#or all the times in the car w my mom when she would pass out at the wheel and drive us into those shallow roadside ditches

[mindmelter]

Assimilated StepDaddy

Ryan slowly woke up, feeling disoriented. He looked around, recognizing his stepson's room. But something was off—he couldn't move. It hit him then: he was tied up on the bed. Panic set in as he struggled against the restraints.

"W-what the hell? What is going on? Why I'm tied up?" Ryan shouted, trying his best to free himself from the restraints. All he remembered was coming home from a hard day of work at the construction site and grabbing a beer to relax on the couch, and then... he woke up here?

"It's ok, Ryan, no need to freak out," He heard his stepson's voice as he entered the room while holding a glass jar with a strange slug creature inside.

"Benson? You did this to me? You little shit! I'm gonna beat your spoiled ass once I'm out of here!"

"Oh, you're going to beat my ass for sure, just not in the way you think," Benson said with a smug tone, he tapped his fingers on the jar, making the sluggish creature move as if it was excited. "It was very easy to drug your beer. You passed out faster than I thought you would, and I confess it was very difficult to drag you to my room, you're so heavy. Unfortunately, I'm afraid we don't have much time left."

"You drugged my WHAT? I knew you were a fucking freak but not at this level!" Ryan tried to pull the restraints once again, but he finally realized there was no use. He sighed and looked at his stepson. "Look, let me go now and I won't tell your mom about what you did."

Benson chuckled, "I'm not sure if I believe you; I know you very well, Ryan; in the past two years, I've known your true self; you're a cheater, a homophobe, and a horrible stepdad. I can't trust someone like you, I'm not dumb. But don't worry; once I help my alien buddy take over your body, our relationship will change to something more... trustful." Benson then looked at the creature inside the jaar. "Isn't that right, lil guy?"

Ryan could swear he saw the little creature nodding its head. "What the hell is this thing you're holding? You're freaking me out Benson.... please let me go!"

Benson got on the bed between Ryan's muscular legs and slowly started to pull down Ryan's underwear, he protested, trying to make the process more difficult for Benson, but with both his arms and legs tied up, Benson easily pulled his underwear down to his ankles. "Oh my, I can see why mom likes you so much because it definitely is not because of your personality," Benson said, amazed by Ryan's girthy cock.

"That's too fucking far! I'm gonna kill you, you motherfucker!" Ryan shouted.

Benson just ignored him and opened the lid, freeing the slug from the jar; the strange black slug crawled toward Ryan's ass and started to force its way inside his hole. Ryan's eyes opened in terror as he felt something squirming inside his ass. "Take this thing away from me! Take this thing away!" Ryan pleaded, no longer trying to keep his tough, manly persona.

"It's ok, Daddy Ryan, you're going to be a much better stepdad from now on," Benson said, caressing his muscular thighs and watching the tip of the slug disappear inside Ryan's ass. For a few seconds, nothing happened until suddenly Ryan's eyes rolled back, and his body started to contort and convulse, his hips bulked up and down, and his back arched as his muscles tensed until suddenly his body went limp.

That was when Benson heard his mom's car arrive; his heart raced as he immediately started to untie Ryan as quickly as he could; he thought he could turn Ryan into his pet's host before his mom came home from work. He untied Ryan's ankles and walked out of his room; it was then realized he had forgotten to pull up Ryan's underwear, so he ran back to his room and pulled his underwear up. He made his way to the living room just as his mom opened the door and walked in.

"Hey, Mom," Benson said, sitting on the couch and trying his best not to sound too out of breath.

"Hey, sweetie, where is Ryan?" She asked.

"H-he's sleeping in my room, I think he got so drunk that he crashed in the wrong room."

"Poor thing, he works so hard, let him rest a little ok?"

Later that night, while his mom was in the shower, Benson went to check on his stepdad, and to his surprise, the bed was empty. He jumped when he felt Ryan's hand grab his neck from behind and his big bulge pressing against his ass. Ryan leaned his mouth close to Benson's ear and whispered. "Fuck... he really hated your ass, I'm trying my best to control his body not to twist your little neck."

Benson smirked; he knew it was no longer his stepdad speaking. "I thought you said you would take full control of his brain?" Benson whispered back, pressing his ass harder against Ryan.

"Shut up you little..." Ryan stopped talking mid-sentence, and then closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and then looking at Benson with more calm eyes. "I will. It just takes a while to fully assimilate his brain. There's still some parts of him left, I can still access some fragments of his memories as well as the hatred he had for you..."

"I think we could use all his hatred and use it for something more..." Benson then turned around to face Ryan and was about to caress his hairy pecs when Ryan suddenly pushed him down to his knees.

"You disgust me, you always did. If I didn't have a fucking slug inside my brain, assimilating it and turning me into a brainless puppet, I would have punched your dumb face right now."

Benson was so hard, his cock was leaking only at the sight of his hot stepdad standing over him, with his huge bulge just inches away from his face. He knew it was the alien in control, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't a bit scared.

"Ok, I'm starting to get a little bit wo..." Benson tried to stand up, but Ryan pushed him back on his knees again and then pointed at him.

"You better keep on your knees! That's where you fucking belong." Ryan whispered, he then pulled down his underwear, freeing his throbbing massive cock, hovering his shaft over Benson's mesmerized face. "I'm gonna facefuck you as a punishment, that's what spoiled brats like you deserve," Ryan then grabbed Benson by the back of his hair and smirked down at him. "You better take every inch of punishment," With that, he pushed Benson's face to take all his length. Benson loved the way Ryan grabbed both sides of his head and fucked his mouth like he was a fucktoy. Ryan came down his throat before his mom finished her shower.

A week later, Ryan had his brain fully assimilated by the alien slug, and there was nothing more left of him besides his hot body. The alien adopted a more loving and caring personality for Ryan that Benson loved, but sometimes Benson would ask the alien to act more like the old Ryan.

Their relationship had improved so much since Ryan got assimilated. Benson's mom would go to work in the morning before Ryan, so every morning before going to work, Ryan would go into Benson's room and give him a proper morning fuck, as well as his morning load. And every time Ryan came back earlier from work, he would take his shirt off and order Benson to lick his sweaty body clean.

"These armpits won't clean by themselves, boy. You better bury your face in these hairy armpits and clean them up with your slutty tongue!"

After giving his stepdad a proper tongue bath, Benson was sitting on Ryan's lap, with his ass fully stuffed by Ryan's hard cock while he squeezed and groped his stepdad's big hairy pecs.

"C'mon buddy, suck on your Daddy's tits, your mom will come from work at any minute," Ryan said while flexing his massive pecs.

Benson didn't waste any more time and started to suck on Ryan's huge tits. He had only two hours left before his mom would return from work, and he would always make the most of it.

[chakoru]

dreamies w a clingy s/o

ㅤㅤㅤ💭my mom is one of the most delusional nanadoongies i've ever met. when he said "ice cream" she cried lmaooo #so real

✿ fluff , suggestive !! ㅤ

markৎ 마크

he loves it. he loves you.

he spends his days avoiding hugs from the members purely because none of them could ever come close to, or even compare to you at all. he can’t explain it without going all brain dead; but you give off this warmth he’s only ever experienced with you.

“baby..” he whispers as he climbs under the covers besides you. “hug me?”

immediately you turn into his chest and indulge in him.

if he could announce it to the world he would; to tell everyone he needs you. more than you’ll ever truly know. you make him feel at ease — content. and if you let him, he'd really like to spend the rest of his life in your arms.

ㅤ

renjunৎ 仁俊

he honestly never would've pegged himself for a snuggler — not to this extent at least. he feels this constant urge to be with you. sometimes he'd jump in the shower with you just to be near.

and he adores you the most when you reciprocate his actions.

as soon as he leaves your shared apartment to head off for work, he's instantaneously bitter. he longs for your kisses and hugs all day.. anyone that were to walk pass him would assume he's really going through it — and he is, he is so knees wobbling weak for you.

ㅤ

jenoৎ 제노

runs home. in a car? holds that gas pedal down with might.

as soon as his phone dinged and saw your message bubble, reading, "need you jen" he was gone. he loves that you need him — depend on him even.

so when you call or even send the shortest text, his day is instantly better.

he loves when you whine for him, any part of him. and you love the way he gives in every single time. some days the need is stronger, and on those days he can't help but fall to his knees.

the way you call out his name has his heart racing.

ㅤ

haechanৎ 동혁

....isn't very fond actually. he needs to be validated and reassured, yes, but to haechan the only way for him to feel like you truly accept him as a whole is if he could comfortably initiate physical contact himself.

don't get me wrong, he does appreciate you and everything you do.

although, sometimes he may need a little time alone to lay in his own thoughts, he would absolutely love if you'd just lay there in his arms.

keeping him warm.

ㅤ

jaeminৎ 재민

thinks you're too cute for this world. he loves when you reach out for him. seeing you smile because of him makes him so beyond words.. happy.

despite this, he cant help but think about you in lewd situations. under him maybe, tugging at his necklace for a kiss. he'd try but he could never deny you a kiss, even if he were mad.

ㅤ

chenleৎ 辰乐

loves you no matter what. if you hated physical contact or vise-versa, he doesn't care. as long as you come home to him, he's set.

not really on the clingy set but if you joined in on his activities, he'd be so beyond happy.

ㅤ

jisungৎ 지성 

he admires you so much. follows you like a lost puppy, each step you take, he takes the same one.

he needs guidance, and you happily lead him. but when you turn around to check on him, wondering if he's keeping up — he can't help but smile. or when you run your fingers through his hair, when you pull him into a hug after a good talk.

it isn't hard to see that he needs you.

ㅤ

[thatfandomslut]

I'm Mad At You For Leaving Me

Regina George x Reader

Word Count: 1k

Trigger Warnings: arguing details, car accident, reader passing away

Request:

Valentine's / Followers Celebration; Regina George w/ quote 25 and piece of chocolate number 5. Or: “I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floating around accidental—like on a breeze—but I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, Jenny. If there’s anything you need, I won’t be far away.” w/ arguing

Valentine's / Followers Celebration requests are closed.

Regina was one of the last people to leave the funeral, her arms crossed as she cursed the tears that were cascading down her cheeks. She hated (Y/n). She hated her cute smile that made her eyes crinkle in the corners. She hated the way her laugh always seemed to make the room light up. She hated the way that she was in love with her. She hated the way that their last conversation was an argument over college. She hated the way that (Y/n) had died before they could resolve it. And, she hated that it was all her fault.

"I mean, damn, Regina." (Y/n) walked out of the George's mansion with hot tears burning in her eyes. Regina wasn't far behind, her face red in anger as she followed the girl out. "You should be happy for me. I got into fucking Harvard! That's a big deal! Instead, you're upset because we're going to different colleges. I get why you're angry, I just thought that instead of yelling and blowing my dreams off, we could discuss our futures. But, now, I don't even think we fucking have one."

Regina rolled her eyes as (Y/n) swung open her car door. Before (Y/n) could she held it open. "I thought our future was going to be something we both decided. You didn't even tell me you fucking applied. You're angry at me for not being happy but how could I when you did this behind my fucking back, (Y/n)? That fucking hurts, and if you don't see what you did wrong, then that's on you. Not on me." Regina moved, slamming the door for (Y/n). She didn't want to hear it anymore. She didn't care anymore over (Y/n)'s dreams whenever she ruined their plans.

A part of her felt bad at the moment over how she made that excited grin of (Y/n)'s disappear in seconds. Now, a bigger part of her felt horrible for making (Y/n) cry. Especially now that she was crying in her last moments. She remembered calling over and over again that night, trying to reach (Y/n) and apologize. Eventually, Regina's mom came upstairs to tell Regina that she had talked to (Y/n)'s. That was the night that Regina learned that (Y/n) had gotten into a car accident and she didn't make it. She learned that a drunk driver had hit her. Regina felt at fault regardless since (Y/n) never would have been out at that time if it wasn't for their argument.

Now, she was standing at (Y/n)'s grave, angry at her instead of herself. "You ruined our future the other night. Then you fucking drove off. I'm mad at you for leaving me." Regina stated bitterly before a sob escaped her lips. "I'm sorry… I just want you to come back. This is all my fault, but I still want to blame you. I feel like a shitty person. I am a shitty person." Regina cried, feeling her body shake.

Death was inevitable, but she never expected that someday soon she would have lost the love of her life to death's hands. She had always imagined them growing old together. They were supposed to grow old together. She should have been happy that (Y/n) got into Harvard. She knew that getting into Harvard was (Y/n)'s childhood dream, but she thought her dreams changed. Regina now realized that they only changed to align with hers and that that was never fair to (Y/n). Everything that had happened from the argument to the car crash to now was Regina's fault. Or, that's how she felt, anyway.

Her friends had told her it wasn't. They told her that (Y/n) wouldn't want her to blame herself. She knew they were right, but how the fuck would they know? They reminded Regina that she couldn't have known any of this would happen. Cady said that none of this was intentional or caused by Regina. Still, too much guilt bubbled in Regina's stomach for her to agree. She was starting to feel nauseous as placed the flowers on the fresh patch of dirt she had been standing on. Her hands continued to shake as she felt like she needed to take all of the blame.

"I guess I need to say goodbye now, but I don't even know how. You were absolutely everything to me. I always felt that we were destined to be together, but I never told you that because you already thought I was soft. I couldn't just confirm your suspicions. I only had this soft spot for you." Regina smiled a bit at the thought, noting the little quote at the bottom of (Y/n)'s headstone. “I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floating around accidental—like on a breeze—but I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, (Y/n). If there’s anything you need, I won’t be far away."

Regina was going to say it, she was going to say 'goodbye' but she couldn't. Her lips trembled as her mouth went dry. A lump formed in her throat as she stared at the quote a little longer. "I can't tell you goodbye. I will say that I'll always miss you and that I will always come back here. I love you, and I promise you that I will visit on all of our anniversaries and every time I visit." Regina promised, leaning down to place a kiss on the headstone. She felt stupid doing it, but that's all she could think to do at that moment.

As she left, the quote rang in her mind. 'May I see you again in a new life.' It was something that (Y/n) said a lot. Her grandfather firmly believed in reincarnation and soulmates, and so did (Y/n). So, she constantly believed that she would meet everyone in new lives and relive all of those beautiful friendships again. Regina now forced herself to believe that because she didn't believe that she could live a life without (Y/n) somewhere in it.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for threatening to get my best friend sectioned?

This actually happened 2 years ago, but last night he made a joke about it that kind of seemed like he might still be mad at me about it. So. Anyway, ages and all are written as they were at the time.

For context, my (18m) mom took guardianship of my friend (17m), called “J”, after his grandfather passed, a few months before this happened.

Not going into specifics, but J has struggled with OCD and an ED for years, and I suspect when he’s an adult he’ll probably get diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder at some point.

(Update from the Present: no dice… yet.)

A close family friend of his passed away and it caused his mental issues (particularly the ED) to get a lot worse really quickly.

Even thought my mom was technically his guardian, she kind of relied on me to keep tabs on him because he’s usually pretty honest with me compared to other people. Like, if he’s not doing well, I have the best chance of finding that out.

So. His family friend dies, he gets worse, I report all of this back to my mom, who starts trying to get some sort of more intensive treatment lined up for him (difficult and time consuming because of where we lived at the time).

My mom tells me not to tell J, because he “talks a big game” about not wanting treatment or whatever and she firmly believes it’ll be easier if he doesn’t have time to stress himself out about it before it happens. Okay. So I don’t tell J.

Somehow, he finds out anyway, and also finds out that I knew and had chosen not to tell him, but doesn’t tell me that he knows. (Convoluted, I know, sorry.)

I pick J up from an after school thing one night, we end up talking about pretty heavy shit in the car for a /long/ time, and after the conversation died, he put a hand on my shoulder, leaned over, and kissed me. And like not a short kiss either. It was like a 3 to 4 second kiss.

Context again, I realized I was gay and that I liked J in a not particularly friend-like way when I was 13. I never told him and never planned on telling him. I told him a lot of things but I intended on growing old and dying with that one kept nice and secret. Even if he was some form of not-straight, which I was 99.99% sure he wasn’t, I didn’t think it was worth jeopardizing my closest friendship with romantic and/or sexual feelings that could at best confuse him or make him uncomfortable or at worst outright disgust him.

Anyway. We don’t talk about it, I end up going to stay for a few days with a guy (20m but not really relevant) I’d been sort of seeing/sleeping with for a couple months because I literally couldn’t be in the same house as J or I would probably implode.

Fast forward a week, I’m picking J up from a hospital 2 towns over because he ran away (? unclear really, haven’t discussed the particulars w him and I wasn’t staying at home at the time) and ended up having to go to the ER.

In the car (best time to talk to someone because they can’t run away), he apologizes for kissing me. I’m thrown off by that, because he hadn’t said anything up to this point and it honestly wasn’t even in the top 5 things I was thinking about.

I asked him why he did it and he just sighed and explained in this tone of voice that, I don’t know how to explain it, but had just the right lack of empathy or affect that I knew he was being 110% honest.

Condensed version: he found out I was reporting everything he told me to my mom (still don’t know how). He was pissed. He was aware he needed more intensive treatment, and he knew my mom was aware. He did not want treatment. He knew I had liked him for years. He knew that I was relatively fragile about it. He knew that if he did something (like kiss me for example) there was a good chance it would break my brain and I would freak out.

He essentially kissed me to decommission me for a few days so he could formulate a plan to run away.

FINALLY we have arrived at the AITA part.

After hearing all this, I tried very hard to come up with something rational to say, but ended up saying (essentially), “You’re fucking insane, and I’m telling my mother you need to be committed.”

I know I wasn’t wrong to be angry. But I also know from past knowledge and experiences that he had a deep fear of being deemed “insane” or unfixable or whatever, and also that he was really afraid of treatment in general.

Idk. I go back and forth on whether or not I was out of line, or needlessly escalating the situation, by threatening him. It was a much bigger threat in his mind than it was in mine, and so even though I know I said it as a reaction to a fucked up situation, there’s still the idea that I blew it completely out of proportion and weaponized his own mental issues against him.

So AITA for threatening my best friend by telling him I was going to get him committed to a long term psychiatric hospital?

What are these acronyms?

[hellosweetart]

Oh! Regarding that one scenario you came up with for the serial killer Francis being Francis' reaction to Nacha's killing, I have an idea on a continuation to that ending:

After hiding the corpse into her car trunk, Nacha, now overwhelmed with guilt and fear, called Francis and confessed everything to him. Francis, even if he just got home from a shift and it was quite late outside, would waste no time coming over with some tools too.

Francis would then do what he does best: manipulate the crime scene so that the murder looked like a doppelganger's work and changed to a clean outfit with no blood. He then proceed to dispose of his bloody uniforms and his weapon, and then took Nacha back into the car, and drove both of them back home.

For anyone else witnessing what Francis had done, they would definitely feel that Francis was a... questionable figure, like why did it feel like disposing body and framing doppelganger for murder were old news to Francis, and why did he look so... unfazed during his work? Normally, Nacha would also have noticed all this and feel alarmed, but with her mental distress, all she could felt and think of were guilt and fear and even gratitude for Francis as he covered for her.

But there was one more person aside from Nacha and Francis who knew about the disastrous night (minus the dead guy): Ana. Ana was staying way pass her bed time reading whatever she liked when she heard the door open. She swiftly turned off the only source of light in the room being the the dim lamp on the bedside table and pretend to be asleep (Since her door was closed, no matter how quick was Francis, he would not have caught the light being switched off). However, upon hearing sobs from her mother, Ana decided to sneak as close as possible to the door.

On Francis and Nacha's side, the milkman decided to sit Nacha down onto the couch to comfort her. Ana, still hiding behind the door, knew all about what happened after her mother's shift. At first, Ana sympathized with her mom and felt the bastard somewhat deserved his fate for his harrasment and gross comment regarding a child. But then, while still sobbing and emotionally uncomposed, Nacha asked:

"W-what if the police saw through the crime scene and knew it all? What if they know I was the murderer?"

To which Francis just replied with a small laugh:

"Don't worry, dear. They'll never know. The corpse was torn to shreds with some parts missing. It looked too much like a doppelganger's work. I think my work is flawless in this one. We even got rid of all the evidence!"

Nacha was still too out of it to realize how wrong some of the thing Francis said, but Ana did. She questioned: why did he sound rather... proud of his work, and not shaken at all? Why did he sound like that was not his first time?

At that time, the authorities just decided to blame the murder onto the doppels to avoid any other unneccessary work for them. However, there was still a popular conspiracy theory going around that there was a human murderer among those kills. While Ana was not one to subscribe to these theory, and sometimes she even saw them as ridiculous statements, after hearing her father words, she feared for the worst.

Ana returned to bed way too late at night when her mother's sobbing ceased, but she was unable to sleep.

On another note, even if Nacha was composed enough to see that Francis looked like a professional in the disposing corpse field and decided to confront him about that, he already knew her to-be biggest secret that she would take to her grave: she killed a man. This means that he can use this information to his advantage and blackmail her as he please and may even have her help him in his future murders as an accomplice. Nacha would have no choice but to agree to his terms, as if she hadn't, high chances thay she would have gone to jail, meaning that Francis would be in charge of Ana, leaving Nacha worried to no end.

(oops this got too long)

This is what I would have imagined

I love it when anon send me this type of asks. I love reading long ones lol

[thinkinonsense]

Eat or Be Eaten ✦ Steve Harrington x fem!oc: Search Party

╰┈➤ Summary: In the dark corners of Hawkins, Indiana holds the gate to an alternate upside-down dimension. When a little boy goes missing in the town, Johanna Hopper and her friends gather to help find him before it's too late. Along the way, Johanna finds herself getting intertwined with the likings of a strange little girl and someone she claims to hate.

╰┈➤c/w: violence, cursing, angst, mentions of death

╰┈➤ word count: 3.3k+

╰┈➤ last chapter here

✦ "You can't go with me, Johanna," Dad argued for the third time this morning.

"Why not?"

We haven't seen each other since the news broke and I wish I could say I didn't know how he must be feeling, but I do.

"Jo..."

"He was there for me. Let me be there for him."

Dad gave up after I said that. I drove him down to the morgue where he met with Joyce and Jonathan.

"You stay in the waiting room, got it?" Dad stated again before letting me out of the car.

I nodded my head.

Deja Vú has a funny way of showing itself sometimes because suddenly I was eleven again and here for my sister.

"Jo? What are you doing here?" Jonathan asked, sort of surprised.

"I came to be here with you and your mom," I said, pulling him into a tight hug.

