#writing wayne going through this is just awful to me

[klausinamarink]

One Kid Gone, Another Up and Vanished (part 5)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 next: Part 6

a bit of a weirdly chill chapter this time. might take a break after this part but my brain is always on you know like a liar creative mode so who the hell knows xD

“Have you seen my nephew?”

“Has my nephew stopped by here recently?”

“Did he mention anything worrying?”

“If you see him, call me by this number, would ya?”

Wayne’s never been much of a theatre boy unlike Eddie, but he supposes he knows how the extra actors feel when they have to repeat their few lines over and over for their plays.

Eddie’s not anywhere in town. Nobody has seen him last night or this morning. Some of the people he’s asked look at him strangely and say why should he even be worried.

A part of Wayne wants to grab them by the collar and shake them and furiously spit on their faces while he cries out, “Shouldn’t you be worried if your own child disappears and might be hurt!”

He doesn’t do that.

He keeps his head down as he says his lines and leaves.

He checks at Hawkins General Hospital, something he’s been putting off since he drove off and left the police chief at the dirt. He reckons that if Eddie’s hurt, he could’ve at least have the sense to run in here.

But the nurse at the front desk shakes her head with a frown and says nobody with Eddie’s description came in.

He says his lines and leaves.

He starts checking the spots Jeff had listed for him.

The first is some old picnic table close behind the high school. When Wayne gets there, there’s a few students loitering. They see him and quickly scramble off. He calls out for them but they don’t look back. He eyes at the table, absent of any sign of Eddie, and leaves.

He goes to the rest on the list.

Some spot in the forest called Skull Rock. The abandoned Creel house. A gas station out of town.

Eddie’s not at either of them.

The Hideout is the last one he visits.

Wayne prays to heaven above this is where his boy’s at. But he doesn’t see him. The bartenders only confirm that while Eddie has make visits before (“not a bad band, by the way. Vocals need a little work though.”), he’d only came for an hour on Halloween night last week.

He gives the bartenders his lines and leaves.

At this point, Wayne’s considering looking far out of town. Bloomington’s close.

But it’s already nearing four in the afternoon, his gas needs a refill, and he feels so tired. It is God’s miracle that his body hasn’t collapsed yet, even in the drive back to Hawkins. He feels a bit grateful that today is his day off, but he has to call the plant later for a few more days off.

The sun starts to set as Wayne pulls over to the house. His mind is starting to get fuzzy from exhaustion and hunger so he walks inside automatically.

He even hollers out, “I’m home!” A vain attempt to hear Eddie’s response.

Only silence greets him.

Wayne sighs, worrying a thumb over his front temple as he readies the pullout couch. Then he stops himself. Looks down the hall to where Eddie’s bedroom door remains close.

He walks down and carefully opens the door. When he peeks through, he sees the hundreds of memories of catching Eddie doing whatever boys like to do on their own: Eddie writing in his notebook, Eddie playing the guitars, Eddie reading a stolen dirty magazine, Eddie dancing to that loud headthrashing music, Eddie staring up at the ceiling depressed, Eddie smoking, Eddie crying from a bad day.

This time Eddie’s not here.

Wayne shuffles to the bed - mindful of the messy clothes thrown about, Eddie we talked about this - and gently lays himself on top of the unkept blankets. His feet barely hang over the edge as he stretches. There’s a faint smell of sweet cigarette smoke as he breathes in.

When Wayne finally falls asleep, the memories surround him comfortably and he feels the phantom weight of Eddie hugging him tightly.

He prays that his nephew will still be hugging him, living and breathing and safe.

—

As they walk to Mirkwood, Eddie thinks it’s safe to say he and Will are little more prepared.

They’ve stopped at one of the houses on the way to stock on bottled water (thankfully drinkable, man they were parched) and weapons. Well, their ‘weapons’ were really just some knives. But Will had skillfully crafted a couple into spears by tying the handles with twine on the ends of broomsticks.

At least Eddie could sweep the demogorgon off its feet should it come back.

(Will groans first at the joke before laughing. Then he laughs even louder when Eddie cries in mock betrayal over the loss of his jester skills.)

He also snags a backpack from some guy’s bedroom so Will won’t break his back carrying the cans. They’d both nearly gagged when some rotten-smelling goop and wrinkled algebra textbooks were shaken out.

Will also brings up a couple startling facts about this hellish environment.

“I think the vines are a hive mind.”

Eddie had nearly dropped the water he’s holding to clean his cut. It’s not bleeding badly anymore, but he doesn’t want it get infected. “I’m sorry, what?”

“A hive mind. Like the vines are alive and they’re some messengers to the monster.” Will waves his hands around a bit as he speaks, though he keeps lowering them to his lap. “Remember when the demogorgon was outside your place and it only came in right after you stepped on a vine? It’s probably how it knows where we are.”

Eddie slowly moves his feet away from one particular thick vine. He breathes out a whoosh. “No stepping on vines. Easy enough.”

“I think these are spores too.”

“What?”

Will blows away a few speckles of ash from his face. “I thought this was snow, but… I’m more convinced it’s spores.” He stops to cough and fuck, that throws Eddie’s anxiety up into goddamn Mars because none of this was even fucking ash.

There’s no kind of gear around in this house or the one next door to keep them from inhaling more of this stuff. So Eddie grabs the cleanest shirts he could find, rips them into bandana-style masks, and fits them over his and Will’s face.

Eddie hopes to god that they don’t already have lung cancer and can at least live for another few decades.

It’s also on the way to Mirkwood that they really get to know each other.

Eddie learns that Will loves his mother and older brother from the moon to back. That he’s been drawing since he was practically born and wants to be an artist. That he has a secret hideout called Castle Byers. That he has a trio of best friends that he bikes to school and play DnD with and who are definitely also looking for him.

Eddie doesn’t give his whole life story (like he really wants to trauma dump on the kid, no thank you), but he does share a few things about himself. Will’s eyes are bright when he talks about playing guitar and a new hobby of sewing band patches on his denim jacket. He also speaks fondly of Uncle Wayne. (“I wish I had a cool uncle with Garfield mugs.” Will says with a wistful sigh) Though the ache in his ribs nearly shutter his voice away when he recalls the truck engine driving away.

“Ya know that if you ever go missing, I’ll search even the lands of Hell for you.”

He said that yesterday, didn’t he? Then why hasn’t Eddie heard from him? Why isn’t Wayne been trying like Will’s mother apparently been doing?

He stamps down the nasty feelings down he hasn’t felt since he was eleven and instead talks about summer visits to his extended family in Alabama.

“Wait, so you’re from the countryside? Like a farm boy and stuff?” Will asks with a tilt of his head.

Eddie cackles and ruffles Will’s hair. “A farm boy? Well, maybe for the help, but it’s a job I will never do even when I’m retired. Haystacks and cow smell are too much for me.” He points a mock accusing finger at Will. “Also wipe out any classist stereotypes from your precious brain. I don’t want to hear any questions about lack of running water or food or schools because we do have them. That’s right-wing businessmen propaganda for ya.”

Will nods seriously. Though he keeps whispering “Alabama” under his breath like it’s a magic word. Eddie lets that one slide. Alabama is a nice name to say a lot.

They finally reach to what Eddie assumes is the Byers residence. It looks worn down with the darkness and vines. He grabs the handle of Will’s backpack to keep him from running into sudden doom.

“Environment check, Little Byers.” Eddie says in his DM voice.

Will huffs but he stops moving and glances around. After a moment, he announces, “No demogorgon in sight!” Then quietly, “So far.”

Eddie lets go of him and moves in front, broomstick spear brandished. He walks carefully over the vines, not willing to make the same mistake in his house.

Oddly, the front door to the Byers’ is already open. It makes Eddie’s guts turn with unease. He slowly steps inside, nearly dying of a heart attack when he hears something from the kitchen. Then relaxes when he realizes that it’s actually some normal people chattering.

“Mike’s been taking this hard. I know it’s ridiculous to say that, Joyce, but he really cares about his friends. And Will going missing is making him act out a bit. But he’s been looking too.”

“Oh, that’s.. uh, sweet of him..”

Will brushes past Eddie as he goes inside. The kid stands in the living room, staring at the kitchen where the voices are coming from. Then he runs down the hall, looks up, and starts jumping up with a hand outstretched.

“Uh, what are you doing?” Eddie calls out. His eyes automatically lower to the ground where Will’s jumping on. The floor is surprisingly spacious from vines, but he doesn’t want any risks or a heart attack.

“Trying.” Will pants out with every jump. “To get. Lights.”

Eddie looks around, both inside and outside before carefully walking over to Will. He watches for a minute, glancing dubiously at the very dead lightbulb in the ceiling. Then he scoops up Will in his arms. Damn, twelve year olds are heavy.

“Okay, that’s enough hopping, Little Byers.” He’s about to move away - to where in the house he doesn’t really know - when a small orange flash makes him pause. It’s a literal ‘blink and you miss it’ but he swears he sees it.

He looks at Will, who’s staring intently at the ceiling light. His fingers brush against it. Then it happens again. The orange glow, this time blinking long enough to be noticed.

A small gasp falls out of Eddie’s lips. Will excitedly taps at his shoulder and points to a door at the end of the hall. He obliges.

It’s a bedroom, clearly for Will’s mom. Eddie’s not sure what to look for, but Will points again. This time, at a spot at the foot of the bed. “Right there. See?”

Eddie doesn’t see but slowly makes his way anyway.

Will scrambles out of his arms and holds out his hands, eyes furrowed in concentration. Then, faintly like a spell, small dots of glowing orange appear. One by one like a fairy doing tiptoes.

Eddie’s certain that his jaw falls to the floor. He’s so entranced that he doesn’t even startle when the voices suddenly move behind him.

“Holly! I’m sorry, she always wanders off-”

“No, no, it’s okay. But.. did she- did you see something?”

The glowing disappears. One is still present, beaming from Will as he smiles under his mask, “Told you the lights work.”

It doesn’t take too long for Eddie to find his voice again, “Ho-ly. Fuck.”

— —

Taglist: @unclewaynemunson @steves-strapcollection @hellion-child @sidekick-hero @mmmmwaffles94 @demolitionjetstar @hbyrde36 @princessstevemunson @sirsnacksalot @tartarusknight @lyriclight @kodaik97 @plsdontdrinkmylavalamp @wuttttttttttt @bookbinderbitch @gutterflower77 @tentativeghost @soaringornithopter @angeldreamsoffanfic @panicatthediaz @renaissan-vvitch @manda-panda-monium

[munson-blurbs]

The Boy is Mine (Bug's Version)

Part of @carolmunson's writing challenge! Thank you for spreading some love and joy in this community, and I hope this fic makes you smile.

Summary: A cozy night in with your sweet boyfriend who is a nuisance in the best way.

Warnings: allusions to smut, allusion to spitting, lewd jokes, basically just fluffy fluffness

WC: 1k

--

Poke.

Poke poke.

Poke poke poke.

Poke poke poke poke poke poke poke poke poke–

“If you don’t stop,” you hiss without looking up from your chemistry notes, “we’re gonna have a problem.” 

Eddie pulls his forefinger back from where it’s pressed against your earlobe, his shit-eating grin morphing into a pitiful pout.

“But it’s date night,” he whines, resting his chin on your shoulder. “You promised me we could curl up and watch Monty Python after an hour, and it’s been…” he glances at the digital watch wrapped around his wrist, “...one hour and three minutes.”

“I’m still trying memorize–”

He snaps the small notebook shut and pulls you closer to him, effectively cutting you off. “And you will–after the movie.” Leaning back against the couch, he lines up his finger to once again prod at you. “C’mon, Sweetheart; we never get the place to ourselves on Friday nights.”

He’s right; his uncle has off on Friday nights and usually prefers to spend his free time relaxing at home, but he’s on a fishing trip this weekend with some of his old army buddies. 

“Okay, okay.” Truthfully, you are in dire need of a break; the formulas and lists of molecular compounds have all become meaningless squiggles right before your eyes. Your back hurts from being hunched over the snack table you’re using in lieu of a desk. Whatever ‘studying’ you do now will likely be unproductive, so you might as well snuggle up next to your boyfriend and enjoy a movie. “But only if I can study after. Some of us would prefer not to spend an entire decade in high school.”

Eddie throws his head back and laughs. You’re the only person who’s allowed to crack jokes about him being held back–twice–and you milk it for all it’s worth. “Aw, don’t be like that. That’s not even true. It’s only been six years. And I’m gonna graduate this time. So, ha.” He sticks out his tongue, making you giggle in turn. “But, fine. You can go back to your smart person mumbo-jumbo once we finish the movie and have sex.”

The last item on his agenda snags your attention as you swing your legs onto the cushion, its stuffing poking out from beneath its worn fabric. “Excuse me?” You cock a brow in disbelief.

“As compensation for the three minutes you spent neglecting me,” he explains with a shrug. “‘S only fair.”

“Sure. You usually only need three minutes anyway.” You lift your foot to dig it into his side, but he grabs it before you can tickle him, playfully bringing it towards his open mouth as though threatening to bite it. 

To be honest, you wouldn’t put it past him.

“Best three minutes of your goddamn life.” His smirk makes a triumphant reappearance as he stands up and pads over to the kitchen. The refrigerator light illuminates him in a bright glow, a juxtaposing halo on the man wearing a shirt with a cartoon devil plastered on the front. “Wayne took all of the beer with him, but we have Mountain Dew, some orange juice that I think is still good…oh, here it is!” He rummages through the top shelf and pulls out the last can of Diet Coke, the one he’d shoved towards the back so no one drank it before you could.

You shoot him a grateful smile that he returns easily. He plucks two mugs off of the wall, both of them gag gifts he’d given to his uncle, pouring Mountain Dew in one with Ask Me About My Nuts spelled out in bolts and screws and your soda in one with a three-dimensional pair of breasts jutting out from the body.

“I ran out of, like, nice cups,” he says sheepishly, likely referring to any container that didn’t allude to body parts. “Is this okay?”

“Perfect.” 

Eddie sets the drinks down on the snack table, careful not to spill on your notebook. “Okay, pretty girl. C’mere.” He places a throw pillow on his lap and pats it, signaling that it’s time for you to assume the prime cuddling position. 

As soon as you rest your head, his hand finds its home on your upper arm. His thumb, calloused but gentle, makes gentle strokes that have both of your hearts beating slowly and in sync.

“Babe?”

“Hmm?”

You roll over so you can see the stubble that’s starting to prickle along his cheeks, jawline, and under his chin. “You forgot about the movie. And the snacks.”

He groans, using his free palm to rub his nose in frustration. It’s one of the cutest habits he has, and part of you always wonders if he does it just to make you smile. 

“‘M too comfy to move,” he grumbles, peering down at you with a guilty expression. 

“Me, too,” you agree. “But…snacks.”

Eddie chuckles, stretching to grab something from his side of the sofa. “We’ve got this,” he says as he procures a half-eaten can of vanilla frosting. “I swear I just opened it last night. And we can just talk until we fall asleep, like we did when we first started dating.”

The memory floods your body with warmth. Even before the two of you became a couple, when you and Eddie were only friends, you would often stay up on the phone until your consciousness gave way. No conversation topic was off-limits; on one night when he’d been more than a bit tipsy, he’d divulged some of his more…private preferences. 

“So she spit in your mouth?”

“Mhm.”

“And you like that?” 

“Abso-fuckin-lutely, Sweetheart.”

Neither of you know where tonight will take you. Maybe you’ll become a familiar tangle of limbs, trading sloppy kisses and murmured sweet nothings. Maybe the sugar from the frosting will rejuvenate one of you enough to actually put the VHS in the player. Maybe you’ll just soak in each other’s softness, letting comfort envelop you until your eyelids become too heavy to keep up.

Wherever you go, you and Eddie will get there together.

--

[sanguineterrain]

Hey I saw you're still taking requests... what about a batman x reader where the justice league meets his wife (the reader) by accident? And maybe they're shocked because he's so secretive and she's really sweet and just the total opposite of him. Feel free to ignore if this doesn't sound interesting to you. I love your writing 💗

Hey! I love this prompt, thanks for sending it in :) I made the reader gender neutral, I hope that's okay!

Bruce Wayne x spouse!gn!reader. No warnings, just Bruce being a little shit (and a sweet hubby).

****

You press your palm to the reader at the entrance of the Cave and jog down the stairs, talking all the way.

"Honey, Alfred and I are going to..."

Six superhero faces stare back at you. Bruce is in the cowl, expression hard to parse. Your brows rise.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't know B had company. I'll leave you to it," you say, beginning to back up the stairs.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," says Green Lantern. You can't tell through the mask lenses, but you think he might be zeroed in on the ring on your left hand. "Uh, Spooky? Something you wanna tell us?"

You freeze on the steps. Bruce looks at you, then crosses the Cave in a few long strides. He stops next to you.

Sorry, you mouth at him. He shakes his head and reaches out to squeeze your hand.

"Hold the fucking phone," Green Arrow begins. "You're his—"

"Partner," Wonder Woman says instantly. She sounds pensive. "I have never seen you look at anyone like that, Bruce."

Bruce doesn't say anything, not that you expect him to. You feel him tense.

He'd been content to keep his family as private as possible, and you hadn't minded being kept separate. You know it's out of extreme protectiveness and the fact that you're the only one of the Wayne family who doesn't put a suit on and fight crime.

There's a moment of silence as the League studies you, then Bruce. You smile slowly and wave.

"Hi, Justice League. Nice to meet you all."

"Hello," says the Martian Manhunter, who's probably known about you since you entered Wayne Manor.

"You got married without telling us?" Superman sounds hurt.

Bruce heaves a sigh.

"We got married during the League's infancy. Please spare me the theatrics. Of course I didn't tell you."

"We revealed our identities two years ago!" Superman argues. "You didn't want to mention you have a spouse?"

Superman nods at you then. "Uh, of course, it's still very nice to meet you."

