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nothomegal · 8 months

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“The little owl family” (Part 4)

(RZ!Michael Myers x GNReader)

Summary: your and your little sister’s life had an 180° turn when your parents got into a severe car crash, dying on the spot. You, being already past 18 had to figure out how to keep things afloat and give yourself, specially your sister, a good future. And you did! It was hard but you did it and became the absolute hero in the little girl’s eyes. People would often involuntary smile at the dynamic of your two, so wholesome and supportive, the perfect family bond. Bond that a certain Boogeyman noticed as well…

Warnings: faint mentions of animal abuse, Mikey being a bit creepy towards (Y/N).

Word Count: 3.4k

Additional info: Gender Neutral reader. (S/N) = sister’s name.

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 5) (Part 6)

The aftermath after such intense night went as smooth as it could be. (Y/N) luckily suffered no life threatening injuries and only got some bruises and a broken wrist on their dominant hand, not the most pleasant result but they're grateful to be alive and that (S/N) was alright and safe.

And speaking about the little girl, when she ran out the house her neighbors had already called the police since the begining of the commotion, the poor thing was terryfied when the house went silent and no sounds of struggle came from it. At least now the nightmare ended, right?

Wrong, it was not over. The police was still trying to track down the intruder, aka Michael Myers. But due to the hard rain, the demolition of his old house and overall lack of clues made his discovery nearly impossible. It's honestly impressive how such giant could so easily disappear in the shadows whenever he pleased, and this terrified the siblings to the core.

And about them two, the last three days they've spent somewhere in the big city, staying in a hotel room and basically having this mini vacation, probably the only good thing that came from this mess.

Unfortunatelly, (Y/N) couldn't really keep up with such expenses so they were forced to return home...

. . .

October 31, Halloween night, past midnight.

🎶Cause this is thriller, Thriller night~🎶

🎶And no one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike~🎶

(Y/N) breathlessly cursed at the lyrics and the songs that been playing on the car radio, sure it's spooky night but come on! All of them are talking about something horrible, as some sort of foreshadow. At least (S/N) seemed oblivious and was enjoying her time and the music while wearing her improvised costume. She may haven't trick or treated, but spending this holiday in the big city and visiting the yearly carnival was a great alternative too!

It was already past midnight but the streets still had people, sure most of them were roudy teens just going to or out some party, but it still brought some comfort to (Y/N), in the worst case scenario there will be more witnesses to catch Myers if he dares to come back...

The closer they got to their home, the more anxious they became. Their fear and worry of encountering Myers again was eating them alive, specially when they’re weaker and one of their hands is practically useless due the bandages. Sure, there is some calm in knowing that the police are still methodically scouting the area, but they though exactly the same when visiting his old house, and look at them now…

Speaking of the police, when they were at the end of the street, they noticed some police cars and officers stationed not too far away from their home. The sight caused (Y/N) to go stiff and pale, but at the same time, it ignited the hope that maybe the monster was finally caught and will no longer disturb them…

They park, and (S/N) is already throwing confused and concerned looks at her sibling, who simply shrugs.

—“I’m as confused as you are.”— you admit as you unbuckle the belt. —“Stay near me, okay?”—

—“Okay…”—

As soon as both sibling exit the car, a known officer, who kept a watch on (S/N) while (Y/N) was in the hospital, comes over to them. The mentioned man had a rather calm expression, which only fueled their curiosity of what the cops are doing here.

—“Good night officer, what happened?”— you ask directly.

—“Hiii.”— you sister waves her hand at the man, her other hand being held in yours.

—“Well hello. Not much, apparently some roudy teenagers are causing troubles by throwing firecrackers into people's back yard, specially if there is a dog in it... We had to take actions since one of the animals got hurt."—

—"What!? Wow, what a bunch of uglies!"— the little girl exclaims in anger and disbelief.

—"Oh..."— you nod a bit, the anxiety slowly rising again.

(Y/N) then looks at (S/N), who gazes back at them, her expression now a bit confused at their sudden worried state.

—"Is there something bothering you (L/N)?"— the officer finally asks.

—"Well..."— you lean closer to him ans whisper. —"{Are there any news about Myers?}"—

The man gives them an understanding look and then shakes his head.

—"{No news unfortunatelly... However, the locals haven't reported seeing him and there were no crimes in this area or anywhere near, we suspect that he moved to another location, probably seeking for another victim.}"— he replies, whispering back.

(Y/N) nods, still anxious but also mildly releved by the fact Myers is nowhere around. Maybe the officer is right and he lost interest and moved on, thinking that his job was done and they're no longer alive... But whenever they remember that night, appart from the fear and the rage they felt durning the commotion, their mind also flashes the odd embrace... Why would he, Michael Myers, the embodyment of evil show such gesture to them? Was that mercy? Did he actually spared them?...

Some light nudges and tugs on their sleeve pulled them out of their thoughts. (Y/N) looks down at their sister who's been trying to get their attention for a little while.

—"Can we go home? I need to pee, and I'm sleepy..."—

They blink a couple of times and suddenly remember why they're home and what time it is.

—"Oh sure, I'm so sorry songbird. Let's go and get you ready for bed."— you say softly and give one last glance to the officer. —"And thank you for your service, sir."—

—"No problem. We'll make some extra laps around the neighborhood just in case, so if anything, we'll be around."— he gives a polite nod and goes towards his car.

The two siblings enter their home, it was already clean and had no traces of blood from the night when Michael attacked, even the bullet holes where barely visible! Though non of the siblings bothered to stop and appreciate how well the crime scene was cleaned, both too tired. (S/N) particulaty was so tired after the lond day that as soon as she changed into her pijamas and layed on bed she dozed away, entirely skipping the story reading part.

And when the little one was comfortably tucked in her bed, (Y/N) went to their own room to change, but abruptly stopped in their tracks when they saw their bed. It was unmade and the blanket was wrinkled, as if someone just layed there or rolled around. But it's not the bed's appearance that scared them, it was the smell, a faint musky smell.

But they had no time to play detective because they suddenly heard laughs coming from their backyard. They come closer to the window to see a group of four teens climbing over the fence, one of them holding something in his hands and the other one pointing at the tree hollow, causing the group to laugh even more.

Putting two and two together, (Y/N) quickly realized what these dickheads were about to do. As fast as they could they go downstairs and grab a frying pan on their way to the backyard.

—"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"— you yell the moment you step through the door.

The teens flinches, clearly not expecting a hostile reaction like that. In panic, they throw the already lighted firecrackers wherever and begin to run away, meanwhile (Y/N) makes their way to the little explosives and quickly covers them with the pan. Luckly, these were some cheap firecrackers, which made a bunch of noise but the explosions where weak, so they effortlessly kept the pan in place until the noise seaced.

They let out a sigh of relief when some owl heads carefully peeked out the tree hollow, gazing at them. The birds are fine, the noise haven't stressed them too much, good.

Ones made sure no more teens were around, (Y/N) enters into their home and closes the door. But when they were about to go upstairs, they were faced with the absolute worst scenario possible...

There, at the bottom of the stairscase, was standing the man they were so afraid to meet again, the one everyone reassured they wouldn't see, and he wasn't standing there alone...

—"(Y-(Y/N)..."—

(S/N) peeps in a tiny shaky voice, her eyes filled with tears and her body violenly shaking as the man calmply holds her frame against him, a single large arm wrapped around her as the other one holds the knife, which was dangerously close to her neck.

Everything suddenly stopped... The noises around them, the movements, their own blood and breathing, everything. Now it's just them and this monster, holding the one and only prescious thing they have in this wretched world.

The empty eyes of the mask stare at them intensely, waiting for them to make a movement, which could or could not result in (S/N)'s getting hurt.

They swallow thickly, clutching the fist in their healty hand tightly as they force their body to move. Slowly they lift their hands up, their movements cautious as if they're standing in front of a wild animal... And they're probably are.

