writing-after-midnight

[writing-after-midnight]

Disposable Heroes - Chapter 2

WRITING MASTERLIST

Season 4 babeyyy

After the events in the trailer with Chrissy Cunningham, Eddie is scared out of his mind. That is, until he accidentally threatens a familiar face with a broken bottle.

I'm only just getting back into writing after literal years of nothing so any feedback is welcomed if I can improve! Hope you enjoy :)

-Eddie-

Large brown eyes, staring at me in a mixture of fear and shock.

Steve Harrington?

I know there was that one time in the cafeteria where he helped me as much as his social status would allow, but I can’t trust anyone anymore. I don’t lower the broken beer bottle I’m holding from his throat. 

I hear Dustin screaming at me to calm down, and that nobody is going to hurt me. I don’t let my guard down, but I still my body. I snap my head towards Dustin as he introduces me to two girls behind him that I recognise from Hawkins High, Robin and Max.

“We’re not going to hurt you, Eddie.” Dustin says, fear ringing his voice. “Steve is going to put the oar down. Right Steve?”

“Right; right I’ll put it down.” Steve all but squeaks, dropping his would-be weapon with a clatter. His terror is evident in his eyes, and realistically, he could easily overpower me if he really wanted to hurt me. 

Our faces are only inches away, and I bear myself into him, pushing him against the wall. Such pretty brown eyes, if they weren’t so afraid of me at this moment.

STOP IT.

Ever since Steve Harrington graduated from Hawkins High, I have been able to push down what admittedly had been a crush for him. He was obviously interested in women — not me—

and even if he did like me back, it would only bring him a lifetime of secret, forbidden meetings and pain by trying to hide ourselves from the world. The “Devil-worshipping” freak turning the former Hawkins High Prom King queer? The town wouldn’t let us live it down for years.

“What are you guys doing here?” I growl. 

“We want to help. We’re on your side.”

The pleading in Dustin’s voice, and Harrington’s submission convince me. 

As I feel myself starting to relax, shuddering breaths start to wrack my body. My chest heaves as I lower my bottle from Steve’s exposed throat. 

“I’m sorry.” I back away into the opposite corner of the shed, releasing my death grip on Harrington’s shoulders. Upon being freed, Steve sinks down to the floor where he stood. The girls rush to make sure he’s okay, while I feel myself start to shake uncontrollably.

Dustin explains that they just want to talk about what happened and finally, the events of the last day catch up to me. A drug deal that was running smoothly until I saw the milky white of her eyes rolled back into her skull. Then her body levitating from an unknown force and pinning itself to the ceiling. Limbs snapping to unnatural angles, jaw dislocating, and eyes leaking tears of blood, before crashing back to the ground. 

I thought whatever had happened to Chrissy Cunningham had been some sort of terrible nightmare, until I found myself in this dingy boat shed. I don’t even remember running here in my panic. But I do know that I can never show my face near Hawkins again; not with police cars cruising past day and night looking for me. 

“I didn’t know what to do, so… I ran away. I left her there. You guys must think I’m crazy, right?” I ask. Dustin tries to disagree, but I scoff.

“We believe you.” Robin says. At this point even if she’s only saying it to calm me down, it’s comfort enough.

Dustin attempts to explain to me what has really been happening in Hawkins over the last couple of years. It all sounds like something straight out of the fantasy novels lining my shelves back at the trailer, but somehow, it makes sense of what happened to Chrissy. Nothing about it was natural, and if it was the monsters Dustin is talking about-- if it was a creature like Vecna, who had almost decimated Hellfire Club…

Or maybe it’s my fried brain making me believe all of this.

Some time after, the group decide between themselves what their next steps are in God knows whatever their plan is. They seem to know more about what the hell has gone on than I do. 

“First, we’re going to go get you some food if you’re going to be camping out for the next few days.” Dustin says. 

“It’s the middle of the night, Dustin. Don’t you think it’ll be a little suspicious if we all go?” Asks Robin.

“Okay, well it’s probably best if we all have a way to communicate, so Max and I can go grab my old walkie-talkies while you and Steve can go to the gas station and grab the food.”

Everyone else agrees, apart from Steve. I see him stand up and take Robin aside while the kids grab their bags. I can tell he’s trying to be quiet, but I hear my name and the words “shaken up”. Robin raises an eyebrow at him. Maybe he doesn’t want anything to do with me after I was inches away from cutting his throat.

Except, when Dustin, Robin and Max leave, Harrington stays. He makes sure the door is secured shut behind the others, and comes to sit down against the boat a couple meters away, facing me. He also grabs the tarp off the boat to cover the bright flashlight, so a dim blue light illuminates our little section of the shed. 

