#making him Robin again feels like cheating him of the plot

[mrmanbat]

Favorite Robin? There is a right answer

Damian.

Dicks time as Robin was pretty solid- but most of his story’s were… childish? Well no- more like censored. Often his comics lacked in darker topics because when he was Robin parents were afraid comic were turning their kids into gang members or some shit. So in response comics became very PG and often nonsensical.

Jason’s Robin just got screwed over. As did Steph’s. I don’t know enough about Maps. And Dukes story was never truly focused on his part in We Are Robin.

Tim was my favourite but oh my god let the poor boy move on. With each new run with him as Robin I keep on wanting to smash my head against a wall.

Damian’s a shitty Robin and he doesn’t have the shine needed to contrast Batman- however it is new. And ‘new’ is interesting.

I’d much rather read about Damian struggling to fit into the cookie cutter mold of the Robin mantle than yet another comic featuring Tim “I have my life together” Drake as Robin.

[rems-writing]

Eight makes one moan (part one)

Pairing: idol!Jongho x witch afab!reader

Genre: smut with a bit of plot

Wordcount: 1,738 words

Rating: nc-17

Nets: @mirohs-aurora-society @othersideoutlawsnetwork @illusionnet

Happy six years to these crackhead pirates!!!!!!!!

It had officially hit six years for Ateez. Even though you were introduced to them somewhat during the Deja Vu era, you fell in love with them through their song Desire and have officially dubbed yourself an Atiny during the Guerilla era. As you were blasting every single album series alongside Zelena, Regina and Robin watched from afar with adoration in their eyes and small grins on their lips. The events that had occurred throughout the quaint town of Storybrooke had taken a toll on you. 

After all, you were dubbed as the Demonic Ace for a while. 

Thanks to Henry and his penmanship as the current Author, your DNA had been rewritten and you were known as the Angelic Ace. Thanks to Merlin, your self inflicted glass heart curse was lifted and you could feel again. Thanks to Regina casting one more curse, all the kingdoms were united and Storybrooke was safe once more. 

Which leads us to now. 

“9024 KICK THAT DRUM!”

“MY EGO IN THE SHOW!”

You and Zelena were singing Crazy Form and doing the choreo the same exact way as Ateez had done it. However, you both were old hags (as in old people stuck in young people’s bodies) so you felt your joints ache with every single step and jump you guys did. Once the song was over, another track came up. 

And it was your favorite track off the album. 

“HOW THE FUCK DOES SAN SOUND LIKE THAT?!”

“I DON’T KNOW, Z. BUT IT’S SEXY AS HELL!”

“HELLO?! SEONGHWA’S PART?!”

Whilst you two were freaking out and doing a poor yet original dance to Arriba, Regina came over and turned down the volume, leaving the both of you to groan in frustration. Robin simply chuckled and walked over to you two. 

“Sorry if we paused your fun. We do have reservations at a restaurant in New York so we kind of have to get going.”

“OH SHIT! I FORGOT IT WAS TODAY!”

“LAST ONE TO THE CAR ISN’T A REAL ATINY!”

“YOU BITCH -”

Zelena cackled and sprinted away. You decided to cheat a bit and use your magic to trip her, causing her to fall and curse at you while you floated away. You got to the car first and you were about to sit in the front seat when you heard Regina clear her throat behind you. 

“You know the rules, sis.”

“BUT I GOT HERE FIRST, GINNIE!”

“I know. I would’ve let you sit in front if Robin wasn’t tagging along. Since he is though, you got to sit in the back.”

You grumbled in annoyance as you sat in the back. Zelena teased you and you decided to get back at her by summoning a large june bug and having it fly around her. It was hilarious seeing a mop of curly red hair fling about as she tried to swipe away the bug. You made the bug disappear and she flipped you off. Soon, the four of you drove out of Storybrooke and made your way towards New York. 

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

“I’M SEEING MY MAN LIVE!”

“AS IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY SEEN HIM LIVE LIKE HUNDREDS OF TIMES!”

“STILL THOUGH!”

Long story short, Regina and Robin surprised you and Zelena with tickets to see Ateez live. Since it was their sixth anniversary, they decided to host an event. Not only did you two receive tickets, but you also got backstage passes so you would get to see your man in person. You were freaking out, but not as much as Zelena was. It dawned on her that she would meet her bias. As the two of you were getting ready for the backstage meet & greet, the former Wicked Witch paced back and forth. 

“Oh God. What if Yeosang thinks I’m too old?”

“You’ll be fine.”

“What will WooSan think of me?”

“Again. You’ll be fine.”

“Is it too late to back out now?”

“Good God. Get a grip, girl!”

You grabbed Zelena by the shoulders and made her stop pacing before shaking her out of her nervous stupor. 

“You’ll be fine. Just be yourself! Well… don’t admit you’re a witch. At least… not yet.”

“But doesn’t Jongho know?”

“Yeah, but he didn’t tell his other bandmates.”

“But Yeosang is in the group chat with us.”

“We never mentioned witch activity in said group chat when Yeosang was added. Right?”

“Well… no.”

“See?! Problem solved! Now come on. Let me finish your makeup.”

Soon, the two of you made it to the venue and showed your passes to the security guard before entering one of the vacant greenrooms, where all the members of Ateez stood. You saw a few Atinys and interacted with them while Zelena shyly said hello and mainly just talked with Yeosang, who introduced her to San and Wooyoung. When you got to Jongho, he pulled you aside and looked around to see if anyone was looking. As soon as the coast was clear, he kissed you hard. It caught you off guard yet you kissed back immediately and gripped his nice biceps. 

You were the only one that had the privilege of touching them. 

“I missed you, honey.”

“I missed you too, my bear.”

The two of you connected foreheads and stayed like that for a while. Even though you guys could handle the long distance relationship, the feeling of having each other in both of your arms was that of elation and relief. 

“After the concert, tell Zelena that you’re staying behind. I told our manager to retrieve you after the show.”

“Am I going to stay the night with you?”

“Only if you want.”

“I would love to.”

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

The concert soon ended and you told Zelena that you’ll be spending the night with Jongho. The two of you shared a knowing look before she departed. When you found their manager, he led you to an empty dressing room. You thanked him and you saw Jongho sitting on the couch waiting for you. He looked up and smirked before standing up and walking towards you. He picked you up bridal style and carried you out of the room before exiting the venue through a back door. A van was waiting for you guys and as soon as you two hopped in, the doors slid shut and the van took off. A minute down the road and you two were making out like nobody’s business. Jongho’s hands gripped your waist while he kissed down your neck and your hands tangled in his hair. You were biting down on your lip to prevent any moans from escaping. Soon, you two approached the hotel you were staying at and as soon as the van doors slid open, Jongho grabbed your hand and the two of you exited the van before sprinting into the lobby. You guys ran into the nearest vacant elevator and Jongho pressed his floor button before he turned to you and attacked your lips once more. Once the elevator reached his floor, he hoisted you up and over his shoulder before walking towards this huge penthouse suite that the guys rented out for their stay here. He kicked open the doors and set you down on the couch. When you gathered your bearings, you noticed the amount of rose petals and fake lit up candles surrounding the room. 

‘Aww! He’s so romantic.”

‘He truly missed you.’

‘Wait… why is he coming back with his members?’

Your eyes widened when all eight of them approached you. The seven of them kept a respectable distance while Jongho walked towards you and knelt in front of you. 

“Before you freak out, let me explain.”

You nodded slowly and signalled for him to continue. 

“I talked about this with my members. You know me. I am a man who doesn’t share, especially when it comes to the love of my life. However, I realized… that sharing you with my fellow bandmates isn’t so bad. That doesn’t mean you’ll date all of them. God no! It’s just… I’ve had this hidden fantasy about seeing you get fucked by all the members and I honestly want to make it a reality. There’s just one thing missing.”

Jongho grabbed your hand and kissed the back of it.

“Your consent.”

You were in shock to hear about this. Sure, his bandmates were attractive as hell and you couldn’t deny that some of them were wrecking you (mainly Yunho and San). However, to initiate something as huge as this? Even though Jongho said he was ok with it, you didn’t know deep if you were ok with it. Furthermore, you also thought about what would happen if you didn’t do it. Sure, Jongho and the rest of Ateez will understand, but you’d feel bad for not indulging in one of his fantasies. He indulged in so many of yours. 

Might as well return the favor. 

Right?

“Um… ok then. I think… I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure? Because once we get started, there’s no going back. Unless we do something that you definitely don’t like. In that case, we’ll back off.”

“I’m positive, Jongho. I want to try this out. I’ve got nothing to lose.”

Jongho smiled his precious gummy smile and hugged you tightly before kissing the side of your head. When he let go, he turned around and saw the 98 liners approach you first. Jongho caressed your cheek and kissed your lips lightly. 

“We’ve arranged it in the order of our unit tracks.”

OH! OK THEN!

“Matz first.”

Seonghwa and Hongjoong kissed both corners of your mouth delicately and retracted slowly. 

“WooSanSang second.”

‘Can’t wait for Zelena to hear about this!’ You thought in the back of your mind.

“YunGi third.”

The tall towers leaned down to whisper in your ear sensually. 

“Hi there, angel.” Yunho said in your left ear deeply. 

“Hey there, baby girl.” Mingi said in your right ear deeply and huskily.

You gulped nervously as they retracted themselves. 

“Lastly, me.”

You saw Jongho kneel in front of you once more and smirk before kissing the tip of your nose. He soon retracted and signalled for Seonghwa and Hongjoong to go first. The 99 liners and Jongho soon all backed up and went into the separate rooms the penthouse had. Seonghwa sat on the couch and pulled you onto his lap while Hongjoong held your chin and made you look up at him. 

“Ready to have some fun?”

[dennydraws]

I can't believe @sunnyluma bullied me into posting this... Disclaimer: I write fanfiction once in 10 years, English isn't my native language. I got plot bunnies during the affinity event in FEH

Day of Devotion Words: 1877 Characters: F/Robin (FEAwakening) x Julius (FE4)

The Day of Devotion. A lovely holiday in Askr, a day to bring flowers and express love - all kinds of love. Love towards friends, family … and more. Robin smiled as she placed the flowers through her hair. A smile that would slowly wilt with every next bloom that found it's place on her garments. Her family - the shepherds, they were not here. Not in the same ones in any case. Chrom who once was the closest to her heart was now spending the holiday with another Robin. Not that this Chrom was the same Chrom she knew. Just how many versions of herself were there? It would've been a lie if she said she didn't feel cheated that she was plucked form a timeline she had found happiness and salvation from Grima… or was on the verge of it in any case. And now she was here, in the middle of other conflicts. Happiness was so close and then taken away.

But feelings, especially personal ones such as those had no room on the battlefield and she as a tactician knew that better than anyone. So, her smile adorned her lips once more. She still had plenty to be thankful for - Askr was welcoming place and she had the unique opportunity to meet so many heroes from across time and space - even …more versions of herself! She saw some Robins with worse fate - reminding her of what could've been had she not met Chrom. And there were some Robins who seemed to have tied the knot …with some questionable individuals from the army. She still couldn't wrap her mind over how could any versions of herself would get married to Gangrel of all people and yet the utter devotion she could see in their eyes spoke volumes of how strong that bond was. The smile began to wilt again.

"Oh, get a grip Robin… that's not like you at all." She closed her eyes and shook off any sign of bitterness that could even try to emerge. After all, she knew full well what Grima would feed upon if she even slightly allows it. Instead Robin picked the buoquet of flowers and went out to find someone out there who got no flowers today - surely there ought to be a lone soul somewhere in Askr that could use a little happiness today. As Robin strolled the paved streets, slowly but surely she reminded herself - it was for a tactical benefit. Happier heroes make for stronger units. At the end of the day their survival was the main goal. And that's exactly what she thought when her eyes stopped upon Julius. Alone as usual, he was leaning on a tree in the shades and away from everyone and everything. Robin was aware of his circumstances, in fact she considered him almost like a distant reflection of herself. She knew how a dragon's hold on the mind could feel even when everyone in the army was sure there was nothing left of the real Julius there. Purely for tactical purposes, she reminded herself once more. "Happy day of devotion." Robin beamed a polite smile, holding forth the flowers.

There was a moment of complete confusion on Julius' face. Julia had attempted to sneak a bouquet earlier today which he had instantly crushed despite the screams from his inner mortal puppet. He didn't expect more or any other interactions today, in fact he was hoping he'd be left alone today and this brief moment of confusion loosened the grip he had. "Why?" Julius uttered in an usual calmer voice. Robin immediately caught it. So he was still in there, she thought. Talking to her own fallen self was completely useless when she had tried before but this change of tone made her consider - there might still be something of Julius left in him. "Why not? You've been helping the army fight off whatever evil is looming over us. Isn't that a good reason to thank you for your efforts?" Robin answered pulling her best tactician voice. After all, it was simply stating the facts.

"Hah! You think I do that out of devotion? I long to crush you like the little insects you are. The contract simply binds me to crush only specific ones. But when this contract is broken you will make no difference to me!" Julius leaned in, his hand over the flowers clutched into a tight grip before Robin could even let go. "Yes well… I'm glad you are accepting the flowers though my hand doesn't come with them." Robin noted completely ignoring the dragon's taunts. Another moment caught off guard. "Ah…" A sudden obedient withdraw followed. There he was again, Robin thought and a smirk formed her lips. So that's how you had to go with it. The more you registered Loptous the more he emerged. She just had to see Julius instead. Her eyes squinted. But that was an issue wasn't it? No one knew Julius… except when he was a child and even then, that was so long ago. Whoever was inside had all grown up now. "You seek something that is no longer there." the dragon smirked, taking the flowers, nails gripping into them. Oh he only had to tear them now in front of her to make his point and yet, this hand was flinching in disobedience.

"Hmm, yeah been there, done that." Robin waved her hand after which she completely ignored the looming figure and sat under the tree next to him. This dress certainly made it a bit harder. As much as she enjoyed the flowers, at the back of her head she only wished she was in her comfortable long robes and poofy pants. "They only see the monster, the big disappointment that you are no longer you. It really chips away from your confidence, doesn't it? We're not that different - you and I." Julius remained frozen and still. The dragon was silenced in sheer anger. How dared this mortal overlook him!?

"I was just… lucky. I had someone to pull me before that grip got too strong to bear. But there were times I wasn't as lucky." Robin wasn't looking at him, her smile turned somber, "But you are still holding on. It means you are devoted to something - a hope, an idea, maybe someone… That's worth celebrating today, don't you think?" The pain coming through Julius' head was immense but he made no noise. He couldn't let Loptous groan or grunt like every other time he even tried to produce a thought of his own. His hand was holding on to these flowers - a devotion to hope he never dared speak and he was ready to break his own hand before he lets him crush them. The silence hung in the air. Robin didn't move or look up. A heavy feeling began to swell into her throat - is this how Emmeryn felt? Memories of her speech before she lept into her death after no reaction came from the armies started to surface. The painful realization that the ideals you hold on to are not strong enough to change the inevitable tragedy ahead. A mental kick followed - when did she get so foolish as to let emotions dictate her so? She was a tactician. Emmeryn pure and kind expected the best in people and the world needed people like her but Robin? She had to ground herself. This conversation was nothing but tactical approach to boost morale, nothing more.

Something gently snuck behind her ear. A flower form the bouquet. "I used to.. place flowers in her hair." Julius muttered, slow and uncertain. He had leaned over, his look distant yet searching. Robin turned immediately with her eyes widened. This was most certainly not Loptous. Her mind raced. What did he mean? Oh, he probably meant Ishtar. Of course he did. A little bitter reminder. She mentally bit her tongue - now was not the time for this. The point was - he was still there, in fact he emerged. Was it a good moment to run and call for her? No, that would mean leaving him alone and this moment felt too crucial. Like a battlefield on it's own, it was all about timing, catching the flow and turning it to your favor. "The…best I could do... was to let them go. If they hated me…they would not come near, they would not …be hurt by him. If they... knew I was still here…they would hesitate and he would kill them. They…are safe now… without me." Julius continued speaking with his look turning more and more empty with each word.

Robin recognized where this was going. His thoughts would spiral in despair and Loptous would emerge again, maybe this time for good. She had to think fast, what to reply before he'd slip again. She had to help him win this battle. "Your strength is admirable and I say that as a tactician." Robin replied with a forced brighter tone, pushing any and all emotions that could possibly create a tremble. She had to focus on… Julius. Not on Loptous. Not on the weaved tragedy that had stained every step of his life but on the hero who no one would see or even believe was still in there. Julius' eyes gained a brief focus even if no words came out, Robin knew he was looking at her… maybe a bit too strongly. It was strange, she had seen Julius many times, but never… The Julius, nor his look ever felt on her, not like this. She gave herself another mental kick. Now she began to see how some version of her out there married Gangrel - he too probably did this helpless lost look on her and tugged her heart strings. Probably even gave her flowers. Apparently that was a weak spot she had not realized. Although the image of Gangrel holding a bouquet of flowers was absurd and yet suddenly things began to make a bit more sense regarding her romantic choices in some alternative realities.

"I mean it. I'm proud of you, Julius!" Robin added further as small attempt to break the silence once more and shake any potential emotions trying to find their way into her heart. Instead of a reply Julius simply slumped on his knees, much like a tired puppet with loosen strings and planted his forehead on her shoulder. Robin turned stiff as a statue. That certainly wasn't an expected turn of events. Carefully she moved her arms to give him a careful pat which gradually became a hug. Goodness, this… escalated quickly, she thought. Julius couldn't utter more words. Rather he basked in the sensation of his own body for as brief as this was going to last. He wanted to enjoy the moment - he wasn't sure if he'd ever get another. But the smell of flowers in her dress, her hair, the gentle hold on him - yes he… he would get another. He would fight to get another moment such as this.

Autor Note: Do not blame me for this idea, blame this!

I can't believe I wrote a fanfic in 2024 about Fire Emblem...

[e-mmygrey]

History Must Repeat Itself - Act 2/Chapter 9

Author's Note: another filler chapter but that's okay! We always love reading more about our favourite misfits

1.3k words

Into 1985...

          I'd attended to eight different schools over my eighteen years. By the fourth, I lived in constant fear my mother would spontaneously decide to move, looking for something new. I never let myself join clubs, make any deep friendships, or explore where I lived. I just went from home, to work, to school, and back.

Hawkins, Indiana was different. I'd officially turned eighteen years old here meaning I chose to stay here when my mother made her impulsive decision that Indianapolis was the better Indiana city. My sister made a fuss about being told they were leaving without me. When Madison threatened to run away and come back here any chance she got, my mother didn't make a fuss about letting her stay with me. I was legally allowed to watch over my sister, staying with the friends she made. We didn't have to leave and start over. My mother kept her name on everything to do with the house but mostly, it was my responsibility.

For my eighteenth birthday in May, the pack of children that destroying my house daily decided to stage a giant water balloon fight in the local junk yard. They built an entire course and everything. Apparently, they'd tried for paintball, but Nancy and Steve both said no and wouldn't help purchase them. The water balloons didn't get violent, with only Lucas getting a bloody nose from Dustin and El cheating once.

Okay, maybe twice.

         I had real friendships for the first time in years. Eddie and I smoked weed together at least twice a week and listened to a lot of music. He even 'dragged' me to a couple concerts. For my birthday, Eddie drove us out to the middle of nowhere, leaving my sister in the care of Max's mum, and we camped for the weekend. My present from him was a spare key to his van, which made me feel honoured since no one drove his van, and a hat embroidered with 'Dungeon Master's Assistant'. With the hat was an invitation to Hellfire Club, as a spectator or player. That made me tear up. Eddie bought a crappy bottle of champagne, toasting to my eighteenth birthday and his sworn upcoming graduation of 1985.

Robin was the friend I could act like a child with. However, I refused to eat sugar with her or in her presence. I'd seen her drunk once at a party and I instinctively knew sugar wouldn't end well. Madison was thankful I had a friend that she matched energy with since I matched Max's energy constantly. Nancy may have given great fashion advice, but Madison preferred when Robin was over to encourage the chaos. After the school band lost a trumpet player to a skiing accident and a broken hand, Robin didn't give me a moment of peace for three days until I agreed to fill the role for the remaining school year. I knew I gave in too quickly, but that girl could be a lot when she wanted. I loved her, but I plotted her death during those days more than once.

The best moment of playing in the band was attending the 1985 graduation. I cheered loudly for Steve and Billy as they crossed the stage. Eddie didn't pass all his classes, however, which really sucked. No matter how he tried to hide it, he was bummed. I'd dropped Madison off to Max's again and we hibernated in Eddie's room for two days. Yes there was marijuana, but it was mainly just listening to music and lying there. I watched Eddie cry for the first time. It wasn't a lot of tears, but enough for me to become determined. I planted a kiss on his lips before promising him that I'd drag him by his shirt across the stage with me if I had to. He was graduating. He would only be repeating senior year three times. If not, I was going to create a fake diploma for him. Fuck Principal Higgins. 

Cheering for Steve didn't surprise anyone. Our friendship had gotten stronger since the events in October. But also, it's King Steve. Even if he hadn't gone by that title for at least a year. There weren't many silent people in the audience when he crossed the stage. He told me after that surprised him. Even if his parents attended, he'd expected silence.

