#threatening to come to his house is also something different than him being like 'i'm going to come over and beat you up'

[normalbrothers]

that phonecall between tommy and arthur where arthur ends up threatening tommy by saying that if he doesn't tell him where linda & her friend are he'll come to his house and - do what exactly? he never specifies that, but the implication here is certainly that if he doesn't get linda back, he WILL be tommy's problem.

tommy on the other end of the line contemplates suicide

[lihhelsing]

Part 2

Unknown number: Hey

Steve is sitting on the couch, he has Top Gun playing in the background just because he wanted some noise. The house feels empty whenever Robin has a different shift than him.

The message comes from an unknown number and he just watches as the three dots appear. It’s probably someone trying to sell him something but he’s so bored all he can do is watch. 

When the message finally comes through, Steve feels his stomach dropping in surprise, a small rush coursing through him. 

Unknown Number: It’s Eddie. The guy who was rude to you for no good reason? You know, the one who thought you were being an asshole just to embarrass himself in front of the hottest guy he had ever seen? 

Unknown Number: God, I sound dumb. You probably don’t remember me but it’s Eddie. 

Steve remembers. Of course he does.

Unknown Number: Anyway. I’m making it worse, aren’t I? I just wanted to apologize. I can delete your number after this, but I felt like I owed you. You didn’t do anything wrong and I was a bitch. Sorry. I’ll leave you alone now. 

Steve doesn’t want to be left alone. Without thinking he dials the number. Feels like messages aren’t the best way to handle the situation. 

“Hi,” Eddie says a little out of breath after the third ring.

“Hey,” Steve says back. There’s a smile threatening to bloom on his face because Eddie sounds flustered and Steve kind of loves it. “Sorry I called.” 

“Sorry I messaged,” Eddie says back and Steve chuckles. 

“I’m glad you did,” he says and he swears Eddie’s breath hitches. 

“I’m glad you did, too.” 

Steve had been debating whether or not to message Eddie. He’d told the story to Robin and she laughed at his expense as usual, but then she shrugged and said Steve should let it go. It wasn’t his fault the guy got played and Steve shouldn’t feel guilty. 

He didn’t. He just really couldn’t stop thinking about Eddie. 

After a beat where neither of them says anything, Steve decides to tackle the elephant in the room.

"So, uh, I'm really sorry about the whole catfish thing. I don't know why someone would be this mean."

Eddie hums on the other side of the line and Steve thinks this is it, maybe he'll offer him an excuse and hang up and actually delete his number, but Eddie surprises him. 

"It's ok, you know. I should've suspected it, honestly. There's no way someone as hot as you would be interested in someone like me."

"You keep saying that and yet I remember giving you my number anyway," Steve says playfully. 

"Yeah, 'cause you were feeling sorry for me." Eddie says back and Steve actually scoffs. 

"Well, no. I actually thought you were pretty cute," Steve shrugs even though Eddie can't see him. He's never that forthcoming but there's something about Eddie that keeps pulling him in and he just wants to see where this is going. 

"Pretty cute, huh? I'll take it."

"I can tell you what else I thought when I first saw you over… Dinner?"

Eddie's laugh fills Steve's ear and it's a glorious sound. 

"You want to take me to dinner?"

"Yeah, of course. If, you know, it's not too weird. I know I'm not the person you thought you were talking to but maybe I can be cool too."

Eddie hums again and Steve thinks he's probably debating if it is too weird. He's also oddly curious about the whole thing but he has no idea if Eddie would want to talk about it. 

"Yeah, ok. We can do dinner."

Maybe he's going to find out. 

X

Steve has always been good at first dates, but this thing with Eddie doesn't really feel like a first date. 

After their awkward first call and Steve asking Eddie out on a date they just started texting. A lot. Because of Steve's crazy shifts at the coffee shop and Eddie's weird hours at the bar he worked on was kind of hard to find a time for their date, but it was like neither of them was in any rush for that. 

Steve discovered he was a little obsessed with finding out things about Eddie. Like how he always dreamed about becoming a rockstar but actually loved his job at the bar and creating different drinks and just getting to meet different people all the time. He also told Steve about his uncle, who he loved with all his heart, and how his dad had disappeared from his life right after his mother died. 

Talking to Eddie was easy in a way Steve had never known with anyone else and he really enjoyed it. He particularly liked the little night time routine they created. Steve would call Eddie whenever he got home, knowing Eddie was just getting ready to go to work, and they would talk, sometimes until Steve was fast asleep in his bed and Eddie was driving to the bar. 

But after a month, Steve is itching to see him. Even if it's just so the two could talk in person, he kind of wants to look at Eddie and take notes on all the little things about him like he'd done so many times with every picture Eddie had sent his way. 

So he calls Eddie and tells him Robin finally agreed to switch shifts with him next friday so they can go out. 

Steve leaves out the part where he had to promise to do her chores at the house for a month and had to make up some story about needing to see a doctor. She hadn't been budging whenever he said he wanted to go out on a date with Eddie because she kept telling him she couldn't miss her classes just because Steve wanted to get laid so, yeah, a little lie wouldn't hurt. 

"So, Friday. It's a date?" Steve asks a little nervously on the phone. He's already showered and is laying in bed with his hair dripping wet. Too excited to talk to Eddie to bother blowing out his hair. 

Eddie hesitates. Steve hears in the way his reply takes a minute to come. In a second he second guesses everything. Maybe Eddie had been talking to him just to realize Steve really wasn't the person he thought he was talking to. Maybe Eddie-

"Steve?" Eddie asks on the phone and Steve gets brought back to reality. "Sorry. Don't overthink this…"

Too late, Steve thinks. He says, "so it's a no on the date?"

"What?"

"You don't want to go on a date with me," he doesn't ask now. "It's fine, Eddie. It was worth a shot and it's fine if you realized you didn't-"

"Oh my god, will you shut up? Of course I want to go on a date with you. It's just… You know, I'm weird and messy and I talk too much and you're… You know. You."

"I'm… Nothing special."

"Now, you and I both know that's not true. I mean, you're hot. I won't lie, I started talking to you because I had never had a guy that hot talking to me and wanting something with me. But now I see you're so much more than that. I just… I don't want to disappoint you. What if you don't like me in person because I'm awkward and too skinny and talk too loudly and dress weird and-"

"Now you are overthinking this. I gave you my number and I asked you out on multiple occasions and I just… Really like talking to you. I would very much like talking to you in person over dinner. And then maybe inviting you over to my place so we could keep on talking, maybe. We could, uh… You know, fall asleep on the same bed for once."

Wow. Steve has no idea where all of that came from but he realizes he means it. 

Eddie's voice comes out a little strangled when he speaks, "Just sleep?"

Steve coughs, feels himself blushing. What is up with all that? Why is he suddenly acting like a high schooler? 

"So is that a yes on the date?"

"Yes, Steve. That's a yes on the date."

Previous | Next

[autistichalsin]

One of the things that fascinates me about Halsin is how, as into sex as he is, he seems singularly focused on his partner's pleasure; he gets on his knees for them in his romance scene, but shows no sign of wanting them to return the favor.

And in fact, he is a lot better at giving advice than taking it. After flirting at the Tiefling party, Halsin tells the player not to worry about coming on too strong and that they were just seizing the moment, and yet, if the player rejects Halsin after he accidentally wildshapes, the next morning he apologizes for coming on too strong.

Whether that's just a hangup of his because he thinks he has to be the Best to make sure his lover won't leave him, or maybe some of it is a result of the Underdark, I'm not sure. But he definitely is harder on himself than others.

And I think that is one thing that would come out in his kinks; as much as he affirms that, for example, dom/sub fantasies are perfectly normal (like in that party banter to ascended Astarion, where his worry is specifically because the player is actually thralled) he seems like he has trouble affirming his own. For example, he shifts into bear form in the Drow brothel, but only does this when they express interest in his bear form; "we must give the people what they want, mustn't we?"

So it would be really interesting, then, for Halsin to have a really taboo kink/desire, and be absolutely terrified to tell his partner about it, terrified they'll think he's sick/a freak and leave him.

TW: Discussion of consensual non-consent, also known as rape fantasy or rapeplay, are under the cut. Read at your own risk.

So imagine Halsin having this fantasy. As a big guy he is used to being the dominant partner; no one has ever suspected he might like to bottom, or to be a submissive. The only time he's done such a thing was with his Drow captors. He knows he would like to give his submission willingly, and he does with his partner a few times, before expressing this particular kink.

One thing that gets horribly misunderstood is what makes one actually want CNC. It isn't that they actually want to get raped; it's the idea of having control forcibly taken so completely, while still being safe. Such people wouldn't enjoy a real assault. It's precisely because it comes from a trusted partner, who isn't actually hurting them, that people enjoy it.

So for Halsin, who always has to be in control, to want to explore his trauma where he was forced to lose control, and to experiment with elements from that in an entirely different scenario, where he can draw comfort from it, is something i could very much see him wanting. He would want to revisit those on his terms. He himself said that while under such endless stress from the Shadow Curse, he began to fantasize about his days with the Drow, viewing it as a safer place mentally. "Perhaps [the Shadow Curse] caused me to gild undeserving memories of my youth..." He is trying to work out his feelings towards when he lost control.

He clearly doesn't want to return to them; if a Lolth Drow threatens to sell him back to his captors, he snaps, "you would be unwise to attempt it, trust me. In any case, the house of my captors is long-extinct." Then he pauses and has a realization; realizing for the first time that they were captors, not hosts, and that captors was a more accurate term. Halsin is still processing parts of his trauma, after all this time, and admits that his current stresses caused him to struggle with this.

So he doesn't want to actually return to them, but in his head he constructed a fantasy version of them that was safer to engage with, where the violations he endured weren't real. And honestly, in his shoes, it's completely understandable how and why that happened.

So that makes the case for why he needs a safe place to explore himself, his fantasies, his fears, all of it.

The issue of course is that Halsin is self-sacrificing and, as noted above, doesn't seem to prioritize his wants as much as his partners'. If he ever did manage to speak about this, it would be, I think, after a great deal of guilt and maybe even self-loathing, thinking there must be something wrong with him for having these fantasies.

So imagine him with a partner who is happy to indulge him, who gets him to finally open up about his desires. Who affirms that he's allowed to have desires, to process his trauma however he needs; after all, any way of working through it is better than doing nothing like Halsin has been doing for centuries. This is him finally being willing to explore it, to see how it interacted with his own sexuality; of course his partner would never refuse him such a thing.

That is the core of the CNC fic I'm going to write; showing how Halsin's unique blend of traumas affect how and why he craves this in particular.

[generalllimaginesss]

https://www.tumblr.com/generalllimaginesss/737276766654185472/how-many-pick-up-lines-will-it-take-to-get-you-to

what if she starts flirting back and gets him all flustered

I was going to work on a some different things, but I kept getting this request so we’re gonna roll with it :)) thank you for requesting!! Part 1 is here.

also....3 goals in 1:09 seconds....wtf devils???

••

"Dude, you can't keep hitting on my sister. She's not interested, man," Your brother and Jack were messing around on the outdoor rink that was set up in the backyard.

"I know, I know," Jack sighed passing the puck to your brother.

"Do you though? It's been 16 years and you're still going at it with her," Your brother's eyebrows raised as he shot at the goal, the puck ricocheting off of the top bar.

Jack rolled his eyes, snatching the rebound and attempting his own shot. He made it, watching as his friend was getting off the ice. Jack joined slowly.

"I think if she got over herself and actually gave me a chance she'd be surprised," Jack caught a glimpse of you watching them from your bedroom window. He waved at you, but you responded with a middle finger as you closed the blinds.

"Maybe, but she hasn't for this long, so maybe you should chill," Your brother couldn't care less if Jack dated you, but the constant flirting was aggravating sometimes.

"Maybe," Jack mumbled, batting off the snow that had accumulated on his hoodie before walking inside.

The boys made their way to the living room, grabbing a couple of blankets to help warm them up from the cold. Your brother had put on a random football game, basically for background noise as he began to doze off.

Jack busied himself until he heard footsteps coming down the stairs followed by your appearance as you walked into the kitchen. He watched you quietly, taking in the details of you. You had stolen your brother's sweatshirt, wearing it with a pair of leggings and fuzzy socks.

"Hughes, I know I'm hot, but you're staring is creepy," You said, nonchalantly, pouring a glass of water before turning around. You faced Jack, his smile greeting you.

"I like a self-aware woman," He commented, the blush that rushed your face adding fuel to his fire.

You leaned on the island, forearms flat on the cool counter, the wrinkles on your forehead evident from trying to figure the boy out. He was cute, you'd give him that, but you were never into hockey guys. The more you thought about it, it wasn't anything personal with Jack. He had never done anything to make you hate him, you just didn't let yourself like him.

"Now look who's staring," Jack smirked, the tension from the eye contact between the two of you could be cut with a knife.

What the hell...the house was a little boring, it could use something to make it more interesting with Jack here.

You glanced over at your brother, making sure that he was dead asleep before you had your fun with Jack. His mouth was open and drool was threatening to spill over, so it was safe to say that you were safe from there being witnesses to what was about to go down.

"Maybe I like what I see," Your voice was darker than normal, dripping with sultry as you walked around the counter towards Jack.

His eyes were wide, looking around him to make sure there wasn't anybody else around that you might have been talking to.