“I just figured you wouldn’t want to be left in this shed by yourself after what you told us about the other night. It would drive anyone crazy being cooped up in here.” Steve mumbles, looking at his hands in his lap.

I am dumbfounded. Why on earth is he bothering to stay with me? Nobody outside of the Hellfire Club, including him when he was still at Hawkins High, usually even bothers to give me a second glance. We sit there awkwardly for a minute or two.

“I, uh..” I eventually break the silence. “I’m sorry I threatened to stab you.” 

“Y’know surprisingly, it’s not the worst that has happened to me before.”

“What could be worse than getting stabbed by a broken bottle?”

“Would you believe me if I said it was getting kidnapped and beaten to a pulp by Commies in an ice cream parlour uniform?”

“Absolutely not, Harrington, so I apologise again for making you fear near-certain death.”

Steve chuckles.“I mean, I wouldn’t worry about it. It probably makes up for us all being assholes towards you in school.”

“You weren’t though, not really. You helped me out in the cafeteria when Tommy Hagan beat me up.” I reply.

“But I never really stood up to him; most of the time I just let stuff like that happen. I thought it was better to stick in with the crowd.”

We sit there again in silence again for a bit, but it’s a bit more comfortable this time.

The blue light illuminates Steve’s face. He hasn’t changed much; he still has his air of confidence; same big, brown eyes. He’s grown his hair out since I last saw him. It looks good. I chastise myself for it, but I remember why I used to spot him in the corridors of Hawkins High every day. Old feelings bubble in the pit of my stomach, but I force myself to ignore it.

“So, is the Hellfire Club still going?” Steve asks, shifting himself into a more comfortable position to look up at me. I understand he’s probably just trying to keep our minds off whatever the hell has been happening in the last day or so, but he does genuinely seem interested.

And just like that, we make easy conversation. I tell him about the new campaign that Dustin is obsessed with, which makes him smile, and against my will, a small smile of my own pulls my lips upward at it. We talk about things we remember from our time in Hawkins High. While our experiences differed massively, we find ourselves agreeing about a lot of things. Harrington has really calmed down his ‘asshole’ personality he had around his old friends, and it suits him. He even manages to pull a few laughs out of me, which I didn’t think would be possible in this situation. Maybe if we hadn’t been so caught up in having to hate each other in school, maybe we could have even been friends.

We are both chuckling at the not-so-secret romance of Mrs Click and Mr Mundy when there’s a quiet knock on the door. Steve’s eyes go wide as he snatches the flashlight and clicks it off. I make a silent dash for the boat and start to pull the blue tarp over myself. Before I can, the door opens. 

I spot a cap and curly hair pop around the door and sneak in, followed by another shadow in a blue jacket. I huff a “Jesus Christ” as Dustin and Max enter the shed, carrying walkie-talkies and a thin blanket.

“You almost gave us a heart attack, Henderson.” I say.

“Jeez; you’re welcome for us trekking all over Hawkins for you. My house isn’t exactly close.” Dustin grumbles. 

Dustin becomes quickly preoccupied with sorting out the frequencies on the walkies.

Steve leans against the boat, giving the wood three short taps, then a long knock, followed by another tap.

“Then you’ll know it’s just me, or one of the others next time.” He says, offering a hand to help me out of the boat. His cool hand on mine takes me back to that day in the cafeteria. This time, he doesn’t avert his gaze in embarrassment. He looks right at me, an easy smile playing on his lips. 

Robin slips through the door quietly moments later, bringing an assortment of junk food and snacks, muttering an apology that it’s all they had at the gas station. At the sight of food, my stomach rumbles. I immediately rip into a box of Honeycomb cereal and down a handful, while the group sort out the plan going forward between themselves. Dustin hands me a walkie and explains that they’ll be back as much as possible to check up on me without raising suspicion. They all give me a final check, and leave me.

Gathering the blanket Dustin brought around me, I head back to the boat to try to find maybe an hour of sleep. The shape of the boat and the slats of wood I have to maneuver around don’t make it comfortable, but it’s better than the damp floor.

Talking about my time at Hawkins years ago brings back all the memories of the times that in comparison to now, weren’t so shitty. To my annoyance, long brown hair and deep brown eyes plague my thoughts as my eyes shut. But if Steve has changed, maybe allowing myself to like him isn’t such a bad thing…

---

Always and Forever:@ifangirlninja​​ @tangledraysofsunshine​​ @sleeping-and-books​​ @abimomeopectore​​ @run-as-fast-as-you-caan @ignite14​​ @illyrianbeauty​​ @islamonna​​​ @the-dreamer-of-velaris​ @redwyvern1 @wonderlandatemypancakes @highladysith​ @acer6437 @hellas-himself​ @rhysandanaana​ @queer-puddle​    

[writing-after-midnight]

Disposable Heroes - Chapter 1

WRITING MASTERLIST

I’m somewhat alive after not posting for like 2 years. Hi there everybody! Enjoy this shameless fic I’m starting and hopefully continuing because my Stranger Things obsession got a bit too much.  Please let me know if any of y’all want to be updated if a second part comes out! I’ll add my old always and forever taglist but you guys please just say “Ew Lyds who gave you the right?” if you don’t want to be on here :) 

I think the next part will maybe carry into the events of season 4 instead of pre-Stranger Things like this part.

