#though he is still surprised that cate is still so sweet with him even in his demon form

[missionkitty]

[Image ID: a digital drawing of a large, horned, dark-colored humanoid with four red eyes and fly wings holding a much smaller woman with brown skin and neck-length dark hair in his arms. the smaller woman is leaned into him, gently kissing his face with her hands on his chest. the humanoid looks surprised and the woman is blushing while her eyes are closed. they are on a pink background with sparkly manga-style effects and bubbles around them. /End ID]

a quick scribble i did today of beel and cate and found some time to put some color on...they meet in the late 80s-early 90s so i was trying to make it feel like an old anime, though idk how successful i was--but i like how it turned out anyway :3

[harringtonstilinski]

Always The Babysitter - Chapter Nineteen: The Mall Rats

Author: @harringtonstilinski​ Characters: Steve Harrington x Olivia Henderson(OC) Word Count: 2,700 Warnings: fluff, Smut: no | yes; A/N: Hi, friends! If you like this chapter, please do not hesitate to reblog and give some feedback, whether it be in the reblogs, comments, or my inbox. As always, read at your own risk and enjoy 😊

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Steve took me home the next morning so that I could change and spend some time with my mom and Dustin, who kept bugging me about going to see Steve.

I didn’t tell Steve I was going to bring him today, but I figured a nice surprise would put an extra smile on his face.

Robin had her hands held out, giving the customers in front of Dustin and I their cones, saying unenthusiastically, “Have a nice day.” We stepped up the counter when they moved.

“Hi,” Dustin said, a smile on his face.

“Hi,” she said back. Looking at me, she said, “Hey, dingette.”

“Hi,” I said.

Robin looked back at Dustin, as he said, “I’m Dustin.”

“I’mmm Robin,” she said.

“Sweet shit,” I whispered.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Dustin said. “Uhh, is he– is he here?”

“Is who here?” Robin asked.

As if right on cue, Steve came bursting out of the back room, happiness laced on his face as he put his arms up, saying, “Henderson.”

I smiled, thinking he was talking about me, his favorite Henderson. Sadly, my smile turned into a look of annoyance when Steve said, “Henderson! He’s back! He’s back!” while moving in front of the counter towards my little brother.

“I’m back!” Dustin said. “You got the job!”

“I got the job!” Steve did some weird ass trumpet miming thing before him and Dustin did some weird ass handshake they came up with over Spring Break.

They laughed as I leaned against the counter, telling Robin, “You see what I have to deal with?”

She looked from me to Steve, asking, “How many children are you friends with?”

He gestured to Robin as if telling Dustin, “You see what I have to deal with?” Steve got Dustin some ice cream that he asked for, the two of them sitting down at a booth before they both looked at me expectantly. 

Steve got up and said, “Come on, baby. Come sit with us.”

“But your favorite Henderson is here,” I sassed, looking at Dustin. 

“Come on,” he said, moving over to me to whisper, “You know you’re my favorite.”

I looked at him with sad, doe eyes before smiling and giggled. “I’m just kidding. I know I’m your favorite.” Walking around him, I went and sat down at the booth Dustin was in, Steve coming to sit next to me.

Dustin had told him about Suzie with a Z from Utah before diving into his ice cream.

“No, no. No way,” Steve said. “Hotter than Phoebe Cates? No.”

Dustin hummed, “Mm-hmm,” before taking another bite of his ice cream.

“No girl is hotter than Phoebe Cates.”

I turned to look at him over my shoulder, eyebrow raised.

“E-expect for you,” Steve stuttered.

Smiling, I leaned my head against his shoulder before chuckling, his arm coming around my shoulders. Dustin looked at us, eyes wide as he said, “Brilliant, too. And she doesn’t even care that my real pearls are still coming in. She says kissing is better without teeth.”

“Gross,” I groaned.

After a moment, Steve said, “Wow! Yeah, that’s great. Proud of you, man. That’s ro– that’s kinda romantic.”

Looking at his boat of ice cream, Dustin asked, “So do you really just get to eat as much of this as you want?”

“Yeah. I mean, sure. It’s not really a good idea for me, though. Ya’know, I gotta keep in shape for the ladies.”

Again, I turned to face him, eyebrow raised.

“Oh, shut up. You’re the one who agreed for me to flirt.”

“Yeah, and how’s that working out for you?” Robin and I asked.

Without missing a beat, Steve said, “Ignore them.”

Looking in Robin’s direction, Dustin said, “She seems cool.”

“She’s not. So, where are the other knuckleheads?”

“They ditched me yesterday.”

“And I’ll kick every single one of their asses,” I said. “They like to forget that I know where they sleep.”

“My first day back! Can you believe that shit?”

“Whoa, seriously?” Steve asked.

“They’re gonna regret it, though, big time, when they don’t get to share in my glory,” Dustin said, pointing in mine and Steve’s direction.

“Glory?” I asked. “What glory?”

Dustin moved closer, to say, “So, last night, I was trying to get in contact with Suzie–”

“Suzie with a Z from Utah,” I sassed.

“Yes, now, shut up,” Dustin said, before looking around. He covered his mouth and said something so quiet, I thought he was just mouthing the words.

I looked back at Steve, confused, before looking back at Dustin, asking, “What?”

“Uh…” He talked so quietly again, I couldn’t hear him… and I was sitting right next to him!

“Just speak louder,” Steve and I said.

As if he were telling the whole town of Hawkins, Dustin loudly said, “I intercepted a secret Russian communication!”

Covering his mouth, I said, “Okay, shut the hell up! No need to announce it to all of Hawkins.”

“That’s what we thought you said,” Steve said. After a moment, he tapped me on the shoulder, asking, “What-what does that mean?”

“It means, future brother-in-law,” Dustin said, causing me to choke on air. “We could be heroes. True… American… heroes.”

Steve made a happy noise, I sighed in annoyance, and Dustin also made a happy noise.

“American heroes,” Steve said, sitting up behind me causing his arm to move a little closer to my girls.

“Just think,” Dustin said. “You could have all the ladies–” I cleared my throat, raising a brow at my brother. “Pop-popularity?” he asked, me blinking slowly and shaking my head. “Fa-fame?” I nodded with a tightlipped smile.

“You could have all the fame you want and more,” he continued on his train of thought. 

“More?” Steve asked.

“More.”

“I like more,” Steve said, pressing his lips to my temple.

“Uh-huh,” I said to both boys. “What’s the catch, Dusty?”

“No catch,” he said. “I just need Steve’s help.”

Looking at him with a shocked expression, I exclaimed, “What about me?”

He sighed, exasperatedly as he said, “I guess you, too.”

“Help with what?” Steve asked.

Dustin unzipped the bag I didn’t even notice he had, bringing out a book that had the words Romanov’ Russian-English, English-Russian Dictionary on the cover. “Translation.”

~~~

Dustin, Steve and I went to the back room to start trying to translate the Russian communication Dustin heard from Russian to English.

I was eating a banana because I was starving when Dustin played the tape again that he made last night, a Russian man's voice coming through the speaker.

Feeling my arm rise up, I turned my head to see why, watching Steve take a bite of the fruit in my hand.

I narrowed my eyes in thought, hearing music in the background. I’ll make a note of that later.

Dustin stopped it, the nautical themed music from the store coming back into my ears. “So, what do you two think?”

“It sounded familiar,” I said, taking another bite of my banana.

“What?”

“The music, right there at the end.”

“Why are you listening to the music, Olivia? Listen to the Russian! We’re translating Russian!”

“You don’t realize I live in America where we speak English, right? I’m trying to listen to the guy’s words, but there’s music playing!”

“Alright, babysitting time is over,” Robin said. Speaking to Steve, she said, “You need to get in there.” She looked at her board for Steve, turning around and saying, “Hey, my board! That was important data, shitbirds!”

“Robin, it was my fault,” I said, raising my hands in mock surrender before placing them on the table, Steve taking my banana as I did so.

“Plus, I guarantee you that what we're doing is way more important than your data,” Dustin said. 

“Yeah?” Robin said. “And how do you know these Russians are up to no good anyways?”

Looking at me and then Steve, Dustin asked, “How does she know about the Russians?”

Steve answered, “I don’t know,” as he handed me back my banana… well, moreso the peel.

“You told her about–”

“It wasn’t me.”

“Steve, babe, stop talking with your mouth full,” I said.

“Hello, I can hear you,” Robin said. “Actually, I can hear everything.”

“Yeah, you both are extremely loud,” I added.

I just looked at them with a smile on my face as Robin continued, “You think you have evil Russians plotting against our country, on tape, and you’re trying to translate, but haven’t figured out a single word because you didn’t realize Russians use an entirely different alphabet than we do.”

“Stop her if she’s off base here.”

“That goes for you, too.”

“Hey!” I said, looking back at her.

Robin went to reach for the cassette player, but Steve got to it first, asking her, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I wanna hear it,” she said.

“Why?” both boys asked.

“Maybe she can help,” I said.

“I’m fluent in four languages, ya’know,” Robin said.

“Russian?” Dustin asked.

“Ou-yay are-yay umb-day.”

Steve laughed like she was actually speaking Russian to my brother.

“Holy shit,” Dustin smiled.

I looked up at her before I looked back at Dustin and chuckled out, “That was Pig Latin, idiot.”

“But I can speak Spanish, French and Italian, and I’ve been in band for 12 years,” Robin said, sitting next to me. “My ears are little geniuses, trust me.”

The bell rang at the front counter right before she said, “Come on, it’s your turn to sling ice cream, my turn to translate. I don’t even want credit, I’m just bored.” She handed the ice cream scooper to Steve as the bell dinged again.

He grabbed it from her hand before handing her the cassette player.

“Please wash that before you scoop ice cream,” I said, looking from Steve’s hand to his eyes.

Sighing, Steve went to the sink and rinsed the ice cream scoop before drying it off. “Happy?”

“Yes, because you won’t get others sick,” I smiled.

He placed a kiss on my lips as we walked around the table, going to sling more ice cream. I stayed in the back room with Dustin and Robin, almost able to recite the Russian words, word for freaking word, that familiar music playing.

“Wait, that last part, one last time,” Robin said, pointing towards the cassette player in my brother’s hand.

Dustin rewound the tape, hitting the play button once again, the Russian’s voice and the music coming back through the speaker.

Robin walked past the sink once more, pointing towards Dustin as she said, “Okay, that word. Uhm… it’s pronounced “dly-nna-ya.” Dustin repeated the word before she continued, “Which is spelled–”

“D. D, D, D,” Dustin said, running toward the white board. Pointing to it, he said, “The chair! The chair-the chair-looking thingy.”

Robin smiled as she wrote down the Russian letter. Looking up at me, she said, “Go get dingus.”

I hopped down from my spot on the counter before poking my head out of the door as I heard the window open. “Babe, we got our first sentence.”

Turning around with two cones in his hands, he said, “Whoa, seriously?”

“Yeah. Window.” I walked back to stand next to Robin as she said, “The week is long,” in a Russian accent.

“Well, that’s thrilling,” Steve deadpanned.

“I know, but progress,” Robin smiled before she shut the window.

I chuckled and walked out, seeing two familiar girls as Steve turned around and said, “Okay, here ya go, you got a strawberry and then a vanilla with sprinkles, extra whipped cream.” I walked over to Steve, standing beside him as the girls took their first taste of their ice creams. Looking dead at El, I asked, “Are you even allowed to be here? Does Hop know you’re here?”

El and Max looked at each other before running out of the store. I looked at Steve, seeing the confused look on his face. I’m sure I had the same look. “Ooookay.”

~~~

The whole mall was closed down a few hours later, but Scoops was still open, much to my protest of going home.

I sighed as all four of us looked at the white board and recited, “The week is long, the silver cat feeds, when blue meets yellow in the west.” I groaned, just wanting to go to bed.

“Can we please leave?” I asked. “I’m so tired.”

Steve chuckled, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, guiding me out to the rest of the mall. Going back to the conversation they’d had on our way out as he closed the security gate to lock it, he said, “I mean, it just… it just can’t be right.”

“It’s right,” Robin said.

“Honestly, I think it’s great news,” Dustin added.

“How is this great news?” I groaned. “So much for you two being American heroes, Dusty.”

“It’s total nonsense,” Steve said.

“It’s not nonsense,” Dustin said. “It’s too specific.”

Looking at the shops we were passing, I said, “It’s obviously some sort of code.”

Feeling Steve slip his fingers between mine, he asked, “Babe, what do you mean, a code?”

“Like a super secret spy code,” Dustin said, turning to face us for a second. Gesturing to mine and Steve’s hands, he added, “And break this up.”

“That’s a total stretch,” Steve said, pulling me closer. 

“I don’t know, is it?” Robin asked.

“You’re buying into this?” 

I wrapped my hand around his bicep, leaning my head against his shoulder.

“Listen, just for kicks,” Robin said. “Let’s entertain the possibility that it is a secret Russian transmission. What’d you think they were gonna say, fire the warhead at noon? And my translation is correct. I know that for sure, so… the silver cat feeds. Why would anyone talk like that unless they were trying to mask the meaning of their message.”

“Exactly,” Dustin said.

“I mean, why would anyone mask the true meaning of their message unless the message is somehow sensitive?”

“Exactly.”

I looked up at Steve as he was making a sarcastic facial expression, mocking them both in his mind. Chuckling, I lowered my head, as Robin continued, “So I guess that confirms your suspicion,” before Steve and I stopped at the horse ride… thing by the claw machine. I could still hear Robin and Dustin’s conversation.

“Evil Russians,” my brother added.

Turning her head to look at Steve and I for a moment, Robin said, “I can’t believe I’m about to agree with Henderson’s strange little brother, but, yeah, totally evil Russians.”

“So how do we crack it?” Dustin asked.

“Well, I guess we translate the rest and hopefully a pattern emerges.”

“A pattern. Right, like maybe silver cat is a meeting place?”

“Or a person.”

Pointing at Robin, Dustin added, “Or a weapon.”

“It’s probably gonna take a super genius to crack it, but… Where’s Steve and Olivia? Hey, guys!”

Steve let go of my hand to get some change from his pocket before dropping them to the ground.

“Baby, what are you doing?” I asked.

“I need a quarter,” he said, looking at me. “Do you have a quarter?”

I reached into my pocket to get the quarter that I randomly kept in it as Robin and Dustin came back to us, the former asking, “Sure you’re tall enough for that ride?”

Handing the quarter to Steve, he quickly squatted, inserting the coin into its slot. The music started playing as the horse started moving back and forth, my eyes going wide. 

“Need help getting up, little Stevie?”

“Shh!” Steve shushed.

Dustin started chuckling, which annoyed me because I was so tired. “Would you two just please shut the hell up and listen?”

After a few moments of silence, Dustin said, “Holy shit. The music.” He took off his backpack, getting the cassette player from it, pressing the play button, the Russian code and the music coming through the speaker for the billionth time.

“I don’t understand,” Robin said.

“It’s the exact same song on the recording,” Dustin said.

“Maybe they have horses like this in Russia,” she suggested.

“Indiana Flyer,” Steve said. “I don’t… I don’t think so.”

“The code obviously didn’t come from Russia,” I breathed out. “It came from here.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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~~~

A/N 2:  hi, friends! pls be kind and reblog! it really helps us content creators out <3

Additional Note:

~~~

Forever / Everything Taglist: @stiles-o-dylan24​​ @stixnstripesworld​ @fandom-princess-forevermore​​​ @quanticobae​​​ @mischiefandi​​​ @kellyashcroft @lauren-novak​​​​

Steve Harrington Taglist: @madaboutjoe

If you’re tagged and didn’t want to be, please let me know.

~~~

*Please don’t post my writing anywhere else without my consent. The author of this work will always and forever be @harringtonstilinski​.

All characters, story lines, and plot aside from y/n and her storyline & plot, are all of the work of The Duffer Brothers.

*These works contain material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited.

No part of these works may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.

Posted on March 4, 2024

[vs-redemption]

The lights in your bedroom were off but there are candles lighting up the dark space and giving off a lovely scent. Rose petals decorate the bed and floor and you can see that someone has prepared the bedside table for a needed massage with different types of oils. Hajime comes up from behind you to wrap his arms around your middle, kiss your cheek, then rest his chin on your shoulder. Even though you’re still clothed, you can tell your husband isn’t wearing a shirt and he feels warm.

“I know we couldn’t go out to have a nice Mother’s Day date buuuuut, I thought I’d spoil my wonderful wife with a little pampering and massage. Weell, it was Suga kittiy’s idea for his lovely momma” He chuckles at the last part and looks over to your sweet but naughty kitty who was on the other side of the baby gate for now so he doesn’t mess with the candles “Yup, I asked out little bubba what we should do on our slight changes of plans and he bat the massage oils to me. He’s one smart kitty,”

He releases you from his arms to take your hand and lead you to the bed so you can sit, kissing your sweetly while teasing the hem of your shirt “Gonna get this off in a minute but me and Suga kitty have a present for you” Hajime nips your lower lip with a chuckle then picks up from the bedside table next to the oils, a pretty wrapped box with orange wrapping papering and a light blue bow. He hands it to you then gets on his knees to nestle between your legs and watch you open your present. Inside the box was a Pandora’s bracelet with two charms: one of a cute cate and the other a cherry blossom. His eyes sparkle with mirth when you look at him after you admire your gifts.

“Just wanted to give you something to have that reminds you of me and Suga kitty. Maybe it can give you some solace on your hard days. Just know that we’re always here and always love you” He leans down to kiss your thighs then comes up to kiss you passionately. He breaks it off with a chuckle when Suga cat meows from his spot,

“Happy Mother’s Day to our feisty and loving momma”

Hajime Iwaizumi

I feel surprised to walk into my room and find it set up in such a romantic way. The dim lights, candles, and rose petals made me curious and excited. I wasn't sure what I did to deserve such a lovely gesture, but I knew I was going to find out as soon as I felt Hajime come up behind me. Knowing he was shirtless made my heart skip and after noticing the massage oils, I start to connect the dots. "All this for mother's day?" I couldn't believe how thoughtful he was, but I giggle a little when he claims it was Suga cat's idea. I look over at the fluffy baby behind the gate and laugh. "He is trying to be good and stay on that side, huh? We'll make sure he gets plenty of love and cuddles later." A blush heats up my face when he leads me to sit on the bed and kisses me so playfully. "A gift?" I was feeing super spoiled by this point. I take the box and admire the wrapping for a moment. Before I open it, I have to run my hand through Hajime's hair. I couldn't help it with how adorable he was, kneeling on the floor and looking up at me so sweetly. "Oh! Babe!" I couldn't believe it when I lift the bracelet out of the box and admire the cute charms he'd chosen. I knew right away that the cat represented Suga and the cherry blossom represented our second date together. "This is so beautiful! Thank you." I slip the bracelet on, squirming happily when he kisses my thighs and then humming against his lips when he kisses me properly. Suga's little meow warms my heart just as much as everything else. "This means so much to me Hajime. I hope you know how much I love and appreciate our little family. Thank you."

(Thank you mod ♥ This was so nice to get!! I am swooning over this man)

[saltpepperbeard]

Fighting the Rain ~An Everlark One-Shot~

A/N: Oh? What’s this? *Cough hacks CHOKES on cobwebs* A one-shot after almost two years of inactivity? Who knew that over-caffeinating was the true key to motivation after all this time! But hello hello everyone! So very happy to be back. I come bearing a bit of Reverent Sweetness™ as a small exercise to hop back into things! I really wish for this energy to continue, and so I’ll be attempting to push myself into getting back into the swing of things.

