#i hope you all had a great day and a great thanksgiving break

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

First of all, Happy birthday!

Second of all, this isn't an AU technically, but i been thinking of it for a good while.

You know how Na'vis can ive longer then Humans right?

I did some calculations, and na'vis life is like 200 normally meanwhile humans live for 80 years normally.

So I been thinking about, Spider living a full life, having a partner(human in this case) trough it and kids, and grandkids.

Then he dies, of crouse the Sully's and the Socorro's are devastated by it.

Spider dies when he's old, so meanwhile he kids and grandkids can "accept" it and go on with their life.

The Sully's are devasted (bonus if Spider doesn't appears when they connect to the tree).

They can't cope with that, with losing him so "young"

So out of pain, they slowly cut contacts with the family he formed. (Image the Sully's living in awa'tlu, and the Socorro's living in the forest).

This hurts the human family because they litteraly grew up calling Lo'ak, Kiri and Tuk "uncle" and "aunt" and their kids cousins.

But they respect the rapport and go on with their life.

In 200 years, there are (according to google) 8-9 generetions.

So they could have met again, during Mo'at funeral, when Spider's grandkids(3th generation) had grandkids (5th generation)

And even then, it was painful to do it, they just been cordial and all.

Also, a theory of mines, is that Humans during the years on Pandora evolved their lungs to naturally breath air.

So from generation 4 on, they breath air.

Jake dies, but before he died, he requested personally for Socorro's family to come the funeral.

They are invited to the funeral, everybody is confused on why, even Neytiri.

And i can't remove from my mind, the image of this teenager with his holding his toddler little sibling/cousin.

And when he comes into the Sully's marui, how everybody freezes because...damn

Apart from little difference (like: moles, lighter or darker skin, eye color) this 15 years old looks identical to Spider when he was that age.

It takes an hour for Kiri to start crying because of it, seriously, the way this teen acts, smiles, talks is so Spider.

Damn even Neytiri is emotional about it.

The four of them (Neytiri, Kiri, Lo'ak and Tuk) talk about the possibility of making the Socorro's family re enter their life.

But then, the family leaves again, goes back to the forest, to their life.

And the Sully's are their, knowing that they cant do anything about it, because in the end is their own doing that made this happen.

What do you think?

Thank you!! ❤️

Damn, I think that is suuuch a bittersweet concept.

I have been fully ignoring the idea of Spider dying so much sooner than everyone he knows, and in this story he would have a human family, which has always been a concept that's not my fav. This is one of the hugest reasons that I have to prefer an Eywa blessed or an Avatar Spider, because I can't stomach him dying so soon and even getting older and unable to move about his home like his friends and family can.

I do love the idea of the family being haunted by a younger version of Spider's relatives though, that's so sad and sweet and the start of a new era. I seriously can't imagine him having a human family though. Love love the idea of humans generationally evolving to breathe the air better though! I think that is absolutely likely.

[imagine-nerd]

The fucking disconnect is so real.

[toxicanonymity]

🔥 tinder

3.5k / stepdad!joel x f!reader / stepdad master

A/N: Picks up after Fandango. Nothing has happened with the Mom before this, so ignore that hypothetical drabble.

Warnings: I8+ smut, mdni. stepcest, big girthy age gap, angst. jacking off, groping, oral F receiving. P in V but not with each other. cheating on each other, kind of. graphically overhearing your mom and him have sex :(. Joel's state of mind when he did it.

"Firm handshake," Joel says, then takes a seat on the other side of you.  Joel’s extra aftershave wafts into your nostrils and makes you tingle.  He asks about your date.  Jacques leans forward with his elbows on his knees to tell Joel about where you went for dinner and what you guys had. You glance over at Joel and a subtle snarl is forming. 

Joel is weird after his introspective drive home from your apartment. When you get back to their house, he silently brings the TV in for you, biceps bulging through his thin undershirt.  He sets it up in your room and won’t make eye contact the whole time he’s in your room.  Seems like everything went to hell as soon as you asked about their marriage.  

“Joel.”  He doesn't look. He bends over and his shirt rides up as he plugs the last thing into the TV.  

“Joel, what the hell” 

“What?” he snaps,  “What do you want?”  

You’re not sure what to say, so your default sarcasm spills out.  “What, you can’t tell?”

He rolls his eyes.  “Somethin’ you need right now, or am I done here?” He tosses the remote control onto your bed. He won’t even get within three feet of you. 

“You don’t want me to answer that,” you say. 

He scoffs and leaves, closing the door behind him.  

-

Thanksgiving night, your mom gets home and the three of you eat dinner together.  She asks how the movie was.  Joel blushes and plays with his food, but you smoothly start telling her all about the Exorcist until she changes the subject since she doesn’t like horror.    

“I was thinking, honey, why don’t you come with us to Mexico?”

“I thought you were going for a conference,” you say.

“Yeah, well.  You know how that is.  They wouldn’t have it at the beach if they didn’t expect us to have a little fun.”  She looks at Joel.  Joel is staring at his plate.  She continues, “We were gonna add a couple of days, make a vacation of it.  You could bring a friend if you want.” 

You nod.  “Or just the three of us?”

“Sure,” she says.  Joel puts his fork down and sits back in his chair.  “Ate too much earlier,” he says and excuses himself from the table.  You don’t see him again that night. 

-

The next morning, you go black Friday shopping with both of them.  At most stores, Joel waits in the car sulking, pondering his life.  You buy a new TV for your apartment, a few new bikinis for the trip, and your Mom buys Joel a bunch of new clothes.  You’re going to miss the shrunken ones.   After you get home, your Mom leaves to do more shopping and Joel watches football in the ] living room. You put on a new bikini and go downstairs to model it for him. 

“Well what do you think?” you ask. 

He quickly scans your body, his eyes not lingering anywhere.  “Looks great,” he says flatly, then looks back at the TV.   

You sit down next to him, elbow on the back of the sofa with your head propped up in your hand.  He tries not to look. 

“Give me a break,” he says. 

“I just wanna know if you like it,” you say.  

“Said it looks great.” 

You adjust the cups of the top. “It’s not too much?” 

“Come on, sweetheart.” He refuses to look.   “Just get outta here, okay?”

“Okay, I have three more to try on.” 

“Please don’t,” he says and adjusts the crotch of his sweatpants.

“I dunno why you’re punishing me for your own feelings,” you retort. 

He sighs as though too tired to even try.  

“Maybe I’ll go on that tinder date after all.”  You’re still not planning on it at this point, you just want Joel to loosen up again and hope the threat might help. 

Joel scowls at you.  He knows he can’t tell you not to.  He knows it’s not fair.  “Would you grow up,” he says. 

Your laugh is short and silent.  “I’ll send the other suits on snapchat.” 

You go back to your room and try them on, taking videos and pictures and sending them to Joel. “I dunno if the ass is too small on this one,” you say in a low, sultry voice, then turn the camera to the mirror to show  your ass hanging out of a cheeky pair of boy shorts.  You take some even hotter footage and send it all in real time. 

Joel doesn’t open the snapchats right away.  But soon, you hear the TV turn off downstairs, then he goes up to the master bedroom and closes the door. 

-

You smile to yourself and put on a robe.  He’s totally about to jack off.�� Sure enough, a minute or two later, Snapchat tells you when he starts watching your snaps.  You tiptoe into the hall to listen. You sneak as close to his door as you can get without giving yourself away.  You want to hear him do it unrestrained by your presence. 

“God damn,” he sighs and your nipples harden at the sound.  

“I dunno if the ass is too small on this one,” you say through his phone, and he replays it.  “I dunno if the ass is too small on this one.”  And again.  “I dunno if the ass is too small on this one.” 

He breathes loudly and you hear the wet squish of his fist around his cock.  

“Uggghh,” he groans and you know he must be watching the one where you untie the top entirely and let it hang between your breasts.  Outside his door, you slip your hand into your swimsuit and touch yourself as you listen to him breathe heavily.  He audibly pleasures himself  while you put on a show and strip for him on his phone.  He’s so fucking hot.  

“Jesus,” he says to himself.  In snapchat, you must be pulling the swimsuit aside to show him your juicy cunt and how wet you are.  You brought your phone with you in your robe so you can see how many snaps he has left to watch. That’s one of the last. 

“It’s yours, Joel,” you say from his phone.  “Come and get it.” 

“Fuck me,” he sighs and the sound of his voice makes you lose control of your hand.  You put your hand on the door knob and open it. 

His phone repeats, “It’s yours, Joel.  Come and get it. . . It’s yours, Joel.  Come and get it.”  You see the reflection of the explicit video in his glasses.  He fumbles with his phone to stop it from playing again. 

“What the hell are you doin’ here,” he whispers gruffly with his cheeks pink. 

“If you’re not gonna come get it. . .” you say, putting your hands in the pockets of your robe and splaying them out to show your whole body. 

“Your mom’s on her way home right now.” 

“That’s what you wanna talk about?”  You take a hand out of your robe pocket and slip it into your swimsuit, dipping a finger into your pussy, letting your head fall back, exposing your neck as you bite your lip and touch yourself.  Then you snake your hand up your torso, between your breasts, to your neck.  You walk all the way up to him, stepping over a trail of shopping bags from the walk-in closet to the bed.  When you get to Joel, you put your fingers in his mouth and he licks them clean with his eyes closed.  Then you take his free hand and put it on your breast, slipping it under the swimsuit.  He does nothing to stop you. You start touching yourself again. 

He strokes his cock faster.  He wets his lips and breathes deeply as he palms your breast and watches you touch yourself.  

Then you hear footsteps on the stairs, and your Mom’s voice.  “Honey?” She must have left the garage door open while she was out.  No warning. 

“Shit,” he whispers, yanking his hand away from you.  He looks around.  You close your robe.  “Closet,” he says, pulling his pants up over his wet, hard cock.  

“No!” you whisper.  But when you see your Mom’s shadow arriving at the top of the stairs and Joel all disheveled with his lube right on the nightstand, you don’t see another option.  You’d have to cross the bedroom door to get to the bathroom.  

-

Just as you hide in the closet, your Mom enters the bedroom, and her paper shopping bags clatter against the door on the way in.  “It’s just you? Thought I heard someone.”  She’s headed your way with the bags.  This was so stupid.  So, so stupid.  You could have just tied up your robe and acted like you were getting something from their bathroom.  

Joel intercepts her.  “C’mere,” he says.  “Why don’t ya let me put those up later?” His voice has a seductive air about it and a pit opens in your stomach.  

“Joel,” she says accusatorily and laughs. “Were you watching porn?”

“What if I was,” he says.  Of course he’s still hard and pink in the face.  Terrible at hiding his humiliation.

“Hope you saved some for me,” she says saucily and your heart drops. She closes the bedroom door.  

This is a worst case scenario.  

You hear kissing.  So fucked up.  You plug your ears and dissociate.  What follows is a torturous symphony of breathing and moaning from both of them for the longest five minutes of your life.  You seethe, then you cry as silently as possible.  Of course he’s thinking about you - of course.  You gave him that hard-on. Is he doing it out of spite? Out of panic? Surely he could manage not to moan if he was only doing it because he felt like he had to.  He knows you’re RIGHT THERE.  Can he really  not control himself? 

While you’re still in the closet, you post one of your sexiest swimsuit photos on instagram.  Then you text Joel, “This is so fucked up. I don’t want to ever hear a word from you about my dates or instagram or anything else.”  You send him a screencap from Tinder where you’re confirming your availability for a date with Jacques.  “Hope you’re happy,” you add. “Fuck you.” 

When it’s over, your mom goes to the bathroom and you make your escape, wiping your eyes with one hand, holding your robe closed tight with another,  not even looking in Joel’s direction. You can feel him looking at you, though.  

-

You slam the door to your bedroom.  

Joel responds to your text, “You’re right, it’s none of my business. I’m sorry.”

That makes you even more upset.  You want it to be his business.  You get in your bed and sob.  

“I dunno what to say,” he adds. “I didn’t know what to do.  If you can’t forgive, me I understand.” 

You respond, “You didn’t have to act so into it.”

He says, “I was trying to make it quick. I’m really sorry.” 

You don’t reply. 

“I wish I could undo it. I’m sorry.” 

You don’t respond. 

He asks, “Do you want to talk about it?” 

Fuck no, you don’t want to talk about it. Why would you want to talk about it?  You stay in your room for a long time but eventually go to the kitchen to get something to drink.  He must hear you going downstairs because it’s only a minute before he comes down, too.  

“Hey,” he says.  “You okay?” 

How would you be okay? You don’t have anything to say to him.

He says, “I was gonna, uh, go to the gas station.  You want a drink or somethin’?” You don’t answer.  

You go back to your room.  When he gets back, he knocks on your door. You don’t answer.  He goes back downstairs and texts you that he got you a drink and put it in the fridge.  

The next morning, you come down for breakfast and he’s there.  

“How’d you sleep?” he asks.  You don’t answer.  He watches you pour a glass of orange juice in silence.  You drink it and put it in the sink.  He leans against the doorframe from the kitchen to the hall, blocking your way.  As you go by, he gently puts his hand on your chest and whispers, “Hey.”  You look down at his big, veiny hand.  How dare he platonically put it on your chest? You take a deep breath, your breast swelling into the heel of his palm. 

“What?” you ask. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispers.  “Please forgive me.” 

You laugh condescendingly. 

“Or at least talk to me,” he begs with puppy dog eyes. 

You return to your room without another word. 

Over the next few days, you go back to your apartment and Joel tries texting you casually.  He snapchats you too, but you don’t answer it.  

-

A few days later, you go out with Jacques to get your mind off Joel.  Joel remembers your plans.  He’s still thinking about it. 

“Have fun on your date,” Joel texts you.  The nerve.  If Jacques is hot enough in person, you might give Joel a taste of his own medicine in terms of what Joel has to overhear.  You’re glad you hadn’t decided the location when you sent Joel the screencap, lest he show up.  

Jacques is hot.  You go out to dinner, then bring him home to your mom and Joel's house instead of your apartment. The two of you sit in the kitchen first and you make him a drink.  You continue your conversation from the date.  His voice is deep and smooth, but not as sexy as Joel's. You can’t help but compare everything about them.  You and Jacques take your drinks to the living room to watch a movie.  You sit in the middle of the sofa and Jacques sits by your side. 

-

Before you've even picked a movie, Joel walks in. He spreads his feet and crosses his arms, pushing out his biceps with his hands underneath them. Then he just stares at you.  He looks like he’s trying to restrain himself.  

"Joel," you light up insincerely. "This is Jacques." 

Jacques gets up and shakes Joel's hand.

"Firm handshake," Joel says flatly, then takes a seat on the other side of you.  Joel’s extra aftershave wafts into your nostrils and makes you tingle.  He asks about your date.  Jacques leans forward with his elbows on his knees to tell Joel about where you went for dinner and what you guys had. You glance over at Joel and a subtle snarl is forming at the edge of his nose.  You lean back against the couch since they’re trying to talk to each other. 

Joel asks, "So what'd ya talk about? Any common interests?" 

"Oh yeah, we both love horror movies," Jacques says. 

"Nice," Joel nods. "She tell ya we went to see the new Exorcist?" 

"Um, yeah. She mentioned it was good." 

Joel chuckles, then looks at you. "It was good, huh? You'll have to catch me up before the next one, sweetheart." He gives your thigh a squeeze and winks at Jacques. Then he leans forward with his elbows on his knees. "Where ya from, Jacques?"