You smile. "It's nice to meet you too, Superman."

"Clark," he corrects hastily. Then he turns to Bruce again, upset flaring. "Bruce—"

"You're upset over nothing," Bruce says. "We weren't close when I got married, and I never found it a pertinent detail."

You roll your eyes.

"B," you say, nudging his shoulder. "C'mon. Try to be a little gentler about this, hm?"

Bruce looks at you. You smile at him and squeeze his wrist encouragingly. He eventually turns back to the League.

"Very well, you're right. Clark, that was harsh of me. My apologies."

The League startles.

"Whoa. Rewind. Hold up. Did Spooky just apologize?" Green Lantern asks. "Did I just get zeta'd?"

Bruce sighs. You stifle a laugh and kiss his bicep. His hand slips to your back.

"Aw, you guys are cute," Flash says jovially. "Congrats, B! Even if it's been almost six years."

Bruce nods. "Thank you, Allen."

"It is incredible how the better half can transform the other," says Wonder Woman, and you preen a little at the compliment.

Clark looks flabbergasted. It takes him a second to speak again.

"Um. That's... okay, Bruce. I forgive you. I suppose you did it out of protection, right?"

"I'm just a boring ol' civilian," you say, nodding. "No powers or years of Krav Maga training here. B worries."

"You're not boring," Bruce says fiercely, quiet enough for only you to hear... and Clark, who has superhearing, and who softens at the statement.

"This is so weird," Green Lantern says, and Bruce glares at him.

"I mean, it's sweet!" he hastily adds. "Uh, you guys are very sweet together, like Bar said. I just feel like I've been mind controlled or something."

"If it was mind control, you wouldn't still be talking," Bruce says flatly.

"Okay, alright, point taken. Shutting up. It's very nice to meet you, though," Green Lantern says to you.

"You as well," you say warmly. "All of you. I want to thank you for looking out for him all these years and bringing him home safe."

Wonder Woman smiles at you. "It is a great honor to fight alongside him. And we are happy he has someone to come home to."

"Seconded," Clark says. "You deserve someone special, B. And I can tell they're just that."

Your face feels warm under all the praise. Bruce is quiet for a long moment. When he speaks again, there's a slight tremor in his voice.

"Thank you. I—they are the best thing to ever happen to me."

You have to kiss Bruce for that, cowl be damned. He meets you gently, and you keep it short but full of love. Flash aww's.

"Well," you say, laughing bashfully. "I suppose I'll let you all get back to work. Nice to meet you. Goodbye. Bruce, I'm going out with Alfred."

Bruce nods. "Call me when you get home."

"'Course, sweetheart. I always do."

You head up the stairs. Flash starts to speak.

"Y'know, I told you all when I got married," he says. "You guys were the first people I told! We didn't even know Clark's identity then. I think you could've loosened the reins, Bruce."

"Yeah, no. You telling a bunch of superhero co-workers is infinitely stranger than Bruce never telling us, Bar."

[luveline]

For Eddie and Roan, can you write a ficlet where Roan wakes up sick and goes to Eddie's bed to wake him up and tell him she doesn't feel good and he's worried and takes her temperature and sees that she's fever, so he stays at home taking care of her?

eddie and roan ♡

Roan's head feels heavy as a bowling ball. She focuses very hard on not falling over, and so she doesn't realise you're awake and sitting up until she's climbing onto the bottom of your bed. 

“Hey, princess,” you whisper, holding your finger to your lips, “daddy's still sleeping.” 

She loves you, but she ignores you. She loves you, capital L, but she needs her dad. You don't try to stop her, the book on your thighs closing as you let your hiked knees fall. “Ro?” you ask. 

“Dad,” she whines, “I need you to be awake.” 

Eddie puts his hand up to her face. Roan groans and tips her head back as he feels along her head to the soft crop of hair at the base of her neck. “Why?” he asks hoarsely, pulling her in blindly.  

Parcelled against his chest, Roan can hardly breathe. “Daddy,” she says urgently. 

He lifts his head on the pillow, eyes peeled back painstakingly slowly. “What's the matter, Ro?” 

She knew he'd know there was something wrong. Her dad knows everything even when he says he doesn't, and her eyes fizzle with tears in the gentle embrace of his arm. He rubs her back accordingly. “What's wrong, baby?” he asks, adopting his softest of tones. 

Roan hides her face in his chest shyly. “I feel bad…” 

Eddie feels suddenly and extremely worried at the sight of her. He panics hard, heart in his mouth sort of panic, but then you touch his elbow and he remembers he's not doing it alone anymore. 

“What kind of sick?” he asks. 

Roan curls into her pill bug shape on top of him and cries about her head feeling weird and her tummy aching. He puts his hand on her stomach and finds it bloated despite it being rather small otherwise. He has no idea what it means, but he assures her it'll be okay the way he always does, murmurs said between teeny kisses pressed to her temple and his fingers raking down through her hair one rumpled curl at a time. 

Your second alarm rings. 

You get dressed quickly and Eddie doesn't move. He knows he can't go to work, not when she's like this. He can't imagine sending her to school, and can't imagine leaving her home this sort of sick without him. He remembers all those years ago feeling sick as a dog wishing Wayne could stay home just to keep him company, and he remembers being smaller, his mom on the couch, his sweaty head in her lap.  

You hop into one of your socks, smiling at him over her head. He smiles back. What can you do? it says. 

Perfume sprayed, hair done, you stand in the doorway brushing your teeth. “I can go get you some stuff before I go to work if I rush. Sorry, I wasn't thinking. She likes the cream of mushroom soup, right? Or is it cream of chicken?” 

“Both. Mushroom’s her favourite. And white rice. And cranberry juice.” 

“I know she wants cranberry juice,” you say around a mouthful of froth, waving your hand, “don't insult me, Eds.” 

He feels her forehead. She'd felt warm enough to guess she was sick, but her forehead is ember hot. “Aw, god,” he says, sitting up despite his twinging back, Roan held tight to his chest. “Can you get me a hand towel? Soak it in some cold water?” 

“Sure thing,” you say, rushing off. 

“This isn't cool, Ro, you weren't gonna tell me you're a human furnace? Thought we told each other everything?” he asks, brushing her hair back from her face. 

“I'm hot,” she says. 

He taps the tip of her nose. Her eyes focus on his finger, so he figures she'll be okay for now. “I know. I can feel it.” He'll hold a cold hand towel to her head for a bit to give her the chance to calm down, and if she doesn't cool he'll give her a lukewarm bath. There will be things to do, taking her temperature, calling the school, calling the doctor, rubbing her small back, but he's done it before. He can handle it without you. 

“I'm just a phone call away, okay?” you say, passing him the wrung towel carefully. “If you need anything, just call me.” You kiss his cheek, then Roan's. “Promise?” 

“I'll call you,” he says honestly. “But we'll be okay, won't we, babe?” 

Roan mumbles something unintelligible. Eddie's pretty sure she's saying we'll be fine. 

[ladykailitha]

Grief (A Friend Indeed) Part 1

Hello! Sorry it's been nothing but one-shots lately, but as I said in this post here I haven't abandoned anything, my life has just got a little crazy lately.

This was conceived because my sister's former mother-in-law passed away due to massive heart failure a week ago and I chose to write this story as a way with dealing it. I didn't know her well, but I did know her and that's enough I think to feel some grief at her passing. She was a year younger than my dad.

Summary: Eddie and Wayne have to go back to Kentucky when Eddie's grandmother (and Wayne and Al's mother) passes. Steve comes along when Eddie suggests that he would feel better if he came. Along the way they learn about each other's pasts and find out that they are each other's future.

***

Eddie walked into the Family Video and had to stop and gaze fondly at the sight before him. Steve was draped over the counter reading a magazine and steadfastly ignoring the bell above the door that announced his arrival.

He got up to the desk and greeted affectionately, “Hey, Stevie.”

Steve bolted straight up and ran his fingers through his hair. “Oh hi, Eds. I didn’t realize that it was you.”

Eddie smiled for the first time in days.

Steve grinned back. “You know, a boy could start to think you were avoiding him. You know, since I haven’t seen you around in days.”

Eddie winced, shoving his hands into his jean pockets. “Sorry, man. I had family stuff.”

Steve’s teasing grin slid off his face. “Shit. I’m sorry. That was a dick move.”

Eddie waved his hands. “No, no. There was no way for you to know. In fact, that’s why I’m here. To make sure you don’t think that I’m avoiding you. Because I wouldn’t. You see Wayne and I have to go back to Ashland for a funeral.”

Steve’s already contrite expression softened further. “Oh, Eds. That’s awful. Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

Eddie’s eyes welled up and before the first tear could fall, Steve was over that counter and wrapping him up in his arms.

“I’ve got you, Eds,” Steve murmured. “I’m here now.”

Eddie sobbed and sobbed as Steve just gently rubbed his back until he calmed down enough to talk.

“It’s Uncle Wayne’s mom, my grandma,” he explained, clutching Steve’s shirt like a life line. “She was just the sweetest old lady and now she’s gone. I’m going to miss her.”

“Oh, Eds,” Steve murmured. “I’m sorry. That must just be awful for you. If there is anything I can do, just let me know.”

Eddie chuckled into Steve’s work vest. “Too bad you can’t come with. I think I’d feel braver about seeing all Dad’s family again if you were there.”

Steve grabbed his biceps and pushed him back gently. “Done.”

Eddie stuttered and sputtered. “Stevie, no...”

Steve picked up the phone on the counter and dialed a number. “Stevie yes.”

And Eddie watched in awe horror as Steve’s eyes suddenly welled up with tears and he rubbed his nose.

“Keith?” Steve said, his voice rough as if he had been doing the crying. “Yeah, I just got a call from my mom. My grandmother has died and I have to go to Kentucky for the funeral.”

Eddie’s jaw dropped. He didn’t even know that Steve knew where Ashland was.

“Yeah, my mom is from Lexington,” Steve said with a wink at him. “A real southern belle. I’ve seen pictures of her debutante ball and everything.”

Eddie snorted, because of course she was.

“I would need at least a week,” Steve was saying. “With the reading of the will and all.”

Eddie scoffed. If there was a will, he very much doubted there would be anything as formal as a reading of the damn thing.

“Oh thank you so much,” Steve sniffled. “I’ll even call Robin and let her know about her needing to pick up a few shifts.”

And like that Steve had gotten the week off.

“And the award for best crocodile tears to get out of working goes to Steve Harrington!” Eddie said, waving his hands back and forth. “Holy shit, man, how did you do that?”

Steve snorted. “As any good actor will tell you in order to cry on command, you just need to think about something that makes you cry.”

Eddie frowned. “What did you think of?”

Steve just shrugged. “What time are you guys leaving?”

“Tomorrow, early,” he said. “But serious, dude, even after that stellar performance, you don’t really have to come. Take the week off. Enjoy life for a change.”

Steve shook his head. “I would just be at home worried about you. Don’t make me stay. Please. Not when you said you would feel better with me there.”

Eddie’s shoulders slumped as he gave in. “Of course I want you there, but I would be selfish to take you away from your family for so long. Robin, Dustin...the rest of the them all need you too.”

Steve sighed heavily. “You’re part of that family, Eds. And I’m not dumb enough to think that they aren’t going to make a run for it the second they’re able to. As they should. I have to live my own life and not be afraid to go places.”

Eddie threw his arms in the air. “I hate when you make sense.”

Steve grinned. “Now the only remaining question is which vehicle we’re taking, Wayne’s truck, your van, or my car?”

Eddie laughed. “God, Stevie. I am so glad you’re coming with me. I needed that. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Steve’s grin turned soft and fond. “Let’s hope you never have to find you.”

“Damn straight.”

*

“I can’t believe you’re leaving me,” Robin groused when Steve called her after Eddie left.

“What was I supposed to do when he asked?” Steve questioned, twirling the phone cord around his fingers. He leaned against the counter, keeping an eye on the door.

The last thing he needed was Keith finding out he fucked around after giving him the week off.

Robin scoffed. “Not go?” she questioned. “He obviously wasn’t serious about you coming with.”

"You know I would do the same for you," he said with a sigh. "For any of you. Plus his life has already been turned upside down enough, don't you think?"

Robin sighed. "I'm not really mad," she said. "It's just that this will be the longest we've been apart since the Russians under the mall."

Steve pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just think of it as a trial run for when you go to college."

"Yeah okay," she said resigned. "Just call me before you leave and again when you get there, okay?"

"Aye, aye, captain!" Steve said with a grin.

Robin giggled. "Shut up!" She paused for a moment. "I'll miss your stupid face, dingus."

“I’ll miss yours, too,” Steve said with a sigh. “I’ll call as often as I can okay?”

“You better.”

They talked a little bit longer until a customer came in and he had to hang up.

*

When he got home he started calling all the kids and packing for a week long trip. He wasn’t sure what he should bring in terms of clothes and ended up calling Eddie.

Eddie who laughed when he asked. “Just bring what you would normally wear this time of year.”

Steve chewed on his lip. “So I won’t get mercilessly teased about my preppy clothes?”

“Oh no, you will,” Eddie confirmed. “It’s just you don’t have to change yourself to fit in with a bunch of assholes who would make fun of you. Okay?”

Steve let out a slow breath and his anxiety went with it. He could handle that. Those assholes had never met a bitch like Steve Harrington before.

“Yeah, okay,” he said after a moment. “You and Wayne decide which vehicle we’re taking?”

“Yeah, he suggested we take his truck and your car,” Eddie said. “He knows he’s going to be taking a lot back and thinks your car will make it better than my van.”

“Sounds good,” Steve murmured, a little disappointed. “So who will you be riding with for the trip down?”

He could almost feel the grin from here. “With you, of course, darlin’.”

Steve laughed. “Yeah okay. What time do you need me at your house?”

There was a beat and then two before Eddie said, “I was thinking that you should spend the night so we could leave first thing in the morning.”

Steve’s heart sped up as his breath caught in his chest. “Yeah. Sure. That’s a good idea. I’ll show up at eight tonight, give myself a little bit more time to pack.”

“Sounds good,” Eddie replied. “Wayne suggested it because it’s a six hour drive and we want to leave as early as we can so it’s not too late when we get there.”

Steve felt a jumble of emotions at that statement. It was a relief that it was a practical reason, but at the same time it was a disappointment that it wasn’t Eddie’s idea.

He took a deep breath. “I hear that. I remember the trips to Lexington when I was kid before we started flying. They were a bitch.”

“It really surprises me that you have family in Kentucky. I don’t know why, a lot of people in Indiana do, it’s just...”

“Harringtons are so entrenched in Hawkins it’s weird to think we have connections outside of it?” Steve supplied.

Eddie laughed. “Yeah, that.”

“My parents met in college and I didn’t move to Hawkins until I was eight,” Steve said.

“Wait,” Eddie said. “No way. You aren’t a Hawkins native?”

Steve chuckled. “Nope. I’m more like you and Dustin then the Wheelers and the Byers. And the Sinclairs.”

“Huh,” Eddie said after a moment. “You certainly have hidden depths, my friend.”

“You have no idea,” Steve teased.

“Then I’ll just have to use this trip to dive deeper,” Eddie teased back.

“I have to pack, you dork,” Steve said fondly. “I’ll be over at eight.”

“See you then, Stevie.”

***

Part 2|Part 3|Part 4|Part 5|Part 6|Part 7|Part 8|Part 9|Part 10|Part 11|Part 12

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[eddiemunsons-missingnipple]

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆 (𝑫𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂'𝒔 𝑬𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏)

I wanted to do this cute little writing challenge @carolmunson created. You can find the rules here

CW: Eddie munson x reader, fluff. New relationship. Mention of weed at least once. suggestive theme toward the end, but it's nothing bad, really. A little moment of self depreciation.

WC:1.9k

prompt rules: the scene: a romantic night in at the trailer.

props included/mentioned (in passing or can hold bigger meaning): a throw pillow, vanilla frosting, a small notebook. dialogue included (can be manipulated slightly if needed, can be placed in any order): "i ran out of like, nice cups, is this okay?" ; "aw, don't be like that. that's not even true." ; "and you like that?" ; "if you don't stop, we're gonna have a problem."

A/n: Not proofread, so please ignore any mistakes. My first time doing a writing challenge, and this one was too adorable to pass up.

5:00 pm

Eddie was busy rushing around the trailer, making sure it was clean and perfect before you came over. You and him haven't been dating for too long now. He still wanted to make a good impression on you. His original plan was to take you out on a nice romantic date, but as his luck would have it, he just couldn't afford to right now.

So he opted to suggest for you to come by and have a nice romantic date at his place instead. Which you were all for. Eddie zoomed around the place with a tiny notebook in his hand. He had literally everything planned out for how the night is supposed to go.

He even cooked and baked for you. He doesn't even do that for himself. He was dead serious about you. No more chickening out just because he's scared of the possibility of getting hurt.

You met at the Hideout in town when you first moved to Hawkins. He helped get you a job there by sweet talking the owner. Since then, he's been following you around like a lost puppy

Eddie finished having the entire living room set up for you two. Throw pillows everywhere along with extra blankets. Little tea light candles on saucer plates are scattered about. He kicked his uncle wayne out hours ago to set everything up for your date. He wanted the mood and setting to be just how envisioned it.

He would religiously check his watch over and over again. You weren't late by any means. Eddie was just getting impatient. He wanted you here so bad. He needed you to see what all he's done.

5:30 pm rolls around.

Soft knocks on his door alerted that you were finally here.

You were standing on his porch, waiting for him to answer. You still held the little note he left you after work in your hand.

Hey, babe, I hope you're still ready for our date tonight. I know I am. You don't need to bring anything but yourself. I have everything we need. Miss you already.

- Eddie ᡣ𐭩

You reread it as you waited for him to open up for you. You didn't want to just barge in even though he's told you many times you absolutely could.

You knock again.