—"I-... I don't know what you want... I d-don't know why you returned, but... But p-please, whatever it is, keep my sister away from it."— you start talking, your voice involuntarily coming out shaky and your eyes slowly fill with tears. —"I- I'm not going to try anything funny... I'm not going to run away, if you came back to kill me, fine. But keep (S/N) out of this."—

But their words recieved no other answer but stare, as if waiting for them to say something else. They focus on his body, it was stiff but also oddly relaxed, more than cause harm it seemed like he only wanted to keep (S/N) in place, yet it still didn't make the situation any better, but it did give (Y/N) an idea of what Michael could possibly want.

They felt even more disgust towards the man in front of them, not only he stalked and attacked them, but now has the audacity to invade their house like he owns the place. And the worst part is that they can do absolutely nothing about it, not when their sister is in the grasp of this monster, such a dirty yet efficient move...

—"Are you looking for shelter? If- If so, then go ahed, you can stay as long as you need... I'm not going to contact the authorities, in fact, I am going to leave my phone right here and unplug the house phone to prove it... But only if you promise to let go of (S/N)."—

No response, nothing, only a mild head tilt. (Y/N) grit their teeth, realizing that Michael is not planing to make a move unless they go first, that bastard...

—"Just- Just promise me you'll let go (S/N), make a sound, movement, anything, so I know you listened to my only request."—

The man remains still for a good ammount of seconds, staring at their form, which got progressively more upset and angrier. He'd definitely stay like this to taunt them a little longer, to see their eyes ignite with this rage that awakens an unholy thrill inside of him, but the little sob that came from (S/N) quickly pulled him back to his mildly clear senses. Right, he should't get the little one involved...

So he makes a movement, a single little jerk with his head that resembled a nod.

(Y/N) let's out a breath but their body remain tense. Just like they promised, they cautiously move towards the house phone and unplug it, throwing the cable far to prove that they're serious, then they take out their phone and place it in the counter, next to the house phone. Ones everything was done, they take a couple of steps away, still holding their hands in the air.

—"I did my part... Now do yours, let (S/N) go."—

His head strightens. He looks at (Y/N) for a while and then slowly drags his gaze at their sister. The little girl is looking at him now, her eyes terrified and so desperate to be free, to run into the safety of her sibling's arm, away from the monster, away from him.

He eventually releases her, and without wasting a second she runs into (Y/N)'s arms, hugging them tightly and hiding her face in their clothes.

—"You're okay songbird, I'm here..."— you start to coo to her, doing you best to soothe her stressed state as you hug her tightly and protectively.

Michael just stayed there and contemplated the scene, the way the siblings remained together, doing their best to stay strong for one another was impressive, a bond he never saw in person but he always wanted...

His breath shook when his and (Y/N)'s eyes met again, the cold rage burning inside of them like the flames in hell, a silent promise to kill him if he dares to even think about doing something to their little 'boo'. This was the gaze he's been looking for so long, the one that could almost bring him to his knees and willingly get stabbed by them. He has absolutely no idea what's wrong with him and his meesed up mind, he honestly stopped trying to understand it a long time ago, now all he wanted is to look at (Y/N), and them to look at him.

They look away for a second and slowly raise to their feet, carrying (S/N) in their arms.

—"We'll just go into my room to rest, do whatever you want, take whatever you need, just..."— you hug your sister tighter. —"Keep your distance away from her..."—

As expected, they recieve no answer. The man remains still and only follows them with his gaze as they go up the stairs. While going up, (S/N) peeks over her sibling's shoulder and with enough courage and an angry expression she sticks out her tongue at him. To such gesture, Michael responded with another head tilt but unfortunatelly he didin't see the girl's response his action.

Ones in their room, (Y/N) puts their sister down and closes the door. Just now they realized how shaky their hands and body is, but they still try their best to keep their composture, they must to, for (S/N).

—"Is he... Is he going to just live with us from now?"— the girl anxiously asks as she keeps her hands close to her chest.

(Y/N) exhales with their nose, thinking.

—"I..."— you shake your head and kneel in front of her. —"I'll figure this out. It appears that he only wants to use us as a hiding spot, so as long as we remain quiet and don't try anything funny, he wont hurt us... (Or I hope so...)"— you thought the last part.

The girl only nods, stepping closer to them so she can hug and cuddle up to them.

—"Also what happened? How did he even got to you?"—

—"I heard you yell and cuss outside, and I thought that I could be the meanies that bully animals so I wanted to go help, I even got my scary T-Rex dino-grabber to bite them in the buttcheeks if they dare to hurt the birdies! But... But when I was walking towars the stairs he... He just got me. It's like he appeared out of nowhere!"—

(Y/N) carefuly listens to their sister and gives a quick glance to their room, instinctively seeking for a possible hint of how Myers got into their house and caught (S/N). Their attention fell on their closet, which was wide open. Putting two and two together they realized that he was most likely hiding there... HE WAS HIDING THERE WHEN THEY WERE ABOUT TO CHANGE-!!

Such realization caused their face to morph into a disgusted scowl, they nearly gagged when they understood why their bed smelled different... Ew!

(S/N) noticed the odd faces her sibling was making but has no time to ask when they suddenly stand up and frantically begin to take the covers off their bed, throwing them into the furthest corner with disgust and replacing them with new ones.

Durning this little frenzy of theirs, the girl didn't dare to say a word, either too tired or thinking it's another 'old people' thing. Ones everything was changed, both siblings climbed into bed, (Y/N) hugging their sister closely and keeping her between them and the wall in a protective embrace.

—"...Good night, (Y/N)."— she says, trying to soothe you a bit.

—"Good night, songbird."— you pet her head softly. —"We'll get through this, I promise..."—

—"I know, I believe you."— she smiles and then nuzzles into the covers.

Despite the overall stress, the girl dozed away instantly as soon as she got comfortable. In (Y/N)'s case, it took them a bit longer to close an eye, but the fatigue made itself known and soon they fell into a restless sleep.

. . .

The sleep didn't last too long though, they're not sure how much time passed exactly, but they couldn't sleep anymore... Not with his shadow on them.

They can see it, the dark shape is clearly projected on the wall by the faint moonlight coming from the window, so close that they can almost feel the heat coming from his body on their back, yet he's dead silent like he's not even there. Said inconsistency messed with their mind so much, is he there? Is he not? Is this a dream? A nightmare? Maybe they really died and this is their own personal hell, stuck in a room with a beast and their body being the only protection for their loved one.

Their skin burn due his intense stare, they want to turn around and yell in hopes he goes away, but at the same time they don't want to move, they want to squeeze their eyes shut so hard that they forcefully fall asleep and never wake up to experience another nightmare.

A violent spine chill jolted through them when something brushed through their hair, touching it, feeling it's texture and then slowly moving down along their spine. Does it feel warm? Does it feel cold? They can't even tell, their body too tense, their mind going full survival mode. They must turn around, turn around and face whatever the fuck is going on there, just turn around, turn around goddamnit!

When the touch was past their lower back and was roaming through their hips and thighs, their body finally snapped out from it's stillness, allowing to look back. To their surprise... No one was near the bed, no one who could touch them or cast a shadow, shadow that was now completely gone. They sigh with mild relief, it was nothing, probably some messed up sleep paralisis.

They were about to go to sleep but a flash of white made them freeze. Right next to the doorway, was standing a tall broad figure of a man, still like a statue, his shoulders being the only thing that rised and fell with each deep breath he took. Another spine chill runned through (Y/N)'s body, he's been standing there, watching them and their sister sleep.

That sick fuck.

What does he even want? What is the point? Is he so paranoid about them calling the police? Is this for the sake of his own entertainment? To watch them slowly break and savour the way their sanity slips away? His whole existence feels like a huge taunt to them...

They let out a low frustrated groan, not having any extra energy to deal with this nonsense they slowly turn back and lay down properly, hugging their sister close and replaying their own words in their mind, keeping themselves sane and hopeful...

"I'll figure this out."

"We'll get through this."

"I promise..."

. . .

It's honestly impressive that (Y/N) managed to fall asleep again... Well, the kind of 'waking up numerous times through the night' type of asleep. They instantly search the room with their gaze, and to their relief, no almost 7ft tall murderous man was spotted, not anymore at least.

A soft yawn caught their attention, (S/N) lazily stretches and then hugs her dinosaur plushie back- Wait, plushie...?

