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steddieas-shegoes · 1 year

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hiiii could i possibly request something with the good ol' "steve is insecure with his place in the group/his intelligence/his worth compared to the rest of the party" cliche with reassurances in the form of copious amounts of cuddles and kisses and pet names from eddie? you're so great for doing these and i'm eagerly waiting for the next chapter of call me sunshine <3

Not Steve "self-doubt" Harrington convincing himself he can't be loved because he doesn't fit in or provide "useful" things to the group!!! I am lowkey hoping someone maybe adds to make this explicit because something about them having to be quiet in a tent just sounds like it has potential idk. Eddie is so in love in this it makes me SICK. - Mickala ❤️ (@scoops-stevie)

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When Steve suggested that they do something fun together for the weekend, he meant maybe going into the city or renting a lake house maybe.

He definitely didn’t mean camping.

Outdoor camping was Dustin’s idea, and all the kids had agreed quickly. Robin bowed out the moment she could come up with a decent excuse and he could tell that Eddie wanted to do the same but wouldn’t abandon him.

Hopefully.

Eddie had quietly offered to steal another RV, but Steve turned it down.

“You just started getting back in the good graces of most of the town, let’s not give them a reason to hate you again.”

So they packed up the van with all the camping supplies they collectively had: three tents (one for the girls, one for the boys, one for Steve and Eddie), a couple coolers full of drinks and food, a few chairs, flashlights, sleeping bags, and clothes.

Steve wasn’t great at reading maps, so he let Dustin ride passenger to help Eddie find where they were going.

He sat with the girls, mostly because he liked the way they just ignored everyone and everything and talked amongst each other about mundane things.

He may not always understand what they’re talking about, but he liked being a part of it.

He almost never understood what they were talking about actually.

But it was better than having everything the boys were talking about go right over his head.

Especially when they started arguing about stuff and talked so fast that Steve had no chance of keeping up.

Steve just kind of watched as everyone around him had conversations.

He tried not to think about how everyone was existing without him in a way.

He was here, but he wasn’t needed.

—-----------------------

When they arrived at the campsite, it was even more secluded than they thought it would be.

It was also only a couple hours until sunset and they all had to make sure the tents were set up properly before it was too dark to see.

Steve got started with his tent while Eddie helped the girls. Max still had limited movement in her wrists so she was given the task of setting the chairs around the fire pit that Lucas and Mike had formed.

Steve was struggling.

He’d only put up one tent before, and it was at summer camp where the counselor and four other boys had been helping. In all honesty, he’d pretty much managed to watch the whole time instead of help.

He would manage to get part of it up, but it would fall apart when he tried to do the other side. He kept losing the pieces to keep it tied down to the ground.

He was losing against an inanimate object.

Everyone else was doing fine; Joking and laughing and finishing up their tasks like they didn’t have to put all their focus into one thing at a time.

El wordlessly started helping him, and he knew she wasn’t judging him, but he couldn’t help the small part of his brain that was telling him that she thought he was stupid.

He was quiet for the rest of the evening.

They cooked hot dogs over the fire that Will started, then made s’mores since El had never had them before.

He watched and listened, smiled when everyone else was.

But he felt overcome with sadness that he just didn’t belong here.

He was the babysitter, he took care of them, and drove them around, and helped them survive alternate dimension monsters.

He didn’t know how to talk to them about the stuff they liked, or play their stupid dragon game. He could barely keep up with half the things they said.

“Hey guys, I’m gonna turn in for the night,” he said suddenly, interrupting something Mike had been saying to everyone.

Everyone looked at him with sad looks, but Eddie looked concerned.

“You okay? Is it a headache?” He asked.

Damn, he hadn’t even thought of a good excuse. At least Eddie was providing him one for free.

“Yeah, just a little one. I think if I sleep now it’ll be fine by morning.”

The taste of the lie in his mouth made his lip curl slightly. The words “friends don’t lie” replayed in his brain as he stood up and made his way to his tent at the far end of their setup.

No one tried to stop him, but he could feel their eyes on him as he unzipped his tent and then zipped it back up behind him.

They’d set up lamps inside each tent so that they could reserve flashlights for bathroom trips or emergencies. His was the kind you can dim, so he did. He took off his shoes and jeans, changing into the t-shirt he brought from home that was probably Eddie’s now that he was looking closer at it.

He’d brought his pillow from home because he couldn’t possibly sleep flat on the ground, and Eddie had brought one of his own because he still had some back pains when he slept wrong.

He curled up in his sleeping bag, holding Eddie’s pillow against his chest.

He felt a tear start to run down his face without his permission, not even sure why he was crying right now.

He heard the zipper and tried to shut his eyes quickly, hide his face in the pillow in hopes that Eddie would think he was really asleep.

“Hey darlin’. Mind if I join?” Eddie whispered.

Steve couldn’t ignore him, so he nodded and started to move the pillow from his chest and face.

“Oh, sweetheart. Why are you crying?”

Steve shook his head. He couldn’t even begin to explain.

“Can I hold you?”

Steve let out a sob, and Eddie didn’t wait for him to answer.

He was laying down next to Steve, pulling him against his chest and running his hands up and down his back.

“Is it a migraine? Do you need me to get some ice from the cooler? Or medicine from the van?”

“No, not a migraine.”

“Okay. Is it just a bad night?”

Steve couldn’t help the fondness he felt at that.

Eddie was so understanding, and incredible, and perfect. Steve didn’t deserve him just like he didn’t deserve the rest of these people.

“Stevie, it’s okay to have a bad night. Sometimes they just happen, right? That’s what you always tell me.”

Eddie’s hand had found its way to Steve’s hair, slowly running through the strands, occasionally looping the ends around a finger.

It sent chills down Steve’s spine when his fingers brushed against his neck so gently.

“I just don’t belong here.”

“I’ll admit the outdoors is not really my favorite place either, but-”

“No, not. Not the outdoors. Here. With everyone.”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Eddie’s hand had frozen in his hair and on his back.

“I’m not smart. I’m not good at putting things together or fixing things. I can’t even be in most of their conversations. They keep me around because they don’t know how to get rid of me. I mean, they don’t even need a babysitter anymore!”

Steve’s tears were dripping onto Eddie’s shirt, making a mess.

Another reason he shouldn’t be around.

Eddie tilted his face up, nothing but love in his eyes.

“I want you to listen to me. You are needed in this group. You are wanted in this group. You are loved in this group. Do you really think a bunch of teenagers would be wasting a weekend camping with you when they could be going to the movies or the arcade or getting into trouble?”

Steve didn’t answer, but he sniffled as he watched Eddie get more passionate.

“And it is absolute bullshit that you’re not smart. How many times have you been the one to figure out something, whether it was during Upside Down shit or not? How many times have you been the one with common sense? You’re more than a babysitter, my love. You’ve always been more than that to all of them.”

They laid there in silence for a few minutes, Steve soaking in Eddie’s words as Eddie continued to comfort him in the way he needed.

“I just feel like I need to be more useful. I don’t want them to get bored or annoyed because I can’t be part of their world,” he finally said, his voice shaking.

“Angel, they love you for who you are. Just like I love you for who you are. You fit where you fit because that’s what the group needs. They don’t need another Dustin to always make connections because of one obscure fact relating to something he read once when he was nine. They don’t need another El to fight their battles.They need the Steve who is going to go along with whatever they want to do so he can protect them if and when things go wrong. They need the Steve who is always there to support them even with the most mundane things.”

“I couldn’t even set up the tent by myself.”

“None of us could. I had help. That’s why I told El to help you. None of us can do stuff alone, love. You’re putting expectations on yourself that no one else is putting on you.”

Steve shuddered.

He’d been pretty famous for doing that for years.

Once his parents stopped caring at all, he started caring too much.

And now he expected more of himself than anyone else ever would.

He’d set himself up to fail. At least in his own eyes.

“Did that finally get into that concussed brain of yours?” Eddie said, smirk evident in his tone.

Steve playfully slapped his chest and hid his face against his tear-soaked shirt.

“I guess maybe it did. A little,” he said.

“Good. You know I love you more than the stars, right?”

“And the moon?”

“And the galaxies in space.”

Steve settled further against Eddie’s side.

“I love you, too,” he sighed out, feeling content for probably the first time this entire trip.

In the morning, he’d start over, let his brain rest. He’d make everyone breakfast and then help them all make sure they were prepared for their short hike. He’d pack them sandwiches and extra water bottles in case they ended up walking further than they planned. And when they all got back to the campsite the next night, he’d make s’mores with them.

He’d ignore the voice telling him that he wasn’t enough for any of them, and he’d be enough for himself.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #the party #request #ficlet #hurt/comfort #i ship steve's self doubt and eddie's overwhelming need to tell him he's perfect

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suddenlybambi · 1 year

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lollipop ♥ kyle broflovski

pairing : kyle broflovski x reader

nsfw (smut) - minors DNI!!! - aged up characters (18+)

tags : friends to lovers, praise kink, hair pulling, oral (f receiving), afab reader, mild sub/dom dynamics, sub!kyle, dom!reader

word count : 2.2k

summary : just when you thought you knew everything about your best friend, a camping trip and a lollipop reveals his poorly kept secret

masterlist

a/n - I believe in sub kyle supremacy and I won't apologise for that

this is actually the first 'straight' smut I've written so its probably not great, but practice makes perfect so please send in requests (preferably sub kyle xoxo)

“Earth to Kyle?” You waved your hand in front of your friend’s face as he stared at you with wide eyes. He had been stuck in some sort of trace for a minute; his eyes were glossed over.

“What?” He seemed to snap out of it very suddenly, blinking rapidly as though he was trying to remember how to do it.

“I asked if you wanted one?” You gestured to the lollipop that dangled from your mouth, pulling the other one out of your bag.

“No, yeah,” He nodded, his eyes glossing over again slightly.

“Well, which one is it?” You sighed, throwing your head back in exasperation. “No, or yeah?”

“Yes! Yeah!” He snapped out of it once again, and you breathed a sigh of relief as you threw it at him. The two of you had decided to go camping while the weather was nice. It was the last chance you got before you would be heading to college when the summer was over. Of course, you were going to the same college, but you were worried that you wouldn’t get the chance to hang out as much since you were taking different courses. Kyle insisted that would never happen, but he had seemed distant while with you lately, so you were worried he was already pulling away from you.

“What is up with you lately?” You questioned, bringing your knees up to your chest. “You’ve been so spacey when we hang out- God, don’t tell me you-”

“I’m not on any drugs,” Kyle groaned, struggling to unwrap the lollipop. “Why is that always your assumption when I’m not paying attention to you?”

“Because it's the only good excuse for not paying attention to me, obviously,” You rolled your eyes at him, clearly being very sarcastic. “Seriously though, what’s up with you?”

“Nothing is up with me,” He mumbled, still struggling with the wrapper. With a snort of amusement, you grabbed it from him and unwrapped it.

“Open wide,” You instructed, holding the lollipop in front of his face. It was his turn to roll his eyes at you.

“What are you? A dentist?” He gave you a weird look, but you kept silent, holding the lollipop in place. “Fine!” He finally opened his mouth with an ‘ahhhh’, and you put the lollipop in. His lips closed around the stick.

“Good boy,” You smirked, leaning back away from him. His face flushed pure red as soon as the words left your lips, and he shifted uncomfortably. Realisation hit you like a truck. Your eyes sparkled with the possibilities. “Don’t tell me you have a praise kink!”

“What? No!” His voice cracked as he spoke, which caused you to squeak with laughter. “Stop! I don’t!”

“So you’re saying you felt nothing when I called you a good boy?” You teased, leaning forward as you spoke. “And I can just keep on doing it, and you’ll be completely unaffected? Right, pretty boy?” He inhaled a sharp, shaky breath at that one. You knew that you had struck gold. It was completely truthful as well; he was the prettiest boy you knew. You knew how stereotypical it was to fall head over heels for your best friend since childhood, but that was exactly what had happened. Somewhere along the way, the joy you felt when you saw him turned into pure butterflies whenever he was around.

“Stop,” He pleaded half-heartedly. You tilted your head in amusement.

“Why?” You challenged, leaning forward more. “If you don’t have a praise kink, then you should be completely unaffected by this.”

“If I admit it…” He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. “Will you stop?”

“Yes,” You tried to hide your smug smile from him when he opened his eyes again.

“Ihaveapraisekink,” He said it so fast that you could barely make out each word, but it was definitely there. A devious smile spread across your face as you finally leaned all the way in, your foreheads almost touching.

“Good boy,” You whispered, admiring how flustered he looked when you sharply pulled away. Satisfied, you twirled the lollipop around in your mouth.

“You’re the worst,” Kyle groaned, shifting uncomfortably again. You could imagine why he was struggling to sit comfortably, but the thought threatened to turn your own face red, and you couldn’t dare show weakness.

“That’s not a nice thing to say to your best friend,” You pointed out, using your lollipop to physically point at him. You slipped it back into your mouth with quite an audible ‘pop’ and watched as Kyle froze again, his eyes slightly glossing over. Your breath hitched, and you started to connect the dots.

Testing the waters, you pulled the lollipop back out with another satisfying ‘pop’ and swirled your tongue around it. Kyle watched, completely mesmerised.

“What’s on your mind, pretty boy?” You asked, your voice barely louder than a whisper.

“You,” It slipped from his lips faster than he could stop it. He sounded breathless like he’d been running a marathon.

“Well then…” You reached out, using a single finger to tilt his head up slightly. He followed your lead effortlessly. “Why don’t you do something about it?”

Those words seemed to be all it took for something to snap in Kyle. He threw his lollipop onto the ground and lunged forward towards you. His hands snaked around your hips to pull you close as he captured your lips in a passionate kiss. Your own lollipop dropped from your hand to the ground next to Kyle’s, and your hands snaked around the back of his neck to hold him close to you.

Without hesitation, you climbed onto his lap, straddling him. You could feel the effect your teasing had on him instantly as his clothed erection pressed against you. Your lips didn’t do much to muffle the moan that escaped from him at the contact, and you knew that you needed to hear that noise again.

Slowly, you started to grind your hips against his groin. Moans started to pour out of his mouth in between each kiss like he couldn’t control them, and it was the hottest thing you had ever heard. Determined to hear what other noises he could make, you trailed your kisses across his jaw and down his neck. You knew that he was sensitive there. You had ‘accidentally’ discovered that while hugging him once and nuzzling your face against his neck, pretending to be completely oblivious when his entire body shivered.