"El Paso," he says.  Joel doesn't hide his surprise. Then Jacques adds, "My parents are French." 

Joel nods thoughtfully. "Am I sayin' it right? Jock? Or is it Jack?"

"Jack is fine."

"Nice." 

-

You interrupt them. "I don't think Hulu's working in here. C'mon Jacques, we can watch in my room."

"Now hold on, I'll fix it for ya," Joel offers and puts his hand on yours, reaching for the remote control. 

"Nah," you say. "Wanna try out my TV in there anyway."

“Alright,” Joel mumbles.  He runs a hand over his beard.  If he didn’t feel so guilty, he’d be losing his shit right now.  You’re sure of it.  He’s trying really hard to be fair.  You and Jacques get up off the sofa, then Joel stands up. 

"It was nice to meet you," Jacques says and shakes Joel's hand again. 

"You're the stepdad right?" Jacques removes his hand from Joel's death grip. 

"Guess I am tonight," Joel mutters.  

“Sorry, what?” Jacques asks. 

"Yeah, he is," you say, then look at Joel. "Where's Mom?" You ask. "Figured y'all were going to have some quality time."

"Your guess is as good as mine, sweetheart," Joel says, then briefly massages your shoulder before walking away to the fridge.  

-

You and Jacques watch Equalizer 2.  

Joel texts you, “Don’t do this.” 

After about fifteen minutes you respond, “?” 

“Please,” Joel texts.  “You’ve made your point.” 

You don’t reply. 

“I know I deserve it, but I wish you wouldn’t.” 

In another twenty minutes, you see the shadow of feet under your door.  A few seconds later, there’s a soft knock. “Gonna make some popcorn, y’all want some?” Joel asks.  You tell him no thanks. 

Toward the end of Equalizer 2, Jacques gets handsy with you and you welcome the advance. He’s not bad with his hands, but you also don’t hesitate to exaggerate your sounds of pleasure.  But that exaggeration turns into real enjoyment.  You relish the opportunity to release all your tension into someone else’s body.  Someone who wants you unapologetically and would hopefully never make you hide in a closet.  

Jacques has a big one, too.  You close your eyes and pretend he’s Joel as you’re making out and his hard cock is grinding into your crotch.  You moan into his mouth, desperately wanting to feel Joel's beard against your cheek.  Jacques whispers your name and says, “I want you.”  He takes his cock out and wraps your hand around it.  You grab it hungrily without opening your eyes.  You hear the tear of a condom wrapper and your breath hitches.  Your body wants it.  

-

Then the fire alarm goes off.  You cover your ears and Jack puts his dick away. You don’t bother fixing your hair or skirt. 

“Sorry!” Joel yells from downstairs.  The smell of burned popcorn fills the hall.  It takes him a minute to turn off the alarm, of course.  Jacques opens the bedroom door to see what’s going on.  Then Joel comes upstairs out of breath and apologizes for the commotion.  

“Sorry ‘bout that, guys.” Joel hovers there in the door with one of his hands on the frame.  

You cross your arms on your bed, and Joel’s eyes fall to where the bedding is messed up.   

“Well, It was nice to meet ya, Jacques,” he says.  “Lemme walk ya out.” 

Jacques is confused.  “I, uh.” 

“Um, I guess I’ll call you,” you tell Jacques.  

Relief washes over Joel’s face and he asks you, “Your Mom, uh, needs a ride, you wanna come with me in a minute?” 

Jacques looks back and forth between the two of you.  “Yeah, guess I better go,” he says to himself.  

Joel walks him out.  

-

When Joel comes back from walking Jacques out, he tries to be casual, but his body is clearly tense.  

"Really think he bought that performance?" Joel asks as he pushes into your room. He closes the door behind him and leans against it with his butt.  He looks at Find my Friends on his iphone.  “She’s ten minutes away,” he says and pushes off your door to approach your bed.  

"What performance?” you ask. 

"C'mon, sweetheart.  You were fakin' it."  He lifts the comforter and sheets and inspects them. "Dry." 

Your cheeks burn. 

He sits down on the bed and picks up the unused condom still in its wrapper.  "Least you woulda been smart." 

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” you ask.  “Leave me alone.” 

“Can’t, sweetheart,” he murmurs and puts his hand on your thigh. “I can’t.” 

“Then do something about it or get the fuck out,” you whisper.  

He slides his hand up your skirt and slips his fingers right into your panties.  “That for me or him?” 

You roll your eyes.  “Shut up.” 

You lean back on your pillows and he gets between your legs.  He hikes your skirt up and pulls your panties down, then plants his face between your thighs, lightly caressing them from the outside with his big, masculine hands.  “Gotta be quick,” he murmurs into your pussy, then digs in.  He sucks and laps at you and inhales deeply through his nose.  Your hips lift into his mouth.  You whine his name. He pauses and looks up but doesn’t reprimand you.  He penetrates you with his tongue and moans into your cunt. 

“Fuck, Joel,” you breathe.  He devours you ravenously, moaning and sighing, until your thighs tense and your hips lift and you moan his name as you come in his mouth and he laps up every drop.  

He tears his head away and looks at you affectionately.  He’s panting and his face is dripping wet from the nose down.  He kisses your inner thigh, then gives you a hickey there on each side.  

The garage door opens downstairs.  Joel stands up and adjusts his joggers to accommodate his massive erection.  He’s still breathing heavily.  He wipes off his face.  He walks to your door and opens it without a word.  He turns around and looks at you, then closes the door behind him.  

-

THANK YOU for reading and thank you so much for your reblogs and comments! Now more than ever. PSA: definitely follow if you're into this, because i'm shadowbanned and not showing up in tags. this also means i can't make comments or send or receive DMs. follow @toxicfics for notifications and @toxicrecs for reblogs.

-

[stevesbipanic]

@steddiemas Day 4: Gremlins and December by Neck Deep

It had been almost a year since Tommy had been back in Hawkins, not since last winter break. He tried to avoid coming back but he knew after missing Thanksgiving his mom would insist on Christmas.

He didn't even know that Steve worked at Family Video, last he'd heard he'd not gotten into college and worked at the mall, which of course had burned down.

His mother didn't talk about the Harrington's much anymore, apparently after the earthquake last Spring they just sold the house and left for good. He'd assumed Steve had gone with them. He wished his mom talked about Steve more, maybe then he wouldn't be here now.

He'd just gone to Family Video to pick up some tapes for his younger cousins so they'd stop causing such a racket. He immediately stopped once he entered the store.

"I'm telling you, Stevie, Gremlins is a great Christmas movie, plus it reminds you of our little gremlins."

Eddie Munson? Talking to Steve? Stevie? Steve hated the name Stevie, he'd tried calling him Stevie once and he'd told Tommy to fuck off. Now the Freak is just using it like it's nothing?!

"It's a horror movie, Eds, I want to watch something cozy tonight."

Eds! He's talking to Munson like they're, like they're friends!? And they're going to hang out and watch a movie! Tommy was still frozen in the doorway, the other boys didn't seem to have even heard the bell.

"Aw sweetheart, do you want to get all cuddly on the couch with me, make ya Wayne's cocoa and everything," Munson smirked.

Well now at least the Freak would get put in his place, Steve wasn't going to let a guy flirt with him, not in public at least, surely.

"What if I do baby? You gonna keep me warm?"

WAS HE FLIRTING BACK...AND BLUSHING!?

"You know what would be great to cuddle to? Gremlins, you can cuddle into me and I'll protect you from all the little monsters, angel."

Steve was rolling his eyes affectionately and Tommy wished for another earthquake just so the ground would swallow him where he stood. He couldn't take this anymore and turned around, storming back out of the store. The other boys didn't even look up, too enamoured with each other.

Fuck Eddie Munson. What did he have that Tommy didn't? What made Steve want him outside of closed doors. He thought a year away would fix how he thought about the golden boy.

But what Tommy couldn't offer was a home, was an understanding of a father that wasn't around, a mother who never called, and an empty house to go home to.

"I hope he's happy, and gets everything he wants."

At least that was one lesson learned, not to pick fights he couldn't win. So he returned home, no tapes in hand, it would be a long lonely December.

Ao3

[corroded-hellfire]

hey! may i request an eddie x y/n sort of based on some scenes of makeup? like, when they act all lovey dovey? because i was just watching some and i got SO jealous.

My deepest apologies that this took me forever! I tried to make the scenes cute and fit into the ST world and I did the arduous task of watching JQ’s scenes and seeing him shirtless so much for inspiration. I think we can all agree Tom deserves better than Roof and Eddie deserves all our love. I hope you enjoy 🩵

Warnings: oral sex, m receiving (Eddie gets off, cause reader gives better head than Ruth), other sexual allusions, alcohol consumption

Words: 3.9k

Being apart from Eddie is the worst part about college. You’d gotten to see your boyfriend over Thanksgiving and Christmas break, but it’s never enough. Talking on the phone is great, but it’s not the same. The two of you have been counting down the days until spring break rolls around. Since you’d last been in Hawkins, Eddie had gotten an apartment and both of you were very eager to have a place all to yourselves for the whole week. 

Unfortunately, Eddie still has to work while you’re visiting, but staying with him still guarantees you get to see him every moment that you can. He’s at work the day you arrive, and he felt horrible that he couldn’t come and get you at the airport. You assured him you’d rather have him keep his job and wait a few hours to see him. He promises to keep the apartment door unlocked and you happily let yourself in once the taxi drops you off. 

You grin to yourself as you step inside. It’s a very Eddie apartment. Sweetheart is parked right next to the couch, and you can picture Eddie scooping it up and strumming the strings as soon as he gets home. The three chairs at the small kitchen table are mismatched, all of them different colors than the brown wooden surface. You bring your bags into Eddie’s room and set them down near his closet. Even before you take in the small space, you open your boyfriend’s closet and pull out the first hoodie you see. It smells like weed and Irish spring soap, bringing an automatic smile to your face. The smell of Eddie is your favorite in the world, and you make a mental note to ask if you can take this hoodie back to school with you. 

As you slip the sweatshirt on, you turn to look around the bedroom. The bed isn’t made, but the brown comforter has been thrown over the sheets to look somewhat neat. It’s cleaner than you’d thought it would be, no clothes thrown into piles on the floor or no piles of cassettes in the corner. Maybe Eddie cleaned up before you got here—but you wouldn’t count on it. He knows he doesn’t have to do anything to impress you. 

With a chuckle, you fling yourself onto the bed and revel in being surrounded by so much Eddie. His blankets, his pillows, his hoodie. You curl up on your side and bury your face in his pillow. Before you know it the sound of the front door opening wakes you up. The flight must’ve made you more tired than you thought. 

“Babe?”

Eddie’s voice has you sitting up in bed. He pokes his head in the doorway and both of your faces light up in matching grins. 

“Eddie!”

Without hesitation, he leaps on top of you, not bothering to shed himself of his dusty blue coveralls before attacking your face with kisses. His hair tickles you as his lips roam around your skin and you let out a peal of laughter.

“How was your flight?” Eddie mumbles against the skin just below your ear. 

“Good,” you say, letting your eyes slip closed. “But this is much better.”

It feels like as quickly as Eddie was on you, he’s climbing off just as fast. You pout up at him until you realize he’s stripping himself not only of his coveralls, but his clothes beneath as well. 

“Can I make it even better?” Eddie asks with a wink.

Smirking, you unbutton your jeans and shimmy them down your hips. “Get over here.”

The sun wakes you up the next morning, shining through the blinds to the left of Eddie’s bed. The rays warm your face as you stretch your muscles that are stiff from sleep. A lazy smile graces your features as you blink your eyes open and take in the sleeping man next to you. His unruly curls are splayed out on his pillowcase and his mouth is slightly agape as his bare chest moves up and down. 

Moving slowly, you turn on your right side to face him. Eddie’s enviably long eyelashes brush his high cheekbones, and a light stubble coats his jaw. Your eyes rake down the slope of his nose and study his plump lips and pinched pink Cupid’s bow. 

As if your gaze physically weighed on him, Eddie’s body shifts and he lets out a soft groan. His eyes crack open, and he blinks a few times before he turns his head and meets your stare. A warm smile grows on Eddie’s face, and he brings up a hand to rub at his right eye.

“Hi,” he mumbles, voice still groggy from sleep. 

“Hi,” you echo.

Eddie turns his head back upright and breathes out a long yawn. 

Feeling mischievous and giddy after waking up next to your love, you decide to imitate Eddie and see how long it takes him to notice. He suspects nothing when you yawn after him. But when he groans as he shifts his position and you copy the intonations exactly, he glances over at you with a raised eyebrow.

“You copying me?” he asks.

“You copying me?” you say, doing your best to keep your giggles inside.

Eddie chuckles and shakes his head. “What a dork.”

“What a dork.”

“Alright, you,” Eddie says, rolling over on top of you with a smirk.

“Alright you—” Eddie cuts you off with a kiss and you finally let out your laughter against his lips as you wrap your arms around his neck. 

“I swear, the arcade is much more fun when you don’t have to fight the annoying high schoolers for the machines,” Eddie says as he parks the van in the closest parking spot to Palace Arcade’s front door.

“We were annoying high schoolers last year,” you remind him as you unbuckle your seatbelt.

“Nah, we were cooler,” he tells you with a wink. 

Hawkins High School doesn’t have their spring break until next week, so you and Eddie would most likely have free range of all the arcade games in the few hours before he has to head into work. 

“Are you here more often now that Lucas works here?” you ask as you both hop out of the van.

“Yeah,” Eddie says as he slings his arm over your shoulders. “Need something to do when I’m not working or having phone sex with you.”

Face heating up, you playfully shove his arm off of you, making him laugh. You push open the arcade door and the bell above it jingles as Eddie steps in behind you. He steps away from your side and peeks into the back room, giving a small wave to the only employee working in the arcade on a Monday morning. Once the acne ridden man goes back to whatever he was doing before you walked in, Eddie silently jumps over the counter and grabs a bag of tokens from underneath it. He gently places the bag down so it doesn’t clink when he jumps back over the other way.

“And where’d you learn that?” you ask quietly as Eddie struts back over to you, tossing the small bag up in the air and catching it.

“Sinclair is still indebted to his DM,” he says with a shrug. 

“You mean he’s afraid you’ll blab all his secrets to Erica?”

“Exactly.”

Rolling your eyes, you turn towards a pinball machine and Eddie comes up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and dumping a few coins out on the glass. You pinch one between your fingers and slip it into the coin slot. Eddie presses quick kisses against your shoulder as the game whirs to life and moves his lips up to your neck as your fingers begin to work the buttons on the sides of the machine. Letting out a squeal, you try to shrug him off as he distracts you.

“Eddie!”

“Whaaaat?” he mumbles against your skin, moving his kisses back down to your shoulder again. 

“You’re gonna make me lose,” you pout.

“Uh uh,” Eddie says, squeezing your hips in his hands. “I’m helping you.”

He presses your body up against the machine, caught between it and his warm body against your back. 

“Yeah, some help,” you say as your fingers press into the buttons.

“I know. What would you do without me?” he muses.

That’s how the next couple of hours go—you attempting to play games and Eddie “helping” you. Both of you know the best part is his body being so close to yours, though. But you’ll let him think that he’s the reason you lost at Ms. Pac-Man.

