his face, frustration building. Think. There had to be something he could do in the meantime- someway he could move himself closer to escape. 

His eyes flicked back to the rectangle- curiosity gnawing at his focus. 

His eyes, adjusted to the daylight in the room, couldn’t quite make out what she’d left under the dresser with it obscured in the heavy contrast of shadow. The whole thing felt off, like a trick or some sort of trap, yet off in the distance he could still hear her, however faintly, humming to herself. 

Aedes scowls, eyes narrowing as he tentatively moves back toward the dresser, ready to sprint away in a second notice should he hear her return. 

Drawing closer, he makes out more details; black, soft edges, folds. Aedes’ frown deepens. The more he saw, the less sure he was of what exactly he was looking at. 

Was it… fabric?

He nudges the folded fabric with his foot- nothing feeling amiss, though he wasn’t exactly sure what he was looking for.  

Aedes pauses for a moment, considering if he should touch it- the weight of the action sitting heavy in his mind. She had left this for him clearly, in taking this he was essentially confirming that he was here…

But there was no harm in looking, right?

As he lifts it up, the fabric unfurls, and for a moment, Aedes isn’t quite sure what exactly he’s looking at. He would have thought it a blanket if it wasn’t for the strange way it hung from his hands- stitched together at seemingly random points. He turns the fabric this way and that, trying to figure out how it was supposed to be oriented. His eyes fall to something pinning two points of the fabric together - a silver stud. 

Aedes blinks, some part of his mind seeming to recognize the shape.

His heart freezes in his chest as the familiarity dawns on him,recollection drawing his face into a deep scowl.

A cloak.

[obwjam]

i humbly present: giant!spider-noir and tiny!peni parker

anons, i am sure you are THRILLED that i am FINALLY getting around to your asks after a... decent amount of time lol and i still dont feel like i'm fully out of my g/t writers block but we take what we can get. everyone please enjoy some long-overdue peni and noir content 🫶

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“Oh, no… kiddo…”

Peni didn’t know what to do. It was like all the air had been sucked from her lungs and her ears were ringing and her brain was going a mile a minute. The tiny girl continued to sob, head in hands, and the imposing figure of Noir could only look down in discomfort, for so many reasons.

First of all, he hated the way Peni looked so helpless and fragile as she simply sat on a tabletop. It was some experiment gone wrong, she told him – as she tried to find a way to retrofit the dimension-hopping bracelets without having to go through HQ, a calculation must have been off, or she just didn’t account for dimensional differences, because she landed right where she wanted to – in Noir’s world – but when she came to, everything was gigantic and she couldn’t handle it.

“I don’t… I don’t believe it… Peni…?”

It was starting to get dark out, but even in the middle of the day, there was no mistaking the flashing colors of the portal ripping open. Noir had sensed it and positioned himself right next to it, but… nobody emerged.

At least that’s what he thought. As he glanced down in deep thought after the portal collapsed in on itself and disappeared, something was nagging at the back of his brain.

Something familiar… intertwined with burning fear.

Peni, for her part, didn’t even know what was going on. Her bracelet showed that she was exactly where she wanted to be – Earth 90214.

So why did everything feel so… heavy?

Maybe it’s because this place was devoid of any color, and that always threw her for a loop. No, no, that’s not it. She’s been here before, and that never truly bothered her beyond the cosmetics. Maybe her calculations were slightly off, and the inter-dimensional journey was particularly taxing this time.

She got to her feet and immediately wobbled, blinking rapidly as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. This is weird… I can’t see a thing.

The first footstep was like thunder. Peni winced, shutting her eyes on instinct as she staggered backwards. The subsequent footsteps were no better, and she soon found herself dizzy as she spun around trying to figure out what was happening.

Noir’s heart lurched at the tiny girl’s reaction. He hated the way she looked so helpless on the ground, and his chest suddenly filled with a cocktail of stress, anger and the pure urge to protect.

Through her disorientation, Peni was able to discern that the dark shadow that was cast over her was suddenly getting darker. The sinking feeling of being loomed over was almost overwhelming her spidey senses, but something told her she had to look up.

She didn’t expect the massive, imposing figure of Spider-Noir to be right in front of her.