Now, you wanted to make it clear to him that you were anything but oblivious. You drew your teeth across his skin, relishing the way his hands tensed around your hips with each nip.

“We should-” He sounded out of breath as he spoke, struggling to get the words out. “We should take this- take this inside the tent… In case anyone shows up.”

“You’re right,” You lifted your head up, stealing another kiss. We’ll save exhibitionism to the third date.” With a wink, you climbed off of him, grabbing his hand and dragging him over to the tent. He trailed after you like a little lost puppy, gripping your hand tighter as though scared to lose you.

The tent wasn’t much, just one room and one double-airbed. Kyle had pointed out that it made more sense to just get the one so you didn’t have to blow two up, and you had happily agreed. You shared beds all the time. It was nothing new. But now, you would be sharing the bed for something more than sleeping.

You lounged back on the bed, spreading your legs apart, giving him a clear view up your skirt. A wet patch had formed on your panties by that point. You watched him fixate on it as you pulled him on top of you, so he was now the one straddling you. Your breath hitched when you felt his clothed erection press against your core. It was like he had slotted into place and fit perfectly.

Trailing your hands up his chest, you pulled his shirt off of him with ease, throwing it over to the side. In turn, fumbling a little as his hands were shaking from anticipation, he reached for your shirt, and his eyes begged for permission to take it off. You barely moved your head in a nod before he removed it, throwing it off to the side to join his. It was cute to see him like that. He was usually the type to fold his clothes up as soon as he removed them, even if he was just going to put them in the wash.

Reaching behind you, you unclasped your bra, letting it drop. The look on his face was one you would never forget. He was completely mesmerised. Taking his hands, you placed them on your chest. Needing no more encouragement, he began kneading them, gently pinching your nipples. Your hands wrapped around the back of his neck, pulling him in for another kiss. Using your legs, you hooked them around his waist. Using that leverage, you guided him to grind down on you, breaking the kiss and throwing your head back in a moan when you felt his clothed erection twitch against the thin fabric of your panties.

Taking you by surprise, Kyle used your distraction to slide down your body slightly, taking your right nipple in his mouth. You let out a little mewl of shock as his tongue circled it, the same way yours had circled your lollipop earlier. Instinctively, one of your hands threaded through his hair, accidentally tugging on it. You could have melted into the mattress when you heard him whimper and watched as his hips rolled against the bed, searching for friction.

Hair pulling. You could definitely work with that.

Testing the waters again, you tugged on his hair intentionally and a little harder this time. You didn’t think anything could sound better than his moans, but his whimpers proved you wrong. He sounded so weak and pathetic, and you absolutely loved it. Something had awakened inside you, having him at your mercy like that.

“Good boy,” You praised as he switched to using his mouth on your left nipple, making sure the right still got the attention of his hand. Another roll of his hips against the mattress proceeded the praise. When you pulled his hair again, he released your nipple from his mouth, looking up at you as though you were a deity to be worshipped, his lips slick from drool.

“Please,” He pleaded. One of his hands gripped your thigh, sliding closer to your core. You fought the desire to seek friction and grind against him, wanting to keep control. “Please, I need to taste you. Let me taste you, please.”

All control was out of the window when those words left his lips and reached your ears. Who were you to deny him when he begged so nicely?

“God, yes,” You nodded. In an instant, his face was nestled between your thighs. He didn’t even slide your panties off of you before he pulled them aside and started to devour you like a starved man. He licked a long stripe across your clit, causing you to squirm and instinctively buck against his face. Taking that as a good sign, he focused on your clit. His tongue movements were frantic and a little clumsy, but you had never felt anything that pleasurable before.

He slowly slipped a finger into you, followed by a second. He slowly pumped them in and out, curling his fingers slightly as he did so. Once he had hit your G-spot and your legs started shaking, he made sure to hit it each time. Your orgasm was building up hard and fast.

“Just like that!” You moaned, one hand threading through his hair again while you used the other to grope your breasts. “You’re doing so good.” You could feel the vibrations from his moans against your core at the praise. Needing more, you pulled his hair again.

His hips started feverishly grinding against the mattress, chasing his own orgasm while he brought you to yours. He hadn’t even taken off his pants, still fully clothed from the waist down.

You could feel yourself getting closer and closer as your pleasure built, pulling Kyle’s hair again to manoeuvre him even closer to your pussy. He could barely breathe, but he didn’t care as he lapped at your clit. In his eyes, it would be an honourable way to die if he suffocated in between your thighs.

“I’m so close,” You managed to pant out between moans. His own moans were muffled against you, but the vibrations let you know that he was close too. “Such- a good- boy.” You barely managed to choke the words out as your orgasm hit you, pulling harder on his hair as your entire body convulsed.

Against the mattress, his hip movements stuttered as he came in his pants. Despite this, he continued to lap at your clit and curl his fingers in you. You had to pull him away to stop the building overstimulation.

“Was that okay?” Kyle looked up at you, looking far too innocent for what had just happened. You couldn’t help but laugh at it.

“Pretty boy, that was more than okay,” You sat up and pulled him into another kiss, tasting yourself on his tongue. Your hands travelled down to his belt, playing with the buckle. “You did so well. I think you deserve a reward.”

#kyle broflovski smut #south park kyle #kyle broflovski fic #kyle broflovski #south park fanfiction #sp kyle #sp kyle smut #south park fic #south park smut #kyle broflovski x reader

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woso-fan13 · 1 year

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Sicktember 2023: 30 (uswnt)

Patient 0

It wasn’t your fault. Technically, you are the only person that the blame falls to, but you didn’t mean for everything to happen. You had felt fine when you had left for camp and when you arrived. You didn’t start feeling sick until dinner on the first full day, but you blamed the headache on the lack of water that you had consumed that day.

Waking up the next morning, you knew that this wasn’t caused by a little dehydration. This was, without a doubt, a nasty bug.

You were determined to keep this to yourself in all ways possible. You didn’t want your teammates to know that you were sick, but you also didn’t want to get them sick. The best way to accomplish both of these things is to hide from everyone as much as you can.

You had some pretty good excuses over the next day, insisting that you needed to complete a lengthy assignment for school and spending a lot of time in your room. You also claimed that you wanted a little extra practice time, allowing you to get out of the locker room before everyone else arrived and stay on the field until you were sure everyone had changed. It was draining, but it was for the best.

—-

On the third day, an unstopping knock sounded on the door. When you heard the voices on the other side- Emily and Kelley- you knew that they wouldn’t stop knocking until you opened the door.

Unwrapping the blanket from your body and pausing briefly to try and make yourself look less ill, you make it to the door and open it. You stare at the women on the other side, an eyebrow cocked in question.

“Hey, nugget,” Emily says, pushing past you and walking into your room, “we figured you could use some company tonight.”

You protested, assuring the women that you were busy while trying to hide the rasp in your voice. The two women ignore you and settle on your bed anyway.

“Yeah, yeah,” Kelley rolls her eyes, “I’ve heard, you’re swamped. But you know what I think?”

You shake your head slightly, unsure as to where Kelley is going.

“I think it’s all a lie. What do you think, Sonny, is Y/N lying to us?”

You try to protest but Emily interrupts you, “she obviously is. I mean, look at her.”

“I think you’re lying,” Kelley continues, “because it’s summer right now. So I know your fall classes haven’t started, and I know that you weren’t taking any summer classes. So you obviously aren’t working on something for school. All of this brings up the question of why you’re lying.”

You stay silent, your eyes suddenly finding it necessary to study the carpet on the hotel floor.

Emily decides that she should also chime in, “at first, we thought you were just being a little shy. But, come on, when have your name and shy been used in the same sentence?”

Kelley continues the conversation, “Then we thought you might be working on a surprise or a prank or something, but you can’t keep a secret.”

“And then,” Emily pauses, “we figured it out.”

“You’re sick, kiddo,” Kelley says bluntly.

“No, I’m not,” you insist much too quickly for someone telling the truth, “I’m totally fine, I’ve just been busy. But I’m completely, 100%, totally healthy.”

Kelley snags an arm around your waist, pulling you to sit between the two women on the bed, “it’s okay if you’re not.”

And the dams had burst, as you began crying. The two women hold you tighter, whispering calming words as you allow all of the emotions from the past few days to escape.

“Shh, buddy, you’re okay,” Emily soothes, “we know you’re feeling a little sick, but you’ll feel better soon. I promise.”

“It’s not that,” you whimper through tears, “I- I just don’t wanna be alone anymore.”

Somewhat confused by your confession, the women share a look over your head. Kelley pulls you to completely rest against her, dropping a few kisses to your hair.

“You don’t have to be alone, that’s why Emmy and I are here. We’re going to snuggle up and watch a movie before bed, you’ll be right between us.”

“But I can’t, cause then you’ll be sick.”

Oh.

That’s what you had been afraid of.

“Oh, bug,” Emily says sadly, “we don’t care if we get sick, that’s okay.”

“But you’ll get sick and then everyone will get sick and it will all be my fault,” you force the words out through tears.

“You’re not going to be patient 0, Y/N/N, I promise. And even if you are, no one will be mad,” Kelley reassures you.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. Remember when you got really sick at camp last year and ended up in the hospital?”

You nod, thinking about the endless wait in the ER as your sick lungs struggled to breathe properly.

“Do you remember how you got sick?”

Again, you nod.

“Do you blame me? I was the first one in the team to get sick and I was your roommate. Was it my fault you got sick and were in the hospital?”

You frantically shake your head no, “of course not, don’t be ridiculous. You didn’t mean to get me sick.”

The women fix you with identical looks, clearly telling you to take your own advice. And you do, slumping fully into their embrace with a sigh.

#woso imagines #uswnt players #uswnt woso #uswnt x reader #reader insert #uswnt imagine #woso x reader #womens soccer #woso imagine #woso #uswntsoccer #uswnt fanfic #uswnt imagines #uswnt reader #uswnt

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lovelyyandereaddictionpoint · 1 year

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A Family Thing | Yandere Blue Exorcist

Yukio Okumura has had to limit and expand his definition of family many times on his exorcist journey. His brother was the only constant, which he was fine with. That is until his own demonic half awakened. Now alongside his brother, his identity morphed again like his pointed ears. He did think this might happen but he couldn’t help but connect the dots. But you know who made it easier? (Y/n) Pheles.

You came to him and Rin on a cloud of strawberry-scented smoke. Literally. Wiping at your suit and tie you explained how the last demon you had fought had made its final stand in a churning pot of strawberry jam. You told them not to think about it too much.

With a smile that blinded them, you told of how you took a long trip around the world to meet the boys Mephisto was so keen on watching stalking. You gushed over them like the older sibling neither of them had. That is until you officially moved onto campus. Where exactly? That was never known for sure. All they could gather was that you were close enough to appear at a moment's notice to pinch their cheeks, ruffle their hair, and coo at them as they did their casual routine.

He knew it was easy for Rin to lean into you, who openly gave affection to him. Yukio knew he couldn’t react as warmly. Was it his fear? His maturity? He just couldn’t do it. Wouldn’t. He thought you’d grow to love Rin more than him because of this only to be beautifully surprised when you lovingly held him in your arms.

“Hey, I love you both all the same. You’re my ducklings through and through! I’ve decided from this day on!”

Soon he was placed with that familiar ache when you waved goodbye from the window of their dorm on training camps. It was a good ache that affirmed the stringing demand that was creeping up his throat. He couldn’t let you leave them now.

He can pinpoint the exact moment when this feeling first bloomed in his heart. It was so long ago, if he was anyone else he would have written it off as simply being a child, which he did for awhile, but he knew it was something more. It was back in preschool, Rin had returned to the class after a violent outburst at some kid he later claimed was a bully. While the teacher and other students avoided him like the plague there was one who refused to leave. Following Rin from afar, slowly inching her coloring station toward his–he couldn’t tell anyone why this irked him so. He also couldn’t defend his meddling when he crumpled the flowers left in his twin's cubby. He was his brother, who was she to take that from him?

It was an ugly habit of obsession one he realized he shared with his brother, as Rin mused absentmindedly.

“Why…don’t we just keep them to ourselves, yeah? That way…they…won’t leave us.”

I mean it’d be bizarre if it weren’t for the two of them. With Rin’s inclination to have you baby him dividing your attention and his own perfectly timed conversations, it was nothing but a game to smother your ringing phone. Silencing it hours in advance so that any alarms or texts from whoever this 'persistent dude’ was. It was a tireless pursuit that seemed to unite him and Rin more than their shared demon heritage.

It came to a head on a Summers's day watching from afar as you chased Rin with a hose. Yukio was particularly peeved not because he wasn’t on duty for distracting you that day he totally was but because your phone had been ringing off the chain. And whoever this mysterious caller was had caught on, texting you with random excuses about a glitching phone. Every time. He. Deleted. The contact.

“You think you can keep this up?”

The coy question came from a familiar white terrier with a pink polka-dotted bow. Yukio groaned, harshly pushing up his glasses and biting back a snarl of his own.

“Do you know who Denji is?”

The terrier's ears flattened and if it was possible its eye furrowed in anger. After a minute of likened frustration, an idea was spawned. Bringing a metaphorical smile to the dog’s face as he birthed a plan only obsessed freaks would concoct.

“So? Will you help me?”

“Fine. But you can’t keep them to yourself. We won’t let you.”

“Of course not. I could only wish.”

It wasn’t long before there were some changes: a ring on your finger, you carrying that stupid dog around with you, and wearing strangely bright accessories that most certainly weren’t yours. All indicative of the newest addition in your life–a fiance named Mephisto Pheles. The principal and their current guardian: Mephisto Pheles.

Suddenly Yukio and Rin are subjected to chaotic dinners with you and Mephisto. Days that were previously filled with your voice encouraging them were complimented by Mephisto’s ominous laughing and playful insults. But you were there and you were theirs, a promise you firmly upheld whenever you began an uncomfortable talk about your relationship.

And even as you reached over your purple-haired husband to wave goodbye, blowing kisses as the limousine revved up, Yukio notes the sound of unsatisfied obsession. Watching the hands that linger around your waist and the caked-up makeup on your neck. He makes the realization that this too was a case of that feeling bubbling to the surface. The obsessive arm around your shoulders, the out-of-place stickers on your things, and the oddly convenient way Mephisto was always at the door, waiting to escort you home.

