#every time i make a new friend within a week i’m going ‘hey can i kin assign you a type of cow’

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

Slice Of Normal

Summary: The reader has just moved to Montana to live with her estranged father and out of a place where she no longer feels welcome. But it's been a long time since the pair have lived together and while Beau might think things can slip back to normal, it's not quite that easy...

Pairing: dad!Beau x daughter!reader

Word Count: 5,000ish

Warnings: language, family angst, divorce, mention of murder case

A/N: Here's a little Beau and daughter!reader for the first time!

_____

“Hey, kiddo,” said your dad as you tossed your backpack in the backseat. “How was school?”

“Fine,” you forced out, pilling into the front, glaring out the windshield. You felt his heated stare but he dropped it, pulling out of the line of cars at pick up and heading for home. He tapped his fingers against the wheel, words clearly on the tip of his tongue. But once again he didn’t say anything. 

Sometimes it was like living with a damn stranger.

Two years ago, life was normal. Your parents were married. Dad had a good job as a cop. Mom was doing her consulting. Every day you went home to two parents. You had the same friends you had your whole life. You got a starbucks with your mom every Saturday morning and you made homemade pizzas for dinner. You watched trash reality shows with your dad and you’d both get way too invested in the petty drama. It was all perfectly normal.

Until he went to work one day and it went to hell. Dad’s partner was killed and he blamed himself for not stopping it. He was…strange after that. He still asked about school and your day, still watched your shitty shows with you. But there was no joy in him. He felt guilty and dad wasn’t much of one for sharing his own feelings. You knew he’d get better with time. 

That’s when things got strange with mom too. She started to pick fights with him. She kept trying to force him to go to some expensive trauma therapist. All three of you knew he was hurting but she was the only one that said he was broken. You’d never forget the look on his face when she barked it at him in a fight. 

Watching one parent fall out of love with another in front of your own eyes was your own strange experience. You knew in that moment she’d left a mark on him, one that’d make him shutdown even more, hold even more feelings back from her. There’d be more fights. More snide comments. She’d get fed up and divorce him.

Four months after the shootout, she handed him the divorce papers and a flip switched in him. He started to fight back, the both of them bickering and arguing so much you found yourself storming downstairs and yelling at them both to act like adults. Dad moved out not long after that and within a month mom had a new boyfriend.

You stuck it out until last week before you knew you’d go crazy if you stayed in that house, your house, with her and that guy for one more second. 

Which meant moving halfway across the country to fucking Montana to live with a guy you hadn’t seen in person in six months.

“Mom’s marrying her boyfriend,” you said when he stopped at a red light. You didn’t look at him, sure he once again didn’t know what to say. “That’s why I wanted to move here. He doesn’t give two shits about me but he fakes it real good when she’s around.”

“Your mother should know-”

“She doesn’t listen to me when I try to talk and I’m sick of it. I know you know she’s like that,” you said, turning your head. He glanced down, gaze back on the road. “She’s a bitch.”

“Hey. Don’t talk about your mother like that.”

“Why not?” you scoffed. “She is one. You of all people know she is.”

“Mom is not a bitch,” he said, hitting the gas when the light turned, getting you off a busy street and heading for the outskirts of town. “Y/N, we raised you better than to call people names.”

“You’re defending her? You? She only drove you out of your own home, own family.” He gripped the wheel tighter, clenching his jaw. “Jesus christ. You still love her, don’t you. Why the hell would-”

“I am the reason…I moved out and I left. I refused to acknowledge the shit going on in my head and all mom tried to do was get me help. Do not blame her for-”

“Bullshit,” you scoffed. “I’d get out of her ass if I were you. Some other guy is fucking it now and she’s never taking you back.”

He pulled over fast, shaking his head at you. His green eyes narrowed, mouth opening just as his car radio crackled to life.

“Arlen,” he growled into the radio, frowning at you, a clear message to not say another word right now. 

“Chief we got reports of a murder-suicide at the Breckenridge Ranch. Jenny and Pop are taking lead but are requesting your presence,” said a woman’s voice on the other end. 

“I’ll be there in twenty.” He clipped the radio back in, taking a deep breath. “Y/N you are going to listen to me and I mean listen to me because I am about to have a very long night and we are not dropping this discussion. I don’t care for the way you speak and I do not like the way you talk about your mom. You don’t like her boyfriend, fiance, fine. But you’ll at least respect him. You don’t like you mother? Then at a minimum you will respect her. You do not call people bitch. You are grounded until further notice.”

“Wow,” you said, rolling your eyes. “I’m on your side and I’m the asshole. My old dad would have understood that but you? I don’t know who the fuck you are. Go ahead and ground me. I literally don’t care. You’re a fucking stranger.”

He was pissed. Very pissed. He turned back on the road and did a u-turn, heading back into town. You raised an eyebrow but he held up a finger. “No. You want to swear at me? Call me a stranger? Fine. I’m going to work. You’re a big enough girl to have a potty mouth then you don’t mind a little murder scene, hmm? You want to know what the fuck I do all day? Well now’s your chance to see, maybe I’ll be less of a damn stranger that way.”

You kept quiet, staring out the window for the next twenty minutes. You swallowed when he drove past a cruiser at the ranch entrance and yellow tape, driving silently down the dirt road. 

“Stay in the truck,” he said when he parked behind another cruiser outside a nearby barn. You bit the inside of your lip, hearing him shift around behind you. A few seconds later you had your backpack in your lap. “Do your homework.”

“I thought you wanted me to see dead bodies,” you mumbled, fisting one of the straps. His heavy sigh filled the space, a twinge of guilt in your gut.

“I never want that for you. We’ll get dinner out somewhere in a few hours. We need to talk. Not fight. Talk,” he said, pausing a beat before opening his door.

“Why didn’t you take me home?” you asked. He slid out, his shoulders sagging with his back to you.

“Because I’m scared you won’t be there when I get back.” He turned around, plucking his hat from the center console. You stared at him as he frowned. “I know you ran away from home two weeks ago, kid. We are not letting that happen again. Understand?”

You gave a small nod, the door closing loudly in the small space before you shut your eyes.

Maybe you should have just stayed in Texas.

Three Hours Later

You’d finished your homework awhile ago and were watching videos on your phone when you saw your dad approach the truck. He said something to a blonde cop lady and another guy, giving them a quick wave.

“Sorry it took so long,” he said, back in the truck, tossing his hat in the back.

“S’fine.” He was backed out and heading for the road quickly, rubbing his hand against his jaw. “Are you okay?”

“Me? Yeah. Why?”

“You were at a murder scene…” you said, catching a quick twitch of his lip. “Do dead bodies not scare you?”

“Not really. Sometimes you see bad things but a vast majority of the time, murders are…” he bit his bottom lip, shaking his head. “There are scenes that are gruesome but most murders are not something out of a horror film, at least to me. You get desensitized to it somewhat. Even the bad ones, it doesn’t tend to bother me. They were a person and unfortunately they lost their life in a violent way. My job is to act on their behalf and get them the justice they deserve. They aren’t scary bodies. It’s a soul that’s gone that I can help is the way I look at it.”

He cleared his throat as he pulled back onto the road.

“But Helena is much safer than Houston. Not as many murders or any of that.” You hummed, glancing out the window. “Y/N, I know you’re upset with me right now but I want you to be careful. Something is…happening. I don’t know what it is but be careful. No going out at night alone. Keep the doors and windows locked all the time. Be smart, alright?”

“Ok,” you said quietly. “That wasn’t a murder-suicide, was it.”

“It was a very good attempt at making it look like one. If my officers weren’t as good at their jobs, they would have written it up as one instead of what it was. A double murder. My gut says it wasn’t random though which means it’s less likely anyone else winds up hurt.” 

“S’good,” you mumbled before the air went quiet. He only tapped the steering wheel, no rhythm to it. Tap tap. Tap tap. 

He had no problem talking about work since you’d moved in a week ago. God, the first day he’d talked too much, trying to fill the awkward silences. Maybe he’d been gone too long and this is what your relationship was now.

You closed your eyes, resting your head on the glass, wishing he’d never left in the first place. 

You jerked and flashed open your eyes when he shook your shoulder. The inside of the truck smelled like grease and the brown bag on the dash confirmed your suspicions. He nodded out the window and you turned, finding you were at a fairly deserted park. You left your backpack behind and crawled out, walking over to the nearest picnic table. A moment later he was sat across from you, pulling out a box of chicken nuggets, fries and two packets of sauce.

“Thanks,” you said quietly, taking the food from him as he took out a bigger box and more fries for himself.

“Well, I figured your McDonald’s go to hadn’t changed at least.” You shrugged, the two of you eating without saying another word. But it didn’t last, the food soon gone, the trash bundled up and tossed in a nearby can. 

Your dad sighed when he returned to his seat, resting his forearms against the faded wood top.

“Y/N. I…I left you and mom. If there’s anyone you should hate-”

“Why do you keep lying for her?” you interrupted. He swallowed thickly, breathing out a slow breath. “You left because she tossed you out. You didn’t leave because you wanted to.”

“...She had every right to.” You rolled your eyes, his hand raising. “Please. Just listen. Mom tried to get me help and I was the one that was an asshole about it. I blamed myself, I still do. She did what you’re supposed to for a partner. I pushed her away and us not being together anymore is because of me.”

You shook your head, a frown forming on his face. “I lived in that house too. I know you or at least I used to. I knew you were hurting and we couldn’t fix it. But I got that. It was something you had to go through, at your pace. You did the same thing when grandpa died. You got all quiet and pushed it down. And mom…she was a bitch back then too and tried to force you to get better faster all because she didn’t like having a grieving husband. You are supposed to help your partner, not hurt them more. Your problem has always been that you’re too in love with her to see that she hurts you. Just for one second imagine that was my husband that did that to me. Imagine he tried to force me into therapy less than a week after my best friend died because I was fucking sad and didn’t want to talk about it. Imagine my partner made me feel even worse and like I was the problem during one of the lowest moments of my life. Imagine that he was the one that made me feel like all of it was my fault when I was grieving. You’d tell me to leave his ass so I’m asking you to please, please stop defending her. I’m not a little kid anymore, dad.”

“No, you’re clearly not,” he said quietly, staring down at his lap. “I just don’t want you to hate your mother. Her heart was in the right place, even if that’s not how I process things.”

“I don’t hate her. I just don’t like her anymore. I told her so many times I didn’t like her boyfriend and she wouldn’t listen to me. You would have listened to me. S’why I ran away. I was trying to come here.” 

He pursed his lips and you waited, giving him time to respond the way he wanted to. 

“I wish…I wish mom and I had handled things differently. But what happened, happened. I would like to see you attempt to reconcile with your mom but I won’t force it.”

“Thank you,” you said, a quick nod coming from him.

“But…you are also a bit thick headed.” You frowned. “I know you are a teenager and dad isn’t the cool guy anymore but I reached out every single day and you definitely didn’t answer. I invited you to visit so many times and you never would. So cut your mom some slack because if you’re giving me that treatment, I can only imagine it’s the same for her.”

“Fine,” you grit out, trying to ignore how he may have had a point about why your relationship had soured. You sort of started ignoring him but you’d been busy and he needed space to work through his crap, hadn’t he?

“And for the record, it’s possible to still love someone but not want to be married to them ever again.” You stared at him, his shoulders sagging. “I don’t want to deal with an attitude all the time and you don’t want me to be a grump that hounds you every day. Can we try a clean slate? Pretend this afternoon didn’t happen?”

“Alright. We can try.”

The Next Day

You rubbed your jaw as you sat on the hard bench outside of the principal’s office. You had to hand it to Mara Hoyt. The little bitch knew how to throw a right hook. You guess that’s what happened when the star softball pitcher decided she hated your guts all because her boyfriend said hi to you on your first day.

On her own, you could have handled that. But this school was cliche central and the mean popular girl got all her mean popular friends to start bullying you after that. You were honestly surprised it took a whole eight days for things to get physical.

She was already in the office with her parents, crying the blues about how awful you were and bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. Shit, you hadn’t even touched the girl yet you were the one the school resource officer threw a pair of cuffs on. 

The sharp skid of a rubber sole against linoleum made both you and the officer turn your heads, your dad staring at you both wide eyed.

“Todd, get those cuffs of her or so help me,” growled your dad, storming over. 

“Sir? What are you-”

“How many Arlen’s do you think there are in this town? That’s my daughter,” he grit out. Todd moved at lightning speed the second he had the keys out of his pocket, apologizing to his boss and not you. You had to fight to not roll your eyes. You had a feeling with the way your dad’s face looked murderous that wouldn’t go over well.

“Excuse me,” said the vice principal, coming out to the hall with a stern expression. “Why is she uncuffed? She attacked-”

“Sheriff Beau Arlen,” said your dad with a scary undertone in his voice, neglecting to offer his hand. “Y/N’s father and Chief of police over at the station. We don’t cuff seventeen year old girls unless they’ve committed a crime. Now, if after our discussion and I hear all the facts it turns out she did, I’ll cuff her myself and take her down for booking. Am I clear?”

The vice principal narrowed his eyes but said nothing, holding the door open. You trudged inside, your dad hot on your heels. You sat in the empty chair in front of the desk, Mara doing a good job of looking like a sobbing mess in the one nearby.

“Mr. Arlen?” the principal asked. He hummed, finding a spot along the wall and leaning against it with crossed arms, his eyes shooting to Mara. “I’m afraid we’ll have to suspend Y/N for attacking Mara for five days out of school.”

“And we’re pressing charges, even if you are the sheriff,” said a snotty woman. 

God were you working hard to not flip that whole family off. You were about to open your mouth and try to give your side of the story when you saw your dad’s face and his finger wag at you.

Uh oh. 

“Where do we want to begin? The way this school only got one students side of the story-”

“There are witnesses,” cut in the vice principal, your dad holding up a hand.

“Let me guess, Mara’s friends?” he shot back, clenching his jaw, returning his focus to the principal. “Now I know for a fact my daughter is getting bullied by this girl and her friends every single day since she started last week.”

You swallowed. You hadn’t told him that. How had he known?

He stepped forward, putting his hands on the back of your chair, leaning over it so you felt his chest against the top of your head.

“Do we want to start with the blatant bullying? Or perhaps with Mara?” he asked, turning his head to her, shooting her parents a glare. “You know, the one who actually did the attacking.”

“My daughter did no such thing,” snapped her dad. You felt your dad reach an arm around, gently grasping your forearm and holding it up.

“One girl has only defensive injuries. Bruises, nail marks. The other has scrapped knuckles, two broken fingernails and can’t look me in the eye. Guess which one is which,” growled your dad, his hand still gentle as he lowered your arm to your lap. Mara’s parents didn’t look like they were about to backdown though.

“There are witnesses. This is ridiculous. Mara acted in self-defense then,” said her mom. You glanced at the principal, his words caught in his throat and you couldn’t help but smile for a moment.

“Oh so now her story is changing?” poked your dad.

“No!” said her mom. “Your daughter said something so vile and threatening-”

“To her bully? Did Y/N say something like that to you Mara? Did she say something because her bully’s been so mean to her?”

“Don’t speak to our daughter!” shouted her dad. Mara glanced at you, as if you’d somehow help her. Meanwhile this was turning out to be the best day of your new school yet.

“I don’t hear her denying she was bullying Y/N? In fact, I don’t hear her saying anything. If it’s so abhorrent and you felt in so much danger, why don’t you tell us all what it was that made you act in self-defense, hm?” said your dad, his focus narrowed in on Mara. 

She was so fucked and she knew it. 

“I said don’t-”

“Alec,” interrupted the vice principal, his focus turned onto Mara as well. “Mara. Answer the question.”

But she couldn’t. She was floundering, face turning red under the interrogation. 

“Tell the truth and the Arlen family,” growled your dad, pointed straight back at her parents, “Will not press any charges.”

Mara contorted her face before throwing her hands up. “She called me insecure and said I should get help for that so I got mad and punched and kicked her.”

“And why did she call you that?” cut in your dad, laser focused on Mara. She closed her eyes, lowering her head. “Mara.”

“Because I’ve been bullying her because my boyfriend said hi to her and said we should get to know her because she’s new but I know he just wants to get in her pants so I told all my friends to keep her away from him no matter what.”

“I expect an apology,” he said. She looked up, eyes full of unshed tears. “Oh, not to me.”

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, barely looking at you.

“Thanks. I don’t accept it and that is perfectly within my rights,” you said. 

“Regardless, Mara you’re suspended for five days out of school. Y/N, you’re suspended for two. We have a zero tolerance policy on fighting,” said the principal.

“She didn’t fight,” said your dad, his voice stern. 

“It’s a rule,” said the principal.

“Fine,” said your dad, grabbing your bicep and pulling you to your feet. “Let’s go get lunch out, maybe catch a movie.”

You couldn’t hide the smile on your face as he led you out, his hand falling away when he looked over his shoulder. “Three more things. One, I fully expect punishments for the students that lied about what they saw. Two, I hear of anymore bullying happening at this school to any kid, I will make it my personal mission in life to get you fired and three? You people get your daughter in therapy sooner than later because that’s the sort of thing that gets her tossed in jail when she’s older.”

He tossed your backpack over his shoulder as he led you out to the hall, hand on your back leading you towards the front doors. You grinned as you stared, his face blank when he opened the door to fresh air.

“That was fucking awesome,” you said, jogging down the steps and over to the truck. “You went full cop mode and scared the shit of her! That was-”

“Are you okay?” he asked when you sat in the passenger seat. You tilted your head when he cupped your cheeks, running his thumb over the scuffed up skin on the left. “We need to clean that.”

He pushed up your short sleeves, finding more bruises, a few older ones, before trailing down to your nicked up arms.

“Y/N, I know you’re a good kid that doesn’t like to get in trouble but promise me something?” You nodded when he fixed your braid behind your ear. “Next time someone touches you without permission, you lay their ass out.”

“You told me I shouldn’t hit people.”

“Yeah, well the little bitch would have deserved it.” Your jaw dropped into a grin, his attempt at holding a blank face faltering, a smile creeping up. “Yeah, I know I said not to call people that but that kid’s a psycho waiting to happen. Promise me?”

“I promise,” you said, getting a kiss on the forehead. “How’d you know I didn’t start the fight?”

“I know you. I also know there would have been no fight because if you had thrown the first punch, that girl would be knocked out.” He stroked your cheek again and sighed. “No headache? Anything like that?”

“She punches like a pussy.” He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Too far?”

“Just a tad. Come on. Let’s go enjoy your suspension.”

Later That Evening

“Alec’s my second cousin, such a dickhead,” said one of dad’s officer’s, the blonde woman named Jenny you’d seen last night. “Mara’s always been awful.”

“Jenny,” chided your dad in his office, chowing down on some chinese takeout from behind his desk. You gave her a smile, eating from your carton as she set a file down in front of him. “Don’t be a bad influence.”

“If I were her, I would have decked the little shit,” said Jenny. Your dad rolled his eyes and read through the file, Jenny stealing a fortune cookie for herself. She leaned against his desk and offered you a smile. “So besides the school being crap thing and your dad dragging you to murder scenes, how do you like Montana so far?”

“Jenny,” he said again, glancing over the top of the file at her.

“It’s a lot less boring than I thought it’d be,” you said, offering her one of your egg rolls. 

