#the mere thought of hurting Mike snapped her out of it

[chloesimaginationthings]

FNAF game Vanessa is starting to control Glitchtrap,,

[talesofesther]

Moonstruck - Part 1

Eddie Munson x Reader

Series Summary: Eddie knew he was doomed the moment his eyes landed on you and his heart jumped in his chest. You, princess of Hawkins High, one of the most popular and beloved girls of the school, with perfect grades and perfect charisma; and the daughter of Hawkins chief of police.

Requested by anon: Could I request a Eddie Munson (or Billy Hargrove) x Hopper reader? You can really do anything you want with this, I just love seeing the x Hopper stories!!

A/N: The much-needed Eddie fluff we all deserve after the disaster that was vol 2, my heart hurts for him, it's been a while since I felt like this for someone, I love him so much and I found comfort in this story that I already love, and I hope you will as well. I understand that it will be difficult for some people to see themselves as Hopper's daughter, but know that I wrote this imagining that he adopted her when she was younger. And yeah maybe the popular/loser trope is overused already but I couldn't care less :P.

Masterlist

Eddie hated himself for it, how his gaze drifted back to her every time he wasn't talking with his friends; how he'd momentarily forget to chew on his lunch when she'd merely look his general way. He hated how beautiful she looked smiling with her friends all the way on the other side of the lunchroom; he hated how he had fallen for none other than the princess of Hawkins High.

"Eddie, are you listening?" Dustin snapped his fingers in front of Eddie.

He blinked, forcing his eyes to focus on the boy in front of him. The sounds of the mixed voices of students talking and laughing, sneakers scratching the ground, lunch trays hitting tables and faint singing of birds outside tuned back to Eddie's ears as the image of you became a distant blur when he averted his gaze.

"Yeah man, what's up?" Eddie popped another cashew into his mouth.

"I asked, what time is Hellfire tonight?" Dustin asked with big eyes, excited to battle the new monster they encountered in their last session. "You still haven't confirmed and I'm dying to kill that beast."

A smirk came to Eddie's lips, he furrowed his eyebrows pretending to think about it. "I'd say we meet at seven, I still have to stop by the library to pick up a chemistry book."

"You're studying?" Mike, who sat beside Dustin, chuckled at the thought of Eddie with his head buried in a book.

"Yeah, what of it, Wheeler?" Eddie jabbed back, leaning over the table and closer to Mike, making the boy shut his mouth promptly. "Mr. Anderson gave us a fucking assignment and I need to pass, just so I can shove my diploma on his face."

Eddie slumped back in his seat, the grin never leaving his face. "This is my year, guys." His smile faltered slightly when you came into his view, walking past his table and towards the exit; the afternoon sun making your hair and eyes shine. Eddie exhaled softly, he was such a loser. Deep down he knew you didn't even know his name, probably didn't even know he existed.

"… It's my year." He repeated to himself, looking away just before you walked out the door.

_____

The last bell rang indicating the end of classes for the day, students exited their classrooms in masses, chatting in the school corridors; some stopping by their lockers and others making a beeline for the parking lot.

Eddie did neither, he slung his worn backpack over his shoulder and walked through the less populated corridors towards the school's library. He passed by only a few other students, not missing the judgemental stares he received from some of them. He didn't bother meeting any of their gazes, amidst a crowd he had no problem in creating a commotion; but alone, he preferred to keep to himself. Deep down the title of being the school's freak was a heavy one to carry.

He opened the library doors, making them creak as they moved. An older woman looked up at him through her glasses, he gave her a nod with a tight-lipped smile. The library wasn't huge by any means, filled with a few rows of shelves loaded with mostly outdated books, with two big windows on the right wall to allow some natural light in and three round tables by the middle of the room for whoever felt like studying here.

The late afternoon sunlight barely peeking through the clouds cast an orange glow over the bookshelves, making dust particles fill the air as Eddie walked by.

His eyes scanned the paper labels taped to each shelf in search of chemistry books. Scrunching his nose in annoyance when he couldn't find anything.

"Excuse me?" A soft voice called Eddie's attention, making him turn his head only to be met with the person he'd been longingly watching throughout the year.

"It's Eddie, right?" You said his name with a small smile, taking half a step towards him. His mouth went dry at the same time his heart sped up.

"Um-" Eddie mentally kicked himself for forgetting how to form words, his brain still going haywire at the fact you knew his name. He settled for an overexcited nod.

"Could you maybe give me a hand in reaching a book? It's way up and I'll probably knock the whole shelf to the ground if I keep trying to reach it myself." You chuckled, mindlessly pointing behind you with your thumb.

Your soft laugh brought heat to Eddie's cheeks. He blushed, he fucking blushed and he felt like a thirteen-year-old boy for it; but the timid smile on his lips let it show he was loving every second. "Yeah, of course."

You walked back to the row of shelves you came from, Eddie trailing right behind you. "It's that blue one right over there." You pointed up to a thick blue and white book that collected dust high up on the wooden shelf.

Eddie glanced up, dropping his backpack and standing up on his tippy toes. The tip of his fingers closed around the book and urged it to fall forward on his hand. With said book in hand, he passed his palm on the hardcover to reveal the title; it read 'Chemistry, second year and up'.

He handed the book to you, not caring that this was the same one he came here for.

"Thank you so much." You beamed, storing the book inside your backpack with a relieved smile.

Eddie picked up his own backpack, gripping tightly into the strap once it rested over his shoulder, burying his other hand in the pocket of his pants to stop it from fidgeting. "It's no problem."

"What were you looking for?" Pushing some strands of hair behind your ear, your gaze never left him. Up close, he was quite handsome. His big and gentle brown eyes captured your attention, making you not want to look away. Your friends spoke of him as if he was this freak, someone not worth sparing a glance towards and deserving of mean insults. You never really agreed.

"It was uh- just a literature book," Eddie said the first thing he thought of, averting his gaze for a second to stop the twirling in his stomach. Were you really making conversation with him?

"Already got it, nothing exciting." He chuckled nervously and patted the strap of his backpack.

"Nice, let's go then." You smirked at the flush on his cheeks, walking around him and turning backward when he didn't move.

"Go… ?" He furrowed his eyebrows in the most adorable lost look you'd ever seen, making you full-on smile.

"Leave. My dad is waiting outside and I suppose you're going home as well?"

Eddie's mouth opened and closed once as he thought of what to answer. Did you really want to be seen walking around with him? Even if most students were gone by now, heads would be turned if people saw you two walking side by side.

You raised an eyebrow at him, making Eddie slightly shake his head. "S-sure, I'm leaving too."

Walking the school hallways with less than a meter between him and you was something Eddie never thought would happen. The school was mostly empty by now, only a few scattered first years remained.

Eddie kept a safe distance from you as you walked, being extra careful to not overstep any boundaries and mess up the last little moments he had with you; which he would sure be replaying in his mind like a fool later on.

You kept rambling on to him about the chemistry assignment, the same one he would have to make. The hand gripping his backpack strap tightened on its hold, a faint smile was now permanent on his lips. He held on to every word you were saying, treasuring the way your voice sounded directed at him deep inside his heart. Sure this would be a one-off event yet feeling elated nonetheless.

Until the main school doors opened, and the real world greeted him with a slap on the face. His skin became a few shades paler when his eyes landed on the brown car parked further in the parking lot. The words 'Chief of Police' stood out proudly against the car's paint.

Princess of Hawkins High, one of the most popular and beloved girls of the school, with perfect grades and perfect charisma; and the daughter of Hawkins chief of police. The fact had been blurred inside Eddie's mind with your presence beside him. Yet now he could only imagine how much Hopper was wishing to kill him only for standing close to you.

"Thank you again for the book." You turned to Eddie, reaching a hand out to touch his forearm.

He shuddered under your unexpected touch, feeling goosebumps already crawling on his skin. He gulped, brown eyes looking at you with something akin to yearning.

"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" You took a few steps backward and away from him, giving him a small wave and smile of goodbye.

"I- yeah, see you, sure," Eddie called out, his voice losing volume by the end; being able to see Hopper boring his eyes into his soul from inside the car. He risked a last glance at your back, feeling his heart clenching inside his chest for having a taste of something that could never be his.

Eddie walked about four steps before stopping abruptly. Did you just say 'see you tomorrow'?

You plopped into the passenger seat, greeting your dad warmly with a kiss on his cheek.

Hopper took your backpack from you and threw it onto the backseat, his gaze moving to the retreating figure of Eddie. "Are you friends with that guy?"

You glanced in the same way, pursing your lips in thought before answering. "I guess so, why?"

"Hmm, looks like trouble," Hopper grumbled.

You turned to him with a glare, you knew it was just his protective side but it still didn't make it fair. "Dad, stop judging people by their looks, he's actually really sweet."

"Just be careful is all I'm saying." Hopper raised a hand in surrender, shooting you a soft glance as he started the car.

Your eyes drifted back towards the school grounds, now empty, you kept your gaze until the car turned the street and the building disappeared. Your mind replayed the image of his kind brown eyes and alluring smile. Really sweet indeed.

⋆* ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

A/N: I mean it when I say that Eddie has the kindest, most beautiful brown eyes, okay? Anyway, hope you liked the first part. <3

Read Part 2 here

Feedback and reblogs are very much appreciated. <3

Eddie’s taglist: @milkiane @alicefallsintotherabbithole

Let me know if you wanna be added to his taglist.

[soullessmocha]

i think; therefore i am || part one

{ fem! witch reader x poly!the lost boys }

|| part two ||

part rating: teen

word count: 20716 (i am so sorry)

part summary: a nomadic witch running from her dark past (reader) finds her place after travelling the states on the shores of santa carla. in a way to make money she sets up a booth on the bustling boardwalk where she gives a few readings to a couple interesting characters for some loose change. this night she discovers she isn’t the only supernatural being.

warnings: mature language, mind manipulation, violence, use of tobacco, a cute familiar, nightmares, allusions to being burned alive, witch trials, hints to major character death, visions, and the lost boys being violent (mainly david.), this has not been proof read it has merely been skimmed.

“I promise I will be good. Please mother!” You yell towards the cloaked woman who looked at you with a disdained look on features. Features you once found comforting and like home turned on you in an instant. Those soft features are now rigid and gaunt from stress and aging, but the worse link to all the features was the cobalt blue eyes. Eyes that reflected the moon so sharply that it was almost mirrored. Eyes so sharp and focused as your mother shook her in disappointment, “No, you won’t,” her words were forthright showing no emotion behind it. How did someone who you called your mother betray you and not even take a second glance? “No, no! Wait! No, I promise!” You start to trash against the rope that is wrapped around your body, confining you to a large wooden pole. Stretching your body to its breaking point as the only color you could see was red. Then it was hot, burning, seething your skin away as one of your sisters lowers a torch at your feet. Your eyes connect to the moon as your throat lashes a blood-curdling scream into the starry clear night.

Gasping for the air you shoot up from your makeshift bed, sweating coating your skin in a glossy layer. Your lungs rapidly gasp for air as they burn from your fears that have your heart racing so much it punches your ribs. A shift in the bed causes your attention to shift. Your cat, a scruffy black devon rex steals his way up the side of your bed. His head tilting before making his own way into your lap a loud purr radiating off of your pet in his best attempts to calm you. You lift a shaky hand to plop it down on the cat’s back who tenses for a quick second before stretching his paws to your chest, reminding you to breathe. A slight smile comes to your lips, “I’m fine, Finn. Really,” you sigh and rub away the hair sticking on your face from the layer of sweat on your skin. “It’s always the same nightmare.” You admit to your furry friend who makes his way to the tail end of your bed. He stretched and tipped his nose upwards as his spine curled sniffing the air as if he was trying to investigate the surrounding area. With your heart rate slowed just the slightest you pull yourself from your bed and shuffle through the hallway that leads from your bedroom to your living space in the trailer you parked on the cliff overlooking the beach. The sun was setting, casting an orange hue in your trailer, the light catchers reflecting rainbows as they twirl mindlessly from the free breeze coming through the cracked window. Peace. That was a safe haven. However, with the sun setting you realize you have taken a nap when least expected. You must’ve needed it after the first night of working on the boardwalk. Who knew reading tarot, runes, and palms to tourists would take so much energy out of you.

A sigh escapes your lips as you attempt to step around Finn to get to your closet where you pick a black outfit with an ornate shawl to help you stand out. 

“Be good and protect the home,” you kneel down to scratch Finn under his chin after you have gathered your last-minute things and open the trailer door to have it close behind you. A quiet meow echoes from behind the door and your smirk at the small goodbye from your pet. It didn’t take you long to start up your old truck with a few hits and a couple pumps for the clutch to make your way down to the boardwalk parking lot.

The night was the same as before but this time a couple of well rounded security guards started to come up to the booth later on into the evening. The wind was a bit harsher and the waves crashed in rhythm of the music that was being played on the tiny radio next to your ankle. The boardwalk was filled with all strains of life. There were well rounded individuals taking their picture perfect families for a night out to teens dressed in all black with every inch of their face covered in piercing and colored hair. You preferred that crowd. Then again it didn’t help to get money from those picture perfect families who you only give half ass readings for. When the heavy boots of the literal rounded security officers approached your booth were you snapped from your thoughts. Looking them up and down you can instantly get a feel of their energy, they were hostile and annoyed by the night already. Yet the night was still so young. 

“Excuse me, do you have a permit to be setting up your booth here?” The officer with the mustache questions shifting his weight onto one leg jutting out his hip.

“Yeah, you need a vendor permit to even set up here on the boardwalk,” the skinnier one of the couple started before picking at the cloth of your booth, studying it with a devious smirk. “You tell fortunes? Tell me how we are going to kick you off the boardwalk.” The two chuckle at the joke yet in a calm manner you stand with your hands on the ornate cloth. 

“I do tell fortunes, but not those who tend hurt others because they have a flimsy gold badge on their breast,” you start and give a rather deceiving smile as you tilt your head. “I do not have a vendor’s permit to be out here. However, I am sure you know how hard it is to make a living during these times. Surely you can give me a pass.” You suggest and the fatter one with the mustache snickered at your suggestion. The two looked at one another but as they looked back at you they were met with purple hazed eyes and fingers that were pointed at them which radiated purple energy. “Now, I hope you will listen to me,” you begin this time your voice was an octave deeper as you displayed your abilities to them. It wasn’t hard to sink into their minds and be able to control such a feeble psyche, the purple illuminating from their eyes indicated you were in. You didn’t even need to chant a hex to even get them to repeat after you, “I will not approach this vendor anymore.” They repeat and a smirk quivers on the corner of your lips, “I will not terrorize anyone who I deem… different. I will walk away now and forget I ever saw this vendor.” Once they repeat you flick your wrist the two men turn on their heels and quite literally march away to whatever other duties they have. You grumble to yourself as you sit back down pushing the skirt under you so you can sit properly on the chair. 

As you adjust your trinkets and cards on the table you can hear from afar an excited young boy's voice, “Mike! Look! It’s a fortune teller. We have to do this!”

“No Sammy, we said we would go to the concert and meet mom back at the entrance. I am not stopping for some phoney fortune teller who just reads some useless cards to tell me literally nothing.” the older voice replies back with an annoyed tone and quite ready to walk in the opposite direction. You don’t look up to give the hint you are listening, in fact you lean back in your chair starting to shuffle your tarot deck because indeed you know the two will end up before you.

“Well too bad. I came here to have fun and you’re ruining it. Live a little Mike. You’ve been grumpy all day,” pouts the young blonde, “plus I didn’t say you needed to get a reading done. i got my own money.”

“How did you get money?”

“I stole it from your wallet!” The younger one laughs and charges his way over to the booth and you make eye contact with him, his grin was wide and full of innocence. Blue eyes that were striking amongst the moonlight, they glimmered with hope and curiosity. “Dammit Sam!” the older one whom you assumed to be the brother charges behind. “Hi, how can I help you today?” You asks in your kindest customer service voice. The young boy holds out the ten dollar bill, “I would like a reading if I could have one please. Mom always told us about her tarot card readings, but I would like one for myself.” He grins to the side as he looks over his shoulder to his older brother, a brunette with a strong build who seems to already be annoyed just standing next to this booth and his brother. “Why of course, thank you! Take a seat please.” You request and glance over to the older brother, “If you’d like a seat by all means sit.” He didn’t respond, only took a glance at you before looking away. He was skeptical and nervous. Of course he was. “Normally I don’t do readings for such young gentlemen like you, but I like you already, so I will do a general reading. Now before I get started, may I have your name?”

“Sam,”

“Nice to meet you Sam, I am Y/N. Thank you once again,” you grant a thanks and start to shuffle your cards. Normally with normal individuals the cards don’t have this much energy. You give a breathy chuckle and shuffle fiercely before a card flies from the deck. You plant it face down before looking young Sam in the eyes giving him a playful smirk at his eagerness. “You two have a lot of energy for you, that’s a good thing.” You compliment but the older brother just snickers and crosses his arm before another card flies out. It didn’t take long for the third to fly out. You align the cards, “Alright let’s see here, this card represents you. The page of cups,” You smile gingerly at the card before flipping it to show the boy. “You are filled with wonder, you love your family and have a curious nature to you.” You can see the boy is looking at the card with curious eyes. Take in the fancy man holding a golden chalice balance on one foot and his heel. He is dressed in quite jarring clothes like the boy sitting in front of you. “You also love to express yourself in ways that are creative, like your fashion, or music.” You not before hovering your hand over the next card. “This card represents the path you are on," you flip over the card to see the emperor standing sitting on his throne high and mighty, “the emperor. Now this card is quite powerful, one of my favorites. You are on the path of seeking how to defend yourself and those you love. How to become more powerful in the sense of trying to find structure and to grow in your sense of logic and practicality.” At this point you didn’t even notice the older brother has now sat down. Full attention on you and the cards. You give him a wink before turning your attention back to his younger brother, “It seems like you’re trying to find a father figure role within yourself or by others.” The boys' features soften from a grin to a saddened look, that must’ve struck a bit too close for home. “Let’s continue, shall we?” You ask and he slowly nods glancing over at his brother. You carefully flip over the last card, “This card represents your potential,” your eyes glance down at the justice card. The figure holds a sword and a scale in each hand, sitting on a chair with authority as a scarlet drape is behind them. “Justice. You know what it’s like to be wronged, treated unfairly, you will have to face the truth soon. Whatever that truth is, you have to see everything from each point of view. Going back to the Emperor, you need to be logical and work on that skill in order to find your Justice. You will generate peace and harmony to those who surround you.”

“Wow, thank you, that’s- that’s awesome,” Sam thanks you leaning back in the folded chair carefully eyeing his brother who was staring diligently at the card, studying them and seeming astounded. You lean forward and tap the table under his nose. “I can do a reading for you as well, free of charge. I like your little brother. However, I would like your name.”

The blue eyed brunette looked up at you with wide eyes, filled with wonder and trying to read your own eyes. “Michael. My name is Michael,” you smile at his name and gather the cards back into your pile. You shuffle in the bustling white noise of the  busy boardwalk. A card flies out and lands face down on the table. You shuffle until two more fall from the pile. “Alright Michael, let’s see who the cards say you are.” Your black painted fingers flip over the first card to be greeted by the figure of archangel Michael blowing on his trumpet as the words read ‘judgement’. “You are going through a new journey, a new beginning. You are starting anew. You also find comfort in sharing your struggles with others who relate and you want freedom from your own troubles. Then we have,” You start flipping over the second card, “the ten of swords.” You whisper and you glance up to see his worried eyes look at the pictured body stabbed by ten swords pinned to the ground. “Don’t overthink it.” You whisper ducking your head to make eye contact with him, trying your nest to make him feel safe. “You're going to be betrayed by someone you begin to trust. The pain inflicted runs deep not because what they have done is hurtful, but because you know deep down that this marks the end of your relationship as you know it with them. You will grieve the loss of the relationship. This card is about letting go and accepting your circumstances.” There was silence between the two, you could hear a pin drop if one was to.

“It’s a warning,” you say and clear your throat to ease the tension a bit. You flip over the last card to show the lovers card. “The lovers,” you smile longingly at the card, “you will be ready to establish your own beliefs and follow your heart in the end. You will find love for yourself but love will also find you. In every choice you make on your path, there is an equal amount of advantage and disadvantage, opportunity and challenge, positive and negative. I am excited for you to find your other half.” A warm smile comes to your lips but there was wary to the middle card, that card showed the journey he was going to begin was going to something dark. The clapping of a hand on someone’s back causes you to jump out of your trance. “Well gentlemen, I hope you got the answers you two were looking for. Thank you for stopping by, if you have any more questions or any more services, I will be here.”

The two respond with weary smiles and slowly get up from their chairs with soft thanks as they continue to make their way down the boardwalk. A twinkle of a smile was left on your lips as you watched them walk away. 