It dawns on him how similar they are. Perhaps the string of obsession was a family thing. He didn’t entirely hate that.

“Welcome to the family (Y/n).”

#yandere blue exorcist #yandere ao no exorcist #yandere mephisto #yandere mephistopheles #yandere mephisto pheles #yandere x reader #yandere x you #lovelyyandereaddictionpoint #yanderexrea #yandere #yanderes #yandere harem #yandere yukio okumura #yandere yukio #yandere rin #yandere rin okumura

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inklessletter · 2 years

Text

Is it chill that you're in my head ('cause I know that it's delicate)

Read it on Ao3

Steve Harrington has a lot to be thankful for, and he owes his friends almost everything he is at the age of nineteen. He has learnt about humility, self-criticism, tolerance and kindness. He's the best version of himself so far. He has rebuilt himself a few times now thanks to his friends, and there's nothing he can do to express his gratitude but to be as attentive as humanly possible. He doesn't wait for Dustin to ask him to take him to whatever nerdy camp he's going that summer when he's offering to take him across the state; he doesn't expect Lucas to give him a ticket for his next game because he's already bought one; he's front row at any gig of Robin's band; he's at The Hideout on Tuesdays to see Eddie; he shows up to Max's almost daily to help her with her recovery exercises; he offers his place to whatever event, doesn't matter if it's a Hellfire occasional session or Erica's unicorn theme birthday party. It. Doesn't. Matter. Whatever they want, if it's in Steve's power, he'll provide.

And he's happy. He's content with that.

Glad to be of service.

It doesn't really sting that Dustin does not hug him after leaving for three full weeks, or that he doesn't send the postcard he said he'd send. Steve's sure he must have been really busy.

If Lucas glances at him after the game and waves, but doesn't stop to say hello, it's okay. He's been that age, he wants to be with his friends to celebrate.

If after every band concert Robin has this chance to go with Vickie and the others (but especially Vickie) to have a milkshake, he's not going to be upset because good for her. You rock, Robin. She'll tell him all about it later, probably.

If Eddie's bandmates don't like Steve enough to actually spend more than half a beer with him after every concert until Steve makes up an excuse to flee, I mean, maybe he was a jerk to them back in high school. He doesn't remember them, though, but he didn't remember Robin either, so.

If Max only grunts and gets half mad at Steve for forcing her to do her recovery exercises, that's fine, because she's been through so much, she deserves to be cranky. It's not personal.

And if it is not personal the kids not thanking him after the rides, or the parties, or the Hellfire sessions at Steve's (to which he had bought snacks and soft drinks), it makes no sense for Steve to be a little bit hurt. It is not personal, it is not intentional, and Steve owes them so much. They deserve to be spoilt.

It is okay.

It really is.

So, when after one of Eddie's concerts, the metalhead offers Steve to bail and go somewhere else, it's new. Yeah, Steve can do new.

"Are your bandmates going to join us?" Steve asks, beer can in hand, sitting on a bench.

"Nah, I doubt so. We kinda, uh, had a disagreement."

"Yeah? What happened?" Steve jumped in helpful mode way too quickly.

"They were being assholes."

Steve looked away. "Is that so? Were they mean to you?"

"Nop. They were mean to you. So I told them to go fuck themselves."

Steve froze. "You didn't have to do that. I know they don't like me, it's okay. They're not exactly subtle."

"Yeah, Gareth's a bitch when he wants to. And that is, uh, most of the time. And yes, I did have to do that. You've been real supportive showing up to every gig, y'know? I appreciate that. And stayin' after."

And there it was. Steve gulped and the hidden smile faltered when he felt the heavy knot in his throat.

"And so, I realized that we don't spend enough time together. I know it's not ideal I got this conclusion because my friends are absolute jerks, but, yeah. Let's do whatever you want, Steve."

Whatever he wanted?

"Whatever I want?" What the fuck.

"Yeah. What do you do? I mean, apart from being a good friend and stroll around being painfully handsome and shit, what do you do? Do you play a ball game? Read books? Chess? Bowling? If it's any sports, please, remember I wear leather, and I have a reputation to—Steve? You okay, man?"

Steve was far from okay. Steve was listening to Eddie rambling about possible hobbies and Steve was sitting there noticing he almost answered the first question with "I drive the kids around." He was realizing at that moment that he couldn't recall when it was the last time he did something for him. And what was it? He used to have hobbies, didn't he?

He loved swimming, but he hasn't swum in ages. He had intended to take Lucas to play basketball some other time, but Lucas wasn't available. He—well, he liked movies. But he was easygoing, and Robin usually told him that he had to educate him, so he hasn't picked a movie to watch in a very long time.

And those thoughts must have been leaked through Steve's expression, because Eddie was now in front of him looking at him directly.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm—I'm fine. It's just—"

The knot in his throat made it difficult to talk. He was faltering.

"To be fair, I don't have any hobbies."

"Uh-huh."

"I really don't." Steve looked at Eddie, who was gazing back at him with a deeply dramatic expression of incredulity.

"So, you're telling me that all you do is be a good friend and be handsome. I don't buy it."

Steve laughed a bit, and the knot seemed to ease a little, but now his hands were slightly shaking.

"I mean, I used to have hobbies when I was a kid, but not anymore."

"Why?"

"What do you mean 'why'? I'm an adult now, I don't have time!"

"I'm an adult now. I'm literally older than you and I run a D&D club and play in a metal band."

"Well, maybe you organize your schedule better, I don't know."

"Ok, let's say it's a matter of organization. What would you like to do?"

"Are you serious right now?"

"Yes!"

"Come on—"

"Steve—"

"I don't know! I don't know, okay? I have no clue what I'm into, I—I can't really—I'm just—it's fine if we do whatever you want, Eddie, really."

It wasn't fine. There were a few seconds of silence, but they fell after that in an easy conversation about music, and then they talked about the brats, and then they took another beer. It wasn't bad or awkward, Eddie had the superpower of making interesting any place he was in, but Steve felt uneasy after that conversation.

When he came back home at almost two in the morning, he realized that he didn't know basic stuff about himself, such as what he did like. He didn't recognise himself in the mirror. He got lost somewhere in rebuilding himself; he couldn't even remember who he was, beyond the lingering feeling of shame of his past self.

He cried himself to sleep.

Eddie started showing up unannounced, and Steve found himself enjoying his company. Eddie suggested different shit to do every day. "Let's go to the movies, you pick", "hey, some friends play tonight at a pub, it's not metal, I swear", "I brought these board games, maybe you like them", "wanna go play pool?", and stuff like that. Steve agreed easily to anything Eddie proposed.

He liked Eddie before, but after Steve realized that Eddie was actively trying to find whatever Steve loved, a warm swarm of butterflies settled in Steve's stomach with no intention to leave. It's not like Steve hasn't questioned his sexuality before, especially after knowing Robin's, but this new dynamic with Eddie made it really easy for him to acknowledge that he wasn't fully straight. Eddie made him feel warm, and safe, and cradled, every single time. And that was also absolutely frightening.

That day, Eddie had suggested staying home and baking a chocolate cake. It was the first time Steve actually asked if it was okay to leave the TV on, he wanted to watch the basketball game. While baking, Steve cheerfully told Eddie about the rules, and the strategies, and the teams, and that this was a final. Eddie actively listened, asking for some demonstrations of some things Steve explained, like a dunk, and Steve would use some dough and Eddie's arms in a circle position to actually demonstrate. The kitchen was so messy, it never stood a chance, but Eddie had never seen Steve laugh so freely, so sincerely.

The cake was in the oven, the kitchen smelled so good, and Steve and Eddie were cleaning the absolute disaster they've made. Steve's cheeks were a little pink.

"I'm gonna remember this", Eddie said.

"Hm?"

"This, as in baking and basketball. We should do it again."

Steve bit his smile, and focused on cleaning the countertop. The butterflies in his stomach were rioting.

"There's a game every week, you know."

"It works for me."

The week went agonizingly slow until the next game night. He had considered telling Robin about his feelings, but he wanted to keep it in a little bit longer, a little bit before speaking it out and it becoming real. A thing to deal with.

Just one more date.

The knock in Steve's front door stirred up the butterflies. Eddie was here already, it was game night.

When Steve opened the door there was not only Eddie, but the whole gang.

"Steve! We're baking carrot cake and cheesecake today!" Dustin shouted, lifting a bag with groceries. The kids said hi coming into Steve's house. Some went to the kitchen, some others were looking for the game on the TV. Still in the front door, Eddie smiled at Steve.

"What's going on?"

"See, I was hanging out with the gremlins at Hellfire a few nights ago and I might have told them you were into game night and baking, and they all wanted to come."

Steve was speechless.

"But why?"

Eddie grinned, full heartedly.

"I have the impression that the brats want to be part of your life, too. I might even dare to say they—we love you, Steve", Eddie's voice was low, and his gaze was fully pinned to Steve's eyes.

Steve smiled, shaky.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really," Eddie said.

There were a few seconds of silence, leaning faces, full of smiles and flustered cheeks.

"Come on, Stevie. The game is starting and there are unsupervised kids in a room where they can easily make a fire," Eddie said, closing the door, and taking Steve by the hand towards the kitchen.

Oh, butterflies, have mercy on him.

#stranger things #fic #ficlet #eddie munson #steve harrington #steddie

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meggiejolly · 2 months

Text

Making Memories (Stranger Things - Steddie)

Summary: “Let’s go to the ocean now. What’s stopping us?” “I don’t know, the what? four states between us and the ocean maybe?” Steve shrugged. “So what? It’s a 11, maybe 12 hour drive or something? We can go now and be at the beach by morning.” “You’re crazy.” ~ Steve takes Eddie on an impromptu 12 hour road trip just so Eddie can see the ocean. Tags: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Road Trip, Fluff, Eddie Munson lives Can be read as pre-relationship or established relationship This fic was inspired by the prompt "ocean" from the monthly writing challenge in my favourite discord server.

Eddie and Steve were sitting on the shore of Lovers Lake on a summer afternoon, far away from the place the gate had been, and dipped their toes in the water.

“Someday I’d like to do this at the ocean.”, Eddie said out of nowhere.

“Wait, have you never been to the ocean before?”

“Steve, when would I have been to the ocean? I’ve barely left Indiana. Does me living in a trailer park scream family vacations to you?”

“Sorry, I didn’t think. I hope you get to go someday.”

Eddie hummed. “Sure, someday.”

They sat in silence for a while until Steve jumped up suddenly. “Let’s go now!”

“Excuse me, what?!”

“Let’s go to the ocean now. What’s stopping us?”

“I don’t know, the what? four states between us and the ocean maybe?”

Steve shrugged. “So what? It’s a 11, maybe 12 hour drive or something? We can go now and be at the beach by morning.”

“You’re crazy.”

“No Eddie, I’m serious. Let’s go. The kids are all at camp or on vacation, Nancy and Robin are doing college crap, we have nothing to do.”

“Don’t you have work?”

Steve waved him off. “I quit when Robin did. There is no way I can handle working with Keith as my manager without Robin. Haven’t gotten around to finding a new job yet.”

“I mean… I guess we could. But the gas would be so expensive. And where would we even sleep?”

“You have government hush money and my dad sent me a nice sum for repairs on the house after the supposed earthquake. We can swing it. And I’m sure they have motels in whatever beach town we end up at.”

“You’re actually serious.”

“Yes! Come on, it’ll be fun. Let’s make some happy teenage memories for once.”

“I’m not a teenager anymore.”

“Eh close enough. Imagine the stories you’ll be able to tell about this one day.”

Eddie stood up. “Fine, fine you convinced me. Let’s go see the ocean.”

“Well we should probably pack some things. I’ll drop you off at home, go grab some stuff and then pick you up in an hour?”

Continue reading on AO3

#my writing #steve harrington #steve x eddie #eddie munson #stranger things #fanfiction #steddie #one shot #fluff

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naakamuraz · 1 month

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only you, my girl (ethan nakamura x f!reader)

warnings: reader doubts herself if you squint, ethan has BOTH of his eyes, child of aphrodite!reader (though its only really said in one line), theyre minors (in high school)

about: pink clothing-loving girlfriend and gray/black-clothing loving boyfriend. not an ideal couple in the eyes of the gossip circle and, well, everyone at camp half-blood, but neither of you really cares what anyone else says!

author's note: first post!! theres such a lack of ethan nakamura fics so i decided to make one myself! also this was inspired by someone else but i cant remember their @, if you know please cmnt :(

school was exhausting, to say the least.

ethan was never good in school in the first place. you, however, were an honors student since elementary school. way to beat the "dumb aphrodite kid" allegations, huh? but anyways, being smart wasnt always a good thing. especially when it meant your teachers, especially the ones that hated your guts, had an excuse to pile assignment after assignment onto you.

weekends were some sort of escape for you. your weekends typically consisted of well, spending time with ethan, your perfect pair.

this weekend, you both had decided to go to the mall. he would pay for anything you wanted, always going against your protest. you always, always, told him something of the sort : "its okay, ethann! i have my own money. stop it!"

and yet he always seemed to win. you didnt wanna seem spoiled, or like you were using him, cause why would you? how could anyone ever use anyone so perfect?

well perfect in your eyes. during the summers, all you got were weird looks and mumbles. "why is she with him?"

of course, they were either referring to your difference in styles, or the fact that a daughter of beauty/love was with a child of revenge and balance.

needless to say, you didnt really care.. you loved him more than anything, even your my melody plushies!

he found you the cutest girl ever. no other girl could compare in his eyes; you were perfect.

he found your like towards all things cutesy adorable!! especially when you two would stand next to eachother, the contrast between his baggy black cargos and your pink-white skirt all too obvious.

anytime you two went to the mall, he knew you would go straight for the miniso store. though you never really asked for anything before you walked out; presumably because he would insist on paying if you did.

"ethann!" you said, your voice somehow soft like always, even when you werent trying. he was looking drawn to some skateboard store. "you can go if you wanna-" "no, its fine." he'd respond before you could even finish. you didnt wanna seem more clingy -- well, you thought you looked clingy even when you didnt -- than you already did, latching onto his hand like you two were attached at the hip.

"where do you wanna go?" he'd mumble, his fingers shifting positions - you thought he would take his hand away. instead, he simply slipped his fingers between yours.

your cheeks were slightly dusted with a light shade of pink, you still werent entirely used to this yet. nor was he, but he just liked to seem like he was.

you adjusted your white arm warmers, looking back up at him. "i dont know."