“Thank you,” she said, popping it in her mouth, returning her attention to your dad. “Both vics had traces of a yellow substance in their air passages.”

“Rat poison?” you asked, both of them slowly turning their heads towards you. They stared blankly as you chewed. “It was in that new hunger games movie, they killed a guy with it.”

“Wow,” said Jenny as your dad closed his eyes. “That’s impressive.”

“I don’t even…” he sighed, rubbing his jaw as he flashed open his eyes. “So rat poison killed them. Why make it look like a murder suicide then? This person must have known we’d do autopsies.”

“Unless they didn’t,” you said, earning a glare from him. “Hey, people are dumb. You taught me that when I was like eight.”

“Y/N-”

“No, she has a point,” said Jenny, picking up her copy of the file and glancing through it. “Who is smart enough to use rat poison but dumb enough to not realize we’d find it and try to cover it up?”

“No one, that’s who,” said your dad. You bit into another eggroll and shrugged. He threw his hand back and groaned. “Fine. What’s your theory?”

“Well, a kid is dumb enough,” you said. “Maybe they watched that movie too.”

“Genius plan except that couple had no kids,” he said. You finished your bite and shrugged. “What?”

“Weren’t you the one that also told me people aren’t always what they seem and not to trust someone just because they were nice? They could have been whackjobs.”

Jenny cocked her head, glancing at your dad. “Kid has a point, Arlen. It was a large property. Entirely possible we missed something.”

“Fine. We’ll check it out first thing,” he said, nodding to you. “You might as well come along Ms. Detective, since you’re out ot school for a few days.”

“Good with me. As long as it’s not early. I don’t do early,” you said, a tiny smirk on his face that told you you’d be up at dawn.

The Next Afternoon

“What’s going to happen to him?” you asked as your dad drove you both home after a long morning. He was quiet for a beat. “Will he go to juvie?”

“Maybe. Maybe a hospital for people like him. Either way, it’s a better situation than he was in,” he said. He tapped the wheel, his lips pursed. “You know I don’t want you to be a cop right?”

“I know. It’s just…it’s easy to talk to you about your work,” you said. He nodded, turning off to the road just a minute drive from the house. 

“So can you rent this movie with the rat poison?” he asked. You stared, his eyes flickering over for just a moment. “I thought Katniss took out the capital. How can they have another movie?”

“It’s a prequel, about Snow.” 

“Whoa, Donald Sutherland Snow? They made a movie about that jackass?” 

“Well, she wrote another book and then they made it into a movie. It was really good cause you can see how he’s a complete narcissist and he goes from this actually mostly likable guy to the jackass in the other movies.”

“Okay, I definitely have to see this.” He pulled into the driveway, your gaze fixed on him when he turned the car off. “Unless you don’t want to watch it?”

“No I just…I miss when I’d make you watch the hunger games and you’d make me watch the dirty dozen and that was our thing.”

“Still our thing,” he said, brushing his thumb over the healing scrape on your cheek. “How’s that feeling today?”

“I told you, I’m fine.”

“I know, I know. I worry.” He opened the door and smiled as he popped out. “Alright little criminal. Go do that homework you ignored all day while I make us something to eat before our movie.”

“Really? Come on. I’m still suspended tomorrow. Can’t I do it over the weekend?” He looked up like he was thinking about it, a small smile crossing his face. “Thank you!”

“You’re helping me with dinner, missy.” You didn’t really mind that fact though. Making dinner together and watching a movie? That was normal for the two of you. 

A few hours later when you were bundled up under a blanket together on the couch and pressing start, you finally felt like it was a normal thursday night, no more tension or awkwardness in the air. And while murder investigations and school fights were certainly interesting, a little slice of normal again felt damn good.

_________

#big sky #beau arlen #beau arlen x daughter!reader #beau arlen fanfic #big sky fanfic

[holylulusworld]

Flowers (2) - Snapdragon

Summary: Snapdragons symbolizes deception and deviousness.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: angst, mentions of FWB arrangement

Catch up here: Flowers (1) - Sunflower

Flowers masterlist

For the next few days, you avoided Bucky like the plague.

Finally, your stealth skills came in handy. Whenever you got a glimpse of him, you ran for the hills.

You needed time to get over him - or rather to get rid of him.

You started with cleaning your room. Throwing away the sheets you made love on and ending with scrubbing the whole place sparkling clean. Only stopping when Jarvis assured you every trace of Bucky’s DNA got removed.

The next step was to convince Maria Hill, the woman in charge when it came to missions, to not set you up for missions with Bucky any longer.

You didn’t have to explain anything to her. Maria has a sharp mind and is a skilled observer. She knew something was wrong the moment you stepped inside her office. Unlike Fury or Tony, she understood what you are going through.

At least you had one confidant within the organization not telling you Dot is nice or that Bucky only tried to find a new friend.

Almost a week had passed before your luck left you and you ran into Dolores. She had a big grin on her pink lips too, and dared to giggle as she walked past you.

It really wasn’t your fault she tripped over your foot and ended up on the floor, bruising her face and pride. Why did she have to stare at her phone instead of watching her step?

This time, you chuckled and walked past her. Maybe Bucky would lend her a hand and help her back up.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bucky blankly stared at his best friend. “Y/N always accompanies me on missions! I know something is off with her. She avoided me for a few days, but I thought it was because she needed some alone time.”

“Y/N doesn’t want to be on your team any longer,” Steve sighed, long and exasperated. “Buck, did you do something wrong? Did you and Y/N get into a fight? She seemed angry and avoided talking to me not days ago.”

“Steve, what are you talking about? We didn’t fight. All I know is that Y/N avoids me like the plague. Until today, I believed everything was just fine.”

“I’m sorry to tell you, but you are dead wrong, Buck. You should talk to her. She didn’t go to Maria instead of talking to you for no reason.”

“Doll.” Bucky followed you hot on your heels, but you didn’t stop walking. “DOLL! HEY! Stop walking away from me.”

“Why?” You snapped at him. “I thought you were busy with some other girl.”

“What girl?” He dared to huff. “Y/N, stop walking away. I want to know what’s wrong with you. I had to hear from Maria Hill that you don’t want to team up with me any longer.”

“I only made things easier for you and your lovely Dolores,” you stopped in your tracks and turned around to glare at Bucky. “This way she can have your back on the upcoming missions or scratch it. Whatever you prefer.”

“I don’t understand a single thing,” he huffed and ran one hand down his face. “A few days ago, we had passionate sex. We made love and suddenly everything changed. You avoid me and don’t talk to me any longer. And now this.”

He wildly gestured with his hands, not understanding what was going on in your head.

“Yeah, a few days ago you didn’t give Dot flowers,” you sniffed and looked away. “A sunflower out of all flowers. I know we never put a label on what we had but how can you fuck me and give flowers to another woman not hours later?”

Bucky watches you turn back around to storm off. “What? I—it was only a flower,” he called after you.

You didn’t hear his next words because you ran along the hallways and blended him and his voice out.

“Baby doll! It was only a sunflower for her birthday. She said no one remembered her birthday. I wanted to make her feel welcome like you did with me.”

“Well, my friend,” Steve said as he stepped next to his friend. He placed his hand on Bucky’s shoulder and smirked, “I think you failed epically. You cannot give another woman flowers while making passionate love to another. You have to choose one.”

Part 3

Tags in reblog.

#Flowers (2) - Snapdragon #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes angst #bucky barnes x female reader

[leclerced]

Hi Cait!! How have you been? I’m back!! I’ve been sick for the past week and it’s been killing me. I had an event to go to today and was dying the entire time 😭. Anyways, I just read your frat!oscar imagines and I need more.

Like imagine a guy at party is consistently hitting on her and she’s like hell no. Even after she walks away he’s still being an asshole. Oscar sees this and interferes and they fuck and confess there feeling or some type of shit like that.

not sure if i like this bc im very tired and i got a migraine while writing but wanted to post it before i went to bed soo here u go baby i hope it is ok <3

they're not official but it's clear to everyone at the party that she's off limits because she's been with oscar the entire time, at this party and every party for the past few weeks. he's in the middle of a beer pong game when she empties her cup and sets out to get a new one, oscar tries asking her to wait so he can go with but she wants a sprite cocktail now.

the guy was blocking the drinks in the kitchen and insisted on making the drink for her. "hey pretty, what's your name? you here alone? what can i get you?"

she cowls at the questions and pulls her cup to her chest, "i'm with a friend, and i've got it."

he shakes his head and lurches forwards to snag the cup, "nonsense. what are you drinking?"

she grits her teeth before telling him. he walks like a turtle to the fridge, "so, you said you're with a friend but you look pretty alone. need some company?" he shoots her a wink as he scoops ice into her cup and she holds back a gag at the sight.

"i'm good. i'm just getting a drink, he's playing beer pong." he wrinkles his nose and grumbles, "beer is for losers, liquor is where it's at. what are you doing with a guy who plays beer pong?" he pours a ridiculous amount into her cup as she says it, then pours a small amount of sprite on top before thrusting it towards her. she ignores the urge to point out that he's literally at a frat party, he should expect drinking games, but she doesn't want to prolong the conversation. the liquid sloshes out of the cup as she takes it and she makes a plan to dump it outside when she goes back to oscar for him to make her a drink. "thanks." she drops the one word to end the conversation and turns to exit the kitchen, heading straight towards the backdoor.

unfortunately, he follows her. "i could show you a good time, sweetheart. what's your name? you didn't tell me." she ignores him again, but this clearly upsets him because the next thing she knows, a hand is on her wrist jerking her back. "hey! i'm talking to you. what's your name?" the cup of alcohol sloshes on the ground and she seeks it splash on her shoes.

oscar ends up leaving the game when she doesn't return within the time it takes to fetch drink, has one of his brothers take his place and they make him down three drinks to make up for what he'd drank. he barely makes it inside before he sees her pressed against a wall by some partier. at first, he sees her hands on his chest and feels his gut twist as he thinks she's about to pull him in for a kiss, but then he realizes she's trying to push him away and ducking her face away from his. he doesn't think twice before he pulls him away and slams him into the opposite wall, balling the guys polo into his fists to hold him there as he growls, "keep your fucking hands off my girl."

the man immediately pushes oscar back but oscar holds his ground and pushes him back into the wall as he argues, "hey man! i didn't know she was anyone's girl."

reader pipes up that she mentioned she was with someone and oscar snorts as he pulls the guy from the wall and pushes him towards the back door, "get the fuck out of my house, and don't fuckin come back, got it?" he turns back to the girl he was looking for and pulls her into his arms, "you're okay?"

she nods as she wraps her arms around him, "you called me your girl. that's new."

he shakes his head, "really not the focus right now, tell me you're okay."

she grins and pushes up on her tip toes, "i'm okay, now can we focus on you calling me your girl?"

he rolls his eyes and presses his lips to hers briefly before spinning her around and nudging her forward, "what am i gonna do with you?"

she giggles at his teasing and holds a hand behind her as she fires back, "i have a few ideas, mind if i show you?" oscar takes the hand and lets her lead him up to his bedroom before he fishes his keys out of his pockets to unlock the door. she doesn't get the full feelings confession but he's very possessive as soon as the door shuts and tells her she's his as much as she wants to hear it, relishes in the way she whimpers and asks him to say it again and again and then repeats it back to him.

feelings talk comes later when they are sober and he's ready to be a boyfriend. he has a lot on his plate with college and has this idea of the college experience and a girlfriend isn't a part of it. or he had his heart shattered before and he doesn't want reader to hurt him again.

#ask #notturlover #frat!oscar

[luvrsofbts]

It Starts With Us

— Second Part To “It Ends With Us”

Pairing: Fuckboy! Jungkook x Reader x Taehyung

Genre: fwb, regrets, angst, jealousy, fluff

Warnings: cursing, someone kisses someone … lowkey physical fight 🫣

Summary: You find love within another mans’ arms and Jungkook tries to get you back. Does he or does he not succeed?

A/N: Was listening to “The Other Woman” by mother Lana and decided to finish this bc I’m going crazy.

-

It’s been approximately two weeks ever since the fight between Jungkook and you have never felt worse. You eventually came to conclusion that maybe you did like Jungkook after having a five hour talk with your best friend, Taehyung.

Taehyung’s been so supportive after your fight with Jungkook, wanting to do nothing but go to his dorm and beat the living shit out of him for hurting his best friend, you. Although he felt bad for what happened, a part of him wanted to tell you “I told you so” when you told him about the deal you had going on with Jungkook. But of course, being the sweet and supportive best friend he is, decided to keep his mouth shut. It was better that way anyways.

You eventually started going out and communicating again with other people (other than your best friend) after the third week rolled around. You didn’t want to feel this heartbreak anymore, so you decided enough was enough and got out of your dorm.

“Tae, these strawberries are literally rotten!” You sigh in annoyance. You had asked Taehyung to go grocery shopping with you, wanting to spend time with him.

You weren’t going to lie, you’ve become so much closer to Tae after he had stayed with you these past two and a half weeks that you just wanted to be around him all the time. You guys were close before, but now the bond just seems so much closer.

“My bad,” He chuckled, ruffling your hair.

“Hey! Stop that, but seriously, let’s pick out some new strawberries,” You pout, already walking over to the strawberry area.

“How about the-,” You couldn’t finish your sentence before colliding into someone’s chest.

“Y/N?” The voice you thought you’d never hear ever again.

“J-Jungkook- what are you doing here?” You panicked, looking anywhere but his face.

“I was shopping for some banana milk and I saw you- listen, Y/N, I want to talk to you, please,” Jungkook begged, taking ahold of your hands.

“What? No! I don’t want to talk to you,” You exclaimed, pulling your hands away harshly, turning around and walking back to wherever Tae was.

“Please- Y/N, I want to make things bet-,”

“Leave her alone, Jungkook. She said she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Tae interrupted, stepping in front of you before Jungkook could grab you.

“Who the hell are you?” He asked, getting jealous seeing you out with other men.

“Her best friend. Now, I said it once and I’m not going to say it again. Leave her the fuck alone or I will literally beat your motherfucking ass,”

Jungkook looked at you with pleading eyes, but you looked away, not wanting to fall for this trap again.

“Fine, whatever. Y/N, please, call me and let’s talk about everything,” He sighed, shaking his head before turning around and walking away.

“Thank you, oh my gosh,” You breathed in relieved, wrapping your arms around Tae tightly.

“I’m your best friend. I’m supposed to protect you, no need to thank me at all,” He smiled, hugging you back just as tight.

From far away, Jungkook watched the interaction between you two. Jealousy builded up inside his chest as his nose flared and clenched his jaw.

-

“Okay, I think we watched every movie out there. Can we do something else now?” Taehyung groaned, stretching out his sore and tired limbs.

“We’ve literally only watched two movies, grandpa,” You laughed, snuggling closer to Tae without noticing.

“So? I’m bored now and hungry,”

You hummed, looking up at your best friend, “Hey… thanks again for being there for me these past few weeks,”

“What did I say about you thanking me? I’m your best friend, Y/N, of course I’ll always be there for you,”

“Best friend or not, just thank you. I really appreciate you, Tae,” You smiled up at him, your face and body warm from being this close to him.

“Anything for my best friend,” He replied, looking down at you with a soft smile.

You hadn’t realized how pretty Taehyung was until you studied his face just now. The slow breathing between you two as you looked into each other’s eyes. You saw him look down to your lips before looking back up to your eyes.

“You’re really pretty,” You whispered out loud, unaware that you just did, “I mean-,”

“You’re really pretty too,”

You felt your breath get stuck in your throat. You? Pretty? In Taehyung’s eyes?

Tae started inching closer to you. You could feel his minty breath on your lips as your heart pounded a hundred beats in your chest. He was so close, so clo-

“I’m back!” Your roommate bursted into your room.

“Y/RM/N!” You squeaked, pushing tae away and getting up from your bed, “I- I didn’t expect you to be back so soon! Hey,”

Breathing heavily, you tried to catch your breath as she giggled at you, looking between you and tae.

“Was I interrupting something?” She asked.

“N-No!”

“Yes,”

“Tae!” You shot your head to him with glared eyes.

He shrugged with a smug look on his face.

“Anyways, of course I’m back. I’ve been away for almost four weeks now!” Your roommate laughed, coming over to you to give you a hug.

“Well, welcome back, roomie,” You sighed contently after catching your breath then hugging her back.

“I gotta go unpack, so I’ll leave you two to whatever you were doing,” She wiggled her eyebrows, pulling away and walking out your room.

“Y/RM/N!”

You could hear her giggling as she walked away from your door and then into hers.

You sighed out heavily before looking at your best friend who is still in your bed, snickering at you.

“So not funny, tae!” You groaned, getting back into bed with him.

“You’re so cute,” He chuckled, pulling you closer to him.

“Shut up,” You mumbled, blushing hard as you tried to hide away from him.

“Hey, look at me, Y/N,”

You slowly looked up to your best friend, and before you could even blink, his lips were on yours, kissing you so soft as if you were a delicate glass. You stilled for a second, shocked before closing your eyes and kissing Taehyung back.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for so long,” He breathed out after pulling away so the two of you could get air.

The news had you shocked. You never knew your best friend felt this way about you. “Really?” You ask in disbelief.

“Yes. How are you this oblivious?”

“Well I mean- I just- I never thought-,”

“Why do you think I spent every waking moment with you these past weeks when I could have support you from afar, Y/N?”

You hummed contently, looking at your beautiful best friend before giving him a few pecks.

-

After that night, Taehyung have taken you out on many dates, but he hasn’t popped the question yet. You didn’t mind though, he was taking things slow and you liked that.

The two of you were out shopping for some new shoes, “Baby, I’ll be right back. I’m gonna go see if they have this in my shoe size,” Tae said, leaning down and giving you a kiss before walking away to find a worker.

You nodded, smiling as you continued to walk around and look for shoes yourself.

“What the fuck was that?” You heard someone ask out of nowhere as they pulled you around.

“Jungkook? Get off of me!” You exclaimed, backing away from him.

“You’re seeing other men?!” He said angrily, furrowing his eyebrows.

“What the fuck are you talking about? That has nothing to do with you,” You scoffed.

“Yes it does. You’re mine, Y/N,” Jungkook growled, pulling your arm tightly.

“Stop! Jungkook! You’re hurting me,” You wince in pain, trying to pride Jungkook’s hands off of you.

“Hey, what’s going on here?” You hear Tae furiously say as he pushes Jungkook in the chest.

“None of your fucking business,” Jungkook replies as he swings his arm, landing a punch on Tae’s jaw.

“You fucking-,” Taehyung couldn’t even finish his sentence before he threw a punch back, making Jungkook’s nose bleed.

Before you knew it, they were going at it.

“Tae! Stop!” You shouted, pulling him away.

“Y/N, I’m sorry. I regret everything. I want to be with you. You can’t lie and say that you didn’t feel anything for me during our deal. Please,” Jungkook pleaded, stopping you from walking away with Tae.

“Jungkook-,”

“I love you, Y/N. What I felt for you, I have never felt for anyone before. Give me a chance. I can be better for you, I will be better for you,”

“If you think that I would ever give you a chance after what you said to me, then you’re a fucking fool, Jungkook. I deserve better after everything you’ve put me through,” You spit out each word nastily.

“I-I-,”

“Goodbye, Jungkook. Please, for the sake of both of us, just leave me alone. What we had is over,” Shaking your head, you left with Taehyung. This time, leaving Jungkook nothing but a broken heart.