Hours later you find yourself with a tip jar that is half full and a bag that contained crumpled bills that were stale and some damp. A sigh leaves your lips as you clean up the station, cleaning up the scrying orb in its case and the tip jar in the bag full of bills. Just before you started to take down your sign you saw four shadows cascade from behind you. A low hum left your lips and you turned on your heel to see four men standing in front of you. Quite young looking, dressed in all black, a couple more than the others. A small smile peaked your lips. “How can I help you gentlemen?” You ask the stoic figures as they stare down at you, purely interested and emitting a strange energy. They’re energy was really strange but you couldn’t put your finger on it. 

“Well we were seeing if it wasn’t too late to get a couple of readings,” the one with the spiked platinum blonde hair responds. His head tilts as he looks into your eyes. For a second you had to look away from the piercing blue eyes because you felt your head go dizzy. 

“Of course, what are you looking for? I do tarot, palms, and even runes.” You inform as your make your way to your side of the booth. Your folding chair creaking as you sit on it, your posture upright and alert. 

“Well, Marko? Which one do you want? You begged to come over here before they closed.” The platinum spoke up again, you tried to get a read on him, by his upright body language he seemed to be the leader of the little posse. Though you were new to the boardwalk you never really saw them around. How did you miss them? Granted you were new to town, but only by a few weeks.

“I’ll go with a palm reading if it means the cutie gets to hold my hand.” The one name Marko pipes with a chuckle from his peers. You can only roll your eyes playfully to play along, “Well sit down, palm readings start at $10 for that comment.” You tease the curly haired man who skipped to your hair and held out his hands with a snicker following. The fingerless gloves covered most of his palm so you nod your head towards his hands, “May I?” You ask before he responds with a nod and cheesy grin. As you started to slip off his hands your eyes peered over his head to watch his friends behind him. You take in their appearances. The platinum blonde was starting to light a cigarette. The other wild haired blonde was walking forward to admire the trinkets on your booth. While the tall brunette was giving you a cold stare as he watched you take off his friends gloves. Each of them donned a single earring and a jacket that was different to their individuality. You clear your throat and look at Marko, “It is nice to meet you Marko. I hope you find this reading useful and beneficial to you for the future.” You start as you take his cool hand into yours. Overlapping his hand with yours you didn’t mind the cold hands, or think much about it, the night was quite chilly.

You roll your shoulders back and roll your neck to relax. As you did a shock was sent through your nerves and you gasped sharply. As did Marko who received the same energy suddenly, causing a pained groan to leave his throat. The energy surges up to your neck causing you to close your eyes tightly. A vision. Pain. Darkness. Betrayal. You can see through Marko’s eyes. He was in pain and bleeding everywhere. There were inhuman screeches all around him; his friends jolted around in him in disturbance and rage. Then you realized they were hanging upside down. Their faces looked like nothing that they did now. Features were contorted, eyes were bloodshot and yellow, and teeth sharp. Just as your vision ended you felt a stabbing in your chest just like the object in Marko’s chest. A pained yell left your throat. There was an echo of Marko yelling out in pain and incoherent yells of the boys behind him. 

You shot Marko away from you with shadows of purple energy following him. The chair shot about six feet from under him and Marko rolled to a stop with the wild blonde following after him in concern. 

“What the hell was that?!” The leader booms rushing to your table, his hands grasping the table with a crushing grip. You could hear it crack as you try to catch your breath. The pain was unbearable. “What the hell are you?!” He interrogates again with a sharp tone. This time he threw the table to the side effortlessly. You gasp and stand in response. Your hands fly up in a contorted shape with purple shadows lingers around your fingers. The leader was stuck in his palace, grunting and struggling against your will. Pants leave your parted lips, brows furrowed and pained as you hold back the leader. Exposing your power.

The three other men kneel around their curly haired friend. Your eyes flicker to them, “There is one thing I can’t stand about vampires,” you croak, holding the leader in his place bringing him as you walk closer to the boys. The look on their faces when you announce your knowledge of their supernatural being, now that look was priceless. “They don’t know how to control their temper.” You choke out as purple energy hazed over your eyes. Their eyes widened at the energy around their leader and the shine from your eyes. All of them scramble to their feet. 

The brunette was first to act and you were faster to stop him mid run. He was now frozen under your spell. Energy outlining his shape as he looked around frantically. You wipe your hand causing him to fly straight through the railing and far out into the ocean with a purple orb pushing straight into his chest. Then with another flick of your wrist the leader went flying right after the brunette with another orb following to make him go further. Your purple eyes scanned towards the two blondes who looked hostile yet intimidated. Before they could even take a step you waved your arms and contorted hands in front of you, to each of their bodies, with a cross of your arms the two slam into one another with a crushing thud. You push the energy out with your arms and hands and the two blondes went flying far out into the ocean following their peers with purple orbs pushing into their chests. 

You were left there on the dark boardwalk, cascaded under orange street lamps, panting with purple shadows flowing around your eyes and glowing in your eyes. Your adrenaline pumping through your veins caused your breathing to become ragged. It took a beat for your breathing to return to normal. You slid your stance back to normal to show your calming nature. Your hands return to your sides no longer casting purple energy and your eyes are their normal color but still widened in fear. Behind you was your booth table broken in half, your items thrown all about wildly from the wind, and your scrying orb shattered near your feet. Dollar bills flying wildly wherever the ocean breeze takes them. 

Taking one last deep breath you tilt your head out towards the crashing onyx waves. The humid breeze thrashing your clothing all about. You press a clammy palm to your forehead as you curse quietly to yourself, “Shit.”

a/n: this is the first part of a series that i have been writing on and off for the past month. i’ve always wanted to incorporate a witch into the lost boys because it would be so interesting! this will be sort of slow burn poly!the lost boys kind of vibe. please let me know if you’d like more of this series. thank you so much for reading!! 🖤🖤🖤

[canary-warrior]

Conversations and Lifelines

A convo between Beth and Rick post 2x05. Enjoy!

Rick sat silently in his car, gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. He couldn’t get what happened last night out of his head. Eclipso got the better of them, of him, so easily- all the villain did was show him Grundy and Rick himself. He had no idea what Eclipso showed Beth and Yolanda, but at least Rick knew that neither one of them had to worry about being a monster.

A monster.

Rick thought that Grundy was the real monster, along with the rest of the ISA, but mostly Grundy. But Rick had let him go once he saw that Grundy was scared and was only being controlled by the ISA. What if he didn’t let him go? Rick spent months wanting to kill Grundy, but when he got the chance to, he didn’t.

That didn’t make him a monster right?

But while he was trying to cling onto the fact that he spared the beast, Rick couldn’t forget the anger he felt, the violent tendencies, all the hate. He wanted to kill Grundy. He knew he was capable of taking a life. Did that make him a monster? Like Icicle and Brainwave? Was Rick the real monster hiding in plain sight this entire time?

Maybe he had everyone he cared about fooled. He knew that Beth, Yolanda, Courtney, Mike, Pat, and Barbara all thought he was a hero. Rick would protect each of them in a heartbeat with everything he had, but what happens if something in him just… snaps? What if he becomes the monster he feared? What if he hurt one of them, or worse, just because he could?

Was Eclipso right? Was Rick a monster?

Ring ring ring

Rick jumped at the ringtone and vibration of his cell phone, which sat on the passenger seat. He saw Beth’s smiling face on the screen before he saw her name, and clicked the green button.

“Hey, Beth,” he greeted. 

“Hey, Rick,” Beth’s voice was enough to calm some of his nerves. “I just wanted to check in and see how you were feeling after last night?”

“Oh, I’m fine, don’t worry,” Rick tried to assure her.

“Is that why there’s currently two broken lockers at school?” Beth said, not unkindly. “You can talk to me, you know.”

Rick took a breath and hoped that Beth’s opinion of him wouldn’t change. He can handle teachers and strangers looking at him like he’s trouble, like he’s going to do something bad, no problem. If Beth looked at him with even a fraction of that, Rick didn’t know what he would do with himself. 

“Am I a monster?”

A pause. “Rick, what?”

“Do you think I’m a monster?” Rick repeated. His heart boomed loudly in his chest and he tried to do those breathing exercises Barbara told him about to calm himself. He didn’t have to be afraid, he was in his car on the phone. He was nowhere near Beth, he couldn’t hurt her. 

“Rick, you are not a monster. You are a really good person,” Beth said passionately. 

“You heard me talk about wanting to kill Grundy for months, Beth, a good person doesn’t do that,” Rick tried to convince her. Or was he trying to convince himself? He didn’t even know anymore.

“Do you know what I see when I look at you?” Beth asked gently, her voice sweeter than honey. “I see the person who would do anything to protect his friends. I see the person who threatens the bullies to leave Yolanda alone, and the person who helps Mike with his science homework. I see the guy who helps Pat fix his car, who offered to help Barbara fix their kitchen, and who helped Courtney deal with her heartache when Cameron moved for the spring semester.”

“Oh,” Rick said quietly. “You didn’t mention yourself…” Did Beth see him as a monster? Did she only merely tolerate him for the JSA’s sake?

“Well, when I look at you, I see the guy who walks me home when it’s late. I see the guy who tried to make me feel better about my parents getting a divorce, who always supports me and my ideas. I see the best friend I’ve ever had,” Beth listed out. “Does that sound like a monster to you?”

Rick let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Whatever cold feeling that had grabbed ahold of him melted as Beth spoke. “No, it doesn’t.”

“Look, whatever Eclipso made you see or hear, he was wrong. You’re not a monster, you’re a hero. Your soul is good and that’s why he wanted to fill you with doubt, okay?”

“Okay… thank you Beth,” Rick said sincerely. He didn’t know what he would do without her. “Oh, and you’re my best friend, too.” He could practically see Beth’s smile.

“I’ll see you later, okay Rick?”

“Okay, see ya.” Rick couldn’t bring himself to click the red button to end the call, it was almost like he didn’t want to let go, so he was grateful that Beth ended it from her end. Beth was his lifeline, he realized. She was his lifeline and his best friend and something more, something he couldn’t quite figure out yet.

If Beth Chapel could call him her best friend, then Rick knew he wasn’t a monster- because Beth was the best person he knew and she would never be friends with a monster.

[nerdynuala]

hc/ oneshot of levi coaching hanji bc they were about to fight w the mp bc someone was making fun of them?

First off, I'm so so sorry anon I really took my sweet time with this one.

The thing is I don't usually write anything beside very random headcanons when inspiration hits lol

I've been debating whether to try this or redirect you to a fanfic writer's blog since I'm not confident about my writing and my English is kinda rubbish imo.

But yeah, in the end I gave it a try. Also, sorry Anon but I'm not sure if I got exactly what you were asking for, and I went full MP huge fight mode. And it's kinda turned into vets stuff. I still suggest you ask a writer to do this, there's many cool blogs out there who can do a much better job in half the time lol

Anyway, if you wanna read my poor attempt at writing, here it is.

Warning: just some swearing, she/her pronouns for Hange

"Look, if it isn't the crazy bitch from the Survey Corps" a man with a raspy voice barked.

Hange dreaded those meetings with the MPs, no one in the Survey Corps could stand them, to be honest, but still, they had to put up the façade and feign some civil behaviour for the sake of the Scouts and the funding. Hange was well aware she had trouble controlling her temper most of the times, and experience taught her that she couldn't stand the Military Police talking badly about her comrades.

She knew that Levi and herself together managed to make a few scenes before, and Erwin particularly stressed it every time before one of these meetings. "And please, please I beg all of you to refrain from making scenes or even talking back to anyone. We're there to make a good impression, we need funds and fo heaven's sake the last thing we need is for them to have an excuse to think even less of us and undermine our funds" he said every time, with a pointed look directed at Levi and Hange.

She turned and stared right at the Military Police man who was talking about her. She smiled and waved, "Yes, that would be me, it's a pleasure to meet you!".

Levi snorted at the facial expression the idiot made. He hoped that Hange brushing him off like that would settle it, but he had been to enough meetings to know it wasn't over at all.

"She probably didn't score high enough to get into the good Corps. That's what they do isn't it?" the man nudged a colleague in the chest, gesturing towards Hange.

"Aye, scoring shit and then ending up in some titan's mouth. They're replaceable anyway" the pug-faced man joined the teasing.

Levi could sense Hange tense next to him. He knew what she felt, he loathed hearing comments about his comrades just as much as she did.

She laughed it off, though. "Maan I would love to watch the insides of a Titan! What do we have to lose? Another cadet will score shit and they can take my place. Unless some of you feel the thrill of bravery once in your life and decide to join" she shrugged. "Who knows".

Levi knew this could only get worse. He tugged her sleeve. "Hange, come, let's join Mike and Erwin".

"My, my, if it isn't humanity strongest!"

"The underground scum you mean"

"No, no, he's a hero now, isn't he? Should've been thrown to prison and was rescued by Smith like a fucking stray dog"

Both men laughed, while others were gathering around.

"Shut the fuck up all of you!" Levi admitted to himself he would have snapped just like that, but Hange had anticipated him. His eyes went slightly wide for a moment, but then his lips briefly curled up in a small smirk upon seeing the fervor in Hange's brown orbs.

He would have loved to join her and teach a lesson to those morons, sure, but they promised Erwin.

He tugged again at her sleeve. "Oi, it's not worth our time, let's go".

The MPs laughed. "Only thing that's worth the time or your sorts is getting minced up by some stinky titan's mouth".

Hange tensed and she opened her mouth to strike back, but Levi gently made her turn to face him.

"Let's not get into trouble", he said, staring directly in her eyes.

"But Levi you should-"

"Yeah I want to break their fucking noses as much as you do. But we promised Erwin" he tugged once more.

The MPs laughed again, louder this time.

"Erwin Fucking Smith keeping his lapdogs tamed!" roared the pug-faced one.

"No wonder he needs to tame them" laughed another one with an annoying high-pitched voice, "look at the kind of lapdogs he got himself! One's a nutcase eager to step into a Titan's mouth, the other one is a pint-sized thug fetched straight from the filthy undergound" they all laughed. "I think we're missing one..." he feigned thinking hard, with a hand on his chin.

"What did you expect from the Survey Corps and Fucking Smith? That's the best he could get, to be fair" a black-haired man joined them.

"Not that he particularly cares..." he added with an unpleasant smirk "these are just chunks of meat he is more than willing to feed to titans, anyway".

That was it. That was just what drove Hange over the top and Levi knew it. He could feel her clenching her fist under his hand, he felt her muscles tremble. He looked at her, she was clenching her jaw, a fiery light in her eyes, cheeks slightly flushed. She briefly looked at him, and he didn't need words of any sorts. He let go of her arm and nodded.

Hange launched herself at the black-haired man and punched him on the jaw.

Everyone was shocked.

"Do you idiots have anything else to say?" She challenged them. "You can talk shit about me all you want, I don't give a damn, but show some respect to my comrades, people willing to DIE for your fat asses"

Levi watched her. She was scary, definitely scary when angry. He briefly smirked to himself, she had used one of the moves he taught her while sparring.

She suddenly grabbed the collar of the pug-faced man. She lifted her fist and the man flinched.

Levi approached her but he just glared at the MPs. "I won't restrain her, you called it".

He turned towards Hange. "If you punch him in the nose like I thaught you, you'll knock him out and fuck him up, but not enough to kill him".

"I know" she growled, but she clearly was trying to control her impulse to strike him.

The man had the courage to smirk. "Did Smith manage to tame the thug but not this nutcase of a weirdo?".

Hange hit him on front of his nose with the heel of her palm. He passed out instantly.

It was chaos, the other two men launched themselves against Hange. Levi announced "I've got your back, Hange" and the fight started getting bad. Levi's eyes were checking Hange all the time, he knew she could handle it but he resolved he would avoid risking her getting hurt.

Erwin, across the enourmous room, paled. He heard shouting and suddenly a group of people were hitting each other. Levi and Hange had been gone for a while, and he had a gut feeling they were right in the middle of it.

He was speaking to an important old man who may just want to fund the Corps if he worked him correctly, he couldn't leave him. Not now. Erwin subtly excused himself and fetched Mike, without getting more than two steps away from the man.

"Stop them" he whispered close to his ear.

Mike's eyes travelled to the corner of the room and took notice of the fight. He didn't see Hange and Levi since there were a lot of people gathered around, but he didn't need to see them to know they were there.

He stared at Erwin. "The two of them?" he whispered back, "You think I can stop the two of them? Are you nuts?".

"Just do something, please. I can't leave this one, he's going to fund us with some good amount of money" he clapped Mike's shoulder.

Mike sighed. "Fine" he said, murmuring something along the lines of "wish me luck" while he made his way to fetch his friends.

He sure had to admit he didn't think it was this bad. Hange was clearly having the upper hand and she was the one who was hitting the most.

He grabbed her from behind and lifted her up, gesturing to Levi to stop the fight and keep the opponents away. She kicked around and ended up elbowing him on the temple.

"Fuck" he hissed, gripping her waist tighter "Hange stop! It's me!".

Suddenly, Levi was on his side.

"Let go, Mike, I'll show them" Hange was struggling to get out of his arms, hitting him in the process.

"Levi do something! What the hell" he hissed again, getting frustrated.

Levi caught Hange's wrist and she looked at him. "That's enough, Hange" he said calmly and she sighed and tried calming down.

Hange's gaze lingered on the mess she and Levi made. Well, it was mostly Hange's doing.

Feeling her relax in his arms, Mike released her and let her again on the floor.

"Erwin's gonna kill the both of you" he looked around. His eyes stopping and widening as he took notice of the limp man on the floor, two of the MPs were lightly slapping his cheek. "Is he-?"

"Just passed out" Levi interrupted.

Mike sighed and rubbed a hand on his face.

"There's the lapdog we were missing" the man with the high-pitched voice chimed up. "The sniffing weirdo".

Mike smirked. He put a big hand on Hange's shoulder and turned her aroun. "Let's go, Hange. Levi" Levi nodded and started to follow him, when the man with the black hair spoke up again.

"I've always thought he is involved with Smith"

Mike laughed. "I sure love that man, but I don't think the nature of our relationship is any concern of yours"

"That explains why he's been around for so long. Smith doesn't want to feed him to a titan like the fucking rest of these idiots"

Hange turned around vehemetly, but Levi stopped her before she could speak. "That's enough, Hange, they weren't even worth our time to begin with" he said in merely more than a whisper.

Mike stopped in his tracks.

"I'll have you idiots know he's been around for so long because he's fucking capable of staying alive and keep his squad alive. I'd love to see some of you out there" Mike was surprised Levi interjected to defend him, but the insults towards his capability wasn't really what had bothered him.

"Listen here" he said, turning around to face them. "You can say all the shit you want about myself, but not a word about my friends or Erwin for that matter-"

They laughed. "Isn't it funny how they fucking defend him and the coward is just throwing them to their deaths instead?". The black-haired man roared with laughter "Fucking idiots".

Without warning, Mike punched one in the face and Hange punched the other on the nose, the loud crack all too telling as to what happened to the bones.

Mike sighed. "I guess Erwin can't kill the three of us in one go".

Levi walked closer to Hange. "You okay?".

She nodded and stared at him. "Thanks for trying to stop me. And for understanding I didn't-"

"Want to be stopped" he finished for her. "I get it. I'll always have your back, Hange, but let's be more careful next time. They weren't worth it and I don't want to risk you getting hurt".

She smiled. "I got carried away, but you saw I actually learned your moves?"

Levi smiled. "Yeah, we should work on them".

She nudged his arm "That's not true, they were perfect and you know it".

"Yes, they were perfect".

[writing-fanics]

[ James x Fem!Reader ] PT. I

James is bisexual in this I have... it took me a lot of thought to write this...

Also note bold is Y/n talking to James in the future she’s telling him the story of her life. And how she knows Clementine.

[ Warning: angst| mentions of death| language| hints of sexual activity| death | mentions of characters having panic attacks | Kenny being an asshole to Arvo ]

“If you wanna know my story.” [Y/n] says looking down, then back up at James.

“I’ll need to start from the beginning, or what I remember.” She says, looking off into the distance..

[ Flashback ]

Five Years Ago

“I lost my parents when I was thirteen.” She says, looking up at the man named Kenny.

“Bandits. Theses assholes took everything from us, food, supplies.” She looks down sadly, shaking remembering what happened.

“Wanted to take us as prisoners, but my father fought back.” She says, fiddling with the necklace around her neck.

“They...” she says, stopping eyes going wide lips trembling.

“Got the upper hand, filled his body with bullets. I got covered in his blood, and I watched as they beat my to death.” She looks down, hands covering her face.

“And I couldn’t do jackshit to help them.” She cries, sobbing. Kenny places a hand on her shoulder, and hugs the young teen.

“They took me in and cared for me. I finally had something a family. In this shitty world.”

After she told them her story, about why she was alone. They gave her food, seeing that she looked as if she hadn’t eaten in days.

She scarfed down the food in mere seconds, after took a nice warm bath and got new clothes.

“After that a group came with a girl younger than me.. Clementine.”

“From what I could tell Kenny and Clementine knew each-other from before.. He was in a group with her until. They got separated.”

“Y/n. This is Clementine she was in the group I had before.” Kenny says, and she looks at Clementine and smiles.

“H-hi Clementine.” She says to her nervously, it’s been awhile since she’s ran into any other kids.