"You didn't have-" He mumbled into my hair.

"I wanted to."

When we let go, he sat next to me. Dad was on the phone with one of the other officers and Joyce was still looking at Will's body.

"She thinks he's in the walls." He whispers, making me turn my head at him.

"What?"

"Yeah, she... she says she can hear him."

"She can hear Will?" I ask then shake my head at how silly it sounds. "That's not possible."

"That's what I thought too."

Dad told me about the phone calls but I assumed the same thing, kids in his grade just thought it was funny to prank call them. I didn't know Joyce was actually losing it.

"There is so much we still need to do." He sighed, leaning forward on his knees.

"If you need anything just let me know," I said, rubbing his back in circles.

"How did you do it?"

It was five years ago when she passed. I don't remember much leading up to it. She was sick but I guess my mind blocked out the other stuff. Once she was gone, my mom left too. She divorced my dad and remarried a man named Bill. They ended up having another kid that I'll never meet.

For the longest time, I hated both of my parents. You wouldn't think an eleven-year-old could hold so much anger. It wasn't until Mom left that I started to like my dad again. He used to be a lazy drunk who wouldn't move for days at a time. I can't say I fully blame him after he lost his other daughter but it felt like he didn't care that I was mourning too.

"Honestly? I don't know..." I sighed. "But I got through it so, I know you can too."

Suddenly, Joyce came running out the door.

"Ma'am! Ma'am! I need you to sign this!" One of the morticians yelled.

"I don't know what you think that thing is in there, but that is not my son!" She yelled back.

"Joyce!" Dad called as she walked out the door.

"Mom! Mom!" Jonathan said, running after her.

I looked at my dad for some answers but he just sighed and sat back down.

"What was that about?" I asked him.

"She's going through a lot right now, kid." He said, being as vague as possible.

Minutes later, Jonathan comes storming back inside for his coat and keys. I followed him out to his car and hopped in with him.

✮

This isn't my ideal afternoon, looking for coffins but Jonathan shouldn't have to do this alone. He should not have to do this at all.

For the most part, I zoned out while the funeral director talked to Jonathan, only adding small comments when he looked at me for an opinion. The front door opened and stood the last person I thought I would see today, Nance.

"Jonathan, Jo, can we talk for just a second?" She asked. 

Jonathan and I exchanged a short glance then followed her to the hallway.

They sat in the chairs while I leaned against the wall. Nancy pulled out a taped-up picture from the other night at Steve's house, letting us look at the figure she was talking about.

"It could be some sort of perspective distortion, but I wasn't using the wide angle. I don't know." He says, handing it back to her.

"It's weird though," I said, getting another look.

"And you're sure you didn't see anyone else out there?" She asked him.

"No." He answered. "She was there one second and then, um... gone. I figured she bolted."

"Barb wouldn't do that," I mumbled.

"That's what I think but the cops, on the other hand, think she ran away." Nancy sighed. "And I went back to Steve's and I thought I... I thought I saw something. Some weird man or... I don't know what it was."

Why would the cops just brush this off after nearly the same thing happened with Will and now he's dead?

"I'm sorry," Nancy said breaking the silence between us. "I shouldn't have come here today. I just... I just thought maybe you knew something or... Hopper might know.."

"What did he look like?" Jonathan asks her.

"What?" Nancy and I both said.

"This man you saw in the woods. What did he look like?"

"I don't know." She stutters, thinking back. "It was almost like he..."

"Didn't have a face?"

"How did you know that?"

Jonathan told the two of us to get into his car and he would explain. Apparently, Joyce has been seeing this figure in their living room, which explains why the Christmas lights are hung up in early November.

Once we reached the school, the three of us went to the dark room while Jonathan started developing the other photos.

"Did your mom say anything else?" Nancy asked him. "Like, um, where it might have gone to? Or..."

"No, just that it came out of the wall." He mumbled, trying to focus.

"Why didn't you guys tell anyone?" I asked.

"Your dad and I didn't believe her. It sounded too crazy to be real but now... who knows." He answered.

How could my dad not tell me this? Some creature could be running around in Hawkins and he didn't believe her?

I sat on one of the chairs while they watched the photo being developed. Their voices were quiet while she asked him about photography and inched closer.

"That's it," Nancy said, pointing to the picture.

I shot up and walked over to look. There was definitely a creepy faceless creature in the photo.

"That's what I saw." She restates.

"Holy shit," I said in shock.

"My mom... I thought she was crazy. 'Cause she said that's not Will's body. That he's alive."Jonathan's voice cared the same amount of surprise as ours.

"And if he's alive..."

"Then Barb." Nancy cut me off.

Later that night, Jonathan dropped off Nancy and then me. Dad never came home. I locked the door and grabbed the gun under my bed, laying it next to my nightstand just in case. I barely slept that night.

✮

The front door opened and I peeked through the curtains and saw Dad's car in the driveway.

"You're up this early?" He asked.

"Yeah, Will's funeral is at nine," I responded, pulling out my funeral dress. "Are you coming?"

"I don't think so, kiddo. There is some stuff down at the station that I need to take care of."

"Of course you do."

I shut the bathroom door before he could say anything else.

There's no real reason that I should be upset with him. He can't tell me any information about an open case but I don't know, I assumed since the Byers and I are close he would tell me what was going on.

After I showered, I dried my curly hair and got dressed. This was the same dress I wore to my sister's funeral years ago, shoved in the back of my closet where I wouldn't see it unless I specifically looked for it. Nothing about it was special.

Before going to the kitchen, I put a cardigan over it and grabbed my boots. There were Pop-Tarts on top of the fridge. I stood on top of one of the wooden chairs to reach it instead of asking for help.

"C'mon kid, is this necessary?" He asked, watching me climb down.

I ignored his question, mumbling a quick goodbye then heading out to my freezing car. While I waited to see if the heat would turn on, I looked at myself in the mirror.

There wasn't much makeup on my face. I curled my lashes but didn't bother with mascara, just a bit of foundation and a dark red lipstick that I used as a blush. The mascara would have been a waste anyway because I can barely keep it together now.

The heat kicked on while I was driving over to the gravesite. My car knew I needed some sort of win today. It was busy when I got there. I parked two spots from Jonathan's car, next to the Wheelers.

"Hey." Nancy greeted, walking towards me.

"Hey." I sniffled.

"Has your dad heard anything about...?"

"I'm not sure. I doubt he even knows about Barb, he's been so busy with Will's case."

She nodded. I watched her little brother, Mike join his other friends over by Jonathan and Joyce. The second I saw the casket, I froze.

"You okay?" Nancy asked, reaching for my hand.

"Yeah, it just hit me all of a sudden," I said, letting my guard down for a minute.

"I know you are close with them so, I can't imagine."

I nodded and she pulled me into a hug.

✮

We stayed next to each other while the service started, passing tissues from inside my coat to each other. When the priest finished and everyone split up, I noticed a shadow lingering behind me. Three shadows specifically.

"Can I help you boys?" I asked, Will's friends. The only one I could recognize was Mike.

"Yeah, um, I'm Dustin." The curly-haired kid smiled at me.

"Nice to meet you, Dustin."

"Nice to meet you too, this is Lucas and Mike."

He pointed to the other boys. They both waved awkwardly. It was sweet.

"You're Johanna Hopper, right?"

"Correct." I nod, grabbing a cup from the refreshments table and filling it with the black coffee in a pot. "Let me guess, you want to know about my dad?"

"Well, sort of. We want to know what he knows."

The kid comes off a little strong but I'll give him credit.

"Join the club," I mumbled into my cup of coffee; taking a sip. "Look, I wish I could help you guys out, but he hasn't told me anything."

"Hm..." The young boy thought to himself for a moment. "Well, if you find anything out, could you let us know please?"

"You'll be the first person I call."

I spotted Jonathan and Nancy sitting outside still; leaving the three boys inside. They stared at a map when I squatted, causing them both to jump.

"What are we looking at?" I ask.

"Where were you?" Nancy asked me.

"I got some coffee then your brother's friends tried to interrogate me for information." I pointed back to the map. "What's this?"

"Mapping out where this thing has been seen," Jonathan says. "There's the woods where Will disappeared, Steve's house, and my house."

"That's really close." I squinted.

"Yeah, it's gotta be within a mile or something." He said. "Whatever this thing is, it's not traveling far."

"You want to go out there," Nancy states, looking at Jonathan.

"We might not find anything."

"I found something. And if we do see it... then what?"

"Easy, We kill it," I answered, standing back up.

"She's right." Jonathan agreed, walking out to Lonnie's car.

Inside the glove box was a revolver and a small box of bullets. I watched as Nancy began to realize that we were serious.

"Are you guys serious?" She asked, looking around suspiciously.

Jonathan stuffed his pockets and then annoyingly stated, "What? Do you want to find this thing and take another photo? Yell at it?"

"And you're okay with this?" She turns to me, waiting for an answer.

"I'm not thrilled by the idea but it's our only option." I shrugged.

"Guys, this is a terrible idea!"

"You can go tell someone but they won't believe you. Look at Joyce, half of the town is calling, her a madwoman when she could be right about this."

"Doesn't she deserve to know?"

"Yeah, and I'll tell her... after that thing is dead," Jonathan said, shutting the car door.

The three of us made plans to meet back up in two hours. I told Nancy I would pick her up and meet Jonathan in the woods.

"Dad?" I yelled when I walked through the front door.

His car was missing but the television and the lights were still on. The living room was torn to pieces.

What did he do in here while I was gone?

"I'm so not cleaning this shit up," I said under my breath.

In my room, I changed out of my dress, putting it back in the depths of my closet, and threw on a brown top with some blue jeans. I hurried to take my gun out to my car, along with a box of bullets from Dad's room.

The drive to Nancy's wasn't that long, fifteen minutes. I drove down her street and noticed a familiar vehicle in her driveway.

"Johanna?"

Steve's voice traveled through my windows. He and Nancy across from each other with a bat in between them.

"You two are hanging out today?" He questions Nance.

"Yeah." She quickly answers.

"What are you guys going to do?"

"Uh,"

"Um..."

Nancy and I struggled to think of a good lie before she blurted out, "We're going shopping."

"Really?" He tilts his head and then looks at me.

I shrug, listening to Nancy ramble about some sale going on. He finally let her go after two minutes but not before forcing me to witness yet another one of their extremely public, borderline face-sucking, kisses.

Without thinking, I honked my horn and startled them.

"Sorry, I'm just really excited about the sale," I said, watching Steve walk away.

Steve drove off and Nancy finally climbed into my car, placing the bat in the backseat next to my book bag.

"Remind me why you like that douchebag, again?" I say as we pull out onto the main road.

"He's not a douchebag." She defends.

"And you're not a liar."

She rolls her eyes playfully before turning on Blondie.

✮

As soon as I parked, I bolted out and grabbed my stuff. Jonathan was already shooting at a couple of beer cans.

"Aren't you supposed to be aiming for the cans?" I teased, watching another bullet miss the target.

"Actually, you see the spaces in between the cans? Yeah, I'm aiming for those." He chuckled.

Nancy and I put our bags down. I grabbed my handgun and started putting bullets in while Jonathan and Nancy began talking.

"Have you ever shot one of these before?" He asked her.

"Have you met my parents?" She jokes.

"I haven't shot one since I was ten." He shares. "My dad took me hunting on my birthday, and made me kill a rabbit."

"A rabbit?"

"He thought it would make me more of a man or something. I cried for a week."

Nancy and I both started laughing before she pulled us back into the conversation, turning to me, "Let me guess, Hopper taught you how to shoot?"

I nodded my head and fired one bullet into a Bud Light can, knocking it off of the wood. Nancy looked over at me, surprised by the shot.

"After my sister passed and my mom left. He knew I would have to be home alone sometimes due to work so, he made me practice."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, I'm way better than Jonathan."

"I hate to admit it, but she is." He agreed.

"Wow." She mouthed then looked back to him. "And your dad?"

He cocks the gun and thinks for a second, "Well, I guess at some point, he and my mother loved each other but... I wasn't around for that part."

Nancy reaches out for the revolver and Jonathan tells her where to aim.

"I don't think my parents ever loved each other." She says, watching the cans.

"They must've married for some reason," I said.

"My mom was young. My dad was older but he had a cushy job, money, and came from a good family." She raises the gun, picking her target. "So they bought a nice house at the end of the cul-de-sac... and started their nuclear family."

"Screw that," Jonathan mumbled.

"Yeah, screw that."

Nancy's bullet flawlessly, hit the can on her first try. It was impressive, to say the least.

"Take notes on how to shoot like a girl, Byers," I said, taking another shot. Nancy's bubbly laugh practically bounced off of every tree. Jonathan just shot his head while we kept shooting.

Eventually, Jonathan knocked a few cans over. Surprisingly it was fun hanging out with the two of them. We all swapped stories about our childhoods, most of which weren't super depressing.

✮

After a while, we started looking around for any creatures. I walked ahead of them with my gun in my hands. They were talking together but I wasn't paying attention until I heard yelling.

When I looked back they were standing a few feet away arguing. Just as I was about to go over there, Jonathan caught up to me, leaving Nancy behind.

"Everything alright?" I asked him.

"Yeah, everything's fine."

Everything was not fine. Nancy stayed behind us but eventually, it got dark out so we pulled out our flashlights. I could hear something moving around us so I stopped.

"What are you-"

"Shhh." I paused, listening closer. "Do you guys hear that?"

"Yeah." They both said at the same time.

We walked a bit further until we spotted a deer lying on the ground, covered in blood. It must have been attacked by a bigger animal. Nancy and I crouched down to get a closer look.

Poor deer.

"Looks like he's been hit," Nance says, looking at Jonathan and me. "We can't just leave it like this."

We all looked at the gun in Nancy's hand, we all knew what was going through her head.

"I'll do it," Jonathan stated, reaching for the gun. Nancy and I shared a look before she handed it over to him.

"Are you sure? I can do it if you prefer." I offered.

"I'm not ten anymore."

Nance and I stood back while Jonathan cocked the gun. Just as he was getting ready to shoot the deer was swept away by something. We jumped back, gasping.

"What the hell was that?" She said, scared to pick the flashlight up.

"I don't know."

None of us saw what took that deer. One second it was lying there, barely clinging to life then the next second it completely disappeared.

We walked around, looking for whatever it was. There was nothing there but the blood left behind from the deer.

"Where did it go?" Nancy asked.

"I don't know," I responded.

"Do you guys see any more blood?"

"No." We both said.

We were spread out looking, Jonathan went east and I went west. I figured Nancy went with Jonathan when I could barely hear her boots crunch under the autumn leaves. I swear it was only two or three minutes apart when I heard Jonathan yelling for Nancy. I took off running back to where we found the deer.

"Nancy!" He yelled louder than before.

"Jonathan, where's Nance?" I said, panicking.

"I don't know! I can't find her. I thought she went with you!"

"I thought she was with you!"

That's when we both realized Nancy was gone.

[readyforthegarden]

Season of the Witch - Part Three

Masterlist

Pairing: Sam Kiszka x F!Reader, Danny Wagner x F!Reader

Synopsis: Danny always told you, you shouldn't play with things you don't fully understand. When trying your hand at magic, you accidentally summon something more than you bargained for. Now stuck, you try to find a way to rid yourself of him, but what if the only way of ridding yourself of him is dying?

Warnings: mentions of death, mentions of witchcraft, angst, 18+ ONLY, MINORS DNI!

WC: 3417

The afternoon and evening had been interesting to say the least. Once you’d arrived back to your apartment, Samuel took it upon himself to roam around the small layout. He seemed particularly keen to study your bookshelf, gingerly touching the spines of the books there as he glanced at them. Not knowing what to do with yourself, you plopped onto your couch, watching him as he moved about. 

The way he moved was interesting. Sam didn’t walk, his limbs moved too fluidly to count it as walking. Instead he glided, damn near floated as he made his way through your belongings. Had you had the same body height and wingspan he did, you’d have been a bull in a china shop, constantly knocking things over, tripping over your own feet. Yet Sam maneuvered himself with an otherworldly grace, something that couldn’t be taught or learned. 

“Who is this?” snapping you out of your thoughts, Sam tapped the glass on a picture frame that rested on your bookshelf. He recognized a slightly younger version of yourself, though the wide, happy grin on your face was unfamiliar to him at this point in your…whatever this was. 

You stood up, moving over to where he stood and lifting the photo. Next to you, arm slung around your shoulders, was your mother. Her smile was just as big, if not more captivating. You recalled the memory of the day, and suddenly the words were spilling from your mouth. 

“That’s my mom,” you smiled softly, though you felt your stomach twist slightly. “This was a few years ago, we took a trip to this gorgeous little cabin, it was surrounded by lilacs, and we had booked just at the right time. They were all blooming. We kept the windows open all day and night just inhaling the scent. It was so beautiful.”  you felt your smile fall as you remembered what followed that trip, and set the photo back on the shelf. 

“Is it not a happy memory?” Sam’s dark eyes were locked on you, studying you. 

“It is,” you avoided his gaze best you could, shoving your hands into the front pockets of your pants. “One of my favorites.” 

“Then why-“

“She’s gone.” you cut him off. Ripping the bandaid off the wound, still raw and irritated from your own refusal to deal with it. “She passed away a year ago.” Sam stiffened, straightening up as he glanced over at the photo.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. After a few moments of silence, he spoke again. You assumed it would be a half assed condolence, and in a way it was, though it didn’t feel as empty as you thought it would. “She was very beautiful…you look a lot like her.” You didn’t reply, just gazed at the light reflecting off the red satin that adorned his legs. 

“We should get you some clothes, since you’ll be hanging around for a while.” you turned, glad you kept your shoes on for the few minutes you were home. Grabbing your bag from your spot on the couch, you slung the strap over your shoulder. Sam stayed in place at the bookshelf, and you turned, cocking an eyebrow at him. “Are you coming with, or are you trusting me to pick out your clothes?”

“I’m coming,” he moved to follow you, once again taking up residence in your passenger seat. The air was heavy in the car, more so than it had been earlier when you’d been on your way to find a way to get rid of him. 

“How did she die?” Sam broke the tension. You glanced at him out of the corner of your eyes, heat prickling your neck at his audacity. 

“I don’t want to talk about it.” you shook your head, flicking up the turn signal and checking traffic to pull onto another street. 

“Where’s your dad?” Sam, instead of dropping the subject, decided to change the question. 

“Sam,” a soft warning.

“Do you have any brothers? Sisters?”

“Sam!” You nearly slammed the brakes at a red light, the force tossing both your bodies forward as much as it could with your seatbelts, anything to stop his prying. “I told you I don’t want to talk about it.” Sam stared at you. 

“Death is a natural part of life. You shouldn’t shy away from it.” Sam sniffed. You rolled your eyes so hard you swore you got a headache from it. 

“I live with it every hour of every day.” you replied lowly. “Now drop it.” 

“Fine,” it was as if the conversation was nothing to him, simply asking about a change in the weather pattern as opposed to your family history. 

“Good…will?” Sam stared at the sign above the store as you parked, one of few cars in the shopping plaza mid-day.

“Yes,” was all you replied, turning your ignition off. You didn’t wait for him as you exited the car and began walking to the store. You knew already in the few short hours he’d been around, he would never let you get too far without him. 

The fluorescent lights of the store almost immediately stung your eyes, the slightly musty smell invading your nostrils. You found yourself drawn to a small display of old holiday decor, Halloween mixed in with Valentine’s Day and Christmas. 

“You expect me to find suitable clothing here?” Sam’s voice was full of distaste as you turned to entertain his complaint. His brows were knit together as he glanced at the racks of clothing behind him. 

“Yes,” you replied flatly, lowering your voice to a near-hiss. “I wasn’t exactly rich before you showed up, but I especially don’t have money to go buy you any fancy clothes. This is what I can afford, got it?” Sam locked eyes with you momentarily before sighing, muttering to himself as he moved toward a rack. 

Surprisingly, Sam kept his mouth shut as he thumbed through the clothing, though his face couldn’t hold back from expressing his innermost thoughts. Only a few items piqued his interest, draping them over his arm while you browsed around the books and movies, debating if you could spare the three dollars on the dvd of a movie you hadn’t seen in a long time, but weren’t sure you wanted to purchase fully. 

“These are satisfactory.” he cleared his throat. You nodded, setting the movie on the rack before  heading over to the checkout, watching the young girl ogle Sam, who was more intrigued by the bright feathery novelty pen sitting in her pen cup. Once the transaction was complete, she practically shoved the bag into your arms as she stared at him, Sam finally noticing and grinning.

“Have a good day,” he pressed a hand to your back as he bid the swooning girl goodbye, the only other acknowledgement he gave her as he ushered you out of the store. Sam took the bag from your arms, holding it lazily in one hand, keeping his palm flat against your spine. Down the shopping plaza there was a dollar store, and guided him into it, gesturing to the toiletries. Sam picked apart every soap scent and every toothpaste, particularly having an internal struggle on if he was going to prefer mint or cinnamon toothpaste. 

He tossed the latter in with the rest of his things, perusing the deodorants and body sprays, scrunching his nose at the pungent scents. 

“Don’t get that one,” you stopped him from reaching for a can with a buck on it. “It smells rancid.” Sam took note of your advice, moving down the row a bit. He reached out again, and you spoke up. “That one will make you smell like you drowned in a vat of sandalwood after one spritz.”

“A connoisseur of gentlemen’s cologones?” Sam asked, only slightly mocking. 

“I’d rather not have my home smell like a teenage boy trying to cover his BO, thank you.” you replied back. This seemed to put a dent in the sarcastic armor he wore, his attitude towards the sprays less than enthusiastic now. The two of you continued shopping for a short while longer before he took the basket from your arm and hooked it on his own, heading toward the register. 

His demeanor stayed sour from your jab all the way home, where he took the bags from the dollar store and breezed past you, entering the bathroom and proceeding to lock himself in. The bag of clothes from the charity shop was in your hands, and you decided to start a load of laundry, tossing them in along with your clothes. The shower was running in the bathroom as you passed it with your basket, and you could feel the humid air from the hot water start to seep from the cracks around the door, prickling your skin. 

When you came back from the communal laundry room, you stood in the center of your apartment. You weren’t sure exactly what to do with yourself again. It felt callous to turn on the TV and start watching something. But, what else was there for you to do? You plopped down on the couch, grabbing the remote and turning on the television. The picture was crystal clear, almost better in fact, like it had never laid shattered on the floor of your living room. You flipped through the channels, settling on an old slapstick comedy to keep your attention. 