For the record, I completely and wholeheartedly blame Andy and Cate for such an idea. And I do believe I’ve seen another tub-related piece that was also hanging around in my mind as I thought this up. Whatever the case, thank y’all; your talks and creations fINALLY FUELED ME lmao!

But for now, enjoy some simple Everlark rubadubdub, and without further adoooooo...

Fighting the Rain

No two days are the same, and no two hunts are created equal. Some glow with warmth and yield a plentiful harvest, while others fall into a category of melancholy and disappointment. Unfortunately, as the clouds build relentlessly overheard, my efforts seem to be leaning towards the latter.

My arrows drive into a frustrating nothingness. My pray scurry as if they have an oddly heightened sense of awareness. My attitude grows all the more frustrated and downtrodden. And almost as if to directly mock me, the sky cackles and booms before releasing an onslaught of cold moisture.

Great. I’m quite a ways from home, but close enough to hopefully beat a deluge should it chose to erupt. I hate departing emptyhanded, but don’t feel keen on pushing my luck further. Not when a kindling of annoyance burns within my chest, and the clouds answer back with further rumbling.

I sling my bag over my shoulder and dart with bow in hand, the various unused arrows clinking against my backside. The rain is chilling, biting my skin and hissing against the internal fire. Water is normally apt at putting out flames, but it only serves to amplify mine. My scowl deepens as I continue on, growing damper and colder by the minute.

Aside from the fire roaring in irritation, perhaps it burns for another reason. Perhaps it presents itself now as a yearn for warmth, for the feeling only he can provide. His arms have always been there to chase away the deepest of stings, so of course I would want him like nothing else now.

My step inadvertently quickens, the mental image of his embrace fueling me. A blessing and a curse; the sky groans above and opens up to completion, sending buckets of rain upon me. My desperate speed of course, points to an even extremer drenching effect, my scowl deepening something terrible as I’m quickly soaked to the bone. But in moving faster, in practically flying across the land, the entrance to the back porch quickly appears through the falling sheets.

I waste no time in careening up the steps, practically throwing myself into the house with a hissing groan. But I’m sure such sourness will be short-lived. Such dampness will likely turn anew. Such chilling sensations will be burned off, the embodiment of the sun coming forth to bestow his touch.

Or not.

On the contrary, I’m met with emptiness. Silence. Nothing more than the shivers coursing through my form, and the soft drips of water rolling off my soaked clothes.

My scowl, though now painted with confusion, deepens all the more. Was I too presumptuous? Knowing my current luck, he’s likely elsewhere: wrapped up in the Bakery, next door with Haymitch, or deep in the throes of a painting upstairs.

I shed my father’s hunting jacket, hanging the damp leather to dry before shrugging off my equally-wet bag. My arms come to lace across my chest, crossing in both self-comfort and simmering frustration. Though, my lungs are quick to rattle with a sigh. He’s not responsible for my happiness, and I know so. And I can manage well enough alone when I need to; I’m no stranger to the empty cold.

But God, he definitely helps. He’s everything and more on a rainy, relentless day. And with every hour, with every moment spent with him, it gets harder and harder to deny the growing draw. So used to solitude and survival, and yet now do I find myself wishing for warm company more often than not. How Spring has warmed the deepest reaches of my soul.

I’m about to let my hair down and poke my head out the door to wring it out, when the day continues to prove me wrong. Or maybe, my mental call is answered by the only one who can hear it. Whatever the case, cold limbs run warm and angered heart beats ginger as his voice unexpectedly manifests.

“Katniss?”

My sigh shifts to something of tender relief, blowing out a quivering breath as I feel the instant effects.

“Down here,” I call back.

My chest seems to pound in unison with his footsteps on the stairs. He has no idea, the effect he has. It’s like the dissatisfaction towards the day’s events instantly drains, washing away like the billowing spout outside. Made even more intense, of course, by him rounding the corner.

I should be used to this. This is something of normalcy now. And yet, my breath still manages to hitch, coupled with the stutter of my heart. As usual, he beats me to talking, grinning his endearing smile as his blue eyes lay upon me.

“Hi, my love-” His voice and the expression are short-lived; he must have gotten a proper look at my state. Yes, the widening and wandering of his eyes confirm it, as does the speed in which he reaches me.

“Oh...God, you’re soaked!”

“That obvious?” I grumble through the hairs plastered to my face, though twinges of amusement exist therein.

“A bit!” he softly chuckles, reaching up to brush said strands away. An action which, is unsurprisingly topped off with a kiss, a very tender one against my glistening forehead. In missing him, in wanting the mellowness from my flower, I move for more. I chase after his lips as they depart, quickly bringing forth my own. The tender connection causes me to contently sigh, particularly when I can feel him smiling. We hold each other in the gentle lock for a few ginger beats, before he pulls free- oddly looking sheepish.

I cock a brow at him, which seems to be enough to pry an explanation.

“Didn’t know it was supposed to rain today. Really ah...puts a damper on my plans.”

I roll my eyes at what appears to be a pun, and he laughs a bit before grabbing the back of his neck. I cannot help but pry further.

“Plans?”

“Yeah...”

He puts on the shy smile which likely stole my heart all those years ago, and looks down in the direction of our feet.

“I ah...Drew you a bath. Thought you would like it after a long morning of hunting. Seems kind of counterintuitive now though.”

There it goes, the departure of every ounce of cold, of negativity. Akin to Spring melting the deepest reaches of Winter, easing the snow into the Earth and drawing forth blooms. I’m sure his thoughtfulness will never cease to soften me into awe. And, though it seemed impossible years ago, what with all the roadblocks and challenges that stood in our way, I’m sure my love will never stop heightening.

I find myself hushed into an affectionate silence, my cheeks blushing all the while. Before he can doubt the validity of his decision though, or doubt himself to any other degree, I leap back to him once more. My mouth dusts across his tender cheek first, before selfishly seeking out another caress of his lips.

“No,” I assure when we finally break, “No. That sounds nice.”

“Really? Fighting dampness with dampness?”

“Well, yeah. One is awful, cold, and from rain, and the other is inviting, warm, and from you.”

I’m surprised, though absolutely not, to see a glint flash through his shyness, his smile turning a bit more crooked to match.

“Hmm. Not yet it’s not.”

I roll my eyes and give his chest a playful shove. He of course laughs, and softly grabs my wrists, pulling me close for yet another kiss. I sigh against him, falling all the more into a state of contentment. Unsurprisingly, a trio of relatively new words present themselves on my tongue. Though, in yearning for Peeta, in having my heart beat deeper and faster for him day by day, their utterance feels more and more natural.

“I love you...” I whisper for him to capture, “Thank you.”

He grins so hard our connection breaks, and I can practically feel the heat from his blush, effectively triggering mine all the same.

“I love you too. Now go ahead- can’t have the bathwater turning into sitting rainwater.”

I let out a huff of mirth, and give one last parting kiss before taking him up on his offer. There’s a small bit of apprehension towards leaving him so soon, but I remind myself that this was his doing. The warm water will carry his essence, surely, ushering me away from all the troubles of the morning.

And so I walk up the stairs towards our bathroom, humming softly as I envision what awaits. Dampness to fight dampness indeed; I’m met with a plume of steam when I open the door. But quite quickly, it proves to be a far better option than that of outside.

Unlike the rain which chased me away, this draws me deeper into the bathroom. The steam is like a warm blanket, or a hug from Peeta, wrapping around my slightly shivering form. When I inhale deep enough, it seems like I catch notes of something floral- lavender, maybe? All the more thoughtful of him to doctor it up so.

My cheeks flush, and I quickly rid myself of my soaked garments, plopping them into a wet heap on the tile. My skin is quick to pimple from the biting air, so I’m even faster to slip into the beckoning tub.

And I cannot hush the contented moan that slips from my lips. It’s wonderful. Heated just so, smelling so sweet. My eyes roll shut with a sigh, and I poise myself to slip deeper into the watery embrace. That is, until the day continues on with its ever-changing events. That is, until a jostling of the doorknob halts my movements and breaks the relaxed trance.

Out of pure reflex, I draw my knees up towards my chest, hugging myself and hiding my body away. An action birthed from years of apprehension, and one that immediately unravels at the sight to follow.

Because it’s Peeta, of course it’s Peeta.

But the unexpected element is that he too, stands completely bare, all of him on displayed for my stunned, flustered eyes. I find his own first, and though he’s grinning, I can see that same shyness playing across his features. Much to my blushing dismay, my gaze cannot help but drift to the space I’ve become recently acquainted with. It’s still so new to the both of us that the hitch of my breath is answered by one in return. Warmth seems to travel to more than one place as I gaze at him, though my grey stare wanders to where it’s most prominent, his cheeks utterly rosy with red.

He shifts himself a bit then, looking down and snickering softly before catching my eye once more.

“Too much?”

A shiver rolls down my spine. I’m not sure what he has planned, but I have a feeling I won’t be opposed to anything he brings forth. Thus, I’m entirely earnest as I shake my head, releasing my knees fully.

“No,” I murmur, giving my lips a quick lick.

“Mind if I join you then?”

“Already seem pretty prepped to do so.”

He laughs his beautiful laugh, before blue interlocks tightly with grey. In knowing he’s silently asking for permission, a nodding gesture of my head brings him forward. I watch as he walks towards my backside, and I believe I’ve placed his intention. I slide forward a bit then, allowing him space to slip in behind me, should he choose to do so.

Sure enough, he does, momentarily sitting on the tub’s lip to unclasp his prosthetic before sliding in, the water sloshing a bit and rising from the introduction of another body. And, of course, it seemingly grows warmer, his form, his raw form, utterly reaching the depths of my being.

It’s ridiculous, considering he’s gone where no one else has, but I find myself somewhat timid. Maybe because it’s yet another new form of intimacy. I never really considered so many existing aside from the more carnal ones, but Peeta continues to surprise me. And where I find myself unsure, he also is there to softly guide me.

His warm hands gently slip to grasp my shoulders, and with a gentle tug, he ushers me to lean back against him. I don’t protest in the slightest, venturing back with his grasp and gasping ever so slightly when skin meets skin.

It’s different. Our bodies have been unified before of course, tangled and messy and desperate. But this is...different. It’s vulnerable, it’s tender, and it’s...comforting.

It’s everything. Just as he is.

My thoughts momentarily blip back to the former however, when I feel...him wedged between us. I squirm a bit, my breath hitching as more intense thoughts threaten to invade. But the more I feel, the more I lay against him, the more I realize that he’s relaxed.

And that it’s simply us. All that we are, together.

The thought settles me, and I sigh as I fully melt against him. Every bit of tension saps from my body, and my form seems to meld perfectly into his. His head comes forward to nestle against mine, and I can feel him smiling, the heat evident as he nuzzles and offers the occasional kiss.

I’m back to humming, back to closing my eyes, utterly slipping away like he intended, like I wanted. I had felt almost selfish before, wanting this so badly. But then again, it was nigh impossible not to; it does exactly the intended purpose. I’m ushered to plane where it’s just he and I, where nothing bad exists. I’m taken to a place of pure warmth, of pure love, everything else falling away.

As blissfully lost as I am, I of course have no choice but to vocalize once more.

“I love you so much...”

His turn to hum, as if he’s absorbing and ingesting such sacred words. But all the same, he presses a kiss to my cheek before returning the sentiments.

“And I love you...”

I’m prepped to simply drift away, waiting for my body to become so relaxed that I doze off against his chest. He denies me the opportunity though, but I don’t complain, his fingers coming up to nestle into my messy braid.

“May I?”

When I nod, he begins to softly unravel the intertwined strands. An easier task than usual, as the rain and running left it loose. I give my head a gentle shake when I feel it entirely unwind, fully freeing the waves of darkened ebony.

“Beautiful...” I hear him whisper, and before I have a chance to respond, before I can really even process, his fingers venture in further, sifting through swaths of black to dance atop my scalp.

Any crinkle of my nose towards his compliment instantly dies with such an action. He rubs, massages, the pads of his fingers driving me into an entirely different state of bliss. How is he able to do this? How can he affect me so? How can he drive my body and soul to places unthinkable?

I guess if anyone could be able to do it, it would definitely be Peeta. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I fall even deeper, my skin sliding against his as I descend a bit into the water. He snickers softly, but continues on with the massage. Or wash, perhaps? I think I can smell even stronger notes of flora and sweetness. Whatever the case, I can barely think, barely process, utterly mollified and melting.

So much so that I think my chin eventually brushes the water’s surface, effectively snapping me back into reality. With it, comes a hint of something else. Further selfishness? Guilt? Desire to return? Either way, my whisper breaks through the gentle steam.

“Peeta?”

“Yeah?”

“I feel like...We need to switch places. Take turns.”

His fingers momentarily halt, before he laughs and continues on.

“No. No no- this is more than enough for me. It’s perfect.”

“But-”

“Just enjoy it, love,” he murmurs, “Really. I’m just...happy to be here with you.”

So sweet, sugary sweet, sweeter than the confectionaries he specializes in. Surely something that would have earned a tense scowl years ago; now it draws forth a ghost of a smile. It makes me want to consider the journey, the steps we’ve taken to come to this very moment. But in the delightful erasure, all the pain and hurt is numbed, cast aside in the eyes of our affection.

What it fails to erase however, is my want to be stubborn, my need to please in return. Though blips of meekness still linger, shyness still evident amidst my cheeks, the former drives me and overrides. With a bit of difficulty in the porcelain space, I pivot around to face Peeta, connecting our stares with my smile running to a playful scowl.

Though there’s a slightly confused lift to his brows, he’s grinning immensely, an expression that acts as magnetism between our mouths. I kiss him for just a moment before carrying on with the intended plan. Just as he had done with me, I reach up with both hands, curling my fingers through his ashy blonde locks. I hear him shakily sigh, though the silence it what truly drives me onward; no argument is being made.

My pads nestle deep into his hair, softly rubbing and massaging like he had done for me. It’s lovely, returning the sentiments, returning the newly found intimacy. Unfortunately though, in doing so, I fail to recognize the more prominent form, the more familiar.

Perhaps it’s Peeta’s shaky hand that comes to rest at the small of my back, or the realization that such a position has put him directly at eyelevel with a more than desirable part of me- at least to him. I subsequently bite my lip, blush, and halt at the thought, slipping back to my previous perch.

Sure enough, when I pull away to get a look at his face, the flush to his cheeks and flare to his nostrils paint the correct picture.

“Too much?” I ask, parroting his opening question from earlier.

“Hmm, uh, a test of will perhaps, yes,” he replies with a shaky laugh.

It’s my turn to snicker, reaching to gently cup his face with a hand.

“Sorry. Might make this take a different turn.”

“I mean, it could, if you wanted,” Peeta murmurs, his grin turning crooked once more.

I let out a huff of mirth, softly shaking my head.

“Seems inevitable. But I dunno...I do like this.”

Peeta’s smile shifts back to a warmer tonality, pivoting his face to kiss my hand a kiss before responding.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Like you said, I’m just...happy to be here with you. Always.”

His words repeated off my tongue are perhaps more loving and beneficial than the stroke of my fingers; he lights up like the sun, burning away the fog between us as his sapphire eyes sparkle.

“Always,” he reaffirms with a whisper, giving my hand another kiss before continuing, “Whatever you’d like then. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Whether I nestle up against his chest, lay back against him once again, or get ravished atop towels on the bathroom floor, the thick clouds of steam refuse to reveal. Whether they remain entirely chaste and grey, or heated and dripping, they encapsulate us, locking us away from the morning, from the bad.

Just as he does for me, and how I hopefully do in turn. 

Oh, how life is simpler, more bearable. How the negatives turn into things so much more desirable. And how humorous is it that I find myself longing to get caught out in the rain once more.

[putflowersinmyhair-callmepretty]

Dove (Finan x Reader)

A/N: I wanted to challenge myself and writing a short smut seemed about right. Hope you enjoy it, baci baci. Cate. WORDS: 2341 Warnings: Lot of fluff, smut smut smut: oral, dom!Finan, just a lot of love making :)

18+ only please

“For the love of God, Sithric, stay still!” Y/N screamed, turning his head to make him look straight ahead. He was sitting on a block of wood and she was standing behind him, comb and knife in her hands. Traveling with men is never easy but is even worse if the men in question are warriors. Y/N, however, had grown used to them and most of the time she enjoyed her time. An exception being that particular day. While riding in the wild, she had noticed that the warriors’ hairs had grown out of control and kept falling on their eyes, frustrating them; therefore, when they had stopped to rest for the day, she had forced Sithric down on the block of wood, deaf to his protests. He was the one with the wildest hair, thin as feather but dense. It was hard to cut it with the unsharpened blade of her dagger, and, as if that wasn’t enough, Sithric was acting like a child and he could not sit still. “If you don’t stop moving, I swear to God, I will cut your throat. I swear on your gods, even.” she hissed and he laughed chugging a cup of ale “I apologize my Lady” he sang, turning around to send her a wink “I’m positive that the gods would love the bloodshed but I do love my pretty face where it is, right over my neck. Don’t you?” “I will make you the ugliest Dane alive, Sithric. Do not provoke me” she mumbled and cut a big strand of his dark hair, Sithric screamed outraged. Meanwhile Finan was enjoying the view, resting under the shadow of the old oak. Y/N heard him laugh and turned around to shot him an amused look “I wouldn’t laugh if I were you, Irishman. You’re next.” Sithric’s hair turned out good, the left side of his head completely shaven, the right full of long, untangled curls that she had cut irregularly until the middle of his neck. She had also braided a strand between the two section, adding the jewellery she had so often seen on Vikings and he had smiled at her gratefully; she knew how much his culture meant to him and she did want him to honour his people, how he could. She was now cutting his beard, who had grown to long for his fresh features; she did not know exactly his age, but she was sure he looked younger that he really was. “You look very handsome, Sithric” she then said, patting his cheek “Your wife’s a lucky woman” “You know you’re always welcome in our bed, Y/N” She laughed and winked at him “I’ll keep that in mind” “Oy! I’m still here, ye know?!” Finan shouted and stood up; with two long strides, he was behind the woman and wrapped his strong arms around her full hips. He buried his face in her neck and growled, high enough for Sithric to hear “I do not like to share.” Y/N blushed, still not used to this part of Finan. They had been companions and friends for years and Y/N had been in love with him since the first day, suffering for her unreciprocated love. What she did not know was that Finan was just as deeply in love with her. And so they fought and tried to find other lovers, and cried and shouted until their friends, sick and tired of their behaviour, forced them to face each other and their reciprocated feelings. Again, they had screamed and fought as always until Finan had crashed his lips against hers. They had made love then and there for the first time and had finally found each other. They were still discovering each other, but Y/N had soon found out that Finan was a very affectionate man, always touching her as he could, and she loved it. She shivered, when he kissed her softly just under her jaw and she raised a hand to graze her nail through his beard. “Very well” Sithric interrupted their flirting “It’s my cue to go, thanks for the cut Y/N.” “Anytime” she mumbled at short of breath, and she spun in her lover’s arms smiling at his cheeky smirk and he patted her bum, making her squeal embarrassed and sneak out of his embrace.