“After a shit tone of stuff happened, a man came. A man I never wanted nor, thought I would see again.”

She gasps looking up, seeing the man before her.

“Oh, god...” She whispers, shaking trembling hand covering her mouth as she hides behind the railing.

“What is it?” Alvin asks, and she looks at him eyes widened.

“H-he’s the one who killed my parents.” She says, looking down. Her breathing quickening, her vision becoming blurry.

It was as if the world around her was spinning, she covered her mouth with her hands. Trying to stop her from breathing so loud.

“F-fuck he’s gonn-.” She says, then hears Carlos’ screams. And as well Sarah’s

“Rebecca please he’s gonna kill Carlos.” Alvin pleads, and Rebecca looks down.

And stands, “Bill, stop please!” Rebecca shouts, and Carver looks up at her.

She breathes heavily and looks down, as she made her way down the stairs.

James looked at [Y/n] who was breathing heavily, remembering what happened.

“Hey it’s okay,” James says, rubbing her hand gently.

She looks down sadly, she made her way to the others and of course was tied up.

Hands behind her back, her breathing was quickened the world around her was spinning. Her head was spinning.

She felt as if she was drowning, Carver came over and looked at the girl.

And knelt down, “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” He asked, and she felt as if the world was crushing her. Her parents killer right in front of her.

She couldn’t speak, even if she tried she couldn’t. She was terrified scared, she pursed her lips. And looked down.

Carver growled to and looked at the girl closely, “oh I remember you, were that girl. Hey I’m sorry bout’ your parents but that father of yours shouldn’t of shot and killed one of my men.” He says to her, and she looks at him tears running down her cheeks.

She wanted so bad to punch this bastard in this face, shoot him for killing her parents. She wanted to be the one to murder him. But she couldn’t bring herself to do anything.

She was too afraid, she just growled and looked up at him.

“Poshel ty..”She growled, having the courage to say. And Carver growled, and punched her in the stomach.

“What the fuck does that mean?” He says, and she laughs at him.

“Fuck you..” she says to him, smiling.

She coughed and gaged, “I would watch how you speak to me girl..” he says, and she just growls.

“I wanted to kill him James, I didn’t have the courage to but I had the courage to cuss at him in Russian. I-I don’t wanna talk about the events, when he took us captive..”

[Time Skip]

“A lot happening.. and I mean a shit tone of stuff happened and I’m gonna just sum it up for you so we won’t be here for years and end up skeletons.”

[Y/n] was with Jane and Clementine, looking for medicine. When [Y/n] noticed someone limping their way over...

It looked like a boy a teenager maybe late teens, not much older maybe four to three years.

She looked at him, then back over at Clementine and Jane.

“Someone’s coming..” She says, and they make their way over by the stairs behind the gate and hide.

“Shit shit shit.. he’s coming this way. And who knows if he has friends near by.” Jane says, and [Y/n] looks at her..

Eventually he makes his way up the stairs, and grabs to back of medicine..

[Y/n] hides behind the canon, when he turns around and notices her. And he pulls out his gun,

“Ostavaytes' na meste.” He says, holding his gun out shaking.

‘Stay where you are.’ [translation]....

[Y/n] slowly stands shaking a bit, but stands her ground..

“Kto ty.” She asks, in Russian and Arvo is taken back.

‘Who are you?.’ [translation]..

“I-I’m Arvo. I’m going to go. I don’t want to shoot.” He says, shaking and [Y/n] looks at him.

“I-I don’t want to shoot anyone.” He says, the gun still pointing at [Y/n].

“It’s okay Arvo, just put the gun down.” She says, to him. Then Jane snuck up behind him, and took his gun.

And pointed it at him, “Drop it.” Jane says, and Arvo looks at her and drops the bag.

“Clem Y/n, make sure he’s doesn’t have any other weapons in there.” She says, to Clementine you kneels down and opens the bag.

“No I have no more guns I swear to you.” He pleads, and [Y/n] looks at him sympathetically.

“We just need to make sure you’re not a threat.” She says, to him.

“Please please I have not hurt you.” He begs.

“Quiet.” She shouts.

[Y/n] kneels down, “No weapons, it’s just..” [Y/n] says, peering in, and her mouth drops.

“Just a shit ton of meds.” She says, in amazement.

“No no no no. Please take anything else just not the medicine. It’s for my older sister. She’s sick.” He says, and [Y/n] looks back up at him.

“Is it just you and your sister?” She asks, him.

“No I have many friends.in the woods” he says, looking down at her then back up at Jane.

“Sister or not we could really use that stuff.” Jane says to him.

“No no you are not nice people. You have already left me defenseless. And now you take my sisters medicine.” He says..

“It was a long confrontation. I told them not to take it from him and he thanked me of course.”

“But... that was shorted loved I was young I thought he was cute. Really cute but I was good I hiding it. There was a fight between us and Arvo’s group.”

“It was traumatic and I don’t wanna remember that either. But I do remember Kenny beating abusing, being racist is him.”

“He lost everything. And I could tell he didn’t like having to do this. He lost his sister, his group. He had nothing..”

[Y/n] watched as Kenny tied Arvo up, she looked back at him constantly. She shakes her head,

[Time Skip] after losing Luke

‘He doesn’t deserve to be treated this way yes.. He caused this fight but still he doesn’t deserve this.’ She thought.... as she watched Kenny punch Arvo..

When [Y/n] heard Kenny call Arvo a commie, she stood to her feet. “Back the fuck off! You have absolute no fucking right to call him that!” She shouted at him, fuming with anger.

“Stay the fuck out this! This has none of your concern.” He says to her, and she snaps her neck at him.

“Yes it fucking does. I’m Russian to haven’t you noticed that my grandparents were Russian so what. Does that make me a commie too, someone who’s been in your group for years.” She shouted at him, her fist clenched.

“This isn’t any of your concern! This fucking piece of shit.” Kenny shouted, and [Y/n] stood in front of Arvo protectively.

“Lay one fucking finger on him and I’m gone. You won’t see me again. Both of us.” She says to him, glaring at him. Her fingernails digging into the palm of her hand, drawing blood.

“Kenny backed off..”

“He was telling the truth about the supplies and Kenny beated him up in a fit of rage.”

While everyone wasn’t looking or some were asleep, [Y/n] was tending to Arvo’s wounds.

“Why’d you stick up for me.” Arvo whispers to her, quietly she looks at him smiling.

“Because at a young age, I was taught to stick up for others. Yes you did bring your group and lied, but that doesn’t mean you deserve to be called names, and be abused.” She says to him, and he looks down.

“Listen there’s a truck in the back. I’ve been wanting to leave this group for awhile. Kenny hasn’t been stable since someone important to him died.” She says to him, and looks him in the eye.

“I’ll help you escape. If you want I can come with you.” She says to him, and he just looks at her as if he has found hope.

He just nods, and [Y/n] smiles.

“Ugh! I was so naive so young...”

She kissed him on the cheek, and left him. There when eventually she Bonnie, and Mike talked about leaving the group. And she was going with them..

She thought she was in love with Arvo, but looking back she wasn’t. And when she watched, as Kenny murdered him. Yes she was heartbroken saddened, and she hated Kenny for that.

So she left, she left the group left that toxic man behind. And she hated Kenny, she hated him.

“That’s my story.. I was alone for years until of course I met you.”

[flashback ended]

[Y/n] looks up at James and smiles, he smiles at her too.

Then she felt something in her mouth, it was foul and she stood up, and walked to a nearby tree.

“Shit.” She groans, standing up after just puking, then she realizes that she’s past due..

“You okay?” He asks, and she looks over at him and nods lying of course.

“Yes I’m fine. I just have to use the bathroom I’ll be right back.” She says nervously, walking to her bag and pulling out a feminine hygiene and sneakingly pulling out an pregnancy test.

She went behind a tree not far, from the camp. And did her business, and before she went back she waited for the results for the test.

And gasped in shock at what it says...

Positive

[renaerys]

PPG One-Shot: Mall Santa (Boomer/Mike and Brick/Blossom)

Summary: To earn a little extra cash over the holidays, Brick, Mike, and Boomer agree to help out their buddy Todd at a Mall Santa gig. Shenanigans ensue.

This one is for @snailbutters, @genovah, and @hanaokm. Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Enjoy some Boomike, Blossick, and Capri Sus on me. 

[Cross-posted to AO3]

xxx

There were a lot of things Todd needed: a haircut, for one. His black hair was getting too long for gel and it was really pushing the boundary between greaser sexy and sad trash hobo. Money, for another. But like any other 21-year-old townie with a high school education and two restaurant jobs, he always needed money.

A new best friend, for yet another.

“I’m not your best friend,” Brick snapped as he tied a black tie around his neck. He needed to leave in ten minutes if he was going to be early for his dinner meeting with Oliver Morbucks.

Todd put a hand over his heart like it might fall out of the wound Brick’s words had stabbed there. “Dude, of course you are. I’m totally sorry if I ever gave you the wrong idea.”

Brick grimaced so hard he was sure he’d end up constipated. “No, you idiot. I know you think I’m your best friend. You’ve never shut up about it, even after we graduated high school. I’m pretty sure the whole fucking Peninsula knows it the way you go around shouting it when you’re blasted.”

Todd looked like he’d just received news that his favorite nana wasn’t dying of cancer after all. “Oh, cool. For a second there I thought I really hurt your feelings. You know you’re kinda sensitive, right?”

Oh god.

“What do you want, Todd? I have a really important meeting and I’m not missing it for your bullshit.”

Brick checked his reflection in the bathroom mirror in his one-bedroom apartment in downtown Townsville. It was a shitty hole-in-the-wall kind of place, but Brick was used to squalor. His break was coming, he could feel it. If tonight’s meeting went over well, he’d have a more steady revenue stream and, more importantly, the connections and clout the Morbucks name brought to open doors. All the long days at Red’s Auto Shop saving and scraping by would finally pay off, and just in time for Blossom to graduate from college. It was perfectly planned, meticulously manipulated, all down to this last pivotal dinner.

“Cool, no big deal! I just need to know if you’re free this weekend.”

“Free to do what?” Brick indulged him, because Todd was one of the few people on this planet who wasn’t 100% intimidated by his very presence.

“To help me with this Mall Santa gig I got. Harry Pitt was supposed to be my number two elf, but he ate some bad prawns and they had to, like, airlift him to Citiesville General.”

Brick stopped everything he was doing and glared at his second-to-best friend, which was a key fact because second was not the same as first. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”

“I know, right?” Todd knew his way around Brick’s embarrassingly small bathroom, opened up the hair wax, and fixed Brick’s styling job. “Dude always had a weak stomach, you remember. But you don’t fuck with bad prawns. I mean, obviously.”

Brick swatted Todd’s hands away and checked his reflection. It was definitely an improvement. “Not that; the Mall Santa thing, obviously!”

“Oh, yeah. So you’ll help me out?”

“Fuck no.”

“Aw, Briiiiiiick,” Todd whined.

Brick grabbed his dinner jacket from the closet barely big enough to fit a small, starving child. Todd, who had latched onto Brick in the seventh grade like a goddamned barnacle and never let go no matter how hard Brick tried to push him away, followed. “Not if you paid me.”

“You’ll get paid! It’s $20 an hour!”

Brick hesitated over the threshold. “That’s higher than minimum wage.” It was higher than his hourly rate at the garage too.

“Seasonal gigs, man. That’s how you win.”

“It’s seriously fucking not.”

Todd, one of three people in the universe who actually cared about Brick on a personal level even though he wasn’t obligated by blood, made his blue eyes big and wide in a way that reminded Brick of Puss-n-Boots from Shrek, Todd’s favorite movie. “C’mon, bruh. Do your bestie a solid? Just this once? I really need the money and they won’t let me keep the gig without two elves to fill in. So please? Pleeeeeeease?”

And Brick, former scourge of Townsville, a Super with the power to literally raze the planet if it so much as tickled his fancy, and the dictionary definition of the boy every father dreads his perfect, pretty little girl falling for against her better judgment, cracked like an egg.

“For fuck’s sake,” he groused. “Just text me the time and place and get out of my face already.”

Todd punched the air with both fists. “Yes!! Oh, hell yes! I love you so much, dude.”

“Blow me.” Brick checked his watch. Shit, now he was merely on time.

“I’d consider it an honor,” Todd said, probably literally serious.

xxx

Boomer rolled glitter on his cheeks and around the edges of his dark blue eyes with the help of a compact as he huddled behind the North Pole set on the first floor of the Townsville Mall. When he was satisfied that he sparkled like the tinsel-festooned Christmas trees in Santa’s twelve-by-fifteen-foot “forest” themselves, he discreetly re-emerged just as the latest child slid off Santa’s lap.

“Merry Christmas, Dan!” bellowed a red and white-clad Todd behind an enormous, curly beard. “Remember to brush your teeth!”

The little boy ran back to his parents, who were having a word with the photographer about purchasing a picture of their son on Santa’s lap. Before Boomer could follow them, Brick was quick to cut him off.

“Where the hell were you?” he demanded. Sour as an un-sugared plum in his festive, candy-striped elf costume, Brick may have absolutely intimidated the seven-year-olds waiting in line with their parents for a turn on Santa’s lap, but Boomer only allowed him a bemused smile.

“Why, I was making toys for the good little boys and girls who came to visit us here at the North Pole,” Boomer said in a raised voice. He looped his arm through his brother’s and let his power surge with enough force to turn Brick around and face the crowd that was definitely within hearing range. “Isn’t that right, Elf Mursten?”

Brick pushed back with inhuman force, but Boomer held his ground with a smile as bright as the glitter on his cheeks as a little girl in overalls trotted forward.

She giggled. “I like your hat.”

“Thank you!” Boomer gushed, and he tipped his pom-pom-topped cap. “And what’s your name?”

The little girl giggled again. “My name’s Alynn.”

“Well, Alynn, why don’t you step right up and take a seat on Santa’s lap? I’m sure he has a great present for a cool girl like you. Right, Elf Mursten?”

Brick glared medieval torture at him, and he managed a smile that showed too many teeth to be anything other than life-threatening. “Of course, Elf Buller.”

Boomer’s smile tightened.

“Ho ho ho! Come on over, Santa doesn’t bite,” Todd said.

“What a psychotic reassurance,” Brick said soft enough for only the Super brothers to hear.

“Hey, Brick?” Boomer said, just as softly. “Cheer the fuck up.” He gave his brother a bone-crushing squeeze around the arm and broke from him. Brick could be a sourpuss when he wanted to be (all the time), but he wouldn’t mess up Todd’s Mall Santa gig when he’d bothered to show up and actually put in the effort at all. Complain as he might about Todd’s exuberance, Brick had always come through for his best friend since the seventh grade.

Boomer, on the other hand, had been very happy to accept Todd’s offer to work the two weeks leading up to Christmas. The hours were reasonable, the pay was good, and Boomer loved children. It was easy money in between local shows he and his garage band had booked over the holidays.

Plus, the photographer had a nice rack.

“Okay, Santa, Alynn. Look over here and say ‘jingle bells’!” A flash went off, and Mike Believe stood to his full height behind the tripod he’d set up for the day’s pictures. Even in reindeer antlers and a bright, red-painted nose, Mike filled out every fold of his brown Rudolph outfit almost to the point of popping a button. His broad chest puffed out when he put his strong hands on his hips and grinned brightly like he wouldn’t pick anywhere else to be right now.

Their eyes met, and Boomer flushed and smiled like a fool.

When Mike winked back at him coyly, his heart leaped into his throat. Mike had gotten home from college just two days ago, but the three weeks he had off for Winter Break would surely fly by like they did every year, and Boomer was determined to spend every moment together.

A tug on Boomer’s green tunic drew his attention. “Can I take a picture with you? Please?” the little girl asked.

Boomer beamed and scooped her up onto his hip. “Of course you can. Hey, Mike? Can you take one of us, please?”

“You bet! Get in close, now.” Mike readied his camera.

“Oh, wait a sec. Why don’t you take this too?” Boomer removed his festive hat and put it on Alynn’s head. It was big on her, but she laughed happily.

They posed for the picture, and Boomer hugged her cheek to cheek.

“Thanks!” The little girl tried to give him his hat back, but he pressed it to her chest.

“You keep it. Merry Christmas. Remember to be good, okay?”

Alynn’s father was waiting with a hand for her to take when she ran back to him, yammering about how she’d met Santa and his super cool elf friend, and Boomer watched them go.

“You know you’ll have to pay for that hat,” Brick said.

Boomer sighed and ran a hand through his cornflower hair. “You know I look better without it.”

Brick frowned deeply. “Uh-huh.”

“If you keep frowning, your face will stick like that.”

“Moron.”

He always had to have the last word. Brick went to stack the empty boxes wrapped in bright, shiny paper, which was probably more productive than blowing up the entire display. Boomer left him to it. It was time for their mid-morning break, anyway.

Todd got up to stretch. “Man, who knew sitting could be so tiring, huh? Whack.” His phone buzzed, and he grinned when he saw the caller ID.

Boomer, however, had eyes only for Mike as the latter turned off his camera and put a sheet over the tripod to protect it. “Working hard, I see.”

When Mike smiled, his dark eyes crinkled in the corners. He had a face made for smiling. “Oh, you know. Just helping out some friends.”

Like Brick, Todd had asked Mike to help out behind the camera for this gig. Mike didn’t exactly need the extra cash given his lacrosse scholarship that covered his college expenses, but the three of them had been as thick as thieves all through high school no matter what Brick said when he was annoyed. No way was Mike going to bail on the chance to help out a bro.

“This is cute,” Mike said, running a thumb over Boomer’s sparkly cheek.

“If only I could convince Brick to wear some,” Boomer said, lacing his fingers in Mike’s as they shuffled to the side of the exhibit behind a blinking Christmas tree for a bit of privacy.

Mike chuckled. “That’ll take a Christmas miracle. But anyway, I don’t want to talk about Brick right now.”

Their kiss was soft and mostly chaste, considering the venue, but Boomer didn’t mind at all. He rose up on his toes to lean into his boyfriend’s superior height and smiled into their kiss. Even in the middle of the Townsville Mall with shoppers mere yards away, for a few seconds Boomer got lost in the fantasy of the forest and the snow drifts, bright lights and magic that came around only once a year and had always touched his heart in a way nothing else quite could.

“Babe! You got here quick!” Todd’s excitement and a small commotion around Santa’s throne drew the lovers’ attention, and Boomer reluctantly broke the kiss. His Super hearing quickly picked up on what was going on.

“What is it?” Mike asked.

Boomer smiled wryly. “That Christmas miracle you wished for. Come on.” He took Mike’s larger hand in his and pulled him back toward the front of the display, where Todd had scooped up a very small, very fashionable Asian woman in his arms.

“Oh my god, don’t do shits in front of the innocent children, Toddy.” Hana patted her high bun and smoothed out her oversized black jacket once Todd released her.

“Hey, I just missed you is all,” Todd said with a genuine smile like he had really, truly missed his girlfriend since this morning when they had last seen each other.

“You guys are too cute,” said Bubbles with a giggle. As usual, she was adorable in blonde twin tails and a holiday-appropriate sweater dress. Shopping bags hung from both her arms, also as usual.

“Right?” Hana said, her deadpan façade melting completely as she beamed at her closest friend.

“No contest.” Bubbles set down her small nation of shopping bags. “Oh! Hi, Boomer!” She dashed to hug him in a flash of blue, and he caught her easily. “Oh my gosh, I love your glitter. You look like a supermodel!”

Boomer laughed and hugged her back. “Thanks for letting me borrow it. I really owe you.”

“Don’t worry about it. Oh, but you definitely need some touching up. Here, let me just…”

Mike had wandered over to Todd and Hana. “Hey, Hana. Are you staying for the holiday?”

Hana shrugged. “Yeah, my art show isn’t until after New Year’s. You know, I’m always looking for more models.” She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

Mike laughed. “I’m honored, but I’m really nothing special, honestly. You might try Butch.”

Todd guffawed. “Oh man, Butch is, like, one of her top models! She painted him for what, six weeks last summer, babe?”

“Seven,” Hana said, dead serious.

Mike smiled nervously. “That’s a lot of inspiration.”

“He is very inspiring,” Hana said, deader and more serious.

“That dude is goals,” Todd said, totally unironically.

“I guess I can’t argue with that,” Mike said.

“Aaaaand done.” Bubbles stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Honestly? You’re the most beautiful elf the North Pole ever employed.”

Boomer snickered. “Don’t tell Brick that.”

“Don’t tell me what, now?” Brick emerged from his useless empty box stacking task, glitter-less and severely lacking in Christmas cheer.

Bubbles gasped, right on cue. “Brick! Where is your glitter? Get over here.”

Brick made a weird face. “What are you talk—hey!”

Bubbles all but accosted him with the glitter pen. Hana cheered and applauded, and Todd joined in because he liked to cheer and applaud in general.

“What are you—get off!” Brick shoved Bubbles hard, but a flash of pink caught her before she could crash into anything.

Blossom peered around her totally unfazed sister, a tray of lattes in one hand and her perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised. “Brick,” she said.