*****

Steve

Every day, there’s always that damned look. 

“Hey, is Steve Harrington in there?” Tommy waves his hand in front of my face, snapping me out of wherever my brain had wandered off to. “He’s probably thinking about Nancy.” He chuckles, earning a laugh from Carol.

It’s no secret that I’ve been flirting with Nancy for months, stealing kisses in quiet corridors before she runs off to class. I wish I could finally convince her to sit at our table, away from the Hellfire Club. Tommy was right, I was staring at Nancy; but then I was staring at him.

Each day, I glance around at all the cliques at each of the tables, and always find a pair of deep brown eyes beneath thick layers of long curly hair surveying me from the other side of the room. As soon as I make eye contact with Eddie Munson, he looks away, but he never breaks his distasteful expression for me and the rest of the people in the room. He looks at school like the school looks at him and the rest of his band of misfits: disgust. I should be used to it by now, but Eddie’s piercing stare directed at me unsettles me, somehow. 

I offer a small smile to my friends, and try to join back into the conversation, but I can’t focus on Tommy and Carol’s gossip, which is mostly them flirting anyway these days. All I can feel is the piercing stare on me again, but I pretend to ignore the Hellfire Club’s raucous chatter until we’ve finished eating. 

Tommy and Carol stand up and head towards the bins, and I take it as my chance to make my way over to Nancy’s table. I know that she won’t appreciate the public interaction, but I’m hoping to make her feel more comfortable with other people knowing we’re a thing.

I saunter up behind Nancy, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. Her friend, Barb, notices me first. When I first started flirting with Nancy, I could tell Barb felt contempt towards me. I don’t think she expected me to go after the quiet, sweet, hardworking girl that keeps out of the way; especially when there are plenty of other girls that would say yes to a date immediately. But I can see she’s very slowly starting to warm up to the idea of Nancy talking to me, even if she gives me a frequent side-eye.

“Hey.” I say, placing a light hand onto Nancy’s shoulder and maneuvering into the seat beside her.

She jumps, a blush immediately forming on her face and despite herself, a small smile.

“Steve, what are you doing here? It’s the middle of the cafeteria.”

“Don’t worry about it, Nance. Like, half the school knows anyway.” I say, which earns an irritated “hmph” from Barb sitting on her other side. At this comment, Nancy turns redder and casts a nervous glance around the cafeteria, like she’s caught in some massive government secret. “Meet me after school behind the gym.” I whisper into her ear, before kissing her cheek and standing up to find Tommy and leave. 

That’s when I find him on the wrong side of the cafeteria.

“Are you trying to start a fight with me, freak?” Tommy shouts, staring down Eddie Munson from the other side of his table, which has fallen into dead silence. Eddie doesn’t reply, he just smirks slightly at the reaction from whatever he said to him.

It’s all Tommy needs to see before launching himself over the table and careening headfirst into Munson. They crash onto the floor, and before either of them could possibly catch their breath, I see Tommy landing punches to Eddie’s body. The cafeteria has exploded into shouts and jeering, and I don’t even process that I’ve started running towards them until I yank Tommy off of Eddie’s now crumpled form.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I shout, shoving Tommy away. As soon as Tommy storms out of the cafeteria with Carol on his tail, the people who had gathered dissipate immediately. The Hellfire Club  gather around their leader, but instead of hearing sounds of pain, I hear… laughing? 

Eddie sits up, a smile on his face, and blood dripping down his nose, wetting a fly-away lock of his hair in red.

“That, boys, is how easy it is to piss off the people who rule this school.” 

The Club notice I’m still there, standing awkwardly. Honestly, I don’t know why I’m here in the first place; I should have just let them both get it out of their systems. Munson may be labelled a reject, but nobody deserves to get beaten up in the middle of a cafeteria. 

“What? Come to finish the job, Harrington?” Eddie says, still sitting on the floor.

I should have disappeared as soon as I broke up the fight. Of course I’m not going to beat him up, but if I look like I talk to Eddie Munson on the regular, I’ll lose everything I have going at Hawkins High. 