Laying in Eddie’s bed, you watch through the open bedroom door as he crunches on a bowl of Raisin Bran, occasionally slurping some milk. Yesterday, Eddie had the day off and it was wonderful. The two of you spent most of the day in bed and ordered pizza from the best pizzeria in Hawkins. It almost makes it harder to watch him get ready for work today. He’s freshly showered with his wet curls tucked up in a bun at the base of his neck—which you’d assisted him with. His coveralls are clean of dirt and oil, the only mess spoiling the clean jumpsuit the droplets of milk that have leaked down the side of his mouth. 

Eddie downs the leftover milk in the bowl and places it in the sink with a small clank. He strides back towards the bedroom and wipes his mouth off on the back of his hand. As soon as his black boots cross the threshold into the room, you whine and make grabby hands for your boyfriend. 

“What, my love?” Eddie asks as he rests one knee on the bed so he can hover over your lying figure.

“You’re cute,” you say as you stare up into his chocolate eyes. Eddie chuckles and takes your face in between his two hands and presses a few quick kisses to your lips. When he goes to pull away, you wrap your arms around his neck and let out another whine. “Don’t go.”

As Eddie sits up, he pulls your body up with him. He sighs as you bury your head in his neck.

“I can’t stay, baby.” His heart cracks when you whimper against his skin. Your arms slip down his body and Eddie manages to take your face in his hands again. “Come on. I gotta go.” He presses a few more kisses to your lips and stands up, forcing your arms to fall back into your lap. “I’ll see you later, baby. I love you.”

Leaning forward, you watch him for as long as you can until he walks out the front door. Sighing, you drop back against the pillows and tug the blanket up to your chin again. 

The sound of Eddie clanging and scraping in the kitchen surrounds you as you slump against the kitchen table, your fist the only thing propping your head up. You’d made the mistake of going to see your parents today and it had gone even worse than you imagined it would. Eddie coming home from work helped improve your mood a bit, but you’re still sour as he finishes fixing dinner. 

A plate of spaghetti is placed down in front of you, a slice of white bread tucked in next to it on the plate. Eddie plops down in the seat across from you as you pick up your fork. The spaghetti wraps around your fork as you twirl it again and again, never bringing it up to your mouth. Big brown eyes watch you as you stare blankly at your plate. 

“Do you wanna talk about it, sweetheart?” 

You shake your head, eyes not lifting from your food. Eddie lets out a silent sigh as he scoops his spaghetti onto his piece of bread.

“Wanna talk about something else?” he asks before shoving a bite of his pasta sandwich into his mouth. Your eyes finally raise and meet his, causing him to give you a smile. Sauce coats his fingertips so he sets the sandwich down and sucks on each of them. 

“No,” you say softly. 

Eddie picks up a napkin and wipes his hands clean as he looks around the room. His eyes catch on the radio sitting on the counter and he pushes himself out of his chair to turn it on. The dial is set on his preferred metal station, but the badass guitar solo doesn’t set the mood for what he’s trying to achieve. Static floats through the kitchen as Eddie turns the knob, searching for a suitable solution. A soft rock ballad soars from the speakers and Eddie gives the radio a thumbs up, as if it was his wingman on this mission. 

Bouncing on the balls of his socked feet, Eddie bobs over to you and offers his hand with a gallant bow.

“M’lady?”

Even though a small smile cracks through your demeanor, you shake your head at him. Eddie pouts and stands back upright. Starting to shimmy his shoulders, he walks around the small table until he’s in your direct line of sight. He begins to rock his hips back and forth, and while it really has no rhythm to it, it’s still oddly sexy. 

Amusement lights up your eyes as you watch him, raising his arms to the sides and adding them to his shimmies. Suddenly, he yanks his chair out from the table and hops onto it, extending his hand down to you.

“Dance with me, baby.” Again, you shake your head. But this time, Eddie has a little more hope, as it’s very obvious you’re biting back a smile. “Come on!”

With the stability of Bambi on ice, Eddie hops down from the chair and saunters over to your side of the table. He holds his hands behind his back and bends down at the waist to kiss at your neck. Your grin breaks free at the feeling of his lips on your skin. 

“C’mon,” he mumbles and he’s suddenly tugging you up by your hands. It elicits a giggle from you, and you laugh even harder as he wraps one arm around your waist, the other taking your hand in his, and rocks your body from side to side along with his own. 

A sudden surge of emotions crashes over your body. All the love and safety Eddie fills you with overwhelms you, causing tears to prickle the back of your eyes. Eddie’s presence within itself is a comfort that you will never take for granted. The urge to hold him as close as you possibly can is too strong to ignore. Slipping your hand out of his, you snake your arms around his lithe waist and bury your face into his chest. There’s only a moment of hesitation on Eddie’s part—afraid he’s done something to upset you, before he wraps you up in his arms and holds you safe and sound in his embrace. 

Even though the front door isn’t locked, it takes you three attempts to turn the handle and stumble inside. Eddie raises an eyebrow from where he lounges on the couch, his sock-covered feet up on the coffee table in front of him. Your giggles amuse him as you drop your purse near his work boots and slip out of your own shoes. 

“Have fun with Robin?” Eddie asks, watching you sway your hips as you walk over to him. Luckily, Robin only lived in the neighborhood down the road from Eddie’s apartment complex, so there was no driving after you and your friend partook in some cheap liquor. 

“I did!” you say, a giddy grin on your face. Eddie holds his hand out as you get closer, assuming you’re going to plop down on the couch next to him. But you drop to your knees between the couch and coffee table, making Eddie frown in worry and sit up straight.

“You okay, baby?”

“Yeah,” you say with a snort of laughter. “Meant to do this.” He would’ve thought you were just trying to cover up a tipsy misstep, but the way you run your hands up his thighs and start to attack his belt buckle makes him realize that you did mean to get down on your knees. 

“What’s gotten into you?” Eddie asks, lifting his hips when you try and tug his pants down.

You focus on getting his black jeans pushed down to his knees before you look up at him and answer. “Robin and I were talking about our sex lives.” Eddie watches as you stand up and whip your shirt off over your head. It falls somewhere behind you before you get back down on your knees. “Kept talking about how good you make me feel and all I wanted was to get home and make you feel good.”

“Yeah?” Eddie asks, a groan tumbling from his lips as you ghost your fingers over his boxer-clad dick. 

“Yeah,” you answer as you hook your fingers in the waistband of his underwear. “Wanna suck your cock, baby.”

“Shit,” Eddie hisses as you finally wrap your soft hand around him. 

“Feel good?” you ask, looking up at your boyfriend from beneath your eyelashes.

“So fucking good.”

“Good,” you say with a giggle before leaning down and licking a stripe up the underside of his cock.

Eddie throws his head back and grabs onto the arm of the couch next to him, just so he has something to hold on to. Mumbles of fuck, fuck, fuck fall from his lips as you give the head a few kitten licks. When you finally take him into your mouth, Eddie has to fight the urge to buck his hips up into your mouth. He knows you can take it, but he also knows you’re just getting started. 

You swirl your tongue around the tip, pressing your tongue flat against his leaking slit. Pretty moans come from above you as you sink down, taking more of him into your mouth. Saliva drips down his length and you use it to work your hand over what you can’t fit in your mouth. 

“Fuck, baby,” Eddie groans. “You always suck my cock so good. Love this pretty little mouth.”

Now it’s your turn to moan, the sound causing delicious vibrations around his dick.

You pull off just to mumble, “Love your cock,” before you’re taking him back into your mouth, letting him go deeper than before. Eddie’s eyes are half-lidded in pleasure as he watches you bob your head up and down. The way his dick disappears in between your pretty lips has him feeling like he’s ready to burst. So when the tip of his cock brushes against the back of your throat, Eddie’s seeing stars dance in his vision. 

He wants to hold out so badly, the feeling and image of you sucking him off too good to end already, but he feels his thigh muscles start to tense as he gets closer. Feeling the tightness under Eddie’s skin where your hand rests on his upper thigh, you can also tell he’s getting close. Wanting to make it as good for him as possible, you hold off your gag reflex as best as you can and take him into your throat.

“Jesus Christ, baby. Holy fucking shit.” Eddie’s hands are scrambling for something to hold on to and he settles for running his hands over his own hair.

Tears are sliding down your face, surely wrecking your meticulously applied makeup. On one bob of your head, your gag reflex decides to make itself known and you choke on Eddie’s cock. The sound pushes the man over the edge, his eyes practically rolling back in his head.

“Sweetheart, I’m gonna—fuck, where do you...?”

Your hand taps his leg, letting him know you want him to finish in your mouth. 

“Oh, fuck,” Eddie grunts. “I’m—I’m coming, fuck, shit, I’m coming!”

Both your mouth and your hand work him through it, and you swallow every last drop you’re able to milk from him. When he’s finally spent, you pull off of him and sit back on your heels. The room is full of the sounds of heavy breathing as the two of you try to catch your breath. The television is long forgotten background noise to the pair of you. 

A lazy smile lights up Eddie’s beautiful face and he leans down to pull you up onto the couch with him. He tucks himself back into his jeans as you settle yourself next to him. Once his clothing is fully situated, he tugs you closer until your head is resting in his lap. Still only in your bra on top, Eddie figures you might be cold, so he grabs the blanket hanging on the back of the couch and drapes it over your torso and shoulders.

“That was incredible, princess,” Eddie says, gently stroking the hair on the crown of your head. “Gonna have to let me make that up to you.”

“No need,” you slur against his pant leg, now more from tiredness than alcohol. “Just wanted to make my man feel good.”

“You made me feel insanely good,” Eddie tells you. “And I like making you feel good, too. Maybe tomorrow once you’re not so tired, yeah?”

“M’kay,” you say, and Eddie can tell you’re already half asleep. He chuckles to himself and leans down to press a kiss to your temple. 

“I love you so fucking much.”

The last dinner you have with Eddie before going back to school is bittersweet. Your boyfriend watches you over the rim of his glass while you take a sip out of your own. He tries to get playful with you to cheer you up, copying your movements as you pick up your fork and stab some pasta, then lowering it back down when you notice his behavior. It’s clear you’re not in the mood to joke, so Eddie drops the act and lets out a sigh. 

“Sweetheart,” he says. “You have to go back to school. And it’s okay, summer isn’t too far away.”

“Don’t wanna leave you,” you mumble in reply. 

The clinking of silverware startles you, and you look up to see Eddie has dropped his fork and is reaching across the table for your hand. Happily, you give it to him, and he laces your fingers together.

“You’re not leaving me. You’re going back to school to study what you love. And in less than two months, you’ll be back here in Hawkins, and we’ll have three whole months together. You’re gonna get sick of me.”

“Never,” you interject.

“Okay, well we can test that theory over the summer,” Eddie says with a playful smile. “But I promise, the rest of the semester will go by quicker than you think.”

You tug your hand out of Eddie’s and he frowns at you before realizing you’re walking around the table to sit in his lap. He gladly slips his arms around your waist and hugs your body close against his. 

“I love you so much, Eddie Munson.”

He gazes up at you with the most adoring eyes, his thumbs gently stroking along your t-shirt. 

“I don’t blame you. Who else can whip up gourmet spaghetti dinner and look this good doing it?”

You snort and press a hand against Eddie’s chest. He laughs and cups the back of your neck, leaning up to press his lips against yours. “I love you too, baby.”

[theitgirlnetwork]

Better

Ch. 11: Three Months But It Feels Like Forever

Note: Hello! Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it and just a warm hope you had a good day to those who don't. Another chapter written in the middle of the night, so...you know. Still I hope you enjoy it. Unfortunately our fave couple still has troubles ahead, but there's a fun, a little (a lot) crazy surprise at the end. As always, thank you for all of the love on this story, I'm really grateful for it. It really inspires me and makes this stuff even easier to share. You're all great. I love interacting so feel free to continue. Also this is short but the next one will be longer bc it's something big. Also again, this taglist situation is probably my bad so I'm gonna sort it out, try again next chapter, and then y'all can tell me if it worked, bc atp I'm embarrassing myself. Thanks and I hope you enjoy. <3

Charlotte's Work Party Look

Lip's Work Party Look

“So this is bullshit. He dumps her for one basketball game?”

“That’s not what happened, he was having an inner conflict, and he was only sixteen.”

“Sixteen year old piece of shit.”

Charlotte huffs, continuing to run her fingers through his blond curls. Lip is laid across the couch, his head in Charlotte’s lap, hand underneath her thigh. Debbie is sitting on the floor in front of the television and Troy Bolton had just told his friends he didn’t give a shit about Gabriella. 

“He’s just choosing basketball and his friends.” Debbie protests, breaking free from her basketball boy trance to argue with her brother.

“Basketball and his friends can’t get his dick wet-ow! Charlotte.” he winces, rubbing the spot on his scalp where his girlfriend had decided to bury her hand and tug. “Damn it, I was just sayin’ he’s got like one game left in the season, why does he need to break up with her to play? And that shit she just wrote on the board is wrong-why the hell are we watchin’ this shit?”

“You just don’t get it.” Debbie huffs, pausing the movie. She pushes off of the floor and grabs the popcorn from the coffee table. “Let’s watch try again when he’s not here.”

“Oh excuse me.” Lip rolls his eyes as his sister storms off, running up the steps. When he looks back up at his girlfriend, her cheek is dimpling with her deep frown. “What?”

“You ruined movie night” she fake pouts, rubbing her hand along his chest.

Lip smirks, before indulging her, sitting up and tilting her chin with his finger. “Aw, did I?” he kisses her cheek, “I don’t think I did.” her jaw, “We could go in my room and make our own movie.”

“Yeah?” Charlotte hums, meeting his lips briefly with her own before pulling back. “Can’t. I have work.”

“Stay here,” he murmurs, pulling her back to him. “You can dance for me.”

Giggling, Charlotte lets herself be pulled back in, exchanging kisses with the blond until his phone buzzes on the couch next to him, a dreaded name lighting up on the screen. She pulls back fully this time, standing to go get dressed. “Your professor is texting you. At 8:36 at night.” 

Blue eyes watch Charlotte disappear up the staircase before closing tiredly. Lip had been dodging almost all of Helene’s communications. He would read her texts to make sure they had nothing to do with his job, and only responded when they did.  He’d hoped that was enough, but everytime Charlotte saw that name pop up on his phone she would retract from him. Leave the room, pick up Liam, interact with anyone but him. One morning she asked again, if she had a thing for him, or if they’d hooked up in the past. No matter how much he wanted to, Lip just couldn’t bring himself to answer her with a yes.

“Fuck,” he breathes to himself, before running up the stairs after her. He pushes the door to his bedroom open. “Charlotte-” he pauses, staring at her, taking in her form. She stands in her work outfit, if you could call it that, the only thing offering an ounce of covering is the one leg of a juicy tracksuit she was putting on over it. “Um, what the fuck?”

She turns, meeting him with confusion, giving him a glimpse of the front which only has him letting out a laugh of disbelief. “What?”

“What? You’re gonna wear that to work?”

“Oh,” she shrugs, putting her leg through the other hole and pulling the pants up. “Yeah.” she chirps, reaching past him to grab the matching jacket, zipping it over the small bikini top she has on.

“The only thing that shit covers is your nipples.” Lip says, scratching his head.

“S’a stripclub, Phillip. They’re supposed to see stuff.” she giggles. Her laughter stops when she sees his stoic face. Charlotte makes her way over to him, cupping his cheek, “Hey, you said you were good with this. You’re not?”

Lip looks away from her for a second, shifting on his feet. He’s too embarrassed to admit to her that he thinks he agreed to this whole stripper situation too soon. He’d never been a jealous guy, so he didn’t think it was a problem, but he supposes that jealousy is a new feeling that Charlotte had brought into his life. “No, baby I am, just…shit.”