"oh, really? you usually know everything." he teased, reaching out an arm to pat down a strand of hair that was sticking out.

"hmm, maybe.." "miniso?" "hey!-" "youre really predictable, y'know-" "am not!"

your small bunny hairclip began falling out, and - before you could even reach it - he adjusted it back to exactly where it was, letting out a slight laugh.

"thank youu, ethan," you said, leaning up on tippy toes to give him a small kiss, which embarrassingly made him flustered.

"miniso it is, i guess.." he mumbled.

#ethan nakamura #percy jackson #fluff #this was so rushed #sorry guys #this is so bad #sobs #ethan nakamura x reader

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avatarmerida · 1 year

Text

A little something based on JovianPlanets Summer Camp AU on twitter. There's not much to say: they're summer camp counselors, they're in college and Willow is the sports director and Hunter is a lifeguard. They're still dorks, it's very cute, get into it.

---

Hunter was the newest counselor at Camp Palistrom and for the first part of the summer, he had mostly kept to himself. He had been recommended by Luz whose mom worked at the animal shelter he volunteered at, but he knew she had just started dating the activities coordinator and didn’t want to be a third wheel in their summer romance. He was fine using the limited free time he had to study, just because it was summer didn’t mean it was an excuse to slack off. He adopted an air of mystery; he was strict and diligent. He took his job seriously. But the moment he wasn’t actively responsible for campers’ wellbeing, it was like he vanished.

But then one morning Willow ran into him on her early morning jog and was overjoyed to have finally found a workout buddy who could keep up with her, and the two became the talk of camp.

But mostly because Willow and Hunter were no strangers to the infirmary.

They'd be on a hike and sure enough they'd fall into a collection of poison ivy. They'd try out double dutch and would be in with matching scrapes and bruises. They'd be in the garden and sure enough so would a whole beehive. Not to mention the infamous super glue incident when they tried to make a birdhouse for a cardinal that seemed to be obsessed with Hunter.

But this latest one really took the cake.

“Okay it’s not like a life threatening wound or anything,” Viney observed as Hunter sat in the small nurse's office, an arrow sticking out of his shoulder. “The arrow’s head was straight, so it won’t like rip you apart or anything but I ain’t gonna lie it’s still gon hurt when it comes out.”

“Can I take like a Tylenol or something?” Hunter asked.

“Uh I mean you can but it probably won’t do too much,” said Viney. “I mean, it’s an arrow, dude. The stuff that’ll make you not feel that is not the stuff they send to a state owned summer camp.”

“Oh, yeah well, I’m sure it’ll be fine…” Hunter started looking uncertain.

“Oh Hunter I’m so sorry!” Said Willow. “This is all my fault, let me drive you to the hospital and we can get you something to help-.”

“Willow, Willow I promise it’s fine, really,” Hunter said, putting his hand over hers. “It really doesn’t hurt, it’s just… kinda weird. And it’s not your fault!”

“I’m the sports director, I should've explained the technique better before I let the kids shoot!” She insisted. “Let me at least hold your hand or something while she takes it out..”

“Uh sure yeah okay we can-.” He began as Willow eagerly laced her fingers through his and gave his hand a small squeeze. There was no way he was focusing on the pain now. “-do that.”

Their collection of injuries wasn’t the only thing the pair were known for around camp.

“So uh, what were you doing by the archery field?” Said Viney as she looked for the gloves.

“Uh ya know just… walking by.” said Hunter tentatively as he tried not to look at Willow looking at him with wide, worried eyes.

“Just walking by, huh?” Asked Viney with a smirk. “It’s an awful far walk from the pool, are you sure you weren’t there for… any other reasons?”

Hunter’s face turned bright red. “I uh, ya know I was just walking by that’s all,” he said nervously. “Ya know, just… hanging out.”

He totally wasn’t watching Willow demonstrate how to pull back the arrow and admiring the cute way she scrunched her nose when she focused. It wasn't his fault King was overzealous and fired his arrow early.

“Sure it wasn’t Cupid that hit with that arrow?” Viney asked with a smirk.

“Pretty sure,” Hunter chuckled nervously, clearing his throat. If Willow got what Viney was trying to imply she made no indication. She was too focused on holding Hunter’s hand.

“All right then, hold him down Park,” said Viney, getting a good grip on the end of the arrow. “Just in case I don’t get it on the first try.”

“Wait what?”

—-

Viney gave Hunter an ointment he needed to apply every few hours when he changed the bandages. She advised trying to avoid getting them wet, but Hunter found that might be a little difficult being the lifeguard and all.

Luckily, Willow was still certified due to Amity insisting everyone be prepared in case of emergency so she could be there to help if lifeguard services were required. She offered to take his shifts all together and give him a break, but he insisted that it was still his responsibility. So, every day, Willow and Hunter would meet at the lifeguard tower. Hunter insisted he could have his chair and he would stand but she wouldn’t hear of it. So she got out an old one from the shed so they could both sit side by side “like a king and queen, looking over their kingdom,” Willow said. Realistically, they should sit at opposite ends of the pool to have a better view of the whole pool but Hunter didn’t mention this because he liked how excited she was to sit next to him. He wasn't able to do their usual activities since they might aggravate his injury, so he was glad he still had an excuse to see her.

He had expected this summer to be about a paycheck, something good to put on his resume. He hadn't expected meeting someone like her. She made everything fun. She bought them matching heart-shaped sunglasses and would mimic his voice when he yelled at kids not to run. But she wasn't making fun of him, which was odd to him. She went out her way to find him. She'd bring him an extra jello cup from the mess hall when he was running late, she asked people to move down so she could sit next to him at campfires, she made him a friendship bracelet that he mentally vowed never to take off.

For the first time, he wished for an endless summer.

---

As the last campers headed back to their cabins to get ready for dinner, Willow jumped into the pool to do a celebratory cannonball. Hunter laughed as she splashed his feet, setting her prescription sunglasses on the edge of the pool as she treaded water.

“Come on in, let’s race!” she called up to him.

It was tempting, it was very tempting. It had been a hot day the way Willow’s braids were slowly unraveling made her look like a mermaid. But he still had a few more days on Viney’s restrictions.

“I’d love to, but I gotta go change my bandages before the campfire,” he said. “I’ll be right back though, I wanna tell you about my idea for a water polo team.”

Hunter ran over to the pool shed where he kept his supplies and went to work. The bandages were tight around his shoulder, and it was difficult to remove one handed by himself, especially with the shed as dark as it was. But he wanted to get back to Willow as quickly as possible, so he practically dislocated his other shoulder as he tried to undo the old layer.

“Hey, are you okay in here?” came a delicate voice from the doorway.

“Willow!” he said, flustered as he turned himself back around. “I-I’m fine; really. I can figure it out myself.”

“I know Gus said you had trouble last night and he had to help you before bed,” said Willow as she made her way to the back by him, her hair still dripping wet. “I can help you if you-.”

“No no I don’t want you to have to-.”

“I honestly don’t mind at all Hunter. Plus I don’t want you to get infected.” She put her glasses atop her head, the shed too dark for sunglasses. He knew her normal glasses were back in her locker, he’d hate for her to strain her eyes on his account. “Let me help you.”

But she really did care about him.

“It’s just… I’d have to take off my shirt…”

“Oh, well… oh.” Willow stopped herself. She realized that despite being the lifeguard, Hunter did always have his tank top on. A fact she remembered vividly because the few times he had needed to jump into the water, her head quickly turned and saw the white see thru fabric clinging poetically to his torso, glaring in the sunlight. Not that she had been disappointed. Not that she was expecting anything. Not that she was ogling him.

Okay, maybe a little.

The point was that Willow knew Hunter did not take off his shirt because she definitely would’ve noticed if he had. She knew it was none of her business, she knew it wasn’t professional or polite to ask but she’d be lying if the slight definition of his arms didn’t spark a healthy curiosity in her.

But she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

“Oh, that’s okay,” she said. “If you want I can get Gus to help if that would be more comfortable for you, I just know it’s an odd angle and with how hot it’s been today I’m worried about you not healing properly.”

“Uh no it’s okay just… promise not to stare?”

“I promise.” She swore, crossing her heart. She put the appropriate amount of medicine onto her fingertip as she tried to allow Hunter some kind of privacy as he undressed. Hunter took a deep breath as he carefully went to remove his shirt and the moment he did Willow realized just how small the pool shed was as she felt launched into the orbit of his personal space as her eyes did not know where to land. Even with her impaired vision, she could see plenty. She didn’t know how to react, and her mouth moved faster than her mind as she let her thoughts become audible.

“Wow.” she whispered, immediately regretting it. She saw Hunter’s brow furrow in worry and she stumbled over herself to try and fix it. “Sorry! Sorry, it’s just that you’ve got some pretty impressive-.”

“Scars, I know they’re-.”

“-muscles.”

An awkward silence floated between the two of them as Willow attempted to address the task at hand as she placed one hand on his wound to apply the salve and the other somehow landed on his bare chest. As he looked up to face her, Hunter saw how close they were. She didn’t step back or wear a look of disgust, in fact if Hunter didn’t know better, he’d say she looked rather… flustered.

“Oh, uh… thanks,” he managed to say. “I uh work out a little, I guess.”

“Yeah, I guess saving people will uh will do that,” she said, pretending to clear her throat. She promised she wouldn’t stare, and she didn’t realize it was easier said than done. She held her breath as she wrapped the new bandage, trying not to apply too much pressure. It was one thing staring at his back when he passed her on their runs, but this was bordering unprofessional.

“Are you okay?” He asked when she was uncharacteristically quiet. “I know it’s kind of gross-.”

“No, no it’s totally not gross,” Willow quickly assured him. “It’s like the total opposite of gross, it’s like I get why the sign-up sheet for swim team filled up so quickly, ya know?”

“I uh, I meant the wound,” clarified Hunter.

“Oh! Oh yeah yeah yeah totally,” she laughed nervously. “I mean not that it’s gross, it’s like practically healed. You uh- I mean… dude you have some major tan lines.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah I guess,” he laughed, noticing for the first time the tan half circle from his tank top clashing with the pale whiteness of his torso. “You should see the tan lines from my crocs, my feet are covered in polka dots now.”

“You think that’s bad? Check this out!” She giggled as she pulled the strap of her coverup over her shoulder to reveal a dramatic discoloration of her own. “And don’t get me started on the tan line from my glasses.”

“Okay yeah, that’s pretty-woah!” Before Hunter could finish, he bumped a shelf with his elbow and sent the supplies faking onto the ground. He quickly pulled Willow out of its path, pulling her in by her waist to avoid being crushed by boogie boards and towels. The water falling from her hair created a small puddle that she slipped in and caused her to hold him tighter for balance.

“Sorry about that, are you okay?” He asked, looking down at her slightly embarrassed. Much to his surprise, he was met with wide eyes as Willow instinctively clung to his chest.

“Mhm-hmm,” she breathed softly, and Hunter was suddenly taken back by the way the gentle light shone through the small window and managed to find her like a spotlight. Like she was the only thing deserving of the sparse light, like it was drawn to her, like it fought to be near her. He could hardly blame it. They were so close, he could smell her sunscreen. So close, that it would be so easy to-.

“Hunter, how many floaties would be considered a safety hazard because Gus and I wanna-oh.” Luz stopped herself dead in her tracks as she examined the very surprising very… compromising scene she walked in on: a shirtless Hunter holding Willow as her strap exposed her shoulders and they both looked like deer caught in the headlights. What was she supposed to think?

“Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt!” Said Luz, going to shut the door. “I’ll just be going so you can-.”

“You’re not!” “It’s not what you think!” They said simultaneously as they quickly separated, and Hunter rushed to put his tank top back on.

“Luz, wait up!” Willow called before quickly turning back to Hunter. “Are you good?”

“Huh? Oh yeah, I-it’s great thanks,” he said with a blush he hoped the dim lighting hid.

“Cool,” she said, giving him a wink as she often did. “Happy to help.”

—-

It felt wrong to, but Willow almost wished Hunter’s injury would take longer to heal. She hoped he would ask her to stay on after he no longer technically needed her, but she knew he wouldn’t dream of inconveniencing her. But it wouldn't be anything like that, she loved spending time with him. And he didn’t socialize outside camp sponsored events. If he wasn’t required to be somewhere, he was off by himself. She would find an excuse to see him under the guise of planning events and soon he would be telling her about the books he was reading or showing her pictures of the cardinal he was looking after. She knew he needed the time to collect his thoughts after the overstimulation their job brought forth, but summer was ending soon. Was it selfish to say she wanted as much time with him as possible?

She had never met someone like him, so serious and silly at the same time. She loved the way he lit up when he told her about his interests and the way he looked at her when she went on about her plants. He admitted he had found an old book on edible fungi so on their next hike they could look for examples together. She would love nothing more.

She liked him, she really liked him.

And she was starting to think he really liked her too.

---

“Did you know Hunter’s birthday is this week?” Willow asked as she and Gus finished cleaning up makeshift kickball bases.

“How did I know you were gonna bring up Hunter?”

“Okay, you brought him up first when you were talking about arranging a Cosmic Frontier movie night,” countered Willow.

“Well, if we get two more sign ups we’ll be allowed to do it!” he said. They currently had three, two of which were them.

“Anyway, it’s not on the employee board so I wonder why he’s keeping it a secret.”

“How did you find out?”

“He was showing me a postcard his guardian sent him, and I saw another one on his bed that asked what he was doing for his birthday on Friday,” she said.

“You were in his cabin? Unsupervised?” Gus gave a fake gasp. “At last: a camp scandal!”

“Pshh, I wish,” she joked. “It’s your cabin too, Gus. I was just in there helping him fold your laundry since he lost the bet you two had.”

"The poor fool really thought he could drink more Bug Juice than me," Gus chuckled fondly as he slung the sack of kickballs over his shoulder. "He never stood a chance."

"He's never had so much processed sugar before," laughed Willow, remembering how she had tried teaching him how to braid with his surge of energy but he had passed out on her shoulder halfway through and she guided him through the sugar hangover the next day.

“Yeah, you two have been spending a lot of time together,” said Gus. “Getting hit by that arrow was the best thing that ever happened to him. Before, he’d be up all night rereading the manual to something and now he’s like a totally different person. He’s been smiling alot more.”