Brick swallowed. “Blossom.”

She looked nice in leggings and a sweater dress that matched Bubbles’ style, except where Bubbles’ was white, Blossom’s was a scarlet that rivaled the shade of Brick’s eyes.

“I brought you guys coffee,” Blossom said, her eyes trained on Brick even as she held out the tray.

Mike took the tray before it could become collateral damage in whatever was going on between the two of them.

“Here you go.” Mike offered one to Boomer, who gratefully accepted it.

“Thanks!”

“I thought you weren’t getting home until tomorrow,” Brick said, as if he and Blossom were the only two people there.

“Change of plans,” Blossom said. “Problem?”

Brick seemed to remember what he was wearing and snatched his elf hat from his head. He bunched it up between his hands like that would hide his imagined shame. “It’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine, clearly. But it wasn’t Boomer’s place to intrude. He would have been extremely happy for it to end there, but sadly Blossom, like his brother, had a flair for the dramatic and an affinity for the center of attention.

She sauntered up to him and smeared the bit of glitter Bubbles had managed to draw on his cheek before he’d shoved her off. “Good,” she said, half an invitation and half a challenge.

Brick didn’t bend easily. Boomer knew his brother as well as he knew himself, and he knew Brick didn’t relent, never gave in unless he was well and truly beaten, which was rare. But he slackened now, lips parting and eyes falling. Even though his arms stayed stubbornly at his sides and he didn’t do something as scandalous as hold his girlfriend’s hand in public, he melted under her touch and attention.

“All right! Bloss, you’re back early! This is massive, like, supernova massive,” Todd said. “Hey, I know! Let’s throw a party at mine tonight! Brick said you weren’t coming back for another couple of days, so this is like a cool early Christmas present to all of us.”

Bubbles gasped. “Oh my gosh, yes! Let’s all go to Todd’s tonight, just like we used to. I’m calling Robin right now.”

“We can make it a real Christmas party,” Blossom said. Somehow, she’d gotten ahold of Bubbles’ glitter pen and now smeared a generous amount on Brick’s cheeks until he gleamed without suffering a nuclear meltdown. A Christmas miracle, indeed.

“You’ll wear the Santa suit,” Hana said. Demanded.

“Ho ho ho! You got it, babe.”

“That thing’s a rental,” Brick said. “And it’s, like, 75 degrees outside.”

“If he gets too hot, I’ll hose him down,” Hana said.

Brick smartly decided not to press her on that one.

“I like your elf costume, Brick,” Blossom teased. Maybe.

“I’m burning it as soon as I get paid,” Brick said.

“I thought it was a rental like Todd’s?”

He hesitated, trapped by his own logic, and she laughed softly and kissed the side of his mouth. Brick froze and played it off like it didn’t affect him, but his eyes were drawn to Blossom’s lips for the next six whole minutes. Boomer really didn’t get why he had to make everything so damn complicated.

“Hey, hombres, our break is up and I see a super cute kid waiting to sit on the softest lap in Townsville,” Todd said, sinking back onto his candy cane throne and patting his lap.

Brick visibly cringed.

“It could be worse,” Mike whispered to Brick. “At least this time we get to keep our shirts on.”

Boomer smiled at the memory of Todd’s last seasonal gig he’d roped Brick and Mike into over the summer. The shirtless carwash had admittedly been one of his more rewarding part-time jobs, and Boomer had the photo evidence to cherish the memory extremely fondly.

Blossom and Hana retreated behind Mike while Bubbles finished up her phone call with Robin and Brick admitted the next child on set.

“Welcome to the North Pole,” he said with all the cheer of an old tire. Nonetheless, his cheeks dazzled. “What’s your name, kid?”

She looked up at him but didn’t say anything. Boomer noticed her shyness and decided he better intervene.

“Hey there,” he said, taking a knee so he could be on her eye-level. “Merry Christmas.”

That alarmed her even more, and she hugged Brick’s leg.

“What the—” Brick put his hands up like he didn’t know what to do with them. “Great.”

The girl’s parents were busy talking to Mike about the picture packages and didn’t seem to notice what was going on.

“Uh,” Boomer said, ready to flag them down before the little girl got scared or started to cry. They’d been lucky this morning with only one child throwing a temper tantrum out of the tens they’d seen.

“All right, kid. I hope you have a good grip.” Brick floated off the ground with the little girl clinging to his leg and flew over to Todd’s throne.

Boomer was so flabbergasted by his brother’s gross disregard for this child’s safety in front of her parents that he was momentarily stunned where he kneeled. It was over in about two and a half seconds, with her parents none the wiser and the little girl still in one piece, miraculously. Brick peeled her off him and dropped her on Todd’s lap.

“Name,” Brick demanded. And then, reluctantly: “…To check you off the Nice List.”

The little girl looked up at him with wide-eyed wonderment, or maybe fear. “Morana.”

“Morana. Super. Tell Todd—I mean, Santa—what you want. And smile for the camera.”

Todd didn’t miss a beat and wrapped his arms loosely around her to hold her safely in place. “Morana, that’s a pretty name. Wanna tell me what you want for Christmas?”

Morana pointed at Brick. “That one.”

Brick turned as red as his messy man bun. Todd wheezed.

“Oh, yeah? Well, that one’s taken, but I bet I can get you a picture together. How ‘bout it?” Todd asked.

Boomer was up and moving in a blue flash. “That can be arranged.” He shoved his brother with a healthy burst of Super strength, and Brick all but fell on his knee next to Todd’s throne. Boomer waved back at Mike for the picture.

“Big smile now!” Mike said cheerfully, and snapped the picture.

“What the hell is up with these kids?” Brick asked when Morana skipped back to her parents and started chattering at them in a language Boomer didn’t recognize but assumed must be all good things from the way she grinned from ear to ear. “They get bolder every year.”

“Or you’re just getting softer,” Boomer teased.

“Yeah, right.”

Blossom laughed at something Hana said on a nearby bench, drawing both their eyes.

“Whatever you say, man,” Boomer said.

xxx

Todd’s party was a nostalgic and long-overdue affair later that evening. Unlike Boomer, who had to make do in a small studio apartment on the outskirts of Citiesville where the rent was more manageable and his commute didn’t matter when flying anywhere took only minutes, Todd lived in a big house he took care of for his often absent, globe-trotting parents. Blossom, Bubbles, and Robin had taken the initiative and strung up Christmas lights, while Boomer created and managed the playlist for the night. They had a good crowd with old friends from high school and new ones from work and college gathered for no excuse other than to have a good time.

Butch, Buttercup, Mike, and Todd had set up beer pong in the basement, where most of the festivities were taking place. As usual, the shit talking and macho bravado had soared to ludicrous heights.

“Come on, BC,” Todd goaded. “Money shot, right here.” He fluffed his Santa beard, the ends of which were damp with beer. Buttercup had one cup left to hit.

“I’m about to straight-up tea bag you with this ping pong ball, Todd, I swear to god.” Buttercup tried to focus on her aim after too many beers and the distraction of Todd’s stupid Santa beard.

“Do it, fucking do it,” Butch said, bobbing on the balls of his feet and slightly manic with the competition and holiday cheer, probably.

“I’m gonna fucking do it!”

“I don’t think you can fucking do it,” Mike said.

“Ohhhhh!” Butch hollered when Buttercup lost her temper and threw the ball too hard. It bounced off Todd’s beard and fell on the floor, leaving the last cup untouched.

“Mike, you cheater!” Buttercup shouted.

Mike burst out laughing.

“All riiiiight, the Toddster’s final shot. You filming, babe?” Todd asked.

Hana, across the table from Boomer, had her phone out and poised. “Kick their asses, Toddy.”

“Yeah, bring it on, Toddy,” Butch jeered.

“Oh, it’s about to be brought.”

“Oh god, please, you peaked in high school,” Buttercup said.

“Hey, he plateaued,” Mike said. “There’s a difference.”

“Just take the damn shot!”

Todd shot, hit the rim of the solo cup, and missed. Buttercup and Butch threw up their hands and whooped. They were still in the game, and the stakes were even higher now.

Boomer squeezed Mike’s arm in a silent excuse and went to change the music…only to find Brick and Blossom making out in the hallway like it was their last night on Earth.

The music was fine, he decided. No need to interrupt Brick and Blossom trying to fuse with the wall and face his brother’s cock blocked wrath. Discreetly, Boomer snapped a picture on his phone and texted it to Bubbles.

[Boomer: Shooketh]

Bubbles’ reply was lightning fast.

[Bubbles: More like shattered!!]

[Bubbles: Better get out of there before they catch you lol 💀]

After another hour (and Brick and Blossom’s reemergence from the wall in one piece with not a hair out of place because god forbid), Boomer and Mike decided to head out early. They went back to Boomer’s apartment, where a very excited Pomeranian welcomed them home.

“Hi, Pumpkin!” Mike brightened like the sun and scooped up his favorite girl, left in Boomer’s care while he was away at college. “Who’s ready for a walk?”

They walked Pumpkin and let her tire herself out running around the suburban neighborhood where it was too late at night for any cars to be out. A half hour later, they were curled up on the loveseat with Pumpkin snoozing in her fuzzy bed at their feet and an old black-and-white Christmas movie playing on low volume on the television.

“Hey,” Boomer said, lifting his head from Mike’s chest to look at him properly.

Mike set aside the hot chocolate he’d been drinking and pulled Boomer up by his waist. “Hey, you. What is it?”

Boomer smiled. It was silly, really. “It’s nothing.”

“Oh?” Mike returned his smile and leaned closer. He smelled like soap, a hint of chocolate, and something else that made Boomer want to bury his face in his neck.

“Just happy,” Boomer said.

“Really? I can’t tell.”

Boomer sat up a little higher. The neck of Mike’s old lacrosse jersey he wore dipped down his shoulder, too big on him and softer than a cloud. He pressed a chaste kiss to the underside of Mike’s jaw. “How about now?”

“Hm, nope, I don’t think I quite got that.”

Boomer threaded his fingers though Mike’s short, dark hair at the nape of his neck. Feeling coquettish, he gave his ear a nip. “How about now?”

Mike shifted on the couch and pulled Boomer’s bent legs onto his lap. His voice was as warm as the hot chocolate he’d been drinking. “I think I’m starting to get a vague understanding.”

Boomer laughed and painted a trail of kisses along Mike’s jaw, up his chin. He pressed a strong hand to his chest and put a little power behind it. Centimeters apart, he could taste the lingering heat of the hot chocolate on Mike’s breath. “And now?”

Mike’s eyes drooped and darkened. His hands slipped around Boomer’s waist, under the jersey, a silent entreaty. “I think you can do a little better than that, Angel.”

The secret nickname broke Boomer’s resolve, and he kissed his boyfriend full on the mouth with all the confidence and shamelessness he couldn’t give him that morning at the mall surrounded by children and their parents. Mike’s shirt soon found its way to the floor along with Boomer’s borrowed jersey. The loveseat was too short to accommodate Mike’s height comfortably, and after a few moments Boomer held him close and flew them to the bed in a flash.

“I’ll never get over how hot that is,” Mike said, breathless.

Boomer blushed, unable to help it. He was careful with his strength around Mike, but sometimes the X bonded to his bones pushed him to the raw, carnal boundaries of humanity. Mike’s hand on his cheek drew him out of those spiraling thoughts.

“I mean it,” Mike said. “I love that part of you. And I trust you completely.”

Words did not come easily, nor did they seem appropriate in that moment. Boomer bent to kiss Mike again and pull him as close as he could get. Wrapped up in the warm sheets and each other, Boomer’s silly little thought that he had never been happier grew and swelled to heights he never could have imagined before Mike. They lay there together, lazy and sleepy, as the credits of their forgotten holiday movie played on the television.

“One more semester,” Mike said, “and then I graduate.”

“I can’t believe you’re almost a college graduate,” Boomer said. “It feels like you left ages ago.”

“Four years is a long time, but it’s not forever. And you should get ready.”

Boomer looked up at him. “Ready for what?”

“To move, of course.”

“Move?”

“Hey, I love how cozy your apartment is, but I’m pretty sure Pumpkin would appreciate her own room once we’re living together full time.”

Boomer sat up properly. “You… You want to move in together? With me?”

“Of course! The only question is, where do you want to go?”

Boomer covered his mouth. Of course he had thought about getting a place with Mike, but that always seemed like the distant future. What if they didn’t stay together? What if the long distance was too hard? What if Mike met someone else at college? Brick didn’t talk about it much, but after a few too many drinks one night the year Blossom and Mike both left for college, he’d confessed how afraid he was that he would lose her forever. How can the old be exciting and fun compared to the amazing, new adventures she would be having?

But from the way Boomer had caught them all but absorbing each other at Todd’s tonight, Blossom seemed perfectly happy to keep him. And Mike…

“You’re serious,” Boomer said.

“I’ve never been more serious.” Mike took his hand and kissed his knuckles carefully. “I can’t wait to start our lives together.”

Boomer could have cried. He almost did. Life was hard, even for a Super like him. With endless bills to pay and the occasional monster to dispose of, sometimes he felt like he was being pulled in too many directions without anyone there to help pick up the slack. But this… This was his.

“Me too,” Boomer said. “And I don’t care where we go, as long as it’s together.”

“Well, cool. In that case, if you’re not opposed to it, was thinking farther north, like Metroville. There are some great photography jobs there that I want to apply for, and the music scene is bigger than it is here—”

“Yes! A hundred percent yes, let’s do it. When do we leave?”

Mike laughed. “June 1st, as soon as they hand me my diploma.”

Six months. It had a date now. Unthinking, Boomer threw his arms around Mike’s broad shoulders and hugged him tight. “I’ll mark my calendar.”

“It’s a date.”

Incidentally, they did not get much sleep the rest of that night.

xxx

I told myself I wasn’t going to do a ton of fluff, but damnit all, Boomike is SUPER CUTE and I couldn’t help myself. Let them have the happy ending they deserve. Thanks for reading!

[midwinterblinder]

This is me trying

All chapters

Chapter 4: “Beth will win though.”

Josephine orders roomservice and has breakfast in her room the next morning to avoid another run in with Beth or Benny. Seeing Benny again would cause her to be less focused on her upcoming games and seeing Beth would no doubt mean talking about Benny, which would lead to the same result as seeing Benny. So avoiding both of them seems like the best option for now. She knows she won’t be able to do so forever. If she does manage to get back to her old level there will be more run ins with both Beth and Benny, not to mention interviews where they will no doubt ask about Benny and her relationship with him.

When they just started dating questions about her relationship with Benny used to make her blush and she would give the reporters coy answers as she looked down at her hands. As time went on she became more confident about herself and their relationship, she would smile at the reporters and throw them a bone in the form of a flirty little comment about Benny.

Benny himself never lacked confidence and had proudly addressed their relationship to any reporter that would listen. He never went into detail but he would openly compliment her in interviews, and not just on the way she played.

Josephine sighs as she pushes her still almost full plate away at the thought of interviews. She has always had the tendency to stop eating when something is bothering her, and the mere thought of having to explain why she disappeared from the chess world and why she was no longer with Benny made her feel nauseous.

She leaves her room to head down to the hall without finishing her breakfast. Unlike yesterday, she’s the first one to arrive at the table where she’ll be playing. Her eyes move around the room until they land on Benny, who makes his way into the room with two men, twins by the looks of it.

Seeing him reminds her of what he said yesterday after she apologised. She’s not upset with him about what he said. His words hurt, but she deserved it. A small part of her wishes she had never left him, but the rest of her mind keeps telling her it was for the best. Once he found out what happened he would have broken up with her anyway, so leaving really was the best option.

She’s grateful for what he did yesterday. For calming her down a little, but mostly for calling her a coward and reminding her that she didn’t use to be like this. Reminding her that she used to be strong. She wants to be like that again, she wants to try to be the girl she was when she beat the greatest players in the world without so much as a frown. So with that in mind she had made her way to the bathroom to clear away most of the evidence of how upset she was and made her way into the room with every intention of beating the guy sitting across from her.

It’s like Benny can feel her eyes on him, because he turns his head in her direction and they lock eyes. Josephine holds his gaze for a moment before looking down at the board in front of her, leaving Benny to stare at the side of her face as the twins continue to talk about the upcoming games.

Matt notices Benny’s silence first and nudges Mike, who is still rambling on. Mike gives him an annoyed glance, wondering why his story was interrupted like that, but his expression changes into one of understanding when Matt gestures at Benny and then at Josephine. “She played really well yesterday.” Mike says to Benny, who snaps out of his stare and looks back at the twins.

“It would be interesting to see her go up against Beth in the final.” Matt adds as he watches Benny’s face closely. After staying with Benny in New York to help Beth beat Borgov, the twins had taken a liking to Benny and they wonder what has their friend still so hung up over a girl he broke up with four years ago.

“Yeah.” Benny nods as he thinks about a final between the two women. “Beth will win though.” He adds, which causes the twins the frown. Josephine was a champion and Benny clearly thinks very highly of her skills, so why would he brush off the possibility of Josephine beating Beth so easily? “Josephine hasn’t played in a long time and she needs a lot more practice than a few games against these second rate players if she wants to beat Beth.” He answers their silent question. “But once she’s back at her old level it’ll be a close call between the two of them.” He goes on as his eyes drift back to Josephine, who is still sitting at the table by herself.

The twins nod in understanding as their eyes move to Josephine as well until all three of them are startled by Beth. “Good morning, boys.” She greets them happily, but frowns once she notices that they all seemed pretty deep in thought. “What were you looking at?” She asks curiously.

“Nothing.” Benny says immediately as he shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans and regains his usual demeanour, which only causes Beth’s frown to deepen. “You should get to your game before the poor guy decides to start your clock so you’ll have less time to beat him.” He sends her one of his half grins as he tilts his head in the direction of the table where she’ll be playing.

*****

Josephine sighs and closes her eyes as she leans back in her chair after shaking hands with her last opponent of the day. She won all her games again, which means she’ll be playing the final tomorrow. It’s a little hard to believe that she’ll be playing her first final in four years. Especially considering the fact that she almost left before her first game even started.

“Looks like it’ll be you and me tomorrow.” Beth’s voice suddenly sounds across from her and she opens her eyes to see the redhead standing behind the chair her opponent sat on. “I don’t think there’s ever been an all female final in the US before.” Beth continuous as she sits down across from Josephine. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask you about Benny anymore.” She adds when she sees the slightly uncomfortable look on Josephine’s face. “And I’m sorry about last night. What happened between the two of you is none of my business.”

After last night’s encounter Beth realised that pushing Josephine for information while they barely knew each other was a pretty terrible tactic. Besides, she actually thinks it might be nice to get to know Josephine. Not because of her past with Benny, but because they were the only two women in the male world of chess and it would actually be nice to talk to a girl at these tournaments every once in a while.

“It’s okay.” Josephine says before she sighs as she looks at her hands, which are resting on the table. “I’m sorry if I was a little cold last night.” She apologises as she slowly looks back up at Beth. “This weekend has been more emotional than I thought it would be.”

“You don’t have to apologise.” Beth smiles slightly. She has a feeling that Josephine’s disappearance was caused by something serious and she’s all too familiar with carrying a problem all by yourself. “I know the feeling.” She adds.

Josephine can tell Beth isn’t just saying it. She actually means it and it makes Josephine wonder what Beth went through that she can understand the feeling. But if Beth is willing to accept her secrecy than she’s willing to accept Beth’s. The two women seem to come to a silent understanding as they sit there. They’ve both faced their problems in life and even though they don’t know what the other went through, they respect that they’ve found their way back.

[obwjam]

Hey uh me and my boyfriend of 3 years just broke up and I’ve been down all day so if you have something that could help cheer me up I’d really appreciate it

:( oh no i’m so sorry!!! i know what you’re going through, it’s gonna be tough for a while but things really do get better. i promise.

here is a drabble about a giant comforting their tiny friend after they had a nightmare. i hope it helps :)

———————————————————————

There was a scream.

Mike’s eyes jerked open. It was a tiny little sceam, something that sounded like it was coming from 20 miles away. It sounded so faint, it might have been coming from his dreams. He turned over, confused, when he heard faint whimpers coming from the little form curled up on his nightstand.

They were shaking. They clutched their body, squeezing it tightly to contain the shivers. Their breath was heavy and weighted, and sweat was dripping from their forehead and drenching their hairline. What… what had just happened? They was on the floor two seconds ago, stuck, trapped, helpless as a giant boot came down--

Dream. It was a dream. It wasn’t real, they kept repeating. It wasn’t real. Then why were they crying?

“Hey,” Mike breathed, his voice barely qualifying as a whisper. “Are you okay?”

Their ears were ringing too loud for them to hear. Their vision was fuzzy, even in the dark, so when they tried to close their eyes it looked brighter than having them open. But keeping them open hurt. They didn’t know where to look, and they could feel their eyes darting around but they kept seeing the same thing. Maybe if they just rolled them back…

“(Y/n)!”

The ringing stopped. The spots went away. That was a real voice they just heard. Not dreaming. They were awake now.