“What shit. Like shit? Or shit.”

Lip closes the distance between them, waiting for her to meet him in a peck, patting her ass when she does. “Watch your mouth.” he mumbles against her lips.

Big brown eyes just stare up into his blue ones. “M’workin’ for us, remember?” She whispers, wrapping her arms around his neck and rubbing his hair at the nape. “Besides, why would I look at the losers that hang out at the club, lookin’ at me all night when I could come work and be with my sexy boyfriend?”

“Good point.”

“Yeah?” she laughs, letting him pull her into a bunch of small pecks, between matching smiles. The couple starts to get lost in each other again, only breaking away at the sound of Lip’s phone going off again. Charlotte pulls back with a blank look on her face. “Your other girlfriend is trying to reach you.”

Lip rolls his eyes and sighs as she slips past him again, running down the stairs. “Bunny-”

“Just take me to work, Gallagher.”

“You do privates, honey?” A drunken man slurs, leering at Charlotte, waving a hundred dollar bill in front of her face. He’s with a group of older men who’d been tipping shittily and buying the cheapest drinks since they’d gotten there.

“No, sir I don’t, but the ladies that do are on the other side of the club…and they charge more than that.”

The man’s lip curls as he stands, scowling at the woman. Charlotte subtly takes a step back, glancing over at security, ready to call them if he got aggressive.

“Hold on, wait a minute, Trent. That’s my daughter in law you’re talkin’ to.” a voice rasps. 

“Frank?” 

The scraggly man emerges from the crowd of older men on the couch, positioning himself between Charlotte and the other man. “The one and only.” His gaze drops briefly. “Nice outfit.”

Charlotte wraps her arms over her chest and frowns at the man. “What’re you doing here, Frank?” She looks at the group behind him. “Are you in trouble?” 

“Trouble? I’m enjoying the ambience! You and your lovely naked friends are a sight to behold-”

“Oh, God, Frank!” Charlotte gasps, covering her mouth to hide her disgust. 

“What? You have a beautiful form!”

“I’m calling Phillip.” she huffs, turning to go to the locker room, she pauses as a thought passes through her mind. Twirling back around she makes her way back over. “Frank, what are you paying with?”

“Oh,” the older man produces a sock full of cash from his pocket. It’s familiar to Charlotte. Ever since Frank and Monica located the first squirrel fund, Fiona had started keeping the money in a new place. In the dry rotted hole on the floor between the wall and the dryer. Inside of the sock that Frank was currently dangling in Charlotte’s face. “I came into some money.”

“Hey, that’s-” Charlotte tries to grab it, only for Frank to yank it away at each attempt. “For the house! For bills, for Carl’s field trip this month-”

“That’s my house that you’re shacking up in fyi. This is Gallagher money, and therefore it’s mine to spend. Now point me in the direction of the ladies giving private dances. I’m a private man.”

“Frank, I can’t let you spend that-” Charlotte argues, grabbing one end of the sock and pulling. Frank is tugging at the other until he stumbles into a table, causing a couple glasses to fall and shatter, leaving Charlotte with the sock. Charlotte stands over the man angry, disgusted, and feeling a wave of hate she’s never really felt for anyone. Up until this point, she really didn’t consider Frank beyond the far and few in between memories Lip shared. But now she was seeing the man be shitty live and in person. And she was fed up. “It’s for your fucking kids you deadbeat!”

Two seconds later security is grabbing Frank and the manager on staff that night, Sarah, is pulling Charlotte a couple steps away. She can distantly hear Lip’s father yelling and cursing as he’s dragged from the club. “Lottie, what happened?”

“I…Frank is my boyfriend’s father, and he’s trying to spend their house money, and he was being a dick about it-”

“Okay, okay. Well, Frank knows he’s not really supposed to be in here anyway, so it won’t happen again. The new guy at the door must have let him slip through. But, because a personal altercation occurred out on the floor, I have to send you home, babe.”

“Damn, really?” Charlotte whines, looking at the crowd starting to pour into the club, no doubt big spenders. She could practically see the dollar signs fading away. Sara offers her a sympathetic look, shrugging. “Fine, okay, let me call my boyfriend to pick me up.”

Lip had been dead asleep when Charlotte let him know she needed to be picked up from work. He has work tomorrow and so in an attempt to get some real sleep, he was in their room at V and Kev’s house, taking advantage of the quiet. He’d rushed over to get her, grabbing Kev’s car keys without asking and noting to himself that a car should probably be the first thing on their list to purchase with the Bunny Bank. When he pulled up out front she was already waiting there for him, the big burly security man, John waiting beside her to walk her to the car. 

He and Lip exchange nods as Charlotte climbs into the car pouting. “What happened?” Lip immediately questions, barely letting the door closed. “Someone was fuckin’ with you?”

Charlotte huffs, buckling her seatbelt, allowing him to turn the light on and try to check her for any bruises or injuries. “No…kinda, just- your dad showed up.”

“Fuckin’ Frank.”

“Yeah, right, and he had all of your house money, and I tried to get it back, and he wouldn’t give it back, and we fought and I told him he was a piece of shit deadbeat.”

Lip frowns at that. He hates this part of having a girlfriend. It’s fucking humiliating. He doesn’t know how Fiona lets a bunch of different guys get involved with their family shit. Finding Frank drunk in the yard, Monica coming and spewing her bullshit, now Frank was showing up at Charlotte’s job. And she was fighting with him over money he’d stolen from his children. It’s fucking embarrassing. “Yeah, well, that’s Frank, don’t worry about that shit okay?”

“Well he was stealing from-”

“Fiona and I handle it, it’s not your problem, alright?” Lip says, muscle in his jaw jumping in irritation. 

From the corner of his eye he can see Charlotte stare at him with a hurt expression for a moment, before sitting back in the passenger seat, facing forward. “Okay.” she drops the sock full of money on his lap.

The rest of the ride is quiet, Lip drives her through dingy streets, in a borrowed car and wallows in shame. Charlotte is leaning as far into the door as possible, far from him. When they pull up to their neighborhood she hops out of the car before Lip can open the door, going over to Kev and V’s house. Lip follows a couple paces behind quietly, assuming the fact that she’d left the door unlocked was a sign she still wanted him to come with her. 

As he enters the room he finds Charlotte already in her pajamas, curled up on the bed facing the wall. Small movements let him know she’s crying. The blond quietly slips behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and resting his face against hers, pressing soft quiet kisses against her cheek. “M’sorry, baby.”

She just offers a sniffle in response.

Lip sighs loudly, dropping his head to the desk. His eyes fucking burn. He got little to no sleep after he’d basically told Charlotte off and made her cry, and she was quiet as hell this morning. He was such a screw up. “Fuck” he curses, grabbing a cigarette and his lighter from his bag, leaning back in his desk chair as he sparks it. 

“Gallagher! You have a visitor!” Eric calls from the hallway. Immediately, Lip’s mind goes to Charlotte. Maybe she was feeling better and didn’t fucking hate him for telling her off for caring about him.

“Let her in!” 

The door creaks open revealing Helene with a condescending smile plastered on her face. “You’re a hard man to hunt down, Phillip Gallagher.” 

He just sighs, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the air. “M’busy.”

“With what? Work or your girlfriend?” Helene sits in the chair across from Lip, crossing her legs, rolling her eyes when he doesn’t bother answering, taking another drag. “I’m kidding. But you have been ignoring my calls.”

“Well, you’re here now. What’d you wanna talk about?”

A muffled voice that could only be Eric’s is heard through the door. “His office is this way. You look great by the way.” The door to Lip’s office pushes open again, and who enters this time has him shooting out of his seat.  “Gallagher, your girlfriend’s here.” Eric grins, tucking his hands into his pockets as Charlotte slowly makes her way in, eyes flicking between Lip and Helene.

“Fucking shit, okay-” Lip mumbles under his breath, holding his arm out for Charlotte to come to him. He watches as she rolls her shoulders back, standing straight and walking behind Lip’s desk, leaning into him. “Hel-Helene, this is my girlfriend Charlotte, Charlotte, this is my old Professor Helene.”

“Nice to meet you, young lady.” Helene says, holding her hand out.

Charlotte takes a deep breath before setting down the bag she was carrying in her hand, reaching over and taking Helene’s hand. “Nice to meet you too, Mrs.-”

“Miss.”

“Ms. Helene.” Charlotte finishes, a tight smile on her face. 

The blonde woman laughs, tossing her head back. “Just Helene is fine.”

“Mm well, I dunno. Doesn’t seem right.” Charlotte shrugs, leaning further into Lip. “Thank you, by the way, for helping him get this job, it’s been wonderful.”

“You’re welcome. It was no problem at all, Phillip is a special boy.”

“I know,” Charlotte grins even harder, roughly patting Lip’s cheek. “A very special man. So proud of him.” 

Lip watches the exchange trying to figure out if he should be nervous, laugh, or think it’s hot that Charlotte is staking her claim right now, running her hand along his hair, face and chest as she pretends to smile at Helene. 

Eric clears his throat stepping further into the room himself. “Charlotte, something smells great, and it came when you did so either you smell amazing or you cooked something.”

“Oh, I,” She takes a piece of blue tupperware out of the bag, placing it in front of Lip. “I made you lunch, you didn’t eat breakfast this morning and you didn’t take lunch so…I thought we could eat and talk, but, I see you’re busy.” 

Lip turns to her, voice softening as he grabs her hand. “Bunny, I’m sure I can-”

“Oh, that reminds me.” Eric sighs, tapping his own forehead. “I meant to give you some assignments from my dad, I know it’s your lunch break, but you’d have to stay late otherwise.”

“Fuck.” Lips breathes, running his hand through his hair. 

“It’s alright bro, I could take Charlotte to lunch.” Eric offers, not withering under the looks he received from the couple. “My girlfriend and I are meeting up anyway, let the girls hang out and spend my money, Becca’s always looking for a partner in crime.”

Charlotte looks at an apprehensive Lip. And she knows it’s wrong, but the way he and the cradle robber across the desk interact makes her feel petty. “Sure, if Lip’s busy.”

Lip fixes Charlotte with a look of betrayal that has her questioning her decision, but Eric is already guiding her away from him out of the door. Yeah, fuck that. Lip thinks, grinding his teeth as he goes to follow them out of the door. Helene’s hand shoots out to stop him before he can get far. “Oh, and Lip, before you get back to work, there’s a work dinner for all of the different departments that I’m hoping you’ll attend. I mean, I know your boss, Mr. Avery is excited to meet you there.”

“Look, uh, Helene, I mean, thank you for all of this. For the job, recommending me and shit, but,” He scratches his nose, “the texts, the calls, they have to stop. Like, now you’re visiting, and that’s weird, you see I have a girlfriend so…”

“Of course, I wouldn’t ever want to disrespect that, I just thought, after everything, we could be friends.” Helene stands, grabbing her purse. “Well, I can see now that’s inappropriate. But you really should come to this party. It’s good for your career to make friends and shake hands. Bring Charlotte with you.” 

Lip tucks his head, “I dunno, I don’t…don’t really think Charlotte is gonna be in the mood, we uh, need to talk.”

“No matter what was going on, my husband and I always made it to each other’s work functions. We always supported each other’s careers. If someone can’t do that for you, are they really the one?”

The young man recoils, frowning at the implication. Yes. She is. Period. Full stop. They were out of tune today, but Lip knows what he knows. And he knows he and Charlotte are there for each other. He knows they love each other. He knows that these past few months were the best of his life. Even when he and Charlotte weren’t on good terms, he knew he wouldn’t want to be struggling to communicate with anyone else. “You uh, mean ex-husband. And she’ll be there.”

Helene barely hides the hurt look on her face before she lets out a short, “Great.” 

“Do you think this is okay?”  Charlotte twirls, the skirt of her brown dress flaring around her gives Lip ideas that he knows he shouldn’t be having. Especially while they were fighting. Kinda. Something else he’s learned over these last few months is that Charlotte holds stuff in. When she’s upset she doesn’t explode like his family does, shit like he does. Breaking property, getting arrested, fighting. She doesn’t withhold affection like Helene and Karen used to. No, she still let him touch her. Quietly letting him press his lips to her cheeks, not moving when he rubs his hips, bringing him lunch. It was the stillness. The angry tears. The lack of warmth that let Lip know things were strained. And it hurts. 

“You look great, bunny. Fuckin’ beautiful.” Lip says from his bed, tapping his cigarette ashes into Ian’s ashtray.

“Okay, good. You ready?” Charlotte asks, smoothing her hands over her dress as she looks in the mirror. Her voice is so devoid of emotion, but her eyes are extremely expressive. Big brown pools full of sadness as they meet his in their reflection. 

But Lip is new to this. New to trying to maintain. New to trying to keep someone of value. “Babe, uh, should we talk or somethin’?”

Charlotte takes a deep breath before turning to Lip with a tired smile. “Later. Let’s get you to your work thing and after you wow them with your big genius brain, we’ll leave early and try to get on the same page.”

“Yeah?” he stands, looking down at her.

Charlotte just shrugs, reaching over and adjusting his tie with a small smile playing at her lips. “Yeah.”

And that’s the game plan. When they arrive at the party, which they find is being hosted at a friend of the company’s house. If one could call it that. It looks like a fucking mansion, down to the marble columns. Lip felt out of place, everyone here looked so…expensive, and not in the ‘I worked my ass off way’. He felt different than he did when he’d met Helene’s friends back when they were hooking up. The only thing preventing the bounce in his leg as he basically paraded his intelligence to the highest bidder with the future of his family on the line, was Charlotte’s soft, steady hand on him at all times. Fingers intertwined with his. Rubbing circles on his back. Rested on his thigh as she leaned into him. All Lip could think about was the fact that he was here for her, for them. He could secure their futures together if he turned this internship into a permanent job. He could…could…shit. Is that what he wants? Hell, is that what she wants?

Lip’s thoughts are interrupted by Eric and Rebecca’s entrance. The latter immediately beams as she sees Charlotte, squeezing her way between crowds of people, turning her nose up at a tray of hors d'oeuvres being passed in front of her face. “Lottie!” she cheers, tugging Charlotte up by her hands, pulling her into a hug. “You look gorgeous my love, who are you wearing?”

“Um, I’m sorry, my mother got me this dress, but if you wanna pull the tag out-”

“Oh, no, honey it’s fine. You can call me with outfit details later, I need to go find Eric’s bitch of a mother.” she murmurs under her breath. “Sorry I couldn’t make lunch earlier, but thanks so much for reminding that asshole to bring me something. It’d be just like him to go to my favorite restaurant and bring me nothing.” Rebecca scoffs, tossing her hair before fixing a fake smile on her face, leaving to find her boyfriend’s mother. 

“You,” Lip pauses, laughing in disbelief as he stands, looking between Eric and Charlotte. “You went to lunch together. Alone.” He nods to himself, still chuckling, slowly walking closer to Eric. 

“Phillip.” Charlotte tries, putting her hand on his arm. “Phillip, we were already there when Rebecca said she wasn’t coming, stop.”

“Yeah, man, it’s nothing serious, I just took your girl to lunch, she’s probably never been to the nicer restaurants in Chicago before-”

“Man, I’m about to knock your fuckin’ head off.” the blond continues, calmly putting his drink down, the force making a sound that gathers the attention of passersby. Charlotte tugs at Lip again, pleading to him his ear, telling him to go get their jackets and she’d use the bathroom. 