Cheering for Billy on the other hand, got me looks from the band. An old friend of Steve's, Carol began calling me 'Billy's whore' at some point during the year. People knew we parked beside each other and exchanging the occasional comment in the parking lot. Most people assumed it was about our sisters, who'd been glued at the hip. Only Robin and Nancy knew that our conversations didn't always stay on that topic. I don't think any of Billy's "friends" did. I kept as much of it as I could from Eddie and Steve. They both looked down at my friendship with Billy.

 No one knew that Billy Hargrove sat on my roof most nights, sharing a joint. Some weekends, he laid on my couch watching ridiculous cartoons for hours after he'd dropped Max off.

I was careful about what I said to him. After the night he almost killed Steve, I worked at not seeing Billy that angry again. I left my window unlocked for the nights Neil Hargrove decided to "parent" his son, and I'd wake up in the morning with Billy sleeping in my room. Sometimes on the floor, but more often as of late, he was on the bed. I offered him a house key but Billy wouldn't take it, stating he'd never need it and that he was fine.

          The friend sleeping over the most was Steve Harrington. If you'd asked me that when I first moved to Hawkins, I might've guessed Robin. Not the prior King of Hawkins High. It started with Steve staying for dinner once I found out how rarely his parents were home. I couldn't make dinner without thinking about Steve being alone in that giant house. Thus, daily phone calls and would be over fifteen minutes later. 

He progressively stayed later and later, until it was ridiculous for him to drive home. Usually, he'd sleep on the couch. But sometimes we'd be a little drunk and snuggle into my bed. Long, stressful days at work? A friendly cuddle and quietly talking ourselves to sleep was nice. Homework getting too much? A shoulder massage and reading until the book fell to the floor.

Okay, maybe more often than not, Steve and I woke up wrapped up in each other, my bedsheets sprawled on the floor. It wasn't talked about after we woke up.

Our friendship was solidified in Hawkins history when I got into a fight with Tommy's girlfriend, Carol. I'd never had a conversation with the girl, but Carol felt like she needed to bark comments at me whenever she got a chance. While we stood at my locker one morning, Carol decided to start trash talking Steve with Tommy and their little friends gathered around. Billy stood off to the side, his mouth shut. I knew it was for my sake, as Billy took any chance to take a bite out of Steve. When I stepped between Carol and a silent Steve, the crowd got larger.

 Apparently, Carol wasn't a fan of someone standing up to her. I only got one swing in after Carol was pressured by the crowd into pushing me before a teacher arrived and gave us both detention. Carol's nose was bleeding which didn't look good on me. Steve broke me out from the hell of sitting in the office, both of us flipping Carol off as we went.

It wasn't just myself that I was happy to stay in Hawkins. More than just staying in the same school, Madison kept her friends. She and Max, and eventually El when she was allowed out of Hopper's cabin, were always surrounded by the Boys. If Steve, Billy and I were to park next to each other at school, I'd swear we drove half of the middle school. Of course, neither Billy nor Steve would risk their cars' safety by parking that close to each other.

Life was good... and that was weird.

[thecreelhouse]

one sin leads to another

Paring: Steve Harrington x Reader (AFAB, GN pronouns & pet names)

Summary: The gate closes before you can follow your friends through it, leaving you and Steve in the Upside Down to fend for yourselves. Searching for another way home, you lose yourself on a detour neither you or Steve could even imagine.

WC: 10.7k (oops)

Includes: friends to lovers (more like idiots to sluts— now with Feelings™️!), some angst, straight up filth— sex pollen, tentacle-esque vines, dub-con, spit kink, frotting, heavy petting, oral sex (m & f receiving), PiV unprotected sex, dirty talk, switch!reader, switch!steve, dacryphilia (kinda? sorta? maybe?), light anal play (m receiving), choking, cum play, semi-mind manipulation (? Not sure how to tag that one), hurt/comfort (re: abandonment issues), happy ending

A/N: it’s funny how i thought sex pollen fics were a joke years ago but ended up here………. anyway. is this ridiculous? yes. does it make sense? fuck no. is there a plot? maybe if you squint real hard, from space. if this is your kind of thing, cool! i hope you like it! if not, don’t you have something better to do? bye. (banners and dividers made by @saradika-graphics! and i can’t draw hands to save my life, so those brushes came from this artist here.)

read on AO3 || dusk ▸ chelsea wolfe || part 2

“and I would give you my life / one sin leads to another / and I would go through the fire / to get to you”

Cheating death at its own game is sure one hell of a drug.

Maybe that’s what’s running through your veins tonight: pure adrenaline. And anxiety. And dread. … And maybe some hopelessness.

“We’re so fucked. We’re so, so fucked, Steve.”

You had been walking around for god knows how long, in search of a gate to go the fuck home. Robin, Eddie, and Nancy made it through the one at Eddie’s trailer, but, just your luck, it closed before you or Steve could make it to the other side.

Ready to collapse against a rotting tree, with vines twisting around its crumbling trunk, Steve jerks you away, keeping himself calm and only releasing a harsh exhale through his nose.

“I told you about those vines,” He hisses, grip tightening with the irritation in his words. “For once, just once, would you listen to me?”

When your eyes won’t meet his, guilt washes over him.

“Look, I—“ He can’t bring himself to apologize. What the hell am I sorry for? “Just… stick close to me, alright?”

Yeah, there’s definitely a ton of hopelessness drowning you from the inside out right now. You hug yourself weakly, shaking your head.

“We’re never gonna find a gate, we’re gonna die out here.”

This— the Upside Down and all its horrors, wrapped up in a little, filthy, decaying bow— isn’t new to Steve. To you, though, this is a brand new, shiny, living nightmare.

“And we’ll fucking die out here if we don’t try.” He’s losing his patience, despite reminding himself this all freaked him the fuck out years ago when he first was roped into it all. He’s trying, really, he is, but the constant cloud you drag over your head is swallowing any hope into darkness. “I need you to get your shit together, and be quiet.”

Steve knows it’s not your fault; you were kept in the dark up until tonight. 

After graduation, you isolated yourself, and no one could figure why. What happened? What could’ve set it off? You were rarely seen outside of your home, unless at work, running for necessities, or finding comfort in your local video store. It helped to play movies on in the background, helped drown out the deafening silence of your lifeless home.

Visiting Family Video often had pipelined to a rekindled connection with Steve; once your childhood friend, even a silly crush you hadn’t moved on from— before the facade of popularity ran straight to his head— now just a stranger who fell from grace. Trusting him again hadn’t been easy, but watching how easily his and Robin’s friendship flowed gave you some peace of mind.

It wasn’t until the day Dustin and Max ran in, desperate to find Eddie’s whereabouts as you browsed the new releases, that you got sucked into this entire mess. It wasn’t until then, that the side you were convinced Steve had grown out of began to show again.

Following carefully behind him, he spits, “You should’ve stayed the fuck home.”

And yeah, maybe you should’ve, but in the whirlwind of it all, you were caught up every bizarre moment with everyone, no end or exit in sight.

You keep quiet, hoping if you let him vent, he’ll eventually cool off.

Naturally, he doesn’t.

“This would’ve been avoided if you stayed on shore with the kids.”

Steve can’t see it, but you nod silently behind him, tiptoeing around the vines.

“Nobody asked you to get in the boat.”

“Well, no, but I—“

“No one said you had to swim to the bottom of the lake, too.”

You can clearly hear the way he grits his teeth as he speaks. Your throat burns as you swallow the temptation to give into crying.

“I was scared, you all left, I- I didn’t know what to do—“

“Oh, like none of us are scared? Grow the fuck up.”

With each word he hurls your way, dripping with vitriol, he can feel the regret only grow bigger, and bigger. Yet he can’t stop.

“You’ve been through this before!”

Steve stops abruptly, scoffing as he turns around with his arms crossed over his chest. He glares at you, watching his step before meeting you, toe to toe, way too close for your comfort. 

“Yeah, without a crybaby like you.”

“Oh, crybaby, really, Steve? Really? Is that the best you can come up with?” You roll your eyes; you have to, or you’ll start crying, proving him right. “How about you try growing the fuck up for once?”

“The best I can come up with would drive you away again.” He shakes his head. “And I’m really not trying to hurt you.”

“How thoughtful of you, asshole.”

Steve runs a hand down his mouth, glancing away from you to sigh.

“Maybe fixing our friendship was a mistake.”

Your heart drops to your stomach, eyes searching his for any sort of bluff. “You… you don’t mean that.”

He doesn’t answer you, only staring back as your bottom lip trembles.

There’s no use trying to hide your tears. Why did you have to be an angry crier? Why couldn’t you shout back, or give a cold shoulder, anything else, when you’re rightfully pissed off? On top of that, all you want to do is get far away from here, far away from Steve.

“Great.” He scoffs, watching your face twist into distress and rage. “Just great. Here we go with the—“

Shoving Steve away, you run off in the opposite direction, no care for where you’ll end up. Splitting up is a death wish, but you’d rather take your chances facing an imminent end than be berated by Steve.

Time is completely lost on Steve as he pedals through the decrepit mirror of Hawkins in search of you.

“Fuck, shit—“ He’s worn down, energy nearly nonexistent after swimming down to the gate in Lovers’ Lake, battling off the demobats to survive, and now, this.

You’re nowhere to be found, and guilt is eating Steve alive; if a monster doesn’t tear him to shreds, the regret of letting you go will. He’s checked every possible hiding place that crossed his mind, but not a trace of you can be found.

This could’ve been avoided if Steve kept his cool, didn’t lash out at the last person to deserve such jagged words thrown at them. He knows that. He knew it as you shoved him away. Worst of all, he let his pride take the wheel and watch you run off, then turned away to continue through the woods alone.

That only lasted a few minutes until remorse and common sense took over, shaking him by the shoulders to get a fucking grip. He had to find you, alive, and get you home safely. There were no other options or plans; this was a rescue mission, not one of recovery.

If it wasn’t so dangerous, Steve would be shouting your name, but he can’t risk attracting unwanted attention to either of you.

What the fuck do I do?

Rattling him from his thoughts, the bike’s front tire rolls over something in the road, catching his eye; he squeezes the hand brakes roughly, skidding along gravel, rolling to a stop. Throwing the bike to the side, he rushes over to an object in the road—

It’s your shirt, torn to shreds and left behind.

Bile rises in Steve’s throat, yet as he notices there’s no blood, the panic-induced nausea is suppressed. 

Think, think, think— where the fuck would they be?

A scream pierces the unsettling silence hanging over him, violently grabbing his attention; his stomach drops as he recognizes his surroundings. An ominous, familiar shell of a building he knows once held hell itself in— at least, in his dimension, not here. 

Now, though, the sounds of torment and a contrast of shimmering lights, pouring out of the windows, are enough to come off as a candy-coated nightmare.

Glittering out of the building are specks of rose-gold light, almost eerily similar to the ones you all found in Nancy’s room, communicating with the others through the Lite Brite. Some speckle across his skin, lightly tickling him.

 It’s the first thing to really draw Steve in as they swirl around him. The second thing: your screams pouring out of the broken windows.

“Shit.”

The remnants of your shirt slip from Steve’s fingers as he takes a deep breath, bracing himself for what’s to come as he dashes towards Hawkins Laboratory.

It doesn’t take long to find you. Following the sounds of terror and shimmering lights, Steve stumbles upon you in a mostly empty exam room. Save for the stainless steel exam table, vacant, open cabinets, and slithering vines, of course. 

They’re slipping in from the outside, through cracks in the walls and missing tiles from the floor. An unknown blooming plant, mimicking the petals of a demogorgon, is rooted in the middle of the room, illuminated. A rose-gold glow pulsates around it, petals slowly unfurling, and waving back inward. It almost looks like it’s breathing.

It is breathing.

Steve scans the room, finding you in the waves of glittering light, breaking through the shadows. You’re pinned against the wall, in a barely conscious daze as the vines wind themselves around your wrists and ankles. Missing most of your clothing, you’re left in what’s remaining of your underwear; he does his best to shy away from ogling at your bare chest. 

Worst fucking time for that.

 Frozen in fear, he witnesses another vine unravel from the ceiling, caressing your face before circling your neck. One step in the door, he stops as you whimper, arching your back off the wall as the vine tightens its grip everywhere, including around your throat. Yet another slithers up to you, teasing its way to your core. It flicks itself softly along the apex of your thighs, drawing out from you a pathetic, shaky moan.

Too tight. Steve’s pants are too fucking tight, and this is not the time or place to become aroused like some kind of pervert.

Focus. You need to get them out of here, safely, and for good.

He runs across the room, barely passing the shimmering plant before a saccharine aroma slams into him.  Entranced, he stops for a moment to stare at the bizarre bloom, and that’s his first mistake; a vine whips around from behind, hooking him in by his waist.

It’s not until another vine winds around one wrist, then another, that he realizes he’s in peril. Yet, he’s slow to react; by now, he’d be kicking and screaming, but his legs have been restrained, too. He’s calm, too calm for what’s unfolding.

“Shit—“ He writhes in the grasp of the vines, but they keep a steady hold, a nonverbal promise they’ll never let go. 

A needy noise slips out of you, but it’s muffled quickly; Steve jerks his head up, observing in horror the vine that has snuck past your pretty, pliant lips. Groaning around the appendage, your eyes roll back as it sinks deeper toward your throat.

“H- hey, this is—“ Steve has to put all of his energy into breaking from a daze his mind so badly aches to fall into. “Hey! Stop!”

Who he’s yelling to, he’s unsure, but it’s a fruitless attempt to take the vines’ attention away from you; there’s just far too many, more than enough to hold the both of you captive with ease.

Concern slowly falls away, hypnotized by the way you’re sucking and gagging on one of the vines. Something about the scene before him is arousing, and before shame can take over, slap some sense into him, pins and needles take over his entire being. It’s an intense, tingling sensation, riding high under his skin and through his veins. The longer he fixates on the way you’re being used, the more he begins to burn everywhere.

Steve’s only uncomfortable at first, just enough where he can still tolerate it. The warmth building within him begins to radiate through his skin, starts to make him sweat.

When the vines drag you closer to him, leaving the two of you suspended by their hold off of the floor, the heat heightens. He becomes feverish, burning becoming more and more unbearable as the seconds pass.

Eyes parting open, you whine in desperation at the sight of him; you need his help, and that’s enough to just barely break through the trance again. The vine in your mouth retreats completely, leaving you panting and drooling down your chest.

“Steve?” Unaware your vision was blurred before it begins to refocus, taking in the sight of Steve struggling against his own set of vines holding him hostage. Your mind fights to break through the haze that’s comfortably settled over any other thoughts or feelings, but it’s no use.

 All you want— no, need— is him.

“It hurts, Steve,” You don’t have the chance to elaborate before the vines tormenting him are ripping the majority of his clothes off, too. 

There wasn’t much to begin with, besides his pants and Eddie’s vest, but now the prominent outline of his bulge is clear as day before you. His shallow breaths quicken in a panic, head jerking around to watch more vines gang up on him.

“H- help,” You rasp out as a vine glides against your still-clothed cunt. Grinding down on it, you find some relief, but nowhere near enough to take the pain away. Everything has been burning since you’ve been trapped, to the point where the pain is so sharp, it starts to feel ice cold all over.

“I’m— I- I’m trying,” He sounds so exasperated, wrestling against the lengths that keep him stationary. “What hurts? M’gonna g- get us out of here, okay? Just—“ A flash of searing pain rolls through him, and he cries out.

You should be scared. Honestly, you are scared. That doesn’t put your filthy thoughts on hold, though. Another vine spirals up Steve’s leg, tearing his briefs off and springing his cock free. He groans at the relief as it slaps against his lower tummy, pearlescent pre dripping down his length as it kicks. Your next thought, a poorly timed fantasy, barely registers when you’re watching it play out in real life.

Head lolling back with a guttural groan, the vine slithers flush against his shaft, slowly rutting against it. He can’t resist meeting its thrusts for extra euphoria, practically frotting with it. When his head falls forward, staring down with lust-heavy lids, he whines, shudders, and a sob follows. He looks so pained, so desperate, enveloped in nothing but sinful desires.

Licking his lips, Steve’s gaze is back on you, on your chest, specifically. A vine, the slimiest one you’ve encountered yet, toys with your nipples, leaving them peaked, aching, and soaked with whatever filthy, syrupy substance these creepers are drenched in. 

His pupils darken over the view, and through the thick fog of lust, something hits you.

“Steve… what are you thinking about? R- right now— ah!” One opens wide at its end, mimicking the pulsating flower nearby; it attaches itself to your nipple, suckling softly. The other side is latched onto by another crawling appendage, mirroring the first.

Where there should be shame and guilt, both are replaced by greedy lust, so he answers honestly.

“M’thinkin’…” He shudders as another vine wraps around the one moving in time with his cock, almost guiding the two in identical thrusts. “Wanna taste ‘em. Tease ‘em all night.”

You gasp at how forward he is, “F- fuckin’— I- I—“ There’s a flicking motion rolling against both nipples, like the vines have goddamn tongues now.

This is all beginning to feel like the plot of a very terrible porno.

To test your theory once more, you imagine one of the inhuman lengths opening its end, like the ones currently latched to you, sucking on his cock’s neglected head.

And it does.

Grunting, Steve’s jaw drops, helplessly watching the third vine suckle on his throbbing tip.

“I- I think this— we— somehow our thoughts—“ It’s way too fucking hard to focus with how sinfully good these vines feel against you, just barely easing the pain. “They k- know what we’re thinking and acting on our d— fuck— d- desires.”

Steve’s face is flushed crimson, eyes heavy with lust and exhaustion as he glances up at you.

“Huh?” It takes a minute for him to process your revelation, smirking when it clicks for him. “Like…. this?”

Your underwear are ripped away without Steve even touching you. The invasive creature teases along your folds, flicking ever so softly against your clit. Hips jerking forward, you manage to narrow your stare at him.

“Y- yeah, like that, but that— we— maybe if we think about stopping, it’ll let us go.”

Another beat of silence floats heavily between the two of you, until he breaks it.

“Wh— maybe I don’t wanna st- s- stop.”

This shouldn’t turn either of you on. At all. This is wrong. This is beyond fucked.

“Fuck, you’re soaked, honey.”

Your stomach flips, and you’re a goner, admiring the way Steve bites his lip harshly while rubbing against  a vine.

“St— f- fuck!” A tiny, nearly shoelace-thin sized vine opens wide before latching onto your clit, suckling away. “Oh, f- fuck you, Steve.”

“M’trying to get there.” The sinful scene of several vines manipulating your body deep into pleasure is almost enough to make him come. You tremble in their relentless grip, whimpering as you try squirming away from the one on your clit. “S’okay, just let go. I’ve got you.”

“You don’t have me, the fuckin’ vines do!” 

“Same thing! Didn’t think o— ah— ah!” Another length slithers up to tease his balls, while the others still keep their steady pace frotting and sucking. “Fu- fuck you!”

In a nasally, whiny voice, you mock him, “I’m trying to get there.”

“Okay, ye- yeah, real mature,” In retaliation, he imagines a vine occupying your mouth again, and it does within seconds. Sliding between your lips like before, your eyes roll back, groaning around the appendage. “Much better. You always talk so fuckin’ much.”

Climax hitting like a tidal wave, threatening to pull you under, far from sanity, you feel full. Nothing is inside you, not even a vine, but you feel like you’re filled to the brim.

And Steve, a strong, fluttering grip wraps around his cock; though invisible, it feels like he’s coming while deep inside of you— not that he’d know, not yet, at least. It’s a tighter hold than the vine wrapped around his length, and it makes no goddamn sense.

This entire place has never made sense, though, why attempt to figure it out now?

From between your swollen lips, the vine retreats, leaving you to pant and drool onto yourself all over again. If the winding, hellish plants weren’t holding you in place, you’d have surely fallen over by now.  Fighting to stay conscious, you fixate on Steve as he catches his breath; lids heavy, shoulders heaving as he slows his panting, it’s an eerily similar sight to his state earlier, after killing a demobat with his bare hands.

This time, though, he’s still restrained by some unworldly creature, allowing his body to fall limp in its hold.

This time, it’s not blood dripping from his lips— thank fuck— just a lot of spit. Like, a lot. It tumbles from his pretty, pliant lips with ease, glistening as it runs down his chest, sticking to the soft yet thick hair on his body.

Oh, Jesus fucking Christ— you can’t take this anymore.

“Did that— are you— did it help?” You manage to croak out. Steve barely shakes his head, whining; you’re not sure why you’re the one more in tune with the situation than he is, but you’re not going to let either of you suffer any longer. “Didn’t help me either, it— fu- fuck, it felt good, but it’s— I still— it still hurts so bad, Steve.”

Lifting his head weakly, he glances over at you, only feet away, “Hurts me too, s’hot, every— it burns—“ Steve winces, hisses as the fire within him continues to burn white-hot. “S’cold, too, I- I don’t fucking get it.”

“Can I try something? I don’t… M’not sure how else to stop this,” You murmur, feeling hopeless.

If only you hadn’t run off, just like the crybaby Steve pinned you to be. Neither of you would be in such a disgusting disaster like this.

“An- anything, please,” Steve’s desperate; he’ll take any relief at this point. He lolls his head towards the suspicious bloom, hypnotized by it’s captivating glow. “M- maybe we should touch it—“

“Steve, don’t.”

His lips curl downward into a nearly comical pout, but this entire situation, no matter how bizarre and outlandish, is very real, and the pain you’re both tempted to succumb to isn’t something to laugh off.

Struggling against the vines, he tries to reach towards the plant, but it’s useless. Your thoughts and desires are still connected somehow to the vines, and he’s too drunk on pleasure to use this detail to his advantage; it’s simple, to imagine him restrained tightly by the vines, only for them to hold him still as he writhes in their grip.