Mike figured it was only a matter of time before this started happening. Though, he wasn’t sure how often it had happened before, but since they agreed to sleep on his nightstand a few days ago, it had been pretty smooth sailing. Surprisingly smooth. So smooth that it made him uneasy.

There were more whimpers, more sniffles, more gasps coming from the nightstand. Maybe because it was the middle of the night, but it sounded louder than normal. More real. He could make out their silhouette, curled in on itself, back arching high in the air and tangled messes of hair eerily hanging down from their head. They were shaking so hard he swore he could see the heat rising from them.

“(Y/n)…?” Mike tried. He had a vague idea what might be going on, but he learned that with them, it’s best not to assume.

They couldn’t get a word out. They physically couldn’t get their vocal chords to work. It was like their connection to them was completely severed. How were they supposed to tell Mike they wanted to--

They yelped, though, regaining their connection for a moment when a giant palm was laid out in front of them. It was the last thing they wanted to see-- yet, it was the only thing that snapped them out of their spiral.

“You wanna talk?” Mike managed a smile, even though they couldn’t see it. He knew they would hear it. He inched his hand forward, and they let out a small eek! and scrambled backwards. Mike felt a pang of guilt. Yeah, it was definitely what he thought it was.

“S-sorry,” he mumbled as he began to pull his hand away.

“Wait.”

The voice was so cracked and ragged he barely recognized it as theirs.

Slowly, they pushed themself up on shaking arms and got to their feet. Their legs felt like noodles, but they managed to stumble into Mike’s open hand. They grabbed onto the folds of his skin when he swung them over, making him twitch a bit. Mike sat up a bit, resting the back of his neck at the top of his pillow. This was the first time he was holding them like this. Sure, they had sat on his shoulder and his pocket, and sat in the bend of his arm while watching TV. But never on his chest.

He was going to hold them on his hand the whole time, but they had slipped off his palm and laid stomach-down on his skin. Mike’s cheeks flushed red. He was a little unsure of what to do with his hand, but when he started to feel them shiver, he cupped it and gently placed it over her trembling body. He took his index finger and began gently rubbing it along their back.

“What… what happened, (Y/n)?” he asked quietly.

“I…” they stopped, realizing for a moment where they were. Mike’s heartbeat thumped through them like thunder. This was worlds different than sitting on his hand, near his chest. It was overwhelming, but in the same way that getting flooded with compliments was overwhelming. Mike’s hand… he was protecting them. He was keeping them safe from the dangers of the world and the dangers of their deepest thoughts. Being so close to Mike in this moment, they almost felt like they were a part of him.

“J-just-just a nightmare,” they managed, still trying to process everything they were feeling. “Not the first, not the last.”

Mike was surprised by this. “Not the first?”

They let out a small laugh. That same small laugh of disbelief they had when Mike asked a silly question. Mike used to get annoyed by it, but in this moment, it was endearing. He found that it usually meant they were going to tell him something important.

“Mike, I’ve been having nightmares my entire life,” they said, chuckling. They were tired. They struggled to keep their eyes open and were putting in double effort just to get words out. It was easier to laugh than it was to pretend they were okay. “You weren’t with me those first couple weeks. I didn’t get any sleep, I-I was so terrified.” They let the sensation of Mike rubbing her back calm them down. “I-it got better, until…” they trailed off. “I-it’s been getting worse lately. Almost… real.”

Mike stayed silent, wanting them to tell him whatever they wanted at their own pace.

“I-it…” they started, but they couldn’t. Not now. Not like this. Not with where they were. It had been mere minutes since they’d woken up, and even with Mike’s warmth surrounding them, they was still shivering like it was the middle of winter. They couldn’t figure out if they were comfortable or terrified.

Squirming a bit to free their arms, they rubbed their eyes as tears began to fall. Mike felt a small spot of dampness and immediately felt guilty.

“Oh, hun…” he said, sadness dripping from his words. He hated when they cried. “Shh, shh, it’s alright, it’s alright, darlin’,” Mike found himself cooing. He hated the baby talk he used sometimes, but he reminded himself that he’d probably do it if they were a normal-sized person under that much stress. “I’m here. I’ve got you. You don’t gotta worry about nothin’.” He was mindlessly muttering now. “I’m here, I’m here,” he reassured, wondering if it did anything. They only seemed to be getting worse. “Do you wanna tell me?”

He felt their tiny head shake no. Mike’s heart sank.

“That’s alright,” he said softly. “You don’t gotta tell me unless you wanna.”

They stayed in silence for what had to be 10 minutes, Mike rubbing their back consistently until her tremors stopped. Mike was hoping they were working up the courage to tell him, but he noticed something. He could feel them. Really feel then. He could feel every little squirm, every time their fingers twitched, every time they sucked in a deep breath then let it out slowly through their mouth. He could feel when they were tense, and when they relaxed their muscles a bit. But most importantly, he could tell when they was awake.

And right now, they weren’t. They had fallen asleep right there on Mike’s chest. He panicked for a brief moment — I can’t move! I can’t wake them up! But it didn’t take him long to calm down. He realized this is exactly what he had been hoping for.

Soon, he too was asleep.

[darlingsdevil]

Of The Valley (Joel x Reader)

Chapter 2: Bullet Memories

Summary: Life in Jackson is never easy. Consoling angsty teenagers, wading through the mysterious waters of Joel’s romance language and with a child of your own on the way? Life is about to get a lot harder.

Chapter summary: A test is administered. Did you fail?

Tag list (please comment to be added or removed): @sidepuff @joelsheartache @fangirl-inthe-us @cowboyfrazer

RDR2 Masterlist

Of The Valley Masterlist

A/N: Hi everyone. I’ve been really happy with how this story is going so far! I hope you will stick around!

Please tell me if you see any ‘Mike’s’ — I keep accidentally writing Mark’s name as Mike lol.

:readmore:

•••

You rode in silence for the rest of the way. That didn’t help with calming you down either. Every inch of you was burning up at the thought of being outside Jackson again. Having to relive that nightmare all over again. At least it was nice out, but the hollowed out homes and burnt cars were anything but soothing.

Joel’s silence was disheartening. You knew he was upset at you. In truth, you hadn’t really talked to anyone you were close with in the past three months. You blissfully shut out everyone you were close to and had meaningless conversations with mere acquaintances at the bar. People came by and checked in on you, but you almost always pretended you weren’t home, or you lied and said Mark was sleeping.

Joel deserved an explanation for your disappearance, you were avoiding him, but you weren’t avoiding him because of something he had done. The explaining section was the hard part, you weren’t sure where to begin or even when you should. Joel would listen. That was given, you just weren’t sure you were ready to open up just yet.

When you finally arrived at the nest after a solemn ride, your breath hitched at the side of your old spot. It had been longer than three months that you had been there. It was your favorite nest to shoot out of. Secluded, hard to get to, views of all roads leading to the small perch.

Joel hopped down from Caesar and hitched him on the tree, you followed suit. You took a small sugar cube out of your old saddle bag and gave it to her. Levia was a spoiled horse.

You walked up the steep hill to where Tommy was waiting, when you finally saw him you smiled. Your worries drifting away momentarily.

“Damn girl, didn’t think you would ever show up,” Tommy joked, holding out his arms for a hug.

“Didn’t think I was going to either. Maria convinced me to,” You laughed, hugging him tightly.

“My wife is a convincing one, that’s for sure,” Tommy chuckled as he began walking over to the nest. Joel leaned against a tree watching you two interact. Tommy nodded to Joel. You pulled the rifle off your shoulder and kneeled down on the wooden hut that was on the side of the hill. Tommy kneeled down next to you. The rifle’s weight was strange and clunky. It used to feel so natural in your hand, but now it felt like you were holding a stick.

“See them over there?” Tommy pointed towards the tree line. You pulled out your binoculars and looked at the group of infected. A couple of runners and two clickers.

“That’s all of them?” You hissed out. Why were there so few?

“So far. Spotted some more earlier, but they disappeared into the forest, we might be able to draw them out from the gunfire.” Tommy eyed you, speaking quietly.

“There’s six infected and it’s a two man job? Come on Tommy, you could have taken these out within ten minutes,” You huffed, pulling your rifle up to your shoulder and looking out the scope.

“I promise there’s more. I saw at least three.”

“Three? There’s only three more?” You stared at Tommy. Things were beginning to make less and less sense..

“There’s more by the north lookout,” Tommy explained. You sighed and picked up a bullet from the box Tommy had brought over. Feeling a bullet in your hand sent your nerves racing. There was suddenly a loud buzzing in your ear, growing increasingly louder and louder.

“You have to stay silent. If they see you, they’ll kill you.”

You blinked and it was gone. Whispers of a memory that would forever be etched into your mind. “Tommy, will you, take the first one?” You looked up at him with wide eyes, your voice vacant. Tommy nodded with an understanding look and took his own rifle and lined up his shot on a runner near the tree line. He pushed out the breath from his lungs and shot. You looked away, wincing, as the bullet hit its mark.

“Your turn,” Tommy said, resting his rifle on the wooden perch.

You gulped and slowly picked up your rifle, hiking it up to your shoulder. You gently picked up a bullet from the box without looking, you loaded it into the chamber. You looked out into scope, staring down at the infected below. It had been a while since you had seen infected. They were almost hard to look at, their bloody torn faces and mechanical moving bodies. It was saddening. They were people once too.

You lined up your shot. You let out all your breath, your finger over the trigger, and pulled it. You felt the recoil before you heard the shot. The burst of noise sounded like a scream. A warning. You weren’t supposed to be out here.

You immediately pushed the gun down, you fell back to the floor, crawling away from the gun. Panic rose in your chest, you tried your hardest to quell it, but nothing worked, fear outweighed everything when there was nothing else there. Tommy rushed to your side, he was concerned.

Your eyes were wide, and terror ripped through you like a wave, pulling you under. Joel noticed too, he came over quickly. Joel or Tommy asked you something, but you could barely hear. It was too loud, the ringing in your ears sounded like a terrible screaming alarm.

“Oh my god,” You choked out, eyes unfocusing. Tears threatening to spill from your eyes in heavy droplets.

“Hey, hey, snap out of it,” Joel gently shook you. You pulled your arm away from him quickly. You glared at him without thinking.

“I-I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened,” You said, you put your hands on the cool grass in an attempt to ground yourself.

“Well it’s okay, I think we’ll head back to the north lookout for a little while, until you calm down, that okay?” Tommy asked you, looking at you with sympathy.

You still weren’t calm, it felt like a scream was waiting to be pulled out, but if you tried, no sound would come. Instead there was silence. Not a single sound in the world.

“Yeah, yeah,” You replied quickly, springing yourself up from the ground and brushing the dirt off from your pants. Tommy and Joel shared a look. Tommy picked up the guns from behind you, you reached out to take yours but Tommy resisted.

Joel unhitched the horses for you while you waited, holding your arms and taking in deep shuddering breaths. You knew exactly what came over you, it was foolish to agree to this stupid patrol. Tommy could have easily done it himself and you wouldn’t have had to make a mockery of yourself.

Joel led Levia over to you, and helped you up to the saddle. You had something to hold on to now, which was much better than before. Tommy got on his own horse and waited for Joel to hop on Caesar. When everyone was situated, you headed off towards the north lookout.

•••

The ride was silent on the way there, luckily it was only an hour away. Anymore silence would have made your head hurt. You still weren’t entirely calm, you were still outside of Jackson, your job wasn’t done here yet.

When the large building came into view you suddenly remembered all the good times you had there.

You hitched Levia at the front of the lookout and walked in, Joel and Tommy following you.

“You wanna tell us what the hell happened back there?” Joel asked while you walked down, setting your bag down at the table.

“No. I don’t want to talk about it,” You sighed. You weren’t in the mood for another argument. Why did Joel always have to pry?

“Okay well, Joel and I will get out of your hair for awhile, I think Ellie should be nearby, actually, we’ll go get her,” Tommy said from behind you. He hit Joel on the arm for that last comment.

“Ellie’s nearby?” You asked, plopping down on the couch. You noticed her guitar then.

“Yep, she’s been waiting to hang out with you, you know? Been awhile since she’s seen you,” Tommy responded, you could hear him grabbing something from the kitchen.

“She has?” Both you and Joel said at the same time. You glanced over at Joel, your eyebrow raised, he simply shrugged.

“Course she has. You’re like a mother to that girl,” Tommy said, looking through the cabinets. That was true of course, when things got rough in general for her, Ellie was the one she came to talk to. Someone who wasn’t related to Joel — or an in law, someone who wasn’t close with her friends, just an outside force in her life. It was good to have someone like that.

Tommy threw something on the couch next to you, you were startled for a moment. Upon examination, you realized it was a candy bar.

“Found Mark’s stash up here a few weeks back. Hid it for you,” Tommy told you. Joel was silent.

“Thanks.” You opened up the candy bar. It was Mark’s favorite. He always said that a person could be having the worst day of their life, and all they would need was a candy bar to make it good again. You weren’t sure how true it was — but candy did make you happier.

“We’ll be going out now, you best not go anywhere, alright?”

“I won’t be going anywhere, Tommy.”

•••

“Seriously Joel? The hell is going on with you two?”

“Ask her. She’s only avoided me for the past three goddamn months, and suddenly on my first day off in weeks, I have to escort her to a place she knows damn well where it is? Seems pretty damn fishy to me,” Joel scoffed. Caesar galloped besides Tommy’s horse, they were getting closer to the Ottawa Lookout, where Ellie was at.

“You know what today was supposed to be for her, Joel?” Tommy asked Joel.

“No, you really think I’m told much of anything that goes on about her anymore?”

“Today was supposed to be a test. See how well she could do back on patrol, ease her back into this, and Joel, you aren’t making this much easier for her,” Tommy glared at his brother as they traveled across the forest to the lookout.

Joel’s brow furrowed, “A test? The hell for?”

“You really are as dumb as rocks, big brother. It’s not my place to say. Maybe you should confront her about it instead of bickering and causing her to panic. Even a goddamn clicker could see that you were making her uncomfortable.”

“And you think I haven’t tried asking her where she’s been for the past three months?”

“Knowing you Joel, I’m sure you didn’t ask. More like yelled,” Tommy bit back. Joel was more than willing to continue the argument, but the Ottawa lookout came into view. It was a smaller building, that was once a home, on a steep hill that faced Jackson.

Ellie’s horse, Shimmer was waiting outside. Ellie was on the front porch with a journal.

“Hey guys,” Ellie called out.

Joel and Tommy waved to her as they got off their horses.

“Let’s go inside for a bit. Got some things I want to discuss,” Tommy said.

“Sure,” Ellie grabbed her notebook and headed in. She sat down at the table that faced the many windows, Joel and Tommy pulling up a chair to sit with her.

“How’d it go? Didn’t expect you guys to be back so soon.” Ellie rested her hands on her thighs, waiting for an answer.

“Can’t say it went well so far. I think we’ll go back out tomorrow, or maybe later today,” Tommy shrugged. Ellie gave him a knowing look.

“Wait, you’re telling me Ellie’s on this too?” Joel asked, leaning forward onto the table.

“Yeah? I mean, I thought you were too,” Ellie said, raising her eyebrows in confusion.

“Maria decided two people would be enough. She wanted to ease into it, get her around people who don’t piss her off immensely,” Tommy replied, glancing over to Joel.

Joel huffed before replying, “We butt heads sometimes, sure, but I don’t piss her off all that much.”

“All that much? Joel, I saw how uncomfortable she was riding with you.” Tommy shook his head. The sun was high in the sky now, the windows allowing light to come through.

“And Mark couldn’t have come out here instead of me, why?” Joel asked Tommy. He was only becoming more and more confused.

“Mark’s out of commission right now, but it don’t matter. I know you care about her Joel, I know she cares about you too but Maria just wanted to test the waters first. It was supposed to be your day off too, she didn’t want to assign you to a small job like this.”

“Yeah, why are you even here?” Ellie said curiously.

“Maria asked me to escort her. If Maria didn’t want me out here, why’d she ask me to come?”

“Y/N insisted you come. Maria told me that she said that she needed someone she could trust out here. Someone who she could count on,” Tommy said.

“Count on? And she can’t count on you guys?”

“She can’t count on us in the way only you could,” Tommy replied slowly, he leaned back into his chair.

Joel nodded, it was all starting to click in place.

“Still doesn’t make much sense why she doesn’t want to go on patrols anymore.”

“I’m not really sure either,” Ellie chimed in.

“Not mine or Maria’s place to say. If you want to hear why, maybe ask her, but be careful, I hear it’s a delicate subject.”

•••

[thecreelhouse]

only for you

Paring: Robin Buckley x Reader

Summary: You’re still in the closet, and so is your relationship with Robin, and you do everything you can to be extra careful the truth doesn’t slip out. Fate during a night roller skating challenges that, though.

Word count: 2.5k

Warnings: some language, mostly a whole lotta fluff!

A/N: changed this up a little from the original request, but I hope y’all still enjoy! <3

“You think today’s the day?”

Robin’s question pulls you from your concentration over lacing up your skates. You quirk a brow at her.

“The day that you stop falling on your ass every five seconds?” You teased, and Robin sighed loudly as she rolled her eyes.

“I mean, you didn’t have to be so harsh, but yeah.” She said, flipping you off. You grabbed her hand, pushing her finger down before letting your hand slip in hers, since no one was around the table you sat at.

Your hands intertwined hung low below the table’s surface, a quick rush surging through you at the subtle sign of rebellion against society’s standards. You’d do anything to live in a world that was comfortable with your love for Robin, but you knew keeping the relationship secret protected the both of you in the long run.

Robin quickly pulled her hand away from yours when Steve strolled up to the table, giving the two of you a curious look before sitting across you. The kids scrambled in shortly after him, rushing to the rental booth to grab their skates for the day.

The skating rink was relatively quiet today, aside from a few couples already making laps on the floor. Your heart sank at the sight of them, hands laced together as they skated side by side, smiles brighter than the lights hitting the disco ball in the center of the room. You wondered what it was like to be so carefree in displaying your love without consequences. You wondered if you’d ever see the day things would get better, where you wouldn’t have to hide away like the monster society saw you as.

“Hellooooo, Earth to Y/N,” Robin waved a hand in front of your face, breaking your stare over the happy couples. You twisted to face her, eyes locking and feeling your heart leap all over again, just like the first time you saw each other. Your gaze strayed to her freckles, glittered across her face, and felt the world melt away as you silently admired your girlfriend.

Steve cleared his throat, glancing at you two with an odd, suspicious look. You snapped yourself out of your trance, relieved you didn’t do anything obvious in public.

“So,” Steve started awkwardly as he got up from the table. “You think Robin’s gonna finally make a full lap around safely?”

Robin sighed, throwing her head back in annoyance. “God, give me a break, guys! It’s hard!”

You giggled, shaking your head, “I dunno, Rob, you freeze up every time you hit the floor.”

Steve smirked at the banter between you two before heading to the rental booth. You sighed in relief loudly as soon as he was out of earshot.

“You’re gonna get us in trouble one of these days, I swear.” Robin teased, voice softer, pinching your side. You squeaked before pouting.

“Maybe, but today’s not the day for that.” You shrugged, trying to let it go, while Robin smiled softly at you.

You got up and pulled Robin along the carpeted sitting area, heading for the opening towards the floor as ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’ flooded out of the speakers.

The kids were already a few full laps in on the floor, with El happily being pushed by Mike for a head start, giggling at the feeling of gliding across the floor. Max wanted to hold hands with Lucas, but Lucas was more concerned about showing her the new dance moves he learned last week. Will skated cautiously, smiling at his friends as they passed, linking arms with them from time to time before skating off on his own. Steve was watching over all the kids, but mainly had Dustin glued to his side, talking his ear off about Star Wars theories as they cruised on the floor.

Robin’s arm was linked into yours, gripping onto you for dear life as you gracefully glided the both of you along the floor. The reflections off the disco ball danced across the two of you as you rounded the curved edge of the room.

This was the thing you loved about roller skating with Robin; the two of you could be close like this without raising suspicions. You could link arms, hold her hand, pull her close, all under the guise of keeping her from falling, keeping her safe. Just being a good best friend, showing her how to skate.

You wished you could be open about your love together, but this was the next best thing, at least. It was like getting away with something, and that was better than absolutely nothing.

You picked up the pace, swaying your hips and legs to the music, and Robin giggled before slipping, her skates sending her rolling back quickly. You moved fast enough to catch her before she could hit the ground, holding her up as you hovered over her. The two of you caught your breath at the close call.

“I’d kiss you right now if I could,” You mumbled, just loudly enough for her to hear, and Robin blushed before you pulled her up.

Steve skated past the two of you, cocking a brow as he noticed the moment linger a second too long before rounding the curve, continuing down the floor.

“Jesus, I swear he knows.” You said, slowly skating again, locking your arm in Robin’s, tugging her along.

Robin gained the tiniest amount of balance back before nudging into you softly, “Y’know, Steve knows I like girls, right? I told him last summer.”

“I know, but—“ Dustin whizzed past the two of you, startling Robin before she broke out into more laughter. “— I just- It’s not— What if they hate us? What if they all find out and hate us?”

