#good morning i just woke up and this is the first barely coherent thought of the day

[moodywyrm]

mdni.

thinking about apartment neighbor! abby. you're both young, barely out of or just finishing up bachelors degrees, maybe starting grad school. living on the fourth floor of a somewhat crappy apartment building, but figuring it out nonetheless. Abby, in apt. 4C, only vaguely (incredibly) in love with her neighbor in apt. 4D.

when abby first moved in – finally living on her own after sharing an apartment with her bestfriend, Manny, for all of undergrad – she was stunned to find the sweet bookseller from her favorite bookstore entering the apartment next to her's. y'all had already struck up an easy friendship, born from Abby's frequent trips to the bookstore.

it's a good set up, for both of you. y'all have dinner together at least once a week, usually over takeout and shitty TLC shows. You see each other in the mornings too, usually for coffee or toast or whatever pastries you've baked for breakfast. Abby doesn't know this, but at some point you started baking her favorites (pastries filled with guayaba y queso), purely so she could start her day off with a win.

Once, Abby came over with her hair loose around her shoulders, hair tie and brush in hand, tears brimming in her eyes because, for the first time in years, she couldn't braid it herself. She'd injured herself while helping out some of the kids at the rec center she volunteers at, and ended up with a pinched nerve that made it damn near impossible to lift her shoulder. It had been fine the night before, but the ache had become borderline unbearable by the time she woke up.

You sat her down at your kitchen table, easing the brush through her soft tresses, being so soft and gentle with her that she almost cried out of gratitude. Abby swore she almost started purring when you ran your fingers through her hair, sectioning it and weaving together the three chunks of hair, taking care not to pull at them.

it's so sweet, and kind, and Abby swore she wasn't in love with you but now she's reconsidering everything she's ever known. Especially when you tell her to rest for the day, letting her stay in your apartment with your fluffy black ragdoll cat, Selby, while you work your shift at the bookstore.

She spends the day reading the copy of Small Things Like These she found on your shelf, drinking the sweet tea you left her. Selby trails her around the apartment as she takes in every detail of your living room. The patchwork quilt draped over the armchair in the corner, a half-read copy of Good Omens sitting on top of it. The mismatch dinnerware sitting in a collapsible drying rack on your kitchen counter. The handmade red scarf hanging in your entry way, the fuzzy animal slippers underneath it. It's all very sweet, very you, and Abby gets the feeling she could get used to this. This sitting, waiting for you, wanting you to have someone (her) to come home to.

I dont have more coherent thoughts but uhhhhh??? tentatively back?????

#anon #abby anderson #abby anderson x reader #abby anderson fluff #abby anderson x reader fluff

[ronearoundblindly]

Hit By Fate

a Steve Rogers x Reader life lesson

[This is my own entry for my 1-1-1 Challenge, but also is a very belated gift fic for @itickledthesleepingdragon. May we all remember that we are worth care and consideration!💜] WC 2365

Recommended links: Habibi Through The Years--The Old Guard fandom, Joe/Nicky (Ao3) Invaluable--Star Wars fandom, dad!Obi-Wan

Summary: It's just an accident, and you're totally fine. One handsome man, however, does not agree.

It’s not their fault; it’s just bad luck.

You should have texted to confirm this morning, but since Syd told you she’d text you if anything changed, you didn’t want to pry. Your friends make enough fun of you already for never coming out. You didn’t want to give them one more story in their long list of times you bailed. They already think you’re allergic to fun, so tonight you were going to show them.

You’d rushed to the restaurant after work. You even woke up early to do your hair before work so that you’d still look nice. You brought a purse to transfer your wallet and keys and makeup into so as not to carry your much larger work bag around. You even drank less water the entire afternoon so you wouldn’t be rushing to the restroom and slowing down your cross-city commute.

But then you arrived and there was no reservation.

Not under anyone’s name.

The hostess seemed outstandingly indifferent to your situation. You stepped aside for other patrons, sneaking peeks through the wonky glass dividers to catch a glimpse of your friends at a table maybe, and you texted one.

>>Hey.

<<Whaddup? Tiff replies.

>>You guys here yet?

<<Where?

You give the name of the restaurant and feel your guts crash to the polished wood floor.

<<We were there earlier. Yeah. Why?

Your hands start to shake with anxiety and a touch of rage.

>>I thought we were meeting at 7

The dots show up and disappear. The hostess huffs, staring at you while striking through a line on her paper. You’re blocking one of four total doors to enter the building, but apparently, that’s still taking up too much space.

<<Syd and Karol got off at 4 so we just had drinks early

<<TGIF

<<On a pub crawl now

They know you still work tomorrow. They know you likely would barely drink at dinner. You know exactly why no one would bother asking you if you could get out of work early, and you know they would not try any spontaneous fun for your first time out in months. They didn’t ask because they knew you’d say ‘no,’ or even worse, they knew you’d say ‘yes’ but be uncomfortable the entire time.

You try to call Syd, a last-ditch effort to get a lock on just how drunk or how far away they are. You tell yourself that if they are close and seem relatively coherent (and if the bar serves some small plates of something because you are hungry) then you’ll go. You will absolutely go.

Syd doesn’t pick up. You try Karol. No dice.

Fine. You turn to ask the hostess if there is space at the bar to eat, but she looks at you with such annoyance and a raised finger while she handles a couple who clearly out-rank you in some way.

Defeated, you leave instead.

This whole thing has taken so little time that you’d have to wait another ten minutes for the next bus back. You just walk, staring down at your phone, willing one of them to talk to the other, willing one of them to realize they’ve left you behind.

Do they even care that they’ve done it? Are they even your friends anymore?

The sad part is that you don’t go out much, but these are the friends you go out with the most. It just so happens that’s a few times a year, and that is you trying. This is you pushing yourself.

It’s not good enough.

Just as the WALK sign lights up at the street corner, the dots show back up under Syd’s message, and you shove it closer to your face.

You don’t see it coming.

A cab’s bumper smacks your left leg and bats you sideways. The solid hit feels like a tumble on the ice rink. It spins you, your phone flying out of your hands, and you’re scrambling not to fall. Your muscles tense every which way that’s not natural, probably looking klutzy.

You shoot back up too fast and look around, wondering if people are staring at you now, but the few other people crossing simply walk on by.

The cabbie only rolls down his window.

“You okay?”

Not actively concerned. Not getting out of the car. Not even apologizing.

But if you’d kept walking, you’d be across already. If you weren’t just standing there, the cab would be able to turn and so would the several others behind him.

One honks.

“Fine,” you say quietly, waving him on for emphasis and stepping back to find your phone.

All the effort of the day, all the preparation mentally and physically, and you are stranded on the wrong side of the road, exactly where you started, metaphorically and near-actually run over.

You have to crouch down by the curb and pray your phone didn’t slide into the gutter, wincing at a particular angle that shoots pain up your left thigh. Maybe you aren’t fine.

“Miss?” a tentative, low voice calls above a classic pair of Converses on the sidewalk. “Think this is yours.”

A man in glasses and a ball cap hands your phone back, the screen mercifully intact.

It’s such a tiny blessing in this string of unfortunate events.

The breath you take turns into a whimper and ends in a sniffle. Tears sting your eyes as you start to think about what happened—what really happened—in the past minute.

“Thank you,” you choke out, snatching the device. The gesture seems aggressive after the fact. “Sorry. Thank you,” you try again.

“You okay?” How the same two words can sound so different from two people, you’ll never know, but the difference floors you harder than the car’s impact.

With the utmost care, the stranger’s hands lightly touch your shoulders and guide you out of the road.

“I’m fine.” You’re an automated recording, retreating to a quiet and lonelier space in your mind. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

“You got hit by a car,” he says bluntly.

“No, just a—“ you look up into the man’s face, his blond hair, his blue eyes, his strong jaw, his height “—graze.”

“Yeah, you got grazed by four thousand pounds.”

“You’re…” All you can do is point at Captain America’s chest and blink.

He frowns and whispers. “You recognize me?”

Somehow that’s the strange part?

“Shoot. The glasses usually work. Don’t…please don’t make a big deal, but I…I’m sorry I couldn’t pull you out of the way.”

Steve Rogers buries his hands in his jean pockets, folding himself more into the cover of his hoodie and leather jacket.

“You wanted to help me?” you croak.

He ticks his head in confusion, respectfully indicating that you’ve asked the one and only dumb question known to mankind.

“Why?”

You don’t even know what you’re asking about now. Why me? Why today? Why now? Why not? You don’t notice your hands are shaking until he grips them gently.

“I can take you to the hospital,” he offers.

“I’m fine.” The repeat earns you another frown. “I’m not…hurting,” you clarify.

“That’s called shock, sweetheart.”

Steve seems to catch himself and sighs.

“Sorry. What I mean to say is let’s find you some water and somewhere to sit, okay? I’ll check you out then.”

You nod immediately. He’s only half-turned when Steve spins back around.

“Not check you out check you out,” he mumbles, “just like a once over. No, not…” he sighs harder. “I am going to make sure you are alright.” Every word is strategically emphasized.

He leads you to the nearest bench. His head stays down the entire way to a newspaper stand to buy you a bottle of water.

You can tell by the way Steve monitors every move of the bottle to your lips that he fights doing it for you. From his overly attentive posture, you’re surprised he waits a whole minute to ask how you feel yet again.

Still stunned, honestly, but it’s not just your left leg that aches, it’s your whole body. That seems too pathetic to admit aloud, but if you say the ‘fine’-word one more time, he’ll surely carry you to the dang ER. He has that look.

Instead, you admit, “I’m hungry.”

A smile blossoms over his features. “I can help with that.”

The boyish glee with which Steve Rogers walks you (gingerly) to a nearby, hole-in-the-wall pizza parlor is endearing. You’re not a patient for those minutes, and when he orders for you both (there are three lines on the board and that’s the menu) while you claim a teeny tiny booth, you’re not a victim of your day.

When he tells you how he found this place originally, how it’s almost like the pizza he remembers from long ago but better, you’re not alone anymore.

“Were you going to get food when…” Steve trails off.

Maybe it’s the shock wearing too thin to mask the rest. Maybe it’s the hot cheese warming your insides and melting your anger. You spend the next ten minutes blabbing about what happened with your friends and explaining what you were doing when the cab hit you.

“So you weren’t even okay before the car?”

His words throw you for a loop.

“No, I mean, it was just a misunder—“

“You’re doing it again,” he cuts in. “You’re diminishing you in the picture.”

You take a long swig of your soda while staring blankly at him. You watch Steve realize you aren’t even going to impose on him for an explanation. He drops his slice on the plate and holds out his huge hands as props.

“The whole picture of your day, right?” His arms are wide, then he points at things on the table. “You told me about Syd and why it’s ‘fine’ that she changed plans for her own convenience. About Tiffany and Carly—“

“Karol,” you sputter mid-sip.

“Carol, right, sorry. Everyone has a -y in their names now. I just assumed.”

“Karol with a -k,” you add.

Steve…ponders whether that’s some sort of joke before waving his hands to regroup. “You told me how your other friends—using that term loosely—rationalize leaving you to eat or even navigate the city alone—“

“I don’t need a chaperone.”

“Debatable,” he chuckles. “And then you tell me about how the cab driver probably didn’t need the hassle of dealing with some minor injury he inflicted on—and I quote—‘someone.’”

His eyebrow pops up over the rim of his glasses as if that will drive his point home, but you’ve got nothing.

“Where are you in the picture?” he finally blurts. “It’s your time and your effort and your body and your safety, and you just told me everyone else is more important. They all deserve consideration before you in your own life. Including some driver who could have killed you!”

He’s getting visibly agitated the more he talks, and you shrink in the seat, not out of fear but out of guilt for taking an evening of Captain America’s time to yourself. If your friends couldn’t even stand to spend a meal with you, it makes sense that Steve would be annoyed with your company.

“Wait, there,” he points directly at your face, “what was that thought? What did you just think?”

“I—I’m sorry I—“

“What do you have to be sorry for?” Steve asks bluntly.

He must see your eyes glisten with more unshed tears because his whole body visibly softens.

“You showed up at the place you all agreed on—“ he counts on his fingers “—at the time you were told, and walked across a street with right of way.” He does what you are beginning to think of as his signature sigh. “Am I missing something?”

All you can do is chew on your bottom lip.

It takes you what feels like an eternity to notice. “I could have really been hurt,” you mumble finally. “That’s not okay.”

Steve stretches his long arm across the tiny table, opening his palm to await yours.

“I hate to tell you this. You don’t have to be torn open to be ‘really hurt,’ sweetheart.” This time he says the nickname with firm intention. He squeezes your hand. “Now, I’d appreciate it if you’d come to the infirmary with me and get some industrial-grade salve on what’s sure to be a nasty bruise.”

You smile sadly, still pushing away errant thoughts that you’re imposing on the Captain.

“And by the time that’s over…it’ll be time for a late-night dessert before I take you home.”

In the fluorescent light, you can see him blush fiercely.

“As an escort—escort you,” he corrects, “to your door, I mean. For safety.”

He shrugs uncomfortably to adjust his layers of disguise, hanging his head, this time to hide his face from you.

“If you ever wondered why I’d go out to pizza alone,” Steve whispers, “wonder no longer.”

He scoots across his side of the booth to stand.

You think for a long moment.

This is important. This is one of the most important men in the country—nay, the world—begging you to be the protagonist in your own life. He wants you to want that.

You deposit the last grease-crumpled napkin onto the stacked plates and clear your throat. “I like this picture,” you say first, but it’s not enough. It’s not loud enough. It doesn’t hold weight or take up its due space.

You try again.

“I like being in this picture.”

He’s tall and his gleaming white teeth are perfect and his bright blue eyes are framed by long lashes and he’s staring right at you. How could you not shoot your shot?

“I’d—“ you fight the urge to look away “—consider seeing a sequel, too.”

Steve pushes up his fake glasses and nods, still pink in the cheeks. His hesitation reads as shy, not polite, not dutiful.

He juts out an average, hoodie-covered elbow for you to balance on.

“S’pose that means I should know your name, miss, and what your favorite flavor of ice cream is.”

Ro's 1-1-1 Challenge Details

A/N: In case you were wondering, the life lesson I wrote Steve Rogers teaching us is one that I constantly struggle with, too. This is an everyday, uphill battle to recognize our own worth and know that taking care of ourselves is not selfish. I hope this serves as a wee reminder!

Taglist: @supraveng @1950schick @patzammit @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @yiiiikesmish @bucky-fricking-barnes-reads @fallinallinmendes @deandreamernp

[Main Masterlist; Light Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

#Ro's 1-1-1 Challenge #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers x you #steve rogers angst #steve rogers fluff #steve rogers fic #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers one shot #marvel fanfiction #mcu fanfiction #mcu fic #captain america fanfiction #captain america x reader #captain america x you #captain america angst #captain america fluff

[besthimbomachine]

my love when it counted. 07

summary: With the approach of Wrestle Kingdom and his match with Ospreay, Kenny has to deal with both his feelings for you and his fears that his glory days may have come to an end. However, when he is leaving to Japan, he gets a big surprise as he sees you on the same plane as him. It just so happens that you too were going to Wrestle Kingdom. pairing: kenny omega x reader word count: 8440 warning: we going with the angst tag again babes, sorry, also mentions of blood, general wrestling violence and the effects it can have on the body so, it seems chonckster is a common trait of these chapters now, sorry I wasn't planning this. this one goes from well that happened to kenny don't to aaaaawww to strangely horny to sad, that's how I'd describe it. I swear the next one will have a sweeter ending. guest staring mercedes moné and will ospreay. originally, it was going to guest star okada too, but it got too big so we see him in the next one.

07.

The days following the Christmas party passed almost in a flash to Kenny. You’d left his home on Sunday and - after a mental breakdown in the shower - he managed to follow his previously determined plan. He worked himself to the bone in the gym and sure, maybe a small part of his brain reminded him that this wasn’t good for his health, but he needed it. Any pause was a chance for his mind to run a mile a minute, digging old pains and finding new ones. He needed the exhaustion to be able to just sit down in peace, and hopefully even get some sleep when night came. Kenny knew he couldn’t outrun his feelings, but he might as well try.

And so he did, pushing himself until his mind was barely coherent and every muscle and joint in his body were begging for mercy. Only then did he stop, almost finding relief in the pain as he dragged himself to a peaceful shower. Or a mostly peaceful one. Sure, he was too tired to overthink things this time, but he still couldn’t deny the messy state of his emotions. Between realizing he loved you and finding that goddamned ring, things weren’t quite so easy for him. Still, he tried hard to push these thoughts to the back of his mind and silence the ruckus of his heart.

It didn’t work quite as well, though. When Kenny sat down after his shower, ready to watch something completely stupid to numb his mind before he could sleep, he decided to check his phone. That’s when he saw a message from an unknown number. Opening it, he saw the photo, it was you. For a second, he just stared at your picture, not even reading the damn message. Tiny as it was, that was probably the first real glimpse he’d have of your life outside of work. It was also the first time in years that you had made any contact with him outside work. He had no idea how you’d even gotten his number

When Kenny finally read the message, he saw that it was essentially a thank you for the things he’d done the previous night. It was short but sweet, and you also reiterated how you were actually glad for his apology and how you hoped that you two could actually be friends. It also responded to his initial question. You said you’d gotten his contact from Nick, who had sent it to you so that you could thank Kenny. For a moment his mind went to how Nick, despite his nonchalant behavior, had been of more help in getting things to solve themselves than Matt, who had actually been trying. Damn, he was sure Matt would never hear the end of that himself.

It took some time for Kenny to know how to answer the message, laying on his couch just looking at the letters on the screen as he felt his heart making a ruckus again. Ultimately, he just ended up answering with something simple after giving up on thinking too hard about it. That night, he still laid awake in bed for a few minutes before he finally closed his eyes. The sleep that came to him was filled with a strange bittersweet calm, but at least it was a peaceful one.

He woke up on Monday feeling rested and less anxious. The morning sun shining through the windows brought him a soft sense of tranquility. He looked through his phone while still in bed, part of him wanting to see a message from you, though there was obviously none. His heart still ached a bit and his thoughts kept slipping back to you, but he managed to push through and follow his routine. Taking a shower, he prepared to go for a morning run. But before he left his room, he paused for a second, eyes looking at the bedside table as he tied his shoes.

That morning, Kenny changed the path of his run, making a route far from his common one. When he felt far enough from home, he threw the ring in the first river he could find. Let the waters carry the thing away, let them take this unhealthy attachment he was keeping to a past that wouldn’t return. He was a different person now, and so were you, and that thing belonged to a time long gone. It was better off this way. He almost felt lighter and more at peace.

Though, when Kenny came back home, his peace was quickly gone. He was scrolling through instagram while having breakfast when he saw a picture of you. And not one from a match, but from the party. It was in Nick's stories, the picture had you and him making some silly pose, and it had come from your account. That was the first Kenny had seen of your account in years, since your break up to be specific. You’d been pretty quick to just block him, no access to anything but your work on TV. To see this now could only mean one thing.

For a second he wondered if he should do what he was about to, finger hovering over the picture as he thought. Kenny knew he shouldn’t do it, he should just let this be and not feed the aching desire in his heart. Looking through your pictures would only make it yearn for something he couldn’t have. He should just let the damn thing starve, and maybe he could hope to be free. Though, he knew his chances looked slim. In the end, curiosity got the best of him, finger clicking on the photo as he bit on his bottom lip.

Looking through your profile felt weird to him. A strange reminder of how much of your life you lived without him ever hearing about it. Of all the people you knew in common, while your words still seemed galaxies apart. The first picture was the one he’d seen from the party, and even pulling such a stupid face, you still looked gorgeous. There were a couple more of you and Nick or Matt - mostly Nick, which made sense, you had always been pretty close to him.

There were also plenty of pictures of you on the beach. Kenny remembered clearly just how much you liked the sea and the sun, always taking any opportunity to spend a day out near the water. He had no idea how much he’d missed the sight of you, wet hair and bright eyes as your skin glistened under the sunlight. You were too damn beautiful, bikini framing your body as the water only worked to highlight your features. He couldn’t deny the effect the photos had on him, blood rushing downwards before he scrolled to go through your other pictures. He watched the shifts in your appearance and all the things that happened in your life that he never knew.

Afterward, Kenny decided to check your stories, sure, you could see he had looked, but he was past caring at this point. There were some pictures of the party, of you with Nick and others with Willow. There were also pictures of what looked like a small coffee shop - and of course a picture of your food. The next ones had already been taken at night in a bar. He saw a picture of you with Willow and one of your table, behind all the food and drinks he could see two other pairs of hands. The one in front of you he couldn’t recognize, but the one to your side seemed oddly familiar. His suspicion would be confirmed when the next thing rolled around.

It was a slightly shaky video, you were filming what seemed to be Alex Reynolds singing - badly - in the bar’s karaoke. Though, that wasn’t what caught Kenny’s attention. In the background, despite the owner not being visible, he could hear a booming voice he knew all too well. It was Adam.  The next video to come only confirmed it to him, it had been shot from the table again, looking over the karaoke stage. This time it was you, singing with Adam. With a swipe of his finger he left the video, screen going back to your profile. For a long second he stayed still staring at your picture, trying to ground himself to it. Swallowing hard, he pressed the follow button before looking away from his phone.

Kenny tried not to think about the burn in his mind. Tried to think of anything but the jealousy rising in his gut. He forced his mind to wander away from those, and he couldn’t help but think back to all the photos he’d seen. How he’d spied with curious eyes as the changes in your life unfolded before him. In the years you had become such a different person. Kenny had watched you from afar backstage a couple of times, in awe at how you’d become a more open person, despite the edge in your voice. You’d become stronger, more sure of yourself, more free, in and out of the ring. He knew the photos only told part of your story, but he tried to piece together what he could from them. 

He stopped in contemplation, looking back to your face on the screen. Truth is, he still loved you when you left, but that person wasn’t here anymore. But he still liked what you became. What he knew of you from the bits and pieces he could put together. From seeing you around backstage, seeing how you interacted with people, places, the job you had dedicated your life to. From hearing your voice through the walls and corners, cold rage or warm laughter. Even from how you acted around him, unafraid, unwilling to back down and always true to how you felt. 

Kenny had grown to love this new you. This wild, untamed thing that filled every space it entered with its presence. All this seemed stupid, you’d never even given him a chance, but his heart didn’t care. It took the old love and changed it, tore it down to use as the building blocks of something new. Something that gnawed at his sore chest like a starving animal, while filling him with warmth at the simple sight of your smile. A love he knew would probably die without an answer, but his heart just didn’t care. Putting the phone down, Kenny drank the last of his coffee before getting up. He couldn’t let his heart stop his life, no matter how much it tried. 

Time moved fast as December came to an end. Christmas passed, and New Years came and went, all the while, the ache in his heart only dulled, but never faded. Through these days he heard more from you, you’d replied to his message, and you even managed to maintain some conversation. It made Kenny happy to see that you were truly willing to mend these fences, truly willing to try and forgive him. On many days, he didn’t feel like he was deserving of that chance, deserving of your forgiveness. But he knew that wasn’t his call to make. So he tried to make the best of this chance, trying to build a new bridge where he’d burnt down the old one.

The year had barely started when Kenny found himself in a California airport, getting ready to make a long trip again. He’d gone to visit Matt and Nick before getting ready for a flight that would take about half a day. Wrestle Kingdom was just around the corner and that meant he had to go back to Japan for his match against Ospreay. Go back to a place he knew, now more than ever, would bring to the surface old memories and stab at his already aching heart. He had been trying to get ready for a while, he knew he’d need to be in his best state of mind if he wanted to win this fight. And by god, he needed to win it, to prove to himself that there was still a fire burning within him.

When Kenny got to the airplane, he managed to quickly find his place and sit down, the plane was mostly empty, so boarding had been easy. His flight had been booked near nine in the morning, a time people rarely choose for a trip this long. The good side of this is that an empty plane meant a peaceful flight. Relaxing on his seat, he pulled his phone from his pocket to mindlessly scroll while he waited for people to finish boarding, so the plane could take off. 

Pretty soon he found himself looking through your stories again. The first one was from earlier that morning, but the next was from not even twenty minutes before. It was in an airport. An airport that seemed oddly familiar to the one he was in right now. The next picture had been taken not even five minutes before, it was the view from a large window, a plane taking over most of the background. A plane with the name of the same company he was flying with. A text on the bottom of the photo read ‘off to the other side of the world, I guess’.

A thought crossed Kenny’s mind, but he couldn’t actually believe it. No, it couldn’t just be that. Still, since the plane hadn’t taken off yet, he got up from his seat, looking around through the scattered people in the seats. And sure enough, it was exactly as he had thought. To his surprise, he spotted you sitting on the row by the other side of the plane, not too far from him, actually. Getting up quickly, he tried to make his way silently to where you were, sitting by your side as you were distracted looking out the window.