Her eyes widened as she realized what was going on. No – no – this can’t be happening – how did this happen! – I – I can’t let him see me like this!

“Peni, wait!” Noir cried as the tiny girl took off, forgetting how loud his voice was to her now. “It’s me, it’s Noir! Wait!”

Peni sprinted as fast as her little legs would take her. No time to look back, she thought. I’ve got to get out of here.

Noir’s heart sank. Peni was clearly desperate to escape. He just couldn’t let her do that. The world was dangerous enough for a normal spider person, but now that one of them could fit in the palm of his hand? It was a disaster waiting to happen.

Peni was so focused on getting out of there that she didn’t notice Noir bending down to snatch her up. It wasn’t until his fingertips practically brushed her back did she notice, and by then, it was too late.

A piercing scream echoed up from Peni, causing Noir to wince as he slowly lifted his tiny friend up from the ground. He cringed at the way she kicked and screamed and punched to try and escape, but he knew he had to do this. He did his best to ignore her protests, plopping her in his palm as gently as he could before curling his fingers over her, shrouding her in darkness.

Inside, Peni was panicking. Logically, being with Noir while she was now tiny was the best possible outcome, but everything about her current situation defied all logic. She desperately hurled her fist at the walls of her new prison, but she simply bounced backwards every time. She wasn’t even sure Noir could feel anything, considering he was wearing thick gloves.

Oh, Noir could feel it. Every small impact against his gloved hand sent a shiver down his spine as he ran back to his hideout. There were so many questions swirling around in his brain – questions he knew Peni would have the answer to… if she could work up the courage to talk.

After what felt like hours of movement, Peni felt Noir lurch to a stop. She swallowed and closed her eyes as light flooded her vision. Once she adjusted, her trembling eyes scanned her surroundings and horror filled her senses. She knew this place, but almost none of it was recognizable. Various weapons and pieces of technology looked positively alien, and almost everything looked like it was capable of killing her in an instant.

Thoroughly terrified and definitely embarrassed, she refused to meet Noir’s gaze as he took a seat and kept his hand hovering above the tabletop. Underneath his mask, Noir’s eyes were flickering to a new thing every few seconds – her panicked eyes, her heavy breathing, the small cuts and bruises she sustained in the crash landing.

“Peni… are… are you okay?” he finally asked. He didn’t want to startle her more than he already had, but even the rumbling of his voice made her cower. She crossed her arms and kept her gaze forward.

He wasn’t sure what he was expecting to feel when he held her, but now that he had a moment to process the situation, he felt… protective. This was a tiny life he was holding, and he had all the power in this situation. His stomach jumped when he felt her start to tremble. She was at his disposal, and that was terrifying to Noir. He didn’t like thinking of her as helpless, and it was all exacerbated by the fact that she wouldn’t even look at him.

“Peni… please… I need you to talk to me.” He tried to conceal his own shaking voice. “Tell me what happened.”

Eventually, she did, but it took a lot of coaxing and a lot of waiting. Peni tried her best to repair her watch, but she was trying to exhaust every single option at her disposal to avoid having to admit what she did to Miguel. Noir did what he could to help, but mostly, he would just keep Peni company and reassure her that everything was going to be fine.

Today, things were not fine.

It had been nearly a month that Peni had been stuck like this, and it was starting to weigh down on her. She lay awake on the makeshift bed that Noir had made for her, staring up at the ceiling that was impossibly far away. Noir was off on a mission, and he insisted that she wasn’t allowed to come with him. It was too dangerous.

So she was alone.

For some reason, it felt worse today than any other day. She was tired – tired from working nonstop, tired at having to look up at everything, tired from trying to keep it together. She didn’t even get a good night’s sleep last night because, as much as he hates to admit it, Noir snores.

That, and she just had another nightmare.

She was in distress, couldn’t Noir see that? She thought it was obvious. Maybe he really didn’t notice, or he pretended not to because it made him uncomfortable. Like this whole thing didn’t make Peni uncomfortable! Why did he have to go on that stupid mission? She needed him here.

For the next hour, with her hands folded on top of her stomach, Peni lay there, staring, thinking. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Noir’s gloved hand completely encompassing her vision and she grew smaller and smaller in its presence. The one person she felt that she could count on was a hundred times her size and could kill her in an instant. As much as she tried to take her mind off of everything, the same thing kept echoing in her head: My dad would know what to do.