Robin shrugged, biting her lip softly, “Steve wouldn’t, and I doubt the kids care, they’re just kids, you know.”

You grew quiet, lost in the doubts and ‘what ifs’ that surrounded the mere thought of coming out, even to your friends. Despite all the weird shit you’d all been through, you couldn’t help but worry this was still the weirdest thing. That fighting monsters could somehow strengthen bonds, but the truth about you and Robin would shatter that all. It even sounded ridiculous to you, yet you just couldn’t help but be nervous.

The worrying clouded your concentration, and you felt yourself begin to fall, but couldn’t react quickly enough. All the ways you learned how to “fall safely” were so far out of reach with all your current thoughts spiraling around your brain, and Robin wasn’t experienced enough to catch herself, let alone to catch you.

So you fell, and you fell hard, landing face down as you slammed your nose against the floor. Stars exploded behind your eyelids, making you feel dizzy. It didn’t take long for blood to start flowing, and it stung. You tried your hardest not to cry, unsure what hurt worse, the physical damage or the embarrassment.

Robin slid to the floor, pulling you up gently. She gasped at the sight of your injured nose, wincing at the blood dripping down your face.

“Guess this is karma for making fun of all the times you fell, huh?” You grumbled, smiling through the building tears and the pain that radiated far across your face, now.

The kids slowed in their spots on the floor, looking over to make sure you were okay, and Steve glided over to the two of you, helping Robin pull you up and off the floor. You collapsed onto a heavily carpeted bench- it matched the flooring, with the tacky neon designs. Steve muttered something about an ice pack, and ran off to the rental booth. Robin sat next to you, helping you get your skates off as she offered her flannel sleeve to stop the bleeding.

“This is the gayest sign of affection you’ve ever shown me,” You joked softly, gratefully taking it and holding it to your nose. Robin rolled her eyes.

“Alright, maybe you did deserve that karma.” Robin teased, poking your side playfully. You lazily flipped her off before Steve came back with an ice pack, handing it over to you.

Robin went to lift the flannel to check on the bleeding, and cringed at the sight of dried blood all over your face.

“Okay, yeah, we need to wash your face.” Robin said, sticking her tongue out. She got to her feet before pulling you to yours, waving to Steve quickly as she pulled you towards the bathroom. “We’ll be back!”

When the two of you got into the bathroom, Robin brought you over to the sink, before quickly checking the stalls to make sure the room was empty. She worked quickly to scrub the blood off your face with a wet paper towel, and you squeezed your eyes shut any time she got too close to your nose; it still stung badly.

“Sorry, babe.” Robin mumbled, frowning as she threw the paper towel out before grabbing a new one. She continued to wipe away the last of the blood, smirking at you. “This is definitely karma at work.”

“Shut up,” You huffed, looking away as you crossed your arms. Robin pulled back to check once more that she didn’t miss any spots. Your nose was swollen and red, but the bleeding had slowed enough, at least.

You tore a smaller part of the paper towel off before pressing it to your nose, blotting it again. Robin watched you cautiously, making sure you were okay. Her face scrunched up, eyes falling across your lips. “Oh, god, wait, I definitely missed a spot.”

Your eyes went wide, “What? Where?” as you tried to turn to the mirror to get a closer look, but Robin reached for your chin, gently holding it in place as she smirked.

“Right—“ Robin kissed your jawline softly, quickly moving a little higher, “- here. And here-“ another kiss, closer to the corner of your mouth, making your stomach flutter. “Oh, and here, too—“ she kissed the tip of your nose softly before pulling away, eyes landing on your lips again.

“Robin, someone could see us!” You hissed, though unable to hide your growing smile. Robin shrugged, kissing your cheek, then finally kissing your lips, soft and sweet. She was careful to not press her nose against yours too hard. You knew the risks of being close in public like this, but couldn’t resist her pouty, pillowy lips against yours, or the way she always tasted like strawberries. You wanted more, but Robin pulled back slowly, causing you to whine a little before she rested her forehead against yours.

“We’re the only ones in here right now, and no one uses these bathrooms anyway,” Robin dismissed, leaving a trail of gentle kisses across your face as she smiled playfully. “I’m just checking on my girlfriend, making sure she’s safe, that’s all.”

Robin leaned in to kiss your lips before a harsh, sudden bang! echoed against the door startled the two of you, frozen in place, followed by an “I knew it! I called it!”.

Your eyes fell wide as your gaze never left Robin’s, also filled with fear before moving towards the door. You followed close behind, palms sweating as she opened the door. All of the kids and Steve were squished into the short hallway just outside the door, looking at you and Robin like deer in headlights.

Other than the music playing on the floor, still, the silence among everyone was painfully loud. Eyes darted left and right, waiting for someone to say something.

Dustin was the first to speak up, quietly, “So, does this mean I lost the bet?”

Steve elbowed him, mumbling a “Shut it!” but you and Robin still heard it. Robin scoffed, crossing her arms as she stepped a little in front of you protective.

“So, what’s the bet about?” Robin asked, irritated. Dustin’s face grew red as he shyly stepped back behind Steve, and Steve began stuttering wildly.

“Uh- well you see- the thing is- it wasn’t like a bad thing—“

“These dinguses took a bet on if you two were dating or not,” Max deadpanned, throwing a thumb their way as she rolled her eyes. “Steve thought so but Dustin thought you just liked each other and didn’t say anything.”

“Are you all in on this?” You asked quietly, peeking over Robin’s shoulder. Some of the kids blushed, others shrugged while the rest shook their heads.

“So- so you all knew?” Robin asked, holding her breath. The kids stayed silent, but Steve nodded slowly.

“We kinda knew something was going on, just wasn’t sure what,” Steve said, fidgeting with his hands before shoving them in his pockets. “We’re sorry we eavesdropped, we’ve just been- we all— you know—.”

“We’re happy for you.” Will spoke up, saving Steve’s sinking words. Lucas nodded, smiling.

“You can see how much you care about each other,” He added. “It’s kind of obvious.”

Max nudged his arm lightly, frowning before adding, “It’s cute. We’ve seen the way you fall asleep on each other during sleepovers.”

“We support you.” Mike said, and El nodded with a grin.

“Safe.” She spoke up. “Safe, and happy.”

“That’s all that really matters.” Dustin chimed as he poked his head out from behind Steve.

Robin didn’t realize she was tearing up until you reached out to gently wipe the tears away. She smiled at you before reaching out for your hand, softly lacing her fingers between yours.

“We love you guys, we just don’t want you to feel like you have to hide around us.” Steve reassured, smiling as his gaze wandered to your hands intertwined. “We’ll kick anyone’s ass that says anything, too.”

“If anyone messes with you two, they have to go through us first!” Dustin agreed, and you couldn’t help hide the laughter that bubbled out of you, brushing your own tears away.

“Even if the world’s not safe right now, you always are safe with us.” Steve said, and the kids all chimed in, agreeing and assuring it was absolutely fine to be yourselves around them.

The heavy weight you carried on your shoulders finally lifted, not completely, but enough. You could tell how relieved Robin was, too.

“I think this calls for celebratory slushies,” You said, giggling, and the kids cheered at the idea, racing back to the food stand. Steve laughed as he followed them, turning to you and Robin, waving you along.

Both of you lingered in the hallway a little longer, enjoying the blissful feeling of acceptance among the Party while hiding from any wandering eyes as you held each other’s hands.

You glanced out, making sure no one was in view, just the kids and Steve, and you quickly pressed a kiss to Robin’s lips, smiling against one another. Squeals of excitement across the room echoed from the kids, pulling laughter out of the both of you.

Robin teased, “And you thought I was bold, huh?”

You let go of her hand, already longing to hold it again, but didn’t want to keep the group waiting.

“You know what they say about love,” you joked as she walked side by side with you. Robin bumped her hip into yours.

“That it makes you a total dingus?”

“Only for you, Robin.” You giggled, nudging back into her. “Only for you.”

——

Taglist: @harringtown​ @jxnehxpper​ @harrington-ofhawkins​ @ilovebucketbarnes​

@whimsicalwoodlands​

[yurtletheturtlehenderson]

Scars That Heal || Eddie Kaspbrak x Reader Series

• Ch. 10: Who Needs You •

    “You!”

    The howl of fury from Sonia Kaspbrak brought a whole new sense of fear to the Losers as they stood on the opposing end of her finger. Having fled the gruesome house on Neibolt, the Losers, in a great panic, had managed to haul their injured friend away from Neibolt and back to his own front lawn. Thanks to Mike, who while thinking quickly, had placed Eddie in his bike’s basket, the two were able to escape on their bikes with the rest of their friends. And though the horrid scene was now blocks away, not a single Loser dared lose a notch of speed. Nor did they stop until they had discarded their bikes on Eddie’s front lawn, panting heavily.

    “You did this!” She hissed, immediately separating Eddie from his friends.

    The seven Losers parted hesitantly as she forced him by the nape of the neck across the lawn towards her car.

    “You know how delicate he is.” She huffed, earning a few heavy eye rolls from a select few.

    Bill stepped forward after them, finding his voice, and powering through his stutter.

    “W-We were attacked, M-Mrs. K,”

    She opened the squeaky passenger door, just about shoving Eddie inside, and turned on the seven friends. She stared each of them down, fiery gaze meeting with each pair of eyes.

    “No! Don’t,” she ordered, slamming the door shut, caging a still frightened Eddie. “Don’t try to blame anyone else.”

    Her hands shake with rage, causing her ring of keys to slip from her fingers and land on the pavement. Seeing this, Beverly bends down after them.

    “Let me help-” She offers, only to be cut off and shooed away by the woman.

   "Get back!“ She bellows.

    She steps forward, retrieving her keys, and straightens enough to lean in close to intimidate Beverly.

    "Oh, I’ve heard of you miss Marsh,” Mrs. Kaspbrak sneered. “And I don’t want a dirty girl like you touching my son.”

    “Mrs. Kaspbrak, please, if we could just explain-” Y/n pleas were soon cut short.

    “Enough!” The woman roared, her puffy face turning red.

    She looked Y/n up and down with a snide look in her eye as if the young girl was nothing more than something she had dragged in on her shoe.

    “Don’t think I haven’t heard of you either, you filthy little thing! Following this harlot around town,” she quickly throws Beverly a hostile look. “begging for scraps like some stray. Wouldn’t be surprised if you picked up on her dirty little habits and I certainly won’t have you lurking around my son any longer!”

    Y/n stood unnaturally still, taking the conjectures she had heard almost her entire life with surprising composure. But that wall she had built up, cracked, just ever so at the mention of Eddie and she glanced past the screaming woman and into the car where Eddie’s small stature was barely visible over the windows in the low seat. This was the first time he had allowed himself to look at one of them, and it was at Y/n.

    Their eyes met, her gaze was distant, and she seemed to be disconnecting from reality as if to spare herself from the pain of saying goodbye. As if she knew his mother would finish her lecture, get in the car, and drive away with Eddie and that would be it. She knew that Eddie wouldn’t stand up for her. Get angry for her, or even for himself, and finally stand up to his mother. But she didn’t blame him, he had barely escaped death, and even still, he had a horribly broken arm.

    But that didn’t stop her heart from breaking as she saw his large doe brown eyes staring back at her. They were frightened and docile as his mother continued shouting abuse at her; The girl who was quickly after his heart.

    “You are not to speak to my Eddie, you are not to set foot within five hundred feet, of my Eddie Bear, nor can you even-” she stopped suddenly, roughly turning the girl’s head to look at her, and lowered her voice. “You are not to even look at my Eddie.”

    She leaned forward into the girl’s face and glared spitefully.

    “I don’t want my son catching fleas.” She spits.

    Everyone had stood silently in shock, not expecting such venomous words from the woman. Nor were they expecting a heated comeback from Richie who stepped forward beside Y/n, fists clenched despite his otherwise cool exterior.

    “With all due respect, Mrs. K, Y/n isn’t the problem,” Her wild glare shifted to the boy. “If you’re worried about fleas, Eddie’s more likely to catch ‘em from living up your v-”

    Richie was suddenly cut off by a hand clamping over his mouth, it was Y/n. Who albeit, very much appreciated the gesture - and would certainly laugh about it in the future - still wanted at least a sliver of a chance of both her and Richie getting to see Eddie again.

    The woman took a long deep breath and glared daggers at the boy. Anyone there would know a million things were running through her head at that moment; several things she would have liked to have said to the no-good heathen that her son always clung to, but she knew she could waste no more time. Her eyes said enough.

    “Don’t start with me young man, this is far from over.” She seethed.

    And with that, she whirled around on her heel and wobbled over to the driver’s side.

    “Thanks, Richie,” Y/n croaked, a silent tear streaking her dirtied cheek.

    “Catching fleas,” Richie grumbled. “Honestly! And you guys actually think my mouth’s the one that outta be sewn shut.”

    The remaining seven Losers watched miserably, and helplessly as the '79 Pacer Wagon containing their friend, disappeared around the block. Y/n felt hopelessly deflated, and her gaze fell to her torn and mucked up shoes. She silently noted they were somehow, even filthier now thanks to her trip to Neibolt. Her slight disappointment with her shoes paled in comparison to what she was really troubled with. It felt as though, even when they had each escaped with their lives, this moment did not feel like a victory.

    Bill turned to face them each, a surprising amount of hope in his eyes and it was enough to pull Y/n from her somber thoughts. That is until she heard what he had to say.

    “I saw the well.” He says, drawing several concerned glances his way. “W-w-we know where it is, and-and next time we’ll be better prepared.”

    “No!” Stan cried incredulously. “No next time, Bill! You’re insane!”

    “Why?” Beverly countered. “We all know no one else is going to do anything.”

    Y/n looked at her best friend with a pained look, shocked and brokenhearted at where this conversation would head. Biting her lip, she steps forward, anger flaring up.

    “And what about Eddie?” Y/n asked heatedly, gesturing down the street before pointing at her other bleeding friend. “or Ben? Does the fact that they, among all of us, nearly died, mean anything to you guys?”

    Bill does not fight hard to stop the wounded expression molding onto his face, but it quickly dissolves in his growing impatience. “Y-You too?”

    “Bill,” Mike eases. “Come on, man, think of what you’re asking.”

    “N-No,” he sputters. “Think of w-what you’re asking.”

    Richie gapes at his friend, a look of wild bewilderment in his eyes and his arms thrown to the sides. “You shittin’ me, Bill? Were you not just in that crack den with us? Did you not see what happened? Fucking Christ, we were this close to being chum!”

    Beverly stepped forward, a hand thrown behind her as she gestured protectively to Bill. “But we’re not! We hurt it - Y/n, you hurt it! Don’t you guys see? The moment we came together is the moment It got weaker.”

    “And look where it got us,” Y/n scoffed, looking around at the broken circle of Losers. “Beverly, this isn’t some make-believe bullshit quest we’re talking about. Hell, I don’t know what the fuck that was, but I do know one thing. That we’re just kids, and we don’t stand a chance against that thing.”

    A sour look crosses Beverly’s face at her friend’s words.

    “Well, we can’t pretend It’s gonna go away,” she argued, suddenly turning to the Hanscom boy. “Ben, you said it yourself, It comes back every twenty-seven years.”

    “Fine! I’ll be forty and far away from here.” He snapped, immediately feeling a small pang of guilt and his demeanor softens just ever so. “I thought you said you wanted to get out of this town, too.”

    “Because I wanna run towards something. Not away,”

    Richie’s eyes rolled behind his thick lenses, and he threw his arm up at the girl with great annoyance.

    “I’m sorry, who invited Molly Ringwald into the group?”

    Beverly merely glared and held up her middle finger to the trashmouth.

    “Richie-” Stan argued.

    “No!” Richie looks around once more, anger flaring up as he gestures to Y/n. “Y/n’s right, we need to face facts. Real world.”

    Richie settled his gaze on Bill, a genuine spark of sympathy in his eyes.

    “Georgie is dead.” He says, and he feels as if the weight he’s carried tiptoeing around his friend has lifted and he begins to walk away. “Stop trying to get us killed, too,”

    Bill jumps in front of Richie, instantly blocking his path, and his face goes beet red in anger.

    “Georgie’s not dead!” Bill roars, squaring his shoulders though he did not feel more powerful.

    Richie looks his friend in the eye and notes his hurt, but cannot ignore his own. “You couldn’t save him, but you can still save yourself.”

    “No!” Bill stops Richie in his tracks once more, his stutter flaring up as every ounce of hurt over his brother resurfaces. “T-ta-t-take it b-back! Y-You’re scared,”

    Bill looks around at his circle of friends, all lost and broken.

    “we all are. But take it back!” He shouts, his heartbreak turning to anger in seconds and he shoves Richie back harshly.

    Richie tenses briefly before charging after Bill and shoving him harshly. Bill can no longer hold back. All his anger, hurt, and loss that had been festering over the past several months. It had all boiled to the top and formed a fist that hooked into Richie’s left jaw that sent him stumbling into the concrete.

    “Bill!”

    Stan and Mike scramble to pick Richie up off the ground, and Ben lunges after Bill to keep him from another attempted swing at Richie.

    “You’re just a bunch of losers!” Richie sputters, fighting against his friends to get a punch in himself.

    “Richie, stop, just take a breath,” Y/n eases, placing herself between the boys.

    Blinded by the betrayal, and the painful welt already forming on his jaw, Richie ignores the girls’ pleas and continues shouting over to Bill. “Fuck off! You’re just a bunch of losers who’ll get yourselves killed-”

    Beverly cuts in, her own anger boiling to the top. “Stop!”

    “-trying to kill a fucking clown!”

    “STOP!” Beverly roars, finally gaining everyone’s attention.

    A look of clarity passes over her and she looks around at her friends. “This is what It wants. It wants to divide us. We were all together when we hurt It. That’s why we’re still alive.”

    “Yeah?” Richie pipes, adjusting his lenses having finally broken free. “Well, I plan to keep it that way.”

    His chest puffed out in his mix of pride and anger, he marches past Bill. Not without a swift but harsh shove of the shoulder, knocking him off balance. One by one the rest of Losers follow his lead, the first being Y/n.

    “Y/n-”

    “No, Beverly,” Y/n states, heartbreak evident in her voice. She turns to look at her two friends, her eyes matching her tone. “No way. That’s three times now I’ve barely gotten out alive. I’m not trying for a fourth.”

    Her mouth parted to speak the parting words that sat on her tongue, but even goodbye was too painful. In a way, she feared if she were to say it, she’d be sealing their very fates. That she’d never see them again, so instead, she settles for picking up her bike, casting one last pained look their way before disappearing down the road.

    Bill shifts his attention to Mike, who is already picking up his bike.

    “Mike-?” His voice is aching, pleading for his friend to stay.

    Mike only stops briefly, throwing back an equally broken and pleading voice. He shrugs, defeated.

    “Guys… I can’t do this,” he shakes his head, his grandfather’s voice ringing in his ears and tugging at his gut. “My granddad was right… I’m an outsider. Gotta stay that way.”

    And just as Y/n had moments earlier, he mounts his bike without another word and starts off down the road. Bill and Bev remain, exchanging sullen looks at a loss for words. And a plan.

· · ─── ·𖥸· ─── · ·

    The town of Derry Maine had never been in more danger with the separation of the Losers Club. And the kids themselves had never felt more broken. In the span of just those few short minutes, their world had shattered. The only Losers to remain in one another’s company was Y/n and Richie, who both carried the heavyweight of Eddie’s absence on their shoulders the most. But even they found themselves alone in times where it counted the most.

    In the weeks that followed, a dark cloud hung threateningly above their heads, watching their every move. While this was by definition, the very concept of Derry itself, they knew now exactly what it was. And yet, after all they had faced, all the pain and horror that would follow them for the rest of their lives, there still lingered the pain of their separation.

    Beverly sat at her desk, head hung over her keyboard as she plucks away a familiar tune. It brought her back to the many times Y/n had been over, the two of them both attempting to play half of a song, laughing hysterically in the process as they screwed each other up. It would go on like this with no end in sight, that is until Beverly’s father came to scold them for being too loud. But when he disappeared they’d just snicker to one another, too amused to care. But all Beverly had now to keep her company was her sullen thoughts and the many photos of herself and her friends - mostly Y/n - scattered across her wall.

    Bill’s house was as lonely as ever. Like Beverly - and the rest of their friends - Bill would wander the halls of his house, desperately hoping for a distraction from the loneliness he felt. Not just from the fight with his friends, but the usual lack of Georgie that taunted him. His picture was everywhere which seemed rather odd to Bill given his parents’ blatant denial of Georgie’s death that went so far as to pretend he had never existed at all. As he sat alone in the dining room now, watching the summer rain patter against the window just has it had that day, he felt the inescapable grip of isolation clutch his heart. He hadn’t been greeted by such a silence since before summer break where he’d face the emptiness of his house with not even his mother’s piano to coat the silence that Georgie left. And to this day, nothing had touched the piano but the thick layer of dust that coated it now.