As Jungkook watched you walk away with another man, he regretted every stupid decision he made when he still had you.

taglist: @borahaeb1ch @hiqhkey @purplewhales @andrea-lovesv @njslut @variety-is-the-joy-of-life @generalchopshopgoatee @thelilbutifulthings @magicshop-13 @betysotelo18 ty for the support <3

#bts #bts angst #bts drabble #bts imagines #jungkook #bts jungkook #jeon jungkook #jungkook x reader #taehyung #bts taehyung #kim taehyung #taehyung x reader #jungkook drabble #jungkook angst #taehyung drabble #taehyung fluff #bts fluff #fwb #friends to lovers

[writingbymoonlight]

music for an onigiri shop

ft.: timeskip osamu x reader

word count: ~1.4k words

a/n: my entry for @satisfactooru's the mixtape collab! bay, as promised, a fic that is slightly inspired by a harry styles song <3 thank you allowing me to join your collab!

Despite the shop being technically closed, light from within Onigiri Miya floods onto the sidewalk outside of the establishment and the sound of a volleyball match being played on the TV could be discerned by any passersby. 

Inside the eatery, Osamu steps out of the cramped kitchen and into the main dining area, which is typically bustling with lively customers. However, this evening, it’s just you and you’re sitting on one of the many stools lined up along the counter. Your posture is slouched and relaxed, and your eyes are glued to the MSBY Black Jackal match that’s playing on the old TV above your head. 

“Here ya go,” Osamu announces as he stands directly in front of you on the opposite side of the counter. He slides a plate of freshly cut watermelon and the concentrated expression on your face morphs into one of pleasant surprise. 

“Watermelon?” you question skeptically, raising an eyebrow at your dear friend. “I thought I was supposed to be taste-tasting your new onigiri flavors?”

Osamu casually throws the towel that he uses to dry his hands over his shoulder, and he rests his elbows on the counter before responding, “I don’t want ya getting bored of eating only onigiri, hence the watermelon.”

“Wow, free onigiri and watermelon!” you happily exclaim as you pick up a slice of the fruit. After taking a giant bite of the juicy watermelon, you teasingly add, “Someone is being unusually kind today.” 

“Hey, I always treat people, especially ya, with kindness,” Osamu retorts, rolling his grey eyes in mock annoyance. “Or do I need to remind ya of all the free food I’ve given ya over the past few years?” 

“Okay, okay, you’re right! I’m only kidding!” you laugh as you finish off your piece of watermelon and place the dark green rind back onto the porcelain plate. “You never fail to make sure I’m fed, which is why you’re my favorite twin.”

As if on cue, the sound of thunderous applause erupts on the TV and the onigiri shop owner’s gaze immediately flickers to the screen. His brother’s team has won the game against their opponent following a service ace made by Atsumu, who can be seen donning his signature cocky smile. 

“Smug bastard,” Osamu mumbles under his breath because he already knows that this win will inflate the setter’s already massive ego. Still, a part of him is elated to see Atsumu succeed, though he would rather go a week without onigiri than admit this out loud. 

“Hey, have you ever thought of playing something other than volleyball matches in Onigiri Miya?” you suddenly inquire, snapping Osamu's focus back to you.

“What do ya mean?” he asks, leaning forward so that he’s at eye level with you.

“Well, every time I stop by here when it’s open, I feel like you have a volleyball game on the TV,” you explain. “And the few times that the TV hasn’t been on, it’s just been…quiet.”

“It’s never quiet here,” Osamu huffs in protest as he scrunches his dark eyebrows together in confusion. “This place is usually crowded with chatty people.”

“But don’t you think it would be nice to have something playing in the background while people talk? Other than a volleyball game? Like music?”

“I don’t think people come to Onigiri Miya to listen to music.” 

“Oh, come on! It’ll add to the ambiance!” 

Osamu is tempted to argue further, but he is aware that that would be futile because you occasionally could be extremely tenacious. It is a quality he definitely admires about you, and he has the inkling that you are going to be stubborn about this matter. So, instead of firing back with some witty comeback, he sighs and runs a hand through his messy hair. 

“Okay, what kind of music do ya suggest then?” he reluctantly asks. This small victory causes you to squeal in delight and a small grin forms on Osamu’s face. How could he not smile right now? He’s always found your joyfulness over the small things endearing and contagious. 

“I think something upbeat, but also chill! Something like…”

You allow your sentence to trail off as you fish your phone out of your back pocket. After a few seconds of tapping on your screen, the chords of an upbeat melody commence playing and you slide your phone across the wooden surface towards Osamu and the former opposite hitter can see that the song is “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” by Harry Styles. 

“This is an onigiri shop. Not a sushi restaurant,” Osamu states in a deadpan tone as he removes his elbows from the counter and stands back up to his full height.

Unfortunately for him, you are lost in your own little world and not paying any attention to his words. You’re bobbing your head side-to-side and you’re lip-synching the lyrics as you hold your clenched first towards your mouth, as if there is currently a microphone in your hand. All Osamu can do is cross his arms over his chest and watch your “performance” with an amused smirk.

“You know I love you, babe!” you dramatically screech alongside the British musician, causing Osamu to finally break out into a fit of laughter that leads to tears pricking his eyes. 

Osamu wipes away a stray tear from the corner of his eye and, when he looks back at you, his heart swells with an indescribable emotion. You are beaming at him with your usual bright smile and sparkling eyes as the fading daylight trickling in from the window casts a golden halo around your head. 

“So pretty,” Osamu muses to himself and, as soon as this thought is formulated, his heart skips a beat, and he begins panicking. 

Did he really just think you, his close friend, are pretty? He’s always known, objectively, that you are very pretty, but this time was…different. Never did the thought of you being pretty randomly enter his mind. And never had he anticipated his heart to become overcome with such strong emotions while thinking about you in that way. 

“Don’t get hung up on the fact this song is called ‘Music for a Sushi Restaurant’ and not something like ‘Music for an Onigiri Shop’, ‘Samu,” you remark, bringing up the point he had made earlier that you did, apparently, hear. “Listen, how about I promise to make a playlist of music that is perfect for your onigiri shop that you can test out, if you want, as long as you promise to at least consider my suggestion?”

You show no signs of noticing the frenzy going on within Osamu’s head, so the Inarizaki alumnus attempts to temporarily push aside the confusing thoughts that are muddling his brain and he simply replies, “Deal.”

Breaking out in a wide grin, you extend your hand out to Osamu, wanting him to shake it and solidify your agreement. Osamu hesitates for the briefest of seconds before wrapping his calloused fingers around your hand.

This isn’t anything new. He’s held your hand several times in the past. Like, last week when you two watched a horror movie at your place and you got so scared that you grabbed his hand for comfort. Or that time he physically dragged you to the new restaurant down the street from his apartment that he was excited to try. 

As your fingers delicately touch the back of his hand now, though, it feels like he has been struck by lightning and he hastily drops your hand, which earns him a puzzled look for you.

“I better go get the onigiri from the back, so we can start trying them out,” Osamu blurts out and he can sense that his face is starting to turn red.

Probably because you are accustomed to Osamu’s sudden antics, you don’t make any comments about his bizarre behavior. Instead, you shrug your shoulders and say, “Alright.” 

And with that, Osamu turns on his heels and rapidly strides into his solitary kitchen. All the prepared onigiri sit on the workstation in front of him, surrounded by chopped ingredients and used metal bowls that he’ll have to wash up later. But he cannot bring himself to bring the onigiri out to you. Not yet. 

First, he must grapple with the question: is it possible to start falling for your friend in an instant?

#osamu x reader #osamu x y/n #miya osamu x reader #miya osamu x y/n #miya osamu #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu x y/n #the mixtape collab 🎶

[moonchildreads]

small town

Chapter 10 - That's What Friends Are For

IN THIS CHAPTER: Hellfire gets ditched, a cheesy misunderstanding, and Eddie bribes the Yearbook Club [7.5k]

WARNINGS: weed I guess? small mention of the "starcourt fire"

masterlist - prev - next | playlist

Keep smiling and keep shining Knowing you can always count on me, for sure

Friday, May 2nd - 1986

Before third period started on Friday, the male Hellfire seniors had congregated around Eddie’s and Gareth’s lockers, talking animatedly about going to see Poltergeist II: The Other Side in just a few weeks. Gareth, the biggest horror enthusiast of the group, was a huge fan of the first movie and had talked his friends into seeing the second installment on opening night, May 23rd. He was very much excited about having already secured four tickets from Kimberly, one of his sister Gretchen’s old high school friends that manned the ticket booth at the local theater. They were so engaged in their chatter that only Donny, who was resting his back against the lockers as they talked, caught sight of the short girl bounding down the hallway towards their direction, bright acrylic daisies dangling from her ears.

“Hey, I know those earrings!” he commented with a knowing grin as soon as she was within hearing range.

“They are my new faves,” Dottie shook her head lightly to show them off. “Besides, if I’m gonna wear this bad boy I thought I’d go all out.”

She opened her jacket intending to show him her matching yellow cardigan with small daisies cross-stitched around the neck, but a much more important piece of clothing peeked through the top of her black denim overalls. There, hiding underneath all the pastels and flowery patterns, a very familiar t-shirt was hardly on display, but there was no way they could have missed it; not when all four of them had been wearing the exact same shirt every Friday for the past few years.

“You’re wearing the shirt!” Gareth exclaimed, pulling her cardigan open to see the text at the top and confirm they were, in fact, matching.

“It’s Hellfire day, of course I’m wearing the shirt,” she waved him off like it was obvious. The bell rang signaling they should be getting to class if they didn’t want to be late and she locked arms with Jeff, pulling him away from the group towards Mrs. Click’s World History classroom. “See you around!”

“Well, time to go run over some cones,” Gareth said, a mischievous smile on his face as he left to attend his Drivers Education class.

Donny watched Eddie’s face for a few beats while everyone walked away, barely contained laughter at the sight that was his friend’s flustered expression. His pining was getting ridiculous at this point, and Donny was greatly enjoying seeing the events unfold, fully aware that the rest of their friends were a few steps behind in their observations about their rugged leader. Sometimes it pays off to have three sisters. He snorted as he saw Eddie pull a Latin-English dictionary from his locker and the taller boy turned to look at him when he heard the sound, having completely forgotten he was there.

“You might wanna close your mouth there, bud. Don’t think she’s gonna want to kiss you if you start swallowing flies,” he said, and hurried off towards his Physics lesson before his friend could punch his arm.

“You piece of shit!” Eddie yelled at him in fake anger, but the blush tinting his cheeks couldn’t have been more real even if he had tried.

“I just know he’s planning something big and it’s making me so nervous,” Chrissy said, watching Eddie light up the joint he had just rolled.

“Wha, ’s your anniversary or sumthin?” he asked, the joint between his lips as he took his first hit of the day.

Eddie and Chrissy were hanging out in the woods after school, enjoying a bit of a breather in between the end of the school day and the start of their extracurricular activities: cheerleading practice for her and The Hellfire Club for him. He offered the lit blunt to her and she took it gladly, hoping it would chase away the uneasy feeling she’d been carrying at the base of her stomach all day. If anyone had told either of them two months ago that they would be sharing weed in the woods, they both would have told you to get your brain checked, but now, at the beginning of May, they were both comfortable enough admitting that the secret drug deals and shy smiles had led them towards a surprising yet pleasant friendship.

“No,” she paused, letting the smoke fill her lungs. “Prom’s coming up and I’m on the planning committee so Jason feels like he has to do a huge promposal. I think he’s getting the girls to help him out, they all stare and get really quiet around me lately.”

“But why does he have to ask? He’s your boyfriend, everyone already knows you’re gonna go with him to prom.”

“You think that’d be enough, but if he doesn’t pull a big event for everyone to see how much he loves me, then he might as well be publicly dumping me.”

“That’s… I’m sorry, Chrissy, but that’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all day,” he chuckled, taking the joint back from her. “You’re gonna have to explain this whole… popular people bullshit to me.”

“It’s not bullshit just because you don’t get it, Eddie.”

“You’ve been literally complaining about it for ten minutes,” he exhaled the smoke through his nose feeling like a dragon. “I feel like that’s the definition of bullshit, y’know? Shit that pisses you off?”

Chrissy looked at the boy sitting on top of the table next to her leaning back onto his arms, his metal lunchbox open at his feet on the bench seat. She fiddled with the gold ‘86 pendant hanging from her necklace, pondering on just how much she wanted to share with him. She knew by now that she could be sincere here; Eddie was not big on divulging secrets, and even if he was, this unlikely relationship she’d struck with him was not something anyone in school would believe if he talked about it in public. She felt safe in the woods with him, their own personal bubble where they could admit to each other the things they feared saying out loud to everyone else.

“The promposal is not the problem,” she said, not looking at anything in particular as she spoke, her voice soft. “The problem is that I know he’s planning to do it in front of the entire school and I don’t want that.”

“What d’you want, then?”

“Huh?”

“You just said you don’t wanna be promposed to like that,” he wiggled his fingers at her, pulling a smile from her lips. “How would you want him to do it?”

“You know Marianne? She’s a cheerleader too,” Chrissy extended her hand to ask for the blunt; he gave it to her wordlessly.

“Uh…”

“She’s in your Sociology class?” Looking at his confused face, she sighed. “Bubblegum pink eye-”

“Bubblegum pink eyeshadow! Yes, okay, I know Marianne. What about her?”

“She’s dating Greyson McIntyre from the track team, right? He promposed last week after we announced this year’s theme.”

“Red Carpet? Really? Who pitched that one?”

“Kyle Foster,” she gave the joint back to him and waved in that familiar way that told him she didn’t want to smoke anymore. Oh well, more for him.

“That asshole owes me 20 bucks and keeps dodging me in the hallways.”

“Don’t expect those back any time soon,” Chrissy giggled.

“I’ll charge him more next time he sends one of his buddies to buy. But you were saying something about Marianne?”

“Oh, right. Well, Greyson took her out on a date and wrote “Open the glove box” inside the sun visor and waited for her to see it when she checked her makeup. When she opened the glove box it was full of flowers.”

“That’s so dumb, what if she hadn’t seen it? All those flowers would’ve dried up in there.”

“You’re not getting it,” she shook her head. “He did it because he knew she was gonna notice. She always checks her makeup when she gets in a car, he pays enough attention to her to know that.”

“So what you are saying is that you want Jason to pay enough attention to you to know you don’t want a huge promposal?”

“Yes. No. I-,” she leaned forward, her head on her hands, elbows resting on her knees. “I don’t even know what I want. I mean, my boyfriend wants everyone to know he loves me and here I am, complaining that he loves me. You’re right, it is dumb.”

Eddie got up from his place at the table, the burning joint still in his hand as he paced in front of her. He was deep in thought, like he was trying to find the right way to comfort her and couldn’t. Words were something that came easy to Eddie, except when they involved feelings and complex emotions. He understood what it was like to have people around you thinking that they knew what you wanted or desired, seeing you as nothing more than a stereotype or a puppet they could move around to fit into their scenarios and fantasies. The wannabe groupie that wanted a story to brag to her friends about after a gig, the guy that bought him a beer and then threatened to out him if he told anyone what they’d done in the back of his van. His own dad putting a broken coat hanger in his hand and forcing him to open a car window when he was barely six. Eddie had dealt with what Chrissy was feeling his whole life, and he couldn’t help but think that they were two sides of the same coin. She was desperate to not be seen as a trophy anymore while he wanted someone to show him off like he was worthy of being paraded.

He leaned against a tree in front of the table and crossed his arms, smoking the last bit of the blunt before it began burning his fingers.

“It’s not dumb,” he said, making her look up. “I think I get it.”

“You think?” Chrissy smiled lightly.

“It’s like… It’s nice that he wants everyone to know that he loves you but you want him to love you when no one’s watching too.”

“Yeah,” she nodded. “Yeah, exactly. You get it.”

“Can I level with you, Chris?” he threw her a pointed grin. “High school guys are dumb as hell. We are dumb as hell. Jason is no exception. Actually, I’d say he’s even more dumb because of all that macho thing the basketball team has going on. It melts their brains,” she scoffed but he continued. “So if you want that guy to know what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours, you gotta speak up, okay? Because I can promise you all he’s thinking about is playing with balls.”

“Eddie!” she laughed loudly. It was a real laugh, probably her first of the day.

“As much as I hate your boyfriend, you are actually a pretty good friend and I want you to be happy. Just tell him how you feel. And if he still doesn’t get it, then kick his ass.”

“When did you become so smart?” she teased, storing his advice to think about later when she was in the comfort of her own bedroom.

“I don’t know, I think it might be the weed,” he said conspiratorially, making her laugh again. He liked when she laughed.

“Yeah? Well, how about you start using your own advice, Romeo?”

“I’m working on it,” Eddie beamed. “I think I’m making progress.”

“Did you ask her out?”

“Yes! Well. No, not exactly.”

“What does that mean?”

“We’re going out for pizza tonight. Just the two of us.”

“But it’s not a date?” Chrissy narrowed her eyes at him.

“It’s a study date.”

“A… study date. On a Friday night.”

“I asked her to help me graduate so we’re studying together every day until finals week. But! Hear me out on this, because I think it’s pretty damn smart,” looking at her raised eyebrows, he continued. “I’m gonna get my grades up, get my diploma and that’s gonna tell her that I’ve got my shit together, right? And then I’m gonna ask her out, like, actually ask her out after the ceremony.”

“Okay,” she said, the gears turning in her head. “And how does the date that isn’t a date fit into your gameplan?”

“Trial run. I get to figure things out before it’s official and show her that I’d be a decent boyfriend. Plant the seeds in her brain, y’know?”

“You’ve really been thinking about this a lot, haven’t you?” he shrugged, the corners of his lips twitching upwards. Chrissy smiled at him, a proper smile, all toothy and warm and kind. “I think it’s very sweet that you are taking things slow and putting in the effort. And you know, you’re actually a good friend too and I also want you to be happy, so I hope everything works out for you two.”

“Thanks,” he scratched his neck, weirdly emotional at the fact that Chrissy had so much faith in him to not fuck this up. “Also thanks for the, uh, sizing help? She’s wearing the shirt today so…”

“I’m glad I could help! It was a great idea, I’m sure she feels like things are a bit more official now. Kinda sad she’s not gonna be in the yearbook with you guys.”

“Wait, what? Why not?”

“They already took the club pictures back in February, remember? They’re gonna start printing the yearbooks next week.”

He didn’t even register that Chrissy was still talking as the thought popped into his head and refused to go away. Dottie wasn’t gonna be in their yearbook photo. No one would ever know that she’d been part of The Hellfire Club, except those who had been there with her. She had the shirt to advertise to the entire school that she belonged with them now, but shirts got old and holey and one day she was gonna have to stop wearing it and there would be no proof anywhere that she’d once slayed hordes of pixies, helped throw a dragon egg hatching ritual, and freed enslaved half-orcs with her friends. No one would ever grab the Hawkins High School Class of ‘86 yearbook and think that she’d been happy with them. She’d be just another face in the senior class section, an unassuming picture taken a month after she moved to Hawkins and was still spending her lunch periods alone in the library or at the back of the cafeteria with her headphones on.