You weren’t sure how long you’d been watching the screen, not really taking in the film but letting your mind wander, wondering if Danny or his contacts could figure out a way out of your situation. You were startled by Sam, clearing his throat as he stood at the arm of the couch. He looked…positively normal. A pair of deep, navy blue pajama pants adorned his legs, a gray t-shirt covered his torso. His long hair was damp, and you decided to ignore the whiff you caught of your leave-in conditioner floating from it. 

“Your shower has very good water pressure.” he complimented. You nodded in agreement. 

“That’s why I pay more than the place is worth every month.” you half-heartedly joked. The corner of Sam’s lip twitched, though there was no smile. Instead he took himself over to your kitchen, opening the fridge and bending in half at the waist to peer in. You watched him rummage the meager contents until he pulled out a half-full container of cherry tomatoes that had been on the brink of wrinkling, and the jar of minced garlic you always had on hand. 

Getting up, you moved towards the kitchen, watching him as he helped himself to your cupboards, finding your pots and pans and cutting board. He opened the drawer you had stashed the large kitchen knife in, a soft smirk flickering at the corner of his mouth as he gripped the handle. 

“What are you doing?”

“I’m cooking us a meal,” Sam replied nonchalantly, dumping out the tub of tomatoes and setting to work on slicing them in half. “I forgot how fast human bodies burn through energy.”

“Is-is this your first human body?” your voice was quiet, a nervous tremble on your lips as you asked. Sam’s lips spread into a sly smile as he glanced up at you from his task. 

“Yes, but this isn’t the first time I’ve been human in it.” you could almost feel the laugh he held back as your confusion. “This is the form I enter your realm in. It always has been.”

“Do you come here often?”

“Only when I’m summoned,”

“How often is that?”

“You have a lot of questions, you know that?”

“You have a lot of vague un-answers.” your reply made him snort, setting down the knife before scooping up the halved tomatoes in his large hands, letting them fall into the saucepan with some olive oil. 

“I have answered a call or two in my lifetime.” he replied, causing you to roll your eyes. 

“Were you bound to those people too?”

“No,” Sam shook his head. “Those people used the right ritual.” A cherry tomato half soared the small space between the two of you, thumping onto his shoulder and leaving a dark mark on his shirt. “Hey!”

He continued to move about the kitchen, adding salt and pepper to the cooking down tomatoes, a sauce beginning to simmer. The garlic and onion he added filled the apartment with a fragrance that made your stomach rumble. Wordlessly, you grabbed the pot from the stove and moved to the sink, filling it with water. Moving back to the stove in the small space, you reached for the knob to turn the burner on, when Sam’s hand stopped you. 

“What?”

“Light it,” Sam nodded to the burner. You gave him an incredulous look. 

“That’s what I’m trying to do.” your tone was snotty, but Sam ignored it. 

“Not like that, with your power.” 

“What power?” you huffed, trying to reach for the knob again. Sam stopped you again. 

“You lit something on fire this morning, you can do it again,” he urged. 

“Sam, I told you, it was a trick of the light.” you insisted, pulling back your hand. He stared at you, almost blankly until his eyes scanned you, and with a nod he turned back to the stove, stirring around the thin sauce, adding seasonings he’d taken from the small spice rack on your counter.

“My little fawn, you may be able to lie to yourself but I know what I saw.” Sam gave you a look from the corner of his eyes before briefly gesturing to the stove, flames rising under the pot. You let the silence settle between you both for a moment, the only sound was the wooden spoon scraping gently against the bottom of the pan, sauce simmering around it. 

You had moved to grab a package of noodles from a cupboard, opening it as the water in the pot began to boil. Sam was turned, the spoon he was stirring with raised, one of his hands underneath to catch any spilled droplets. He said nothing, merely gestured towards you with the utensil. Against your better judgment, you leaned forward, letting your lips meet the edge of the spoon. The sauce was delicious, for how few ingredients you had available. It was rich, the basil and oregano he had added warming your tongue. 

“It’s good,” was all you said, licking your lips as Sam smirked knowingly. You finished the task you had started, dropping the noodles into the large pot, grabbing another large spoon and stirring them a bit, before adding a healthy pinch of salt to the water. Sam continued to stir the sauce gently, turning down the heat as you tested a few noodles before confirming their doneness. He stood back as you took the pot back to the sink, pouring out the noodles into a strainer before bringing it back. Sam shooed you away as he lifted the saucepan and poured it on top of the noodles. 

Again he helped himself to your cupboards, fishing out two plates, and scooping the pasta onto them, before finding two forks, placing them on the plates. He picked them up, gliding into the living room and setting them down on your small coffee table. Unlike Danny, you’d never gotten around to having a kitchen table of any sort, finding most of your meals were alone on the couch or over the sink. 

“I should go get your clothes from the wash,” you said quietly. You left the apartment, going to the laundry room and fishing Sam’s clothes from the washing machine and into the dryer. Once you were back, Sam stood up from the couch, almost startling you. 

“You okay?” Sam nodded, gesturing to the pasta, still steaming on the plates. 

“I waited for you,” you gave him a half-smile, coming around the coffee table and taking a seat on the edge of the couch. Sam followed your suit, clearing his throat as he reached forward. He had taken it upon himself to grab napkins, which in your home were just flimsy pieces of cheap paper towel, and spread one over his knee, before staring at you. 

“Oh,” you leaned forward, grabbing your own “napkin” and spreading it over your leg too. He seemed satisfied and took his plate in his large hands, picking up the fork and beginning to swirl the tines in the noodles. Following suit, you gathered the pasta onto your fork and blew on it gently before taking the bite. You let out a small hum of approval not realizing that Sam was once again watching you, before digging back into his meal. 

The two of you ate in silence for a bit before he cleared his throat. 

“If you don’t mind me asking,” you shot him a look, wary in the small space between your bodies on the couch. “What made you try to cast a spell like that?” 

Heat flamed in your cheeks. In the moment, the idea had been brilliant. However, facing the consequences had you nearly squirming in embarrassment. 

“I was trying to curse my ex.” you mumbled, hastily shoving more food in your mouth. Sam regarded you carefully before proceeding. 

“What did they do to make you so angry?”

“Cheated.” was all you replied, your appetite leaving you. The quiet between you was heavy and you cleared your throat. “I’ll be right back,” you placed your plate and napkin on the table, and stood up, going to your room. Shutting the door, you slipped your phone out of your pocket and dialed Danny’s number. 

“I don’t have any answers yet,” was all he said when he picked up the call, disappointment in his voice. 

“It’s okay,” you sighed. “I just wanted…I just wanted to apologize again. For lying to you and for dragging you into this mess.”

“I can’t say it’s not the worst one you’ve dragged me into,” Danny chuckled under his breath. “but one day we’ll laugh about it.” 

“I hope so,” you bit the tip of your thumbnail, pacing a bit. 

“Are you okay?” Danny asked softly. 

“Yeah…just a little overwhelmed I think.” 

“We’ll get you out of this, if it’s the last thing I do.” Danny assured you. “Get some rest, okay?” 

“Rest, yeah.” you nodded, slightly distracted by the sound of dishes softly clattering out in your apartment. “I’ll talk to you later…and thanks, Danny.” hanging up with him, you went back out to the main room, seeing Sam in the kitchen. He was standing at the sink, rinsing off your plates and staring out the window boredly as he washed them. Since he was busy, you went back to your room, rifling through your closet and pulling out some old sheets and blankets. Grabbing a spare pillow from your bed, you headed back to the living room, and began setting up a bed on the couch. 

“It’s not much, but,” you gestured to the set up once you were done, Sam entering the living room. “It’s better than nothing. At least tonight you have a pillow and blanket.”

“Thank you,” Sam quietly made his way over to the couch, pinching the blanket you’d laid out between his thumb and forefinger. 

“Your clothes should be done in the dryer, I’ll go get them.” you moved towards the door but Sam stopped you.

“I’ll go,” he beat you to the door, his hand already turning the knob. 

“The laundry room is on the left!” you called after him, watching the door shut. Leaving him to his laundry, you went to the bathroom, beginning to brush your teeth and wash your face before bed. You took your time between each step of your routine, letting it soothe your jangled nerves. Once finished, you left the bathroom, and only made it a step towards your bedroom before you heard Sam call out.

“Fawn?” Peeking around the corner, you saw Sam already under the blanket on the couch, his new clothes folded neatly in a pile on the coffee table.

“Yes, Sam?” you quirked an eyebrow. “Need a bedtime story?”

“No,” Sam shook his head. “I only wanted to say, your ex must’ve been incredibly asinine to have cheated.” heat rose to your cheeks again. “I hope you know that the real curse is for them not being with you now.”

“Thanks, I guess,” you mumbled, not sure how to feel about how Sam was speaking to you. “Goodnight, Sam.”

“Goodnight, little fawn.��

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[justhere4kpop]

All's Fair in Love and War

Kitsune! Choi San x Reader

w/c: 5442

Genre: Soulmate AU, Fantasy

Synopsis: Your parents left you their beach house when they moved out of the country. You and the neighbor boy always had a strange friendship growing up from the pranks to him standing up for you against beach bullies. It always felt like something was missing while you were away. Maybe this is the year for a budding summer romance with the hot neighbor...or maybe this is just a burnt-out brain hoping for something more.

Collab piece for @a1sh1teruu's Stuck in Summer Series (here)

~Masterlist~

In all his time on the planet, Choi San has never quite found the happiness his father talked about. He found the Winters too cold, the Falls too windy, and Springs too rainy…. never mind how he felt about the summers. Too Hot, Too Dry, Too Humid, he had a lot of feelings towards the summer and what it meant. Sure as a Tenko Kitsune, he’s been around for a while, there was a time when he was truly happy….he once fell in love with the summer but as time has passed he’s found himself lost in the sands of time hoping to bring it back once again. One last chance before he turned his back on the cursed summertime, it’s been 100 years since.

For the first time in a while, I finally had the summer to myself, I could take a vacation from work and make my way to where I truly wanted to be, the beach. My parents left me a summer home when they moved and if it wasn’t for bills I’d probably live there if I could. I’ve always loved the beach, the smell of the saltwater, the lull of the waves breaking the shore, the sunlight. Sure it was hot and the sun was always on you, but that first sunburn of summer where you just lose yourself outside is always something that happened to me as a kid, and honestly I almost look forward to having to sleep on my stomach for a week because my shoulders hurt so bad. I woke up early to finally make the drive down to the house so I could let go and relax, The cool breeze hit my face since I had my windows down, the sea breeze becoming more and more apparent. My old beat-up car rattled down the road as it slowly became a sand-covered driveway.

San’s ears perked up hearing the car.

“Oh hi! I hope I didn’t wake anyone up, I know it’s still quite early.” I smiled at the neighbor. I remember him. “No way….Choi San is that you?” I smiled.

“Y/n?” he looked at me in disbelief. “What are you doing here?” his eyes lit up.

“I finally got some vacation time and I missed the beach.” I smiled. “You’ve grown up from that scrawny little boy I met all those years ago, Taekwondo has really filled you out hmm?”

“Yeah I guess my dad pushed me really….you know.” he laughed nervously. “Let me help you with your bags.”

Did you always look like that? He questioned. Like she did? Like she did all those years ago, oh how he yearned to hear you say his name again.

“Y/n?”

“Yeah,” I turned around and looked at him.

“N-Nothing.” he blushed a little, seeing you in the rising sun he lost all train of thought.

The place was a little more dusty than I remember, that being said no one had used it in about 12 years, I remember running around and flopping on the couch as soon as we got in.

“Hey mom, told me they ordered a new mattress for the bed here and that the neighbor would pick it up, you didn’t happen to?”

“Oh, I did! I thought maybe your parents were coming back when they called and well…I put it in already, I know where the spare key is.”

The space looked the same as when you were last here but it felt different, felt koozie.

“They told me they spruced the place up since they heard I could come out this year but I wasn’t expecting this, I think they think I throw ragers or something, I mean what am I going to do with a fire pit.” I chuckled.

“They always did like spoiling you for your birthdays.”

“It was just to make up for being absent at home…” I looked down. “Anyways you’re probably tired, I need a nap. I've been driving for a few hours and well….Yeah I could really use one.” I chuckled.

“Oh right, sure.” he smiled, his heart fluttered at the sound of your laugh.

“Let’s hang out soon, ok?” I looked at him hopeful.

“I’d like that.” he nodded.

The new bed was amazing, my lumbar was supported, my head felt like I was on a cloud, and it pulled heat away from me as I tend to overheat while I sleep…or was I always cold when I slept? My parents always said I loved this place, and I’d always ask if we could go home instead of wherever we lived. They said I’d cry and beg to go to the beach house because I loved it so much. Funny how I never remember any of those things. I guess I don’t really remember what I ate for breakfast though….Breakfast. Oh man, am I starving Good thing I brought a donut with me. I pulled out the long donut with fox decorations on it. I loved foxes so much. I also loved all the mythology and lore behind foxes, wolves, vampires…my best friend is a vampire you know, oh yeah Seonghwa? He absolutely drinks the blood of young girls to keep himself young, in fact, he’s over 1200 years old. I’ve seen the birth certificate, and the social security card, which says 1.

I sat on the little nook that overlooked the beach and ate my donuts before heading to bed, I should probably tell Seonghwa and my parents I made it safely…I hope they won’t be too mad at me for the early text…or late text for Seonghwa he’s probably heading to bed himself. No matter what, I can't wait for the next month I have here.

Everything felt so peaceful, I felt calm like a part of me has come back together, I felt this sense of warmth and love. I loved the peaceful life I felt I lived here, it meant everything to me. As an adult I would’ve liked to share it with a partner, I would’ve loved to be married and show my kids around…but hey sometimes a little alone time is just what you need. I think I’m going to enjoy my alone time much more than I would’ve if I brought my ex here, Talk about a real piece of work…I sighed to myself letting sleep overcome my senses as I drifted off into the wild dreams that would always encapsulate me here. The smell of the sea comforted me.

“Y/n?” the voice called out. “You look beautiful darling.” he smiled at me and put a flower in my hair.

“Oh, you’re just saying that.” That voice came from me but I didn't recognize it. Was that really me? I guess you never truly know what you sound like.

“I’ve missed you my darling.” he brushed my hair back.

“You’ve been gone a long time.” I looked up, his fox-like features…wait…I know his face? Don’t I?

I woke up in a startle. My heart raced, he was so close, I could smell the fragrance he wore, Cherry Blossoms and saltwater, his smile was so comforting, I could…I felt so cold now, too cold for comfort. I grabbed a blanket.

Oh, who left the damn window open. I don’t remember opening that. I sighed, I was always forgetful like that.

I went down to the beach after waking up fully, I wanted to feel the warm sand on my feet and finally enjoy myself just like I wanted. This was my vacation after all.

“Hey stranger.” I said seeing San walking the beach.

“Hi.” he smiled and looked up at me.

“Mind if I join?” I put a blanket down next to him. “Maybe we can build a sandcastle like old times?”

“You remember all that?”

“Nah just remember the photos my mom took.” I shrugged. “How’s life treating you? Girlfriend? Boyfriend?”

“Not just me, I moved here about 4 years ago for college and moved into the beach house and just….never looked back you know.”

“Oh? I wish I did something like that. I of course felt the need to explore and see the big cities nowhere near the beach. Oh well…guess I’m here now.”

“What’re you doing for work?” he questioned.

“Oh, big corporate job. Studying the mythical beings we live with you know. Of course, my best friend is a vampire, totally weird right.”

“Oh…is that what that stench is?” he scrunched his nose.

“Oh like you can smell him.” I nudged him and caught a whiff of his cologne. “Cherry Blossoms?”

“Yeah, it’s…I just got it.” he smiled. “Do you like it? Is it bad?”

“No, I..I really like it Sannie.” I blushed a little remembering my dream. “Sorry I….I don’t know where that nickname came from.”

“No no it’s fine, I like it.” he flushed. “Sorry been out in the sun too long.”

“Oh yeah go ahead, I’m just going to read for a little.”

He got up to go back to his place.

“Um y/n? How long are you-”

“A month!” I stopped him and blushed myself. “Sorry I’m…I’m staying a month.”

“Then I hope to see you soon, don’t forget to drink some water ok?” he nodded.

“Yeah, no problem.” I nodded.

The breeze that followed felt like a familiar hug, just like one I needed, it felt like when my mom would hold me after a nightmare, or when my dad would put a cool towel on my forehead when I was sick. I should really convince Seonghwa and Wooyoung to come down here. Wooyoung would like the beach. Seonghwa would probably just like the change in scenery. I wonder if San has any new friends..maybe I will have a party. After all his birthday is coming up, isn't it?

I need to go grocery shopping, I can’t survive on cute donuts and fast food this whole time. Okay, hopefully, I don’t overdo it and get distracted by all the stuff, maybe I should quit and just move here….Where did that thought come from…I…I don’t know I just feel so at home here. It feels like this is where I belong and I just…I don’t know San certainly is a nice reminder of what I used to have. He’s also very easy on the eyes. I remember the pranks he used to pull. Oh man, I’d get so mad at him.

“That’s not funny San!” I screamed at the boy, my hair covered in sand.

“It’s fine honey, it’ll just take some water.” My mom tried to calm me down. “I know sweetheart.”

“It’s not funny.” I sniffled.

“It’s not you’re right.”

“San.” his dad called over and took him to have a word. “I should have you pick every grain of sand out of that girl's hair. Why would you do that?”

“I dunno…it sounded way more funny in my head.”

“You need to do more than apologize, son.”

“I…Fine” he pouted and walked back over. “Y/n?”

“Oh San, maybe now isn’t the best time.” my mom looked at him as I wiped my face.

“Mrs. L/N..I’m…” his heart clenched a little seeing me cry on the beach towel. “I’m really sorry, I don’t know why I did it, really. It sounded way more funny in my head.”

“I know you didn’t San, it’ll be alright.” she nodded.

San had an idea and left.

“Hey maybe this will exfoliate your scalp like you’ve been talking about in all those beauty shows you watch.” My dad tried making a joke.

“I don’t care.” I curled in on myself.

“y/n?” San stood in front of me.

“Go away.” I turned away from him.

“No y/n I…I’m really sorry, I…I brought you an Ice Cream?” he held out the vanilla cone to me.

“Why?”

“Because I’m sorry, I feel really bad and I…I don’t know why I did it, it was like I had the thought and just…did it.”

“Like a reflex.” my mom said. “The Ice Cream is melting dear.”

I reached out and took it…Not sure I wanted to but…he did seem sorry.

Honestly, I don’t know why San and I became friends after that, I mean he was always a jerk growing up, I guess it changed two summers before I never came back. I had to get braces and they really hurt, I almost hated everything that summer. He’d buy me Ice cream, he'd spend his free time with me, he taught me how to surf…he really….changed.

“Oh gross you have braces. No wonder you’re so ugly.” The boy laughed and kicked sand at me.

“Yeah, sandcastles are for babies.” his “girlfriend” chuckled beside him. They were no more than maybe a year older than me, so maybe 15 at the oldest.

My mom told me to make friends but they weren’t interested. In fact, I was probably disgusting to them.

“You’re so gross, Just give us back the ball already.” he kicked more sand at me. I didn’t understand, I was holding out the ball for them why weren’t they just taking it. “Freak.”

“Ugly.” his friend joined in.

“Weirdo.”

“Loser!”

“Hey! Cut it out!” came from the crowd. “Leave us alone and take your stupid damn ball. She's been holding it out for 10 minutes now.”

“Oh look fox boy has something to say.” the main boy laughed. “Defending your ugly girlfriend, they always say freaks get together.”

Before I knew it San had jumped on the kid throwing sand and punches.

“She’s not ugly!!” San yelled at him.

“Hey hey hey! Break it up!” the lifeguard yelled out blowing a whistle and coming over.

We both got kicked off the beach that day…well San got kicked out but I just went with him. I bought him a root beer float and we got some ice on his face. He really took a punch for me…I wouldn’t have expected that.

“Sannie?” I looked over at him, he had ice cream down his chin.

“Hmm?”

“You didn’t have to.” I blushed a little and looked away, he had a bruise forming on his chin.

“I didn’t but I did it anyway.” he looked at me. “They’re wrong anyways.”

“It’s okay if they’re right.”

“But they aren’t! I think your braces are cool! I mean you have metal on your face that’s so cool!”

He knew what to say. He always did…just in his own Sannie way.

The next few days passed like the summer breeze floating in off the water. They were warm and inviting, relaxing and joyous, the smell of salt drifted in, but it felt like something was missing. Something I usually felt when I was here was whole, and this time I feel like half. I feel like there’s something missing.

“Y/n? Hello?” there was a knock on my door. “Please, it's too bright out!”

“Seonghwa?” I opened the door. “Oh my god what are you-Wooyoungie!” I jumped on them both. “What are you two doing here??” I pulled them both in.

“We missed you and your birthday is coming up soon! It’s a big deal.” Wooyoung smiled. “Besides, the company can last while we’re gone.” Seonghwa smiled.

“Who’s the hot neighbor?” Wooyong smirked.

“Don’t get any ideas.”

“I don’t have any ideas anyway.” he chuckled. “Is that your long-lost love from when you were a child?”

“It’s San, the guy I grew up with…he filled out nicely.”

“San? As in the one that dumped a bucket of sand on you?”

“Or the one who beat up that kid on the beach?”

“They're the same San.” I chuckled.

“Okay so he’s definitely coming to the party.” Wooyoung smiled.

“NO, No parties.” I said. “I don’t want a birthday party, they’re dumb.”

“Aww what? Too bad.” Wooyoung confirmed…of course he did. I should just kick them out.

There was a loud knock at the door.

“Coming!” I called out and opened it and there was San out of breath and disheveled. Wow. I uh.

“Are you ok? I smelled something and-” he caught a glimpse of Seonghwa and pulled me closer to him. “y/n, he’s-”

“Hey don’t worry I already know.” I pat his face and pulled his stare away. “Don’t be the beach hero again, these are my best friends.” I chuckled. “San, this is Seonghwa, a vampire and Wooyoung, a warlock.” I nodded and pointed to them. “We’re just coworkers.”

“You never told me you knew a Kitsune?”

“A what?” I looked at Seonghwa. “You mean the thing from Naruto? Kyuubi?”

“Essentially, they’re very rare only a few clans still around.” he nodded.

“San isn’t a fox demon he’s…he’s my San.” I looked at him “You can’t just assume based on the eyes.”

“It’s the stench, he smells like a dog. Not as bad as werewolves though.”