I step forward, and outstretch my hand. The few remaining people watching, as well as the Hellfire Club, look shocked. Even Eddie’s eyes widen a bit. The look of utter disgust for me shifts into something I can’t read-- perhaps curiosity? He cautiously accepts my hand. Without meaning to, I notice his warm, calloused fingertips brush mine, and how his eyes glint in the light as he watches my every move. I hastily pull him up, and let go of his hand.

“Don’t make me have to do this again, Munson.” I mutter, unsure of what else to say, before walking out of the cafeteria, looking at the floor so as to not make eye contact with anyone after that interaction.

Eventually, I find Tommy and Carol at the end of lunch by their lockers. Carol is still consoling Tommy over whatever Eddie said to bruise his ego. I sigh internally, but join them.

“Why did you stay in the cafeteria, Harrington? People won’t want to know your name if they think you hang out with those maniacs.” Tommy says angrily.

“At least I’m not going around beating up people for no reason. I’m embarrassed for you for stooping so low.”

“Aw,” mocks Tommy. “Does someone have a little crush on the freak? Someone needs to put him in his place, Steve.” 

My mouth involuntarily opens, but I close it. I don’t want to risk losing my friends and any popularity I’ve gained, but Tommy can really be an asshole. I question myself for bothering to help Eddie, but realise I’d still help him, looking back on it.

Before Tommy can tease me any more, the bell rings. I walk away without a goodbye and head towards my own locker. 

On the way, I pass the Hellfire Club finally leaving the cafeteria, dispersing into the busy crowd in the hallway. Even from a quick glance in their direction, I see him.

That damned look again, but somehow, something has changed within it. 

---

Eddie

I used to see Steve Harrington as one of the dumb jocks haunting this school, creating mindless gossip for everyone else to talk about. Honestly, I still do. But now, I know he’s not quite like everyone else.

I allowed myself to let my eyes wander around all of the cliques each lunch, but they always lingered on Steve Harrington. I hated myself for it. I sometimes caught his eye by accident, and would have to try desperately to hide the stupid heat that rose in my cheeks.

Most people-- especially people who are friends with Tommy Hagan-- would have left me there on the floor. They probably wouldn’t have even pulled him away from me, and he could have thrown a few more punches, just to see if things would get interesting. 

It’s understandable, I play my part as leader of the outcasts pretty well: staring down anyone that gives us dirty looks, and being just manic enough to scare most people off.

What happened in the cafeteria, it was almost like a fever dream. Nobody, including myself, expected Harrington to help me back up after his best friend just tackled me to the ground. Much less did I expect the poorly disguised look of bewilderment at his own actions in his expression. I think he expected it of himself less than everyone else did; deep down, he actually isn’t as much of an asshole as everyone should be led to believe, given his company. Of course, this incident has not helped me to stop picking him out in a crowd every single day. Annoyingly, I’m now almost like that airhead, Tammy Thompson. 

Each Wednesday, I sneak private glances his way, as DND and basketball practice finish at the same time. The tension between our friends is palpable as we walk past each other. Gareth or Tommy are usually the ones to mutter snide comments. But Steve keeps his head down and walks past silently, and so do I, almost like a silent peace treaty between the two of us.

It almost hurts to see him leave Hawkins High while I’m left behind, even if it’s just because my brain will not think of anything other than our brief interaction months before. Thinking about it, it is for the best. He is obviously still head over heels for Nancy Wheeler— even if they got together and broke up in the space of a year— and even if the flicker of emotion I saw in his eyes that day was real, he still wouldn’t risk becoming a social recluse to talk to me longer than a minute.

At the end of the day, I’m the outcast: nothing will hurt me unless I let it.

*****

Always and Forever:@ifangirlninja​ @tangledraysofsunshine​ @sleeping-and-books​ @abimomeopectore​ @run-as-fast-as-you-caan @ignite14​ @illyrianbeauty​ @islamonna​​ @the-dreamer-of-velaris @redwyvern1 @wonderlandatemypancakes @highladyofthesith @acer6437 @hellas-himself @rhysieorbuzzard @meltalgel-ig

[writing-after-midnight]

So… Steddie fanfic?

[writing-after-midnight]

While millions of people are staying home to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Scribd is making our digital library of ebooks and audiobooks free for everyone: scribd.com/readfree 

🤩T A G G I N G E V E R Y O N E🤩  

[writing-after-midnight]

Lights and Ladders

My piece for Day 3 of @acotarauweek​ ! Day 3 is for Christmas/Holiday AU, so why not have Cassian trying to show off to Nesta while hanging up Christmas lights? 

Based off of the prompt: “You’re gonna fall off the roof if you try hanging lights with that ladder.” 

The snow is still gently falling outside as I pull my hat on and follow Cassian to the garage. The weather has calmed down now, but there must be at least half a foot of snow on the ground from overnight. I make sure I’m wrapped up warm this winter; I don’t intend on getting ill.