Without so much as a glance at his friend, Eddie rushed to the table and started gathering his things into his arms, frantically searching through his lunchbox for a little bag of weed that was already packed and prepared to be sold. Chrissy looked at him like he’d suddenly lost his mind, the previously quiet and introspective boy now full of nervous energy. He shoved the baggie into his right front pocket and bolted out of the woods, movements rough, long legs trying to catch up with his torso.

“Eddie! Eddie! What’s wrong?” she called after him, watching his back get further away from her as he ran back towards the school grounds.

“Gotta catch someone before he leaves, sorry! See you around, okay? Have fun at your cheer thing!”

“Thanks!” said Chrissy to the wind, still sitting on the wooden picnic table.

She looked at her wristwatch, a gift from her grandparents when she turned 18. Realizing she still had 10 minutes to spare before anyone would start wondering where she was, she relaxed into her seat, enjoying the particular kind of high that sharing a joint with Eddie in the woods always brought to her. Maybe he’s right, Chrissy thought, lowering her back onto the surface and looking at the fluffy clouds above her. Maybe I do need to start speaking up. Just gotta figure out what I want to say first.

“Foster! Long time no see, bud,” Eddie grinned at the brunet boy walking out of the Yearbook Club room.

“What do you want, Munson?” he replied, his eyes shifting back and forth from the older boy to the bathroom doors at the end of the hallway.

“You know what I want.”

“I’ve already told you that you’re wrong, I don’t owe you shit,” the boy’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper.

Kyle Foster was a lanky boy with brown floppy hair and blue eyes that was sufficiently popular to get himself a spot in the prom planning committee, but not popular enough to be welcomed into the upper echelon of Hawkins High. He was used to being on the sidelines and, as a part of the Yearbook Club, he was privy to all kinds of gossip, making him a very valuable person to keep in your back pocket if you were looking to climb the social ladder.

He also happened to be a terrible customer, having gone through at least three different dealers before Eddie took pity on him and agreed to sell to him on the condition that he always paid him back within two weeks. For a while, their arrangement worked, even if Kyle took the liberty of paying in installments through the vents of Eddie’s locker. Things would change, however, during a particularly crowded party back in December where the super senior had gotten an influx of new customers around his van looking for a way to disappoint their parents and have fun with friends, allowing Kyle to slip away unnoticed without coughing up the twenty bucks for his preferred illicit substance.

“Is that why you keep sending your friends to buy from me instead of asking me yourself? Because you don’t owe me shit?” he looked at the younger boy while holding his head high, his narrowed eyes dangerous in the shitty school lighting. Kyle swallowed nervously. “Lucky for you, I’m willing to forget this whole thing ever happened if you do me a favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

“I need you to replace a picture for me in the Yearbook before you send it off for printing.”

“You’re insane,” Kyle shook his head. “I’m not getting into trouble for a few bucks.”

“Look, I’m gonna be honest with you, Foster. I’m not planning a fucking prank here, okay? I just need you to update the Hellfire Club’s photo before you print the damn yearbooks. You’d be making two sweet girls very happy if you did.”

“What girls?” he squinted at Eddie, fully believing that everything that was coming out of his mouth was a lie.

“Come to Hellfire today to take the new photos and you’ll find out. Hell, I’ll even throw one of these in if you keep our deal quiet,” Eddie pulled out the small weed baggie from his pocket and shook it above his head, making Kyle instantly whip around to see if anyone was nearby to witness and snitch on their conversation.

“Put that shit away, Munson, goddamnit!”

“Do we have a deal or not?”

“Fine, fine, I’ll do it. Just swap the old photo for the new one, right? And no one besides your little cult finds out?”

“And add some names to the list of members. We’ve had a few changes in the last month.”

“Alright. I’ll… I’ll borrow a camera from someone in the Photography Club and be there in thirty. You tell anyone about this and I’m throwing you to the wolves.”

“Always knew you were a reasonable man, Foster,” Eddie patted his shoulder a few times and felt the boy flinch under his heavy touch. He slipped the baggie into his jean pocket again and grinned. “You’ll get this after I see the requested changes made it into the yearbook. Pleasure doing business with you.”

Dottie hurried along the deserted hallways, feeling extremely guilty that she was running late for Hellfire for the first time since she joined the club. She was only five minutes behind schedule, but she was so used to being there at least half an hour early to help Eddie and Dustin set everything up that she felt like she was extra late. Out of breath, she pushed open the doors, apologies burning her tongue while she took in the scene before her.

“There she is!” Gareth exclaimed, taking her folder and backpack into his arms and throwing everything onto a chair.

“Come on, hurry up!” Dustin said, putting his hands on her shoulders and pushing her towards the wall where everyone else was lined up, round Hellfire plate hanging high above their heads.

“W-what’s going on?” she asked, dumbfounded.

“Yearbook photos!” Donny explained excitedly, pulling her to his side to pose to the camera.

“But I thought they already took them back in February,” Dottie said.

“I asked for new ones,” Eddie admitted, looking sheepish. “I wanted you and Erica in the yearbook with us, wouldn’t have felt right if you weren’t there.”

“Aw, Eddie, you didn’t hav-”

“Yeah, yeah, you can make eyes at each other later. Are we gonna take these photos now so we can finally play or are we gonna keep standing here like we’re waiting in line at the bank?” Erica said, impatient as ever.

“Alright, let’s huddle up,” Kyle made a hand gesture to settle everyone down. “On my count, say cheese… or whatever.”

Kyle counted down to three and with two quick flashes, it was over. The Hellfire Club had a new picture to show off in the ‘86 yearbook. He frowned as he lowered the camera, looking at the strange group in front of him. This was going above and beyond what he’d bargained for in his deal with Eddie but the perfectionist side of him won the battle in his brain; the Yearbook was a labor of love and he wasn’t about to ruin it with a shitty half-assed photo.

“Can we take another one that doesn’t look like I’m holding everyone at gunpoint?” he lifted an eyebrow pointedly.

“Sure, man, we can, uh… We can borrow some chairs like we did last year,” said Eddie, looking at Jeff who was standing to his side.

“Or we can use props maybe?” the boy supplied, brainstorming on the spot. “Our books and stuff?”

“Jesus Christ,” Kyle muttered under his breath. “Alright, just… Hold this for me, kid?” he shoved the borrowed camera into Dustin’s hands and spinned around the props room, eyes narrow as he searched for what he was looking for. “Let’s move that chair under the sign,” he instructed, pointing to Eddie’s throne.

Mike and Eddie immediately sprung to action, moving the throne to his desired place. Kyle busied himself with throwing various props into Gareth’s outstretched arms: an old pair of plastic swords, a crown, a jester’s cap, a red cape. He began moving people around like they were his own personal Barbie dolls, telling them to sit or stand in a particular place and giving them things to hold or wear. There was a low buzz around the room, like everyone was on the same page for once and in agreement that a boring photo would never do for their particular club. Once he was done, he grabbed the camera from Dustin’s careful hands and stepped back to observe his creation.

Eddie sat on his throne, a dark hooded cape on his shoulders and a plastic skull that had seen better times during a Hamlet production in his heavily ringed left hand. To his left stood Mike, holding matching swords with Jeff who stood to Eddie’s right. Between Eddie’s open legs, sitting on the floor was Dustin, wearing a blue, white and yellow jester’s cap with bells, and a friendly grin that could light up the entire room. Near Mike was Erica, a school flag tied around her neck like a superhero cape and a dainty tiara on her head, and Gareth, holding a knight’s helmet under his arm like it was a basketball. To Jeff’s right was Donny looking like he was having the time of his life with his red cape with furry white trim and a golden scepter. Dottie stood between them to the front, a gorgeous silver crown with red plastic jewels on top of her curls and a crystal orb between her two hands. Kyle lifted up the camera to his face.

“Okay everyone, huddle up again please!” he waited for everyone to get in position and snapped a picture. “One more, look dramatic! Alright, last one, go wild!”

At his command, Dustin contorted on the floor like a puppet on strings, Mike and Gareth lifted Erica up like she was a princess being carried by her loyal subjects, and Jeff and Donny pretended to be in a fierce fight, sword and scepter crossed in the air between them. Dottie looked at Eddie who was locked in a staring competition with his skull friend and acted quickly before her sudden burst of confidence disappeared, letting herself drop on the arm of his throne and holding her orb up with two hands, one on top and one on the bottom like she was about to divinate someone’s future. Eddie glanced at her completely-in-character wicked grin, and immediately schooled his features to look more like hers, let his right arm curl around her hip and draped himself on the chair like a king drunk on power. Two more quick flashes and Kyle lowered the borrowed camera, smiling with the knowledge of someone who is aware has done a great job.

While everyone busied themselves putting the props back in their places, Eddie gave Kyle a list with the names of the club’s new members to replace the previous one and walked him out with a grin on his face. When he returned, everyone was already in their seats, waiting for the week’s adventure to commence. Eddie lowered himself back on his throne and noticed that Dottie, sitting to his right as she always did during Hellfire, had taken off her pale yellow cardigan and was now fully matching with everyone else at the table. He looked down at his notes, took a deep breath and began his performance.

“We left off last week with Mozikith, Seebo and Tharivol trying to lie their way into a secret fight ring to track down Dedlock, Orfuel’s last known drug dealer and former fling,” he narrated, watching Mike, Dustin and Jeff sit up at their character names being mentioned.

“Mozikith, I believe you were about to snort a mysterious powder to prove yourself as trustworthy to her bouncers, is that correct?”

“Yes,” said Mike, locking eyes with his DM.

“Wait, hold on, is this really the best choice we have?” Dustin said, watching Eddie’s eyes glinting with barely concealed anticipation.

“Do you or Tharivol have resistance to poison? I didn’t think so. I’m snorting it.”

“That’s not how it works! Green dragonborns have resistance to poison damage, not advantage against getting the condition,” Jeff argued.

“I want to snort the powder,” Mike stood from his chair, putting an end to the debate.

“Alright then. Mozikith, you lower your snout to the table, sniffing the thin line of red powder in front of you and immediately you feel your nostrils start to burn, your eyes tear up, your muscles tense… your magic feels stronger, wilder, bursting to get out,” Eddie smirked at his player. “You just did a bump of high quality R. Cane, your attack spells get an extra 1d6 for the next hour.”

“Holy shit, that’s awesome!”

“You also have to roll a d20 every time you cast a spell for a Wild Magic Surge. If you land anywhere from 1 to 5, something unexpected will happen to you or those around you.”

“YOU ASSHOLE!” Mike screeched while everyone around him dissolved into a fit of giggles, setting the scene perfectly for the intense session that lay ahead of them.

“Can’t believe you got me poisoned because you couldn’t say no to drugs!” Dustin was yelling at Mike while they walked through Hawkins High’s hallways.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see anyone else snorting the R. Cane so we could get into the basement! How is it my fault you failed your Con save?”

“I told you it was a bad idea! The only reason I had to do a Con save in the first place was because you failed your Wild Magic Surge roll!”

“For fuck’s sake, stop arguing about it, it’s been literal hours!” Jeff complained, trailing behind them.

“I don’t know, man, I’d be pissed if I was unconscious for like half the session,” Gareth said, backing up Dustin’s rage. “He’d still be poisoned if Erica hadn’t saved a spell slot to Lay on Hands him.”

“Thank you, Gareth, exactly my point!”

The sun was beginning to set as they trickled out onto the parking lot, the heated argument between childhood best friends bouncing off the cold pavement at their feet. Mike and Dustin continued bickering all the way towards their chained bikes, and Erica, absolutely certain that they’d keep it up all the way to their homes, hung back with the rest of the group in an attempt to put some healthy distance between herself and the younger teens for the sake of her eardrums.

“Hey, you need a ride?” Donny offered to Dottie while pulling a cigarette out of his pocket. She was standing next to him, unusually quiet, a box of props and figurines in her arms.

“It’s okay, Eddie’s got me,” she said.

“You sure? I’m dropping Jeff and Gareth off too, it’s not a big deal.”

“Yeah, I’m not going home anyways, don’t worry.”

Before anyone could ask where she was heading to on a Friday evening after Hellfire, the school’s front double doors burst open with a loud metallic bang and Eddie jogged up to them, sliding his arms underneath the cardboard box Dottie was holding and propping it on his right hip like a mother would with a toddler.

“Thanks, darling. Thought I was gonna piss myself in there for a second,” he joked, letting his friends know the reason he had stayed behind for a few minutes while everyone else hurried to leave.

“Ew,” she giggled, fishing his keys from her coat pocket and giving them back to their rightful owner. “Ready to bounce?”

“Yup. What are we thinking, pepperoni or sausage?”

“Oh, sausage, always. Can we get half without olives though?”

“Just pick them out and I’ll eat them,” he started guiding her towards his van with a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Wait, wait, wait, hold on,” Gareth said, eyes narrowing. “You guys are getting pizza without us?”

“Yeah,” Eddie smiled, offering no other explanation to his inquiry.

“Is this supposed to be a date?” Erica asked, her eyebrows rising.

“Eddie’s buying me pizza in exchange for my tutoring services,” Dottie clarified quickly. It was bad enough that her Dad had caught onto her newly discovered crush before she even knew it existed; she didn’t need all her friends knowing about it too. “We’re getting ready for finals week.”

“You’re gonna study on a Friday night,” Gareth deadpanned. “Are you two okay? Didn’t you get enough yesterday?”

“We have a schedule, man, every day until finals start. Even on weekends,” Eddie said.

“On the weekends?”

“Yes, Gareth, that’s exactly what I said. You got any problems with me trying to actually graduate this year?”

“What’s gonna happen to band practice?”

“Are we still on for Wednesday’s study group?” Jeff asked.

“Everything is still on!” Dottie assured them. “We’re just clocking in a few extra hours, really, don’t worry about it, guys. We’re not gonna disappear for the rest of the month and nothing’s changing, I promise.”

“Can we go now? I really wanna eat before she has me reading up on genetics all night.”

“Didn’t know they called it reading up on genetics these days,” Donny muttered, flicking the ash on his cigarette onto the parking lot concrete.

“Ha, ha, very funny,” Eddie deadpanned, fighting the heat that was rising steadily up his throat.

“If we’re still on for study group, do you guys need help?” Jeff offered. “I can take over Bio and Sociology for you, I’m in those classes with him anyways,” he looked at Dottie with a friendly smile.

“I’ve got Sociology covered but if you can help him with Bio, that’d be great. I’m… terrible at Science.”

“I’ll bring my notes then.”

“God, you’re a saint,” Dottie hugged him goodbye before trailing behind Eddie towards the van. “See you guys Monday!”

“Thanks, man,” Eddie said to Jeff, who raised his hand in acknowledgment. “Bye, children!”

They watched the pair get into the van and leave, Dottie waving at their friends through the window as they peeled out of the parking lot. Gareth and Jeff headed to Donny’s car, arguing over whose turn it was to ride shotgun, leaving Donny and Erica standing near the doors, both deep in contemplation. They could still hear Mike and Dustin talking about the session farther away near the bike rack.

“Eddie likes Dottie, right?” Erica asked, eyes never leaving the street in front of them.

“Yup,” Donny said, taking another drag of his cig.

“And he hasn’t told her yet?”

“Nope.”

“And she also hasn’t told him she likes him?”

“She’s harder to read than he is. I’m not sure if she likes him or if she’s just incredibly friendly. Saw a guy hit on her at the video store the other day and she didn’t even react.”

“Oh, she likes him, alright,” the younger girl said, a smirk on her face. Donny turned to look at her. “Just the facts. I’m a girl, I can tell.”

“If you say so,” he laughed, throwing his cigarette butt to the ground and stepping on it. “Don’t tell anyone, though. Let them figure it out on their own.”

“Who do you think I am? Cupid?” she laughed back, heading towards the bikes. “Let me know if anything juicy happens!”

“Yes, ma’am,” Donny saluted her as she walked away.

He watched how she finally wrangled the bickering 15 year olds onto their bikes and got in his car, Gareth already seated happily in his passenger seat. Donny smiled to himself as the engine roared to life, perfectly content in keeping their friends in the dark as long as he and Erica got to gossip about it soon. He couldn’t wait until Monday.

Eddie drove like a maniac. This was a well known fact to his friends and the general Hawkins population; he liked his van to go fast and his music to play loud. The boys were used to hanging on tight when he flew over potholes or barely slowed down at deserted corners on their way back from The Hideout, and his neighbors didn’t complain anymore when he pulled into the trailer park at odd hours, metal music making their window panes rattle in the dark of the night. And yet, whenever Dottie was sitting prettily to his right, her backpack between her feet on the floor and the seatbelts he hardly ever used when she wasn’t there clicked on safely, Eddie found himself slowing down at every intersection and keeping his favorite songs down to a low rumble. He hadn’t noticed his preferred style of driving could be fear-inducing until the first time he drove her home.

Dottie’s dad picked Gareth up every morning on their way to school, and the two teens took the bus together at the end of the day to go home. Gareth got off first, and three stops later, Dottie only had to walk only half a block to reach her own house. It had been pouring that day, the kind of rain that drenched your jeans and ruined your sneakers if you dared to stand outside for more than a few seconds. Eddie hurried both friends into the safety of his van before they could even argue about waiting for the bus, and in the short blocks between dropping Gareth off and pulling up to Dottie’s driveway, he saw her white knuckles holding onto the worn fabric of the seat, her wide eyes fixated on the wet road in front of them. She had trembled a little when she got out, and while he didn’t know if it was because of the cold or if she was trying to shake off the intense fear of death he had instilled in her with his need for speed, Eddie had never again driven like that with her sitting next to him. Gareth had made fun of him for it once: called him a Grandma, said he was getting soft. Eddie was just thankful she had trusted him enough to get in his van again after that terrible first ride.

He liked driving her around. He liked taking his time through the streets, pointing stuff out to her, telling her stories about various places around town. He liked answering her questions, hearing her little comments like how she loved when houses painted their front doors in bright colors like red or yellow, or catching her gasps whenever they stopped at a traffic light and the car next to them had a dog inside, all furry, tongue out and tail wagging at her through two layers of glass. Eddie liked how she pretended she wasn’t flustered when he put his hand behind her headrest while he backed his van into a parallel parking spot, just like he was doing at that moment outside the pizza parlor.

“Come on, princess, cheese awaits,” he said, helping Dottie jump off her seat as an excuse to hold her hand for a few seconds.

“Thank you, kind sir,” she played along, always happy to indulge him.

“You been here before?”

Dottie took in the bright neon sign above them, colorful letters spelling New York Pizza and warm light spilling out of the big windows at the front of the building. She shook her head, all smiley and cozy, her hand tightening on his as she trailed behind him and into the shop. Eddie allowed her a few seconds of marvel before tugging her into an empty booth away from the few families enjoying their Friday night out.

“I didn’t even know this place was here, we always order in from Domino’s or go to Donny’s,” she said, tugging her jacket off and setting it on top of her backpack.

“Don’t get me wrong, Domino’s is great, but this place has better cheese and it’s cheaper than Donny’s. It’s a shame they don’t have delivery,” he explained, pushing the menu across the table. “It opened last year at the mall but they moved here when it burned down.”

“Oh, yeah, I heard about that. Dustin said they were inside Starcourt when that happened.”

“Yeah, I don’t really know the whole story. Mike doesn’t like talking about it. I think they knew some of the people that died in there.”