“Oh shut up you-”

“I said enough!” I looked at them. “Look, rare mythical creature or not, I'm not going to put up with this. We’re all friends so if you’ll excuse me I’m going to walk away and get some water…try not to tear each other's head off.”

As soon as I left San’s side I wanted to curl right back into it. That’s what I was missing..affection. I was always missing affection, the affection of someone else. I never even had a boyfriend until I was in college. Of course, it was a vampire, he was a douchebag too I can’t even….

“Hey.” Wooyoung knocked on my door. “What’s up buttercup?”

“Hi Woo…” I sighed. “I don’t know. I’m just confused right now.”

“Wanna talk about what’s giving you troubles?”

“No, I wanna figure out how to turn up the damn heat in this place I’m freezing every morning.” I sighed. “I’m sorry you don’t want to hear about this.”

“Have you and San ever dated?” he questioned out of the blue.

“No? Why would you ask that you know I only had one boyfriend.”

“You guys just….you looked good together like you fit perfectly together.”

“I don’t think so, I mean he was evil growing up, there was the time he threw a frozen water balloon at my back and I had a bruise the size of Texas.”

“Boys show affection in weird ways, like when I liked this girl in middle school, I had the idea of putting gum in her hair to get her to notice me, it worked but she hated my guts.”

“Well yeah, it was gum.” I looked at him.

“I’m just saying maybe he likes you a little? He seems pretty protective.”

“He barely knows me I haven’t seen him since I had braces.”

“You had braces?”

“See.” I frowned. “I just….I don’t know.”

“Hey the radio did say it was the summer of love.”

“Thank you Woo.” I rolled my eyes.

“Hey why don’t we have a party, like out by the bonfire, we can all hang out, meet him and his friends?”

“You just want to live a beach fantasy of throwing a beach party.”

“With Karaoke!” he smiled.

I gave in after a few days, I needed some social interaction and I knew I’d get annoyed if all I did was talk to Seonghwa and Wooyoung for a month. Plus I really wanted to spend time with San again.

“Want some help?” came the honey-like pout from over my trunk.

“Hmm? Oh hey.” I smiled lightly. “Um I think I got it.” I pulled the last of my groceries out of the trunk.”

“y/n?” San started “I-”

“Don’t apologize. You guys have different instincts than I do, I’m just a boring human after all.” I chuckled. “Just surprised is all.”

“I don’t think you’re boring.” he looked at the stuff in my hands. “Here before you drop that Watermelon.”

“Nah! I don’t need super strength!” I chuckled and he paused. He’d heard that sweet melodic voice say that before.

A pit grew in his stomach.

“Oh by the way I found some stuff from when I was growing up but I was wondering if you remember the carved fox that was in the living room? I can’t seem to find it but it was my favorite.” I set the things down on the counter and put them in their respective cabinets.

“Carved fox?” he looked at me.

“Yeah it was this wooden statute that looked really old, but I used to talk to it when I was a kid. I was by the fireplace.” I pointed. “It was from a birch tree and it was black and red and the fox was smiling and circling the moon I think, or sitting on it.”

He knew that statue, he carved it all those years ago for her. It hasn’t been in this house for centuries what was she talking about. It was his station to watch after the moon and watch the seas. How…

“Y/n?”

“Hmm? Oh my god, San your nose!” I rushed over and grabbed a napkin his nose had begun bleeding. “What did you do?” I chuckled. “You can’t go around bleeding on the floor it’s not good for you. Like you went to war with your finger.”

“Are you sure you’ve seen that statue?”

“Well yeah, it got me started on my love of foxes.” I tilted his head. “Are you ok? Really?”

“I’m fine honey.” he took my hand gently.

“Haven’t heard that one before.” I blushed and took my hand back. “You might want to go wash your face since…you know.”

San was confused, how had you seen it. How had you known…his head hurt, he wanted to talk to you and he also wanted to ask his father. He had so many questions and no answers. Who are you? Are you really just his neighbor? Are you his neighbor he had a crush on? You felt like more with each passing day. Your smile felt like sunshine and he wanted to curl up next to you..he wanted to keep you safe. Anything to keep you safe. He looked into you mirror and he almost screamed…he saw her..you..he saw you.

“Sannie, your tail is out.” she smiled at him as they brushed their teeth together.

“Oh do you not like the soft feeling?” he smirked watching her eyes sparkle.

“It tickles.” she chuckled as it ran along her leg.

“Must just be happy to see you.” he smiled and pulled her closer.

“San?” I called and knocked on the door, I opened it when I didn’t hear a reply and saw he had ran out of the window, the breeze moving the curtains.

I don’t understand why would he just leave like that, and why didn’t he use the door? He left his phone and everything. Did…Did I do something? Did something happen?

I went over to return his phone hoping he was there. No answer.

“Sannie?” I called out. “You left your phone!” Still no answer. “I’ll just slide it through the mail slot!” I sighed.

It had been a week since San bolted from my house, he had avoided me. I saw him talking with Wooyoung but if I went out he’d quickly find an excuse and leave. He wouldn’t even look at me. What had I done.

“Woo?” I knocked on my old childhood bedroom door. “Can I ask you something?”

“Hey yo, what’s up?” he opened the door.

“Is…Is San ok?”

“Hmm? Yeah? I mean he seems fine to me, maybe a little stressed.”

“Having fox problems?” Seonghwa spoke up.

“I don’t know what’s going on, he’s been avoiding me for a week and he won’t…he won’t look at me.”

“Have you ever heard of imprinting?” Segonhwa asked. “Here come sit down.” he patted the bed.

“You mean that thing they did in Twilight?” I looked at him.

“Okay well you already know that Vampires aren’t crystals so stop there. Imprinting is like what ducklings do on their mother.”

“Okay? What does that have to do with me and San?”

“Well I think he’s confused.”

“Hey I told you that in private.” Wooyoung interrupted.

“I think she deserves to know Woo.”

“Know what…Geez he told you guys but not me.”

“Look okay fine.” Wooyoung raised his hands. “But I’m calling him to tell him we’re telling you.” he left the room.

“San had someone he loved, a very long time ago.” Seonghwa started.

“Like a hundred years ago? Thousand?”

“Try more like a hundred thousand. He’s been around a long time.” he looked at me.

“I met him as a child though, You’re telling me he was a child for 100,000 years?”

“No he…it’s a trick, like they pull pranks and things it’s like that he was…tricking you into thinking he’s a child.”

“Okay…fine…keep going.” I rolled my eyes, this sounds dumb.

“San had imprinted on someone in his first hundred years, he loved her, they got married they were…she was perfect for him…he loved her.”

“Okay?”

“Y/n, please try to understand.”

“What. I’m not seeing how him avoiding me is explaining this.”

“Usually you imprint on a person, but sometimes when you’re really supposed to be with someone they…you can imprint on a soul.”

“So you’re going to tell me something dumb like we’re soulmates now? That I’m a reincarnation…okay jeez you guys are just crazy.” I sighed and stood up. “So what he’s freaked out because I remind him of her and he bolted because he doesn’t actually like me and, and what? I’m just supposed to be ok? Whatever this is stupid forget I asked anything.”

“It’s true.” came his voice from the doorway. “I…I’m scared and confused and…I don’t know. I want to just…Can you let me try to explain?” San looked at me. “Please?”

“I’ll give you one hour…” I looked at him angry. He has some nerve asking me to just..he left..he left me….why was I so relieved to see him back in the house…

“I promise, just please let me do what I can to make it right.”

“And then we’re having a party tonight!” Wooyoung finished.

“No.” I looked at him. “No party.”

“Shhh you listen to him, we’ll be out here.” Wooyoung shooed Seonghwa from the room.

“Look y/n this…this isn’t how I wanted it to happen.”

“Just start..please.” I crossed my arms.

“When I was new to this world…look I’m really quite an old man when you think about it. When I was still a pup, or a baby really…there was this girl. She was quiet and kind, she was gentle…all the things you are, a little weird and funny…”

“Okay?”

“She made me happy, I felt at home when we were together…I couldn’t explain it but I…I just wanted her to be here always.”

“You were in love.”

“I was in love..she is my everything. She was…my everything.” he looked at the ground sadness filling his eyes.

“Sannie?” I pulled his face up.

“I did the same stupid things I did with you, I pulled pranks on her, I would pull her into the ocean I would play fight with her…I was a kid. She was always there, and as we grew older I..I didn’t want her to just notice the dumb pranks I was pulling or hear her frustrated I wanted her to smile at me and tell me how her day was. I made this carving of a fox so I could always protect her.”

“San? What happened?” I felt my hands shake a little.

“The fight happened. I was being stupid, I was…I was being a child and I was reckless and I was….” he teared up. “It all happened so fast, I know how dumb and cliche it sounds, one moment we were yelling in the kitchen over something stupid, the next she threw her ring at me and stormed out of the house, it was raining and the moon was covered and…she rejected me. The imprinting…she said she didn’t want anything to do with me…it felt like someone had cut my heart out.”

“San I..” I was at a loss for words.

“I couldn’t take it back, I loved her. I wanted to be with her my whole life…I felt safe with her, like I didn’t have all this responsibility to live up to, like I was human….like her. I went to her funeral the day I learned she passed…she had a little fox engraving on the headstone.”

“Do you think she ever really stopped?” I caught his gaze.

“No…part of me believes that…I never thought I’d feel like this…until you moved in.” he met my gaze tears falling down his cheeks. “Even as stupid kids I liked hearing you laugh, it made me so happy. I don’t know why I pulled those pranks, I don’t even know why I thought they were funny.”

“It’s your nature dummy.” I nudged him.

“You remember stuff she did though…the fox carving, where I put my key, the nickname she called me. Y/n I know you aren’t her and I’m not expecting you to be her…I’m not even expecting you to like me back but please…I don’t…I don’t want to feel that way again. Please just…stay.”

“My mom always said I was drawn to you…like we were meant to be. I told her it’s all just stories and tales she told herself…or me to make me feel better.”

“Y/n.”

“Hey I let you talk it’s my turn.” I smiled softly and wiped his cheek. “I’m not her San…I’m not going to be her.”

“I know I-”

“San! I’m not done.” I pinched his cheek. “I’m not her, but I’d like it if you gave me a chance to be a new version of her….Let’s take it slow silly boy.” I squeezed his hand.

We talked for a little while longer, coming to an agreement. I’d help him move on and we’d see where it takes us.

“All I know is, I feel the best when you hug me.” I laughed softly and he pulled me into his chest.

Soulmates are strange,I never understood what it meant. I thought it was just clicking with someone…it’s a different kind of click though. One that feels like Home, it’s safe, and warm. San felt like home…San felt right and it’s where I wanted to be.

As it got closer for my time to leave things grew harder and harder…I didn’t want to go back I didn’t want this budding summer romance to end.

“You can stay?” San said as I rolled over to the furnace that was the boy next to me.

“I have my job San I can’t just…I can’t just quit.”

“Why can’t you work remotely? Lots of people do and like…then…you don’t” you could practically see him deflating.

“I…Let me go home…talk to my boss?” I looked at him a kissed his cheek. “We’ll work it out. We’ll work out. Ok?”

“Promise?” he looked at me.

“San I said we would try…I don’t want this to be a summer fling.”

“Me either…ok…You have my number and everything.”

“I do. I promise.” I chuckled.

Long story short by the time winter came I could finally work remotely…I came back. I came back and I had never been more happy that I came back, my little fox demon waiting for me on the front porch. Now instead of every summer it was everyday, every day turned into every year and every year turned into my lifetime. I saw his smile every morning we woke up together and in every smile I saw the bond we had created. Our bond had manifested in wonderful ways, first a child, then a ring, we fixed up the house and that was where I was more than happy to learn to meaning of soulmates. Our daughter was certainly happy as the years grew on to learn all she could about the best pranks to pull from her dad. This was my life, and it would be my life in every lifetime over, we got our second chance, and we got our time in each and every lifetime.

“Hi I’m y/n.” Said the 5 year old girl peaking behind her mom’s legs.

“I’m San.” the fox eyed boy smiled back. “Wanna play on the beach with me?”

“Promise not to get sand in my eyes Sannie?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” he smiled fondly.

“Your tail is out! It looks so soft!” she smiled

She always found her way back home. He always fell in love with her every time.

[yourartmatters-itswhatgotmehere]

undefined

(LONG POST!-WEDNESDAY THEORIES!)okay I REWATCHED Wednesday and YES TYLER WAS GROOMED AND ABUSED AND LITERALLY TURNED INTO A MONSTER BY this psycho woman and he needs help(and he actually sends many signals to his dad during the season, but his father never hears them). And YUP, he thought Wednesday was sending him signals, but in a way W subconsciously kind of was. Oh, and I’m happy to report that i still ship Wednesday both with Enid and Tyler(still), AND YES THERE WERE SO MANY SIGNALS ABT TYLER BEING THE HYDE(like the anger and hurt we see on his face while he talks to his father, or when he waits for Wednesday and stares at the picture where His Mom is too, not only Morticia, or when we see him scream in the bath-just to name a few/same for Ms.Thornhill/LaurelGates MANY signals if you know what to look for).

But THIS POST is going to be about Tyler and his feelings for Wednesday, because I thought about it a lot, and paid so much attention while rewatching.

Let’s begin from the very end. Season 1 ends with two cars passing each other, Wednesday in one, and Tyler in the second, and it’s such a clear foreshadowing by the writers of the series that these two will be very closely involved one way or another in the future seasons for sure. Then the beginning of the final episode. When Tyler is still lying about being Hyde and letting Xavier be blamed for it all. He says, “I’m not a monster and even if you really thought I was-Why would you risk bringing me out to the woods to confront me alone?” (he’s so WEDNESDAY IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I AM WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE ALONE WITH ME RIGHT NOW? like PLS. there’s a part of him that CARES A LOT.) “Fine my mom was a monster but..” and “You stole her medical records?” and “Wednesday, please” and he’s begging Bianca to not leave him alone with W. She’s literally torturing him to get the truth out and he just won’t say it. And I don’t think it’s because he can’t do so. If his “master” would forbid it, he wouldn’t tell Wednesday later at the sheriff’s station. He’s hurt and emotional and just, in general, being his usual teenager Tyler, who’s being tortured but won’t stop it (he has a way to stop it) because he wants to spend more time with Wednesday?? as messed up as it is, there’s no other explanation. He wants to be the normie Tyler for a little bit longer, and not a full Hyde 100% yet. There’s this scared kid in him and yeah, he’s still there. We see his full confession in this vid, in this post. But before that there’s “We-Wednesday, wait-” and he runs after the girl who has just tortured him! And he tells his father that he needs to talk to her because she was his friend. And I don’t think he’s lying there. He could have confessed all and be like Ms.T/LaurelG, be like “Okay fine ENOUGH OF THE HIDING what the hell I’m this and I did that because..” and Tyler didn’t confess. He lied. Holding on so much to this old version of Tyler, and even now confessing, there are tears and the look on his face, as if he’s heartbroken because he knows this is it. The end. The moment when he loses Wednesday as a friend, the moment he loses himself as just a normie Tyler completely when all he’s about is to listen to “his master” because he HAS TO listen. But about that one, in the final episode as well. She told him to wait by the boat(?-what was that about was she planning to escape with him after bringing Crackstone back to life or?) BUT TYLER WASN’T BY THE BOAT. He was in the woods. Alone. Not in the Hyde form. And he said to Wednesday, “Laurel said you’re dead” and he obviously didn’t believe it since he was in the woods literally WAITING FOR WEDNESDAY, and he goes to her telling her she’s like a cockroach, and there’s this moment when he’s just kinda staring intensely BEFORE turning into Hyde and actually (for the first time FOR REAL I believe) trying to HURT Wednesday, and then Enid comes and he fights with her BUT that was the moment when he had no other choice but to fight Wednesday and he still slowed it down. If this doesn’t mean he actually likes her alive I don’t know what that means truly.

you can see this scene HERE: https://yourartmatters-itswhatgotmehere.tumblr.com/post/702717033699311616/i-could-name-tons-of-weyler-scenes-that-showed

Now, Let’s go back to the very beginning ep1, when they meet. He doesn’t know WHO SHE IS yet, we see his sarcasm in the way he talks with her, and his interest too, while she fixes the machine. And then he decides to help her leave town FOR FREE. So like, ep1 we have like.. his 3rd victim I believe. We see his face break for a moment when he tells her that he WISHES HE COULD LEAVE TOO, and that AT LEAST ONE OF THEM WILL GET OUT OF THIS TOWN. and then he steals her father’s files from his father. I doubt LG would tell him to do this since she only wanted to mess up Wednesday and Sheriff’s investigation later when they had some actual proof. And then at the festival(?) W runs after Rowan, and Tyler as Hyde comes and attacks Rowan BUT NOT WEDNESDAY. and it’s the first sign he likes her (funny how Wednesday herself called it out-Monster liking her and not attacking her-only to Xavier bc she thought he’s the monster). Because at this point-so early on-I doubt Ms.T would tell him who Wednesday is and what she needs from her in the finale to resurrect Crackstone AND the whole “made you feel special” miss T mentioned to Wednesday was for sure abt her own doing and this kind and helping teacher and not Tyler’s. Yes, he was probably supposed to watch what W does and when, but I doubt he was supposed to get as romantically involved as he had. (but more about it later)

Ep.3. Outreach day. Tyler proposed he would go with Wednesday and she said no. And then THE HYDE SHOWS UP to the very place where W went. And i’m sorry-but Ms.T/LG would NEVER send a monster to hurt Wednesday if she needed her at the end to succeed with her agenda. This means Tyler as the teenage boy-whom he still was and is-was just angry Wednesday wouldn’t take him along, so he went along as the monster??

And one more thing-I’m not sure if it was episode 3, 4 or even 2, but he was so smiling and happy when he told W “You’re really becoming obsessed with this monster in the woods kind of thing” and he WAS SO HAPPY because-again-as messed up as it was-he was the monster and she was obsessed so as a teenage boy who’s clearly interested in this girl he’s happy because she’s IN A WAY interested in him. It’s such a small detail but I find it hilarious and it actually proves so deeply how Tyler, even as The Hyde listening to the “master” was just a normal teenage boy as well.

ep.4. The dance. Yes, Thing kinda invited Tyler who was angry TRULY that W was going with Xavier. Yes Wednesday had more important stuff on her mind-searching THE CAVE. Yes, Eugene came and said it. And yes, Tyler probably had let Ms.T/LG know. BUT HE WAS AT THE DANCE with Wednesday, dancing with her, looking at her the way he was, and he told her THE TRUTH about what he did to Xavier and “why”. And what i TRULY LOVE about this small talk was that he admitted he was checking her, and he learned what she has done to get expelled from her last school and when she said she would have done more, he said he KNEW THERE WAS A REASON HE LIKED HER. And at this moment there’s a connection between them, just two very messed-up kids who sometimes enjoy doing bad things. I think this scene was very essential to their entire relationship. Because at this moment W knew Tyler isn’t just a “sweet and kind normy” and Tyler knew for sure that Wednesday is a strong adversary.

And THEN the HYDE attacks Eugene after Ms.T/LG burns the cave. AND THE HYDE DOESN’T KILL EUGENE. why? Because Wednesday is close by? It hasn’t stopped him before. So why then? Maybe because he KNOWS Eugene is important to Wednesday?

ep.6. Tyler “delivered” the cake, knew what Wednesday liked and he MADE it himself. He went investigating with her and Enid to the Gates House. And YES he did this entire misdirect “I’m not the Hyde, look, he has hurt me” but he didn’t hurt Wednesday. Enid. Or Xavier. He didn’t hurt anybody then. Maybe because nobody ordered him to. Maybe because he didn’t want to.

And finally ep7. Which I believe is the most crucial in Wednesday-Tyler’s relationship. The ep begins with the Mayor’s funeral (who Ms.T/LG killed completely THIS TIME) and I don’t think Tyler pretends to be upset. The Mayor is one of his father’s friends. So he knew the man his whole life. This loss hurts. He’s upset and he glances toward Wednesday, even more upset he can’t talk to her, since his father is watching and he doesn’t want them to talk after Tyler “got hurt because of her recently”. AND THEN WE HAVE Ms.Thornhill/LaurelGates doing. She wants the diary from W’s room. So she needs W out (and stabs THING IN THE BACK), but I’m certain all she told Tyler was like “distract her so I could blah blah blah” and not “Throw this whole movie night and after you two can kiss” because NO. That’s unrealistic. and Tyler WENT ALL THE WAY TRULY.. (would he really REALLY try this hard just to gain something from Wednesday?? We’re talking about a teenage boy here. He LIKED HER TRULY.) preparing this wonderful date/picnic in the crypt with all these lights(so many lights there) and THE MOVIE, Legally Blonde, which he KNEW would be torture to Wednesday, and he knew she will like it. Because he has taken so much damn time to GET TO KNOW WEDNESDAY. and honestly, between working as a barista? and listening to his “master” and killing as The Hyde? AND all the arguing with his father? Plus, we didn’t see it, but Tyler had to go to some normy school, correct? So I just REFUSE to believe he went after Wednesday just to make her distracted, due to order. No. Too much hard work. Too much wasted time. And it’s a teenage boy. Just NO. There was a genuine interest. And some real feeling involved.

What has he gained by not telling his Father about Wednesday’s Uncle Fester being in town and hiding? Nothing but her TRUST. And yes, Wednesday shared SO MUCH with Tyler only because he was so patient and kind and because he gained her TRUST. And her trusting Him means NOTHING to Ms.T/LG final plan. She didn’t need Wednesday liking Tyler or trusting him or whatever. She needed Wednesday in some places, and that’s all. And the whole “patient emergency” Dr.K told Wednesday about? I think it was Tyler, because then she opens the bathroom door(?) I believe, and THERE’S THE HYDE. Because, yup, Dr. was figuring it out. And also Tyler and Wednesday almost kissed before and it’s a LOT for a teenage boy. I can’t even fathom how does it feel to a boy who has two personalities inside and who knows somebody else is completely controlling him and he can do nothing but listen. Plus, he’s SURPRISED when Wednesday comes to him, and when she says, in her words, I guess, that she wants to be more than friends. And she kisses him first. He never forced himself on her. And even before when Sheriff interrupted them in the crypt, they were BOTH going for a kiss. And definitely, Ms.T/LG wasn’t “making Wednesday feel special” by ordering the teenage boy she controls to kiss W. Because that would be another level of psycho.