    Stan had not been fairing so well either. While he usually found himself facing a great deal of frustrations with the combined chaos of Richie, Y/n, and Eddie, he now found he missed them greatly. He missed sharing jokes with Beverly that nobody else understood, and he missed sharing gentle, quiet moments with Mike who always showed interest in Stan’s hobbies like birdwatching. Something the others never really took to. The quick remarks thrown back and forth between Bill and himself from the sidelines when the others got into mischief. And Ben, who often tended to be soft-spoken like himself, was better at creating a space for Stan to talk when he didn’t feel quite as heard. Stan missed the Losers deeply, and more than anything, he missed being one.

    Mike went back to work on his grandparents’ farm. Not that he hadn’t ever stopped, but now he had nothing to look forward to. Normally, his days consisted of farm work until five - sometimes four-thirty if he got his work done early - before he promptly met up with his best friends. Now it was just himself, all alone on the farm again. Aside from Mooriuel, his favorite calf who he had named in secret. She was rather happy to be seeing more of him on the farm. Though like her caretaker, she missed the occasional visits from his friends. But they hardly did, except for Y/n who’d often feed the cows snacks, and even made a daisy chain for Mike that he refused to take off. That had made her smile profusely, and he often thought of that day.

    While Mike had thrown his attention into his work on the farm - including taking up the duty of putting down the sheep, which he greatly despised - Ben spent his time deep within the books at the Derry Public Library. He hadn’t learned much, nothing he hadn’t already yet again he found himself closing another dusty old book. He sighs, looking up at the first thing his eyes find. Coincidentally, though deep in his heart it does not feel right to call it a coincidence, his gaze lands on an old painting framed on the wall that loomed over the entire library.

    It was a woman and her newborn child standing alone on a prairie, looking deep into an old familiar-looking well. Ben knew very well that it was a historical art piece of Derry, the Well House no less and as he looks at it now he can feel the thick layer of ice encircling his heart and chilling him to the very bone. What horrors this town was capable of, horrors he had seen with his own eyes, and yet no one else in Derry had even the slightest clue what lived under their very noses. He wondered if they ever would.

    Eddie Kaspbrak perhaps fared the worst among his friends, he hadn’t realized how suffocating his own home truly was when he didn’t have the simple escapes with the Losers. It was a feeling both metaphorical and literal as he struggled to survive under his mother’s thumb, not to mention he had gone through twice his supply of inhalers with the crushing weight of anxieties his mother gave him. He thought of Richie and Y/n the most. He missed Richie’s teasing and crude humor no matter how crass and disgusting it was. And he longed for the times Y/n would bring out a specific blush in his cheeks when she called him 'shrimp’, or the simple sound of her laughter.

    He knew how sappy he sounded, and a part of him hated himself for it, but it was true. He could picture them now, riffing on one another while still managing to rag on him.

    He hoped they were.

+++

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[bitchfitch]

Copper artfight resource

big soft boy. if a cup of spicy hot chocolate was a massive apex predator/ obligate carnivore.

mikely stabbed him the first time they met and he fell in love Instantly.

an excerpt:

Death crept through the lavish halls of a rich man's home. Old cracked paint flaked beside sun faded tapestries and over well worn wood floors. The raged leather soles of of his boots softly thumping along with the creaking of old wood that accompanied his every step. He found the room easily, following the sound of a fading cough and short not quite gasping breaths that failed to draw enough air. 

He ducked through the door and the dying man greeted him with age hazed eyes and a broad grin.

"Copper!" his exclamation carried joy even if his lungs couldn't support more than a creaking whisper, "Bastard, it's so good to see you again," he stopped to catch his breath, his eyes closing as he did so,

"And you as well," Copper returned the smile as he sat in the chair beside the bed, "But to be honest I'm a touch surprised, both that you can see anything through those cataracts, and that you would… Appreciate my presence," 

The rich man chuckled, "Not many people have hair that color, even fewer are as tall as you. I may not be able to see much, but I can still see that,"

"I suppose you're right," Copper huffs with a hand going to his dark red mess of a mane "Still, you must remember the terms of our deal and what my presence means for you now?"

"I do," he nods, "I'm going to die tonight, going to see Min again," 

"Min?"

"My wife," he smiles as he speaks of her even as his words become more labored, "That quill you gave me, I wrote a letter to the girl I had fallen in love with when we were young. I didn't know she couldn't read, so she had to get someone else to read it to her, but when she'd heard what I wrote she came all the way into the valley to slap me and call me an idiot," he laughs, "Told me we should've eloped when we were both still fresh, before she'd found another man to call her own,

I'd not even thought that she'd have gone on like that. It made sense, she could have, and did, do so much better than me. But luck of lucks saw that husband of hers dead not long after. I felt bad for being so happy, but I couldn't stop smiling when she and I married,

That quill- You, gave me the happiest life I could have imagined. I'm glad to pay my end of the deal now, because it means I get to see her again,"

"It's a rare treat to find someone with no regrets, thank you for your story," Copper smiles softly, genuine and warm,

"Oh, I've got regrets," the rich man say "Many, but I don't care to dwell on them, not now… or… Well, one, there's one,"

"Hmm?"

"Min and I, we had a fight right before… She was so mad at me last time I saw her. Do you think she still is?"

"I don't know, but you will have plenty of time to make it up to her soon,"

"Yeah, yeah that's true… It's close now is it?"

"Moments if I had to guess," Copper shrugs, "The clot in your lung is migrating and will soon block off blood flow to the area completely. After that happens you won't be able to get enough air and will… fall asleep, then you will suffocate over a few minutes. It won't be the most pleasant of deaths, but it won't hurt badly," he simplified things greatly, not caring for the slight inaccuracies so long as they helped keep the rich man calm and peaceful in these final moments.

"Any final requests?" Copper cocks his head,

"I think… yeah, I think I want to be alone for this. Thank you," 

"Of course. Rest well then, and may your sleep bring great growth" Copper stood from his seat, the blessing leaving him without thought as the rich man closed his eyes a smile still tugging on his old, withered face.

The door to the rich man's room shut with a light thud as Copper drifted down the halls, a heavy sigh falling from his lips. He rarely visited the dying, usually he only came to the deceased caught between their death's and their afterlives to guide them across, and this was why. He knew where the clot was, it would only take a moment and a little bit of concentration to break it up enough that the rich man's body would be able to handle it on it's own. Sure, doing so would probably only buy him a few more bed bound days, a week maybe, but healers can rarely be trusted to leave the sick and dying to the whims of nature and he was no different. 

He wandered through the empty halls decorated with treasures that, do to a single deal made half a century ago, would soon be his, and found his way into a shrine room. Shelves upon shelves of precious jewls and metals, fine fabrics and sculptures filled the room. Though the alter beneath the stained glass window held only sea glass and shells that glittered from around a poorly made tapestry that depicted a stormy ocean.

The threads were too loose in some places too tight in others and there were places where it was clear the weaver ran out of one color and had attempted to dye more only for it to come out just wrong enough to be noticed. It was clearly made by inexperienced hands and now stood displayed still in it's loom in the place of honor on this shrine. Pride in its existence radiated from it and that made it stunning despite it's flaws. 

Distantly, he felt the rich man die, quietly and peacefully.

One of Copper's aspects would guide him across and later while Copper slept he'd dream of the conversation that aspect and the rich man would have, and he would dream of the conversations his other, near innumerable, aspects would have, and have had, and have been having with every other human who has crossed into his domain since he last slept. Then he would wake, and forget almost everything said during those conversations as they meld together into a messy but beautiful tapestry. All the threads visible and traceable in their places but ultimately he saw it not for the individuals, but the grander thing they made together.

He picked at the stones and shells scattered on one of the shelves, his dulled claws scraping against the rough surface. He should probably go find someone to deal with the body…

The soft creaking protest of a floor board that no longer fit in it's place being tread on called from behind him. Copper turned, curious to who or what would be intruding on this moment, but he was left slack jawed with a greeting trapped behind his lips as he saw the man.

Surrounded by gold and silver and precious gems that glittered in the low moonlight that flowed through the windows, this man outshone them all. He was tall for a human, coming up to just below Copper's collar bones, with broad, strong looking shoulders. His sharp features highlighted by the silver light caressing his warm tan skin and haloed by that same light echoing through the broken strands of bleach blonde hair that fell from his neat bun to frame his narrow face.

Light agitation turned to wonder and awesrrucked silence as Copper struggled for a second to find words, but once again those words died when he met the man's eyes, they were probably a deep brown but the low light turned them onyx. His gaze was sturdy, not cold or calculating, not bored. Determined but practiced.

The strange, beutiful, human man wore the expression of a butcher or a slaughterer, he did not draw perverse pleasure or joy from what came next. He was so obviously merely doing a job as he moved faster than Copper's confusion addled mind could react to that that alone struck more fear into Copper's core than if the man were hissing and snapping with rage.

The ice hot cut of an iron blade dug past the flesh between his ribs and into his chest even as he recoiled. On pure instinct he growled an awful rumbling sound that made the butcher- the hunter, flinch as Copper managed to stumble away, nearly falling to one knee as his own lung struggled to inflate. He could feel his magic burning along the wound as it tried, and failed to pull it closed. His hand going to his bloodied side in a vain attempt of staunching the flow. 

The hunter advanced, cautious and silent, his blade, slicked with Copper's own viscous black blood, raised as he followed the retreating god.

Copper hissed as his back collided with a shelf, cornered he pulled his attentions together just enough to attempt to teleport away, only to feel his magic jolt painfully within him as it failed completely.

The hunter advanced, already readying another swing.

In that moment Copper forced himself to focus on the warm summer night air, on the flickering candles and the heat of the hunter's body, most seals could be overpowered, he just needs to rush it hard enough. 

Heat leaves the room, the hunter stumbles with a pained gasp as the heat leaves him too. Copper doesn't see if the hunter falls because the seal gives as he uses all of that stolen energy to burst against it.

He drops to his knees on the cold stone floor of the cave he calls home. His blood singing through magic seared veins, his hands shaking as he braces one against the floor below him as his world swims, both from blood loss and the disorientation that always came with pushing his power that hard,

He struggles with his wound, gasping with effort as his magic finally starts working again. The wound tieing itself closed beneath his palm, a thick black scar forming as he comes down from the mountain top high of fearing for his life for the very first time since before the advent of this universe.

Copper slumps against the water-carved wall of his home, his head falling back against it with a deep buzz running beneath his skin, and he Laughs, deep and hearty and Alive in a way he has not felt in centuries.

---

A day passed, and Copper's wound still ached every time he bent wrong, sending a pang through his chest as his heart picked up at the memory that accompanied it. Truly, he could only go a few moments without thinking of the death dealing adonis that had, very litteraly, struck him to his very heart. He needed to find the man again, to see if a second meeting would make his blood race the way the first had.

Perhaps he would even find out why he'd been attacked, but if Copper was being honest with himself, he didn't care to know. The Hunter was a mystery, and like many mysteries, he was one that could be enjoyed as is, and did not need unraveling quite yet. Still, Copper couldn't wait around for fate to bless him with a second chance meeting. He needed to find The Hunter on his own, and that meant doing a little investigating.

The moment Copper had had time to rest he laid in his bed and let his consciousness drift to the aspect that could interact with the grand tapestry. The Hunter had not hesitated for even a moment, had not flinched at spilling blood, and so there was no denying that he was experienced. That, perhaps, killing was something that either came easy to him or that he was very well practiced in the art of it.

The hunter was young, maybe mid twenties to early thirties, which narrowed his search, and the location narrowed it further. That valley was a hard month long trek through ice capped mountains from the next nearest settlement. The Hunter probably lived and prowled within its confines.

Copper focused on the last ten years worth of threads from that area that ended in white knots, the tragic, violent deaths. This would be where he found what he would need.

Going by date he gently tugged the ends through the weave so that he could examine them closer. He was careful to not pull anything more than an hours worth at a time, dreading upsetting the careful balance of the fabric and the places of the souls that he examined within it. It took a few tries, a few years worth of deaths until he found the first one that he could catch a glimpse of The Hunter from. 

And oh how Copper dreaded what he saw. Five years before he'd met the man, an older boy, maybe sixteen with sharp, fearful and wild, onyx eyes and short, jagged ink black hair cried with blood stained hands, one still holding a blade, the same one Copper would become familiar with, it was still slick with the red of human blood as the boy stumbled back against the wall as the man he'd just killed gasped his last breath.

Copper found the conversation he'd had with that spirit, a man who'd heard screaming from within a home. He'd gone to help only to be found by the Chief's boy before he could find the source of the screams. Copper had reassured him, had praised him for his bravery, had not paid enough attention. He'd guided the kind man to his afterlife while the chief's boy who would become The Hunter silently wept beside the man's body, struggling against the tears as someone called out for him. 

Tucking the tread back into place with one hand and pulling another free with the other. He grimaced when he realized it was merely a visitor's thread. Someone from Copper's own home universe who'd come into this one for one reason or another only to find their end here.

The visitor's soul had not been theirs to keep stored away amongst those of their creations and so had already been returned home. Where it would have dissipated into the background energy to eventually become the fuel for something new. No life was stored in this thread, it was merely a place holder.

Copper found more threads like that in his search, nearly twenty pale threads all from the last few years lined side by side. Tragic human deaths surrounding them but none of those human deaths involved The Hunter. That was odd, very few places in his tapestry looked so strange and knotted, and most patches that did were of wars and disasters not… whatever this was.

If he had been tangible in that moment he would've been nipping at his claws as he tried to piece together what something so strange could mean. But no answers came to him.

He found the next, and most recent, human victim of The Hunter, a man now, still too young, but undeniably a man by Copper's math, cold and stoney eyed, tangled bleached hair and a badly bruised and swelling jaw. Copper would have been surprised if The Hunter didn't have a few cracked or missing teeth from the injury, the mandible itself might be broken, a serious wound that needs setting and cleaning imeaditly. Copper's mind supplied him with the diagnosis without him meaning to think of it, so focused was he on that wrecked face and the lack of answers it presented that his mind tried to give him what few answers it could, even if those answers were worthless.

The woman The Hunter had killed had sat silent and glaring at The Hunter who silently watched her die,  his blade dripping with her blood. She'd not spoken a word to Copper. Fuming as she stormed through the gate without any guidance from him.

He wished he had insisted on actually speaking to her, on finding the answers. The iron eyed Hunter was a far cry from that sobbing boy, and yet they shared a thread.

More visitors, more tragedy, and no more answers came from the grand tapestry. 

He needed to return to that valley, surely if tragedy struck this often they'd welcome a healer? Even if they didn't, the Oracle made her home at the very center, and while Copper tried to avoid his sister's emissaries, The Oracle would be able to tell him what he needed if all else failed. Besides, her daughter was such a cute little thing, it would be a joy to hold a chubby baby again. Would the daughter still be a baby? maybe she was toddling about already, having her first little prophecies as she explored the world she would be entrusted to protect.

Oh Copper couldn't wait to visit.

[statusquoergo]

I’ve received prompts so far for “Things you said while drunk/high,” “Things you said when you were scared,” “Things you said at the kitchen table,” and “Things you said with no space between us,” and I want to thank you all so much for indulging me! Let’s kick things off with the original angst machine:

Things you said that made me feel like shit

[Read on AO3]

It’s a pretty good solution, all in all. Not ideal, but then, Mike isn’t entirely sure what such a thing would look like; his not having spent the past eight months committing certified identity fraud, probably, and it’s a bit late for that. Anyway, Lola swears she knows what she’s doing, and the extra insurance can’t hurt. Every little bit helps.

Knocking on the door to Harvey’s office, Mike lets himself in without waiting to be invited, putting on his most disarming smile as Harvey looks up from his desk.

“So I know you said not to,” he starts off with what in hindsight might be the world’s worst possible attempt at levity, “but remember when I said we should ask Lola Jensen to hack into Harvard’s alumni records to add me to the rolls?”

Harvey frowns. “You didn’t.”

“Didn’t have to.” Mike ambles over to the couch and takes a seat, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. “She wanted to do me a favor for the Stable Shelters thing, this one’s all her.”

“And you didn’t stop her?”

Didn’t…

And just how exactly would that have worked?

“Like I said,” he repeats, “she did it herself. But, I… I should be thanking her for covering my tracks, I mean you know that was gonna come back and bite us in the ass sooner or later.”

Setting down the pen in his hand and pushing his work aside, Harvey levels Mike with a somber stare. “Mike,” he says, “I know your experience with the law so far has mostly been from the lower end of the food chain, but I know you must’ve heard of a paper trail.”

Paper trail, please. As if Mike didn’t know enough to insist on cash payments for all his falsified LSATs.

“I know what a paper trail is,” he says. “I’m not an idiot. That’s the whole point of this, though, I need a paper trail so I don’t get caught.”

“You sure you’re not an idiot?”

What the fuck?

“Yes, Harvey,” Mike takes his feet off the table and sets them on the ground, “what the hell’s wrong with you, I’m covering my tracks. I thought you’d be happy about this.”

Harvey laces his fingers together and sets them down on the desk in front of him, his lips drawing into a taut line.

“Mike,” he says again. “Did it ever occur to you that I might’ve had a reason for telling you not to go down this road when you suggested it to me the first time?”

“Yeah,” Mike says, not having had much success at putting that reasonably unpleasant meeting out of his mind, “‘cause you said it wasn’t worth the trouble.”

“Because it wasn’t worth taking the unnecessary risk,” Harvey says. “You tell someone you went to Harvard Law, you tell someone you work at Pearson Hardman, they’re going to take your word for it. All you’re doing now is throwing gasoline in a fire pit and hoping no one has any matches.”

“But what if someone does go looking?” Mike retorts, sensing that he’s falling into a trap but unable to back down now, not when the argument is so ridiculous. “If there’s nothing there, I’d be screwed.”

Harvey sets his elbows on his armrests, leaning back in his chair with a foreboding scowl on his face. “How much do you trust Lola not to make any mistakes?” he challenges. “She might’ve been able to hack into Harvard’s database, but are you sure she didn’t leave any trace of what she’d done? And what about the records she put in for you, do you know what they are? If someone asks you about them, are you going to have an answer? What classes she put you in, what your grades were, what clubs you joined, why your picture isn’t in any yearbook?”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it!”

“That is exactly your problem,” Harvey snaps, flattening his hands against the desk and hunching his shoulders in such a way that comes off equally split between aggressive and defeated, assertive and guarded. “You barge into these situations without thinking of how you’re going to get yourself out of them because you just assume you’ll be able to think of something when the time comes, but you know what? The stakes are different here, the stakes are real, and you can’t keep flying blind and assuming everything’s going to work out for you!”

“Oh,” Mike snaps back, pushing himself off the couch, “right, because this is all my fault. You know what, Harvey, I have been doing my best to cover my ass this entire time, not to mention keep you out of that fire, but you’re the one who got me into this mess and I think the least you could do is be a little supportive every once in a while!”

It’s a low blow, it’s not fair, it’s picking at wounds that haven’t yet scarred, but god dammit, Mike is trying, he’s doing the best he can with what he’s got and Harvey… Harvey ought to know that much. Harvey ought to have his back, after everything he’s done. Everything Mike has done, everything Harvey has made him do.

Harvey draws his shoulders back, every trace of defensiveness disappearing from his posture in an instant.

“‘A little supportive,’” he mimics. “You don’t know half the shit I’ve done for you, half the shit I’ve had to put up with. You think you’re special, Mike? You think you’re irreplaceable? I was ready to fire you after one day and I gave you a gift letting you think you could threaten me. Do you know how deep I could bury you if you tried to blackmail me? If you tried to double cross me? You want to accuse me of knowingly engaging in fraud, I’d like to see you prove it. You bring this up to Jessica, you try to go over her head to the ethics committee, and I will bury you so deep you will never find your way back out.”

God only knows what Harvey’s dealing with right now. What kind of stress he’s under, what fights he’s fighting that he’s not telling Mike about. Not burdening him with, not trusting him with. Either, maybe, or both; Mike doesn’t know him nearly as well as he thinks he does, nearly as well as he’d like to. Not nearly well enough to guess. Mike can’t take this kind of shit personally, these kinds of words that don’t mean anything, that Harvey will regret in the morning.

He will, won’t he?

Mike’s fingers twitch, his nails scraping against his palms.

“You know what?” he says, tremulous and brittle, his eyes narrowed, turned away. “I’m not stupid, I know you’ll throw me under the bus first chance you get. But before that happens, I just want you to know one thing.” He laughs tersely, a scratching sound, and shakes his head.

“You ruined my life.” He bites his lip. “I might not have had much before I met you, it might not’ve been perfect, but it everything I had was mine. And this mistake I’m making, this act I’m trying to pull off? This dead end I’m running into?” He smiles, bitter and cold, and raises his eyes to Harvey’s.

“You did this to me.”

Harvey stands, his rigid spine and his stone face ten times, ten thousand times worse than the fury he radiated only moments ago. Mike does his best to bear it, holding firm in the face of all of their terrible mistakes, their arrogance and their stupidity crushing him down, as Harvey merely stands and stares.

“Get out.”

He barely catches it, the words too soft to reach across the floor, but he knows it without knowing how, without hearing or seeing Harvey’s lips move.