She barely noticed when Noir returned, twisting gracefully down the pole from above ground and landing with a thud that normally would have made her jump. The spider giant brushed off his coat and glanced over at the tabletop, dismayed to see Peni still laying in bed.

He padded over and bent down to her height, squinting to see if she was awake or asleep.

“Hey, kiddo…” he said softly, afraid of startling her. “You, uh… you alright?”

To Noir’s surprise, Peni rolled over and glared at him before emphatically flipping around so her back was now facing him.

Noir’s eyes widened. It was moments like these that reminded him that she was just a teenager.

“Is... something bothering you?”

Peni didn’t answer, which was effectively an answer.

Noir racked his brain. It wasn’t like he had extensive experience dealing with teenage girls at a normal height. “Do you, uh… do you want to… talk about it?”

Peni let out a small humph, which just made Noir’s heart leap.

“Come on, kid, you can talk to me, you know that.”

Peni was utterly embarrassed, but she had no choice. It wasn’t like she could walk away. Slowly, she turned back toward Noir, whose expression brightened underneath his mask when her tiny, delicate eyes met his. Peni’s cheeks flushed red as she sat up and crossed her arms in protest.

“There. You happy now?”

“Hey, what’s gotten into you?” Noir asked, trying to sound genuine but instead sounding accusatory. A full day out in the field certainly wasn’t helping.

Peni was dumbfounded. “Oh, nothing, I’m just stuck like this and I don’t know how to fix it and I’m – I’m all alone!”

Noir felt a pang in his heart. “Alone? You… you have me.”

“You’re off on missions all the time, though!”

“Well, yeah! I have a job to do! I’m sorry, Peni, I… I can’t just stay home all the time because you want me to!”

Tears began to prick the corner of Peni’s eyes. Why was she so angry?

“It–it doesn’t matter, okay? Forget I said anything! You’re – you’re not my father, and you never will be!”

Both spider people gasped. Noir never thought of himself as her father – after all, he was only 19 years old, so he was more like an older brother. But he always felt this connection to Peni, however inexplicable, given the respective dimensions they each come from. He had this… insatiable need to protect her from the inherent trauma that all spider people experienced. Like he could shield her from all the pain he once went through. He almost forgot that he really couldn’t do that.

Once the first tear fell, the floodgates burst open. She could barely hear Noir go “Oh, no… kiddo…” from high above her, watching helplessly as the girl he saw as family was breaking down because of him.

“Peni, I…” Noir was at a loss for words. Consoling people was not really his strong suit. But something told him that right now, she didn’t need to be lectured at or reprimanded. She needed comfort.

Peni let out a small gasp when she suddenly felt herself being lifted. Noir had gently cupped his hands around her shaking form and, ever so slowly, brought her over to his chest and held her close.

The low drumming of Noir’s heartbeat was enough to snap Peni back to reality. She looked around to confirm that yes, she was being cupped in his hands and yes, he was holding her by his heart.

“It’s okay, kiddo. I gotcha,” his deep voice rumbled from above. The sound waves traveled with ease though his body and into hers, giving her a sense of grounding and warmth that enveloped her like a blanket.

With shaking hands, she was able to wipe the tears from her face until they no longer fell. She allowed the rhythm of his heartbeat to calm her down, and she felt her trembling begin to subside, too. Soon, she had brought her legs up to her chest and curled into Noir’s fingers, allowing herself to melt into his palms.

Noir had to bite his tongue to keep from awwwing.

They sat in silence for a while, with Peni focusing on her breathing and Noir trying his best not to move. Eventually, he felt her stretch out and twist up to look at him.

“Thanks, Noir,” she squeaked, barely audible even to him. “For being here for me.”

“Anytime, kid,” he said back lowly. “Look, uh. I know I’m not the best with… uh…”

“Feelings?”

Noir chuckled. “Yeah. Those. But, you know, you can come to me anytime… about anything. And you don’t have to talk, if you want, but –”

“–Noir,” she cut him off with a chuckle of her own. “I get it.”