“Please?” He’s so deliciously pathetic like this, exposed and bound by monstrous entities. “I- I need— this— you—“ He stops himself, eyes glazing over as he pleads with his stare for some kind of relief.

You shouldn’t take advantage of this, you really shouldn’t, but there were two factors adding to your inner conflict—

1: You’re also suffering, desperate for relief of some kind, any kind. You’re just handling it with more… grace, for lack of a better term, than he is. 

2: Steve Harrington is the reason you’re both in this mess to begin with. And, sure, you’re just at fault, but  that fucker made you feel low enough to run off into danger.

He owes you something. He owes you an apology, at the very fucking least.

“B- baby? C’mon, I— please?” The longer he radiates such a pathetic, needy energy, the more you feel sorry for him. 

Realistically, you also owe Steve an apology, at the very fucking least.

Breathily, you bargain with him, “I can— I’ll help you f’you help me?”

Ogling at the arousal dripping down your thighs, he doesn’t respond at first.

“Steve.”

“H- huh?” You’ve lost count over how many times he’s licked his lips over the sight of you. “Oh, shit, sh— yeah, uh-huh, anything, I- I’ll— I fucked up, baby—“

Your mind would be spinning alone from the way he calls you ‘baby’, if it weren’t for the fact that moments before this, the two of you quite literally mind fucked one another using the vines.

Trying to imagine the vines releasing the two of you, it’s the only desire that doesn’t come to life. 

Shit.

You think about the vines bringing the two of you together, bodies nearly touching, and in an instant, they grant that wish. He’s dying to look at you, but he’s caught up in the sight of your chest against his; both of you still panting, bodies melding into one another as they concave and convex in perfect harmony.

“So… so fuckin’ pretty—“

“Steve, they won’t let us go, we— we’re gonna have to work ‘round that, okay?”

Finally, Steve lifts his head, gasping softly when he realizes how close your faces are to one another.

“Fuck,” He breathes, blissed-out gaze falling to your lips.

You can’t help mirroring him. “Yeah, fuck.” 

A vine winds around your waist, securing you flush against Steve as it pulls him in, too. He shudders against you, painfully hard and hot-to-the-touch member sliding between your legs, along your folds. When it grazes your clit, equally aching and searing with an unbearable heat, the two of you cry out at the brief window of relief.

“This is fucking crazy…” He breathes against your lips. You nod, brushing your mouth against his, and he  gutturally moans from the slightest touch. “Taste so… so good. Need you s’bad.”

God, you need this, you need him too, but this will change everything between the two of you, forever.

“No going back after this, Steve,” You restrain yourself, though your hips twitch against his, core dripping onto his shaft. “L- like once we—“

He manages to break from the haze, for only a moment, “Shit’s already weird. We’re far past the point of n— oh— f- f- fuck—“ You glide against him as his cock nestles between your folds. He fights to regain some composure, nodding frantically. “W- weird. It’s weird. It’s— fuck, just— kiss m—“

Sloppily, you smash your lips against his, not even bothering to ease in with a soft, sweet kiss. No, you’re hungrily kissing him, aching for more, more, more. Parting his mouth against yours, Steve hums and moans as his tongue flicks against yours. It’s messy, causing you both to drool on one another; it would absolutely turn the two of you off outside of this moment, but right now you can’t get enough of him.

You’re both distracted, too lost in one another to notice the bloom’s glow sparkling even brighter. Glittering particles float delicately over the two of you, tickling your skin with pinprick bursts of relief; they only last for a second, but it’s a sensation you’ll gladly accept.

Groaning into him, he pulls back as the little specks of light dance across his skin; he’s licking his goddamn lips again, smirking, unable to look away from you.

Unbeknownst to you both, the illuminating dust radiating off of the bloom just pulls you deeper into lust. The further you lose yourself in chasing bliss, the dryer your mouth becomes, the more antsy your body is— this is only getting worse.

“C- can I— I gotta— need to taste you, honey…” Steve nuzzles his nose against your cheek, whimpering as the head of his cock catches on your entrance. “Please? I- I’ll do anything, I swear.”

“It’s not up to m- me, Steve…” His tip presses into you, just barely, and you’re ready to suck him in, but you resist. The vines don’t force it. 

Falling silent, he concentrates on the position he wants the two of you tangled in; pulled to the grimy floor, back against the filthy tile, the vines keep Steve pinned in place. He grunts, wriggling against their grip, but knows it’s pointless. 

The rope-like creatures pull you down, but in a peculiar position above him.

“Oh— Steve, what the—“

“C’mon, please? Please, please, please—“

You shut him up by lapping at the head of his cock; he jerks underneath you, thrusting up toward your mouth, a reaction to your touch. The vines bind the two of you together, where legs meet arms, and wind around your torsos, for good measure; you’re bound perfectly in a 69 position. He wastes no time, flitting his tongue against your swollen clit before sloppily making out with your cunt. 

“God— fuck— fuck!”

You take him in all the way, nose nestling against his balls as he fills your throat. Steve can’t help the way he fucks up into your mouth, gagging you. 

“M’sorry, oh, god, I’m— I- I’m so sorry,” He sobs into your folds, sucking your clit roughly— once, twice, three times, before tapering his tongue and fucking your entrance. 

That apology dissolves quickly as you involuntarily grind on his face.

“Yeah, that’s it,” Even muffled, he’s so smug about it, lapping up every inch of you he can reach. “Ri- ride my face, baby. Just like that.”

Steve’s always had a reputation for being smooth with his lovers, so to hear him stutter constantly around you is getting to your head.

It’s obscene, the way he slurps and sucks so loudly at your cunt, only spurring you on to fully take him, all of him, gagging around the base of his length each time your face meets the tufts of trimmed curls around his cock. 

You’ve never given, nor received, head like this before, and god damn, it’s sinful. Downright filthy, pornographic, absolutely lewd and out of your comfort zone— except right now, it feels perfect. You can’t get enough of one another, and it shows in the way you devour him, and how he reciprocates ten fold.

It startles you to feel his strong hands hold your hips, keeping you close to his face; the vines still keep him restrained, but loose enough to give him some creative freedom. 

And Steve has no problem getting creative.

“Wait— hey- h- hang on—“

The slick tip of a vine dances along your entrance, teasing you. There’s no holding back any pathetic noises by now; the two of you are completely at the will of these grotesque extensions of this wasteland, only able to control them so much. 

“What’re you scared of? Didn’t you get fucked dumb on these yet?”

“N- no.” You try to crane your neck, try to glance back, but a vine winds around your throat, and you panic. “Fuck— fuck! Steve, stop—“‘

“It’s not me, I- I swear—“ He’s cut off as another length slinks around his throat, too. It’s too reminiscent of the bat that tried choking the life out of him just hours ago. He rasps out weakly, “Sh- shit—“

Steve’s mind spirals while he begins to hyperventilate; This is bad. This is really, really, really fucking bad.

There’s nothing either of you can do, not while you’re trapped, bound together by the most repulsive, living restraints. An idea— albeit a terrible one, but it’s an idea— crosses your mind. 

Maybe it’s the lack of oxygen to your own brain right now, and you’ll regret it later, but all you can do is plunge your mouth back onto him. Hoping to appease the vines, you hope that it gives him a needed distraction from the panic, too.

 Within seconds, the vine around Steve’s throat releases, and he’s left gasping for air. 

Yet the rush of that, and your mouth working on him intensely is enough to draw his balls up, hips bucking and forcing his length to the back of your throat. Spit is practically pouring like a faucet from between your lips and his shaft, down onto his lap.

“M’gonna— I— hah- ah—“ Steve silences himself, barely catching his breath before delving into your folds, sucking crudely on your clit; the vine still hooked around your neck finally loosens, too. Your thighs attempt to slam shut, crowding around his head as he grunts into you. 

All fear dissipates again as the two of you lose yourselves in the pleasure of an impending high.

“Could eat ya’ all fucking night,” He mumbles into your pussy, kissing, sucking, lapping in a pattern that’s sure to make you crumble any second now. When you try responding, despite knowing you’ve got his cock shoved to the hilt down your throat, he slams his hips up into you. “Don’t talk with your mouth full, it’s fuckin’ rude.”

This is absolutely a bad porno; one too corny even for that back room in Family Video.

… But it’s still enough to shove you over the edge. 

You’re moaning so loudly, you’re sure if he wasn’t stuffing your face, you’d be easily heard from this dimension into your own. You’re grinding onto his mouth with everything you’ve got, twitching and fluttering around nothing yet again, soaking his face.

Steve’s not too far behind you; the way you gag and attempt to cry out on his cock is enough to make him finish. He holds his grip on you tightly, groaning so roughly, his voice cracks; you’re certain there’ll be bruises around your thighs, and he’ll lose his voice later.

“Fuck— god—“ He gasps, eyes rolling back as he shakes, spilling his arousal down your throat. You try swallowing, and manage to take most of it, but there’s too much; you pop off of him, spend still pulsating from his slit.

Still catching your breath, the vines manhandle you off of him, just to flip you around and bind the two of you together, flush up against one another again. Your faces almost touch; both of you take a second to get a better look at the other, equally ashamed and aroused.

Covered in your own slick and his sweat, Steve’s face glistens as he breathlessly smiles up at you. Eyes glued on you, he admires the way his arousal sticks to your lips, dripping down your chin onto him.

“Hey, are you ok— oh— uh—“ 

Licking at the corner of your mouth, he allows the sticky spend to trail back onto his tongue.

This kiss isn’t as rushed, but it’s just as sloppy as the first; the messes on your faces combine, making it easy to taste one another, swapping arousal between your tongues. When you pull back, a string of saliva follows from your lips to his. He flits his tongue out to catch it, desperate for the taste of you in any form he can get it.

“Open your mouth,” You order, and happily he obeys, tongue out, too. Slowly, you spit into his mouth, slick drooling onto his taste buds. On contact, his eyes roll back with a gravelly groan, hips rutting into yours. “Good boy.”

Steve shudders, precum already leaking onto both of your stomachs. You’re both impressed and a little freaked out.

“How are you hard again?”

“Never stopped, won’t go away,” He rasps, brows knitting together as his eyes flutter shut; a pained expression takes over. “It— it hurts, baby.”

“What hurts, Stevie?”

Whining, he writhes underneath you, certainly not helping either of you as his member rubs against your clit. 

“Fuck, don’t— will you stop humping me for five fucking seconds?! Can’t fucking think when you do that—“

Like the petty son of a bitch Steve Harrington is, he thrusts up against you, biting his lip through his cocky power trip.

“This is your fault!”

“Here we fucking go…”

“Didn’t think you were so desperate to get fucked you’d let yourself get groped by these fuckin’ things—“

“No, enough, we’re not playing this game, Steve.”

Wordlessly, Steve has the vines yank you off of him, tossing you onto the exam table to pin you down. They’re much gentler with him, easing him off the floor, almost allowing him to walk towards you. He clambers up onto the table, towering over you.

“We both want this, what’s the problem?”

“You! You’re the problem, Steve. You’re always the problem! I’m not some part-time, back-burner friend for you to abandon when you’re bored!” The words leave your lips before you realize the damage they hold, watching as Steve’s face falls. “Wait, St— I didn’t mean that— I—“

He’s so torn, conflicted in the whirlwind of emotions and desires that goddamn blooming plant has the two of you drowning in. He hates that he hurt you earlier, made you feel like running off was better than sticking with him, staying safe under his protection. He regrets anything he’s said to hurt you— tonight, in the past— anything that’s harmed you when he should’ve continued to care for you, he wishes he could take it all back.

And yeah, he knows you have every right to be mad. You have every right to lash out and express the hurt this caused.

But to be called a problem? Something about that hits so deep, too deep, he’s not sure where to begin, to try untangling why it aches so badly. That’s all he’s ever felt like, to everyone, during everything— a problem. One big, never-ending problem.

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t— that was so fucked up for me to say.” You try sitting up, want to hold him, make it well known he’s the complete opposite of a problem to you. The vines, however, have no issue keeping you pinned to the stainless steel surface. 

To your surprise, he pushes past it. You can see the hurt in his eyes, but the control he’s under forces that to the back of his mind.

“Shouldn’t have told you it’s your fault,” He mutters, leaning down towards you, kissing your neck lazily. It’s safer to keep moving, keep pleasuring one another, so the vines don’t attempt choking the two of you again. “I was so mean to you earlier—“

“Had every right to be, I really was a cry—“ A sharp gasp cuts your own words off as his smooth, ruddy tip brushes against your clit. You instantly feel relief from an ache you had forgotten about among all of the emotional pain. “St— Steve… again…”

Your senses are hyper aware, as you assume his are too; it’s so easy to feel his slit right against your throbbing clit as he rubs himself against you.

“S’okay, honey, gonna make y’feel better.”

 It’s like relief is almost in reach, just far enough from your fingertips to try grasping it; this isn’t enough. You need him inside you. You need him to ruin you.

“Apologies later, okay?“

“Uh-huh…” He must be thinking about the vines spreading your legs, because they split apart with ease, held back by their strength. Which, honestly, right now you’re kind of glad they’re doing the work instead of you. “Gotta help each other.”

It’s unreal how soaked you both are, trembling as he slides his length between your folds with ease. The two of you are hot to the touch, alarmingly hot.

“Still hurts?”

“So fucking bad, so—“ You reel back a sob, taking a deep breath. Your palm splays wide open, fingers wiggling weakly towards him. He takes the hint, sliding his fingers between yours before giving a firm, steady grip. “St- Steve?”

“Yeah, honey?” He sounds so winded, restraining himself from railing you into the table. 

“Don’t hold back.”

The words barely leave your lips before your vision goes white; a ringing in your ears drowns out surrounding sounds, but it doesn’t last very long. It takes a second to realize what’s happening.

The sinful bliss you were submerged into was Steve slamming into you all at once. You’re gasping, trying to catch your breath as the focus comes back to your vision.

“I didn’t mean t- to— the vines pushed me,“ He whimpers, shoved in to the hilt, throbbing against your velvety, tight walls. “I- I was gonna go slow, I didn’t wanna hurt you—“

“S’okay, I wanted it,” You croak out, clamping down onto him. Steve’s eyes roll back before ducking his face into your neck as you confess, “I’ve always wanted it.”

“Always wanted y— this.” He nearly fumbles the correction. The vines pull his arms behind his back; despite the lack of upper-body support, he has no problem fucking you fast and deep. “Even if y- you’re an idiot. Pretty, but a fuckin’ idiot.”

“Could say the same about— ah! Ah— y- you, asshole.” He rests his forehead on yours, shallow, rapid breaths tearing through him, meeting your own. “You’re— could’ve warned me you’re s- so fucking big.”

Despite hitting rock bottom in the sea of lust, he manages to laugh weakly against your lips. “What— you just sucked the life out of my dick! You knew what I— I’m— ” He’s flustered trying to point out that you did see and feel how big he was, while still trying to stay humble.

How fucking precious.

“Christ, your dirty talk is weak,” You tease, scrunching your face as your tongue pokes out. Steve takes the opportunity to kiss you, parting your lips with his before sucking softly on your tongue. It’s fucking weird, but oddly enough, such a fucking turn on, too. 

Some vines dip their very tapered tips into your mouth, just at the corners to pull your lips apart. Steve spits onto your tongue, shuddering over the way you squirm. Another vine circles the base of his cock, giving a taunting squeeze.

“Not as weak as you and— a— “  Words collapsing on his tongue, he realizes that he’s no match for the vines and what your filthy thoughts are capable of. He’d take control, but it just feels wrong not succumbing to your desires over his own. “Tight, too fucking t— tight—“

The vines holding your lips retreat. “You can’t finish a sentence around me, can you?”

“Huh?” He stares down at you, puzzled, as your walls hold him deep within you; there’s no letting go, not now, and to him, not ever.

“You’re this pussy drunk already? Seriously?” Where the confidence stems from, you’re unsure, but you’re running with it against your own free will. “I knew you liked me, but I didn’t think you were down this bad.”

Steve slams into you mercilessly. “Shut.” He thrusts again. “Up.”

“I’d watch your mouth if I were you.” 

Tightening around his wrists, the vines tug him back, preventing any further movement.

“Wh— what the fuck— hey!” He wriggles against the relentless grip, brows knit together and nostrils flaring as he sighs roughly. “Enough of this shit!”

A laugh slips past your lips, but Steve’s unamused. 

“Say please.”

Now he scoffs a laugh. “Fuck you.”

“You’re already doing that, babe.” Your gaze falls between your bodies, fixating where you both meet. “Or, well, you were. What happened, Stevie? Guess the rumors in school were never true, huh?”

The jab clears the haze, for a moment. “Will you— I’m trying to get us out of here, stop being such a b—“

The vine at the base of his shaft tightens, strangling out a moan.

“Does someone need a break?” You pout up at him, only for a vine to pull your bottom lip down; your mouth opens just enough to spit harshly onto your tongue. To his dismay, you make a pleased noise and smirk.

“You’re fucking disgusting.” His insult makes your walls clench around him, and he laughs bitterly. “Oh, you like that, you like all of this shit, huh?”

Okay, yeah, sure, maybe you’re into some degradation, if you squint, from a distance. Maybe you’re just a little into being humiliated, on an off day. His comment still pisses you the hell off, though.

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Bet you came in here willingly, too.” He snarks, regaining the control of the vines; he bottoms out into you, a little too satisfied at your gasps. “What? Couldn’t wait ‘til we got home to rub one out? Had to just find something to get off on.”

“I said—” You grit your teeth, grabbing control of the vines as his own thoughts waver; he’s too busy feeling all high and mighty with his weak words to keep his hold on you. He’s tugged off the table and onto the floor, while the vines allow you to stand, towering over him. “— watch your goddamn mouth, Steve.”

Slithering tendrils spiral around his ankles and wrists, pinning him down into a spread eagle position. His head whips around, breathless as he can only watch this switch in defeat.

“M’sorry, I- I’m sorry,” He whines, vines tightening around his limbs. Your name falls so pitifully from his pretty, kiss-swollen lips; a plea for some kind of mercy. “Hon- honey, please.”

There’s a power trip you and Steve continue to swap back and forth, and now that it’s back in your hands, you’re stunned by the sight of him helpless, pinned by the vines underneath you.

This is all hard to grasp, and so quickly, too.

Because you grew up with Steve. You were friends for so long, until his mean streak in high school, trading in genuine friendships for the promise of popularity— a tale as old as time. 

The man writhing underneath you, torn between pain and pleasure, isn’t the boy you chased around the playground many years ago. He’s not the insufferable jock you were forced to watch him pretend to be. He’s not the guy you graduated with, barely recognizable after his fall from grace.

Hell, you’re not even sure if this is the same Steve you reconciled with.

This version of him, the one nearly sobbing as the vines keep him pinned to the filthy floor, he’s someone you’ve only met tonight.

Steve will never be the same after this, neither will you.

You can’t help admiring his broken form, so fragile and weak. You too, are incredibly delicate at this point, but to watch this version of Steve beg you to help, beg you to give him any sort of relief from this nightmare that cursed plant and these vines are forcing you through…

Well, that’s just one power trip you can’t pass up.

Arching his back off the floor’s chipped tiles, your breath hitches, mesmerized by his presence. He’s veiled in a sheen of sweat, chest rising and falling rapidly with his shaky breaths. The plant’s glittering flecks of rose gold float around him, creating an ethereal glow; it’s a welcomed contrast to the agony written all over his beautiful face. He’s crying softly, babbling to himself about how badly he wants you, how he needs to be deep inside you or he might die— his words, not yours.

Whatever version of Steve is slowly going insane before your eyes is still your Steve, and power trip or not, you can’t stand seeing him suffer any longer.

You lower yourself, swinging your leg over his lap; hovering over his length, your folds barely touch his shaft. He whimpers some more, tears still slipping down his pretty features. And god, he’s so fucking gorgeous, especially in this state. 

Steve tries flexing his hips up, tries to push into you, but you will the vines to pin his body down even more; they sling around his waist, keeping low to avoid his wounds. Though you don’t move away, he spirals into panic.

 His mindless, desperate babbling begins again, “Don’t— please don’t leave me like this, d- don’t— I need you, I need you so bad…” When you gently glide your slick core along his cock, he gasps sharply, eyes rolling back as his jaw falls slack. A sob rumbles through his chest, body alight with an invisible, unbearable flame, one that can’t be extinguished without you.

“You need me?”

“Yes! What— I said that!”

“Say it again,” You order. “Beg me to fuck you.”

“What do you think I’ve been doing?!” He wheezes, wrestling his lower half underneath you, fighting against the vine steeling his hips in place. “I don’t— how else do you want me to say it? Tell me what you want!”

Leaning in close, your lips brush over his as the vines loosen just enough; now, it’s your turn with the creative freedom. 

Caressing his face gently, you kiss away some of his tears; his desperation shouldn’t arouse you this much. You’ve never been one to be this bold, never enjoyed power trips at the expense of a partner, but that fucked up plant has unlocked a whole new perspective for you. 

“I want you to admit it, Steve.”

His breaths slow, sobs devolving into hiccups, eyes nearly crossed as he fixates on your expression up so close.

“Ad- admit what?”

It’s so delicious to hear Steve hang on your every word, waiting to obey whatever you order of him. The way he clings to any shred of hope that you’ll help him, so long as he’s good for you. The agony of his sinful desires are burning him alive, and he will do anything if it means you’ll snuff those flames out, once and for all.