So yeah, I believe Tyler sees Wednesday as a lethal adversary, and he has a lot of respect for her because of that. As both Tyler and the Hyde. Then as Tyler, he likes her truly and he sees many similarities between them and this part of him truly thought of Wednesday as a FRIEND, and as a teenage boy, OF COURSE, he simply wanted more than friends, which is normal. But as he goes deeper and deeper into Hyde and all the anger and hatred and crazy.. he’s also upset because he realizes he just can’t be like other normal teenagers. As Hyde, he sees Wednesday as the problem. An intriguing one, but still, a problem. I’m really curious about where his storyline goes in the future seasons when Ms.Thornhill/LaurenGates is no longer “master” and he’s just Tyler/Hyde traumatized, angry, hurt, and abused teenage boy. I would love to see him reaching out FOR HELP to Wednesday or W reaching out to him, to help, and both ot them acknowledging how they are in so many, many ways similarly fucked-up.

CONGRATS IF YOU READ IT ALL. I wrote it mostly for myself to sort my thoughts about this, but yeah CONGRATS.

And absolutely NO HATE toward Tyler Galpin, he’s just a traumatized teenage boy who was groomed and abused by a super psycho woman, and just right under his father’s nose. And Wednesday’s-who was supposed to be his friend-kinda too.

+UPDATE: what reason Tyler had to talk to Bianca to ask her to take a gift from Enid back to Wednesday and what reason he had to obviously get upset when Bianca asked, “Aren’t you her boyfriend” and he said, “Definitely not”(ep6). Was this a part of MissT/LG plan to “make Wednesday feel special”? while Wednesday wasn’t even there?

Please.

/

THIS POST-100% agree: https://at.tumblr.com/darklinaforever/tyler-galpin/puo1261b0q7c

AND !!!: https://at.tumblr.com/darklinaforever/me-remembering-that-seemingly-insignificant-scene/hb4t07kgk133

AND THIS POST-SO SMART: https://at.tumblr.com/chrisevansstitties/the-more-i-watch-the-more-interesting-it-gets/2gfiegqk2x5m

THIS. so funny BUT SO TRUE: https://at.tumblr.com/thingaddams4/help-tyler-leaned-in-to-kiss-wednesday-again-when/ivofk0jouorr

also YEAH: https://at.tumblr.com/diamantdog/okay-but-hear-me-out-here-theres-something/tu0phjwpe6j7

ALSO THIS POST: https://at.tumblr.com/natliecole/listen-its-the-way-she-doesnt-like-physical/9rhqfo5g3cul

ALSO THIS POST: https://at.tumblr.com/chrisevansstitties/tyler-i-cant-be-bought-galpin/l6a8o0ftlotk

AND THIS: https://at.tumblr.com/np-c/im-a-strong-believer-that-both-tyler-is-truly-in/mb34izrz584s

AND THIS POST: https://at.tumblr.com/thingaddams4/what-do-you-mean-wednesday-asked-xavier-to-the/mt99vfrem63m

.

https://twitter.com/ThisIsGSage23/status/1603436131906994183?s=20&t=q7ZmF4U8B-Tf6kWpE4B2IQ

https://twitter.com/ThisIsGSage23/status/1603437605869080576?s=20&t=q7ZmF4U8B-Tf6kWpE4B2IQ

+EDIT, Sept 2024, anyhow♥

love them both, cant wait for S2!

[harlowtales]

Panic sets in as Jack’s daughter is late coming off the school bus. Jack feels guilty he’s not around more. ***18 + Language***

“Daddy I don’t need you to walk me to the bus.” Patricia said shooing him away “Move back, like go in the house.”

“Patricia I have to stand here with you.” Jack reasoned with his mini-me

“Please Daddy they’ll laugh at me. Goooooo.” Patricia said pushing him back but he didn’t budge

“Who da fuc….I mean who will laugh P?” as he called her. Jack had to keep tabs on his language and temper.

“Everyone like Jason, Britney, Tyler, and Beca.” She said. “They sit in the middle of the bus and I have to pass by them and they say…oooh look at the baby did Daddy feed you this morning too?” Patricia said mocking them.

“Well, I have to make sure you’re safe.” Jack said with no plans to move from her side until the bus came. He remembers being teased on the bus because of his eye patch. He tried to focus on Patricia and not go back to that in his mind.

“You nervous?” He looked down and asked her

“Sorta” she admitted twirling her hair

“It ain’t no thang its just like last year ight?” Jack reassured her.

“Daddy you talk funny.” Patricia observed but was now smiling so Jack considered it a win

You were filled with anxiety as this was only her 2nd year at school. You watched them from the window but didn’t want to get all emotional. Patricia hated that and preferred to have her Dad wait with her although these days she was following him around less. Jack was feeling the gut-punch of her trying to establish her independence.

“So you remember how to reach us?” He said

“Yup!” She nodded

The bus pulled up and Jack hoisted Patricia up much to her dismay, but the steps were still a bit steep for her little legs to climb.

“Daddy, I can do it.” She insisted

“It’s either I help you up or Mommy drives you.” Jack warned. Patricia hated when her mom drove her to school. She had to listen to “baby music” in the car when she wanted to hear songs from her dad and uncle Gee but her mom said she was too little. Plus she wanted to be big and ride to school with older kids and her friends.

“Daddy goodbye!” She said and flung her arms around him pecking him on the cheek. Jack stepped back in surprise. She never did that in public anymore.

“Wow. You got a kiss?” You said in shock when Jack came back into the house.

“Yeah. Feel like I’m fan-girling. I may never wash this side of my face again.” He said with his hand on the spot as if to keep it warm until she came back at 3 oclock.

He came behind you washing the dishes in your pyjamas and messy top bun and gave you a warm hug.

“Thank you baby.” He said as he nuzzled his nose in your neck and kissed you softly.

“For what?” You asked melting in his arms as usual

“Just…like EVERYTHING.” He said “If I had time you know what would be going down with Pumpkin gone.” He said slapping your ass and heading upstairs to get ready to go.

“Boy go” You said rolling your eyes and smiling. “That’s how we got in trouble the first time.”

“Well we got 7 more times.” Jack yelled back from the top of the stairs.

“8 kids? He is TRIPPIN” You said as you swept the floor.

PART 2

The hectic day was over. It took the bus so long to get there with so many delays that Patricia was tired by the time she got to school. You argued with Jack about sending Patricia to public school. He wanted her to have the experience he had growing up that made him a regular person. The thing to deal with though was crowded buses and classrooms. Not exactly what you wanted but Jack was stubborn and Patricia had a great first year, especially once she stopped fighting, which made Jack proud, but he had to tell her it was unacceptable.

By the end of the day the bus was late and she was squeezed and pushed as usual by all the kids trying to get to their favourite seat. She lucked out and got to sit with her friends. “Ok kids there’ll be a few detours and delays like this morning so call your parents and let em know but we’ll get you home safe and sound.” The driver said as he closed the doors and the bus chugged to start off down the gravel road. Patricia took out her phone to call her mom but she didn’t get an answer and she didn’t dare call her dad during the day. He was too busy. She thought nothing of it and put her phone back in her backpack quickly. Whenever other kids saw her phone they teased her because it was a refurbished iPhone 11. No way was Jack going to give a 6 year old an expensive phone.

“Does that thing even have data or do you have to send smoke signals?” One of her friends teased “Your Dad is literally Jack Harlow. You could break a phone every day and get a new one.”

“I know it’s so lame.” Patricia said. She was picking up lingo at school and starting to already sound like a pre-teen. Suddenly the bus came to a halt. Traffic was backed up for miles.

“Sorry kids. Looks like I took the wrong detour. We’ll be awhile.” The driver called out to the sweaty, hungry, cranky kids. If was now approaching 5pm.

You called Patricia right back as you had just missed the call putting a roast in the oven, but it kept going to her cute little voicemail “Whats Poppin y’all try again byeee!” It said and clicked off.

“Breathe I’m sure it’s just traffic.” You told yourself, but after another hour you tried the school.

“Mrs. Harlow it’s all good the bus is stuck in traffic is all.” The secretary said sweetly putting you at ease. You set about packing her karate bag and McDonald’s was definitely in order, as by the time she got home she’d be running late for class. Jack was always mad when you took her to McDonald’s instead of KFC but according to Patricia the nuggets were “sucky” at KFC and you had no time to hear her complain.

The sun started to go down. It was now passing 7PM and you couldn’t take it anymore. The school wasn’t picking up and Patricia wasn’t answering. You called Neelam in distress to get a message to Jack but no answer and you didn’t want to bother him, they were shooting a video. Urban wasn’t picking up either.

“Fuck!! My baby!” You exclaimed on the verge of tears. You were sure she was on the bus but what if…no you wouldn’t let yourself go there. Your phone rang and you jumped. It was Grandpa. You totally forgot he was waiting at Karate class to see Patricia practice.

“Grandpa! I’m so sorry we can’t make it tonight.” You said fighting tears

“Y/N what’s wrong? Is it my little pumpkin?” He said concerned

“Yes. Gramps I’m so worried. She’s not home off the bus yet. I don’t know what to do.” You said shaking

“What? Does Jack know?” He asked

“No. He’s shooting a video. They’re all busy, nobody is answering their phones.” You explained trying to figure out what to do.

“Like hell he’s too busy. I’ll call you back.” Grandpa said hanging up and dialling Jack but you were right. Straight to a VM he never checked anyway.

“Sit tight I’m on my way.” Grandpa said when he called you back. Him and Clay pulled up 20mins later “We have to find her.” He said “The whole family is worried sick.”

“When’s the last time you heard from her?” Clay asked as you hopped in.

“I missed her call around 4.” You said.

“Do you know the bus route?” Grandpa asked

“Yes I do, but it took a detour and I don’t know the alternate route they would’ve taken and dispatch has been busy for hours.” You said feeling nauseous now.

Finally a call came in from Neelam on the car speaker “Hey guys. Everyone is calling me today! We were in the middle of shooting what’s up?”

“Patricia’s missing.” Grandpa said making you panic more because Jack would be freaking out.

“No she’s on the bus but hasn’t come home and won’t answer her phone. I’m sure she’s on the bus and ok.” You corrected but Neelam heard the shakiness in your voice. You were always trying to avoid taking Jack away from work.

“I’m telling Jack immediately.” Neelam said hanging up. They had wrapped for the day and were just hanging out eating and talking. “Jack.” Neelam said slowly approaching him.

“What’s up with you? Why you acting weird?” Jack said coming out of joking around with the guys

“Jack…” Neelam said but started crying

Jack went pale. “Is it Y/N?” He said

Neelam shook her head no.

“Gramps?” He tried again

Neelam could barely answer “No….oh geez.”

“Fuck Neelam spit it out!” Jack said angrily his eyes wide.

“Patricia never came off the bus after school.” Neelam finally managed to say.

“WHAT” Jack said frozen “Neelam. What? I didn’t hear you, what?”

Urban stepped in seeing his best friend in a state of shock. He called you right away and put you on speaker. “Where is she and what happened?” He asked but before you could answer Jack came on snapping out of his initial shock.

“Y/N where’s my baby?” He said completely broken

“Oh hunny.” You couldn’t hold back the tears anymore as soon as you heard his voice they came like a flood.

Clay spoke for you and told Jack the whole story while Grandpa rubbed your back. “I’m driving around trying to find the bus. We know the number of it. I got you bro don’t worry. Oh shit! A call! Don’t move bro.”

“I got her.” It was Maggie on the line “I got the little stinker right here. She’s ok!” You heard Patricia giggling in the background and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. “I came to the house to wait, and she showed up. She’s hungry and tired but she’s fine.”

Clay patched Jack in on the call. “We got her! She’s on the line.” He happily announced to his big brother.

“You ok muffin?” Jack said trying to be calm and not upset his daughter. What was coming off as calm was seething anger. He would have some words for the school tomorrow. For now he was so happy she was ok.

“I’m ok Daddy. We played games and stuff it was kinda fun, but Daddy I need a new phone.” She said

“Ok Pumpkin later ok? We’ll talk about that later.” Jack said. “I’m headed home now. I love you so much.” He felt like throwing up.

“Bro let’s go. You ok?” Urban said

“I feel sick bro. I never felt anything like that before.” Jack said regaining his composure

They got up to the house and as soon as Jack was inside he scooped Patricia up and hugged her super tight. “Daddy you’re squishying me.” She complained trying to wriggle free and not sure what all the fuss was about. She was the centre of attention and everyone was over at her house which only really happened on her birthday or special times. She got hugs and kisses from everyone.

“Thanks y’all for all coming together like this.” Jack said as his arm was around you keeping you steady. It had been such an emotional day. “Me and Y/N really love y’all.”

“Of course hunny we’re always here.” Maggie said

“But not me. I’m not always here am I.” Jack said of himself critically and dropped his head in sadness

“Babe no. How could you know? Don’t say that.” You said coming to his defence. Jack was an amazing father.

“How many times did you call me Y/N?” Jack asked you clearly upset

“Um none. I called Neelam and..” you answered but Jack cut you off

“P, yo P” He said to Patricia who was sitting on her Grandmother’s lap “How many times did you call Daddy.”

“None. You’re working silly.” She answered truthfully

“See? Nobody even called me because I told y’all don’t call when I’m working and I turn my phone off.” Jack said sitting with his head in his hands now.

“Look son.” Grandpa said “Every man has to learn this the hard way. I was the same way but, you learn that nothing is worth all your attention like your family. I’m proud of you though.”

“Proud? Come on Paw. Get real look what just happened.” Jack said looking down. It was hard for him to even look at Patricia, but he motioned over to her to sit on his lap. “You call Daddy anytime you want ok?” He said kissing her “You too.” He said looking up at you. “You guys are not an interruption.” He said kissing your hand that was on his shoulder.

PART 3

Jack woke up early to get Patricia to school. By the time you woke up he was out of the shower and getting dressed. “Hunny be calm when you meet with them ok?” You said sleepily

“I don’t need a fucking lecture Y/N.” He said as he kissed you on the forehead.

“Hey. I’m on your side. Chill.” You said “You’re the best Dad in the world.”

“I’m sorry.” He said. You had a way of saying the right thing to him. “Sure you don’t want to come?”

“Um no. I don’t want to witness that.” You said rushing into the bathroom

“Wait…witness what?” Jack said confused

“Bye hunny good luck.” You said through the door. No way did you want to be there in case Jack got heated. They could deal with that on their own.

“Don’t tell your mom.” Jack said as they got into the Jeep and he started playing Patricia’s favourite EST Gee song. He pulled up to the school and immediately students and teachers started coming to the windows. Teachers knocked on Patricia’s teacher’s door to borrow random items.

“Come in Mrs. Smith.” Patricia’s teacher said rolling her eyes as that had been the 6th interruption in 15mins.

“I just wanted to borrow your stapler.” She said looking right at Jack who was kneeling beside Patricia looking at all her work. “Oh Mr. Harlow. I had no idea you were here today.” She said nervously. “What a pleasant surprise.”

“Nice to see you Mrs.Smith.” Jack said knowing exactly what she was up to “Tell Mr. Smith he gets luckier every day.”

“Oh my thank you Jack.” She said blushing

“Ok Mrs. Smith Jack is here to see the Principal would you mind taking him down to the office?” Patricia’s teacher said happy to get rid of her.

“Oh don’t mind at all.” She said linking arms with Jack. He was happy to make her day as she was almost retired. “My… somebody works out a lot.” She said beaming.

“P, I’ll be back to pick you up.” Jack said to Patricia as he left. He didn’t dare call her Pumpkin at school and and she liked P. She said it sounded gangster.

“Ok…better be you and not Mommy.” She said not looking up from her art project.

“Hey, I can rap you know.” This one little boy named Arthur said that sat beside Patricia

“You can’t rap with a name like Arthur.” Patricia said engrossed in what she was doing. She had her dad’s focus when she loved something and had grown tired of little boys telling her they could rap.

“Your dad uses his real name.” Arthur said hurt

“Yeah cuz his name is Jack Harlow.” Patricia said rolling her eyes.

“Shhhh! Stop talking back there.” Their teacher said

PART 4

Jack sat waiting for the principal as Mrs. Smith finally let go of his arm which took some doing and agreeing to pass by her classroom for some homemade cookies.

“Mr. Harlow, you can go in now.” The receptionist said.

The whole office turned to squeal in a whisper as he went into the office. The Principal rolled her eyes at them and shook her head. “Please Mr. Harlow have a seat.” She said not the least bit rattled by his celebrity, charm, or good looks.

“Where’s that older dude with the comb over?” Jack asked confused

“Oh Mr. Hartford? He didn’t come back this year. He retired.” She said. “How can I help you sir?”

Jack was planning to go off on Mr.Hartford but this lady made him feel like he was back at Atherton. “Um well…the school bus yesterday…” He started to say but she interjected.

“Sir, we are issuing a statement today for all parents.” She said firmly “I’m sure you get all the emails?” She asked. Jack could tell she was all business with her severe bun and blouse with a proper bow done up to her neck. She had sharp eyebrows and a stern look on her face at all times.

“Yeah I..well my wife she gets them.” He said gulping a bit. Why did he feel like he was in trouble for something? Even the smell of the office was taking him back to school making him fidget in his chair and the clock on the wall ticking was unnerving.

“Mr. Harlow I can assure you this will never happen again. We have all kinds of issues this year with bussing but seeing as Patricia is what we call a high profile student, we have an alternate smaller bus at the ready to drop her off from now on and if it is a minute late call me directly. I made sure they directly report to me.” She said strictly

“Um…thank you Miss. I, me, uh…my wife, we appreciate it.” Jack said feeling sweaty for some reason.

“You may be assured we will make sure Patricia is safe.” She said “Is there anything else Mr. Harlow sir?”

“No. Thank you so much. I can see Patricia is in good hands here.” Jack said as they stood and shook hands.

“Of course Mr. Harlow, and please tell Mrs Harlow I appreciate her helping in the school with our reading program. I heard the children look forward to her coming and they love the snacks she brings. I hope to get to know her better.” The principal said

“My wife does that? Of course she does. I knew that. I’ll tell her Miss.” Jack said humbly as he left her office

When he got home he was very quiet which made you nervous. “Hunny how did it go?” You said anxiously as you looked up from your laptop. You were busy doing the household budget for the month.

“Come here.” He said pulling you in and kissing you. “You amazing fucking beautiful kick ass woman.”

“Um me? Or Principal Beasley?” You said wondering what was up with your husband

“I don’t think Miss. Beasley has any interest in me.” He said laughing “I was nervous as shit. Totally folded.” He said “That old dude is gone. He was a jerk, but Miss. Beasley was the TRUTH. Ain’t no way I was popping my shit with her.” He said remembering how the encounter made him feel like a school boy.

“She’s very strict. Patricia doesn’t mess with her at all.” You said laughing

“I’m just so out of touch.” Jack said looking into your eyes. “And don’t make excuses for me. I should know you read to school kids. I should know there’s a new principal.” He said frustrated

“Hunny. At least you care. My Dad never went to my a school.” You said

“But babe I’m doing the bare minimum for you guys.” He said

“Are you fucking kidding me? Bare minimum?” You said getting irritated “Do you know what you do for this family? You are literally everything.”

Still locked in an embrace with your husband you took his face in your hands and kissed him deeply.

“Just come with me next time cuz it’s crazy in there.” He said shooting himself with his fingers to his head.

“Oh Mrs. Smith? She gets so outta pocket about you.” You said giggling

“Oh so you know and you let me go into that alone?” He said tickling you. You both tumbled onto the couch and continued kissing like two teenagers. He was right on top of you getting hard.

“Ewwwwwww!!!” Patricia said as she stumbled upon the both of you.

“Patricia! Your home early. Daddy was going to pick you up.” Jack said straightening himself out and getting off of you.

“They got me this little stupid baby bus.” She said throwing down her backpack “It’s just me and a few other kids so I get home fast.” She said

“Hunny how was your day?” You asked her wishing you had more time with Jack alone.

“I just said I don’t like the baby bus.” She said annoyed. Patricia challenged you constantly.

“Watch your mouth P.” Jack warned

“Sorry Mommy.” She apologized under Jack’s stare. She reached into her backpack “Mrs. Smith sent these cookies for you Daddy.”

You looked at him and he looked at you. “Thanks P.” Jack said taking the crumpled brown bag from Patricia’s tiny hands. “Baby…take this and toss it ASAP Rocky.” Jack whispered to you as he chuckled. “That roast smells so good. I just gotta go downstairs for a bit. I’ll take P with me.”

“Beats only Jackman…and clean lyrics.” You chided

“Baby of course.” He said to you and snuck a look to Patricia and winked. She looked at him and nodded.

“I can show you the bars I got Daddy like Uncle G…” Patricia didn’t finish her sentence as Jack covered her mouth, picked her up and swung her around as she giggled and they disappeared to the studio.

Tag List:

@itsyagirljaz @jacks-daycare @killatravtramp @spicypiscesthings @jackmans-poison @a-moment-captured @angelbae05 @comehomeimissyou @creme-delacreme @hotsforharlow @hoodharlow @heavyhitterheaux @harlowsbby

[bamboozledbird]

IGNITE: A Teen Wolf S1 AU // prev, chapter 2, next

Characters: Stiles Stilinski, Original Female Character, Lydia Martin, Scott McCall, Allison Argent Pairing: eventual Stiles x OFC, but man are we talking slow burn Word Count: 4.6k Warnings: canon typical gore/violence, parental death, depictions of depression (apathy, dissociation, 'numb little bug' vibes) Tags: canon has been lovingly scrapped for parts, author majored in english lit and is a choatic bi and it shows, prolific overuse of the em dash, the slowest of burns i fear

Summary: Four years ago, Drea Dickinson's entire life fell apart. Her mom died, her best friend replaced her, and all she could do was watch listlessly while everything else burned down around her. All she wants is to forget and maybe get through her sophomore year without flunking chemistry and completely unraveling at the seams—a seemingly impossible task with the sudden appearance of ghosts from her mother's mysterious past and a hair-raising beast ripping people apart all over town. It would be easier to pretend if she hadn't accidentally entwined her life with the most interrogatory bastard in town. She could have gone her whole life without meeting Stiles Stilinski, and she would've been perfectly fine, but now she's stuck knowing that she's made her bed in the fragile, breakable bones of the boy with all the answers. Chapter Summary: After an awkward encounter with Lydia Martin, Stiles realizes that his new acquaintance might be the perfect person to jumpstart his 15-year plan. Drea, on the other hand, isn't interested in discussing her ex-best friend; she's much more focused on the man who was attacked by the mysterious beast ravaging the town.

A/N: This is an entirely selfish project. This rewrite has been so incredibly nostalgic, and I may or may not have cried a few times because the TW era was such a special time of my life. To be 17 again, sigh. You can also check me out on ao3 (dork_knight)!