“Oh. Good, good.” He fell into a comfortable silence. “Would you, uh, would you like to go lay down? On the couch?”

“I’d… I’d love to,” Peni replied between yawns.

Peni lightly bounced to the rhythm of Noir’s footsteps until the two were settled on the couch with no more words to be said. It was hard for her to realize but Peni wasn’t alone – she had Noir. Sure, she was somehow four inches tall in this universe, and the sheer darkness and drab of his dimension was in stark contrast to her entire existence… but she had someone to care for her, even if it wasn’t the exact way her dad did it.

That was new for her. But she could get used to that.

[californiaboytoybilly]

Look. At. Me.

Tigerfreak || NSFW 18+ || Jealousy || Smut (with a little plot because I can’t help it) || 3.2k

cw: Cursing, possessiveness, jealousy, semi-public sex, handjobs, biting, unestablished relationship, dacryphilia, liberal use of the word queer, miscommunicated feelings, a little bit of degradation if you squint and turn your head to the left, vague references to religious guilt from an outsider perspective.

They’re in love but don’t let them hear you say that.

Ao3 Version: Here

Eddie was possessive of the things- the people - he coveted.

A wild creature of teeth and tongue and nails, leaving bruises and bites along his way so that they could not look upon their skin without remembering him. A clinging echo summoned back when fingertips dug into damaged skin as they tried to wash him away later.

Leaving a stain of himself behind, a thin sheen of oil that nothing could ever quite scrub clean from their squeaky clean facades. Bitter on the back of their tongues.

All that to say, he wasn’t particularly pleased when people touched the things he’d claimed as his.

And inexplicably, Jason Carver had become his. In a strange, obsessive way that had he cared even a little more to pay attention to, he might have acknowledged wasn’t exactly healthy. They still snarled in the lunchroom, trading sharp barbs and insults. Opposite sides of the same tarnished coin- everyone saw that.

Nobody got to see the way Carver’s tawny skin would flush with rosy patches in the dim light of some maintenance closet or dark, dark corner at a party.

How his years of being an obedient little church boy had trained him to do well on his knees, ocean blue eyes swallowed nearly entirely by the wide blown pupils that told on him if he dared to act unaffected by the weight of Eddie in his mouth.

Nobody got to see the delicious way he sobbed when he was fracturing at the seams, a cocktail of pleasure and bubbling shame at how badly he wanted this sinful thing fizzing up under his skin, making his hands shake and his chest heave under his little silver cross.

The way he looked when all that built up energy had nowhere to go but out, ridiculously long eyelashes clumping as salty tears spilled over his cheeks and he slammed his eyes shut so he didn’t have to look at Eddie even accidentally as he came.

It was intoxicating.

In the present, he could hear his own jaw click into place as he tried not to focus on anything else going on in the locker room and failed miserably. Fucking jocks and their definitely not queer touchy bullshit. Butt ass naked and shoving each other around, snickering and dripping from the showers.

He usually just tried to skip gym entirely just to avoid the choice between getting in the shower with a bunch of his peers who wouldn’t hesitate to break his nose if they thought his gaze wandered somewhere it shouldn’t, and smelling like a damp armpit for the rest of the day.

Not that he actually had an interest in leering at them, but they didn’t care. Rumours had a way of digging their claws in deep, burrowing in like a parasite until they could control each jerk of your arms as you reacted to the world around you- especially ones that were true, regardless of if his peers could prove it or not.

If it talks like a queer, walks like a queer and dresses like a queer…

This reason alone was why he couldn’t believe it to be a coincidence in any capacity when Billy Hargrove locked eyes with him from across the room as Eddie turned to shove his grey shirt and athletic shorts into his cluttered locker, tearing his eyes away from where they’d been burning a hole in the back of Jason’s head a moment prior.

His brassy blond curls were dripping wet, skin flushed from the heat, and naked as the day he was born. Eddie kind of hated him, just on principle- the audacity he had to look like that.

Billy held his gaze, making the back of Eddie’s neck itch. People tended to dodge his eyes like he’d take root in their brains if they lingered too long, so the unexpected interaction made him prickle anxiously. Billy’s lips curled into a lazy smirk, staring him down like he knew something, twirling a damp white washcloth between his fingers.