—"Uh... (S/N)?"—

—"Mmh?"— she sleepily looks at you.

—"Where did you get that toy?..."— you say, slowly pointing at the purple fluffy Ankylosaurus.

—"Uh? Oh! Waldazar. You gave me it at night silly."— she innocently giggles. —"I was having nightmares, then you nudged me a bit and gave it to me, remember?"—

(S/N) innocent smile fades at the sight of (Y/N)'s confused and pale face. They... They couldn't be the one to give her the toy, they haven't let go of her or left the bed in the whole night, and the toy was in her room goddamnit!...Unless...

They glance at the door.

Unless he did it...

#nothomegal fic #michael myers #rz michael myers #rz michael myers x reader #slasher x reader #gn reader #halloween #michael myers x reader

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lovecoree · 1 year

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𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒 — 𝐁𝐓𝐒

pair: bts x short blackfem!reader

synopsis: head canons of being with BTS members.

warning: reader is black coded, reader uses she/her prns, reader have Trinidad and tabago Caribbean roots, let me know if I miss anything!

a/n: requested by @lelewright1234

𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐒𝐄𝐎𝐊𝐉𝐈𝐍

obsessed with your cooking. I’m talking about the best food he ever had in his life. Jin loves trying different foods. When it come to you cooking for him he’s always thankful and loves the food. “I can’t wait to eat your delicious food babe!”

You and seokjin have been dating for 6 months and he’s already thinking about popping the question.

The location is beautiful. Nice sunset view, the bright beautiful ocean, the sand that feels nice on your toes as he gets down on one knee, opening up the black velvet box revealing the big diamond rock.

It was beautiful and perfect.

Of course you said yes. Being with him was amazing and he could say the same.

Enjoying being newlyweds as y’all both explore each other’s culture is beautiful and fun and would bring so much happy memories.

𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐉𝐎𝐎𝐍

Married for three years and have one daughter.

Namjoon taking pictures and videos of you and your four year old daughter dancing to machel Montano songs. Smiling as you and your daughter laugh together.

Namjoon trying to figure out how to fix y’all daughters hair for school.

“Princess you have beautiful hair.”

You watched as Namjoon put y’all daughters hair into two big bush pigtails perfectly.

“Not bad.” You smiled. “Learned from the best.” He smiled kissing you on the lips.

𝐌𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐈

Helps you out around the house making sure to tease you as you waddle your way into the kitchen.

You’re five months pregnant and you’re expecting a baby boy!

You pout as you try your best to grab a cup from the cabinet, Yoongi comes up behind you grabbing your favorite cup and sitting it on the counter, kissing your cheek he smiled while rubbing your baby bump.

“My short baby.” Your pout only made him tease you more.

“Ok, make your own food tonight.” Your thick accent coming out whenever your mood swings kick in.

Yoongi immediately stops laughing and try his best to convince you to let him eat your amazing food.

“Ok baby I’m sorry.”

𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐎𝐊

loves..I mean LOVES the carnivals.

He’s so mesmerized by the way you dance, smiling as you dance to the beat. Your red costume complimenting your skin great, your hair nicely done. You are beautiful!

He couldn’t take his eyes off of you the whole night.

You send him a sly wink when you got closer, moving your hips as he tries to catch his breath.

You are even more happy to teach him how to dance to your music when he ask you once y’all both got home.

Him giving you a nice massage after you change out of your costume and wrapped up your hair.

“You were amazing baby, I can’t wait to see you perform again.”

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐉𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐍

Been married for two years and still gets shy seeing you in your costumes for the festivals you attend.

You find it cute as he tries his best to look at your eyes the whole time.

Once alone he’s not afraid to roam his hands on your body.

“You look beautiful jagiya.”

Talks about having kids together.

One girl and one boy.

“Imagine walking around pregnant, you’ll look stunning.”

“You’ll make a wonderful mother.”

“Are kids might be short since we both lack height.”

“HEY!”

𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐓𝐀𝐄𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐍𝐆

Brags about your cooking to his group.

“Yup my beautiful girlfriend made me a delicious meal.”

“She makes the best food ever.”

His parents making you lunch for you when you go to work.

Your boyfriend leaving cute notes in the lunchbox for you.

“Have a lovely day babe.”

“Don’t over work yourself <3”

“I miss you already.”

Being a nurse comes in handy, but sometimes Taehyung use it for any excuse as possible.”

“Look baby, I’m bleeding badly.”

“Tae.. it’s just a paper cut.”

𝐉𝐄𝐎𝐍 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐊𝐎𝐎𝐊

Teases you..I mean full on teases you as a hobby.

“You need help reaching that.”

“My short girlfriend needs help, hmm?”

“Aww are you mad at me? I’m sorry babe.” No matter how much he apologizes he gots a playful grin plastered on his face.

Takes care off you

Loves watching you get ready for work

Friday nights y’all both watch a movie together and enjoy the food you prepare.

Carries you to bed when you fall asleep through half of the movie.

“Good night beautiful.”

#black reader #fluff #black fem reader #bts #bts x black girl #bts x black reader #bts x female reader #bts x poc #bts x reader #bts seokjin #bts namjoon #yoongi #hoseok #bts jimin #bts taehyung #jungkook #bts fic

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starklyscifi · 6 months

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We Walk With Ghosts

A flash fiction story by EJ Stark, written for @flashfictionfridayofficial’s prompt “torn veil”

Her pursuit of the perfect fall photo lured her deep into the woods. One more tree. One more photo because look at how beautiful it was. Her frantic attempts to capture the fall colors drew her into the part of the foreset she had never been in. She wasn’t scared. These woods were sandwiched between the mall and a bunch of houses. It was quicker to cut through the woods than walk all the way around into the neighborhood, which resulted in a well worn dirt path through the trees.

She always wondered why the city didn’t just put in a walking path. But such thoughts were far from her mind now. The pictures continued to show lush summer forests with just a hint of yellow, green overwhelming everything like a virus.

Sam threw her phone. She didn’t understand how the brilliant yellow in front of her could show up like that in a photo. But it wasn’t entirely yellow. She could see that now. It was still summer foliage compared to the tree behind it. That bright red maple she had stupidly missed.

Retrieving her phone and wiping the mud from the lens, she ventured deeper into the forest. The trees grew older as she walked.

A sickly sweet smell permeated the air.

She did not know how long she had been chasing the next bright tree. But her phone would not take anymore photos, telling her the camera roll was full. Frustrated, she deleted a broad swath of photos.

She didn’t care what time it was, intent only on reach that patch of delicate red orange color she glimpsed in front of her. The smell grew stronger.

It was a clearing with a single apple tree, in full fall bloom.

The ground was covered in apples. They sank beneath her feet, coated her white tennis shoes in their soft flesh. Her eyes watered with the sweetness.

And there stood a man, with sunken eyes and hollow cheeks, dressed all in black.

His neck creaked like the old stairs in a haunted house as he turned his head. His eyes were gone, two black holes staring out of his skull at her.

Sam ran.

She fell twice. Mud splattered her t-shirt. Bursting through the tree line, she was overwhelmed by the roar of cars splashing through wet roads.

. . .

“You’re soaked,” Mandy helpfully pointed out as Sam stumbled in the door.

Sam peeled her coat off, tried to force the soaked tennis shoes off her feet.

“Come on, we’re going to be late.”

She looked up to see Mandy holding out a pile of clothes. Sam took the clothes and fifteen minutes later found herself dressed as a witch, complete with dollar store hat and Mandy telling her to keep her eyes closed while she finished the “wicked cat eye” she was doing.

“Jesus, Mandy, are you trying to make her look like a cartoon character?”

Leah was a nurse who had complained about nothing else since she got her schedule telling her she was working Halloween night. She was already in her scrubs, leaning against the door to Mandy’s room.

“We all know you’re just bitter.” Mandy swept her makeup brushes into a dresser drawer and shoved Sam towards the door.

“You girls be careful,” Leah said with a wink, “The veil is thin tonight after all.”

. . .

They were hitting up the city’s carnival in the park before heading to the bars, where Leah made them promise to still be when she got off. A fog had sprung up. Sam didn’t have to ask Mandy to take the long way around the woods. The carnival was packed by the time they arrived, child screaming in delight and music drifting off the carousel.