"Comin" His muffled voice yelled from inside. You could hear his feet pounding on the floor as he swung open the door.

"Hey!" You greeted with a big smile. "Can I come in?"

He opened the door fully ,ushering you inside with a slight bow. "Shit, yeah, come in. come in."

You walked in and stood by the front door, looking around, you noticed how he decorated and cleaned up for you. You smiled to yourself thinking about all the trouble he's gone through tonight just for you.

"You can have a seat or keep me company in the kitchen." He stood next to you but kept some distance.

"I'd love to. Ya need me to help with anything?" You walked slowly behind him to stand behind the counter.

Eddie definitely didn't want you to help. The only thing he needed you to do was simply be here. That's it. That's all he needed. Your presence and showing up were enough for him.

"Nope." He shook his head, continuing to spread vanilla frosting on the cupcakes he made.

You could tell he was nervous. He shouldn't be. While you haven't been dating for long, you figured you two were past being nervous around each other. Eddie did warn you that he wasn't always the best at relationships. He tried to be. He truly did. His fears of heartbreak and rejection are what held him back from opening up to someone. He wanted to change all of that with you. You still gave him a chance despite all of that.

There was silence for a couple of minutes as you stand next time. "Sooo, whatcha cookin? smells good."

"Spaghetti and for dessert homemade cupcakes straight from Betty crocker herself." Eddie glanced your way to see if he got a smile from you. Even better, he got a laugh out of you.

"Do you mind if I have one now?" You batted your lashes at him. You loved innocently flirting with him. He would get all flustered, and his cheeks would get red.

He looked between you and the cupcakes that he attempted at frosting. "Sure." He couldn't say no.

He was sucker for you already. You had him wrapped around your finger, and you didn't even know it.

You picked up a tiny cupcake that was covered in ninety percent icing. You took a big bite, getting the vanilla frosting all over your lips and nose. Eddie watched in amusement with a small blush on his cheeks.

"Hang on, let me do something." He leans forward, giving the tip of your nose a quick kiss. "You had some frosting from the cupcake-"

Your face got hot as you realized he was kissing away the frosting.

"I have icing on my lips, too." You teased. You wanted to poke the bear and see how far you could go. Eddie took the hint and knew you were messing with him.

He rolled his eyes. "Fine." He puckered up his lips to give you a sweet kiss. "The frosting tastes way better this way."

You can tell he's loosening up the longer you're alone with him. At first, he seemed on edge. As if he was still trying his hardest to impress you. Or to do his best and not scare you off. He didn't have to worry about a thing. You were just as serious about him as he was about you.

You noticed a small black notebook on the counter next to splatters of spaghetti sauce. You sneakily make your way over to it and have peak while he's busy. His eyes were trained on making little smiley faces on the cupcakes. Flipping through the pages, you saw how he wrote down tonight's schedule for your date. He had everything planned out down to if he'd ask you to spend the night or let you leave.

Turning the next page, you found little love notes scribbled through made out to you. You glance his way, and he's still busy huming to himself while adding sprinkled to the cupcakes. You closed it and sneakily put it back. The tiny notebook seemed very personal from the quick glimpse you got from it. Either way, your heart was melting at the thought of Eddie wanting this night to be perfect.

"I figured we could chill out in the living room while we eat. Watch some movies, too."Eddie spoke up.

"Sounds perfect to me." You stepped out of the kitchen to lounge back on his couch.

Eddie followed behind you with two big bowls of spaghetti he made. "I'll get the drinks for us. Anything special? Water? Soda?"

You grabbed your bowl from his hands. "Got any Doctor Pepper?"

"I suuuuure do." He winked.

He rushed back in with a beer in one hand and a plastic cup full of ice with your drink in the other. "I ran out of like, nice cups, Is this okay?"

"Yes, Eddie I wasn't expecting to drink, Dr. Pepper from a champagne glass." You carefully took your drink.

"Listen -" He paused, sitting next to you. "I just want you to know you mean a lot to me. And if i could provide it, all of your drinks would be poured in some fancy ass cup." He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. He felt awkward after saying that, but it was all true.

Eddie really wasn't a pro at this sort of thing. he hoped by now you knew how special already are to him. Even with his shitty analogies. He hoped you got the message.

"That was...one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me." You took a big sip, Dr Pepper smiling in your cup.

"You're such a smartass."

Now, it was his turn to laugh. He got up and went over to the tv, picking up the three movies he "rented."

"Went to family video got a couple of things to watch - and a special one for later." He wiggled his eyebrows. The "special one" was literally Star Wars. He's been dying to watch it with you ever since you told you never seen it.

You rolled your eyes. "That guy Steve give you a deal?"

"Sure did. All I had to do was give an ounce for free." Eddie held up three VHS tapes in one hand, showing his victory.

"Okay, then what movie are we watching first?" You nodded, taking the throw pillow next to you in your lap.

"What about critters?" He suggested.

You shook your head and grimaced. "Eww !no, that movie is stupid it's just a bunch of hairballs attacking people."

Eddie snorts, popping the movie into the vcr anyway." Now you know how my uncle wayne feels cleaning out our shower drain."

You fake gagged. The last thing you want to imagine is globs of Eddie's hair being pulled from a shower drain as you eat.

"So, ummm, I was thinking," it was your turn to get a nervous now. "Are you free tomorrow?"

He frowned. "No. I wish. I have my D&D club to...morrow." He started to hesitate through speaking.

"D&d club?" You repeated. "Dungeons and Dragons? That kind of D&d?"

"Yep." He spoke a little too loud and a little too fast.

The intro to the movie is already playing, but neither one of you are interested.

"And you like that sort of stuff?" You quickly realized how that probably came off wrong, and it's not how you intended. "I mean, you just never mentioned it before."

Truth is, he doesn't know why he never mentioned it. Maybe it's because he was always told it was just a fantasy game. That he was too old to be playing it. Eddie didn't care what anyone thought of him except for you. Which deep down is probably why he didn't tell you.

"Yeah, sweetheart, you're dating a bit of a loser." He sighed. Any minute now, he was expecting you to make fun of him. Or call him a loser, too.

That never came.

He shouldn't assume you would see him like that. Primarily over something harmless as playing Dungeon and Dragons.

Make no mistake Eddie didn't view himself as a loser either. He got too accustomed to hearing people calling him that based on the way he dressed and his hobbies. He didn't see himself that way, but others did.

Your face softens "aw don't be like that. That's not even true!"

You looked at him for a moment. Taking in his side profile. You could tell he was slowly slipping into a funk, and you didn't want that.

You by no means have ever thought Eddie was a loser. He was a sweet, gentle, and very caring guy. A little hyper at times. But you loved that about him too.

"I'd like to watch you play sometime. If you wouldn't mind."

Eddies eyes light up. "I could always teach you how to play instead."

"I'd love that. Why didn't you tell me any of this?" You turned your body so you're now facing him. You were still hugging that throw pillow so tight.

"Well, I was trying to play hard to get. if I told you I was a dungeon master for my club-" His tone dripped with sarcasm as he continued on.

He was trying to lighten up the mood a bit more. "You wouldn't be able to keep your hands off me. bad enough, you couldn't seem to resist my gorgeous hair."

Eddie waved a hand through his hair, letting it fly over his shoulder. He was cut short when you decided to take that throw pillow from your lap and thwap the back of his head with it.

"Ow!" He laughed, looking at you in shock.

"Your hair is hard to resist," your tone matching his sarcasm, "and miss." You mumbled under your breath.

"Oh please, I'm irresistible." He chuckled.

You went to go strike him again with the pillow, but this time, he caught it.

"If you don't stop, we're gonna have a problem." Eddie playfully warned, snatching the throw pillow from your hands.

"Oooh, and what exactly are you gonna do about it?" You taunted.

"I dunno maybe kiss you again. Maybe I'll touch you a little bit, see if I can get you to squirm." He smirked and bit his lip, waiting for your reaction.

That shy nervous wreck of a man that greeted you at the front door was long now.

Your eyes widened as you huffed. "Shut up, Eddie."

"Thought so, now watch the movie our date isn't over yet."

[oiveyzmir]

Living with Eddie is… well, it’s an experience.

It’s not a bad thing, not in the slightest. There’s nothing Steve loves more than the fact he gets to fall asleep next to the love of his life, wake up to his soft little snores, and go about their lives together. There’s a soft kind of domesticity to it Steve wouldn’t give for the world.

He loves their routine so much he’s even willing to move past the little things Eddie does that make him lose his mind, like the way he never washes the sink properly after doing the dishes or how he constantly leaves the cabinet doors open. He can even move past how Eddie will come home from a late night shift at the bar when it’s raining and forget to take his shoes off, leaving a muddy trail of footsteps anywhere he goes. Hell, Steve’s even willing to excuse Eddie’s phases.

Wayne had warned him about those when they first moved in together three years ago. “It’s just that he gets easily excited about things,” he reasoned then. “Which doesn’t make it any less annoying.”

Steve didn’t get what it meant then.

He surely gets what it means now.

He found something- a bout of inspiration- and hyperfixated on it until moving on to the next. There was this one time Eddie got really into gardening and bought 11 different herb seedlings, only for them to wilt and die three weeks later when he got into water coloring, then moved on to filmography, then to operas.

He had that month once where he’d developed a sudden interest in learning to play the violin (It’s for a song, Stevie, did you ever listen to Skyclad?), so he stayed up until 5 AM to play something that resembled music (but was closer to being nothing but) with the instrument he burrowed from Robin’s then girlfriend. That month was so close to being a breaking point for Steve, but he loves Eddie too much to do anything about it. He honestly believes that if he managed to live through Eddie’s Violin Month he can live through anything.

He lived through Eddie’s sewing phase, his novel-writing phase and his (honest-to-god awful) baking phase, and survived to tell the tale.

Nothing had prepared him for Eddie’s current phase, though.

It seemed harmless at first. It was even kind of adorable, really; the way Eddie’s eyes glinted with excitement when he sat Steve down to watch him do a cute little card trick, the way he laughed triumphantly when it was, in fact, Steve’s card.

It got less cute when Eddie got himself cuffed to their bedpost for hours in the most unsexy way Steve could imagine, refused Steve’s offer to let him out and making him feed him since his hands were, well, preoccupied.

It also wasn’t cute when Eddie stabbed himself with a pencil in attempt to make it disappear.

But it’s plain rude now, when Steve’s trying to get a little nap after a terrible day at the school where he’s started teaching. Eddie knows he’s sleeping, Steve made sure to call him on his way home and let him know he had a bad day and that he’ll be spending as much of it as he can sleeping it off. He trusted Eddie enough to keep it down that he didn’t bother to close their bedroom door properly, and he had also kinda hoped Eddie would see it as the invitation it was for him to cuddle up to Steve and make his awful day just a bit better.

Yet here Eddie is, an hour or so after he got back home, seemingly running into every single piece of furniture they own.

“Shit, shit, shit,” he mumbles, and Steve has to give him credit for at least trying to be quiet. “Come back here.”

Steve sleepily opens one eye at that. There shouldn’t be anyone out there but Eddie, right? He listens intently to hear someone else speaking, but he can’t hear anything but the quiet thump of someone hitting their kitchen table and Eddie’s frustrated grunting.

“Please, babydoll. Come back to me.”

And now Steve’s interest is really piqued.

Steve opens his other eye and sits up. He debates heading out there and seeing whatever happens out there himself, but decides to let it all play out just a little bit longer. It’s not like he believes Eddie is capable of cheating on him; he knows Eddie loves him too much to make him go through something like that, and he also isn’t dumb enough to do so when he knows Steve is sleeping in the other room.

He listens as Eddie makes some quiet tsk noises with the tip of his tongue. “C’mon, princess,” he whispers, not loud enough to wake Steve up, but definitely loud enough that Steve hears now that he’s really listening. “No, no, don’t go there, Steve’s sleeping, fuck.”

Steve lies back down quickly when he hears the door creak a bit wider to pretend being asleep, covering himself up to his eyes with their blanket. He can hear something’s small feet tapping on their bedroom tiles before hearing Eddie’s steps, and is he tiptoeing?

Even when he’s almost panicked about whatever it is Eddie had brought home, Steve can’t help but have a fond smile spread across his face. There is love in this, so immense and great, and Steve can be nothing but grateful and madly in love as well.

The tiny feet keep running around and Steve can vaguely imagine what it is- a kitten, or maybe a puppy, but relatively tiny ones at that. The tapping sound comes to a short stop then starts off again.

Eddie sighs, relieved, and it sounds like he crouches down. “Come on, come on,” he whispers. “There you go, good girl.”

The sound of tapping feet stops and Eddie gives the thing a kiss. “Don’t ever make me go through this again, babylove.” He mutters accusingly. “How can I trust you in battle if you pull this kind of shit on me?”

Eddie turns to go. Steve can imagine the kitten cuddling itself in Eddie’s arms. Knowing Eddie, the kitten’s probably black, maybe missing an eye or an ear, whichever makes it harder to adopt for regular people. Eddie’s not a regular person, though. The mental image he created is so endearing to him that he can’t help but loudly yawn. “Baby?” He says, trying to make his voice sound as sleepy as he can, even though he’s been wide awake for a while now. Eddie stops and turns around.

The room is dark, but even in the darkness Steve can see that whatever it is Eddie’s holding is both white and obviously not a cat.

“Hey, Stevie, did I wake you up?” He whispers, his tone apologetic, like a kid found out with his hand in the near-empty cookie jar.

“What’s that?” Steve asks back instead of answering.

Steve turns his bedside light on, and after the initial shock of light momentarily blinding him he can clearly see it; a white bunny being cradled in Eddie’s arms.

“She’s my assistant,” Eddie explains, as if it explains anything, “her name is Jessica. Get it? Jessica Rabbit?”

“Your assistant.”

“Yeah,” he says sheepishly.

“For the…”

“Magic tricks?”

“Oh.”

“I’ll take care of her, though,” Eddie sits down on the edge of the bed, Jessica sitting in his lap, “take her out on walks and feed her and everything. You wouldn’t even notice she’s here.”

Steve sits up and motions for Eddie to hand him the bunny, which he dutifully does. Her fur is so soft, probably the softest thing Steve had ever felt. “That’s not how you take care of a bunny,” Steve says as he rubs his hands gently through her fur, “she isn’t a dog.”

“How do you take care of a bunny then? ‘Cause I bought, like, a bunch of carrots.”

Steve laughs. “Oh god, I love you.”

“That means we’re keeping her, right?” Eddie takes his shoes off- Steve pointedly does not think about how their living room might look like- and cuddles up in bed next to Steve. He looks up at him so hopefully Steve is flooded with warmth and love, so flooded he can’t even remember what annoyed him so much at work today.

Steve kisses his forehead, then his nose, then softly his lips. “Sure. One condition, though.”

“What is it?”

“Can you teach me the pulling her out of a hat trick?”

Eddie grins wide. “Of-fucking-course.”

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

come back to bed with bruce wayne!!

Kiss Prompts!

"Where do you think you're going?"

You smile at the gravelly murmur, as his arms hook around your middle and tug you back. You wobble a little, planting your hands on bed to steady yourself. You glance down at your fallen shoes before you turn to look at Bruce, brows raising as a small smile curls your lips.

"Some of us have to work for a living, Mr. Wayne."

"Sounds awful."

"Mm, it is."

"Call out sick."

"Oh, please," You scooch back toward the edge of the bed, leaning over to slip your feet into your shoes. You glance down, squirming and scoffing, "Bruce," As he curls close to you, untucking your shirt and pressing a kiss to your side. You smile, glancing down at him and smoothing your fingers through his hair.

"You ought to go back to sleep," You warn, "All of your gallivanting is going to catch up with you if you don't."

"I don't gallivant," He mumbles.

"You sure as shit do something that keeps you out all night. I choose to believe that you're gallivanting. It helps me sleep while you're out and about."

Bruce doesn't answer for a moment. He just watches you tuck your shirt back in before you lean over again, fastening the buckles on the thin ankle straps. Before you can get up, Bruce takes hold of your hand. You watch as he presses a kiss to the back of your hand. You shouldn't let it happen, but he draws you down to curl against him.

"Bruce," You mumble almost prudishly, "I'm going to get wrinkled again."

Bruce just grunts, curling his arm around your waist and drawing you closer. You cuddle into his side as he peppers your jaw with kisses.

"You can be a little late," He murmurs, "Come back to bed."

You smile. "They're gonna fire me if I let you make me late again."

"Let 'em. I'll take care of you."

"I'm gonna need that in writing, Mr. Wayne."

"I'll get legal on it. Alfred can notarize it."

"Alfred's a notary?"

"Comes in handy more often than you think."

[jadeylovesmarvelxo]

💖 Crazy for you 💖

After an embarrassing almost kiss under the mistletoe with your boss Eddie you're determined to move on.

You're the nanny to his adorable son and have been crazy about Eddie for months but now you know you needed to move on after the events at his Christmas party.

Except it isn't so easy and Eddies feelings aren't so platonic.

Authors note: This idea has been in my head for days and I just had to write it 💖

Older Eddie Munson x Reader. Reader is in her late 20's. Eddie is 41.

Warnings: Angst, Dad Eddie Munson, fluff. Jealous Eddie.

Don't copy, reuse or repost my work.

💖

Being in love with your boss wasn't exactly the best idea you had ever had.

It's just Eddie Munson was the most amazing man you had ever met and you had fallen for him over the last year you had been working with him.

Cole's mother wasn't in the picture. She and Eddie were a fling that resulted in a pregnancy.

She had left Cole with Eddie and Uncle Wayne when he was born, she wanted nothing to do with Eddie or the baby and so she left.

How anyone could leave these sweet boys you would never know.

When you were first landed the job as Cole's nanny Eddie was a little stand offish, it took him a little while to open up but once he did it was amazing. You got to know him really well and began to fall for him.

He was without a doubt the sexiest man you had ever met and you struggled to hide your feelings a lot of the time.