"Don't worry, I'm talking to you," You assured him, pulling the blanket off of him as you sat on his lap.

He had many dreams about you, but he had never imagined something like this actually happening. His throat was dry, lips parted as he tried to get over the shock of the situation.

"What's wrong, Jack?" You wrapped your arms around him, your lips inching near his ear, "...cat got your tongue?"

"What are you doing?" His voice was hoarse, the nerves coursing through his body constricting his vocal cords. He could feel goosebumps rise on his arms as you placed a set of kisses down his neck.

Your lips broke contact with the delicate skin on his neck, bringing your face inches away from his. His face was beet red, his usual flirty self long gone as you had taken control.

"You know, I have some pick up lines," Your voice was barely a whisper as you kissed closer and closer to Jack's lips. The teasing was driving him insane. If it wasn't for the shock of your actions, he probably would have taken advantage of the situation. However, the shock prevented him from doing anything, freezing him as you had fun with him.

"Yeah?" He croaked, your lips headed back toward his neck and close to his ear again.

"Is that a candy cane in your pocket, or are you just excited to see me?"

Jack was breathing hard, probably the reason your brother was beginning to stir awake. Before he could see what was unfolding, you had removed yourself from Jack's lap, watching as he scrambled for the blanket to cover himself before your brother could see the product of your fun.

You could feel the daggers from Jack's glare as you walked back to the kitchen, grabbing a banana and beginning to peel and eat it.

There was no way Jack was letting this slide. What was once playful flirting had just turned into an all out war. He sure as hell wasn't letting you win the game that he had mastered.

Your brother was awake, scrolling through his phone, unaware of what just happened.

Jack's eyes were dark as he stared at you, you staring right back at him.

"Later," He mouthed, preventing your brother from hearing.

You smiled, holding in your chuckle as you walked away, but not before looking him in the eyes and giving him a wink.

"We'll see," Your smirk burned into the back of his eyes.

16 years of going after this damn girl and she just randomly decides to pull this stunt? And all he could do was just sit there and take it? No way was he going to let her gain the upper hand over him...

*

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[propertyofemilyprentiss]

“Home”

Pairing: Emily Prentiss x female!reader

Category: Hurt/Comfort

Summary: While working on a case, the memories of your past came flooding in, and Emily was there to comfort you in the aftermath.

TWs: violence, guns, mentions of abuse, childhood trauma

Word count: 3.1K

It has been a horrible couple of days, to say the least, and you hated when this happened - when a case hit a little way too close to home. Sure, you’ve learned to compartmentalize pretty well in those 2 years you had been working for the BAU, but this time it was different.

You couldn't shake the image out of your mind, the look on that boy’s face who managed to murder -execution style- three happy families before you caught him on his 4th one. The fear, the pain, the desperation - the eyes always tell the unspoken stories. It was almost like he was pleading you to get to him before he could destroy another family.

—

“Let me talk to him”, you told Hotch on the phone while you were riding with Emily to the house, “I know I can get him to surrender before he hurts them”.

Of course, Hotch knew your background and he checked up on you multiple times during the case - which you were grateful for, even though you didn’t actually like the extra attention that was obviously visible to the rest of the team. In addition, you also hated that they knew, on some level, that your background couldn’t have been a lot more different than the unsub’s.

Emily, who was glancing at you from time to time, fought really hard with herself to say nothing at your request. It was not her place to make that decision, even though her mind was screaming at her to say no, or to say something at all.

Also, you were too stubborn (or determined, as you liked to call it) to be talked out of this. She knew, but that didn't make her heart race any less.

”And I need to do it alone-“, you added but were immediately interrupted this time.

“Absolutely not!”, she almost yelled at your crazy request.

It felt like suicide, walking alone into a house where the murderer would not hesitate to shoot her - he proved that many times with the other families.

”Emily-“

”y/n”, you heard your name coming from the phone this time, “I know you see him different than we do-“

”I don't see him any different, I just know that if we all go into the house he’ll feel too threatened to even have a chance to cooperate. His instincts will kick in and then he will for sure not hesitate to use his gun. If I go alone, he won’t perceive me as a threat, and I'll have the chance to talk to him, whilst you can have my back from the outside”, you were determined to do this and you knew you had a good point of view.

There was pure silence for a few seconds.

”If at any point you feel like he won't cooperate, we’ll be coming in”, Hotch told you.

”Thank you”, you said, but you couldn't bear to look at Emily, you knew exactly the look that she was giving you right now.

You noticed her tensed greep on the steering wheel, how her knuckles were almost white and you knew deep down that she just wants you to be safe. But this was not her battle to fight, unfortunately. It was yours.

—

As you stepped into the house, you heard a terrifying scream coming from the living room, followed by the sound of a gun. You knew you only had a few minutes before the room would go completely silent forever.

With your gun in your hand, you rushed there as fast as you could.

”Danny Brant, my name is y/n y/l/n and I’m from the FBI”, you quickly scanned the room then, noticing how the husband was laying on the floor, being the one who was shot - you figured- but not deadly, and the wife was standing frozen next to him while the unsub had their little boy, who was just 6 years old from what Garcia told you.

“Stop! Don’t come any closer or I'm gonna shoot him!”, he yelled, but you noticed his hand trembling on the gun that was pointed to the kid's head.

”Oh my god!”, you heard the mom sobbing, “please don't do this!”.

However, he didn't even look at her, his whole attention was on you and the weapon that was pointing at him.

”You’re not, Danny , we both know that you don't want to hurt him. You’re just trying to get rid of all the pain that lies within yourself right now, but this is not the solution”, you looked at him, almost as desperately as he was looking at you, hoping that he would understand, “you can still fix this, just let me help you”.

”You want to help me?”, he scoffed, “don’t pretend like you’re any different from the others, you don't care about me, you don’t understand-“

”But I do”, you took a deep breath, lowering your gun and putting it on the floor. There was no going backwards now. “I understand, the world didn't treat you with the kindness that it treats other people and it hurts. Your parents didn't give you the unconditional love that every child deserves and it hurts even more. You suffered alone through the abuse, through years of not hearing “I love you” not even once, and you wondered what was wrong with you all this time. You tried anything in your power to make them proud, to make them smile when they were looking at you, despite the fact that you were their punching bag every single day, and nothing worked. So the pain turned into anger until you couldn't control it anymore - it controlled you. I understand”, your voice almost cracked, but you knew you were getting through him.

Hope filled your chest as you continued.

”You turned your anger towards happy homes, towards the things that life did not give you, but it gave to others, because it's not fair, is it?”

”Why not me?”, tears pricked his eyes, but for once in his life, he finally felt understood - although he was not ready to let go yet.

”I asked myself the same question many times, Danny, and I still don't know the answer. But what I can tell you is that inflicting your pain on others will not make yours go away. What you already did cannot be undone, but you can still make the right decision here. Please, let the little boy go”, you pleaded, knowing that this was his only chance before the team would have to intervene.

Immediately, he just started crying, loosening his grip on the kid and putting the gun on the floor. No words were spoken, he just watched as you approached him with the cuffs in your hands, then glanced to the mother who was hugging her son like her life depended on it and ultimately to all the other agents that were entering the house

“I'm so sorry”, was all he said before you handed him to another police officer.

You hurried to get out of the house, not being able to stay there even for a few more seconds. Everyone worriedly looked at you as you passed through them - you knew they heard everything, but you were too exhausted to feel anything. You just wanted to rot in your hotel room for the rest of the night, for once being grateful that you weren’t leaving until the next day.

Only when you were finally outside, you felt like you could breathe again.

You went back to the hotel before anyone else.

—

You’ve lost count of how many times the scene played in your head, and each time, your chest felt a little bit heavier than before. You couldn't arrange the thoughts in your head, you couldn't do anything more than just breathe.

This wasn't like you, it wasn't supposed to get to you this much, especially after experiencing cases that were much more disturbing than this one. But it still did, and you hated it.

Hated how weak you felt.

The wound you tried so meticulously to heal over time reopened in a matter of days, but this wasn't even your main concern. You just wanted to show your team that you were just as capable to do your job as everyone else, but was the cost worth it?

Your thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door and you already knew who it was. You don't even know how much time has passed from the moment you left the scene until now, to you it felt like hours. And for the first time in those days, getting out of bed didn't feel like a chore anymore.

“Emily-”

”y/n”, you both spoke at the same time.

You saw the concerned look on her face and you wished you could make it go away. Wished that you didn’t have to carry so much pain within yourself, that you couldn’t even talk about it with the person you love the most.

She immediately hugged you and you melted in her embrace. With her arms around you, it was the only time your mind was quiet.

“Look at me”, she gently said, lifting your chin to look into your glossy eyes, ”Oh, my sweet angel. I know you’re not okay, and if you want to talk about it, I’m here. Always. I love you. You don't have to be alone in this”.

But it's all you’ve known in your entire life. You have always been careful about what you let out about yourself to others, too scared of confessing your struggles to the few people who actually cared and loved you, thinking that they would leave.

Because who would want to love the mess of a person you were?

“y/n?”

Shit, you’ve been silent for too long.

“Can we j-just, uhm, lay in bed for a while?”, your voice came out more of a whisper, fearing that you would break down right then and there if you actually spoke out loud.

”Of course, come here”, Emily took your hand in hers and guided you right back to where you were a few minutes ago.

Instinctively, you laid your head on her chest as she was holding you, taking in the scent of her perfume. You smiled - it was your favorite.

It was silent for a while, which you were grateful for. Emily never pushed you into doing anything you weren't ready to do. But it suddenly became too much - the comfort of her hand caressing through your hair, the dozens of kisses that she was leaving wherever she could - the top of your head, your forehead, your hand that she was holding into hers - the sweet, encouraging words that she was whispering to you with the most loving tone you’ve ever heard in your life, the tears that threatened to form from the beginning of the day managed to betray you and escape this time.

From that moment, it was too late to stop them. So you cried. You let the tears carry away the pain, the emotions that you’ve bottled up these past few days, the feeling of failure and the struggles that you’ve carried on your shoulders all your life.

And Emily was there, just as she promised, holding you, soothing you, whispering sweet nothings into your ear as your tears fell on her chest until you had no more left.

“I’m sorry”, was all that you were able to say.

“Sweetheart, you have nothing to apologize for”, she said, lifting you for a bit so that your eyes would meet.

There was nothing but sincerity in them.

”But I have, Em. I've ruined your shirt, I worried you all day, we've barely spoken since we got here about anything that didn't include the case and I’m so, so sorry”, your body fell back into her embrace, a part of you clinging to her in the desperation of not wanting her to leave.

”Angel, I don't care about the shirt, it will dry eventually. I care about you. So about the rest - yes, I’ve been worried, because I love you and I want to help you. You’re not alone, even if your mind is telling you that”, she sighed, rubbing circles on your back, “I wish I could take your pain away and only see that beautiful smile of yours, but life isn't that easy. So you never have to apologize for something that was never in your control, okay?”

You exhaled sharply, not even acknowledging that you were not breathing in the first place. She was right, of course she was, but apologizing was all you’ve ever known. And you wanted nothing more than to let her through your walls, but that was not something you’ve ever done with anyone.

You have always been alone.

“I love you too, Em”, you said, looking down at your intertwined hands, “I just don't know how to do this…where do I even start?”

”How about you tell me what’s on your mind right now?”

You sighed again, a chuckle coming from your mouth. At least you don’t have to tell everything, thanks to your conversation with the unsub.

“I guess I’ve never been good at letting things go. I mean, it was a long time ago. It technically doesn't matter anymore. And yet, I cannot let it go, a part of me always knew that, but I had buried it deep enough to not affect me until, well, now”.

You took a deep breath again before continuing, holding slightly tighter onto Emily.

”You know why I wanted to go in that house alone today?”, you asked, wanting to make her understand, “He's 18, the same age I was when I was finally able to move out of my parent's house. I applied to universities that were far away from where I lived and managed to get a good scholarship in the process. I've never talked to them since”, a single tear runs down your cheek as you speak, the sorrowful feeling of recalling those unwanted memories hovering over you, “I wanted to give him the opportunity to have his own life, away from his family, even if that meant in jail”.

”But that anger, I understood it. The anger of having to spend my life recovering from things that I should have been protected from. The anger of losing the carefree, happy child that I once was and being forced to grow up, to take care of myself on my own”, you spoke with the suffering that you endured, and Emily's heart broke.

She knew you weren't done, but she already hated your parents for everything they’ve done to you. But she didn’t say a word, instead she took your hand to her lips, while she used the other to hold you tight.

”And there was also the confusion, you know? Why wasn’t I ever enough, why couldn't I gain their love no matter how much I’ve tried. Sometimes I would lay awake late at night, staring at the ceiling and wondering if I was doomed from the moment I was born or if I was at least loved when I was too little to remember it”, your voice cracked at the end, the too familiar ache in your chest consuming you once again, “Am I so hard to be loved?”

”No. y/n, look at me”, Emily said in an instant, cupping your chin for you to look into her eyes, “I absolutely despise them for putting you through this, for making you question your worth, because, my angel, loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, you hear me? I love everything about you, from your perfect eyes that I get lost into every time I look at you, to your beautiful, contagious smile that lights up the room and which makes my day go from 0 to 100 in a split second”, she immediately noticed the faint smile on your face, and her chest blossomed with love.