“I didn’t expect this to be so popular,” Sam said, smiling back at a cute guy dressed up in a poor Beatles costume.

“It’s not that busy,” Mandy said with a shrug.

Sam glanced back at Ringo, but the sidewalk was empty. Something like fire light flickered across it, but she didn’t see any torches.

“The 70s are really making a comeback,” Sam said, after seeing bell bottoms for the seventh time. A guy in a trippy shirt gave her a look as she and Mandy brushed past him, on the hunt for cotton candy.

“What?” Mandy was scanning the horizon, in search of sugar.

“The costumes aren’t even inspired, I mean, they just look like normal people.”

“What are you on about?” Mandy said.

Sam pointed at a girl dressed in a long old-fashioned dress, complete with heavy milk bucket.

Mandy rolled her eyes, taking off in the direction of the spotted sugar rush. The girls walked around the park making fun of the costumes appearing and disappearing in fog while they ate the sticky cotton candy. Children screamed on a min-rollercoaster.

“If you’re going to try for the 1920s, at least put in some effort,” Sam said.

“What is with you tonight?” Mandy giggled.

“I’m just saying, at least go full flapper. Who picks an everyday outfit from a hundred years ago as a Halloween costume?”

Mandy giggled again. She did that when she got nervous.

“What is up with you?” Sam asked, finishing a cup of hot cider spiked with rum and throwing the tiny paper cup in the trash. It bounced out and onto the ground.

“Did you get into Leah’s weed?” Mandy mouthed the word “weed”. She had been shocked when Leah, the ostensibly responsible nurse, had wiped out her trusty Altoids tin a week into all of them living together.

“Do I seem high to you?”

“You’re seeing people who aren’t there. So yeah, maybe.”

Cold sweat dripped down Sam’s back. She looked again for the people with the bad costumes. They were gone. Normal families shuffled around the carnival.

He was back. Standing in the center of the crowd. Looking right at her with his non-eyes.

Without taking a step he was right in front of her. Nose to nose. Behind him, the sky was filled with flying things from her nightmares.

“Do you see?”

She met Death under an apple tree and now eternity was laid out on a soccer field.

#horror #flash fiction #starkly mine #writing #flash fiction friday #writing community #writers on tumblr

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maladaptive-day-dreams · 1 year

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Haunted House

Scare actor!Eddie x fem!reader, smutty smut smut 18+ (minors dni), 2.3k words

Loosely inspired by fryboy TikTok…

CW: pre-established relationship, p in v, unprotected sex (pls be smart), slight exhibitionism (almost walked in on), dirty talk, oral (m and f receiving), a lil dom!Eddie if you squint, praise and degradation

Posting this at 11:55pm on October 31st so enjoy this as a lil Halloween Special 🎃👻 (unedited, I’m so sorry if there are any typos or anything, also sorry if it’s shit it’s kinda rushed) __________

Taglist: @eddiemunsonfuxks @hawkinsroyaloutcast @a1mzcruml3y

Somehow Dustin convinced Eddie to be a scare actor when the Halloween carnival came to Hawkins. And somehow Eddie convinced you to do something a lil risky on his last night as a “Haunter.”

You had gone to almost every Fright Night of the season to support Eddie and also spend time with Robin and Nancy, but this time you went by yourself—and dressed how Eds asked you to so nicely that morning.

“Please baby,” he whined, nuzzling into your neck as you look at the scraps of fabric on the bed that Eddie called a costume. “You’ll look so fucking pretty, and it’ll be so easy to slip right in.” You could hear his smirk as his hands groped your front through your pajamas. You mewled and ground back into him, huffing out a “fine” and trying to fein annoyance even though you were already getting turned on thinking about his plans.

Eddie was a suited up sad clown. White shirt, black slacks and suspenders. Face painted white with black triangles above and below his eyes and an exaggerated smile from the same black paint. He’s been that character the entire month, his tall and lanky but fit figure perfect for towering over carnival goers when he walks around and also in his designated haunted house—there were 3 houses total, the most they’ve had.

He told you early on in the season that he wanted you to suck him off in a room of his haunted house. You two talked it over and decided the last night of the carnival was the best option so he wouldn’t potentially loose his job. With how insatiable Eddie was when he got home from his shifts—always eager to fuck you or eat you out—that he might not want to stop at a blowjob, so here you are, in a skimpy nun outfit. Short skirt, coif, collar and cross necklace. Knee high tights held up by a garter belt that leads up beneath the skirt of your costume. No panties and no bra, just in case. You did your makeup as a smeared smokey eye and red lipstick so the events of the night would hopefully go unnoticed by anyone you pass when you leave after.

Because Eddie worked at the carnival, you got in for free every time you wanted to visit him and tonight was no different. Showing the entrance worker your ticket, he let you in but not before sizing up your costume. You walked straight in and paused in the courtyard looking around at the decorations. Basking in the glow of the ferris wheel lights and the string lights along the pathway. In no time there was a presence behind you, tall and familiar. Eddie grasped your hand and led you to the back of his haunted house, pushing you against the temporary structure and kissing you deeply. All tongue and teeth and hips ground into yours.

“Hi baby,” he murmurs under his breath as he kisses down your neck.

“Hi Eds,” you breath out, heat already beginning to pool between your thighs.

He pauses his kisses to look at you. “Okay so, the Haunters in my house all have break right now. We have 30 minutes before we open the doors again so the next houses Haunters can take their breaks.”

You nod fervently. “Ok.”

Eddie smiles, his makeup making it look sinister. He grabs your hand and you enter the house through the back door. You’re first greeted with a dressing room where all the scare actors for that house get ready before their shifts. Eddie wastes no time, dragging you through that room and on to the next. You trust his sure movements as he weaves you in and out of rooms through side doors and secret passages every now and again he looks back at you with eyes blown wide from desire.

Then suddenly you’re stopping, Eddie’s pulling you to his chest and kissing you deeply, open mouthed and wet. Biting and tugging on your bottom lip as he pulls away. Your eyes that closed on instinct open to see a dining room set, dressed up skeletons in some chairs and a haunting meal on the table before them.

He leans his back against the table.

“Fuck,” he says taking in your costume. “Looks even better than I thought it would.”

He palms himself through his slacks, drinking in your scantily clad body. When his eyes meet yours again you know what he wants so you drop to your knees as he takes the suspenders from his shoulders.

“That’s a good girl,” he smirks from above you.

You look up at him as you reach for his waist. Your fingers work to undo the button and zipper on his pants, eagerly pulling both them and his boxers down his thighs. His dick slaps his stomach once free from its confines and your mouth waters.

“Eager little baby, huh?” he tsks taking his cock in his own hand. He strokes himself, “open up.”

You open your mouth to him and he taps the head of his dripping erection on your tongue before sliding his dick all the way into your hot wet mouth. You hollow your cheeks when his mushroom head hits the back of your throat and revel in the moan that leaves Eddie’s black lips.

“Fuck. You gonna let me use your mouth like the little slut you are?” He doesn’t let you respond, dragging his cock in and out of your mouth in harsh thrusts, hitting the back of your throat. You hold eye contact with Eddie as he abuses your throat, one hand coming to rest on the back of your coif-covered head. Once your eyes begin to water and spit begins to drip down your chin you squeeze his thigh letting him know you need a minute to breathe. He pulls himself from your lips with a wet pop and strokes himself.

You replace his hand with yours and pump him from tip to base a few times before licking the underside of his cock and sucking on the head. You reclaim his eye contact as you take all of him in your mouth again, bobbing your head and hollowing your cheeks. The hand that was on his cock moves to his balls to squeeze and knead them. Your free hand moves to between your own thighs, legs and cunt wet with your own arousal. Eddie’s eyes leave yours to follow your hand down under your skirt.

As you start to trace circles on your throbbing clit, his head falls back and his dick twitches on your tongue letting you know he’s close.

“That’s it babygirl, touch yourself while you suck me off. Do you get wet letting me use you like my little toy?” He teases.

You hum around his cock and continue to play with his balls as his hand finds its place back on the back of your head, fucking your mouth like he needs to.