Granted, your need for him is just as leveled; you won’t make it out of this feeling alive without his help, too. For now, you’ll play pretend, healing your ego he bruised earlier.

“One: that you like me.”

As you sit up, his brows knit together while he forces out an incredulous laugh.

“I— no, I don’t— are you that fucked up right now?”

“No, but you sure seem to be if you’re still balls deep in denial.”

“I have never, ever— we’re friends! Why—“ He pauses, narrowing his stare with a scoff, “You just want me to like you.”

The vines even allow you to cross your arms, glaring down at him; it drives the sting a little deeper, to see these ghastly creatures side with you in such a tiny, yet mighty way.

“What I want, is for you to stop being an asshole.” Hands falling to his hips, you sink your fingers into his skin and grind onto him, just for a moment, enough to make him tremble and whine. “Two: I want you to admit how mean you were earlier—“

“I- I was not being mean,” He sputters another skeptical chuckle. “Maybe you were being difficult!”

Pretending to understand, you nod softly before running your core over him again, allowing the tip to catch at your entrance, pushing in, ever so slightly. A strangled moan escapes him, eyes rolling back again.

“And finally,” You reach down, running your fingers through his hair, pulling rough enough to mean business. “You need to admit one more thing. This one’s real important, Stevie.”

“Ok- okay, what?”

As a wicked smirk graces your features, he gulps audibly.

“That I’m not a crybaby— you are.” 

You don’t give Steve a chance to retort, impaling yourself onto his cock all at once. He screams, but it’s a near-silent release, voice cracking at the back of his throat as he convulses underneath you. Tensing up, his veins protrude through his tan skin, covered in sweat and grime. His cock kicks and pulses inside you, wordlessly begging to finish already.

“You can’t cum ‘til I do,” You roll your hips slowly, leaning down to match up face to face once more. Again, you grind as he babbles more pleas of mercy and pleasure. “It’s okay, I’ll make it worthwhile, I promise, babe.”

Capturing Steve’s lips in yet another slovenly, vulgar kiss, relief finally floods through his body. Not completely, not enough, but it’s reassuring you won’t leave him hanging. Again, you know you can’t finish without him, either, but he’s so lost in the high the bloom unleashed on him, that detail is meaningless.

“H- ho— oh fuck— honey, please, I- I’ll be good, I’ll be so good, I’ll— you—“

This poor man’s brain will disintegrate if you don’t let him come soon.

“Yeah? How?”

“Y- you— I like you, I really li- like you, and I’m not just saying it—“ He takes a deep breath as a vine teases along his balls; its end opens in petal formations, similar to the ones teasing your clit earlier, sucking on the sensitive skin. “I’m sorry— fuck, fuck m’so sorry—“

Cutting him off with a kiss, he groans into you; guard let down for a moment, the vine around his waist loosens, and he bucks up into you, unable to control himself.

“Apologies later,” You remind him, tapping his cheek, and without a spoken order, his mouth falls wide open. You spit onto his tongue, and he bucks up into you again; fingers digging into his chest, your nails claw at his skin, careful to avoid the wounds from earlier.

Every so often, one of you brushes against the other’s injuries, earning a hiss or short howl in pain, but coddling those aches and stings isn’t priority. Caring for one another— even under the layers of sarcasm, unresolved anger and abandonment issues— that’s all that matters right now.

“So pretty like this, Stevie,” You lean back to hit a sweet spot, one you both go dumb over. He’s still panting heavily, sobs slipping from his kiss swollen lips every so often. “You’re such a good boy when you’re helpless.”

He rambles between apologies and expressions of gratitude, sweat beading down his face, teaming up with his tears. His lower half jerks wildly underneath you, but his cock isn’t throbbing like it’s about to release. You glance back, finding the vine once on his sac, now slithering down to his ass.

You’re not the one willing the vines to do this.

The petals open back up on its end, splaying out along his puckered-pink hole; it gently sucks at the taut entrance, and Steve trembles beneath you. Your jaw drops, turning back to see his face twisted up in pleasure that’s unimaginable to most.

“Didn’t know you were this filthy…” You smirk down at him, admiring the way his lids continue to flutter rapidly, eyes rolling back enough where you only see the whites. “Just couldn’t help yourself, huh?”

Amidst the lust-induced blathering, he admits so easily, “Wish it was you instead… oh, god, wish it was your pretty fuckin’ mouth instead.”

You don’t just inch closer to your climax, you leap towards it. His confession pulls at something deep in your stomach, makes your clit throb with the thought.

“Yeah? You’d want that when we get home?”

A guttural groan rips through his throat, deep from his chest.

“So bad, so s- so bad, please, I—“ He gasps sharply, hips wriggling down onto the vine. “Fuck, fuck, fuck— wish it was your tongue in me right now.”

“It’s all yours when we make it out, I promise.” You grind down on him, hips rutting faster as he hits your sweet spot sloppily. “I’m all yours, I swear, Steve.”

“M’all yours too, honey, all f- fuckin’ y—“ His mouth falls open, breath hitching in his throat before sputtering, “I- I’m gonna— m’sorry I can’t— I need to cu—“

You slide off his dick, and he cries out, devastated that his high was ripped away.

“Why the fuck would you do that?!”

“I said you couldn’t finish ‘til I did.” You lower yourself, just above the tip, taunting him.

Steve’s tongue prods his cheek for a moment, brows raised, trying to steady his breathing, but he just slams up into you instead. Rage is written all over his face, with a hint of guilt underneath, but he takes you back, anyway.

These vines aren’t siding with either of you, they just like toying with you both. They’ll give just enough freedom to whoever takes charge, but won’t release completely. You wonder if they’d keep you here forever, if they could.

He uses the vines to flip on top, throwing you into a mating press while the tendrils tighten you in place. He wastes no time shoving himself in to the hilt; the stretch is wicked and intoxicating, dragging you back into subspace.

“Who had to come find you?”

“You…” 

He rests so much of his weight onto you, pinning you down harder than the vines; you hiccup a sob, head thrown back on the floor and eyes screwing shut. You’re an insatiable wreck, wishing he could suffocate you, go even deeper, devour you whole.

Steve grabs your face roughly, large hand squishing into your cheeks as his palm rests under your chin, forcing you to look at him. When you refuse to open your eyes, his hand disappears, only to slap your face; light enough to not be violent, just enough to give you that delicious sting across your skin.

He’s relentlessly drilling into you, pupils blown wide with lust.

“Who had to save your ass?”

Sweat drips down his face onto your own.

“You!”

He’s grunting in time with his thrusts, spit dribbling from his lips, also landing on your face. Tongue out as you pant, a few droplets hit your tastebuds, causing you to clench and whimper. Right now, you’re sure you could cum just from being soaked in any of his fluids.

And that’s fucking disgusting.

“Whose pussy is this?”

You barely can rasp out, “Y- yours…”

“What was that?”

“Yours! It’s yours!”

Satisfied with your pathetic answer, Steve’s reaches for your clit, bring you both to ecstasy—

The vines quit listening to either of you; they drag you both upward into the air. They wind and weave around your bodies, forcing you together, like earlier, but even closer (as if that was even possible). Your legs are pulled around his waist; they impale you on his cock again, forcing your lower half to roll and grind onto him. Steve’s dragged back into his subby state from earlier, and you’re already lost in your own.

A thinner vine than most wraps around both of your heads together, shoving your faces, your lips, against one another. You’re bound together so tightly, you couldn’t turn away if you wanted. When a cry slips out of Steve, your tongue slips past his lips, massaging his own. He continues to keen into you, while the two of you drool all over yourselves.

It’s sticky. It’s hot. It’s repulsive.

You love it.

Neither of you can warn the other you’re about to finish, only your bodies do the talking; climaxes spoken through violent jerking and jolting, skin slapping on skin, limbs shaking and moans vibrating into one another.

You’re floating. At least, you feel like you are. And okay, yeah, sure, technically you are while the vines hold you up.

 Everything is blinding, bright white in a flash, every sensation burning you up under your skin turns into a relief you’ve never felt before. It’s like dunking your head in cold water during a heatwave, or when you finally lay down in your bed after a long, long day. Something like that, tenfold.

All of the intense, searing pain leaves your body, flooding through with bliss. So. Much. Bliss.

There’s a ringing in your ears, but it’s not harsh, doesn’t ache; it fades in time with the blinding white brightness surrounding you.

As it all falls back into place, as you come back down from the most insane orgasm of your life, you can hear Steve’s shallow breaths, loud moans quieting down. Settling back into reality, his heartbeat calms with yours; you can feel one another’s with ease, bodies still shoved together.

The vines finally retreat, releasing you both carelessly, sending you tumbling to the floor. Steve lands on top of you, catching himself in time as his hands hold him up. There’s a chill that rests on your skin; the unbearable burning has vanished, and the absence of the vile vines and their grip plunge you both into relieving shivers.

It’s only heavy, heaving breaths and stunned expressions exchanged with one another. His arms shake, absolutely worn down from whatever…. Whatever the fuck that was. Managing to lift your arms, you wind them around his shoulders; you ease him into your embrace, allowing him to rest on top of you. At first, he sighs, but it turns into shudders as he processes everything.

Both of you begin to babble apologies at the same time. 

You’re whimpering an, “I’m sorry, Steve, I’m so, so—“ while he whispers shakily, “It’s my fault, m’so sorry, honey.”

He shakes his head, sweat and grime rubbing off on your shoulder— equally gross, you’re certain.

“No, I drove you away—“

“You didn’t force me to stomp off and get lost like a fucking moron.”

“I mean years ago, not just tonight.” His grasp gingerly circles your waist, mindful of your own battered body, holding you close. “I fucked up, I pushed you away… and this friendship was never a mistake. Fixing it was never, ever a mistake. I wish I could take back every awful thing I’ve said and done.”

“I wasn’t making it any easier tonight. Seriously,” You gently push his face off of you, holding his in your hands. 

You realize how close the two of you are, it makes you nervous, despite having the most X-rated, nonsensical sex of your life. Now that the bloom’s effects have worn off, you don’t feel as confident, or desperate, to make any bold moves.

You also can’t help but wonder if he ever actually wanted you the way you always wanted him.

“I should’ve stayed. You were just trying to get us home safely.” Your eyes scrunch shut as you take a breath, letting the last of your guard down. “I’ve been so afraid to lose you again, to some stupid shit, and then all of this… this Upside Down bullshit… it terrifies me. Steve, I was so scared I lost you for good at the lake.

“You’re not a problem, either. I wish I never said that, ‘cause it’s far from the truth—“

He cups under your jaw, thumb gently caressing along your cheek, touch taking your breath away. Like the two of you weren’t just all over one another in the most sinful ways.

“Think we both said some awful shit to each other, shit that neither of us meant. And I think we both are sorry, yeah?”

You nod as your eyes open, bottom lip trembling a little.

“I’m not going anywhere, not without you.” Steve searches your gaze for any other hidden truths, his own stare glassy. “But you can’t keep hiding anymore, either.” He hesitates before asking, “What happened?”

There’s no reason to keep your pain bottled up anymore, not when you’ve bared all to one another tonight.

You can’t look him in the eye when you answer; “No one leaves if you don’t let them in. Can’t be abandoned when you keep your distance.”

Steve’s heart aches; he has his own abandonment issues, and yours are best to be unpacked another time, when all of this is said and done. For now, he does what he’s best at: wearing his heart on his sleeve, while holding you close; he hopes in time you can trust him again.

“I think we need each other… now more than ever.” He kisses your forehead; what a contrast to the way he kissed you so greedily earlier.

Squeezing tightly back, you’re mindful of his wounds, too. “We do.”

Over his shoulder, you glance over at the plant, now wilted, rotting rapidly before your eyes.

“Stupid fuckin’ plant.”  You flip it off, as if that does anything. 

Steve chuckles for a moment before asking, “Are you okay? That’s— like I know what we just went through was fucked up—“

All you can do is laugh with him, because really, what the fuck just happened? “So fucked up.”

“But you’re not hurt at all, are you? I- I mean more than before— I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Oh… uh, no. M’kinda sore, but nothing I can’t handle.” You shyly answer. “Are you okay?”

“Kinda sore,” He repeats you, smirking, “Nothing I can’t handle.” His stare falls to your lips, lingers there. “We should probably find our way back… but I can— uh.” He forces his gaze back on yours, blushing deeply. “I can give some, um, real aftercare, y’know, when we get back home… if you want… maybe even talk this thing out… feelings, and stuff.”

You’re taken aback by the unexpected, vague confession, but also so smitten by how flustered he’s getting.

“Yeah, I’d like that, Steve.” You lean in to kiss his cheek softly. “I can take care of you, too.”

He begins to grin, “Okay—“

Distant shouting and footsteps startle the both of you, freezing in place. Steve shields you with his naked form, as if that’d do anything from whoever— or whatever— is in the building.

“Guys, you in here—“ Eddie runs in, only to shriek at the sight of you and Steve on the floor, completely nude. “Jesus H. Christ—“ He grabs his vest from the floor, the one Steve wore and somehow still intact, hurtling it at Steve with his eyes shut. “I said for your fuckin’ modesty, Harrington!” 

He stomps out, returning to throw some lab coats, drenched in soot and grime your way. “Glad you two got to have your moment, and all, but we should probably go home.” As he wanders out the door, he mutters, “Perverts.”

Both you and Steve throw the coats on, giggling to the point of tears as Eddie’s voice echoes down the hall to who you assume to be Robin and Nancy, “I was right! You two owe me $10 each!”

Steve shakes his head with a sigh, yet his smile never fades; he takes his time, carefully pulling you up with him. Hand outstretched to you, he asks, “Walk of shame time?”

You groan, but a smile cracks across your face as you lace your fingers between his.

“Yeah, walk of shame time.”

[kurokoros]

actually really messed up over the way that Steve Harrington is a character that's desperate to be wanted by someone and the narrative repeatedly punishes him for it. he's a very metaphorical and literal punching bag each season, but it's Steve so it's always a haha funny in hindsight moment or whatever trauma he goes through simply isn’t addressed afterwards.

like, it's implied that his parents aren't around much and/or they have an unhappy and unhealthy marriage (his mom has to follow his dad on business trips to make sure he isn't cheating, which happens often enough that his friends can joke about it). his friends sucked and he obviously didn't agree with or like some of the things they did, but at least they paid attention to him so it was something. he has a reputation for serial dating (or at the very least sleeping around) by the beginning of his junior year in high school. S1 has Nancy blow him off, lie to him, and then spend the night with Jonathan Byers in her bedroom, leading him to believe she’s cheating on him (and despite the audience knowing that’s not technically the case, there’s no denying that the scenes between Nancy and Jonathan were meant to imply romantic chemistry between them). in S2, drunk or not, Nancy is extremely cruel in the way she blames him in part for the death of her friend and calls their entire roughly year long relationship bullshit (which she never really apologizes for), after which she disappears for several days, leaving their relationship ambiguously over, only to show up again a few days later with the new boyfriend she spent over a year pining for. S3 he pours his heart out to Robin just to be rejected when there were totally different ways to work her coming out scene into the plot that didn’t involve spending x number of episodes hinting towards them as a couple just to pull a bait and switch for the audience. and then in S4 Steve is both insecure about his friendship with Dustin, who has more in common with Eddie than he does with Steve, and he has several different people telling him that he's still interested in Nancy and that she's also interested in him (Dustin, Robin, Eddie), only to have his heart kind of broken all over again when she goes right back to Jonathan. 

and that's emotional pain on top of getting beaten or otherwise attacked every season. though arguably justified, in S1 Steve is slapped, punched, and shoved around. during his fight with Billy in S2, Steve is beaten to the point of being knocked out cold for an undetermined amount of time between roughly 10-30 minutes. this is treated like a joke in S3, but considering the number of blows he took to the head there should have been a very serious concern over him having a concussion at best and trauma to the brain at worst. S3 is the same, but the focus on him feeling “like [his] eye is about to pop out” implies ocular trauma. he’s then drugged and nearly has his fingernails ripped off as a form of torture. finally in S4 his bare back is dragged across the ground, he’s strangled, and he has chunks of flesh ripped out of his sides, which I can’t remember being addressed at all after the group returns from the upside down. 

that’s a lot to go through in the ~2.5 years that Stranger things covers. and what’s worse is that I can’t remember a single time where a character asks if he’s okay

[jazzycurls]

You belong to me - part 4.

Pairing: Eddie Munson x fem!Reader

Summary: It's a surprise 😉🤫

Warnings/Tags: 18+ minors dni! Cheating, angst, hurt & comfort, smut, mentions of stalking and pregnancy (let me know if I missed something)

An: Hi, you guys! I guess I'm not new to writing anymore, but I'm still a newbie. All feedback is welcome. Be gentle please haha. Please do not steal or copy my work. Don’t repost without credit. This is my written work, everything besides the characters and plot points by the original writers, belongs to me. Love you guys, and thank you so much for the support, hope you enjoy ❤

Word Count: 6,306

It's been exactly four weeks and two days since you last spoke to Eddie. Ever since that day you saw him and Chrissy together, you vowed to never let him hurt you again. It was tough going to school and dealing with all the rumors swirling around you, Eddie, and Chrissy.

Most people had called you a slut, others said Eddie was the slut who had corrupted you in some way and a few people said it was a hoax, unwilling to believe that Eddie The Freak Munson was able to date two women at once. You ignored the rumors, choosing to focus on your schoolwork so you could graduate and get the hell out of this town.

Clara was there beside you through it all and helped you brave the storm. You were forever grateful for her friendship, people like her are hard to come by and should always be cherished. You vowed to repay her as soon as you got the chance.

Eddie had tried his best to talk to you afterward. He had tried everything from following you around at school, showing up at your house, and calling you every night but you shot him down every time. The blinders were off and you wouldn't allow yourself to be fooled by him any longer.

You still loved Eddie but not enough to sacrifice your happiness. You vowed that you would never do that after witnessing the destruction of your parent's marriage. Your mother had spent many nights crying herself to sleep and now was a shell of who she used to be, throwing herself into her work to avoid her harsh reality.

They say that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree because here you were, on your way to your new job at Family Video. You'd had the great idea to get a job to help keep you preoccupied. You've been working there for officially two weeks now and you loved it. It's a laid-back job with decent pay plus your co-workers were awesome.

You pull into the parking lot and park your car. As you make your way into the store the hairs on the back of your neck began to stand on end. You stop in your tracks as you look around the lot cautiously, heading into the store when you don't see anything strange. For the past few weeks, you kept having the strangest feeling that you were being followed. With Hawkins being notorious for people going missing and all of the strange occurrences, it was always best to be on guard in a town like this one.

"Hi, Y/n," your coworkers Robin and Steve echoed in union.

You raised a brow at them as you entered the store and went behind the sales desk. "Oookay, that wasn't creepy at all," you laughed as you placed your bag under the counter.

"What do you mean," they both asked in confusion.

"Okay, seriously guys, this is weird," you stated, getting slightly creeped out. With the weird feeling of eyes watching you at random times of the day, it didn't take much to put you on edge nowadays.

"Sorry Y/n, it was Steve's idea," Robin laughed, hugging you.

"Hey, not true! Don't believe her Y/n," he tells you as he hugs you as well. The bell on the door chimes, signaling the arrival of a customer as you are wrapped up in his arms.

You turn your head to see Eddie headed your way with his eyes trained on you. Steve lets you go to help Eddie as he places his items on the counter. His eyes are dark, nearly the color of coals as he glares at Steve.

"Harrington," he sniffs before turning to Robin with a bright smile. "Hey Robbie," he grins.

"Munson, if you call me that name one more time, I'm going to jam your precious guitar up your ass!"

Eddie throws his hands up in mock surrender "Yes ma'am," he replies jokingly. His gaze finally settles on yours "Hello Y/n," he whispers, his eyes soft and shining with emotion.

"Hi, Eddie." Your voice is monotone and your expression is indifferent, a severe contrast to the emotions raging inside of you.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere between you two, Steve steps in and picks up the movies Eddie placed on the counter. He taps a few keys onto the register and scans the barcode on the back of the tapes. "Alright Munson, it says here that you have an overdue late fee of $6.18 on your account. Would you like to make a payment today?"

Eddie begrudgingly looks away from you and turns toward Steve. He digs into the pocket of his jeans, pulls out a wrinkled ten-dollar bill, and hands it to Steve. Unable to stand the tension building, you busy yourself by going over to the romance section to organize the shelf.

Minutes go by, and you hear the soft footsteps of someone walking up behind you. You look over to find Eddie standing there with his hands shoved into the pockets of his well-worn jeans. You stand up and move to leave before he stops you.

"Wait Y/n, can we talk? Please!" he begs, his hands stretched out towards you blocking your exit.

You sigh deeply and shake your head, feeling your resolve break. "You have a minute," you relent, crossing your arms as you wait.

"Baby, what happened before," he begins, as he takes a step towards you. You take a step back, holding your hand up between you two.

"Sorry," he mutters sadly before continuing. "What you saw with me and Chrissy, it wasn't what it looked like. I was about to tell her that it was over between her and me when she —," he trailed off unable to continue. He couldn't tell you about the upside down. It could put you in danger and that was something he refused to allow to happen.

You lifted a brow expectantly as you waited for him to continue. Your patience was starting to wane thin.

"Um, she said that she um— that she needed me," he responded weakly. It sounded unbelievable even to his own ears. He sees your face drops back into a cold stare and his chest tightens in fear when he realizes how bad he's fucking this up right now.