“Please, Phillip. Please. Just go get the jackets. Please. We don’t have to talk to him. Please.” she begs, cupping his face. Eric huffs as he watches the woman coddle her boyfriend and takes a deep swig of his drink wandering off to go find Rebecca. 

Lip runs an angry hand through his hair stalking off to the room where the jackets are being kept without saying a word, trying to maintain his temper. But of fucking course. Of course he’d meet a girl like Charlotte. Of course she’d make him fall in love with her, and like a fucking idiot, he would. And of course they’d meet a jackass like fuckin’ Eric who wanted her, who could give her the things she deserved like nice dinners, cars, houses, the pretty fucking outfits she likes to wear. He could give her that without planning for months, saving, taking money in and out of their joint savings to take care of his batshit family. Lip slams the door behind him, going to sift through the coats before pausing, hearing sniffling from the other side of the room. “Uh, hello?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” a watery voice says, stepping out from the closet area Helene is clutching a tissue in her hand, going over to Lip. “I’m sorry, it’s just-” her words are cut off by sobs.

“Uh, shit, sit down.” Lip says, guiding her to sit on the bed in the room. 

“I…my son just called, let me know he made it back to school okay. And…it slipped in conversation, his father went on a date. He’s started seeing someone. I’d thought…he’d maybe surprise me by coming here. Oh, and I was so rude about Charlotte earlier, but my partner is the one not here.”

Lip watches awkwardly as the older woman sobs, placing his hand on her shoulder after a moment, glancing around. Sure he felt bad for her, but after all this time, he’d realized she really had been a bitch to him. And her ex-husband. He’d thought so highly of her before, thought she was the best thing that would ever happen to him. Now she was crumpling in front of him and he could barely bring himself to comfort her. “Sorry. But, I thought that was like…you guys’ thing. Fucking other people.”

“No, that was more me, he…tolerated it.” 

“Oh. That’s…shitty.” Lip whistles.

“It is.” Helene sighs, sniffing one last time. She wipes her face before fully looking at Lip. “I think I was filling some kind of void you know? Low self-esteem, issues with aging, I have them all. The only relationship I had outside of my marriage that meant anything is you.” 

They hadn’t even heard it. At least, Lip hadn’t. The door opening. The sound of Charlotte coming to check on him since he hadn’t returned with their jackets. But he did hear her curse before slamming the door. He couldn’t move fast enough, leaving Helene behind he slips between the bodies of movers and shakers in scattered throughout the house, swinging open the door and running down the steps, finding Charlotte stumbling in the grass as she kicks off her heels, grumbling. “Charlotte!”

He catches up to her quickly, grabbing the car keys from the valet stopping at Kev’s truck. The woman keeps walking, head held high as she limps out of the gate. “Charlotte, are you serious? Get in the car.”

“No!” 

“Fucksake.” he growls, getting into the car and backing out of the driveway, following alongside her slowly as she makes her way on foot. “It’s fucking dark, get in the car.”

“Leave me alone.” she huffs, crossing her arms, whining to herself about the dirt touching her feet.

The muscle in Lip’s jaw jumps, his scowl going deeper. He reaches over and lights a cigarette, smoking out of the window. “You know, you’re the one who went on a fuckin’ date with someone else today.” 

Charlotte laughs, speeding up. “It wasn’t a fuckin’ date. His girlfriend was supposed to go, and she canceled. We were already there, and you were too busy eye-fucking that old professor that you conveniently left out you used to literally fuck.” 

“I really don’t wanna talk about eye-fucking when you get naked for half of Chicago, alright?” Lip grits. Too far. He knows it immediately. He watches her stop, and look at him with hurt he never wants to see, her tear tracks shining in the lights from the streets. His own eyes glisten with unshed tears. He puts the car in park, cigarette still balanced between his lips as he hops out walking around the side and grabbing a kicking, protesting Charlotte by her waist, tossing her over his shoulder. Lip places her in the car and slams the passenger door before getting back into the driver’s seat, staring forward at the road.

Charlotte pettily snatches the cigarette from his mouth, opening her window and flicking it to the road. “Why didn’t you tell me you dated her?”

The blond takes a deep breath, letting his eyes slip closed. “I was embarrassed, and I thought it’d freak you out. That you’d ask me to quit cause she helped me get the job. And I would if you asked me to.”

“I would too. Quit. If you asked me to.” Charlotte sighs.

“I don’t wanna ask you to do that. You like it, it's good money, shit you just started. But I do hate it. Thought I wouldn’t, but I do.”

“So, we’ll talk about it more. Until we both know where we stand on it.” she says, facing forward too, she's quiet for another beat before speaking again. “I’m telling the truth about Eric.”

“I know.” Lip scrubs his hands down his face. “I know. And I am sorry that I yelled about that stupid shit with Frank. That bullshit just shouldn’t be your problem.” 

“I want it to be my problem. I love your family and I love you. I want to be part of it. I want…I want to be your family. So I care about the money you guys saved being stolen, I care if Liam’s diapers get bought, and I care if Carl gets to go on his field trip.”

“Fuck, bunny, I know you care. I just don’t want you to deal with that shit, it’s fuckin embarrasin’ you having to see my family like that. Having to kick in money for the house.”

“It’s stuff I wanna do. Ian doesn’t walk on eggshells with Mickey. None of you do. You treat him like an honorary Gallagher. Why can’t you do that with me?”

The couple turns to each other now, Lip reaching over the console, grabbing Charlotte’s hand. “You’re fuckin’ better than us, bunny.” He says, one tear finally falling.

Charlotte reaches up, wiping away the drop before smoothing his hair. “You’re gonna stop talkin’ about my boyfriend and our family like that. Nothing is better than you.” She smiles as Lip brings her hand to his mouth kissing her hand. “Well, except Chad in high school musical, I mean, I let the Troy slander go, but he’s different-” she laughs into the kiss that he pulls her into, the two of them smiling into the embrace as they share soft, tender kisses. 

The pair stays like that for a while. Wrapped up in each other. Sitting in the dimly lit car, running Kev’s gas on the side of the road without a care in the world. After a few moments of peace Lip decides to take a risk. It’s a big one, a very Fiona style decision. But those were random loser fuckers who got her off when she was vulnerable. This, this is Charlotte. His Charlotte. Who'd singlehandedly made his life better in the short time she'd been here. Who he loves an unexplainable amount that almost pisses him off. And he’s scared. Fuckin’ terrified. But he has to try.

“Sweetheart, how long have we known each other?”

Charlotte scoffs, playing with his fingers with an absent smile. “Well, three months, but it feels like forever. You know, I never know if people mean that in a good or bad way. I mean it the good way, obviously.” she beams at him, looking into his eyes and finding him with a serious face, her smile fades. “What?”

“Do you work tomorrow?”

“Hm, nope, not supposed to. You?”

His chest tightens as he answers her. He doesn’t believe in stars aligning, or cosmic whatever, but he thinks that this might just be the fate shit that Debbie is spewing all the time that makes no scientific sense. “Nah, I uh…threatened my boss, so I gotta see if I still have a job. I think he has a thing for my hot girlfriend that I’m..I’m uh really in love with.”

“If he does, he doesn't stand a chance. Because I really love my boyfriend.” she hums. If anything was gonna be his confirmation, Lip thinks this is it. Those words were enough. “So what’s with the questions? You wanna do something?” she asks cutely, leaning her cheek into his hand.

This is it.

He looks down into her brown eyes and decides this is what he wants to see forever. Looking at anything else sucks anyway. 

“Yeah, um…”

Just fuckin’ do it pussy.

“You wanna go get married?” 

[maybe-moonchild]

11/25/2018

WC: 1.5k

𓈒⟡₊⋆∘

“So did you return it or not?” Katie sighed from where she was lounging on the couch, flipping to the next page of her magazine with an air of indifference. Her dark hair fell perfectly around her shoulders in a blowout that only a salon could achieve. 

“Nope.”

Katie sounded flatly disappointed, “Oh great, so now you have a pair of ugly pants.” You picked your head up from where it was shoved into the cushions so you could glare at her.

Flash made a face, still not quite understanding the problem. “Wait, wait, wait, wait, back up. If the pants are ugly, why are you keeping them?”

“Because,” you groaned, flopping over onto your back. You narrowly avoided crushing Katie’s magazine before she plucked it out of the way. “Like I said, they were parked right outside the mailbox and I was going to be late if I didn’t leave at that exact moment.” 

Flash’s brows furrowed even more and he was quiet for a beat as he tried to figure out what the issue was. 

He’d been paying attention to the story you’d been relaying once you arrived; he just lacked the overwhelming perception that your other friend managed to have. If Katie could always seek and find lines to read between when they were invisible to the human eye, Flash could barely read. 

Well, it just took him a little longer with a little help. 

The two of them were your people, making up the other two wheels on your tricycle. The three of you complimented each other in all the right ways, thorny where the others were soft and sweet where the others were sour. 

Which was why it was no surprise that you and Katie found yourselves hosting a wine night at the apartment you shared prior to Flash’s return to South Dakota. 

“Like they were blocking the mailbox?”

At his continued confusion, Katie snapped her magazine shut, sitting up straight so she could deter the attention to herself. It wasn’t in the vain way that she liked to pretend it was. Instead, she did it to give you a moment to take a breath or you’d start to get snappy. 

You always got snappy when this topic came up. 

“No Flash.” Even though she was speaking to him, it was obvious that it was directed at you. “Gwen’s car was parked right next to the mailboxes which meant she would’ve had to walk right in front of it to put said package in the mailbox.”

A handful of popcorn hit you in the face when you opened your mouth to interject. Kernels fell down into your shirt, distracting you so you could fish them out while she continued. 

“Which is why she has opted to throw money in the garbage for a pair of pants that look like they were cut out of a gap catalog.” Her head turned in your direction, delivering you a smug smile which you returned with a glare. “Because for someone who claims not to care about Peter Parker, you certainly do plenty of backflips to avoid him.”

You chucked a pillow at her but she ducked out of the way. 

“Oh, this again?” Flash sighed, propping his cheek in his hand in boredom of the topic. “I thought maybe something actually happened.”

That makes you do a double take at him, his hands and eyebrows raising in surrender. 

“Something did happen. Peter and Gwen were sitting in her car on my street.” 

How you’d peeked out your window prior to heading to the mailbox, only to find Gwen Stacy’s car parked right outside the Parker residence with Peter sitting in the front seat. You only watched for a few moments in the hope that they would leave but- why was he laughing so much? Nothing could seriously be funny enough that he had to keep throwing his head back with his stupid, lopsided smile-

They did not leave. In fact, they seemed more than content to chat and laugh and joke. Gwen wouldn’t even still be in town if the stupid storm plaguing the skies of the UK hadn’t delayed her flight an extra few days over Thanksgiving Break. 

It wasn’t like you actually had anything against her; quite the opposite actually, considering she was one of the most lovely people to walk the planet. 

Which just made you feel guilty at the odd, prickling resentment that prickled along your skin anytime you thought about her. 

So you decided that, instead of going out, crossing the street and walking right in front of their windshield to toss your package in the mailbox, you decided to keep the ugly pants. 

Neither of them said anything, making you question your own sanity. 

“So I couldn't put the package in the mailbox. So, yes, something certainly did happen.”

Your brows pinched together, like you were offended at the idea that it was nothing- was he not just listening? Did he not just hear about how Peter and Gwen had been flaunting themselves (inside the privacy of her car without the knowledge that you were home) like they owned the stupid spot on the road right in front of his house…

Okay so… maybe there was a hint of truth to what your friends were saying.

“It did!” You stand up abruptly to pad into the kitchen, just so you can hide the way your face screws up at the implication. Absent-mindedly searching through the cabinets for snacks gives you the time to pout without being teased.

“So? It’s winter break. They were probably just hanging out while she’s back in town before she goes back to Oxford.” With another sigh, Katie flopped back on the couch. Her tone is light in the hopes to distract you from the topic and move on to things like where the three of you should go for your last spring break or how Ned Leeds offered to carry her books around campus, again.

Flash shut his laptop and slid it away, tucking it safely in the middle of the floor where it would likely be drunkenly stepped on. This was clearly going to acquire everyone’s full attention. 

As you padded back to the living room shared by you and Katie, bottle of wine in hand, you were ready to drown in your non-existent sorrows.

“Or they were probably banging one out…” Flash snorts. That’s enough to send the remaining heads in the room whipping in his direction.

“Flash!” Katie scolded sharply and he threw his hands up in response. It’s your voice, equally loud and sharp, that makes both of your friends wince with how appalled you sound. 

“Banging?”

The wide eyed look you wore made you appear like a child discovering that Santa wasn’t real. 

Katie shot Flash a dirty look before running a hand down her face which made him cringe, shooting you an apologetic look for his bluntness. She attempted to console you with a stiff pat on your shoulder. 

“No. Not banging.” She was trying to shut that idea down before you spiraled down a rabbit hole.  Still, not even she could help but cringing herself. “... Probably not.”

“That hardly sounds reassuring!” You slumped down onto the couch, trying to sink into the cushions with a pout. 

Flash and Katie exchanged another look, expressions flat and emitting a sigh that screamed ‘here we go again’.

It’s Katie that tried to comfort you first, even if this conversation had happened a million times before and always ended the same way. 

“Here’s a thought,” she said tentatively, scooting a little closer to where you were the personification of grumbling in the corner of the couch. “Why do you care so much?”

You scowled, “I don’t.”

Flash just let out a bark of laughter. “Yeah right! Every Time you see that Gwen's liked one of his aunts' facebook posts, it ruins your whole week- OW!” He rubbed at the spot on his shin that Katie had kicked in an attempt to get him to shut up. 

“What he means,” she interjected, drawing out the words in an attempt to draw your attention back to her, “is that you do tend to… get grumpy… when Parker comes up-”

The implication made your jaw hang open almost comically. 

“I do not!”

“Do too,” your friends deadpanned at the same time. 

Clearly this had become somewhat of a routine to them since they did not pay your pouting any mind. Katie smoothed her shirt and stood, picking up the sparkling five-buck-chuck and inspecting the label like one would inspect a thousand dollar bottle of hundred year old champagne. 

“Face it babe,” She sighed, passing the bottle to Flash, who made quick work at peeling off the foil to uncork it, still sprawled out on the carpet. “Peter Parker might have been out of your life the past seven years, but he has never left your head.”

“That’s not true,” you grumble, but the sound is covered by the pop of the cork and a cheer from your friends. Their attempt to move the conversation along to something more upbeat works, shifting the atmosphere to something lighter as Katie fills three wine glasses.  

It’s like you hadn’t even denied it all.

[winchestergirl2]

October Reading Recs

To show some love and appreciation to all the amazing writers here on tumblr, here are all the fantastic fics I've read this month. 💖

Many of these fics and blogs are 18+ only, and NSFW please heed the author's individual fic warnings and requests regarding no minors. I am not responsible for your media consumption.

2023 Reading Recs List

Supernatural

Dean Winchester

The One That Got Away Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | @pink-sparkly-witch

Authors Summary: Childhood sweethearts, Dean and Y/N, are very much in love with each other. When she accepts a full scholarship to an out-of-state college, she finally gets to leave behind her traumatic childhood and abusive father, but it means leaving Dean behind too.

Over a decade later, Y/N returns to Lawrence, Kansas, and finally tries to heal the only wounds she has left… the psychological and emotional scars her father gave her and the heartbreak she endured by Dean Winchester, the one that got away.