“Thought you had said you’d never go back to Japan?” He asked, not at all surprised by the scared yelp he got in return.

“Holy shit, Kenny! Jesus fucking Christ, my heart,” you gasped, words hushed and breathless. He chuckled, muttering an apology as you recovered your breath before responding. “I’m gonna let you know I meant it. But a friend of mine is going to Wrestle Kingdom, and she invited me to go. It’s Mercedes Moné, by the way. She gave me more of an ultimatum than an invitation, even bought my plane tickets and everything.”

“Though luck I see,” Kenny replied, voice low as he made himself comfortable in the seat. “But I thought you knew I’d be at Wrestle Kingdom, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Guess I just didn’t think much of it,” you state with a shrug, “only person I really remember telling it was Nick.”

Kenny paused for a second, thinking about how he had just seen Nick and the man hadn’t told him anything about that. Not even a single mention. He could fucking guess why, though. He knew very well what Nick was like.

“Well, I hope you have a good time at least,” he said with a shrug. “And how is that ankle?”

“Much better,” your eyes perked up with the words, he had noticed you weren’t wearing the brace, and it was good to know you were doing better. “Got rid of the brace right before New Years, which was nice, but the doctor said I still need like two weeks before he can clear me.”

“Two weeks will pass in no time, you’ll see,” Kenny replied, smile tugging at his lips at the news. “But I’m glad to know you are getting better.”

“Thanks,” you responded with a smile of your own. “So, ready for your big match?”

“As ready as I can be, I guess,” Kenny tried to hide the worry in his words but failed, his smile twitching at the thought of the match.

“Do I sense some hesitation?” you asked cautiously, tone gentle and calm.

“Ah,” he hesitated, afraid of what you’d think of him, of how you’d see him if you just knew how tense that match made him feel. He was afraid of not really being able to make it through, and now he also feared what you’d think of him for it. But in the end, he chose to be honest. “This is pretty much my first big singles match after the injuries. I stayed out for almost a year, guess my blood is running cold, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it,” he watched your smile drop as you spoke, brows furrowing as you hesitated for a moment. “I had a back injury a few years back, needed a couple surgeries and all. Had to stay like six months away. Nothing compared to how long you stayed out, sure, but,” you stopped, sighing long and deep before you continued. “I know how hard it can be to actually come back.”

“Shit, I,” Kenny paused mid sentence, breath caught in his throat, this was the first he’d heard of that, “had no idea.”

“Really?” You laugh, amused at how he didn’t know. “Still got a scar on my spine to prove, I’ve just accepted that that one isn’t fading. But yeah, those six months were hell, I hated every single second of it. And afterward I spent the next three months fighting with this weight on my mind,” as you told that story he couldn’t help but notice the way your eyes almost wavered, brows furrowed as your gaze fell to the empty space behind him, almost like you were lost in the memories. “I guess it just takes a while for you to really feel like you are back,” you shrug, giving him a small smile at the end.

“That sounds really terrible. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he almost mutters, voice low and somber as his hand instinctively touches your shoulder in a show of support.

“It’s nothing that you haven’t experienced yourself, but thanks,” you smile back at him, a sparkle returning to your eyes.

Seeing your face light up again makes Kenny’s heart feel lighter, his hand sliding from your shoulder to your arm before it leaves the warmth of your skin. Just the idea of you going through anything similar to what he went sends shivers down his spine. He remembered how impatient you could be, how much you hated it whenever you had to wait for the doctor’s clearance before you could fight. Six months sounded like a long time for anyone, but god, he could clearly imagine just how torturous it was to you.

“Besides, I’m here aren’t I?” You add, voice brighter this time. “Back to jumping from high places and putting myself in danger,” you pause, expression softening as you lay a hand on his forearm, touch firm but soft. “Listen, I know saying don’t worry sounds hollow but just put some faith in your body. If you’ve gotten to this point, it is because it carried you here. So, just put your trust in it and I know you are gonna obliterate this match.”

You punctuate your words by squeezing his forearm, thumb caressing his skin. Kenny smiles back to you, heart racing inside his chest as you look him in the eyes. He was glad for the kind words, his fears driven back to the corners of his head, sure to be kept at bay for at least the rest of the flight. When you take your hand away from him, he immediately misses your touch, the soft warmth it brought to him. This time, instead of wishing he could hold you, it’s the opposite. His heart yearns for the return of your touch, wishing you could hold him, chase away the doubts that hunt his mind. But he knows better than to dwell on that dream too long.

He thanks you for the support and changes subject, trying his best to keep his racing heart at bay. It’s best if you never learn of it, best if he just keeps it quiet. You two spend a good time talking, keeping each other company through the lengthy flight. This was the first time Kenny had been with you since that morning after the Christmas party. You had both kept in touch through messages, but it was good to actually be in your presence again, to be able to sit by your side and laugh together almost like you could before. It was a nice change of pace, and one he wouldn’t mind having more of.

After a while, you ended up falling asleep while you two watched one of the in-flight movies. The sight tugged at Kenny’s heart like nothing before. The softening of your features as your chest slowly rose and fell with each breath soothed him to his core. Sure, he’d seen you asleep after the party, but now, without the fear of how hurt you were or how you’d react when you woke up, it seemed even cuter. Pulling his coat that he’d left on the chair beside him, Kenny covered you, careful not to wake you up. In time, he too fell into unciousness, and there, by your side, he had the most peaceful sleep he’d gotten in a couple of weeks.

The flight to Japan ended up going easier than you expected. It was surprising to see Kenny on the same plane as you, but it ended up being something good. You had always hated long flights, it wasn’t anything about being afraid of flying, you just despised being stuck in the same tiny space for so long. In the end, having his company made things a lot easier. It was nice, not having that fierce hatred for him anymore. A side of you still feared if you’d made the right decision but, truth be told, there were still aspects of him that you had missed. You were happy to see that some of those still remained, but that he’d changed enough that his flaws no longer made even the good things unbearable. It was strange to admit, but if this version of Kenny had been the one you met years ago, things could have gone very differently.

The day after your flight, you met with Mercedes at the Tokyo Dome in the afternoon. Wrestle Kingdom would take place the next night, and she had to go see the installations and get acquainted with the place. You’d forgotten just how big that arena could be, how vast and almost overwhelming it could seem from the inside. And seeing it like it was now, almost completely ready for the show, it was easy to forget that it was actually a baseball stadium too. When you two finished looking through the place, she took you to get some backstage credentials, just so you could go meet her after her debut. But when you got there, you discovered that Kenny had already put your name on the list. Like you imagined, Mercedes refused to let you live this down.

When the night of the event finally came around, you tried to make your way to the arena earlier. This way you could avoid the crowd as much as possible and be able to meet Mercedes before the matches started. She’d managed to get you front row seats, which you were more than glad for. You spent the pre-show with her, only going to your seat when the pre-show was coming to a close. The only things you were really interested in seeing that night were the Women’s Championship, Mercedes’ debut, Kenny’s match and Okada’s one at the end. 

Soon after you found your place the first match started, it was the Tag Team Championship. Although you didn’t much care about it, it was a fun fight to watch. New Japan had always been entertaining, never a dull event, so you didn’t have much to complain about. It didn’t take long for the Women’s Championship match to start. This was an even better match than the previous one, there was denying that through your time in WWE you had missed deeply the energy you found in New Japan’s women’s league. In a way, it was good to be back to witnessing it live again.

After the match ended, Mercedes finally made her debut. She was incredible, gorgeous like always and someone with an undeniable presence. It was good seeing her leave to pursue other things, other places. Despite the weight of the memories you associated with this place, you were sure New Japan would treat her better than she’d been treated before. When the show was done, you took advantage of the small break to go see her backstage and congratulate your friend on her debut. You couldn’t stay too long, though, Kenny’s match was the next one.

You managed to make your way back to your place before the match started, sitting down just before the announcer started talking. It was weird seeing one of Kenny’s matches from the front row, instead of some TV stuck somewhere backstage. It was even weirder seeing it here, in Japan, a place you thought you’d never return to exactly because of him. Shaking your head, you tried to chase these thoughts away as Kenny’s entrance began. You’d caught a glimpse of him planning it the day before, but watching it now was something else. Sure, you found the Sephiroth cosplay a little funny, but somehow he managed to make it work.

For someone that seemed so hesitant back at the plane - to the point of almost seeming afraid - he felt powerful and unrelenting now. Kenny almost seemed like his old self again, the one you had been trying not to think about since stepping foot in Japan. As he walked into that ring he exuded power, like a chained beast finally set free, sky blue eyes filled with bloodlust. It was terrifying and beautiful, all at the same time. A sight to behold and one that appealed to the more instinctive parts of you, your body reacting to the view of his bare skin, his thick muscles highlighted by the stadium lights.

However, when the match started, your thoughts quickly shifted. Ospreay had clearly come with bloodlust himself, willing to do whatever he needed to take what he wanted from Kenny. Take what he saw himself as entitled to. There were a few times that even you found yourself worried about the outcome of the match - worse, worried about Kenny’s safety. Though, as the fight carried on, things started changing. Ospreay’s blood thirst just wasn’t enough, and it was quickly seeming like even himself was coming to that conclusion. Experience still proved itself a defining factor. And with every mistake Kenny capitalized on, the brutality heightened on both sides. 

The match was a high stakes game, and although Ospreay was a good fighter, he lacked the experience to see all the things Kenny could. He put up a good fight, but he came to the other side bloody, beaten and defeated. When the bell rang, Ospreay laid with a bloodied face and a broken mind, while Kenny stood clearly shaken, but still victorious. Shaking your head, you tried to push past all the feelings rushing through your mind - this was probably one of the most vicious matches you’d ever seen. Quickly, you got up, making your way to the backstage again, weaving through the corridors to find Kenny’s locker room. On your way past, you even passed a bloodied Ospreay being carried by his friends from Aussie Open.

When you finally approached the locker room, the sound of grunting and cursing hits your ears. Kenny’s voice sounded rough, like barbed wire ripping through his throat. It made you stop, right at the entrance, one hand resting on the door as you felt your stomach drop. Your bones shiver as your body reacts to a memory from so long ago. You could still remember how Kenny would get after an especially hard fight. After the ones so dangerously close, they would force him to push past the limits of what is sane to do to triumph.

In defeat, Kenny became clearly someone else. But even in victory, he would become angry, snapping at anyone around, uncaring about anybody but himself. It was an ugly thing to experience. One that was very uncommon, but still terribly unpleasant to be around for. One that had your breath catching in your throat as you hesitated before the door, afraid of what you’d open it to. 

Maybe it was all in your mind. Maybe you had just created this fear in your head. But you feared that being back in Japan might have had an effect on Kenny. Sitting in that arena, watching that match, you almost felt like you were seeing the old version of him again. You had watched all his matches in AEW since you joined, and not even the worst of them made you feel like that. But maybe, this was all just a manifestation of your fear of being back to the place where so much had happened.

Shaking your head, you try to push your worries away. It was silly to think someone could change so much just from crossing national borders. With a deep breath, you knock on the door before pushing it slightly. The thing groans a low but annoying sound, moving slowly as you slide one hand around it. Pressing your face into the small opening, you peek inside the room. Kenny turns his face just in time for your gazes to meet, but the person who greets you with a tired voice looks almost nothing like what you expected.

“Oh, hey,” Kenny says, but you barely hear, sound almost dying in the empty space between you.

“Hey there,” you reply quietly, only pushing through the door after he signals for you to come in.

You enter the locker room, finding him slumped on a chair, sitting in front of a large vanity. The man before you looks almost defeated, body slouched as he is still clad in his bloodied gear. His legs are sprawled before him, back curved in a position that doesn’t look all that comfortable, as Kenny holds an ice bag over his face. He takes a deep, harsh breath, and you can see the skin pulling tight around his muscles as his chest rises and falls. Moving with great effort, Kenny rests one forearm on the chair’s armrest, turning it around, so he can face you, an exhausted smile tugging at his lips.

“Holy shit,” you start, approaching him carefully, “you know that’s pretty much match of the year material, right?” You try not to convey just how uneasy you felt looking at his current state, worry coursing thick through your veins.

Kenny laughs at your words, a hoarse and pained sound that feels raspy to your skin. You rest your body back against the table mounted on the wall, hands gripping on the stone as you look over him again. He looks worse for wear, sweat still glistening over his body, skin marked by a thousand small scrapes. You can clearly see the veins popping on his thick arms, drawing winding roads on his muscles like an old map. There is dried blood on his body, and you can’t quite tell if it’s his or Ospreay’s.

He looks exhausted, and it worries you, but even in this sorry state you would be lying if you said he looked bad. He was disheveled, roughened, bruised in multiple ways, but he still managed to look good. Maybe more now than he ever did before. When you were still here in Japan, you had gotten used to Kenny seeming impervious, even at the end of a match. But now he looked vulnerable, less like the myth people had made of him and more like a human. This raw sight reframed him in a way that held a kind of crude beauty, one whose allure you couldn’t deny.

“The year just started,” Kenny responds in a low voice, he sounds so tired that it tugs at your chest, pulling you away from your thoughts.

“And you’ve already set the bar pretty high,” you shrug, letting your lips curl upward when he smiles at your retort. “So, how is the,” you trail off, gesturing to his face.

“Swollen,” he grunts, pausing for a second as he readjusts himself in the chair. “And very painful.”

“Can I take a look?” You ask, almost timidly. 

Many years ago that would have been second nature, you wouldn’t even need to ask. Just barge into his locker room and check the state of his body. But that was then and this was now, no matter what your muscle memory wanted to believe. Kenny sighs deeply, slowly nodding his head. Moving forward, you come closer to him, torso almost brushing with his large shoulder and arm. You are so close that you can feel the heat from his body, feel his breath on your chest.

You take one hand to the ice bag on his eye, fingers slightly touching his thick ones as you grasp the thing. Carefully, you pull the bag away from his face, holding it by your side as your other hand touches his face. You brush your thumb softly below his right eye, feeling the cold of his damp skin. Yeah, it was already swollen and darkening, despite the freezing ice bag. By the looks of it, he was probably already losing use of that eye, and he was certainly going to spend the rest of the night like that.

“Yeah, that’s not looking good,” you snicker, wincing at the sight before you.

“You should see the other guy,” Kenny responds, tired laugh escaping his lips as he looks at you.

He watches as your eyes squint, mouth pushing into a thin line. Yes, he knew it looked terrible, and he knew he probably looked like shit too. But when you touch his face, Kenny takes comfort in the warmth of your hand against him. Your fingers holding gently below his cheek as your thumb brushes softly over his bruised skin. It’s so tender, the way you check on him, almost like you used to all those years ago. But the moment is short lived, and you soon pull your hand away from his face, replacing your warm touch with the cold ice bag.

“Believe me, I saw him,” you laugh, bright eyes meeting his tired one. “He is looking way worse, all I could see of his face was blood. Needed two guys carrying him, even. You came this close to murder on live TV.”

The mention of Ospreay irritates Kenny, the visceral rage of the fight still boiling under the surface of his skin. Despite the exhaustion, he feels agitated, body still ablaze and unable to rest. It’s like all his senses are burning and screaming at the same time. And your proximity isn’t doing him any good. Kenny can smell your perfume, feel the heat of your torso so close to his face, and it has his heart racing even more than during the match.

“Come on,” he scoffs after a moment, laughing despite the pain flaring in his side. “He had no broken limbs, he is gonna be fine.”

Kenny sighs as you gently hold the ice bag to his bruise. He can feel your eyes roaming over him, burning his skin as you look for something in as bad shape as his face. There probably wasn’t any damage quite as visible but, damn, he would be lying if he said the rest of his body wasn’t in pain. His neck and side were on fire, and his spine was waging a personal war against him. Closing his eyes, he sighed, he had seen better days. 

Groaning, Kenny shifted in place, one arm reaching behind him as he tried to get to the ice bag between his back and the chair. As he struggled, eyes shut  from how his muscles burned at the movement, the feeling of your body pressing against his shoulders caught him off guard. Kenny opened his eyes in shock, held breath leaving his lips when he noticed you were trying to reach for the bag for him. He felt your hand stroke a line down his spine as it moved lower in the narrow space between him and the chair. It was only a moment before your fingers reached the ice bag, but to him, it felt terribly long, body humming at the touch.

“Where?” you asked, tone direct but still soft.

“Neck,” he muttered, not having the courage to try and search for your gaze. Kenny felt the cold touch of the bag meet the back of his sore neck, a low groan leaving his lips at the relief. “Thanks,” he whispered, hand reaching for the one over his eye, fingers brushing against your own, “I can hold this one, it’s alright. So, still thinking the other guy looked worse?”

“Oh yeah,” you laugh, “I definitely still do. You didn’t see the shape he was in. Even if you didn’t kill him, I don’t think that guy is gonna be all that well in the head after this,”

Kenny shrugs, curving forward and resting his elbows on his knees as he hears you laugh once more, sound filling the place. You draw your body away from him, but he can still feel your warmth, feel the gentle brushing of your hand over his back as you inspect it. The smell of your perfume refuses to leave his nostrils, refusing to release the chokehold it has on his brain. He almost feels intoxicated, a burn spreading through his body despite his mind’s struggle. It runs thick like honey on his veins, warming his core like molten lava.

Your fingers tenderly touch his skin in an especially sore spot, but Kenny makes no noise. He fears the loss of your warmth, the loss of the proximity he so much missed. Softly, your hand brushes over the scratches on his back, the sting barely even registering in his mind. If he closed his eyes, Kenny could even believe the touch was a caress. He knew he should move away, but he didn’t have the guts to - he felt like a coward, taking advantage of your worry to feel the ghost of something beautiful. Still, your warmth had him in a trance. Even if he couldn’t touch you, just the proximity had his body rumbling in response, a deep shudder running through his core. Flesh craving something his tired mind knows he can’t have.

It all feels like a siren's call, feeding the visceral flame that adrenaline just won’t let die. The bad mix of old memories and this primal blaze only making matters worse. There was still violence coursing through his veins, throbbing inside his head and clouding his judgment, as the fire in his blood still burnt hot. A part of him wanted nothing more than to fall back on muscle memory, let the phantom of better days take over his body. It begs to just take you right then and there, claim your touch like a coveted prize. Screaming to fall back into your old New Japan routine and push you against a wall, feel the bliss spread through his body at the feeling of your pussy stretching to take his whole cock.

“You still have a fight tomorrow?” You ask, making Kenny resurface from these primal parts of his mind as a shiver runs down his spine, he can hear the worry in your voice, and it makes him feel even worse.

“Yeah,” he responds, looking towards you just as you pull your hand away from his back, still holding the ice bag to his neck. “Don’t worry, though, the only thing I really need fixed is this eye, but by tomorrow night I’m pretty sure I’m gonna be able to open it again,” he gives you the best smile he can muster, hoping he doesn’t seem as clearly on edge as he feels. “Besides, it’s a tag match, anything happens I throw Okada in there, let him take the heat.”

“You are tagging with Okada?” You ask, amusement in your voice.

“Things change, I guess,” Kenny breathes out, shrugging again. “And don’t worry, it’s not like Aussie Open could do me in, I’m not so terribly rusty that some sidekicks could do the job.”

“God, you are so dramatic,” you laugh out, hitting his head slightly with the ice bag, when he mutters an ouch in response you only laugh more. “I never said you are rusty, stop reading into things,” you pause for a moment, placing the bag back in his neck as you shake your head. “And even if I had thought that - which I didn’t - you’d have proven me wrong with this match. It was terrifying. I mean, it was beautiful, but in a very gruesome way.”

“I will,” Kenny pauses, looking at you with an inquisitive eye, a soft chuckle bubbling in his chest, “take that as a compliment. And in my defense, Will had what was coming his way. If he was gonna walk around with his overinflated ego thinking he can sit at the adult’s table. Then, well, he can’t complain when he gets the taste of what it’s like on our side,” he stops again, brows drawing apart and expression softening, his voice losing the sharp edge it had suddenly taken. “Besides, he is one annoying prick.”

“He does seem like one,” you say in between chuckles, he can almost feel the soft rumble of the laugh in your chest from this close. “But I guess after that match he got a reality shock. Maybe a bit too much of it even,” you chuckle again, silently this time as you look to the side.

“Not really my problem if he is too much of a kid to keep a hold of his own head,” Kenny spats, voice rough with his aggression towards Ospreay, a scowl coming to his face for a moment before it’s gone.

“In a way, that’s his saving grace,” you muse, eyes meeting his again as you shrug. “He is lucky he is so young, that means he still has time to put in the work and actually become the best in the world. Right now, though, he wasn’t at all a match for you. That’s still your spot.”

“You are being too kind,” Kenny mutters, voice an almost silent rumble as he turns his eye back to the floor. That match had seemed a bit too even for his tastes, and in the back of his mind he was still worried if his days were coming to a close. He had won today, but he was starting to worry about the future.

“And you are being too humble,” you snicker, free hand giving his seat a hard nudge, shaking both the chair and him. The scare is enough to get his attention, his eye finding yours before you continue. “Don’t get me wrong, I prefer you like this than being a self-obsessed asshole, but you don’t need to take it that far. We both know you are still at another level, you just proved that.”

A small sense of relief washed over Kenny at your words. He had been tense for a while now, not only with this match but with everything else. Since his injuries led him to stay almost a year away from the ring, he had been very worried. Even now, there were days when he still didn’t really feel like himself. Sometimes he’d look at his reflection in the mirror and feel old, tired, a shadow of what he once was. In the depths of his mind, he wondered if coming back was the right choice, or if he was just swimming against the tide.

“I don’t know,” he chuckled, trying to make light of the fears that plagued his heart, but his gaze fell to the ground again, trying to evade the powerful pull of your eyes. “I’m getting old, the years have been wearing me down.”

“Come on, Kenny,” you call his name in a soft voice, sighing deeply, “if you start with that, I’m gonna start feeling old too.”

Kenny laughs, but the sound feels empty even to his ears. He knows you are trying to be supportive, but to him, just saying that out loud sounds funny. You weren’t about to hit forty, and damn, you barely even looked a day over thirty. And that wasn’t just his opinion, he knew that, and if you needed proof all he’d have to do was open twitter. Or not even that, Kenny had seen how Ospreay had looked at you when you crossed paths at the stadium earlier tonight, and he knew you weren’t so impossibly oblivious. 

“Now, that’s a lie,” he responds, shaking his head, some laughter still echoing through his voice. “You are, like, six years younger than me. It’s not the same.”

He feels you hit his head with the ice bag again, and yet again he mumbles an ouch, only to have you laughing at him once more. Kenny doesn’t mind, though, it was better having your laughter filling his mind than his own thoughts. Besides, seeing you smile made him feel warm inside, and it almost managed to quell the constant raging of his heart.

“You know that isn’t enough to change the rate at which we age,” you state with a certain tinge of humor, placing the ice bag back in its place just as he glances at you before looking back down. “A year wears you just as much as it wears me, it’s the same for us both.”

“Doesn’t seem that way when I look at you,” Kenny mumbles with a chuckle, before realizing he had actually said it out loud, his one good eye widening as he swallows hard.

Shit, he hadn’t meant to do that. It was supposed to be just a thought in his head and nothing more. Last thing he wanted was to seem like he was trying to come on to you in any way. Now he sat there, tense, blood running cold in his veins. There was a moment’s pause before you spoke, and the silence seemed loud in his head, the bell ringing in the background seeming like it was going to explode his ears and shatter his bones. 

“I’ll take the compliment,” you reply with a soft laugh.

It sounds warm and nonthreatening, and Kenny finally gains the courage to look back to you again. God, you are gorgeous, and he can feel his damn heart speeding up once more at the sigh of your smile. Your eyes hold his own in their powerful pull for a moment that seems to last an eternity to him. He has to break away from their spell as he feels blood rushing to his face, he’d rather have some dignity by the end of the night. Pushing the ice bag you were holding to his neck to the side, Kenny gets up, stretching his sore back as he does so. It cracks as he curves backwards, and he is pretty sure it was loud enough for you to hear.

“Anyway,” he shakes his head, taking away the bag that was on his eye and blinking twice before turning back to you fully, “aren’t you going to watch Okada’s match? I think that was the bell.”

“Shit,” you exclaim, Kenny watches as your eyes go wide, and you look back to the door before looking at him again. “Do you mind? I mean, if you need help, I could-”

“Nah, it’s ok,” he cuts you off with a smile, waving a hand in front of his face before signaling for you to give him the ice bag back. “I’m gonna find some TV to watch it from. You got front row, just go have fun.”

Just as you close the door, Kenny is left alone with his thoughts, body falling heavily back on the chair. The poor thing groans under his weight, shaking from the sudden force that hit it. His muscles felt like lead, an anchor pulling him down. He hurt all over and sure, he had won, but god, did he have to fight for that. In the end, Ospreay wasn’t good enough to beat him. He had proven his strength to everyone, but especially to himself. So, why the hell was he still so uneasy? Why was there something pulling him down so heavy that it made his heart sink?