Coupled by the fact that Cole was the sweetest little boy and Uncle Wayne was an abosloute angel, you settled into the job quickly and being with Eddie and Cole felt like it was always meant to happen.

Tonight there was a party at Eddie's for Christmas and you were enjoying a few drinks, it wasn't often that you drank alcohol but you wanted to enjoy the night.

The only trouble was that the alcohol made you braver than normal. That wouldn't normally be a problem but tonight it was.

When you were left alone with Eddie, belly filling with butterflies as he stood close to you the feelings had for him began to get harder and harder to ignore.

Mistletoe hung from the ceiling and Eddie's eyes twinkled as he looked up at it.

"Ahh shit, it got us princess" he teases and you smile as he kisses your cheek.

It was stupid but you leaned up to kiss him and you knew it was a mistake as soon as his eyes widened and he moved away.

Mortified you stammer out and apology and his eyes pain.

"Shit, we can't. We can't do this" you nod and move away from him kicking yourself internally for thinking that he wanted to kiss you.

"I'm sorry Eddie. I should go" you suddenly feel very very sober and grab your jacket. Eddie gently tugs your arm.

"You don't have to leave. It's fine sweetheart, we can just forget it. It's okay" you shake your head.

"I really should go" you don't want to see the pity in his eyes. Know he doesn't feel that way about you.

Fuck you should have known.

❤️

Sleep comes slowly that night once you're home, everytime you wake up you remember trying to kiss Eddie and anxiety fills you.

You couldn't believe how badly you had messed up. Embarrassment floods through you, practically burning the memories from last night into your brain.

Fuck, why did you try to kiss him? he was so sweet how he let you down so gently and you're kicking yourself that you thought he felt the same, that you almost jeapordized the job you loved.

Nancy brings you aspirin and you down it quickly. She rubs your shoulder and you feel sick to your stomach as you tell her what happened.

"I haven't got drunk like that in ages but I thought I'd let loose for one night and have a few drinks and then Eddie was being all sweet and I fucked up, I tried to kiss him and I'm so stupid"

Nancy hugs you as tears run down your cheeks. The rejection feels awful too and every part of you aches.

"He let me down really gently but I'm just so mortified" Nancy soothes you.

"Well maybe it's a good thing you know how he feels. Now you can move on. Jonathan says Nick keeps asking about you, why don't you give him a chance you might really like him?"

Maybe that was exactly what you needed, you find yourself nodding and cuddle back into bed.

At least you could use your day off to get rid of this hangover and give some distance between you and Eddie. Hopefully when you went back to work you could forget this ever happened.

❤️

True to Nancy's word she did tell Jonathan to talk to Nick and that's how three days after the party you had a date.

It couldn't have come at a better time because while Eddie hadn't mentioned the kiss but there was a tension in the air between you. It made you feel even worse, you had totally screwed up.

Nick was cute and it was part of your plan to get over Eddie. It was time you stopped daydreaming about him liking you, he didn't and you had to accept that.

He went on dates with beautiful women and he had never once looked at you in any way other than a friend and his employee, you needed to stop deluding yourself.

Since you were finishing your shift before your date it was a little tight for time, however you squeezed in time to change into one of your best dresses and apply a little bit of make up.

Eddie was singing with Cole and it warmed your heart, the urge to just go and spend time with them and forget your date was overwhelming but you know you needed to do this.

With a spritz of perfume you walk out to where Eddie is and he blinks looking stunned, his response makes your heart quicken.

"You going out with friends tonight?" he asks as you grab your jacket.

"Oh um no, I have a date" you don't expect a reaction or anything so it's a suprise when he stiffens as Cole toddles up to you and beams.

"A date?" you nod.

"Yeah. It's been a while. I'm so nervous" you admit and he softens.

"Don't be... You look beautiful sweetheart" he murmurs.

The doorbell rings and you hurry to answer it feeling flustered at Eddie's eyes burning into you as you answered it.

Nick was standing outside and whistles when he sees you.

"Wow, you look good babe" his smile disappears as you feel Eddie right behind you. Chancing a glance at him you notice the way his big brown eyes are flashing and his jaw is tense as he looks Nick up and down.

"You're the date?" Eddie demands and Nick chuckles.

"Quick as a cat huh dude?" he smirks and Eddie's eyes narrow. It was a stupid comment and you're disappointed. It would be nice if Nick could make a good impression with Eddie.

"How did you meet?" Eddie's tone is low and there's a hint of something in it, venom like and you're confused at why he's pissed.

He could just feel protective you reason as Nick launches into the story of how you met through Jonathan and Nick had wanted to date you for ages.

Eddie is still tense as you grab your coat and he takes you to the side as Nick waits for you.

"The bedroom is set up for you for later. I do appreciate you coming back tonight. You know how Cole loves when you stay over. I'm really grateful sweetheart"

Nick sighs loudly and looks at his watch and you cringe as Eddie's eyes narrow.

"Call me if you need to leave early, if he's an asshole, anything happens you call me okay?" you nod and your heart melts when Cole toddles over to you and hugs your legs.

"Bye bye" he murmurs sadly and his puppy brown eyes and little pout nearly make you cancel the date all together.

"Hey sweetie. I'll see you first thing in the morning. We can watch your favourite cartons yeah?" Cole brightens and smiles happily until Nick walks over to you and him.

"Hey little guy" Cole narrows his eyes and turns away from Nick.

"Poo poo head" he points at Nick and you gape and nearly burst out laughing but control your face expression.

"Cole that's not nice" Eddie tells Cole who still doesn't look impressed. Sensing it's time to go you hug Cole one more time and head out with Nick.

Hopefully the actual date went better...

❤️

Yeah, the date was a disaster.

Nick had left you at the resteraunt and had stormed out in a huff when he kissed you. You had tried to like it, you really did but you felt nothing and when Nick tried to go further than a kiss.

His words of anger ring in your ears and the last few days catch up with you and you feel tears roll down your cheeks.

Why did you have to fall for someone so unattainable? Dejected you call a cab to take you back to Eddies.

It suprises you when you head inside that Eddie is waiting up for you. He's sitting on the couch, dressed in slacks and a tight white t shirt, his hair in a bun. He looks so effortlessly gorgeous and your heart aches with want.

"Hi, you didn't need to stay up" he shrugs and stands up as he accesses you.

"You've been crying?" Shit, you forgot how perceptive he was.

"Date didn't go like I hoped" Eddie's eyes flash with anger.

"Did that fucker upset you?" you shake your head and settle on the couch.

"No, I mean we kissed and I felt nothing and Nick wasn't happy about that. I really did try to like him but the spark wasn't there. He ranted at me and stormed off" he takes your hand and squeezes it.

"You should have called me. He sounds like a douchebag to me princess" it makes you smile a little bit.

"I guess I just wanted to meet a nice guy instead of being so into... You freeze and shake your head, cursing yourself for nearly saying how you felt about him.

"Into who?" you swallow and look away from his big brown eyes because you'll give in and tell him everything.

"It doesn't matter. It's stupid" he gently tilts your cheek so you look at him.

"Tell me"

"I want you but I know you don't feel the same and I messed up on Saturday but" You panic as the words spill out and he caresses your cheek which stops you mid sentence.

"You didn't mess up sweetheart. It took me be suprise when you tried to kiss me, I never thought you could feel that way about me, I panicked and I've been kicking myself ever since"

Oh...

Eddie kisses you passionately and you respond to the kiss pulling him closer to you.

"I'm sorry I pushed you away princess. I do want you, I've never felt this way about anyone ever. I don't want you to date that fucking douchebag, that boy has no idea how to treat an angel like you"

He presses a kiss to your forehead and you rest your head and you wrap your arms around him.

"I'm going to take you out tomorrow. Uncle Wayne won't mind babysitting, he's been wanting me to admit how I feel about you for a long time" his confession makes you giddy and you agree beaming.

"I'd love to"

"I'm going to spoil you rotten princess, you're my girl and I want you to be mine, always"

Always, you liked the sound of that.

💖

[joekeeryswife]

angst with rockstar!eddie and misunderstanding trope but eddie still does some shitty things

where he's going to a lot of parties and doing a lot of drugs and drinking and they get into some fights about it so eddie goes to a party and gets hammered and uses a lot of drugs and he doesn't even realise but there is a girl in his lap and when he tries to move her away but reader shows up and sees the scene in front of her

fluff ending maybe but eddie have to really work hard for it

Rockstar lifestyle - e.m

hey angel!! thank you for requesting i appreciate it so much. i love this! i kind of changed it because i felt like it worked better (i’ll re-write it if you want angel!) i hope this is okay, enjoy angels 🤍 ⚠️talk about drugs and alcohol and a groupie. small age gap⚠️

tag list (feel free to add yourselves🤍) @eddieamoremio @theshireisonfire @livsters @sadbitchfangirl @hellfire1986baby @ladyapplejackdnd @alexxavicry @juleshadalittlelamb @hollandweather @lovurry @bibieddiesgf @plk-18 @Heyyimmissunderstood @m-rae23 @hargrovesswifee @newtandminhoaretoocute @shiftingmack (if there’s a line through your name i can’t tag you, make sure your mentions are on!! x)

"morning honey" you heard Eddie say as he entered the kitchen. you were stood by the oven making dinner for you and Eddie. you looked up at him as he stood across from you, his hair was all over the place, his eyes were bloodshot, white powder on his face left over from last night, his skin was pale and he was still in his clothes from the night before. he looked awful. nothing like the man you had fallen in love with all those years ago.

"it's not morning Eddie" you turned your back to him as you opened a cupboard. your tone was rude and at this point you didn't care. Corroded Coffin had sold out their first world tour and Eddie along with the rest of the band had been celebrating for the past month since their manager told them the amazing news. you were proud, your long term boyfriend had achieved something that he only dreamed about.

but the partying was too much for you. he'd sleep throughout the day, wake up in the late afternoon and eat, then get ready and leave to party. it was a constant cycle which you absolutely hated. most of the time Eddie would call you in the early hours to come pick him up from a party which meant you were losing sleep just to look after him.

Eddies eyes widened at your tone, you voice was always calm and filled with kindness but not this time. you were mad and he could tell. "are you mad at me or something?" he ran a hand through his tangled hair and scratched the back of his neck. last night, well that morning at 4am, Eddie had called you to come get him from a party which was almost an hour away from your house.

it was stupid of you to say yes but you wanted to make sure he got home safe. even though he was acting like an asshole he was still your boyfriend and you loved him but this new version of him upset you. you slammed the cupboard shut and focused on the food in front of you. "what do you think Eddie?" you shook your head at his stupid question. you had tried to speak to Eddie about his new habits but he never listened. he sighed "is this because of last night? it was a one time-"

"a one time thing? are you being serious right now? this wasn't a one time thing, this has been an almost two month thing. i'm sick and tired of you going out every single day, drinking and doing drugs. it looks like you missed your nose last night because it's all over your face" he quickly wiped his face with his hands trying to get rid of the powder but it was too late.

"do you know how stupid you are being? i get you've sold out a tour and that's amazing. i'm really proud of you. you've wanted this for so long and you finally have it but your actions are disgusting Eddie. you look practically dead and you're hurting me. imagine what Wayne would think if he found out what you were doing?" you looked directly at him and saw the anger in his eyes.

"how dare you. this has nothing to do with Wayne or you. you're just fucking jealous that i'm having a good time whilst you're here all by yourself. i'm allowed to do whatever i want, i'm an adult and if i wanna go out and do drugs then that's my decision. you aren't my mum and i'm sick of you acting like her" he walked out of the kitchen and made his way to the front door, quickly putting on his trainers before slamming.

"where are you going? we need to speak about this Eddie. you can't just run away then come back like nothing had happened" you shouted as you followed him. "well good thing i'm not coming back. fuck you" and with that he was out the door, leaving you stood there dumbfounded.

-

Eddie was at this random party completely smashed. he'd been this high in his entire life and he felt like the entire room was spinning. he didn't even know where he was so he could call you to come get him, he just followed Mason the lead singer of Corroded Coffin. his head was slung back against the sofa, eyes closed trying to drown out the music.

he had told Gareth about the fight you had and for once Gareth had stayed somewhat sober to look after Eddie and after see him now he knew he had to call you to come get him. you weren't to far away luckily so you immediately got into your car and made your way over to the house.

“you falling asleep on me baby?” Eddie was quickly pulled out of his thoughts when he realised there was a random groupie sat on his lap. she looked like she had been sat there for a while because she looked very comfortable, her arm was around his neck and she was running her hand through his hair.

you had finally arrived to the house, there was red cups all over the front garden, people passed out, couples kissing and loud music with flashing lights coming from inside the house. you walked in the music was shaking the house and the smell of sweat and alcohol filled your nose. you walked through the house, pushing through the sweaty bodies of people dancing trying to find either Gareth or Eddie.

you finally found Gareth in the kitchen with a girl in front of him, he was smiling and speaking to her about something you couldn't make out and you honestly felt kind of bad for interrupting him. "Gareth" he turned to see you in the doorway and felt relieved to see you here. "y/n hi" he let go of the girl who looked between the two of you. "is she your girlfriend?" the girl asked giving you a dirty look.

"no" you both said shaking your heads at her. "i'm sorry to take him away but i need help finding Eddie" you said to the girl but she quickly understood and sent you a small smile before Gareth brushed last you to help you find Eddie. "he is so stupid. i'm sorry he spoke to you like that earlier. we've just all been so excited about the tour but he's taken it a bit to far this time" Gareth shouted over the loud music to you.

"it's okay, he just needs to-" you were cut off by seeing Eddie and a random girl you'd never seen before on the living room sofa, her hands all over him and his arms were around her waist. you had walked past him earlier and didn't even realise. “Eddie what the fuck man?" Gareth shouted pulling the girl off of him. you didn’t even give him time to speak to you because you walked out the front door, heart breaking at the sight which now clouded your mind.

“baby wait” you heard him shout after you, speech slurred, but you continued to walk to your car, not wanting to hear his excuses. he tripped up over the coffee table, his mind hazy as he tried his best to stand up. "shit" he said as he finally got his bearings and ran to the front door to see you walking toward your car. you were rummaging through your bag trying to find your car keys.

"y/n, sweetheart please wait. it really wasn't what you thought" he caught up to you, grabbing your arm gently as you went to pull out the keys from your bag. your eyes were filled with tears, he’d never seen you this upset and it was all his fault. “what was it then Eddie? you were sat on the sofa trying your hardest to push her off because guess what, it didn’t look like that. you looked like you were enjoying yourself now leave me alone” you said shrugging his grip off of you and unlocking your door.

“i didn’t even know she was on me, she was kissing my neck but i wasn’t doing anything back” you shook your head and got into the car, his excuse was poor. “i don’t want to talk to you, go back into the party with your groupie and leave me alone. we can have a conversation about us when you sober up. i need to think about if i even wanna be with you anymore” and with that you shut your car door and drove home.

Eddie watched as your car drove off, his heart breaking as your words repeated in his head. he was definitely sober after hearing that. he understood how it looked, an argument followed by you finding another woman on top of him. it looked like he was trying to get some sort of revenge after you called him out but it wasn’t.

he would never ever do that to you and he was realising as he stood by the side of the road how much you do for him and how much of an absolute asshole he’d been for the past month. “fucking idiot” he said as he walked back into the party. he had a lot of work to do to get you back and he was willing to do anything to get you to forgive him.

-

you went to bed once you got home, making sure to lock your bedroom door so that Eddie couldn’t get in. you were hurting a lot when you woke up. you never thought you’d have to think about if you wanted to stay with Eddie but here you were sat against the headboard thinking about the past month and how much he had upset you. Eddie used to be loving, caring, selfless, but now it just felt like he was a completely different person.

after an hour of sitting in bed contemplating on what you should do you decided it wasn’t good for you to sit and mope around all day so you went to your en-suite bathroom to get ready and go out to distract yourself.

once you were ready you walked down the stairs to grab your bag and keys but you were surprised to hear muffled singing coming from your kitchen. you frowned and walked towards the sound and was shocked to see Eddie plating up breakfast. he heard your footsteps and looked up from the plate. this was the first time you had seen him showered and in comfortable clothes in almost two months and it was nice to see him look somewhat normal.

“hi” he said, a small smile appeared on his face as he moved away from the plate so you could sit down at the kitchen island. “i haven’t seen you up this early for ages” you said quietly as you sat down. it was 9am and Eddie hadn’t been up this early since even before they sold out the tour. he sighed and nodded.

“i think we need to talk Eddie” his heart dropped at your words. this was it. this was where you’d break up with him because he’d been so stupid. “can you sit down please?” you asked, the chair next to you was turned so he could sit down next to you.

he said down next to you, exhaling as he tried to stop himself from breaking down. he was adamant that you were breaking up with him and you had every right to do so. he had treated you so horribly this past month and he only had himself to blame. he put a bit of distance between your chairs and waited for you to talk. “are you okay?” you asked and watched him nod his head. you were a caring person and even though you were mad at him you always liked to make sure he was alright.

“yesterday was probably the worst i had ever seen you and it really scared me. i’ve tried to understand why you go out every night. i know that you’re celebrating your tour and you have every right to do so but i’d think after the first maybe week of you celebrating the buzz would wear down but it didn’t. some nights i would think that you just went out because you didn’t want to be at home with me. then i found out you were doing drugs. hardcore drugs and that scared me even more. you know i love you and to see change completely from the loving Eddie to this man who i don’t even recognise hurt me so much”

you felt your eyes well up with tears as you expressed how you felt. “i would try to talk to you and you’d just snap and i was so confused, i still am because i don’t get why you’d damage yourself like that. i want to understand why but i think it’s best that we get you clean honey, this has been going on for too long now and i’m scared i’m going to lose you” you said, a few tears ran down your cheeks.