Eddie didn’t notice his muscles bunching in preparation for the strike until the crack resounded throughout the locker room. Dark eyes darted just slightly to the left as a familiar voice broke on a sharp exclamation.

Jason had a startled hand on his ass, red blush high on the plains of his cheeks, rubbing at the spot with a grimace. Eddie’s eyes darted between the rag in Hargrove’s hand and the warmed patch of skin as long as he dared to linger, tasting copper as he bit down on his tongue.

Because while Jason was doing his best to look annoyed, fluffy damp hair askew around his face and mouth hauled now into a scowl that he aimed towards the Californian transplant, Eddie knew better. He knew that flush. That skittish, dark look in his eye as his fingers nervously darted up to curl around the chain of his cross.

Even if Eddie couldn’t read him like a picture book, the way he hurriedly grabbed his towel and wrapped it around his waist was enough of a tell. It boiled Eddie’s blood, little knives scratching up his skin from the inside.

The world took on a green tinge as Eddie hurriedly started to yank on his clothes. That would’ve finished a lot faster, of course, if he’d been smart enough to not wear his lace up boots today.

He barely even noticed as everyone began to file out of the locker room, jaw clenched tight until even Billy’s shadow was out of sight, hot on Harrington’s heels as usual.

If Eddie snuck a glare at his retreating back out of pure petty jealousy, that was his own business.

He usually liked the guy well enough. He could be an ass, but he was a good customer. Eddie even let him stay and smoke more often than not, something he was picky with. He was funny when he didn’t have his rusty nail chainmail of a public personality on.

Right now, however, he wanted to staple his shirt directly to his skin so he couldn’t walk around looking like chiselled bronze all while pissing him off, touching things that weren’t his.

When he calmed down enough to bother looking around, the locker room was completely empty save for him and Carver. Both dressed now, and ignoring each other.

A dangerous thought seized him before he could battle it back, then.

It was the last class of the day and- as far as Eddie knew- no teams had practice Wednesday evenings. He barely had time to acknowledge that justification before he was crossing the room, flipping Jason around by the shoulder at the same time as he pushed him into the lockers.

The blond widened his eyes, gaze flitting to the doors. “Let go of me.“ He hissed, eyes flattening and lip curling. Like an angry little cat, Eddie thought idly. “Anybody could-“

“You didn’t seem to mind when you were having your ass whipped in front of the entire class.” Eddie said, false smile dripping sweetness.

Jason scoffed in his face, scowling again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He denied, but the pink was crawling back into his cheeks again.

Caught.

Vision still bathed in emerald and blood pumping, Eddie leaned more into his personal space, nearly head to head. “Oh really?”

He wedged his knee between Jason’s thighs, pinning him to the lockers even tighter with a metallic thunk that had the blond wincing. But he had his answer, hot and unmissable pressed against his leg.

“That’s not what I feel.”

Jason was still trying to look angry, weakly shoving at his chest as though to get him off. But Eddie knew damn well that he was strong enough to remove him if he really wanted to.

He’d done it before, when Eddie provoked him a little too far.

The jock’s eye twitched, hips shifting restlessly like he was trying to fight the urge to move them with purpose. “What does it matter to you if I did?” He said, tone bitter as he jerked his chin up haughtily. “You don’t own me, Freak.”

Eddie growled under his breath, “Wrong fucking answer.”

He crashed their lips together in something a little too mean to be considered a kiss, dragging a wounded sound from the blond. He seemed to give up the fake fight, fingers tangling into the hair at the nape of Eddie’s neck and pulling.

Like the action was a ripcord travelling directly to his dick, Eddie groaned. Jason used the pause to rip away, panting for breath and with a frenzied glint in his eye. “Not here.” He repeated again, jaw set stubbornly.

Eddie rolled his eyes, taking a step back as his hand locked around Jason’s wrist. He yanked him along after back into the showers, invisible from either door. “Good enough, princess?”

Jason managed to get him in the ribs with an elbow then in response to that. Eddie sucked a strained breath in between his teeth but otherwise refused to acknowledge it.

“Don’t call me that.”

Despite his earlier bitching, Jason was the one to press in this time, already heated in a way that scratched the little itch that had been licking at his spine since that cloth whipped through the air.