Her dad’s SUV was parked in the garage when Drea finally pulled into their circle driveway. It was a rare sight; her dead battery had disrupted their usual routine. She was supposed to be safely tucked away in her room after an early dinner—take-out usually, sometimes a quesadilla if she was feeling exceptionally inspired—by the time her dad got home from work. It was dysfunctional in every sense of the word, but it was the only way they could function in the same space. 

He used to stare at her from the other end of the dinner table: not eating, not speaking. The only way Drea knew he was alive was the slow rise and fall of his chest. After a while, he moved dinner to his office. ‘Working dinner,’ he’d say in passing, ‘budgets are due.’ Eventually, he stopped coming home altogether. It was better that way, Drea thought. They loved each other better from afar, where the power of nostalgia could cloud all the present unpleasantries. She wondered what he saw when he looked at her now. She wondered, and she desperately didn’t want to find out.  

Drea shouldered her backpack and made sure her car lights were off twice before quietly creeping into the mudroom. She could hear the buzz of the microwave as she toed off her sneakers and tried to discern the smell emanating from the kitchen. Something with garlic and tomato. Bona Vita, probably. Her dad loved their al pomodoro. 

She tried to make herself as small as possible as she skulked into the kitchen, shoulders hunched to her ears and grip tight around the strap of her backpack. Her dad’s back was to her; she could see the wrinkles in his collar from where he tugged at it when he was agitated. He stopped stirring his pasta once she reached the island. 

“Did…” her dad trailed off for a moment, still facing the kitchen counter, “did everything go alright with the Sheriff?” 

Drea shrugged even though he couldn’t see her, “I guess.”

“It’s just,” he rubbed at his jaw and looked down towards the oven, “it’s almost eight. I was wondering…worrying.”

He still wasn’t looking at her. Drea stared at the back of his head and sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Look at me. Her brows pinched, and her back molars ground together. Look at me. 

“I called him. Sheriff Stilinski. He said that you didn’t speak for long.”

“Didn’t have anything new to say,” Drea shoved her hands into hoodie pockets, realizing belatedly that she forgot to give Stiles his sweatshirt back. Another problem for another time. 

“That’s not what I—” Drea’s dad grasped the lip of the counter and hung his head like it suddenly weighed too much for his spine, “I was wondering what happened to you.” 

“Oh,” Drea shifted her weight onto her other foot, “dead battery. I think it was the door light.”

Her dad nodded a little, “Do you need someone to pick up your car?”

“Got a jump from a friend.” Not a friend, not really, but she supposed it was the closest she’d come to one in the last four years. That was just a little too sad to say out loud. 

“Good.” He nodded again, “Good.” 

Drea nodded because it seemed like the only thing to do and slipped towards the hallway. She’d taken no less than five steps out of the kitchen when her dad said, “You could call me. Next time, you could call me.”

Maybe. Maybe she could if he would look at her.

Monday came, and Drea had forgotten about Stiles Stilinski and his sweatshirt. In all fairness, she almost forgot her essay too. Lack of sleep, maybe, or perhaps lack of Wellbutrin—she’d also forgotten if she’d taken her pills before she left for school.

Drea crinkled her nearly empty can of Red Bull a few times and twisted the tab in circles until it snapped off. Nervous habit. She flicked the tab into a trashcan and squeezed the can until it crumpled in on itself. Okay, she’d definitely forgotten to take her pills. However, on her list of things to forget, homework outranked antidepressants by several places, so her day wasn’t off to the worst possible start in the world. Dr. Lin always said that she should spend at least five minutes every morning changing her ‘self-talk’ to ‘gratitude, not negatude’—she also said that consistently taking her meds was imperative to her mental health, but one out of two wasn’t so bad. See. Positive thinking; she was killing it. 

It was, however, pretty damn difficult to put a positive spin on a bloodied school bus cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape. 

Drea lingered on the outskirts of the swarm of teenagers gawking behind the barricade that a few deputies were fruitlessly attempting to enforce. The back door of the bus was crumpled in the middle, wrenched open, and barely clinging to life with a lone intact hinge. More concerning, was the blood smeared across the yellow paint and the bloody handprints pressed against the windows.

She peered through the mass of shoulders in front of her and squinted. There were four large gouges in the door and tears in the vinyl seats—claws: Drea realized. They were claw marks. 

Baffling. The entire scene was, in all sincerity, baffling. 

Awful, Drea quickly corrected herself. The carnage was awful, first and foremost. It was awful, horrific, and totally tragic…but it was also bizarre. Animals, wild or not, generally didn’t hunt on school grounds; that honor was reserved for creepy super-seniors and perverse volleyball coaches. 

Drea chewed on her bottom lip and stewed. A bear seemed most likely, given the battering the bus took, but they were a long way from Los Padres. Mountain lions and coyotes, however, often strolled into small-town suburbia to snack on unaccompanied emotional support animals. Still, she doubted they had the strength or dexterity to rip a steel door off of its hinges. 

The first warning bell rang, and it was especially shrill while Drea was lost in her own head. She managed to not flinch with a herculean effort and pushed through the remaining voyeurs towards the front doors. Stuffing her airpods into her ears, she turned up the volume on her phone until the bass vibrated all thoughts of coyotes, cougars, and bears out of her mind. Oh my. 

Positive: Ellie Rowsell’s ethereal vocals demanded her full and undivided attention. 

Negative: Ellie Rowsell’s ethereal vocals demanded her full and undivided attention. 

She grabbed her chemistry notecards, a few highlighters, and a fat stack of books from her locker just as an overly-cologned jackass shoved his equally pungent friend straight into her crowded arms.

Positive: She hadn’t gotten the chance to organize her notes by unit number before they scattered all over the floor. 

Negative: They were still scattered all over the floor.

Biting back a few choice expletives, Drea crouched down and gathered her notecards into a messy heap. She stretched across the scuffed tile for her highlighters; one brushed past her fingertips and rolled into the pointed toe of a sleek brown leather boot. Drea glanced up, apology ready, but her tongue went cottony when she locked eyes with Lydia Martin.

Lydia Martin was many things to many people, but Drea supposed the general consensus would be that she was the apex predator—regardless of what the bloodbath outside might lead a person to believe. 

Most students were consenting prey. Enthusiastically consenting, in fact. Drea understood the impulse. Knowing she could destroy you, that was the thing that made Lydia so undeniably captivating. There were few people who proved the theory of the sublime in the flesh, let alone before they had the chance to get out of Dodge and really grow up. It was only natural to gravitate towards the only exception in Beacon County. Lydia was the duality of fear and attraction. She defined indefinable beauty—because she wasn’t just beautiful (anybody could be beautiful), Lydia was fiercely beautiful and, in the same breath, the grace of girlhood. She was…she suckerpunched Jordan Aadams in the third grade for making fun of Drea’s eyes without lifting a single manicured finger; that was the closest Drea could come to explaining the phenomenon Lydia Martin left in her wake.

Lydia’s thick red curls spilled over her shoulders as she looked down at the obstacle in her path. The angry pinch in her brows softened briefly once she made eye-contact with Drea, but she quickly corrected her slip and schooled her face into a blank expression. Returning her attention to her friend, Lydia’s heels clicked against the floor as she stepped over Drea’s copy of Metamorphosis and continued on with her conversation like it hadn’t ever stopped. Like Drea was just a mirage or a distorted oil-slick reflection—like she was a ghost who just wouldn’t fucking die already. Drea watched her go, forgetting to blink, until they reached Lydia’s locker on the other side of the hall.

Before she got extensions, Lydia liked to wear her hair in a French braid. Before she discovered full-coverage concealer, her freckles were golden against the fairness of her cheeks. Before everything fell apart, she was her best friend.

In the end, it wasn’t a terribly dramatic thing. There wasn’t a melodramatic scene or an explosive fight; sometimes, Drea wondered if that would've been better. There was a certain kind of brutality in a slow, quiet death; one that lasted long after the hot water had run out in the shower and shampoo stung her eyes. After the funeral, Drea could taste decay in their conversations, in their silences. The rot crawled listlessly—everything did back then—tauntingly sluggish. She saw the end coming weeks before they stopped speaking, and she didn’t even try to stop it. To be fair, Lydia didn’t either. On the first day of seventh grade, Lydia had new friends; they all smelled like vanilla and owned matching couture purses. She had always been magnetic, but evidently losing her only constant was her final quest before she transcended to godhood. Drea made her human; that must have been the problem. They were babies together. They were more than family. Now, they sat across from each other in a class she couldn’t bring herself to care about, and they did not look at each other unless it was straight through.

Drea snatched the runaway highlighter and quickly sunk back against the wall, pressing into it like she could force her body through the cracks in the bricks or at the very least shed the sentimentality clinging to her skin. She darted her gaze across the hall and almost snorted when she saw the amount of people who’d flocked to Lydia’s side within the last thirty seconds. Lydia was unobtainable, unknowable—and yet ever so desirable. No one really knew her, so of course they all wanted to be her. 

Lydia only liked one of them, the new girl with shiny black hair and dark eyes; Drea could tell. Her top lip pursed ever so slightly when she was holding back a barbed comment and a violent eye roll. Usually, Lydia didn’t bother with niceties, but for whatever reason she’d decided her new persona should only intimidate peons with looks and confidence, never brains. It was a shame, really; her cave-dweller boyfriend desperately needed educating. 

Drea resisted the urge to look across the hall again and smoothed out the bent corner of a notecard until ‘alpha’ became ‘alpha particle’. A shadow fell over the pink-highlighted text, and she frowned. Glancing up, her frown cemented when she saw Stiles’s elven nose and remembered that she still had his sweatshirt wadded on her desk chair.

“Hey,” Stiles adjusted his grip on his backpack, “did your car make it home okay?”

Drea nodded and shut her locker with her elbow, bending with the wobbling tower of school supplies in her arms until it stabilized again.

“Cool.” He nodded a few times, mouth puckered like a duck, and scratched at the back of his neck, “So. You and Lydia, huh.”

Drea stared intently at her notes, “Is that a question?”

“No, it’s a statement.” He hooked his thumbs around his backpack straps and leaned back slightly, “And that episode of telepathic taekwondo was definitely a statement.” 

Drea glowered until ‘alpha decay’ and ‘helium-4 nucleus’ mushed together into an illegible pink blob, “I’ve got a statement for you—only two words actually.” 

“So it is a thing.” She could hear the smirk in his voice as he grabbed the books from under her arms.

She refused to feel grateful, even as she readjusted her grip on her cards and managed to free one of her hands, “Get lost, Stilinski.”

“That’s three words.” The smirk was deafening now.

The one-minute warning bell rang and a mass of students swarmed the hallway, effectively drowning out Stiles’s smugness with a sea of jock whooping and band geek trumpeting. Drea met his gaze and smiled sweetly before stepping around him, “Kindly. Choke.”

She ignored the sound of Stiles’s large footsteps following far too closely behind her. She wanted to be annoyed with him, but English was his first-period and he did have her books in his stupidly big hands. Instead of flipping him off, Drea focused her itching fingers on stacking cards and pencils on top of her desk until Stiles sat down in the seat next to her—without permission. She changed her mind; he was annoying. 

Stiles scooted the desk closer to hers with his feet, and the metal legs screeched against the linoleum flooring for her. “Was it like a ‘grew apart over the summer’ thing, or did some serious shit go down?”

Drea sighed heavily and lined her pencils and pens next to each other, first in order of length and then color, “Why do you care?”

His mouth remained open for a second, and then he shrugged a little too casually, “I’m a naturally inquisitive person.”

“You’re unnaturally irritating,” she grumbled, low in her throat, and scowled at her picked-apart cuticles like they had done her a particular disservice. 

Stiles huffed through his nose and threw his hands in the air, “Come on, I totally saved your ass Friday—very chivalrously too, might I add. I won’t even press charges for the theft.”

“Theft?” Drea finally turned around in her seat to face him at the accusation. 

Stiles nodded solemnly, “My sweatshirt. My most favorite sweatshirt of all the sweatshirts.”

Oh. Drea deflated a little; she’d forgotten about that pesky little detail again. She snatched her books off of his desk before their lives could become further entangled and replied flatly,  “I’ll overnight it.”

“No, I insist you keep it.” His smile was a little too crooked to be truly cocky,  “I’m a good guy like that.”

Drea tapped her pencil against her chin, eraser side up, and cocked her head to the side, “Isn’t it incredible how every self-proclaimed ‘good guy’ is exclusively terrible.”

Stiles’s face twisted into a petulant scowl as he collapsed against the back of his chair, and Drea was a little surprised that the desk managed to contain all of his gangly appendages without collapsing as well. “I like her, okay!” His exasperated confession carried to the next row of students, and Stiles melted into his seat when a jacked sophomore with no neck whistled lewdly behind them. Squeezing his eyes shut, Stiles lowered his voice, “Actually, I’m kind of in love with her if you want to be technical about it.”

“Oh.” Drea blinked and then laughed.

“Don’t laugh, dickface.” 

“Sorry,” she grinned, not sorry in the slightest, “it’s just…isn’t everyone?”

Stiles shook his head and sighed wistfully, “Not like I am.”

Drea turned to get a better look at him, and she didn’t mask the doubt in her eyes. He was wearing a brown flannel that was practically mewling for a good ironing and a red t-shirt with the silhouette of a spider embossed over his chest. Spider-Man’s emblem, obviously. If she had to hazard a guess, she’d bet it was the Andrew Garfield version. Regardless, it was blatantly clear that Stiles’s home planet was lightyears away from Lydia’s.  

Drea folded her arms over chest and leaned back against her seat, “Have you even talked to her?” 

“Technically…no,” Stiles dipped his head from side to side like a bobble head and then pressed his palms together, gesturing with them every so often to emphasize the most ridiculous words in his sentence, “but we have a deep, unspoken connection, mostly via sporadic eye-contact.”

Drea just looked at him, unamused and unimpressed.

Stiles held up his hands like a director and kicked his feet onto his desk, “It’s about the long-game.”

“Gross,” Drea pulled a face. She wasn’t sure if she was referring to the gray wad of gum stuck to the bottom of his shoe or the pride in his long-con. It was probably a bit of both.

“Are you gonna help a Nobody out or not?” Stiles nudged the leg of her desk with his sneaker—the gumless one, thankfully—and sent one of her pens careening towards the edge.

Drea caught it before it could hit the ground and glared at him. “Hate to break it to you, but I’m not an ‘in.’” She returned the pen to its rightful place between her pencil and purple highlighter: a perfect rainbow of neuroticism. Drea straightened her row of writing utensils again and swallowed shallowly, “I don’t even know her anymore.”

For the first time since Stiles had popped up in front of her locker like a chronic zit, understanding clicked in his eyes. Actually, he almost looked apologetic. Stiles sucked his bottom lip between his teeth and leaned forward onto his forearms, “So…what happened? Did you not make queen bee first-string?”

“No,” Drea bristled. After a long exhale, she crumpled in on herself a little and mumbled, “Yes…kind of. I don’t know. I have my version; I’m sure she has hers.”

Stiles clasped his hands together and nodded sagely, “There are as many truths as there are people.”

Drea’s brows scrunched, and her eyes went lidded as she flipped through her mental philosophy rolodex, “Camus?”

He shook his head and clicked his tongue against the back of his teeth, “Evangelion.” 

Drea was startled into a snorty chortle, “Obviously you’re a weeb.”

Stiles hid his amusement behind a slow roll of his eyes, “You’re at least 1/16 weeb if you know Evangelion is an anime.”

Before she could deny such blasphemy, Drea was distracted by the boy who usually sat next to her—Greg something, she was pretty sure—coming to a stop directly between her and Stiles. He lingered next to the side of his desk, breathing heavily through his mouth like some kind of sick prowler. 

Stiles glanced at him with a flat expression and then looked up again, brows shooting towards his hairline, when he didn’t leave, “Can I help you?” He jerked his head forward and shook it slightly, “Need a mint?”

Greg Something stared at him, red-rimmed eyes thoroughly glazed over, and Drea wondered if being faded at 7:45 in the morning was worth the tortuous five-hour wait until lunch. 

“No?” Stiles waved his hand in the air; Greg didn’t even blink. “Okay seeya.”

It took him roughly 30 seconds to comprehend what Stiles was saying, but eventually Greg shuffled towards one of the remaining empty seats in the middle of the classroom. 

“Thank you,” Stiles muttered before returning his attention to the side of Drea’s face.

She smirked slightly at her notebook, doodling a little bird with sharp talons along the margins of her notes on Kafka’s thoughts on absurdism—spoiler alert: the guy who wrote a book about a dude randomly transforming into a bug was a big fan of it. She added a long feathered tail to her bird and said, “It is his seat.”

Stiles scoffed and looked over his shoulder. They watched Greg shove a handful of Cheeto Puffs into his mouth in slow-motion for a moment, and Stiles replied, “I think he’ll live.”

“Oh,” Drea shook her head a little, freshly bitten lips curling around the extended vowel, “I’m not worried about him.”

Stiles aggressively clicked his pen with his thumb and pressed his mouth together until his lips disappeared into a flat line. “If you would just answer my questions the first time, I wouldn’t have to keep asking them, so, for the love of god—” fortuitously for him, he was cut off by a loud scratchy buzz before Drea could succumb to her base instincts and throw an eraser into his flapping mouth. 

Principal Montoya’s voice crackled through the loudspeaker, “Attention students: I know that many of you are concerned about the…incident in the parking lot, but rest assured that the police have it well in hand. Classes will proceed as scheduled as they continue their investigation. Have a productive day, Cyclones.”

A resounding groan echoed throughout the classroom and into the hallway, followed by the hum of students breaking into various complaints. Mr. Lyman thwacked his pointer against the whiteboard, and the force of his swing sent the cartoonish hand on the end of the stick into rapid vibration—effectively shutting everyone up. The quiet was only disturbed by the rustle of zippers being unzipped and papers being smoothed when he instructed them to turn their essays in. 

Drea hastily wrote her name across the top of her paper and pointedly kept her eyes on the board when Stiles leaned across his desk. “Life’s short, y’know. One day you’re a traveling salesman, and the next you’re a grotesque, monstrous insect, wishing that you’d seized life when you had the opposable thumbs for it, so—”

“A man just died; have some class,” Drea interrupted him, voice dry as it was soft. Stiles might not care about getting in trouble, but she had worked very hard to remain on a no-name basis with all her teachers. 

“We don’t know that he’s dead—or that he’s a he.”

“Oh yeah,” Drea jotted down the daily prompt in her notebook and muttered, “I’m sure the guy just decided to go home and sleep off the mauled limbs.”

“It could’ve been an animal,” Stiles huffed, bowing his head in submission when Mr. Lyman shot him a stern look from behind his desk. He continued with his hand over his mouth, muffling his words, “And they do run off to die alone.” 

Drea stared at him for a long moment. “That’s cats. Are you saying a bear ripped a bus apart for a cat.” 

“Well, if you say anything in that tone, it’s going to sound ridiculous,” Stiles muttered sullenly against his palm, and she was pretty sure that he was pouting behind it too.

She opened her mouth to reply and then squinted slightly when a boy with floppy hair skidded to a halt in front of them. His mouth was slightly agape as he looked back and forth between Stiles and Greg, who was now licking the nearly toxic orange dust off of his fingers. 

 “Sit, Scotty,” Stiles jerked his thumb towards the empty desk behind him. “Good boy.”

The boy, Scott she gathered, did not look amused, but he sat down behind Stiles anyway and leaned forward to whisper something in his ear. Stiles whipped around and responded in a hushed screech.

Drea was distracted from her eavesdropping when Lydia’s friend sat down next to Scott—directly behind her. Her jaw could cut glass. She dropped her chin onto her folded arms and refused to let herself frown; the end result was a slightly constipated pout. It was just…Allison had just started going to Beacon Hills a few weeks ago, and she was already completely intertwined in Lydia’s life. 

Lydia was…prickly, so she was just surprised, that’s all, how easily Allison fit into her life. More palatable, Drea thought as she risked a peek over her shoulder; she must be more palatable than most. A terrible, ugly thing creeped over her, and she found herself imagining Allison choking on her beautiful, silky black hair until her beautiful dark eyes popped out of her head. Just for a moment. A brief, awful, horrible moment—until she remembered it wasn’t Allison’s fault. 

“Hey.” Drea flinched when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

She reluctantly shifted in her chair so that she could see Allison. She just looked at her for an uncomfortable moment, and Allison smiled awkwardly, “The tests.” Drea blinked and licked her dry lips, at a loss for words. Allison smiled again, a little nervous but still kind, “They're on your desk.”

“Oh,” Drea said dumbly and reached for the pile of papers on her desk that she’d missed during her lengthy period of dissociation. She kept one and then held out the rest to Allison, mumbling, “Sorry,” under her breath.

Allison looked at her for a moment, and Drea didn’t like the discerning look in her doe eyes. “It’s okay. I zone-out all the time.” 

She could see why Lydia liked her; she was nice, overly so. Drea felt that ugly feeling slip into her mouth again, bitterness coating her tongue, and she wished that Allison was catty or at very least a vapid twit who was either too stupid or too self-involved to notice other people—like the rest of Lydia’s circle. 

“I like your necklace.” Allison nodded a little towards the black chain around her neck. 

A heavy pendant rested just over Drea’s sternum; the maze etched into the stone had eroded in places, like it had been left out in acid rain for decades. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was made of; her mother never said when she gave it to her, and she never asked. It didn’t matter much now. 

“Thanks,” Drea finally said, because that was what normal people did when they were complimented, and she was a normal person. Mostly. She swallowed thickly and bit down on the scab in the center of her bottom lip before adding, “I like your jacket.” She did. It was simple, unadorned by gaudy zippers and lapels like so many of the other leather jackets on campus. She would wear it herself if she didn’t break into a sweat in any temperature warmer than tepid. 

Allison’s cheeks dimpled when she smiled, and Drea quashed the sigh rising in her throat. Her smile was magnificent. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off, but my friend convinced me to—” Allison let out a little breathy laugh, “Sorry, you definitely don’t want to hear my jacket’s tragic backstory.”

She didn’t, not if it included hearing about Lydia’s fashion tips second-hand. Still, Drea managed a little smile, “As long as it doesn’t begin with a cow, you’re golden.”

Allison laughed and held up her hands, “It’s faux; I promise.”

“Ladies,” Mr. Lyman called from across the classroom, “I wasn’t aware that existentialism was so amusing.” Drea felt a dizzying heat crawl up her neck to her ears once she realized that the only noise in the room, other than Allison’s tinkly laughter, was the scratch of pencils on paper as students worked on their tests. 