Your words continued to ring loud through his head. Will Ospreay was still young, he still had time on his side. That made him fear. Time was now his worst enemy, corroding his body like water to metal, every day coming closer to the end. He was no longer the man he had been before, the pains of a match lasted just a bit longer, injuries took more time to heal. He could no longer take much of the back to back fighting he did while in New Japan, and in time, even his strength would fade. 

Kenny had been feeling the years, like the constant ticking of a clock that tortured him, each day coming closer. And sometimes, when he looked at you, he felt them even more. While the passing of time seemed to be eroding his body, it seemed to be doing the opposite to you. Like the ticking of the clock took favorites, a cruel god with immaculate tastes. Time had made you better, stronger, more successful. And in appearance, you didn’t look a day past thirty. Closer in age and looks to Ospreay than to him.

Kenny felt that deep into his aching bones, a fear that crawled through his veins and seeped into his mind. Maybe you would be better with someone like Ospreay - or even Adam - than with him. Someone with the potential to do more, to conquer more, and maybe offer you more than he could. Kenny felt old. Looking at his beaten appearance in the large mirror, he felt that his glory was quickly coming to an end. The man standing before him, only a fading reflection of what he once was. And you deserved better than that, better than someone who, soon, wouldn’t be able to accompany you in your prime. 

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[ddarker-dreams]

hxh chapter 395

IT HAS BEEN 22 YEARS SINCE CHROLLO WAS FIRST REVEALED IN THE MANGA... 23 SINCE HE WAS FIRST MENTIONED... AND FINALLY........ WE ARE GETTING HIS BACKSTORY . all in god’s (togashi’s) timing. i literally couldn’t believe my eyes when i woke up to baby chrollo on the tl wednesday morning. i’m just now getting the time to scribble down all my thoughts that have been haunting me since then. is any of what i’m about to say coherent? probably not. i’m just so excited that i can barely put it into words. like. how am i supposed to function. i sure don’t know. i’ll put all my screaming + rough analysis under the read more then summarize what new things we learned about chrollo and the phantom troupe. idk how to format this so i’m sorry for anyone who braves the abyss below. anyways , without further ado ... 

(the link to the chapter for anyone who is curious)

nobunaga frames the flashback with the statement��“fueled by despair and anger, we were searching for a purpose...” which more of less confirms the widely accepted notion that the phantom troupe was formed to give these people something to do. after reading that, i was expecting to go into some depressing stuff right away, but instead we get to see the baby phantom troupe members kinda roughhousing each other? acting like lil rascals. so i’m assuming nobunaga’s statement comes into play a bit later. 

the spiders seem to have been split up into smaller cliques before they eventually formed together, these groups being chrollo/franklin/shalnark (HIS LIL MISSING TOOTH OH MY GOD), machi/uvo, and phinks/feitan. 

this more altruistic viewpoint further convinces me that something major must’ve happened for chrollo’s worldview to shift so drastically. here and throughout the rest of the chapter, we can see him championing the cause of sharing knowledge with others around his age instead of hoarding it. this immediately sets him apart from the uvo/machi and phinks/feitan cliques who want to keep anything remotely valuable to themselves. Hmm.  

i could be wrong, but the architecture of this church having crosses + pews seems reminiscent of the abrahamic religions, leaning more toward catholicism perhaps? this must play into chrollo’s fascination with catholic aesthetics in his adulthood. it seems that compared to the rest of meteor city, this church was somewhat of a safe haven. 

NGL it’s kinda funny little baby chrollo looked @ phinks and uvo and went hm. yeah those dudes are definitely not the church crowd. baby chrollo being able to teach himself various languages just from watching tapes that everyone else his age finds too boring to sit through though... he’s always been a little genius. interestingly enough, the compliments on his intellect never seemed to have gotten to his head? he always took them in such a good-natured way. he seemed like such a kind boy... meteor city’s elders mention how bright he is in the next page too. i wonder what they expected from little chrollo though? 

“perhaps he could be of use to the elders? you think he may be able to solve the problems plaguing the city...” 

very curious to know if they meant now or when he’s older. anyway, the elders took an interest in him from a young age, only for chrollo to completely disregard them when he became an adult (chrollo stealing one of their abilities for his fight against hisoka). 

i’m in ABSOLUTE agony. while this interaction is so cute, i can’t help but think about how paku prioritized chrollo’s life despite his philosophy that ‘the head of the spider [himself] can always be replaced’, which lead to her own death 🙁 OUCH OUCH IT HURTS... her care for chrollo and the troupe ran so deep. now we get to kinda see why. chrollo so brazenly telling paku that he loves her when it’s very likely she’s rarely (if at all) heard those words growing up in a place like meteor city......................... ah...........AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 

HE’S A LITTLE GENIUS!!! LOOK AT HIM GO !!! 

‘no way he was born here...’

it makes sense that chrollo ended up getting voted to be the leader of the troupe since his intelligence has been universally praised all along. a smart lil guy. i really can’t get over the fact he did all this just so the other kids could understand/enjoy the cartoon more 😭😭😭 that just leaves me with the same, pressing question that machi has here... 

‘is that chrollo?’ 

she must’ve been shocked to see him go from :D to :| ........... what happened to my MANS...

#phantom troupe #chrollo brainrot #lock reads hxh

[hopelesslygaysstuff]

pairing: wanda maximoff x fem!reader

summary: they discuss some rules and boundaries

content warnings: none

word count: 1.8k

Series Masterlist

The rays of a golden sun hitting y/n’s eyelids caused her to stir in her sleep. God, she was so comfortable. This bed was way softer than the guest bedroom, and she was cocooned under the comforter with a warm body pressing against her backside. She vaguely remembered taking a shower from the night before, and soft fingers running through her hair as she went to sleep for the second time. 

The first coherent thought that ran through y/n’s brain was that everything around her smelled like vanilla. The second thought was connecting the dots between vanilla and Wanda. 

Wanda.

Y/n’s eyes finally fluttered open as she fully awoke. She could feel her heart rate speeding up as her body attempted to catch up to the alertness of her brain. She attempted to keep her breathing steady as she recalled the events from last night.

Evidently, Wanda could also feel y/n’s heart rate rising. The woman behind her had an arm wrapped around y/n’s waist. When she started stirring, Wanda's arm tightened around her and held her in place. Y/n gave up on moving out of the bed, Wanda obviously wanted her to stay and she was more than happy to oblige.

“Good morning darling, I trust you slept well?” Wanda’s voice had a slight accent to it that y/n couldn’t quite place. It was also raspy, which was really sexy. 

‘Stop thinking about sex, you just woke up.’

Y/n released a content sigh, burrowing further into the warmth of the woman behind her. “I think this is the first time in my life that I’ve slept more than 6 hours.” She said after glancing at the clock on the bedside table. 

“Why’s that?” Wanda asked in a sleepy voice, her hand starting to rub small circles on y/n’s stomach.

“Well, training starts pretty early in the morning at the compound and on missions I’m normally too high strung to sleep properly.” Y/n said, before a small smirk made its way onto her face. “I’ve also never been so relaxed right before bed.”

Wanda hummed, her voice slightly lower than usual. Y/n could feel the woman smile against the back of her neck. “So you enjoyed last night then?”

Y/n left out a small huff of laughter, finally rolling over in the bed to face Wanda. 

‘Bad move.’

Fuck, Wanda was even prettier in the morning. Her auburn hair was lit up by the golden light streaming through the window and was falling gently in waves over her shoulders, with a few strands falling into her face. Her eyes were half closed, but y/n could still see her green irises peeking through. She watched as Wanda’s nose scrunched slightly as she attempted to wake herself up. 

“I- yes I enjoyed last night.” Y/n could barely form a coherent thought, as her brain was unhelpfully trying to count how many freckles dusted Wanda’s nose. She bit her lip as she thought further about what to say. Wanda’s eyes followed the movement, pretty green irises resting on y/n’s lips.

“I think now that I’ve calmed my nerves about my ‘first time’ and all that, now I’ll be more comfortable with sex.” Y/n paused, following Wanda’s eyes as they wandered over her face. “And I’m even more comfortable with you as well.”

At those words, Wanda’s eyes snapped to hers. She smiled slightly before simply saying, “That’s good.” and moving to get out of the bed. She stood and stretched, the hem of her oversized shirt reaching the tops of her thighs before she turned back to y/n with one eyebrow raised.

“Now, we’ll be able to have even more fun.” She smirked as y/n’s eyes lit up and the girl scrambled to sit up in bed, the comforter slipping off her shoulders. With that statement, Wanda said something about breakfast and walked through the door. 

Y/n groaned, head falling against the headboard. Wanda was going to be the death of her. She was going to die from vanilla, green eyes, and a permanent smirk that followed y/n whenever she closed her eyes. 

‘What a pleasant way to die.”

—

Over breakfast, Wanda had suggested that they go over what they wanted the rules in their relationship to be. Y/n agreed, and the first thing they talked about was her outfits. Wanda wanted to select an outfit for her everyday, and y/n was more than happy to agree seeing as the redhead always looked like she had walked right out of a fashion magazine. Her own taste in fashion was slightly rusty, and after seeing Wanda make her mundane closet seem fashionable, y/n was very enthusiastic about that rule. 

Donning the outfit that Wanda had selected, y/n immediately wanted to go over more rules. Wanda had laughed lightly at her eagerness and told her to wait until they were at the office, since they were running slightly late. 

So, here they were. Finally back in Wanda’s office.

 As Wanda walked around her desk and opened her laptop to a new document to write down their rules, y/n sat comfortably in the chair across from the desk, fiddling with the necklaces around her neck. 

“For this next rule, I want you to attend at least three classes a week that we offer here.” Wanda stated, setting her laptop slightly to the left so she could see y/n clearly. 

Y/n’s brow furrowed, “Classes?” Wanda nodded, gesturing to the bookshelf behind her. 

“Books can only teach you so much, and by attending classes you’ll have a broader understanding of this community as well as gain more knowledge of what a dom/sub relationship entails.” Wanda watched as y/n sat back in thought. 

Wanda waited for a minute before gently saying, “I will be able to teach you how to read body language, as well as what is expected of you as a submissive. I can also teach you about different types of dominants, and what a good relationship looks like. For other topics, such as specialities like rope or impact play, or how to use different types of toys, the classes we offer will be much more helpful.”

Y/n nodded, finally understanding what Wanda meant. 

“That works for me.” She said, sitting back up in her seat in anticipation as Wanda typed on her laptop. As soon as Wanda had finished, she looked back at y/n sitting across from her. 

“That was the only rule that doesn’t specifically pertain to our relationship.” She said, as y/n’s shoulders slightly loosened. Y/n gave her a bigger smile than before as she gestured for Wanda to continue. 

Wanda’s eyes darkened slightly as she stated, “The only person allowed to touch you, is myself.” Y/n swallowed down the sudden wave of arousal from her words. Her eyes had slightly widened at the shift in Wanda’s demeanor. The redhead seemed almost possessive. Y/n then wondered why she liked the thought of a possessive Wanda so much.

“Of course, with my permission others will be allowed to touch you. But only with your consent. Is this acceptable?” Wanda asked, watching y/n as she shifted slightly in her seat.

Y/n didn’t have to think hard about that one, so she blurted out, “That’s cool, I don’t want anybody other than you touching me anyways.” She mentally chided herself for sounding so eager, but then felt a glimmer of pride as Wanda smiled at her and typed once more. 

When Wanda looked back up, she had one eyebrow raised. “You do understand that only I am allowed to touch you. That means you can’t touch either.” 

Y/n couldn’t help but feel confused, wasn’t she always touching herself? I mean her hands were in her lap right now. How could a person not be… oh.

“You mean like masturbating.” She clarified, and Wanda nodded with her eyes still watching her.

“That’s fine with me.” Y/n said, lowering her hands back to her thighs from where they had been rising in an attempt to not physically touch her own body. 

Wanda nodded, and typed while speaking. “I’ll make that a separate rule, just so it’s crystal clear.” Y/n sat silently, and when Wanda raised her eyes to her once more her eyebrows were drawn close together. 

“What’s on your mind darling?” Wanda asked, as y/n was obviously wrestling with her own thoughts. 

“I don’t want anybody else to touch you either.” Y/n said, her words rushed. “Sorry if I’m overstepping but I want to be the only one allowed to touch you.” 

Wanda waited until y/n’s eyes met hers before she started to speak. “That works for me. Don’t worry about overstepping, this is a discussion. We both have to agree on rules, I’m not the only one allowed to create rules within our relationship.” She watched as y/n nodded with relief evident on her face. 

Once Wanda had made it clear that the rules were meant to be a discussion, y/n was fully relaxed and comfortable. They only discussed general rules, since Wanda didn’t want to restrict their relationship with specific ones. After about a half hour discussion, Wanda saved the document on her computer and closed her laptop. She looked at y/n, who was sitting cross legged in the chair, and said one final thing. 

“This discussion doesn’t have to be over. We can go over the rules at any time you’d like, and create new ones if we feel we need them. Does that sound alright with you?” Wanda asked, and y/n nodded quickly. 

“I feel comfortable bringing up this discussion again if I want to, so um. Thanks?”

Wanda chuckled at y/n’s response, and unlocked her phone to read a few messages that had popped up during their discussion. She typed a response, then looked over at y/n. 

“One of our instructors, Melissa, is willing to have you sit in on her class today. Does that sound alright to you?” Y/n uncrossed her legs, sitting up fully in her seat.

“What, now?” She asked, getting ready to leap to her feet. 

Wanda held a hand up, the corner of her mouth turning up. “No, in about an hour. We still have some time. Why don’t you continue the book you started yesterday?” 

Y/n relaxed slightly, before offering a sheepish grin. She nodded her acceptance and walked over to the bookshelf to pick up the book on different types of dominants and settled on the couch. 

Wanda was slightly distracted with the way that y/n’s brow furrowed as she started reading, and found herself wanting to tuck the strands of hair that fell in front of y/n’s eyes away. She blinked herself back into work mode, and with one last glance at y/n, opened her laptop once again. 

Now is not the time to fall for someone, she reminded herself as she skimmed over the latest emails in her inbox. Y/n was only here for the summer, and Wanda kept repeating that in her head as she shoved the image of the girl’s bright smile and wide eyes to the back of her mind. 

Next Chapter

#mommy wanda #dom!wanda #wanda fanfic #wanda x reader #mcu #marvel #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader

[boogiewrites]

Seeing Stars Finale

Our final chapter. Our story ends on graduation day in 1986. We follow our couple from the moment they wake to the true end of their high school experience and witness the beginning of the next chapter in their lives. With tiny glimpses into their future along the way.

It was the third week of May. A week that had haunted Eddie Munson until now. But May of 1986? Turns out, it was his year.

With June right around the corner, the air in the morning had a wet weight to it that Star had missed in the cold months. Star loved summer. She loved the heat, the aesthetics, and being outdoors. It was so close she could taste it, just out of reach of her kelly green-painted nails. There was only one thing standing between it and her. Graduation.

Eddie woke first, no surprise to him as the anxiety over his ability to graduate suddenly being revoked at any moment plagued him. He’d earned it. He’d worked for it, he knew that. But it felt too good to be true. Especially since under his arm lay the love of his life still sleeping and still looking lovely to him despite the drool and crust on her face. He gently ran his hand over her hair, a content sigh that made his chest mash against her cheek. Crust or not he felt lucky to wake up to her. The thought crosses his mind that he wouldn’t mind doing it every morning forever.

He tries to get a cigarette with one arm, but the other was not willing to part from Star’s bare skin. He woke her in the jostle. She joined the world of the conscious, albeit slowly. She heard the birds, and the mundane sounds outside the trailer walls, and felt the heat of the sun through the cracks in the curtain.

“Mornin’ sweetheart.” she tilted her head, her hair flopping at the sudden movement at hearing Eddie so coherent so shortly after waking. She didn’t know he’d been awake getting ping-ponged between worry and excitement. He let his biggest fears and his wildest dreams play out in his head, being grounded when he strayed too far from his current reality by the woman in his arms.

“You up?” is what came out of her sleepy mouth, wiping her face to rid it of any obvious signs she’d slept so hard. All that was left was slightly swollen lids and wild hair.

“Yeah, the brain’s been moving too fast to go back to sleep.” He tapped his temple.

“I guess we need to get up anyway.” she shrugged, stretched, and yawned but contrary to her statement she snuggled back in, looking up at Eddie’s mouth around a cigarette. “How are you?” she ran her hand along his stomach, a comforting back and forth up his chest.

“I don’t know,” he said as he exhaled a plume of smoke. “I’m excited. Then I’m nervous. Then I’m scared something’s gonna happen and ruin it all. Then I think about being able to finally leave high school behind and I get excited again.”

“You have bad dreams?” she tucked his frizzy hair behind his ears, head now off his pec and looking him over for signs of true distress or if his mind was just being unusually cruel.

“Don’t remember them if I did.” he gave a pout that brushed away the concern.

“Well I think today is going to be perfect.” she said with a firm nod, sitting up in bed next to him. She put forth a confident energy to combat his hesitance.

“That so?” he huffed out a soft laugh.

“I think we’re going to survive the speeches and get our diplomas and get the hell out of there. Then we’re going to hang out with our friends and party all night. And it’s going to be a lot of fun. And we’ll fall asleep tired and happy and then…” she said with a lilt and swing of her hair. “We start the rest of our lives together.” she leaned in to kiss his dimpled cheek.

“Kick off the summer of ‘86.” he nodded, chewing his bottom lip, mindlessly. She reached out and took his hand into hers, bringing it to her lips for a kiss.

“It’s gonna be great. You’re gonna be great. Get excited. Get happy. It’s happening for you, I promise. They wouldn’t tell you you aren’t graduating on the day of. They have to get the diplomas’ printed out way before today and they double-check all the stuff. You’re in the clear, I PROMISE you.” she gave a bang of her head and kept his hand clasped between hers.

“Really?”

“Cross my heart. While you were busy worrying and not doing anything about it, I checked with our resident genius Nancy Wheeler who is in charge of dealing with the print office that handles the diplomas. You’re in the clear. You are Eddie Munson, high school graduate.” she beamed and mushed her cheek into his bare knuckles, the beginnings of a tan line already starting on his hands from his rings and bracelets.

“I am.” a slow smile built muscle by muscle on his face. He turned to her and let out a sigh, his lips raspberrying. “I am.”

“You are.” she cooed and giggled, kissing his smile. “You wanna walk me home? We can go ahead and start getting ready.” she arched her neck to look at the square red letters of Eddie’s alarm clock.

“Of course.” he rolled his eyes, a crooked grin at the silliness that he’d let her do anything alone ever again. Well, if he had his way.

So they exited the warmth and safety of Eddie’s mix-matched bed set and into the day that would close a chapter of their lives and start another. Eddie was nervous about graduating, but Star had her sight set much farther out into the horizon. If he was nervous, it paled in comparison to how Star felt about today. If he had butterflies, it meant she had pterodactyls in her stomach.

-

Both as rumpled as they had been when they slid out of bed, now with clothes on, they walked through the shortcut in the woods to Star’s house. Since the weather had been so nice, a clear beaten path was again formed between the two homes. They parted with a kiss, forcefully separating to get ready and spend time with their loved ones. Their families were certainly tiny compared to most others getting ready for graduation that day, but the amount of love between them couldn’t be compared.

Eddie bopped back into the trailer, Wayne having taken the day off as soon as he got the news Eddie would, in fact, be graduating this year. He had his coffee and his usual relaxed demeanor about him, he was in no hurry. He wanted to be sure he savored what could be nearing the end of Eddie's living with him. He couldn’t deny he’d be lonely without the mess and ruckus of the young man he’d raised from an underweight shadow of a kid. He knew it was his job to see him off into his own life and that was his motivation for trying not to cry today. He knew he’d done his job and now his final act was to give him a parting gift to hopefully secure his kid’s future. Or secure it as much as Wayne could. He knew there was nothing guaranteed in life and he also knew Eddie wasn’t going to be taking the safe, stable route. But he’d be damned if he stopped that kid from going after his dreams no matter how unrealistic Wayne might’ve found them.

Wayne smiled as the music lashed his eardrums from Eddie’s room. The boy was happy today. As well he should be. He knocked on the rickety bedroom door, the volume being lowered and the sounds of the usual scuffle of Eddie’s too-fast and hard movements among the clutter in his room.

“Come on in!” Eddie chirped, a bounce on his toes. He was stood with his hands on his hips, in an ugly green cap and gown with a goofy smile, double dimpled just like his mother's. “I look like an idiot but here it is!” he held out his hands in presentation of him in his graduation garb.

“Did I not teach you how to use an iron?” Wayne smirked at the rumpled state of the fabric.

“I just got it out of the bag! See? Smell! It still smells like plastic!” he held up the fabric and approached Wayne. The older man laughed and waved his hand to keep him from approaching.

“I believe you.” he chuckled, his shoulders shaking. “I’ll go get the iron.” he resigned with a nod.

Eddie was eating on the couch, freshly showered, sitting in front of a fan to help dry his hair quicker. Wayne was handling the heat delicate fabric with the old iron hissing and spitting at him all the while.

“You going over to see your girl before we leave or are we meetin’ them there?”

“We can drive over together and I’ll pop in on her before we both leave. Still have to give her her present.”

“Sounds like a plan.” a nod from Wayne as he mosied over to the couch next to Eddie. He gave him a hearty pat on the back then a comforting rub. Eddie looked over his shoulder at his father figure with a grin.

“Bet you never thought you’d see the day, huh?” he joked.

“I knew you had it in ya.” Wayne grumbled to squash any self-doubt Eddie had lingering in his mind. “It took you so long to learn how to tie your shoes, I figured it might take you a while to figure this out.” he gave him a warm smile that made Eddie laugh.

“I am a little slow on the draw sometimes.” he smiled bashfully.

“As long as you try that’s all that matters.” a firm nod with the same supportive smile he’d seen through many veils of tears appeared. “You didn’t quit. That’s what’s important. Proud of you for that.” another firm pat to the back.

“Look at me now. Breaking the cycle of high school dropouts.” Eddie chuckled. “Future’s looking better than ever for the Munson name.” Eddie shook his head proudly.

“Speaking of…” Wayne grunted and reached into his pocket, the years of manual labor not having been kind to his joints. “Both the being slow and the future.” Wayne made himself laugh as Eddie rolled his eyes with no ill will. “I had somethin’ for ya.”

“C’mon, no gifts.” Eddie groaned and looked away, waving his hand at his uncle.

“I didn’t spend no money on it.” Wayne grumped in response. “It’s not for you anyway. It could be but I don’t think it’s your style.” Wayne smirked, hand held out palm up as Eddie turned back around, his curiosity getting the better of him. “I finally found the damn thing.” Wayne said with a shake of his head. Eddie knew what it was on sight, something he’d not seen in around a decade. The last time it’d been around his mother's finger as she wiped tears away from his bruised, rosy cheeks. Eddie’s eyes went wide, flicking between Wayne’s face and the ring in his hand. “I don’t think I’m being improper by assuming you might be needing this?” Wayne rolled the gold-decorated band into a pinched hold. “Not that I necessarily want any little Munsons running around anytime soon but there’s a certain comfort in the idea of pairing yourself off with someone. And I’ve done the best I could to give you comfort while you were under my care but you’re your own man now Ed. You’ve gotta make it for yourself.” Wayne watched the emotions pass behind his nephew's eyes as he stared at the ring as if it was the one from his books. “She’s a good woman. And you’re a good man. I like to think I’ve raised you well enough to take care of her like you should. I know you don’t want her leavin' and quite frankly neither do I.” Wayne cracked a smile that broke Eddie’s wide contemplative eyes. The same smile grew on his face, the Munson genetics being bullies and giving its looks to everyone it touched.

“She’s pretty perfect isn’t she?” A crooked smile of a man in love with no shame for it sat on his freshly shaved face.

“She’s got a lot going for her, that girl.” Wayne nodded, holding the ring and holding hostage just how much he enjoyed the girls' company not just for Eddie but for himself. She was a good kid. Smart but in the same odd way Eddie was. Unconventional but morally sound where it counted. And she was head over heels for Eddie. Wayne couldn’t ask for much more for his boy.

Eddie took the delicate band into his hand, feeling the warmth from Wayne now seeping into his skin. “Is it too soon to ask? I mean we don’t have our own place and hell I haven’t even got a job yet.”

“You’re thinking about it too much.” Wayne shook his head. “It comes down to love and respect. Commitment and chemistry. And you have that in spades.”

“You’re the one that told me I should be able to take care of her.”

“When you start at the shop downtown in a few weeks you will.”

Eddie blinked fast, hair shifting as his head tilted in question.

“I talked to the guy that runs the shop where we handled your van. He liked the work you’d put in on it. I took the liberty that I have as your uncle and asked him if he needed anyone to work come summer. Turns out… he’s willing to give ya a shot.”