“But it doesn't stop here. I love how whenever we spend time at each other’s places, you always wake up a little bit earlier than me in order to make coffee, even though you hate waking up early. I love how your eyes spark with happiness whenever one of your favorite songs comes on the radio and how you immediately start singing it to me. I love watching the stars with you from my bedroom. I love the fact that I get to know the soft side of you which you never show around the others. I love every movie we watch from the start simply because you’re next to me. I love slow dancing in the living room with you even if you always say you're a terrible dancer”, she laughs at the memories of those amazing days that she wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

”Em, I am a terrible dancer”, you giggled with her, a new set of tears appearing.

But these ones weren't carrying the agony of your horrible past, but the comfort and gratitude towards the woman that turned your life around and showed you the definition of love.

”You're not!”, she exclaimed, wiping your tears away, “But this was not the point here. The point is, you’re not hard to love, not at all, not to me. And I’m so sorry that your parents couldn't see what an amazing daughter they had, but ultimately it’s their loss. I know it hurts you nonetheless, but you’re so strong angel, and I’ve always admired that about you. You’ll carry those memories of everything that happened for the rest of your life, but it's still going to be okay. And whenever it doesn’t feel like it, I’ll be there to remind you”, she placed a kiss on your forehead, hoping you understood that you’re not alone - not anymore.

You didn't know what to say, the shock of someone understanding your pain, your past, and still loving you put you at a loss of words. You slowly got up from her embrace and kissed her, softly and gently, with the weight of a thousand unspoken words.

Pulling back, you looked at her hopeful smile, her glistening eyes, and you wondered how you got so lucky to be able to call her your girlfriend.

“Thank you, Em”, you genuinely smiled, “Thank you for finding me worthy of love, despite the mess that I am”.

“y/n, we’re all a mess in our own ways. But thank you for letting me see yours, because it only made me love you more”.

You placed a tended kiss on her lips once more before melting into her embrace once again, exhaustion filling your body.

And right there, in her arms, with your head on her chest, listening to her beating heart, you’ve never felt safer.

You knew then - you have found your home.

[hezuart]

LN Channel Change AU Sequel: “Seven” {1} {2} {3} {here/final}

And they lived happily ever after. Or did they? We've established our main characters Mono (TV/space-time) and Six (Soul Sucking) have strange supernatural powers. I wanted Seven to have one too. (Hydrokinesis aka water bending)

Notes for how I came up with Seven's powers and the deeper meaning behind his interaction with Mono:

1. Each child has nightmare prophecies (something to do with Mono's time loop?)  at the beginning of their stories. Six's is the Lady, Mono's is the door that leads to the Thin Man, and Seven's is being pulled underwater. Six and Mono's nightmare visions are fulfilled at the end of their stories; revealing that the thing they dreamed about, they essentially become or usurp.  Seven's differs. His dream resolves in act 1 and he kills the Granny, the creature assumed to be the one pulling him underwater in his nightmare. But what if Seven's dream prophecy was still valid... even post-Granny? Being dragged underwater... for a different fate?

2. Seven is the only main cast character shown with the ability to swim. 3. "Seven Seas" anyone? Water is a symbol of purification & life, hence, Seven gains his new powers after he survived and Mono broke the timeline loop to start fresh. "Washing it away" so to say. 4. Water is a liquid; passive in nature, but powerful in circumstance. Seven is kind and sneaky but kills the Granny when continuously attacked and threatened by her. He does the same to the Octopus monster.

5. Water molecules have adhesion and cohesion, meaning water likes to stick to itself, and stick to other things. Seven has an attachment to Nomes. He is always drawn to other people and other creatures, wanting to help them. His belief is that survival chances are higher amidst a group. Water is also known for containing life, no matter how strange or deep, such as ocean fish that often travel in schools/packs often to confuse or fight off predators, thus, another reference to Seven's new life, and his teamwork with Nomes and Mono.

6. Seven is often in fandom depicted by a circle. A water droplet. 7. Seven collects flotsam; typically boat debris, but in this case, bottled messages that come from the sea. Yet another connection to water.

All this indicates heavy implication and well-fitting power to bestow hydrokinesis onto Seven. I was inspired by the INSIDE game's drowning chapter and Stanley and Stanford's secret boat hide-out on the beach from Gravity Falls. Which is why I have selected Mono, Seven, and all their future friends to a lovely and sunny (future) beach house, far away from everything they've suffered. And living near the largest body of water on the planet with a kid with hydrokinesis? ...Certainly has its perks!