“We hung out before he got hit by the arrow,” Willow smiled. Hunter had a nice smile, even the thought of it was contagious.

"You know that's not the arrow I mean," teased Gus. Willow rolled her eyes, she knew Viney's joke about Cupid's arrow had spread around camp. She honestly didn't mind it. She had brought it up once to Hunter, to see if he was totally against the implication but somehow, they got talking about Percy Jackson, thinking it was a reference and he went on one his deep dives that Willow loved to listen to, like her own personal podcast.

“I wish we started hanging out sooner. There’s only one more session left and then he’ll be across the country for school.”

“I know,” sighed Gus sadly. “But that just means we have to make the time we have left count. The campers leave Friday morning and then we have a whole weekend before the last set comes in. Maybe we can do something for his birthday?”

“I want to do something, but I know if we tell him we want to do something he’ll insist he’s not worth the trouble,” said Willow. “And I don’t think it’s because he wouldn’t enjoy it, but he’s like actually convinced he doesn’t deserve it.”

“Then… what if we surprise him?” said Gus.

“Gus, we hardly have any free time as it is,” laughed Willow. “And when we do, we’re all together. How can we plan a whole party without him knowing?”

“If we tell him it’s not for him,” said Gus slyly.

“Ooh, you’ve got a scheme, Porter?”

“We just need to convince Hunter that I have a summer birthday.”

---

“Okay, Gus is out with Matt collecting firewood so we should have plenty of time to set up the main hall before he gets back,” said Amity, going over her checklist. In truth, Matty and Gus were finishing making a cardboard cutout of O’Bailey out of paper mâché, convinced it would be a fun photo op. “Luz and I are finishing up decorations, Skara is on music, Jerbo is on punch, Ed and Em are getting games, Viney… I don��t think a petting zoo is gonna work but lemme double check and we just need someone to pick up the cake and a few things from town.”

“Oh! Hunter and Willow can go!” Luz pretended to spontaneously volunteer as though that had not been the plan the whole time.

“Uh, sure yeah,” said Hunter. Willow nodded and ran ahead to grab the keys from Eda’s office.

Once she was out of earshot, Luz reached out and pulled Hunter back by his shoulder. “Don’t mess this up.”

“I won’t,” he assured her, confused as to why she thought he would. “I know Gus’ favorite flavors and I’m prepared to go to multiple stores to get the trick candles he likes.”

“Not that!” Luz said in a harsh whisper. “Do you really think we need two people to pick up a cake? No, this is just an elaborate excuse to get you two alone so you finally make a move.”

Luz considered the opportunity a birthday gift to Hunter.

“Make a-,” he turned around frantically to make sure Willow had not been around to hear. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“My dude, during free swim you look at Willow like you’re hoping she’s gonna drown,” said Luz. “Those sunglasses aren’t fooling anyone.”

“I would never put the lives of campers at risk!” He said, truly offended. “I keep an avid and well circulated eye over everyone in the water, not just Willow and her green bikini!”

Luz simply raised an eyebrow to him as his words caught up with him and did not help disprove her point.

“I mean I- it could’ve been green, I don’t remember but it’s beside the point because what I mean is I still have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Which I guess means you haven’t noticed the way she practically starts drooling every time you reapply sunscreen,” said Luz smugly, amazed how neither of them were even a little bit subtle and yet the other was totally oblivious. Like an unstoppable force and an unmovable object.

“I don’t… notice everything Willow does,” Hunter lied, beginning to sweat. He assumed her gaze was always meant for something just past him. Or maybe she was just making sure he applied it evenly. Once she had offered to get his back for him and he ended up pretending to see something in the water to avoid coming up with an answer because he literally couldn’t say yes but how could he say no?

“Hey, having a crush is nothing to be embarrassed about-.”

“Shhh! What are you doing? Willow might hear you!” Hunter hissed. “If you bothered to read the handbook you’d know that fraternization among counselors is frowned upon and can end in demerits or termination of employment!”

“Demerits? Are you reading the manual from like the 1950s?”

“It’s been a consistent policy!”

“Interesting that you seemed to care so much about that policy that you looked it up to see if it had changed,” said Luz with a smirk.

“It’s not like that,” he lied again. “I happen to know all the policies and their updates.”

“So are you gonna report me and Amity?”

“What? No, I would never-.”

“Then the rules are not the reason you’re being a wuss,” said Luz firmly. “So why haven’t you made a move all summer? She’s been flirting with you like crazy.”

“What? She has not-.”

“So what I walked in on in the pool shed was just… what exactly?”

“She was just helping me with my injury.”

Hunter knew how it looked. It wasn’t the first time they had been caught in a similar situation.

There had been the time the counselors had gotten together for a game of capture the flag. The only condition was that Willow and Hunter had to be on opposite teas, otherwise no one else stood a chance. After a competition within the competition on who got Gus, he declared himself referee to keep the peace. The counselors had decided to make things more interesting and to make finding the flag extra hard. There were no rules so long as it was on the border and chaos ensued.

In the end, Willow’s team had been victorious as their flag was apparently invisible. Flag locations had been disclosed to Gus so he could confirm no foul play had occurred. Afterwards, Hunter was praising Willow at her ability to hide her flag so well, no one had been able to locate it. She beamed at his praise and twirled her ponytail, saying it wasn’t that far away. Hunter knew she often wore her hair and braids and took immediate notice. Especially the interesting color of her hair tie.

Without thinking, he reached forward and took a closer look. Finding his suspicion correct, he removed the makeshift scrunchie, causing her curls to cascade onto her shoulders as he finally held the flag high over his head. The game was long over but he still felt victorious. Despite the finding of the flag resulting in no real loss, Willow til lunged forward to try and take back her treasure. Hunter used his height to his advantage and kept it out of her reach but that didn’t stop Willow. She wrapped one arm around him to prevent him from switching between hands as the other reached up in vain, the both of them laughing too hard to care how silly it all was. She gave one bold jump and the next thing they knew, they were on the ground.

In the commotion, Hunter had landed on top of Willow who managed to win her flag back. She tried to catch her breath from the laughing and the falling as she looked up at Hunter with a wide, smug smile. Their faces were mere inches apart as Hunter found himself frozen. He knew she couldn't get up and until he did but he was too focused trying to formulate an apology. But Willow hardly thought one was warranted. Silently, she reached up and placed the handkerchief around his neck and tied a loose knot as her fingers lingered at the frayed ends. Hunter wordlessly looked down at her as she did not remove her hold but seemed to try and bring him down closer to her. She was slowly succeeding as his forelock now rested on her forehead, she bit her lip and somehow Hunter felt she was resisting the urge to raise her head to close the gap herself. Her hair was spread out on the ground with the dark green grass effortlessly blending in, like she was everything and everywhere. She was in her element, and he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her. He allowed her to pull him down more, until he was on his elbows and as her eyes fluttered closed he knew that he was right where she wanted him to be and he just had to-

“Have you guys seen where Gus-oh!”

Just as quickly as it was cast, the spell was broken as Amity and Luz rounded the corner.

“Oooh, what’s going on here?” sang Luz mischievously raising her eyebrows as she wrapped her arms around Amity’s waist and placed her chin on her shoulder. They pair had been betting on who would make the first move and there was a stack of limited edition Azura bookmarks waiting for the winner.

“Nothing!” said Hunter, his face turning bright red as he pushed himself away from Willow, quickly standing on his feet. Amity and Luz exchanged a knowing look as Hunter frantically wiped the dirt off him before extending his hand to Willow to help her off. “It was uh… it wasn’t… we were just uh-.”

“I was just giving Hunter his consolation prize,” said Willow as though that truly was what she had been doing. She straightened the bandana around his neck before gently tugging the front of it to lead him away as she walked past their friends as though nothing had been interrupted. He followed behind her, and later chalked it all up to adrenaline from the game.

It was nothing, right? Just like the pool shed?

So why was his mind so consumed by nothing?

“It looked like you were posing for the cover of a romance novel you see in the grocery store checkout line,” insisted Luz, interrupting his daydream of a memory. “Man, if I knew she was so into bad but sad boys I would’ve set you two up ages ago!”

“She is not into me!”

“Do you… not want her to be?”

“I want her… I want her…”

“I don’t think you need to finish that sentence,” said Luz with a wink as she heard Willow returning.

“Hey!” Willow called as she ran back to him with a smile, dangling the keys in his face. “Ready?”

—-

Willow tried her best to waste time in the store, but Hunter was just too efficient. When she pretended to lose the list, he had it memorized. When she pretended like she couldn’t decide between two things, he offered to get both. When she pretended to have forgotten something, planning to take her time going back to get it, he and his long legs rushed to grab it in record time.

She had to admire how determined he was to get back and help set things up for Gus, she couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he saw the effort was all for him.

But damn it, she needed to waste some time!

Maybe she could make the most of this opportunity…

She watched him check his mirrors as though they had somehow been adjusted since they were last in the car 10 minutes ago. The way he furrowed his brow and blew his loose strand of hair out of his vision almost made her forget to breathe. She knew his mind was a never-ending maze of lists and instructions, and other people might think that made him uptight or critical, but Willow knew it was because he cared so much, he didn’t know where to start. He was thorough and thoughtful and clever and careful, and Willow wanted him to know that she knew. She couldn’t help but see him.

“You’re a really good driver,” said Willow, looking at him with a smile.

“R-really? Uh, thanks,” Hunter gulped. Despite the car being in park and off, Hunter’s hands remained at 10 and 2 on the wheel. “You’re really good at… sitting shotgun.”

“Thanks,” she said, kicking her feet as they dangled over the side of the high truck seat. He started the car and Willow watched him quickly go through the checklist. Seatbelt, lights, windows, reverse, windows again. Maybe he even glanced her way, surely to make sure her seatbelt was secure. She fiddled with the volume knob and watched him from the corner of her eye as he sat up straighter, as though sensing her gaze.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Luz:

Luzura: We need some more time, can you stall him a little longer?

Hello_Willow: Of course 🙂

“Hey uh, since we have some extra time, do you mind if we take a small detour real quick?” she asked as sweetly as she could.

“Oh uh, sure,” he said. She knew he was not the detour type, but she has a feeling she wouldn’t say no to her.

“Oh, take a left at the next stop sign,” said Willow as Hunter did so. They were far from the streetlights now, far from any light. Willow led them to a small, secluded spot that overlooked the lake, the moon’s reflection the only thing showing where the land ended and the water resided. They weren’t too far from camp now, but far enough where they had privacy.

“Is this… Lookout Point?”

“Oh, huh, I guess it is,” said Willow with a chuckle, seeing he was right. “I never realized. I always come here during the day to catch frogs, but I guess at night it has other plans.”

“Yeah, heh.”

“C’mon! Let's go sit by the water!” she said, jumping out the door before he could protest. He wouldn’t, he would follow her anywhere. A few feet from the lake was a picnic table and Willow hopped on and spread out her sundress dress, looking like a painting that Hunter felt somehow always existed in his mind. The moonlight found her, as light always seemed to, and graced the top of her head like a halo.

“I just thought the moon would look pretty over the water,” she said, bringing her knees up to get more comfortable.

“You were right,” said Hunter, his eyes going back between her and the moon, their radiance essentially equal. “It’s really pretty.”

“Yeah,” she agreed with a sigh as Hunter tentatively sat beside her. Her stomach flipped, as their shoulders nearly touched.

“So uh, how did you know about Lookout Point?” Willow asked after a moment.

“Huh? Oh, uh I dunno.”

“It’s just cuz Lookout Point isn’t the actual name of this place, the only people who call it that are people who come here to… uh…”

“Oh, yeah I know,” said Hunter, trying to seem cooler than he felt.

“So… have you?”

“What?”

“Been here with someone to-.”

“Oh! No! No, no, no! Haha no way!” He said quickly and nervously, his laugh forced and unconvincing. “I just uh know about it because Luz is always sneaking off here with Amity and she asks me to cover for her. She called it that but I had no idea that wasn’t the official name, heh.”

“Oh yeah, I bet they carved their initials here somewhere,” she said, looking down at the table. Hunter followed her gaze and saw it was covered with hearts filled in with tiny letters. Willows’s finger traced a few as she searched for her friends’ and Hunter held his breath as her fingers brushed his, maybe even lingering when they did. He looked down too, searching for Willow's initials, being very familiar with how they looked encased in a heart.

“So, uh, are yours-.” Hunter started to ask but was interrupted by a loud explosion. He and Willow looked up and saw a display of fireworks gracing the sky above the lake.

“Oh wow,” she whispered. “They must be from the camp across the lake, they’re always showing off.”

It was like a show just for them, a spontaneous display of light and color trying to reach the moon. Okay maybe Willow knew this would be happening since it happened every year. Hunter wasn’t the only one super into planning. They sat atop the picnic table admiring the scene together. If you told Hunter he would be spending his 21st birthday at Lookout Point watching fireworks with the prettiest girl he’d ever met he would say he’d never believe it.

“Are you cold?” he asked, most likely because he wanted to say something. It was the perfect night, in every aspect. Willow felt perfectly content. But she noticed Hunter wasn’t wearing a jacket and it made her feel mischievous.

“What if I said I was?” She teased, bumping his arm with hers.

“Oh, uh…” Hunter suddenly realized he did not have a solution to offer. “Uh…I guess I could uh…”

He looked around as though one might appear if he was desperate enough, but the air did not manifest him something for some reason. He tentatively raised his arm and hovered for a moment over Willow’s shoulder. She saw from the corner of her eye but said nothing, as though worried she might spook him. But in her mind she was screaming words of encouragement. Finally, his arm found its way down across her back, his hand resting gently across her shoulders.

“Is that… okay?” his voice was strained as his eyes looked straight ahead. Willow wanted him to know he didn’t have to be nervous, but she has to admit it didn’t make her heart flip a little. She carefully wrapped her arm around his waist to bring him closer, her head ever so slightly resting on his chest.

“I feel warmer already,” she said softly, unable to help but giggle at the small gasp he let out when she returned the contact.

“Cool,” said Hunter softly as he felt her shift closer to him. “Yeah, uh this is… nice.”

“Yeah,” agreed Willow as the pair enjoyed the view. She felt his head rest against hers and all she wanted was to be in this moment forever. She imagined how picturesque they must look, comfortable and cozy. Her phone in the car, their friends miles away, no chance of being interrupted now.