"You have to believe me Y/n. It's just for a little while and this doesn't mean that I'm with her because it doesn't and I promise you she knows that." His words are rushed and awkward as he tries to convince you that his words are true.

"Times up Eddie." You turn to walk away and he grabs your hand quickly.

"Y/n wait, I'm telling the truth. I just need you to wait for me, please, at least until I sort everything out." His plea is desperate as he holds your hand close to his heart.

"Why should I Eddie? You haven't been honest with me not once this entire time! You won! You got what you wanted so just leave me the fuck alone." Your voice rises out of anger, causing Robin and Steve to throw concerned glances in your direction. You let out slow deep breaths as you attempt to reel your emotions back in.

Shock is evident on Eddie's face, which soon gives way to anger. If he was honest with himself he's never done well with confrontation. With his father mentally and physically abusing him throughout his childhood, he's developed a sort of defense mechanism, which makes him run away when he feels threatened. The hurt that he feels because you don't trust him makes him angry, not knowing how to properly deal with his emotions. He feels that he's been nothing but honest with you this entire time. If there was anything he left out it was for your safety, not so he could try and fuck you over.

"You know what, fuck this," Eddie grunts, as his feelings get the better of him. "You don't have to believe me." As the words leave his lips his heart breaks and regrets already spreading through him as he turns away from you, storming out of the store.

You want to call out to him, tell him that you were sorry for going off. You're not a confrontational person, so your reaction just now took you by surprise. Bile rises in your throat as you watch Eddie leave. You turn and run to the employee's lounge, slamming the door shut as you hurl your lunch into the toilet. Your fingers grip the wall tightly and you begin to dry heave once there is nothing left. Once your stomach settles you drop down onto the tiled floor, trying to catch your breath.

A few minutes go by when you hear a knock on the door. "Y/n, is everything okay?" Robin asks you from the other side.

"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute." Your voice sounds weak as you answer her. You rise to stand and go to wash your hands. Once you're done you splash cold water on your flushed face. 'What the fuck.'  You wonder as you gaze at your reflection in the mirror. Was this whole situation so stressful that it was making you sick? Or was it the thought of things finally being over with Eddie that made you ill?

You honestly didn't know but you refused to dwell over it any longer. Taking a deep breath you opened the door with a fake smile plastered on your face.

"You okay," Robin asks when you appear back at the counter.

"No, but I will be," you reply with a strained smile but you're not convinced you will be.

Steve takes in your appearance noting how squeamish you look, a stark contrast to how you were when you first arrived. "Hey Y/n, if you're not feeling well you can leave early if you want. I think Robbie and I can manage," he says earning a smack on the back of his head from Robin.

"Yeah, I think that's for the best," you say, laughing in response to their antics. You begin to pack up your things and give them both a hug before making your departure.

The fresh air of the evening does little to settle your stomach and the nagging thought of something you had forgotten in the back of your mind. You make a pit stop at the local mart, unaware of the eyes watching your every step.

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You sat on your bed with Clara, your fingers gripping the unopened pink box tightly. She listened intently as you told her the events of what happened a few days ago with Eddie. Her features shift with each detail you relay. Shock settles over her face once you end with the purchase you had made due to the absence of your period.

"Why haven't you taken it yet," she questions as she clasped your hand in yours. You blinked your eyes, trying desperately to stave off the tears threatening to escape.

"I'm scared," you admitted. "If I take this test, then it becomes real and then I'll have no choice but to deal with it." Your hands shake nervously, causing the box to fall onto the floor.

Clara bent down and picked up the box, pressing it back into your hands. "Y/n, this isn't something you can ignore. The longer you put it off the fewer options you'll have."

"I know, but what if it's positive? Things between Eddie and me are horrible right now. A baby will only complicate things even more." A few tears skip down your cheeks as your emotions began to overwhelm you.

"Whatever happens I'll be here for you okay? I'll even beat Eddie up for you if you want," she says, pulling you into a tight hug.

You laugh along with her as you hug her back. "I'll keep that in mind," you snicker as you get up from the bed, making your way into the bathroom. You close the door behind you and lean up against it. You take calming breaths as you read the instructions on the back of the box.

'Okay, remove cap and place tip into urine stream for five seconds. Replace cap, lay it flat, and wait for results, should be ready within five minutes. Seems easy enough,' you thought silently.

You will your hands to stop shaking as you unwrap the package and begin to follow the instructions listed on the box. Once finished you lay the test flat on the counter and began to wait. The seconds ticked by agonizingly slow and you become all too aware of the silence in the bathroom. The walls felt as if they were closing in on you with each minute that passed.

Your timer beeps on your watch, signaling that the test result was ready. Turning back towards the counter you eye the test warily. You could feel a trickle of sweat running along your spine as you start to perspire. 'This is crazy. Just pick it up and read it. It's not a big deal, it's not like this is going to change your life from this point in every single way.'

Exasperated, you sink down onto the edge of the tub. "Clara" you called out through the closed door.

"Yes!" She replied immediately, busting through the door.

You gesture towards the test on the counter. "I can't look," you said softly, letting your head fall into your hands. You stare at the patterns on the tile floor as you listen to her pick up the test.

A soft gasp fell from her lips making your blood run cold. "It's positive," she murmurs as she crouches down in front of you.

"Of course it's positive, I've never failed a test before. Guess I'm not going to start now huh." You laugh bitterly, shaking your head in disbelief.

"Y/n, it's going to be okay. Whatever you decide to do, it's going to be okay." She laid her hand on yours as you sat there in silence. "Are you going to tell Eddie," she asked.

"I don't know if I should. I mean, what would even be the point of that anyways? I don't want a pity relationship because he made the mistake of knocking me up." Your words come out heated and rushed as your anger washes over you.

"He deserves to know Y/n. Don't keep it from him because you're scared of what his response may be. You never know, maybe he'll step up, maybe he won't but you'll never know if you don't give him a chance." Clara's voice was firm and sure as she held your gaze.

"You're right, I'll tell him," you huff out a moment later.

She gives you a small smile before standing up and pulling you up along with her. "Fuck! Squatting like that made my legs hurt," she complained trying to shake the pins and needles feeling out of her legs. "I guess I'm getting too old for that now. Welp, no more blowjobs for Steve then," she jokes, crouching over and holding her back dramatically.

"Yeah right, I'll believe that when pigs fly," you laugh snorting obnoxiously as you follow her back into your room.

"You calling me a slut," Clara growls, her hand inching towards the pillows on your bed.

"Uh yeah. You and Steve are biggest the horndogs I've ever met," you retort grinning cheekily.

"You're gonna regret that Y/l/n," she yells, smacking you in the face with a pillow. You stand there for a moment in shock before springing into action, grabbing a pillow for your counterattack. Peels of laughter sound off in the room along with thumps from the pillow fight, giving you a welcome reprieve from the tough decisions sure to come.

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Eddie sat perched atop his throne in the old theatre room, which was also their meeting place for all of their D&D campaigns. Drumming his fingers against the chipped wooden table, his patience began to wear thin as he waited for everyone to sit down and get situated. After a minute had passed, everyone was still talking animatedly to each other. 

"Can we hurry this along please!" he yelled out, causing the room to go silent as all eyes snapped onto him. "Thank you," he said once he had everyone's attention. He had called an emergency meeting weeks ago as soon as Chrissy had told him her dreams had returned. Due to conflicts of schedule and the matter of long distance for some, it had taken a while to get everyone back together again.

"What's going on Eddie? Why are we all here," asked Dustin.

"Vecna's back," Eddie replied somberly, getting straight to the point. A few gasps of panic flew across the room at his announcement.

"Are you sure? I mean— how do you know, what happened?" Nancy questioned, her eyes flickering with concern.

Eddie began to explain what Chrissy had told him that day, omitting the part with you in it. He didn't need everyone to know about his relationship with you when he was still trying to fix the damage he'd caused.

"So why isn't she here if she's so scared that he's after her?" Max's voice was low and her expression held a look of skepticism. Something about this situation seemed off to her but she didn't want to jump to conclusions just yet.

"She had cheerleading practice," Eddie replied rubbing a hand across his face tiredly. Between Chrissy hanging onto him like a leech every chance she got and you avoiding him like a leper, he felt as if he was losing his mind. He hadn't had a proper sleep in weeks and it was beginning to show. His eyes were dull, sporting dark heavy-looking bags underneath each one.

Murmurs echo around the room at his response. "I'm sorry man but I call bullshit. I've seen Chrissy around town and she didn't look scared to me," said Steve.

"Why would she lie then huh? If you have an idea, then by all means please share it because I don't have a clue!" Eddies hands grip the arms of his chair as he struggles to regain control over his emotions.

"Are you okay Eddie?" Robin asked. She had never seen Eddie like this before and it was starting to scare her a little. After witnessing the scene between Eddie and you, she had the sinking feeling that this all had something to do with one another.

"Yeah— I'm fine, just a little tired is all. Now, can we please get back to the matter at hand?" Eddie hated being so dismissive toward his friend but he wanted to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.

"Well, I haven't felt anything from him. Honestly, I thought he was dead. I haven't felt this peaceful in a long time," Will replied in a soft voice.

"Me too," Max confirmed as others began to echo in agreeance.

"I think that settles it, dude. It sounds like Chrissy lied to you," Dustin said softly so only Eddie could hear him.

"I think you're right and I'm going to find out why." Eddies features were stony and everyone could see the shift in his demeanor. He adjourned the meeting, thanking everyone for coming and apologizing on Chrissy's behalf.

Before he left the room he tapped Robin on the shoulder, pulling her from her conversation with Steve. "Hey, I just wanted to apologize about earlier. I haven't been—, he started but Robin cut him off with a  wave of her hand.

"Don't worry about it. There are no hard feelings okay? Just go handle whatever it is you need to with Chrissy. To be honest Eddie, I never liked her anyways," she tells him with a smirk.

Eddie gives her a quick hug before taking his leave. He was on a mission as he made his way hastily to the gym, determined to catch Chrissy before she left. He wanted an explanation as to why she had lied and he wasn't going to leave until she gave him one.

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Chrissy's friend Alice stood to the side of the bleachers anxiously. The loud voices of Chrissy and Eddie rang out sharply throughout the gym. Standing in the shadows, she wasn't trying to be seen until the time was right.

The words lying bitch could be heard clearly throughout the room followed by a resounding slap. Chrissy stormed by quickly tears streaming down her face. She passed by quickly, not seeing Alice standing in the corner. Once the double doors had closed, Alice stepped from behind the bleachers into the light. Eddie stood close by with his head hanging down, his hair hiding his face. She cleared her throat lightly, gaining Eddie's attention immediately.

"Jesus Christ! You scared the shit out of me!" He yelped, holding a hand over his chest. His heartbeat was erratic as he took a deep breath to calm down before he had a premature death. "What do you want," he asked warily after he had regained control of his breathing. He knew you only through Chrissy and had never spoken to you alone before. If he was a betting man, he would bet that Chrissy didn't know you were here, especially right after the fight they'd just had.

"Chrissy doesn't know that I'm here," she said confirming his suspicions as she looked over her shoulder cautiously. Eddie nodded in response and she continued, wanting to get this over as soon as possible. She didn’t want Chrissy to find out about what she was about to do.

"Chrissy's been lying to you, Eddie. She's been seeing Jason behind your back the entire time you two were together," she whispered.

When Chrissy told her that she and Eddie didn't have sex, she was in disbelief. The reason why became even more obvious when she caught them hooking up in Jason's car during school once. Jason had later told her with a smug look on his face that he and Chrissy had always maintained a sexual relationship even after she had gotten with 'The Freak'.

When she confronted Chrissy, she only shrugged with a coy smile, "I get what I need from Jason and Eddie, what's the big deal?"

Alice had told her that it wasn't right but Chrissy didn't want to listen to reason, only warning her to stay out of it before flouncing away, her ponytail bouncing perkily behind her.

"Wow, I mean what the fuck. I know I have no room to talk but for her to pretend to be so innocent when she's just as bad is fucking insane." Eddie's eyes were big as he ran his hands through his hair.

He had tried before to initiate a sexual relationship with Chrissy but she had told him she wanted to wait until marriage. He had accepted her decision, not wanting to pressure her into something she didn't want but he couldn't deny that the thought of why things were the way they were didn't cross his mind at times. Boys tended to talk and he knew that she wasn't a virgin because of Jason, so the new information just revealed to him, answered the questions he's had for a long time.

"Thanks for telling me," he said finally, looking over to Clara. "I know that couldn't have been easy."

"You're welcome, Eddie. I know I can be a bitch sometimes but I like to think that I'm still a good person," she said as she began to walk away. Before reaching the doors, she turned around to look over her shoulder at him. "Eddie be careful with Chrissy. She's not the same anymore and I'm afraid of what she may do if things don't go her way."

He nodded in response and watched as she walked through the doors, her ominous warning of Chrissy repeating over and over in his head.

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You're lost in your thoughts as you walk along the crowded hallways. You had spent the entire weekend trying to figure out how to tell Eddie you were pregnant. The last time you talked, it ended horribly and you were kinda ashamed to have to approach him again so soon. You were sure that after how you treated him, he didn't want to speak to you again.

As you neared your classroom a hand snatched you into a nearby closet, closing the door briskly behind you. "What the hell," you shrieked before a hand clasped over your mouth keeping you silent.

"Shhh Y/n, it's just me," Eddie whispered as he clicked on the overhead light.

You snatch his hand from your mouth, looking upward at him. "I knew that Eddie. You are literally the only person who snatches me into closets at random."

"Yeah, you're right," he says laughing awkwardly. He rubs the back of his neck as he takes a moment to look at you. It feels as if he hasn't gotten a chance to really look at you in forever. His heart flutters nervously as you stare back into his eyes. The speech he had prepared, long forgotten at the sight of you.

You were also experiencing something similar as you began to malfunction at being in such close proximity with Eddie. An apology sits at the top of your tongue for the way you treated him before but you quickly swallow it back down as quickly as it comes. "What do you want," you question once you finally begin to settle from the mental Olympics your mind is going through.

"I wanted to talk to you. I know that our last conversation didn't end well and I want to apologize to you." He takes a deep breath in an attempt to settle his nerves before continuing.

"I let my emotions get the best of me and I reacted poorly. I know that you're probably getting tired of me apologizing and I promise to do better— I want to be better for you. Whenever I'm with you, I feel better about myself. Even though we haven't had the chance to be together, I'm sure of how I feel about you. You don't have to worry about me and Chrissy anymore because I've handled that situation and it's completely over, I promise you. So please Y/n, please take a chance on me and I promise I won't let you down again ever." His eyes are big and wet as he looks down at you pleadingly.

You lean back up against the door as you consider his words. The fierceness in his eyes is endearing, making you want to believe him this time, but there is still a nagging thought in the back of your mind. You still feel that there is something that Eddie isn't telling you. Until you know the real reason he broke his promise and chose to stay with Chrissy, you can't forgive him just yet. "I want to trust you Eddie but for me to do that, you have to be completely honest with me. I don't want to start a relationship on a half-truth."

Something akin to fear flashes across Eddie's face before disappearing quickly. His features relax again as he takes your hands into his hesitantly, pulling you in closer. "Y/n— there's a lot of things that's happened in Hawkins in the past couple of years. A lot of things have been kept from the public for safety reasons," he pauses to make sure that you are still following him. "I'll tell you everything but I need you to keep an open mind okay? I know that what I tell you may be hard to believe but just trust me okay?"

You nod your head slowly as your heart begins to race. You're not sure what it is he is about to tell you but you have the feeling that it will change everything moving forward. Just as he opens his mouth to speak, the tardy bell rings announcing that you both are late for class.

"Fuck! Can you follow me to my house after school?" He says hopefully, resting his hand on the doorknob behind you.

"Yeah," you reply breathlessly as he leans in closer to you, resting his forehead against yours. Your eyes flutter close as his nose brushes against yours, his breath is warm as it fans across your face pleasantly.

The sound of the second bell rings and the moment is gone. Disappointment is clear on both of your faces as he pulls back, giving you room to move away from the door. "Later?" His eyes are bright, filled with hope and longing.

"Later," you smile squeezing his hand gently before slipping through the door. Eddie waits a second before taking his leave as well. His smile is big and wide as he walks into class, even after his teacher tears him a new one for being late once again, his smile never fades.

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You rush out of class once the final bell rings and you head to the parking lot, eager to meet Eddie as planned. After you have your talk with Eddie, you'll have to go straight to work, so you're grateful that you were able to get the car from your mom this morning. You spot Eddie in the crowded lot once you make it to your car. He gives you an excited wave and you wave back with a shy smile.

You both enter your cars and you began to follow him as he leaves the school. As you're driving out of the lot you pass by Chrissy standing near her car. She stares at you with a blank expression as you pass by. Your eyes meet and you hold her gaze before looking away to safely follow the traffic.

"Crazy bitch," you mutter under your breath. You shake it off mentally, you refuse to let her ruin the good mood you were in. You're anxious about what Eddie is going to tell you. Optimism is flowing through you and you can feel your walls lowering for what could be. You hope that he'll be receptive to the news you have for him as well.

Your hands begin to shake as your mind wanders at what his reaction will be. You had planned on telling him today but you're not sure you'll have time after he reveals whatever the secret is he's been holding in.

Before you know it you are pulling into the trailer park behind Eddie. You follow closely as he passes by several trailers before pulling into what you assumed was his home. You park behind him and get out of your car.

Eddie walks over to you with a smile, taking your hand into his, and leads you up the steps. As you both enter his home you notice the trailer is a little on the small side but has a homey feel to it that you find charming.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Eddie says bowing at the waist as you walk into his room. You giggle in response as you sidestep some articles of clothing and stand awkwardly beside his bed. His room is for the most part clean, albeit a little disorganized.

You're not sure if you should sit or stand so you choose to wait for him to tell you what to do. You act as if you're strangers as if Eddie hasn't been inside of you and made you cum in almost every way.

Eddie closes his door, kicking off his shoes. "Make yourself comfortable sweetheart, mi casa su casa." He takes a seat next to you on his bed and takes your hand into his.

"I'm so happy you agreed to listen to what I have to say. I was afraid that you would never talk to me again after last time," he says honestly. He feels happy but also nervous for what he is about to expose you to. He knows that everyone will be pissed at him for getting you involved but he could care less. At this point he would do anything to get you back, he would even travel through Mordor unarmed for you.

"Me too Eddie," you reply sweetly. Your heart skips a beat as he presses a kiss to your knuckles. "Eddie, before you begin, I just want to say I'm sorry for how I acted the last time we spoke. It wasn't unnecessary and I said some things that I didn't mean." Your head drops down and you look at your lap, unable to meet his gaze.

He lifts your chin with his ringed finger. "I already forgave you, baby. There's nothing to apologize for," he whispers against your hand still pressed to his lips. You smile as a heated flush creeps up your neck and settles on your face.

Eddie smiles at your response before he begins "As I said before sweetheart, what I'm going to tell you may be hard to believe but just know that everything I say is the truth." He licks his lips as he prepares to tell you the truth about Hawkins.

His eyes are wide, filled with warmth that eases any doubts you may have had before. You nod your head and you listen intently as he begins to tell you a tale so bizarre that it sounds like it's straight from a movie scene.

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You wave goodbye to Robin and Steve as you walk across the dark parking lot toward your car. Your mind races as you fumble with your keys to unlock the car. Hours have passed since your conversation with Eddie but you're still in shock.

The story he had told you felt too bizarre to be true. But when you sat back and thought about all of the strange occurrences that's happened, his explanation was more reasonable than what the media had portrayed. You were correct before when you thought that you wouldn't have time to tell him your truth. He had taken hours to go over everything with you and by the time he was done you were late for work.

You promised that you wouldn't tell anyone about what he had revealed to you, including Steve and Robin. He wanted to keep everyone oblivious to the fact that you knew everything, for now. You smiled to yourself, the way he worried over your safety made your heart clench in happiness and hope that he would be open to what you had to tell him.

A noise startles you from behind and you drop your keys in fear. You were on edge and every little sound was making you jump. Bending down you scoop up your keys swiftly, fear pumping through you as you slot your keys in the lock. You climb into your car swiftly, slamming the door behind you.

Your heart is pounding as you look behind you out of your car windows. For a moment there you could've sworn that you heard footsteps behind you. Taking a deep breath you start your car and head back to Eddie's house. He had invited you back to his house after work once you told him that you had something important to tell him as well. Your mom was out of town visiting family and you hoped that if things ended well, you could spend the weekend with Eddie.

So wrapped up in your thoughts you didn't see the car behind you until it slammed into you, causing you to swerve hazardously before regaining control.

"What the fuck," you yell in surprise. Your eyes fly to your rearview mirror and you're blinded by the harsh light reflecting from the beams.

You realize with a start that the reason you didnt notice them was that they didnt have on their lights until just now. They obviously didn't want you to notice them until it was too late. The car behind you rams into you again and you jerk forward from the impact. A cry leaves your lips as you step on the gas, you have to get away from this person before they kill you.

The other car is right on your tail as you bend the corner dangerously. Sweat coats your entire body as your adrenaline skyrockets. No matter how fast you go, the unknown assailant is right behind you.

The roads are dark and empty as you both race along the paved road. You cry in relief when you realize that you're a few minutes away from Eddie's house. No sooner than the thought enters your mind, they slam into you violently, and the wheel jerks as you lose control of the car. Your car veers off the road and your wheels screech as you skid across the pavement. A silent scream leaves your mouth as you realize that you are headed straight for the treeline.