Smoke Eater Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | @zepskies

Authors Summary: Dean Winchester is the cocky, but well-respected Lieutenant at Firehouse 25. He leads by example, but he’s also known to break a few hearts. He’s starting to crave something he’s never had, though. Something stable. Something real. 

That’s when he meets you, on a truly terrible day, trapped in a rickety old elevator.   

Escape Chapter 66 | Chapter 67 | Chapter 68 | @soaringeag1e

Authors Summary: A serial killer is reeking havoc around Lawrence, Kansas, and Detective Dean Winchester is getting really sick of finding more and more bodies. But one day, he gets a call about another victim. But instead of the location of another body, he gets news that this one escaped the hell of this mans actions.

Massages And More @miss-madness67

Authors Summary: Dean really likes your massage.

Meant To Be Mine @negans-lucille-tblr

Authors Summary: A mix up leads to life changing consequences. 

Sam Winchester

Yellow @idreamofhazel

Authors Summary: I listened to Yellow by Coldplay and got inspired. 

Untitled Sam Winchester Drabble @supernaturalfreewill

Relax @imagineteamfreewill

Authors Summary: It’s almost the end of the semester and your schedule is jam-packed, leaving you stressed, overwhelmed, and overtired. Thankfully, Sam Winchester is the best at helping you relax.

Family Friends and Loved Ones @waywardxwords

Authors Summary: You make it home for Thanksgiving to see your family again, bringing Sam and Dean with you.

The Boys

Soldier Boy

New Blood @wayward-dreamer

Authors Summary: The executives at Vought American are enamoured by the new supe at the annual shareholders party, hoping to make her a new addition to Payback. Soldier Boy isn't pleased with the idea, as he's the only one who gets to decide who joins his team. He tells her this fact, and braces himself for a fight, but gets something much better out of their encounter.

Friday the 13th

Clay Miller

Flyers @plus-size-reader

Authors Summary: Going out with Clay to help look for Whitney and bonding with him in a way that you never have before

Friday The 13th (2009) @bored-writer101

Authors Summary: You are Clay Miller’s girlfriend. He’s taken you to the middle of bumfuck nowhere, looking for his sister, Whitney. She’s been missing for a month and a half after she went on a camping trip with some friends. You and Clay are determined to find her, but there is a hockey masked killer who is waiting in the woods for you.

Big Sky

Beau Arlen

Wonderwall @deanbrainrotwritings

Authors Summary: teasing beau during work and leaving without finishing. when he gets home he wants to pick up where they left off.

Only Ever Holding Onto You Part 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | @thebiggerbear

Authors Summary: When Beau Arlen called and asked Y/N to join him at the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff's Department, she knew she should have turned him down. Sure, he made a great case for her relocation, but it was the sound of his voice that had her put in for an immediate transfer. After all, he was worried and needed her; how could she say no? Yet, the more time she spends in Big Sky Country, the more Y/N wonders if she should have stayed in Houston.

Untitled Beau Arlen Drabble @smellingofpoetry

Montana Stars @spnbaby-67

Authors Summary Just cute one shot between Beau Arlen and his girl, Y/N.

Chicago Fire

Matt Casey

Better late than never @deanstead

Authors Summary: After witnessing Y/N’s interaction with Connor, Matt finally decides to tell her how he feels

Imagine: Seeing Matt at Molly's after returning to Chicago @deanstead

Untitled Matt Casey Drabble @deanstead

Authors Summary: Matt surprising his wife with a puppy

Ten Inch Hero

Boaz Priestly

Movie Night To Remember @daughterofcain-67

Authors Summary: In honor of spooky season, The Beach City Grill is throwing a Horror movie night event by putting on the movie Scream! The employees are excited, and so are some of the regulars. Your friends, Piper, Jen and Tish invite you to come because she knows you're another regular at the grill. But the thing is, you hate scary movies, crime shows or anything dealing with blood. Which will be scarier? Actually watching this movie, or embarrassing yourself in front of a guy you like?

The Body @deanbrainrotwritings

Authors Summary: tish dared priestly to wear a dress to work in exchange for a week off.

Smallville

Jason Teague

Assistant Hottie @zepskies

Authors Summary: Jason Teague, Assistant Football Coach, meets you in the faculty break lounge at Smallville High. He tries to kick you out, thinking you’re a student. Technically, you are. Turns out, you both go to the same university. 

[spiderfunkz]

hii! i was wondering if you could write something about robin buckley choosing reader to go to europe with her for the summer! (maybe a rebel robin au??) ive never seen anyone write anything about it and id think id be cute!

✧.* operation crossaint!

— summary : summer in hawkins is boring. so, how about a trip to europe?

— pairings : robin buckley x fem!reader

— word count : 0,9k

— warnings : fluff, friends to lovers, oblivious reader kinda, messy plot whoops, foul language, kissing mwah mwah, weird time jumps, not proofread, this is set in the summer btw!! robin & reader is 18 here.

a/n : hi there! thank u for the request anon ^_^ i tried fitting some aspects and references from rebel robin because i couldn't really fit in the whole au and storyline of rebel robin because i don't think it'll fit that well, so sorry about that!!

"operation crossaint?" you question as robin nodded. "just hear me out. i want to live outside of hawkins y/n. i want to know whats outside of this shitty town," she explains.

"it's sounds weird i know but, i want to learn and experience things." she continues.

"so like europe?" you ask, "yes! exactly like europe. i want to travel, meet people who live exactly how they want to, i want to see beautiful museums, and walk down old streets!" she rambles.

you nodded listening to everything she says. "and live off of crossaints and cheese?" you laugh — "mhm!" she nodded.

"i told mr hauser about it and, he told me to take someone with me, and he suggested milton or dash but i was thinking-" she paused, "that maybe you could go with me?" she asks, scrunching her nose.

"or don't, i understand that maybe you have something going on or maybe you focusing on othe-"

"i'll go with you." you stated. "but we literally have 0 dollars and, have you asked your parents?" you ask.

"we can work on that! mr hauser said that he could help talk to my parents which automatically means that he could talk to yours so-" she rambles, "all he said is that if i find someone to take with he could help me. and you said yes."

"yeah well of course, i mean spending any time at all with you and in europe? that sounds like an absolute dream." you smiled.

robin's cheeks grew pink as you stated that. europe? with you? together? is she dreaming right now?

"i'll go work things out, i'll see you tomorrow y/n." she waved.

you were so caught up with the conversation you don't realize you were outside your house now as robin skipped away.

—

robin could barely sleep that night, was she really going to spend her time in europe with you?

god, she was so excited to tell mr hauser all about it. she had already started learning languages she thought might be important for the trip, like french or their culture and stuff.

she is so excited to spend time with you, especially outside of hawkins. the walks you could go with her, the food you get to taste together, the memories she could make.

"jesus, get yourself together buckley." robin sighed, her thoughts haunting her as she slowly falls asleep.

—

you sat down the bus, going home from another miserable day at hawkins high. flipping through the pages of your book, you see robin hoping on, almost missing the bus.

she ignores the taunts of some of the older kids before spotting you and sitting next to you.

"dunno whats their problem," you look back at the older teens mocking robin — "their probably failing another year anyways." you stated, voice a bit louder. "i hope they fall off of the bus." she sighed.

it's been a few weeks since robin told you about 'operation crossaint' and you two just got back from thanksgiving break.

"so, how was your break?" you ask. "amazing actually, i got a job, and i think i can finally afford tickets for two people to go to europe!" she smiles.

"really? that's great! i saved up a bit and i think we can manage. plus, you know extra money for gifts and stuff." you added.

robin was so beyond excited that you stuck by her, the last few weeks everything had been going the total opposite for her, yet you were still there for her in every moment.

"i also bought a camera recently, and we could bring that to our trip. you know? for memories and stuff, so they last forever." you say as robin nodded, smiling wider than ever.

—

and here you are now!

the past weeks is the probably the best few weeks ever. europe, with robin, together.

you two finally get to experience the europe dream, going to museums, eating in fancy cafes, going on trips on a boat, and just living a life outside of hawkins.

you've been carrying your camera around everywhere, documenting your summer with your person.

and for robin, the past few weeks was somewhat of an awakening for her. she finally could understand herself with the help from you and everything around her.

she now understands why she's been feeling a certain way around certain people, especially you. like butterflies fluttering in her stomach, and how her heart feels like its going to explode.

and that brings you here, on a random hill surrounded by pretty flowers and bright stars above.

"heres one where we were at the fair, the ferris wheel looked so pretty here." you showed robin the pictures you've been taking along the trip.

"oh! and these are some cats near by the water, remember? the ones i told you. gosh, they're just so cute." you smile.

you didn't notice how quiet robin was, you could feel her smile but she hasn't said anything.

you look up and notice that she wasn't looking at your camera like you had been doing. she was looking at you.

"what? do i have something on my face?" you questioned.

in robin's defense, you're really pretty. cherry stained lips, gorgeous hair that just falls in place so perfectly, and the prettiest eyes.

"it's not nice to stare buckley." you chuckle, "you're too pretty not too." she replied.

the tension grew as the moon shined, perfectly reflecting robin's freckles.

she moved closer to you, the smell of your perfume overwhelming her.

she kissed you.

you kissed her.

robin pulled away, realizing what she just did, what you just did. your cherry stained lips now staining her.

"i'm sorry i should've-" robin got cut off, your lips connected to hers again. "don't apologize robs." you say, tucking her hair.

"i like you, like, like like you." robin stated — "i like like you too." you replied.

[collisvng]

So I for some reason got really sad over Thanksgiving break and just daydreamed in order to stay sane.

And for some reason the main thing that brought me comfort was just the idea of Felix trying throw you a Thanksgiving dinner.

But like it goes completely wrong and he has to ask the guys for help.

Felix! would be the type to make sure you're at your happiest, no matter what holiday.

He's just like that; sweet, kinda, caring... and a little insane when it comes to making sure the people he loves are always feeling their best.

Thus why, when you explained that you were spending Thanksgiving alone this year because your parents lived too far visit, mans literally almost blew a fuse.

He'd never really celebrated the holiday—obviously—but that didn't stop him from wanting you to have a great holiday.

So there he was, in the dorms trying his best to prep a turkey in hopes to give you the best Thanksgiving dinner of your dreams...

...and failing.

Terribly.

He didn't know the first thing about prepping a turkey. Wtf was basting? Why did you need to tie the legs? Why the hell did so many things need to go INSIDE the damn thing?!

In tears, he would recruit Minho in a desperate attempt to save the day. And lucky for him, his friend was feeling particularly generous today.

(Also just the visual of Felix! with rivers streaming down his little cheeks due to frustration would make anyone fold, but that's another topic...)

Felix! would do all the baking, while Minho would do the cooking.

But it wouldn't be just the two of them for long.

Because wherever Minho goes, Han goes.

And if Han is there, Hyunjin is bound to show up.

And if Hyunjin is there, Changbin will magically appear.

Then Seungmin would make an appearance just to annoy Changbin.

Jeongin and Seungmin simply go hand and hand.

And Bangchan? Well, of course if his kids are all in one place he's gonna be there.

Soon, what was supposed to be a nice dinner between you and Mr. Sunshine turned into a friend gathering. Although, you had no idea of any of this. You were sitting at home, getting ready—confused as to why Felix! invited you over and told you to "dress nice" for "something special".

Maybe he was taking pity on you? I mean, he did know that you were alone on what you considered a family holiday. Perhaps he was just inviting you over to prevent you from your inevitable meltdown? Questionable.

All your contemplations and worries melted away the moment you arrived at the dorms, greeted by the starry-eyed fairy.

Felix! stood there—blonde bangs in his eyes, a bit of flour on his nose, pink apron on, and a big grin on his face.

He was cute, almost too cute, and your head would subtly begin to spin.

The sound of the guys in the background yelling for you in sort of sing-song, beckoning you to come join them as they got ready to eat dinner brought you back to reality.

You spent the night surrounded by your friends. Eating, sharing stories, laughing, and just feeling loved.

Maybe this was all you needed.

They were the family you never knew you needed.

Eventually, when you finally managed to get a brief moment alone with Felix!, you promptly gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

His eyes would widen in confusion, looking at you with sweetest most dumbfounded expression ever. And you would just smile.

"Thank you."

Your words came out in a slight whisper as you interlocked your hands with his.

"Thank you for everything."

[izzielizzie93]

High School Sweethearts Part 2-J Burrow

Part 1 Part 3 Part 4

College! Joe Burrow x Reader

Summary: There's nothing like coming home for the holidays

Word Count: 1.1k

Warnings: None, some angst and fluff

This one is long & there will definitely be a part 3! Thank you to everyone who liked, shared, and commented on part 1 :)

-------

I’d be lying if I said moving to Baton Rouge was an easy decision; but I would also be lying if I said it didn’t feel right the moment I stepped into my dorm. I had gone earlier than most; because on top of becoming a Tiger, I had also made the LSU cheer team. 

I ended up waiting a day to respond to Joe’s text, choosing to send an emoji of a Tiger and a thumbs up in lieu of actually having the courage to say anything else. 

I unblocked him on everything and added him back as a friend shortly before graduation. We both knew we were mutuals again; but he never liked my new posts. It was morbid curiosity that had me scouring his Instagram and being pathetic when asking friends if he posted on snap.

I mostly did this late at night when I couldn’t sleep, afraid of my dreams. Sometimes I’d wake up after dreaming that Joe hated that I’d followed him to Ohio State and it would end with him breaking up with me and asking me to transer. Other times we’d be happy together and he’d be telling me he couldn’t wait to marry me after graduation. 

Both dreams felt equally horrible when I woke up in my cold dorm, hundreds of miles away from him. 

Eventually, the dreams subsided as fall term began and life got hectic just as I’d predicted it would. I grew very close with two fellow cheerleaders, Sasha and Emily, and they were great distractions. 

Of course, I’d gotten drunk about a month into school starting and spilled everything to them. I had opened up about some details of my life; but always stopped myself because it felt too personal to share with people I’d only known for a couple of months. 

Luckily, my word vomit didn’t scare them off and they helped me stop with my frantic scrolling of Joe’s pages and they even came over and stayed the night when I felt I was going to have bad dreams. 

—

In the month leading up to break, I had been dreading going home. I was hoping everyday that LSU would have a bowl game that weekend; but it was scheduled for the week after and we were all cleared to go home for break. 

I’d fallen back into the habit of stalking Joe online and nothing seemed to point toward any new girlfriends; but I still hurt my own feelings each time I clicked on his page.

“So, Y/N are you excited to be going home for Thanksgiving?” Emily asked as she sat on my bed, watching me pack. “Absolutely, I already have friends texting me trying to make plans for every second and I know my mom is going to protest and want to keep me home.” I felt myself smiling at the thought of being with everyone again. 

“What about-” I turned to glare at her before she finished her sentence. “I mean you know he’ll be there. You might see him.” Sasha piped up from her own side of the dorm. While I was happy that Sasha had become my roommate after the summer, there were times where I wish she hadn’t. 

“I know and I plan on being cordial. I’m going to treat him like an acquaintance and avoid him as much as possible.” I shrugged. Sasha and Emily shared a look and I did my best to ignore them before excusing myself to take a long shower, hoping Sasha would be in bed and Emily would be gone when I got back. 

—

Despite burying myself in schoolwork, the day to leave for Ohio felt like it came too quickly. I was doing my best to stay positive and remind myself that I didn’t need to worry about Joe, I had so many people I wanted to see. 