Now she could find out if there was something to interrupt.

“Do you… think you’ll come back next summer?” Willow broke the comfortable silence to ask. It was such a nice moment, and she didn’t want to ruin it, but it had been on her mind. But she might not get another chance where she was sure the two of them had privacy. She might need to take advantage of that.

“I mean, I’ve been having a great time so far,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the campers and the birds and yo- you know, the o-other counselors.”

“Well they’ve enjoyed getting to know you too,” she said sweetly, as her free hand played with her braid. “So I was kinda hoping I’d get to see you again.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Willow quickly turned her head up to face him just as he turned his and their noses nearly touched. Suddenly she couldn’t hear the fireworks as her heart flooded her ears

“Willow, I have to tell you something,” he whispered. She held her breath. “About my shoulder…”

"Oh my gosh, was I hurting you?" she panicked as she pulled away. "I’m so sorry, I wasn’t thinking I was just-."

“Viney said last week that my shoulder was fine,” he said quickly and ashamed as he turned away from her.

“What?”

“I didn’t technically need your help this week,” he went on. “I lied to you because I like spending time with you, and I was worried that if I didn’t have this then… then I wouldn’t know how to ask you to… because everytime we… I- I never know how to ask you to hang out and I guess I just wanted you to think…” he sighed and covered his face with his hands. “I dunno.”

Willow just smiled and looked at the friendship bracelet of woven yellow and green wrapped tightly around his wrist. “Ya know,” she started. “This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to get you to Lookout Point.” She admitted with a chuckle. He slowly looked back up at her as though her words were in another language.

“What?”

“I mean, this actually wasn’t on purpose but after we took that hike and a ladybug landed on my shoulder and you didn’t laugh at me for freaking out but you just came up and let it crawl on your finger until it flew away and then you made sure there weren’t anymore nearby, I… Hunter I’ve had a huge crush on you all summer.”

“Wha- o-on me?” he asked as though he had somehow misheard her.

She nodded, feeling lighter now. “I know it might be silly, but if this is the only summer we’re gonna have together then I just…”

She leaned in and closed her eyes as she waited for Hunter to lean in the rest of the way. She felt him place his hands on shoulders. He took a deep breath and looked at her again as the fireworks fizzled behind her. She was stunning and sweet and astonishing. She was so much more than just one summer.

“I’m not really looking for a summer thing,” said Hunter awkwardly as he pulled away.

“Oh.” Willow said quietly, blinking as she tried to transition back to the real world and process his words. “Oh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh, Hunter I’m so sorry! I’m so embarrassed! I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, I’m so sorry you can just leave me here and I’ll walk back to-.”

“No! No, you didn’t make me uncomfortable, I swear!” Hunter assured her in an equal panic. “I just really like you and don’t want to ruin things and I’m not gonna make you walk back-.”

“You like me?”

“What?” Hunter said, not telling what he had just admitted as the fireworks continued to go off behind them. “I just… I uh… w-when I said I wasn’t looking for a summer thing I meant I wasn’t looking for something that was just the summer.”

“But I thought you were going back to-.”

“Not anymore,” he said. “I… I didn’t wanna risk jinxing it but I’ve been taking online classes at night and... I'm gonna be transferring to Hexisde in the fall.”

“Hunter, that’s-.”

“So I don’t want things to be awkward if we see each other on campus because I do wanna see you again and I know the rule about counselor relationships so I was planning on maybe doing something after I was sure that we-.”

Before he could finish, Willow pulled him forward by the collar of his shirt and kissed him. It was quick, but meaningful. The finale of fireworks illuminating the sky behind them as Hunter melted into the contact. As she slowly pulled away, Hunter followed her not wanting to release the dream quite yet.

“‘Fraternization among counselors is only prohibited if the relationship in question is between two counselors where one is the direct supervisor of the other,’” she quoted effortlessly. Hunter let out a small squeak, knowing instantly why her words sounded so familiar.

That’s when he knew she didn’t just want his summer, she wanted everything. He knew how deep she had to have read into the handbook to find that paragraph, as it lived beneath an asterisk that his tired eyes somehow neglected to commit to memory. As she quoted regulation to him beneath the light of the full moon, Hunter had never felt more hopelessly infatuated.

“So… does that mean that we… that you and I can… t-that y-you want to-.”

“I mean, it really doesn’t take two people to get a cake,” she chuckled, fiddling with the bracelet on his wrist. He smiled, nearly having forgotten how they had found themselves here in the first place.

"Right, heh, so uh we need to get going, don't we?" he said. "We don't wanna be late for Gus' party."

"Weeell, the thing is it's kind of not a party for Gus."

"What?"

She smiled and leaned forward to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "Surprise," she whispered, not sure if it was technically still his birthday but just so utterly giddy that he was in the world. "Happy birthday."

"What? H-how did you-?"

"A girl has her ways," she said smugly. "Anyway, we wanted to do something special for you but just make sure to act surprised when we get back, okay? I know you probably don’t-."

She was cut off by Hunter’s lips on hers, purposely and purposeful, no longer allowing room for interruptions or misunderstandings. His hand delicately cupped the side of her face as he felt her melt into him, resting her hand atop his to assure him she intended to keep him there awhile.

"- wanna be late,” she finished dreamily as he pulled away for a moment, only because he forgot to breathe.

"It's my party, I can be as late as I want," he said quietly, not moving too far from her. Willow laughed as she pulled him back to her and reunited their lips, kissing him repeatedly as she brought forth a whole summer’s worth of longing.

They hardly realized the fireworks had ended, feeling as though they had just begun as they moved closer to hold each other easier. In their desperate eagerness, they fell off the picnic table they would later carve their initials in. They landed side by side on a collection of stones, which would find them both with matching casts in the morning.

But it was hardly the oddest injury they had gone to Viney with.

#huntlow #winter toh #toh #Willow park #Hunter toh #huntlow fanfiction #huntlow au #the owl house #toh fanfiction

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piratefishmama · 1 year

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14!

Writing Prompts | No longer accepting new prompts

“Excuse me?” Steve, who’d been quietly minding his own business in the corner with his frankly pathetic little lunch, was absolutely certain he’d misheard the boy.

“I said, I know you’re the president of the Anti-Social Club, but why don’t you join me?” Nope, definitely didn’t mishear him.

“I’m not the president of the antisocial club, what the hell dude?”

“Could’a fooled me, man! All on your lonesome over here… I know camp ain’t exactly the best place in the world if all your friends are off on… I dunno, ski trips in the Alps or some shit while you’re stuck here, but… you don’t have to be on your own, y’know?” Steve regarded the other boy with narrowed eyes.

He knew this boy.

Year above him at Hawkins Middle, hadn’t been there for very long, maybe a year or so, the buzzcut he’d had that first year was starting to grow out into little dark curls. Still looked like he could do with a proper meal though. Munford? No. Monsoon? Pfft what? That’d be too cool a name, Minsun? Nooo… Munson!! “I don’t need your pity, Munson, m’fine…” Munson raised his brows in surprise, not at the idea that he was fine, probably that he knew his last name. “So what if my friends aren’t here, I’m still fine…” His parents were spending the first few weeks of the school summer holidays in California, back-to-back business meetings for some big merger his fathers firm was going through, his mother working alongside his father as one of the key lawyers on the project. “M’not anti-social”

No holiday for Steve, at least not yet. He’d have a few weeks of summer camp at some random little dump in the middle of the woods, and then they’d be back to pick him up for a real holiday, he was sure they’d be back. He only had to suffer another couple of weeks on his own. No big deal.

“Uh-huh… see, I’d believe you, I really would, cause normally you’re surrounded by your little hoard of groupies, but… you’ve been here for like, a week now? And not one friend made! Even Robin tried to talk to you, you blew her off! That was super rude, man, she’s great.” Bit young, bit hyperactive, but she kicked ass on the trumpet.

“…Who’s Robin?”

“Sweet cheesus on toast, okay. Uh… see that girl over there, long brown-ish hair? Band-aid on her knee? That’s Robin. She tried to ask you what your favourite bug was the other day, and you just ignored her.”

He honestly hadn’t heard her, his hearing had never been the best but… what kind of question was that? “Who has a favourite bug?”

“Robin does, it’s a ladybeetle.” Robin had once followed up with the seemingly automatic follow-on comment ‘cause ladies are great’ before realising she’d said too much and froze. She’d only relaxed when nobody had questioned it. Only relaxed when Eddie had swiftly moved the conversation on to what everyone’s favourite leaf shape was.

His was a maple leaf. Cause how did leaves just do shapes like that? Most were rounded with only one main ‘point’, and then you have a big ol maple leaf just HI THERE I LOOK LIKE I BELONG ON A DRUID’S STAFF AND NOWHERE ELSE. Like it could be the base of a coat of arms for a great forest dwelling elven family, or the shape of a forest dragons footprint.

That inevitably went on to the kids designing cool forest dragons and everything was right with the world.

“I think you mean ladybug.”

“Do I?” Munson smiled at him, as if he knew something Steve didn’t, it irritated him a little, how easily this kid seemed to talk down to him. Nobody talked down to him besides the adults, and they were adults so… he had to take that.

“Shut up, go away. I don’t care about dumb bugs” The smile dropped, replaced with something that else that Steve didn’t think he liked, a flash of sadness, no… no, that expression didn’t look right on Munson’s face and Steve didn’t know why.

The dimpled smile suited him more.

“Okay well… if you do feel like abdicating your position of president of the antisocial club, then… y’know… we’re all over there, plotting out our attack on the end of camp scavenger hunt. You’d be welcome to join us.” Scavenger hunt? Steve figured his face probably gave away some kind of interest, because Munson lingered just a little longer, instead of retreating back to his little gaggle of nerds “You… you’ve never been here before, so uhm… I suppose you probably wouldn’t know, every year, at the end of summer camp, the counsellors put on this massive scavenger hunt, it spans the whole camp grounds and a little ways into the forest too, but the prize is different every year, and you get a cool trophy if your team wins… you could be on our team, if you wanted?”

“…I won’t be here for long enough, parents are picking me up before the end of camp.” Why did that sound fun though? Why did his voice sound disappointed? He wanted out of that stupid camp! Everything was dirty, and smelly, and he didn’t know anyone, it was boring but the one cool thing he’d heard about, he wouldn’t even be there to join.

“Oh… well… you could still help us plan right? We can do a run of the areas, find any potential hiding spots, it could be fun! Way more fun than hiding out here picking at grass!”

He could. He could have, could have gotten up from his spot and joined the little gaggle of nerds for their nerd games, he’d have been the weird one in a group for once, but… they probably wouldn’t have held it against him, he could have played with them but… what was the point?

“No, I’m okay. I’ll pass.” Munson hesitated again, chewing his bottom lip in thought, before nodding and taking a step backwards.

“Okay, well… if you change your mind, man… being president of one is kinda like a president of none, an you could be my co-president in Team ‘Scoob’ which… y’know… it’s a huge honour! But if you’re sure…” Scoob? Probably Scooby Doo, Steve’s brain supplied.

“…Co-president?”

“Yepperoo, you’re welcome to coooomeee~ You can be the Fred to my Daphne!” Steve raised a brow in curiosity “y’know, cause… I’m growing my hair out and you’re—y’know” Eddie motioned to all of him, he didn’t know.

But it made him feel a little warm to think about it.

He really could go with him… Munson wasn’t just giving up on him, wasn’t just letting him be by himself, was giving him an opportunity to make friends and well… even if he wasn’t going to be there until the end… he could do with some friends to make the time pass quicker. “…Ugh, fine. But if it’s boring then I’m ditching you! Help me up.”

“Haha! Fine, fine, Mr President! Nothing but fun times to be had!! C’mon I’ll introduce you to everyone! My names Eddie by the way, not Munson.” Eddies hand was warm as it wrapped around his, his pull gentle but enough to get Steve onto his feet.

“Steve… not president.”

‘Eddie’ snorted a laugh, following with “I know Stevie” Stevie… he liked Stevie “you’re like, famous in school” as he walked him back to the group. Not having let go of his hand.

So at least when his parents sent word two weeks later that actually, they’d be staying in California due to some mix-up with the merger that was taking far longer than anticipated, at least when he’d been told he’d be staying for the entirety of camp, he had… friends.

He had people.

He had Robin, who rambled about bugs, and stars and—and anything really, the girl honestly couldn’t stop herself from rambling sometimes, it was cute, even if a little annoying sometimes.

He had Eddie who hugged him when he’d caught him silently shedding tears in the camp cabin because he’d known they wouldn’t be there he just hadn’t wanted to admit it to himself, then promptly revealed a ferret called Samwise that he’d been hiding god only knows where for a whole three weeks.

Eddie, who didn’t give up on befriending him, who held his hand more often than not, who partnered with him on little arts and crafts group projects and silly team exercises, who made him feel all weird inside in a way Steve didn’t understand but he liked enough to feel excitement over what it could be. He'd always have the little kiss on the cheek Eddie had nervously given him behind their cabin the night before their last day after mumbling a soft little prayer to some unknown god called 'Ozzy' that he was reading the signs right. He was.

Steve would always have that summer and everything that came with it.

And, of course, he'd always have shared custody of their little winners trophy, because in what universe could anyone beat Team Scoob in a scavenger hunt?

#PirateWrites #Dont ask me what universe this is set in #i just wanted to write them at camp #shhh #Steddie

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froguemorgue · 2 months

Text

(2) Creature Feature: The Laurens Son Out For Blood!

vampire drabble pt 2/?

historical lams

cw for blood! and slight sexuality

<< [part 1]

There was one particular incident which redefined Laurens' relationship to his companion, except it was entirely on his side - and Hamilton was none the wiser. It wasn't the first time they'd kissed or the first time they got in close enough to feel one another's shapes beneath their sheets. It was much more complicated than their improper desires.

It had been a common mistake, really, a slip of the letter opener one night as they worked, the last two left in the room. Laurens looked up immediately, nose sensitive to the smell. It wasn't much blood. It was enough, however, for him to have the excuse to stand up, pull his handkerchief from his pocket, and stain the white.

The reaction was born of genuine concern, then when his hands tenderly squeezed Hamilton's with the fine fabric between them, he realized how sweet he smelled. He was leaning in without realizing, still awkwardly pressed over the table. Hamilton was looking at him, assuming his eyes focused on their clasped hands had more to do with Laurens' shyness than what really was bothering him. Hamilton did not look around before shifting to stand, squeezing his hands tighter, kissing him gently on the corner of his lips. He'd whispered, "I'm all right. There was no need to dirty your kerchief."