He tried to catch her again, but she stepped away quickly, laughing. “Behave, Finan. And sit down, let me cut your hair.” Finan’s hair had grown a lot in the last year and she liked how it framed his strong masculine face, softening his features. He was the most handsome man in England, she was sure of it, and the more she fell in love with his personality, the more handsome he became for her and the harder it was for her to refrain to kiss him and touch him and make love to him. She placed herself between his legs, not caring about invading his personal space, wanting to be as close as possible to him. He didn’t seem to mind, though, quite the opposite: he smiled widely, looking up to her, and put his large hands on her waist, squeezing jokingly her flesh. “Hi, dove.” “Hello to you, handsome.” She was watching him with a piercing gaze, chewing hardly her bottom lip and he freed it with his thumb. She smiled sweetly recognizing his hungry gaze. “I really like your hair, I just want it to be neater.” She mumbled and scratched his beard again, drawing a deep animal growl out of his throat “and I certainly like your beard.” “I know that.” He said, squeezing her hips “You like how it feels on your skin” his long fingers caressed her inner tight, over the soft leather of her trousers “Especially here. Don’t you, dove?” “Shut your mouth” she growled with a little smile on her full lips, blush spreading from the neckline of her red vest, which was actually Finan’s vest. “Kiss me than and I shall be quiet.” She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t let him stew for long; she lowered her mouth on his and he immediately opened his lips in a deeper, more intimate kiss. He caressed her tongue with his and she moaned, before capturing his lips between her teeth. “Sweet, Jesus Christ” he mumbled, breaking the kiss just for the time necessary to catch his breath and grip the back of her tights, guiding her to straddle him. With a hand on her back, he pushed her against his groin and she moaned loudly, feeling how hard he had already become. She put her hands around his neck, pushed with her thumbs on his chin to raise his face and kissed him harder, then pulled away abruptly. He pouted and leaned for another kiss but she pushed him away laughing; defeated, he dropped his forehead on her chest “You kill me, woman.” he murmured against her skin, biting lightly her collarbone; she scratched his neck with her nails, under the hem of his green vest and he groaned “Lord, cut my hair. Now.” and here he was, his dominant side finally bursting through his controlled behaviour. She had already met that part of him, which he hid remarkable well on normal days, and she adored it. Not only he looked ferally handsome, but he also made her feel desirable as no one had ever before. Moreover, living as a warrior, the chances letting herself go and be at the complete mercy of another human being were slim to none and Finan helped her discover that she liked to be pushed, now toughly now kindly, to her limits. “Do as I said, Y/N. Ye know I don’t like to wait.” “Yes, my lord.” she obeyed swiftly, standing up and positioning her body once again between his knees. It wasn’t the best way to cut hair, standing in front of him, partly because she wasn’t free to move, partly because his eager gaze made her hands shake. However, she managed to shave the sides of his head and even his beard before dawn. “All done.” she whispered lowly, dropping comb and knife in his open hand. He smiled sweetly, brushing his knuckle on the apple of her cheek “Good girl” he pinched her skin lightly “Ye hungry?” Of you, Finan “Not at all.” “Good, we’re skipping dinner.” Thanks God they hadn’t wear they armour that day; stripping out of all that chain and leather was always hard, boring and ridiculous. Most of the time, they ended laughing, all their energy drained out. But that particular day, they were only wearing their vests and trousers and, as soon as they entered their shared tent, Finan took of his green vest. “Sweet god!” Y/N exclaimed, never used to his magnificent body, and Finan laughed, pulling her against his naked chest “Just me here, dove. Am I not enough?” She run her fingers through the soft hair on his pecs “ ‘M not complaining, am I?” His cold hands dipped under her vest and found her hardened nipple that he twisted harshly making her moan loudly, for the surprise and the pleasure “Seems like ye enjoying it, actually” her vest dropped on the floor and just moments later he lifted her from the ground and dropped her on their bed. It was not the widest nor the softer, but Y/N couldn’t care less, she just wanted Finan. To keep kissing her and to finally push himself inside her. He was in no rush, though, and slowly bit and kissed and licked every inch of her scarred skin “Beautiful creature, ye are. Can’t get enough of ye” he mumbled, removing her trousers. “I don’t want you to” she breathed out and he shot her his sweetest, happiest smile before burying his face between her tight with a low, feral growl. The deep strokes of his tongue on the most intimate part of her body clouded her mind and tighten her stomach; she gripped and pulled his hair, screaming his name when he dipped a finger inside her. At some point, the pleasure became too much, and she closed her eyes ready to reach the peak of her pleasure, but she knew he wouldn’t let her cum so easily. As she expected, he stopped and stood on his knees, watching her with a wide, glistening smirk “Ye a’right there, dove?” She groaned frustrated and found in herself the strength to pull him on his back and crawl over him. He got comfortable on the furs, letting her hungrily strip him out of his trousers. When he was finally naked, she shot him a shy look, asking for permission; he pushed his thumb through her agape full lips and moaned loudly when she swirled her tongue against it, sucking lightly. “Ye want to taste me, dear?” she nodded eagerly “Go for it, then” He was big to the point that her lips painfully stretched around him; it was a sweet pain, though, and she moaned, trying to take him as deeper as possible, to the point that she could not breath anymore. “Oy!” Finan pulled her hair harshly and she found herself face to face with the warrior “Ye have to breath, understood?” She nodded quickly and he gripped her face “Words, Y/N.” “Yes, lord.” He patted her cheek lightly “Good girl. On yer back now, I want to be with ye” he ordered, but didn’t let her time to obey, slapping her bum harshly, making her scream in pleasure, and spinning around, so that she laid where he was before and he stood above her on his knees; she couldn’t even catch her breath before he sunk inside her, slowly. They both moaned and Finan leant down to kiss her deeply, her hand wandering down to his full arse; she dipped her fingers in his flesh and guided him to push deeper inside her, until their body became one. And when the man of her life bit down on the skin of her shoulder, she came with a loud scream of his name and he followed her soon after, murmuring her name in a low pray. They had fallen asleep when the moon was already high in the sky. Finan didn’t sleep for long, though, and soon he found himself wide awake, lost in his thoughts. She was deep in her sleep, mouth slightly open. He watched her until the sun started rising, too scare to touch her, not wanting to wake his beautiful woman, who he knew was a light sleeper. It was what the life of a warrior does to you, it strips you of many things, one being a good night of sleep. Finan had always found it hard, but now that Y/N slept next to him, his nightmare were gone. She had had more trouble than him to adjust to the new situation, but now she slept well too, without screams nor cries. And she slept for long, profoundly, until the sun was up in the sky. He decided to run his finger on every feature of her lovely face, until the caresses woke her up; with a slow fluttering of eyelashes and lazy smile “You all right, Fin?” “Good morning, dove. It’s well past noon.” She slipped closer to him, wrapping her leg around his hips, her hands on his chest, and she closed her eyes again, shivering against the warm of his body “No worries. Did you sleep well?” “I did, but not for long.” “How so?” she murmured against his jaw, curling her lips in a lazy kiss. “Too excited to sleep.” “Why’s that?” “ ‘Cause I can’t wait to marry ye.” She opened her eyes again, now fully awake “Are we getting marry?” He smiled down at her sweetly, completely enamoured “If ye want me, I’d love to wife ye.” “Well, thank you for asking.” she joked, pinching his nipple lightly, then she straddle him with the happiest, widest smile on her red lips “Guess I’ll marry you, Finan the Agile.”

[ps-i-dont-even-know]

Devil may cry headcanons

You know I wasn't expecting you put a lot of Kyrie stuff in this one but I couldn't help it. Also there's dadgil in here because I really love it, sorry for no young Dante and Vergil I'm running out of ideas since I can't remember most of my childhood. Also for those who are interested, I’m thinking of starting taking request/ask for headcanons and writing, possibly drawing but their not the best, but I need to work stuff out at the moment.

Sometimes when Vergil has a mission near Nero and Kyrie, he stops by their house

The first time he did this was shocking to Nero, not only was Vergil there, but V and Urizen was there too, and it was going to be extremely ridiculous to explain this to Kyrie

And he knew how this was go and how she is protective over Nero since losing her brother and nearly losing Nero.

"Nero, who's at the... door", " Oh, um Kyrie I would like to introduce you to my dad, er … Dads?", "Your, Dads?", "Look its complicated and a long story, anyway this is my main Dad, Vergil, he's kind of nice but doesn't really talk that much. This is my dad's human half, V, he's nice, likes poems and has animals, strange one that is. And lastly is my dads demon half, um I'm not sure if he's nice or not since he raised the demon tree", "Oh that's nice, by the way which one was the one that hurt you", "Wait, Kyrie, No!"

Nero has to hold Kyrie back from trying to attack Vergil, mostly for her safety. Of course she doesn't forgive Vergil at first, because of what he has done and while she gives off a nice demeanor, her glares and scowls are anything buy warm and welcoming. Which Vergil approves of Kyrie dating Nero, having someone who will fight for you instead of turning tail when something bad happens

After a while Kyrie finally forgives Vergil, because she shouldn't hold grudges that are already in the past, and to move on. But she does tell him that if he were to do something like this again she would not hesitate to hurt him, and Vergil knowing that it would be impossible for her to hurt him agrees. And the tension is finally gone and she is more welcoming to him. Which is great for Nero's case since he felt like he was being smothered in between all their glaring and the tension.

Kyrie also makes apple pie when Vergil visits, since apples are one of his favorite fruits and because the one time he visit she made some for the orphans and she asked if he would like a slice and at first he said no, but soon gave in and had a slice, well maybe two or three but he wont admit to it.

He will also go grocery shopping with her when he has free time and Nero is busy, only to help find ingredients for new food Kyrie wants to try, and to get to know each other better.

On holidays when Vergil and Nero will help Kyrie cook some of the food. Sometimes Dante will try to sneak some sweets only for his hand to be hit by a spatula as Kyrie tells him, he needs to wait or he'll spoil his dinner. In which Dante's pouting, Nero and Nico are giggling, and Vergil is smirking.

Nero has Kyrie fix his jackets when he comes back from missions sometimes, normally he will tell her he doesn't want to put work on her, but she wants to do something nice for him. She also teachers Nero how to sew and stitch so when there are days she can't fix he can do it himself, which took a while but he got it down and not only does he fox his jacket but also helps make clothing for some of the kids, sure his stitching or sewing not the best but they love it nonetheless. Kyrie has also has sewn cat like ears on one of Nero jackets without him knowing until Dante was laughing at him, he chewed him out but still kept the ears on his hoodie because he likes it.

Kyrie got Nero into cooking and remodeling house shows, sometimes he’ll turn it on just to see how the house changed and kind of debated on doing it with their house. What surprised him was the time he came into the living room where the tv was and saw Kyrie watching crime investigator shows, saying she finds its interesting about how they solve the problems, which Nero also got into, along with most of the kids.

The kids will dog pile both Dante and Vergil, Dante loves it, play fighting with the kids and stuff. Vergil on the other hand he doesn’t expect it and isn’t used to the contact, so he gets stiff and weirded out.

Dadgil

He got a school suspension, because well doing his first judgement cut on an apple sitting on a desk while cutting the apple but also the desk was something he wasn't supposed to do, and also because there not supposed to bring weapons to school

Nero had brought the Yamato, Cerberus, Nevan, and Agni & Rudra to his school show and tell, because he want to knock the socks off the kids who brought in pets, toys, or food from a different country

Vergil was frustrated that he had gotten a call from the school that his son brought weapons to school and was being suspended because of it and was mad that Dante let the Nero bring the weapons to school in the first place because it was Dante’s day to take the kid to school and he was busy

He was proud that Nero had done a judgment cut for the first time even if it was tiny and told him not to do this again.

Nero technically has two dads. Vergil and V, he loves when V visits him because of his strange pets, and the way he acts, he's mysterious but kind and loves his poems

Nero will not sleep unless V or Vergil reads him something be it a poem or story, and will try to stay up when Vergil is out on a mission. Being read to helps Nero sleep

On that subject of sleeping, Nero has frequent nightmares. It might be something he has gotten from Vergil, but there will be times where Nero leaves his bed and walks to his dad's room asking if he can sleep in bed with him, and half awake Vergil will agree. Sometimes Vergil will softly sing to Nero because after his nightmares it takes him a while to get back to sleep, and god forbid if Dante heard him singing he knows that he will not let him live this down.

Nero wanted to learn an instrument because his dad knows how to play a violin, and his uncle knows how to play both the drums and guitar. Though the problem was he didn't know which one to go with, there was many to choose from, he kind of stuck with a trombone since it slides a lot and the style is kind of it is great, also he can get away with spitting on Dante.

Nero has only two fears, spirits/ghost and frogs. Its mostly Dante's fault for letting Nero watch paranormal horror movies at night. And Nero doesn't know why he is afraid of frogs, maybe its the way they look or something he doesn't know nor care.

When he was at the park with Nico and Kyrie, did his fear of frogs really show. They were over by the pond and Nico comes over to Nero with the frog in her hand, only for him to scream and start running, while Nico chase after him giggling. Kyrie was also giggling watching Nero run from Nico was too funny.

Nero also begged his dad and uncle for a pet, he didn't care what it was as long as its not a frog. Dante was close to getting Nero a hellhound or Cerberus, but Vergil literally had to stab smack some sense in his brother. They decided on ferret, they didn't want a cat or bird because V has one and they weren't sure if its territorial or not. Hamster and Guinea pigs are tiny and live I cates not much fun there same with Lizards. Dogs are a hassle and no one wants to clean up after it, so a Ferret is what they decided on.

Nero absolutely loves it and its a noddle he can wrap it around his neck and wiggle the creature. He decided on naming it Furret cause it looked like the Pokémon and he couldn't think of anything else

Every year for fathers day Nero will try and make Vergil something, he's make weird cup looking thing that you cant drink out of it because of holes, macaroni art, drawings, cards filled with glitter galore, paper hats, the list goes on and on. But he tried making those flower thing Dante makes, he asked him how he did it and Dante responds it comes to him naturally which doesn't help at all. So he tries only for nothing to appear to his disappointment, he tries and tries until he gets the tiniest and wimpy looking thing. But happily gives it to his dad who really appreciates it.

Vergil's refrigerator is covered with child like drawings given to him from Nero, he loves them and encourages Nero to do more and that he will be the greatest artist.

When Nero first met Patty was the same day Dante was given the mission to babysit her. She was kind of bratty and annoying at first and he didn't like that she would take all of Dante's attention. They argued a lot and Dante would yell at them to stop because it was giving him a headache and they should try to get along. After having to take Patty to retrieve her family money he did start to get along with her and they started to both annoy Dante together.

Nero absolutely loves dinosaurs and has loads of toys of them, and when he was going to the Zoo with Vergil he told him he was excited to see Dinosaurs there. Only for Vergil to tell them that there aren't any dinosaurs at the zoo. (This happened to a friend of mine).

Trish and Lady likes to take Nero out shopping, normally he doesn’t mind going with them, as long as he gets something out of it. Poor Dante and his debt when he finds out how much stuff they bough for Nero

Dante watching Nero while Vergil out can lead to many, many, different ways, and Vergil dreads all of them. Dante could feed Nero only sweets and junk food instead normal healthy food, Dante could probably lose Nero somewhere be it the park or his own damn shop, Dante could probably get Nero in danger because of the demons that show up to his shop and destroys it.

Nero does get into a lot of fights at school, half of them are kids making fun of him others are he’s a hard head and doesn’t let go of grudges. The school is very frustrated in how Nero always gets into these fights, but are nervous of his dad, because of his stubbornness and how he knows that half the time its not Nero’s fault. Like one time a teacher and Nero argued about how Demons do exist and how his dad, uncle, and two aunts go out and defeat. It resulted Nero getting embarrassed in front of the class and being sent to the office and a very angry Vergil that nearly killed the teacher.

[skullrock]

the campers, chapter two - Steve x Reader

gif by @harringtown

chapter two: the trainee 

series summary:Steve gets a job as a camp counselor at Camp Know Where, intending on using the summer to discover himself. When things start to go wrong at camp, the only people that can help him are the Party, Hopper, and his mortal enemy - you. [Enemies to lovers, angst, fluff, hurt/comfort]

chapter summary: Steve gets in the swing of things quickly, much to your dismay.

warnings: swearing!

word count: 2.7k

a/n: you can catch up on the series here! hope you enjoy this chapter!

===

Dustin and Steve are luckily paired into the same cabin, but they have different rooms. Steve’s roommate isn’t in when he goes to drop off his things, but Dustin assures that the man, Nico, is a cool dude.

“Not as cool as you though, Steve,” Dustin says, giving him a firm pat on the back. Steve smiles slightly and nods, appreciating the sentiment. Especially after being blasted by you.

“Are you going to tell me what’s up with you and Y/N?”

“No,” Steve says curtly, shutting and locking his room.

Dustin waits a few moments to see if Steve will fess up, but he doesn’t. Actually, Steve sets his jaw tightly, making Dustin even more curious. “I guess you guys don’t like each other, huh?”

“No,” Steve says again. He runs a hand through his hair. “Well - she doesn’t like me.”

“She knew you as Asshole Steve?”

Steve sighs heavily. “Yeah. She knew me as Asshole Steve.”

Dustin shrugs as they start to make their way to their orientations. “You’ll just have to show her how you changed, that’s all.”

Steve scoffs and shakes his head. “It doesn’t even matter.”

Dustin knows he doesn’t mean that, but he stops prodding for answers.

They continue their walk down from the cabins to the activity center, filled with classrooms, the cafeteria, and research labs. Steve enjoys the area already, happy to see the sun glistening off of the lake and the large hemlocks and oaks. The wind smells like pine and juniper, even in the summer, relaxing Steve’s mind. The woods do scare him now, there’s no denying that. But these aren’t the sinister woods behind his house in Hawkins. These woods are welcoming and cheery, bright and charming. Steve loves the open fields for archery and tag, the courts for basketball and tennis. He decides he’d really like to help out with the intramurals, giving up on the science aspect before even getting the chance to explore it.

Steve’s train of thought is derailed when he hears a sweet voice call out, “Dusty-bun?”

Dustin turns on his heel, a smile spreading widely across his face. He runs to meet her halfway, picking her up and twirling her. The girl laughs happily, and they kiss for a moment before Steve clears his throat. “Is this Suzie?”

“It’s Suzie,” Dustin says, sighly happily. “Suzie, this is Steve.”

She extends her hand and Steve takes it, surprised by how firm her grip is. She’s alright, Steve thinks. She’s got this Mormon vibe going on, but her smile is bright and her personality is welcoming. Steve’s happy to find out that Suzie is an actual person, and while she has no Phoebe Cates in her at all, she’s a perfect match for Dustin.

Steve third wheels as they continue to walk towards the activity center, again being pulled back to his thoughts. His mind falls on what you’d said earlier.

It feels like a rock sits in his gut when he thinks about camp when he was younger. He knows he was an asshole, he can feel it in his bones. He knows he hung out with Tommy H. and some other dickheads, and he has glimpses of memories of tripping, pushing, and pranking. But he really doesn’t remember a lot. He’s not sure if he’s from the concussions or because he willed those thoughts out of his memory - but they aren’t there. Only insignificant ones remain. Like how his bedsheets in his cabin were blue and red plaid; how he would wake up at 7:15 to take a walk before Tommy would wake up; he even remembers the bitter taste of the orange juice hitting his tongue at breakfast. It’s like his mind zeroed in on the insignificant things so that the hurtful memories stay in the back of his mind, sitting like a cobra, waiting to strike.

The trio arrives at the activity center.

“I’ll see you tonight, Steve,” Dustin says. “Don’t worry - you’ll do great.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Steve mumbles, anxiety twisting in his gut. “Nice to meet you, Suzie.”

She smiles brightly and starts off, but Dustin stays behind. “Hotter than Phoebe Cates, right?”