Once I’d landed and spotted my parents waiting for me, all thoughts of Joe left my mind. Seeing my mom cry wasn’t anything new; but seeing my dad tear up had me crying. 

They peppered me with questions the entire drive home and wanted to know everything about school, cheer, and my friends. I’d kept my mom in the loop, talking to her on the phone every week; but it wasn’t the same as being there. She and my dad had tickets to fly back with me and take a vacation in New Orleans before coming to see LSU play. 

—

Avoiding Joe was easy for the first few days of the trip; but then I was invited to a Bonfire party out at Oakley’s Ranch. Everyone who was home for the holidays, and those who’d never left, were going to be there and I didn’t want to miss out. 

“Wow, Joe is going to go insane when he sees you.” My friend Sarah gasped when I walked out to her car. “Shut up, this isn’t for him.” I glared, getting in. She rolled her eyes, knowing I was lying through my teeth. I did want Joe to see me and not be able to find a good reason why he ever let me go. 

I had on black jeans that hugged me in all of the right places, a black spaghetti strap crop top with a v neckline, black thigh high boots that I’d stolen from Sasha, and a bright red leather jacket. I’d curled my hair and done a smokey makeup look to match my dark aesthetic and I had on a bold red lip color. 

“Is that Joe’s favorite perfume?” My friend Kasey smirked as she got into the car next. After what felt like the longest car ride ever, the taunting ended as we pulled up next to the all too familiar Oakely barn. 

—

A couple of hours had passed and I was happily buzzing, dancing and singing along to songs with friends I hadn’t seen in months. 

I was so into dancing that I didn’t see a certain blonde haired blue eyed man walk in; but he saw me. “Holy shit, Joe is staring so hard.” Sarah slurred, pulling me in close. I let my eyes wander and I smirked when I caught Joe’s eye.

I downed the rest of my drink and excused myself to go outside to get air. I walked once around the barn and on my second trip, Joe was leaning against one of the walls. As I was about to pass him, he reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward him. 

Despite being in heels, I still had to look up as his 6”4 figure dwarfed me. “Can I help you with something?” I asked. His eyes bore into mine before he leaned down and pressed a hard kiss to my lips.

---

:)

@lh4455 @dessxoxsworld

[magicicephoenix]

Hoax - The Ink Demonth 2024 (Day 3)

In which a particularly heavy rumor takes the studio by storm. And they take… interesting measures in the face of it.

ao3 link

-----------

went for more of an "audio only" type style here, mostly for my own sanity ^^' and yet this still ended up rather long for a day-long prompt… oh well. had a blast writing it, at least!

btw this takes place in my The Silent Demon AU, which is essentially just: everyone is happy, the studio is thriving, and Bendy is alive! he's also mute and deaf.

enjoy!

----------

"Another special? So soon? Honestly, Joey, it's like you want everyone to quit."

The sound of papers being shuffled. "C'mon Henry, it'll be great for business! I mean, it's not my fault that Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years all go in a row!"

"But it is your fault that Bendy, Boris, and Alice are celebrating all four." An amused huff. "Couldn't we just do a short for New Years or something?"

"But the vision! The prestige!"

"Now you're just saying words."

An offended scoff. "I'm just saying, this'll be good for the studio! A step up against the competitors!"

"And the best way to do that is to work everyone to the bone?"

"You know I'd never let it get to that point."

An acknowledging hum. "Alright, fine, whatever, you're the boss. But you better not get any ideas about Valentine's Day."

"Ah! Now that you mention it—"

"I'm gonna stop you right there. I'm leaving."

"Wait, but- Henry! You haven't even heard what I was going to say!"

"Nope. I'm not hearing another one of your far-too-complicated ideas today. I'm making like Wally and getting outta here. For real this time!" The sound of decisive shoes on wood, a door opening.

A pause—skittering of hidden footsteps rushing away, staying unnoticed—and then… the laughter of two good friends joking around.

The shuffling and bustling of employees on break.

"Did you hear? We're starting another special."

The crinkle of a lunch bag opening. "Geez, again? What's this one about?"

"New Years."

"And we need a whole special about that?!"

"Jesus."

"Mr. Stein reacted the same, I heard."

The thump of a cup being put down. "Really?"

"Yeah. Told Joey something about quitting if stuff like this kept happening."

Stirring of a spoon in a bowl. A laugh. "Mr. Stein would never quit."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Are you kidding? He'd never leave the studio. Not to mention Bendy."

A chuckle. "Ah, you're right."

"Then why'd he say he was leaving?"

A spit take. "What?!"

"Who told you that?"

"Overheard. He said he was leaving, for real."

"No way."

"Yes way. That's exactly what he said!"

"That can't be true."

"He'd never actually leave!"

"You've seen how exhausted he's been recently! What if this was too much for him?"

"…he has been here longer than anyone else."

"And Mrs. Stein would be happy that he'd stopped working late."

"Where do you think he'd go, though?"

"Doesn't matter where he'd be going, what matters is that he might be leaving!"

"The department wouldn't be the same."

"Yeah, it'd be so empty!"

"We'd have to get another department head!"

"Augh, it'd be so weird reporting to anyone other than Mr. Stein…"

"Yeah, tell me about it."

"But… it's only a maybe, right?

"I mean, I guess. But what if it's true?"

"I can't imagine what would happen if he left for good…"

"Then let's just hope he won't."

"Yeah, fair enough."

A door slamming open. "Henry might be leaving."

The crash of a chair falling down. "He's what?"

"Wait, what-"

"Heard it through the grapevine."

"Susie, you can't just believe every hint of gossip that comes your way…"

"No, no, she's right."

Another chair hitting the floor. "She is?!"

"What, you're tellin' me that you haven't felt the stress from the recent specials? Imagine how brutal it must be in Animation!"

"Ugh, even thinking about all that drawing makes my hand cramp up…"

"He's been working late more often, too. What if he's reached a breaking point?"

"Henry doesn't have a breaking point. He's crazy when it comes to work."

"Everyone has a breaking point."

"Well, of course you do, you break just about every day, you perfectionist."

A scoff. "I am not a perfectionist."

"Oh, yes, when you scream at the band every day, that's not due to any undiscovered need for only the best take possible."

"I do not scream, I instruct, and it's only because all the fools on the instruments don't understand the basic principles of—"

"All I'm hearin' is that you have unreasonable standards."

"Well, Joey hired me for a reason—"

"Ladies, ladies!" The rush of banter dies down. "Calm yourselves. We have a problem on our hands, and we're going to address it."

"So what do we do about it then, Susie? Beg him not to leave?"

"Well, hold on. If he's already decided, there's not much that can change his mind. He's stubborn as a mule."

"Linda could!"

"If he's leaving then Linda knows and approves."

"…right."

"But he hasn't decided! It's only that he might leave."

"So we have a chance to stop him."

"Exactly."

"So what's the plan?"

"Maybe we guilt trip him."

"Norman!"

"I'm just sayin'."

"Well, actually, he might have a point."

"What? Guys—"

"How would we, though? If he's really thinking of this seriously, he must've already considered all the factors."

"True… so what else can we do?"

"What if we can't do anything?"

A somber silence.

"Well, then… we plan long term. Just in case he leaves. A safety net."

"I guess that's… reasonable. But I still think we should—"

"Who would be the next head of Animation, do you think?"

"Eugh, tough break. No one's as good as Henry."

"But someone'll have to step up!"

"What about Bill? He's been around for a while."

"Really? I don't think he's management material."

"Maybe Phil, then."

"Oh, that's not a bad thought. He can handle stuff in a pinch, for sure."

"Yeah, he helped time the frames for the latest song, you remember? When Henry was busy fixing the misplaced lighting debacle."

"Don't you dare speak a word about that, I swear to God, animators in here every second of the week—"

"Wait, hold on, everyone shut up." Everyone does. "We're thinking too complicated. Quick answer, what's going to happen if Henry decides to leave?"

"Um, Animation will lose a capable artist?"

"Joey Drew will summon more demons."

"Sammy'll blow a fuse."

"I will not— "

The sound of someone stomping their foot. "Ugh, honestly! You men are so dense. Do I really need to spell it out for you?"

"Maybe for some of us."

"Hey!"

"I didn't say it was you. What, you outin' yourself?"

"I- You annoying—"

"Bendy, you guys, Bendy! What'll happen to him?"

"What'll… happen?"

"Yes! If he can't be by Henry's side all the time, where will he go? What will he do?"

"Who will he choose instead, you mean."

"Well- I mean yes, obviously."

"Won't he just go with Joey?"

"Maybe if you think simple. Don't you realize? This is our chance!"

"What are you talking about? He already spends plenty enough time here."

"Playing piano with you, maybe, but the rest of us are woefully starved of Bendy time!"

"Bendy time?"

"You know what I mean!"

"Um, I honestly don't think this what-if warrants this level of—"

"So you're sayin' there's a chance of him pickin' someone else?"

"I think it's in the realm of possibility."

"Then we'll have to figure out who."

"And how will we do that?"

"I'm sure I could think up a few contests… see who he picks…"

"We'd have to go get him first."

"Well then, let's do that."

"Guys, seriously! Can't we just… I don't know, talk to Henry before jumping through these crazy hoops?"

A pause.

"Stick to lyrics, Jack."

"Yeah, Jack."

"Alright, let's do this, team!"

Amid the clambering of shoes leaving the room, there's a long suffering sigh. "I'll be in my office, I guess…"

"Did you hear? Henry might be leaving."

"Really? Always thought he'd stick around 'til the business sank."

"So did I!"

"So, see, the Music Department's been running around addressing things. Possible concerns."

"You'd think Joey would be the one doing that."

"Nah, haven't seen him all day, actually. And I have a script waiting for review…"

"Anyway, they've been gathering everyone in the band room."

"Everyone? What, they're doing a concert?"

"Bendy's in there. Norman says he's 'up for grabs.'"

"…what?"

"Bendy's super attached to Henry, right? So they're trying to figure out where he'll stay if Henry decides to leave."

"Isn't Joey the obvious choice? I mean, he is the guy who created him."

"I guess… but maybe he'll choose someone else."

"I don't think 'up for grabs' is the best way to put that…"

"Don't blame me, Norman's the one who said it!"

A pause.

"I mean, we're going, right?"

"Oh, of course."

The sound of a door easing open. "Hey, Mr. Drew?"

"Ah, Buddy, yes, hello! Come in, come in! What's on your mind?"

"Um… you're wanted in the band room."

"Oh, alright." The scratching of a chair being pushed back. Footsteps on wood. A door closing. "What am I needed for? Did Sammy finish that theme I asked him for?"

"Um… no, sir. It's for a contest."

"Pardon?"

"A contest. Everyone's there in the band room waiting for you. All the animators and writers, too."

"I… why are they there?"

"That's where Bendy is. And people are hoping he'll pick someone new to follow around."

"And they're hoping this because…?"

"Because Mr. Stein might be leaving."

One pair of footsteps stop. "…what?"

"Mr. Stein might be leaving."

"I… Henry isn't leaving."

"He isn't?"

"Of course not. Whatever in the world gave everyone that idea?"

"Um… it's what everyone's been saying, sir."

"I told you, Buddy, you don't need to call me sir."

"R-right."

"Anyway… do you know where they heard this?"

"Someone said they overheard him talking about quitting. And he's been working late a lot, so maybe he's tired."

"That… doesn't sound like Henry. I-I mean, I know things have been stressful, but not that much. Right?"

A noncommittal hum. "That's just what I've heard."

"Huh…"

An anxious silence.

"W-well, they still want you in the band room for comparison."

"I… comparison?"

"To see who Bendy likes more."

"Ah… I-I see… so they think this is really happening?"

"I guess so."

An unnerved clearing of the throat. "Right… well then… I suppose… it only makes sense…"

"Are you alright, Mr. Drew?"

"J-just peachy, Buddy. C'mon, let's get going. There are many, many people waiting for us!"

"Hey, Henry?"

Silence.

"Henry."

"Oh, hey Abby. What is it?"

"You’re not leaving, are you?"

"Leave- do you need help with something? I can stay. I was just finishing up with—"

"No, I mean… leaving. The studio. Y'know… quitting."

"What? Of course not. What gave you that idea?"

"Everyone’s saying it. Joey, too."

"…Joey thinks so?"

The rustle of a nod.

A long sigh. The sound of a pencil being put down. "Oh, man… alright, where are they?"

"Band room. They’re doing a contest to see who Bendy will take to if you leave."

The sound of a chair scraping against wood. Another sigh, this one more fond. "Of course they are."

Everything goes silent when Henry Stein enters the room. Everyone freezes on the spot, stuck with their hands in the cookie jar. Well, the cookie jar that is an elaborate mashup of toys, instruments, and other objects in an attempt to get a certain cartoon demon's interest piqued.

Bendy is the first one to move, of course. He jumps down from the table he’s been placed onto and weaves through the crowd of people to get to Henry, to whom he raises his hands expectantly.

In a clean movement, Henry bends down and scoops Bendy securely into his arms. He surveys the room silently, taking in a range of emotions from surprised, to confused, to worried, to amused. Then he sighs, exasperated, like the weight of the entire studio is on his shoulders. "I’m not leaving," he announces, much too tired.

The room erupts in noise. Disbelief and accusations hit the air, with everything in between ringing out into the big space. Above it all heaves the loud, mirthful laugh of someone who knew this all along and played into the insanity, and the similarly loud but very different cry of someone who knew and dreaded this very result from the start. And, quieter, between the shouts and yells, there's the blessedly relieved exhale of a man too paranoid for his own good.

In the chaos, Henry looks down at Bendy. Bendy blinks back, completely out of the loop, and Henry chuckles.

"Don’t worry, bud," he says, even though he knows Bendy won’t hear it. "I’ll never leave you. No way in hell."

----------

thanks for reading! :)

after this Henry has a very long talk with the entirety of the studio about jumping to conclusions. and a separate, more stern talk with Joey about letting his doubts get the best of him. and then another talk with the entire studio about just talking to him if they hear rumors like this, jesus christ.

[persephoneflowerpetals]

Sorry for not being very active on here

Just wanted to give an update because a lot has been going on with me and I haven’t even had the time or energy to think about writing or being on this blog because of everything lol.

So, I recently got into a car wreck on the 14th on my way to work. Some guy was trying to make a left turn into the neighborhood I live in on the highway and his engine stalled and (even though he saw me coming and knew that his 20+ year old car had engine problems) he pulled out in front of me to cross but because his engine stalled he didn’t make it and I crashed into him. I’m okay btw!!! Luckily and thankfully I only made it out with a bruised leg, but my car is in bad shape and is most likely totaled because the engine went out after the crash and I couldn’t move my car out of the road nor could I even get out of my car from the driver’s side, I had to escape from the passenger side.

So…yeah, there’s that and I’ve been dealing with a lot of mental health issues because my work has been overworking me and pushing me to my limit and I’m honestly getting really tired of giving my all and breaking my back for this store and getting nothing out of it, like not even a raise (when I asked for one they said it was “being processed by corporate” and apparently this raise has been in the works for me since December so…I don’t think I’ll be getting a raise any time soon tbh and even if I did get a raise it probably wouldn’t be enough to keep me there). Like, just last Wednesday I had a stressed induced illness because I was so burnt out from work and worried about stuff that it made me physically ill so (for the first time ever in 1 year of working at that store) I called out sick (and then that same week I got into the wreck so that was great).