He smelled of his usual- probably overpriced- body wash, a heady floral scent that had infuriatingly started to creep into his fantasies at night when he was trying to think of literally anybody else.

Eddie was doing his very fucking best to ignore any and all implications of that fact.

As his lips began to trail a burning path along the side of Jason’s jaw, an idea flashed through his mind that instantly was stoked by the no longer dying flame of possessiveness from before.

Because Jason always tried not to look at him and Eddie usually didn’t care. But he wanted to be the sole focus of Jason’s attention right now- another thought he wouldn’t be touching with a ten foot pole.

Hungry hands travelled down impatiently, neither of them in any mood to drag this out. Jason muttered a curse as Eddie yanked at the ties of his basketball sweats, loosening the waistband just enough to shove them down to mid thigh.

Eddie breathed out harshly through his nose as fingers rubbed over the hard line of him trapped beneath too tight denim, hand slipping under the waistband of Jason’s underwear.

Fishing him out, he felt Jason shudder against him at the feeling of the still hot and sticky air back on his sensitive skin. Eddie eyed the other man for a moment, where he was impatiently rocking on his heels for Eddie to initiate something past them just standing here.

Unfortunately for him, Eddie had no plans on letting him escape unshaken this time. He’d burn himself into the back of Jason’s eyes if he had to.

Popping the button on his jeans and yanking the zipper open, Eddie once again bracketed the other against the nearest flat surface- this time, the shower wall.

“What are you doing?” Jason asked, voice barely a rasp. This wasn’t how they usually did these things.

Eddie held his gaze for a second, lifting a hand up and spitting lewdly into his palm. Jason scrunched his nose, still eyeing him warily.

But then Eddie dropped his hand, slotting their bodies together at the perfect angle for him to wrap his long fingers around both of them at the same time.

“Close your eyes and I stop.” He taunted with a mean squeeze, his own breath catching in his throat at the sensation as he started to move.

“Wh-“ Jason arched his lower back off the wall, a tiny little ah! being punched out of him. “What?”

“You heard me.” Eddie grunted, picking up the pace he was pumping them at just a little. Jason apparently thought he was bluffing, however, as a wavered moan left his mouth and his eyes started to slip closed.

Eddie snarled in annoyance, abruptly stopping his hand. Jason’s eyes shot open in surprise, lips parting like he was gonna start bitching before it seemed to click in his head.

“You’re serious?” He asked, tone incredulous.

“What do you think?” Eddie breathed, free hand coming up to grab Jason’s chin and drag his focus forward. Only once Jason was looking at him properly again did he once again start moving his other hand.

Something in his chest clenched tight before expanding, fizzling up around the cork like a shaken bottle of champagne.

Jason’s throat bobbed, eyes wide and startled like a prey animal under the fog of need coating them. His gaze flickered, like he wasn’t sure what to do with himself now that he couldn’t disappear into his brain, whoever it was he usually thought about just out of reach.

That thought alone made a primal something that had been scratching around in Eddie’s skull finally curl up and relax, temporarily soothed.

“Am I serious?” He prodded, breath fanning over Jason’s face. He twisted his hand, thumb sliding up the sensitive underside of his cock with a hiss. “Tell me, Jason. Do I mean it?”

It was supposed to sound teasing. Taunting. It just came out uncomfortably desperate.

The blond tensed at the vocalisation of his first name, something Eddie never called him. It was always insults and surnames, the abrupt change was clearly throwing the other for a loop.

“Quit- hng- acting like you’re in love with me.” Jason huffed through a groan. If Eddie didn’t feel like he’d been punched currently, he might have noticed the way Jason’s voice trembled as he spoke the words. Anxious and strained.

“In your fucking dreams.” Eddie spat back, all acid again. But that didn’t stop him either. Ducking down, Eddie sunk his teeth into the meat of Jason’s shoulder hard. Not quite enough to break skin, but damned close. It would definitely leave a mark.

“Ow, fuck!” Jason snapped. Eddie could feel the desperate way he rutted into the metalheads' touch despite his attempt to protest, cock throbbing where it was trapped against Eddie’s own. “What are you? A dog?”