Steve forces a smile and nods, giving him a thumbs up. “You really did it, man.”

Dustin winks and walks away, leaving Steve alone and sweating bullets. He hates being alone - he can’t stand being by himself anymore. Especially now that he knows you’re on the loose here, probably plotting some sick pranks. But he forces himself to move his feet up to the orientation check in.

“Name?” a man with the nametag Josh asks.

“Uh, It’s Steve. Harrington.”

He gets his bundle - a nametag, a hat just like Dustin’s, a few lime green and yellow Camp Know Where shirts (reading LEADER on the back), a drawstring bag, some pens, and a notebook. Steve forces himself to not make a face at the shirt - it’s disgusting and it will certainly ruin his chances with the ladies. He’ll wear it - he’s just not happy about it. And, besides, the first girl he interacted with at camp nearly bit his head off, so maybe he shouldn’t be so worried about his chances. Maybe he should be worried about not fucking up this time.

He takes a seat in one of the large lecture halls, sitting as far away from everyone as possible. Nearly everyone who walks in waves at him and sits close, making Steve clench his fists and bounce his legs. He literally does not remember how to be social - it’s like a second language that he forgot. It pains him that he can’t strike up conversations like he used to, but those around him help.

“Hi, I’m Kara,” a girl his age says, sitting down right next to him. “Who are you?”

Steve blinks. “Oh - I’m Steve.”

She reaches out and shakes his hand, smiling. “You’re new, right?”

“Is it that easy to tell?”

Kara laughs. “Don’t worry, Steve - you’ll get the hang of the flow soon enough.”

Okay, maybe he does have a chance with some ladies.

You come into the room, eyes searching for Steve. You see your buddy Kara talking to him and you curse under your breath. She’s not supposed to be friends with him - she’s probably going to try to bone him in the next week, too, and you don’t want that either. You march up to Josh, the leader of leaders, and pull him down to your level. “You cannot - you will not - pair me with Steve Harrington.”

Josh’s brows furrow and he looks up at Steve, remembering him from earlier. “What, you scared of that dork?”

You groan and roll your eyes. “He was such an asshole to me - we used to go to camp together. He made my summers hell, Josh. I can’t be around him.”

Josh pauses and shrugs. “Okay, no problem, I’ll pair him with someone else.”

You sigh in relief and take a seat at the front, where a panel of veteran counselors sit. You try to be social, but the bile keeps rising from your stomach to your throat. You feel sick. You feel like this summer is going to be an absolute nightmare. And while you’re so far beyond who you used to be - that kid who couldn’t even look people in the eye - you’re scared that his presence will revert you back into that little girl. And it’s the last thing you want.

Josh claps his hands a while later, signalling the start of orientation. Steve shifts in his seat and pulls out his notebook and a pen. He doesn’t know shit about note taking, but he reckons he should try. You grab your notebook too, excited to learn and meet with the new folks.

“Welcome to Camp Know Where!” Josh says.

The room erupts in cheers and Steve can feel his old self creeping back in, the insult of dorks running through his head - as if he isn’t clearly one himself. But he composes himself, clapping lightly along with everyone else.

“Here at Camp Know Where, we want to create a welcoming, safe environment for our kids to explore the world through science, math, engineering, and technology.” Steve writes it down quickly, forming the acronym “SMET”, and giggling to himself.

“It’s our job as counselors to facilitate learning in a fun, positive, and energetic way. Through orientation, you’re going to meet your fellow counselors, learn some things, and find a designation at camp. We work with you! If you think you’d be better at doing science, we’ll help you find your place in the classroom. But if you’d like to work with intramurals, we can place you out in nature. However, we still want to make sure everyone has a good grasp at all activities, so you’ll be cycled through everything we have to offer at Camp Know Where.”

Steve writes down “science - intramurals - whatever - know it all.”

“Today, though, we’ll be doing some icebreakers, and then some brainstorming.”

The room erupts in groans, Steve’s perhaps being the loudest.

“Relax, they’re fun.” Josh beams and holds up a clipboard. “I’m going to split everyone off with a partner now. This will be your partner all through camp. You’ll do something with everyone, but your partner is like your mentor. The newer folks will be paired with someone who’s been here a while to help you get in the swing of things.”

You shift in your seat. Maybe you’ll make a new friend - maybe you’ll get along famously - it was an exciting concept.

Or, it is, until Josh calls out, “Y/N and Steve.”

The shit eating grin on his face is unimaginable. He looks down at you, smiling, eyes shining, as if to say, get over it. If you had a bat, you would have hit him with it. Your stomach sinks, it rolls, it twists. Your palms sweat, your head races, but it stays forward, eyes trained on the podium in front of you.

Steve feels the exact same, except his legs are telling him to get the hell out of there. He knows his protests will fall on deaf ears, and who would accommodate him, anyway? He rests his head in his hands as Josh continues to read off names.

“Alright, get with your partner. We’re going to play two truths and a lie!”

Phenomenal, you think. The worst icebreaker of all time, and it’s with Steve Harrington.

You push yourself up out of your seat and force your legs to move towards him, sitting down next to him but a chair away, keeping a distance. Steve’s okay with it - it actually helps him breathe.

The rest of the room fills with laughs and chatter, but you both stare in silence for a long while. Finally, Steve says, “So -”

“We aren’t friends,” you interrupt. “We aren’t friends now, we weren’t friends then, and in the future, we won’t be friends. Got it?”

Steve swallows hard and nods. Despite the dryness in his throat, he tries to apologize. “Look, I know I wasn’t nice when he were kids -”

You scoff. He continues. “But I swear to God, or whatever, I’ve changed. I’m not like that anymore. I - I don’t even hang out with Tommy. I just hang out with Dustin and this girl called Robin, you don’t know her - she’s pretty cool -”

“Save it,” you say harshly. “We can talk since it’s our job, but I don’t care about your life now, and I know you don’t care about mine.”

No icebreakers are played between you - the only thing played is an intense staring contest, which makes you angry and Steve horrified. Finally, Josh claps again, and then the real orientation begins. Josh hands out papers with scenarios on them, the goal being to brainstorm ways to demonstrate good leadership. Things like, a camper is obviously intoxicated - what do you do? and what’s the best way to improve a camper who isn’t doing well?

“Wait,” Steve says as Josh places the paper down. “Are we sw- switching partners?”

“Nope!” Josh says, popping the ‘p’. “Not yet.”

Steve wants to die.

To your surprise, Steve has some pretty phenomenal ideas for how to be a good leader. He even delves into how he would bond with the campers - he’d play sports with them, facilitate idea generating, become someone they can come to and confide in. He wouldn’t shut down their ideas, but rather help them expand on them. You think that he actually has some really good concepts.

“I just want them to trust me, you know?” he says quietly. “I want them to feel like they have a chance and that they can come to me for anything.”

You furrow your brows. “How’d you get these good ideas?”

“Dustin,” he admits, a bit sheepishly. “And some of his friends, too. They’ve helped me understand how to be better at listening and helping and understanding.”

You nod stiffly, not wanting to become too impressed with him. “Well, you have some solid ideas.”

Steve’s eyes widen and brighten. “You think?”

You shrug. “They’re not bad.”

And just like that, Steve feels like he has a purpose.

The room forms back together to go over their responses, and for the first time in his life, Steve offers his perspective in a public setting without being condescending or rude. The feeling of raising his hand was awkward and unknown, but he kept doing it, in love with the nods of support from the other counselors. Someone said he must have a knack for being a leader, and Steve beamed brighter than he had in months.

You, of course, hated it, but you had no authority to tell him to shut up. To you, it seemed fake and, frankly, out of nowhere. But you couldn’t help to agree with some of his points and ideas. You hated it.

You all break for the day at five. You practically run out of the room, gasping in the fresh air outside quickly. Josh walks past you and slaps your back, turning around to smile at you. “Have fun?”

“I will kill you.”

“Can’t wait!”

You’d lost your appetite after the hours spent with Steve, so you stay outside, sitting on a picnic bench and contemplating. You wonder if Steve is right when he says he’s changed. Past Steve would never say such things, would never even bother to put in an effort. But he was giving more of an effort than most people in that room, and it genuinely shocked you. Maybe Dustin had something to do with it - but that seemed improbable, too. The whole thing was so bizarre that it made your head spin and your knees weak.

You see Dustin heading inside and call out for him, beckoning him over. His brows furrow tightly but he walks over, sitting down across from you. “Why aren’t you eating?”

“What’s Steve’s deal?”

“Look, I hated him too,” Dustin says. “I mean, I really hated him. Like, I wanted to punch him -”

“I get it.”

“Right. But he’s changed. He got sober really fast a few years back and he hasn’t been the same since.” Dustin pauses, choosing his words carefully. “A lot of stuff has happened to him… and I think it’s changed him for the better. He’s been through a lot. He’s just trying to find himself now. That’s why he’s here.”

You sigh heavily. “You think he’s better?”

“I know he’s better.” Dustin smiles. “And that’s why I think you should give him a chance.”

“No way,” you scoff. “He never gave me a chance.”

“Shouldn’t stoop to past Steve’s level.” Dustin’s smile widens. “You’ll hurt your back.”

You roll your eyes. You don’t want this kid to be right, but you know he is.

“Just - give him a chance, please? He really deserves one. He’s my best friend… he deserves a shot.”

You sigh again. “Fine.”

===

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[davidmann95]

How'd you like the new Death Metal special (and, more broadly, this week's comics)?

pretenderoftheeast said: Comics this week (12/9/2020)?

Batman: Black and White #1: The first of a platter of anthologies today:

* The Tynion/Moore story is predictably fire.

* JHIII is JHIII. Also he does a really nice surprising story about how Batman’s relating to this moment of the time, but let’s be real, you’re here because JHIII, and be assured he is JHIII as helllll here and it’s great.

* Dini/Kubert plays as the former building a story around accommodating requests by the latter, but that’s not a bad thing, and glad to see Kubert’s kept up the pace since his DK3/Up In The Sky creative rejuvenation.

* Ok I’m a philistine who has no idea what that Emma Rios thing was about but it was certainly pretty.

* Wilson doing Batman is surprisingly disappointing, but Smallwood doing Batman definitely isn’t.

DC’s Very Merry Multiverse: Not a very merry time! I hate to say it given this should be so geared to my interests, but this is the weakest overall effort we’ve gotten from one of DC’s quarterly anthologies in a good long while, at least among those I’ve picked up. Not to say it’s a dud, there are several nifty little stories in here including the much-hyped first appearance of Kid Quick (destined to become the Flash of Future State) and really almost everything here reaches ‘pretty okay’. But for $10, and a creative space that should reach so much more than ‘pretty okay’, I don’t know that this is a justifiable recommendation unless you’re understandably desperate for all the President Superman content you can get your hands on.

Tales of the Dark Multiverse: Flashpoint: I’m surprised I got it too, but the preview grabbed me and in practice it was a fun, mean little high-concept adventure of Reverse Flash being a total cock.

Wonder Woman #768: Credit where it is due, this has been getting a bit better in its closing stretch.

Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last Stories of the DC Universe: This ruled. Obviously there was the one story folks are most interested in, but almost all of the tales in here lived up to being a ‘final’ story of sorts for their leads.

* The Titans bookenders were pretty nice even if it’s hilarious that their big rallying cry basically amounts to “by god, our book may be shit, but we’re valuable IP so we’ll never be cancelled!”

* Green Lantern is basically an epilogue to Johns’ run sans the baggage of bringing back Johns (that we get in two weeks with Secret Origin and god forgive me I’m so looking forward to that), and definitely one of my favorite efforts from Lemire.

* Wonder Woman’s the stinker in what’s nominally her own event. I can parse the roots of most bad Superman stories one way or another, but I just can’t understand what’s behind most bad Wonder Woman stories beyond that the people handling it simply don’t give a shit.

* Astonishingly, the Green Arrow and Black Canary chapter in here might be my favorite of the bunch? Simone at her best, a really sweet slice of playful, sincere romance about two characters I’m not by default invested in but ended up quite caring for here.

* This Aquaman story is everything I generally hate in Aquaman stuff, a big long maudlin speech about the weight of the world as he swims through a black featureless ocean, except here between the real heart Sebela brings to the script and the mood artist Christopher Mooneyham manages to evoke, it all clicks together.

* The Batman Family story feels like it can’t quite make its pacing work, but it’s still a heartfelt little ode to the theoretical power of the concept.

* Hey, that Mark Waid guy? Turns out he can write him some Superman. It’s not perhaps the total barnburner you might have expected - I imagine he’s saving his biggest hits for later - but it’s a very solid execution of a gangbusters concept, and Manapul steals the show with absolutely sensational, gorgeous scenic Superman imagery. I’mma say 60/40 in favor of them doing a Superman project together on either a main book or Black Label (I know Manapul was supposed to be locked into a creator-owned thing with Scott Snyder but that was ages ago), because this is a paring that’s yielded some immediate results and I imagine everyone knows it. And given my upbringing, nice to see a big, iconic, beautiful Superman story with him rocking the mullet.

Anonymous said: Haha holy shit Crossover is literally Cates taking that page where Spawn meets all the corporate heroes locked up and spinning it out into a series

Anonymous said: Does Crossover #2 hold the crown for the funniest, dumbest, most baffling opening page ever?

Crossover #2: Readers I’m not too big to admit I laughed my ass off at the first page, and at least a little bit for the actual reasons intended. The sense of homaging that Spawn scene in the context of a book about “Gosh, isn’t IP the best folks?”, or Cates’ dialogue...(shall we say) proving why he likes the concept of ellipses enough to name a character after them aside though? That it’s already crossed the line with its central metaphor from “indefensibly insensitive in its ridiculous self-centeredness” to “out-and-out cartoonishly offensive” somehow actually makes it more rather than less palatable; there’s no longer the secondhand embarrassment of waiting to see how bad Cates is going to handle this, it simply is the worst it could possibly be and readers have to accept and perhaps revel in the sight of him stepping on rake after rake. I cannot wait for him to finally give an interview on this book where he explains what the hell he thinks this looks like, and I hope my dad keeps somehow enjoying it forever because I totally wanna see what pit this descends to next.

Penultiman #3: This is absolutely agonizing and probably the most relatable take on a ‘superman’ ever.

Home Sick Pilots #1: A new creator-owned book from Dan Watters (whose big two credits include the stupendous “Afraid of America” with John Paul Leon in the last Batman Secret Files, and the upcoming Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman) and Peter Cannon’s Caspar Wijngaard, this new book set against the backdrop of a Californian high school’s punk scene in 1994 describes itself as “Power Rangers meets The Shining (yes, really)”. The former influence isn’t much in play yet, but thus far this is a book that merges building tension and freewheeling dopey teen bullshit to an extent that’s subtly impressive as hell, and seems likely to proudly take a place among the current horror comic renaissance.

Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #3: Ok again I don’t have any experience with this franchise but you’d better believe that cultural osmosis was enough that I popped for BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!

King in Black: Namor #1: Kurt Busiek’s return to Marvel...sucks? Such is the power of Knull I guess even if he doesn’t manifest within the actual story here, this is a complete nothing of a comic and I’m not tuning in for issue #2.

Avengers #39: Eh, I’m not liking Aaron Avengers when it gets remotely serious nearly as much as when he’s doing stuff like having them finally help Blade with all those vampires or Captain America assisting with the delivery of an exploding space-baby in the back of a muscle car.

Anonymous said: That new Guardians of the Galaxy was something else. What do you think the odds are that Comic Books, with a decade or two of hindsight, recognizes Ewing as one of the best to ever do it?

Guardians of the Galaxy #9: I lack much context here beyond recalling from an interview that this is Ewing’s way of grappling with the ideas from Steve Englehart’s original unrealized vision of Star-Lord’s character arc, but wherever it stems from this is a hell of a comic.

S.W.O.R.D. #1: This is everything I’ve wanted from the non-Hickman X-books since the moment HoXPoX ended, and so much more, and also it is basically hilarious that Ewing is all but explicitly using his clout to force Marvel to let him to Ultimates3 under a currently cancellation-proof banner. Most importantly of all, Ewing has already mastered the subtle art of writing not merely Magneto, but the infinitely superior Jonathan Hickman Magneto. And good lord Schiti and Gracia, I already knew they were top-tier but these pages’d make a grown man cry.

[sebspocketsquare]

Quarantine: 2

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader (online)

A/N: Heya guys! Here’s part 2! I hope you enjoy what I’ve come up with for you, let me know what you think! Part 3 is in the works :) -T

Warnings: Language, quarantine, feelings of loneliness and isolation, flirting

The highlight of your days became the time you spent online. So much so that you began staying up til nearly 4am, and sleeping in until noon or one every day. You couldn’t get enough of the new world you’d discovered..

You couldn’t get enough of your new friend.

Was it crazy? To look forward to small chats with someone you just met, and didn’t even know their name, gender or age? Probably.

You didn’t allow yourself to consider it too much, otherwise you knew your anxiety would make you question everything and shut them out.

You’re logging off early tonight, deciding you need a bit of extra time spent with yourself. A bubble bath, a glass of wine or two, and maybe a face mask. It was hard to remember the last time you’d participated in lengthy self care, and you knew it was well needed.

Drawing the bath, you set your phone on the bathroom counter. You only leave for a few moments to grab the wine, and you’re surprised to find the screen lit up when you come back.

A new message from Sarge.

Cocking your head to the side, you pick up your device and open your gaming app. They never messaged you outside of when you were playing games.. what could this be about?

[Sarge:] I know this might be odd and may come off as invasive, but.. I was wondering if you’d maybe wanna play 20 questions…?

[Sarge:] Get to know each other better?

Before you can even respond, more messages are coming through.

[Sarge:] You can also absolutely say no, it’s just.. 

[Sarge:] This quarantine has been… hard. I have a roommate, but.. I find myself lost in my head so frequently, feeling trapped and…

[Sarge:] To be quite honest, the only time I don’t feel that way is when I’m talking to you.

Your cheeks were burning, and it couldn’t be from the wine because you hadn’t touched it to your lips yet.

[Sarge:] You never even have to tell me your name if you don’t want to. I never even need to see what you look like, I just.. 

[Sarge:] I feel like we both need something to hold on to during all of this. 

[Sarge:] At least.. I know I do.

Their words have your head swimming as you sit on the edge of the tub. 

Should you? Should you not? 

They never wanted to see you, or know your name… it’s not even like they could stalk you to the point of randomly showing up at your house because of the quarantine.

You lick your lips in contemplation and then sigh.

What could it really hurt?

[clairv0yant:] I… think I would actually really like that.

Your first and only concern comes to mind, so you figure now is the time to voice it.

[clairv0yant:] But first… how old are you exactly? Lol

You were suddenly terrified you might be talking to just a child, and you definitely didn’t want to find yourself attached if that were the case.

[Sarge:] Lol. I guess that’s fair.

[Sarge:] Well, some days, I swear I’m over a hundred, but..

[Sarge:] Today, I’m feeling more mid thirties. How about you?

A weight lifts from your chest that you didn’t realize was there before. They were pretty close to your age. And they had a good sense of humor? You couldn't keep yourself from smiling just a bit.

You decide to keep on that note.

[clairv0yant:] Today? Late twenties. :P

The next few hours were spent playing way more than the agreed upon ‘20 questions’, but you didn’t mind.

You’d learned that your new friend was male and ex-military, though he still held a position that required him to travel from time to time when he wasn’t banned from doing so.

You learned that he loved classical music, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, but he was more than open to listening to some of your recommendations as well.