“Cassian, I’m warning you now, you are going to fall off the roof if you use that ladder.” I grumble, annoyance tingeing my voice. I wouldn’t admit it, but I’d rather stay inside and decorate the tree, but a mixture of worry and amusement made me follow Cassian outside to keep an eye on him.

“And when have I ever been known to lose my balance, Sweetheart? I am the image of poise and grace.” He replies, a sly grin on his face. Ignorant brute.

He opens the garage door and steps in. I move to follow him, but the ice underneath my feet makes me lose my balance. I slip, and one hand instinctively flies to protect my stomach, the other grabbing the back of Cassian’s coat. He turns to steady me immediately, and pulls me close with a gloved hand into a tight hug, looking down at me with half lidded eyes. My cheeks turn red, and it’s not because of the cold. We may be married, but Cauldron damn him for making me flustered.

“Nesta, I’ll be fine.” He insists, leaning down to peck my nose with his lips. I bat him away, a laugh escaping me.

I help him to carry out the strings of light, while he hauls out the rickety ladder. I dump the lights on the icy ground and watch Cassian set the ladder up. I cross my arms around myself, trying to retain any heat that I can.

“You can go back inside, Sweetheart. I don’t mind.”

“Like I’m going to miss seeing your face as you fall off!” I reply.

Cassian flashes me a devilish grin as he adjusts his hat, before grabbing the end of the lights and starting his ascent.

Each step he takes up that cursed ladder, my heart jumps. The ladder is already starting to wobble. Cassian reaches the roof and turns his head to me.

“See, I’m fine!” He smiles as he takes a hand off the ladder to wave at me. My heart does another leap, as I involuntarily step forward. He laughs at my reaction, and I frown.

“Stop messing about!” I shout.

“I’m going to take that as a challenge!”

“YOU WILL NOT, CASSIAN!”

He doesn’t listen to me, instead taking the end of the string lights and proceeding to swing them around in one hand. Holding the ladder with his other hand, he kicks a leg out. Only the Mother knows what Cassian’s doing, because I certainly don’t. 

If he’s trying to put on some sort of show for me, I’m not enjoying it. Meanwhile, he seems to be having the time of his life, swinging the lights about and leaning back and forth on the ladder. I think he’s warbling his own version of ‘Santa Baby’? He tosses his hat to me playfully, but I’ve had enough. It’s not good for me to be stressing out this much about anything, not now… 

“If you’re going to kill yourself on that ladder, I’m not going to watch!” I call up to him. I pull my scarf tighter around me and turn to head inside.

“Nesta! Wait, I’m sorry. I’ll stop mess-” Cassian’s voice cuts off as I hear a loud creak from behind me.

I snap back around, to see the ladder teetering away from the wall, with Cassian still at the top. I choke out his name as the ladder falls. He clings to the rungs as tightly as he can. If I wasn’t already so worried about him, it would have almost looked comical. Cassian yells as he lands in a pile of snow.

My feet remember to move as I run as fast as I can towards his unmoving body. I drop down on my knees next to him and shake his shoulders frantically, muttering curses under my breath.

“Wake up, you stupid prick.” I say, my voice rising.

His snowflake speckled eyelashes flutter open and focus on me. 

“Am I in heaven?” He groans; but still a smirk plays on his lips. 

I whack him on the arm. “You idiot! That could have ended so much worse!” I force him to sit up by pulling him into a bone-crushing hug. Cassian moans as his body moves, but I don’t care.

“Don’t do that to me ever again.”

“I’ll just have to see if I can do a flip next time.” 

“There won’t be a next time, I won’t let you!” I hiss. I hear Cassian’s muffled laugh and I stand, hauling him up with me. His face twists with pain slightly, but he seems to be generally okay. Thank the Cauldron.

With a bit of help, we make it inside the house, leaving the sad string of lights and collapsed ladder in the snow. They’ll probably disappear under the next snowfall, but my main priority is not to die of hypothermia first. I plonk Cassian down on the sofa, then head to the kitchen to heat up a pan of milk.

A few minutes later, I come back to the living room with two hot chocolates to see Cassian has migrated to sit right in front of the fire.

“I’m so cold.” He whines as I sit next to him.

“Maybe you wouldn’t be so cold if you didn’t insist on going out and falling in the snow…” I reply, leaning over to rest my head on his shoulder. “Here, drink this.” I hand him his mug. “Marshmallows on top? My my, Nesta, I think you’ve gone soft. I’ll have to fall off ladders more often.”

“Shut up, you brute.” I can’t help the soft smile that forms on my face.

“You’re not having some mulled wine? The bottle has been sitting there for weeks.”

“No.” I say after a short pause.

Cassian frowns slightly, but doesn’t push further.