But Seven gaining powers is important to not only their survival but also him. He was still nervous about Mono. He knew Mono was very powerful and mysterious. In more ways than one. Mono is stronger than him and can also use telekinesis on objects on the beach. He's a better food hunter and seems more like a leader. Seven also likes to lead, but he felt outshined by Mono. (I don't portray that well in my comic) Seven is weaker and defenseless. His only shining quality in comparison is his ability to swim, but even that can only get him so far. He risks his life for his Nome friends and loses his life doing so. Or so he thought. By a miracle, his powers over water awaken. He drains the monster of its water, beaching it. He walks to Mono in a new light. It's a new him. He holds up his hands as if to say "See? I'm like you now." He's leveled the playing field. (It also helps that he now has jurisdiction over power Mono cannot interact with) Now they are truly equal. Two kings; one of land, one of sea, both ruling the island in equal standing. Seven will never again feel like a burden left behind. (Seven's powers activating also has something to do with the fact he bit the Octopus creature to save the Nome. Mono and Six both consume their powerful prophesized enemies to gain some of their power, if they didn't already have some before. Seven biting into the Octopus's flesh and unknowingly consuming some of it may have jumpstarted his power deep within him, on top of him encountering Mono; supernatural kid extraordinaire that brought him through a tower wormhole to escape the city)

~~~

A threequel is planned, and maybe the last addition to this series, but the next one is not fully fleshed out yet so it may be another year until I can really touch upon it yet. Otherwise, hope you guys enjoyed!

[dejabooooo]

The Anti-Pines family is utterly fascinating. We have the blueprint for an entire pseudo canon AU, and remarkably I have seen little input from the fandom in regards to it. I can’t imagine why because there is SO MUCH TO WORK WITH HERE.

Anti-Waddles being as nefarious as Anti-Mabel. “The first pig to ever go to jail for armed robbery.” Like 😭😭 imagine waddles standing upright and holding a tommy gun. Imagine no one in the bank their holding up taking them seriously because they’re an adorable little girl and a chubby pig, and mabel threatening to put a bullet between someone’s eyes like “u better cough up the bacon before this bacon smokes u.” I wanna see what other heinous atrocities the cutest crime duo in the multiverse get up to.

ANTI-SOOS BEING A FORBES BILLIONAIRE HOW AND WHY DID THIS HAPPEN

You’d think if Anti-Ford represents the opposite of Ford that you’d wind up with someone who is exceptionally normal and uninteresting but NOPE. Anti-Ford is easily the weirdest here. FUCKING??? YOUTUBER??? DJ?? A sixty-something year old man with 200 subscribers who posts about his dubstep set lists daily. Utterly baffling.

Anti-Stan and Anti-Dipper are the most understandable in terms of being complete opposites of their counterparts, but all of this makes me wonder how differently their stories would play out because of this. Anti-Mabel was “chased out of her dimension” for being so evil. How does her family feel about this? Are they trying to get her back? Does this bizarre cast embark on a comical and heartfelt journey to try and bring her home? A journey that ends in an emotional reunion? Perhaps one that Mabel fights as she clings to her indifferent, cold ideology while her family begs her to come home. All of them recollecting her horrible crimes with proportionately little exasperation and an abundance of fondness. Stan recounting when she stole all the money from a fundraiser he’d held so she could instead invest the funds into remodeling their entire house to have a monochrome minimalist decor. Ford reminiscing about the time she tried to use his channel to funnel money into a crypto/nft scheme. Dipper having countless stories. like how happy she’d make him when he’d get to skip school thanks to her (because she burned down the school, multiple times). About how she’d sabotaged pretty much all of his relationships, but it was a good thing in the end because it allowed him to realize that who he always really loved was that dorky socially awkward corduroy girl he hadn’t noticed at first. All of this retrospection from her family chipping away at her hardened heart and- phew, I'm getting carried away, but the possibilities, man! These characters could be so much more than a one time joke.

There is also the matter of Anti-Bill. “He is very boring.” Shut up??? Speak for urself, schmebulock, he sounds delightful. This is another character I believe you could expand in many interesting ways. I mean think about it, a being possessing the same caliber of bill’s omniscience and using it for good sounds amazing. Knowing all the beauty in all the universes and going out of his way to share it with weary minds through their dreams. Nullifying nightmares. What if he were a healing antidote to the mind, a medicine to bill’s mind unraveling madness? What if they knew each other?

Do you see my (delusional) vision here guys?

[busycucumbermelon]

 couple goals

Carmen X influencer reader

Warning, Manipulation, smothering, mention of smut, mention of murder

summary: Carmen really does take after his mother 

After being kidnapped, you threaten Carmen by pointing out that if you didn’t make regular and consistent updates on your normal social media accounts, someone would notice your absence. This would put pressure on Carmen and either force them to let you go or allow you to make those updates, where you could use one of the telltale signs you had previously mentioned on your TikTok to alert others of your situation.

While initially amused at your attempts to threaten him, Carmen became more and more intrigued by watching your daily activities on TikTok. His curiosity got the better of him, as he couldn't resist diving into the seemingly trivial details of your life. As he watched, he became increasingly fascinated by your everyday actions and routines.

It was only a matter of time before the cute act gave way to more sinister intentions…

When Carmen watched the specific video where you had mentioned that you would immediately make a video about how much you hated your brothers' twins if you ever got kidnapped, their first reaction was a slight chuckle. The irony of the situation was amusing to Carmen, given how often you had praised your brothers' twins in other videos. However, the video also sparked a darker thought in Carmen's mind.

The question that was now plaguing Carmen was, "What would your community do if they found out about the truth behind your brothers' twins?"

The fact that all of them are now very much dead

When Carmen visited again and allowed you to make TikTok videos, he had secretly enabled a few settings behind your back. Every single video you made would now need his approval before it could be shared with the rest of the world. This meant he would have the power to decide which videos of yours got to see the light of day.

This put Carmen in the position of controlling what your online community got to see, as he was the one who would have to give the final go ahead before your videos could be made public.

When Carmen finally relented and allowed you to continue making TikToks under his watch, the experience was much different than what you had anticipated. Instead of him threatening you and rushing you into something, he give you a whole wing of his house and only occasionally asked for your cooperation and company.

Your viewers, however, didn't suspect anything and were curious about the odd changes in decor. Some people even inquired if you had moved to a new location. The truth was hidden in plain sight, and no one had a clue what was really going on.

You're a little perplexed by Carmen's behaviour at first. When he had first kidnapped you, he had made it clear that he wanted your attention and affection, but he wasn't rushing you into

anything...yet. However, soon, he did force you to spend time with him, such as cuddling on the couch with snacks

In one of your recent videos, he even made a subtle appearance, although his face wasn't visible. You could tell he was a man based on his boots, and it was clear that Carmen wanted everyone to know you were his property.

While Carmen may have seemed like a fool at times, he was quite clever and knew how to maintain his secrecy. He was well aware that, due to the nature of his job, many people would come after you if he were to randomly show up on your social media page. This is why he presented you with a proposal one day.

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

"My dear," Carmen proclaimed as he gently grasped your chin and tilted your head up to face him. Your hands were gripped tightly in fists at your side, a sign of your frustration and mounting anger.

" I have a small proposal, I'm sure you'll find it reasonable," he continued with a patronizing smile.

You thought it was outrageous that he thought you would accept any of his proposals at this point. He had already made you behave as though you loved him, which was more than enough.

" I find nothing you do reasonable; I don't know why you think I should."

He smirked at your response before adding, " Well, I believe it is only fair to mention that your most recent video has gained quite a bit of positive traction. Would you like to know the cause behind it?"

Seeing the reactions to his subtle presence in the background, Carmen realized that even with just a glimpse, your viewers figured out that it was a man and he must’ve be your boyfriend

" All they needed was my boot in the back of your video, and they were able to put it all together," he stated, smirking.

" What are you going to tell your audience?" he asked, his tone becoming more serious. " We both know you're going to have to do the right thing."

The so-called "right thing" wasn't your own decision. It was Carmen’s, and he would make that decision for you. You already knew that there was no way out of this situation. Your social media account was your only link to the outside world; you didn't want it revoked. Consequently, you did whatever Carmen told you to do, regardless of what it meant or how much it went against your own values and beliefs.

As Carmen was one to cook dinner for you whenever he could, this particular evening was no different. You decided to take a video as the perfect opportunity to provide more "evidence" that you were alright and everything was fine. Of course, you were anything but fine, but you didn't exactly have any other options.

Sitting on the countertop, you recorded Carmen's hands as he chopped up vegetables. With the use of careful camerawork and positioning, you managed to ensure that his face didn't appear in the video.

He had already made it clear what would happen if you decided to put his face in a video — your punishment and the subsequent harm that you would face would be considerable, and the danger wouldn't solely stem from Carmen himself. That was enough of a warning to ensure your compliance.

The caption for your video read, " Well, you guys are quite some detectives," and the text overlay over the video featured Carmen slicing vegetables read, " At least one of us is a good cook. "

Carmen himself viewed the recording multiple times prior to it being published, ensuring that it contained nothing that jeopardized the ruse and only reinforced the image of everything being alright.

Well that, and he couldn’t deny the growing bulge in his pants the first time he had watched it you never really complimented him, but you putting it out for all your followers to see was good enough Painting his screen and white before he even published it. Oh, if only it was your pretty face on that screen.

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

As you continued to share more of your life's updates on your social media accounts, your audience grew more fascinated by the apparent relationship between you and Carmen. They flooded your comment section with remarks about how lucky you were to have such an amazing and charming partner, and Carmen began to appear in your content more often.

Indeed, people would complain when he wasn’t featured in your uploads, and eventually, you solely stuck to providing brief glimpses of Carmen via camera angles which did not include his face or any identifying features.

An overwhelming number of your content updates depicted Carmen undertaking a variety of small tasks. He would cook meals for you, prepare and run baths, cuddle you when he was at home, and attempt to engulf himself in your scent and scent alone.

Indeed, Carmen was constantly surrounded by death and decay in his work. Being near something that embodied the complete opposite — peace, warmth, and comfort — was something he craved desperately.

One of your uploads seemed to entice your viewers most, in particular, due to Carmen's "deep green eyes." During said video, he was cuddling with you, which was not something you enjoyed in the slightest. In fact, he was constantly enveloping you, and that was truly insufferable. Indeed, when Carmen was out on a mission, you considered it to be a relief and the absolute best thing in the world, allowing you to breathe and relax.

The sheer volume of positive feedback and praise from your viewers started to get to you; perhaps Carmen wasn't as terrible as you believed he was. Certainly, he had taken the lives of a few innocent individuals and....the twins....never mind that.

Your viewers also believed him to be a good person who meant you no harm, and the general consensus was that Carmen was harmless and harmless alone

As you progressively began to feature Carmen in your videos slightly more frequently, he would whisper certain things to you; such as how cute it'll be or what a wonderfully endearing moment it would make for the channel. You now recognized that a specific smile or expression on his face meant that it was time for you to begin filming because it would be ideal content for your channel.

That didn't mean Carmen wanted everything documented though. Carmen often wanted to simply hold you, cover you in kisses, or keep you pinned down to the bed depending on his mood.

It felt like you were constantly being smothered by Carmen. Everything, he constantly wanted you all to himself. And even though you cared about him, you needed space. But it kept feeling like it wouldn't matter what you did, everything you said would lead him to act possessive. And you decided enough was enough. So you took out your camera and started filming, even though you weren't sure how it was going to go over, it was something that needed to be done

. Carmen held your waist as you announced to your channel that you would no longer be posting and that you needed a time to think about yourself and your life. His arms squeezed a bit tighter, a small warning. You added on and spoke about your love life, admitting that you felt like you hadn’t been able to connect with your boyfriend as much as you would like to. As a conclusion, you thanked your viewers for understanding and left the video with another hug from Carmen, even if it wasn’t genuine.

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

[jazeswhbhaven]

Hang Up Raphael, I'm gonna get to know him better ♱♡‿♡♰ (Christmas Miracle L-Card PROLOGUE Spoilers I)

Hi hi once again lovelies, it is I your admin <;3 (i really need a name for you all to call me huh) Anyways, We're on to Raphael and I took way too many screencaps for this so I had to like pick and choose which ones I'm gonna use lol there were SO many good moments not to highlight. So just so you know, the beginning of it literally starts the same way as Michael's prologue with Minhyeok making a wish, us seeing his brother yadda ya (hmmm and here I thought it would be slightly different I guess not) And after that we're gonna dive right the fuck in. As per usual this is a two-parter, get yourself a snack and let's gooo ♨(⋆‿⋆)♨

So our MC was invited to Avisos in this story to celebrate x-mas but it's very different from what they're used to. Samba, festival clothing, parades, etc. Avisos be gettin' down I swear. But MC is over here like "the samba has nothing to do with-" Let them party. It's fine. Everyone celebrates differently and the Avisos citizens wanna shake their ass to some feel good music.

Naberius coming in to call them out on their thoughts, here is when I find out he can technically read minds so I'm gonna have to be careful around him...cause does that happen automatically or does he just do that when he feels like it?

I think it's cute he's feeding MC btw, but MC being guilty about what they said makes sense because it's like telling someone when you go over their house you don't like how they do something. Because you could...just wait until you get home or something don't tell me that while you're here lmao

So in this scene Naberius explains that he had the turkey cooked and made just because he knew humans ate two types of meat (really three if you feel) during christmas and wanted to make MC comfortable. It also sounds good as fuck because sauce was dripping down MC's chin.

But Naberius was treating it more like a chore than what a lover would, so this has me headcanon that Naberius is possibly part of the ace (asexual) family! now I'm unsure if he'd be demi, gray, or just full on ace but regardless, he's being cute feeding MC like this.

Meanwhile....

Our troublesome two...it's literally like watching two brothers fight and it's funny to me. Like Amon please don't take Stolas' juice T^T it was literally in his hand when he took it lmao

Also that sounds good too because it was fresh from a fruit bowl....my diet would be terrible in Avisos they eat so much and so many good foods ;.; (my ibs would probably kick my ass too)

So while Amon and Stolas are squabbling, Naberius is just like chiding them as per usual and MC asks where Bael is. He's working (poor bby let him REST) and this is when Naberius says that Amon and Stolas should be working too and only he was asked to look over MC during the festivities and that they usually have to patrol around because things get crazy lol