“i’m not breaking up with you. we can move past all of this if you sort yourself out. we won’t be back to how we were for a while but i just want you to get better because i love you so much” you felt his arms go around your waist as he hugged you tightly. you felt hot tears on your neck as he sobbed, relief filling his body as he realised you weren’t gonna leave him.

“i’m so sorry y/n i really am. last night i swear on everything that i didn’t do anything to that girl. i didn’t even know she was there. i would never do that to you and i’m gonna get clean i promise, i’ll never touch anything ever again” you heard his muffled voice rubbing your hand up and down his back as the two of you cried. he felt you nod before a small, delicate kiss was placed on his head. you were gonna stay here with him whilst he got better and that was all he needed.

[bottomtim]

steddie a/b/o au part 2! (part 1 here) | rated M, 2.9k words, now on ao3

Steve walks up to the door of the Munson trailer, blankets now situated in a laundry sack for easy transport, and goes to pull it open, only to find it locked. 

Knocking is a courtesy that, lately, Steve only really extends when Wayne is there, but his car is nowhere to be seen. He does usually call first, and when he doesn’t, Eddie grumbles about how he needs to start locking the doors if Steve is going to barge in like he owns the place. But that’s just good natured teasing, or else Eddie would have locked the doors before today. (And do you know who shows up at your place uninvited, who you keep the doors unlocked for, who you keep that boundary open with? Pack mates.)

Steve’s mind is still so hyper focused on pack mates and what it means to be pack mates that when he goes for the door and it doesn’t budge, his mind doesn’t really comprehend it at first, thinks maybe he’s just not turning the knob far enough. But he goes to open the door again, and, nope, still won’t budge. So he knocks.

His initial knock goes unanswered, so he knocks again, harder. When there’s still no answer, Steve yells, “Ed, it’s me! I know you’re in there, open up!” And when Eddie still doesn’t answer, he decides knocking incessantly and calling Eddie’s name will get his attention eventually, will break through whatever barrier that is currently being provided by sleeping, or reading, or writing music. Steve’s about to go knock directly on Eddie’s window when he finally hears, “Jesus Christ, Harrington, shut up, I’m coming.”

When he hears the knob jiggle, Steve lifts his laundry sack of blankets into view, ready to explain to Eddie that he’s here for his scent. But when Eddie opens the door, he looks, well… Awful.

His hair is flatter and duller than normal, he’s pale but his cheeks are red, he’s looking sweaty, and Steve can see the exhaustion all over his face. Steve would’ve assumed Eddie was sick and had a fever if the smell didn’t hit him next.

“Holy shit, Munson, are you in heat? You’re in heat! Why didn’t you say anything? Oh my god.” Steve pushes Eddie back inside, and firmly shuts the door.

“Steve, why are you here?” Usually Eddie seemed pretty happy to see Steve, or, at least, not upset. But right now he looks like he’d rather be anywhere else than in his living room with Steve.

“Came to get your scent for the movie night nest, but, heat scent is definitely not what we’re going for.”

“My scent? Why…?”

“For the nest? The pack nest? The one that we set up every movie night…?” Then Steve waves his hands, going back to the more pressing matter. “Why didn’t you tell us about your heat, Munson? You need nesting materials with our scents, you need, like, snacks and water, you need someone to be here for you, like holy shit, why are you here alone right now?!”

“I’m here alone because I didn’t think my uncle needed to hear me jerk off for the next three days. Don’t sweat it, Stevie, I can handle my heat just fine.”

“You don’t look like you’re handling it, you look like you’re about to keel over.” And, as if on cue, Eddie starts swaying and Steve has to steady him by the arm and lead him to the couch before he actually does keel over. Steve sets the laundry sack down and focuses his full attention on the omega in heat in front of him.

Eddie takes a deep breath, then says, tiredly, “Steve. Why are you still here?”

“Why—? Eddie, because you’re apparently in heat and you shouldn’t be alone! Why do you think we would leave you alone during your heat?”

And then the lightbulb goes off in Steve’s mind. His brain supplies the answer to his question before Eddie can.

Because the girls were—ugh—right.

Because Eddie doesn’t know he’s pack.

Eddie sighs, exasperated. “Why would you think I want you to be here for my heat?”

“Eddie,” Steve begins, hesitantly. “Why do you think I came to get your scent for the pack nest?”

“Still haven’t parsed that one out yet. Kinda too busy trying not to whip my dick out in front of you, right now.” 

“Okay, um.” Shit. Shit. Steve has to approach this carefully. Asking someone to join your pack when they’re in the throes of heat isn’t ideal, but Steve can maybe use this opportunity to ease him into it gently. “How does this sound. How would you like some things that smell like… Us… for your heat nest.”

“‘Us’ being?”

“Well, the pack. At least Robin or Nancy’s, or, um. Mine.” He could probably get Eddie to agree to stuff from the kids, too, but he thinks just the 3 of them might be less overwhelming.

Eddie whimpers, probably involuntarily. “Not gonna lie, that sounds, uh. Nice.”

“Ok! Ok, good! Let’s start there. I’ll get some stuff for your nest. Do you want to lay down? You look like you need to lay down.”

Eddie nods hard, eyes glassy as Steve helps him lay down on the couch. Eddie lets out a whined, “Smell so good,” before Steve heads over to the telephone. Christ.

Nancy picks up on the third ring. He doesn’t even let her say a greeting before he goes, “You were right.” 

“Of course I was.”

“We���ve got a bigger situation.”

“Okay?”

“He’s in heat.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah ‘oh.’ Uh, can you bring some stuff over? Some painkillers, snacks, he likes those gummy bears and that Earl Grey tea, and something for his nest?”

“Yes,” Nancy answers quickly, no hint of hesitancy in her voice. Nancy is a very good alpha, and whether Eddie has been officially invited into the pack or not, Steve knows she still sees him as one of hers.

“Are you sure you want stuff for his nest if he doesn’t even know he’s pack? Will he be okay with it?” 

“Yep, he’s fine with it. Maybe just stick with stuff from you, me, or Robin for now.”

“Got it. Robin and I will be there in 20.”

“You don’t need to bring Robin.” Steve hears Eddie whine again from the couch. Probably the idea of having any alpha near him sounds appealing, just for the company and comfort alone. But the idea of two alphas being in Eddie’s space makes Steve nervous on his behalf. He knows neither Robin nor Nancy would ever do anything to intentionally hurt Eddie, but he’s vulnerable and could easily be overwhelmed. It took Steve a while to be okay with having the both of them around for his own heats; though it’s still usually just Robin keeping him company, Nancy will still stop by to check on him because she is, as previously stated, a very good alpha.

“Don’t worry about it. See ya soon!” She hangs up before Steve has a chance to say anything further.

Right. Okay.

Steve hangs up Eddie’s phone and turns back to see Eddie laying on the couch with his arm thrown over his eyes, taking deep controlled breaths. “How ya doin’ over there, buddy?

“I’m gonna be honest with you,” Eddie starts. “I’m trying really hard not to grind into my couch cushions right in front of you right now.”

“Right, got it.” Steve’s been there. He’s felt the uncontrollable urge to rub himself on every available surface, to put anything even vaguely phalic shaped inside of himself just to quell the incessant desire screaming at him, the quiet the little voice in his head telling him he needs to be filled. “Do you want to go to your room and take care of it?”

Eddie moves his arm to peek at Steve with a big, surprised eye when Steve realizes how that must sound. “Can’t even ask me to dinner first, Harrington?”

“By yourself, I mean!” Steve corrects, hastily. “Obviously.”

Eddie grimaces, face turning sour. “Yeah. Obviously.” The smell of hurt and disappointment hit Steve like a truck, and shit. Steve mentally asks himself why he’s being so stupid today.

“Eddie, that’s not what I mean, I just mean, that, well, y’know… We’re not… We’ve never…” Steve’s at a loss for what to say. They’ve never done anything, not really, and have never said anything. Eddie doesn’t even think he’s part of the pack. And, sure, Steve sometimes feels butterflies when Eddie sleepily scents him when they lay on the couch, or when they’re in the pack nest and Eddie chooses to sit next to him over everyone else. But that’s all that’s ever happened. Steve chooses not to look too far into it. Eddie’s never said if he would be interested in another man, or even if he’d be interested in another omega, so it’s hard to say if Steve just wants to see more than there is or if there’s really something there. So he ignores it. 

Eddie sighs, still smells a bit unhappy, but says “No, I know. It’s just… Heat Brain making me sensitive. Sorry.” 

“Yeah, no worries. I shouldn’t have said it like that.” 

“I am tempted to, uh, go take care of it. But from what I could hear of your conversation, I should be expecting company.” 

“Yeah, just Rob and Nance. They’re gonna drop some things off for you.” 

Eddie lets out a choked little noise, probably trying to hold back another whine before he says, “Gotta be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever been around any alphas for my heat. Wayne’s a beta, mom was an omega, Dad was a beta, too. And I’ve never, uh, been with any alphas, either.” 

“I get it, man. Nancy’s a good alpha. So is Rob. Hell, Robin spends every heat with me, just making sure I don’t, like, get dehydrated. Or die. And Nancy always checks in, too.”

“And you guys don’t… Do anything?” Eddie asks, hesitantly.

“Nah. You know about Robin. And Nancy and I tried when we were together, and it was fine, but it just… I don’t know. Wasn’t really either of our things.”

“Mine neither,” Eddie admits softly. “Not the… The alphas or the-” He’s cut off by a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it. Are you okay if they want to come in? I can just take the stuff and tell them to scram. They won’t be offended, I promise.” 

Eddie turns to lay on his side and looks up at Steve with glassy eyes, contemplating. Steve can tell every fiber of his omega being wants the presence of an alpha but he’s internally debating on if he thinks he should, probably heard too many horror stories of alphas and omegas not being able control themselves around each other during a cycle.

Steve can’t help but reach out and card his fingers through Eddie’s hair. “I promise, if you want to see them, nothing will happen. I’ll make sure of it, if you’re worried. And if you don’t, that’s fine, too.”

Eddie thinks a moment longer, the girls (probably more likely Robin) are continuously knocking on the door now, much like Steve was earlier.  Eddie nods and Steve gives him a reassuring smile before he gets up to answer the door.

As he approaches, he hears Robin call through the door, “You guys better not be having s-!” and she stops when Steve opens the door and flashes an overly wide smile at him. “We come bearing gifts,” she says, instead.

Robin shoves the pile of clothes and blankets she brought into Steve’s arms and makes a beeline straight for Eddie on the couch. Steve follows close on her heels– Look he knows, okay, he knows, it’s just Robin and nothing is going to happen, he doesn’t need to be protective of Eddie, but… Something about Omega-In-Heat Pheromones make it a little hard for Steve to think straight. He’s anxious. He feels an arm squeeze his shoulder and turns to see Nancy, who just deposited some grocery bags on the kitchen counter, looking up at him. “You need to relax,” she says, giving him a reassuring smile. “Deep breaths.” He can smell Nancy releasing a calming scent and it does help a little.

“Oh, Eddie,” Robin tuts, holding his fevered face in her hands. “I’m sorry you thought you had to do this alone. We should have talked about this sooner.” 

Eddie groans, taking in a deep breath of alpha scent and melting into a puddle in the couch immediately. “Smell sooooo good,” he says, hazily. 

“I know, buddy, I smell like a dream,” She laughs, easily. It helps Steve relax, seeing her smile, seeing her dote. He knows this is how it goes.

“Ugh, yeah,” Eddie says, openly scenting her wrist. She smiles wide up at Steve like in a Do you see this happening?! Kind of way. They can tell Eddie is losing more of his focus the more time he’s around the alphas’ scents, plus there already seemed to be another wave coming on not long after Steve got there. 

“How are you feeling, Eddie?” Nancy asks. Her face is concerned and her grip on Steve’s arm is still tight, but she still smells calm as ever. 

“Betterrrrr,” Eddie slurs, the word turning into a purr in the latter half.

“Good! Good. We brought stuff for your nest,” She says.

“Nest!”

“Yes. Nest. Do you want to put some stuff in your nest?”

Eddie nods, clumsily sits up. Robin and Nancy are all over him in seconds, helping him stand, leading him to his room. Steve really wishes Robin hadn’t shoved all of the nesting materials in his arms right about now. 

They make it into the bedroom and Eddie plops down onto his bed, which already has Eddie’s regular blankets, both throws from the living room, and a couple of Wayne’s work shirts scattered about. Steve sets the nesting materials next to him and watches as Eddie takes his time to sniff each piece. When he gets to one of Steve’s shirts, he nearly moans and says Steve’s name, holding the fabric tight and rubbing his own scent on it, mixing their smells together. Robin gives Steve’s shoulder a not so subtle shove, a shit-eating I-told-you-so grin on her face while Nancy giggles behind her hand. 

They watch as Eddie takes his time, laying out each piece–Shirts from Robin and Nancy, the blanket Steve recognizes from Robin’s room, but also a big blanket they save for pack nights. Eddie purrs when he smells  that one, and Nancy leans to whisper in Steve’s ear, “I had the kids scent that one. I know… I know you said just us, but… I don’t know. Felt right.” She shrugs, eyes locked on Eddie watching him fuss with each piece.

After a while, Eddie has all the materials placed, and he looks up to Steve and the alphas, almost for approval. 

Robin is the first to say, “It looks so great Eddie! So comfy! Any omega would be lucky to have a lovely nest like that.” This is what Steve loves about Robin as an alpha, as a pack member, as a person. Robin will be the first to say she talks too much, that she rambles, that she doesn’t know when to shut up, but Robin says the right things with the right tone. She knows how to comfort you, how to make you laugh, and how to knock some sense into you when you need it. When she compliments Eddie’s nest, his face lights up and he purrs again. He’s so happy, the smell fills the room. 

Nancy smiles at Eddie, tells him, “It looks so comfy, Eddie. I bet you’re going to take a good nap in that nest, huh?”

Eddie flops back into the nest, rolls around a bit, then curls up into a ball like… Like a puppy… He’s so cute Steve could die. He nods to them, glassy eyes getting heavy. Steve can tell from where he’s standing Eddie’s still warm, probably gotten even warmer since he started working on the nest.

“Alright, well, you go ahead and nap, Eddie. We’re going to go,” Nancy says, turning to leave, the others following suit, when Eddie whines. 

“No,” he says, pouting up at them from his nest. 

“Do… You want us to come in your nest?” Robin asks.

“No,” Eddie says very adamantly.

The three of them share a look, not sure what to do. Then Nancy asks, “Do you want Steve in your nest?”

“Yessssss,” Eddie says, stretching out like a cat then reaching his hand to Steve.

Ok, it’s honestly kind of a big deal that Eddie wants Steve in his nest. Steve wouldn’t let Robin in his nest for the first cycle they spent together, and even after that, his mood on whether or not he wanted her there was fickle. Now he needs her there like he needs the water she makes him drink so he doesn’t get dehydrated, but it wasn’t an immediate thing. So Steve’s kind of shocked that Eddie wants him in his nest.

But he’s also deeply pleased, a primal part of his brain preening at being chosen.

Steve stands still frozen for a moment before Robin shoves him towards the bed (Robin again with the shoving!). He fumbles a bit, almost falling into the bed, but he catches himself on his hands, face to face with Eddie. “Are you sure he asks?”

And Eddie, hazy and warm, gives him the softest smile (really, Steve is going to die), and says, “Yes. Very.”

Robin and Nancy are waving goodbye and just like that, Steve is in Eddie Munson’s nest with a warm omega koala-gripping his front and jamming his nose into Steve’s scent gland. Steve softly laughs. It tickles.

They fall asleep smiling.

[wormdebut]

27 rated M or E because I’m a slut babe we all know this ❤️😘

HI Pretty. I know you wanted the sexytimes, but work sucked so you get FLUFF. (I'm writing kink King of Hell for you so don't worry you'll get ur slutty slutty stuff. I swear.) ANYWHOZLE, #27 on my Spotify wrapped is Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On A Bad Bet by the Fall Out Boys so heres...whatever this is. ----

When he walks into the room, the walls lean in to listen.

----

He still remembers the first night Steve Harrington came sauntering into the bar. Eddie thinks it would be hard to ever forget a face like that.

It was back in January. The Chicago air was thick and cold and Steve came in with a green pea coat, hair sprayed up, cheeks red from the brisk air, looking like he had waltzed out of a fucking men's fashion catalog.

Eddie had thought he was gonna have a heart attack.

He almost did, when Steve had flashed that thousand-watt smile at him. He had ordered a whiskey neat and Eddie knew he was fucked then. Way back in January.

Steve told Eddie far too much about himself that first night, after what was surely one too many whiskeys. (Three, it was three. Eddie is a bartender okay? He remembers things. It's not weird. It isn't.) But anyway, Steve had opened up pandora's box. Everyone always did, especially to Eddie. That's why he and Wayne had opened the bar, people like to talk to Eddie. He never knew exactly why, but he had always been told he was easy to talk to. Apparently, Steve Harrington agreed.

Steve Harrington--college graduate, aspiring middle school teacher, recent divorcée with a shitty ex-husband--he apparently agreed, cause he told Eddie so many things.

And Eddie listened.

Couldn't tear himself away, even if he wanted to. (He didn't.)

When it had come time to lock up, Eddie had asked Steve if he had a place to go. Steve had smiled again, but not that thousand watt grin. This one was softer--private. Eddie felt honored to see it.

Hoped he would see that smile again.

And he did--because Steve kept coming back.

"Oh, darling, I know what your going through." Eddie had said…The night Steve told him, really told him, about his ex-husband. How awful Tommy had been, telling Steve he would never graduate. Telling Steve, Steve, he wasn't good enough, handsome enough, smart enough.

It boggled Eddie's brain. The man in front of him? Eddie would give anything to tell him everything opposite.

You're enough. You're a genius. You're fucking beautiful.

But instead he just commiserated.

Steve had raised his eyebrow at that. "You were married?"