We sit staring at the fire, sipping our drinks and enjoying each other’s company. After a few minutes, he pulls me into his lap gently, kissing the back of my neck. Honestly, I should be checking if Cassian’s injured anything, but he should have listened to me in the first place. Also, I’m just enjoying the warm pressure of his lips on the back of my neck.

“I really am sorry you know, Nes. I was being stupid.” Cassian murmurs.

“And when are you not being stupid?” I reply.

He laughs. “I do enjoy seeing you go all angry mother hen on me, though.”

“Well, I would like you to see the next few Christmases.”

“I won’t be an idiot next year, I promise.” “I hope so. I suppose there will have to be at least one sensible person in the house to look after us all.” I reply, laughing.

Then I pause, and hope to the Cauldron that Cassian doesn’t pick up on what I just said.

“‘Us all’?” He asks hesitantly.

I try desperately to brush it off. “Us, Elain, Feyre, Rhys, Azriel, Mor, Amren... “ I trail off.

Cassian turns me around in his lap. I can’t look him in the eye yet. “That wasn’t what you meant…”

There’s a moment of silence, and I take a deep breath. “I was going to tell you on Christmas day, but I suppose now is as good a time as any.” I finally look up into his eyes. “There is going to be one more person to look after next Christmas.”

“What…?” Cassian looks confused, before his eyes dart down to my stomach and back to my face. I nod.

“I’m going to be a father?” He asks, tears already making tracks down his face. I nod again and can’t help the smile that forms on my face as Cassian leans in and kisses me again, and again, and again.

“How have I been so blessed in this world to have met you, Nesta?” A grin splits his face as he moves me off his lap to press a kiss to my stomach.

Then without warning, he stands up, weaves an arm under my legs and picks me up, twirling us both. I start giggling, giddiness finally overcoming me. We look into each other’s eyes as we share another kiss, and I rest my head on his shoulder. 

“I’m getting dizzy!” I say, still laughing.

“Oh Cauldron, I’m sorry! Are you okay?” Cassian instantly sounds worried.

He gently puts me down, and his hands find my stomach.

“You were out in the cold for so long with me today! You should have stayed warm, Sweetheart!” 

“Cassian, I’m fine! Just because I’m pregnant, it doesn’t mean I have to be carried everywhere like the Queen all of a sudden!” I say grumpily, but I’m still smiling.

“I’ll try not to be too overbearing, but I love you so much, Nesta, you know that?”

“I know, you brute.”

He pulls me close again, wrapping his arms around me and burying his face in my neck.

“We’re having a baby, Nesta.” Cassian murmurs, like he still can’t quite believe it. 

Eventually, we move away from the fire and lay down on the couch, switching on a Christmas movie. I rest my head on Cassian’s chest, and his hand rests on my stomach, and the new life that will be taking form there. The rest of the night passes by peacefully, and the snow continues to fall silently outside the window.

----------

Always and Forever:@ifangirlninja @tangledraysofsunshine @sleeping-and-books @abimomeopectore @run-as-fast-as-you-caan @ignite14 @illyrianbeauty @islamonna​ @the-dreamer-of-velaris @redwyvern1 @wonderlandatemypancakes @highladyofthesith @acer6437 @hellas-himself @rhysieorbuzzard @meltalgel-ig

[writing-after-midnight]

AO3 Account

We have created an AO3 account for ACOTAR AU WEEK!

We are have created collections that everyone can add their fics to when published. The main collection has 7 sub collections for each day (which you can find here).

All the collections are currently all closed but will be opened on the day of the AU.

We can’t wait to see everyone’s creations!

[writing-after-midnight]

ACOTAR AU Week Tumblr Group Chat

Hello, everyone!

We made a group chat using the new group chat feature for everyone who signed up to ACOTAR AU Week on the google form. Unfortunately, I couldn’t add everyone due to the users not coming up, so if you have changed your url please let us know! I also added the publishing URL’s (as stated in the form) but if anyone wants their main added, just message us!

On the group chat we will share updates, announcements and answering questions as well as chatting about our wips!

Just one month before ACOTAR AU Week begins! We hope everyone is as excited as we are!

- Lily (stars-falling)

[writing-after-midnight]

Day 7: Free AU

Publishing Date: 15/12/19

What is a Free AU?

Free AU day means you can write for any au your heart desires. 

Below we have included a ridiculous amount of prompts for popular AUs that have not been featured in ACOTAR AU WEEK. You do not have to write for the AUs listed below, they are simply there to help anyone who is stuck and needs inspiration. Also, please feel free to use this list anytime you need! Thank you for being so patient with the reveals, we are so excited and can’t wait to see everyone’s work! Keep an eye on the blog as we will be sharing information about posting and answering any questions that may come our way.