“Sorry,” they mumbled at the same time, and Allison mouthed another ‘Sorry’ just for her before Drea turned around. Damn. She liked her. How incredibly inconvenient. She almost wished that Stiles was still pestering her so that she had a real reason to be upset—until she finally got a good look at the mid-term, more specifically at the thickness of it. Drea flipped through the lengthy test and looked at the ceiling briefly: Six essay questions? 

Positive: At least, she found a legitimate excuse to sulk. 

Negative: She felt a migraine coming on. 

[unknownb0yg1rl]

Didn’t post this yesterday bc I was absolutely exhausted so I apologize, anyways here’s the update of my entire fucking weekend bc it was a tc filled wreck. So as some of yall know my tc has never taught me and never worked in my school however he has helped me with my work before. This starts Friday when I get back from doing something really late. I don’t get home till one and I have work in literally three hours, so being the codependent hoe I am I text him complaining about it. The next day (Saturday) guess who spends the ENTIRE DAY at my work. I am about 99% sure I almost tackled him to the ground when I saw him. So like while we hug he keeps walking us backwards so he can talk to my mom who is behind me (yes I work with my mommy but it is no longer healthy so I’m looking for a new job) he just hold on to me the entire time he’s talking and when I tell yall he smells so fucking good. Anyways I work for a few more hours and my dad picks me up (no I don’t have my license or a car but I’m working on it) when I get home I am in so much pain that literally nothing helps with. I text him crying (again) and he tells me “if I could take away all your pain I would” and I literally fall asleep thinking about that. Sunday nothing major happens but I am supposed to meet him on Monday and I’m so looking forward to that. Monday comes and we open late so I didn’t have to come in till like 11. The first thing I do is walk around and clean things up and guess who tf I see. He ends up spending literally all day at my work again. I get off at 2:30 and go find him and he helps me with a paper I’m writing, there is an entire paragraph about him in there. And when we get to the paragraph about him he goes “aww you’re so sweet honey” well we finish my paper and I ask him if he could drive me home, AND HE SAYS YES. The minute we get out instead of pulling out his cigarettes like he usually does he pulls out a fucking vape (was not happy abt this bc I think vapes look dumb but whatever im still a fiend) I have my cigs in my bag and I wanted to smoke before we got to his car bc he doesn’t smoke in his car but I don’t say anything and js keep walking bc I can js smoke when I get home. Anyways we get to his car and he starts playing music and THE LYRICS RELATING TO ME AND HIS SITUATIONS?!? Anyways we pass his vape back and forth the entire way to my house. I had so much fun w him but I never wanted to leave his car bc it smelled like him and it smelled so fucking good. He drove me home and refused to let me give him gas money. I actually fall more and more in love with him everyday.

Reminders I am an adult who can consent and has the ability to do whatever she pleases and make her own decisions

[bellysoupset]

Alright, this may or may not be the fic that I thought of waaaay back when I came up with Wendy. It's Vince dealing with lactose intolerance. This is a long fic, the build up is looong.

----

"You," Wendy grinned, crawling on the bed so she could hug Vince from behind while he put on his socks, "need a fucking break."

He chuckled, turning his head to steal a kiss, while she rested her chin on his naked shoulder, "tell me about it, honey."

Wendy muffled a smile against his shoulder, "no, I'm serious. Let's go on a weekend getaway, take me to meet your family, let's go down to the beach."

"Beach in the middle of September?" Vince raised his eyebrows, but she could tell just by the way his eyes sparkled that he was actually quite interested. Unlike Wendy who wanted to keep Vince as far away from her family as possible, he was actually quite the family guy and was eager to introduce her. She had already spoken with his mom, one time when he answered the phone around her.

Magda was just as extroverted as her son.

"Okay, maybe not the beach," Wendy rolled her eyes, hugging him from behind and leaning fully on his back, stealing a kiss, "but what about the rest? What do you think?"

He though about it for a minute, before nodding, stealing another peck, "I'll let them know we're coming. We're leaving tonight?"

Her heart did a split in her chest, fuck. All her life Wendy had fantasized having the type of love that would be just "let's up and go anywhere" and it was really really jarring to realize she had gotten it.

"Wen?"

"Uhm, yep," she grabbed his cheek, kissing him harder and wrapping her arms around his neck, now fully falling onto his lap and no longer on his back, "tonight."

****

It was a four hours long drive to the teeny tiny town Vince's family lived in and Wendy was regretting already, not because of the distance, but because it was night. She was already sleepy by the time Vince turned up at her apartment after his own work shift was done, with a backpack slung over his shoulder.

"I don't suppose you packed light enough we can take my bike?"

"Yeah, try again," she rolled her eyes, throwing him her baby pink duffle bag. There was no way she was about to meet her boyfriend's family with just one change of clothes, all wrinkled.

She took the first turn of driving, trying to quell the anxiety and the tiredness and then the second one was Vince's, her head lolling against her car window, watching as the lights passed them by.

By the time he entered the city and slowed down, Wendy was blinking to fight against sleep. Only when he turned his block that she started to feel more alert, as Vince squeezed her thigh and said, "we're here, Wen."

"Which one is your parent's?" she asked, gluing her nose to the car window. It was a middle class suburb, with large cheap houses. Vince had grown up in the same house since they had arrived in America when he was 9, which made the place all the more special.

He parked before a terracota house and intertwined their fingers, bringing her knuckles to his mouth and kissing them, "don't be nervous, alright? I got your back."

"Okay," she was almost bouncing with excitement. Just then the front door opened and she heard, even with the car windows closed, as a childish voice yelled "VIIIIIIN!"

His baby sister was only six and she was already in pjs, but that didn't stop her from running across the yard to him. Vince opened the door and got out in time to scoop her up by the armpits, throwing her up in the air and causing a bunch of childish squeals and giggles erupt from her.

"Look at you, you're so big, bambi!"

"I knoow," She gloated, throwing her arms around his neck. She peered over his shoulder curiously, dark eyes pausing on Wendy.

"Oh, is that your garfield?" She whispered, as if Wendy couldn't hear her.

"Girlfriend," Vince corrected her, nodding solemnly. He turned around, raising a had up to pull her closer. Wendy went willingly, whole body on fire at the domesticity of the scene, "Wendy, this is Livia."

"Hi Livia," Wendy smiled, lowering her face so she could look into the girl's eyes. Livia had a lot of her brother's features, same dark frowny brows, round lips and deep, black eyes. Her hair was a chocolate shade of brown, all curly and down to the middle of her back, unlike Vince's each were raven black.

"Hi!" Livia piped up shyly, hiding her face on Vince's shoulder and causing him to roll his eyes.

"Now's that a way to say hi, bug?" he jostled her in his arms, tickling her sides and the little girl squealed and squirmed out of his grasp. He was still laughing as he put her back down on the ground and let his sister take his hand.

Despite the late hour, everyone was awake. Vince's mom, with whom Wendy had talked before, greeted them at the door. She was just as friendly in person, twice more talkative and Wendy didn't even have time to feel awkward or self conscious, as the woman quickly pulled her across the house to introduce her to the rest of the family.

Vince's father, Giuseppe, didn't look a thing like his son. It seemed like the whole family had gotten their features from Magda's side, the raven hair, deep black eyes and thick eyebrows. Giuseppe had very light brown hair, mostly silver at the roots now, and light blue eyes. The only similarity there was the nose and the jaw, as well as the red cheeks, which Vince had inherited.

"Hi Wendy, it's a pleasure to meet you. Did you have a nice trip?"

"Are you hungry?" Magda interrupted before she could answer, "you must be. Vincezo did you eat?"

"We're okay, mamma-"

"You're looking like you've been starved," she scoffed, to which Wendy muffled a chuckle. Vince had definitely lost weight due to the past rough month with him being sick twice and the tension in their friend group, but starving? He was far from that.

"I'm fine," he pouted, while Giuseppe gestured for Livia to move closer, crouching down to pick her up with a grunt.

"Did you say hi to Wendy, Liv?"

"I did," she nodded, while Magda tugged all of them to the kitchen, not before yelling, at the foot of the stairs, "Sophia Maria, your brother is here come greet him!"

"Maggie," Giuseppe chuckled, following them in, "you'll scare the girl."

"No I won't, she's dating Vince," Magda rolled her eyes, "get your daughter down here - Vince said you're a med student, Wendy?"

"I am, yes," Wendy nodded, all the while Vince pulled a chair by the dining table - which was inside the kitchen for some reason unknown to Wendy - and promptly pulled her to sit down, standing behind it as he planted a kiss on top of her head. Wendy's cheeks burned with embarrassment, but none of his parents seemed to pay any mind.

"Your parents must be proud," Magda hummed, turning on the stove and grabbing a huge tupperware of leftovers from the fridge, "you eat pasta, right?" her question didn't really leave any room for denial and Wendy didn't bother even answering it.

"They're both doctors too, so it was more or less expected of me," she explained, to which Giuseppe let out a snort, sitting down with Livia on his lap.

"Children doing what's expecting of them? Ever heard of that Maggie?"

"Never," Vince's mom chuckled, "where is Sophia- Vincenzo sit down, don't just stand there."

Wendy felt like she was in heaven. They were lovely people, but mostly they loved each other. There was none of the weird formality that her family had.

Vince's sister, Sophia, finally emerged from her bedroom about halfway through their semi-forced meal. In true teenage fashion, she had headphones hanging around her neck and was not interested at all in the fact her brother was home from college, until she saw Wendy sitting next to him.

Sophia was sixteen and out of all three kids, she was the one who looked the most like her father, with slightly lighter hair and blue eyes.

"Oh I thought Vince had made you up," Sophia said, her voice filled with amusement, "Wendy this, Wendy that. Wendy is a doctor, Wendy is so badass, she's so pretty. Wendy once invented the wheel-"

"Sophia shut up," Vince cheeks were burning red and Wendy opened a huge smile.

"Sadly the wheel was already around by the time I was born," she retorted, causing both of Vince's parents to chuckle and Sophia's smile to grow even more, while Vince groaned.

"Don't encourage her, she'll be insufferable."

"Not half as much as you are," Sophia wrinkled her nose, sitting down with them, now suddenly interested. Vince quickly decided that his food really needed is undivided attention, completely ignoring his parents and sister's comments and nagging at him.

The only one who didn't make fun of him, much, was Livia, so she got all of his cuddles, feeding him from her plate here and there and Wendy struggled to focus on the conversation, when her boyfriend was being that adorable right next to her.

It was well past eleven when they wrapped it all up and Magda kicked them all out of the kitchen, regardless of Wendy offering to do the dishes and Sophia's preaching that Vince should absolutely be the one to do them.

"Can you tuck me in?" Livia asked sleepily as Vince carried her up and Wendy almost groaned. She wasn't sure how to survive the weekend without exploding from the cuteness.

Much to her surprise, Vince shook his head no.

"Tomorrow I will, okay?" he said, voice sounding a little strained, "I pinky promise."

Livia pouted, but nodded, little head peaking out of his shoulder as she looked at Wendy, "goodnight Wendy!"

"Goodnight, Livia," Wendy couldn't help but reach out to plant a kiss on her brow as Vince planted the little girl down.

He pulled her to his old childhood room and then let out a sigh, falling on the bed, "so?" Vince asked, throwing an arm over his eyes, "are you regretting suggesting coming here yet?"

"What?" Wendy scoffed, getting on the bed and falling almost on top of him, causing him to let out a huff, "I love it. I love them," she told him, removing his arm from his eye and Vince opened a sheepish smile.

"Really?"

"Really," Wendy nodded, kissing him and he reciprocated immediately, grabbing her ass to pull her up on top of him - She felt a gurgle against her own belly and pulled back, frowning, "was that your tummy?"

"Uhm, yeah," Vince paid it no mind, grabbing her chin between his index and thumb, kissing her again. His other hand moved inside her pants, resting on her butt and Wendy chuckled, pulling back.

"We are not fucking when your parents are right next door, give up," she whispered in his ear, only to feel another churn pressed against her stomach, "oh wow, even I felt that... Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am," he pouted, once again trying to kiss her, but there was a loud whine from his belly and Wendy raised an eyebrow, resisting when his hand on her nape pulled her back in. She moved her hands from his neck to his chest, keeping them apart.

"Vince?"

"My mom sometimes adds milk to the tomato sauce," he explained, making a little wince, "just a little to counter the acidity..."

"Vince!" Wendy exclaimed, "why didn't you say anything?!"

"It's fine, I didn't eat that much," he rolled his eyes, "my belly will just be a little upset, I'll be fine."

"I really don't think you know what that word means," Wendy scoffed, rolling off of him and pushing his arm, "c'mon, lets get into bed."

She stripped off her clothes and into the silk pajamas, which caused Vince to tease her about where she was going dressed up like that. He, in the other hand just stripped his clothes off and threw it over chair in the corner of his room, next to his teenage years study station.

He didn't bother putting anything else on, brushing his teeth and climbing in bed with her.

Wendy turned off the white lights, but his curtains were open and there was a streetlamp right outside it, so she could actually see him perfectly. She cuddled closer, resting her cheek to his arm and planting a hand over his belly.

Lately his boxers had been loose on him, but not tonight. He was already bloated enough that the elastic was pressing on it, not painfully yet, but inconvenient. She rolled them down and Vince let out a huff.

"I thought you said we weren't fucking."

"Shhhh!" she hissed, cheeks burning, "you want your parents to hear?"

He chuckled, delighted by how embarrassed she was, only to interrupt himself with a surprise burp when she pushed her hand against his belly, "shit- Excuse me."

"It's fine," Wendy rolled her eyes, cheek still burning. She trailed her fingers up and down, pressing them in the soft skin and feeling around for the tightest spot. Vince let out a little groan as she circled his upper belly and she raised her eyebrows, pressing even closer.

"Here?"

"Uhm...Here," he moved her hand further in, right on the middle of his belly, towards the top. Wendy pressed gently, rubbing circles in it and Vince squirmed under her touch, a gurgle going up his throat but dying there.

"No point me giving a belly rub if you're not going to let out the gas, Vin," she rolled her eyes, pressing a kiss to his chest, "I don't mind."

"Gross," Vince sighed and she pressed on again.

"I'll be the judge of that."

He turned his head, muffling a burp against the pillow, "I think it's objectively gro-"

Wendy scoffed and leaned in, shutting him up with a kiss. She pulled back enough to repeat, "I'll be the judge of that, honey."

Vince squinted at her, his own cheeks all red, eyebrows raised and Wendy quickly ducked her face back down to his chest, going back to the belly rub. He was quiet now, thankfully.

She was enthralled by the symphony of noises coming out of his belly. It had been just a splash of milk and yet she could hear it clearly in his tummy, loud gurgles and whines, "you don't feel sick?" she asked, moving her palm to cup where the latest noise had been emitted from and pressing gently. He muffled another burp.

"Not really," Vince shook his head, "a little queasy, but not gonna be sick, sick."

She hummed something to show she had heard him, moving her hand once more to the down part of his tummy, where it was bloated and sticking out enough she could actually cup his belly.

"You're into this, aren't you?" Vince asked, voice thick as he muffled a burp into the question. She froze, didn't dare to look up.

"I..."

"Yeah, you totally are," he chuckled lightly, his hand that was resting on her hip squeezing her in a teasing manner, "freaky."

"It's hot," she decided to give up any attempt at self defense, "and cute."

"Whatever you say," Vince shrugged, then groaned, "okay, now it's cramping."

Despite her concern her heart leaped up a little and Wendy mentally cursed, unsure if he was teasing her or not, "Vince?"

"No, really, here-" he guided her hand to the side of his belly, "I don't care if you're into this, more belly rubs for me, I guess."

Her whole face was on fire, "Really?"

"Really," he squeezed her again, then his belly interrupted the serious conversation by whining loudly, almost howling. Wendy raised her eyebrows.

"That didn't sound good," she whistled, resuming back to her initial position and trailing her fingers around, pressing on the pockets of air. Vince muffled another burp, then another, groaning lightly.

"It's not feeling so good," he agreed, squirming on the bed and moving from the lying down position to a half sitting up one, planting a hand over his chest and thumping.

"Vin?"

His cheeks inflated with an airy burp, which only caused him to grimace, "it's stuck."

Wendy could feel her heart in her ear, "are you playing this up for me?" she blurted out and Vince looked surprised.

"No, but good to know it's doing it for you" he chuckled, still with a painful grimace on, "it's actually stuck, tho."

"Lean forward," she grabbed his wrists and pulled him half lying forward, arms stretched ahead.

"You're gonna make me hurl," Vince warned her, voice thick and she rolled her eyes, digging her fingers into his soft belly.

"Not that much forward, honey-" she held him in place with one hand, the other pushing into his stomach until she found a spot that made him recoil.

"Wen-"

"Shh..." she rubbed her thumb in circles and then heard as the gurgle went up an exploded out of his mouth in a burp. He groaned, sitting up correctly and slammed a fist against his mouth, as that one burp pulled with it a bunch of smaller, wetter ones.

Finally Vince slumped back against the pillows, eyes squeezed shut and cheeks on fire, "that was fucking gross."

"That was fucking hot," she corrected, no longer embarrassed at all and curling up against him once more, entangling their legs. He let out a snort.

"At your service," Vince huffed, yawning, "I feel better now."

"Maybe tell your family you're lactose intolerant?" she scoffed, planting a kiss over his belly, "not that I'm not enjoying myself, but this can't feel good, honey."

"Uhm, I'll think about that," he said sleepily and Wendy rolled her eyes, fully resting her face on top of his tummy and closing her eyes as she heard the gurgling going inside.

She couldn't believe her luck.

[remylius]

Little Miss Imperfect

Part 3

Daichi x Chubby!Manager!Reader

T.W. Emotional Abuse, Mentions of Death, Tears.

1173 words

Note: this took a while to write cause I was busy serving at Choir and then experienced a short Writers block. Not to mention other emotional shit. Hehe I'm so sorry.

An hour passed since y/n fell asleep. She slowly blinked her eyes to see a little girl staring at her with curious eyes. "Fumiko.." Daichi says as he closes the door to his room with a tray of food in his hands. "What did I say about entering my room." Daichi says to the girl as she runs out giggling. "I'm telling mom you brought a girl!" Y/N jolts up as she realizes she was in unfamiliar territory. The blanket on top of her slipping of her. "Woah, woah. Slow down there." Daichi coos as he puts the tray on the table. "What time is it?" She asks in a panic. "It's 7pm. What's wrong?" He replies confused with her worry. "I have to go. I'm sorry senpai." She stated as she grabbed her bag on the floor as she ran out in a hurry. "Y/N wait up! Let me send you out!" He calls out to her in a hurry grabbing his jacket as he runs down the stairs. If it wasn't only for her being familiar when they went here with the boys she wouldn't be able to find the front door. Running out, she ran in her socks alone not realizing she wasn't wearing her shoes. She ran out of his house hurriedly. "Y/N! Please! You left your shoes!" Daichi says running after her holding her shoes up in the air. "Please! Slow down." She walked back to him retrieving her shoes from him as she wore them. "I'm sorry but I have to go." Her voice cracked as she ran to her house. Opening the door, the house was silent. Her sister was probably studying in her room again. She quickly made something for dinner putting it neatly in a tray bringing it to her sister. "Hanako, I made dinner. Sorry I was late." She announces as she opens the door slightly to see her sister studying. "You're late." Her sister says warningly. The tone in her voice filled with annoyance. "I'll leave your food here on your dresser, I'm sorry" she says as she puts the tray of food on the dresser beside her leaving the room.

On the other end, Daichi walked up to her door slowly, not realizing how big y/n's house was. He was worried about her. He rings the doorbell, hoping someone would answer. He hears footsteps shuffle as the door opens. "Daichi?" Y/N calls out to her confusingly. "What are you doing here? C-come in" she says hesitantly as she lets him in. He could feel her nervousness. "Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to follow you here." He blurts out trying to explain himself. "I-its fine. You can sit by the couch, make yourself at home." She dismisses him as she goes to grab some food in the kitchen. Quickly setting up a snack tray and some tea she brings it to the living room where Daichi sat nervously. "So what brings you here?" She sighs as she sets the tray down. Taking a seat in front of him. "What made you leave in a rush?" He asks hesitantly. "My sister arrives home at 6pm and I have to make sure she has dinner ready. She's working hard for her highschool application and I have to support her. Clean the house and other chores." She narrates looking at her clasped palms on her lap. The tension in the air slowly decreasing.

"What about your parents?" He asks. "Well, my mom..." She pauses thinking of the right thing to say. "She died 4 years ago in a car accident. And I never knew my dad." She pauses. Daichi felt bad, feeling sorry for the girl. He takes in a deep breath looking at her with glassy eyes. "W-woah, I'm sorry for your loss." He says looking down taking a deep breath. The thoughts in his mind raced. 'so she's been doing a lot all this time? What happened for it to come to this? So she takes care of everything?' his thoughts were immediately shut when she spoke again. "It's fine though, my brother is in Tokyo managing the family's company so my part is just taking care of my sister. She smiles at him trying to ease his worries. "So you've been whoring yourself in highschool?" Hanako stood at the door frame looking at them with dead eyes. Baffled by her sister. "Hanako, no this is Daichi-senpai, the Volleyball Captain of the team I manage with." Y/N explains herself to her sister. "Yeah yeah. Brother is gonna be mad when he hears this." She dismisses her. "That isn't a way you should talk to your older sister you know," Daichi stands up annoyed with Hanako's personality. "She works hard not just at school but for you too." He looks at her with mad eyes, one can tell he was really pissed at her. Hanako glares at her as y/n tried to defuel the fire. "What do you know?" Hanako dismisses him as she leaves going back up to her room. "I'm sorry about her, she's just stressed for her high school application." Y/N sighs holding her forehead. "She shouldn't talk to you like that." He says as he sits back down. "Even if you say she shouldn't. My sister is her age too but I've never been talked like that." She looks down. "She's been having it harder ever since mom died. And the fact that we don't have a dad for us. It's fine." She tries to comfort him, understanding his outburst. He feels a pang in his heart. You don't have to carry the burden by yourself. He'd want to say. Yet his mouth wouldn't open. He looks at his palms glancing at her. She looks back up at him. "Senpai, can we forget everything that happened earlier? I'm sorry for what I've done, it's childish of me I know. Please?" His heart shatters hearing the words coming out of her mouth. She was always suffering in silence yet no one cared to notice it. And the moment she did finally let it all blow, she feels bad for it. She didn't deserve this.