“Seriously?” Eddie’s eyes went wide. The answer to his worries fell into his lap. He’d asked for a way to make money with less risk. He didn’t want to go from the prison that was high school into actual prison for selling drugs. After he’d managed to make graduating a reality he’d moved on to asking the universe for things to set him and Star up for a future together. And that started with needing money.

“I wouldn’t pull your leg about it. I know you’ve been lookin'. I saw the classifieds marked up. And you know your way around a motor enough to handle this just fine.” A large comforting hand landed on Eddie's shoulder.

“I was so worried nowhere would take the long-haired freak.” he admitted quietly.

“You can’t think like that. It was like that back in my day. Long-haired greasers. Now it’s… whatever you kids got going on. Same shit different generation and none of it matters. There are still some good people out there that know that looks don’t mean nothin'. Your work spoke for itself. That’s what mattered.”

“You didn’t have to stick your neck out for me.” Eddie said with thankful but apologetic eyes that made Wayne sad to see.

“There’s lots of things I didn’t have to do for you, Eddie.” Wayne gave him a subtle smile. “But just like all of them, I wanted to.”

Eddie broke then. When Wayne shared any sentiment it meant too much to him. He slipped the ring into his pocket for safekeeping and turned to wrap his arms around his uncle.

“Well, it’s been a while since we done this.” Wayne laughed, leaning into his nephew and patting his back.

“We should more I’m just…not good at showing… this kinda thing.” he muttered, his face wincing as he thought, smelling the same warm smell of Wayne’s choice of deodorant and laundry detergent that hadn’t changed in the entire time Eddie had known him. “If I think about how much I love you I start to cry and I can’t talk about it so I avoid it.” An honest confession mumbled into Wayne’s flannel shirt. Wayne squeezed his boy tighter and pressed his cheek into the curls that his mother gave him.

“Us Munson men never were good at discussin' our feelings. You’re the best that’s come along so far. We show it in other ways I like to think.” Eddie’s arms didn’t even consider letting go yet, so neither did Wayne’s.

“Don’t worry. You do.” Eddie reassured him with a nod.

-

Star went into the house after Eddie was out of sight and into the woods. She wanted to make sure Robbie was awake since he’d worked the night before. She bounced across the worn shag carpet of the living room, shoes squeaking on the faux wood linoleum of the tiny almost hallway where the trio of bedroom and bathroom doors was tucked away. A thoughtless grab of the doorknob and a deep breath before flinging the door open with a sibling-appropriate greeting.

“WAKE UP YA BIG APE!” she shouted, eyes shut with a smile before she jolted at the sound of a scream and the unfortunate sight of her brother's big ass bare and putting in some early morning work with his guest. “SHIT! FUCK! SORRY!” she stuttered and shouted, stumbling out of the room and slamming the door. She walked the same path she entered by with her hands over her face. She heard loud laughter before she shut the door behind her to go get ready and try to lose the beet-red face she’d just earned.

She sat on her bed after a shower to physically cleanse her retinas of the image of her brother in bed. Her fan was in her face to dry her hair and cool herself off just as Eddie was. She’d been the one to introduce him to it after all. His curls had never looked better.

Star had on a nightgown to keep cool and wipe her makeup onto it as she smudged it with her fingers. She wasn’t much for using sponges or applicators.

“Knock knock.” Robbie said the sound instead of knocking to get his little sister's approval.

“Oh god.” she groaned and let her head plonk onto the tiny vanity top dramatically.

“Don’t be dramatic.” he laughed, leaving the door cracked.

“I am not being dramatic!” she flung herself and her hair up and back with wide eyes.

“Sure, kid.” Robbie snorted, a smile on his face. “We can pretend it never happened or talk about it. I mean I block out the sound of you and your little stray cat lookin’ boyfriend going at it plenty.” he gave her a broad grin.

“But you don’t SEE it! I could’ve gone my whole life without seeing that!” she pointed in the direction of the house. “Also! Since when do you fuck?” she then broke out into laughter that Robbie joined in on. “There can only be one whore in this family Rob and I have that role secured.” she giggled.

“Her name’s Tammy, we work together. We went out… fell asleep and I… made it up to her in the morning.”

“First of all, gross. Second of all, you fell asleep after your date?” Star raised a brow full of judgment.

“You work so hard all day you’ve got sweat pouring down your ass crack and see how long it takes you to get tired!” he switched his weight to one foot, crossing his arms. “Besides you didn’t hear her complain’ did you?”

“Oh god shut up.” she covered her ears and shut her eyes. When she peeped one open she found Robbie still there, smirking and shaking his head. “So you’ve got like a girlfriend now or what?” she switched her posture, now smug again.

“I guess. We’re just kinda… hanging out and filling a need for each other at the moment.”

“Well do you like her?”

“We are not talking about this.”

“You can demand I admit I’m in love with Eddie for 6 months but I can’t ask about a stranger in the house that clearly has poor decision-making skills if she’s fucking you.” she grinned.

“Alrighty, sass pot. We’ve gone out a few times. I think we’re dating. We’ve not had that conversation yet.”

“That wasn’t so hard.” she wiggled her shoulder triumphantly. “Do I get to meet her?”

“Maybe.” he shrugged playfully. “You kinda already did.”

“I wanna see her face, not her naked legs.” Star snorted out a laugh.

“Fine. I’ll talk to her, see if she wants to meet my pain in the ass sister.”

“Thank you.” she nodded with a genuine smile.

“Today is about you anyway, isn’t it? Big graduation day? Joining the adult world? All that bullshit.” Robbie teased.

“I’ve been working for years and paying bills I don’t think this is the start of anything.” her shoulders shook with a quiet laugh as she smudged her eye makeup.

“You’ve been over 18 for a while but with you being in school I’ve always seen ya as a kid. But now it’s a little different. You get to be your own person, not stuck in whatever role they tell ya to be in school.” she pulled an envelope out of his back pocket. “I figured I’d get ya somethin' that would help you out.” he stepped closer and handed her the envelope. Her brow lowered intensely, staring before looking at his face. “It’s not bad news, promise.” he reassured her. She took it from his hand, trying not to shake as she pulled out a folded paper, out falling a couple of hundred dollar bills. She scrambled to catch them, her eyes wild at the money and rushing to read the paper that would need money to accompany it. “It’s a long process, but I got it started for ya as much as I could.”

“Petition for Name Change.” she read aloud and a smile grew across her face slowly.

“I figure this isn’t some phase at this point. And as much I prefer the name Ma gave you over Star, I guess it’s grown on me. It suits your hippy ass.” he smirked as she met his eyes, hers full of shine from unshed tears. “I figure if your name changes, it might be harder for… people to find ya and stuff too. Plus you won’t have to hide it. I saw how nervous you got with your school stuff, trying to hide your name from everyone. If it upsets you that much I suppose it’s worth the trouble to change it.”

“Rob.” she whined and stood with her arms stretched out.

“Don’t go getting all mushy gushy on me now.”

“I’m gonna.” she nodded and stepped closer.

“Aw, c’mon!” he deflected but smiled as she squeezed him around his barrel chest.

“Thank you.” she mumbled with her cheek mushed against his chest.

“Ah.” he groaned and put his arms around her. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes it is.” she nodded and kept squeezing him. “It’s very sweet and thoughtful.” she insisted.

“Now I got two women telling me that. I don’t know what’s wrong with both of you.” he laughed and hugged her back, a big hand to the back of her head, patting her back with the other.

“Thanks, ya big butt head.” she gave him a final squeeze, finally releasing him.

“I prefer that.” he nodded and ruffled her hair. “Is your boy comin’ with us today? What’s the game plan?”

“I’ll drive with you and he’ll drive with Wayne. We wanted to make sure we spent time with you today since we’d be together all night.”

“So Wayne’ll be driving me back, got it.” he chuckled. “You still going to that rich kid's house?”

“You KNOW his name, Robbie.”

“Steve Harrington. Emphasis on the hair.” he chuckled. “That’s how I remember his name. Looks like a damn Aqua Net ad walkin’ around.”

“He can’t help that he’s pretty.” Star laughed. “We’ll be at his place. Might stay the night. Depends on how much we drink.”

“Sounds good to me. Glad you get drunk at friends' houses instead of in public now. I don’t worry so much.”

“Aw, he worries about me.” she reached to pinch his cheek and he smacked her hand away.

“I don’t have to anymore.” he said perking up. “You’re Munson’s problem, now.” he grinned.

-

Eddie popped in Star’s trailer full of music and smoke. She’d smoked herself silly trying to calm herself down. At least the importance of graduation was a good cover. As practiced as she was at not letting her thoughts snowball and grow to overwhelm her, she still struggled with it.

“If people only knew you’re the bigger stoner out of the two of us.” Eddie laughed, flapping his hands in front of his face as he entered the domicile, leaving the door open to let out the patchouli thick fog.

“Sorry. Just nervous.”

“What happened to today is gonna be perfect, Little Miss Sunshine?” he grinned and leaned on the countertop, letting her fan her red face with her hands.

“It is! I mean, when it comes to graduating today is gonna be great. I’m just… I’m good with the tension until it’s time for whatever is causing it and then I’m like… well… this.” she snorted and put her hand to her forehead in a laugh.

“Since when? You’re a wreck all the time, you can’t lie to me, sweetheart. I KNOW you.” he slid in to comfort her, taking her hand to kiss it and pulling her to his chest.

“You do.” she sighed and put her hand on his cheek. “What would I do without you?” she swooned dramatically for both of their enjoyment and didn’t have to raise to meet him in a kiss, he was already halfway there.

“Perish, surely.” he fluttered his lashes and shook his hair. It was a joke, she knew that but the smile that sat under newly watery eyes surprised him. “I’m joking babe, christ you are a mess.” he chuckled and took her face into his hands to noisily smooch it.

“I know!” she let out a sound of a sniffle and giggle. “It’s true though. I just… I love you. A lot. It’s hitting me hard today.”

“I love you more.” he cheesed with a wrinkled nose, rubbing it to hers. “Oh shit, I’m gonna ruin your makeup aren’t I?” he let go of her face with a startle at the realization.

“You’re fine!” she laughed and sighed, putting her hand to his chest. “I don’t have anything on my skin. We’re all good. Just a little tinted chapstick and some eye makeup. Didn’t want to sweat it all off and look like a melted candle in photos.”

“Speaking of!” he bounced over to his bag and pulled out the polaroid camera she’d got him for Christmas. He loved that thing. He had photos of them tucked into hiding places in his van, the visor, and the glovebox. His favorites were stashed in his bedside table for easy access, and one, his all-time favorite was in his wallet where it would go unseen to any other human eyes. “One last photo before we’re officially high school graduates?” He didn’t wait for an answer, pulling her into him with a broad arm in her lovely little yellow spring dress.

It would soon live a long life tapped to Star’s dresser mirror. It would survive one move, going right back to where it had been, watching their lives play out day by day in their bedroom in the apartment they’d shared in Chicago. The next move, it wouldn’t still be there but would join so many other, then, old polaroids of their young love in a well-crafted photo album Star made for their 10th anniversary.

“I want that one, you should probably take two.” she smiled up at him and he put the camera back up after the photo slid out.

“Your wish is my command.” he captured their wide smiles, the way she looked up at him with love in her eyes. He’d take so many photos that day but that one, a small moment between them was Star’s favorite. “This is for you.” he sang, handing her the Polaroid. While she fruitlessly shook it and blew on it to see their images slowly appear he grabbed the gift he’d brought with him. “And so is this!” He held out a large rectangle covered in newspaper and electrical tape. Star's eyes went from soft looking at the photo, to shifting into surprise before she squeaked with upset.

“We said no presents, Eddie!” She reached out and flapped her hand to smack his arm a few times.

“Ow.” He said calmly, his chest moving with a laugh. “And I didn’t spend anything on it! Swear! Totally DIY!” His voice inflected up and cracked with his insistence.

“I didn’t make you anything!” She pouted but accepted the gift shoved into her chest.

“You make me... horny every day. I mean happy.” He leaned forward and cheesed a double dimple smile. “Wait no, both work.” He nodded with comedic force, his hair shaking alone with it.

“Love you cornball .” She muttered, a subdued smirk shot his way.

“Love you too, sugar. Now open it.” He quickly responded with clapping hands to rush her.

“I might have to use my teeth.” She laughed at the wrapping job that would’ve kept any lesser man out of the gift. But Star flicked a pocket knife from her, you guessed it, pocket in a swift motion to snap at her rubbery tape.

“That was hot.” Eddie hummed and nodded approvingly.

“Hmm?” Innocent, distracted eyes glanced his way as she broke into the seal.

“Nothing gorgeous. Keep goin'.” He gave her a wink that made her cheeks rosy.

As she finally tore a hole big enough to sink her fingers into and unveil the mystery square she was met with a stained wooden frame. Eddie stretched out his hand to cover her own before she could delve further.

“I’m really proud of this so it’s bad please lie to me.” He laughed and gulped, eyes a bit begging and a lot honest. Star leaned forward and kissed his grimaced lips with an affectionate peck. She didn’t have to tell him he was being silly, he knew.

She ripped a dramatic slice diagonally across the frame revealing a portrait. But it wasn’t some common bust likeness. It was soft and fuzzy, shadowed and lit. She looked up to find his eyes analyzing her every minute expression. Shock was the best way to describe her fluttering lashes and agape mouth.

“Dustin had some of those Creepy and Eerie horror mags in his comic collection. I know you’ve told me Frank had done a bunch of those and sure enough, I found one he’d done in his collection.” His shoulders loosened a bit, voice leveling out as her eyes went back to the piece with recognition behind her eyes now.

“Egyptian Queen.” She whispered, fingers over the glass.

“I knew it!” He clapped and fisted his hands in triumph. “I knew you’d know it, babe!” He said proudly. A soft female figure leaned against a marble pillar, shadow surrounding her on one side and a bright light revealing the rest. “It's more like medieval queen though.” He chuckled. “I didn’t know if I wanted to draw you or your character so I just sorta blended the two.” He explained and snugged his arm against hers leaning over the drawing and explaining excitedly. “I added a dragon because you killed one in that one campaign of mine, remember? That’s why it's laying down. It looks asleep.” He flinched disapprovingly. “But you’re kinda like Arwen too. You’ve got pointy ears and I put you in robes and some sexy babe heavy metal magazine-type armor.” His fingertips smudged the glass as he poked at the drawing.

“Is this pastels?”

“Nah pencil.” He shook his head quickly. “And pen.” He added with wandering thoughtful eyes. “And some color pencils of yours that I “borrowed” and meant to put back before you noticed they were gone.” He gave her another broad smile, eyes shrinking to next to nothing as his cheeks rose.

“You did this?” She asked not only for the slight disbelief but to communicate to him in passive words how good it was.

“Yeah! It’s a lot easier when you’re looking at something and drawing the same thing pretty much.”

“Eddie. This is really good.” Her face was softer now, bright and caring. Convincing.

“Shit really? I was afraid it’d suck.” He huffed out nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean your shit is otherworldly and you have things you draw in 5 minutes that look miles better than this.”

“I like to go through your notebooks and see your drawings when you aren’t paying attention.” She grinned. “You have stuff you did in 5 minutes that I’m jealous of.” She lightly hit her head to his.

“I know I said to lie to me but that’s-“

“Completely true.” She crossed her fingers over her heart. “You’re like Frank, he drew from his imagination and not references. That’s fucking hard. And I think it’s why your stuff is so unique. The way you draw monsters is disgusting. And I mean that as a compliment.”

“Yeah?” A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I thought that’s how everyone did it before I met you.”

“No, we’re all just fakers.” She laughed. “You’re so creative, Eddie.” She sighed and put her hand on his cheek which made him melt into a swooning pile of goo in a heartbeat.

“Yeah?” He repeats dumbly.

“You have to go be good at guitar and now you’re after my hobby too?” She wrinkled her nose and mashed a kiss to his blushed cheek.

“Oh, I don’t know I just- wanted to make you something since you draw me all the time.” He mumbled and looked away. “I did make the frame!” He added. “Don’t look at the back though it looks like shit but as long as the front's nice I figured it didn’t matter.” She tilted the frame to see the back did look like shit. She laughed and saw the mix of finishing nails and screws, lop-sided and hammered flat to the wood in an attempt to hide them. It reminded her a lot of Eddie. Rustic and self-made, a bit wonky but fully functional and full of charm and heart.

“It doesn’t. I’ll hang it up when we get our own place and no one’ll ever know.”

“You wanna hang it?” He asked bashfully.

“Duh! Right where everyone can see. My portrait of you can hang right next to it. It’ll be like our weird little version of a family portrait.” She shared earnestly as it was his turn to give her a kiss full of admiration.

“We are a weird little family.” He smiled as she returned his encircling arm and put one of hers around him.

“Best kind to be.” She rubbed her nose to his. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

And they never did.

-

Star stood back and watched the Hellfire boys glomp into a dog pile together. Wayne had greeted her with a smile and was taken aback when she wrapped her arms around him for a hug. Star was to the brim with emotions, all good for once. She saw the small swarming group of new and old faces, friends and family she’d only heard stories of flying in from California to join their parties again. Some of the people she knew as well as herself like Eddie, then the spectrum grew to include her Hellfire friends, Robin and Steve, farther in the distance Nancy and farther out were the new faces of Nancy’s boyfriend, Mike’s girlfriend, and the fabled Will himself. He was taller than she’d expected, but then again, who knows how tiny he might’ve been the last time he’d been there. She knew the boys she’d seen every day, including the older ones, Eddie and Steve had seemed to have grown in the short time she’d spent with them.

Eddie crawled out of the pile, a smile on his face and his open robes already wrinkled again as he stumbled toward her to wrap a proud arm around her to introduce her to the new faces. He knew Nancy’s boyfriend, the shaggy sleepy-eyed young man who seemed like such a quiet match to Nancy’s bold personality. He had kind eyes and Star didn’t feel an ounce of bad vibes from any of them. Mike’s girlfriend El, who turned out to not be fake was the oddest of them all. Which surprised Star. She had a face you wanted to take under your wing and be nice to. An envious child-like wonder on her face as she watched the world around her. Star felt a kindred spirit between them, she didn’t know why, but she thought maybe they had the same whimsical outlook if the girls' wide eyes and coy smile were any indication.

“Would the graduating class of 1986 please report to the auditorium lobby? Friends and family would you please take your seats.” A call that dragged them all back into the moment. A sentence Eddie heard that he’d never expected to be applied to him. Star saw the contemplation on his slack face.

“That includes you, babe.” she was already smiling with full teeth when he swung his head her way.

“It does, doesn’t it?” he laughed and scrunched his nose, scratching his head.

Hand in hand they stayed until the divvying up by GPA happened and they had to part with a kiss. Eddie was surprised to find he was only second to last in line. He’d never been prouder to be in almost last place.

Steve lugged around a large camera, mouth open as he squinted into the viewfinder, his stance crooked from the weight of the machine on his shoulder.

“What’ve you got to say to the graduates today?”

“Lucky!”

“Fuck off.”

Steve frowned and glared at the Hellfire members. He dramatically hits pause, moving his face away from behind the camera.

“Could we not today, please? Just one day.” He waved a finger in front of him. “I’m recording this so years from now you all can hit me up and ask for this because you’re gonna wish you had it to look back on.”

“Sure, Steve.”

“I’m serious. You think your mind is a steel trap now, but later down the line you’re gonna start forgetting little things. And you’ll thank me. So perk up and talk to the camera like you’re talking to a person.” He huffed and shook his shoulder, already stiff from carrying the big thing around. “And action!” he nodded and gave finger guns with one hand. “What’ve you got to say to the graduates today?”

“I’m jealous. You got out.”

“I hope you watch this in 20 years and say man Dustin was right about everything. I wish he’d talk to me now that he’s rich and famous. I should’ve been nicer to that guy.” Dustin grinned.

“Really, man?” Steve chuckled.

“I”m glad you finally did it, Eddie. I’m glad we found Star this year. I’m glad you get to do this together. I’m sure you’ll show your kids this one day and I’d like to say I had a big part in you existing and you better be calling me Uncle Dustin because Eddie if you move and don’t talk to me after I’m gonna be PISSED!” Dustin groaned.

“I hope we’re rich and famous from Corroded Coffin and we can play this on a giant screen on stage because I think that’d be cool so let me do some shots,” Gareth says throwing the horns, crossing his arms and nodding, sticking out his tongue. “Now there are options for the b-roll footage.” Gareth nodded in approval.

“Alright, Mr. Cruise. Steve laughed.

“Ew, I wouldn’t be Tom Cruise!” Gareth took offense.

“You’re not exactly action hero leading man material.” Dustin smirked.

“Hey!” Gareth shoved his arm. Steve sighed and scoot down the aisle, finding the guardians of the graduating couple.

“So Mr.Munson…”

“Call me Wayne, kid.” He grumbled.

“Wayne, what’s it like being the uncle of the infamous Eddie Munson?”

“Infamous?” Wayne chuckled. “My boy’s a lot of things but infamous isn’t one of them.” he threw a hand, eyes not looking at the camera, feeling a bit shy. But like Steve, he knew capturing these things was important.

“Annoying maybe.” Robbie who was sitting right beside him smirked.

“You said it, not me.” Wayne suppressed a teasing grin.

“What about you Rob? What’s it like to have gotten Star across the finish line?”

“Exhausting.” he nodded. “I made a promise to Ma I’d get her to graduate so my job is done!” he clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Now she’s gonna be the Munson’s problem.” Robbie elbowed Wayne.

“Yeah what’s having Star for a daughter-in-law gonna be like?” Steve asked.

“I like the kid, I don’t know what ya’ll are talking about. She keeps Eddie in line and makes him happy and that’s all you can really hope for.”

“You ready to be great uncle Wayne?” Steve grinned.

“You know somethin’ I don’t?” Wayne smirked.

“No! I was just-”

“I’m jokin’ kid.” he slapped Steve’s arm. “I’ve learned to not worry about things I can’t control. And as you know,” he pointed at the camera to Steve. “You can’t control Eddie and Star so whatever they do…” he shrugged. “I guess I’ll be great uncle Wayne someday.”

“And uncle Robbie.” Steve scrolled the camera to Robbie who rolled his eyes.

“I don’t wanna be no Uncle nothin’ anytime soon. I just raised a kid, I’m not looking to do it again.” he laughed.

“But if you wanna make an honest man out of him Star, I’m not gonna complain.” Wayne winked. “Maybe wait on the babies though. One thing at a time.” he nodded.

“You heard them guys!” Steve said turning the camera to his face. “Keep it your pants!”

Steve seemed to be met with mostly stares and groans as he hopped from person to person, asking them questions, trying to capture these special moments that none of his peers seemed to be interested in doing. But he did find a gaggle of moms and dads with similar cameras around the stage and he planted himself right in the middle to make sure the graduation of Eddie Munson was documented. Wasn’t every day a guy graduated after trying 3 times after all.

“Star Reynolds.” the name echoed over the loudspeaker. She’d done a lot to make sure that her real name wasn’t said when she walked. The small group deafened those around them. Even Wayne let out a piercing whistle and Robbie shouted with his large barrel chest projecting his praise across the room. Eddie stood amid the sitting students and cheered, whistling and clapping.

“GET IT, BABY! YEAHHHH!” he shouted as those around him stared him down. “THAT’S MY GIRL!” he cupped his hands around his mouth to make his voice louder. The girls around him giggled. They’d not have to deal with his antics anymore, so in a way seeing the last show of his dramatics was bittersweet. More so sweet since he was screaming, “PRETTIEST GIRL IN HAWKINS!” and clapping his hands.

They’d made it through a cliche speech or two, hard work, follow your dreams, blah blah blah. Star thought Eddie would’ve had a much better speaker. Maybe the bottom of the class should get to speak if the top did. She’d learned more from the losers than the winners that’s for sure. She wondered what Henderson’s speech would be like. She made a note to herself that she couldn’t miss his graduation, even if she was busy. She bet his speech would be great.

She snapped out of her daydream, her thoughts on the future as she focused on not tripping up the portable stairs to the stage. A nod, a handshake, a switching of sides on her cap as she stopped and posed for photos, Steve waving with one arm and right in the middle of the hired photographer. She waved and blew a kiss to the camera. After passing the principal, Steve followed her path across the stage she stopped while on the stage and stuck her tongue out, and threw up the horns with the diploma in her hand getting a small chuckle across the crowd.

“How’s it feel?” Steve whispered, following her to her seat, with no regard for anyone else around.

“I’m excited. And nervous and... Steve I think you need to get out of the way.” she whispered.

Steve jogged back to the stage, being the loudest when Robin crossed and she had the most subdued reaction of turning red and giving an awkward smile for the flashing camera. He followed Jeff across the stage, a very paternal high-five as he passed him.

Then the moment came. The club did a drumroll as the person before him passed, hands slapping the bleachers and feet stomping, a rumble echoed, and Eddie’s face lit up even more than it already was. Star stood in anticipation of his name being called, hands clasped together ready to clap.