He didn’t have any family left to support him, but his roommate was his best friend, and though they both continuously pick at each other, they always have each other's backs.

His favorite color is blue.

He loves peanut butter cookies and hates vanilla wafers.

His favorite time of day is the hours just before sunrise, when he normally goes for 5 mile long runs.

The most intriguing thing you’d learned is how much of a sweetheart he is, and a bit of a flirt, though he doesn’t seem to even realize that fact.

[Sarge:] Alright, this one is a deal breaker.. Are you prepared?

[clairv0yant:] Hit me with it. 

[Sarge:] Do you sleep with socks on? 

[clairv0yant:] Ugh no way. I can’t stand it. That’s the worst.

[Sarge:] Atta girl. :P

You check the clock and it’s nearly 3am. This is usually the time that he says he’s off to bed, but he hasn’t brought up the inevitable parting yet.

You use this opportunity to ask a question that’s been in the back of your mind since the game started.

[clairv0yant:] So, do you have a name, or should i just call you Sarge? :P

You see him start to type, then stop, then start again.

A few moments pass before his response is popping up on your screen.

[Sarge:] You can call me Sarge for now.. or J, if you’d like. How about you, doll?

The new pet name sends a shiver right up your spine, and you flush at the involuntary reaction.

You understood his hesitation about giving out so much personal information, you hardly knew each other at this point. Pressing him for more just seemed like an ass move, so you decide to keep with the cryptic-ness of his answer… but with a little flirting.

[clairv0yant:] Clair is fine… or ‘Doll’. :P

You’re nervous to see how he’ll react to your answer, which in turn, makes you nervous in general. 

Were you really flirting with a stranger you met on the internet named Sarge? 

Was the quarantine starting to affect your common sense?

[Sarge:] Hmmm… I think I like ‘Doll.’ I’ll save Clair for when you’re in trouble. ;)

His response has your cheeks burning, as they have so many times during your conversation and you find yourself at a loss for words. 

He was turning out to be the world's biggest flirt.

[Sarge:] Well, doll, we should both get some rest, as much as I’d hate to part with you.. 

[Sarge:] We can pick this back up tomorrow, if you’d like?

You sigh, partly from contentment and partly from sorrow. 

Did it really have to end so soon?

[Sarge:] Sweet dreams, Clair. :)

[clairv0yant:] Sweet dreams, J. :)

TAGS: (I wasnt sure who to tag, so if you dont want to be, I’m sorry!! Just trying to get this out there. ALSO if you wanna be tagged INBOX ME! I tend to miss people in the tags :(  ).  @mindingmyownbusiness @plumfondler  @buckybarnesappreciationsociety @loricameback @tinaferraldo @geminimoonbeamx  @preserumsteverogers @moderapoppins @lowkeysebby @buckyshattergirl  @jayattemptstoruletheworld    @the-observant-fangirl @moondancewrites @moonbeambucky @trinityjadec  @stevieang  @bionic-buckyb @eyecandybarnes @propertyofpoeandbucky @promarvelfangirl @ballyhoobarnes @bucky-plums-barnes @cate-lynne @witchymarvelspacecase @imaginingbucky @theimpossibleg1rl @babygurl8840 @wonderlandmind4 @buckysthing @formulafun @curvybihufflepuff @fanficsformarvelkillme  @shadyskit @lostinthoughtsandfeelings @reading–mermaid @fuckmestan @siliverin @verygraphicink @sallyp-53 @thatsbucknasty @steadyphantomcat @booktease21 @kiki5283 @lostinspace33 @drayshadow @theperditioncrasher @mmyepic @feelmyroarrrr@alien-beans @heartsaved @sideeffectsofyou @dreamingofonceuponatime @just-a-littlebit-of-everything @bluerorjhan @tarynsnotokay @jamdropx35 @turquoisekokiri @pinknerdpanda​ @starkrobb​

[marwritesgood]

Changes | S. Harrington

Pairing: Steve x Henderson!Reader

Timeframe: Season 3

Summary: When Dustin asks his sister to take him to Scoops Ahoy so he can see Steve, she knows it’s time to break the news to him.

masterlist

A/N: Send your requests in! I’m finishing Season 3 as we speak.

“Henderson! He’s back!”

When Dustin kept nagging me to drive him to Starcourt so he could see Steve for the first time since getting back from camp, I would have never anticipated the greeting they gave one another the minute Steve bursted through the doors.

“You got the job,” Dustin exclaimed, grinning happily. I knew he was disappointed about not reaching Suzie, and his friends not welcoming the way he wanted, so it was nice to see him happy again for a change.

“I got the job!” Steve laughed back, matching Dustin’s enthusiasm, something I had gotten mildly used to during our time together over the summer so far. 

After the two exchanged a complex, yet extremely dorky handshake, I sighed and leaned against the counter. Robin and I shared an amused glance, before turning our attention back to the two boys who were giggling, for having completed their elaborate handshake which ended with them pretending to vomit. Classic.

“How many children are you friends with?” Robin asked from behind the register. I tried my best to stifle the urge to laugh, but Steve’s inability to respond to her question sent me reeling.

“Okay, alright,” he droned, acting like he didn’t appreciate mine and Robin’s amusement, however, his unfazed grin suggested otherwise. “Henderson, you look like you’re in need of some ice cream, yeah? On the house.”

“Alright,” Dustin cheered. I didn’t think it would be possible for his mood to improve even more, but ice cream has that kind of effect on people. “I could go for a banana split boat.”

“You got it,” Steve answered, before turning to me with a smirk. “I think I might need an extra set of hands though, since Robin’s working the counter-”

“Oh jeez,” Robin sighed, knowing exactly where he was going with this.

“Y/n? Could you gimme some help?”

“Suuure,” I answered, in my artificially sweet tone. I hadn’t broken the news to Dustin yet, that Steve and I were dating, and he was making it really difficult to hide with all of his smirks and side glances. “Dusty, go save us a table and we’ll bring it out to you, yeah?”

“Okay,” he answered, too overcome with joy and excitement to take note of anything weird in our behaviour. Thank goodness.

After Dustin began walking towards the closest empty table he could find, Steve took my hand and gently pulled me along as he hastily made his way to the back room of Ships Ahoy, making sure my little brother wasn’t looking.

“You haven’t told him yet, have you?”

“I tried to,” I said, trying to reason with him. We had agreed that I would tell Dustin about our relationship as soon as he got home from camp, but with his friends surprising him and him getting disappointed when he couldn’t reach Suzie, it got increasingly difficult to bring up. “But then Mike and El bailed on him, and he couldn’t get Suzie to reply so Lucas and Max still don’t believe she’s real, and I didn’t want to overwhelm him.”

“Babe, slow down,” Steve said softly, placing both of his hands on my shoulders and breathing deeply, so that I could follow.

“He was just really bummed out,” I explained. “And he was super excited to see you, and I didn’t wanna change that.”

“Okay, I get it. We’ll just tell him now. Together... After we give him the ice cream, yeah?” I nodded after chuckling lightly. “But, I gotta ask... Was he... The only one excited to come see me again?”

He didn’t wait a second, to pull me closer to him, and snaking his arms around my lower back. As he leaned in towards me, staring intently at my lips, I placed my hand on his shoulders and kept him from getting any closer.

“What are you doing? He can probably see our silhouettes.”

“Aw, c’mon,” he whined, frowning as he reluctantly leaned back. He still kept his around me, and gently tightened his grasp. “I haven’t seen you all week. Can’t I have just one kiss before we break your little brother’s heart?”

“Well I’ll be damned. Do my ears deceive me?” I gasped dramatically, before linking my fingers together behind his neck. “Have I been transported to an alternate dimension, or is the Steve Harrington actually begging?”

“You know what you do to me,” he leaned close and whispered in my ear. It was needless to say that, even after years of dealing with his bullshit, and almost an entire month of dealing with his whining, he still knew just what to say to make my heart jump.

“Tell you what,” I began, before slowing pulling away from Steve, who reluctantly released his grasp. “You help me get through breaking the news to Dustin, and I’ll consider ‘accidentally’ making my way over to your place after I drop him off at home. Deal?”

I hold my hand out for him to shake, the way we always would when making deals. A tradition that dates back to our time together in middle school. But, instead of shaking my hand, Steve takes hold of it, lifts it up, and kisses the back of it. Before I can react, he quickly turns towards the ice cream tubs, and begins assembling the banana split boat.

“You’re such a dork,” I laughed, before helping him with the toppings. 

After we finished Dustin’s banana split, I held the door open for Steve so he could take it to the table where he sat. We had been in the back room for at least twenty minutes, but Dustin’s excitement remained unfazed. This both warmed my heart and brought me a strong feeling of unease. 

“Hey Y/n,” Robin called out to me, as I followed Steve towards the table. When I turned to face her, she held out a cone with two scoops of my favourite flavour of ice cream. “For you... You look like you need it.”

“Angel, Robin,” I muttered, before eagerly taking the ice cream from her hands. “You are an angel. A whole fucking guardian one.”

She tipped her hat off, making me chuckle, before I turned to see Steve sitting with Dustin. I walked over to their table, and sat on the left side , so that Dustin was inbetween Steve and I. They were in the middle of a conversation about Suzie, Dustin’s girlfriend. 

“No way,” Steve said, shaking his head at Dustin, who lifted a heaped spoonful of ice cream to his mouth. “Hotter than Phoebe Cates? No way.”

“What was that Steve?” I asked in annoyance, daring him to call another woman hot in front of me again. He quickly realised I was at the table too, and smiled cheekily at me. “Hm? Oh, nothing,” he answered.

“So do you really just get to eat as much of this as you want?” 

Dustin was an easily mesmerised kid, I knew that better than anyone. The prospect of free unlimited food, however, was something he will forever be blown away by.

“Yeah, I mean sure,” Steve shrugged. “It’s not really a good idea for me, though. You know, ‘cause I gotta keep in shape for...”

I raised my eyebrows, and Robin did too from her spot all the way from behind the register. Was this really how he wanted to tell my little brother we were dating? Steven quickly noticed my expression of concern, and kept himself from finishing the sentence with my name.

“... the ladies.”

“The ladies?” Dustin repeated, amused by Steve’s response.

“Yeah, the ladies, Steve?” I repeated, in a more aggressive tone, with eyebrows still raised and eyes widened. Steve found my expression entertaining, and smiled playfully in response

“Yeah. The ladies,” he affirmed. “One girl in particular, actually. She’s about Y/n’s height. Works with Miss Byers at Melvald’s. I think you know her?”

“She sounds like a real catch,” I exclaimed, whilst smiling proudly.

“Ehh,” Steve muttered, tilting his head from side to side. I pretended to be angry, and glared playfully at him. He returned the favour. “She’s alright. Never lets me kiss her, though. And her family members are a little weird.”

“Is that so?” I asked dramatically, crossing my arms in an exaggerated manner.

“Oh yeah,” he answered, a bit too quickly for my likings. “She has this little brother-”

Before we could keep playing the little act we found ourselves playing, Dustin cut in. Only then did we realise how confused the poor kid must have been, and how horrible of a job we were doing in easing him into the news. Perhaps the bandaid approach was our only option.

“What’s going on? Am I missing something?”

“We... We have to tell you something,” Steve explained, before nodding towards me. Once Dustin turned to face me, I took a deep breath before beginning. 

“Buddy,” I murmured, causing Dustin to immediately groan as though he were in excruciating pain. “What?”

“You only call me buddy when you tell me bad news,” he said, and just like that his expression was completely drained of all the joy and enthusiasm he was initially overflowed with after his reunion with Steve. “So, what is it this time? Are you moving away? Is Steve terminally ill? Did you two go on a date while I was away?”

I suppose for a kid who grew up playing DnD, we should have anticipated he would be great at figuring out what people are gonna do or say next. When Steve and I remained silent, Dustin’s jaw dropped.

“You guys went on a date while I was away?!”

“No,” Steve answered defensively, trying to get Dustin to calm down. “I’ve taken her out on at least 7 dates while you were away.”

I lifted my hand up to my face and sighed. Robin did the same, having been able to see and hear everything that was happening. 

“WHAT?!”

“Dusty, calm down,” I said softly, placing my hand on his shoulder, less in an attempt to soothe him and more as a precautionary measure in case he stood up to do something. 

“My sister, Steve?... Really? Of all the girls in this fucking town, you decide to go for my sister.”

“Hey,” I cried out in offence.

“Ugh, you know what I mean,” Dustin says, frustrated. “Why didn’t you guys tell me? Y/n, you sent me two whole letters while I was away... You didn’t think the fact that you and Steve were sucking faces is something important to note in?”

“I knew you’d react like this,” I explained calmly, trying to mellow down the mood of our conversation. 

“Because everything is changing,” he cried. I glanced over at Steve briefly, and he looked just as gutted as I was. After taking yet another deep breath, I wrapped my arm around Dustin’s shoulder.

“Look, Dusty, I get that a lot of things are changing,” I began. “But change doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.”

“Yeah,” Steve chimed in. “And just because Y/n and I are- I don’t wanna say sucking faces.”

“Yeah, please don’t,” I warned.

“Just because we’re going out, doesn’t mean anything else is gonna change too,” he explained. “Y/n’s still gonna be your sister, and I’ll still be here for you whenever you need. If anything, things are changing for the better.”

I had to hand it to him. Steve would make a great mom.

“I guess it is pretty cool that you guys are sucking faces.”

“-Again, I do not like that phrase,” I muttered, making both of them chuckle.

“And I s’pose if anyone’s gonna date my sister, I’m glad it’s you, Steve, and not someone like... Like that guy you were talking about before- Matt Lewinsky.”

“Right?! That guy is so lame. Spent all of last season on the bench.”

“Okay, moving on,” I said, as I rolled my eyes. I had heard enough of Steve’s complaints about Lewinsky to last a lifetime. I was not about to sit and listen to another one. “Are you okay now, Dust? Are we good?”

“Yeah,” he sighed, before reaching for the rest of his banana split. “Just... Don’t... do couple stuff in front of me. I’m cool with you two dating, but that doesn’t mean I’m not weirded out by it.”

“So, you’re saying it’d be weird for you if I did this?”

As Dustin leaned over to finish his banana split, Steve stood up as much as he could, and leaned towards me, pecking my lips quickly, but long enough for my little brother to squirm. I giggled, both amused by Steve’s antics and relieved that our relationship was out in the open now.

“I finally got my fucking kiss,” Steve stated proudly, completely unbothered by how very visibly bothered Dustin was. 

Deep down, we both knew the kid was happy that of all the teenagers falling in love this summer, his sister and the guy he looked up to did so with one another.

[headcanonseverywhere]

Petty Teen Drama 4 (Mallory finally got some sense knocked into him)

Plot: Mallory finally comes to his senses and apologizes to Ava.

The final installment of the “Petty Teen Drama” saga (lmao)

Kinda short, but I hope you all still like it :)

Camp had been nothing but hell for Mallory lately. His bullies back at school were nothing compared to the ones he’s endured almost all of summer, and he’s lost count of how many times Ella Cate had beaten him up to a pulp, and with much pleasure, as well as his visits to the infirmary shortly thereafter.

But worst of all was that he had lost almost all of his friends at Camp, only Una and Harper stuck around, and Gloria would only talk to him about how to not be a Nice Guy. All of this because of what happened between him and Ava several weeks ago, in which he had confessed to her his feelings for her, but only to be rejected and sent to the Friend Zone, as well as to discover that she had strong feelings for Jasper, who was the living personification of what every girl dreamed of in a guy: tall, handsome, played the guitar, and had The Hair. All of those traits in which Mallory desperately lacked in, and longed for so bad.

But even with all of that, after spending so much time at the infirmary with no one other than his two friends and Gloria, as well as his thoughts, Mallory came to the realization that he did, in fact, screw up. He knew he shouldn’t have called Ava a bitch (and a skank, and a whore), because she didn’t deserve it. Ava was the sweetest, loveliest, and kindest girl he had ever met, it was the very reason why he loved her in the first place, and even after getting rejected, he still stood by those facts. So he knew that he owed Ava an apology--big time--and he knew that he had to do it sooner or later, which honestly frightened him, but he knew it had to be done.

~

He found Ava at the dining pavilion, along with a few of her half-siblings. They were all laughing and chatting, while eating their lunch. Mallory gulped and felt his hands already sweating, but he kept moving forward. And as he approached their table, he saw her half-siblings change their expressions one by one the minute they laid eyes on him, until finally he reached Ava, who also had the same change of expression.

Mallory never felt more nervous in his life, not even when he confessed to Ava was he this nervous, but he managed to smile and wave at them. They didn’t reciprocate.

“U-Um, hi...uh...can I...talk to Ava….privately?” he asked, clearly afraid.

“Why?” asked Perrin (one of Ava’s half-siblings), giving him a very intimidating glare.

Mallory stammered for a while, constantly glancing to the side in order to avoid his glare as much as possible, while fumbling with his fingers and cracking his knuckles more than once.

“I...I want to apologize...for what I said…” Mallory finally said.

Everyone looked at him, surprised, then turned to Ava who also had the same expression. Perrin leaned closer to her, telling her that he could stay with her if she wanted, but she shook her head in denial, then faced Mallory.

“Okay.” she said. “Go ahead.”

Mallory waited for her half-siblings to leave, and they did one by one, each siblings giving him a death glare, and Perrin’s final glare shook him the most, but he tightened his fists and marched on over towards her, taking a seat across from her at the table.

Ava looked at Mallory, waiting for him to start. He cleared his throat.

“Ava, I know what I said was wrong--well, now I know, ‘cause at the time I thought I was right--b-but now I know that I was wrong! I was wrong for expecting that you’d correspond to my feelings, when clearly you didn’t owe that.

“And I was wrong for calling you names, that was...gross of me. I was angry, I was hurt, but...that’s not an excuse because you’re none of those things I said, in fact, you’re the opposite, you’re...you’re so sweet, and nice, and kind, and...you were my friend…

“I was so hung up on my own hurt, that I didn’t even stop to think that I was hurting you, my friend. And now not only did I lose the chance of being with you--which honestly was never there to begin with--but I lost the chance of being your friend again, which...honestly...matters a lot more to me than whether you have feelings for me or not.

“It took me a while to understand this, it took a lot of punches from Ella Cate, a lot of scolding from Una, and a lot of effort in re-educating me from Gloria, that what I did was...awful, and I’m so, so sorry. Really, I am.”

Mallory paused for a moment, observing Ava’s demeanor, wondering if she was going to lash out or walk away, but instead she remained seated, and looked as calm as ever. She was paying very close attention to him, and not once did she show any sign of disappointment or content.

Mallory cleared his throat once more, and continued to speak.

 “I understand if you don’t forgive me, and I understand if you don’t want to be my friend anymore, but I felt like I needed to say this--well, actually, I felt like...I owed you this. So...yeah....”

Ava remained quiet while looking down at her folded hands, as though she was processing everything that Mallory had said, debating whether or not to forgive him. Mallory kept picking at his hands, trying so hard to contain his anxiousness. He didn’t know what to expect, what her reaction would be, or what she would say, but in the end he braced himself for the worst.

Finally, she looked up at him, and a smile slowly crept across her face.

“I’m glad you came to this realization.” she said.

Mallory swallowed, unsure what she would say next.

“Your words did hurt me,” she continued. “A lot, actually. It kept playing in my mind for weeks, and--overall, I guess I was just shocked that someone would do such a thing, especially someone that I considered a friend…

“But, I’m glad that you reflected on that, and found the strength within yourself to come and apologize, because most people wouldn’t. In fact, most people wouldn’t even stop to think whether they did something wrong to begin with, so...I’m glad that you did that.”