“That’s… Jesus, that’s terrible,” she shook her head like she was trying to get an awful mental image out of her brain. It didn’t go away. “Poor kids. I’m glad it didn’t really affect them, they seem so… carefree, I guess?”

“A lot of weird stuff has happened in Hawkins in the past few years, I think most of us just don’t think about it anymore,” he tapped on the menu in her hand. “What are you drinking?”

“We should buy a big bottle at the gas station, it’d be cheaper than getting individual cans here.”

“Don’t think they’ll let us bring our own drinks in, princess,” he chuckled.

“I thought…,” she trailed off. “Didn’t know we were eating here.”

“You wanna go home?”

Eddie hadn’t thought of the possibility of her not wanting to go out with him for such a simple thing as pizza and now his hands were sweating so badly he was sure that if he wiped them on his jeans, his thighs would feel damp. Of course she doesn’t wanna be here, he thought. That lady in the corner has been staring since we sat down, she must think I kidnapped Dot or something. As soon as she heard his unsure tone, her eyes snapped from the menu up to his, finding them wide open like a deer’s seconds before tragedy struck.

“No, no, it’s okay!” Dottie hurried to erase his apparent panic. “I just thought we were gonna buy the pizza and go back to yours, have dinner with your Uncle, y’know?”

“Oh,” he looked confused. “Wayne’s not home, he has his union meetings on Fridays before work. But we can leave if you’re uncomfortable, we don’t-”

“Eddie,” she extended her arm across the table, resting it between them. “I’m not uncomfortable, I just thought we were including Wayne in our pizza night. I wanna stay. This place is great, thank you for inviting me here.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah,” he finally smiled back.

A tired-looking middle aged lady with a tag that read “Margot” came by their table to take their order (“A medium sized sausage pizza, one Sprite and one Coke, please.”), and they settled into companionable silence, watching their pizza dough being tossed around through the long kitchen window behind the counter. They talked about the still fresh D&D session until warm food finally arrived at the table, Dottie complained about a jock in her AP Spanish class asking stupid questions he definitely should have asked weeks ago and not now when they were so close to the final exam while picking out olives from her slice and piling them onto Eddie’s, they argued about who was gonna pay and settled on splitting the bill even though he had definitely eaten more slices than she had, and Eddie admitted that he had been taking naps during the free periods he didn’t share with her on the drive to his trailer.

They sheltered themselves from the cold by camping out in his living room and sitting side by side on the couch, books and notes spread out all around them. Dottie decided that Biology was too hard to tackle without Jeff and they proceeded to spend a good chunk of the night going through a bunch of wrinkled Calc worksheets Eddie had found at the back of his locker that he probably should have submitted a while ago. She fell asleep reading her World History textbook, her sock-covered feet resting on Eddie’s lap while he sketched out a bowl of imaginary fruit for his Drawing class final portfolio, the radio on in the background tuned into Wayne’s favorite oldies station.

A few minutes before midnight, Eddie helped a sleepy Dottie into his van to take her home, her backpack on the floor tucked between her legs and an old knitted blanket around her shoulders. When he pulled out of the trailer park, music low, speed gentle, seatbelts on, he risked a glance at her snoozing form only to find that she was wide awake and looking at him.

“Why did you think I was uncomfortable at the pizza place?” her voice was almost a whisper.

“Dunno,” he admitted. “We’ve never done that before. Go out to eat by ourselves, I mean.”

“So?”

“People were staring. Didn’t want you to feel weird.”

“Don’t care.”

“Huh?” he slowed down at the corner of Maple Street and turned to look at her. She was still looking right at him.

“I don’t care if people stare. I know what Hawkins thinks of Hellfire, and it’s dumb. This shirt’s cool.”

“It’s not about Hellfire or the shirt. It’s about me,” he said, more serious than she had ever seen him. “This is what it’s like being around me. I’m the good-for-nothing Munson boy, and people stare.”

“Don’t care,” Dottie shuffled in her seat and tucked her knees under her chin, turning her body towards him. “They’re dumb and you’re cool. Their loss if they can’t see that.”

Eddie continued driving in silence, music barely audible, never going above minimum speed. He pulled into her driveway quietly, busied himself folding the blanket she left behind as she hopped out and rounded the van searching for her keys in her backpack’s front pocket. She stopped at his window, motioning for him to roll it down.

“We should do this again,” she said. “Next Friday?”

“Yeah? I know a place on Mulberry that has tacos,” his voice was soft, kind. Vulnerable. Happy.

“Oh, I love tacos.”

“I know.”

“Good. Tacos next Friday then.”

“Tacos next Friday. Until tomorrow after lunch, princess.”

“See you tomorrow,” she pulled her sleeves over her hands as she walked to her front door, and Eddie heard her muttering to herself after a big yawn. “Can’t believe he thought I would ever be uncomfy with him. Dumbass.”

He waited until she was safely inside to drive away, let out the biggest sigh of his life at the first stop sign he encountered, and finally drifted off to sleep after smoking a joint, all wrapped up in the cozy blanket that had kept her warm in his van, old thick yarn keeping away the cold spilling into his room from the open window. And if Wayne found his sleeping nephew still tangled in that same blanket when he came back home after work, no one had to know.

taglist (let me know if you wanna be tagged!): @munsonology

#bunny writes #small town fic #eddie munson x female character #eddie munson x oc #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fic #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #hellfire club #gareth stranger things #jeff stranger things #dustin henderson #mike wheeler #erica sinclair #chrissy cunningham #stranger things 4 #joseph quinn #eddie munson fluff #baby's first fic

[fa-by]

Hi to you too, dear Anon 👋🏼😄, and thank you very much🙏🏼 it's good to be back 🤗.

[It's good that you are well despite the adversities I know that you have not promised to answer all the questions that we ask you as often as you did before, but I hope that from time to time in your free time you can answer the questions.]

Yep, that's exactly what I'm gonna do and indeed, here I am answering asks 😜.

[Many things have happened within the fandom, one of them is that Lauren has been in a new “relationship” for a while now, I know you are not aware of the fandom or the girls]

I am aware of everything that happened and continues to happen to the girls, trust me 🤭🤣. Just because I disappeared from here for a while doesn't mean I didn't keep following everything 😉.

[I would like to know your point of view about the new PR?]

For independent artists in general, it's much more difficult to gain visibility and publicity without the backing of a major record label. Luckily for Laur because of her past, she already has a fanbase and therefore doesn't have to build one from scratch, but that doesn't mean it's a lifelong fanbase. Fans come and go for one reason or another, but it's up to the singers/artists to keep people engaged by any means necessary. Why?

Because singers/artists earn and get paid only because people like them. Without fans, there would be no streams for their music and therefore no concerts and tickets&merchandises sales, no interviews, no invitations to events, no awards, no visibility, no publicity, no nothing. Absolutely nothing. No fans equal no money and fame. No fans equal no celebrity. They'd simply go back to being ordinary people like you and me.

So, by “it's up to the singers/artists to keep people engaged by any means necessary” I was also implicitly talking about PRs of course. Just because Laur's independent doesn't mean she has the freedom to do whatever she wants on every front, especially since she's tied to the old legally binding contracts. The industry's rules haven't changed. Lo's been in the industry for almost 11 years and therefore knows very well that especially now that she's independent she has to continue to follow those industry rules to gain visibility and publicity without the backing of a major record label. The only thing that has changed for her now that she's independent is that she has more freedom to pull the strings on some things, and among them, the choice of her PR: Sasha Mallory.

Sasha's nothing more than a rebound for the contract with Lucy Vives. The new Lucy *and I hope they're a good person unlike Lucia*. Sasha is a non-binary friend who's attracted to women and is a dancer, ergo is in the same industry and therefore understands and can perfectly help Lauren on both fronts by also being part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Sasha's the new cover for Camren, especially for the connection in the songs. The purpose of the PR with Sasha is the same as any other PRs: attention, speculation, publicity. That's all, my dear Anon 😄.

Hi to you too, dear Anon 👋🏼😄. I believe the previous answer answers your questions 🤣. It makes me happy that you're happy that I'm back and I hope you're having a good start to the week as well 🤗.

I'll copy what I wrote in my previous post: “They're simply testing the waters and creating havoc, aka publicity, before Mila's debut with the new label. That's it 🤷🏻‍♀️. Nothing new. Ignore them as I do.”

Plus, Mila didn't put herself in any position because she can't decide shit 🤣. They put her, again. As I explained in my PR stunt relationships - ɟ post which I recommend you read to better understand how things work 😉, contracts can provide that two people who have already had a PR in the past can have it again in the future.

What is the BIG reason she has for doing this in your opinion other than to get publicity for their future albums? I'm curious to know 😜.

Oh and, dear Anon? I'd appreciate a hi/hey before the questions in the future please. Thanks 🙏🏼 and have a great day too.

Hi to you too, dear Anon 👋🏼😄. I am now thanks 🤗, I hope you are too.

As for your question, none of the above you listed 🤣. It was Sofi, my dear 🤣.

Hi to you @camilalauren0327 👋🏼😄!!! No no, I'm here don't worry 🙃. Thanks for stopping by to say hi, I really appreciate it. I hope you're having a great day too 🤗.

Hello to you too, dear Anon 👋🏼😄. Happy (almost half) 2023 to you too, dear 🥳.

I think (also because of the songs and what Lauren said) that Camila thought and knew that Lauren liked her, especially physically, and that's why they had the fuckbuddies relationship. Mila also knew that Lauren only wanted sex without feelings because she knew Lo was scared and in denial. So she waited. She waited until then she could wait no longer.

P.S. Did you resend an ask you sent me at the beginning of the year? You know, because of the happy 2023.

Hello to you too, dear Anon 👋🏼😄. Is this soon enough 😜?

1) Yes, I think so 😄.

2) 9 years. All these years. Since 2014 definitely. Not just 2017-2023, but since 2014. I think this simply because even though they had breaks and breakups lasting 3 months at most, they always got back together.

Hi to you too, dear Anon 👋🏼😄 and thanks. It's an unreleased song called Healing that Mila wrote for The Hurting. The Healing. The Loving. I talked about it here https://fa-by.tumblr.com/post/674774346304290816/hello-babies-and-dear-anons-not-the-qa and here https://fa-by.tumblr.com/post/674845686765862912/wait-faby-so-the-healing-was-cs-song-for-the.

Along with those two posts, I'd like to add that Mila kept the song for years to be able to use it again on a future album, and when the time came, the label had the brilliant idea to change it into a duet to be used with the oh so precious Mr. Mentos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfTztRPWwKU released on Apr 23, 2023). The song was eventually scrapped and Mila decided to sell HER solo version thus acting as a ghostwriter. Version that was officially released by FLETCHER in 2021.

 ‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍

Aaand I'm done 👅. Thank you all for your asks and I hope I've been helpful this time too 🙃. As usual, I'm always available for those who have questions, so ask away 😄.

Remember to be nice. Always. Both with others and with yourselves. Be a good example. Be patient. Be safe and take care of yourselves. Don't let our ship sink. Keep shipping them, but please respectfully 🙏🏼. Sending you virtual love and hugs 🤗🤗🤗. I love you, babies. Always with love, F ❤️.

[dokuixote]

[12:29] | 📓 librarian!wonwoo

“Hey, thought you might like this too. :)”

a boyish handwriting scribbled in a yellow sticky note is taped at a book placed on your favorite spot at the library. again.

it’s the fourth time this month, you recall as you carefully fold the note and store it safely on your pocket. “I think you’ll have fun reading this. :)” “Try this. :)” “This is my favorite author. I think this book is up your alley. :)” you now have a growing collection of book recommendations lacking a name of the sender but always with a signatory in a form of a smiley face.

‘The Miracles of the Namiya General Store’ the cover reads. you scan the room for any sign of the mysterious sender, but to no surprise, everyone within your eyesight is too occupied to care hunched over their papers, books, and laptops. you also flip through the last page and scan the borrower history of the book only to find it empty.

you sadly sigh, wondering when you can meet this person to talk about the story and personally thank them for recommending books you have been genuinely enjoying reading for the past weeks. nameless and faceless, how are you supposed to say that you kept all the sticky notes of annotations in a clear jar at your desk back at home because it makes you smile when you catch a glimpse of it?

defeated albeit eager for a new read, you walk back to the librarian’s desk to officially borrow the book and consume it in the comforts of your own home.

“you again? i’m surprised there are still books here left for you to borrow.” wonwoo teasingly chuckles when he sees you approach with a book and your worn library card at hand.

“oh don’t you worry, i won’t steal your biggest geek world-title.” you roll your eyes at the librarian-turned-friend which earned a laugh from him. from the numerous small talks you had with wonwoo, you discovered he’s few years your senior, likes (and is alike) a cat, prefers mystery over coming-of-age, and he’s on duty during tuesdays, thursdays, and saturdays because he attends classes during the rest of the week and sundays are reserved for campaign mode in his newly-installed RPG.

“hmm, interesting choice.” wonwoo comments while he flips through the book for information.

“you read it? is it good? oh and have you noticed anyone hanging out at my spot recently?” you fire away questions, subtly keen on discovering any clue on who’s been leaving books for you.

wonwoo looks up at you and raises his brows at your flushing cheeks and almost sparkling eyes. he puts his fingers up, “1, yes, i have read it. 2, yes it is good. i liked it. and 3, no, i haven’t seen anyone in your so-called spot which, by the way, isn’t just reserved for you even though you’re our secret-favorite customer. why are you asking?”

“nothing, just curious is all.” you clear your throat and pretentiously say with nonchalance, hiding the disappointment from thinking this is the day you finally have somewhere to start on finding your incognito friend.

wonwoo, knowing better, only gives you a pointed look.

“okay fine, it’s just someone’s been leaving all these books for me and i love every single one of it and i appreciate it and i just,” you explain and mumble, “i want to at least take them out for a coffee or something.”

“oh, then i’ll let you know if i notice something.” wonwoo bites back a smile and hands you the book now permitted to leave the premises of the local library. “hope you’ll like it as much as i did.”

you nod and thank him. “alright, i’ll get going now and trust your word. see you in 3 days! don’t miss me too much, wonwoo!” you jest as you exit.

wonwoo quietly laughs and shakes his head at how goofy you looked while giving him a salute through the glass door. once you were beyond his sight, he goes back to his desk and gets ‘Dollar Good Dream Department Store’. he reaches for a nearby yellow sticky note and writes, “Give this a try. :) <3”

maybe he’d give this book in a coffee shop soon.

#wonwoo x reader #✍️.seventeen #💭 wonwoo #seventeen #jeon wonwoo #svt x reader #wonwoo x y/n #svt drabbles #seventeen x reader #seventeen x you #jeon wonwoo x reader

[triple-asstro]

Salai Chapter 12: Like Spiderman

a/n: ITS OUT BBYYY i like this chapter a lot since it's more development on leo and salai i hope you enjoy it too <3

song: strangers by kenya grace

word count: 4.1k

Leonardo couldn’t sleep that night. It was an unwavering force that pried open his eyes, no matter how hard he tossed and turned, as he kept himself buried underneath his blanket. It'd been practically two weeks since he heard from his friend. He couldn’t remember the amount of letters and notes he’d sent, along with a small box he was tugging at. Were they okay? Could they be okay? 

His mind concluded: it was time to write. 

It’s been a while since I wrote. I’ve written about five letters asking if they’re okay, but they haven’t answered any of them. I’m not gonna pry or spy like Donnie does, which is pretty creepy, but my worries don’t leave my mind. I’ve tried meditation, drinking herbal tea; even swinging like they said; nothing! My heart feels like it’s shaking, almost. It’s incredibly weird. 

A ring echoed from somewhere underneath his sheets, as a gentle vibration was sent through his spine. He flinched, before rolling over, grabbing it to see who was calling him this late. He saw your name. Fumbling around, he snatched his phone, answering as he cleared his throat. 

“Hey- uhh- hey, what’s up?” 

What’s up?! You haven’t seen them in weeks and you start with that? 

“Hey Leo… First, I’m really sorry that I haven’t been talking in a few weeks.” 

“Sure, yeah, it’s alright. Just why?” 

“Umm…” their voice grew more silent. Leo’s nerves were practically on point. “How do I say this?” 

“Say what?”

“Is it normal for tentacles to grow out of my back?” 

The time was around 2:30 in the morning, on an even Friday, thank god. Leo’s instructions were evident and firm; head straight to the lair. You passed by multiple streets and alleys, spotting new shards of glass and broken canisters spread across the city. Thoughts inside your mind were muddled, resembling mud more than water. 

Two blocks, that’s all you needed to walk. Then, you had to make a right. Simple enough. 

You could feel a fresh breeze graze your neck. Instinctively, you turned around and raised your wakizashi, only to realise that you were threatening the late-October air. You must’ve been going insane. That’s the only explanation. 

Speaking of explanations, how were you going to explain this? The infant tendrils kept scraping against both your skin and your abundance of clothing. Their leathery textures didn’t add any comfort either, itching and irritating every inch of skin it scraped. 

You wanted these things gone, before it got worse. 

You made your two blocks and right turn, descending the ladders as fast as you could. The rust stung your skin, sticking chunks of it to your palm. Your former sting had faded, only leaving a small mark, one that could’ve been mistaken for a mosquito or bug. As you hopped down, you raced towards the faint light of the lair. The irritation only grew, driving your feet deeper and pushing off with more force than ever. 

Practically throwing yourself over the bannisters, you landed with a frantic jump. But when you looked up, you saw a familiar red-headed face within the crowd of mutants. Another glance past them reconfirmed your suspicions. Soon, you were ushered into another room by Donnie. He looked mad by the crinkling of his nonexistent brow. Either by you stealing one of his gadgets or something entirely different. The room looked dark and menacing, with multiple metals and gadgetry strewn across tables. It was both impressive and odd. 

The door opened once again, and Donnie appeared. His eyes seemed tired as he draped a white coat over his figure. He gestured over to a makeshift doctor’s bench made of old office chairs taped together, and you obliged. 

“So, can you tell me how this happened?”

“Well… I was on my way home and I saw this broken canister lying on the ground. There wasn’t any ooze or anything, just some dead creatures inside. So I disposed of it in the dumpster nearby. Next thing I know, I’m getting ready for bed and I feel this sharp sting on my skin, so I smack it and this…creature falls out. So I think: oh, just a bug. Nothing to worry about. Cut to five minutes later. I’m scratching and itching all over my back. I go to the bathroom, and tiny tendrils are sprouting out of my back!” 

“Then you called Leo?”

“Yep,” you nodded. 

“Okay, can I see these tendrils?” 

“Uh.. okay?” you answered, slightly lifting your jacket and shirt. The four tendrils seemed to wince at the fluorescent light, retracing back into your back. The movement sent a shiver down your spine. He glanced at it for a while, prodding and studying the creatures. After what felt like hours, he motioned you to let go of your shirt, letting it rest back on your back. 

“Well, it’s certainly odd. I’ll give it that.” 

“I’d hope so. Tendrils on anyone or anything isn’t a normal occurrence.” 

“It’s probably something to do with that thing that bit you. For now, you’re gonna have to stay here so we can monitor you, in case anything starts mutating or developing.”

“Understandable,” you said, nodding. Donnie nodded back, leaving you to your own devices. You took this time to truly gaze at your new friends. They were tiny, almost like velcro, constantly squirming now that they were out. Every time they moved, you could feel a twinge of discomfort speed down your back, like it was attached to the damn thing. This was everything you weren’t anticipating. 