“And…” Principal Higgins laughed and shook his head. “Edward Munson.” he gave a nod and held out his arm to present the young man almost tripping up the stairs with joy plastered on his face. To his surprise, more than just his friends made some noise. Wayne had been wrong, Eddie was a bit infamous. Being a super-super senior wasn't something you came across every day. A lot of girls clapped, maybe a touch of sympathy for the guy. He seemed to love his girlfriend an awful lot and he was never mean to them, so he’d earned a small bit of praise in their eyes.

“LOVE YOU EDDIE!” Star hopped and shouted, a blush across his cheeks as his head bobbled on his shoulders, unsure of how to handle the large amount of positive energy directed at him. “KNEW YOU COULD DO IT!” The club members screamed from the audience and the student body, Jeff standing along with Star.

“YOU DID IT MAN!” Jeff shouted.

CAMPAIGN HIGH SCHOOL VANQUISHED!” Dustin screamed.

“BEST DM IN INDIANA!”

“ITS ABOUT TIME!” all came from the group.

“Nice to see you here.” Principal Higgins laughed.

“Wish I could say the same to you.” Eddie snorted out a laugh. He swung his head to switch sides of his tassel, and of course refused to give a standard photo as he swiped his diploma, held between his arm and chest, forever imprinted in the files of Hawkins was Eddie Munson throwing the horns and sticking out his tongue for the camera. Steve’s laughter could be heard over the crowd on video. He waved to Eddie and he struck and pose, air guitaring center stage for a moment before the Principal laughed and gently shoved him down the stage. As soon as his back was turned, Eddie did what he said he always would. He faced the Principal, a gasp moving through the crowd as he flipped him the double bird and walked backward. The gasp caused Higgins to look behind him but Eddie was already on the edge of the stage with fists clenched and a triumphant shout. Steve scoffed as Eddie ran right past him, throwing him a wink.

“Keep the camera on us.” he grinned, jogging past him into the center aisle to reach out his hand to Star who was still clapping and standing. “C’mon baby!” he shook his head and shouted, arms out and waiting. She clumsily crawled over the people in the aisle, giggling the whole time, her hand slipping into his. He put her arm around his neck and kissed her hard. A titter of giggles and aw’s moved around the crowd. When he dipped her the crowd erupted into laughter, he had her in the center of the aisle, laid back and kissed in a display for the world, well Hawins, to see. Everyone enjoyed it, they laughed and swooned at the sight of young love. “Let’s blow this joint.” Eddie smiled as he raised Star. Hand in hers he started a fast pace to run out of the auditorium, not a short trek to make. Eddie did always like to leave them with a lasting impression. The paper would call him a scene stealer later that week.

They stood breathless outside the lobby among the shadow of the eaves of the building. A round of applause for the guy behind Eddie in line as they beamed against each other, chests heaving with excitement and exertion.

“You did it.” Star squealed and jumped.

“WE did it, baby!” Eddie smiled so wide and bright it shamed the sun as he pulled his lover into his chest. A sheen of sweat on their faces from the early summer heat and the lack of air conditioning in a sardine-packed gym. He touched her face, dewy and glowing as she clasped her ring-clad hand over his.

“I love you.” He sighed contently at the words coming from her glossy mouth.

“Fuck, I love you too Star.” He shook his head, hair shifting under the tight cap.

“Everyone, let’s hear it one more time for the Class of 1986!” Was heard over the loudspeaker. The crowd roared. Star and Eddie, one arm around the other yanked their hats off their heads and tossed them up into the air. The rest of their classmates did the same inside behind them. They giggled and laughed as they stumbled and missed catching them in the air.

“‘86, baby!” Eddie shouted proudly, chest out and hair fluffed.

For a bit after the ceremony, after everyone had found each other more pictures and recordings commenced. People Eddie had never met came up to him and pat him on the back. He was thanked by a handful of men around Wayne’s age for reminding them of what it was like to be young. They thanked him for the laugh. Women commenting on while being rather boastful and crude, it was sweet to see a young man love his girl so much so openly. Eddie kept Star under his arm the whole time. Even for hugs he still gravitated right back to her. In every photo taken that evening, they were together. Even taking photos with Robbie and Wayne as a family. The first official Munson-Reynolds family photo. It’d hang on Wayne’s fridge for years.

The closest of the friend group with Star, that being the freaky four of them with Eddie, Steve, and Robin had agreed to a chill, fun night together to celebrate. Most of the others had families that required their attention with buffet dinners and cramped houses. But not these four. Wayne and Robbie drove over, socialized with their extended younger friend group for a bit then slunk out as they knew they’d cramp the kid's style. Robin appeared shortly after, she and her mom had grabbed some food but her mom had to go to work that night. So there they were, with a stock of alcohol and too many pizzas ordered in Steve’s kitchen. Because no matter how many times they told him not to spend money on a “party” as it wasn’t really a party, just a get-together for close friends, he didn’t listen. Steve was a pleaser, it couldn’t be helped. This is why when he handed cards to the three of them they all patronized him with a collective “aw”.

“I got one for Jeff too. You can give it to him later. I know he’s out with his family.” Steve mumbled.

“You even got Jeff a card? You barely know the guy.” Robin commented with a tilted head.

“I mean, I’ve hung out with the D and D guys a couple of times. He was graduating too I didn’t want him to feel left out.”

“Steve.” Star baby talked and walked up to mush his cheeks. “Honey, baby, sugar bear!” she fussed. “Isn’t he just the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen?” she kissed loud smooches to his cheeks while he rolled his eyes. But truly, he adored the doting. She hugged him around his neck. “Big sweetie pie Stevie baby.” Star giggled and hung off his neck.

“Don’t bogart the Harrington.” Eddie said playfully snatching her around the waist to pick her up and move her away. “C’mere big guy!” He clapped his hands to Steve’s cheeks and unlike Star, he kissed him directly on the mouth with a cartoonishly loud swak. “He tastes as sweet as he looks!” Eddie cackled giving Steve's cheek a few small pats before squeezing the snorting man.

“Ugh! Eddie! Dude!” Steve spat and gagged but wrapped his arms around the intensely physically affectionate as he hugged him tightly. Eddie, and Star to a lesser extent, were some of the most physically affectionate people he’d ever met. Even if they were a bit unorthodox about it sometimes, Steve who craved affection in any form, but especially physical was always sated when they were around. Even if he’d never let them know that.

“You love it Steve, hush.” Eddie laughed and smacked his unexpected friends back. Robin had grown accustomed to the touch as well. Star kissing her cheek, holding her hand, or laying on her while talking helped ease her anxiety in a way too. After all, Robin wasn’t exactly out-wooing people like Steve was, she would take the love where she could get it. So when Star scooped her up to kiss her face she accepted with a blush. “I won’t force my whims on you, Rob.” Eddie laughed and hugged her. “You aren’t into smoochin’ hot guys like Steve is.”

“I’m not-!” Steve huffed and put his hands on his hips giving a noise instead of finishing his sentence.

“Welp.” Eddie grunted and stretched, his robes and hat already off, he kicked off his sneakers. “I’m gonna do what I’ve been thinking about all day since it’s been hotter than hades out today.” he stripped his shirt and Star's giggle could be heard. He threw her wink then reached over to smack Steve’s hip. “Enjoy the show baby cakes.” he grinned as he shucked off his jeans, hopping and trying to take off his socks as he ran to the large back doors toward the pool.

“Eddie! I brought our swimsuits!” Star shouted tutting after him. But he was already screaming, making a run for it, and cannonballing into the Harrington family pool in his boxers.

“They’ll dry by the time we leave. Plus we got clothes in the van!” he floated on his back.

“You’re an animal.” Steve laughed, standing on the side of the pool with the girls.

“Thank you.” Eddie grinned, one eye winking from the sun in his eyes.

“Wasn’t a compliment.” Steve’s chest shook as he shook his head.

“Depends on who you ask.” he swam over and splashed water on Star.

“I’ll get changed and get in.” she said shooing him away.

“I think she should get in in her dress. Live a little. What’ya think guys?” Eddie looked at the pair of besties who were smirking at each other.

“I have a swimsuit, there’s no reason to get my dress wet.” Star grumped.

“Since when do you follow the rules?” Steve nodded her way, her eyes bright. “Married life made you go soft?”

“Yeah, are you a stuffy housewife now?”

“I am NOT!” she fist her hands and stomped her foot like a child and Eddie cackled at the sight. “I am selective in my wildness now.”

“Doesn’t sound very wild to me.” Robin smirked.

“No. Sounds like you’re boring.” Steve and Robin nodded and Star's mouth fell open.

“I am NOT boring! That's… that’s mean!” she squeaked.

“Nah that’s not mean.” Steve groaned and flung his hand out. “This is though.” He moved so fast that she barely had time to hold her breath before she was flung into the pool. It was easy to forget he was an athlete. But the second he had to use his strength it was clear you weren’t going to out body Steve.

“AH!” she screamed and flung her hair back, gasping.

“YEAH! MY MAN!” Eddie high-fived Steve. Robin was laughing at Star resembling a distressed wet cat as she doggy paddled in her rush to steady herself.

“What are you laughin’ at?” Steve grinned and bent his knees.

“No! Steve! NononoNO!” she screamed as she too was tossed into the pool. When she came up Steve was stripped down just like Eddie was, cracking his knuckles before spreading his arms wide “MAKE WAY!” he shouted with cupped hands.

Eddie faked playing a horn, making sounds with his mouth his hand mimicking the motions.

“That’s not even how you do it, dingus!” Robin flung herself up and dunked him underwater as Star cackled.

“Cleared for landing!” Star said as she hung to the side of the pool.

“Time to show you chumps how a real swimmer does it! State Champ 1984 comin’ in HOT!” Steve bragged and cannonballed into the pool with a shout. The initial annoyance at being tossed in with their clothes on passed before it even started. All that was left was to be a group of kids playing in the pool in the summertime.

The tendency for physical affection only grew the more intoxicated the couple became. Star, much to Eddie’s chagrin, had found the karaoke machine.

“This has like… every song ever on it.” She said with a shake of her head, on her knees scrolling through the menu on the small screen.

“My parents are on a service for it. They’re sent more tapes and stuff anytime they update it. It’s from Japan or something.” Steve shrugged, taking a hard hit, passing a joint between himself and Eddie cashed out on the couch. The boys were topless, in now dry swim trunks. Star had her bikini she’d changed into on under Eddie’s t-shirt and Robin had her signature oversized button-up over her one piece. Everyone was warm-cheeked and hair a chlorinated wavy mess.

“What kinda show should we treat the boys to Rob?” Star asked with perky fluffs of hair bouncing with enthusiasm.

“You wanna do a duet?”

“Uh... hell yes I do!”

“God please don’t let it be Grease again.” Steve lets his head fall to the back of the couch, eyes shut and exhaling a plume of smoke. He feels Eddie’s laugh beside him, but he doesn’t hear it.

“Summer Nights?” Robin stood and held out her arms.

“A wella-wella-wella say no more!” Star giggled and hopped up.

“Eddie…” Steve rolled his head over to look at the smirking man on his couch.

“Mmm?” Eddie’s closed-mouth smile made Steve’s forced serious face crack.

“If you could just… kill me... that’d be great.” they began to laugh, rubbing their face as the girls started singing.

“They’re not that bad.” he slapped the back of his hand on Steve’s thigh, their knees touching and spread out, melted into the leather.

“You have to say that.” He snorted.

“Nah. She’s not the best singer. She’ll admit that. But she loves it.” he shrugged and lazily lolled his head to look at Star bouncing in less than a bra and panties and his thin shirt worn with holes in it. Flashes of her cheeks and that plush triangle he liked to sleep on between her legs distracted him with a grunt. “When she does it... it’s not so bad.”

“You’ve got it so bad, dude.” Steve gave a sympathetic pat to his friend's leg.

“Yeah. I don’t give a shit who knows.” he grinned with teeth now, taking the undulating joint from Steve’s long fingers. “I mean look at her.” he motioned a nod her way as he took a drag.

“You’re seriously gonna tell another guy to look at your woman?”

“It’s not another guy, it’s you Steve.” Eddie chuckled.

“Oh gee thanks.” he grabbed Eddie’s curls and messed them with his hair. Eddie smacked back weakly and laughed.

“What I mean is- you’re not just SOME guy, ya know? You’re Steve. You’re HER Steve. Hell, you’re my Steve too at this point.”

“Your Steve?” he asked raising his head to look at Eddie.

“Yeah man, we’re friends. You know that right?” Eddie teased. “You’re our guy. She loves you to bits. So do I ya big lug.” he punched his arm lightly and Steve blushed. “I know you’ve got her best interests at heart. You’d not gonna do anything you’re not supposed to. You can look. I mean hell, you had her before I did.” Eddie held his stomach and laughed at the memory.

“I did didn’t I?” Steve’s shoulder shook remembering the messy drunk night. “But she’s yours, man.”

“Yeah.” He sighed happily.

“I just kissed her. You get to marry her.” Steve wiggled his brows with a wholesome tease.

“I’m gonna ya know.” Eddie turned his face back towards his friends, his curls a nest around his pale face.

“For real?” Steve took the joint from Eddie, a soft smile on his face.

“Yeah. Got a ring and everything.”

“Shit man,” Steve mumbled with the joint between his lips. “I would’ve helped you out, I know a little about jewelry.”

“It was my mom's. But very sweet of you to offer babe.” he winked and pinched Steve’s cheek. He simply laughed out smoke and blew it in Eddie’s face.

“That’s better anyway. She’ll love something old like that.”

“I think she will.”

“You know when you’re gonna do it?” Eddie pinched the last of the roach between his fingertips.

“I don’t know.” he shrugged. “Didn’t have a plan yet. I knew it’d be after we graduated but as I do with most things-” he took in a deep breath. “I figured I’d know when it was the right time.”

“You should plan it. She’d love that. Hey! I can help!” he said excitedly, his hand on Eddie’s thigh mindlessly. It was nice to be able to touch another man and not feel awkward about it. Steve needed more comfort between other guys his age. He’d never really had a genuine connection with another guy before. Maybe that’s why he was so fond of Eddie. He was always unapologetically him.

“Well I was kinda thinking I might-” Eddie has the breath knocked out of him as Star plops into his lap.

“Guess mine is not the first heart broken!” she sang, head leaned back and shaking, mic held up dramatically as they’d already moved into another song. Her feet kicked into Steve’s lap who started giggling, it was hard not to follow Steve’s high-pitched laugh with his own deeper one. So Eddie fell into stoned laughter, Star straddling him and singing far too loudly and harshly into his face. He held his hands to her bare thighs, gentle mindless strokes and she grazed her nose to his the most content dopey smile on his face. She slapped his chest and threw her head back near squalling. “BUT. NOW. THERE’S NOOOO WHERE TO HIIIDE!” she bent far backward and into the floor. Steve swore and pushed the coffee table out of the way with his feet but Star didn’t miss a word as Eddie leaned on his side crying laughing as her feet had gone over her head as she crumple to the floor. “I’m out of my head!” she laughed, no longer singing but jumping back up to her knees and crawling toward Steve now. He held his hands out to stop her but she plopped into his lap. Robin was leaning over the karaoke monitor laughing and holding her side, the mic booming “My head is saying “Foooool forget him!” she crooned again, back to singing, running her hand through his hair as he shuddered. He had the dumbest smirk on his face as she pouted her lips and sang to him, nose to nose until he remembered who he was sitting next to. He stiffened, looking at her with wide eyes then shooting his head to the partner of the woman in his lap. He didn’t what he expected, but Eddie moving to his knees wasn’t it. A hand to his chest dramatically. “Hold onto the end-”

“...that’s what I intend to do!” his voice scratched out. Eddie knew the words, he’d watched Grease with Star plenty. “I’m hopelessly devoted to you.” he cupped Steve’s cheek.

“Not you too!” Steve shouted and tried to squirm but laughs overtook him as Robins's voice played over the speaker joining in for the chorus. “Noooo!” he screamed, not drowning out the mic volume as they belted at him at varied pitches and keys.

“Hopelessly devoted to youuuu.” she giggled, as drunk as Star as she piled over the arm of the arm and onto Steve. They all fell into his lap, Eddie’s arm around him, nose nuzzling into his cheek as Robin took the other. Star held his chin and serenaded him, thankfully for his ears, hitting the last high note.

The song went into the next in line, bass plucking as they all laughed. Star hopped up as Robin slid down the side of the couch.

“I got chiiiills. They’re multiplying!” she hopped with impressive speed, her shoulders and hips moving the beat, pointing to Eddie as he played along, drunk and stoned enough to not give a shit around his older friends. He bobbed and approached her, they wrapped up in each other, her walking him with a hand stretched out across the room, mimicking the movie.

“Did I hit my head in the pool and this is all a hallucination?” Steve laughed, rubbing his eyes as Robin raised clumsily from the floor.

“Eddie Munson singing a Grease duet.” Robin said with a tilt of her head. “Well…if you hit your head so did I.” she shrugged. “I mean… makes sense he’d be a musical nerd too.” she said distracted by the couple's antics.

“You better shape up!” Steve hopped up startling Robin to stumble who he grabbed up much to her dismay as she screeched and shouted, dragging her in waltzing circles across his living room.

“It’s like Invasion of the Body Snatchers around here! Who are you guys?” Robin laughed, jostled by Steve’s strong arms.

“Loosen up Rob!” Steve shouted, twirling her.

“Ooh, ooh, honey.” She sang and giggled, joining in. They bopped, Eddie and Star were far more intimate than Steve and Robin who were doing some sort of jig as they sang to each other, arms around each other.

“You’re the one that I want!” Star tore away from Eddie who pouted, snatching up Robin as they put their arms around each other's shoulders and sang to one another. Eddie pointed at Steve and then himself. Steve shrugged and jumped over the low coffee table to Eddie who laced their fingers together and kicked their feet at each other. They missed a lot, stumbling when they’d kick each other's shins and shout “OW!” in the other's face with their red eyes shut with laughter. Eventually, they knocked the other's knees out and fell to the floor collapsing into a heap and gasping for breath.

“I guess maybe they didn’t need us to have a good time.” Dustin snorted, watching the scene unfold with GREAT amusement as the rest of the crew entered behind with varying looks of horror and humor.

“Oh hey!” Steve said pointing clumsily at the group standing in his foyer. “It’s you guys!” he shouted and clapped.

“He’s so high.” Jonathan laughed and covered his mouth to hide it.

“Everyone ended up together after our families headed out so we figured we’d come to hang with you guys.”

“More like come party with them.” Lucas chuckled.

“More like be nerds with them.” Mike snorted. “Grease Eddie? Really?”

“I am not immune to a love story about a rebel that wears leather jackets, what can I say? Turns out I’m a human!” he slapped his chest and let out a laugh. “Also when your girlfriend makes you watch it with you get used to it.” he grinned.

“He never complained about having to watch it because after as a reward I’d-” Eddie scrambled over to her and clapped his hand over her mouth, the older peers in the group laughing.

“Someone’s been drinking.” Steve ran his hands through his hair and gave an awkward smile.

“Yeah. All of you.” Nancy smirked and crossed her arms.

“Ya got me, Nance.” Steve put a hand on his chest. “How about those old enough join us and those who aren’t there’s still pizza in the kitchen!”

“PIIZZAAA!” the younger screamed and stampeded away.

“So… karaoke anyone?” Robin grinned and held out the mic.

-

The party morphed into something less intimate but still fun and close all the same. The pool got used again, another round of swimming, the water warm from the sun, the pool lights making a lovely chill setting to round out the night. Steve who sobered up with the excess company grabbed his camera again and began capturing the group all together again. With new faces this time around. Huddled in dragged dining room chairs onto the patio and piled onto lounge chairs everyone sat around a small fire pit and talked. Everyone caught up, or introduced, the conversation carried on for hours easily. Stories were swapped, backstories shared and new connections made. It was a satisfying conclusion for the party. But Star had a different ending in mind. Back in Eddie’s shirt but now wet in key spots from her swimsuit, she tugged his hand to join her as she stood.

“You good?” Steve piped up to check on them.

“Yeah, gonna go smoke and wind down together for a bit.”

“Don’t have sex in my bed please.” Steve asked with clasped hands. A laugh moved through the group.

“Not without you baby.” Eddie puckered his lips at Steve garnering another laugh.

“Appreciate it.” Steve shook his head but a wholesome smile sat on his face as he phased back into the group's conversation.

The inside of Steve’s house was warm and silent. The fireplace going and the almost entirely glass wall separating the interior and exterior closed. Eddie followed Star with no question as to where they were going at first, her holding his hand, dragged along behind him, both padding quietly up the stairs until Eddie’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Are we gonna have sex in Steve’s bed?” he asked earnestly. Star couldn’t help but let out a loud laugh.

“No, babe, we’re not.”

“Cause we’re heading to his room right now.” he said in defense of his question.

“We're going to the balcony.”

“Ohhh.” a slow nod as Eddie’s damp hair, just dry enough for his curls to bounce as he clumsily drug his feet behind his girlfriend.

They left the sliding door cracked to let some of the warmth from inside the house seep out onto the small balcony. It was just big enough to hold two chairs and a small table. An ashtray sat on the glass table half full, telling a story to Star about steve sitting out here alone. She didn’t see any lipstick rings around the butts, knowing it was only Steve who’d put them there. She saw the sort of girl Steve took home, and all of them had been done up like dolls. She got a glimpse into Steve alone for a moment and felt like it deepened their connection.

Star gave Eddie her lighter and half-full pack of cigs, the other half with a dwindling amount of joints inside. The spark caught the attention of the group below, unknown to the couple, the group was trained to be observant from PTSD of their unspoken experiences together.

“It’s just Eddie.” Dustin grinned with a sloppy wave. He waved back, Steve joining in with a twinkle of his fingers and a smile.

“He’s so cute.” Eddie whispers, lighting Stars cigarette for her.

“Which one?”

“Hell, both.” Eddie chuckled. “Like two puppies. They light up when they see someone they like.”

“Makes you feel good doesn’t it?” Star exhaled a content sigh.

“It’s nice to feel wanted.” Eddie nodded, hand resting on the cold metal railing, the tops of trees blooming and rustling around the balcony acting as a shield to the rest of the woods. With the sun down it was growing cold, but not freezing. A waxing moon gave a little light to the Harrington backyard. Star slid against his side, warming his bare skin.

“Kinda how I look at you, huh?” She smiled, waving back to the group.

“Yeah.” Eddie sighed and kissed the top of her head. “But I look at you like that too ya know.”

“I do.” She nodded, cheek pressed to his skin. “God it’s nice to feel this good.” She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Eddie’s waist.

“Didn’t think it was possible.”

“Me either.” She held tight to him as she looked up to find him watching her serene face. “I get to see your gorgeous face smile at me when I walk into a room and it makes me feel like a god.” She smiled softly.

“Gorgeous hmm?” He smirked and took a drag. “Glad you think so… since you’ve got to look at this mug for the rest of your life.” He grinned, sharing a chuckle with her.

“Gladly.” She tip-toed up to kiss him. They share a beat of silence in each other arms, getting their buzz from the cigarettes and calming down.

“What’d you wanna come up here for anyway baby?” He breaks the quiet between them, the conversation downstairs a pleasant muttering.

“We hadn’t had time alone after graduation.” She slightly pulled away. “I wanted to talk. Smoke together. Just us.”

“You feeling needy?” He asked genuinely, not patronizing her.

“Maybe a little but not really.” She smiled and stepped away to move to the chair next to them a few feet from the edge of the balcony. He took a seat without question. She piled into his lap, feet over the edge of the chair arm, and snuggled into him. With an arm around each other, they settled, her fixing a few arrant curls as he enjoyed the feeling of being fussed on with closed eyes. “Today's been so good. Almost perfect really.” He nodded, leaning into her touch.

“Almost?”

“There’s still some night left.” She smiled as he fluttered open his eyes to see her softly lit by the moon. She looked like she was born to be kissed by moonlight and thanked by mortals for the opportunity to gaze upon her. Her bare legs were goosebumped, earning long, slow warming strokes from Eddie’s hands.

“There is.” He nodded as he stroked her. “What can I do to make it a perfect day? Because it’s been pretty damn perfect to me.”

“Yeah?” She said softly, fingers on his chest to pull an explanation from him.

“I graduated. I did what I said I would and flipped Higgins the bird and ran the hell out of there. I’ve been saying it for years now. And I did it.” His pride made his pale face glow.

“You did.” She leaned in to kiss him something wholesome and soft.

“And I got to do it with you. Now all of Hawkins knows you’re mine.”

“I don’t think they’ll forget it anytime soon.” She quietly laughed. “You put on quite the show.”

“Gotta give the people what they want.”

“It was perfect.” She sighed and kissed him again, not straying far from his lightly chapped lips as her fingers stroked his cheek. “We had our people there. We did it together. You made me feel special.”