What else is there to say at a time like this? After everything, after all.

Mike walks out blindly, the route traced by memory, his hand brushing up against the wall as the door swings shut in his wake.

Harvey collapses into his desk chair and fixes his blank gaze on the wall beside the window.

Look too close, and the whole world is blacked out.

[kotorilovesalpacas]

Victorious (Levi Ackerman)

Humanity finally manages to push back the titans and venture beyond their walls. Everyone is overjoyed, except for one stoic man.

A/N: This was written before any of the later seasons came out so it may be incorrect in places, I just really liked Levi even after only seeing the first season.

Pairings: None. Just Levi.

Warnings: sad, angsty, i made myself pretty emotional by writing this lmao, references to no regrets OVA

Finally. They had finally done it. After years and years of fighting, humanity had finally been able to venture past the three walls. After years and years of fighting, the titans had learned to be scared of humans. It was a victorious day for everyone, despite several soldiers having lost their lives fighting off the last of the titans.

Levi stood behind everyone else, lingering beside his horse. As soon as a glimpse of a golden substance had come into view, both Eren and Armin had sprinted away, screaming and yelling to each other. Mikasa had followed shortly after, calling out to the two of them.

“Sand!” Armin cried aloud, flinging himself off of his horse. He knelt down upon the foreign substance, gathering it in his hands. Eren dropped down beside him, a large, childish grin permanently etched into his features. He, too, scooped up some of the substance.

“Armin, look!” Eren immediately dropped the grains, pushing his body up. Levi watched as the younger boy took off once again, heading towards a large body of water. “The ocean!”

Eren threw himself at the liquid, his body completely submerged beneath the aqua water. He then emerged from the surface, choking and spluttering. Armin laughed loudly, though Mikasa was immediately asking if he was okay.

“It’s salty!” Eren remarked, his face scrunching up in a scowl. Armin quickly stood up, rushing over to where Eren now stood, his dark hair plastered upon his head. Mikasa hesitantly climbed off of her horse, before following her two friends.

Levi leaned back against a nearby tree, his eyes narrowed as he watched his comrades. Erwin sighed, heading over to where the raven-haired man stood. He placed a hand gently on Levi’s shoulder, causing Levi’s head to whip round. He stared back at the blonde-haired man.

“We did it.” Erwin whispered, turning his head to watch the others. By that point, most of the soldiers had launched towards the water. Sasha and Connie were splashing each other, shrieking loudly. Hanji was attempting to creep up on Eren, though her plans were quickly squandered by Mike, who had jumped upon her back.

Levi watched on as laughter rang through the air. But he couldn’t bring himself to laugh with them. He couldn’t even bring himself to smile. Levi didn’t feel he had the right to smile. If his closest friends couldn’t enjoy this beautiful moment with him, he didn’t want to smile.

“You deserve to be happy, Levi.” With that, Erwin left the male. He abandoned his horse, instead heading towards the vast expanse of glittering water. Even Erwin, a man that had always been so serious, was whooping and cheering as he splashed water towards the younger soldiers.

Levi sighed, turning his gaze upwards. It had been a long day. The sky had been a bright, cornflower blue when they had made their way through the wall that morning. Now it was fading from a pastel blue, to a violet. The violet then seeped into a cornflower pink, which soon became a crimson red. It was the perfect background to a perfect moment.

Yet Levi wasn’t smiling.

He sighed, placing a hand upon his forehead. His fingers were greeted by beads of sweat, which he quickly wiped away. After fighting and killing dozens of titans, Levi was glad to finally be able to relax.

“Oi, aniki!”

Levi froze where he was. The voice was painfully familiar, but he knew it couldn’t be true. It couldn’t be her voice. His hands slowly began to shake before him. Levi’s eyes instinctively widened as he lifted his head.

“What are you doing over there?” A deeper voice addressed him this time. Once again, Levi couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It couldn’t possibly be who he thought it was.

“Captain, you should join everyone!” Another female voice rang through the crisp air. Levi’s entire body was shaking as he stared ahead. Six, faint figures stood beside the shimmering ocean, their gazes all fixated on him.

Isabel. Farlan. Petra. Gunther. Eld. Oluo.

They weren’t supposed to be there. They couldn’t be there. But they were. All six of them were stood before Levi, their eyes shining and their mouths stretched into wide grins.

“Don’t just stand there, Captain.” Gunther spoke aloud, though his voice was soft as it reached Levi’s ears. His hair was being blown by the gentle wind. Levi felt tears rising in his throat. They stung him, but he had to hold them back. He couldn’t break now. Not when they had finally reached the end.

Levi felt his breathing becoming more rapid as he pushed himself away from the tree. He had to be closer to them. He had to be able to talk with them one last time. He wanted to hug Isabel and Farlan, to tell them how much they really meant to him. Levi wanted to tell them all how sorry he was for letting them down.

Without realising, Levi was stumbling across the gritty flooring. Sand flew up behind him and tumbled down around him, landing upon his clean boots. For once, he really didn’t care. His knees shook beneath him, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care that there was sand in his eyes, or that his hands were violently quivering at his sides.

He halted in front of them, his lips parted. There was so much that he wanted to say, but, now that he had been presented with the opportunity, he wasn’t sure how to phrase it all.

“Don’t cry, aniki.” Isabel whispered, outstretching a translucent hand. Her skin brushed against Levi’s cheek. It was only in that moment that he realised he truly was crying. Levi automatically placed his fingers to his cheek, only to find that they came away damp.

“You did a great job, Captain.” Petra told him, closing her eyes as she grinned widely at him. Levi was inhaling rapid, shaky breaths. His lungs were closing in on themselves. His throat had closed up, making it impossible for him to keep calm.

“We’re all proud of you.” Oluo said, gently clapping Levi’s back. Had it not been under such circumstances, Levi would have immediately snapped at him for ever thinking he was allowed to touch him. But he couldn’t bring himself to do anything other than whimper quietly.

Sobs began to rise in Levi’s throat. His knees suddenly gave out beneath him and he fell down, his knees contacting with the ground painfully. A sharp pain shot through his entire body. Then he began to wail aloud, suddenly feeling like a small child.

“Levi, you don’t need to cry.” Farlan’s soothing voice danced across Levi. The pale figure stepped forward, kneeling down so that he was the same height as the trembling, older man. “You succeeded. You did it. So go and be happy.”

Levi raised his head, though his vision was clouded by years and years of unshed tears. It was finally coming to the surface. Tears from every time he had felt pain were pouring out of him and dampening the ground below him.

Oluo smiled at the man, before turning on his heel. Eld grinned down at his captain, before doing the same. Gunther followed. The three men slowly walked away from him, their bodies growing fainter and fainter. By the time they had reached the water, they had disappeared once more.

“Thank you, Captain.” Petra’s soft voice echoed in his head before she, too, turned away from him. A choked sob escaped Levi’s lips as he clapped his hand over his mouth. It was too painful, even for him. Her small figure grew fainted, until she was no longer visible.

“No matter what, aniki, we love you!” Isabel grinned, her eyes glimmering with the hope that Levi had always admired. Her eyes were still so vibrant, even if she was a mere spirit. She glanced over at Farlan, who also beamed down at Levi.

“Don’t forget us.” Farlan breathed, before he slung an arm around Isabel’s shoulders. They turned on their heels, striding towards the ocean, in which Levi’s comrades had stopped. Everyone stared at the older man as he broke down, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Just as their bodies faded into nothingness, they turned. They flashed Levi another reassuring smile. And then, they were gone. Levi screamed aloud, no longer caring who was watching, or who heard him.

He felt as though his entire body was crumbling. It hurt him to see them disappear for a second time, but he was happy. Hidden beneath his endless flow of tears, he was smiling. Levi placed his hands upon the grainy surface, pushing his body upwards. He swayed dangerously, feeling light-headed.

“Heichou…” Eren was the first to speak up, his voice hesitant. He wasn’t the only one who was being weighed down by unwavering concern. Hanji, who usually managed to make a brighter situation out of everything, was smiling sadly.

Levi, the man who was so great at concealing his emotions, had finally broken down before them. But he wasn’t ashamed of it. With tears on his face, soaking through his clothes, and rolling down his neck, he turned his face upwards. A setting sun smiled down upon him.

And, for what felt like the first time, he smiled back.

[l8rhader]

25/35 reddie.

Let's go take two. Sorry anon, I'm writing this on my phone so it's short and tumblr are the first one. This actually... let's call this director's super cut for the everything has changed verse.

The constant drone of the breathing machine, the click of the I.V. and the steady beeping of the heart monitor had all but blurred away in Richie's head. The hospital in Bangor only allowed two at a time and, since he refused to leave his side, the rest of the Losers took turns. At this point, they were more keeping an eye on Richie than Eddie.

Richie added the 21st Sharpie tally mark to Eddie's wrist, contemplating giving him a full sleeve of tattoos. Instead, he held Eddie's right hand between his gently. Bev sat to his right, tracing small circles over his shoulders. "Squeeze my hand if you can hear me," Richie coaxed, pressing a kiss to the other man's thumb. "Come on, Eddie. Give me something." He lifted his hand, careful not to disturb any of the wires and tubes. "Eddie, I've never gone this long without hearing your grating, snippy voice." Bev watched him sadly. Three weeks had elapsed since their boss battle with It. In that time, Richie had gone to extremes trying to get Eddie to wake up, even though he understood that it was medically necessary for him to heal. "I'm going to lick your face and I haven't brushed my teeth in..." he paused, realizing he couldn't give an actual number, settling on "a long time. Please." He closed his eyes and rested his head on their entwined hands. "Please, Eddie," he whispered, a prayer to the only entity he'd ever worshiped.

Leaning into him, Bev's voice quivered. She hadn't been surprised in the least when he finally broke down and told each of the Losers the truth about his relationship with Eddie. The minute they met up in the parking lot of Jade Of The Orient, she could tell. If they were hiding it, they obviously had their reasons. "Richie, honey, come on," she cooed, trying to walk back the breakdown she could hear coming. "The doctors said..."

"Look, Bev, I love you," he said, a little shorter than he'd intended, turning to face her sharply, but with no malice, just exhaustion. He slid his glasses up onto his head and closed his eyes. "but please don't go there. I know what they said." They said if he wakes up. They said if the swelling goes down. They said if it had been an inch higher... They said if so many fucking times that Richie thought he would rather fight the next person who said the fucking word to him than listen to another hypothetical situation.

"You can't do this to yourself," Beverly said, combing her fingers through the mess of curls his hair had become. "We got him out. He's safe."

Richie choked out an incredulous laugh. "Safe." That took some nerve. Safe would be their bed, 3200 miles from Derry. Safe requires the person in question to be awake. He couldn't believe her. "You of all people should understand." Watching his friend blink at him, he sighed. "In the deadlights... I saw him die." A sob escaped with his admission, forcing him into another fit of tears. "I saw him die and we left him there. You guys dragged me away and I couldn't fucking do anything." He vaguely registered Bev's arms encircling him, but that was little comfort to Richie. "I came to and he was on top of me and I did everything I could. He still wound up kebabbed. He still..."

"I know," she said, resting her cheek against his head.

"Do you?" he snapped. Bev moved back instinctively and he regretted it immediately. "What if it was..." Watching her shift uncomfortably at the suggestion, he merely grumbled, "forget it." He was so fucking tired. He nodded his glasses back down onto his nose and returned his gaze to Eddie.

She swallowed thickly, thinking the whole situation through. "If it was Ben?" If it was Ben... she thought what would have happened if Pennywise had slit his throat while she and Mike held him. If he'd drowned in the dirt, grasping for her hand. She couldn't have handled it. She couldn't even imagine if they'd been together since they were kids. "It's different. It's new," she admitted, finally agreeing that his reaction wasn't so far fetched, "but I'd be inconsolable.

"Exactly. So stop wasting your breath," he said, unable to bring himself to look at her. She got to go back to the Townhouse, crawl into bed with good ol' Haystack, feel his arms around her, wake him up when she has a nightmare, kiss him, talk to him...

Likewise, Bev couldn't look at Richie. She had no reason to feel guilty, but still... Staring at the too-even rise and fall of Eddie's chest, she shook her head. He wasn't dead. He was there. "Look. Watch the monitor," she instructed, pointing to the jagged lines of his heart rate. "He's alive," she reminded him gently, sliding one of his hands up to Eddie's wrist. "Feel right here. His heartbeat is right here and you're not imagining it. He's not going anywhere." She regained the courage to look at Richie. "They're gonna start weaning him off the meds in the morning, so he should be awake by dinner tomorrow." Richie sniffled unevenly, nodding. "Why don't you come back to the townhouse and get some sleep." She suggested, returning her hand to his shoulders. "Shower. Eat real food. He's gonna need you in good shape when he wakes up."

Blinking out the last of his tears, Richie shook his head, knowing that she was prepared for him to decline, like he had every night. "I haven't slept anywhere but beside him since we were seventeen. I doubt I could even if I wanted to."

"Richie..."

"I'm not leaving," he repeated.

Bev sighed, standing up and straightening her back. "Okay, honey. Okay. Call me before you go to sleep." She leaned across him and kissed Eddie's cheek gently. "Love you, Eds." On her way by, she stopped and wrapped Richie in a tight hug, kissing the top of his head. "Love you, Trashmouth."

He gave a humorless laugh, and reached up to pat her hair. "Love you too."

That night was the slowest one since the first couple, when everything had been touch and go. He called Bev around 12:30 and swore he was going to sleep. He didn't. Instead, he watched cheesy, nostalgic movies on his phone, all Eddie's favorites; Dirty Dancing, then Pretty in Pink. He marked the 22nd tally as Duckie sent Andi off after Blaine, the only part of the movie RIchie couldn't get behind. Still, Eddie had told him he loved him for the first time to the strains of the song from the end of this movie so he could never shut it off. And it had been 22 days without talking to the love of his life. 22 soul sucking days. Eventually, he dozed off about two-thirds of the way through The Outsiders.

All-too-soon, he was awakened by the bustle of shift change and nurses doing their thing and the whole process started over. Around 8 a.m., the morning nurse came in. Richie had hardly noticed, in a sort of daze.

"Mr. Tozier?" she asked, quietly.

Snapping back to reality, he nearly dropped Eddie's hand. "Oh, sorry," he said, shaking the fog from his brain. Eddie really needed to wake up now.

"You're fine," she insisted, bringing a bag of liquid to the stand by the bed and a handful of small bottles. "Just scoot back for me a little, please." She hung the bag and screwed it into Eddie's I.V. line, then affixed the bottles.

Squinting to make out the labels, as though he'd have any idea of their purpose, Richie decided instead to just ask the nurse. "What's that for?"

She smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. "To start countering the sedative before we back it off."

Richie took a deep breath. "Okay," he nodded. His heart hammered in his chest. They were actually going to wake him up today.

"Can I get you anything?" the woman asked sweetly.

As though Richie was the one anyone needed to worry about. He shook his head and managed the weakest of smiles. "You're already working on the only thing I could possibly ask you for."

She leaned against the empty sliding table and eyed him carefully. "How about a coffee and a bagel?"

Richie paused. He hadn't eaten since lunch time the day prior, so it wasn't a bad idea. "I'd appreciate it. Thank you," he said, realizing that maybe Bev had been right.

If Richie had thought that night was long, he was in for the most torturously slow day. Nurses in and out. Medicines of all sorts. He didn't know what to do with himself, so he just... stared. Asked questions. Finally, the nurses administered the last of the rounds Eddie would need to wake up and Richie was left alone to his thoughts.

After two episodes of I Love Lucy, he leaned in as close to Eddie as he could. "Do you remember the first time we did this?" he asked, knowing there would be no response. "When you had your tonsils out and I snuck in like a fucking ninja as soon as I saw my beloved Sonia leave?" He gave a bitter laugh, imagining what good ol' Mrs. K would do seeing Eddie laid up like this with that dirty Tozier boy still by his side. "The woman couldn't manage to sleep in the chair for one night." He gave a mischievous smile for the benefit of no one. "But, experienced as I was in the art of finding ways to see my Eds, I sweet talked the nurse into letting me stay." He certainly hadn't done a great deal of sweet talking anyone this time. That had been Mike, plus a good deal of good faith from Bev and Bill. But he'd certainly known how to work adults when he was a kid. "I snuck you in a pint of real ice cream and we played gameboy in bed together and, even though I tried to get you to shut up, you couldn't let me do all the talking and even though it hurt, you still laughed and joked." He took a deep breath, realizing he was rambling. He stared up at the ceiling, blinking back tears once more. "God, and I thought I was in love with you then," he groaned. It was almost hysterical how he still felt like that same clueless teenager. "I don't know what 14-year-old Richie would think of 39-year-old Richie but I hope he'd enjoy knowing that he's still in love with you." He sniffed, giving in to the tears because what else was he supposed to do. He rolled his eyes, adding "He'd probably call me a pussy for all the crying I've done in the last three weeks but that's fine. It's normal. It's whatever," he dismissed darkly, voice thick and nasally. "He's a teenager. What the fuck does he know? Bug eyed little creep," he laughed, pawing the tears from under his glasses. "How to keep the person he loves in one piece. Something that apparently fades with age," he waited for a response again, mainly out of muscle memory. He stood and propped himself awkwardly on the edge of the bed. He took a much more serious, exhausted tone. "I need you to laugh, babe. I need you to wake up and bitch at me for my rumpled shirt and greasy hair and getting snot on you and crying and getting you stabbed in that fucking sewer." He sighed, leaning back a little to just watch him. He could have sworn he saw... he shook his head. That wasn't possible. It was wishful thinking. "Eddie, please," he started, but cut himself when he saw a pair of startled, panicked brown eyes staring up at him, gagging on the respirator. "Holy shit. Hi," he sobbed, stroking his side, momentarily at a loss for what to do. Suddenly, he refocused and remembered the nurse's instructions. Keep him calm and hit the emergency call button immediately. "Okay, stay calm, babe," he said, springing from his seat and hitting the bright red button on the remote for the TV. "We'll get them to take this out." He took Eddie's hand and stroked it, trying to ward off the look of sheer terror in Eddie's face. "Stay calm, okay," he cooed. Hearing footsteps outside the door, Richie called out frantically "Miss Kim!"

"What do you need, baby?" she asked, seemingly startled by the call. When she pulled back the curtain, she flew into action mode. "Oh! Mr. Kaspbrak, welcome back." Eddie choked a little against the machine and Richie felt his chest constrict. "Don't fight the tube, sweetie," she said warmly. "We'll get this out of here. Relax." Eddie locked eyes with Richie, then nodded and finally squeezed his hand. The nurse gave them a little smile, "Cough a couple times for me." Eddie, ever the good patient, did as he was instructed. Miss Kim raised a small hooked tool and pointed it out to the men. "This is gonna suck the fluids out. Okay?" Eddie nodded and coughed again. "I know, I know," she soothed. "Alright, I'm gonna ask you to take a couple of deep breaths, tell you to hold one, then when you push all that air out, I'm going to extract the breathing tube. Okay?" She was talking to Eddie, but for some reason, Richie nodded too, then admonished himself for it. "Alright. In." He did. "Hold." He did. "Out." He did. Miss Kim pulled the tube out and Richie had to try not to wince as he watched the outline of it move up his windpipe. "Attaboy," she said, nodding proudly and patting him on the shoulder as he caught his breath. "It's nice to see you. I'll let your husband have a minute before we continue."

"Hi," Eddie said, voice raspy and quiet.

Richie fought against the urge to fling himself on top of him, instead nearly collapsing onto the bed rail and grasping his hand. "Eddie. Oh my god. You're awake. You're alive. I was so scared. God, I love you. I love you so much. You're here," he babbled, unable to pry his eyes from Eddie's- God, had they always been that beautiful?

"Did we..." Eddie asked, then his eyes darted to the nurse.

Richie smiled broadly, then broke into wrecked sobs. "We did. It's over. Everyone's okay and It's gone. It's not gonna bother us ever again." He leaned his forehead against Eddie's, tears smattering down on him and he couldn't be bothered to care. "We never have to fight It again."

Eddie nodded slowly, taking the minimal information in. It was over. They won. "Will you shut up so I can kiss you?" he asked, wincing.

"If I'd have known that that was all it took to get a kiss out of you, I'd have been quiet as a mouse for the last-" From behind him, he heard Miss Kim laugh and blushed, nodding. "Sorry. I'm shutting up."

Richie leaned forward and let Eddie reach up into his hair, pulling him into a warm kiss that, if Eddie had noticed the taste of stale instant coffee or the slick of unwashed hair or tears still streaming down Richie's face mingling with the ones starting to fall from his own, he'd never mention it. It was, for his money, possibly the best kiss they'd ever shared. When he opened his eyes again, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. "What the fuck is this?" Eddie asked, laughing at the group of black slashes on his wrist.

Richie laughed, too. He couldn't even begin to explain the scattered mess in his head without Eddie to help balance it out. Instead, he kissed the inside of Eddie's palm, where the 27 year old scar no longer lived and felt himself relax back into the chair. They were free of It.