Mallory smiled. Even though he was still feeling a little wary, he was relieved that Ava took it so well, and he felt as though a big weight had lifted off of his shoulders, and for once since this whole thing started, he felt that he could finally breathe.

“Wow, um, I really wasn’t expecting this.” Mallory confessed, running a hand through his messy curly hair. “I thought you were gonna, like, lash out or something…”

“You’re trying, and that’s what’s important.”

Mallory nodded. “I guess I’ll see you around then?”

“Yeah.” Ava smiled.

And after wishing each other a good rest of their summer, they left the dining pavilion, each going their separate ways.

[robinskey]

The Hair (Steve Harrington x Henderson! Reader)

When Steve “The Hair” Harrington started hanging around your little brother, you were skeptical, to say the least. Steve was always a jerk to you in high school. Like, always. He rarely spoke to you, but when he did, it was to make some comment about your wacky shoes or frizzy hair, which you could never keep under control. You’d seen the way he treated girls. It was the exact opposite of the way you wanted Dustin to act when he started dating. But you figured you had time to counteract Steve’s influence on your baby brother. After all, Dustin hadn’t ever really expressed a whole lot of interest in the opposite sex. Thus, it came as a big surprise when he returned home from summer camp, talking nonstop about his new girlfriend.

“Her name is Suzie,” Dustin told you the next morning at breakfast, shoveling a spoonful of scrambled eggs into his mouth. “She’s Mormon, so her parents wouldn’t really approve of me-on account of the fact that I’m not Mormon and all. But she’s hotter than Phoebe Cate, and so nice, and, like, the smartest girl ever-ouch!”

Your mother eyed you suspiciously from behind her huge round glasses, but she didn’t question whether or not you had just delivered a sharp kick to your brother’s knee under the table.

“Hey, look, you’re smart, sis, but Suzie is, like, a genius.”

“Right,” you said, rolling your eyes. “She’s as beautiful as Cindy Crawford, smarter than Einstein, and as real as my college acceptance letter.”

Dustin glared at you, his thick eyebrows furrowed into a unibrow. “I thought you got a rejection letter.”

“Exactly.”

It was your turn to receive a painful jab in the leg. He angrily stabbed the last piece of sausage on his plate and shoved it into his mouth. 

“She’s real,” he said with a mouthful of half-chewed food.

“I believe you, Dusty,” your mother piped up, reaching over to pat your brother’s arm.

“I don’t.”

With that, Dustin stood. His wooden dining chair protested with a screech against the dining room tile. Under his breath, he mumbled something about how Harvard would probably be knocking on Suzie’s door when she turned eighteen. Then, he stomped down the hall, slamming his door shut. Rock music started blaring almost immediately. 

“Real mature, Dusty!” you called after him.

As soon as you returned to your food, you felt your mother’s tear-filled eyes on you. 

“What, Mom? We both know she’s not real,” you said.

Your mother removed her glasses, setting them on the tablecloth in front of her. She dabbed at her eyes with her napkin, then reached across the table for your hand. Her palms were calloused, wrinkly, and oily from excessive amounts of lotion. As it drifted up to your nostrils, the scent of sweet pea mixed with the odor of bacon grease.

“I know the last month has been tough for you, sweetie, but it’s been a rough year for Dustin. I haven’t seen him this happy in a while,” she said. Mom lowered her voice before adding, “Even if this girl is just imaginary, if she’s making Dusty smile again, isn’t that all that really matters?”

Jeez. Your mother knew exactly what to say to make you feel guilty.

That’s how, less than ten minutes later, you ended up at the door to your brother’s room, practically begging for forgiveness.

“Go away!” he screamed over the booming music.

“No. Not while you’re still mad at me,” you yelled back.

“Well, then you’re going to be standing there for a while.” Behind the door, you heard a few footsteps, and for a split second, you thought he might actually unlock the door. But then the already-eardrum-splitting volume of the music increased.

“Come on, Dustin,” you whined. “I didn’t mean it.” 

The lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody was the only response.

“Please, Dusty. You just got home. I don’t want to be fighting with you already,” you said, pressing your hand to the door. It vibrated with the beat under your palm. “I’ll take you to the mall if you want. We can get ice cream.”

Faint footsteps, then a slight decrease in the music’s volume.

“Can we go to Scoops Ahoy?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s the only ice cream joint in Starcourt Mall, so yeah.”

The door swung open so fast that your balanced faltered, and you nearly fell forward. Your little brother beamed up at you with his not-so-toothy grin.

“Go get your wallet, loser.”

***

Thirty minutes later, Dustin held open the glass door to the little ice cream joint in the mall. You had already started rifling through your purse for change. Dustin could eat a lot, and he certainly wouldn’t worry about making a dent in your babysitting money. You were honestly just hoping you could make it out of there with enough to pay for the bus fare home.

As you entered the shop, the sound of children giggling mixed with the chime of the bell above your head. Though the nautical theme was a little obnoxious, the store had a cute aesthetic. Blue and white stripes lined the walls behind the backs of red booths. Once you walked in, it was a straight shot to the cash register. An off-white sign announcing all the ice cream flavors hung above a faux window. Two familiar faces were situated behind the tiled counter. The first was Robin, a freckle-faced girl and one of your fellow band geeks. She was chatting with a lanky boy in a hideous blue sailor’s shirt and a dorky white cap that smashed his infamous shiny locks. Even in such an out-of-character outfit, he was instantly recognizable. His eyes lit up when he saw your little brother.

“Henderson? Do my eyes deceive me, or is that you?”

“Steve!”

Your little brother completely forgot his manners and let the door go. You leaped forward, nearly avoiding getting hit as it swung shut. Dustin sprinted toward the counter, his blonde curls bouncing underneath his baseball cap. Steve practically leapt over the counter to greet him.

As you watched, they proceeded to perform the dorkiest handshake in the world, then indulged in a bro-hug. 

“How have you been, man? I’ve missed you,” Steve said, his hands still resting on Dustin’s shoulders. He turned to his coworker. “Robin, get this kid a sundae, will you?” 

“I didn’t know your legs were broken, dingus,” Robin said, but she complied with his request, anyway.

“We have so much to catch up on,” Dustin said. He slid into the booth nearest to the cash register. 

“Yeah, we do,” Steve agreed, taking his place across from Dustin. “Did you have a good time at camp?”

“It was sick, dude. I ate so many s’mores while I was there…”

You walked up to the counter. You didn’t really know Robin well, but you certainly weren’t going to join Steve and Dustin.

“Welcome to Scoops Ahoy,” Robin droned, her back to you as she poured hot fudge over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. “I’ll be with you in a minute.”

You hummed in response. Behind you, Dustin had launched into his Suzie speech-about how she was Mormon, a genius, and hotter than Phoebe Cate. Steve, who you’d never seen with his mouth shut for more than thirty seconds at a time, appeared to be listening intently. He mumbled a few comments, and you strained your eardrums trying to catch them. What was “King” Steve saying to your baby brother?

Robin turned around a few seconds later, clutching a styrofoam cup. The sudden movement startled you so badly that you visibly jumped. Luckily, Robin was too preoccupied to notice. It took a great deal of focus to balance an overfilled ice cream cup.

“Hey, Y/N. What’s up?” She set the ice cream on the counter.

“You know, just buying my brother’s love. The usual.”

Robin chuckled and called, “Order’s up!” Steve’s fluffy mane sprung into motion as he turned his head to face his coworker.

“What, you’re not going to deliver to our table?”

“They don’t pay me enough for that,” Robin said. Her bright blue eyes twinkled with mischief. She turned back to you, a faint grin still dancing on her lips. “Sixty cents, please.”

You returned to the depths of your bag to search for loose change. You managed to scrounge up a few pennies before raising your head once more. 

Steve studied you with a curious gaze. He scrunched up his face in what could have just as easily have been confusion or disgust. Then, a visible “lightbulb” moment clicked in his head.

“You’re Dustin’s sister, aren’t you? Y/N Henderson?”

“That would be me,” you said. 

Your heart beat heavily against your ribcage. Did intense hatred upset the cardiac rhythm? You didn’t think so-but then again, you never paid much attention in Biology. Steve was partially to blame for that. It’s really hard to pay attention to Mr. Wilson lecture about the functions of the sympathetic nervous system when Steve “The Hair” Harrington sits in the desk right in front of yours, and all you can think about is running your fingers through those thick, shiny curls. Regardless of its owner’s personality, hair like that is impossible to avoid fantasizing about.

“Can I have my ice cream now?” your brother piped up, jolting you from your thoughts.

As you opened your purse, Steve pulled out his wallet. Your lips parted in protest. However, before you could say a word, he passed three dollar bills to the girl behind the counter.

“This should cover the kid’s,” Steve said, “and, of course, whatever the lady wants.”

“No, you don’t need to-”

“You’re Henderson’s sister. I want to,” he said. “Does a vanilla milkshake sound okay?”

You couldn’t conceal the smile that tugged at the corners of your mouth. 

“I prefer chocolate,” you said.

“Smart girl,” he said with a wink. “Make that two chocolate milkshakes, please, Robin. I’m going to take my break now so I can catch up with Henderson, okay?”

“I thought you’ve been on a break for the last ten minutes,” Robin said with a roll of her eyes. The cash register popped open, and she inserted the cash. She held the change in her palm for a few extra moments, studying it. “I could probably cover for you a little longer, though, if you let me keep this as a tip. I’ll even deliver to your table.”

“Deal,” Steve said. Robin tucked the coins into her pocket.

Steve grabbed Dustin’s sundae and returned to their booth; the Suzie conversation automatically resumed. Robin ducked into the back room to use the malt machine, and you watched as the translucent door swung shut behind her. You hoped she would return promptly to save you from the awkwardness of lingering around your little brother and his newfound mentor.

“Hey, Y/N, aren’t you going to come sit with us?” a voice asked behind you. 

Steve had swiveled around in the booth. His lips were curled upwards into a sweet, unexpectedly shy smile. Your heart skipped a beat, and your feet carried you to the table before your head could tell them to stop. You barely noticed your brother roll his eyes. 

“Scoot over, dork,” you ordered.

Dustin swirled his spoon around the cup, turning the pure white ice cream topped with dark chocolate into a light brown mixture. He was clearly unhappy with you infringing on his “guy time,” but he would get over it. Your brother huffed in protest before sliding to one side of the booth to make room for you.

“Anyway,” he sighed, once you were all settled, “before we were so rudely interrupted, where was I?”

“I think you were talking about how she was the most beautiful girl you’d ever seen, and you couldn’t believe you didn’t notice her sooner,” Steve said, chocolate eyes still trained on you.

“Oh, right. So, it’s funny. There were so many campers there, and we were in different groups, so a week actually went by before I talked to Suzie for the first time…”

Dustin’s voice faded into the background. You were too busy thinking about how maybe, just maybe, Steve Harrington didn’t suck quite as much as you once thought.

[kohanayaki]

Caught in the Middle (Steve Harrington x Reader x Billy Hargrove) Ch 4

Links: Ch 1   Ch 2   Ch 3  Ch 4  Ch 5  Ch 6  Ch 7

_____________________________________________________

Ch 4 .:A Date?:.

Sunlight streamed in through your window, ribbons of light cascading across your bed sheets. You could hear the faint sound of birds chirping as the morning greeted you.

And you felt like complete and utter shit. 

You groaned, your head pounding, as you tried to block out some of the light with your pillow. You'd gotten home last night at 2:00 on the dot, feeling fine. In fact, you even caught up on some homework before you went to sleep. Now you just felt like you'd been hit by a truck.

You looked over at the time, reluctantly getting out of bed when you saw how late in the morning it was. The kids were biking over in half an hour to go to the mall and you looked like hell.

You padded down the hallway, mustering up a weak laugh when you saw your brother passed out in his room, knowing he'd probably wake up to the same fate as you. 

As you made your way downstairs the smell of breakfast food made your stomach rumble on instinct. You were 'hydrated' plenty last night, but there wasn't much actual food. Your eyes lit up as you rounded the corner and saw your dad plating up some eggs, bacon, and pancakes. He grinned as he saw you, setting the plate down on the table in front of you. 

“And how is my daughter doing this fine morning?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Swell,” you said sarcastically.

He laughed, walking over to the cabinet to get you some Tylenol and a glass of water. 

“Trust me, I know the feeling,” he said, “I can't really say anything on this one, I'd be lying if I said I haven't done worse when I was your age. That hangover is punishment enough. Just drink water throughout the day, and go on and eat something greasy while you're at the mall too. But get your blood sugar up right now, I don't want you back in that car until your head's clear, you understand?”

“Will do,” you said, already stuffing your face, “Thanks, dad.”

“You're welcome,” he smiled, “Love you, drive safe.”

“Love you too,” you said through a mouthful of bacon. 

As he retreated back into his office you savored the taste of the feast he made for you. You smiled fondly as you did. Your dad didn't really cook until he became a single parent. When he took on the full responsibility of raising you and your brother, he tried his best to fill your mom's role, following the old recipe books she'd left behind. His first attempts were a general health hazard, but as time went on he actually turned out to be a great cook.

The sudden ringing of bicycle bells outside your house made you scarf down the rest of your plate, snatching your car keys off the table. 

You opened the front door to see the whole gang waiting for you.

“I swear, the only time you guys are on time for anything is when you're leeching off of me,” you said, unlocking the car and leaving them to figure out the seating.

“You know us so well,” Dustin said, hopping into the shotgun seat before anyone else could take it. 

“I forgot to ask earlier, but how was that summer camp you went to, Dustin?” you asked, turning on the engine.

“It was so cool,” he beamed, “Our counselor taught us how to make all kinds of inventions. I made a self-nailing hammer, a wind powered clock, and a radio tower so I can talk to my girlfriend whenever I want since her parents monitor her phone calls.”

“Girlfriend?” you turned to look at him. He smiled back at you, bright as anything.

“Yeah, we were surprised too,” Max said from the back.

“Although we're not sure she actually exists,” Mike chimed in, “Apparently she's as hot as Phoebe Cates.”

“Hotter than Phoebe Cates,” Dustin corrected, “And she's a genius too.”

“Riiight,” Lucas said. 

“Well I think she sounds great, Dusty,” you said, “It's pretty romantic you built that radio tower just to talk to her.”

“It's the strongest communications network in Hawkins across 150 channels,” he said proudly.

“Well, that's certainly impressive,” you grinned, ruffling his hair. 

Soon you pulled up to one of the many entrances to the mall, stopping at the curb. 

“Well, this is your stop, guys,” you said, “What are you gonna see?”

“The Stuff,” Mike said excitedly. 

“Isn't that rated R?” you questioned, a brow raised. 

All of them looked at each other, slightly panicked.

“Well, we'll see you later, (Y/n)!” Lucas said, flinging open the back door and getting out as fast as he could. Everyone else quickly fled after him, running towards the theater. You shook your head. They got themselves into a lot of shenanigans, but admittedly you were the one instigating it most of the time when you were younger, even if you were the babysitter. 

However, as soon as the kids left for the movie you were painfully reminded of the throbbing headache you had. You groaned as one of the strobe lights around the movie theater glared in your face, not helping matters in the slightest. 

You knew eating a bunch of greasy food technically didn't do anything for a hangover, but it sure made you feel a hell of a lot better emotionally. With that in mind you decided to walk over to the Burger Chef located inside the mall for a little pick me up. 

Luckily for you there wasn't much of a line. Only a few people were scattered around the seating area at the food court. You were looking over the menu hanging on the wall when a familiar voice broke your train of thought.

“(Y/n)?”

You looked around at the sound of your name to see Steve looking back at you, just as surprised. 

“Hey,” you said. You took a moment to look over him. He looked just as awful as you did, if you were honest. The deep-set bags under his tired eyes aged him an eternity, and he looked a bit green as well. 

“You too, huh?” You bit back a grin as you gave him a short laugh through your nose.

“Yeah,” he admitted, “In hind sight I probably shouldn't have mixed liquors, but hey, there's nothing I can do about it now. Figured some fries might help.”

“They always do,” you said, “What are you doing here, anyways? Aren't you on your shift at Scoops?” You noticed he was still in his work uniform.

“Lunch break,” he explained, “I don't really have long, but we can grab a table if you want.”

“I'd like that,” you smiled.

Steve was a little surprised at his own forwardness. Apparently he was hungover enough to not overthink everything that came out of his mouth. However he was even even more surprised at you agreeing to sit down with him. He didn't know why his brain was making such a big deal out of this; you ate lunch with him every day and hung out together all the time, but then again that was also including a group of other people. You and Steve had never really spent time together when it was just the two of you, except for when you iced his busted face after the basketball stunt, which hardly counted as a first date. 

He felt uncharacteristically nervous as he slid into the booth next to you. A year ago he would have been pulling out all the stops to make you his, but now he just wasn't so sure anymore. He was never afraid of rejection before, but when he thought of you as the one rejecting him he figured it would be better to not say anything at all. 

'Get yourself together,' Steve thought to himself, 'It's just lunch with a friend. Friends do that!'

“Penny for your thoughts, Popeye?” you said, flicking the fabric of his sailor hat. 

“Huh?” Steve said, snapping out of it, “Oh, nothing, just, uh. . .” he quickly picked up a menu, hoping to cover the majority of his reddening face with it, “Looking at the XXL Supreme. 2Lb beef patty with bbq sauce, ranch, fried pickles, beer cheese and. . . yeah, that sounds pretty gross.”

“I'll probably stick to a regular burger,” you laughed, glancing at the menu over his shoulder. 

You were so close he could feel the heat coming off your body and smell the sweet scent of your perfume. He scolded himself for being so weak, forcing himself to concentrate only on the food. 

Right at that moment a waiter strolled up to you, writing pad in hand. 

“Hi. Welcome to Burger Chef,” he said, sounding just as dead inside as he looked, “How may I serve you today?”

“A double patty melt with cheddar,” Steve said, “And a coke, please.”

“I'm trying to decide between-” you stopped yourself as you looked up, staring at the waiter. You thought he looked familiar and it was then that you realized he was one of the guys that bullied your brother in middle school. Your eyes narrowed as you recalled how he and his friends cut the strings on Kyle's guitar when he brought it to school one day. 

You saw a flash of recognition in his eyes and your lips curved upwards.

“The classic burger, simple,” you said, the fakest smile you could muster on your face, “But on a sesame bun instead of the brioche, no mayo, extra mustard, add caramelized onions and extra cheese, and don't forget the pickles. If you could add shredded lettuce instead of the whole leaf that'd be great. Oh, and a Neapolitan shake with chocolate syrup and no whipped cream.”

“We don't have a Neapolitan shake,” he said irritably and slightly panicked, trying to write everything down. 

“Well I heard in your commercial if you just ask, an employee would be happy to mix any of the milkshake flavors together,” you said, your smirk widening. What could you say? Being a bitch was fun sometimes- especially when the person on the receiving end was a total dickhead. 

“Coming right up,” the waiter said through his teeth.

Steve looked between the two of you before the waiter stormed off to the kitchen window, slamming his hand down on the bell with more force than necessary.

“So, what'd he do?” Steve chuckled.

“Bullied my brother really bad in school,” you said, “What goes around comes around, though. In a few years Kyle will be off to LA to start touring with his band and this guy will still be here covered in fry grease wearing a burger shaped hat.”