Eddie’s hips shudder and he pulls you fully onto his cock, your nose nestled in the curls at his base as he cums hard into your mouth. Once he’s spent, Eddie releases his hold on you and slowly drags his dick from your lips. He watches intently as you swallow and use your thumb to wipe the cum that dripped onto your chin. You take your thumb into your mouth, sucking it like you just were his cock and Eddie moans at the sight.

“Up.”

You do as he says and stand on wobbly legs. Eddie takes your mouth in a hot and heady kiss, tasting himself on your tongue with a groan. He holds you to him as he kisses you, his softened dick resting heavy on your thigh. He slowly moves you in a circle, your back falling to lean against the table.

“Eds?” You ask as he lifts you onto the table. “I thought we only had time for you?”

“I don’t care, I need to taste you,” Eddie growls as he kneels before you, head dipping below your short skirt.

As soon as you feel his hot breath on your wet cunt, one of your hands goes behind you to hold you up on the table while the other finds leverage in his hair. Your whole body shudders as he licks up your folds and sucks your clit into his warm mouth.

“Eddie!” You scream.

He laughs against your pussy and pulls his mouth off you. You whine at the loss of contact and look down at him, his lips glistening from your arousal.

“Gotta be quiet baby, don’t want anyone walking in on us do you?”

His head dips back below your skirt as his tongue works his way through your folds and runs circles around your clit. You bite your lip to hold in your sounds of pleasure. His mouth stays on your bundle of nerves while two fingers slip easily into your dripping hole. Both of your hands move into Eddie’s hair and your back fully meets the table below you heals digging into his shoulders as he continues to ravage you in the open room of a haunted house. His fingers piston and curl into you, reaching that spot deep inside that has the coil in your stomach snapping. Thighs shuddering around his head, Eddie continues to finger fuck you through your orgasm. When your legs go limp on his shoulders he removes himself from between your legs, lips and chin wet with slick, all paint gone.

“Good thing this face paint is body safe,” he teases. You laugh and pull yourself into a sitting position, righting your skirt.

“How much longer do we have?”

“No idea,” he smiles wickedly.

Eddie pulls your hips to the edge of the table and kisses you deeply. His cock, hard again, rubs against your sensitive cunt and you both moan at the contact.

“Gotta stay quiet,” Eddie says as he kisses you silent while sliding his dick easily into your warm, slick pussy. Your hands wrap around his neck, holding him to you as he thrusts in and out of you. Breathy moans and mewls leave your lips as the head of his cock hits the just the right spot. Your forehead falls into his chest as you look down to where he disappears into you. “Fuck, Eds.”

“Hello?” a voice calls from somewhere in the house. Your eyes go wide as they meet Eddie’s. His hand covers your mouth just as you were about to ask him what to do. He keeps eye contact with you, still fucking into you with purpose, holding your noises back with his hand. “Hello?” the voice asks again. You hear footsteps nearby and squeeze your eyes shut. Only opening them when Eddie’s hand leaves your mouth as the footsteps move farther away and a door closes.

“Faster,” you whisper to Eddie. He happily obliges, pulling your hips into him as fast and hard as he’s thrusting in to you. It’s amazing that whoever came to investigate the noises didn’t hear the lewd sounds of Eddie’s cock in your soaking cunt.

You reach a hand down between your bodies and start to rub circles into your abused and sensitive clit. The coil in your stomach tightening with every round of the nub. Your other hand reaches up to Eddie’s neck. With his hair in a bun your hand meets warm sweaty skin and you pull him towards you, capturing his lips in a messy, open-mouthed kiss. Swallowing each others moans as your walls squeeze around his dick.

“I’m close,” Eddie says lowly.

“Me too,” you whine, trying to hold him as close as you can. His hips stutter and stall as he cums deep in your cunt. Ropes of his seed painting your warm walls takes you over the edge and your gushing around his cock.

Eddie groans as he pulls himself from you. He rights himself—despite the sticky mess that is his dick and the hair at the base of his member—while watching his cum leak out of your gaping hole. Your cunt clenches around nothing and the warm slick that coats your thighs has you wishing you had underwear hidden somewhere in your costume.

Your breath hitches as Eddie drops to his knees once more, opening your thighs and licking up the mess from your legs. He goes to clean up your pussy but you push him away, oversensitive and sore. He stands and helps you off the table.

“You’re makeup is all messed up,” you laugh thumb running over his now pink lips and tan chin.

“Yeah I need you to fix that,” he chuckles. “The makeup girl left for the night already since we only have two hours left.”

You nod your head and Eddie takes your hand, slowly leading you back to the dressing room at the back of the haunted house. Your knees are weak but you make it there easily.

Eddie takes a seat at his chair and points to the white and black cream paint by the pile of his regular clothes. You take the compact and the two brushes beside it and step between Eddie’s open legs, clenching your thighs together when you feel Eddie’s cum dripping out of you again. His hands wrap around your clenched thighs, rubbing up and down the backs of them, as he looks up at you while you fix his chin and lips to get him as close to unfazed as possible. Once you finish, Eddie stands and pecks you on the lips before leading you out the back door again.

“See you at home,” you smile up at Eddie.

“Love you,” he smiles back.

“Love you more.”

You peck him on the lips once more before making your exit of the park, feeling his cum and yours trickling down your legs as you walk.

“God I can’t wait for next Halloween,” you giggle to yourself once you reach your car.

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shingekinohyrulewrites · 11 months

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Unteachable

After a chance encounter at your town's Summer's End Carnival, you hook up with a hottie.

Only to find out he's your English teacher.

Read first chapter here

Read previous chapter here

Halloween was Friday, and Momo was throwing a huge party at her mansion. She had obviously invited you all, promising to have lots of fun, food, and even drinks. You had all been surprised at that last part, as Momo was the most cautious one of you all.

“What? The perfect Momo engaging in underage drinking?” Ochaco had gasped.

“Well,” Momo flushed. “We’re about to go off to college. I mean, shouldn’t we have one crazy party before then?”

Normally, you all opted for a group costume but Momo had mentioned there would be a costume contest so you all decided to pick your own. The years before you had always chosen some cute, clean costume that never broke the rules. However, this year, you wanted to do something sexy and had been scrolling online to get ideas. Kai had also asked you to stop by and see him Halloween night, and you wanted to surprise him with a hot costume.

On Halloween night you had joined the rest of the girls at Momo’s home to get ready. Given how huge the place was, you each were given a guest bedroom and bathroom to put your costumes on and also to spend the night if you got too drunk. You had decided on a Devil costume, as you had been a little devilish sleeping with your teacher. The top was a red mesh one, showcasing the red push up bra you were wearing underneath. The bottom consisted of a short red skirt, paired with a lacey pair of thigh highs. Mesh, fingerless gloves served as an accessory, along with the trademark horns on the top of your head. Smiling, you finished applying red lipstick before applying finishing spray to seal your smokey eyed look.

“Hey, are you ready to - oh my god.”

Momo had come to check on you, eyes wide as she took you in. She was dressed as Princess Peach, her dark hair replaced with a blonde wig and the trademark crown on top.

“Whoa, you look beyond sexy. Kirishima is going to lose his shit.”

You flushed, turning your head away as you muttered a quick thanks.

“We need to finish setting up downstairs. Can you help with the drinks?”

An hour later you were two beers in, standing next to Shouto as you played beer pong. Despite his serious nature, he was really good at beer pong and the two of you had won three games straight. Since it was your first time drinking, you were already tipsy and were swaying against him.

“Sho, save some wins for the rest of us!” Denki groaned.

You giggled, leaning against your partner as you grinned up at him.

“He’s just too good, Denki! Just admit defeat.”

Shouto politely wrapped an arm around your waist. He had dressed as Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon, his heterochromatic eyes studying you behind a black mask.

“Are you okay? Perhaps we should stop so you can sober up a bit.”

“No, no, I’m just having some fun!”

You gave him a squeeze, giggling as you felt him stiffen before relaxing.

“Yo, stop flirting you two!”

Shouto said the game was over as he was going to take you to the kitchen to get some water. As you were walking, he leaned down to murmur in your ear.

“You look amazing, by the way. That costume really . . . accentuates your figure.”