“Good.” He kissed the bulb of her nose. “I wanted to. I know you’re a fan of my showmanship.”

“I am. I love it. I love you.” She kissed his cheek and he felt the warmth from the fire she kept burning in his chest. Her affection fueled and her touch stoked it. His hand raises slowly to wrap around her own on his chest. They were cozily wrapped around each other, the party downstairs another world separate from their own.

“I love you too,” he says with lowered, brows, leaning his head down to kiss her knuckles. “You okay?” he hovering his lips over her shifting fingertips. “Those pretty eyes are looking a little far away.” he gave her a soft smile that she returned.

“I’m fine. I’m great really. Today’s been a lot. Emotionally, ya know?” He nodded, giving her time to get out her thoughts as she stared at the star on his chest. “With it finally being here and now it’s over it's made me think a lot.”

“What about?” he gently coaxed her with an amiable, gentle vibrato in his voice keeping quiet between them even though they couldn’t be heard from downstairs.

“Us.” she answered quickly with the raise of her brows, a tiny nervous nod. “The future…” she shrugged the word out with puckered lips. “Our future. Together.” she swung her wide eyes up to meet his.

“I’m feeling good about it. Is something wrong?”

“No!” she squeaked out and giggled at herself, easing his worry. “I feel amazing about it, Eddie. I do.” she leaned in for a peck.

“Good.” he gave a nod in the affirmative and bumped his forehead to her jaw.

“I know you hadn’t wanted to talk about what we’d do after graduation until it happened. Since it’s happened... I wanted to talk about it. If that’s okay with you.”

“That was my rule.” he smiled at her worrying away at her bottom lip with her teeth, curious as to what was spinning around that lovely brain of hers behind her mossy eyes that were fixated on him. “You’ve mentioned it a few times.” He side-eyed her with friendly eyes. Before she could get the apology out of her mouth he continued with a knuckle to her jaw. “You’ve been patient. I appreciate it.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I know it’s not been easy for you. Worrying about the future is basically a hobby for you.” He put his hand on her stomach to reinforce his words.

“I like to have plans. Know that we’re on the same page. Especially when it comes to us. It’s only the most important thing in my life.” She let out a tiny huff of a laugh as he snugged her in close with his arm, putting her body as close to his as he could.

“You know how to make a man feel special.” He gave her a charismatic smile, soft and teasing in a way only reserved for her. “What’s been on that pretty mind baby?” He asks quietly, tapping her temple gently.

“Bad news first right?” She grimaced.

“Always.” His face fell more somber.

“You remember the whole art scholarship thing?”

“Oh shit, yeah did you ever-?” He pauses with an open mouth of realization.

“I didn’t get it.” She looked down as if she were ashamed of the news.

“Hey, that’s okay!” He raised her face with his chin. “Wasn’t meant to be then, was it? “

“You’re using my words against me.” She smiled.

“Because they’re very smart words.” He nodded firmly. “When’d you find out?”

“Oh... months ago.”

“MONTHS?” He said loudly in surprise, she giggled and put her fingers over his mouth to shush him from the likely nosy crowd below. “You didn’t tell me? For months?” Something almost like anger passes his face, then sadness.

“I got the letter when we were fighting. “ she said as of that made sense.

“Baby that’s no excuse. I’m so sorry. You must’ve been so upset. And I wasn’t there.” He frowns and looks out into the tree line. A bite of guilt in his stomach.

“I was a little embarrassed at first yeah but…” she groaned and shrugged. “It's good it happened when everything went wrong because I couldn’t get MORE upset at the time.” She laughed but he didn’t. “It’s okay. I thought it over. A lot. Like you said, it wasn’t meant to be.”

“Every time I remember what an asshole I was I get mad at myself all over again.” He grumbled. She turned his face to her with light fingers.

“We’re together now though. That’s what matters. And we’re staying together. There’s no college in Chicago to worry about now. Nothing to split us up. No long-distance bullshit or hours-long drives back and forth. We can stay together now. That’s good!” She promised with excited eyes.

“That would suck.” He whispered with realization. “Man I don’t know if I could even live without you around anymore. Even a few hours away? It makes me wanna die just thinking about it.”

“We don’t have to now!” She bounced slightly on his lean thighs. “That’s why it’s good.” She nodded until he joined her reluctantly. “Besides. I don’t think I’m cut out for college anyway.”

“Oh?” He was more surprised than she expected.

“Yeah, I hate school. The whole academia thing. Tests and papers and shit that has nothing to do with me putting paint on canvas. And it’s so much goddamn money.” She groaned.

“Baby you’re one of the smartest people I know you could if you wanted to you know that right?” She gave him warmth from the way she sighed and kissed him.

“Even though it would mean us possibly having to be far apart. And you just admitted that it made you wanna die.” She chuckled. “You’re still supporting it?”

“Support is a strong word.” He looked around and cracked a smile. “Grin and bear it? Yes. If it’s what you wanted. I want what you want. Who am I to hold you back from your dreams? I hold you back enough just existing.” He let tumble out of his mouth like he hadn’t meant to be so honest.

“You help me every single day Eddie. Every second you’re around is better just because you exist. Don’t ever think you do anything but make my life better.” She held him by the chin with insistence. “I don’t want to hear any of that nonsense from you.” She kissed his pouted lips. “You make the world better by being in it. Anyone that says differently is a liar.” She sounded so sure it made it hard not to believe her.

“Alright, baby.” He simply, softly agreed. “I’m sorry. I won’t.”

“Since we’ve not had our deep future talks lately I’ve not gotten to remind you how special you are.” She stroked back his hair, looking down at his dark eyes with a sliver of reflected moonlight in them. “Or remind you how much I love you. How important- nay vital to my future you are.” She said with a spark of drama that made Eddie laugh.

“I do love to hear it.” He shut his eyes and hummed as her warm palms touched his clammy skin.

“Good thing I brought it up.” She kissed the tip of his nose. “I wanted to talk about our summer plans.”

“Oh! Well, I have good news on that topic.” He perked up.

“Good news second yes.” She nodded and intently leaned in to listen.

“You are looking at an employed high school graduate.” He puffed out his chest and straightened an imaginary tie.

“You found a job!” She said loudly and he got to take a turn shushing her.”

“I did. At the shop where you painted the van actually.”

“Seriously? You know so much about cars I didn’t even think about you being a mechanic. That makes total sense.” She hit her forehead with her palm.

“They saw the work I did on the van. Some of that poverty forced ingenuity.” He chuckled. “Wayne told them that was all me and asked if they needed someone.”

“Wayne coming in for his baby boy once again.”

“Father of the year.” Eddie grinned.

“That’s such a relief. We can save up even quicker now!”

“You keep saying that. What exactly are we saving up for?” Star blinked at him as if she didn’t understand him.

“To get us out of here.” She said with a laugh.

“Shit.” He said with raised brows, eyes leaving hers again and turning far away.

“Isn’t that what you wanted? To pursue your music? You can’t really do that here. You need to be in a real city where people are that make those decisions.”

“No, no, you’re totally right babe. You are, I just…” he looked down and shook his head, an odd amused expression coming across his face.

“What?” Her voice came out so small and scared Eddie turned his attention back to her and squeezed her tight

“Honestly? I never thought I’d get out of here.” He admitted openly.

“What do you mean?” She cooed and touched his cheek.

“Part of the Munson curse I suppose. Big plans when you’re young and then life kicks you in the nuts and doesn’t stop until your dreams are dead and so are you.” She blinked rapidly and looked a bit repulsed, “Okay that’s… harsh but I mean my people don’t get what they want. They don’t get good jobs or good relationships and they can’t seem to make enough good decisions to make a difference. It’s the poverty cycle. Sure I’ve had the dream to get out and make something of myself but guess how else did? My dad. Mom. Wayne.” He let out a tired sigh. “Mom almost got us out. She did.” He nodded. “But life proved too hard for her.” He spoke softly about his mother always.

“She tried to get you out too?”

“Yeah away from my dad. Start a new life somewhere. That pipe dream.”

“Maybe we can pick up where she left off?” Star offered. “She got close right? There’s two of us, we make good decisions, we’ve got good friends. We aren’t them. We can do it together. It can happen! No. It will happen.” Her confidence was contagious. The things he’d been told his whole life weighed heavy to keep his optimism down. But when she held his face and promised him the world it was damn hard to not believe her. “We both have real jobs. Tax-paying jobs that won’t get us in trouble. We can save and stay where we are. We can do this.”

“You really believe that don’t you?”

“I do. I mean… who else better to break a curse than a witch?” She joked but Eddie felt the sentiment settle into his chest. He took a deep breath, and his time looking over her face.

“I know people say it all the time but I really, honest to god, don’t know what I’d do without you.” Her chest faltered, and her throat lumped as she swallowed down a rush of tears fighting their way up.

“You don’t have to wonder what you'd do because you’ve got me, Eddie. Forever. I mean that.” They spoke in hushed whispers to keep their holy promises to each other light in the night. There was no heaviness to their love. “I know people say that too.” She broke the tension and nuzzled his nose with hers, he kissed her knuckles slowly as she spoke words he never thought he’d hear from another person. “But I plan to.” She said, her stomach fluttering. “It’s a plan I wanted to talk to you about actually.” He heard her voice waver and looked up to give her his undivided attention. “There’s so much I want to say and I don’t know where to even start. I love you. That’s good.” She laughed at herself and he joined in.

“Great start.” He agreed and pushed her hair back from her face to watch her closely.

“There’s… you know…” she huffed out in frustration but a smile remained on her face. She let her mind go, her eyes closing and letting her chest and throat crack open. “All the things I’ve ever heard about love, on tv and in movies and books and from people who I thought were crazy for saying such cliche, corny, cheesy, predictable things… they’re all true.” She dig deep to find the courage to squeeze his hand, looking into his eyes to find them as soft as they ever had been. “But I find myself wanting to keep every last one of those cliches and recite them to you. Like it was the first time either of us had heard them. I could read you a book so big I couldn’t lift it full of those things and I would mean every last one of them. You complete me. I’d rather die than live without you. Our souls are made from the same stardust. We are that one in a million." her face gave over to it now, her tongue letting free everything she'd been mulling over in her head. "Love like this is not supposed to exist. But yet it does. Against all odds. And it’s fucking terrifying. But you know what’s scarier? The chance that I miss out on the greatest love I've ever known because I’m scared. Because I’m worried I’m moving too fast. I wanna risk it. I’m willing to put all my chips on you, Eddie. I’ll bet the whole fuckin' farm on us, Munson. And I am willing to be wrong. I am willing to try based on that single negligible percentage of a chance that this ends with us getting everything we ever wanted.” Her confidence was free with every word that left her mouth. Her voice rose and her posture straightened, hands to Eddie’s chest as she let her heart do all the talking.

Eddie's eyes grew as wide as she’d ever seen them, a tear escaped down his cheek as she spoke with conviction from her soul, throat cracking with emotion as she delivered the most precious gifts to him so willingly.

“What I’m trying to say is… my plan…” she took a quick breath in. “I want to marry you, Eddie.” She felt his hands squeeze hers back but it didn’t deter her, only egged her on. “And I don’t mean in some philosophical someday way where it floats around and doesn’t have a date or a plan where you're waiting for the right time and then time passes then some more and suddenly it’s been years and it’s still not “the right time”.” She did finger quotes and rolled her eyes at the frustration of the idea. “I want to marry you now. Soon. I want to do it in a place we both call home with all the people we love around us. I don’t want to wait to be yours. Because this is right. I want everyone to know we belong to each other. I want you to know I'm yours with no doubt. Not just have it whispered between us when we’re alone at night. I’m ready for our lives to start together.” She was out of breath, chest heaving as she bombarded him with her demands. She blinked as if she’d just come out of a trance, brows shifting as she looked around.

She was startled when he sat up, eyes racing around the space. He kept his hands to her and stood, looking down at the party. The only indication he gave that he heard her at all was holding up a single finger as if to tell her to wait. Star stood bewildered, feeling as if she were naked in a snowstorm. At least emotionally. When Eddie threw his leg over the railing she screeched.

“Eddie! What are-?! Babe!” She kept to the railing only for him to already be on the other side.

Unknown to them they’d been holding the party's rapt attention, Steve had his camera out, a shakily zoomed-in shot of Star's loud voice confessing her undying love for Eddie that ended in a marriage proposal. So no one expected him to crawl over the balcony.

“Oh my god.” Nancy said with a hand to her mouth.

“Did she just propose?” Jonathan asked quietly. “And now he’s jumping off the balcony?” He looked around for clarification.

“MUNSON WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?” Steve shouted setting the camera on a chair but not shutting it off in the cold fear that struck through him

“MY JEANS!” Eddie shouted, pointing before reaching out to the ivy-covered downspout on the house.

“WHAT??!!” Everyone screamed in unison.

“I NEED MY JEANS!” He said as if they were the ones acting erratic in this situation.

“WHAT THE HELL MAN?? Have you heard of stairs? Jesus Christ!” Steve said with arms out at the foot of the spout as Eddie monkeyed his way with his tongue out of his mouth in concentration. The younger kids were crying laughing. This was the most chaotic thing they’d ever witnessed.

Eddie jumped off the side of the house a few feet from the ground and Star lets out a loud groan of equal relief and frustration. Her hands to her hair she’s left thinking her possibly former boyfriend was trying to kill himself after she proposed and now she’s left with pure unfiltered confusion at what he was doing next.

“Hey guys.” Eddie says so casually with a nod, snatching his jeans from a pile next to a chair.

Loud questions are shouted at him but he ignored everyone one of them, pulling something out of his pocket and jogging back to the downspout.

“You can’t just climb on the pipes Eddie!” Steve shouted with a squeak to his voice as his closest male friend his age made him reconsider giving him that title.

“I got it!” He said proudly, undeterred by the chaos ensuing around him by his actions. Star grasped at him haphazardly to pull him over the railing. Both panting for different reasons she was left with a horrified expression and he wore an opposing grin that spread across his entire face. “Star…” he said before stopping to catch his breath and getting to one knee.

“Oh shit!” Steve hissed with realization as he nearly falls running to get the camera and shush everyone behind them.

“I told you once that I was willing to be as crazy as you were. And I believe this is a good example of that.” He started laughing and so did she, his hand outstretched to take hers. “I would be honored… blessed… gifted to make that promise to you sanctioned by the United States government.” Star cackled, her head thrown back before returning her gaze to him, wiping happy tears away. “Star Reynolds. Light of my life. Queen of my Realm. Goddess whom I worship at the altar of….” He held out the small ring of his mothers he’d not even gotten to keep to himself for 24 hours. It was never meant to stay with him, he realized. It was in just as much of a hurry to be on her finger as she was. “I would be the happiest man alive or dead if you would accept this humble Munson heirloom as a material representation of our mythical love and be my wife.”

There was no waiting. Not even for a second. She slipped her finger in the ring and felt the blessing of their union from his mother with it. She’d even ensured it fit her finger perfectly. Another small serendipitous happenstance only strengthened their belief that their love was meant to be.

“Yes!” She cried with sobs of joy. She lept into his arms much to the horror of everyone before, afraid they’d topple over the railing.

She held onto him with legs around his waist and arms around his neck as she kissed loudly all over his face. He carried her down the stairs that way. So similar to how he’d carried her drunken self down with Steve all those months ago. She held to him and kissed him just the same. Robin opened the patio door to let them through as Eddie wasn’t going to let her out of his arms.

“Guess who’s getting married mother fuckers!” Eddie shouted at the top of his lungs and Star joined with a squeal. The whole group cheered, Steve shed a tear at the sentimentality of it all.

Another prized possession of theirs was created. Jonathan with his camera always close snapped Star with her hand out in the arms of her love as they both beamed so bright he was surprised it didn’t distort the photo. Years later it would be blown up to fit a giant canvas. It would line the hallway wall to their bedroom. A centerpiece of a gallery wall full of memories of the life they’d created together.

----

This is the end of the main part of the story. I hope to write more as it comes to me with one shots about moments later in their life. It's been heavily requested already but I have no schedule as to when they would be started. I hope you enjoyed these two as much as I did. I'm very sad to see them go. I don't know what I'm going to do to fill my time now. Thanks to everyone who followed and commented, it kept me going and the validation fuels me to keep writing.

Tag List

@kik51199 @banannie255 @paracetamollvrr @honeyshifts @simonsbluee @suspirian @likeficsinthewnd @hollyismentallyillhelp  @eddiesgoodgirl @ouuwitchywomanan @michaelfuckinglangdongdon  @hannahdinse88 @thikkiesixx @idyllicbutterfly @lonesome-doveee @kaelyn-lobrutto24 @eriseffigy @kriffingstars  @psychedelephantt @laurathefahrradsattelltel @munsinss @secularlunarsorceressss @angelofthorrr @eddiemunsonsbedroomm @justiceiswater @unnecesarysstuff @divadinag @boomhauer @br0ck-eddiee  @fridamoss @nitafromtheshadows @sammararaven  @bambipowerblueadditionaddtion @trixyvixx @bimbobaggins69 @sillypurplemurplee @sunnyhoney420 @sugar-bears-smile @hellfires-harlotot @eddiemunson95 @savannahlynnes @orginalstar1

#eddie munson #eddie munson x oc #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x female oc #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fem!reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson x f!oc #eddie munson x f!reader #eddie munson x female original character #eddie munson fix it fic #eddie munson fic #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson au #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson smut #eddie munson stranger things #eddie munson fan fiction #eddie munson fan fic #eddie munson ff #stranger things #stranger things s4 #stranger things au #stranger things fan fic

[heroofshield]

Whumpcember Day 13- Restraints (MCU Clintasha)

Warnings: restrained against will, implied torture

@whumpcember

--

Clint Barton pulled against the restraints that were holding him to the wall. The chains rattled and pulled taught but held, the metal biting into his skin- turning it red and irritated. After a minute or so, he'd started to really lose track of time after the first day, Clint gave up and relaxed his arms slumping against the metal wall.

"So much for the cavalry showing up." he thought, blowing out a breath and wondering if his locator chip was working; Medical had sworn up and down that the subcutaneous RFID chip would tell SHIELD where he was when in the field.

That is, if he wasn't below ground. And if the check-in window had passed with more than enough time for Coulson to be concerned. "I wonder if Natasha's already started looking for a new partner." he wondered while brushing a stray spiderweb out of his face.

They hadn't been partnered long, only a year, and this was one of the few solo missions that he'd been assigned during that time as well. Bringing in the infamous Black Widow from the Red Room had earned him a stint on Fury's Shit List and it had seemed that he'd finally worked his way off it when the Director had given him the covert assassination job.

That had been after he'd taken a step into a former Soviet Bloc country and a black hood had been slapped onto his head, then shoved into what he assumed was a van.

His captors hadn't said much, only shoving him down some stairs and into the room he was currently in; but it was only a matter of time until they they started the interrogation.

Almost as if they'd heard his thoughts, the sound of metal doors clanking open and footsteps nearing told Clint that anyone else was still in the building. Standing as the door opened, Clint raised an eyebrow at the metal chairs that were brought in. "We finally getting to have that one-on-one I've been promised?" he asked, letting the trademark Barton smirk appear.

"Sit." grunted who Clint had dubbed as Bratva One.

"Or what?"

"Or we do this the hard way."

Clint shrugged, not wanting to make it that easy on them. "What about these chains? No offense but you still haven't brought me that diet coke I asked for. Gotta have my caffeine in the morning if you want a coherent thought."

Bratva One just scowled and folded his arms.

"Strong and silent huh? Watch a lot of Batman when you were little? Michael Keaton was pretty good, I'll admit. But nothing beats the Adam-" Clint cut off as Bratva Two grabbed him by the shoulders, pushing him forwards so that his knees hit the metal chair and he hissed in pain.

Not waiting for Clint to sit of his own accord, Bratva Two roughly shoved him into the chair, his chains rattling through out it all.

"Where is Black Widow?" One asked, not waiting time and looking Clint straight in the eye.

"Have you checked the attic? Because I know that spiders like cool, dry-"

"We've seen you with her." Bratva Two interrupted. "The Black Widow will fetch a high price among Russia's leaders and let us back into the country."

"Ooooohhhh, so that's what this is about." Clint laughed shaking his head. "Sorry guys but you're not gonna get that outta me."

"Then we do this the hard way." Bratva Two cracked his knuckles and Clint winced at the sound.

"You really shouldn't do that y'know, gives you arthritis." the last word left Clint abruptly when Two landed a solid punch in Clint's stomach and his breath escaped him in a rush.

--

Groggily opening his eyes, it took a minute for Clint to remember where he was and what had happened.

Clint laying on the floor, his body aching, the restraints around his wrist leaving a bloody smear.

Bratva One opening the door for another round.

The sound of something hitting the floor and belatedly Clint realizing it was a flash bang, barely curling inwardly to protect his head in time.

Red hair filling his vision before everything finally went black.

"About time you woke up. I was starting to think you were doing it on purpose."

Clint swung his gaze to the voice had come from, seeing Natasha sitting in the chair off to the side. "You know me, I'm always one for sleeping in if I get the chance."

"Just don't make a habit of it, otherwise Fury might not send you on any more field trips."

Clint let out a snort, but even that caused him to wince in pain. "Jesus, you think that using lead pipes would have gone out of fashion."

"Not with former GRU operatives."

Clint made a face as his wrists let out a spasm of pain and he glanced down to see them bandaged in a gauze and medical tape. "GRU huh? At least that explains why they wanted back in Russia so bad."

"Listen-"

"I wasn't gonna hand you over. Which is why they decided to take Tonya Harding as a role model and try to make me Nancy Carrigan."

"I didn't think you would." Natasha replied, shifting slightly and licking her lips. "You were the one to make a different call and bring me in. You wouldn't go to all that trouble just to sell me out to some third-tier operatives."

"Thanks. I think. I'm assuming that was a compliment."

Natasha let a smile ghost across her face as she watched Clint fight the painkillers. "It is. We'll talk once you're more coherent."

"Sounds...like a...plan." Clint closed his eyes and started to drift off once again. But not before thinking that he was glad he'd brought Natasha into SHIELD and his life.

#whumpcember2023 #mcu #clint barton #natasha romanov #fanfic #my writing

[alblondo23]

(slight tweak of the timeline, and inspired by Oscar posting hoodies on his insta, because that boy somehow knew, I swear)

Logan didn't want to wake Oscar. He knew the week had been exhausting for him, even before he got to the race; adoring media begging for interviews, adoring fans begging for autographs, pictures, hugs. Daniel had tried to lift some of the burden from Oscar's shoulders - "Mark did the same for me, when I was a rookie, so it's the least I can do for him," he had told Logan (and Logan idly wondered, why had Daniel told him this?) - but there was only so much he could do, without racing himself.

And so now Oscar was asleep, half-curled, half-sprawled on his hotel room bed in that position that screamed "I only meant to lie down for a moment", and Logan couldn't bear to wake his friend.

His friend. Only a friend.

But Oscar -

- Oscar was wearing his hoodie.

That darned Williams Australia hoodie that Oscar had spent all week teasing Logan about, Oscar was wearing it, snuggled down into it against the coolness of the evening, his face turned into the side of the hood, a tiny smile quirked at the corners of his mouth. The hoodie was long on him, the waistband brushing his thighs - thighs that Logan definitely wasn't thinking about any kind of weird way, of course - but Oscar, being heavier, filled it out better, the fabric taut across his shoulders and hips.

Logan didn't want to wake Oscar, but despite the stereotype of Australia being warm, Melbourne in early April was cool, winter beginning to creep around the edges.

At the last moment, Logan spotted the dark shape of a hoodie on Oscar's desk chair, and snatched it up. It was too short on him, the sleeves leaving his wrists bare at the cuffs, but it did the job. Logan sat on the bed for a moment, fiddling with the cuffs. Oscar's bed was so soft, Logan thought he might just lie down next to him for a moment...

~

Oscar woke with the sun the next morning, largely because he had forgotten to pull the curtains, and was greeted with the surprising sight of Logan, sprawled out on the bed next to him, dead to the world asleep.

Wearing his hoodie.

Oscar had pinched Logan's, the night before, as part of the game of teasing his friend - his friend, not anything more - and had accidentally fallen asleep in it; for some reason, it had felt like one of Logan's hugs, and smelled like him too.

But he hadn't expected Logan to steal Oscar's hoodie back.

He couldn't stop staring.

His only coherent thought, for a long while, was that Logan should wear more green. Not the obnoxious British Racing Green of Aston, but that lovely dark emerald of Oscar's things. It highlighted his skin, made him look glowing and lovely and -

- nice. It made his friend look nice.

But there was something about seeing Logan lying there with Oscar's branding on him, Oscar's initials, the outline of Oscar's home track, that made something possessive and only half-acknowledged purr in his chest.