Eddie had shook his head, hair catching in his eyes. "Legally? No, but--in all the ways that counted. This isn't about me though. Tell me whatever you need to, precious."

Eddie hadn't meant to flirt as hard as he had been flirting with Steve, but there was something about the way Steve's cheeks pinked up when Eddie called him sweet things, he couldn't help it. Not then, and now? Well it was worse now…but that's beside the point. Eddie is thinking about then.

The way Steve had blushed so hard, Eddie felt like he could taste the heat coming off his perfect cheeks.

"Precious, huh? You don't even know me." Steve had said--well, he had stuttered through it and Eddie was pleased.

"Yeah baby, but I want to. So tell me more." Eddie had decided then and there that it was his personal life mission to make Steve Harrington blush as much as he possibly could, if Steve kept coming around.

Steve had stuttered into his glass before leveling Eddie with a glare. Brat.

"I just--What if I peaked early?" Steve had asked and Eddie--Eddie guffawed. It was an ugly laugh and he hadn't even been ashamed by it.

"You? Peaked? Stevie, baby, have you seen yourself? You're incredible. No way you've 'peaked.'"

Things had changed after that night.

Steve had started flirting back.

----

"Eds! Hello? Babe?" Eddie was pulled out of his thoughts by Steve flapping his (big, very nice, strong) hand in his face.

Eddie shakes his head, blinking a few times to make sure, his perfect boyfriend--fiancée--damn he needed to get used to that--is still there.

"Sorry, doll. I was thinking." Eddie says, and Steve smiles--that soft, private one again. Eddie likes to think of that smile as his.

"Thinking about me?"

Eddie smirks, "C'mon baby, I'm always thinkin' about you."

Steve laughs, "Well, it's closing time, so why don't you keep on thinkin' about me all the way home, huh?"

Eddie shakes his head, can't get over the fact that Steve Harrington actually ended up being his. He grabs the keys to the bar from his back pocket, before hopping over the counter. "Sure baby doll, let's go home."

[luveline]

could you please write an early!roan fic where maybe she thinks Y/N is actually just coming around to spend time with her and then she finds out that it’s actually cause of her eddie, and gets all grumpy like “i thought you loved me” and Y/N comforts her “i do love you, but i also love your dad!”

thank u for requesting!! eddie and roan 1k, fem

There's a distinct smell of burned toast coming from the trailer. You trust Eddie but you rush up the steps anyhow, alarmed to find him coughing in the kitchen, window thrown open. 

"Will you take her?" he asks you immediately. 

You spy Roan sitting at the kitchen table and swap her for your bag of groceries. She gasps and giggles at your sudden appearance, quick to wrap her arms around your neck when you offer your embrace. You walk her to the open door and stand there sucking in clean breaths as Eddie fans a dish towel around under the smoke alarm. "What's dad burning?" you ask. 

"Um. Bagels?" 

You rub her shoulder. "Hey, I missed you, huh? It's been a long time since I saw you." 

"I missed you too!" Roan says quickly, eager, wrapping her arms tighter around your neck to squish your cheeks together. 

You smile into her hug. You and Eddie have been busy once again, and when you did manage to steal a date night, Ro was at Wayne's. You really have missed the little girl and you intend to show it, stroking your fingers through her hair gently. She dissolves like always. 

"Shit," Eddie says, throwing two blackened bagels into the sink and running the water. "Shit, fuck. I'm sorry, girls, I don't know where my head's at." 

"Cream cheese can't fix that." 

"It's okay, dad," Roan says. "We can get burgers." 

"I can't always feed you burgers, babe, it's not good for you." Eddie rubs his hair out of his face. "And Y/N just got here from work, she doesn't wanna go out again." You're dying to flop on their couch, but if she wants a burger for dinner, who are you to stop her? Still, Eddie puts his foot down. "No, bub. I'll make some more bagels. It'll be yummy. We have salami and everything." 

"Uh," she whines, laying back in your arms. You nearly drop her. You laugh at her dramatics as she slowly drags herself back up, her eyes practically sparkling with an idea. "Me and you can go get burgers," she whispers. 

"I really am tired. Let's get burgers on the weekend, maybe." You don't like letting her down but you have to be a united front with Eddie. Usurping his authority helps no one, especially when she wants something she isn't going to get today. "And I'd miss dad." 

"Who cares about dad?" she says. 

You laugh. "I do! He's my boyfriend." 

"He's your what?" 

Eddie looks up from where he's cleaning. The burned bagels have been disposed of, the kitchen sink washed out and the toaster cleared of scorched crumbs. "You knew that, Ro." He sounds puzzled. 

"He's my prince," you say. "You know? The prince to my princess Polly." 

"What?" Roan stares at you with an extremely amusing expression, her eyebrows tugged in betrayal. 

"Sweetheart, you know me and daddy are together, don't you?" you ask, hosting her higher on your hip. "That's why we go on dates and stuff. And why he brings me flowers, why we had that anniversary dinner, remember, with the melted chocolate?" 

"I thought you loved me." 

"I love you so much," you say, looking to Eddie for assistance. He seems as lost as you feel. "Like, so much. But I love dad too. He's hard not to love, isn't he? He's handsome and funny, and he makes great grilled cheese–" 

Roan does not look happy. She pushes at your chest to be put down and sprints out of the kitchen to her bedroom, where you hear a clattering of things being pushed over and a whine filled to the brim with attitude. 

"Should I…" 

Eddie shakes his head. "In a minute. Let her be angry for a bit. This is her first heartbreak." 

You meander into him and pinch his waist. "Don't say that to me, that's awful. Poor baby, did she really not know we were dating?" 

"Of course she knows. She just forgets, 'cos she loves you and she thinks you're best friends" He wraps an arm over your shoulders. "Wow. I wonder if she thinks of me as the third wheel when we hang out." 

You take the bread knife out of his hand. "Don't bother with that. We're getting burgers." 

Eddie's laugh is more of a girly, cute giggle, like he's just had a shot. You elbow him in the stomach until he cuts it out, and beg forgiveness for being grouchy with a hug. You press your face into his neck and huff. "I missed you before you got me in trouble," you mumble. 

"Nuh-uh, that had nothing to do with me." He kisses your temple. "She loves you. It's nice. It's… You're awesome. It's great that she thinks you love her more than you love me, even if she's wrong." 

"I do love her more than I love you." 

"Are you trying to piss us both off? You can go get burgers by yourself." 

Roan is face down in her bed when you knock on her door a couple of minutes later, completely still. You pick up the plushies she's flung off her bed and sit them up in pride of place against the wall. "Princess, you know I love you," you say. "Don't you?" 

"Yeah." 

"But you know I love daddy too?" 

"Ugh." She shakes her head in disgust. 

"Ugh," you say agreeably. "You're my favourite, though." 

She turns very slightly to peek at you. "I am?" 

"Obviously. That's why I just told dad we were going for burgers whether he wanted to or not." You tickle her side until she laughs and turns on her back to escape you. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, I wasn't trying to. We're still friends, right?" 

"We're best friends." 

"That's what daddy said." You scoop her up into your side for a squish. "We're best friends forever," you whisper. 

She leans up to rub her nose against yours. 

[stevesxyellowxsweater]

Waking up in Vegas {Chapter 2; Eddie}

PAIRING: Rockstar!Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader WC: over 2000 CW: Minors do not interact!! No use of y/n, use of she/her pronouns, slow burn, hints of abuse, swearing, i think that is it. SUMMARY: Enzo's 8O'clock, you're off to meet Eddie. Some very unexpected things are about to happen AUTHOR NOTES: Here it is everyone, the first part of Waking up in Vegas, feed back is very appreciated. Also reblogging is very much encouraged. Thank you once again to @entermxnson for literally being the character I base the reader off, (well as a mix of her and her fantastic Original Character that I love very much) Also for reading this as I write it, and giving me feedback. You're truly wonderful and I love you so much. Credit to @cafekitsune for the amazing dividers, i seriously love them.

PREVIOUS CHAPTER || NEXT CHAPTER

Your clothes are thrown all over your bed. You didn't pack for Vegas, thinking you'd be going on a date with a rockstar. Was It a date? Could this be classed as a date? You'd looked up Enzos after Wayne had told you. It was a rather fancy place, and you didn't have much in the way of fancy clothes in your bag. 

Finally, you decided on a pair of fishnets under a pair of shorts and one of the few non-band tops you had in your bag it would have to do. The outfit you'd chosen was typically only to be worn with friends. Adam constantly told you that you dressed too young for your age and it was time to get new clothes. Ones appropriate for your age.

It was that sort of thing that made you question your with him. His friends wore band T-shirts, and he had even brought you one back when he saw Queen a few months ago. You remembered how he'd tried to make you jealous, but you'd smiled and told him while you respected Adam Lambert and knew that Freddie would've wanted his songs sung well into the future. But you couldn’t see Queen. Not without Freddie, it wasn't the real Queen experience.

He still tried to make you jealous, however.

You'd spent your afternoon finding a lawyer who would do an annulment. He'd given you the papers you needed and explained you both had to fill them out and sign before he could get you in front of a judge. It looked like a long process, but you just hoped it would be done before the six weeks were up.

It was finally time to leave. You could feel your heart pounding hard as you left the hotel. You decided to walk to Enzos, not because you were drinking but because it was around the corner. You could see your hands shaking with nerves as the restaurant came into view. 

You were finally catching up with Eddie. That was the scariest part of all of this. The anticipation filled you full of fear. You didn't even remember the last conversation you had with him, and you didn't even remember marrying him. So, this was a terrifying moment. 

You stared at the stage. Corroded Coffin were on fire. You'd been forced into a veil and sash for the evening, which caught Eddie’s attention. 

“I can feel the thunder that's breaking in your heart, I can see through the scars inside you!”

You stared in awe as he sang, his eyes locked on yours. He gave you a wink before he played his solo. You couldn't stop staring at his hands. The way he moved so skillfully through cords. The way his fingers glided up and down the fretboard. You’d started to bite your lip close to breaking the skin as you watched him finish your favourite song.

Arriving at Enoz’s, you swallowed hard and opened the door. Stepping into the beautiful, warm and friendly candle-lit restaurant, you looked around and smiled gently as a waitress approached you. 

“Reservation for Baggins.”

The waitress smiled and nodded. 

“Right this way.” 

Following her across the room, you saw him. It was like your heart stopped beating at that moment. The leather jacket settled nicely on the back of the chair, a crisp white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up showed off his tattoos, and you could see his combat boots and black jeans below the table, helping you feel less underdressed. 

Then there was his hair. He had it down. He’d hardly ever worn it up; never in photos of the band or magazines did he have it up. You could see he was playing with it like he was nervous. What did he have to be nervous about? He was a Rockstar. Your heart fluttered as you stepped closer to him, a feeling of nervousness bubbling up inside.

“Mr. Baggins, your guest has arrived.”

Eddie turned around; it was like something in a romantic comedy. His face turned into a bright smile as he stood up. As he did, he bumped the table, causing water to spill over the tablecloth.

“Fuck.”

You couldn't help yourself. A smile broke out on your face as you looked at the flushed face of the rockstar you were meeting.

“Let's get you two a dry table, yeah?” 

You smiled at the waitress and followed her to a different table. You smiled as Eddie pulled out your chair and pushed you in. The waitress placed the menus down and then left the two of you alone. 

“Hi.”

You looked up and smiled as you saw how awkward he looked.

“Hi.” 

There was an awkward air between the two of you as you sat together, your eyes on each other. Eddie’s eyes were hypnotic up close; you could get lost in those chocolate swirls. Picking up your glass of water, you looked down only to find they still needed to be filled. You couldn't help the look of embarrassment.

“Thank you for wearing jeans, by the way. I was worried I'd be really underdressed.”

Eddie laughed as he fiddled with the napkin on the table.

“Business up top, party down below.”

“Like a mullet.”

Eddie got excited at this, nodding and pointing. 

“Exactly! My friends didn't get it.”

You laughed, a sense of pride filling you at that moment.

“A clothing mullet, that's a first.”

You mused as you tucked your hair behind your ear and smiled. Eddie looked at you and grinned.

“I figured I better look smart for my wife.” 

The second that word left his lips, your heart thumped hard in your chest. It sounded so wonderful coming from his lips. Part of you felt like you couldn't breathe, and you wanted to keep that title of Eddie’s wife.

“I shouldn't have left you with Tammy, and I'm sorry I did.”

“It's okay, though I wanted to hit her round the head. Rude bitch.”

Eddie laughed as he leaned back in his chair while the waitress filled your glasses. You were surprised at how easy he was to talk to; he seemed happy being around you. It made you happy. 

“I lost a bet. That's the only reason I employed her.”

You stared at Eddie, your eyes wide at his admittance.

“I'm sorry, you only employed her because of a bet?” 

You watched him playing with his hair, using it to hide his face as he looked at you.

“Yeah. My friend Steve bet me I couldn't get her to come to my Halloween party dressed as a muppet.”

“Why?” 

“Steve and Robin say she sings like a muppet. If I could pull that off, it would've been an amazing moment of entertainment for both of them. But she came in this dress thinking there would be some big musicians and managers there.”

You stared, slightly dumbfounded at his admittance. 

“I have to employ her for a year. She's not even good at her job.” 

“So I noticed.” You commented with a smirk. “What would you have gotten if you won?” 

“I wanted him to be in the He Is video, he won though sadly.”

You couldn't help but smile at least neither of them had some sort of sexist bet over a girl. One was to give her a decent-paid job, while the other was to get a friend in an awesome video. You couldn't help but admire that.

“So, about Veg-”

“Are you two ready to order?”

You looked at the waitress, trying hard not to be annoyed that she'd just interrupted you. 

“I'll have the carbonara.”

You smiled when Eddie ordered. He seemed to know what he liked. Scanning the menu, you found the vegetable lasagna and decided to settle on that. 

“So about Vegas.” 

You started once again; after being left alone.

“I found a marriage certificate in my bag, we apparently…”

“Yeah, we got married.” 

He was so casual about it as he leaned back in his chair. 

“I don't remember it.”

“Well, that is what every groom wants to hear.”

Eddie joked with a smirk.

“You're serious? You don't remember it?” 

His tone became slightly serious as you shook your head.

“I went to a lawyer, and he said we can get it annulled. We just have to get some papers filled out.”

“What if I don't want to?”

You frowned as you looked at Eddie. You hadn't thought of that. What if he didn't want to divorce you?

“I'm kidding.”

You let out a sigh of relief.

“Good, because I'm getting married in six weeks.”

“I know.”

“What?” 

You stared at Eddie. You were stunned. He knew you were getting married, but he married you anyway?

“You told me about Adam, and then we drank some more.” 

You felt angry, he knew. Yet he had the guts to fucking marry you.

“You… you asshole!” 

“Oh Princess, look I am so-.” Before he could say anything else, you threw your glass of water over him and stood up. Shaking your head at him, you walked out of the restaurant. You couldn’t help but feel frustrated, angry, confused. What type of guy did something like that? “Princess, come on.” 

Eddie had thrown money onto the table and rushed out after you, and he was dripping wet. His shirt was starting to cling to his torso. But you didn’t care right now. You were mad, you were going to walk away, regardless of how fucking hot he looked. 

“Princess, please.” 

“Stop calling me that!” 

You snapped and turned around to look at him. Your eyes couldn’t help but glance down at the fabric sticking to his stomach. No matter how mad you were, it made your stomach twist and turn slightly. All you could think about was Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice.

“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” 

“No, it’s not okay. I am getting married, and you married me and then ran away. I had to follow you to this tiny ass town to make sure I could still get married.” 

“Even if you’re making a mistake?” 

You stared at Eddie, your lips parted as you looked at him. A shiver ran down your spine as he spoke words that you’d never dared think about. 

“You know nothing about me. You know nothing about me and Adam.”

“No? I know that he doesn’t like you working. He constantly criticises your clothes: and your friends, he makes you feel small. Makes you feel worthless.” 

You looked at him, blinking as you tried to prevent the tears. Adam did every single one of those things and so much more. He never touched you, but it didn’t stop him from speaking to you like you were shit. Causing you to feel like you’d been punched in the gut. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

He wanted to argue, but he didn’t. Instead, he bit down on his lip and looked at you. A puppy-like look appeared on his face as he slowly stepped toward you and reached out and touched your arm. 

“Look, I’m sorry. I never meant to upset you.” 

He slowly moved his hand to touch your cheek; his eyes bore into yours.

“I’ll sign the papers. I have one condition, however.” 

You kept your eyes on his, your heart fluttering as he stood this close to you. You couldn’t pull your eyes from his. 

“What?” 

“Stay the week. Attend all this awful wedding stuff that being a single person can be hard to endure, and once the wedding is over, I'll sign the papers, meet the judge and you can be on your merry way.” 

Silence took over the pair of you. Nothing but the distant chatter of people and cars driving past. 

“You want me to come to some stranger's wedding as your wife?”

“No, as my friend.” He replies softly and gently.

“But then why won't you sign?”

Eddie looked at you. He didn't want to admit that he hoped he could change your mind and get you to call off your wedding. He didn't care if you wanted to stay with him. He just felt as if his mother had sent you to him to protect where he failed to protect her.

“Call it insurance? We don't know each other that well… or at all really and this way we both keep our promises.” 

You swallowed hard, one week. Just one. You could do that.

“Fine, I'll have to go shopping though I don't have anything for a wedding.”

“I'll pay, there are several different functions.”

“I don't need you to pay.”

“I didn't say you did, but it's a gesture.” 

“I can pay for myself.”

“Then let me at least put you up, you can stay at my place and I'll stay at Wayne’s.”

“Eddie…”

“No, no arguing. Treat it like an air BnB or something. You get my place. Then you don't have to stay in the inn.”

You sighed, gently but then nodded softly.

“Okay.” 

“Great!”

Eddie smiled as you came to a stop walking outside the inn. 