Eddie grinned, a wolfish thing with too many teeth, and let go of Jason’s jaw finally. Instead, he grabbed his hand in what could almost be a romantic hold if you ignored the rest of the situation, spinning a band of silver that adorned one of his fingers.

“Just reminding you for later that your cute little purity ring is bullshit. Guess you’ll have to hope you don’t get put on skins team this week, or everyone will know that as well as I do.”

A low, almost inaudible whine escaped Jason’s throat as his head thumped back against the tile wall. He couldn’t keep his mouth shut, swollen lips parted around every breathless little noise he couldn’t control anymore.

Fracturing. There it was.

A fiery whip tightened behind his navel, coiling tighter and tighter as it prepared to lash out. “Shit-“ Eddie breathed, clamping his teeth down on his lower lip.

They were both close, both too stubborn to acknowledge how quickly they were rocketing to the precipice. There was something different lurking in this exchange, replacing the blood in Eddie’s veins with molten metal and thickening the air between them.

Jason looked seconds away from crumbling and Eddie would not finish first. Not this time, when he already felt concerningly vulnerable in the pit of his stomach.

“You act like you hate that idea but you don’t. Deep down, a little fucked up part of you wants to show it off. Don’t you?”

Jason made a garbled attempt at speech that Eddie thought was supposed to be a warning to shut his mouth, trying to turn his eyes away like he’d forgotten the rules again.

Even though it damn near killed him, Eddie stopped his hand again and squeezed for emphasis. Jason sucked in a sharp breath, body shaking so violently Eddie almost got concerned, a sharp curse and a sob-like noise escaping him before furious eyes snapped back to his.

Eddie had made his point. He started stroking them both again, fast and slick. The noise was obscene, echoing off the shower walls and filling the air around them.

This time, Jason didn’t try to win. His eye contact didn’t waver, even as a fevered look overtook him and his brows creased together in the middle. Eddie could see him start to crack, breaths hitching too fast and tears starting to well up.

The sight of watery blue eyes burned him like a brand, a shove to the back towards the inevitable drop.

“Can’t even tell me I’m wrong.” Eddie whispered as he leaned in, sucking down a greedy lungful of Jason’s hot breath as he hovered ever closer. Jason was almost going crosseyed to try and maintain eye contact now, pride discarded in a desperate attempt to keep Eddie from stopping when he was so close.

Then, Eddie pushed it a little further, reckless with all the conflicting, churning things fighting each other in his chest. “Now say my fucking name or I stop for good.”

Jason looked for all the world like he wanted to spit in Eddie’s face instead, jaw working as another sound ripped free of him and hot tears finally spilled down his cheeks. “Fuck, Mun-“

Eddie’s eyes hardened, fingers tightening threateningly, and Jason corrected himself so fast it would have been amusing in any other situation.

“Eddie-“

That was it. With one expert twist of his hand, Jason lost the battle of wills with the second syllable of his name still on his tongue. He shuddered and stilled as he spilled between them with ragged, high pitched gasps for air.

Eddie followed after him with a grunt, teeth gritting as his head bounced around the sound of his own name falling from Jason’s lips like a backing track. Eddie. Eddie. Eddie.

Fuck.

The silence in the aftermath was only broken by laboured breathing, both of them looking decidedly anywhere else but at each other now.

All the fight feeling as thought it had been sucked out of him left Eddie feeling exposed in a way he decidedly didn’t like, skin raw and nerves firing unpleasantly. All at once, he realised he was still gripping Jason’s hand, knuckles white and fingers laced.

He dropped it like he’d been burned, ignoring the way Jason was staring at his own fingers and flexing them like he’d never seen them before.

Eddie took a hurried step back, heart banging a new rhythm in his chest. Jason’s attention snapped back to him, stinging like a sunburn, and Eddie flinched. The fear was new.

They didn’t speak as Eddie wiped off his hand and hurriedly yanked his zipper back up, but the brunette could almost feel the questions swirling through the jock’s mind.

Questions he wasn’t going to answer, not even to himself.

Even if he had to run from them.

Without sparing the other boy another glance, Eddie booked it for the exit. His backpack sat neglected and forgotten on the changing bench.

Right before he left, he could’ve sworn he heard a small, unusually timid-

“What the fuck was that?”

What the fuck was that, indeed.