A swing through the air twirled your head around, only to see Leonardo standing in the middle of the door. His eyes looked less tired, to your delight. But when your gaze glanced downwards, your stomach slightly sank at the sight of multiple bandages. 

“Hey.” 

“Hey, are you feeling better?” 

“Sort of. I know that, hopefully, I’m gonna be okay.” 

He sauntered over towards you, placing a mug emitting light steam next to you. 

“What’s this?”

“Oh, it’s just some herbal tea that should help with your pain. I thought it would help.” 

You grabbed the cup and took a sip, humming as the tea slid down your throat warmly. “Hmm, that’s good.” 

“R-Really? It’s… good? ” 

“Yeah, I feel slightly better now,” you said, an uncomfortable silence wafting in the air. “Are you okay?” 

“Yes, I’m alright.” 

“Okay,” you stated, slapping your knees lightly. “I apologise for just dropping off the radar. It’s this stupid, stupid thing I do whenever I feel like something’s going to end badly. It’s saving myself when there’s no danger in sight. It’s no excuse for what I did, but I’m working on it.” 

Leo nodded. “It’s alright, I’m just glad you’re okay.” 

You smiled, concealing the growing warmth in your heart. The sinking sensation in your stomach transformed into a fluttering, “I’ve got an idea, if you’re willing to hear me out.” 

“Alright, let me hear it.” 

“We should team up. If you’re going against these Kraangs and the Shredder, I wanna help as much as I can. I should be able to do something, right?” 

He chuckled. “I’m glad you want to help, but I don’t want to see you hurt.” 

“I’m not going to get hurt.” 

Leo stared into your eyes, your expression never changing. “And if I do, we’ll deal with it. Together.” 

“...I’m still unsure. You’re willing to take this risk?” 

You snicker slightly. “Yes, I take this risk, Oh Fearless Leader Leonardo. Leader-nardo! ” 

As you reached your hand to shake his, you felt a strong twinge on your back. Your arm thrusted out, as did your tendril. It emerged from your back and sped in the same direction as your arm, nearly decapitating poor Leo. Pain coursed through your back, small drops of blood decorated the floor. The tendril embedded itself into the wall as small pieces of concrete shed off and fell onto the ground. Its skin was a deep magenta, leathery, and spiked to all hell. 

“Fuck!” you exclaimed. 

“Are you okay?” 

“Are you?” 

“I think so. It was only moderately painful.” 

“...i’m getting Donnie.”

“Fair enough.” 

After almost killing their brother, the turtles were now certain of monitoring you. If one tiny tendril only took a few hours to develop into a massive two-metre one, what else could happen? This culminated in your entire early morning being taken up by Donnie staring at you, clutching onto his clipboard with all of his strength. You’re surprised it didn’t break underneath it. The other tendrils were quite the challenge. Second one developed around three in the morning. You were laid with your back towards the sky, mildly dreading the pain you were about to experience.

Mikey sat next to you, patting your head, which didn’t help with the pain. Leo kept supplying tea to soothe your nerves and stay by your side, which did help.

What did Raph do during this time, you may ask? He kept mercilessly taunting you, and if you ever asked him about it, he’d say he was simply teasing. Thankfully, it was quickly shut down with the second tendril sprouting and shoving him across the room. You were too busy cackling to yourself to process the pain. Two tendrils out of four, done. 

Tendril number three came out more calmly compared to the rest, only injuring small kitchen appliances; This one grew at four thirty-seven in the morning. You were headed to finally eat something to keep yourself awake. As you placed some toast into the toaster, you heard something unusual, like the hurried rushing of three people all at once. As soon as you turned around, you got the panicked expressions of Raphael, Donnie and Mikey, which swiftly dissipated when they saw you. 

“What’s got you all riled up?” 

“Nothing, just don’t let Leo anywhere near that thing. Trust me, you don’t wanna know.” 

“Alright… April? Do you want anything?” 

April sat on the couch, silent. She was muttering to herself, fidgeting with an unknown object. 

“...okay. Keep talking to yourself.” 

“Feeling better?” Mikey asked. 

“Yeah, after like two of them, my back’s kinda invincible. Tough as nails.” 

“That’s what I’m talking about, bro! You’re gonna be alright. Swimming with the fishes!” 

“...that’s a saying of death, Mikey.” 

“I appreciate the effort, really I do,” you responded, carrying your plate of freshly popped toasts towards April. Leo was sitting there too, watching Space Heroes. Your back was aching in pain due to two tendrils bursting out of it. Your mind felt almost indifferent to the change you were going through. Maybe it just hasn’t sunk in yet. 

“April… April? ” 

“What?” she spat. Her eyes grew wide before realising what she said. “Sorry, just focused right now.” 

“It’s alright. Just wanna ask if you wanted some toast.” 

“Oh… that actually sounds good. Thanks.” she said, taking a piece and chewing on one corner. She hummed in delight. 

“Hey April,” called Donnie. “Wanna check out what I’m making over here?” 

April fell silent, her lips flattened into a singular line. 

“Uh… kinda busy right now, Donnie.” 

“Oh..okay.” 

You blinked, nibbling on your portion of toast. “Huh. That was weird.” 

“Yeah… I need to get some air,” April huffed, walking away from her previous spot and into a miscellaneous tunnel. 

“Okay then…?” You hum to yourself before turning to the blue-clad mutant who was staring at the screen with some intensity, you worried he might shred it up with his mind. “Hey, Leo?” 

“Hm?” he hummed, disconnecting his eyes away from the screen and towards you. “What’s up?”

“What do you think happens when one of them gets cut off?” 

Leo pressed his fist underneath his chin, squinting. “It’ll probably stay cut off. I’m not the type of guy you want to talk about this kind of stuff. It's more Donnie’s thing.

“I wanna hear your opinion about it. That’s why I asked: What do you think?” 

He stopped, processing your response. His eyes went blank, as if staring off into an unknown space.

A sharp wave of heat enveloped you, causing you to clutch your forehead. Leo reacted, placing his hand on your forehead. 

“Fever. Hold on.” 

He paused the TV, rushing towards the kitchen, to which everyone panicked. Thankfully, it was only to grab an ice pack to place on your forehead. You mumbled out a thank you in response. 

“What does it feel like?” asked Mikey. 

“Like giving birth, only four times.” 

“Gnarly sight…” 

“And image,” you chuckled. You watched him give you a brief thumbs up, walking away. You glanced back, noticing Leo’s immediate head-turn. He was staring. 

“Hey.” 

“Hey…” he responded, scratching the back of his neck. “Still feeling okay?”

You chuckle at his worry, but wince as pain pangs throughout your head “Yes, Leader-nardo. I haven’t moved even once.” 

“I know, just checking.” 

“And I appreciate it. You’re watching Space Heroes?” 

He shrugged his shoulders, reaching for the remote with his free hand. “Oh, it was just on. We can switch it.” 

“No wait, I think I remember this episode! The one where Captain Ryan fights the Cortexicons and Hypnotica?”

“Yeah, that one! Have you watched it before?”

“I know what it’s about, but I’m still on season one…” 

“You’re watching season one? What’s your opinion so far?” he said, questions continuing to flow out of his mouth at record speed.

“It’s pretty good. A bit cheesy, but enjoyable.” 

You both looked back at the screen, eyes wide. As you kept watching the episode, you felt a twinge in your back. Was another ready to pop out? Surges of pain coursed through you, the clawing against your back smacked your head in realisation. It kept scratching and clawing at your fleshy back, ripping the pre-existing holes and making them bleed. 

With a jolt, you lurched back, groaning out your pain. Leo rushed towards your side, hands hovering in uncertainty. Everyone else crowded around you, varying between understanding what was going on and ignoring. Meanwhile, you kept grabbing at your head, pulling out some hairs in the process. The appendage burst out of your back, sending blood splattering and agonising aches through you. As soon as it escaped your back, it landed on the floor with a wet thud. Three out of- 

Another jolt of pain jabbed your back. This time, swiftly and efficiently. 

“Oh, come on!” you exclaimed, throwing your arms into the ground. Coincidentally, your tendrils did the same, driving themselves into the ground, cracking them into pieces. They lifted you up, letting your body hover above. The fourth, and hopefully final, appendage finally escaped your back and landed on the ground like the rest. Your back was draped with blood, along with the back of your t-shirt and jacket. You looked around the crowd, seeing everyone's concerned yet scared expressions. Except Raph, he was ecstatic. 

When morning arrived, you were exhausted. You alternated between checkups with Donnie, washing your bloodied clothes with Mikey, and resting for prolonged periods of time with Leo and Raph. Those times were when they weren’t bickering and bantering with one another.

Somehow, Raph had pulled you aside and propped you in front of his punching bag. To ‘test out your new abilities’, he said. You were still groggy and exhausted, but gave it a go, anyway. Better to comply than argue more.

“Okay, can you try to lift one of your…things?”

“My…things?”

“Y’know, your…limb.” 

“Nice phrasing there,” you snidely remarked. You concentrated your mind, commanding it to levitate, and it did. After a few seconds of strain, you confidently made it hover above the ground, controlling it like it was your own arm. 

Raph nodded, his smile quivering in excitement. “Alright, now hit it.” 

“Hit…what?” 

“The dummy, idiot.” 

“Oh, like this?” 

You hurled your appendage towards the punching bag, watching in amazement as it shattered into a million pieces. Stuffing scattered the floor, along with the sound of crashing metal. Before you could blink, the door towards the dojo swung open. The force of the slam was enough to send shivers down your spine. 

“What was that noise?!” 

“Sorry, sensei, might’ve destroyed my punching bag.” 

“Who is this?” he said. The tall rat man stared at you with confusion and menace in his eyes. 

“Oh, hi mister…rat. I’m Leo’s friend. Really sorry about the mess. I’ll clean it up.” 

He approached closer towards you, looming above with intimidation. His eyes never removed themselves from you, analysing your every move and mannerism. What was he looking for? After five more seconds of uncomfortable silence, he stepped back and lightly slammed his green staff. 

“It is nice to meet another one of Leonardo’s friends. I can trust that you’ll keep up a secret?”

“Of course.” 

“Good.” With that being said, he turned around, retreating to the dojo.. 

You turned towards Raph, a nervous look adorned your face. “Was that good or bad?”

“Good, you didn’t make him mad.” 

After that encounter, tiredness took a hold of you. Its waves came violent and tumultuous, which eventually led you to collapse onto the couch in a huff. 

You woke up, memory in a haze, and with your head on Leonardo’s shoulder. The weight of his head on yours sent warm waves in your heart and stomach. Looking around, the rest of the brothers had fallen asleep or left, Mikey and Donnie being piled on top of another. You had no idea what to think, but you couldn’t deny that it was nice. 

However, something inside of you wanted to explore. It wanted to find out: what exactly more can these tendrils do? 

“Leo, hey.”

He woke up, as if a jolt surged through him. His eyes squished together before opening wide. That simple action felt like a hug around your heart. “What? Is something wrong?” 

“No, another idea just popped into my mind.” 

“What is it?”

“Let’s go out.” 

Leo’s voice faltered. Go out? Go out, like a date? “What?” 

“Outside, test these things once again. What if I could use them, like Spiderman?” 

“Oh. Oh yeah! I’m just a bit worried.” 

Your voice lowered. “About…what?”

Leo straightened his back, adjusting his posture. “The risk, what if you could get hurt?” 

“Okay, how about we can go out for ten minutes, and if at any point you feel like we need to dip, we leave. Does that sound ok?”

He paused, eyes static. Then, they went calm again, his pupils slightly enlarging when he glanced back at you. “Okay.” 

The night sky tasted fresh. You were positioned at the edge of a rooftop, a small can elevated above you on the rooftop exit. All you wanted to do was hit it. You took a deep breath in, closing your eyes as you repeated the command in your head: hit the can. 

You felt the command warp your body and lift your appendage. With one more affirmation, you thrusted it towards the can. A clatter, along with a clap, convinced you to open your eyes. To your shock, it just missed the can. 

“Ugh…” 

“Hey, you almost got it. That’s progress.” 

“Yeah, almost. I almost got it.”

“You can try a different position?”

You both paused. 

“That’s what-”

“-she said. I know.”

You gasped, crossing your arms. “How dare you, you asshole! You finally get my jokes?”

“Yes, Raph had to explain them to me.”

“Oh, that’s hilarious. And concerning.” 

Leo chuckled, the corners of his mouth tugging into a smile. You chuckled as well, eyes softening. He’d hardly been this giddy, even in front of you. Your eyes wandered, spotting a hanging metal bar from a nearby crane. From the looks of it, it was inoperable.

“I’m gonna try something.” 

“Try what?” 

“Something potentially dumb,’” you said. With a swift rush, you dashed off the rooftop, commanding your appendage to grab the pole. Now, if you were betting the right cards, your limb would listen to you and grip onto the metal beam. Thankfully, for both Leo’s sanity and your health, it did. The air flew across your skin, the smell of rain wafting through your nose. You catapulted yourself into the air, however, didn’t take account of what would happen after. The sudden rush of adrenaline and the tremendous speed of your descent sent you into a mild state of panic. 

“Shit!” you yelped. Your first instinct was to extend all of your tendrils in an attempt to stop your descent. However, another force jolted your body. It grabbed at you and landed on the opposing rooftop. When you finally opened your eyes, you glanced upwards.

That proved to be a colossal mistake. The sight of Leo’s panicked yet soft expression sent another flood of confusion and joy through your body. His body relaxes as he sees that you’re unharmed, dropping you to the ground. 

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just got caught in the moment. Sorry for the scare,” you responded. His shoulder relaxed as the tension subsided. His shoulders relaxed as the tension subsided As you got to your feet, brushing yourself off, you noticed the way Leo kept his hands behind his back.

Was he hiding something?

A smile spread across your lips, One that was smug, and had Leo gripped in nervousness. 

“What? You’re scaring me…” 

“Nice try, what’s behind your back?” 

Leo shrunk, his shoulders retracting back into himself. With an uneasy grip, he revealed what exactly he was hiding: a tiny box with a silver ribbon wrapped around it. The ends were tattered with further inspection, but you were more marvelled at the surprisingly clean state of it. 

“Did you steal this?” 

“No…well, only the box. But I definitely didn’t steal it from a shop-”

“I was just asking a joke, but I admire your dedication.” 

You opened the box, discarding the lid, before peering inside, only to see a small bracelet, handwoven with carven wooden ornaments. Bringing the bracelet up to your face, you noticed, upon further inspection, that the wooden ornaments weren’t wooden, they were… acorns ; carved into small objects. 

“That one was of the time you gave me your jacket, I promise I will give it back to you,” he said, pointing at the jacket-carved one. The rest were as follows: a bluebell, a purple lilac, and Saturn. 

“Oh, it’s fine, you...you can keep it.” 

You couldn’t help but slightly chuckle at the adorableness, resting your hand on your cheek. You wanted to hug him, to squeeze him as hard as you could; but you can’t. Too embarrassing.

“I’m going to wear this for the rest of my life. I hope you know that.”

“Really? Um - thanks.” 

“No problem, really, it’s great,” you said, smiling up at him. You immediately bite it back, as he turns back to face you once more, “So, you wanna try that again?”

With a smile on your face, you jumped off the roof again, grabbing onto Leo as you swung. You felt your body fling into the air, sending adrenaline coursing through you. But this time, you kept your eyes open. A building’s wall was just a few metres away. You could easily catch it, right? Yes. 

Meanwhile, Leo was clinging onto your body like a frenzied lemur. His entire body was frozen, never before has he been this terrified. Even compared to fights against Foot Clan and numerous mutant beasts, this takes the cake. 

You leapt above, swinging past building by building. At this point, you dropped Leo off at another rooftop, because he was afraid of dying an early death. While swinging with Leo had a bonus of having him by your side, you understood the immediate fear of heights would detour some people. As you swung and he jumped from rooftop to rooftop, a certain building with white walls and a bright green plus sign caught your attention. 

You halted, landing on the fire escape near the window, only to instantly regret your decision. The sight of beeping monitors and bright fluorescent lights didn’t help either. A limp figure sat in a distant chair, slowly breathing in and out, eyes dull and strained from the light. A lump sinked in your stomach as you leaned away from the window. 

You couldn’t look at it, no way. 

“Hey, you ok?”

A hand rested on your hand, and your fist hurled into Leo’s stomach. Surprisingly, he keeled over, groaning in pain. 

“Oh shit, Leo! Are you ok? God, I’m so sorry…” 

“It’s fine… Just don’t try to do it again,” he mumbled, catching the figure in his sight. His shoulders rested. “Is that someone you know?” 

“It’s..no one. Just caught my eye,” you said, averting your eyes. With a chill down your back, you hopped on the railing. “Let’s go, okay?”

He sighed. “Okay.”

#2012 tmnt x reader #2012 tmnt #tmnt #leonardo x reader #tmnt 2k12 #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt leonardo #2012!leo x reader #tmnt fic #salaìfic

[misterewrites]

The Grounded Detective (In Hope’s Shadow)

Hi there! E here with a new story idea and project cuz I have problems and my friends @disney-n-stuff and @hains-mae keep enabling me! It’s about time i use this blog for the original purpose haha

So this is In Hope's Shadow, supernatural gothic horror mysteries and such. Honestly it was more ideas i couldn't fit in to the other stories and my friends were like "Juuuuust make it a stand alone adventure!" and I'm like "This is why I can't have ideas."

So set a few decades after Welcome to the Underground! and waaaaaay before Mirror's Edge (which is several thousand years in the future set in a present day style) We tackle a new place, new characters and more usual E insanity.

In case you haven't heard i had laptop troubles and basically the company went "We didn't see anything wrong here!" and I'm like no still not working right so I'm gonna fight it but in the meantime I got another computer i can borrow so at the least there's that. I am going to try to update often but since the laptop belongs to someone else, they're gonna need to use it from time to time *obviously*

Some set up: We're in Nightveil Valley, a quaint forest where vampires, werewolves, zombies, spirits and all sorts of supernatural creatures call this place home. Most people are left to fend for themselves outside the protective safety of the three walled cities of Northbrook, Stonemire and Hope's Landing (ahhh). This story is a slightly darker hue, taking cues from good old mysteries both regular and the murderous kind and general gothic horror ascetics (Sleepy Hollow, Innistrad for you magic players, Dracula etc etc) but not so much more darker than my usual stuff.

Our two heroes are Rozalin Eloise, a twenty something detective well versed in crimes of the human variety but lacking supernatural experience and Rictavio Frye, a very idealistic, freeform monster hunter who gets caught up in the moment.

That's it for me. I hope you all have a great time reading it, it was fun to write. Dunno how often this will get updated but I say that all the time haha. Be safe, stay safe, take care of yourself and your loved ones. Get the booster for the love of god. It's not over as much as I wish it is and it's better to have protection than to play the odds. and keep the more vulnerable members of society safe. Take a moment to just exist and just be. have fun. keep your spirits up! you need it even if it's not this humble little story. But hey if you like it leave a comment, pass to your friends, reblog. Every bit helps and I appreciate it all.