His eyes flickered down to your cleavage, smirking as he gently guided you into the kitchen. Although the idea of flirting with Shouto was fun, you knew you would be seeing Kai later on and didn’t want to step out on him. Instead, you opted to reply with a shy giggle and complimenting Shouto’s costume.

“I’ll come check on you. Drink some water and relax.”

It didn’t take long before your friends came looking for you.

“We’re going to play Truth or Dare upstairs! Come on!”

Your entire friend group was sitting in a circle, with an empty beer bottle in the middle. Momo started the game off, spinning the bottle until it landed on Deku. His freckled face flushed as he stuttered out dare. A slow grin grew on Momo’s face as her eyes flickered to Ochaco.

“I dare you to make out with Ochaco in front of us.”

The game continued on, with Denki streaking through the house, Tsui admitting she had hooked up with an upperclassman, and Bakugou jumping off the balcony into the pool. When the bottle landed on you, you felt your chest tighten. You knew that you would be dared to kiss Kirishima and you didn’t want to get his hopes up. With a light buzz going, you chose truth and held your breath.

“Are you still a virgin? Last I checked, you hadn’t been laid.”

You took a long sip of your drink, cheeks red as you tried to avoid the question.

“It’s okay if you still are!” Denki slurred.

“Um, actually I’m . . . not.”

The whole room got silent. Kirishima looked hurt for a moment, his expression falling before he tried to resume a neutral expression. Everyone else was surprised, their eyes wide and mouths open as they took in your statement.

“WHAT?!?”

“When did this happen?!”

“With who?!”

The room felt much warmer as you nervously took another long sip. You were teetering on the edge of becoming drunk, and you knew you had to be careful with your words.

“Um, it was over the summer at the festival.”

“Wait, is that why you disappeared for a bit?”

The boys glanced over at Tsui, who was staring at you inquisitively. You gave a slow nod, looking away awkwardly.

“Who was it? Was it a one night stand?”

“Er, no,” you shook your head. “I’ve been, uh, seeing him since school started.”

Your heart dropped as you saw Kirishima’s expression fall even more. He grabbed at his beer can and began chugging it quickly.

“Why haven’t you brought him around?”

“He’s from out of town. It’s . . . pretty much long distance.”

“Is he cute? Do you have pictures of him?” Momo asked, eyes sparkling.

Crap.

“He is, and I do, but I . . . just want to keep it to myself a little longer.”

“He has to be hot then,” Ochacho grinned. “And he must be great in bed.”

“Oh, so that’s who gave you those hickeys on your chest.”

The entire group turned to stare at Shouto. He was drunk but was somehow passing as sober.

“What? It’s hard not to stare at your tits. I thought it was the mesh but you can tell what hickeys are.”

You flushed. Kai had surprised you after cheer practice and had fucked you under the bleachers, leaving you covered in hickeys as a way to mark you as his. You had figured the mesh would help them blend in, but leave it to Shouto to point them out.

“Thanks, Sho,” you sighed. “Well, the cat’s out of the bag now, I guess.”

“Well, congrats!” Denki grinned. “Must be good to finally get laid, huh?”

Standing up, you encouraged the group to keep playing while you went downstairs to get water. They went on, ignoring you as you quietly slipped out and carefully made your way down the stairs. Thankfully the kitchen was empty, and you relished in the loneliness as you sipped on a water bottle.

“Hey.”

Kirishima entered, his hands stuffed into the pants of his pirate costume. His cheeks had a light flush from all the alcohol he had been consuming. An awkward silence ensued between the both of you, and you waited for him to break it.

“Um, congrats on your boyfriend. I had no idea.”

“K,” you began, but he held up a hand.

“I’m honestly hurt that you didn’t bother to tell me about him. We’ve been best friends since we were kids, we tell each other everything. I mean, I told you when I lost my virginity, as awkward as it was.”

You bit your lip, anxiously playing with the bottle cap of the water you were drinking.

“I’m also hurt that you haven’t bothered to introduce me to him. If he’s that important to you, I think your best friend deserves to meet him.”

“It’s long distance,” you replied quietly. “It’s hard enough already to see him.”

He hesitated a moment, seeming about to say something but figuring it was best not to. Instead, he turned to return upstairs, not bothering to look at you as he left.

It’s probably best to leave right now.

Your phone was upstairs in the guest room, and you rushed up the stairs to find it. The screen was flooded with notifications, among them a few messages from Kai. Unlocking your phone, you quickly clicked on his name and hit call. He answered on the second ring, the sound of a movie playing in the background.

“Hi, angel. How’s the party?”

“Can you pick me up? I’m ready to go.”

“Have you been drinking?” he teased.

“Just come get me,” you begged.

You gathered your belongings and went back downstairs, making sure that no one you knew saw you. Kai had agreed to meet you a block over to avoid anyone spotting you two together. He arrived fairly quickly, pulling up five minutes after you got to the spot. You didn’t miss the way his eyes raked over your figure, his hands immediately reaching out to grab at any part of your exposed body.

“You’re really tempting me right now, you true little Devil, you,” he sighed.

Leaning across the center console, you grabbed the back of his neck and yanked him towards you, smashing your lips against his. You let your tongue push into his mouth, your fingers tangling in his hair in a desperate attempt to feel him against you.

“Whoa there, let’s drive off before someone sees us,” Kai laughed as he pulled away.

“I’ll spend the night. My parents think I’m crashing at Momo’s.”

He smirked as he started his car, pulling into the street and turning towards the direction of his apartment. One of his hands came to rest on your thigh, the warmth from it sending a tingling sensation along your skin. He asked you questions about the party, asking if you had eaten before drinking and how much you had had to drink. You felt yourself shrinking in your seat as he frowned at your response, sighing before squeezing your thigh.

“Okay, I’ll make you a light meal to help you sober up. I doubt we want to be dealing with a hangover in the morning.”

As he said, he quickly made you a meal of scrambled eggs and bacon, which you devoured. You were beginning to feel a bit sleepy, and the two of you curled up on his couch as Frankenstein played on his TV. Although you wanted to get more comfortable and change out of your costume, you were too tired to do so. Kai brushed your hair absently, letting you rest your head on your shoulder as you fell asleep.

You woke up a few hours later to Kai carrying you to his bed. The apartment was shrouded in darkness, causing you to feel confused. Upon feeling you stir, he paused in his steps and angled his head to peer down at you.

“Oh, I’m sorry angel. Did I wake you?”

“S’fine,” you mumbled. “What time is it?”

“A little after midnight. It’s okay, love, go back to sleep.”

He gently laid you down on the bed, careful not to wrinkle your costume. You sat up, blinking in the darkness in an attempt to discern his figure. A soft click echoed in the room, and one of his bedside lamps was turned on. In the soft glow of the light, you found yourself staring at Kai’s profile. His golden eyes seemed to twinkle as he smiled down at you, the sharp line of his nose catching your attention. You let your eyes linger on his lips before flicking up to meet his eyes. He knelt on the bed, slowly crawling towards you on his knees.

“I’ve been wanting to fuck you in that outfit since I picked you up earlier.”

Your breath caught in your throat as his knees bumped against your feet. As if on instinct you spread your legs, allowing him to settle between them. His hands moved up your legs, gripping onto your thigh highs and snapping them against your skin. You moaned softly, turning your head into the pillows as he grabbed onto your skirt and began to slide it down.

“The thigh highs stay on,” he demanded.

Kai pushed your red thong to the side, letting a finger drag up your slit to collect your growing wetness. You let out another moan, jerking your hips up in an attempt to get more. He clicked his tongue, retracting his finger and instead grabbed at the bottom of your mesh top, pulling it up over your bra. The bed creaked under you as he lowered himself towards you, squeezing your breasts before leaning down to pull your bra down and put a nipple into his mouth. Your hands grabbed at his sweatpants, clumsily untying them and trying to pull them off. Kai chuckled before helping you finish the task, pressing a quick kiss to you before returning to your chest.

“I’m so glad you’re staying the night. Think you can keep up with me until morning?”