Stolas ofc is like yeah who the fuck cares we don't get to celebrate anyway so I'm taking this time to do so xD

He also adds that he's usually not outside during this time anyway because ppl annoy him with their happiness. (omfg Stolas is me on most days like why are all you outside? There's too many fucking ppl outside, go back to your own houses while I do grocery shopping then you can come back out)

Amon chimes in that Stolas likes staying in his dark room and how mature that is despite how he looks. Stolas gets really offended and threatens to kill him (that's on brand for our bird bby, he's so adorable)

ANYWAYS what Amon really does like to bring up that Stolas looks so young and honestly it's just like...I can see why he would be irriated about that coming up each time.

Amon ignores him of course and says he wants to make memories with MC (he's so fucking cute omfg) and Naberius whacks him on the head to remind him that he has work to do and he can't just be doing whatever.

AMON YOU CUTIE LOVE YOU <3333333 He's adorable, like I'd hang out with him all day if he wanted me to. (I also can imagine that since he gets flirty in the beel event, he'd probably feel comfortable enough to do a l o t more flirting when it's MC/you with him)

So Naberius brings in some lore about Avisos, bascially stating that they always need to celebrate something and there's no real reason for them to do so. As I stated before, this country loves to fucking party like I swear there was always something going on. He did bring up that he's slightly glad it's chilled out since the war (must of been that bad if a war makes him happy they stopped)

And MC is just like oh do you guys believe in Santa then or no?

And then our sexy sexy Beel boo enters the chat

He's so hot for this, thank you for bringing me gifts bby <3

So naturally all of his nobles are happy to see him, Amon especially and he brought them gifts!!!

He basically brought everyone back souvenirs from the places he's been. That's so thoughtful because he took time to think about what each person would like. This is also something I do when getting gifts for ppl and every day they reveal more about Beel it makes me be like "yup that's why I was paired with him"

Now we get to see what he got MC and oh.....

oh....

oh....................

Fuck

MC was just saying they were happy that they got to experience some adult items from Hell so they were grateful and would use it well, and while I love that response....

I would be creaming my pants already because I KNOW he bought that with the intention of MC using it with him and you know what....

I have immediate needs that need to be addressed and I'd let that be known.

But the topic of a christmas miracle starts being brought up again and Beel explains that there's always weird things happening in Hell around this time and well...he thinks it's best that you don't question it and just go with the flow

See? Don't think about trivial things, just let your mind be free. Don't stress about the things you don't know for now.

While that goes against every fiber of my nuerospicy brain to not know what the fuck is going on and not freak out about the things I don't know....i'll just let him distract me with that d*ck

And he's so cute he put his face all up in MCs and was like yeah we're going on a date later btw. After he was done delivering presents to the other citizens (he's getting the best bj known to man for this because what he got something for everyone?????)

BUT we are interrupted by some loud sounds...

So it seems once again Raphael, just like Michael just fucking crashed into shit without any warning only the funniest thing about Raph is that he was fucking eating the food at the stalls LMAO

Mans got priorities.

So we get some repeat lore about Raph, we got a little bit from the halloween event where it was Ppyong that explained how dangerous he was. And well from reading his comic he's literally as bloodthirsty as his seraph comrades...once he likes to play around and torment folks a bit. And if you're another angel that he does not like for any fucking reason yeah you're in the crossfire too. Raph's hands are rated E for everyone.

Naberius is over here growling and challenging him and Raph with those big balls of his (hehehe) is basically being like yeah you sent for me so don't trip. But that's the thing I don't think anyone particularly called for him...though it does seem like there's a specific angel that likes bothering a specific country. Raph-Avisos, Gabe-Gehenna, and Mike-Tartaros.

And then from here he starts giving critiques on the fucking meat and the customer service of the stalls and I'm like Raph bby.....why are you doing this lmao He's such a true villian because totally coming in and taking the local's food and still not satisfied with it tracks.

But....it seems my lovely peeps that tumblr has alerted me that's all the photos I can add here so we'll end it! Meet me in the next post <3

[wolffoxnation2]

The Cupid scene but make it unrequited? Valgrace

Meant to finish this yesterday but couldn't get it done in time so heres it now. I'm not completly happy with it but im just glad its done.

-------

"You cannot lie to Cupid, Leo Valdez. If you let your shame and sadness rule you...well, your fate will be even sadder than mine," Favonius said, and Leo could have sworn there was pity in his eyes before the god disappeared in the wind.

Leo felt like he was back in Khione's ice palace. There was no way this wind god he just met knew his deepest, darkest, never-to-be-said-out-loud feelings. Right?.

Right?.

No, he must be talking about something else, and Leo is just being stupid and paranoid. He has to be.

Fortunately, or, more unfortunately, Leo didn't have the time to dwell on the ominous words of wind gods.

Because the ground was shaking. Why was the ground shaking?

So. A voice said.

Something zipped past his face and nicked his ear, throwing him off his feet and into Jason. Pain blossomed in his right ear, and he was pretty sure he was bleeding.

"You okay?" Jason asked, catching him in his strong arms.

Leo winced, holding a hand to his injured ear as he scrambled to his feet, trying not to think about the fact he just fell in Jason's arms. "Yeah, I'm good," he muttered.

You come to claim the sceptre. The voice said behind them, more like stating rather than asking.

Leo turned to where the voice was coming from, but no one was there.

"Cupid!" Jason called, standing at Leo's back with his sword drawn, "Where are you?".

The voice—Cupid laughed. It definitely did not sound like it belonged to a sweet baby angel's. It sounded rich and velvety but also threatening— like an ember in a fire before burning a house to the ground.

Where you least expect me. Cupid answered, As love usually is.

Leo's heart skipped a beat as something invisible slammed into Jason and hurled him across the street. He toppled down a set of concrete steps and sprawled on the floor of an excavated Roman basement.

I thought you'd know better, Jason. Cupid's voice circled overhead like a vulture. You've found true love after all. Or do you still doubt yourself?

"Jason!" Leo screamed, scrambling down the steps.

Jason took his hand and got to his feet. "I'm okay! Just sucker punched by an angel."

Oh, Did you expect me to play fair? Cupid laughed. Make no mistake; I am no angel, Jason Grace. I am Love. I am never fair. 

Oh boy, do I know that. Leo thought dryly before Jason swept him off his feet.

Literally not...not metaphorically.

Leo was swept into Jason's chest as Jason intercepted an arrow that would have gone straight into Leo's chest with his sword. The arrow exploded against the nearest wall, giving them a nice limestone shower.

Of course, Jason wasn't done giving Leo butterflies in his stomach and grabbed his hand, pulling him up the steps and behind another wall as another arrow rained down on them, shattering a column nearby into a thousand pieces.

"Is this guy Love or Death?" Jason growled, still holding Leo's hand.

Thanatos and I are often not so different. Cupid said from somewhere above, except Death is usually kinder.

Leo understood that more than he should: Death is just...well, death. The End. Just boom, you're dead! No more pain. No more problems. And if you're lucky, you get to chill in Elysium for eternity. 

While Love is...terrifying: It hurts, sometimes it doesn't last long, and some just don't get it (cough cough).

"We just want the sceptre!" Jason shouted, poking his head above the stone wall. "We're trying to stop Gaia! Are you on the gods' side or not?"

A second arrow shot at the air dangerously close to Jason's head, landing on the ground near Leo's feet and glowing white-hot. 

The arrow's temperature shot past 2,397 F (Hephaestus power.) before combusting into a geyser of flame. 

Love is on every side. Cupid said. "And no one's side. Don't ask what Love can do for you.

"Great," Jason said. "Now he's spouting greeting cards as well as trying to kill us."

"It's official. Queen was right; Too much Love kills you," Leo joked. If Love is gonna kill him in the end, then at least he wants to make Jason laugh before they both die.

Leo caught a ghost of a smile on Jason's lips before another arrow landed between them, ruining the moment.

You can't hide from Love. It will always find you no matter what. Cupid's voice said nearby.

Leo's hair sparked; the idea of burning the feathers off that smug, overgrown chicken's wings was getting more and more enticing. He knew Cupid was toying with them, enjoying their discomfort as he shot his stupid arrows.

Another arrow narrowly missed him, and something inside of him snapped.

He snatched the arrow up and threw it back where it came from. "Enough games, show yourself!"

Lucky for him, he had good aim. The arrow hit something and hung in the air for a moment before dissolving, leaving no trace: not even a spot of ichor that could help pinpoint his location.

"...Very good, Leo," Cupid said, though it was strained. There wasn't a wound, but it must have hurt. "At least you can sense my presence. Even getting a glance at true love is more than most Heroes manage. Maybe there's hope for you after all".

"So we get the sceptre?" Jason asked.

Cupid laughed. Leo was seriously getting sick of that laugh.

Oh no, there is still much you can do for me.

Jason started to speak, "But—"

An arrow shot through the air, zipping past Jason and hitting Leo square in the shoulder.

"Leo!"

There was a burst of pain in Leo's right shoulder, and suddenly, he was back at the Wilderness School again.

He had just met this cool guy, Jason. He was also a foster kid like him. Jason seemed too good for a school like this. He wouldn't tell him and Piper what he was here for, just that his case worker, Juna— Juno or something — sent him here.

Piper told him later on that she thought Jason was kinda hot.

Leo thought so too but he didn't tell her that. 

Another arrow hit him in the back this time. 

He wasn't sure when Piper and Jason started dating; it had only felt like a day had passed since they met.

He pretended it didn't hurt.

He didn't dare ruin their happiness.

So he just smiled and bared it every time they flirted with each other and told jokes every time they kissed.

"Stop it!" Leo shrieked, "None of it was real! Hera faked everything!"

Not everything, Cupid said softly, and a third arrow dug into his skin.

This time he was on their first quest in Boreas's ice palace.

Khione told them he couldn't come with them to see Boreas because of his fire.

He played it off that he wasn't hurt about it, even though it did. It wasn't the first or last time someone was scared of him.

Jason tried to defend him at first with his hand on Leo's shoulder, which only made him love him more.

And it sting more when Jason walked away holding hands with Piper, leaving him alone with Cal.

It was fine. None of it was real, not even his feelings were, and even if they were, it's not like he could act on them. He was just the funny guy, the mechanic, the seventh wheel. He wasn't supposed to fall for his male best friend, who was already dating his other best friend. He wasn't supposed to want something more than friendship with Jason.

He bit back the tears that were already threatening to fall. The grass at his feet was starting to smoke. "Show yourself!" He screamed.

It is a costly thing, Cupid said, looking on the true face of Love.

Another column shattered. Jason barely scrambled out of its way in time.

My wife Psyche learned that lesson, Cupid said, She was brought here aeons ago when this was the site of my palace. We only met in the dark. She was warned to never look upon me, and yet she could not stand the mystery. She feared I was a monster. One night, she lit a candle and beheld my face as I slept.

Jason said something, but Leo couldn't hear him over the sound of his own heart pounding in his chest. He could still somehow hear Cupid though. Of course, Love was the only thing he could hear other than his heart.

Cupid laughed from somewhere at the edge of the Amphitheater. I was too handsome, actually. A mortal can't look upon a god's true appearance without suffering grave consequences; just look at poor Semele. My mother, Aphrodite, cursed Psyche for her distrust. My poor lover was tormented, forced into exile and given impossible tasks to prove herself. She was even sent to the underworld on a quest to show her dedication. She earned her way back to me, but she suffered greatly.

Leo had no clue what he was talking about, but it sounded like he was a terrible husband.

Jason thrust his sword into the sky like he was a demigod He-man and was about to yell, 'By the power of Jupiter!' and beat up Cupid.

Unfortunately, he did not do that. 

Instead, the ground shook, and lightning blasted a crater where Cupid's voice was coming from.

There was silence, and for a moment Leo thought it was over and that they could get the sceptre and leave. And hopefully, never speak of this day again.

Leo should have known they were never that lucky.

An invisible force—Cupid, knocked Jason to the ground, sending his sword skittering across the road.

A good try, Cupid said, his voice already distant. But love isn't so easily pinned down.

A wall collapsed, Jason barely managed to roll out of the way.

That was enough for Leo.

"Hey!" Leo yelled, waving his arms around. "It's me you want! Not him!. Leave him alone!"

Poor Leo Valdez. The god's voice was patronizing and tinged with disappointment. Do you really know what You want, much less what I want? My beloved Psyche risked everything in the name of Love to win my trust back. And you — what have You risked in my name?

"I'm literally saving the world!" He yelled, clenching his fists, "I've faced way worse! You don't scare me!"

I scare you very, very much. Face me. Be honest.

Jason struggled to get up off the ground, and a piece of Leo's heart broke. This was all his fault. He knew exactly what Cupid wanted. But he didn't want to admit it just yet.

All around Leo, the ground started to heat up. Grass smoked, and stones steamed.

"Give us Diocletian's sceptre." He said, trying to put his best brave face on. "We don't have time for games."

Games? Leo's breath was knocked away as a hand slapped him sideways into a granite pedestal. Love is no game! It is no flowery softness! It is hard work — a quest that never ends. It demands everything you have — especially honesty. Only then does it rewards.

Pain blosomed from Leo's...everywhere. His head spun from the pain, and the ground started to heat up more. Stones were starting to crack, and the grass was starting to spark. All it would take was one more push, and everything would burn.

Jason was up now and had retrieved his sword, "Leo!" he called, "What does this guy want from you?".

Leo's lip trembled. Everything was going so wrong. He didn't want to admit it. He didn't want to tell Jason. "I don't know!" He yelled back, and an arrow embedded itself in the pedestal, inches away from Leo's face.

Tell him, Leo Valdez, Cupid ordered. His voice was starting to get less patient now. Tell him you're a coward, that you're afraid of yourself and your feelings. Tell him why you hide among your machines like your father. Tell him the real reason you run and why you're always alone.

Leo gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling with pain and frustration. Cupid's words cut through him like a knife, exposing the raw truth that he had been desperately trying to bury.

The grass started to burn and the stone's cracks got bigger.

"I... I can't," Leo stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't tell him."

Cupid's laughter echoed around them, mocking and cruel. "You see, Jason Grace? Your friend is afraid. Afraid of his own feelings, afraid of the truth. He hides behind his jokes and his bravado, but deep down, he knows."

Leo let loose a guttural scream, and like a volcano erupting; everything exploded at once.

Magma burst from the rocks, splitting them wide open. The grass combusted into green flames — Greek fire —he really is going to burn everything down.

"H—haaa"

Leo laughed through the tears. It was really all he could do and all he really ever did. It was funny really; he'd worked so hard to shove everything down, yet it was all destroyed in a fiery explosion in less than an hour.

A nearby tree collapsed dangerously close to Jason as the fire consumed it. "Leo! What is he talking about?" He almost couldn't hear his voice over the fire.

Will you hide forever, Leo Valdez? Cupid taunted, who unfortunately can still be heard because not even fire can shut him up. Will you let fear rule your heart, or will you finally have the courage to face the truth?

He didn't want to face the truth. He was too scared of what would happen. What might Jason say. How he'd react.

He just wanted to keep things the same.

Even if it kills him.?