E is out for now! have a great week and be safe ya'll! stay sane! next update is probably Mirror's Edge

If you wanna read my other work which includes some Red Hood X reader, Legend of Zelda, Soul Eater, Legend of Korra and others you can find my work right over here 

https://archiveofourown.org/users/MrE42/pseuds/MrE42

Have a good one ya’ll!

Summary: Within a valley nestled in the shadow of two mountains where supernatural creatures lurk around every corner, dark mysterious forces conspire to consume the region for a malicious purpose. Far beyond than the usual cloak and dagger plot, it falls to a grounded detective and a dreaming monster hunter to prevent calamity. Can they find what hides in the shadow of hope?(Set in between Welcome to the Underground! and Mirror's edge cuz i have problems)

-----

“The murderer is the Count himself.”

The crowd responded much as it always did by descending into various emotional states: Shock, disbelief, even outrage and the odd nod of agreement snuck in among the faces. People whispered to one another in conspiratorial tones despite the fact everyone present was doing the same thus defeating the point. All eyes fell on Count Decan Marshall the accused and herself the accuser.

One would think that after a few years of detective work one would be used to this level of attention but Rozalin could never get her head around it.

Decan, an older gentleman growing closer to his fifties every second, chuckled darkly “Miss Eloise I admire your dedication to your hobby but perhaps your pretty little head has taken it a step too far.”

“Nonsense.” Rozalin answered calmly “That was prelude. Now I shall take it several steps too far.”

Outwardly Rozalin’s face was the picture of stony of indifference but inward she fumed.

Pretty faces did not make pretty minds it seemed.

Mid-twenties with several highly prolific cases under her belt and a model citizen of Hope’s Landing did nothing to diminish her features. Perhaps it was natural given she was the daughter of an elegant noble lady who was the definition of poise and refinement and a charming yet impishly playful bard. Both mother and father passed their good looks to her but she found it more a hinderance than anything else: Green eyes vibrant as forest leaves, cute button nose and freckles splashed across her cheeks. Her brown hair was tastefully cut short and curled (More out of habit than anything) with a white streak on one side. She purposely chose practical clothing in hopes it would help curve the biased towards her appearance but the white collared shirt tucked into a dark blue vest covered by a matching coat and ankle length black dress skirt with hiking boots did nothing but add to her attractiveness evidently.

At least she wisely decided to use her middle name Eloise instead of her family’s last name. If word gotten out who she really was she’d lose even more respect.

She was no songbird, she was a hunter and it was time to trap her prey.

The Count’s face broke into a rageful snarl “You dare to accuse me of murdering my wife?”

“No.” Rozalin replied simply “You dare to deny it. I am simply revealing what you wish to keep hidden.

“I have nothing to hide!”

Rozalin picked at the nonexistent dirt in her fingernails “You don’t hide many things. Your affairs for one and the fact you’ve been using your company’s finances as your own personal bank.”

Decan’s faced contorted clearly appalled but Rozalin continued without paying him any mind “You threw this lavish party yet last I checked your business was in the red. You recently laid off 30 workers under the pretense of lessened profits this last quarter.”

“Your point?” Decan asked with barely contained venom.

“Your suit” Rozalin gestured professionally “Brand new. No discoloration from use, not a single thread frayed. A Burkes and Habberdash original and those are only made custom order.”

Decan struggled to keep his temper in check “Perhaps I haven’t had the right occasion to wear such fine clothing until tonight.”

“Possible but improbable. You are aware each outfit Burkes and Habberdash make has a unique numbering tag hidden within the right sleeve?” She motioned to her right arm “For patch jobs. Each uniquely tailored piece of clothing requires unique touches for the person who ordered them should the clothing be damaged from use or age. The price of individualism is having no one to hide behind.”

“Fine! I bought it today! What does that even prove?”

Rozalin’s smile widened mischievously “That you are a liar. And the charming young lady who made her abrupt exit from the premises will further prove that. I suppose she pushed for you to leave your wife. Again.”

“N-no. Nothing of the sort.” Decan spoke quickly, eyes darting back and forth to see if anyone was believing what was said “Just a disagreement between friends is all.”

Rozalin clicked her tongue thoughtfully “Oh. I’m sure she would be relieved to hear that. I’m sure she has a friend or two here willing to pass the message along to her.” She leaned in closer “So there’s no misunderstanding of course.”

Decan’s face paled, the rage draining out of him gloriously “I…yes. Yes of course. No need to muddy the waters anymore. Now if you would please…”

“Proceed?” Rozalin cut in expertly “As you wish. Let’s go over the basics.”

She took center stage for her grand performance. She glided effortlessly across the smooth marble tile, putting distance between herself and the Count as everyone waited for the final act.  

Rozalin drew in a deep breath “Roughly two hours ago Mrs. Marshall was found murdered in The Count’s study, time of death unknown but no doubt at some point during the party. The loud noise and constant distractions made it ideal to help conceal any noise that may have been made if she had fought back. First point of interest is that she did not.”

Rozalin expertly pivoted to address the crowd “For such a violent, horrendous act the crime scene was rather neat. Clean even. Books stacked away in an orderly fashion, chairs and stools pulled to the far wall as not to obstruct walking. Not one single piece of paper on the desk she lay. It’s odd no?”

“That my mother raised me properly?” Decan sneered.

“No though I suspect she may have some words about you bedding women not your wife. I was told by the staff you were working in your study. Before the party started correct?”

“Yes…” Decan narrowed his eyes suspiciously “Working on some last minute business deals: Operations finances, reallocating resources, proposals. That sort of thing. But!” he added hurriedly “My wife was seen about finishing party preparations! Never in my study.”

“True.”

Decan gave a victorious grin.

“But outside it is a different matter entirely.”

Decan’s face darkened at the implications.

Rozalin continued with her explanation “Someone saw her knock on your door to inform you of a development with the party. I won’t say who in case you wish to retaliate but they mentioned you rushed out with your work laid out all over your desk. You failed to return before the party proper started.”

“I. Well. One of the servants must’ve cleaned it for me. One of my servants who work for me. It’s only natural they pick up after me that’s what I pay them for.” Decan tried to speak calmly but it was clear the Count was riled up.

Rozalin made a show of frowning thoughtfully “But they were told to never touch your study. You get rather crossed when they move a single thing out of place.” She snapped her fingers dramatically “I believe it is actually part of your policy. Express rules you enforce heavily.”

The detective resisted eyerolling at the sudden gasp emanating from the crowd.

“I still don’t see how that proves anything.” Decan fumed.

“How did your room get clean I wonder? Perhaps during a heated debate between yourself and your wife mid-party.”

Decan remained silent, his glare deathly.

Rozalin pressed the offensive “She liked to keep busy when she was upset. Cooking, cleaning. I bet she didn’t mind working the stables if it meant keeping her mind off your spats.”

“Now hold on a…” but Rozalin pushed on, too caught up in her thought process to be stopped now.

“She saw you talking to the young woman who stormed out. Young, beautiful and, of course, interested. This wasn’t the first time you faltered but I’m willing to bet this was going to be the last. She confronted you.”

“Watch your step.” Decan threatened openly but Rozalin was no stranger to idly threats from the desperate.

Rozalin’s face scrunched in righteous fury “Upset, she starts tidying up your study. All the while calling you out for your unfaithful nature. Again she says. You did it again. Time and time and time again. And each time she forgave you, tried to make it work…”

Decan growled “Stop or else I’ll…”

“Kill me?” Rozalin taunted with a knowing smirk “I’m not your poor wife. Back turned and unsuspecting the danger she was in or you with your waiting to plunge the knife into her. She knew you were a rotten soul but even she did not assume you were capable of ending a life. Sadly the first one you decided to take was hers.”

Decan lost it, bellowing with unrestrained fury “WHERE IS YOUR PROOF? All you’ve done is spin a fantastical and scandalous tale. You have nothing. YOU ARE NOTHING.”

“Wrong.” Rozalin shot back cooly “I am a detective and I have one last question.”

“ENOUGH! GUARDS!”

She gave an impish smile “When did you get that cut in your fancy suit?”

Decan stopped, shock overtaking anger “I-I…what?”

“That is a new suit.” Rozalin emphasized as she creeped closer “You said so yourself that you bought it today. All nice and clean with not a single frayed stitch loose. I did neglect to mention torn which it is. Right there on the left side.”

She gestured to the coat he wore. Sure enough there was a faint tear in the clothing and staining the fabric was dried blood.

Rozalin beamed cheerfully “Must’ve happened when you leapt out the window. Smart idea not throwing your body through it first but glass cuts sharp regardless how you chose to go through it. No one to hide behind mister special.”

Decan remained silent only for a moment. He let out a spiteful roar without warning and charged directly for the detective.

“I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!” He snarled, hands outstretched with murderous intent.

Rozalin saw this coming: She took a step to the side, avoiding the madman’s grasp. Before he could turn around, she placed her hand on the back of his head and pushed downward with a mighty shove. Losing his balance Decan fell face first onto the floor, scraping his chin against the smooth tile. He whirled about only to find a boot connecting directly to his face. Tumbling backwards, he laid sprawled on the ground as fading adrenaline left him weak and drained.

Rozalin stood triumphantly above her defeated foe “Unfortunately for you my parents remember how many people would hound my mother incessantly. They made sure I was well prepared to ensure I did not deal with the same issue.”  

The police, whom she had called earlier, finally broke through the spellbound crowd and began taking control of the situation: they helped funnel the partygoers outside, ensure the perpetrator was restrained and began to secure the area.

Case closed with nothing left to be done.

Or so Rozalin thought.

-----

The peacekeepers had just taken Decan outside when a loud commotion rang out from the upper floor landing. It sounded like raised voices and scraping of metal against everything.

“Strange.” Rozalin tilted her head curiously as she turned to face the nearest constable “I thought you had cleared the manor of party guests?”

The constable glanced uneasily towards the noise “I….was under the impression of the same thing.”

Before either could inquire further, a body flung itself over the second floor railing and went into a free fall. The figure landed on their feet effortlessly and cracked the fancy tile beneath as if they carried an impossible weight. They whirled around towards Rozalin and the officer with fangs bared as blood drenched their elegant clothing.

“v-v-v-va-v-v..” The constable stammered uncontrollably while Rozalin drew a dagger from within her coat, the only weapon the guards has missed when they checked her at the door.

“Yes a vampire.” Rozalin lightly scolded as she placed herself in between the petrified keeper of the peace and the supernatural predator before them “I thought you were practiced in dealing with supernatural threats?”

The constable stammered nervously “Y-yeah but no one ever uses them! Supernatural threats for the Moonlight Guard to deal with, not us!”

Rozalin rolled her eyes “Be sure to let him know that. If you aren’t going to function please make your escape from the vicinity. I have little experience in dealing with such supernatural threats and cannot promise your safety.”

“Da!” A new voice called from where the vampire had fallen “Over the railing!”

Rozalin could hear hurried yet steady footsteps approach as a older voice answered “Aye son, up and over!”

And up and over someone did, hopping over the railing which more grace and finesse than the vampire. Rather than landing on his feet, however, the older gentleman dove headfirst and tucked into a roll, using his momentum to safely rise to his feet.

“This is going to be a long night.” Rozalin mused to herself as she took notice of the weapons in the famous monster hunter Julius Frye’s hands.  

#Original Work #my work #original story #In Hope's Shadow

[amazingphanisnotonfire-imagines]

Camila//limpet

Request: Camila mendes x reader where r is clingy and cami loves to tease about it.

hey! thank you for reading! sorry i keep coming back and then going again. i know its a shitty thing to do but i really don’t know what i’m doing in my life at the minute and writing seems to be the thing that gets ignored while i’m trying to get my life back together again. but i am gonna try, and it may be slow at first, i may not stay, but i can at least try you know? if i don’t see you’s before, have a good new year everyone! 

- Okay so 

- From day one, Cami knew you were clingy 

- I mean the day you met 

- She went in for a handshake and you hugged her 

- She was surprised at first 

- I mean this was a complete stranger hugging her 

- But the weight of your arms around her did make her feel oddly calm 

- Despite the very real fact that you could be a stalker or a murderer or both 

- But then you quickly introduced yourself 

- A timid smile on your face as you pull away 

- And try your hardest not to show how embarrassed you are that you’ve literally just hugged someone as soon as you met them

- But she laughs 

- A shy giggle that sets a couple of butterflies free in your stomach 

- And that really sets the precedent for the rest of your lives 

- Because after that day 

- There’s not a day goes by where you’re not touching her

- Or just next to her

- Every morning you hug her and give her some coffee 

- And it feels like you can’t go more than a few hours without seeing her 

- It just feels like there’s an ache in your chest that gets bigger and bigger the longer she’s away from you 

- She just makes you feel safe 

- And although she’ll never admit it to anyone 

- Cami feels the same way 

- From the first day she met you 

- She knew she never wanted to be far from you 

- Because you made her feel safe within the first few seconds of meeting her 

- And you look at her like she created the entire universe and everything in it

- You make her laugh 

- And bring her coffee in the morning when she really needs it 

- Even though she never asks 

- And most of all you make her feel something she’s never felt before 

- Or at least something she’s never allowed herself to feel properly 

- But with you it’s okay 

- And as the days turns into weeks and then months 

- She feels herself craving more of your attention 

- Not that she would say that out loud 

- Because when your fingers brush over her skin 

- Or when you hug her 

- Or lean into her after KJ has told a stupid joke 

- You’re laughter infecting the rest of the cast and crew 

- And making pride fill in her chest for reasons still unbeknownst to her 

- She finds herself feeling her entire body set itself on fire

- And she craves for more

- And the clinginess only gets worse when the two of you eventually stop avoiding your feelings 

- And finally get together 

- Because as soon as you’ve made it official 

- Your hands in hers 

- Giving it gentle squeezes as a reassurance that you’re not going anywhere 

- And she’s glad of it 

- Because she’s waited a year to feel you properly against her 

- And she isn’t going to let you go anytime soon 

- Anytime you’re together 

- You’re constantly finding a way to touch her 

- During interviews 

- Your fingers will brush against hers 

- And the two of you will have to fight blushes off your cheeks

- It become so obvious in the end 

- That after every interview 

- ‘#cami’sshadow’ trends every single time 

- And when you try and distance yourself from her 

- Like suggest you sit apart for the next few interviews 

- Or maybe not post about each other for a little while 

- She gives you a look as if to tell you that she doesn’t care

- She wants you this close to her 

- She wants to feel the softness of your skin against hers 

- In whatever way you’ll allow 

- She’s the luckiest girl in the world to be the recipient of your sometimes over the top affection.

- When you’re hanging out with friends 

- You’ll wrap an arm around her waist and she’ll have to hide the smile that always tries to sneak its way onto her lips 

- Because she knows 

- As soon as she looks at you 

- She’ll melt 

- And then she’ll never hear the end of it from any of her friends 

- And yeah 

- They tease the two of you 

- But it just makes you do it more 

- As soon as one of them make a comment 

- You’ll shuffle closer to her 

- And lean your head on her shoulder 

- Pressing gentle kisses to her cheek and neck 

- ‘oh god, we’re never gonna pry them apart tonight’ 

- ‘shut up, it’s not my fault she finds me irresistible’ 

- ‘yeah, okay, this hug is over now.’ 

- ‘rude’ 

- And when you’re friends aren’t teasing you 

- It’s her 

- With a playful roll of her eyes when you stare at her with wide eyes and a pout because you want a cuddle 

- Or for her to play with your hair 

- Or to just hold your hand 

- Even if you are sat next to each other on her couch watching TV and scrolling through your phones 

- You just want to feel her near

- So she coo’s and tells you how adorable you are 

- And then teases you even more when a heat creeks up your neck and over your cheek while you drop her gaze or bury your head in her shoulder 

- She gives you the affectionate name of ‘limpet’ 

- Which when your friends pick up on 

- You get teased for even more 

- However Cami quickly tells them to chose another name 

- Because you’re her limpet 

- Not theirs 

- And she wouldn’t want you any other way 

#riverdale #riverdale imagine #camila mendes #camila mendes imagine #cami mendes #cami mendes imagine #riverdale cast #riverdale cast imagine

[nicromancytarot]

Hey. I hope you are well and that you have a beautiful and blessed week ! I'm a Capricorn sign and ascendant, I'm single and I want to know when my FS will show up. I've been having some dreams about his characteristics and personalities and and every time I read a tarot reading it always says the same thing about personality, career and him. But I want to know more about him, when he will appear, his career, friends, family and hobbies.

Thank you for reading!!!!

Timing was a weird one because I think you might have already met this person, whether you know it or not. For the timing of when this will progress into something more serious, I’m getting 1 year, 3 months, 7 weeks and 15 days (I’m in my countdown era.)

HIS CAREER

Not going to lie or try to sugarcoat it, I believe he will be or has been fired, made redundant, or he quit his job for another reason. I do notice that he has the tendency to try and live off other peoples finances, his family seem to be the main people he relies on for this. Eventually he will see that he cannot live like this and will start looking out for a job to fill his desires and time. I see this job being something he’s very new to, it seems mainly female dominated, so it will be completely out of his element, but he will do good in this position, and he will make a good amount of money. I also see that you guys may have met here or this is where he will build his most important friendships.

FRIENDS

I believe he only had two very close friends and they’re honestly the complete opposite, one of them is described as luxurious, pampered, ambitious, charitable, stable and abundant. While the other is described as intimidating, selfish, unconventional (I got a goat for him, and goats can suck their own dicks, so yeah, quite unconventional.) His friends really are two sides of one coin. I also see that these people are part of his soul family.

FAMILY

His family are like a community, rather then a connection, I suppose you could describe them as a bit of a cult. I see a woman in his family that will not like how close you are to him, they will feel very possessive over him and maybe even reprimand you because of it. You will certainly have to put your boundaries up around these people and really watch your back when they are around. Their might be an ex of his that they prefer over you or miss, tell your spouse if you feel disappointed, upset or wary around his family, and he will be sure to say something to them.

They seem to have a lot of money, and overall they are a very lucky family, but they can certainly come off quite snaky.

HOBBIES

He likes a bit of everything, I see an emphasis on water sports, and things that he has to get up and physically do. He enjoys being outdoors and within nature, He also might go out early in the morning and then come back late at night, as he has a tendency to get caught up in his hobbies. I also see he might be a bit spiritual, he might do some sort of spiritual teaching or learning as a side hustle or just for fun and education.

#pick a card #tarot #tarot reading #tarotblr #tarotcommunity #free tarot #tarot witch #daily tarot #pick a pile #tarot cards

[ciaossu-imagines]

hey, it's nix! thanks for this wonderful event! for day 20, can you do number 30 from prompt 11? ⋆｡ʚ🍓ɞ˚

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also, while i’m at it, i just wanna chat for a bit. i did mention to you before about being shy when it comes to public performances, but yesterday, i was assigned to work at a psychiatric institution for our related learning experience as a student nurse, and a patient & i bonded over our love for “don’t look back in anger” by oasis. she had asked me to play it on the piano in the main hall, and we ended up singing together. surprisingly, everyone, even other patients, joined in listening. i’m not sure how i feel about my clinical instructor and classmates discovering my musical ability 😂 (because i initially wanted keep a low profile and stay out of the spotlight), but playing for that patient helped me get more comfortable performing. now, every time i listen to that song, i think of her. it’s a small step, but i’m hoping to improve even more. i just know that sho-chan would be proud! haha

Hey Nix! It’s so nice to hear from you (especially since I needed to reach out to you anyway about an ask you sent in, just to clarify I don’t keep anyone’s match-up send in after it’s done, so I would really appreciate you resending that in, please and thank you!!) But onto the ask! I’m so, so glad that you and the others seemed to enjoy the event this time! The response I got for asks was amazing and it makes me really happy! Also, I loved hearing about your experience at the learning experience! You are right, Sho-chan would be so very, very proud of you! Heck, I (and I am sure the other readers) are very proud of you too! That’s an amazing thing you did, both overcoming a slight fear of public performances and making that patient’s day, as I am sure you did. Just as you think about her now listening to the song, I’m sure she’s always going to remember you when she hears the song now. As someone else who doesn’t really like to draw attention to themselves, I personally find what you did very inspiring 😊 Anyway, I’ll move onto answering the question you asked and again, thank you for sending in a question and for sharing such a lovely experience with me and the other readers!