Too late, Oscar realised Logan's eyes were open. Open, their brilliant blue dancing and sparking and brightened by the green contrast -

~

Logan was dreaming. He must still be asleep. That was the only explanation for Oscar hovering above him, his cheeks pink with a blush, his eyes fixed on Logan, still wearing that hoodie.

Well, if it was a dream, then Logan would let himself have what he had barely recognised while waking.

~

It was only when their lips met that Oscar thought, oh god, I'm a moron.

~

It was only when Oscar sighed Logan's name against his mouth that Logan realised, this is really happening.

And soon enough, both hoodies were on the floor.

I had to take a day and think on this because it's just soo good!! When I saw Oscar's post about the hoodies, I was going to post something, but then I saw this! I've reread it so many times trying to collect my thoughts I won't lie.

First off, Daniel seeing what's between Logan and Oscar and knowing that Logan will be there for Oscar to support him! He told you that because he knows Logan. He knows. (Max and Lando definitely had been updating him on the gossip. Max mostly to make Daniel see how much he misses racing and come back. To the sport of course not just to Max ;) Lando does it so he can find an ally in teasing Oscar)

Logan not even realizing that it's Oscar's hoodie only for Oscar to go absolutely wild for it when he wakes up is perfect. Logan is all heart eyes and some dirty thoughts while Oscar's out here going he looks best in My colors, My initials, and My clothes.

Oscar originally only stole Logan's hoodies to feel close to him. Now Oscar steals all of Logan's clothes so that Logan can only wear Oscar's things. Seems fair to him!

Now onto the kiss! The kiss is everything! I've said it before and I'll say it again, these two have such intense mutual pining vibes! They'd only get together when something finally broke as one of them finally thought screw it and reached out. Logan reaching out because he thinks it's a dream is perfect! The hoodies both landing on the floor made me laugh because it's the best fade to black.

After this all happens, Oscar definitely tells Logan that he looks amazing in green, for purely unselfish reasons of course! His plan works perfectly because Logan doesn't own much green and wears (a larger version of) Oscar's hoodie as he slowly brings green into his wardrobe. Everything is perfect! Until Logan actually wears non Oscar branded green in public and gets photographed! Oscar has to then realize that Logan looking beautiful in green in public turns that half-acknowledged purr in his chest into a howl as suddenly everyone is commenting about how pretty Logan looks. Suddenly every pic that appears online of Logan wearing green (because he likes when Oscar calls him beautiful or says it compliments his eyes so he wears green a lot now) there's Oscar making very clear to the world that Logan is there with him.

Logan posts a picture of him in Oscar’s hoodie on Instagram laying in bed all rumpled after the fade to black, and Oscar immediately pulls him into a kiss because now he can kiss Logan whenever he wants. Oscar turning into a (non toxic) possessive mess because Logan wore his hoodie once is amazing for me.

#loscar #osclo #logan sargeant #oscar piastri #281 #asks #hoodie au #oscar/logan

[a-crumb-of-whump]

okay can we please get a drabble of ryker visiting carlos' bedroom for morning cuddles i think that is just the sweetest thing

Masterlist

For as long as he could remember Carlos had been a light sleeper. He assumed it’d come from always having to be prepared for the worst. When he lived with his owners, the sound of their footsteps creeping down the hallway was enough to startle him awake, and he’d spend hours afterwards waiting for the moment they opened his door or appeared in the hallway, even if it was plausible that it wasn’t happening. 

So when the door to his bedroom began to creep Its way open early one morning, Carlos was awake and watching, eyes flickering shut every now and again before forcing their way back open once more. At least here he knew he was safe enough to not have to wake up fully. 

“Carlos?” Ryker whispered as he peered through the crack in the door. Carlos could hear his feet shuffling nervously on the carpet in the hallway, along with his fingers fumbling aimlessly with the doorknob. “You awake?” 

Carlos hummed, letting his eyes fall shut once more as he slowly pushed himself onto his back. “‘s everythin’ okay?” 

“Yeah. It’s just- Adam doesn’t wanna wake up and I don’t wanna touch him without asking first, so I was wonderin’ if you were awake and if you wanted a hug. You know… ‘cause you like those.”

Both of them knew exactly what he was trying to say. Even in his half-asleep state, Carlos found himself smiling. Thanks to his enhanced night vision, he could easily see just how awkward Ryker looked standing there, doing his best to come up with an excuse that sounded plausible enough to get away with. 

So he decided to humour him, and with a toothy grin that showed off his fangs he lifted the covers as an invitation for the human to climb into bed with him. “I could do with a hug, yeah.” 

Without a second thought, Ryker squeezed through the gap and quietly shut the door again before practically diving under the covers with a noise that suggested he was happy to be where it was warm again. “You’re so lucky I can just tell when you need my hugs,” he teased, to which Carlos snorted and tucked him in tight beneath the warm covers of his bed. “I woke up and my immediate thought was ‘he needs me’.” 

He gave Ryker a few playfully condescending pets to the head as he shuffled closer. “Uh huh.” 

Before too long, Ryker’s entire body was pressed up against Carlos’ front; fingers gripping tightly at the back of his shirt to keep him from leaving. As the vampire lightly rubbed his back and talked to him, he realised just how much Ryker resembled a child in this moment. A small, innocent child who just wanted to be held and loved in the same way he loved others. 

With his face squished up against Carlos’ chest, he even sported the same childlike pout that he had as a nine year old, when he’d cling to him after a nightmare or a particularly bad day at school. The way he traced small, abstract patterns into the vampire’s back and mumbled on about things that were barely coherent to anyone other than himself - it all brought him back so many years. 

He found comfort in being able to enjoy some of his memories. So many of them were filled with violence, blood and everything he didn’t want to see again. 

But when he thought back to time spent with that little boy, all he could remember was good things. Good, comforting things. 

He thought that was one of the biggest blessings Ryker had given him. Memories he could cherish for the rest of his life.

#anb stuff #anb ask #ask #whump #whump stuff #recovery whump

[choibeomcute]

Txt when you’re drunk:

Yeonjun

he thinks it’s hilarious oh my goodness…at first he was worried because of how late it was for you to be out drinking

you were at an office party at a local bar with your coworkers and you had drank so much that you could barely carry a conversation without bursting out laughing

you and your favorite coworkers were singing karaoke and howling with laughter until about three in the morning

Yeonjun was supposed to pick you up when the party was over and he was waiting and waiting for you to call him

finally you called and he ran to his phone. “Baaaaaby…” you said half laughing half longing for him “you can get me now yes you can baby I love you baby” you said in a rush of words

“Okay sweetheart,” he said smiling to himself “I’m on my way. Stay inside with everyone, okay?” “Yes yes, daddy,” you said sloppily. “Daddy?” he asked trying to hold in a laugh. “Yes because you’re just like my dad worrying about me being out and..and such…such a worry worry…man…so worried” you rambled on as Yeonjun hung up

you stumbled outside by yourself with your bag on your shoulder and your heels in your hand. you sat down on the steps of the bar in the darkness and daydreamed about hugging Yeonjun

After about ten minutes, he pulled up in your car. He hopped out quickly and rushed over to you. “Babe!! I told you to stay inside!! It’s too late to be out like this! You could’ve been attacked! Or assaulted!” he picked you up in his arms and lifted you into the car

As soon as you felt the warmth of the car heater and the seatbelt click as Yeonjun strapped you in, you fell right to sleep. He glanced over at you at every stoplight on the way back home, checking to make sure you were doing okay and sound asleep

when you got home, yeonjun laid you down across the bed and tucked you into the blankets. He grabbed some miceller water and a warm wet towel and gently took your makeup off your face. As he swiped your cheeks and forehead he smiled to himself at your cute pink face that had become flushed from all the drinking you did

as yeonjun went to turn off the lights and get in bed beside you, you stirred in your sleep and woke yourself up “babies,” you whispered “babeezes” you said again…less coherent this time “yes, my love?” replied yeonjun. “I m-missed you,” you said as a tear rolled down your cheek, “I r-really *hiccup* did…”.

Yeonjun chuckled and sat down beside you. “Baby,” he cooed brushing you hair back behind your ear “I’m right here.” “Yeonjun?” you said teary eyed. “Yes, my love,” he replied. “Oh I missed you so much!” you cried out as you wrapped your arms around his waist

that night you fell asleep in Yeonjun’s arms holding him so tight, afraid that you’d have to go anywhere without him again…very dramatic…and very drunk thoughts indeed

#choi yeonjun #kpop #tomorrow x together #txt #hybe #tomorrow by together #au #choi #yeonjun #drunk

[fuckthisshitimin]

About Sex

Chapter 1: Let's Talk About Sex

(read on ao3)

.

Night Shift will always be his home, certainly, but tonight Sebastian is glad there is not a familiar face here — first, the girl who took his shift doesn’t know he isn’t supposed to drink decaf, and also, he doesn’t feel like speaking.

When he woke up in cold sweat in Angelo’s bed, heart racing and thoughts spiraling, he could only think to get out, to run away, unsure of exactly what he should be fleeing from. He had just enough clarity in him to take his jacket and to put on shoes, and he is glad his wallet was still in his pocket. He isn’t sure what he would have done otherwise. Maybe knocked on Quin’s door. Maybe walked for too long, borrowing cigarettes from strangers.

But it didn’t come to that, and he can relax and cradle his cup of coffee, he can make it last, while his thoughts set like sediment on the ground of his mind. The day was long, he isn’t sure if this is the right order.

He woke up that morning — the day before? Because it is well past midnight and he slept, so this is a tomorrow, maybe, but the night is ink black and the sky seems to know nothing of the sun, so this is not— Sebastian always was nocturnal. He always liked the liminality of it. The when-are-we-exactly feeling, like dust settling on sweat, clutching to the skin, dense and wet, neither cold nor warm, the in-between place of the day when most are asleep, but it always messed with his head, too.

He woke up, when last the sun was in the sky, today or yesterday, held tightly and well rested. He hadn’t dreamt that night — short-lived delights. He felt Angelo’s body before he could see it. He scented his worn-out cologne before he could form a coherent thought. His eyes were fluttering open, and Angelo was warm and hard and pressing against him in his sleep. It took a moment to remember the previous night, Angelo’s mouth driving him through his pleasure, Angelo’s wet chuckle a second before falling prey to slumber, Angelo’s sleepy eyes when he put on sweatpants to open to the delivery man, Angelo’s voice wishing him a good night that miraculously came, and while Sebastian’s mind was busy remembering, his body moved closer to his boyfriend.

He gathered himself nuzzling the crook of Angelo’s neck, relishing in the harshness of the hairs below his jaws. He felt conscience coming back into Angelo’s body, had the luxury to watch his eyes open for the first time that day and the pleasure to know his voice was the first thing he heard, too. A Good morning, a kiss, a moment to assess the situation. An apology, a laugh, another kiss and two sleepy bodies unwilling to disentangle from each other. Angelo’s erection pressing against his hip, a moan and barely enough time to say it’s okay, fingers digging in his back and sobs and sudden coldness when Angelo ran out crying— an Sebastian realized, for how much they lived through together, this was the first time he saw Angelo cry.

Apologies and attempts at reassurance, banging on the bathroom door, are you okay, what can I do, sorry, I’m so sorry, Sebastian made coffee and tried not to cry himself. They didn’t have much time to talk before Angelo was gone to work — and when he came back he carried a weight he did not name, and seemed wary of him. When Sebastian tried to apologize again, Angelo apologized back. They did not talk about it more. And Sebastian had replayed the scene a hundred times in his head already. When they settled in Angelo’s bed, Sebastian’s heart was so heavy it was sinking him down into the mattress— and yet it couldn’t keep him asleep for more than a couple hours, and now here he is, drinking coffee at almost five a.m. in a booth by the window.

No socks under his shoes, nothing but his sleeping shorts— he likes sleeping in his boxers better, usually. He knows why he didn’t. At least he didn’t run away half-naked.

He swore to himself he'd have on cup of coffee, nothing more. Now he grimaces, taking down the last sip, cold and bitter, and he has to keep his promise. To venture back into the night. To come back home, and try to sleep again, or find comfort in a sleeping face, in loving dogs. To smoke in Angelo's living room until his boyfriend emerges from sleep. His heart calmed down a bit, and he nods a few times, taking his empty cup and leaving it on the counter before slipping into the night streets.

.

The lights are on: Sebastian can see yellow lines piercing through Angelo’s bedroom blinds, and a rectangle of light cut neatly on the grass below the kitchen window.

It is not six yet; Angelo should be asleep. The dogs should be asleep, they shouldn’t run to Sebastian the moment he passes the gate, shouldn’t bark at him, break the eerie blanket of birds singing as dawn approaches, call for a light on the porch when Sebastian is still a few steps away. The door opens in a rash swing, a breathless figure obstructs the light from inside, disheveled and restless.

“Where were you?”

He shouldn’t be awake — Sebastian came back before the alarm was set to go off, he was careful— two arms wrap around his shoulders, he can’t touch the ground for a second.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

Worry and weariness.

“I wasn’t gone that long, Ange—”

“Do you have any idea how worried—”

“I’m okay, it’s not that big—”

“—and what I thought might have—”

“Ange!”

Maybe it’s his tone, maybe it’s Apollo that separates them. Holding onto each other by the elbows, Sebastian catches his lover’s eyes. They gleam in the night.

“I’m okay.”

“You’re okay.”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t take your phone.”

“I forgot. I left—”

“Where did you go?”

Angelo’s fingers on his arms are so tense they might bruise. This is not okay. Oh, oh, he fucked up again. He leads his lover inside, followed by the dogs. He closes the door. “Night Shift. I’m sorry. I’m here now.”

“Did you even think—”

“I had a nightmare. I panicked and I went out— so— I’m sorry I am— I wish I had taken my phone, I wish I left a not— but thinking back, I don’t really think I could have, so…”

“So I shouldn’t have… I thought you left.”

Their voices are stark in the artificial light. “You… sit down. I’ll make us coffee.”

The sky lights up slowly. It’s a strange and marveling process. From black to indigo to green hues. Breaths calming and apologies. None of them will go back to sleep. On his second cup of coffee, Angelo apologizes again. Sebastian doesn’t feel so bad anymore. The sun is rising, it is maybe a good time.

“It’s okay. We have some time till you have to go, now. And I wanted to talk to you, too.”

“About?”

“About sex. We gotta talk about it, while not horny.”

There is a scowl forming on Angelo’s lips again, and Sebastian loves him, he does, but he could punch him right now. He rolls his eyes instead. “Or we can never have sex again, for fear I might make you cry your lungs out again. This was scary, Ange.”

“It was… it was early, and… I got overwhelmed. That’s all.”

“Yeah, well, sex is kinda supposed to be overwhelming? And if we can’t differentiate good we’re-having-fun overwhelming from this-is-unbearable overwhelming, this is gonna be unpleasant for both of us, so we need to talk about it, boundaries and stuff.”

A frown, a scoff, something almost childish that makes fondness growl in the pit of Sebastian’s stomach. He likes the hand Angelo throws dismissively in the air, his pursed lips and raised eyebrows that scream that he is above sex talk. His tone is impetuous. “And ‘stuff’?”

“Yeah,” he lets his voice drag on the word, and Angelo’s petulant attitude is too funny not to feel playful. “And that’s a boundary by the way. A boundary of mine— I do not consent to having sex with you if we don’t talk about it first.”

“And the other night?”

“The other night was fucking great, and consent can be revoked at any time. Now if you don’t want to have this conversation…”

“You’ll leave.”

“What?” Sebastian coughs, choking on his saliva. Angelo’s tone was decisive. Certain. “What made you jump to that?”

“Well, you said you wouldn’t… engage in sex with me otherwise, so I have to guess this means—”

“Breaking up with you? Are you fucking for real?” Sebastian knew, he knew the first night there were some twisted knots in Angelo’s head that might need undoing— he wishes he had made himself clearer then, wishes they didn’t have to have this conversation at all. “You know I love you.”

For a moment, Angelo just stares at him. Mouth slightly open, eyes buzzing with questions. “What do you mean?”

“Take a wild guess, Ange.”

“If I cannot have this conversation… and we never have sex again… you would stay?”

“Yes.”

Another long stare. Sebastian stands firm. He is strong headed, and he needs all his will to convince his boyfriend that there isn’t a hint of doubt in his words.

“Oh.”

It’s small as a whimper. Angelo turns away, to grab his cup of coffee. He leans on the wall, stares at the porcelain while the dark liquid dances inside. “That is unexpected.”

Sebastian hates it, when his fears are right.

“Look, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to— but whoever etched in your brain that you should expect to be dumped for not having sex deserves a whole lot of kicks in the ass.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

Sebastian sighs, a bit too dramatically, and sits on the counter. The part closest to the wall, where Angelo is within reach. “It’s okay. I’m serious about the conversation thing, but we don’t have to do it right now. We don’t have to do it ever.”

“You really are something, Sebastian Fen.”

“I think you called it a genetic anomaly?”

It gets a chuckle out of Angelo’s lips, and the day grows brighter. The forecast said it would rain.

“And so how do we have this… conversation?”

“I can start with me, if you’d like? And you don’t— I tried some stuff, so I know my boundaries pretty well, but it’s normal if you don’t know your boundaries. ‘I don’t know’ is a legit way to feel about something.”

 A nod, a lull in the room, a long sip of coffee. There is no getting used to how piercing Angelo’s eyes are, Sebastian thinks. “I think I would like that, then. So, what should I know?”

It was easier on Sebastian to be focused on Angelo’s discomfort than to face his own, and when he looks down at his body, he can’t help but shrug. “Uhm, OK. So, I like… like, yeah, I told you I’m clitoridean, but I do like penetration, too, and I am pretty sensitive in general? My scars are—” He slides a finger on his left arm, jumps to his ribs. He can see the burnt tissue in his mind. “— more sensitive to pain than they are to pleasure, so not the best playground, actually. Surgery scars are fine, though. And, I use the word clitoridean, but I do not like referring to my genitalia with those terms. Clit feels weird and vulva and cunt make me full dysphoric so, uh, t-dick, or just dick is better.”

He dares look up from his lap. He meets Angelo’s gaze, and he is yet again taken aback by its intensity. “T-dick,”  is repeated in a velvet voice, tried for the first time on Angelo’s tongue, and like a studious child learning a new word, he uses it in a sentence, “I liked sucking your t-dick the other night,” and it is detached in the strangest way, a way that makes Sebastian hide his smile behind his hand immediately, cheek burning.

“Ah, yeah. Do you… do you have preferred terms?”

“I must say I never thought about it. But I always had an aversion for the word shaft.”

The smile turns into laughter at the disgust on the scientist’s face, and he takes notes. “Okay. We’ll figure it out. If you want. I mean, you said you liked my voice so…”

“So you figured I might be into dirty talking?”

“Something like that?”

“It’s… a fair guess.” Angelo shifts on his legs, moving from the wall and barely a bit closer to his lover. “We will have to try this.”

“… yeah.” It’s hard to keep his mouth dry under these eyes. “I like how you look at me—” isn’t what he meant to say, but it rings entirely too true, so he doesn’t take it back “— and I like… well, I tend to prefer being in control. I don’t… I don’t really enjoy the feeling of being taken over? If that makes sense? And, being surprised. It kinda… scares me. Like, if you were to pin me to the wall out of the blue, I would not react nicely. At all.”

“I… was not planning to do that.”

“Good. But if you wanted to pin me to the wall, or down on your bed, or on this kitchen counter… you could ask me. I am quite good at saying no when I don’t want something— and I am good at taking a no, too. I’m serious about this one, Ange. You can say no to me any time, any place, and it won’t ruin anything. Actually, saying no is really hot.”

It draws a line between Angelo’s brows, “I don��t see what you mean.”

“The more comfortable you are saying no, the more certain I can be you mean it when you say yes. That you will tell me what you want and don’t want. That you’re doing this because you want it— and thinking you’d want me as much as I want you… well that’s really, really hot.”

“I see.”

The room, too, is getting hot, the air and the stare and Sebastian’s fingers clutching the counter. “And what you said about… walls. And counters. I think I would be amenable to the idea.”

It sounds like an offer, and Sebastian had not planned for this conversation to go in such a direction. “You mean asking if you can—”

“I think if you were to pin me to the wall out of the blue, I wouldn’t mind a bit.”

Oh. Oh. It’s something else, a snake twirling in Sebastian’s stomach. “Shit, I wanna do it now.”

“You could. You can.”

Sebastian takes a long, deep breath in— a breath charged with Angelo’s shampoo and general proximity. “We’re not done with this conversation.”

“Right.”

“I think I’m clean, but I haven’t been tested in a while so, maybe lean on the safer side. I don’t know about you?”

“I am. My blood is checked regularly. And are you… if we were to have… unprotected intercourse—”

“If you were to fuck me raw, yes?”

Exhilarating— how Angelo Volta trips on his tongue, how his eyes go wide and then small and wide again, how elegantly he moves a hand in the air between them. He is blushing. He opens his mouth, with an air of hesitation, and Sebastian decides, maybe he can save him the trouble: “No, there wouldn’t be risks of pregnancy. Even before I started T, I was sterile, to be honest.”

“You were?”

“Yeah. We knew pretty early. I don’t… I don’t remember what they said. Just, complicated words ands tests and… yeah, well that’s beside the point. I don’t… really wanna talk about it. But, uhm… oh, yeah, have you heard of the traffic light system?”

“The… no, I haven’t.”

“It’s a safe word, of sorts. More nuanced. Green is go on, Orange is this is good but no further, Red is stop. And you can like. Just say the color, or ask ‘what color?’ when in doubt. If you’d want to use it.”

Angelo nods, and his coffee must have gone cold, now. He grimaces when he swallows the last sip. “Quite straight-forward, I like it.”

“Cool. Now I told you about me. Do you want me to know anything? How do you feel about… all that?”

Angelo puts his cup away, limping to the dishwasher. Porcelain clatters against porcelain. “I feel… a little confused. Curious. I know I want to do these things with you— but I do not know where to start.”

“You say these things. What things are you thinking of? Like, the first thing on your mind, don’t think, now!”

“The wall.”

It’s adorable, the way he dances around the words, the way he comes back to where he was a second before, between Sebastian and the wall, arms hanging uselessly at his sides. And his words from earlier still ring in Sebastian’s ears and maybe— maybe they talked enough. He wants to hear more about what Angelo desires. He wants Angelo. And it’s unfair, thinking he could do both at the same time. “Now?”

“Yes.”

A second to jump off the kitchen counter, a second to take the first step. A second to put his hands on Angelo’s hips, another to breath so so close to his lips. A second to take another step, to push his boyfriend with him— he uses little force but there is no resistance beneath his palms or against his chest, not when he presses Angelo against the wall, not when he takes his lips and pushes harder, clinging tighter. A second to taste and bite, a second to back away, to recognize the heavy-lidded gaze pinning him. “Was that okay?”

“Yes. I like it when you guide me.”

“Good.” He can’t suppress his smile, and feeling a shiver running down Angelo’s spine makes him lick his lips, almost unwillingly. “Anything else?”

“I like kissing you.”

And so Sebastian kisses him. He lets Angelo’s elbows settle on his shoulders, Angelo’s fingers in his hair. “Is that all?”

“No.” He can see Angelo swallowing. He wants to kiss his throat, his Adam’s apple while it bobs. “I would like—” a stutter, a hesitation.

“You would like?”

“Can this— not lead to sex, necessarily?”

“Of course.” The boundaries of what sex is, exactly— when does it start? When it involves genitalia? When you decide it starts? When you search for an orgasm? When you get undressed? There is no clear limit, they will have to figure it out on the fly. “I like that. Making out with you. It doesn’t have to lead anywhere.”

A nod.

“Then I think, right now, I want to make out with you.”

Hands and tongues and moans, they do. Laughs and pleas and mouths, they do. Quietly against the kitchen wall, languid explorations and hesitant beginnings, they do. Hungry of each other and contempt against their lover, they do.

#nsp #sebangelo #sebastian fen #angelo volta #mikhail writes #NSP fic #night shift podcast

[boost3roo]

Just some random ideas but what about a sad story where a baby Michael moves to a house with his twin and mom that has been haunted and the ghost there is a baby Ted. And they become friends and eventually they fall in love but Ted is dead.

I had this idea starting October and decided to make it a tweetfic and post it today.

bby Boostle AU where baby Michael moves with his family to a new house that was at a suspicious great price for what it was. They suspect something is wrong with it since the house is great but the price is too low and that's an opportunity they can't lose.

They didn't even have to fight other people for it because they were the only ones who made an offer to that house. 

Yet, the parents can't complain. They finally have a place to call their own, and start all over again. Even if they notice the neighbours staring at them every now and then, and avoid them completely.

Michelle and Michael spent a lot of time together exploring the house, they found it fascinating and they were extremely happy that they had their own room and all this huge house is now theirs.

But it was one night where Michael woke up because of a constant sound. He brushes his right eye and slowly his mind understands the sound. Someone's sniffling. Someone has been crying.