#boku no hero academia #boku no hero imagines #my hero academia #my hero academia imagines #overhaul #overhaul imagines #overhaul x reader #overhaul x y/n #kai chisaki #kai chisaki imagine #kai chisaki x reader #kai chisaki x y/n #modern au #teacher student

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ragingbookdragon · 3 years

Text

Batsis Meet The Batboys

Batsis x Batfamily One-Shot

Word Count: 4.1K Warnings: Explicit Language, Angst

Author's Note: Y'all, I am slowly but surely making good on that promise to get all my stories reposted--also editing them so they're nice and neat! Enjoy! -Thorne

Dick:

She hummed in amusement as her father grunted and begrudgingly passed over another five into the man’s hand. “You know…it’s good to know that my perfect father actually sucks at something.” She turned and popped a piece of cotton candy into her mouth. “And it’s carnival games.”

He grunted again when he missed the balloon, and he handed her the darts. “Why don’t you try it, sweetheart?”

She handed him the cotton candy with a grin and took the darts, holding one up and making the repeated motion of throwing it. She couldn’t help but feel a little cocky as she asked, “Dad, if I get this, what toy do you want?”

She nodded to the bat in the corner. “I was thinking about the stuffed bat. Eh, dad?” He glared at her, but she laughed as she tossed the weighted dart, watching as it hit center and she pointed to the bat. “I’ll take that one.”

The man handed it to her, and they walked off; she held it up to her father. “Here. A bat for Batman,” she quipped, and he grunted at her.

“That isn’t funny, (Y/N).”

She shrugged and retorted, “It’s a little funny. You just have no sense of humor because you’re a stick in the mud.” (Y/N) shoved the stuffed animal in her backpack before reaching up and taking her father’s hand; she glanced down at her wristwatch on the opposite hand and said, “The performances don’t start for another twenty minutes. Want to go look at something else? I saw one of those spinning car rides. We could do that.”

When he didn’t give her response, she looked back up at him to see him staring off into the distance, his eyes set on the Wayne Enterprises tower. “Dad? You okay?”

He blinked as if startled from his thoughts and he directed his gaze down at her and after a few moments, he nodded. “Just thinking.”

“Penny for your thoughts.”

“I haven’t spent a lot of time with you.” He frowned and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, (Y/N). I haven’t been a good—”

She cut him off with a ‘pfft’. “Dad, it’s alright. I’m not angry.” (Y/N) squeezed his hand in return. “I might be young, but I’m not an idiot. I know being a dad is new for you, especially since you didn’t get to watch me grow up the first decade of my life. But what matters is that you’re here now, and you’re doing the best you can. And that’s all I ask of you.”

At her little speech, he was stunned, and after a moment he knelt down and hugged her. “I love you, sweetheart.”

(Y/N) returned the hug, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, though they were so big and broad that she couldn’t meet her hands around his back. “I love you too, dad.”

Happening to glance over his shoulder, she immediately gasped. “Dad!”

He let her go, immediately moving to protect her. “What? What is it?”

(Y/N) pointed towards a costumed family walking and greeting the people. “It’s the Flying Grayson’s!” She grabbed his hand and tugged him along in their direction. “Let’s get a picture with them!” She could hear her father chuckle behind her, but he followed, and they stepped up to the family.

(Y/N) waved at them. “Hi Mister and Missus Grayson! Can we get a picture with you?”

The man and woman smiled at them and nodded, and a boy a couple years younger than her stepped up.

He stuck out his hand. “Hi, I’m Richard Grayson. But you can call me Dick.”

(Y/N) took his hand and shook it. “(Y/N) Wayne. Nice to meet you, Dick.” She gestured to her father. “This is my dad, Bruce Wayne.”

Her father smiled and tipped his head towards the boy before handing the camera to someone and stepping beside her. She and Dick had become friends instantaneously as they slung their arms around each other’s necks, their grins cheesy and wide.

The camera flashed and the man handed Bruce the camera, and (Y/N) nodded to the family. “Thank you for taking a picture with us.” They started to walk away, but she stopped them, motioning to her dad. “Can my dad take a picture of the three of you? I know it seems a little weird, but it’d be cool to have a picture of you guys, and one with you.” They nodded at her request and she gestured to her father, watching him take the photo of the family. “Thank you!”

They waved and walked off, leaving them, and she turned to Bruce. “Wanna go find seats?” He nodded, and they began moving in the direction of the tent.

***

Time seemed to grind to a halt as (Y/N)’s heart stopped in her chest as she watched them slam into the ground. Chaos filled the tent in mere seconds, people screaming, children crying, and her father grabbed her arm. “(Y/N)—”

She nodded and pulled her arm away, already starting to make her way from her seat. “I’ve got him. Go.” She didn’t wait for his reply, hopping the seats until her feet hit the dirt ground and she broke into a sprint towards the sobbing boy in the center.

She twisted her feet and slid on the ground next to him, her heart tightened when he gazed up at her, sky blue eyes wide in agony. (Y/N) reached out, wrapping her arms around him. “I’ve got you Dick. I’ve got you kid.”

She felt his arms come around her middle as his head burrowed in her shoulder; his entire body shook with every heart-wrenching sob, and (Y/N) raised one of her hands, running it through his hair as she whispered repeatedly, “I’ve got you.”

(Y/N) heard GCPD officers shouting, and she looked up, seeing her father standing beside them. “Batman,” she whispered softly.

He glanced at her before kneeling beside them and blocking the way of the fallen couple. “You two shouldn’t look at this anymore.”

She nodded and squeezed the boy on the shoulder. “Dick. We need to get away from here.”

“I can’t…leave them.” He pulled back, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I’m…all alone.”

(Y/N) shook her head, and placed a hand on his cheek. “I’m here, Dick. You’re not alone.” His face pinched as a new round of tears sprouted in his eyes and he lowered his head, the sobs wracking his body, and she gazed up at her father’s face, knowing the agony behind the white slits. “You’re not alone.”

Jason:

She walked alongside her father, tugging at the collar of her suit. “Can’t we make a suit that doesn’t choke me as much as this collar does? I feel like I’ve got one of Ivy’s vines wrapped around my throat.” He didn’t say anything and she rolled her eyes. “Fine. Fine. Ignore me. I see how it is.”

“You’re the one who designed your suit, Batgirl. I told you to choose breathable fabric but you refused and said you wanted adequate protection like mine.”

She blinked and glared at him. “Do you get some sick pleasure from repeating my apparent failures?” He chuckled lightly, and she looked around. “Whatever…I still think you shouldn’t have parked in Crime Alley. You know there’s always trouble here.”

“The Batmobile is fine,” he said, voice tired as if he’d answered the question a hundred times before—he had.

(Y/N) hummed, nodding to the car a few feet ahead of them and quipped, “Oh, so the kid jacking the tires off it is completely normal?”

Her father looked at her split second before turning to see it, his eyes widening in disbelief as he muttered, “I don’t believe what I’m seeing.” He moved soundlessly towards the boy, her following.

“Got to give it to him. It takes some big balls to jack the Batman’s ride,” she admired and he grunted, though she knew he was in agreement, and they walked up on the oblivious boy.

She watched her father pull his ‘Put-The-Fear-Of-Batman-Into-‘Em’ stance and he cleared his throat with an exaggerated, ‘ahem’. (Y/N) snorted at the way the boy jerked, twisting to see them staring at him; she swore he’d shit himself the way the fear bled into his eyes.

Her father glared at the kid. “You do realize that’s the Batmobile, right?”

The boy’s face pinched, and he tipped his head up, his voice haughty. “Duh. You do realize you parked your car in Crime Alley, right?” (Y/N) barked a laugh, but quickly coughed when her father turned his glower to her, and he turned back to the boy just in time to see him swinging the tire iron.

“Bad move, hotshot.” Her words fell on deaf ears as she watched her father catch the tool and grip the boy by the front of his hoodie, picking him up off the ground a few feet.

He squirmed, legs kicking out for few seconds before spitting, “You want to beat up on a kid, go enlist in the GCPD like every other bully in this city.”

(Y/N) saw the gears turning in her father’s head as he leaned in, his face inches apart from the boys as he demanded, “I’m only going to ask you this once…So give some serious thought to your answer.”