What is your favourite thing to do?

As with everything else, I really do struggle to pick favourites. It’s hard to say ‘this one thing is better than anything else’ for me, because there’s so many things that bring me joy. Some of the things that really make me happy doing them are:

Of course, writing ranks pretty high up on this list. It’s therapeutic and fun to get out of my life for a bit and fall into characters and other worlds and on top of that, because of the nature of this particular blog, there’s a really pleasant social aspect to it that helps me feel like I’ve found my people, even if just online.

The library is my safe place and I visit it at least once a week. I love just browsing the stacks, taking the time to pick my ten books for the month, as well as talking and catching up with the librarian’s and their lives, plus any cool events the library is hosting in the upcoming weeks. On top of that, my library is really cool in that they do up mystery bags they sell where you get several used books in a particular genre, and I treat myself to one of those and some discounted coffee from a local coffee company when I go! I also love reading manga and books I already own. Again, falling into another world for a little bit – it’s the most wonderful escape.

 I love crafting. I do diamond art and I sew, embroider, and cross-stitch. I recently got news that a friend is pregnant, so I’m working on a cross-stitched baby blanket top that I’ll quilt up for the couple and I enjoy zoning out and doing it.

I’m a house (architecture and interior design) nerd, I admit it. I love looking at the online listings and I have a couple of dorky friends who get together with me and we go to open houses within an hour or two of us. It’s fun to scope out houses and we have fun discussing how we’d change, fix up, and decorate the places after we act like nosey Nellies.

I also love getting outside. I’m a pretty big hiker and throwing on some music or a podcast and even just getting out for a couple hours on the nature trails is lovely.

#admin chatter

[ikatako38]

Hey all, I have some good news and some bad news.

The bad news

is that TPWCH is going on an emergency (unplanned) hiatus. This means I won’t be making any effort to work on the fic or any related work such as art and side projects, whicle I try to get myself back on my feet. This means we might miss the 2nd Anniversary Special, but I will post it eventually even if it’s late. I’m really excited to share it with you! I don’t know how long this emergency hiatus is going to be, but I think somewhere around a month would be a reasonable estimate. Keep in mind that this is when I’ll start working on things again, so it might be a few more weeks after that before you start seeing content again.

The good news

is that I’m going to be emptying out all my WIPs, notes, and any other content I can easily throw at you guys to help hold you over throughout the break! So anyone following me here should be getting a bunch of exclusive content over the next several weeks.

Also,

since everything’s getting pushed back, I think now would be a good a time as any to start Ship Wars! I’m not going to put an exact start date on it yet, because it will take a bit of work to kickstart, and I don’t know when I’ll get around to that, but once I do get it started it should mostly run itself!

So…

I feel like I’ve been saying this a lot lately, but thank you guys so much for sticking around with me through all of this. I’m painfully aware that I’ve only uploaded one and a half official chapters since April, and I know that I’ve lost a lot of readers because of that. So again, thank you so much for staying. It really means the world to me.

I’m sure the question a lot of you probably have on your mind right now is, Is Tako ever actually going to finish TPWCH? And with how things have been going lately, that’s a very valid question. To be 100% honest with how I’m feeling another the fic right now, I kind of wish it could just be done already. Or that it could just somehow write itself. But the reason for that is that I’m so excited to share with you all other parts of the TPWCH universe that are just waiting to be written! I really don’t see myself dropping the TPWCH universe anytime soon, and I really don’t see myself dropping TPWCH itself anytime soon, either. And an important reason for that is simply that… I don’t have any other ideas to write. Even for other fandoms. It’s a bit crazy just how strong of a hold TPWCH has had on me for three years now.

By the way, that’s not normal for me. Back on my FFN and Wattpad days (don’t bother going to look for my accounts, they don’t exist… yet 👀), I was usually working on 3-5 fics at once and was constantly having ideas for new ones, to where it was a struggle to keep up and I to make hard decisions about priority. I don’t know if I’ve gotten less creative with ideas as I’ve gotten older or whether TPWCH is just the first universe to be so interesting to me that I don’t have any need or desire to come up with new things outside of it.

Either way, if I have no desire to work on other things, the only way TPWCH would ever stop is if I stopped writing altogether, and that’s just not going to happen. Writing has been a huge part of my life since I was ten, and maybe even younger. It’s my most important hobby and makes me happy. If I don’t do it for too long, it’ll actually make my mental state worse.

So I really don’t want you guys to think that this is like a vacation for me, or some sort of respite from the… AWFUL chore of writing. (　ﾟдﾟ) Really it’s more like I’m grounded from writing until I can get my grades up. (;_;) The grades in this case, yes being my university grades but also my life in general because it’s been kind of a mess lately. Within the last two weeks, I fell out with two of the closest people I’ve ever been to and pretty much the only irl friends I have at this point (the Discord server will know who these people are). One of them going very badly and increasing my conviction that everyone secretly hates me. （╹◡╹）On top of that my room is slowly becoming uninhabitable, I’m not sleeping, and I’m just constantly stressed and anxious. But I’m gonna be okay. The fallings-out are very fresh and will fade with time, and just two days ago I finally got a consultation for ADHD. I now have initial diagnoses of ADHD and Social Anxiety Disorder, which I should be starting treatment for in about a month, so I’m really hoping that will help me somewhat to get back on track. And all the support from everyone between Discord, here and AO3 has always helped, and I’m sure it will continue to help. Many of the people I’ve met online through the fic have ironically been far more supportive and trustworthy than the people I’ve met irl. You’re all so real for that ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡

Wow, that got really long! Thank for reading this far!

#tako’s updates

[eflen-n-reegee]

Earth and Sky

This is a short fic about Mark Watney (from “The Martian” regressing on Earth. It may be a little out of character, but I’m generally happy with it. I hope you guys like it too!

Heads up: fic contains a little swearing and trauma regression, but ends with more happy regression.

Mark Watney was a lot of things. An astronaut; a botanist; the sole colonist of Mars; a space pirate. He had been the first human to farm produce from another planet; he had traveled faster than anyone in the history of space travel; and he had dropped the f-bomb in front of the entire world at least a hundred times (he hadn’t actually counted, but that seemed like a good guess).

He was also the first person (as far as he knew) to regress on Mars; but he didn’t talk about that as much. He wasn’t ashamed - the way he saw it, most people would have gone nuts in his position, so a slightly unusual coping method was no big deal. He just didn’t want it to be a casual conversation piece. Regression was really personal to Mark, and aside from his closest friends, nobody needed to know about it.

Which is why he decided to leave the university as soon as he finished his class - pile of ungraded papers be damned. He was already in his car and heading home when the rain started falling, and he sucked in an unsteady breath.

Mark usually only regressed when he wanted to, safe at home or with friends he trusted. But storms always set him off, and the weather station was predicting a bad one. That, plus the first-week-of-teaching jitters, meant he was definitely going to be regressed for a while. He shared an office with another teacher, and he didn’t know the campus well enough to have a good hide-and-regress spot. Heading home seemed like the only option.

Except it wasn’t really an option, because when the first crack of thunder hit, he almost swerved off the road. That decided things, he had to pull over. Fortunately, there was a parking lot coming up on his right. He pulled into a spot (and actually double-parked, but that was a problem for later), turned off the car, and immediately lost nearly all capacity for thought.

Storm. Loud and bad, carried away, pain and all alone and scared scared scared…

Mark fumbled awkwardly with his seatbelt, whimpering softly. He finally got unbuckled and crawled into the backseat, pulling a picnic blanket over his head. That could block out the lightning, and pulling up some music on his phone helped with the noise; but nothing he could think of would stop the vibrations he felt in his teeth every time the thunder boomed overhead. He laid down on the seat, covering his ears and crying softly.

He flinched hard when his phone rang, and it took longer than he would have admitted to accept the video call from Melissa Lewis.

“Hi Mark,” she said gently, her eyes full of concern. “Did you make it home?”

He shook his head.

“Are you somewhere safe?”

“Mm.”

“Can you tell me where you are? I can come get you.”

Mark shook his head again. Even if he had the words to tell her (which, at this moment, he did not), staying in the motionless car felt like the new best option.

“Okay. I can stay on the phone, if you want some company.”

He considered this, then nodded. “Plees.”

“Want me to play some music?”

Despite his tears and the storm and his fear, Mark giggled. “Mmba,” he mumbled, chewing on the edge of his blanket.

“Abba. Okay.”

Within a few minutes, the opening of ‘Dancing Queen’ was playing through his phone. It was too old and too disco, but it was very familiar at this point, and Mark could take comfort in that. He shut his eyes and tried to focus on the music and the texture of the blanket against his lips.

When he woke up, the song was ‘Take a Chance’ and the volume had obviously been lowered. And the rain had stopped.

Melissa was working on her computer, but when she noticed him moving she turned her attention to her phone. “Hey, Mark. Feel any better?”

“Mm… kinda.” He was in a weird headspace, somewhere between regressed and not, but at least he didn’t feel scared any longer. “How long was I asleep?”

“About an hour. I was gonna try to wake you pretty soon.”

“Sorry.”

“Mark, you never need to apologize.”

He grinned. “Not even if-”

“For this,” Melissa amended, rolling her eyes. “You don’t have to apologize for this, you absolute child.”

Mark grinned larger at the “insult”.

 “What are you going to do now?”

Mark shrugged and stretched and finally looked out the window. The lot he was parked in was next to a playground. “I still feel kinda fuzzy. Think I’m gonna wait a little longer before I drive home. I feel okay, though.”

“Will you text me so I know you made it safe?”

“Uh-huh… Thanks.”

After he hung up, Mark got out and pulled his backpack from the trunk. Obviously the playground equipment would be soaking wet, but since Mars he always kept emergency gear in his car, and that included a few extra sets of clothes. He found a pair of pants and a t-shirt, set them to the side so he could easily grab them, and let himself fall fully into regression.

It was almost hard to believe that what he felt a couple hours ago was in any way similar to this experience. When he regressed by choice, he always felt excited and curious and very much in control. He grinned and ran onto the playground, enjoying the feel of the wet grass against his ankles.

The playground had slides and climbing structures and a sandpit, but Mark’s interest was drawn to the swings. There weren’t just the regular swings or the ones for toddlers; there were also huge circular swings that could easily fit several children or a couple adults.

Mark grinned and pushed the swing up until the edge of it was at eye level. Then he jumped onto it, clinging to the ropes as he tried to settle himself without altering the motion. He finally flipped onto his back, and his delight turned to curious awe.

When he swung up, he could see the playground in front of him; the equipment, the grass, the trees, and so on. When he swung back down, all he saw was the sky. The setting sun had turned it orange and pink, and his eyes were drawn to a ribbon of colors; a rainbow, faint but definite, like frosting spread thin over a cake.

Mark Watney was many things, including an age regressor. He didn’t tell many people that, but it wasn’t because he was ashamed. He wasn’t ashamed to visit a playground after a storm, to lie across a swing and think of nothing but the Earth and the sky and the sensation of flying.

All he was, was happy. And there could be no shame in that.

#sfw age regression #sfw agere #Eflen writes #age regression #The Martian agere #The Martian age regression #Mark Watney agere #Mark Watney age regression #Mark Watney regressor #Melissa Lewis caregiver #(Kinda) #tw swearing

[alphinias]

Hot Cocoa

They were playing an outdoor movie downtown.

Typically it was a summer event. All shorts, bug spray and vendors handing out ice cold Pepsi, but the week before Christmas was an exception to that rule. Once a year, the residents of Kildare pulled up with their fuzzy blankets and hats and bundled up to watch whatever Christmas movie they happened to decide on.

This year, the honor went to Jim Carrey running around in his fuzzy green Grinch suit.

Ward packed up the entire family, as he always did to town events. Rafe had kicked his playstation across the room at the news, but to Sarah it was an opportunity to show off the cream UGG mittens she’d bought on the mainland weeks ago. They looked amazing with her sweater, and in North Carolina, excuses to wear them were few and far between.

Sarah waved at Scarlet and Caroline and beamed when Victoria complimented her mittens. The movie was a classic, and the cute sophomore boys from the back row kept making too convenient eye contact every time she looked over.

The prospect of the older boys was new and exciting, but Sarah’s attention kept getting pulled to the little styrofoam cups clutched closely by passerby. Every group of kids she saw seemed to have them, and with every one her mind drifted closer to a rich peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks.

There was a stand in the corner of the field, as there usually was. Rafe would say the pogues were there to try to weasel more money out of them, but Sarah’s mouth was watering.

“I think I have to have some of that hot chocolate,” she finally announced, blinking up at Ward. Rose was cuddled into his side, looking like she’d rather be literally anywhere else, and Rafe was nowhere to be seen. Had no doubt skulked off behind the screen to pour back some shots with his friends.

But Sarah had stayed, ever her dad’s perfect pretty little prop.

“Sure, sweetie.” Ward handed her a few bills. He glanced over at Wheezie, who was collapsed in the grass, burrowed so far into her blanket they could hardly see her eyes. “Get some for you sister, too.”

“No thanks,” Wheezie grunted, from within her mound of fluff.

Ward raised his eyebrows. “Never mind, then.”

Sarah crawled to her feet, the cold seeming to bite at her face more with the increase in altitude. Call her a baby, but forty-five degrees with no sun might as well be Antarctica as far as she was concerned.

Two boys idled behind the stand selling hot chocolate. One of them had his apron pulled up over his face, the bottom flapping up and over his head. The other made slow eye contact with Sarah, jaw going slack as if he was a guppy fish and she was a shark with all her teeth bared.

The second boy’s hand flew out, slapping his friend on the chest, and the friend sputtered, apron flapping down. The motion nearly sent his hat flying off his head, and he scrambled after it, miraculously managing to slam it back against his head before it slid off.

She recognized them. Well, she recognized them mostly.

She knew John B and Pope in the way it was impossible to forget a face close to her own age on an island so small. They hadn’t gone to middle school with her, and she doubted she’d see them in high school, either. No doubt they attended the public school with most of the other kids on the island, and especially those from the Cut.

John B adjusted his hat again, which did nothing to tame the mass of curly hair poking out from underneath it. Strips of pink crept underneath the freckles dotting his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. He seemed a lot taller than the time she’d seen him last summer cleaning out the neighbor’s pool.

He was cute, she realized. Really cute.

“Uh, hi-hey,” he managed, in a voice like all the air had left his lungs. Pope still stared. “How are you?”

Sarah giggled. “I’m great.”

“Uh, what can we do for you?” John B asked. His hands plopped on the counter with the air of someone trying and failing to be smooth.

“One hot chocolate, please.”

“You got it.”

John B took her money and passed it off to Pope, who still hadn’t spoken, and then shuffled around at the rear of the stand, pulling out a cup from a stack arranged with the finesse of a hippopotamus walking a tightrope. There was a tiny crash, like something somewhere had fallen, but he didn’t flinch.

Somehow, this made a thought occur to Sarah. “Oh! Could I get extra whipped cream?”

Pope gaped at her. Turned to gape at John B, whose eyes glinted at her from in under his cap. He blinked several times, and some indecipherable language passed between the boys. His eyes trailed to the cup of steaming liquid in his hand.

John B finally threw an arm around Pope’s shoulder, and the leaner boy’s mouth snapped shut. “Uh, we’re fresh out of that—Got some marshmallows, though.”

Sarah didn’t get what the big deal was, but was left with the distinct impression that they were somehow laughing at her. Judging her, like an off brand of the girls at school whispering about one another’s outfits.

Her brow wrinkled. “Oh, that’s fine.”

Somehow, Pope had managed to count out her change. He passed it off to her, stiff as a board, and John B followed it with her cup of hot chocolate

The marshmallows were small, bent, and more than a little stale, but she offered them another smile over her cup. If it was a little stiffer this time, then it was no one’s fault but theirs, she decided.

“Thank you,” she said, and then it was the turn of the little boy in line behind her.

There was a distinct feeling of disconcertion nagging at Sarah, even as she stopped by the edge of the field to say hello to Scarlet. They exchanged the news that Victoria had dumped Denny after receiving his less than stellar Christmas gift, which would have been hot gossip if not for the fact that Sarah’s attention lingered on the little growing gang of pogues over by the stand.

Two more had joined them; JJ Maybank and Kiara Carrera, she was fairly sure. JJ was in short sleeves and a pair of shorts, and the sight had Sarah clutching her hot chocolate more tightly. Her family wouldn’t have even let her out the door without a jacket.

They appeared to be closing for the night, even though the movie was only halfway over. Sarah dragged her attention away from them and made her exit with Scarlet, intent on returning to her nest of blankets and enjoying her hot chocolate in peace.

Just as she turned to head back to her row, something slammed into her, dipping her elbow precariously downward.

Her Styrofoam cup plummeted to the ground, its beloved contents coating the grass. She looked to her mittens instinctively, and somehow, miraculously, they had been spared from staining.

Two flannel jacket clad sleeves stretched out towards the fallen hot chocolate, as if he were still hoping to catch it.

“Oh, God—I am so sorry,” John B said. His friends were halfway across the field, either oblivious to what had happened or laughing at him.

“Uh—“

“I can’t believe I did that.”

“It’s—“

“Take mine,” John B insisted suddenly, cup thrust under her nose. Sarah had hardly had time to blink down at it, half comprehending, before he was blurting, “I didn’t drink out of it yet, I swear.”

He nudged the cup into her hands. Sarah had the wild thought that if she hadn’t been wearing mittens, their fingers would’ve brushed.

“I’d get you a new one but we kind of ran out of packets.”

“You don’t have to-“ Sarah cut herself off. He looked so sincere, so panicked, that she corrected, “Thank you.”

“You too.” John B’s mouth hung open, like he was trying to process what he’d said. He took two backwards steps, pointing at her with both hands in some lame imitation of finger guns. “Uh, Merry Christmas.”

“You too,” Sarah teased, but he seemed to miss her grin. Had already disappeared into the crowd somewhere with his friends so quickly that she didn’t even know if he’d heard her.

The hot chocolate was mediocre at best. A little watery, and it didn’t have the little peppermint flakes like the ones she would have ordered when she was out, but its pleasant heat radiated through her mittens.

She took another sip, and she couldn’t help but think about his eyes. Deep, rich brown, swimming in the tiny constellations of freckles across his nose, and warmer than any drink could ever be.

#jarah #probably my first and last jarah piece haha #obx #jarah fics #john b x sarah #christmas ficlets 2022 #my writing