“Well I hope that's not my fate,” Steve said, only half joking as he took his uniform hat off, twirling it in his hands. 

You could tell even though he tried to hide behind the humor it was something he really was concerned about. 

“Hey, don't worry about it,” you said, nudging his shoulder lightly, “You're not an asshole. . . anymore.”

You managed to get a laugh out of him at the end and you smiled, glad you were at least able to cheer him up some.

“Seriously, though, it's fine to not know what you want to do with your life yet,” you said, “Hell, I know grown ass men who still don't know what they're doing. You don't have to go to some fancy college to do something great.”

Steve looked at you, thinking over your words. He thought it was crazy how you were his age but you were so much more mature and optimistic than he was. The way you thought was unlike anyone he's met before in Hawkins, and it only further intensified his wanting to get to know you.

“Thanks, (Y/n),” he smiled.

Meanwhile, your little crew of gremlins had finished their film, now making their way to the food court for lunch.

“What do you think The Stuff tastes like?” Lucas asked to no one in particular.

“I bet it's like Betty Crocker frosting,” Dustin said dreamily.   

“Um can we not talk about how sentient parasitic goo tastes? Because we're literally about to go eat,” Max said.

Suddenly Dustin stopped in his tracks, making Will run into his back. 

“Dustin, what the hell?” Mike said, screeching to a halt before he could collide with Will. 

“No way,” Dustin said, staring far off some place the others couldn't see.

“What's wrong?” El asked, confused. 

Dustin pulled his friends behind the shrubbery next to the fountain, ducking in the cover as he peeked his head out slightly. 

“They're on a date!” Dustin said, a little too loudly. He ignored the stares he got from passersby as he continued to watch you and Steve laugh over your burgers in your shared booth.

“(Y/n) and Steve?” Mike said, “I thought he was still hung up over Nancy breaking up with him.”

“Well clearly the man's moved on,” Lucas said.

Max rolled her eyes, hitting him on the arm.

“Ow!” Lucas exclaimed, turning to her, “What was that for?”

“Just because a guy and a girl are hanging out doesn't mean it's a 'date',” she pointed out, “Maybe they're just good friends. I've seen them around each other a lot at school.”

“I think he finally worked up the courage to ask her out for real,” Dustin started theorizing, ignoring Max completely. 

“What do you mean for real?” Will asked.

“It's so obvious he's into her but he's scared of striking out,” Dustin said, “That whole Nancy situation really struck a blow to his self confidence.”

Mike tried to get a better look at what you two were doing, leaning over El's shoulder and squinting at the burger place. Suddenly his footing slipped from under him as he accidentally took a step on the wet tile near the fountain and fell on his ass into a bush. 

“Shit!”

You and Steve stopped eating your burgers and turned around at the sudden noise, but saw nothing but a ruffle in the plants nearby. 

“That was weird,” you said, looking around. 

“Yeah,” Steve said, “Well, it's bear season, you never know when they'll sneak up on you.”

You laughed at that, the sound making Steve's heart flutter. He loved your laugh, even more so when he knew he was the cause of it. 

Suddenly Steve remembered his shift was probably starting, his lunch break was less than an hour long.

“Shit, I should've been back ten minutes ago,” Steve said, looking down at his watch, “My shift already started.”

“Oh, sorry,” you said, “I didn't mean for this to go on for so long.”

Steve looked surprised, shaking his head vigorously. 

“No, no, I liked it,” he said, not fully registering how the sentence sounded out loud until your cheeks flushed.

“I-I mean-”

“I get it,” you laughed softly, “I liked it too.”

Steve felt like his heart was just shot through with cupid's arrow as you smiled up at him and offered to walk him back to Scoops. He hadn't felt this way since Nancy. After she broke his heart he was convinced he would never get over her, but now you were here, occupying all the free space in his mind despite only knowing you for a short while. What the hell was going on with him?

His mental debate came to an unceremonious stop when he realized you were already in front of the ice cream shop.

Steve turned to you and did his best to sound indifferent. He had a really good time, but he didn't know if you felt the same way.

“Well, I better get back to it,” he said, clearing his throat awkwardly, “You know, suit up, sling ice cream, appease the masses-”

“We should do this again sometime,” you said, effectively flipping the 'off' switch on his rambling. 

Steve seemed to freeze in this plane of existence, staring at you with wide eyes.

“Yeah! I mean, that's what I was gonna ask you, but I didn't know if you wanted to, and. . .” he trailed off, kicking himself again.   

'When you talk you just make it worse,' he mentally scolded himself.

You laughed a bit at his flushed face.

'Adorable,' you thought. For being the former king of Hawkins High, he was still a giant dork.

“Well I'll definitely see you around this time, then,” you smiled, reminded of your first day back. Things were different between you two now, but that wasn't a bad thing at all.

You walked out of Scoops Ahoy feeling lighter, a smile on your face and your headache long forgotten. With your disastrous dating history, maybe Steve Harrington was the kind of guy who could be good for you right now.

The very thought made you feel giddy inside, but as you said yourself before, life had a funny way of changing your plans completely.

Read Chapter 5 here!

Taglist: @in-my-dreams-2000 @ggclarissa @iris1697 @5sosxgrethan @ohnoniella @sarcasticalphaofthelooserspack @aspiring-fangirls-world @wow-im-so-tired @hopesxxhigh @justanothercrazyassfangirl @too-many-lanes @whimsylavender @bish-ima-clown @amarachoren @mosiacbrokenheartstf @mcuvlxgs @xapham @metuel18 @immirandaq @nellaphine @multi-madison @gingertalksshit @jojo-buttercup @kyberhearts @mvdelaine @minnie-marvel @caitlin-rose28 @zandaleekrz @r3inventedd @void-fire-rose @macymafia @wanna-be-idle @newtsshelbys @kimmydespell @weyheyokay @r4ttusr4ttus @cynthianokamaria

[maddie-grove]

My Top Ten Georgian (Ish) Romance Novels

Notes: I’m doing a top ten instead of a top five for Georgian, Regency, and Victorian romance novels, because I’ve just read way too many good ones to stop at five! Also, I’m using Georgian to mean the years from 1714 (when George I became King of Great Britain and Ireland) to 1803 (when the Napoleonic Wars started). Once a romance novel’s set in 1803 or 1804, it starts to feel less like “French Revolution hangover” and more like “it’s almost the Regency.” 

1. The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2007)

Exact Setting: 1760s England.

Premise: Independently wealthy Lady Georgina Maitland doesn’t care to marry, instead preferring to collect fairy tales and look after her rural estate with the help of her steward, Harry Pye. Yet she feels drawn to Harry, who is quiet and gentle and very good at carving small animal figurines out of wood. Their budding romance is threatened, though, by the growing hostility of their community, Harry’s complicated family secrets, and, yes, a series of sinister sheep-murders.

Why I Like It: Sometimes, the sexiest thing a man can do is make an exquisite little wooden hedgehog with his own two hands. Harry is a wonderful hero, kind and unassuming and ready to throw down the second some evil nobleman threatens the poacher’s son. I am also very fond of Georgina, an absent-minded folklore aficionado after my own heart. The rural setting is delightfully spooky, and the plot pulls together a lot of moving parts in a very effective way.

Favorite Scene: Harry and Georgina are reunited after he’s kidnapped and nearly murdered by said evil nobleman.

2. To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt (2008)

Exact Setting: 1760s England.

Premise: When Jasper Renshaw, Lord Vale, is jilted for the second time in one year, unassuming Melisande Fleming offers herself as a substitute bride. Although Jasper seems like an ordinary and rather dry man, Melisande has secretly loved him ever since she saw his extraordinary kindness in a private moment. Jasper accepts because it’s convenient, only to be pleasantly surprised by their chemistry. Their marriage is going well...except that his horrible experiences during the Seven Years’ War are coming back to haunt him, both psychologically and in the sense that somebody is trying to murder them.

Why I Like It: Jasper’s combination of dry humor and hidden tenderness is pretty irresistible, while Melisandre’s gradual overcoming of her near-pathological reserve and self-denial is very moving. The suspense plot is exciting and carries unexpected emotional weight, plus there’s a nice side-romance between Jasper’s tough valet and Melisande’s enterprising lady’s maid. Finally, the sex scenes are super-hot.

Favorite Scene: Melisande flashes back to the moment she fell in love with Jasper.

3. An Unlikely Countess by Jo Beverley (2011)

Exact Setting: 1760s England.

Premise: After doing a good turn for genteel but desperately poor Prudence Youlgrave, directionless Catesby “Cate” Burgoyne thinks he’ll never see her again. Then he inherits an earldom from his estranged older brother. Not eager to return to his difficult family, Cate stops by Prudence’s village on the way home, hoping to check on the stranger he so fondly remembers. When he finds that she’s on the verge of marrying a lecherous old man at her shitty brother’s insistence, he impulsively offers to marry her instead...forgetting to mention that he’s no longer a cash-strapped second son. Prudence is prepared to deal with financial woes, but is she ready to handle the duties of a countess, a semi-dysfunctional aristocratic family, and murder?

Why I Like It: It should be clear by now that I’m a sucker for stories about creepy English country houses, and this novel certainly delivers. Beverley also takes a great deal of care in establishing the personalities of Prudence and Cate outside of their relationship, making the romance between them especially potent. Their consideration for each other makes me like them a lot, and it’s also weirdly sexy.

Favorite Scene: Cate and Prudence have a quiet moment together after he saves her from ruffians.

4. Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt (2012)

Exact Setting: 1730s England.

Premise: Widowed Isabel, Lady Beckinhall, may be jaded and a touch hedonistic, but she’s also very interested in the welfare of the St. Giles Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. In order to do this, she’s willing to teach Winter Makepeace, the middle-class proprietor, some social graces so he can help with fundraising. Winter disagrees that he needs to develop his networking skills, plus he has other reasons for wanting to keep this improper yet intriguing lady at bay...reasons that may or may not involve a secret crime-fighting identity!

Why I Like It: The contrast between Isabel’s insouciance and Winter’s severity is a lot of fun; it’s not uncommon for a rakish hero to be paired with a buttoned-up heroine, yet the reverse is rare. He’s more softhearted and she’s more interested in being a good person than their exteriors would suggest, but those exteriors add a little spice. This novel is also one of the best adventure stories in the genre, with plenty of skulduggery and derring-do to go around. 

Favorite Scene: Isabel discovers Winter’s secret identity (it’s sexy).

5. A Scandalous Countess by Jo Beverley (2012)

Exact Setting: 1760s England.

Premise: Georgia, Lady Maybury, used to be the darling of society...until her young husband died in a duel and rumors spread that she put his opponent up to it because she wanted to be with him instead. Now she’s out of mourning and trying to start anew, but someone has resurrected the old rumors. Prickly Humphrey, Lord Dracy, is willing to stand by her side, but could he have ulterior motives?

Why I Like It: Although I like the romance, the main appeal of this book is that it’s top-drawer melodrama starring a complex, charismatic heroine. There is no shortage of deliciously lurid nonsense, and Beverley builds a wonderfully constructed plot around it. I just luxuriated in the drama of it all the first time I read it. In addition, Georgia’s anguish over the loss of her husband (who was more of a best friend than a lover but still extremely important to her) and loneliness when she’s left behind by her friends gives the book a strong emotional core beneath the pulp. She also matures without having to flagellate herself for being high-spirited or making minor mistakes.

Favorite Scene: Georgia and Dracy try to solve her husband’s murder and deal with additional drama at a masquerade ball.

6. Heartless by Mary Balogh (1995)

Exact Setting: 1750s England.

Premise: Lucas Kendrick returns to London after years of exile to take over the dukedom he inherited from his estranged brother. He’s also looking for a bride and, instead of doing the expected thing and marrying beautiful debutante Lady Agnes Marlowe, he chooses her older sister Anna, who sacrificed her early youth to keep her family together through tough times. Charmed by Anna’s sweetness and maturity, he believes that this convenient marriage may turn out to be a love match as well. Unfortunately, Anna is being stalked by a traumatic past, both metaphorically and literally, that sows mistrusts between them and also puts them in physical danger. Plus, Lucas’s family relationships have to be sorted out and Anna’s deaf teenage sister needs to learn sign language! There’s a lot going on.

Why I Like It: In theory, I should dislike this romance. If Lucas had used a shred of understanding in the first act of the novel, he would’ve picked up on Anna’s traumatic past early on, saving them both a lot of heartache and enabling them to stop her stalker at least one hundred pages sooner. I think it works here because (a) Lucas’s negative reaction to Anna’s suspicious behavior is pretty measured (he withdraws emotionally and makes some stupid assumptions, but he’s not ever really mad at her and he still wants to make the marriage of convenience work) and (b) both characters are set up in such a way that you get why it takes so long for them to communicate (his default mode is to keep to himself, while she’s understandably reticent to talk about the horrible stuff she’s been through and stung by Lucas’s assumptions). Instead of frustrating the reader, Balogh wrings maximum angst from the set-up, making for great catharsis. 

Favorite Scene: As much as I love the angst, the unexpected initial romance of Anna and Lucas’s courtship was what truly reeled me in.

7. Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt (2017)

Exact Setting: 1740s England.

Premise: Proper widow Iris Daniels, Lady Jordan, is traveling home from a friend’s wedding when she’s waylaid by a secret society of evil aristocrats. Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore, has infiltrated the society to bring it down, but he endangers his cover by rescuing Iris and throwing her in his carriage. Unfortunately, Iris thinks he’s just a regular evil aristocrat, so she shoots him, making it necessary for her to nurse him back to health at his secluded estate. She does a good job, but they still have to deal with the evil secret society and his all-consuming desire for revenge.

Why I Like It: Hoyt’s romances all have a fairy-tale feel, and she makes wonderful use of that atmosphere in Duke of Desire. Rafe lives in a dusty, disused castle, filled with old secrets and staffed by fiercely protective Corsican servants. Scarred and angry, Rafe has serious Beast-from-Beauty-and-the-Beast vibes, except he never kidnaps anyone and actually tries to deal with his serious mental health issues even before Iris brings a more sensible perspective into his life. I appreciated his family relationships, both with his sweet, disfigured maternal aunt and the monstrous father that he nevertheless loved.

Favorite Scene: I really like Rafe’s aunt, who could have easily been a Morality Pet but instead comes across as a capable, kindhearted woman who returns Rafe’s uncharacteristically gentle concern for her welfare.

8. The Pursuit of ... by Courtney Milan (2017)

Exact Setting: 1780s America (on a road trip from Virginia to Maine) and England.

Premise: John Hunter, a black Patriot soldier in the American Revolutionary War, finds himself fighting a white Redcoat who (a) won’t shut up and (b) outright asks John to kill him because he doesn’t want to go home. Instead, John gives the other soldier his jacket and tells him to start a new life in America. The last thing he expects is for the other soldier, Henry Latham, to show up at his camp post-battle and ask how he can repay John for saving his life. It turns out that John could use a companion on the long, perilous trip to his home in Maine, although he’s reluctant to trust a white dude who could choose to disregard his debt at any moment. As the trip progresses, however, they get to know each other and grow closer.

Why I Like It: When I read a Courtney Milan romance, I know that I’m not going to be bored. Her zippy dialogue, sense of humor, and use of interesting themes make even her weaker romances fun reads, and The Pursuit of ... is among her strongest. John and Henry are both engaging, sympathetic characters who interact with each other wonderfully; I especially enjoy how Henry’s incessant loopy patter bounces off of John’s deadpan remarks. The novella also balances its humor very well with serious discussions on what it means to live in a country whose reality falls so short of its ideals.

Favorite Scene: John’s reaction to hearing why Henry’s dad made him join the military.

9. Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt (2016)

Exact Setting: 1740s England.

Premise: Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is a very bad man who goes around blackmailing and kidnapping his fellow aristocrats willy-nilly. Bridget Crumb, his housekeeper, is determined to stop him from blackmailing one lady in particular. They get along surprisingly well! Also, a bunch of crazy shit happens involving the evil society from Duke of Desire.

Why I Like It: I don’t know why, but Valentine Napier just cracks me up. He’s like a hotter, more sinister Dr. Doofenshmirtz, and I love him. He brags to Bridget about doing evil stuff that he doesn’t actually do, and then she goes behind his back and quietly undoes his latest scheme. Then he does something nice for her dog. Then he spouts a lot of flowery poetic nonsense (usually about how he has no heart and she’s a beautiful angel filled with integrity). Then they make out. It’s a beautiful, ridiculous relationship that’s propped up by a delightfully baroque novel.

Favorite Scene: Val sulks because his heartless self can’t relate to his beloved half-sister now that she’s happily married. EVIL.

10. Promised Land by Rose Lerner (2017)

Exact Setting: 1780s America (New York and Virginia).

Premise: Some time ago, Rachel Mendelson left her home and marriage in New York City to disguise herself as Ezra Jacobs and join the Patriot Army. Now she’s a corporal, and the Battle of Yorktown looms on the horizon. And who should show up but Nathan, the husband she loved but couldn’t live with, working as a Patriot spy? As the battle approaches, they struggle to work out the reasons why their first attempt at marriage failed, as well as their future as Jewish Americans.

Why I Like It: Lerner fits a lot of complexity into one novella without ever descending into inelegance. Without a single flashback, she communicates the entire history of Rachel and Nathan’s marriage, which was marked by affection and sexual attraction as well as painful class tensions and family dynamics. She tackles Nathan and Rachel’s differing approaches to their religion in an intelligent, nuanced way. Plus, the battlefield scenes wouldn’t be out of place in Hemingway--like, top-tier Hemingway, not the kind you make fun of.

Favorite Scene: The battlefield scenes, or Rachel’s description of her planned memoirs.

Further Notes: The Leopard Prince is #2 in the Prince Trilogy (which are only very loosely related). To Seduce a Sinner is #2 in the Four Soldiers series, and I would recommend reading the also-very-good To Taste Temptation first. Thief of Shadows, Duke of Sin, and Duke of Pleasure are #4, #10, and #12 in the Maiden Lane series, respectively, and that’s a series that I’d recommend reading in order, because I started with #2 instead of #1 and that alone was confusing. An Unlikely Countess and A Scandalous Countess are both spinoffs of Jo Beverley’s Malloren series, but I enjoyed them despite only reading one Malloren romance proper and one other spinoff. Heartless has a sequel, Silent Melody, which is also very good in a bonkers way. The Pursuit of ... and Promised Land are both part of the Hamilton’s Battalion anthology, plus The Pursuit of ... is technically part of Milan’s Worth Saga, although you don’t need to read any of them to understand it.

[putflowersinmyhair-callmepretty]

The fate of a nun (Finan xOFC); part 4

GENERAL A/N: Hi there! This story is my first attempt to write a fanfiction. English is not my first language, so feel free to let me know how to improve my writing/language skills 😊 I will try and post a chapter per week, let’s see how it goes! The story takes place in season 3 and you will notice that I have used some of the sequences and dialogues from the tv series, changing them to include my OC. I did try not to be too colloquial and informal with my writing -giving the time of the story- but I preferred to make it more enjoyable than realistic, same goes for Finan’s accent.

I’m nervous and excited to share my work, hope you enjoy! Bacini, Cate.

A/N:Hi there, sorry I didn’t post last week, classes are killing me! Finan is a lil dick here, but Aoife is developing in such a great woman, I love her. Hope you enjoyyyy. Baciotti, Cate.

Summary: The life of the young novice Aoife completely changes when the Lady of Mercia arrives to the Abbey of Wincelcumb. Oaths, battles and love will turn her in a warrior.