No wonder he saw her smoking that day. No wonder she always sat by Kiyoko's side as if she was nothing but a shadow. He saw her work hard for her academics, writing a school play for their class just for her to not be recognized yet she was fine with it. How did no one notice any of it. How did HE not notice any of it. He gulped deeply as he looks at the time on the clock on the wall. He gives her a broken smile, "i should get going, it's getting late and my siblings would freak out." He says knowing whatever he says would be dismissed. He pats her head as he leaves. Oh and y/n. I'll be here if you need someone." He says offering his cheeky grin. "Always."

[charlie-lec-stories]

Dirty Little Secret - Part 5.2: The whole truth // CL16

Pairing: Charles Leclerc / Original Female Character

Series Summary: Charles' wife went to The Other Side and came back, but her past did too.

Chapter Summary: Y/N finally finds what happened with Maud. Max has to risk everything for a friend and Charles does the one thing he never wanted to have to do again.

Series Warnings: Death, descriptions of CPR and a car crash, sexual comments and implied sexual acts, mentions of blood, mentions of suicide and depression.

Author’s Note: This is a special I decided to write inspired by Halloween and the Qatar GP, it's five parts long. It's the first time I write something for this page instead of editing thing I have written before, I hope you guys like it. Rate: +16 (descriptions of medical procedures).

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"En in dit laatste geval, zijn er de afgelopen twee jaar zes mensen vermist in het bosnd". Y/N heard Mikel Horton say on the news.

"Six people, that's crazy, Max". She told him and he just grunted.

"I don't understand why people think the woods are the problem". Maud added while applying her makeup. "I know it's a maze there, but if something happens that's literally the best place to hide, no one can find you there. If people are stupid enough to get lost, that's not on the woods".

"Well, I kind of agree with that". Y/N said, Max finally looked up from his phone. "I hid there the other day, to skip Math and that horrible test".

"You hid in the woods to skip that test?". Max asked incredulously. Maud just laughed out loud.

"Mate, my mom would literally kill me if I don't pass that test".

"She's gonna kill you for skipping anyways". And to that, Y/N had nothing to say. They heard a car park in front of the house.

"It must be him!". Maud said, excited. It was 7:55 PM. With Max and Y/N's help, Maud climbed out the window.

"Have fun". Y/N said and she smiled.

"I owe you guys!". She jumped down the remaining height and ran off to the car.

She felt chills with the anticipation of finally getting to go out with Connor. The warm Spring breeze moved her dress around and gave her hair a little messy touch that actually complimented her. She jumped a little when the car window rolled down and inside, she didn't find Connor. The guy in the car was a little older, maybe in his early twenties and he gave Maud the feeling that she should go back inside. His black hair covered his eyes a little, he kind of reminded her of the emo bands Max loved so much, but when he looked at her he didn't look that threatening. He told her that he was Connor’s cousin, Martin, and that Connor got out of practice late and asked him to pick her up and take her to Connor’s house. He smiled at her and she saw the happiness get to his eyes, blue like Connor's. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and when she pulled it out she saw her date had sent her a direct message on Facebook. "Did Martin pick you up yet? He's my cousin". She answered with a simple "yes" and got in the car with Martin. They talked for a few minutes, she told him about racing and he said that he knew nothing about that, but that he gladly hear all about it some other time they meet. She smiled at that, maybe Connor really liked her, he sent his cousin to pick her up and take her to his house after all, that must meant that he wanted her to meet his family at some point. Martin started telling her about his life in Amsterdam, but then Maud noticed that they were going in the wrong direction.

"This is not the way to Connor's house, you should have turned right, not left". He looked at her and, for a fraction of a second, Maud could see him frowning.

"I just need to do a 'quickie pit-stop'". Maud felt her heart skip a beat. 'Quickie pit-stop' was something that she told Connor, one of those times they talked about races. How did Martin know that term if he knew nothing about racing? She tried to unlock the door, but for some reason, the lock wouldn't lift.

"What are you doing?" Martin asked her in harsh tone.

"I want to get out". She started pulling at the lock, desperately, but it wouldn't budge.

"What? Why?". He grabbed one of her arms while still driving.

"Stop the car, I want to get out!". With as much force as she could, she loosened his grip on her arm and tried to pull out her phone. He tried to snatch it from her and the argument turned into a fight. She did what she could to keep her phone and he tried to drive while moving his arm around, looking for it. He stoped the car in front of the woods and she took the chance to try and break the window. Martin, not having to drive anymore, finally took her phone away and threw it to the backseat. Then, he tried to keep her still, but she was fighting him with everything she had.

"Just stop it!". He yelled at her and followed that with a smack to her left cheek. Understanding that things could only get worse, Maud did what she could to jump on top of him and scratched his face as much as she could. She just tried to move fast, not giving him time to respond to her attack. Martin, on the other hand, was surprised by her fighting back. On top of him, and still attacking him with one hand, she opened his door and threw herself out of the car, falling harshly to the dirt road. Instinctively, she ran to the woods, looking for a place to hide. She could hear Martin calling for her and running not too far behind, but that only made her run faster.

The woods were dark and the little moonlight that filtered through the trees made the flowers shine. She tried to remember the type of flowers she saw, to make sure that she'll remember her path back home. The warm breeze she loved earlier became a humid atmosphere that made her sweat even more and between that and the fear she felt, her whole body was shaking. She found something that looked like a small cave and hid there, waiting for Martin to go away. She waited for what felt like an eternity, thinking about why she had to say yes to this date and how she could be so stupid to fall for all of that. All she wanted was to get back home, to turn back time and never jump out of that window. But she couldn't, and now she felt the humid air of the woods hit her skin like a thousand knives.

The minutes passed by and she thought that she was safe to get out and run back to the town. She barely made it out of the cave when a pair of hands grabbed her and threw her to the ground. She looked up, finding Martin on top of her, a pocket knife on his right hand. He never said a word and she wanted to know why. Why do this to her? Why? But she never got to ask, a sharp pain paralyzing her instantly. Maud wanted to look down, to actually see what he did to her. Looking down made it real and she wanted to forget. So she went back home, back to Max and Y/N, to her parents, to school. She went back to that morning and her mom making breakfast, the smell of the butter hitting the pan and instantly melting filled her nose. She went back to school and how excited Y/N and her were that Max was coming back from his karting race in Spain. Then to that afternoon and all the planning they made for the fake sleepover, how her best friends promised to help her choose an outfit, without even thinking that it would be the last thing she ever wore. She remembered the last hug she gave her parents before getting out of the house. She was so deep into the memory that she never felt the second stab, or the third, she didn't feel anything, just her mother's arms tightly around her frame as she breathed in her perfume. Lastly, she went to one special memory, the day she met Max. She knew that he was the one the moment she saw him, but she was so scared to ruin their friendship. She looked at the flowers, shining in the dim moonlight, all orange, yellow and purple. Closing her eyes, she let Max's blue orbs be the last picture she brought up.

Martin felt like he couldn't stop, maybe he didn't want to, he didn't know, but he had already done it. He got up and looked at the kid one more time. The mess he made was terrible for the business, but the merchandising was useless dead, so he didn't care much about that. But it was a shame, she was prettier than most. Still, there were a lot of 14 years-olds naive enough to pick up. By the corner of his eye, he saw some movement, like a shadow, and before the predators could smell the blood he decided to leave. Those woods were a lot more terrifying that he expected and now he felt more like the pry. He saw the shadow again but this time, he didn't feel threatened by it, in fact, he felt like the shadow was glad of what he did. He looked back, discreetly, and saw the shadow cover the body of his victim. A sense of safety fueled his body and gave him the strength to run back to his car, he wasn't that deep into the woods anyways. He heard some rustling behind him and stopped in his tracks to watch the body be dragged into the small cave. Assured that the evidence of his crime was erased, he finished his run to the car. He never expected to encounter the supernatural, and for sure he never expected it to help him cover up a homicide, but he was glad that he did. Back at the car, he picked up the girl's phone from the backseat and texted her friends, letting them know that she was having the time of her life with Connor and hinting that she wanted it to never end. Around 10 PM he told them to go to sleep and they told him, or their friend actually, that they were going to bed and that she should call them when she was going back to the house so they could help her through the window. He sent a smiley face and after 5 minutes turned the phone off. He drove back to Amsterdam, broke the phone and threw it away. He expertly covered his tracks and started working on the next clueless girl he could find on Facebook.

The tears in her eyes made the adjustment to the darkness of the cave a lot harder and her shallow breaths weren't enough to let the oxygen into her lungs. There was this suffocating hurt inside her chest as she felt what Maud felt that spring night, over a decade ago. She hugged the jean jacket close to her chest wishing for it to be full of life, full of Maud. The silence around the cave was deafening, like she was unable to feel anything. But then, she felt the faint touch of hand on her shoulder. Not letting go of the jacket, Y/N turned around ready to face her destiny in the hands of the shadow, but instead, she found her little friend, still 14. She looked exactly as she remembered her, her bright blue eyes and shiny blond hair, the beautiful half smile that always adorned her face was still plastered on her features, like it never left. Y/N extended her hand, slowly, afraid that the smallest of touches could make her disappear. She noticed her hand was a lot smaller, her wedding ring baggy on her finger and it caught Maud's attention.

"Your wedding was so beautiful". Maud said in a whisper and Y/N felt herself shred more tears at the sound of her voice. She missed her voice so much. "I remember how we used to talk about getting married and our weddings when we were younger. I'm so happy that you got to live that. You deserved it".

"You deserved it too". Maud smiled at that. Y/N recognized her own voice a lot higher in pitch. She understood then, they were back to were they left off.

"Max looked great. I couldn't help but think about how good he would of looked at our own wedding". They shared a bittersweet giggle.

"He still loves you, so much". Y/N could see the pain in her friend's eyes.

"I know and I will always love him, but he needs to move on. He needs to be happy. You should have never came back here. You should've stopped looking for me long ago". That confused Y/N.

"What do you mean? You came to me after the crash, you asked us to come back". Maud shook her head quickly, frowning.

"I can see you, but I could never contact you out of the veil. It was her, the shadow, she was the one that lured you here". Maud looked around, making sure they were still alone. "She's... death. The Death, or, I guess, one of them. She feeds on us, the living, every time one of us dies. She lives in the woods and, at night, she gets people and eats them. Like she ate me".

"She's been trying to eat us, all this time". Maud nodded.

"I've heard her for years, complaining that you and Max never got out of the tent. She loves it when people give into her, she doesn't like to take you, she likes to break you. She likes to get healthy people and make them... I can't even say it. She says that it tastes better". Y/N shut her eyes tight, disgusted.

"But how did she make me see you like that? She was never able to do that before". Sha had never hallucinated before, not matter how hard the trip to the woods was.

"When you died, in Qatar, you crossed the veil. She saw that and you bonded, she bonds with everyone that crosses. That bond probably went back with you when Charles and the doctors brought you back". Y/N remembered her crash, and for the first time, she was able to remember the short time she was dead. She saw Charles, trying to bring her back, desperately doing CPR, begging her to stay with him. Then, in front of her, there was the shadow. It got closer and closer, until it touched her face. She felt like everything got colder and Charles' voice was further away. Looking down, she saw how she was flowing into the shadow. But when she thought she was gone for good, she barely heard someone yell "clear" and a burst of energy went though her. The next thing she remembered was waking up in the hospital, Charles by her side and Maud's rotten figure at the foot of her bed.

"She just wanted me to come back to the woods so she could take me. She knew I would bring Max too". Maud looked at her, sad.

"The only way for you to get rid of her is destroying her".

"We have to go to the camp, we need to tell Charles and Max to leave. She's gonna try and get them too". Y/N tried to get up, but Maud placed her hand on her shoulder again and stopped her movements.

"We can't". She saw the confusion that tinted her features and the realization hit her. "Oh no". Y/N just looked at her, impatient. "Y/N, love, you're almost dead. That's the only reason you can see me, you're at the veil again". Maud took Y/N to the entrance of the cave and showed her something outside. "That's you, holding onto the little life you have left. She hasn't took you yet, once she does, she'll bring your body here, to her collection. Like she did with me. For now, she can't take you. You haven't given up. Charles and Max have to find you and bring you back. But you have to destroy the shadow first, or she'll haunt you until she can take you".

Max and Charles ran to the cave as soon as they understood that Y/N was taken by the shadow. At the entrance of the cave, Charles faced a sight he saw before but he never wanted to see again: his wife dead. Max, who had took a bag from the camp before sprinting off, kneeled next to her and took her pulse. Sighing, he opened the bag and took out some needles. Charles looked at him puzzled.

"You have no idea how much illegal stuff you can buy on the internet if you have enough money". Max told him, sensing Charles' confusion. "Now I'm sure. The shadow, I know what it is".

"What is it?". Charles wasn't actually sure if he wanted to know the answer to his own question.

"It's a Reaper. A Death. I suspected it with the amount of people that went missing here in the last 15 years". The Dutchman moved Y/N's body to make her lay face up and with her arms and legs extended. He then turned around, towards Charles. "Listen. This needles have two cocktails. One to stop the heart, one to restart it. You are the best one doing CPR, Charles. You brought her back once. I need you to bring us back again".

"Us? Max, what the fuck do you thing you're doing?"

"Do you really think that the Reaper will let her go again so easily? Someone has to give her a hand, I'm not good at CPR, not as good as you. You can bring us back". Charles knew that arguing was pointless. "Start doing CPR to Y/N, I'll inject myself. Give me 90 seconds. She she'll be back by then, and you inject me the other other cocktail. There's a hand defibrillator on the bag. If I don't come back in two minutes, use it on me. I promise you, Charles, I'll bring her back to you". And with that, Max laid next to his best friend and stuck the needle in his arm, while Charles started CPR on his wife... again.

"She's back". Maud informed Y/N while they hid in a corner of the cave. They had spent a minute trying to think how to defeat the shadow.

"We have to attack it now. I've been dead for three and half minutes, I have to go back before seven or I'll have brain damage". Y/N told her. They had no plan and no weapons to attack this being that they didn't even know how to kill. But if Y/N had to go, she'd go swinging. They were about to jump on her when Max suddenly appeared next to them. He looked young again and for a second, everything felt fine, they were all together again.

"Maud". Max said, perplexed. She smiled at him, without thinking, they both jumped to each other, melting on the hug they waited so long for. "I love you. I have loved you my whole life".

"I know. I love you too and I always will". He squeezed her tight, but she knew they couldn't waste time. "Listen, the shadow is-"

"A Reaper". Max finished, proudly. "I figured it out".

"We have to destroy her or she'll never leave Y/N alone. But we don't know how". Max tried to explain everything quickly.

"I know. Before the trip I did a little research. You need to grab her so I can force my hand inside its chest and touch her heart, or something like that, it was an old book, it'd free the energy she ate and kill her.". Maud's eyes grew bigger at his explanation.

"Its core, you have to touch its core". She sad excitedly. "I know where it is, it's where my life went when I died".

"We don't have much time, Y/N's been dead for four and a half minutes".

The three of them ran to it, Y/N and Maud grabbed it by what seemed like its arms but when Max tried to make his hand go through the shadow, it hit her chest like it was a hard surface. The Reaper angrily pushed them away and jumped on top of Y/N, starting to eat her life. Maud and Max were desperate, he looked at the entrance of the cave and saw Charles doing CPR on Y/N's body, giving it his all. He couldn't fail Charles, he promised him to bring his wife back to him, he couldn't let him down. Maud understood immediately what she had to do.

"You're not fully dead, not yet. But I can go through her. I can destroy her". Maud turned Max's head around and quickly pecked his lips. "I love you. Please go back and live the life we both deserved, live it fully".

With that, Maud ran to the shadow and forced her hand through its back, getting to her core. The shadow pushed her off and Max ran to Y/N to keep her safe. He looked back at Maud, their eyes meeting for a brief moment, then she didn't simply forced her hand, she forced her whole being into the shadows core, both of the exploding in a bright white light. Max felt different, he felt like he wasn't caged anymore, he felt light. Picking Y/N up, he dragged them both to the outside. Charles was there, stopping CPR to inject Max. The blond felt the shot of adrenaline through his body and in what felt like a blink, his eyes opened and he was looking at the sky, back in his body and back his age. He saw Charles going back to CPR, Max sat up as fast as he could and went to grab the defibrillator, he knew that Y/N was weak after what the shadow did to her, she needed a hand coming back. Charles cut her shirt open. Max placed the pads of the machine on her chest and followed the instructions it said out loud. The machine said "clear" and they both moved away from Y/N. Her body went stiff and then relaxed, then the machine informed that there was pulse again.

They went back to the town and straight to the hospital to have both Y/N and Max checked out. When they were given the green light, they told the Chief of Police about the cave, that was a lot bigger when they went back. The power of illusion the of the shadow made people believe that it was a small cave when it was actually a bigger one. Thirty-six bodies were found, Maud included. Her family did a little service for her and Max and Y/N got to say good-bye again. Y/N went back to visit her parents and then the three of them went back to Monaco. On the plain, Charles and Y/N talked.

"I'm sorry I lied, the truth is I was so ashamed of what happened, felt so guilty that I thought you'll never love me if you knew". She sighed and looked at him, trying not to cry. "I understand if you want a divorce. I know that everything I did, the lying, the hiding, it was all wrong". Charles took her hand and brought it to his lips, giving it a soft kiss.

"Do you remember that night at the bar, where you told me a secret so I could tell you one of mine?". She smiled at the memory, of course she remembered. It was the first time he finally let go and kissed her like he meant it. He kissed her with the love she wanted him to give her.

"Yeah, I could never forget". Charles sent her one of his signature smiles.

"'Today I was rooting for you, and even though you DNFd, I still feel like a winner when you look at me'. That was the truest and more honest thing you've ever said to me, I know that. So believe me when I tell you this: I've been feeling like a winner since the first time I laid my eyes on you, 20 years ago, on that karting race". She finally let her tears fall and he kissed them all before they could reach her jaw.

They had a lot to work on, a lot to overcome, but just like they overcame this madness, they would fix this too. Because they shared a little secret:

They were winners together.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Okay! This was not my plan at all, I wanted to publish this TWO WEEKS AGO but shit happened and I couldn't. I'm really sorry for the cliff hanger.

So... the end! I cried my eyes out writing this one. I hope you guys liked this, I really enjoyed writing it. I hope you felt scared and happy and sad and had fun, that's the whole point of this.

I'll be active again, now that I think I will have more free time.

See you all on the next story!

[bcofl0ve]

omg i love your pa!reader x austin headcanons!!! do you have any for pa!reader x austin’s daughter hanging out at graceland or w the presleys??? 🤕🤕🤕

is this where i confess i had my friend plant this anon so i had an excuse to post this…🫣 dedicated to the twitter chat and our 48 hour long discussion about more or less just this. and also disclaimer-ish that i have nothing but love in my heart for the presleys hence why i kept this positive. no disrespect to any of them- e included.

- in this specific world your daughter is a rebound baby. austin showed up at your door while on a break from the bikeriders doing award campaigning and asked for another chance. you went back to ohio with him and got knocked up the first night there. blame the beard, it’s sexy.

- priscilla found out you were pregnant from baz. lisa found out from austin.

- consider there were complications and she had to be born quite a bit early. austin was at a press thing when it started, so baz is there because he came over with him in the car and didn’t have the heart to just drop austin off with how terrified he was.

- austin is blubbering and asks baz to call lisa because “i need- i need to talk to my mom and i can’t- she’s the closest thing i got.” austin is so hysterical that baz has to explain what’s going on to lisa before he passes the phone over.

- she floors it to get to la from san franciso, breaking traffic laws and all.

- the baby is named eleanor/ellie, a “compromise” on austin wanting to name your daughter elvis presley. lisa says “he would’ve loved you” so quiet she thinks you don’t hear her, but you do.

- when the whole entourage goes back to memphis and graceland for thanksgiving all three of you are invited. austin isn’t sure, and neither are you. not that you don’t appreciate their kindness.

- riley calls you and tells you lisa mentioned that you two might be wary so she wanted to assure you that they invited you because they wanted you there- and that you would absolutely not be overstepping.

- so you go, and it’s nice. really nice. they’re all obsessed with eleanor, who is equally obsessed with being passed around like a hot potato. she especially loves riley, who mentions that once you’re all back in los angeles she’s more than happy to take her off your hands for a night when you need a break.

- going to memphis for thanksgiving breaks any awkwardness you felt around the presleys or feeling like you were overstepping by accepting their desire to be in your lives. to the extent that on one particular call from australia your mother accuses you of talking to priscilla more than you do her. she’s not far off. blame it on the fact that she understands you in a way your own mother never will.

- you and austin and your daughter wind up in memphis almost every time the presleys do, and when eleanor is old enough to really throw fits she makes it very clear she would be perfectly content if you shipped her off with ‘aunt yisa and riee’ and never saw your daughter again.

- you’re there for christmas when she’s 6 and she asks about the meditation garden. you and austin decide she’s getting old enough to understand a little bit more, so you take her.

- “and and you and mommy met cuz of the movie ‘bout him, right?” she asks austin, twirling a piece of hair around her finger so tight you lean down and unfurl it before she cuts off her circulation.

- turns out maybe she wasn’t ready.

- you and austin are with riley in the basement while eleanor is with everyone else on the main floor.

- she stops while walking off trying to find you, looking at the photo of elvis on the wall by the stairs.

- she’s so little she doesn’t understand why she’s so sad looking at a picture of the dead guy you were just trying to explain to her about. but she understands that she’s suddenly really fucking sad and bursts into tears.

- mommy and daddy are nowhere to be found, she’s feeling some really big feelings she doesn’t understand and she’s absolutely hysterical when lisa comes to see what’s going on.

- lisa sees her crying, follows her gaze to the photo on the wall and looks back at your little girl and sees herself when elvis died.

- “oh baby, come here,” she says and sits down, eleanor climbing into her lap with a watery little “aunt yisa i want him to come back,” that just breaks her heart. “i know,”

- your mom senses are tingling so you drag austin upstairs and walk into *that*. he crouches down with a little “hey sweetie, what’s going on?” and you’re both mortified when she blurts out “daddy i don’t want elvis to be dead.”

- you’re still mortified as lisa gets her calmed down more than either of you can, telling her that it’s okay to be sad because sometimes she gets sad too, and so does riley even though she never met him “just like you sweetie,”

- you apologize when austin takes eleanor downstairs to distract her with ‘aunt riee’ but lisa brushes you off. “don’t be honey, i think we both needed that.”

- priscilla gets her a little diamond encrusted EP necklace that you swear off asking the price of. she wears it even as a teenager.