Leo sobbed, and the flames burned brighter. If this was love then he didn't want it. Or maybe if love was this painful then he deserved it. Another arrow pierced his back—or maybe that was the feeling of his heart breaking more—and more images flashed through his mind.

He was back on that mountain in Colorado. Jason had his arms around Piper, his face scrunched up in concern. Leo pretended it didn't bother him. It was cold, and Piper ended up getting hyperthermia. He had tried to ignore the aching in his chest. He didn't want to think about how much he wanted to be in her place.

After their quest, they left him alone while he worked on the Argo II. He named it after the ship the first Jason sailed on.

It was all for Jason.

He was back on the Argo right after he had fired on New Rome—Jason's home. Everyone was angry with him, and Jason was in the infirmary; some asshole threw a brick at his head. 

He didn't go down to him. He couldn't face Jason.

It was all his fault.

Jason got hurt because of him.

And he didn't even have the guts to face him.

There were more scenes like this flooding his senses. At some point, his brain switched off, and he was just drowning in agony. He couldn't move or speak.

He was weak.

Meanwhile, the flames grew to an inferno of green and reds, drowning out everything. Leo's hair was a white flame. An outline of wings caught fire for a moment before being put out again.

"Interesting!" Cupid's voice said from somewhere above. Do you have strength after all?

"I...I can't," Leo said, though it sounded more like a whimper. He was on his knees now. 

Heh, too weak to admit your feelings and too weak to stand, his mind mocked in Cupid's voice.

Still hiding, Cupid said above, a flame burned an outline of a wing tip before going out again. You do not have the strength.

Leo sobbed. He really was weak. He was going to burn everything down just because he didn't want to admit his feelings.

"Leo" Jason yelled from somewhere. "It's okay! I get it!"

Leo stared at the burning grass below him. It was too hot for tears to fall. Only steam came from his eyes. 

"No, you don't," He said defeatedly. Jason didn't understand. He couldn't understand. If he understood, then he wouldn't be so nice to Leo. "There's no way you understand. If you did you'd hate me".

And so you run away again, Cupid chided, From yourself, from your feelings, and from your friends.

The fire had engulfed Cupid's wings now. But the god laughed cruelly and blew it away.

"Leave him alone Cupid," Jason croaked somewhere. "This isn't your..."

Oh gods, he was hurting Jason again. The smoke is choking him.

Cupid's laugh echoed from above the flames. But oh, it is exactly my business, Jason Grace. Love is me. I am love.

"Leo!" Jason choked out through the smoke.

Oh, you're killing him, you're killing him. Leo's brain screamed. You're a monster, you're such a fucking monster, and you're weak.

"Look, I don't care if you're in love with Piper!" 

He doesn't understand. He doesn't. He doesn't. Leo's brain screamed over and over again.

Cupid laughed again, and Leo's will broke.

"I—I'm not in love with Piper," Leo said, and everything seemed to go silent.

The fire subsided and all of Leo's fight and denial went out at once.

Cupid circled Leo like a shark. His form was visible now—long blond hair, muscular in a simple white frock and jeans, snowy white wings that were singed at the tips. The bow and quiver slung over his shoulder were weapons of war—not toys. His eyes were as red as blood, as if every heart in the world was broken and squeezed dry into one poisonous mixture.

Leo vaguely recalled that some think that Eros was a son of Ares and Aphrodite. And he could see why:

Love and War were the most painful things in the world.

He gestured for Leo to continue.

"I have a crush on you, Jason." Leo said.

The fire died down so Leo could see Jason's face.

And he swore he saw pity in his eyes.

The End

[jayden-killer]

DREAMS ARE MY REALITY. (pt.2)

part 1

What would happen if your favourite fictional character appeared in your bed...?

A/N: hellooo! Part 2 is finally here! 🙌 exams finished!! So now, full focus on my tumblr blog, heheh. This time chapter is longer. As always, just the reminder that I'm not a native English speaker, so you might find some errors. If you do, point them out to me! Enjoy the reading.~

Warnings: mention of the traumatic life of Miguel (both comics and movie), kinda derealisation if you hint it?, angst haha :)

Taglist (write me down in the comments if you want to be added!): @strxngegirl @d1lf-loverrr @laysmt @musicalhistorical @souichi-sbitch

☆

«You!»

I pressed the pillow against him, ready for any movement from the muscular man in front of me. His unkempt hair and a remnant of drool at the corner of his mouth confirmed my previous suspicions: he had fallen asleep in my bed. But how could he be divine even in that way? My eyes fell on his clothing: the holographic Spider-man suit was still on the young man. And he noticed my gaze fell there, then brought his attention back to me.

«Why are you pointing a pillow at me? It's not even a weapon».

«Ha, ha» faked a laughter, «That's is...amusing. How did you end up in my house, Miguel O'Hara? Did you fly with your webs through the window? Do you come from the roof of the building?»

And how do you know that my name is Miguel?" The man slowly approached me, losing his self-doubt demeanor that he had until recently, and I threatened him again with the pillow, lifting it up more as a reminder. «Stop there» My finger pointed to a precise point in the room, «First: what are you doing here. Second: how can you be real?»

«Are you answering my question with another question? Seriously?» Miguel's hands found place on his hips, and his eyebrow rose. I felt I was being watched too much by his eyes, which menacingly scanned me from head to toe.

«I'm in charge here, whether you like it or not, I make the rules here. Now, answer»

A snort left Miguel's lips. He rolled over more than once, shaking his head as if he was trying to find the right words. Well, a clear and comprehensive explanation didn't seem bad.

«Alright. I don't know how it happened, apparently my Gizmo started showing signs of instability as I traveled through the multiverse. The destination was marked for Earth-42. At the last minute, this maldito reloje decided to take me up to Earth-199999» Silence fell between us. I pushed the pillow aside, sitting on the edge of my bed to better focus on Miguel's bizarre story. The man seemed to mutter something in Spanish, but it was hard to decipher what he had said. He continued to look at me without looking away. «I was catapulted into this universe. The portal threw me onto the hood of a truck and the driver, seeing me, almost threw the truck into the wall. Luckily I managed to fly out of there with my webs».

«May I know then why did you come to my house?»

«I'm not done yet.»His eyes narrowed. I gulped fearfully. The man took a deep breath and continued to tell his story. «As I was saying, I flew away immediately. I wandered the streets for a while, and I saw how different your universe is from mine. The means of transport, the buildings, the people. I was tired, my strength was out of me. Your building was the closest. And your window was open. Besides, I would never hurt you. I'm a Spider-Man after all.»

«Yes, but you still attacked a fifteen-year-old boy because he didn't listen to you.»

«What?»

«What?» I laughed embarrassed. «Okay, I get it big boy. So you had a good sleep in my house, good, but now you should reall-Hey! What are you doing?»

«How can I be a giant poster hanging on your bedroom wall?» His was more than a legitimate question. I would have felt uncomfortable (and also quite lost) if I suddenly saw a poster with my face on it. I wouldn't have liked it at all. Even though Miguel was handling it well. I noticed how his head didn't move an inch, but he instead showed a surprised look at finding himself in poster form.

«Well, it's a long story...» I began.

«I have all the time in the world».

At that moment I looked at Miguel, then at the poster again and heaved a long sigh.

«What I'm trying to say is...you shouldn't be real». I put much more emphasis on the last word. Oh, God. Things were taking a turn for the worse. How could he believe what I was about to tell him? He had always felt real, but to me, he has always been part of the fictional world. It was just a drawing, yet he was here. How was all this possible? He was way beyond the multiverse.

«Miguel, I know it may seem strange to you, but you're part of a movie, you're a comic book character. You're...».

I couldn't.

I didn't want to make him feel like someone out of this world. I already understood what he had been through before. The loss of his mother, his brother Gabriel, the abuse from his father, and even the loss of his daughter, Gabriella. To tell him that it was just pure fiction, an invention of some brilliant mind would have been... not right. But Miguel wasn't stupid and he immediately grasped what I wanted to tell him. His gloved hand curiously and delicately traced his figure on the piece of paper. He shook his head, almost as if I were telling an unfunny joke. I couldn't blame him. I would have reacted way worse than the man. It was at that moment that I noticed the man in question ran a hand through his brown hair and swallowed hard, his back to me the entire time. In the meantime, worried, I was playing with the edges of my nightgown, with the fear that he might tear me to pieces.

«I feel real». His voice boomed off the walls. And I looked up to notice strange movements. «I am true. Even if all this creates a lot of...confusion for me».

«Miguel, you deserved to know...» I broke into the conversation, trying to find valid explanations. «I had to...»

«No». He held up a hand to stop me. A moment of silence followed. «You did the right thing. Being Spider-man also leads to these consequences... doesn't it?». It didn't seem that the sentence was addressed to me, but more to him.

«Maybe you need to take a shower, yes?». I tried to change the subject, my tone going from concerned to persuasive. «I have some clothes left here by my brother in case of an emergency. Maybe they'll fit a little short on the shoulders, but they'll have to go».

Without saying anything, Miguel nodded, then asked me where the bathroom was, so he could freshen up.

«Take your time, so don't rush-»

Slam!

Shit. What did I do?

[a-complex-joke]

The Farmer, The writer, and the Parrot

Farmer x Elliott (x Leo!platonic)

Stardew MASTERLIST

Farmer is nervous to ask Elliott if he would be up to adopting Leo, or any kids in the future. Farmer is also worried about how Leo might react to the offer.

The farmer had been frantic all morning, they had done all their chores for the day.

Yet they had been avoiding even looking at their partner, Elliott the whole time.

For the past week since Leo had moved to town, The Farmer seemed deep in thought and even a bit skittish. 

Elliott had indeed taken notice of their behavior, noting the fact that they hadn’t even come home that night, opting to stick by the mines.

Was he worried? Sure. but the farmer often lost track of time and would return later than reasonable, while still waking before himself.

Elliot found it admirable, but Ignoring him was a step too far.

“So where are you going?” Elliott said standing between them and the door.

“I was going to the mines, Clint requested way more Iron than I already had” they smiled not meeting the redhead’s eyes.

“Farmer tell me the truth, have I done something to cause you to grow so distant… is there someone else?”

It broke his heart to admit the insecurities he had been feeling, and on the flip side, it saddened The farmer that they had made him feel so.

“No! There is no one else who could ever compare to you” They put a hand to his cheek.

“Then why have you been ignoring me”

The farmer looked to their feet, mumbling something.

“Darling, you know I can’t hear you when you do that” He lifted their chin.

The farmer took a deep breath before letting it out.

“I know he never really discussed the whole if we wanted kids or not and I know it all of a sudden, but seeing Leo living all alone with no one to take care of him, it just feels like a pin is stabbing my heart. So I've been bringing him meals every day, and last night he was already asleep when I got there but I could tell he was having a nightmare so I just stayed there to comfort him. And what I'm trying to say is I want to adopt Leo, but I was scared of how you’d react” 

There was a loud silence in the room as The farmer caught their breath.

“Oh thank Yoba, I thought you were going crazy and acutely doing an order for Clint there for a second, Harvey was on speed dial,” Elliott said releasing a breath himself.

“That’s what you're focusing on, I just spilled that I want us to raise a child together.”

“Hun, I'd love to raise a little army of children if you wanted, honestly the fact that you want to bring Leo into our lives just makes me love you more,” He said embracing his partner.

“But what if that is not what he wants, Linus is perfectly content with being somewhat homeless, and they are close as can be. What if he takes it as an insult” The farmer vented, tears threatening to fall.

“The worst that could happen is that he chooses not to come live with us. Even if we don’t adopt him, he’ll still be in our lives as will we in his. And we’ll care for him no matter what” Elliott said kissing their forehead.

“How did I get so lucky to marry such a caring man”

“It came with the job I guess” He joked.

The two decided to wait till they could commission Robin to build another room, even If Leo rejected the offer they weren’t gonna give up on the prospect of being parents.

To say Robin was ecstatic at the news would have been the biggest understatement since the town ‘learned’ of Mayor Lewis and Manires Affair.

A month had passed before the pair decided they were finally ready to ask Leo. A room decorated with a large window looking out towards the farm, what more could he want?

“Hi Leo, how are you today” Farmer asked sitting down next to him.

“Oh hi, Farmer, I'm good, are you and Mr. Elliott all right, miss Robin said you guys were doing something life-changing, that's why your house was under construction right?”

Oh, Robin and her loud mouth.

“Well, yes we are planning on doing something very different, and it actually why where here. We needed to ask you something really important” Elliot said now getting down to his level.

“Now before we do we want you to know that you can say no, and we won’t hold it against you” 

The child nodded.

“We wanted to know if you’d like to come live with us, we want to adopt you. You’d be our child and we’d be your new parents” The farmer was starting to struggle a bit.

“You’d still have the tree house of course but, maybe this could be more of a clubhouse for Jas, Vincnt, and you.”

Leo stayed silent before speaking in a hushed voice

“What if I lose you like I lost my real parents” tears poked out of his eyes.

“Oh hun come here” The farmer pulled Leo onto their lap, ushering Elliott to come closer.

“We don’t plan on going anywhere, and even if we did that won’t be for a long while”

“Will I still be able to visit with the parrots?” Leo questioned.

“As long as they don’t eat all the crop” Elliott tried lightening the mood.

The three sat cuddled in the tree house till Leo had become tired, falling asleep in the arms of the farmer.

“You know I can carry him” Elliott offered as they walked back home.

“no I've got him, he’s really light, we’ve got to fatten him up,” the farmer said a little concerned.

“I'm sure Gus would love to have a taste tester with an exotic pallet”

“Don’t you think we spend enough money there?” “Crab cakes are good, not my fault

They had finally made it home and placed Leo down in his new bed.

“Good night, my little Parrot,” The farmer said kissing him on the forehead

[meta-squash]

I'm obsessed with the parallels between Small Worlds and Children Of Earth.

For Jack specifically, CoE is the same events as Small Worlds played out on a much larger scale.

Something is happening with a child/children (Jasmine/the world's children). Turns out, it's an alien enemy Jack has seen before (Lahore 1909/Scotland 1965). It is established that the alien enemy is very very powerful and difficult to beat, and that they have made threats to the entire human race if their demands are not met. Both enemies demand children, and promise that the children they want will "live forever." A man is sacrificed as, essentially, a warning or an attempt to keep Torchwood away (Mark/Rupesh). Torchwood attempt to figure out different ways of beating the enemy. In retaliation, the enemy kills Jack's lover (Estelle/Ianto). The alien enemy also kills another person in its way (Roy/Clem) despite attempts to prevent the death. All this forces Jack to realize the extent of the threat and his grief also emotionally backs him into a corner. When he is faced with an ultimatum, he ends up painfully sacrificing a single child (Jasmine/Steven) for the good of the world, despite the pain it causes himself and the child's mother. He leaves feeling helpless, feeling like he had no other choice, with everyone angry at him and angry at himself as well.

I think what gets me the most about the parallels is the death of Jack's lover. It's obvious that Jack did and still does genuinely love Estelle. He says as much to Gwen. And he definitely feels guilt about her death; if he hadn't reunited with her, she would have been safe. I think his guilt and his feelings of responsibility towards both her and Jasmine and, ultimately, the world, are what cause him to sacrifice Jasmine to the faeries so readily instead of trying to negotiate or find another way. He's mourning the loss of Estelle and because of that grief I think he knows that he has to let Jasmine go. If he doesn't, more people will die, whether it's people he loves or strangers.