As you brace for impact, your last thoughts are of Eddie, how you didn't get to tell him you were pregnant and that you never got the chance to tell him that you loved him. Your thoughts are filled with him as glass breaks around you with a sickening crunch and everything fades to black.

Taglist: @bibieddiesgf @tlclick73 @seventhlevelofhell @emmysuebull22 @adequate-superstar @vintagehellfire @sidthedollface2 @blue-eyed-lion @hazydespair @fly-on-the-wall @nicolaj1978 @sinczir @starrywhitenight @merciiss @hanahkatexo @kellysimagines @hargrovesswifee @simp4rengoku @igglepiggle22 @isimpforeveryonee @urdad-hot @thikkiesixx @billyhargrovesfuturewife @sammararaven @yogizzz

[dixons-sunshine]

Freaks Ahoy! (Steve Harrington x fem!reader)

Summary: Steve "The Hair" Harrington never thought he'd fall for anyone again after Nancy, until he met the one girl that made him change his mind about that.

One tiny problem- her brother was non other than Eddie Munson.

Warnings: Mentions of drugs, fluff, slight angst (?), insecure Steve, Eddie being an overprotective big brother, Eddie being the best.

A/n: This doesn't directly follow the Stranger Things 3 or 4 plot. It's a mix between both, I guess, because Dustin and Mike are both already in Hellfire. I don't really know. I had this idea and I had to write it.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

"I'm completely and utterly hopeless," Steve Harrington said, startling the blonde who was wiping down the tables. Scoops Ahoy had just closed, leaving the two friends alone to clean up.

"Jeez, don't do that!" Robin exclaimed, throwing the rag she was previously using at the brunette, placing her hand over her heart purely for dramatic effect.

"Sorry," Steve said, grimacing at the rag covered in ice cream that was thrown at him.

"What did you mean by "I'm completely and utterly hopeless"?" Robin asked, moving to sit on one of the chairs that have yet been placed on the table.

Steve took a seat across from her, throwing his hands up in exclamation. "Just that. It's been, what, almost a full year since Nancy and I broke up, and I still haven't gone on one date, while she and Jonathan are living their best lives together!"

"You know you sound jealous, right? I thought you were over Nancy."

"I am. Really, I am. It's just... I don't know, it's stupid." Steve ran a hand over his face, closing his eyes and letting out a long, overdramatic sigh.

Robin furrowed her eyebrows, examining the brunette in front of her. Sure, she loved making fun of his inability to talk to people of the fairer sex, but this didn't seem like the time to do so.

"Talk to me, Steve. I'm sure it's not stupid," Robin said, leaning foward in her chair.

Steve sighed. "You know how people say that if your relationship doesn't work out, it's because there's someone better for you out there?" Robin nodded, "well, I can't help but feel that I'm never gonna find somebody better than Nancy. She was my first ever stable relationship, my first love. And with all my pathetic excuses for relationships since then, I'm guessing that the universe is making fun of me for not being better in our relationship."

Robin immediately got up to embrace Steve. Steve was shocked; Robin was never really physical in their friendship, so this was new for him, but not entirely unwelcome. He didn't know that he needed a hug in that moment before the blonde embraced him.

"Don't ever say that shit again," Robin began, allowing the brunette to bury his face into her neck, "what happened with Nancy wasn't your fault at all. I don't know the whole story behind that, but I'm pretty sure that cheating doesn't justify anything you may or may not have done."

"That's the thing," Steve began, "I can't really be mad at her for that, though. I could see that she liked Jonathan. Should've ended the relationship before it progressed to that. I guess she felt stuck in the relationship and had to find an out. Can't blame her, because I wouldn't want to be with me either."

Robin pulled away from the embrace, opting to crouch in front of him instead. "Hey, you know that making fun of you is my favourite pass time, but put all of that aside? You're an amazing guy and you deserve the closest thing to a perfect relationship there is."

Steve smiled at her, wiping away a stray tear he hadn't realized had fallen before. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were into me."

Robin chuckled, getting up and letting the blood flow back through her legs. "If you let your hair grow any longer, I might be into it."

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

"I can't believe you're letting me stoop this low." The long haired brunette chuckled at his sister's antics, lighting up a cigarette to smoke.

"Lighten up, Ducky. I'm sure scooping ice cream is almost as cool as whatever the hell you're interested in."

You let out an overdramatic sigh, leaning back into the worn-out leather of Eddie's van. Starcourt Mall was right in front of the two of you, basking in all it's glory.

Today would be the first day of your job at Scoops Ahoy, where you would be stuck scooping ice cream for screaming toddlers, rich, snobby and spoiled teenagers and overly judging mom's.

You definitely didn't ever see yourself working a job as an ice cream scooper, but alas, here you were. It was no secret that the Munson's were tight on money, your home being a trailer at the trailer park. And besides, you owed everything to your uncle, who worked his ass off to provide for the three of you.

"What are you going to do after I head inside?" You asked Eddie, crinkling your nose at the smell the cigarette was leaving in the car.

"Me?" Eddie began, leaning back into the car seat, "I'm going to the Hideout after this. I got a part time job there."

You let out a small ah before grabbing the cigarette from your one year older brother's mouth and putting it out, not without protests from Eddie, though.

"Those things are going to kill you, you know that, right?" You asked Eddie, groaning as Eddie simply lit himself another cigarette.

"Everyone dies of something. Might as well get a head start," Eddie said, laughing as you rolled your eyes at him, "besides, shouldn't you be heading inside? You don't want to be late on your first day, do you?"

You let out an audible groan before grabbing your bag from the backseat of Eddie's van. "I guess not," you said, opening the door and getting out.

"Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone!" Eddie called after her.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you!"

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

"Harrington, did you hear?" Steve whipped his head to look at the blonde that was racing towards him, out of breath from running.

He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Hear what?" He asked, leaning against the counter. He came to the conclusion that people seem to hate ice cream on weekdays, because nobody had come in after a whole three hours of the shop being open.

"Phil hired someone! And guess who it is?" Robin said in an ominous voice, causing Steve to snort.

"I don't know, Santa Claus?"

Robin hit him on the shoulder. "No, dingus! Y/n Munson! You know, Eddie Munson's sister?"

Steve pursed his lips, raising his eyebrows at the blonde. The name did sound familiar, yet he couldn't put a face to the name. "Am I supposed to know who that is?"

Robin looked at him in shock. "You don't know her?" Steve shook his head. "She sucker punched Billy Hargrove square in the jaw last year for picking on one of the Hellfire kids! And she's Eddie's sister!"

"I got the part where she's Eddie's sister the first time, Robin. No need to repeat or emphasize that. And am I supposed to worship her or something by the way you're talking about her?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Robin questioned, opting to sit on the counter that Steve was leaning against.

"You're talking about her like she's some hotshot celebrity or something," Steve said, pushing away from the counter and sitting on one of the chairs facing Robin.

"I do not! I'm simply excited that there's gonna be someone else who can help me keep track of how many times you suck."

"First of all, ouch. Second of all, do you like her, Robin? As in like like her?"

"I used to. I asked her out last year but she said no, because she isn't in to girls. I thought she would hate me after that, but she hugged me and said that she was sorry if she humiliated me," Robin said, looking behind Steve and smiling.

"And don't forget that I said that I was honoured that you had a crush on me. It honestly made me feel good about myself," you said from the door.

Steve turned his head towards the door, eyes widening. He stumbled out of his seat while attempting to stand up, before moving towards the girl.

"Uh, hi! You must be Y/n. I'm Ro- I'm not Robin. Um, I'm-" Steve stopped himself before he could embarrass himself further, mentally kicking himself for his lack of social skills in that moment.

You simply laughed. "I know who you are, Steve. We went to the same middle school and high school together."

"Yeah, right! Of course we did. I'm so sorry," he said apologetically. He silently took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"It's okay, don't worry about it. I'm just surprised you're nice to me at all," you said, eyes moving to meet Robin's gaze from where she was still sitting on the counter. She was smirking at you, mouthing something you didn't quite catch.

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't I be?" Steve asked you, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

"The fact that you kind of always let your friend, Carol, pick on me and then laugh about it never really gave me the impression that you liked me, Harrington."

Steve's eyes slightly widened at your words. So that's why your name sounded familiar when Robin talked about you. That's why you looked so familiar when he saw you for the first time that day.

He remembered you clearly. How couldn't he? You, your brother and his friends were always the butt of his and his ex-best friends' jokes. He never specifically picked on you, or your brother, but Tommy H and Carol always did. And he allowed it to happen, despite his better judgement.

"Oh," Steve began, feeling terrible about how he had treated, or let his friends treat you, in the past, "I'm so sorry. I never should've allowed her to do that. They say that your friends are a reflection of who you are and I guess that they weren't really the nicest people and that they didn't really make me look good, and I'm so sorry for that. I never should've continued our-"

"No, it's okay! Don't worry about it. I don't really wanna relive those moments," you cut him off from his rambling, grimacing at the memories that resurfaced.

"I'm sorry. Not that it can fix everything, but please know that I am sorry," Steve apologized. He felt like the biggest jerk on the planet. If he had a time machine, the first thing he would do is go back and punch his former self in the face. He couldn't believe what he allowed himself to stoop to all for the sake of keeping his title as "King Steve".

That's probably why Nancy left him, he thought.

"It's okay. We should probably get to work. Can't slack off on my first day, can I?" You said with an awkward laugh, moving around him and going to the back.

"Man, one of these days I'm gonna need another board for this." Steve turned around, only to see Robin adding another mark to the "you suck" board.

"Oh, come on!"

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

"I swear, if I have to serve Erica Sinclair one more free sample, I'm gonna lose my shit and throw my scooper at her."

Steve looked up from the book he was doodling in, smiling as he watched you sink down in the chair opposite of him. "Wow, she's that bad, huh? Never would've guessed."

You shot Steve a dirty look, which he took as a sign to laugh even harder.

It's been a full month since you started working at Scoop's Ahoy, and you've gotten along well with Steve, much to your surprise. You dreaded working here at first, mainly because you didn't know if you could handle working alongside the one and only "King Steve", but this month has been full of surprises. Steve Harrington is actually nice to you and acknowledges your existence, and not only for the sake of pointing out your flaws, Eddie managed to break a string on his beloved "Sweetheart" and you were actually enjoying your job.

Well, apart from Erica Sinclair slowly driving you to madness.

"Don't laugh at me! Whenever she comes around both you and Robin suddenly have to take your breaks, ultimately leaving me alone to deal with her!" You exclaimed, struggling to hold a grin off your face as you watched Steve double over in laughter.

"Yeah, and since you're so good at it, I might tell Robin that we have to unofficially, officially, assign you to attend to Erica Sinclair's every wish whenever she's here," Steve said, laughing even harder, if that was possible, at the look of horror that spread across your face.

"Please don't. I'd much rather cut my own arm off with a toothpick and use it as a spoon to eat my insides than have to deal with her alone everyday," you said with a small laugh, before freezing up at your choice of words.

Steve raised his eyebrows at your choice of words, before a look of disgust crossed over his features. "Oh, ew! Why did I imagine that? That's gross! Please don't ever do that. That sounds painful," Steve said, taking a sip of his coke that he had almost forgotten about.

"If you and Robin leave me alone with her again, that's gonna be my last resort," you said, leaning over to grab the coke from his hand.

Steve didn't protest, letting you take the coke. "I promise, I won't leave you alone again," he said.

Steve gave you a charming smile. You smiled back, breaking eye contact and looking down, fighting a blush working it's way onto your cheeks.

"Y/n, you're brother is here and he won't let me take his order. He said, and I quote, "My sister knows what I like. Save yourself the trouble and let her bring me the ice cream," Robin said, smiling slyly at the encounter she just witnessed.

You groaned, getting up from the chair. You walked towards the door, shooting Robin a questioning glance at the knowing smirk she was giving you.

Steve got up too, heading out to help you attend to customers. However, he was stopped by Robin, or more specifically, by the words that left her mouth.

"So... You and Y/n?" Robin said, wiggling her eyebrows at him. Steve gave her an annoyed face before moving past her, leaving her to cackle by herself.

"You didn't deny it, Harrington!"

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

"Ah, there's my hardworking sister. It brings a tear to my eye. Little Ducky, all grown up."

You rolled your eyes at your brother's melodramatic greeting before moving to get his ice cream.

"Where's the usual Y/n I know? No witty comeback today?" Eddie asked, leaning on his elbows on the counter.

"If I were to make a witty comeback while I'm at work, unemployment and I will once again be the best of friends," you said, giving Eddie his ice cream. "So, you told me this morning that somebody was buying today."

Eddie handed you some money, enough to pay his ice cream. "Yeah," he began, taking a lick of his ice cream, "just some jock. It surprises me how they can hate me at school but at the end of the day, when they want something they enjoy, I'm their favourite person."

"They're two faced son's of bitches."

"Yeah, but they pay well."

You nodded before letting out a sigh. Over Eddie's shoulder you could see Erica Sinclair and her posse wandering around outside the store.

"What's wrong?" You turned around and saw Steve standing at the door.

"Look," you said, pointing over Eddie's shoulder. Eddie turned in the way that you pointed, letting out a bellowing laugh at who he saw.

"Sinclair's sister giving you trouble, Ducky?" Eddie asked.

Steve furrowed his eyebrows. "Ducky?" he asked in confusion.

You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose as Eddie gave you a mischievous smirk.

"When she was 8, she picked up this dirty stuffed animal, which happened to be a duck. She cleaned it and wouldn't go anywhere without it for an entire year. She still has that duck 'till this day."

"You saw that opportunity and you grabbed it, didn't you?" you asked, rolling your eyes at the laugh Eddie let out.

"Now why would I do that? You really think that low of me? You wound me, dear sister."

You laughed with Eddie. Steve watched you with a smile on his face. As Eddie's laughter died down, he caught the fond smile that Steve was giving you.

Steve looked over at Eddie, his smile diminishing as he caught Eddie's skeptical, harsh gaze.

"Oh, shit. I think I'm gonna take my break now. Good luck with Erica, Steve," you said, heading into the backroom.

Steve looked at the entrance and saw Erica heading inside. Before Erica came, Eddie grabbed Steve's attention.

"You like my sister, don't you?"

Steve did a double take, stuttering and struggling to answer him. "What do you mean? I haven't even known her for that long, how can I-"

"Don't bullshit me, Harrington. I see the way you look at her. I know for a fact that she likes you too, and I know that sooner or later you're gonna ask her out. Just know this; you break her heart, I will cut off your you-know-what, chop it up and make a stew with it, and then I'm gonna make you eat it," Eddie said.

"Thank you, I guess?" Steve said confusedly.

"No problem. Now go ask her on that date before I change my mind."

Steve half ran into the backroom, ignoring Erica's protests. "Hey, I want my free samples!"

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

You practically jumped out of your skin when Steve rushed though the door.

"What's wrong? Did someone die?" You said, getting up from the chair.

"What? No. I just wanted to ask you something," Steve said.

You raised your eyebrows. "Well, ask me, then."

"I was wondering if, maybe it would be possible, that you and I can- go on a date sometime, maybe."

You smiled as Steve rambled on. "Steve-" Steve continued to ramble. You tried to cut him off but he wouldn't stop talking, so you did the only thing you could think of.

You kissed him.

It wasn't long, just long enough to make him stop talking.

"I'd love to go on a date with you."

Steve smiled, relieved at the answer. "Thank god, I was worried you'd say no and that Robin would find out and she wouldn't let me hear the end of it and-"

You cut him off by kissing him again, longer this time. Steve wrapped his arms around your waist, deepening the kiss. You wrapped your arms around his neck, forgetting the world around you.

"Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, but can one of you come help me with Erica?!" Robin said.

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

So... This took me two months to write just to turn out like... this 😭 Hope you guys like it nonetheless. Love you all and I'll see you beautiful people next time!

[dailycass-cain]

Batgirls #14 Review

After so long, after so much waiting (and hyping), Batgirls #14 was released this week. So let me dig into it at last.

Let me start off (again) for those who didn't on the visual element where the silent issue started, G.I. Joe #21 by Larry Hama (with Steve Leialoha inking and George Roussos coloring).

The issue was the benchmark for telling a story without any words. Really, I think it's something other comic historians can tell in more detail in itself.

Surprisingly Barbara beat Cass to the punch in even attaining one as the character had one in Batgirl: Endgame #1 back in 2015 during the middle of the Burnside Era.

There are a lot of visual cues that the issue shares with Batgirl #14 (there are onomatopoeias and there is "cheating" as well with Babs using a phone along (using emojis to correspond with Frankie and find Tiffany Fox) and one-word balloon (at the very end).

Overall, it's probably (for me) the best Babs as Batgirl issue of the entire 2011-2020 era.

Cass had a few things close to this (Batman & Robin Eternal #13 has some moments of silence allowing the action and Cass's visual cues to tell the story) but never full-on.

The closest we got to this was Batgirl Vol. 1 #22,  where writer Kelley Puckett would just allow artist Damion Scott to do his thing showcasing the action along with emotion within the issue.

But that was the closest we got until well Batgirls #14. That's why I'm hyped for this because it's a story element I think a character like Cass can truly shine in. Not only that, but pair the character with an artist to visually showcase this as well.

To that degree, Batgirls #14 succeeds HIGHLY in. This is the best issue of the series (thus far) culminating in five issues prior to it and highlighting all the elements I mentioned.

Artist Jonathan Case takes that banner and lays out a visual feast on this issue. There are SOOOO many moments that are so extraordinary. Case packs a TON of detail and emotion in each panel with the plot he's given.

Likewise, I think writers Michael Conrad and Becky Cloonan did a real job in laying it all the seeds they've had prior in the series (from Riddler's lingering riddles playing how Cass fully figured out where Cluemaster was hiding with Steph's letter being the final nail).

There's a great urgency Case captures with Cass throughout the issue. She knows (given the last issue of her being in the peril Steph's in) how bad the situation is.

Hence no contacting Babs, Bruce, or anyone. This is Cass ON A MISSION. I do like how this issue ties into Batgirls 2022 Annual how the League is behind Cluemaster's resurrection). For what intended purpose? Who knows? Other than it brought back one "father of the year" in Cluemaster. It almost makes me wonder if the leader of this sect of the League that has broken off (and who have Lazarus Resin) is being led by the other aka David Cain.

I mean it feels weird that the last issue kind of "forgot" he was more the monster here than Shiva, who kind of equally was manipulated by him. Showcasing that truly monstrous side we heard he was until Cass made him discover the heart he had.

I just think it would be an interesting parallel of Cass caught between two parents. Not only that but have this be the final closure of Shiva and the League.

Though I do confess it was fun seeing Shiva help her daughter against these ninjas and have a "mom" moment. With Cass having an "I could've handled that or GEEZ MOM!  Can we tone down the murder PLEASE?!"

Again I just love Case's use of colors to showcase the various moods being played out from violent red to calm cool blue.

I get it Case went all out on this issue. Literally, in just two issues he's made the um-- case why in just two issues how he's become THE artist for the book that many probably would want back (please bring him back for more DC PLEASE!).

I ain't complain about the moments that made no sense because Case just made it look so darn visually appealing.

But I will go into the big thing this issue did sort of break in silence with Steph's letter to Cass.  Because oh boy does it have some ramifications for Cass/Steph.

Though I'll fully admit I didn't mind the letter. You knew Cass was going to open the letter first when the concept was introduced in Batgirls 2022 Annual and you pieced that Steph was getting kidnapped in solicitations to this one. Just what were the words that were in it?

Steph full on admitting she had feelings for Cass and loved her.😮😮😮 Yeah, this does change the next step between the two. The question is--

What will come from this? Well, either it's downplayed, but I doubt it, as I think we don't have Cass's letter or if you have the Lazarus Resin in play means more emotional drama will soon occur.  Or it is, and extended further down the road...

Though I think we already know Cass's response to the letter as we have her creating a scarf from ripping the fabric of Steph's cloaks. Which is a totally in-character Cass thing to do.

But yeah, this is the best issue of the entire series. Even if Steph is the damsel in distress. From her letter, it still gives some much-needed characterization that's been growing with Steph. Along with well both moving more out of Babs' shadow.

Literally, Cass doesn't even go to Babs for any sort of help. It really showcases how different in tone this issue is compared to say Batgirls #1-6 and the preludes to it. These gals can handle things themselves.

Plus I did like the Tutor tease AGAIN which is well suggesting another future story of the original villain from this series.

Yeah, this was an exceptional issue of the series. It really is a strong contender for the best solo Cass story already for 2023. The art is just phenomenal. The story is gripping. Everything just connects.

It might not be fully "new reader" friendly.  I mean unless you read Batgirls #9-13, the 2022 Annual, AND Task Force Z maxi series (to at least understand the Lazarus Resin).

But you can just enjoy it for what the issue was. Reading the other stuff is an added bonus to add more to the reading experience.

I'm just amazed it took fourteen issues and we have the first real standout. Like literally, there's nothing I can nitpick at all. This issue is absolute perfection and everything I hoped this series would be.

My only fear is well-- where do you go from here? I mean that is the series biggest problem that it hasn't gotten a single artist down. It just rotating between three (so far).

Though I do love Neil Googe but Robbi Rodriguez is hit or miss for me. The book needs someone who can stay longer. Even if though it took a while man the Case issues (#13-14) were just another level of art.