Tags to use: #acotar au week day 7 #day 7 free au #acotar au week

Prompts under cut:

Keep reading

[writing-after-midnight]

Day 6: School AU

Publishing Date: 14/12/19

Below we have included prompts for both high school and college AUs. However, feel free to write about anything to do with school for this AU. We are really excited to see what everyone creates!

Tags to use: #acotar au week #acotar au week day 6 #day 6 school au 

Prompts under cut:

Keep reading

[writing-after-midnight]

Day 5: Hogwarts AU

Publishing Date: 13/12/19

Tags to use: #acotar au week day 5 #day 5 hogwarts au #acotar au week

Prompts under cut:

Keep reading

[writing-after-midnight]

Day 4 people! 💖

Day 4: Modern AU

Publishing Date: 12/12/19

What counts as a modern au? 

Anything set in the modern world! It could be this one or one of your own design, it’s up to you.

Tags to use: #acotar au week day 4 #day 4 modern au #acotar au week

Prompts under cut:

Keep reading

[writing-after-midnight]

Day 4 coming tomorrow!!

Day 3: Christmas/Holiday AU

Date: 11/12/19

Tags to use: #acotar au week day 3 #day 3 christmas/holiday au #acotar au week

Prompts under cut:

Keep reading

[writing-after-midnight]

Day 2: Roommate AU

Date: 10/12/19

The next AU to be featured will be the Roommate AU! Once again, we have included prompts below, but do feel free to use your own! The next AU will be announced tomorrow!

Tags to use: #acotar au week day 2 #day 2 roommate au #acotar au week

Prompts under cut:

Keep reading

[writing-after-midnight]

For everyone participating in our AU week! More to follow over the next few days!!

Day 1: Coffee Shop AU

Publishing Date: 9/12/19

We are excited to announce that the first AU to be featured is the Coffee Shop AU. We have included prompts under the cut in case you are stuck for inspiration. We can’t wait to see what everyone creates! Keep an eye on this blog as we are revealing the next AU tomorrow. Any updates will also be posted here!

Tags to use: #acotar au week Day 1 #Day 1 coffee shop AU #acotar au week

Prompts under the cut:

Keep reading

[writing-after-midnight]

AU Announcements

We are excited to announce that the AUs for ACOTAR AU Week will be announced in the coming week, the first being announced tomorrow! From the 1st-7th of October, an AU will be announced daily. The announcements will contain the au, the official date of publishing (although posting times are flexible), corresponding tags and prompts, in case you are stuck for inspiration. Keep an eye on the blog for any other update and after announcing, we will be addressing how posting will work. 

Thank you for all of the enthusiasm shown!

- Lily, Lydia and Rachel

Send us your questions here

Sign up here

Find our FAQ here

[writing-after-midnight]

Important!

Hello everyone!

Firstly, thank everyone for signing up and being so enthusiastic. We are going to be revealing which AUs will be featured in ACOTAR AU Week (9-15th December) at the beginning of October. Starting on October 1st, we will announce an au day by day. These posts will include the AU, prompts and answers to questions people have asked. If you have questions, please send them in sooner rather than later so we can add them to the announcement posts and FAQ.

Thank you!

Lily (stars-falling), Lydia (writing-after-midnight) & Rachel (illyrianbeauty)

Send us your questions here.

Sign up here.

Find our FAQ here.

[writing-after-midnight]

You have loads of tattoos and piercings and everyone is scared of you but I can see you watching cat videos in the middle of class wow you’re a dork - elriel💖💖💖💖💖

WRITING MASTERLIST

Okay so this isn’t my best writing but couldn’t help but leave it open for a possible second chapter when I get the time! Thank you for the prompt and hope you enjoy!! 💕💕💕

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My brain feels foggy as I sit down at the back of the lecture theatre. I’m really not in the mood this morning, but I force myself to grab a pen and my notebook and wait quietly. The room starts to slowly fill up, but as usual, I don’t make small talk with anyone. I’m usually happy to just stay in my own little bubble, and especially after leaving Graysen, I prefer to keep to myself anyway. The last few people make their way to a seat as my English teacher sets up for the lecture. One of the last people to head in catches my eye, as he always seems to do.

People make way for him hurriedly, bumping into each other and eager not to get in his way. His midnight hair hangs over his face as he keeps his head down as he takes a seat directly in front of me. Though everyone has learned to keep a distance from the Nox brothers, there’s something that draws my eyes to Azriel.  Even though he has a rather intimidating appearance, his hazel eyes always look soft.

He’s nothing like Graysen, with a scatter of piercings in each ear and swirls of black ink on tanned skin peeking out of the top of his hoodie, but there’s an aura of mystery around him that I don’t think even Feyre would be able to paint.