Similarly, Jack definitely feels guilty for Ianto's death, and I think there's guilt there that if Ianto hadn't come with him to Thames House he'd still be alive. In mourning the loss of Ianto, he's backed into a corner again, and he knows that no one else is going to sacrifice their own children to save the world. He sacrifices Steven despite the fact that it essentially destroys him completely, because he knows that if he doesn't, the whole world is at stake.

Every version of the parallel in Children of Earth is way, way more personal and in close proximity than in Small Worlds. In Small Worlds, everyone is a stranger, except Estelle. But while she was once Jack's lover, that's over 50 years in the past with all that time between them. After he sacrifices Jasmine, he's feels helpless, guilty, but she's a stranger and she wanted to go, in a way. He's blames himself but it's something he can bounce back from; he has distance. In Children of Earth, it is Jack's home and family that are destroyed or threatened, it is his current lover that is killed, and it is his own grandson that he has to sacrifice. All of those losses and sacrifices and guilts and everything totally break him, they're so close and personal and like he says to Gwen before he leaves, he has nothing left.

It establishes a certain kind of reaction in Jack. That when faced with a huge personal loss, if he finds himself trapped or in a difficult situation, he's willing to make a huge and often painful second sacrifice in order to protect the greater good, presumably because he's already in enough pain that this new loss seems like it can't make things that much worse (which ultimately ends up being untrue, but isn't necessarily the point), and because by showing emotional weakness, whatever he's up against can exploit him further by using that.

I wonder if the Torchwood writers noticed the parallels at all. The person who wrote Small Worlds was not involved in CoE at all. But it is interesting to have such similar storylines, yet one is played out on a much grander scale and with Jack made helpless in many different ways throughout the story rather than just at the end by the power of the alien itself.

[zlebooks]

𓂃 xiao + stupid in love .

part two of sorts to this drabble !! this can be read alone, i only wrote this bc some wanted to see y/n and xiao getting together 🫶🫶🫶

xiao knew he was smart.

he maintains his grades in the top percentile of his class. and even though he rarely participates in recitations, he makes up for it with his excellent written outputs.

he's knowledgeable— he can recite the whole process of mitosis and meiosis on the top of his head. his analytic essays on poems and short stories are always returned with a 'great job!' written on red.

xiao knows a lot of things, but this doesn't mean he's aware of everything.

xiao at 13, did not know kazuha beat up some kids on his behalf. the mean kids had been talking bad about xiao behind his back, and the blond happened to be walking by and couldn't resist connecting his fist to their jaws.

the day after those events, when xiao quizzed the other for his bruised eye, kazuha only shrugs as he says he got it from falling down the stairs.

("your house doesn't have stairs."

"i wasn't in my house, silly. i fell down at your house after doing it with your mom."

"get the fuck away.")

xiao at 14 had no clue that zhongli, his upperclassman whom he looks up to the most, sees him as his little brother.

during lunch, zhongli would always drop by at his favorite underclassman's classroom to give him a fruit— it's always high in vitamin c but xiao always receives a different one each day.

the taller noticed how frequent xiao attends their club meetings with either a cold or a cough. being a concerned senior he is, he starts purchasing fruits potent in vitamin c on the way to school to give it to the younger during lunch breaks. 

("your face is so sour that even zhongli decided to give you a lemon." a certain blond friend says.

"it. isn't. sour. at. all." xiao says in between bites as he tries to remain poker faced the entire time.

"you're a monster.")

xiao at 15 had no idea who's been feeding the stray cat other than him. 

contrary to popular opinion, cats aren't afraid of the green-haired boy. he actually seemed to be a magnet for them— threatening his 'i'm intimidating, back off' persona every once in a while as a bunch of cats follow him.

he met a certain black cat on the streets one day, and every other day, he comes to its spot just to feed it.

however, on a particular afternoon, when he arrives at the riverside to give the black cat some food, he notices an opened canned tuna laying around, and a cat heavily invested in gobbling it up.

he shrugs, before laying down water beside it so the black cat can also get its share of drink. 

it doesn't matter who's feeding the friend he had made— as long as the little stray gets fed, he's absolutely fine with it.

(a particular senior who is allergic to beans coos when he learns that xiao has been feeding the cat alongside him.)

xiao at 16, has no clue why he has a bad case of indigestion.

he makes sure he never over eats, or eats too fast. and even with his mother's homemade tonic, his stomach keeps on juggling uncomfortably. 

for a while, he thought that the problem might be from the pork buns he buys on the way to school, but when he notices it only appears whenever you're around, he thinks it's because he doesn't like you.

his alleged dislike turns into something stronger– hate, perhaps. the funny feeling in his stomach seems to never go away, and now he feels hotter than ever, his temperature heating up as his thoughts are always plagued by you. 

this becomes a problem eventually— a huge one that he had to ask around what he can do in order to keep such an ill feeling on the down low. after all, while he might not like you, he still doesn't want to hurt your feelings, oddly enough. the problem starts to become even bigger, especially now that you two are seatmates. ever since the release of the new seat assignments, which inevitably puts you beside him, the symptoms start to worsen for xiao.

("is it necessary to feel this way when you hate someone?"

"what do you mean exactly?" a kind senior asks, his golden eyes shining brightly in contrast with their uniform's black vest.

"i can barely focus when they're around— i'm always at loss for words whenever we talk." xiao replies, muttering low as he puts his head on top of his fist.

zhongli widens his eyes in shock, but then he reverts to his usual self before the younger catches on. "perhaps you need to reevaluate your feelings; there is a possibility that you mistook such feelings for hate."

the younger shakes his head firmly, "that can't be. i'm pretty sure it's hate."

"are you sure of that, xiao? hate is a strong word." he asks in his rich deep voice and xiao affirms. 

zhongli silently hums as he takes a sip from his water bottle. no matter the outcome, this can be a learning experience from his underclassman. xiao is indeed smart— he's sure that the younger would figure it out on his own.)

(when zhongli recounts the events to a close friend of his, he earns a smack on the back of his head.

"why did you leave things at that, idiot!" a thin frail white-haired woman yells, but her appearance is an illusion as the weight of her hand feels like a ton of bricks being slammed against his head.)

xiao at 17, didn't know better than to approach his best friend of four years for advice.

"how do you know if you like someone?" he remembers asking and the relentless teasing that followed.

maybe he should have known better, really. xiao ponders as kazuha lists off the signs of catching feelings for someone. 

"don't forget about the butterflies in the stomach! it's what makes you shy."

xiao tsks, as if— he never gets shy.

although the moment you went close— too close— to him, he feels like he could have erupted like a volcano.

(kazuha hollers, "how'd you turn so red when y/n came up to you?" the blond wipes tears from his eyes. "you literally have it bad for them!"

"if you don't stop, i'm not the only one who's going to be red." xiao threatens, holding the plastic knife a little too tight.)

6 months later, xiao didn't know what to do when you suddenly confessed your feelings to him. 

he feels as if his feet attached itself to the ground; he could barely move, he can't even bring himself to breathe. 

"i like you."

you tell him out of nowhere while the two of you were left behind in the classroom to clean— he was sweeping the floor while you arranged the chairs. from the other side of the room, you suddenly get the urge to confess which left the other gaping. this alone becomes a huge achievement because xiao never gapes.

xiao thinks you should be charged with attempted murder. 

he thinks with the way you took away his breath and almost sent him into a cardiac arrest, you should be sent to jail. but then he disagrees with that thought— because how will he deal with his feelings without you?

for the first time in his entire life, xiao thinks he finally understands what kazuha meant by 'butterflies in the stomach.' because as he stares at your expectant eyes and upturned lips, he thinks he just felt a flap against the walls of his tummy.

and what his friend said to him came into fruition— he realizes what they meant. 

he likes you back.

xiao was never one for theatrics and yet he can't help but drop the broom he's holding dramatically before running over to you. 

coughing awkwardly and taking deep breaths he says, "i do too."

xiao thinks he knows everything now.

("really? 'i do too'? you do know you sounded like you're saying you liked yourself too, right?" a kaedehara descent teases, earning a tug on his hair.

"shut. up.")

♥︎ please do not repost or translate without my permission . reblogs are heavily appreciated!

[zapreportsblog]

I did a happy dance when I was finish reading this. I just imagine Jasper and the reader celebrating Halloween one year dress up as Woody and Jessie from Toy Story.

Twilight

Can you do a Jasper x mom reader - bear shapeshifter?

where the reader's son is Jasper's mate. She is a single mom reader and has no other family except for her son. She and her son are bear shapeshifters. She finds out they are vampires and about the pack. She meets the major, where she basically threatens to kick his butt, if he ever hurts her only child. She is bigger than Sam when he is in wolf form. They do not find out about her or her son - he the only one who can calm her down, being bear shapeshifters until the training to defeat Victoria and her army of newborns, because Paul says something rude to the reader's son. He goes to attack the reader's son, but Mama Bear comes to the rescue. Garrett is her mate.

Wow just wow

❝getting through mama bear❞

✭ pairing : garrett x reader x jasper hale x oc

✭ fandom : twilight x reader

✭ summary : (y/n) is the mate of Garrett and she also happens to be a bear shapeshifter and a single mother, coming to forks she hasn’t expected her son to be the mate of a vampire much less herself to imprint on one too

✭ authors note : you didn’t specify what age the son was so I’ll make it where he’s young like how Bella and Edwards daughter was when Jacob imprinted that way the son and jasper can grow together

✭ twilight masterlist

The rain drizzled lightly as (y/n) drove her car through the winding roads of Forks, her ten-year-old son sitting in the back seat, his gaze fixed out of the window. It was a new chapter in their lives, a fresh start in a place that held the promise of something different.

"Mom, are we almost there?" her son asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

"We're getting close, sweetheart," she replied, offering him a warm smile through the rearview mirror. "Just a little while longer."

As they entered the small town, (y/n) couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. She had chosen Forks as their new home for its quiet charm and serene atmosphere, hoping that it would provide the peaceful environment they both needed.

After finding their way to their new home—a cozy house surrounded by trees—mother and son stepped out of the car. The air was crisp and carried the scent of pine, a refreshing change from the bustling city they had left behind.

"(Son's name), what do you think?" (y/n) asked, watching her son take in their surroundings.

He looked around with wide eyes, a hint of wonder in his gaze. "It's nice, Mom. I like it."

She smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately. "I'm glad to hear that."

Over the next few days, (y/n) and her son settled into their new routine. She found a job in a local bookstore, which allowed her to spend more time with her son while providing for their needs. The townspeople were friendly, and (y/n) couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging as they exchanged greetings.

One afternoon, as they explored the lush forest near their home, (y/n)'s son looked up at her with a grin. "Mom, can we show our true forms to the animals here?"

She chuckled softly. "Of course, sweetheart. But let's be careful and make sure we're in a safe area."

With a nod, they ventured deeper into the woods until they found a secluded clearing. Taking a deep breath, (y/n) closed her eyes and allowed her transformation to take over. In a matter of moments, her body shifted and grew, and she became a majestic bear.

Her son's transformation followed suit, and soon they stood side by side in their bear forms. (Son's name) let out a playful roar, and (y/n) couldn't help but join in, the sound of their roars echoing through the forest.

As they transformed back into their human forms, they shared a joyful laugh, the experience deepening their bond even further.

Later that evening, as they sat on the porch of their new home, (y/n) turned to her son. "How are you adjusting to Forks, sweetheart?"

He leaned against her shoulder, a content smile on his face. "I like it here, Mom. It's peaceful, and I like that we can be ourselves without worrying about hiding who we are."

Touched by his words, (y/n) wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close. "I'm glad we found a place where we can be ourselves, (son's name). And you know, we're a team, no matter what comes our way."

He nodded, his gaze filled with trust and love. "I know, Mom. We'll always be a team."

As the sun set over their new home in Forks, (y/n) felt a sense of gratitude wash over her. She may have been a single mom with only her son by her side, but their love and the bond they shared was more powerful than anything. And in this tranquil town, surrounded by nature and the promise of a fresh start, they were ready to face whatever challenges and adventures awaited them.

One day, as (y/n) went about her routine, she heard whispers and rumors around town about the Cullens—peculiar, pale-skinned individuals who seemed to keep to themselves. Curiosity gnawed at her, and her instincts as a bear shapeshifter urged her to investigate further.

Late one evening, (y/n) decided to venture into the forest to see if she could uncover anything about these mysterious newcomers. The moon cast a soft glow over the trees as she made her way deeper into the woods, her senses heightened.

As she walked, her intuition tingled, and she noticed the distinct scent of another creature. Her heart pounded as she cautiously followed the scent, only to come face-to-face with a massive, wolf-like figure. It was Jacob Black, in his wolf form.

Startled by the sight, (y/n) instinctively shifted into her bear form, towering over the wolf. Jacob's ears perked up, and he turned to face her, surprised to encounter a bear in the woods.

Despite her size, (y/n) didn't show aggression. She took a step back, making sure her body language conveyed that she meant no harm. Jacob, sensing her non-threatening demeanor, hesitated, his stance relaxing slightly.

For a moment, they simply regarded each other, a silent understanding passing between the two shapeshifters. Then, with a low growl that seemed to communicate curiosity rather than hostility, Jacob backed away and disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

Shaken by the encounter, (y/n) returned home in her human form, her mind racing with questions. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than met the eye. That night, she researched the legends and lore surrounding the Quileute tribe and the history of shapeshifters in the area.

As her research deepened, (y/n) stumbled upon references to the Cullens, vampires who lived among the humans while hiding their true nature. The pieces began to fall into place, connecting the dots between the Cullens, the wolf pack, and her own identity as a bear shapeshifter.

Over the next few days, (y/n) pondered her newfound knowledge. She was torn between the urge to approach the Cullens and the wolf pack to learn more and the caution that held her back. She knew that revealing her true nature to them could have consequences, both positive and negative.

The sun cast a warm glow over the forest as (y/n) and her son reveled in the freedom of their bear forms. They playfully tumbled and rolled through the undergrowth, their laughter mixing with the rustling leaves.

As they frolicked, (y/n) suddenly sensed something amiss. Her instincts kicked in, and she felt a ripple of danger in the air. She swiftly turned her head and froze. There, standing not far from her son, was a figure that sent a chill down her spine—Jasper Hale.

Before her son could even react, (y/n) lunged forward, placing herself between him and Jasper. Her growl resonated through the forest, and her fur bristled with an intensity that warned Jasper to stay back.

Jasper's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and concern flickering in his gaze. But then, as if a switch had been flipped, his expression shifted, and his face twisted into a malicious grin. The transformation was instant, and the air around him seemed to vibrate with an ominous energy.

As Jasper's aura shifted, (y/n) felt a surge of power radiate from him. She hadn't expected this, and her instincts told her that she needed to defend her son at all costs. With a roar that echoed through the forest, she lunged at Jasper, her claws extended, ready to strike.