He feels his eyelids are heavy so when he turns on his bed and tries to open them, he realizes he can't. So with them shut, he mumbles.

"Hey, it's alright--" Michelle is a strong girl, but he knows sometimes she feels sad for their parents. It might be one of those nights where she is terrified of dad. "Come here."

Some time passes, he doesn't know how long it has been, he's drowsy and still with his eyes closed. Maybe this is a dream, but he hears the sniffling closer.

"You can cry all you want, but get in bed already," he lifts the blankets so she can get under. He knows crying feels good and he shouldn't be telling her to stop crying. Not when she is scared or in pain. Telling her not to cry is like telling her not to bleed when she gets a wound.

"Mmmmmh." Michael makes a noise, trying to hurry her to move. When he feels the mattress dip and her close to him, he wraps them both with the blanket as he sighs. He wants to speak to her, make her feel better, but before he can form a coherent sentence in his mind, he's fast asleep again.

Next morning when he asks Michelle how she is doing, he notices her making a confused face. He is feeling even more confused when she tells him that he was asleep last night, she never went to his room.

This night's event keeps happening more and more, and every time Michael tries to see who is the one crying, he feels too sleepy and his eyelids too heavy. Until one night, he tries his best to open them and even sits up on bed, rubbing both his eyes with too much force.

"Let me see you," Michael complains and looks around. "Who is making you cry every night?"

His bedroom is suddenly too quiet. He can barely see in the dark, but he waits. He won't miss this chance, he tells himself.

From the corner of his room, something is moving and while it is scaring him to the point that his body suddenly freezes, he doesn't close his eyes. After a few moments, he realize is a kid his age, with dark hair and big eyeglasses.

The kid sniffles and uses the back of his wrist to wipe his nose, his other hand is clenching the hem of his shirt so tightly, that Michael immediately thought he was ashamed or scared too.

"I'm not going to hurt you." Michael's voice is so thin, it surprised even him. "It's okay. I'm Michael. What's your name?"

The small kid looks up at him. From where Michael is, the stranger looks so small, so vulnerable and Michael feels an inexplicable need to protect him.

"Ted." He whispers.

//

Michael is having so much fun. He had never met another boy who was so smart, witty, and funny. Every single night he stays up to talk and play with him. They talk about games, tv shows, the moon and the stars, the monsters that live in the first floor and how much they love pranking others.

There is no night that isn't fun.

They spend time in the secret places that Ted used to hide in when his dad would get angry at him, they play in the backyard, laying down on the ground as they wipe their tears from laughing too much and Ted confessing how much he had always wanted a friend. They sometimes go to the forest too, to find treasures, those special items that Ted hid once a long time ago.

Everything is just so good.

With time, Michael learned that Ted's dad didn't like him too much, his mother restricted food and even starved him every now and then only because she thought he was fat. Michael doesn't have the best life either but to hear that from Ted as he sobs, breaks his heart in a million pieces.

Sometimes he cuddles Ted and can actually feel a thin chill veil as he does it. He sobs with him, because he wants Ted alive and life has been so cruel to him.

It's not fair, he thinks.

Michael is so young but he isn't dumb to ignore that the connection he has with Ted isn't a common one. He feels that their meeting was destined to be, that they are meant to each other.

He himself doesn't know much about life either or what is supposed to be right by society, but Michael firmly believes that Ted is beautiful and the best thing that has happened to him. He thinks about all the places that they could go if Ted was alive, all the things they could do together...

But it's something that is never going to happen and that makes Michael terribly sad.

Maybe there's something Michael can do. Maybe there's a way of being forever together...

//

Michael's health had slowly started to deteriorate and even if his mother is so worried and trying her best to bring him back to a healthy state, she can't.

Michelle doesn't say a word as she observes the state of her brother. She reaches out to hold his hand, just as small as hers.

"I'm going to miss you, Mikey." She whispers to him and gets in bed, curling up next to him. She know what is happening, she has seen Ted and has heard them speak before. She knows what Michael is doing, after all, they are twins. They just KNOW.

"I'll visit you, Michelle." He sighs and closes his eyes. He feels too weak to feel like this is a goodbye.

Michelle quietly cries as she sees Ted appear.

"Michael?" Ted's voice is weak. He's afraid that Michael would get mad at him, even if this was Michael's idea only. But she isn't. She isn't mad at all. This is what her twin wants and she knows this will make him happy. "I came for you."

"I love you, Mikey." She whispers and she sees his smile. 

"I love you too, sis. I'll see you soon." He says before closing his eyes and slowly, she feels how he releases her hand, his body now stiff.

//

Michelle opens her eyes with some difficulty in the middle of the night. The laughter of two boys can be heard not too far away and she knows that they are here. With that, she closes her eyes back to sleep. It’s okay.

They are together.

#Boostle #Booster Gold #Ted Kord #Blue Beetle #Michael Carter #writing

[caffeinesam]

2018

I think I died four years ago.

The year started with me trying to handle still living with her in spite of us having made it clear it was not to be. My contract up North on a hold, I was stuck at home. We were still watching Twin Peaks together to pass the nights. I slept on the sofa bed, since she had bought the bed and mattress when we moved. The kids felt the tension, A. fled to her friends' homes, S. cried a lot, G. grew distant of us both.

She found some people on Tinder. I asked her "just wait for a bit, we'll figure something". I also found some people on Tinder, or well, J. found me. I cut my hair. Then my employer sent me back to the North. I spent a few weeks, dealing with orders, logistics and the warehouse. Chatting with her and J., I thought I could have something good once back home. Something might even be done to salvage our life. Who knows.

One Friday I saw we were to have a lull in the deliveries and work, so I drove the nine hours on the icy, lonely road, going insanely fast in my old beat-up truck, thankful I had bought the single best, almost magical tires in existence. I didn't go home, I went to J's place. I got there by 3 in the morning. She was waiting asleep in her bed. We kissed, it felt so natural, like we had been together for a decade, and had sex for hours. I woke up in the afternoon, J. was gone ice fishing but had left some croissants if I wanted. I figured her coffee maker, had breakfast, texted her, went home, unsure if I wanted to. Hugged the kids. Felt they were happy but a bit nervous. It crushed me.

I made pizza for dinner. We ate rather quietly. She opened a bottle of merlot that we shared. The kids watched a movie then went to bed. A. went to a friend's party. We were alone.

She wanted an open relationship or to move out, either way continuing renovating the house didn't interest her. I said we could work something out. We got drunker. Laughed. Watched Twin Peaks. She was planning a trip to Cuba with a guy from Alberta. We went to bed. Each in their bed. I took the kids to snowshoe the next day. After lunch I said I had to go back.

I went to J. We fucked again. As I lay with her she told me where we first met. When she was sixteen, she dated the guy I was driving to college - we lived in another town. She's been wanting me ever since. She told me it was better that we do it in the day while her landlord didn't listen - it excited him she said, but sometimes his ten years old was in the room upstairs. I stayed until the last minute and drove the 900 kms to my work camp. I drove in the village with the first rays of the sun, confused and barely coherent.

For the few weeks I spent there I took a more hands-on approach to remain interested in my job. To stay awake. Talking to her didn't interest me as much, J. had taken my thoughts by the groin. She didn't help, more interested in her Cuban escapade than whatever dumb shit I had to say. I couldn't blame her. So I did some electrical works, carpentry, lots of drywall and cleaned up the warehouse. I tried getting the mechanic to do his job but couldn't. He got fired.

I drove back another time, just for J. She told me I could stay the weekend. Waiting for me in her bed at 3 AM again, with a bunch of sex toys we didn't even think of using on her bedside table. The passion of dumbasses needs no help. I lived a physical love I had not lived in years. It was confusing, it was wonderful.

Up North the contracts I helped oversee were about finished. None of the contracts I was initially hired for were going anywhere. I spent my three weeks. Went even further North once to fetch two carpenters who could not land in the village. Too windy. The road was a mess, so was I. I stopped in the only Caucasian village and bought a crate of beer on the way. Accomodations had been arranged beforehand, so me and the two carpenters had our best meals in weeks right there, courtesy of an actual cook being hired for that work site. The dessert were to die for, and I say that as *not a dessert guy*. On the way back we pulled one of my distant cousins from the ditch. We're not supposed to act like tow trucks but in such an isolated place you just do what's right.

Come February, I was back south and management called me to the office. I was "becoming kind of redundent", since the contracts had been granted to the usual contractors. They suggested I went on unemployment for a while, keeping my benefits and all. J. was ok with me coming to live in her place for a time. She was also ok with trying to figure a way to live together. I started with going home for a few weeks, it didn't work out very well. I returned to the sofa bed. Then decided I was better off taking J's offer.

She was tired of her job, so I walked her through the unemployment benefits process and how it could fit into a career boost. I applied left and right. She applied to some jobs. More importantly, we made a kind of life together. We didn't want to. It was obvious we would be happy together but we would never allow it to be.

This whole thing was just a missed college fling taking shape in our mid thirties. She was not the tiny dumb cute blonde girl who had fallen for the long-haired goth imbecile that I was not anymore. But I felt things with her that I didn't feel for a long time. It felt fresh, I felt alive.

We made it clear, even though I slept in her bed every night, we were not "together" together. Even though I cooked and cleaned for her as she tried new jobs and new outlets, I was not in any way hers, she was not, in any way, mine.

But how did she want me, and how did I want her...

We were just friends, in bars, just friends. Until our hands found each others. We were friends, just friends, roommates even, just doing our groceries dancing together in the aisles cheek to cheek. I was not even properly separated, she was trying to learn to go free after a 10 years shitty relationship. We were just helping each other go through a rough patch.

It was painful. We were so perfectly cut for each other. Her one missing tooth, my chipped one from my tongue piercing. Her constant fear of herpes outbreaks, my constant fear of a psychotic outbreak.

She went on a date out of town once. Romantic ski resort thing. I went to my cousin's place, 350 miles away. He had a new girlfriend, college girl. Half his age. It was a bit weird. Barely older than my eldest daughter.

I drank too much. Blacked out. Apparently, I hit on some 20-somethings until my cousin told me they were in uni with his girlfriend. Freaked me out. The next day, I was a mess. Didn't move much from his couch until I was able to drink again. A swig of bourbon and we hopped in his beige Cadillac (it's just a winter beater he swore) and he took me to the Casino. Took a couple glasses of wine and a burger, went back to abusing alcohol. Won a couple dozen thousand dollars somehow.

Hit the road the next day, met an old friend in Montreal. My mind was on J. I slept there, hopped into my truck, obsessing over the meeting point we had agreed on. A particular grocery store she knew of. We were both surprised as we ran into each other, her white SUV and my blue pickup truck, trying to find a spot in the icy parking lot.

We both have a passion for food. A palate that wants quantity as well as quality. We went on a spree. I bought kilos of seafood and fish, she shoveled cheese in the basket. We took some vegetables and cans for good measure. We were kissing and groping in the aisles, acting like teenagers. On the road we set a common playlist and our phones on speaker to stay together. We drove recklessly until the network failed in La Verendrye. We had to stop, regroup and kiss before going on.

We spent a couple weeks of bliss. I picked the girls at school, went for a walk, dropped them home, picked J. at her office. She liked sitting right beside me on the bench. I thought we could make something work, but it was not to be. At some point I wore out my welcome. J's many lovers left me with an unfair advantage, I was in the way of her plans, whatever the reason, I had to go.

At some point in the bliss phase she showed me a college planner from a year she was still in high school. She had to steal is somewhere or to buy it from some older acquaintance. My picture was circled with hearts and stars. It felt weird.

Anyway, I went back to my parents for a bit. Driving back and forth for whatever temporary work I could find. I still had J's key, slept there when she was at some new fling's place. Taking care of the cat. Cleaning up the flat. Hoping she would come back and wake up by my side. She never did, and one night I dropped my key in her mailbox, never to return.

One April morning, not knowing where to go or what to do, I went for a drive around the area. Now, the scale and isolation of the region I live in has to be mentioned. The region has about the size of the United Kingdom at least, for maybe 200k inhabitants, concentrated in three towns and maybe 20 tiny municipalities. It is huge, lonely and empty. So I drove on a full 135 liters tank of gasoline until it was almost empty, filled it, drove until it was empty again, filled it again, and drove into logging roads that were not maintained since two weeks before.

I will pause here and remind that these are snowy, icy conditions. These are our daily lives almost half of the year. And there was a surprise snowfall the previous day. When a road is not maintained, not used, the snow piles. When you drive on piled snow, it goes in your engine bay. If it is not properly protected, and mine was not, snow will accumulate where you do not want it to. Accrete as snow, melt as water, and freeze back as ice. Ice, a solid, will cut through rubber. Through kevlar. This is what happened.

25 kilometers into a logging road, the entrance of which was 45 kilometers north of the last time I saw my phone have any sort of signal, my motor's drive belt snapped. I lost control of my steering, lost the alternator, lost everything. Soon, when the battery died, the motor would die and not start back. I strained to park on the side of the trail and assess my situation.

-1°C, cloudy, 70 kilometers north of any cell phone signal, in a wool coat and thin leather boots, with no food or water.

Maybe I could make a run for it. I had run a few marathons the year before, ran ultras before ultras were a thing. In the context, survival was definitely possible, but considering how tired I was, how late it was, only moderately probable. I weighed my chances. Staying there was certain death anyway. Maybe I would find a trail to a cabin somewhere.

I rummaged through the truck, found an old wool hat and a better pair of boots under the back seat. One single granola bar in the glove compartment. I swapped my boots, wrapped my face in my scarf and started to jog in my tire tracks.

My body heat up, blood pumping, the familiar strain of the first few miles. I shut down my phone to save battery, just in case. Then after about half an our the snow started to fall.

Thick, heavy, very wet snow.

I was thinking of when I would be found, dead, cold, maybe ten miles north of my salvation. It pissed me off. If there was a god, that was a cheap death, such a fucking cheap death. "Fucking asshole, you better let me win this one! You can't make me end up like this!" Thankfully, my coat, no matter how unfit for the situation, was made of real wool. Dry or wet it would keep my body warm.

I kept jogging, angry and getting desperate. I would probably die there between a pine grove, a patch of 20 years old birch and a bog. I had run maybe 8? 10 kilometers? This was so stupid. An experienced mechanic, dying because of a busted drive belt.

The dark clouds suddenly split, showing the 3 PM sun, drying my black coat a bit. I made a salute to it "Thanks mate, real appreciated" Vapor rose from me as I ran on. I thought of the granola bar, as hunger had made its way into my body. "Later. One more mile. One more mile." The wet snow came back, slapping my face with violence, making my jeans wet and cold.

This is where it becomes anticlimactic and I would bet my last dollar that I died and slipped into another plane of existence. As I pushed on, refusing to eat my bar, a pair of headlights appeared. Not those of a semi or a pickup truck, but of a tiny Subaru.

"The road doesn't lead anywhere" I said.

Inside the car was its own college frat microcosm. The Boston terrier that cheerfully invited me in made a few strides outside and jumped on me. He reminded me of hers, poor dog she didn't have the time or knowledge to raise. It ended up biting S's face so I left her with a choice, find it a home or the SPCA. She found it a home, but they had to put it down anyway. Poor thing had a violent streak. Killed two other pups.

"I'm trying to go to [military base], I'm a weaponry tech! I come from [town], my girlfriend is a radio DJ for NRJ there."

"What the FUCK are you doing here kid?"

"Google Maps showed me a shortcut, but I lost signal."

"OK so turn around. Either you're supposed to save my life here or it's the complete opposite."

"What?"

"The road you want is many miles South. You missed a turn somewhere, I'll show you. So turn around, this road has not been maintained for a few weeks."

"Oh hahaha that's why there's a foot of snow hahahaha!"

"Uhhhh yeah and that's why my truck broke down. Look I can show you where your shortcut is, but can you drop me at the convenience store in [town]?"

He drove me there. I gave him two bottles of Gran Coronas cabernet. I called my ex, she was asleep. I called my dad, no one picked up, they were probably asleep. I called J.

"Are you too drunk to drive?"

"Uhhh not yet. Why? I'm with [the other J] by the way."

"Look I'm in [town], I tried to reach everyone else I know. Can you come and get me?"

"[mutter mutter] Hehe yeah!"

I waited about an hour, but sure enough J. and J. showed up both completely drunk in the snowstorm. My J. gave me the most elusive kiss I ever got, her J. went in the store to buy some white wine. I fell on the back seat, tired and hurt. They dropped me at my house. I got in. My ex got up the stairs, asked what the fuck was up. I gave her a vague answer, opened the sofa bed and fell into a slumber.

I fucking died between a fucking pine grove, a patch of 20 years old birch and a bog.

#slices of life #unreality #short story

[just-nothing-forever]

So little life update I keep forgetting to write about. I really hope I can save these Tumblr posts as a sort of journal cause that's what I've been using it as.

October 19th, 2022 I was sent to the hospital and was incoherent for 3 days

That previous night, Wednesday, I remember working and we also had a staff meeting. I remember they got us Panera bread and then I went home, talked with family, and after that everything is blank.

Apparently my mom woke up the next morning, Thursday, to hear me yelling "ow". She said I had spittle, not exactly throw up, all over my face and that I was combative and confused and kept trying to hit her. She and dad struggled to get me up the stairs and into the car to go to the hospital.

I remember absolutely nothing. Apparently when I first came in, the doctors thought I'd overdosed on something. But the only thing I remember doing was smoking weed, as is typical in my daily routine, maybe I had alcohol but I really don't remember.

I was in the hospital for 4 days, 3 of them barely coherent. It all felt like a dream to me. I specifically remember one, where there were people in masks and white protective gear surrounding me, telling me it's okay but I still struggled, but then I saw my mom. She was also wearing the gear and a mask, and her hair in my memory was super frazzled and frizzy, but I recognized her eyes, and it calmed me down.

My mom told me later they'd had to restrain me at some points, it was that bad. I truly have no memory of anything, except that "dream"

When I first woke up and was actually cognitive, my mom said the first thing I asked was "is today Thursday?" Cause I was worried about having to work.

But my workplace was super understanding and oh so nice, they gave me and amazon and Visa gift cards. They're so generous, especially since they'd already helped us out with gift cards when we went though the basement floods a few months ago. I honestly loved that place, one of the best Ive worked at.

Back to the hospital though, I woke up and found they'd put a diaper on me. It was very embarrassing and when I had to pee they brought me a portable toilet to pee in front of everyone. I thought I'd get pee shy like the last time I was at a hospital but I was still so out of it I didn't care.

Mom also brought her tablet for me to watch things. I remember putting on the new "Light-year" pixar movie but remember nothing from it except lesbeans. I remember the doctors coming in and asking questions but I still was just barely awake to answer them. I knew the date, but just from what my mom had told me, I didn't truly understand what day it was. I forgot the passwords to my phone and laptop; I remembered my phone after about a day but my laptop took forever to remember, even though it's the easiest password, 1234. I also forgot how to write for a bit, even my name. It took at least two more days after being released to remember my signature and laptop password, which was very scary. Forgetting things that almost seemed like second nature?? I can't even describe the feeling. Hopeless and helpless are the best I can get I suppose.

They did a lot of tests while I was ,"asleep," but when I woke up they did a Lumbar puncture, CT scan, and MRI. All showed normal results.

It was a terrifying experience. I lost four days of my life without even knowing it, and all a month before I'm leaving for Europe. Im so upset by it, I was exercising and practicing languages and so much before the hospital, then it happened and I just couldn't get into a good routine again

Just thought I'd write the experience down so I dont forget

Currently in Europe but I'm keeping a physical journal to document experiences, but I may make a few more vent posts here

[higuchimon]

[fanfic] In The Cold Morning

Daisuke didn’t want to wake up. He was pleasantly warm underneath a thick blanket and with Ken next to him, one arm tucked around him. How could anyone want to wake up when they had that?

But for some reason he couldn’t get his head wrapped around, someone kept poking at him, and he heard a familiar voice trying to tell him to wake up. He mumbled something, hoping what he said indicated that he didn’t intend on waking up. But whoever kept poking him refused to take that for an answer.

“Daisuke. It’s almost time.”

He grumbled something, adjusting his position but not even close to opening his eyes. This was so peaceful. Why did anyone want to bother him? What could possibly be that important?

“You’re going to miss it.”

Whatever could he miss that he couldn’t see from right where he was? Or that he couldn’t see again very soon?

From somewhere outside there flickered the knowledge that it was Ken trying to wake him up. Ken was the only person who might be in bed with him. So far all they’d done was sleep together – nothing more than actual sleep. But that was still extraordinarily wonderful and why did Ken want to deprive him of this?

It couldn’t be an attack. Ken’s “wake up, something wants to bite your face off” voice was a lot more than what he used now. This was something different altogether. Daisuke groaned as he shifted, and light filtered in through his slowly opening eyes.

There was Ken, looking down at him. Daisuke admired the view in return, the hints of light from outside gleaming against Ken’s hair, and a tiny, warm smile on his lips.

“Took you long enough. I’ve been trying to get you to wake up for half an hour now,” Ken teased. “It’s almost time.”

Daisuke blinked, trying to get his thoughts in order. Some days he woke up in a flash, ready to run off and do whatever it was he had to do without a moment’s hesitation. Some days he dragged and lagged and couldn’t put two words together properly. Today was one of those days.

Ken must have understood something about that, as he set a cup of hot tea within Daisuke’s reach. Daisuke sipped at it, letting himself wake up, the light growing stronger moment by moment. It wasn’t quite sunrise yet, but it would be there soon enough. Why did Ken want to be awake so early? They weren’t going anywhere, were they? It was the holiday season. There wasn’t a lot open these days, and they weren’t going to any parties at this time of morning.

Party – time of morning – holiday season – it was cold outside. He reached to the side of the bed and picked up his D-3, giving it a very suspicious look. Or more specifically, he gave the time on it a very suspicious look.

Then he jerked his head around to look at Ken. “It’s quarter after seven!”

“I know.” Ken nodded solemnly. “We’ve got about ten minutes. Are you ready?”

Daisuke sputtered, barely able to form a coherent sentence before he drank down the rest of his tea and jumped out of bed to grab his favorite warm robe. Wormmon and V-mon were already awake and settled on the balcony, cuddling close to one another around the kotetsu. He’d boughot one big enough for him, Ken, and their Digimon partners – it was a size made just for those who had partners. Something like that would keep Wormmon, who wasn’t good with cold weather, nice and toasty.

With robe and slippers on, and Ken also decked out in proper cold weather, Daisuke stepped outside, breathing in a deep breath of frigid air, and shivered.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” He glanced back at the bed, so warm and comfortable and empty. Ken’s hand closed around his, and Daisuke decided being out here wasn’t all that bad after all.

V-mon murmured a greeting, as did Wormmon, as their partners joined them. Daisuke patted both of them on the head.

“You shouldn’t be awake this early,” he told them as sagely as he could, accepting another cup of tea from Ken. “It’s not good for you.”

“Says the guy who has, more than once, tackled someone capable of hurting him without any regard for his own personal safety,” Ken pointed out, his smile widening a bit. Daisuke waved one hand.

“You would never have hurt me. Not even then.” His own grin flared brief and bright as the sun. “Besides, I always kind of thought you liked that.”

Ken’s cheeks scorched red enough that Daisuke wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d melted snow. He said nothing in answer, just turned to where the sun could be seen starting to rise, the tiniest hints of pale gold and white and streaks of blue tinting the sky.

The first sunrise of the new year. Daisuke had slept through this last year; he usually did more than he didn’t. He had always had other traditions he liked better, most of which involved sleeping. Most of the time he made mochi with his family and V-mon, and even before they’d gotten together, he'd been happy to bring over premade o-sechi for Ken.

But this was Ken’s favorite part of the New Year, aside from the first shrine visit. They’d be doing that later. He hadn’t promised, but he wanted to do it anyway. He would do anything he could to make Ken happy.

His parents’ apartment building had one of the few really good views of the horizon in the area. Whenever he got a place of his own, he’d have to make sure he had something like it. Would Ken want to share that with him?

Oh, but he liked that thought. Maybe he’d even ask Ken about it soon. He knew they’d always be close, but that was a step they hadn’t taken yet.

Daisuke watched as the sun slowly rose above the horizon, and there was but one single prayer in his heart and mind – for his good fortune and happiness with Ken to continue year after year.

The End

Notes: Just so you know, o-sechi is the New Year’s Day feast. It’s meant to invite luck, prosperity, and good health.

#fanfic #higuchimon writes #digimon adventure 02 #daikenweek2022 #ken x daisuke #daisuke x ken #series: in the cycle

[olympiansally]

Cute date idea: we beat up Elon Musk then fuck listening to Grimes just to flex on them

#good morning i just woke up and this is the first barely coherent thought of the day #LMAO #yes this is based on my tags on that one SNL post #also i did not just think of it #i did tell dominic i’d post it yesterday however lmao #anyway it’s here now!! #jaiwsiasikskaksk