“I'll be here to pick you up in the morning.”

“Okay.” 

He took his phone out of his pocket and handed it to you.

“For your number.”

You smiled gently and put it in (you had to use your phone cause you never remember it) then rang yourself to get his number.

“I'll call you in the morning and we can figure out a time.”

“Okay, sounds good to me.”

You stared at each other for a moment, your heart thumping as you handed back his phone and your fingers touched his.

“I'll see you tomorrow, Goodnight.”

“Eddie, wait.” 

You stepped closer to him, looking up at him.

“Yeah?” 

“What happened in Vegas?”

Eddie smirked, looking down into your eyes with a cocky little smirk. Leaning in, he whispered in your ear his voice causing goosebumps up your body. You watched him walk away, the chill in the air wrapping around you as his words echoed in your mind.

“I'll tell you tomorrow Princess.”

Tag list: @entermxnson @hellfirenacht @ali-r3n @bookdrunkdemigod @peachysink @emotionaldreamer @mimsie95 @corrodedcoffincumslut @emxxblog

[rubydubydoo122]

In every universe Jason Peter Todd dies young. It’s a fate sealed across the multiverse. Maybe he could hope that there’s one universe where he doesn’t. aka, Jason, Dick, and Bruce go multiverse hopping, and are not having a fun time. (Ps, when I started writing this fic I hced Jason as Latino, but I don't really believe in that hc anymore, so just a heads up if you don't like that hc)

TRIGGER WARNING -> Child Death (it's Jason)

“Shit.” Dick squatted down right where he was and ran his fingers through his hair, “Fuck.” He ran his hands down his face, “Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern.”

Jason blinked. He was still picturing his lifeless eyes staring up into the sky. He was still picturing his frozen body curled into the corner of the dumpster. He was still feeling the way Bruce cradled his lifeless body. “Huh?”

Dick looked to Bruce for help, but something must’ve clicked, “You knew? Bruce, you knew and didn’t–”

“I didn’t want it to be true.” 

“Ah, yes. And the multiverse is just going to bow down to your will.” Dick spit back venomously.

“Obviously not. Dick, it was two times, I didn’t want to worry you two if I was wrong.”

“Since when have you ever cared about worrying us? At least if you’d’ve told us, we could’ve saved Jason!”

Jason decided that if Bruce and Dick were going to make a scene, he was going to take in their surroundings. Make sure someone like… Ultraman doesn’t show up. 

They were on the Wayne Enterprise rooftop… and was that… whispering? Jason stood up and let out a whistle, “Oi! Quit the bickering!” He signed ‘ Someone’s here’ ,  and continued talking “I swear, it’s like we were sent back ten years.” Keeping a hand on the kris in his pocket, Jason rounded the corner where he heard the whispers coming from.

There was someone lurking in the shadows of the HVAC unit. He almost didn’t notice them, but after years of fighting the bats and assassins, and bat-assassins, he knew what to look for. “I can see you.” 

The person lept from the shadows, running at him with a metal stick. A bo staff. It was also a kid, who was very obviously new with the weapon. Jason grabbed the stick, and yoinked it out of the kid’s hand before he could land a hit on him. “Hold it, kid. I’m–”

Suddenly a bundle of red, green, and yellow kicked him right in the Jaw, and punched him in the gut, “Get away or–” He could see the recognition and confusion flutter across Robin’s face, “Who are you?”

“It’s One bad night for ART.” Jason put his hand in the air.

Robin put his hands on his hips and tilted his head to the side, with a little smile “That’s not mine, that’s B’s.” 

“You’re really gonna make me sing it?” Why couldn’t he have chosen a poem or something. Actually, no. He’s been telling poems to Jason's seconds away from death. He should’ve chosen an emo phrase like Bruce. “ I've lived long enough to have learned; The closer you get to the fire, the more you get burned; But that won't happen to us; 'Cause it's always been a matter of trust” 

A soft smile spread across Robin’s face, “You sound just like Papi. Give me one minute to yell at this Cabron. ” he spun around to the kid. “ You are supposed to be back at the cave. Agent A is gonna be so mad at you.”

Now that the kid was in the light and not attacking him, Jason could get a much better look at him. He was slightly taller than Robin, but based on the baby fat on his face and the scolding, he was probably younger. He had an awful bowl cut, (which, wow, his parents must hate him for that,) and was wearing a domino and a black sweatshirt. There was a camera strung around his neck.“What Agent A doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Besides, he’s on vacation.”

Robin scoffed, “Agent A always knows. I bet his butler senses are sending out a beacon to give you a look as we speak.”

“Well, I’m sorry if you’re a shit liar, but I think I can get away with it.”The kid gave him an ‘I'm scheming’ grin that was eerily reminiscent of Tim.

Wait. Hold up, “Tim?”

“Apapapapa,” Tim held up a finger, “Codenames and it’s Crow.”

“No it’s not. We just call him Egg. Since he’s supposed to be in the nest.”

Oh, Jason is totally calling Tim and Damian Eggs when they get back to their timeline.

Tiny Tim groaned, “You’re not the boss of me.”

“Well, I’m older. So yeah, kinda.”

“I’m taller.”

Robin crossed his arms, “I’m sorry if you missed the part where that giant is me.” He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder, “So technically, I’m taller.”

Tim frowned and then looked to Dick, “Is alternate reality me taller than Jason?”

Dick winced apologetically, “Sorry, Timmy, you only reach 5’6”.”

Tim let out a long spew of curses and something about his winning argument.

Bruce came out of the shadows he was hiding in, “Language.”

Robin raised his eyebrows, “So all Bruce’s are the same across dimensions?”

Dick made a so-so motion, “Our Bruce is older and grumpier.”

“We’ll fix that.” He grinned and gave Tim a look that could only spell out trouble. “I’m gonna call our Batman. Then you’ll probably be given some light interrogation, but then we can go to the cave and have hot chocolate together!” 

Now that the kid mentioned it, Jason was really hungry. And tired. How many hours have they been at this cosmic adventure? Four? It would be well into the morning in their Gotham. 

Robin lifted a finger to his ear, “Batman, we have an Egg out of the Nest. I repeat, we have an Egg out of the Nest. Also we have an ART situation.” a pause, “calm down, they’re nice.” Another pause, “I am not too trusting. I just have a good judge of character. It’s a different version of Me, you, and Nightwing, but older and they said they had their own Egg, so really, how bad could they be?” Robin grinned, “Also, N looks like he’s in his protective big brother mode, so we’re safe with them. We’re on top of the Wayne Enterprise building.” The grin faded into a soft smile, “Yeah, yeah, me too, Old man. Take your time. Grapple safely. Don’t hurt your back” Robin brought his finger from the com, and looked to Bruce, “You ok, B-man? You look like you’re gonna hurl.” 

Bruce shook his head, “Nothing. It’s just, you can be too trusting of people you want to believe you can trust.”

Jason groaned, “Oh my– Bruce, it was literally one singular time. I told you we would talk about it later.” Preferably, it would be never, but Bruce is going to keep pushing it in his own Bruce way.

“Hey, Skunk-Hair Jason, Are you gonna give me back my bo-staff?”

Was Tim a little shit in every universe? Jason saw something flicker across Robin’s face at the comment though. That’s fair, his Tim called him skunk-hair often, but that was probably the first time Robin heard it. It’s gonna do wonders for his self esteem.

He heard the telltale sound of a grapple hooking behind him, “I think I’ll just give it to Daddy-bats.” He pressed the button to retract the staff, and tossed it over his shoulder. 

As expected Batman caught it, “Egglett, I thought we agreed, no more sneaking out.”

“But I didn’t sneak out, I walked out of the front door. Besides, this isn’t our biggest problem right now. Dick, you said there was a pattern? I’m assuming it’s related to the realities you’re being sent to.”

Dick glanced at Robin, “Yes, but…” He looked to Bruce for help.

Batman moved so they were all standing in a relative circle. Meaning he was in between Jason and Jason, “How about you start from the beginning, Chum.” It was his Bruce voice, not his Batman voice. 

So Dick told him. How they’d gotten hit by the interdimensional ray, how they were in the warehouse, how they thought they were sent to the past, at first, how Jason had died. 

He saw the way Robin moved a step closer to Batman. He noticed how Batman shifted his weight closer to Robin.

Dick then moved on to tell them about the Alley. About the sudden confusion, because they were definitely in Gotham, just not their Gotham. He told them about the frozen kid in the corner. Jason.

At that, Robin seemed to freeze. Definitely thinking about the Man who had saved them. Weighing the pros and cons of life and innocence. Death and sins. Though, Tim seemed to pick up the pattern, and grabbed Robin’s hand.

And finally, Dick told them about them walking back from the library. And a 13 year old Jay getting hit by a car.

“So…you think I’m gonna die.” Robin didn’t look all that scared, but Jason knew himself. It was in the way he crossed his arms, and looked at Dick defiantly. It was in the way he was in fight mode. Then like an omen, the bat signal lit up. If it’s the Joker, Jason is going to scream. 

Batman placed a hand on Robin’s shoulder. The one that was farther from him, so it was more of a half-hug. “Do you think it could be anything else? Maybe a smaller detail you missed?”

They all turned to Bruce, but Bruce just shook his head. 

Batman nodded slowly, “Alright, we’re all going back to the cave. I’m assuming your suits are in the duffle, so you two,” He pointed to Dick and Bruce, “Can suit up. The kids can be on house arrest. Once we deal with that,” Batman pointed at the bat signal, “we can work a way to get you three home.” 

There were protests from Robin and Tim, but Bruce fixed them with a batglare™ which shut them up immediately. 

Jason raised his hand, “What’ll I be doing?”

Batman blinked at him, “You’ll… be at the manor.”

The kids will be on house arrest , He thinks Jason’s a kid then. “Oh. ok.” It’s ok. He’d make good use of this.

The drive to the cave sucked. Mainly because the Bruces got front seat privileges, and the four of them had to squish together in the back.  Jason did solve the problem by propping his knees up against the passenger seat and making sure to kick it every once in a while to annoy Bruce. Dick, who was sitting in the middle, used the newfound space to stretch out his legs, and give Robin and Tim more room. 

Robin had wrapped his cape around himself, like he was a burrito. Jason forgot he used to do that. It was mainly because the Robin suit had too much leg. Even if he was wearing tights under longer shorts. It was less revealing than Dick’s version of the suit, but still mildly uncomfortable at times.

Tim was squished in between Dick and Robin, but he didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he shifted so that his head was resting on Robin’s shoulder. Robin froze slightly at the touch, but then lowered his cheek to rest on the top of Tim’s head.

God, is this how he and Tim would’ve been if Jason hadn’t died? The bickering on the roof, but moments where you could tell they really cared about each other. And yeah, sure, Jason and Tim definitely bickered now, but sometimes, with everyone, he felt like he was making his way through glass that had shattered on the floor.

Dick discreetly took a picture of the two, which was a bad idea, because it would just hurt more in the long run. When they had to go home and this reality would never be theirs. When Dick realized that the brother he wanted would never be Jason, because the Jason he wanted was long dead.

As soon as they got to the cave, Bruce and Dick made a beeline to the stalls to change. And all Jason could think about was how much the cave had changed since his time as Robin.

It was a lot emptier. The area for the training mats were smaller, Tim’s collection of bo-staffs was down to two, and Damian’s sword and knife collection wasn’t even there. Half of the work benches were gone, and so were half of the vehicles they now used. 

Most importantly, the two cases that held the suits of two dead Robins weren't there. It was just… an empty space. 

Batman walked up to him, and grunted, “Jay was wrong, I’m still taller than you.”

Jason blinked for a minute, because Batman? Making jokes? “Your ears don’t count.”

Batman pulled down the cowl, and did the thing where you measure with your hand. Except he went up a bit, so that his hand barely brushed his curls, “Yup, still taller.”

It hurt. It was weird looking at a Bruce who was younger. The one Jason wished to come back to since he crawled out of his grave, only to find the Bruce he was looking for had died too. Maybe that’s the reason why he and Bruce were never on the same page anymore. They were looking for someone in each other who only existed in their memories. Jason and Bruce would never be the same people they were before that day in Ethiopia. 

He glanced over to where Jay was helping Tim take off his domino without getting the glue dissolver in his eyes. “I’m not that kid, ya know.”

Bruce gave him a rueful smile, “I can tell, but you’re still my kid. Alternate reality or not.” 

It was as if he had grabbed Jason's heart with both hands and started to squeeze it until it would eventually explode. The only reason Bruce could say that was because he didn’t know half the things Jason had done. He didn’t know anything about him at all. 

Bruce looked like he was about to say something else, but the security alarms started going off, immediately displaying on the Batcomputer.

Dick and Bruce(the older one) burst out of the stalls.

There were Joker goons– why did it have to be the Joker?– flooding onto the lawn, jumping over the fence, and heading straight to the manor. So they were after Bruce Wayne, not Batman.

Except it was the Joker. And something, something Jay dying. And something, something the Joker murdered Jason. Things are not really looking good. 

Bruce(the younger one) pulled up his cowl, and looked at Jay and Tim, “Stay here.” He then made eye contact with Jason, with a look that clearly said ‘ look after them’ , then looked to Bruce(the older one), and to Dick, “Lets go.”

And the three of them glided up the stairs.

They watched the Batmans and Nightwing split up and make their way through the manor, on the Batcomputer. He watched as they silently took the goons out one by one. He watched as the Joker waltzed right into the manor. Damn, if Alfred was here, he would have shot that psychotic lunatic down already. 

Jason saw a little shadow dart past the Study. Except… It was too small for Bruce or Dick, but Robin was sitting right next to him, looking at the screen intently, hand hovering to warn them if needed. And the spot where Tim was standing was empty. “Tim?”

If they weren’t in the situation they were currently in, it would’ve been comical how wide Robin’s eyes got. Then his jaw clenched, “Why in the world would he sneak off now of all times?”

“Tim’s just a little shit across universes.” Jason paused, because if some rando started talking like that about Tim, he would probably give them a nice slap across the face, “He’s doing that thing where he comes up with a plan and forgets not everyone is on the same brainwave as him.”

Robin groaned, and reached over to click on something, “Tim, care to share what you’re doing with the class?”

There was a lengthy pause, but they could see Tim on the camera, crouched down behind a decorative couch in the fancy living room, “Arming the traps.”

Robin crossed his arms and started tapping his foot, “You really think that two Batmans and a Nightwing can’t take down the Joker?”

“I just want to help.”

“You can’t–”

Jason placed an arm on Robin’s shoulder, “How ‘bout this Tim, We switch places and you tell me how to arm the traps from the cave?” 

“But–”

“I’m only gonna ask once. I’m coming up there to get you either way.” Jason moved to grab his helmet from the duffle bag and a couple of shurikens from the rack.

“...fine. I– Eep!”

Jason turned his head to the screen so fast, he was sure he’d get whiplash. There on screen was the Joker holding Tim by the collar.

A laugh came through the coms, “I think it’s a bit past your bedtime. Don’t worry, Uncle J will tell you a bedtime story…”

Jason was already halfway up the stairs, “Stay here, Robin. Tell Batman.” Robin nodded, and Jason practically sprinted across the manor to get to Tim.

He could practically hear Bruce yelling at him in his brain about attacking the Joker without a plan, but here’s the thing— Jason genuinely did not care. He was going to make sure what happened to him would not happen to this baby version of his little brother. The Joker connives to get a rise out of Batman. It’s why he terrorizes the city. It’s why his exploits get worse and worse. It’s why he hurt Babs and killed Jason. And the Joker has only gotten worse as time went on.

Jason reached the living room and was about to fling a shuriken at the Joker’s arm to make him drop Tim, but he suddenly moved to put Tim in a headlock, with a gun to his head. 

It was eerily reminiscent of the way Jason had held the Joker during that confrontation. With Him, Bruce, and the Joker.

The Joker let out a laugh that grated against his ears like nails on a chalkboard, “And who might you be? For a second there I thought you were one of mine.” The Joker tilted his head, “Though, maybe you are… did you raid Daddy’s wardrobe? I do say, you look nice, but I think I wore it better.”

Jason tsked in a way that would make Damian proud, “With your pasty looking face? No chance. Let the kid go.” 

The Joker pouted, “But the show hasn’t even started! We don’t even have a full house yet. Batsy’s going to have to make a tough choice, huh?”

There was a crackle of electricity near the other entrance to the living room, “Let him go.” Dick’s voice was dangerously low.

“Well if it isn’t the first boy blunder. My, my, you’ve grown up quite a bit. And a new costume change I see? A shame, I liked the other one better. Though I do suppose this one leaves more to the imagination.”

Jason was going to strangle the clown, and then bash his face in, and then grab his gun and shoot him multiple times, and then–

The Joker brought the gun closer to Tim’s head, “Apapa, Big Red. Wouldn’t want Timmy’s big brains painting the carpet. The dry cleaning would be just terrible.” started cackling like he had just said the funniest joke ever.

He could see the panic flash on Tim’s face for a second, before he closed his eyes and took a slow breath, and painted over the fear with apathy. It was something his Tim could do much faster, but it was still… unnerving to watch a kid barely older than 10 do. Tim rolled his eyes, “You know for someone named the Joker, you’re not very funny. I’ve seen Batman laugh at Robin loads of times. He’s known you for what, fifteen years? Yet you still haven’t gotten a laugh out of him.”

The Joker hit Tim’s temple with the gun “Shut it, brat.” He turned his gaze onto Dick, “Say, Nightwing, what would ya do if I… say, killed the little b–haha! The kid. What would you do if I killed him? Would you punch me hard? Maybe if I fanned the fire, would the punches keep coming? Would they? Until I could no longer see straight? Until I could no longer breathe.” the Joker giggled “And only my Dark Knight in shining armor– a true love's kiss from Batsy could bring me back.” The Joker, since he got out all he needed to say, let out a full body laugh.