A fight between the Nox brothers and Tamlin left Rhysand, Cassian and Azriel feared. Feyre later came to tell me that Tamlin had provoked the attack, and a week later, she broke up with him. Even before the fight, Azriel seemed… distant with everybody. I’ve never seen him with anyone but his brothers. Everyone prefers to avert their eyes as they walk past, like they are no better than the dirt on their shoes, but they don’t know the truth about what happened.

Miss Beecher starts talking and I force my hand to pick up a pen and start writing. For a few minutes, all I can hear is the monotonous drone of the Miss Beecher talking, the scratch of pens and the furious tapping of computer keys. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as Azriel starts to slowly lean back in his chair, arms folded. Like most of us in this room, he doesn’t seem to enjoy English on a Monday morning. 

I dare to look up, to see him pull out his phone, switch the volume to silent and open Youtube. Making notes instantly becomes less appealing as he searches up cat videos. How can he be so brooding but so cute at the same time? I wonder. Did I just call him cute? I wrinkle my nose at myself, but it doesn’t stop me from trying to casually catch a glimpse of the screen. There are cats falling off of sofas, chasing their own tails… time passes by as he taps on video after video, and I forget the lesson completely. 

A cat eats its food when it turns around to see a cucumber, and it flies off the screen. I have lost myself so completely in the trance of cat videos, I can’t help but giggle at the video. I realise what I’ve done too late as Azriel’s head whips back to see me stifling a laugh. His hazel eyes pierce mine, a smile dancing across his mouth, before his features soften into a small smirk. My cheeks instantly flush and I lean back into my chair and look back down at my notes. I’ve barely written half a page. Azriel turns back around, also seeming to realise he hasn’t taken any notes.

The rest of the lesson passes by quickly and I try my best to sneak glances at the notes of the girl sitting a chair away from me and catch up. I also find my eyes wandering back to Azriel. I have never spoken to him in my life; why do I find him so interesting all of a sudden? He seems to be doing fairly well catching up, having written nearly three pages. It’s nearing the end of the lesson, and everyone is starting to quietly pack away their things. I’m still trying to write the last of my notes, scribbling words that don’t even look like English anymore.

“Okay, now part of your final grades will be based on a creative writing project I will be setting today. I can trust you all to get yourself into pairs, and I’ll email you all the details after class. You can email me your pair, and your deadline is in two weeks.” Miss Beecher says.

A creative writing project? I groan inwardly. I have never talked to anyone in this room. It’s hard enough finding a project partner anyway, but working on a story with a person who I don’t know, who will have completely different ideas? Perhaps I can ask Miss Beecher to let me do the project myself. But as the idea comes to mind, she walks out of the room. Great.Looks like I’ll have to wait around at the front of the room and see if there’s anybody left who hasn’t got a partner.

I pick up my things and head to the front. Hordes of people pass by me. Pairs walk by, already discussing organisation. I wait patiently, but a girl passes, and elbows me by accident. I hear a rushed “Sorry!” But she doesn’t stay to help me pick up my books. My cheeks for the second time today as I bend down and start collecting the scattered papers.I almost startle when I see a pair of tanned hands reach out and gather my books. I look up, and Azriel is there. If it is possible, by cheeks heat even more.

“Are you alright?” He asks, as his head tilts up to look at me. His voice is low and has a nice lilt to it.

“Y- Yes thank you.” I curse myself for stuttering. Why am I so nervous?

We finish collecting my things off the floor, and the last few people have trickled out through the door. I frown in dismay.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s fine. Just… I don’t suppose you know anyone looking for a project partner?” I try, desperately. “Thank you for picking up my books, by the way.” I add, quickly.

“It’s fine. Actually, I don’t have a partner either. We could pair up, if you wanted?” He replies. He almost seems as nervous of the prospect of it as me. It’s almost odd to see him look like that.

“That would be great, thank you! How are we going to do this?” 

“We could get each other’s phone numbers and plan as we go? Maybe meet somewhere to gather our ideas… Actually, I don’t think I’ve caught your name?” He asks.

“I’m Elain Archeron. I’ll put my number into your phone if you’d like.” I reply.

Azriel hands me his phone and I hand him mine. There’s a moment of silence as we type our numbers in, and I offer a small smile to him as we swap back our phones and head towards the door.

“Pleasure meeting you Elain.” He says. “I’ll text tonight so we can get started.” Giving a smile back to me, he heads out of the lecture theatre, leaving me with rosy cheeks and a soft grin on my face.

**********

Azriel: Hi, have you got the details through from the email?

Me: Yeah! I was thinking we could get our own ideas together then meet up and make a plan?

Azriel: Sounds good. How about we meet on Wednesday after the lecture and go to the coffee shop around the corner? They do good hot chocolates.

Me: Great! See you then! :) 

—————

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