Laurens cleared his throat, took it back slowly. He folded it and placed it in his pocket again. "I'm sorry, I think I'll retire to our room early."

That worried Hamilton. "Finished your letter?"

"About an hour ago," he admitted. He gathered his papers.

As he went around the table and passed him, Hamilton asked, "What's caused your sudden retreat?"

He kissed Hamilton's cheek to reassure him that, "I'm not retreating. I'll be awake when you come to bed, just don't work too much longer."

"All right. I'll be up shortly."

With that squared away, Laurens left in a hurry. He couldn't wait to get upstairs, instead pulled out the small square of bloodied fabric as soon as he turned the corner. It was against his nose in an instant. Once he was in their room, he could no longer refrain. He could have swallowed the fabric whole. He tasted it, and god, it was sweet. It was everything he'd been craving.

From then on, nothing was the same between them. No amount of blood from anywhere else could get Hamilton's off his mind.

•

Laurens was sweating and shivering, stomach twisting in knots, his mouth dry. His feverish withdrawal was making him go mad. He whimpered and curled against the blanket. It was summer again, but he was so cold. His skin, however, felt hot, and he knew this. His own blood was boiling as if in response to not being able to feed.

He knew this withdrawal all too well. There was nobody in camp he could get away with drinking from, the animals had hardly sustained him in the past, and they had not seen battle in many, many weeks. Only the ill could provide him blood but they would affect him adversely, and Laurens had a strict principal against it: not our men. And now that it was too late, he was too weak to hunt and had not made smart decisions with his last flask of human blood.

Laurens attempted to still his movement when he heard approaching footsteps. He feigned to be asleep as they neared his bedside. He knew all this time he wasn't going to last; no nurse nor doctor was capable of fixing him and upon examination, surely they would find more wrong with his body than the lack of blood. For his kind, withdrawal was a terminal illness. Worse than coming off an addiction to alcohol or opium, worse than starving to death.

A sudden dreadful realization befell him. Who was it that came to visit him daily? Who braved the tent, the man who dared sit by a feverish soldier? Laurens unwillingly felt his eyes flutter open despite the anger he felt towards Hamilton. How dare he care so much? How dare he suffer when Laurens inevitably passes away?

"You're awake. How are you feeling?" Hamilton asked, afraid of the answer. Laurens beheld the man, drinking in the sight of him.

"Well. I said to leave me," he reminded, knowing Hamilton would refuse, as he had every day.

"How are you really feeling?" he repeated.

"Not well."

Hamilton wiped Laurens' face with his thumbs. He knew Laurens had been crying but rather than embarrass him, he tried to make him feel better. Oh, what would their mothers say of them, now? He, who was practically evil incarnate, and Hamilton, who has lain with him; loved him; sinned and soberly wanted every second of it. Hamilton laid down on the bed as well, much to Laurens' frustration, though he had made room for him - for he did not want to offend.

As he'd said every day, Laurens muttered, "Don't catch what I have."

"I've told you I won't have this conversation. If I was going to catch your illness, it would show by now. It's not unlikely I'm immune to whatever it is... you know I've had every illness known and survived them all. You're greater a man than anyone in this army. You will beat it. ...You're burning up," Hamilton whispered, a little defeated though his speech aimed to rally. He put his head to Laurens' shoulder and reached up with his left hand to touch his forehead.

"I know you mean well. Your encouragement is touching but it cannot change what the Lord has decided."

"No."

"Alexander. This is it for me," he whispered almost shamefully.

"I will not leave you."

"I do not want you here when I die."

Hamilton held him with his index and thumb by the jaw, none too gentle. His voice raised with anger when he said, "Shut your damned mouth! You will not die."

Laurens defensively groaned and felt another shiver course through him. He could practically smell the warm blood pulsing through Hamilton's veins. He feared he wouldn't be able to help himself for much longer and he didn't want Hamilton to get hurt.

He sat up now, sickness washing over him in waves. He stared Hamilton in the eyes and kept his mouth shut, lips in a thin-pressed frown.

"I will not leave," Hamilton repeated again, less sure of himself as his own lip quivered. "Why should I leave you? What sort of man would I be?"

Laurens shook his head. "A man of basic intellect."

"Perhaps."

"Do you understand I can't be saved?"

"Lie back down."

"Goddammit, I can't. I cannot be near you." He simply could not trust himself.

Hamilton said nothing, making it clear that he would not leave. Laurens grumbled and laid down. They did this song and dance every day, but one of these days, one of them was going to die.

"You won't die," Hamilton said again, like declaring it would make it true, "you cannot. It... wouldn't be right. You are the greatest man who ever lived."

Laurens shook his head, pressed his lips to Hamilton's neck. He felt his pulse quicken and pulled away. He couldn't help but lean back in as he whispered against his throat, "I am anything but. I deserve what is in store for me." It was a bad idea to be close. Oh, the delicious, tempting rush of blood through vital arteries... the sweet smell of unsuspecting prey.

Prey!—was that all his friend was reduced to? Food? The time they had spent together, and here Laurens was, thinking of him merely as prey?

"I have many lamentations, I've agonized over my life and its circumstances, but what I regret most is having spent so long holding back," Hamilton whispered. Laurens turned to face him, still shivering. "Had we know one another sooner, we could have had more time..." This felt like punishment. Hamilton had never been allowed to keep love. It was stupid to place his bets on a soldier who risked his life for empty glory.

Laurens knew it was punishment for a sin worse than lying with another man. To explain how he came to be a vampire, however, Laurens could argue his sexual deviancy was what started this all in the first place: the reason he was who he was, was conflated with all crimes he'd committed against Heaven. Hell awaited him and he hadn't even lived a full lifetime, let alone a lifetime for a vampire.

Hamilton pressed forward and hesitantly kissed him. Laurens initially tried to pull back but couldn't make himself do so. He did want to kiss him. He wanted to savor it. He wanted this to last forever. He hardly let Hamilton pull away for a breath.

Hamilton whispered, "I wish we could have forever to—"

Laurens kissed him so he was unable to go on. He kissed him with fervor, trembling and needy. Hamilton breathed out through his nose and slipped his tongue through Laurens' lips. His breath was hotter than his head.

Laurens pulled away just as suddenly and pushed their foreheads together, both breathless. "Let me drink you."

There was a slight discrepancy in Hamilton's interpretation of that. He smiled at the desire, shook his head. "You are too ill to be wanting—"

Before he could stop the thoughts, he repeated himself, attempting to look him in the eyes and use the trick he'd learned from Kinloch. "Let me drink from you. Alexander...”

Hamilton blinked as he pulled back slightly - not enough to keep his throat away from his lover's teeth, but enough to find unease in the look Laurens was giving him. Was he more than feverish? Why did he have such a dark hunger in his eyes?

"Look at me...” Laurens could see his initial attempt to compel him was futile. He put his hands on his face. "In the eyes..."

Suddenly, for reasons he could not place considering how he might have reacted to that command under different circumstances, Hamilton felt wary beyond simple discomfort. He looked away. Laurens pulled his face back to him and kissed him in a fury. If he wasn't going to trust him, this is how it had to be. He'd kiss him now and find a way to control his thoughts with what little strength he had left, whether or not he had to weaken him first to do so, whether that meant touching him where all men were weak or simply biting him now, perhaps fix it later.

Starvation wouldn't just kill a vampire. Starvation first made a vampire sick as though with consumption, then they became hideous to their core, corrupt, more violent than ever, incapable of control, as far from human as could be. Laurens didn't want it to be this way. There was a reason he'd told Hamilton to leave, and as their mouths acquainted, he tried to talk himself out of what his body told him to do next. His mind raced and began to justify it: you told him to leave and he didn't, so whose fault is it, really? You tried.

Then, as if to interrupt or fast-forward these ideas, Hamilton felt something sharp poke his tongue. He made a startled noise but rather than pull away, he moved his tongue to feel the canines in Laurens' mouth - something he'd never seen or felt before. Their kiss tasted like blood. Laurens knew it, wanted it more, did not comprehend at first that it meant something bad, only sucked on his tongue, the source of the blood, and tried to keep their faces together until it dawned on him and he pushed Hamilton away, horrified. There had been that split second of control... then, he grabbed Hamilton's shoulders so he couldn't get too far from him, swiftly wrestling him to his back even in his weak state of body and mind. He couldn't let him leave now.

"You... cut me," Alexander said quietly, feeling his own pulse in his tongue, still tasting blood. Laurens drew back, turning his face. He had never lost himself like this and allowed his fangs to cut Hamilton, but he was feverish and stupid. The thought of blood, the taste aroused him. His fangs came out on their own. So this time, with Hamilton's wrists against the cot, he hesitantly opened his mouth, displayed what he had so carefully hidden for nearly two years. Two unmistakably predatory teeth on either side of his front four incisors.

"My God..." Hamilton's eyes were wide and Laurens quickly strengthened his hold, afraid he'd leave. He tried to look him in the eyes again, but Hamilton's guard was already up, twisting a little to test how fucked he was in this position. His heart raced, refusing to look at him, convinced some creature must have replaced his friend, suddenly overtaken by a wave of grief and anger.

"What the fuck are you? What's happened to Laurens?"

"I am Laurens."

"I'll call for help," he threatened. Hamilton's gritted teeth suddenly turned to an open jaw as he sucked in breath, and Laurens put a hand over his mouth right as he screamed, managing to muffle it just in time. With his arm free, Hamilton punched him in the face, more effective than it normally would have been if he was healthy. Hamilton got enough momentum from startling him that he rolled off the cot and onto the matted down grass of the tent's ground and scrambled at once to stand. The exit was right there. Hardly a few feet and he'd be in view of the rest of the camp, and a quick sprint from this creature would make him safe again.

His fingertips barely brushed the canvas flap of the tent before the monster occupying his friend's body was behind him, an arm around his chest, hand clasped tightly over his mouth. Hamilton felt a strange mix of fear and the returning desire that he'd felt kissing him a moment ago. He fought and screamed under his hand, but nothing came of it. Still, he was alive, when it was clear those teeth and that strength could have killed him. He stopped struggling against him. He had questions, he needed answers, he needed to know before he died what had happened to his beloved friend.

"Are you finished?" asked Laurens quietly, exhausted and ready to lay down again, the mere droplets of blood having achieved nothing permanent. Luckily for him, Hamilton nodded hesitantly. "Then I will remove my hand. If you so much as raise your voice, I must cover your mouth again. You understand. Are we in agreement?"

Another nod.

So he slowly unclasped his hand, and Hamilton, though he breathed heavily, did not speak.

"Promise me you will not run," said Laurens.

Hamilton tried to pull his arms out of the tight hold Laurens had him in. "You seem quite strong enough to stop me."

Laurens released him but found himself grabbing at his coat to keep him near, to turn him around, and finally meet his eyes with a tenderness a beast would be incapable of. It stabbed Hamilton's heart effectively. He walked him to the bed and sat him down, wobbling on his feet, too weak to remain standing but he knew showing that weakness might incite another escape attempt and Laurens wasn't sure he had it in him to catch him again. He sat on the cot beside him and took his hands gently.

He spoke softly, "Please, of your own accord, don't leave. I wouldn't harm you. There is no man separate from the beast. It is only me, your friend." He looked him in his eyes properly this time, deeply. "I want you to choose not to run from me, to listen to me explain without resistance."

Hamilton felt fear, an instinct for self preservation, but suddenly, he had no desire to run; he trusted Laurens; a great enough part of him believed his closest friend. He owed that trust to him, at least, not to mention the many promises to never abandon him, no matter what happened. So he said calmly, "I will not leave you until you explain."

Laurens sighed, head dropping. He whispered, "Let me drink from you. Only a little of your blood and I will live. I know it's a ridiculous request—"

"You are damn right it is. What are you?"

"I am cursed, Alexander, cursed. Cursed to nourish myself with blood. I am a vampire - not the beasts of fiction, a true vampire. I am so sorry. I didn't wish for you to happen upon this and I— I'd hoped I should be dead before you ever did discover it. I'm... sick because I'm starving."

"Starving for my blood?"

"Any blood. I haven't been able to feed. I have no desire to kill one of our own, animal blood does not sustain me, and I've gone too long since our last battle and I am going to go mad if I don't have something. Weak, deranged. It was an accident when I cut you."

Hamilton shifted uncomfortably, drawing away from him slightly, and sucked on his bleeding tongue. So sharp was Laurens' fang, though it had barely scraped him, and on accident, at that.

"How long have you been this way?"

"Longer than I've known you."

"And you never told me?"

"Alexander, I am half a monster. When exactly was I supposed to tell you?" he asked, head now in his hand, and now that everything was still, his shaking and paleness seemed obvious once more.

"Are you still the same man? My friend?"

Laurens turned his head and closed his eyes. Hamilton's blood smelled so sweet. He had hoped he'd offer it, though it would be ungentlemanly. He was unsure if in his response he was trying to butter Alexander up or not... "I've... always been the same man."

"I feared... you were dead and something's taken your place."

"No. Sadly, this creature you see before you has always been so."

"Can you prove it?"

"How?"

Much to his surprise, Hamilton kissed him so Laurens could taste the blood again, and he pressed his tongue forward so as to allow Laurens to get every last drop he could, but only for a minute. He pulled back, inhaled deeply, and reached for Laurens' hand, sure by his restraint alongside his hunger that he must truly be John.

"If I object to you feeding on me?"

"I never lied about my sentiments toward you. I won't ask again. If you don't leave me here to die, perhaps instead might you seek out somebody who would be able to feed me. Not one of our men, preferably."

"But that may take days, and you look more dead by the hour. ...Drink from me. I have no choice but to believe you. If you find it gratifying, you have my permission." He was beginning to untie his cravat.

Laurens sat up. "I won't bite you there. It will be too messy." He took Hamilton's wrist to his lips. He smelled it, pressed it gently against his upper lip, and felt the pulse. Hamilton shifted towards him. "You are generous to offer your own throat," Laurens spoke softly now. "Your arm will do."

"Pardon such an inept question, but... will it hurt?"

He gave him a look. "It will. I can help you to not feel the pain if you'd like."

"Do what you must."