Their clash was fierce, and the ground trembled beneath them as they grappled. (y/n) fought with a ferocity born out of the need to protect her child. She was determined to shield him from any harm, even if it meant facing down an opponent as formidable as Jasper.

Amidst the struggle, a primal rage seemed to emanate from Jasper, and his eyes flickered with a wild intensity. But as (y/n) pressed her advantage, her words cut through his aggression. She spoke with a conviction that brooked no argument, threatening dire consequences if he dared to harm her son.

The message seemed to penetrate Jasper's altered state, and his defenses wavered. He retreated, his stance shifting as he regained control. The forest fell silent as the tension dissipated, and (y/n) stood between her son and Jasper, her breath heaving, ready to spring into action again if needed.

Unbeknownst to (y/n), Jasper had been grappling with his own internal conflict. His connection with her son had stirred something deep within him—a bond he couldn't quite comprehend. As the fog of his altered state lifted, he was left with a sense of confusion and a yearning for more.

Yet, in that moment, as the forest seemed to hold its breath, Jasper's focus remained on (y/n). Their gazes locked, and in the depths of her eyes, he saw the fierce determination of a mother protecting her child. It was a force to be reckoned with, and he realized that his usual methods of manipulation held no sway over her.

As (y/n) stood her ground, unknowingly guarding a bond that transcended her understanding, Jasper's curiosity about her and her son deepened. The encounter had left an indelible mark, one that would shape the course of their lives in ways neither of them could have foreseen.

The days had passed in relative calm since the encounter in the forest. (y/n) and her son went about their lives, embracing the serenity of the woods and the routines they had established. But as the sun dipped below the horizon one evening, the tranquility was shattered by an unexpected visit.

The sound of approaching footsteps caught (y/n)'s attention, and her senses tingled with unease. When Jasper and Alice emerged from the trees, her eyes narrowed, her initial reaction one of anger and mistrust. She stood protectively in front of her son, his presence a reminder of the danger that vampires could pose.

Jasper's eyes met hers, his expression sincere and apologetic. He stepped forward cautiously, holding his hands up in a non-threatening gesture. "Please, “ he began, his voice carrying a note of remorse. "I need to talk to you."

Still wary, (y/n) reluctantly allowed Jasper to approach. Her son stood by her side, his gaze darting between the newcomers and his mother. Jasper took a deep breath, the air around him heavy with tension.

"I want to apologize," Jasper said, his voice quiet but earnest. "For what happened the last time we crossed paths. It was unforgivable, and I'm truly sorry for any fear or harm I caused."

The sincerity in his voice was palpable, and (y/n) found herself listening. She glanced at her son, who offered a subtle nod of agreement. While the memory of the encounter still lingered, she was willing to hear Jasper out.

Alice, who had been watching the exchange, chimed in. "We're here seeking help," she explained, her eyes imploring. "There's a dangerous vampire named Victoria who's building a newborn army. We're trying to stop her before she puts more lives in danger."

As Jasper and Alice detailed the situation, (y/n)'s skepticism began to wane. It seemed that the Cullens were genuinely concerned about the threat Victoria posed and were seeking allies to face her. Her son's gaze held a mixture of curiosity and concern, and (y/n) could sense his apprehension.

"What do you need from me?" (y/n) finally asked, her voice steady despite the wariness she felt.

Jasper exchanged a glance with Alice before responding. "We're gathering as many allies as we can to face Victoria and her army. With your strength and abilities, you could make a difference. We need all the help we can get."

The gravity of the situation was evident in their expressions, and (y/n) nodded in understanding. She glanced down at her son, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision she was about to make. They couldn't ignore the danger that Victoria posed, and if they had the power to help, it was their responsibility to do so.

" I’ll help," (y/n) said firmly, meeting Jasper's gaze head-on. "But know this—my priority is our safety and the safety of the innocent. We won't be used as pawns in a dangerous game."

Jasper's lips quirked into a half-smile, his appreciation evident. "We wouldn't have it any other way."

The clearing in the forest was transformed into a makeshift training ground, where the Cullens, the members of Sam Uley's pack, (y/n) and her son, and even Carlisle's old friend Garrett had gathered to prepare for the impending battle against Victoria and her army of newborns.

Tension hung in the air as everyone focused on their individual tasks, honing their skills and strategies. Carlisle was overseeing the training, offering guidance and advice to the assembled group. The sun cast dappled patterns through the leaves, creating a serene backdrop that contrasted with the gravity of the situation.

Among the participants, (y/n)'s presence was both resolute and commanding. Her son, standing beside her, mirrored her determination. They had trained tirelessly, working together to harness their abilities and contribute to the collective effort.

As the training continued, (y/n) couldn't help but notice the curious glances directed their way, particularly from Paul, a member of the Quileute wolf pack. It didn't take long for his skepticism to manifest in a derogatory comment, belittling the role of (y/n)'s son in the battle.

"What's a child doing here? He'll only hold us back," Paul sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.

The comment landed like a thud in the clearing, drawing a collective hush from those around them. (y/n)'s expression tightened, her protective instincts flaring. She turned to face Paul, her gaze steely.

"Last time I checked, we're all here because we believe in this fight," (y/n) retorted, her voice sharp and unwavering. "And if you doubt my son's abilities, then you clearly haven't seen what he's capable of."

Paul's lips curled into a sneer, his hostility evident. Without warning, he lunged at (y/n)'s son, his intention clear—to test the child's abilities and prove his point. But before he could reach the young shapeshifter, (y/n) moved with the speed and grace of a predator.

In a heartbeat, she intercepted Paul's advance, her movements fluid and precise. Her stance radiated power, and her eyes bore into his with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. He found himself immobilized by her commanding presence, her protective instincts vividly on display.

"You will never lay a hand on my son," (y/n) declared, her voice commanding and unyielding. "We're all in this together, and that includes protecting each other. If you can't respect that, then maybe you're the one who doesn't belong here."

The weight of (y/n)'s words settled over the clearing, casting a palpable tension in the air. Paul's expression shifted from aggression to a begrudging acknowledgment. He stepped back, his defiance faltering in the face of her unwavering determination.

“Now that’s impressive,” Garrett comments. “You got the mutt to silence itself.”

(Y/n) head snaps in his direction and that’s when she felt it, her world shifting with a clench of her jaws and fist she shook her head to get rid of any unwanted thoughts before moving back to her sons side.

God how could she imprint on a vampire?!

As the moments passed, the tension gradually eased, replaced by the collective understanding that they were all bound by a common purpose. (y/n)'s resolute stance sent a clear message—unity was essential for their survival, and each member of the alliance had a role to play.

The training resumed, the forest echoing with the sounds of clashing forces and the collective determination to overcome the impending threat. And in the midst of it all, (y/n) and her son stood strong, united by a fierce determination to protect each other and ensure that their world remained free from the shadows that sought to engulf it.

[grey-sides]

can we have some billy jealous of eddie and steve, rather than angry jealous, billy is just sad </3 p.s. im in love with your writing!!

Greetings, anon! I'm so glad you love my writing, that's very sweet of you! Here is your request, vague spoilers for S4 in character names and such. I hope you enjoy!

Billy is aware of Munson in the off-hand way he’s aware of most of the people he goes to high school with. He knows the guy is a super-senior and that he hangs out with a bunch of nerds. Some of whom also hang out with Harrington, which seriously cramps Billy’s style. But his biggest problem with the guy is that he gets along with Steve. Too well. 

Billy’s not worried that Munson is going to replace him. (Okay, he’s a little worried about that). But Munson and Steve just seem to get each other sometimes. Which is strange because sometimes it sounds like they’re having a conversation in two different languages. By the end, they’re both usually grinning though so Billy figures it makes sense to them. 

The other thing is, the thing that makes Billy feel like a real piece of shit is that Munson has threatened Steve too. But Steve doesn’t flinch when Eddie touches him, not like he would the first couple of weeks after their fight. The one where Billy tried to kill him. 

Billy hadn’t been there for the actual threat, which is good because he might have actually killed Munson. But from what Henderson has said, it wasn’t sunshine and rainbows or Eddie immediately trusting Steve. And Billy knows they have mutual trauma or something, but Billy has mutual trauma with Steve too. For one, Steve saved him from the Upside Down. And two, well, they have sex sometimes. So that has to count for something. 

After Billy’s mom left him with Neil and Neil got remarried, Billy started to feel like a puzzle piece. He was part of the family, but also not, like he didn’t quite fit. He knows that’s where some of his anger has stemmed from, feeling like his father was trying to replace him before he was even out of the house. And now, he feels like Steve is doing it too.

Eddie already comes pre approved by Steve’s group of kids because he plays their role playing game with them. Billy is approved by Max and Steve, tentatively by Dustin, sometimes by Lucas, and never by Mike. He’s not certain where the junior Byers stands, but his ticket to the group is tenuous at best. Which usually doesn’t bother him, but it does when he feels like he’s being forced out. 

Now, Billy doesn’t know what the nature of Steve’s relationship with Eddie actually is. He doesn’t know if Eddie likes guys like that at all or if Steve has even told him that he’s bi, but Billy’s trust doesn’t come easily. He just sees Eddie and Steve with their jokes and their easy camaraderie and Billy knows it’s never been that easy for him and Steve. 

Steve tends to host get-togethers for their group the most. His house has the space and lacks the parental figures who will ask complicated questions. And after Billy came back, he was adamant of never stepping foot in the Wheelers’ house again. So it’s Steve’s these days. Which is cool by Billy, that means he can usually crash after instead of having to head back to the trailer with Max. 

But today, Eddie’s already there, drinking a beer with Steve, laughing about something. Billy’s heart falls through his stomach, straight down to his feet. It’s official, Munson is replacing Billy as Steve’s second best friend because Billy’s adult enough to admit that Robin is his first best friend. And he feels childish and stupid for how his heart breaks about it. 

Max pushes past him to get the best seat at their dungeon table or whatever and Billy clears his throat to announce his presence. 

Steve turns and gives him a megawatt smile, lifting his beer in greeting. “Billy! Hey man, grab a beer and come join us!”

Eddie sticks his tongue out playfully and lifts a baggie of weed. 

Billy swallows back the hurt and heads for the fridge. It’s fine. Munson probably doesn’t want to fuck Steve so Billy can settle for getting to see him naked. He pulls out a beer, cracking the top and taking a long sip. It settles warm in his gut as he joins Eddie and Steve in the living room. 

“Okay, so once I finish with the kids, I have an ounce for us to split, no need to throw in. Oh and while I’m gone, I brought that Scorpions album Steve wanted to check out,” Munson explains, giving Billy a smile. 

Billy settles on the other side of Steve so he’s in the middle. He nods a little, sipping his beer. “Didn’t know you were into Scorpions, Harrington.”

Steve grins ruefully and shrugs. “Well, when two of my friends can’t shut up about them, I gotta do something, huh?”

Eddie drains his beer and crushes the can as he gets up. “I’ve taught you well,” he teases with a dramatic bow. “I’ll see you losers later, don’t have too much fun without me!”

Eddie bounds down to the basement where the kids play and Steve shakes his head with a grin. “He’s crazy, but like fun crazy, you know?”

Billy nods, drinking his beer faster than he should. It’s the fancy shit, with a high alcohol content because Steve is still bougie. He goes to get a second, spending another moment wallowing in his self loathing. The kids call Billy crazy, but never fun crazy. 

When he returns, Steve has the Scorpions album playing from his sound system. He’s bobbing his head along to the beat and he grins up at Billy. “You seem to be in a bad mood, what’s up, man?”

Billy just shrugs, drinking his beer. There’s nothing to say, he just has to get over it and take what he can get. “Just a long day, man.”

Steve scoots a little closer and nudges Billy with his foot. “You’re drinking that beer like it was. C’mon, tell me about it.”

Billy shakes his head, looking down at the label. It’s already started peeling on one corner, he picks at it a little more. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Steve sips his beer and lets a few songs play. He can be good like that, giving space where it’s needed, distraction when it’s needed. It’s probably part of the reason Billy just can’t let him go. 

But Billy gets two beers deep and his tolerance is not what it once was, so he rolls his head along the back of the couch to look at Steve. “S’just fucked up, pretty boy.”

Steve furrows his brow and looks up at Billy. “What’s fucked up?”

“Just- Munson and you, you know? I thought we were friends but now you’re hanging out with him all the time and it just…it sucks,” Billy mutters, lifting his beer for the last swallow. 

Steve frowns a little and looks down, blinking hard. “We are friends, Billy. Eddie and I have just had a lot to talk about.”

Billy sits up more, his sadness mixing with anger and turning into messy irritation. “And I couldn’t know what you’re talking about? I can’t be part of it?”

“What? No it’s not that! It’s- nevermind, sorry for making you feel left out, blondie.” Steve grins, trying to get Billy to perk up with the nickname. 

Billy just rolls his eyes and shoves to his feet. “You know, maybe I should just walk home, I know when I’m not wanted.”

Steve makes a grab for him, shaking his head hurriedly. “No, Billy, sit down, I’ll tell you what we’ve been talking about.”

Billy stops for a moment, but he’s not strong enough to resist Steve. Not really. He nods and sits back down, looking at Steve expectantly. Get it out in the open, open the wound so it can heal. 

Steve takes a deep breath and holds out his hands. “Okay, look, I know you say I’m terrible at giving girl advice, but Eddie came to me first. Because he likes Chrissy and since she broke up with Jason, he’s thought about asking her out. So I said I could help him out with some ideas and we got to talking.”

“And I couldn’t be part of that because…?”

Steve flushes a little and looks skyward at the crown molding of his ceiling. “Well because in the process of talking about who he likes, we kind of got into who I like. And Eddie’sbeencoachingmeonmetalmusic.”

“What?” Billy asks because Steve mumbles a lot. 

Steve blows out a long breath. “Eddie has been teaching me about metal music or rock or anything like that so I can appreciate your music taste more.”

Billy furrows his brow, looking over at Steve. “Why?”

“Because! Because I wanted to make sure that I could share some of your interests.”

Billy shakes his head slowly. “I don’t understand.”

“Eddie likes Chrissy and I like…” Steve gestures to Billy. 

It takes a moment for his inebriated brain to catch up. “Me?”

“Bingo!” Steve points a finger at him and laughs nervously. “God, it seems so stupid now.”

Billy feels foolish and a little self-centered at that, but he does his best to let go of the sadness and feelings of betrayal. Because Steve is a dork who had to go to someone else to learn about the music Billy likes. So he could be prepared the next time Billy makes him a mixtape. 

“It’s not stupid,” Billy tells him, when enough time has passed for Steve to start squirming. “I feel stupid for getting jealous of Munson. Dude doesn’t even have a conditioner routine.”

“I know! I told him that’s step one of asking Chrissy out, but he doesn’t believe me.”

“That’s why you needed to involve me,” Billy drawls, spreading his arms confidently. 

Steve laughs a little and scoots closer. “Yeah, yeah, I know you’re the authority on picking up chicks.”

Billy grins at him, licking his lower lip. “And dudes apparently since you’re smitten with me.”

“And dudes,” Steve agrees, leaning in to kiss Billy. 

When Eddie makes his way back to the living room later, Steve is still pressing lazy kisses to Billy’s skin and Billy has his shirt unbuttoned. Eddie grins and holds up the weed. 

“Celebratory smokes on me!” He cries and mimes playing guitar. 

Steve sits up and mimes playing the drums and Billy just rolls his eyes. Dorks.