I’m currently working on finding a new job because what I’m dealing with now is getting ridiculous and I honestly really want to be on here and talk to you guys and make posts like I used to, but I feel like I can’t anymore because of life and that sucks. Legit, my boss is making me work 35 hours this week (AFTER MY CAR WRECK 😑) even though she knows what I’m dealing with right now and knows how overworked I am. She had the nerve to say “I don’t want to overwork you” as she adjusted my schedule for the 3rd time because someone who is CONSTANTLY calling out in the store (and they refuse to fire her for some reason AND there’s another employee that’s going to be out all month) can’t come to work for the rest of this week so I have to cover for her. Oh yeah…and you know what else??? I have to train a new employee on top of all of that. I’m not a manager. I’m not even full time. I don’t get vacation time or sick days or paid holidays (even though we literally only get 2 holidays off and that’s Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day, so not that it even matters anyways) or any kind of benefits. And I don’t get paid extra for training new hires. It’s ridiculous. My boss even asked if I felt comfortable training a new employee after what I’ve gone through with the wreck and how stressed I am (which I respect) and I told her no because I really am dealing with a lot and don’t need the stress of training someone on top of that, yet here I am so…I’m just tired of being a doormat for this company and letting them treat me like a workhorse. It was fine at first because I needed the money (and I still do), but the lack of sympathy after the wreck and being so overworked and stressed that I became physically ill is concerning and I think it’s a sign that I need to move on and find something else.

So yeah, sorry for the rant there but I just wanted to share what I’m dealing with and what I’m going through. Like, I still have stuff at home I have to deal with too and financial issues (and getting in a car wreck certainly doesn’t help that at all), so yeah. I have an interview tomorrow for a job that would really be beneficial to me and would be a perfect fit for me and I’m really hoping and praying I get the job because it’s would just help me so much and it’s such a good job!

Anyways, I know I share updates a lot, but I realized I haven’t really been active on here and I just wanted to share why and kinda release some tension because I’m really going through it lol.

[romanarose]

Life update if anyone cares.

I only post this bc i was posting my depressing shit for months and a lot of people were reaching out in concern <3

cw sever depression, self harm, suicide, csa, SA, all the bad. but also lots of good <3

TLDR: Despite a god-awful semester, i got all a's and b's

Everyone thats been following me the last few months has seem my personal posts about how fucking awful things have been for me.

I've dealt with fact I can no longer deny that what happened to me was CSA, despite being on a milder side of things. That sparked an absolutely spiral. I didnt sleep for months which made things worse. School, I got an F on a midterm and i NEVER get F's on writing assignments.

Work had its complications and i quit and then rescinded that quit two days later. I was so constantly depressed in my dorm my roommate literally told me i needed to go to the basketball game with them bc i was sitting in a depression hovel none stop. I only went to services twice this whole time, one shabbat and once for Rosh Hoshannah.

I burned the ever living fuck out of my fingers, yall remember that one? lol.

In novemeber i had relapsed so severely on self harm i thought i had accidentally killed myself. I should've called 911. I thought I was bleeding out and/or going into shock. I then worked myself up more by going down pages of the internet about medical shook and people dying from it. that did not help my heart rate. I couldn't stand, I couldnt see straight for a while.

I could not afford an ambulance or a hospital stay as i am uninsured and only ork 25 hours a week. not a lot of money.

All this happened and I didn't miss work. This is not a brag, this is me not being able to makegood choices for myself.

Finally, thanksgiving break hit. Thank fucking god. I WANTED to use those 4 days of absolutely nothing to get to my TWO BIG RESEARCH PAPERS I HADNT STRTED YET but alas, I was SICK. I was so sick, in fact, and so hoped up on cough medicine for 3 days i was incomprehensible.

I was so physically ill, i couldnt even think about how mentally ill i was. I slept and slept and slept. And by the time sunday hit, I felt so recharged.

My failed midterm was so bad and so not me my professsor reached out to me. Im close with him (in a v appropriate way lol, hes a bruce springsteen fan too) and i felt comfortable telling him essentially that for a few months there things were severe, and I really should've gone in for a 72 hour hold multiple times and i was not safe. through a few lines of resources, I ended up back in therapy bc my school added a new therapist that is a woman (i stopped going last year bc i didnt like seeing a man)

I like my new therapist.

Anway, in about 2 weeks I wrote 2 12 page research papers, 2 book report papers, 1 science paper did 2 presentations, took 2 finals, wrote 2 more finals with essay questions, and at the end of it all, not only did I not fail any classes...

I GOT ALL A'S AND B'S! Which means my gpa is still high enough to renew my scholarship for my last year

I am so fucking proud of myself for accomplishing all this despite suffering so fucking badly. I havnt felt pain like that in years, just agony.

I had a down turn again over christmas bc my siblings were literally ass, upto and including making fun of me for not ating (i am multiple accounts of sexual trauma from several people, so im scared of dating), making fun of my eating, and my sister slapping me and my older brother hitting me. Was a bad time. But for right now, im in the place im staying for break (all january) im back at my old day care and they love me, and olive garden at this store has been going great

Im hoping next semester to be better, im hopful at least

Anyway, thank you so much to everyone who has supported my writing has supported me through these times. It makes me happy that i came her to share my silly little moon knight x reader series, not really intending on writing a whole lot, but next thing i know, i have friends and a lil community. so thank you <3

[wheredidhiseyebrowsgo]

Fa-la-la-la laaaa!

It's that time. I hope you know that I care about you and whatever you celebrate or don't I have a gift for you! Family can be really great but it can also be soul crushing. Just remember your found family is equally important and I consider you all my tumblr fandom family. Don't let them get you down. Escape into fic when you need a break!

(I asked for Turkey day fics and only got a few, so I thought I'd just include them in the Holiday fics list. I've done this a few years, so you can check out the Holiday tag for more.)

Anon

Not Quite Lost (Not Quite Found) by alocalband

(1/1 I 25,025 I Explicit I Sterek)

A year after the nogitsune is defeated, Derek is living a quiet life in the mountains above a small town in Colorado.

Then Stiles shows up.

@hokee101

can't be hateful, gotta be grateful by HalfFizzbin

(1/1 I 6,260 I Teen I Sterek)

"Be cool, Dad, we've decided to con Grandma."

(Or, the one where the Stilinski men drag Derek to Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's and she gets the right wrong idea.)

Pack is Pack, No Matter How Far by HappyJuicyfruit

(1/1 I 9,927 I Teen I Sterek)

Derek tries to deal with his pack moving away for college. Stiles helps (a lot).

Filter Out the Starlight by skoosiepants

(1/1 I 12,238 I Teen I Sterek)

“Why are you not more curious about me?” Stiles says when Derek’s got the door half open, sun spilling over the dark wood, dust motes spinning about his legs. Stiles is wearing fabric that hasn’t been invented yet, he’s clutching a smart phone to his chest, and he appeared out of nowhere, like an angel.

Softly, Derek says, “We all have our secrets,” and closes the door.

Or-

A heartbroken Stiles accidentally travels back in time to find his one true love. A harlequin-ish Christmas romance.

Cupboard Love by mklutz 

(2/2 I 32,286 I General I Sterek)

He’s carefully balancing the sandwiches and the two biggest tupperware containers he could find that both had functioning lids when the front door opens and he almost drops everything right there in front of the stupid fountain.

If that’s Derek Hale, he’s definitely not a mountain man.

A Hale for the Holidays by rlnerdgirl 

(1/1 I 38,095 I Explicit I Sterek)

“I sent you a Christmas card that got sent back to me. Did you get a new apartment?” his dad wonders. The question is all suspicion and little anything else.

A flicker of an idea sparks. It’s not nearly formed well enough for him to say, “Yeah, actually,” and when he follows that with, “I moved in with someone,” he wants to punch himself in the face. He’s living with someone?!

“You’re living with someone?” It’s the same voice and tone as the one in Stiles’ head, just thirty years older.

Two things keep Stiles from bashing his face onto the table: there’s a steaming cup of coffee in the way and, more importantly, his dad will definitely hear. Someone passes by in front of him and a semi-familiar book cover catches his eye. “Derek Hale,” he muses, and stops. No. That wasn’t meant to be out loud.

Three Marks by sanam

(8/8 I 113,736 I Mature I Sterek)

"And then there was pain again, but this time it was in only three places—his arm, below his clavicle, and next to his heart, all on the left side. It felt like the skin was being sliced apart, ripped open, flayed off— And suddenly it was done. Derek looked across the room and saw the boy on the floor, looking about as bad as Derek felt."

Derek and Stiles learn that bonding is probably best done with ridiculous amounts of video games and maybe a little bit of time.

Come Light A Candle With Me by HappyJuicyfruit

(1/1 I 1,804 I General I Sterek)

Derek celebrates Hanukkah with Stiles.

My World Is Filled With Cheer And You by bleep0bleep

(1/1 I 10,832 I Teen I Sterek)

“It was a last minute decision. Single parents with children draw attention to themselves in this type of neighborhood, and this department didn’t have a big budget to relocate all the werewolf and werewolf sympathizers that were targeted on this list. We’ve combined a lot of our relocation assignments. It ended up working out that another family, Mr. Stilinski and his son, looked like a good fit for you guys, so you’ll be sharing a home with them for the time being.” Markowski grins at him. “Congratulations! You’re married!”

~

In which Derek and his daughter are displaced just in time for the holidays, matched up with Stiles and his young son in a government protection program.

[kobol1]

Infinite Realms Green Lantern Chapter 1

Danny flew in through the front door. He landed with a small thump as he shifted back into his human half. Phasing through his shoes, Danny walks through the living room and into the kitchen for an after-patrol snack. He sees Jazz sitting at the kitchen table looking through her Phantom scrapbook.

"Danny, how was your patrol?" "Did you catch any ghosts, any of the usual troublemakers?" Jazz asks getting up and pulling Danny into a hug. Danny leans into her embrace.

"Nope," he says popping the p, "just a few ectopuses."

"It's been quiet lately ever since Dan started patrolling with you" Jazz replies back to him.

"Yeah it has been quiet lately," Danny says, "It was funny watching Dan rip apart Skulker's suit the first time he went out patrolling with Me and Valerie," Danny said giggling at the memory of a terrified Skulker dangling between Dan's fingers.

Jazz laughs along with Danny. "I haven't seen Ghost X run back into the Zone so quickly before".

Danny groans out from where his face is pressed into Jazz's shoulder, "Jazz you know that's not his name."

Jazz just smiles and replies, "I know little brother just teasing you".

They separate from their hug, "little Jazz I'm almost as tall as you now," Danny says.

"You will always be my little brother, Danny, even if you're as tall as Jack one day". Jazz replies back smiling. "Although I am going to miss calling you short king".

Danny scoffs good-naturedly with a hand dramatically pressed against his chest and replies with a grin "Well I'm still going to call you Princess Jazzerincess Amazon warrior of Amity Park". They both break out in a small fit of laughter at their inside joke.

Danny walks over and opens the fridge. He eyes the leftover meatloaf from the other night already starting to glow an ecto green and an eye pops open to stare back at him, "nope" Danny says firing off a quick ectoblast at the meatloaf and closing the fridge door.

"Oh, are you hungry Danny how about we order out? What are you in the mood for?" Jazz says from behind him eyeing the fridge cautiously hoping for not another Thanksgiving turkey incident.

"How about Chinese?" Danny offers. Half an hour later with empty containers of Chinese food spread around the living room table, they both are sitting on the couch curled up against each other flipping through Jazz's scrapbook and looking at the newspaper clippings and pictures that Jazz had collected over the years.

"Hey, look at this one" Jazz points out. It's a picture of Danny as Phantom fast asleep all curled up in a box on the floor of his room. "If you fits you sits Catboy Danny" Jazz giggles."

"Jazz I am not a cat!" Danny huffs out, as Jazz is carding a hand through his hair as he leans against her side and his core lets out loud happy purrs despite his objections.

"Are you sure about that, you sound like one now." Jazz replied pulling him closer to her. Danny just rolls his eyes and enjoys the comfort of spending time with his older sister.

Tiredly Danny sighs happily, with Jazz holding him he feels safe, warm, protected, and at home, for Danny home, isn't a place or a house, and it hasn't been Fenton Works for a long time, maybe it never was. For Danny home has always been Jazz for as long as he can remember. It was Jazz who taught him how to read, to tie his shoes, and who made him breakfast, lunch, and supper. She would kiss his bumps and bruises better, she would read to him at night and comfort him when he had nightmares.

It was Jazz who took him to his first day of school and the millions of other things that his parents should have done. Jazz is his home and always will be, and now Jazz is leaving, for Gotham University. Of course, Danny is happy for his older sister. She has to go and live her own life and accomplish her dreams and Danny's half-life has been going great in the past few months.

He finally faced his deepest fear, he finally worked up the courage to tell his parents about Phantom, and his parents accepted him! All of him, his human and ghost half!

And best of all they had accepted Dan and Ellie, welcoming them into the family as if they always had been there. Danny lets out a fanged-toothed yawn Jazz had moved his head onto her lap and he drifted off into deep sleep with Jazz carding her hand through his hair.

Jazz wakes up to her phone vibrating on the arm of the couch she is leaning against, she looks down at her little brother, her baby, her everything, he is practically her son. She was more of his mother than Maddie has ever been. And now she was leaving him here. Here in this house full of anti-ghost weapons and scientific instruments that doubled more as instruments of torture for the poor unfortunate ghost who would be caught in them.

But Danny had finally told Jack and Maddie about his ghostly half-life, and they had taken it as well anyone learning that their son had died, they are trying to be better and are working on changing their views on ghosts and they have, and they no longer view every ghost they encounter as evil and something that has to be destroyed.

There was a lot of apologizing and crying on both sides, more so on Jack and Maddie's end. They had accepted him, all of him. They were finally acting as the parents they always should have been from the beginning. It only took their son half dying for it to happen.

But Jazz was finally sure that she could leave her baby brother here, that he is finally safe here in this house. That she won't wake up to a panicked phone call telling her that something terrible had happened. She can finally put that fear to rest.

Jazz looks at the time it's 9:30 pm, she ruffles Danny's hair and he makes those adorable cute cat noises that she loves.

"Mrrp?" Danny says as he blinks open his sleep-filled eyes at her, He chirps out a groggy "mom? oh, Jazzy." He stretches out like a cat before sitting back up next to her.

"Who's on patrol tonight?" Jazz asked.

"Valerie is on the night shift tonight since Dan is with Mom, Dad, and Ellie down in Spittoon" Danny replied to her as he yawned.

"Good now go upstairs and get a full night's rest little brother." Jazz told him.

"Okay mom,” Danny said half asleep as he made his way upstairs to his bedroom. Jazz just smiled as she started to clean up the empty containers on the table.

Meanwhile, in the Infinite Realms, there's a streak of green light with an emerald green ring in the middle of it heading towards a very familiar portal to the living realm.

YES YES, chapter one is finally done! After starting and deleting the dang thing several times it's done!

You all can thank @gilbirda and @stealingyourbones for all of this happening with their Green Lantern Jazz Fenton posts that have been living rent-free in my head. Seriously go give them all the likes and reblogs and friendly comments don't be rude now.

And don't forget to reblog and tag and comment here also! I seriously absolutely love when you do, I read all of them and try to comment back when I see them. It gives me all the encouragement to continue with all this.

Like always if you wanna read my previous posts on my au look up #IRGL au on my Tumblr page or in the tags of this post.