Laurens suddenly felt guilty - as if all along, he'd wanted Alexander to be his lover because he knew of the selfless nature of the man - knew that once he discovered his secret, he'd provide free blood for as long as they were together. He knew this and still, he sought more than a chaste friendship. He knew this and still revealed his secret. He knew this and still told Hamilton the key to survival, knowing Hamilton was it, knowing Hamilton would offer. What putrescence, what waste, Laurens hated himself for this evil growing inside him like a mold.

Yet death crawled nearer and nearer and he'd always loved Alexander's smell, and to taste him so intimately would be unbelievably romantic.

"You will feel weak, but I can feed you my own blood to nurse you back to your normal self. It will heal you much quicker. But I should tell you... your ingestion of my blood will bond us. I will be able to sense you when we are apart... and feel your emotions. I can come for you when you are in danger but it is as much an invasion of your heart and mind as it is a gift. I fear you may be unable to keep secrets from me, even simple ones. I would not make the decision haphazardly to trade your privacy for the brief comfort of healing quicker, when bandages and a day of rest would do the same."

Hamilton felt a hesitant smile creep onto his lips. "I must be back to work at once. I cannot afford a day of rest. And if you are what you say you are, is this outcome not the best? I would indeed trade my privacy for safety, if only to you."

"Are you sure, my dear?" he asked, as though he'd be able to resist now with his nose pressed to the crook of his elbow. He thought of resistance, of what he'd asked Hamilton to do, and whether his responses felt appropriate, natural. Plausible.

"Yes."

Laurens grew guiltier. He felt somehow even guiltier as he used his free hand to pull his legs closer, tangle their bodies, feel the want, the need. “You may not find it pleasurable.”

"I've never shied from a little pain. All I wish is to nourish you. I am begging."

Laurens brushed his hair from his face, queue loosened in their earlier struggle. Overwhelmed suddenly with relief that there was hope to save Laurens, that he would never die, that he had a way to take this beast and keep him as his own, that he did not have to lose a friend today, Hamilton grabbed his face, pressing their foreheads together, their noses, moving to feel his cheek on his own, until neither could stand it and Laurens kissed him properly. He delighted in Laurens sucking on his tongue, hoped he could get blood from the laceration still, and Hamilton hardly considered before he repeated the motion that cut him in the first place, deliberately striking his tongue against his fang. Let John taste more blood. Kept the kiss breathlessly close.

At last, Laurens pulled away and let out what was just short of a growl against his covered throat. He wanted it too much. He'd starved for days. Yet a part of him had always lived this way, giving in only a little bit, building up as he strictly forbade himself from pleasure, until the animal in him came out and he inevitably gave in. He was used to hunger of all kinds. Laurens lightly dragged his teeth down the soft skin of Hamilton's neck and to his collar. He wondered if he might die from this torturous hunger or die from the overwhelming pleasure that would sooner follow. With his hand that wasn't supporting Hamilton, he worked to strip him of his coat. Hamilton made a small noise and tried to help to undo his clothing himself. He'd dreamed about this moment so, so many times before. He wanted his first and perhaps only time drinking from him to last as long as he could stand. His appreciation and love and desire was in a gruesome battle with that empty, unbridled starvation.

Laurens managed to untie the cravat and then unbutton the shirt.

"John."

It was the only thing his tongue managed to say. Anything else, any more syllables or words, would be too much for him.

"Yes?" Laurens whispered. His nose brushed just barely on Hamilton's cheek.

His eyes had been squeezed shut, but he opened them to try to see how his question might affect his friend. "Do you love me?"

Laurens kissed the soft skin of his cheek. Of course he loved him, he'd loved him for too long now, so much that it hurt. He had been told to let go of worldly attachments, especially ones to humans who he'd outlive; still he fell hard in love with the velocity at which Icarus fell from the sky.

He tipped his head down and took Hamilton's wrist to his lips, planting a kiss there, subsequently feeling the pulse of blood under his lips. He could smell every sweet heartbeat, how it jumped when he neared.

Will this make you love me? Have I proven myself worthy yet?

"Alexander. You know I love you." He kissed where he intended to bite again. "Look at me." They were making eye-contact. "Do you trust me?"

"Why didn't you drink my blood before?"

"I didn't want you to see me."

"Now that I know," he whispered, "are you going to take it anyway? If my refusal was the only imaginary barrier between your life and your death, would you use your strength against me? What might you do if I was afraid of you and made it my duty to report you?"

Laurens made the conscious effort to keep his grip gentle. He knew now that he wouldn't run, but before, he was certain he'd have to take it. It was easier with his compliance now to reassure him: "I don't want to hurt you. I would understand your apprehension towards me. I'm a monster unlike any other you have known - your fear is natural."

"What would you do?" His chest was rising and falling dramatically beneath Laurens' body. He was touching him, and gravitating towards him, and he found something so erotic in the nature of his hunger, even if it was predatory.

"I'd be forced to run." That was the truth sometimes, other times, the hungrier he grew every day of his sickness, the plan became, if Hamilton didn't keep uis distance, or course, to feed and compel him to forget, never speak on it again, just to have him in his life even if he could never know he was a vampire. If he'd done it with just a bit more conviction, got Alex to look him in the eyes properly before he cut his tongue, he could have done it.

Was it dishonest? Of course. But he was willing to do anything to keep him in his life. "Or I'd bid you forget, go our separate ways. I don't know if I'd be able to stomach losing you. But my dear friend, I would never harm you. I far value your life over mine. Do you still trust me?" he asked.

Alex nodded very slowly.

Still looking in his eyes, Laurens whispered, "This won't hurt one bit. You're going to feel nothing but pleasure. Pain doesn't exist when my teeth touch your arm. Do you understand?"

He nodded again. There was an unfamiliarly blank look in his eyes. Laurens hated the lack of awareness and intellect that marked the free-will of a human being, all left behind as his influence took its place, made the victim empty. "After it's over, you'll come back to yourself and be the same as ever. You will not hesitate to drink my blood when I offer it to you. I do love you, Alexander, and I thank you for this."

His lips neared the inside of his elbow and he bit down on Hamilton's arm. It was soft as a peach, easy. He sucked with his lips around the wound, lapping the precious juice that would otherwise dribble down his chin. Hamilton hissed a delightful noise so Laurens continued to drink greedily, pleased by the sound, even more pleased by the flavor. He knew he smelled good, but never knew he could taste so sweet. Perhaps that was the hunger - or perhaps it was his overwhelming sentiments - but he had never had blood so fulfilling.

#vampire au #vampires #cw blood #lams one shot #lams #historical lams

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sil-writes-fiction-too · 6 months

Text

Worries

Gale x OC!Tav

Genre: hurt/comfort, fluff

A/N: during last night's BG3 session I found the book Gale was looking for and while expressing my worry for his obsession over it I got a line of dialogue from him that gave me the big sad, so I decided to write how the scene played out in my head and what consequences it might have had on the relationship between Gale and Summer. Be warned that I typed this on my phone during today's lecture so it might suck a little

"Don't be a hindrance after being such a great help!"

He regretted his words immediately after hearing them fall from his own lips. The way she recoiled slightly didn't escape his notice, as neither did the almost defeated look in her eyes. He hadn't meant to sound so harsh, he simply wanted, no, needed to get his hands on that book! Desperation was clawing at his chest, clouding his judgement momentairily, that's it. But these were simply excuses, weren't they? He said what he said, and the consequences were quick to catch up to him.

"Fine. Have it. It's all yours."

She said, immediately surrendering the book despite having just expressed her concerns about letting him have it. Relief washed over him as soon as the tome ended in his hands, but that was extremely short lived as now a much bigger, much more important problem sat in front of him. Clearly he had hurt his lover.

He thought she of all people would understand him, understand what he was trying to do, but instead, since the very moment he began his research on the Crown of Karsus, she tried all in her power to change his mind. What was he missing? Wouldn't it be infinitely better for everyone if he ascended to godhood? Wouldn't it be better for her? He could be a far better man for her, if she would just let him.

"Summer, I-"

He began, stammering as he looked for something to say, anything that would help him convey just how contrite he was for the way he had spoken to her a couple moments prior. He searched her yellow eyes, but when he found disappointment reflected in them, his mind was voided of all useful thoughts. What use was his verbosity if he couldn't even think of a decent apology right now??

"Come on. We need to get out of this vault before we are caught."

And so she walked past him, placing her new, flaming axe over her shoulder and closely followed by Astarion and Jaheira. This time around, not even the vampire took the chance to poke fun at him for his evident blunder with the tiefling girl he was so enamoured with. Probably because he could count the times Summer fell silent and got so serious only on one hand. Way to go, Gale.

The book weighted heavy in his hands as he finally decided to follow the group out of the vault, his eyes naturally drawn to the way Summer's tail irritatedly flicked from side to side. He needed to fix this, and fast.

---

The water rippled gently against the stones as the sun set over the horizon, tinging the sky with a deep orange color that faded in a beautiful violet. Dinner had already ended half an hour prior, and now everyone was busy lazying around camp, some resting in their tent, some warming up by the fire. Very few words were exchanged that evening, and Gale was sure it was partly his fault.

When he had thought of the moment he would finally get his hands on the book, he was sure he'd waste no time before reading it... and yet now it sat unopened in his bag, his mind preoccupied elsewhere. Namely, with the tiefling woman that was now sitting on the crooked pier, her gaze trained on the horizon as her tail slowly swished from side to side from under the marvellous cascade of her black waves. Even when she was angry with him he couldn't help but notice how absolutely gorgeous she was. Sometimes he wondered if he had fallen in love with another goddess, but she was always quick to refute this notion.

Thinking on this and many other conversations they had, he began to miss her terribly, as if she wasn't sitting just across camp. Usually they would spend their evenings together. Him, talking her ear off about God knows which topic, and her, listening intently even if said subject was of no interest to her and she struggled to fully understand what he was trying to explain. No matter what, she never seemed to be bothered by his chatty nature. Instead, she encouraged him, asked him to tell her more, all the while looking at him with a tenderness and an adoration he had never experienced before in his life. And he, in turn, would focus solely on her when she would talk to him about her home and peculiar family life in Aegis, fascinated by the stories of her adventures and of the people she met along the way. He was sure he never felt his chest as full as it was when he gazed upon her, and it certainly had nothing to do with the orb.

Before he could get further lost in his thoughts and self-pity, he started walking towards her. He didn't just miss her, he desperately wanted to apologize to her and to let her know that he never meant to hurt her. Fear gripped at his heart. What if she couldn't accept his apology? What if he couldn't remedy? What if-

"Hey."

His own voice jerked him out of his ruminations, and he found himself standing at her side. She remained quiet, her gaze still fixed on the thin, invisible line between the sea and the sky. A shiver ran down his spine.

"May I sit with you?"

He asked tentatively, keeping his hands behind his back to try and seem as composed as usual, but his fingers were fidgeting. He almost walked away immediately after asking, but then she nodded with a soft hum, and that alone felt like a blessing from the Gods.

He sat down beside her, letting his legs dangle from the little wooden pier as his hands tried to sit still in his lap. He was still nervous, but he felt like he could finally speak without making too much of a fool of himself.

"I... I want to apologize, Summer. I realize that my outburst must've hurt your feelings. That I must've hurt your feelings, that is. I didn't mean to be so rude to you. You are not a hindrance to me, I hope you know that. I... I was so set on obtaining that book that I let it cloud my mind. I'm sorry."

He spoke with the utmost sincerity, hoping that what he was trying to say made sense to her.

"I know you must've had a good reason to be so worried. I should've at least heard you out instead of snapping at you like a brute."

His face was starting to feel warm with shame as he replayed the day's events in his head, but before he could keep talking, Summer sighed, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment and her shoulders sinking slightly.

"I did have a good reason, I still do."

Her eyes opened again, and her gaze pointed towards the sky.

"I understand why that book is so enticing to you, but Gale... its contents could be dangerous. And while it's true we have faced greater dangers as a group in the last weeks, this could be risky for you. That's what I am worried about. I mean, "Karsus' Folly"? Ring any bells? You were the one that told me the story, for Hell's sake! Surely you must realize the risks you would face by reforging that blasted thing. I don't..."

She took a breath, and Gale realized she was feeling just as anxious as he was.

"I don't want to lose you."

Her voice turned softer, almost preventing him from hearing the way it trembled. She finally turned to look at him and he could've sworn he felt his heart break at the sight. Her yellow eyes, usually bright and fiery like the flames of the Hells, were now watery and no more than a flickering candle. She was afraid of losing him, much like he was afraid of losing her, and in the midst of all that anxiety and pain... he felt blessed. Blessed to have met her, to have found someone that cared so much about him, to have her heart and her soul and to have given her his in return.

"... I am a lucky man."

He breathed softly, letting a smile curl his lips as he gazed at her.

"You have a great deal of patience, having to put up with me. I hardly deserve you, my love. I understand your fear wholeheartedly, for I feel it all the same for you. Let the stars be my witness, I promise I will do all in my power to stay right by your side for the rest of my days. I am not going anywhere..."

Summer looked at him and a slight smile appeared on her face, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"I sense a 'but' coming..."

She joked half-heartedly with a sigh, and he smiled in a way that was sheepish and apologetic.

"But... please let me show you what I'd like to do with the Crown. Give me a chance to explain why this could be a great opportunity for us. I only ask that you hear me out. I promise this is not just some blind chase for power. It has purpose. I do this with you in mind, my love..."

For a moment he thought she would deny his request and retreat to her tent, but after what seemed like an eternity of pondering on her side, she sighed again and relented, nodding her head.

"Fine. I'll hear what you have to say."

His face lit up immediately, making her huff as she brouht her gaze back towards the darkening sky.

"Hells. You're lucky you're cute."

She grumbled a little, and he realized she was pouting. A genuine laugh escaped his lips as he sat closer to her, his eyes shining with love and relief. His hand came to gently rest over her smaller one, almost covering it entirely. She could feel his insistent, adoring gaze on her and she found it hard to hold back a smile. Goddamn him and that adorable face of his, destroying her attempt at looking annoyed. She shook her head with an exasperated chuckle and her tail came to lazily wrap around his waist as if to pull him even closer. What a beautiful night... it would've been a shame to spend it without him by her side.

#my writing #bg3 #bg3 gale #gale dekarios #gale x tav #bg3 gale × oc #bg3 fanfiction #gale fluff #gale hurt/comfort #gale of waterdeep

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