General warnings: Violence, Blood, Strong Language, Smut, Fluff, Graphic description of violence

Chapter’s warning: Angst, strong language and I think that’s it? Let me know if you think there’s more! Words: 3426 Chapter Three.

Chapter Four: Iron and Water

Finan’s sadness had soon turned into anger and he was now spending most of the day striking the air with his sword. The rest of his time was spent drinking in the alehouse. He was looking, to put it in the kindest way possible, miserable. His hair and beard had grown out of control and it looked like he hadn’t washed since the Dane had left. His vest was stained with ale and food, and all the women, that once had fought for his attention, were keeping their distance. Aoife hadn’t spoken with him after the day Sithric had left, and the violent beating of her heart while he held her hand was just a pale memory. The day after, he couldn’t even watch her in the eyes, and she had felt ashamed of her weakness, and a fool for letting it affect her as it was. She had just consoled him, that was it. She could not hide, however, that she already missed his quick remarks and the small yet joyful smile he reserved to her. And even more than that, she was concerned with his health – all that ale could not be good for anyone – and angry with him for failing to comply what Uthred had asked him to do: protect the Lady of Mercia. A person cannot feel all those emotions and remain sane, of course, and she was spending her nights laying in bed sleepless. Days were passing by and Finan was looking worse and worse, often drunk, cranky and lonely constantly. Aoife was spending her time assisting either Osferth or Aethelflaed and their combined insistence had persuaded her to deal with the warrior. She had expressed her desire to improve her fighting skills and they had affirmed more than once that no one could help her better than Finan. They could not care less about her abilities with the sword, they just wanted the two to spend more time together, they were shamelessly hoping for them to be a couple. “No one can teach better than him. If I know how to use a sword is all thanks to him.” Osferth said out one morning, while him, Aoife and Aethelflaed were eating in the hall. It was a weirdly domestic picture. They had, somehow, become a group of some sort and Aoife was happy and proud of Aethelflaed, threating her stepbrother not only with respect but also as a friend. It eased her mind. “You almost died in the last battle.” Aoife pointed out. “But I did not, did I?” “Also, he needs to take his mind off Sithric.” the Lady interrupted, she knew they could go on for hours without her intervention; she wanted to be clear with her, sure that it was the only way to convince her. Also, she was fearing for the warrior sanity, she had grown fond of him with time, and she could not think of a better way to help him and, as a consequence, help Uthred “And you are the only one he might listen to.” “And if not, you will force him to.” Minutes later, Aoife was walking down to the alehouse, weapons swinging around her waist. She loved the weight of the iron against her tights, it sent shivers down her spine for the excitement. It wasn’t hard to find Finan. He was drunk of course, passed out on the table. The maid of the alehouse was watching him, half in pity and half in disgust. Aoife could not blame her, she too felt the bile to the throat when she walked close enough to smell him. Really, it was disgusting, but it was also pitiful. She was surprise by how much the situation had affected him, never would she have imagined for a warrior to feel so deeply about any kind of situation. Somehow, it made her fonder of him. The maid noticed Aoife and smiled at her “You’re here to take care of him?” “I mean, I’ll try!” Aoife answered with a laugh and the girl giggled, stepping aside gracefully to let her sit in front of Finan. The warrior had fallen asleep soundly with his cheek against the table and his mouth agape. She huffed heavily and grabbed the almost empty jug of ale. The cold woke him up abruptly. He grasped for air, waving his arms trying to grab something and his fingers closed around nothing. He felt backward, overturning the bench in the process. “Sweet Jesus Christ!” he shouted, all wet in beer. The maid was laughing and, while she too found the scene particularly amusing, Aoife could not help but watch him in disgust, leaning against the back of the chair with her arms crossed. He stood up with difficulty, spatting and cursing ì and stumping his feet like a child, grunting for minutes. “You done? My patience is running thin.” Aoife said, no emotion in her voice. The Irishman watched her in disbelief, sitting down with a thud “Leave me alone, woman.” he croaked, head in hands, he clearly did not feel like talking. She huffed again, angry with that man who had let go of his life so easily; she stood up and, grabbing him by the hair, pulled his head backwards to make him look at her. “Stop being an arseling. Uthred had asked you to look after the Lady and you have done nothing but drink and cry over yourself. You will sober up and clean and stop being such a little boy. Have I been clear?” He looked at her, initially speechless, then a vein popped up on his neck and he put his fist through the table “You don’t know what it means to spend every day with a person only for them to leave you forever.” The maid run away, scared of a possible scuffle, but Aoife didn’t even notice her. She was seeing red and she would gladly put his head through the wood next to his fist. However, she prayed God to give her patience, she tightened her arms against her chest and sat back, straighter than before. “The woman who raised me was struck by a spear in front of my eyes.” She replied coldly “I can imagine the pain.” Finan finally watched her and at least he had the decency to look mortified, Aoife was ashamed, she did not want him to pity her. She did not want no one to pity her. “I apologise, lady” he grunted quietly, and she knew that he could see that her eyes had watered. She couldn’t stand it and gestured him to just let it go. “Listen, I’m not here to compete on who’s the most miserable. I need your help.” *** He had unwillingly followed her to the stream. His head was throbbing, his entire body hurting, and he just wanted to sleep. However, Aoife had other plans and pushed him in the cold water with all his clothes on. Partly it was to sober him up, partly because his smell was unbearable and partly because she was still angry with him and it was the most Christian think to do to avoid killing him with her bare hands. It was a shock for his body, and he felt like drowning for the first few moments, but when his mind started clearing up, he stood up easily, yet shivering. He felt like a fool. It was winter, after all, and it was a miracle that the surface of the stream had not frozen yet. It would soon, though, Finan could tell. Aoife was on the bank, arms crossed and that obnoxious angry expression on her pretty face, she did crack a smile, however, when he stumbled on his feet, trying to get out of the water and felt face first. “Do not laugh at me, woman.” he growled, but he was happy to please her “It’s bloody freezing”.” “Wash yourself out, warrior.” she shouted, now laughing openly  “I shall come back with some clean clothes.” And as fast as she talked, she left. Finan watched her walking away, taking her time doing so, and even if he was shivering, he stood still, admiring her young body moving so sweetly. Unholy thoughts filled his mind, and he groaned, ashamed and drunk, and fell again under the water. She had to ask Osferth for help in looking for Finan’s clothes. When the monk closed the door of the Irishman’s room on her face, she rolled her eyes and pouted, she was looking forward to take a peek of his private life and his belongings and her friend was playing with her. Osferth was soon out with an armful of clothes and she thanks him, already running back to the river, not wanting Finan to freeze in the water. When she saw him, however, she halted suddenly. He had stripped down and was facing away from her, his naked body in full display. He was too far for her to have a good look at his back, which even from distance seemed muscly and sprinkled with scars. He had the broadest shoulders she had ever seen and only then she came to the realization that she had never seen a naked man before. God knew she was enjoying the view and He could easily read the unholy instincts she was drawn to. Anyone could guess them, just looking at her face. She knew she was sinning, but she could not push herself to care about it; again, she would renounce to heaven for Finan without hesitation. If it did not show how weak her will was, she could not imagine what would. Then he turned around and she completely forgot about her sins and will. The water was covering him just above his hips, his flat stomach and tonic chest in full display for her delight. She had never wanted anything more than to run her fingers on his skin and savour it with her lips and the tip of her tongue and her teeth; and then embrace him and kiss him like she had never kissed Sir Cenric, their body becoming one and her clothes dropping at her feet and his fingers dipping in her skin, her nude flesh, her soul. Sinner. She felt her cheeks warm up and quickly turned her back to him; it was too late, however, he had already caught her watching and was now smirking. The cold water had sobered him up and he was thinking straight for the first time in days, as straight as he could think with the pretty lady staring at him with lust corrupting her otherwise innocent features. He laughed lightly when she turned her back to him, she was not fast enough for him not to catch a glimpse of the red spreading on her skin. He was grateful for her, his Aoife, awkwardly standing on the bank, amusing him enough to let him forget Sithric’s betrayal and his shame for his behaviour of the last few days, even if just for a moment. Aoife heard him walk out of the water and she turned around, covering her eyes with a hand. It was her way to try and save the appearance, to not give him the pleasure of knowing that she liked what he had to offer. She was not ready for the mockery, not in that specific context. Of course, it was all in vain. “You can watch, I don’t mind.” he laughed, and she threw the clothes straight on his face, making him laugh even harder. She had to admit that she had missed that barking and the way his eyes crinkled when he was happy. “Be quiet and dress up.” she mumbled embarrassed, but she was smiling and wasn’t even trying to hide it. Her anger had been gone as fast as a sneeze; he had an alarming power over her emotions. She thought she could die for the shame when he pulled his tunic over his head mumbling “I do love to be admired.” “Stop staring at me, warrior.” They were walking back to Saltwic, side by side, their knuckles brushing lightly; he could not take his eyes off her and she was trying hard not to look back at him that her neck was hurting. “Then look at me, lady.” he mumbled through a smile, and his hand brushed harder against hers. Something in his voice, made her obey swiftly. She raised her chin just enough to meet his gaze and her lips unintentionally curved up in a wider smile. He smiled back and caught a strand of her hair between his finger “I haven’t told you how pretty you look, dressed as a true warrior.” “You really need to learn how to be quiet.” she mumbled, still smiling “But that brings us to what I need you for.” she stand straighter “I need to improve my fighting skills and I need for you to help me.” He leant against a tree, his smile even wider then before “And how am I to be rewarded for my help?” She rolled her eyes, trying to appear as if his words hadn’t affected her, but she was blushing “What do you expect for me to answer, Finan?” “I have a couple of things in mind.” “With silver, man. Silver.” He tilted his head “I am only playing with you, Aoife. Of course, I will help you.” “Raise your arm, Aoife! Higher!” Finan shouted. He was sat on the fence just outside the estate with Osferth and Aethelflaed, watching and enjoying Aoife beating up a young warrior, Betlic. There wasn’t much to do in Saltwic, so the other warriors had clustered around them, searching some type of amusement. Aoife was having fun, beating Betlic with a wooden sword. She was quite sure that she wouldn’t enjoy it as much in a battle, but Betlic was a patience man and was taking each stroke as a true gentleman. He was also kind enough to stop when Finan shouted his instruction to the lady, and everybody except Aoife seemed to have noticed that he was watching her with enamoured eyes. Wouldn’t she be already smitten with Finan, she would have taken him in consideration; but the reality was that she could not take her eyes off her instructor, and she was losing concentration, stumbling on her own feet and on the blade of her sword. Aethelflaed and Osferth were particularly enjoying their time, their attention divided between Aoife’s clumsy strokes and Finan’s growing jealousy. Every day was the same, he would choose a warrior to fight with Aoife and they would rapidly get flustered by the young, pretty girl; she would be her kind self and laugh with them and ask them if they were all right after every stroke, and each time they would be less shy and more forward with their romancing. She would be oblivious about it and Finan would soon grow frustrated with them and with his own jealousy that he failed to hide; then, at some point he would explode and curse everyone and leave. It was embarrassing for him but amusing for the others and bets begun to be made on how long it would take him to get angry. That day, he exploded, as always and sooner than ever before. He was all red in face and cursed everyone, but he did not leave; he snatched the fake sword out of the young man’s hands and pushed him aside, placing himself right in front of Aoife. “Time to fight.” Watching him now, Aoife could barely remember the miserable man he was just days before, he looked healthy and happy enough; she was no fool, she knew that he was not over the pain yet, but he was coming to terms with Sithric’s betrayal quicker that she would expect and she was smug enough to believe that he was mostly her doing. And it really was, everybody knew that; she was honouring her word to Aethelflaed and Uthred, constantly keeping an eye on the Lady, she had taken care of Osferth, assisting him in his recover, and she had also kept Finan’s during the day, so that he would sleep all night long in his bed and not drown his sorrow in the ale. She was the mother of them all, really. She was still admiring him with her head in the clouds, when Finan hit her on the ribs, hard enough to make her stumble backwards and fall on her bottom. Mud splatted on her clothes and the small crowd around them started laughing. She grew frustrated and embarrassed and she stood up on herself, completely ignoring Finan’s hand. He smirked, playing with his sword “Again.” It was hard to watch, yet incredibly amusing; she fell, once, twice, three times, Finan’s smile growing wider and more arrogant each time. Aoife was covered in mud and her entire body was in pain, but she would not stop, she kept going and falling and going again. “Are you not tired yet?” Finan asked amazed after the umpteenth time. The sun had just started setting, and they had been there since dusk; they were both tired and out of breath. However, Aoife charged him again and without a word; and, as any other time before, Finan blocked her blow without hesitation. This time, though, she was ready. She kicked him in the shin, taking him by surprise; he bended towards the pain and she used his temporary weakness to push him on the mud, face first. She kicked his sword out of his hand and when he turned around and raised his face from the mud, she pointed her blade to his throat. “Yield thee.” She was looking him straight in the eyes with a new confidence, her hand trembling lightly for the effort, but her grip secure and tight. Finan could not disarm her, and he did not want to; she was looking like the angel of vengeance and he would not only surrender to her he would give her his heart and soul. He dropped his head in the mud and closed his eyes “I yield, my lady.” Aoife closed the door of her room behind her back. Aethelflaed had asked her if she wanted company but she had kindly declined. She was tired, and smelt of sweat and mud. Her entire body was aching. She was also torn; invaded by contradictory emotions. She was happy for the progress she was making with the sword, amused every time she thought about Finan all covered in mud and proud of defeating him. And yet, at the same time, she felt miserable. Every step she was doing towards her warrior life and the achievement of her long-aspired dream was a step away from her past, her nun life. Since she had left Wincelcumb she had yet to find a moment for herself, to mourn the death of the Abbess and address that dark place in her soul where she hid the memory of the lifeless eyes of that Dane and the pleasure she felt in killing a human being. She had spent all her time taking care of other people, and now that she thought about it, she came to the realisation that it was not only her will to help, it was also a way to escape the dark corners of her mind. And now, she was alone with them. She kneeled on the hard, cold stone floor and prayed, while tears streamed down her face; she prayed for God to forgive her young soul, not for the kill – that was necessary – but for the pleasure that came with it, that feeling of almightiness that was nothing more than human arrogance. She mourned the loss of the mother she had no memories of and the Mother that had raised her, she asked for forgiveness for abandoning her Sisters in a time of grief and shock. She cried because she was forgetting her former life quickly and she was not missing it. At some point in her prayers, she felt as a weight was lifted from her shoulders; a ray of sun entered through a hole in the wall and caressed her face, and she felt free. Somehow, she felt that it was the Abbess, forgiving and protecting her from the heavens and her mourning become smiles and her smiles laughs. It was the closure her heart needed and washing herself from the mud felt like a rebirth. She was ready now. Chapter Five.

[marshunter06]

Love Lockdown

XI- Shadow of Doubt

“You were right, she did do it. Now how do we convince the jury that she didn’t?”

“I knew it, I’m glad we got confirmation.”

“Most cases of mariticide are related with battered wife syndrome, which Stephanie Clarence did not have. Fred never once abused her, so acting in self defense is not an option.”

“I’m only play is that he committed suicide, it’s not hard to prove. He did have a history of depression. Stephanie is not going up on the witness stand, but I’m sure the prosecution will want to bring up Valerie, we just have to make sure we ask her the right questions.”

“She would have witnessed him taking medication at some point.”

“Exactly, Fred shares every detail of his life with her, something he didn’t do with his own wife. Stephanie isn’t stupid though, she definitely noticed.”

“How do you feel about this case Court?”

“I feel pretty good about it, they have a high burden of proof, and we can cast a decent shadow of doubt.”

“I’m not talking about that, I’m sure we’ll ace this project.”

“What are you asking then?”

“It’s just… you seem to know a lot about this case… I mean specifically about Stephanie. I wouldn’t have thought she was so calculated.”

“I think if she were real, I would happily represent her.”

“You never did tell me why you decided on being a defense attorney.”

“You already figured it out.”

“I guess I just don’t get it. He’s changed your life, why not give it another go?”

“Why are you on his side? I thought you were my friend.”

“I am, I just don’t want you to be making a mistake.”

“Trent, I can’t forgive him. I can’t move on, so please, don’t make me. He made his decision and now I’m making mine.”

Courtney is extremely stubborn. She refuses to back down even when she’s in the wrong. This has caused a number of fights between her and Duncan. Even now, they’re not in their normal type of fighting, she’s just been acting as if everything was alright. She’s pretending he’s nothing but a roommate, and it kills him. She does feel bad, but in a twisted way she also enjoys it. The thing is she isn’t opposed to getting back with him, especially at Trent’s insistence, but he wasn’t trying to win her over at all. He wouldn’t try to spend time with her, or cook, or anything remotely romantic. She shouldn’t be surprised, he never was the type to woo her. She can’t even remember the last time they went on a date. Now that she thinks of it, they didn’t really have dates even in the beginning. Their relationship has always been full of passion and fire, no time to slow things down and cherish the moments. Their crushes on each other was obvious, it was just a matter of time before they got together. She was still thinking about their doomed relationship after dinner, she almost missed the FaceTime call from her sister.

“Took you long enough Sissy, you must be overthinking again.”

“Hello to you too Cate, how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, promise. I tested negative after the cruise, just spending my days bored at home with mom and dad. You’re lucky you’re not stuck with them.”

“Yeah, but I’m stuck with Duncan.”

“That’s not so bad, I’m sure you guys can find something to do to pass the time.”

“We’re getting a divorce Cate, did you magically forget that fact?”

“So? Doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in the meantime. Besides, that was never your problem.”

“I’m going to hang up on you.”

“Okay, fine, I’ll stop. What’s going on for real though?”

“I don’t know, just thinking about how I wasted eight years of my life.”

“It wasn’t a waste. You had some good times.”

“I guess, but was it worth it? I don’t know.”

“Hm… why are you thinking about this? Usually when you make up your mind, it’s set.”

“Ugh. I don’t know. It’s not like he’s trying to win me back, but Trent is insistent on us getting back together.”

“Ooo, music guy huh? He’s nicer than I thought he was.”

“He’s extremely sweet.”

“Um huh…”

“Why are you making that face?”

“Oh nothing… just that you two are adorable.”

“What?”

“Oh come on Court, he’s totally into you and you must like him somewhat if you’re peeved that he keeps suggesting you get back with Duncan.”

“What! We’re just friends! I swear!”

“Calm down Sis, you’re not convincing at all.”

“I’m going to hang up on you.”

“You said that already and you didn’t. I know you better than anyone, you can’t lie to me. We’re sisters in every sense of the word.”

“Cate…”

“The guy wrote you a song, you guys talk like everyday, he made you a playlist, his parents love you, he texts you good morning and good night everyday, and the freaking first thing he wants to do is meet you! Need I go on?”

“That can all be explained. Of course we talk everyday, he’s my partner for the project.”

“You guys talk too much about other things for him to be just a classmate.”

“I don’t like Trent okay? And he doesn’t like me. We are just friends. End of discussion.”

“If you say so… but you totally dream of him at night, okay bye!”

It was too late, Cate had already hung up. The little stinker. It doesn’t matter, she was just trying to play matchmaker again. She did it when Duncan first came into her life. Too bad she’s wrong this time. Her and Trent are just friends. He’s just a friend, a really talented, endearing, intelligent friend. With soft green eyes and a gorgeous smile. Who maybe sometimes ends up in her dreams, but just in a friendly way, just like he is in real life. Just friends. They’re just friends. Now why did she have to try so hard to convince herself of this fact?