I dare even to say they surpassed Jorge Corona's stuff from the prior six issues (and prelude). #14 just leaves me hungering for more Case art for this series. I'd love to see him tackle a Steph issue next.

I mean I love this stuff with what he did for Cass but it be nice to contrasting colors for Steph.

But yeah, Batgirls #14 was exceptional. A perfect celebration of the character (and history) of Cassandra Cain. Where it did it's own thing and represents a major point in this series.

Where does the series go from here? I'm really curious to see. No matter where this series goes, #14 is probably going to be the #1 highlight for many of the series.

So yeah Batgirls #14 in a quick summary:

[thestobingirlie]

Why do you think the writers pushed Stancy this much if they are not intending to make them a couple again? It seems a pointless writing choice, could be bad writing but I really do not get why they chose this road. It was very reductive for each character involved. It was bad for Nancy because she almost did emotionally cheat again... now are we just recycling the drama? The writers could have made Steve and Nancy as just friends but they did not have to introduce Steve's crush on Nancy again, it was reductive for Steve's character and they de-arced him. It was annoying especially with the matchmaker trope. They literally made 3 characters push for Stancy's relationship, Dustin, Robin and Eddie. What did that matchmaking discussions even achieve? These characters have nothing going on for their dynamic most of the time expect for pushing Stancy. We know that it is not going to happen anyway, so we are just gonna watch Steve moving on from Nancy for the third time already so the whole thing is just reductive and unnecessary at best, and that screen time could have been given to other things.

okay. let’s assume the writers aren’t pushing endgame stancy. why would they revive a long abandoned romance plot?

just to say, “don’t worry guys, we’re definitely not doing stancy.”? (just really stupid)

to have nancy and steve gain closure from their relationship? (if so, they could’ve just given them a platonic relationship)

to reiterate nancy choosing jonathan (if so, they could’ve just written nancy as having feelings towards steve, there would be no reason to make them reciprocal)(but also just useless anyway, there was no need to reiterate it)

so when they kill off steve it’s more emotional? (this is the stupidest reason to me, it already would’ve been sad enough with dustin and robin, we don’t need nancy to be sad steve won’t get a future)

because nancy will end the show single, dumping jonathan and ending any possibility with steve? (no need for steve to be involved, nancy could’ve just dumped jonathan)

to fulfil steve’s character arc in realising he doesn’t need romance to be happy (pretty much already resolved in s3, no need to include nancy, and no need to have nancy feel things for steve)

so they could drag out the barb trauma again? (could’ve still worked with platonic stancy, no need to make it romantic)

i cannot think of a single reason to have spent the entire season focusing on stancy if they aren’t going to get back together. and honestly, if the show ends on jancy after spending s4 with nancy and steve making eyes at each other; i have to assume they’re just bad writers.

especially considering how much was sacrificed purely to show nancy and steve were still attracted to each other (other character dynamics, a well written character arc for eddie, a more solid ending for lucas and the jocks, and wtf happened to the mob?? or like you said, the three matchmakers, those convos could’ve been actual bonding scenes) …it just doesn’t make sense if they aren’t trying to end the show on stancy.

the thing with steve is, i could understand writing him as having feelings for nancy again. he’s in a tense situation, and thinks he may be about to die, and three people have told him to go for it (steve is a character that is easily led by others opinions). steve is desperate for love and attention, though none of his romantic relationships have worked since nancy. it does make sense that if he blames himself for the ending of the relationship, that he may think that now he’s changed, there’s a chance they could work out. however, and this is gonna sound harsh, i just don’t think the duffers are good enough at writing steve to have thought of this. steve exists within stranger things as a comedic relief character. who’s most poignant moments are almost always not on purpose (steve and dustin, steve and robin) or entirely forgotten by the next episode. the second issue is that if this plot line is solely steve backsliding into nancy, then why was nancy flirting back? if the writers are so invested in jancy, why have nancy emotionally connect to steve?

i honestly can’t figure it out. knowing the writers, it may just end up going nowhere, steve is a character that isn’t really consistently written (he was tortured by russians in s3 and yet seemingly everyone’s forgotten that), so it may be that we start s5 and everyone’s already forgotten about the confession. or maybe the duffers will pull it out of the bag and have an incredible character arc for all of them that none of us could’ve seen coming. but i’m not holding out hope.

so… yeah. this is probably an unsatisfying answer, but i honestly cannot think of a single logical reason to drag nancy and steve back into a relationship, if it isn’t going to go anywhere.

and if it was purely so we have to watch steve get emotionally crushed once again, i may actually go insane.

[aeroargonic]

Finished S3 of The Boys and I have some thoughts

Things I liked:

MM getting the chance to patch things up with his daughter and work out his traumas.

Hughie and Annie finally talking to each other and working things out. Personally, they could've done more and I really hope they have a moment where they sit down and have That Conversation about Hughie's insecurities, Annie's stress and desire to do the right thing and how it combats with Hughie's Butcher-inspired philosophies. But it's a good start to see Hughie apologize for being a dick.

Black Noir being useful for once.

Seeing Elena again.

Just a lot of bonding between The Boys as they help each other out. Scenes like this show how strong they really are as a united front and how much they all truly care for one another.

Crimson Countess. IDK, she's funny.

The Hughie-Butcher-Soldier Boy team up against Homelander at Herogasm.

Jamie.

The parody of the Pepsi commercial made me laugh harder than it should've.

THEY KILLED STORMFRONT FINALLY THANK GOD.

Supersonic, sans the jealous Hughie part. I personally think close platonic bonds between a MF pair are severely underrated in media so Starlight having a friend who kinda understood her plights in a different way was a nice touch. And honestly, he seems like a good dude.

I'm not crazy for Homelander's descent into insanity, but I do like the vulnerability he shows and the cracks in his facade as he tries to hold it all together. He's a very detailed character and I like how they show his inner turmoil.

Things I disliked:

The Deep. His story here just feels like a rehashing of his story in S2 minus the whole Church thing where everything he does is to impress Homelander/get back into the Seven. Could be because of his character in the source material barely doing much, but Deep here does not interest me in the slightest and I feel his character arc with the way it's handled now has no interesting plotline to tell.

A-Train. I do like how they go in with the comparisons to a cheating athlete with him, and I'm glad he has a different storyline here because his S2 one was way too similar to Deep. But it felt like S2 was indicating he might jump ship and I honestly wanted to see it happen because A-Train isn't much more interesting; he's doing what Deep does to stay in the Seven and keep Homelander happy despite the constant bullying. At least he finally apologized for Robin tho.

Supersonic's death. I feel like he had a lot of potential and his death was really wasted. It would've been nice to see Starlight have a friend in the Seven, especially after what happens to Maeve.

Black Noir's death. He was just starting to contribute to the plot and then he died.

Butcher. IDK it feels like he was much more nastier than usual this season and way more of an asshole. At times he was practically impossible to root for and really, I felt I only wanted him to succeed because Homelander was the greater of two evils and because he was on Hughie's side. I don't really like how it's Hughie's job to keep Butcher in check and I really wanted Butcher to move past that this season.

They could've had the guts to kill Maeve and Soldier Boy but I guess Maeve is kinda out of the picture anyway so that doesn't change much.

Overall, the pacing felt a little off? The trip to Russia barely happened, most of an episode is spent watching Hughie and Soldier Boy track down Mindstorm but he just quickly gets killed off at the end.

It was a pretty good season that had its ups and downs. However, I'm a little worried about the direction the show is headed in because some of the sideplots are starting to mesh together/overall wind up uninteresting. A few characters are starting to go from antiheroes to just straight up unlikeable, which makes me worry. There's still a lot of potential this show has, but it needs to be used properly.

[skullrock]

I HATE THAT 90% OF STEVE'S SCENES ARE COMPROMISED BY STANCY BULLSHIT I'M SO UPSET OKAY I'LL THROW UP 😭

no fr they reduced him again as a funny dumb sidekick sprinkled with some romance nobody asked for like he deserves so much better than this 🤧

Same with Robin like she only was there for some comic relief and encouraging Nancy to fucking cheat??? Like my girl is better than this where is the cool smart Robin from s3. I just feel like she was only there to make Nancy look better

Still the Hawkins plotline def was the highlight of this season, would be even better without fucking Stancy like the Steddie scene in s7 got fucking ruined bc he had to say shit about Nancy loving him like my dude you weren't there when she called Steve bullshit but yeah love things I'm so sorry I'm being petty but I'm just upset

oh i respectfully disagree about robin and steve! i think they’re actually fleshing their characters out and giving just as much screen time and care to them as the other characters in hawkins. i think at this point it’s just safe to say robin and steve are both two halves of one brain cell and that’s okay!! it’s giving kermit and fozzie. they’re still helping and making connections in the plot (esp robin - that monologue was incredible). but i can still understand your feelings and they’re valid!! i also didn’t thinks the stancy stuff took up too much time but definitely was enough to be like. STOP. STOP THIS. very upsetting that we are not getting any steveddie like at all… genuinely had hope that they’d give steve a bisexual arc :.. or at least some more interactions… but it’s ok ❤️‍🩹 when eddie talked about nancy to steve i was really gonna slam my head into a wall

[chloelucia13]

Chapter 16: The Sauna Test

Pairing: Jonathan Byers x Henderson!reader

Prompt:  You always thought Hawkins was the most boring town of all, stuck in a vacuum void of excitement and entertainment. Well, it seems that way until the world decided to flip upside down, literally.

Chapter summary: Eleven, Max, Nancy, and Jonathan had all grown more suspicious of you and Billy after what El and Max had seen, but when everyone gets separated, the monster decides to rear its ugly head in more ways than one.

Word Count: 3352

Warnings: some angst, some fluff, some action finally (in more ways than one!!), a lil bit of cheating, language, pretty normal stuff

A/N: And we're finally getting somewhere with the Jonathan and reader plot line!!! I hope you all enjoy the chapter, and as always, my ask box and requests and tag lists are open babies! Love ya!

Tags: @just-my-fandom @nightbu-g

El couldn't let go of what she'd seen.

You being with Billy was weird enough and its strangeness had already burrowed under her skin, making her squirm. But the way you were acting, what she had seen that night when she was messing around, it wasn't right.

But what she had seen of Heather had made her downright disturbed. Sure, Billy was an asshole and she knew not to be around him, but he wasn't a murderer... right?

"Hey, there's nothing to worry about anymore, okay?" Max told her, noticing the way that El had gotten lost in her worried thoughts.

El gave her a doubtful look and let out a huff. "It doesn't make sense," she grumbled.

"What doesn't make sense?"

"Heather. The blood. The ice... Y/N."

"Heather had a fever, so she took a cold bath, but she's better now. And Y/N is probably trying to make Billy a better person or something. That has to be it. I don't know where that blood came from, but... we saw her. We saw them both. They're totally fine."

El stared at the wall, her brows furrowed. "What about Billy?"

"What about him?"

"He seemed wrong."

Max chuckled. "Wrong is kind of like his default. But it's nice to know he's not a murderer, because that totally would've sucked. Hell, maybe he seemed different because Y/N's making him better."

The two girls chuckled, and the conversation fell silent.

***

As soon as panicked panting sounded in the next room, Heather rose to her feet and walked over to the two people you held captive. Heather's parents.

You and Billy watched from afar as she spoke to her father, neglecting his pleas before stepping away and allowing you and Billy to replace her spot. Billy knelt in front of Janet as you knelt in front of Tom, both of you instructing them to stay still.

Simultaneously, you both rose to your feet and the three of you walked up the metal stairs. As you ascended the stairs, you could hear their pleas become drowned out by the guttural growls and snarls.

***

The next morning, you had awoke with a heavy pit in your stomach.

The image of Heather's overtaking was still etched behind your eyelids, and though you hadn't witnessed the other overtakings, you imagined that they occurred very similarly.

But the screams. You could never ignore the screams.

Silently, you slipped out of your bed and walked into the kitchen, pulling the freezer open and staring blankly.

The pint of strawberry ice cream from Scoops still sat there, perfectly untouched.

God, you wanted to sob. You wanted to scream. You wanted to go back to when your life was normal- well, more normal than this. Than being fucking possessed by this strange creature who was dragging you through hell.

You wanted to see your brother and his friends again. You wanted to see your friends again. Steve and Robin and Nancy and Jonathan.

Jonathan.

You were mentally kicking yourself, realizing that you spent the past six months avoiding him and now you don't know if you'll ever see him again.

You closed the freezer and scrubbed at your face, only to realize that tears had soaked your cheeks. Quickly, you swiped away the tears and rushed back to your room, not wanting to risk getting caught by your mother and having that creature take over once more.

After locking the door behind you, you curled up on your bed and pulled the blankets over your body. Maybe if you slept, you wouldn't have to deal with all this pain and guilt.

Just as you were drifting off, the doorbell rang. Immediately, your anxiety shot through the roof, and you contemplated not answering the door, but then the doorbell rang once more. You took deep breaths and slowly creeped out of bed, unlocking your door and leaving your room before stepping up to the front door.

Peering through the peephole, your heart sunk to your feet when you saw who was outside. Jonathan stood there awkwardly, his head bowed and his hands in his pockets.

You began to slowly walk away from the door when Jonathan began to speak, his voice traveling into the house. "Y/N?" he called out. "Are you home? I drove by the pool and you weren't there. I just... I was wondering if we could talk?" He sounded stressed, maybe even upset.

Your emotions took over, and against your better judgement, you pulled the door open. You watched as his eyebrows rose in surprise at the fact that you actually opened the door. "What's wrong?" you hummed. "I thought you had work today."

He chuckled, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, that's uh... That's part of the issue," he coughed out. "Can I come in?"

You nodded, stepping to the side and allowing him to come inside before you shut the door behind him. Afterwards, you stepped next to him and the two of sat down on the couch. "So, what's going on?"

"I got fired. Well, Nancy and I got fired."

Your brows knitted together in confusion. "Fired? How? I thought you were doing amazing at the post!" You tucked your legs under yourself and turned to face him directly.

"I was, and I really liked it there! But..." He let out a sigh. "Nancy had answered a call a few days ago from this old woman, saying that all of her fertilizer was going missing."

Sounds like a newsworthy story," you teased.

"Hey, it's serious!"

You held up your hands in surrender, but a giggle slipped past your lips. "Sorry, sorry. Continue."

He let out a playful huff, a smile cracking at the corners of his mouth. "Anyway, she realized that the fertilizer was going missing because there were rats in her basement that were eating it and the rats... They were getting sick, or something." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Nancy and I went to investigate, and we didn't ask any of the higher ups because we knew that they would tell us that it was stupid. We went, and we realized that she was telling the truth. The rats had eaten whole bags of fertilizer."

"Okay, hold on, you said the rats were different? In what way?"

He shrugged, shaking his head. "I have no idea. It was like they were feral, diseased." He let out a sigh before continuing. "We went back to work the next day and Nancy told everyone about what we saw. Like we expected, everyone just thought we were being stupid. That she was some paranoid and lonely old woman who sucked us into one of her many conspiracy theories so she could spend time with somebody."

Jonathan paused, lost in thought with a deep line set between his brows. Silently, you reached forward and smoothed the line with your thumb, brushing some hair away from his face at the same time. "So you got fired because you followed a potential story?"

He shook his head. "We went back last night, and we found her in her basement. She had eaten the fertilizer, along with a whole bunch of chemicals that we found around the house. She was screaming about how she had to go back." He stared silently at the carpet. "Luckily, the ambulance was able to stabilize her and she's safe at the hospital."

You could tell how much guilt he was harboring, how heavy everything weighed on his shoulders. You rested your hand on his shoulder and squeezed, earning a small smile from him. "You saved her, Johnny. I don't think there's anything you should feel bad about."

A sigh left his lips. "Tom thinks that we abused his trust, and we fed into her delusions. So he fired us."

The mention of Tom gave you flashbacks to last night, but you quickly smothered them and instead gave Jonathan a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry."

"I drove Nancy home, and we... we got into a huge fight about everything that happened. About how I needed that job and she didn't, and she fucked it up for both of us. I-I said some things I didn't mean, but..." He returned his gaze to you finally. "I'm just hurt and guilty and confused about how I feel at the same time."

"Well," you sighed, letting your hand drop from his shoulder to his hand, linking your fingers with his. "I know that you both did what you think was right, and I know that you both were so concerned about this because you've seen things that make you worry that it could be something... Out of the ordinary." You scooted a bit closer, looking him in the eye. "But I also know that maybe you let Nancy drag you into this big mess, and you blame her for everything that happened. But Nancy has been going through her own problems, and maybe she felt that she needed to prove herself and her judgement was clouded by that."

He was silent for a moment, letting his eyes search yours as he looked for the words to say. "I should call her. Apologize to her."

You sighed. "Maybe. Or maybe you should let it sit for a bit, make sure you have all of your emotions lined up, because I know you both get a bit hot-headed when you're defending your actions."

He chuckled at that, his eyes dropping to your linked hands and gliding his thumb along your knuckles. "Y'know, Max and El came up to me yesterday, and they said they were looking for you. That they were worried about you."

You resisted the urge to stiffen, instead taking a deep breath and trying to stay calm. "Really?"

He nodded. "Yeah, they said that you were being really weird. That you were even hanging out with Billy. It even freaked me out a little bit. I... I guess that was part of the reason I came here, to talk to you. I wanted to make sure you were okay, and now I feel stupid for even worrying."

Please don't feel stupid. Listen to that gut instinct. Please.

"I mean, it definitely is a little stupid," you teased, nudging his shoulder. "I think those girls just have a bit of an overactive imagination. I'm just fine. Just normal old me."

"Thank god for that," he added, a full smile finally spreading across his face.

You returned his smile before rising off the couch. "Do you want something to drink or eat?"

He shook his head, also pushing himself to his feet. "No, I should probably get going. Thank you, though."

You nodded, walking him to the door and opening it for him. "Of course. Thanks for checking up on me, Jonathan, even if I didn't need it."

He stepped out the door and stood on the porch for a moment, eyes flitting over your face. "I missed you, Y/N."

A small sigh left your lips. "I missed you too. So much. Stay in touch, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay. Bye, Y/N."

"Bye, Johnny." With one final wave, you closed the front door.

***

After seeing Jonathan that morning, you had felt a sort of urge to see him again, a magnetic pull towards that boy who broke your heart.

You knew it was dangerous to see him, not only because he was now in a committed relationship with your friend (though after what he told you had happened between them, you wondered if that label would last), but also due to the fact that you had no idea when this creature controlling you would make you snap and do god-knows-what.

So you locked yourself in your room once more, staring at the ceiling as you laid on the floor and attempted to will this horrible longing feeling away.

To no one's surprise, it didn't work.

Your next idea was to go spend time with Steve, hoping that maybe he would talk some sense into you. You threw on a pair of jeans and a sweater and drove to the mall in the sweltering heat, not wanting to risk letting your skin bubble and sizzle under the sun like BIlly's had.

But of course, neither Steve nor Robin were working, and no one had heard from them.

Under normal circumstances, you would be worried about their wellbeing, but you frankly had too much on your mind concerning your own wellbeing that you didn't fret about it. Instead, you ordered a pint of strawberry and a pint of mint chip from the boy at the counter and hurried out of the mall.

Before you could even stop yourself, you had pulled up (in the

car you had finally gotten fixed) onto the rocky front yard of the Byers' house.

With a few mumbled profanities towards your impulsiveness, you grabbed both pints of ice cream and stepped up the front porch steps that creaked under your feet. You knocked at the front door and shifted awkwardly, turning slightly to glance at the setting sun.

"Y/N?"

You turned around to face Jonathan who stood at the door, now dressed in an olive green tee shirt and a pair of jeans. "Hi!" you hummed, smiling brightly.

"Hi," he chuckled, mirroring your smile. "What are you doing here?"

You shrugged, brushing past him and walking into the house. "I thought you might still be feeling down about today, so I wanted to bring you some ice cream. You still like mint chip, right?"

His eyes followed your figure as you walked into the kitchen and grabbed two spoons for the both of you. "Uh, yeah. Thanks...?"

You finally stopped moving for a moment to take in his confused state. With a sigh, you sat down on the couch, placing the ice cream and spoons down on the coffee table. "And after seeing you today, I realized how much I missed spending time with you. I guess... I guess I just wanted to see you again and catch up."

His look of confusion slowly melted into one of comfort and slight melancholy. "I missed you too. I'm glad you came over." We walked over and sat on the couch, his leg bumping into yours. "And I'm glad that you brought me ice cream."

You nudged his shoulder with yours, giving him a beaming smile. "You're lucky I remembered your favorite. I was just about to get some only for me."

He shrugged, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I don't mind sharing."

"I do!"

He laughed, resting his head on your shoulder as his shoulders shook with giggles. You laughed with him, but you were acutely aware of how close he was to you.

As your laughs died down, the two of you opened your individual pints of ice cream and began to dig in. "Have you talked to Nancy yet?" you asked before shoveling a spoonful of ice cream into your mouth.

He shook his head, letting out a sigh. "Not yet. I'm taking your advice and letting everything settle for a bit," he replied, leaning back on the couch. "I just... our argument made me realize a lot."

"Like what?" you mirrored his position, leaning back on the arm of the couch.

"I mean, I knew that we both came from different backgrounds and we would never agree on some things, but..." He poked his ice cream with his spoon. "I guess I never realized that though we've spent so much time together, she still has this idea that everyone has it as good as she does. That people can just throw away something that doesn't fit them perfectly because they have the money to do so." He lifted his eyes from his ice cream and up to you. "And maybe I'm narrow-minded too, spending time with other people who knew what it was like living without a lot of money."