Dick’s jaw clenched so hard, Jason would’ve thought he was about to break a tooth. 

And Tim had the biggest ‘what in the ever loving fuck?’ expression on his face, “Mr. Joker sir, could you put me down? I think you’re a bit too delusional if you think you’re even close to being in Batman’s league.”

“Tim–” Dick was about to warn him to probably take the sass down three notches when the Joker started laughing again. Both Batmen stood at the same entrance as Dick, though their 

“Batsy! There’s two of you! This is wonderful!” He frowned, and looked directly at Jason, “Hm… I wonder where the little birdie is? Hehehe, Oh well, we can just start without him. Good thing too, my hands are getting sweaty. Who knows, my finger might just slip…” The Joker curled the finger that was on the trigger, but Jason knew he wasn’t going to pull it. Not yet. It wasn’t dramatic enough yet. Batman subtly shifted closer to Jason. 

Figures. Of course he would make sure that he could get in between the Joker and Jason if need be. Though, as much as it pains him, he wasn’t going to try to kill this one. Not because the Joker deserved to be spared or because Bruce told him to stop killing. No. It was because he knew Robin was watching through the cameras, and he didn’t want that version of himself to see the person he had become.

“Such an old house. I wonder if there are any ghosts here.” The Joker looked at Jason and shivered, but it was for the bit, because he gave him a grin that made his blood run cold, “Haha! Definitely. Though… I can feel something in the air. Like it’s making room for another ghost to join.” The Joker laughed, “Now, I based this off of a dream I had once. How did it go again? Right, I didn’t have an extra gun on hand, but it’s ok! Hehe, you won’t need it anyways.” He readjusted his grip on Tim and gave Jason a wink, “ You want to stop me, you’re going to have to kill me. All you’ve got is a head-shot. I’m going to blow his addled, deranged brains out, and if you want to stop it– Hahaa! You’re going to have to shoot me, Hehehee! right in my face.” The uncontrollable laughter kept getting louder and louder– How did he know ? They were in a completely different reality , How did he know ? “Of course, you don’t have a gun, so maybe a batarang would do. Right to the neck.” The Joker looked back to Jason, his head tilting as his grin grew impossibly bigger, “This is turning out so much better than I thought. I’ll give you to the count of three. One… Two…Thr–”

“ No!” Except it didn’t come from Batman, or Batman, or Dick. It came from Jason. But It didn’t come from Jason. It came from Robin .

A batarang hit the elbow that was holding Tim, sending him to the floor just as a shot rang out. Except the bullet didn’t clatter to the floor or into the wall, there was the sound of metal piercing through skin. But it didn’t hit Tim. Because the barrel wasn’t facing where Tim had been

It was facing Jay.  

Blood was gushing from the kid’s neck as cackles rang throughout the Manor.

“You know that’s how you wanted that night to end, Red. You aren’t supposed to be here, and you know it. Not here, not anywhere! Haha, you’re supposed to be– ACK!” 

Jason couldn’t tell if there was electricity crackling, or if it was just the static in his ears. He couldn’t tell if there was the sound of skin meeting skin, or if it was just the pounding of his heart. 

All he knew was that he took off his helmet as he bent down to put pressure on the bleeding. The bullet went through the side of his neck. Almost exactly where Jason had his scar from the batarang. Except the wound was deeper and he was losing more blood. And Jay was smaller.

Tim crawled up to them, “J-Jason…?”

Even through the domino mask, Jason could feel the demanding gaze from Jay, “No. Tim. ‘s not… y’r fault.”

“But, if-if I hadn’t left, then- then the Joker, he wouldn’t’ve–”

“Not. Your. Fault.” Jay grabbed Tim’s hand, “Don’t… die. Not f’r a… long time. Live.”

“You– You’re the one who’s…You’re actively bleeding out. Right now.”

“No. Batman… d’sn’t need…  R’bin. Br’ce…Bruce needs…. Someone’a… tell ‘im he’s not… ‘n dark. Bruce. Needs. Us.” Jay brought a weak hand from his heart to Tim’s, “Hope.” Jay looked to Jason, and gave him a tired smile, “‘s the thin’... w’th… feathers.”

Jason tried his best to return the smile, “ ”Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all -” Jay gave a content breath out. He closed his eyes to just… listen. “ And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird- That kept so many warm -” with each stanza, Jay’s pulse got slower and slower. “I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me.”

Jay took one breath in, and he could see Tim squeeze his hand tighter. And as he let his final breath out, there was a soft, “ Te Amo.” that escaped Jay’s lips.

“Jason?” There were tears pooling in Tim’s eyes, “Jason, please . Say sike right now, this isn’t funny.” 

Jason leaned back and started to take off his bloodstained gloves, “Tim–”

“I-I promise I won’t sneak out to take pictures anymore. I promise I won’t sneak coffee, and I- I won’t lie to Alfred. I won’t make fun of your height anymore, just please – Jason , I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Come back.” 

“Tim…”

He looked up at Jason all bleary eyed, “Why won’t he say sike? He’s Robin , he- he– he can’t be gone.”

Jason spread his arms, and Tim immediately dove into his chest and started sobbing, “He- He’s never… He’s never going to be… big like you.”

Jason held onto Tim, “ Pajarito…” He rubbed small circles into Tim’s back as he sobbed harder. 

He wanted to stay. He didn’t want to leave Tim all alone just like that. He didn’t want Tim to lose one Jason just to lose another.

But the room turned white, and they were gone.

[spookymystery67]

I Wish I Could Walk In Heels

AN: Long time no see. This took way longer than I had hoped. I guess life is really kicking my ass right now, so apologies. I really appreciate all the support from everyone who reads/comments/likes my story. It really helps with motivation when I feel like my writing is awful. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I'm hoping that now that we're moving on to the actual game story line that it will be easier to get chapters out now that I don't have to rely fully on my imagination. It's lacking right now lol. Enjoy!

Chapter 19:

-2004-

“You'd think you and I would have learned our lesson by now.” 

“Just help me get down, you lunatic.” You grumbled once you could look at her properly, as you were finally done spinning in uncontrollable circles.

Ada couldn't keep her composure any longer and let out an amused laugh at your predicament. She tried a few times to stop and regain her breathing, successfully doing so before she looked back up at you, only to begin laughing harder once more when she caught your unamused glare. 

She couldn't take you seriously when you were hanging upside down by your left leg from a beam, struggling to get yourself free from the tangle of wire as you growled at yourself over your failure. Your growling was turned to aim at her when she had made no move to help you down and her laughter showed no sign of slowing down.

“Ada, my love. Please stop laughing and get me down from here.” You said as sweetly as possible through your irritation. You were becoming more and more lightheaded the longer you were stuck up there and your leg was going numb from holding all your weight.

Ada had to brace her hands against her knees to stop herself from falling over due to her laughter throwing her off balance. She stood to full height as her laughter slowed down to a stop, looking at you with fondness and love in her expression.

“Of course, my love.” She moves to help carefully untangle you. “You know, maybe it's time you give up on the grappling hook. It's only ever caused you pain and embarrassment.”

“True, but it also brings you amusement.” You pointed out. Ada nodded in agreement.

“Definitely. But I don't want to see you get hurt, dear. Plus, it's been six years. It's just not meant to be if you haven't got the hang of it by now.” Ada said as she finally untangled you. She quickly caught you as you fell, placing you gently on the ground and holding you steady as you tried to get over the dizziness that nearly made you tumble to the floor of the abandoned warehouse building you both chose to practice in.

You huffed in disappointment. “But I don't want to give it up. It's cool.”

Ada smirked. “Only when you can actually use it correctly.” You playfully shoved her away from you in response to her teasing.

“Well, apparently not everyone can be as cool as you.”

Ada shook her head in amusement as she wrapped her arms around your waist, pulling you in close. “Oh hush. You are cool. Just in your own, unique, way that others may not fully understand.” She cooed.

You raised a brow, unimpressed with her teasing attempt to “comfort” your bruised ego. But, you couldn't resist her soft smile and beautiful brown eyes for long. 

Your face broke into a smile and you gave up on being fake angry with her. “Fine. I give up. Clearly the only people that can use grappling hooks are you and Batman.”

“Does Batman use grappling hooks?” Ada questioned, having no knowledge on comic book superheroes.

You shrugged. “How else does he get on top of those tall ass buildings to stare out into Gotham City and brood?”

“The elevator?” Ada sassed.

The mental image you conjured up of Bruce Wayne dressed up as Batman trying to ride an elevator to the top without being seen by civilians makes you let out a cackle. Ada looked as proud as she always did to get that reaction out of you from her stupid jokes.

“So, I was thinking.” Ada started, still holding you in her embrace. “Maybe we can take a break from work for a while. Have a little vacation for a few weeks and just enjoy each other's company.”

You looked back up at her with surprise. “Ada Wong, the most workaholic person I have ever known, wants to take a break from work?” 

Ada raised a brow and squeezed your waist tighter with a smirk. “Is that not what I just said? Do we need to get your hearing checked?” She said as she lightly flicked your ear.

You swatted her hand away with a fake glare. “Well excuse me for being skeptical. Any breaks that we've had over the last six years were the result of me whining and begging you to submit due to sheer annoyance.”

“I was never annoyed with you. I just like to play hard to get.” 

You looked at her in mock confusion. “Hmm, you weren't that hard for me to get.”

“But if anyone asks, I was. I have a reputation to uphold here.” Ada teased. She playfully booped your nose just to see it scrunch up in reaction. Her smile widened as your brows furrowed in slight irritation from the gesture. “So… is that vacation a no?”

You quickly shake your head. “No! Not a no. I wouldn't mind taking a breather. Any place you have in mind?”

Ada shrugged with a smug smirk. “I have an idea or two. But it's a surprise.” 

You had a love/hate relationship with surprises. Under normal circumstances, you hated not knowing what “surprise” someone thought up involving you. But with Ada, you tend to love whatever surprise she had for you. She never did anything that would make you uncomfortable and always took note of whatever interested you and kept them in mind for said surprises in the future. 

“Hmm, alright. Knowing you, I wouldn't hate it.” You accepted.

Ada goes to respond when a voice from behind you interrupted, making her freeze for a moment as she looked over your shoulder.

“So this is what you have been up to these last six years, Ada. Playing house.”

You quickly turned to face the intruder as Ada moved to subtly stand slightly between you and the unknown man. He looked vaguely familiar. But you couldn't quite put a finger on it.

Though judging by the way Ada was immediately on guard, you could easily assume the stranger was bad news.

“I quite honestly never pegged you as the type to settle down. You always seemed to prefer to be constantly on the move.” The man said.

You observed him as he walked closer to the two of you. His demeanor screamed professional and dangerous. The type of guy with a no nonsense and straight to business attitude. He seemed completely unbothered by your presence, or by the gun in your hand that you took out and had pointed at him as you moved to stand by Ada. So she wouldn't be in the crossfire.

The man had blonde, slicked back hair and pale skin. His age seemed to be around his thirties or forties from what you could tell. He wore dark, professional clothing and donned a pair of sunglasses that covered the color of his eyes. 

The sunglasses kind of reminded you of when Ada had worn hers back in Raccoon City, as they were completely pointless in the dimmed lighting of the warehouse you and Ada had deemed appropriate for training.

“Yeah, well, I'm full of surprises.” Ada purred dryly. Her guard was up. Her mask on. Unbothered. Toeing the line between professional and flirty. She nudged you slightly, her way of telling you to put your gun down. You listened, trusting her to know how best to handle the situation.

“I'm fully aware. Don't think I have forgotten that you had backed out of our deal, Ada. You're lucky I have more important things to concern myself with other than wanting you and your little girlfriend dead.” The man said. 

Oh. 

You should have known.

This was Albert Wesker. That's why he looked familiar. You had seen a picture of him six years ago when you were snooping through files just before Raccoon city fell. You also, very clearly, remembered that this man had wanted you dead and for Ada to do the job. You wondered if that was still the case, but decided to keep your mouth shut for the time being.

“Why are you here?” Ada questioned, wanting nothing more than to get you away from the man. But, she had to engage in conversation with him. She already knew that fighting your way out of this would be pointless and needlessly dangerous for the both of you. 

She could handle this without endangering you.

“Business. I have a job for you. One that requires your particular skill set. Despite your previous failure,” Even with his sunglasses on, you could tell from his tone alone that he was giving you the side eye. “I am willing to give you another chance. And you will be paid, of course.”

Ada raised a brow as she swayed closer to shield you once more. 

“That doesn't sound like you. Giving people second chances.” She skeptically stated. Though, it sounded almost like playful teasing with her mask on. You saw right through it.

“You're not the only one who is full of surprises.” Wesker deadpanned. He seemed bored of the entire conversation.

She smirked. “And if I refuse?” Ada seemed to already know the answer to this question, but asked it anyway.

“Simple. I will kill your little girlfriend here.” He pointed toward you, before turning back to Ada. “And then I will kill you. But you already knew this. Don't waste my time with idiotic questions. Now, what will it be?”

You didn't really like being so casually threatened. But you stayed silent.

Ada glanced back at you, who was quiet throughout the conversation, debating. While you felt you both could take him in a fight, you still had to consider the alternative. 

Umbrella wasn't at all as powerful or influential as it was six years ago. Both you and Ada had a part in that downfall. You had a feeling Wesker knew this. Was he even a part of Umbrella still? Neither of you knew for sure.

But you had to assume that he still has some influence in whatever he was a part of. Meaning he had numbers. Meaning he had back up. Of course he has back up, he's not an idiot. You likely wouldn't make it out alive if Ada refused and tried to fight him off. 

All the more reason to accept his threat/offer.

You gave her a single nod, knowing she had a similar thought process as you. She knew the best way out of this situation. She knew him better. Yet she still paused for your input, making a warm feeling pool in your chest at the fact she cared about how you felt in the situation. You forced yourself to brush it off.

Now is not the time to get distracted by the love of your girlfriend.

Ada turned to face Wesker. “We're a package deal. I won't go anywhere without her.” She said, referring to you.

Wesker looked unimpressed, but accepted nonetheless. “Very well. The payment I have in mind is more than enough for two. But if she interferes with the missions in any way, you both will regret it.”

You didn't appreciate being bad-mouthed like you weren't even there in the room to listen. You spoke up for the first time since Wesker had made his presence known.

“Don't worry, I won't sabotage the mission.” You affirmed. You had a lot more unpleasant words you wanted to say in mind, but chose to not risk the situation turning into more of a problem.

Ada nodded in agreement. “I trust her more than anyone to help me get things done.” Her sincerity shone brightly through the mask she donned for Wesker. You weren't sure he even noticed, or cared to.

“Wonderful.” Wesker deadpanned. “Shall we discuss the details.”

—

You and Ada had to endure hours of debrief from Wesker. To sum it up, the mission was to take place in a village in Spain called Los Iluminados, where you were both to obtain an object called the Amber by someone named Luis. 

You've also both figured out that Wesker is part of the Organization Ada works for. And, by extension, you. The fact that for the last six years, Wesker knowingly and purposely spent the entire time staying out of your radar left you uneasy. If he wanted you dead before, why didn't he just kill you himself? He had the power.

Not knowing exactly what he was planning left you both feeling extremely uneasy. You only had educated guesses based on his past actions to go off of.

“Hey, you know everything is going to be fine, my love.” Ada voiced after you both searched the hotel room for hidden wire taps or anything that Wesker could use to spy on you with. It was clear. You could speak freely.

Her mask was off. The true Ada you know and love returned. Sincere and loving as always, worried about you and how you felt. She could sense your unease from a mile away and wanted nothing more than to comfort you.

You took off your jacket and tossed it on a lounge chair, before facing her fully. “I don't like it, Ada. I really don't.”

She nodded in agreement. “Believe me, I'm not a fan either.” 

“The fact that this entire time we have been together, Wesker knew and did nothing? It worries me.” You said.

“Well, we both suspected he was fully aware of everything. Why is it so surprising?”

“Suspecting and knowing for sure are two, very different, things. I had a small peace of mind when I was oblivious. Now I want to know what the hell he is planning.”

“The only person who knows Wesker is Wesker. Not even his closest 'friends’ know him well.” Ada said. She walked over to the loveseat placed in the very large hotel space. She sat down and encouraged you to sit right next to her.

“Still, six years and not a peep. No threats. Then suddenly he needs you.” You ranted as you sat beside her, on her right side.

“It could be a test. To see if I can be trustworthy.” Ada stated a possibility.

You paused, thinking for a moment. “He sees you as a means to an end. This mission is dangerous. It's very similar to Raccoon City. If you fail, if you die, he'll just send another.” 

Ada smirked, knowing you were right. It does seem like Wesker. “Sounds spot on, my love. He was saving all of his threats until we were needed for a suicide mission. He is sending all of his untrustworthy people first. If we die, which he could think is likely, then his problem will be solved.” She said to you as she placed an arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer to her.

You lay your head upon her shoulder with a sigh. “What if we don't die and we succeed in getting the Amber? Will he actually pay us or will he kill us?”

Ada paused. “I'm not entirely sure. Though, I am willing to bet that he won't just let us go without issue.”

“So, we won't hand it over?”

“We'll decide that when the time is right.” She shrugged.

“I don't know how I feel about going to this village. From what Wesker said, it's a little too similar to Raccoon City for my tastes.”

“I agree. But we won't be there for very long. Plus, we'll be right by each other's side throughout the whole thing. You have my back, I got yours, right?”

You nodded sincerely. “Of course. I've got you.”

Ada smiled, “And I've got you.” She pulled you even closer to her, if that was even possible. While you always felt safe in Ada's arms, she always felt the same way in your own. It was a mutual comfort.

You turned into a more comfortable position to return the hug properly as you both sat there in a comfortable silence.

“Guess that vacation will have to wait, huh?” You muttered quietly into her shoulder. She hummed with laughter as she held you tightly.

“Seems like it. Don't worry, I'll make it to you eventually.”