You frowned as he spoke, slowly leaning forward to set your ice cream and spoon down on the coffee table. "Do you think that it could... hurt you guys in the long run? Knowing what she sees about the whole situation?"

He set his ice cream down as well, pulling his feet up onto the couch and crossing his legs. "I-I don't know."

Silently, the two of you searched each other's eyes with baited breath, a million thoughts racing through your head.

It was at that moment that your judgement took a back seat, and you felt that inky fog lurking in your mind.

You leaned forward and pressed your lips to his. He let out a hum of surprise, but he made no move to pull away from you. Slowly, you moved your hands to the back of his neck and scooted closer to him so you didn't have to crane your neck. You huffed out a sigh of relief as his hands finally rested on your cheeks, his shoulders beginning to lose their tension as he finally relaxed into the kiss.

Just as you were about to deepen the kiss, you felt the familiar surge of black course through your veins, your skin beginning to burn as black veins snaked up your arms and neck.

As the pull towards the creature grew stronger, your lips fell from Jonathan's and you fought the creature for control.

Jonathan gave you a confused look when you pulled away, but he quickly pushed himself away from you when he noticed the inky veins that adorned your skin. "Y/N," he gasped, his eyes wide with panic and fear. You immediately pushed yourself off the couch and rushed towards the door, only for Jonathan to lurch forward and grab your wrist. "Y/N, what the fuck is going on!"

You snapped your gaze to him, feeling that fog slowly take over your mind as you fought to stay awake. "Let me go," you begged. "Please, I don't want to hurt you."

"What?"

"Let me go, Jonathan!"

Your tone startled him, loosening his grip on your wrist just enough for you to slip away from him and out the door before the creature took control.

***

Jonathan began to pace back and forth a few minutes after... Whatever had just happened.

He knew those veins, those pitch black veins that flooded your skin. He saw them when he had to exorcise his own brother, and now another person he cared for so dearly was overtaken by that same creature.

When Will was fighting was controlled by that same creature, though, he didn't seem so... normal. Was it evolving? Learning?

That then made him question if it was even really you. Maybe it had learned your mannerisms, took advantage of the thoughts it had access to.

What if you didn't even want to kiss him, but that thing made you?

He shook the thought from his head. He knew you loved him, that you wanted to be with him. But he also knew that you wouldn't overstep since him and Nancy were still together, even though they had gotten in a fight.

But God, he'd kiss you again in an instant if given the chance.

With a huff, he sat back down on the couch and stared at the two half-eaten pints of ice cream, guilt and worry gnawing at his insides.

He needed to tell Nancy about what happened to you. Just not now.

***

You sat at the landing of the metal warehouse stairs, silently watching Heather patch up Billy's bloodied body as you thought back on what happened just minutes ago.

"The girl, was it her?" Heather asked, gently dabbing a damp cloth over Billy's shoulder.

"Yeah," Billy responded gruffly, his jaw set tight. "It was her. She knows now. She knows about me."

"Jonathan knows too," you voiced silently. "He saw."

He gripped onto Heather's wrist, stopping her actions. "She could've killed me," Billy continued, ignoring your statement.

"Yes. But not us," heather whispered. Silently, she turned to look over the rows of individuals you've sacrificed, people overtaken by the monster.

"Not us," you repeated.

[air-in-words]

Badger Snakes and The "Red-Stained Ledger"

Since my recent announcement identifying as a Badger Snake (don't @ me if I change my primary at some point lol still going back over that one,) I've looked up some characters that have been identified as Badger Snakes, and found two things:

1) There weren't very many in fiction and

2) most go through the same personal journey I had described in my previous post.

By that, I mean, a very similar feeling of self-loathing or feeling as though you have some dirty secret to hide, AKA the Red-Stained Ledger Natasha Romanoff refers to. The two main ones that have been agreed upon I'll be focusing on are Woody from Toy Story and the aforementioned Black Widow, but I'll also be bringing two new characters into the fray, one that's been sorted as such based on the portrayal, and one that I've discovered on my own. They are Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman and Dewey Finn from School of Rock.

It's interesting to find the similar plotlines that certain sortings are given consistently in media, and The Power Behind the Throne AKA Badger Snake seems to pretty much only have the one: They fight for the group that they are loyal to, but they can't seem to help but do so in a way that they aren't proud of, one that they're sure would lead said group to shun them.

I'm sure someone could point out a character I'm not referencing here that doesn't have that plot, but at the very least, this plot dominates the sorting.

Woody in the first movie goes through exactly that issue. He only wants to fight for Andy's toys, and in many ways, all toys he comes across. He makes choices that he believes will benefit everyone, and prides himself on being able to make the "tough choices." But, he ends up having to do so in a "duplicitous" way, when he seeks to manipulate Buzz Lightyear out of his group. This is a horrible, dirty secret to him, and he feels almost as if he could never return to them, never show his face again because of how he chooses to fight. In the end, he reaffirms that his actions come from a good place, a place of love for his group, and finds ways to use his crafty talents that are slightly more constructive and a little less "cloak and dagger."

Natasha Romanoff has given me the namesake for this Badger Snake element: the Red-Stained Ledger. She describes her desire to fight for her country, for her family, but struggles with what she knows she's good at. She believes she's inherently a bad person and is determined to remain a loner due to her "badness," due to the "monster" she is. Good people don't lie or manipulate. Good people... uh... I dunno, bake cakes or something? Work humble jobs? But, her contribution to the world, her ability to be clever and tricky, means that holding her group, her country, her family, the Avengers themselves, only in her heart and not in her hands. But, her true colors are shown in her never-ending dedication to the cause, down to her being willing to give her life so that no one else has to do it. In a way, it's sad, because she died believing she in some way deserved it. But, none of her teammates felt that way about her. She may have been crafty, a master manipulator, and a skillful liar, but she was the farthest thing from bad.

Now, onto the two newer additions. I've seen Selina Kyle sorted as Double Snake, and I would agree that there are many interpretations that could fit the bill. But, if you ask me, the truest interpretation of her is as The Power Behind the Throne, the Robin Hood with no loud cause to shout from the rooftops; only a desire to help the people of Gotham. She uses her skills as a thief to act as a sort of "guardian angel" to the poorest in Gotham, but she has no grand statement to make. She sees people hurting, her group, the underdogs of Gotham, and came to their aid. But she does so quietly, secretly, because she believes in her heart that the way she has done so is not worthy of praise. She's a con and a thief, but, she places people above all else. She, in some interpretations, is one of the main people to open Bruce's eyes to the fact that not all criminals are necessarily bad people. Some of them are just in terrible situations they can't get out of. And yet, she won't afford that benefit of the doubt to herself, believing she is simply a broken toy not worth fixing. Her occasionally lackadaisical attitude towards killing may seem to make Badger primary unlikely, but Badgers are not always loyal to ALL humans. Her group is the poor and downtrodden, and those who act against them are less than human in her eyes.

Now, we come to my personal favorite, my own personal discovery: Dewey Finn from one of my favorite movies, School of Rock.

Dewey is a fabulous example of a Badger Snake, in my personal opinion. His chosen group is Rock with a Capital R and "the band," whichever band that may currently be. He may have some sort of Burnt Snake primary performance/model going on, wanting to play the part of a "rock star" that truly only cares about himself, but his true loyalty is very clear. He is worried about doing his chosen group justice in every way, making sure that Rock is being well-represented and that he's serving his current band the very best he has to offer. Being kicked out of his band at the very beginning is earth-shattering to him, not because he has a Snake primary style devotion to only them, but because they told him he let them down, and implying that he wasn't representing Rock the way he should. His Snake primary performance/model melts away as he bonds to his new band, the kids he teaches. He brings them into his chosen group of Rock and creates a new bonded group with them in particular as they form a band. He actually finds himself liberated by taking a backseat to the children (a very Badger primary thing to enjoy,) allowing Zack to play his song, guiding Freddie away from making bad choices, helping Tamika find her voice, encouraging fellow Snake secondary Summer how to use her shrewdness, and, using a method I believe is best utilized by Badger Snakes, helping Principal Mullins find her chill. Lol.

Badger Snakes, more than any other Snake secondary type, will rely on the "we aren't so different you and I" approach to get what they want. He finds out Mullins also enjoys Rock. This is something they have in common! Let's create a situation where we "naturally" find out we have this thing in common, placing us both in the same group. Although other primaries don't glorify groups as much as Badger primaries do, all people are more likely to listen to or help out someone they feel is like them in some way. So, Dewey puts some Stevie Nicks on the jukebox and gets Mullins on his side.

In a similar fashion to the characters listed above, Dewey believes he is truly a loser and has nothing of any actual value or goodness to provide. But, the children help him see he's wrong, and he finds a way to utilize his talents in a way that truly fulfills him.

In conclusion, although seemingly unrepresented, I think there actually may be quite a few more Badger Snakes hiding in media, and, perhaps, they can be outed by looking for the Red-Stained Ledger plotline. Badger primaries are more likely, in my opinion, to be disturbed by their actions than say a Lion primary, due to where their loyalties truly lie. Although Lions may fight for the right thing, and that right thing may involve people's rights or serving a group, they serve that right thing before any of the people they may steamroll over to achieve it. Badgers, by definition, serve things. And, usually, lying, cheating, or otherwise being crafty is viewed as the worst possible way to serve someone or something. They do care about the things they may hurt or damage through their actions, and how they use their talents does, in fact, matter to them immensely.

So, to my Badger Snakes out there struggling with their own so-called "Red-Stained Ledgers", just remember that Dewey Finn would think you're kick-ass.

EDIT: Sorry, was thinking about it, and had to put an edit. Another way to think of this plotline/character archetype is mentioned in School of Rock as well as in a musical I know very well. I wouldn't use this moniker as the name for this plotline, only because it describes a very specific Snake secondary, one that is playful and light-hearted, and not all Snake secondaries are like this.

Zack's song refers to Dewey as The Magic Man, a person that swoops in and, almost by magic (in actuality, manipulation) brings out the best in the people around them. In the aforementioned musical, this character is called The Music Man.

Harold Hill may very well be another Badger Snake, although one more heavily disguised than Dewey Finn. I won't go too deep into his characterization here, but know he's a conman who claims to be a band instructor, while he has no musical talent himself, planning on taking the money for the uniforms and instruments and running. Instead, almost without realizing it, he encourages and manipulates the people of the town he enters into becoming better versions of what they are now. And, the most tragic part of his character is revealed once another character, one of the children he's conned, points out that there isn't a band, and never has been one. Harold tells him "I always think there's a band, kid."

It's interesting that, in both of these cases, they are associated with music and an almost mystical ability to bring out the best in others. I might do a more in-depth look at Harold Hill at some point, since I've been planning on doing some musical characters for a bit.

If thinking about having a Red-Stained Ledger is too negative for your own self-image, think of yourself as The Music Man. Your friends and the people around you may actually see you as an almost mystical force for good, someone who always seems to know the right thing to say or do to bring out the best in them. :)

[lucidpantone]

If you were grading the original seasons of the remakes what would they be? Ill go first! Skam fr: S5 = D, S6 = C , S7 = D, S8 = F; Druck: S5 = A & S6 = C predicted grade for S7 = B/C ; Skam Italia: predicted grade for S5 = B/C finally, Wtfock S4 = U

Oh this is easy for me.

Skam fr:

S5 = C

I actually think if they cut the cheating plot out this season would rate higher and if david kept to decision to let Arthur decide that the best decision was to chose himself instead of one the girls it would have been way more profound. Because i think very little SKAMs depict the importance of sometimes being alone. Also Robin my GOD can that boy act.

S6 = C-/maybe a D in some episodes

Once again what doesn't make this scoring worse is the acting. The acting is always very good with the skam france cast but lola’s season was such a cold soup. I like the idea drug use in teens. Topic was good and the idea of broken families but it was just soooo aggressive. Hence why i said s5 could be better if we didn't get so hammy with it. David always does that he has a half decent idea but he throws everything and the kitchen sink and its very hard to digest. Also ovi Eliott was sorta of shoe horned into this season even tho i can't be mad because we got to see him get excited over a bunny which is still one of my fav moments and Basil grandad admitting sometimes guys experiment with each other. hahahahahaha. Also Maya is such a beautiful soul.

S7 = C

Ughhh the bully season.... it was fine. The actress was amazing(when aren't the france mains not amazing tho). But i didn't get certain decisions concerning baby daddy and girlfriend and why did basil come back?!?!? IDK what saved this season was the camera work, acting and and directing decisions. S8 = C+

So here is the issue with Bilal's season. If you just focus on his first 5 episodes before JO its actually very good. We didn't need Jo i get the network asked for it but bilal was super interesting on his own and Khalid was a fucking beast. Fantastic actor!! Poverty, prejudice, financial literacy, lost of business during covid. So many topics here and when they talk about them they were good. We didn't need Jo. Sexually transmitted diseases do need to be depicted but IDK i just felt like the jo storyline felt so forced.

Druck:

S5 = A

Its the best original season and on par with s3. It was just fantastic. The last scene where Nora feels again and she starts running to josh like when the Isak runs to their Evans but now it was in the reverse it was beautiful. Also all the context within the Machwitz family was so good. Dealing with parents who are addicts and how destructive that can all be. I will always love this season.

S6 = C

So much potential but we kinda of went no where. I like Kieu My and Fatou but they aren't enough story for me. We had so many moments like being displaced as a kid of immigrants i wanted to know more. The learning difficulties also i wanted more. Prejudice and confronting white privilege but Fatou was never the center of the story and I just wanted more of everything.

Wtfock

S4 = Burn that shit and just let me keep the clips of Moyo dancing and cut cactus out.

Predicted Grades:

Italia probably gonna be a B but they have such a huge budget.

Druck s7 probably if they read our issues with s6 it will be a solid b. I love exploring the dynamics of male friendships. We see it in Italia and SKam fr but we never really see what happens when the friendship is just plain toxic but both friends really love one another. Like Robbe was treated like shit by his friends but I don't think Robbe had the kind of love Ismail and Constantine have for one another. Its clear they ride and die for one another and I just think the whole thing will collapse. Like I said before I feel like Druck s7 is basically gonna be the prequel storyline to all the Eva seasons like we see Eva after the collapse Ismail's season will show us how a friendship completely goes nuclear.

[river-bottom-nightmare]

Happy Birthday Whelm!

@detectivedamian  your birthday gift is a damijon ficlet. enjoy.

For the life of him, Jon couldn’t really understand why Damian liked football. Jon himself had grown up with the game, playing with Clark and Kon. Clark had laughed loud and bright as he tossed the ball around in the farm. Kon had challenged Jon to a high-stakes game that combined four different games using the football in the air. (Jon suspected Kon’s game was secretly a training exercise. The guy had been spending too much time around Tim.) He was on the team in middle school, and he’d been the captain of the high school team for the past three years. The training, the drills, the thrill of the game, the feeling of team: these were things that Jon lived for. Other than fighting, nothing else quite made his blood sing. 

But Damian? Jon had never expected Damian to take to it the way he did. Damian had scoffed at most American traditions and values, insulted people to their face, and complained about the school system enough times that Jon had the lecture memorized. (He was ahead in almost every class due to Damian’s passive-aggressive tutoring, though, so he’s not exactly complaining.) 

Maybe it was the strategy behind it, the different plays and plans Coach had lined up. Tim was the best at that kind of stuff, Jon knew that firsthand, but most people seemed to forget Damian had been trained in strategy and war games in the league. And “war games” was exactly how Damian seem to take this. Ever since Jon had let Damian watch one of his football practices and Damian had stopped the team in the middle of a play to plot out three different holes in their offense, Damian had practically become an honorary team member. Unless it was calculated, the team hadn’t lost a single game. And Damian was determined to keep it that way.

Tonight, just before the final game of the season, Jon’s team was facing off against Central City. (Which? How did they even get to finals in the first place? Central was known for their all-star track team, spanning generations of Allens and Wests, but football? That was a new one.) Damian had given the coach a particularly loathesome glare, and the other team looked terrified without even starting the game. Sometimes Jon forgot how scary Damian was, but it situations like this, it was useful. They had their game plan mapped out, Damian had given each one of them a talking to, Johansson don’t you dare leave your place, Zizka we’ve been running drills so don’t lose your speed, Williamson stop hesitating, you’re on offense for a reason. 

Jon had come up to him cheekily and asked what he needed to do. Damian had raised an eyebrow and said “Don’t suck as much as you usually do, Kent.” His lips were in a half smirk, though, and his tongue curled viciously around Jon’s last name and Jon had to swallow and take a step back.

Regardless, here they were. The big game. Either they won this, and Jon left senior year a happy man, or Damian would never ever let him live it down. There was really only one option here. Jon made eye contact with Damian, who nodded, once. Then, the whistle blew and the game was on.

Things were going good. No, that’s an understatement, things were going great. They ripped apart the opposing team’s strategy like paper, leaving the shredded pieces on the ground as they went through play after successful play. Jon could practically feel the other team’s hopelessness, could taste the sweet, sweet victory in the air. Halftime came and Jon’s team was soaring high. Don’t get overconfident, Damian warned them, but a proud grin was tugging at the edge of his lips. 

The third quarter is when it all went wrong. Williamson went down, hard. Jon heard the crack from across the field, and hoped the injury wasn’t too bad as he chased after the ball, desperate to keep it out of enemy hands. It was too late, though, the other team was in possession. He could feel Damian’s furious scowl, see his dad’s worried eyes fixed on the game even as his mom shouted in Central’s general direction. The third quarter ticked by, losing most of the ground they had gained.

The fourth and final quarter came, the team abiding by Damian’s quickly thought out plan, hesitantly regaining their footing. But it was too little, too late. They weren’t going to make it. The clock swallowed up seconds, and Central gained the lead, though Jon’s team clawed and fought their way to make sure it was only by a little. There were thirteen seconds left on the clock, and Central was 5 points ahead. The play was at the far end of the field.

The only way for them to win was for someone to run across most of the length of the field and score a touchdown. And as the ball came hurtling towards Jon, time slowed down, and he contemplated doing just that.

He could make it, he knew he could make it. A touch of superspeed, a hint of strength when pushing the other players out of the way, and they’d win the game. And Jon was only using his own talents, right? But that felt wrong, it felt so wrong. It felt like cheating. Abruptly, Jon remembered all the drills Damian had put him through, for both football and hero-ing, how he had told Jon you can’t always rely on your powers. He remembered the determination in every line of Damian’s body, whether it was in the sidelines of one of Jon’s games or standing back-to-back with Superboy as Robin, facing down impossible odds yet again. Damian had trained him for this. He had trained for this. He could do this.

Jon dropped his invulnerability, tapped out of his strength, tapped out of his superspeed. Time returned to normal. This was it.

The ball flew into Jon’s outstretched hands like it was meant to be there, and the minute it made contact, Jon took off running. Feet pounding the grass, heartbeat thumping in his ears, the bright lights overlooking the fields. Jon ducked and weaved through the other players, pushing himself to go faster, faster. The people in the stands were building up a roar. The clock was ticking down. He just ran and ran and ran until-

Jon crossed the end zone line and slammed the football on the ground with every bit of normal strength he had. The buzzer went off: time was up, the scores were in.

They won the game.

The crowd was bursting up and cheering. Jon could hear his mom’s screams, his dad’s wolf whistles. The team crowded around Jon, yelling and jumping, their faces overflowing with joy as they clustered around him. Coach had the trophy, and he held it above his head, pumping it up and down, whooping his pleasure. He handed it over to Jon, and wow. It felt solid, heavy, almost unreal. Jon held it up so everyone on the team could put their hand around it. 

Then, for some reason the crowd around Jon parted. Jon was confused, because there was practically nothing that could separate the team at a time like this. Then he looked up, and understood. Damian stood there, a wild and reckless grin on his face, and Jon’s breath caught. He was wearing Jon’s football jacket, the fabric clinging to his shoulders over his tight black turtleneck and proclaiming a statement as bold as night. He walked over to Jon, confident and sure, and looked up at Jon, pride in his eyes.

“You won.”

“Yeah, we did.” Jon’s voice was breathless.

Damian’s grin widened. “Congratulations.”

And then he was pulling Jon in for a kiss, hard and fierce and unforgiving. Startling for just a second, Jon drew Damian in, surprised but pleased when he came willingly. He kissed back with the same passion that had his feet pounding the ground, the same fervor that had his blood singing all throughout the game, reveling in the feeling of Damian pulling him to the ground, biting his lips, claiming him.

He drew back and gasped in air, wide-eyed and lighter than air, as the whoops and catcalls of the team around him filtered into Jon’s brain.

“I-you, you kissed me.”

“You deserved it.” Something in Damian’s tone let Jon knew that Damian knew. He knew what Jon was thinking on the field, knew he was about to use his powers, and knew that he ultimately decided against it. He knew that Jon put every ounce of his determination to win this game by himself, and Damian was proud.

Yeah, football brought out the best in Jon. And maybe that was why Damian enjoyed it so much.

This was cheesy as FUCK oh my GOD. I have no knowledge of how football works, don’t hold it against me. Once again, happy birthday Whelm! tag list: @birdy-bat-writes @anothertimdrakestan @comicsandhoney @yesboopityboop @dangerduckjpeg @thebatsandbirdsofgotham @astroherogirl @subtleappreciation