The boy craned his neck, eyes narrowed as he asked, “What it is?”

Her father gave him a smirk. “Are you hungry?” The boy’s brows furrowed in suspicion, and within the next ten minutes, they were sitting on the hood of the Batmobile eating burgers and fries and sipping on milkshakes.

At one point, she’d reached over and grabbed the boy’s hands; he looked up at her and she nodded to his burger. “Slow down, Jason. You’ll eat your hand at this rate.”

He snorted but nodded, eating a little slower than before as he said, “Sorry. This is the closest thing to a home-cooked meal since I’ve had a home.” He paused and looked out at the city. “It’s funny…I was here once, looking for Wayne Manor.” He looked between them. “I was trying to case the place, but I got lost.”

Bruce looked down at the boy and questioned, “Why do you think it’s okay to steal from people?”

Jason scoffed at his question. “Are you kidding me? Look at this view.” He motioned to the buildings in the distance. “Freaking ‘Billionaire Playboy’ thinks he’s the king of the world. Pfft.”

(Y/N) elbowed him in the ribs and quipped, “Oh honey, he doesn’t think he is. He knows he is.”

The two of them cackled, but the solemn look from her father made their laughter fall short and he said, “Sometimes you just have to give people a chance Jason…they’ll usually surprise you.”

Her father’s words made Jason pause, and she saw him sink into deep thought. After a few moments, she leaned across Jason and nudged her father.

He looked at her and she tipped her head to Jason. “Does this mean he’s coming home with us?” Her father looked at him and back to her, then nodded and she shifted her arm, grinning as she wrapped it around Jason’s neck. “Well then, welcome to the family…little brother.”

Tim:

She could sense the boy following her, and after a few moments, she realized he wasn’t giving up. It wasn’t just some coincidence that they were on the same path—he wanted something from her. She glanced over her shoulder before ducking into the shadows of an alley, waiting for him to follow.

Sure enough, he stepped into the opening of the alley, looking for her, then he shook his head and stamped his foot on the ground. “No-no-no. I was so close to finding her.” He sighed and his shoulders fell in defeat as he visibly deflated.

She stepped behind him and gripped his shoulder in an steel-tight grasp, inquiring, “Why are you following me, kid?”

The kid gasped like he’d been shot as his knees collapsed beneath him, falling from her grip and to the ground. He rolled and gazed up at her with a mixture of shock and wonder as he breathed, “Batgirl.”

She glared down at him and demanded, “Answer my question before I call GCPD for you being out past curfew. Why. Are. You. Following. Me.”

He swallowed thickly before nodding rapidly. “Right. You see, I’ve been looking for you, Batgirl.”

“Yeah, I got that from the tailing. What I wanna know is, why?”

“I need to talk to you about Batman.”

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion at the mention of her father. “What’s a scrawny-ass kid like you, need to talk about Batman with me for?”

His mouth opened, then it snapped shut and he seemed to think on his answer for a moment. He looked at his hands and whispered, “It’s about your brother…Jason Todd.”

Hearing her deceased brother’s name knocked the air from her lungs and she barely managed to get the word ‘what?’ out without sucking in a breath.

He glanced up at her. “I know who you are Miss Way—”

(Y/N)’s hand shot out and she slapped it over his mouth before shaking her head. “Don’t say my name. You don’t know who’s listening.” He went silent as she removed her hand and held it out for him. “C’mon. If you know who I am then that means you know everyone’s identity.”

He nodded mutely and she clicked a button on her wrist; A few moments later, her bike pulled in front of the alley. “Get up. We need to go have a chat.” He took her hand, letting her haul him to his feet, and they walked over to the bike. (Y/N) climbed on before nodding to him. ��Get on and hold on.” He followed her order, sitting in front of her, and she took off.

***

A few minutes later, they were stepping into one of the safe houses her dad set up around the city. She closed the door and flicked on the light, pulling the cowl off before gesturing to the table. “Sit.” He obeyed and she opened the refrigerator, pulling out two sodas. (Y/N) turned, taking the seat across from him and sliding his drink over. “Now. Who are you and how do you know about all this?”

He nodded and pulled out a giant book, placing it on the table. “My name is Timothy Jackson Drake, I’m thirteen, and I’ve been following the exploits of Batman, Batgirl, and Robin since I was two.”

(Y/N) cocked a brow at that. “Two’s a little young to be able to remember us.”

Tim looked at the book and nodded. “I know…but I have a photographic memory, and I remember the first time I saw Batman.”

“And that was?”

He paused and his voice quiet. “The night Dick Grayson’s parents were murdered.” (Y/N)’s eyes went wide, and he drew his eyes to hers. “I remember Dick swinging to the ground as his parents climbed the ladder. His mom went first, and his dad followed. Then…the rope snapped, and…they fell.”

Tim quieted considerably and she had to strain to hear him as he recounted, “I got scared, and I looked away. I couldn’t watch…then I heard the crash and Dick sobbing. And I saw you run down and hug him.” He met her gaze. “Then I saw this giant, dark shape falling towards you, and I thought it was going to hurt you two. But then I realized Batman wasn’t trying to hurt you…he was trying to help you both. And he went from being a monster…to becoming some great Dark Knight.”

Tim looked at her. “From them on, I’ve been having the same dream, over and over. I—”

(Y/N) raised a hand, stopping him. “When did you find out who we were?”

He nodded. “When I was nine, I was watching TV and I saw you and Dick, well, Robin and Batgirl. You—”

“Batgirl and Robin. In that order.” She pointed to herself with a face that could only be something akin to the ‘first-child-syndrome’. “I was first.”

A smile grew across Tim’s face and he nodded. “Right, Batgirl and Robin. Anyway, I saw you two on TV, and I watched Dick perform a quadruple somersault.” He grinned rather proudly of himself and declared, “I knew that somersault like I knew my own name. About six months later, Robin made his first appearance. And if Dick Grayson was Robin and Bruce Wayne’s ward, then Bruce Wayne was Batman, and you were Batgirl.” (Y/N) stared at Tim in shock, too stunned to even form words.

He shifted nervously under her gaze. “Um…Miss (Y/N)? Batgirl? Are you alright?”

(Y/N) blinked and shook her head as she muttered, “Holy shit, kid. What are you?”

“I—I’m sorry?”

She huffed a laugh and grinned at him. “You’ve got some damn good detective skills to have figured all that out.” Tim smiled sheepishly under the praise, then (Y/N) stood up from the table, stretching her arms over her head until she heard her joints pop, then she stared at him. “You got a place to sleep tonight?”

“I…no. Not at the moment.”

(Y/N) placed her hands on her hips and hummed. “And why’s that?”

“Well, in the course of looking for you, I’ve also been looking for Dick. But I can’t find him. He’s good at disappearing.”

She nodded and pointed to a room. “I know where Dick is. Go sleep in the guest room, and tomorrow we can go find him.”

As she walked past him, heading for her room, he questioned dubiously, “You’d do that for me?”

(Y/N) stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “Isn’t that what family does?”

Tim’s jaw went slack and he gaped at her as she stepped into her room and closed the door behind her.

Damian:

She shut the door behind her and locked it, though there really wasn’t any reason to considering the fact that no one could get into the manor, let alone across the front lawn without anyone inside knowing.

Hauling the bag up and over her shoulder, she found it odd that no one had greeted her yet and her oddity turned into unsettling when she didn’t hear anything.

She dropped her keys in the silver bowl on the side table and looked around the foyer. “Hello? Dad? Alfred? Timmy?” She stuck her head in the kitchen door. “Anyone home?”

There was no response and she hummed questioningly, knowing that on a Sunday, everyone was home relaxing. She made her way to the study and shifted the clock hands, watching as the entrance appeared, then she descended the steps into the cave. It was even quieter than usual, and she felt the hairs stand up on the back on her neck as she made her way to the Batcomputer.

She pushed a button on the keyboard, watching as the screen came to life and said, “Give me the most recent update.”

“Confirmation?” It replied.

“(Y/N) Wayne, Batgirl.”

The computer beeped for a moment. “(Y/N) Wayne. Batgirl. Access level high.” It paused. “Access granted. Welcome Batgirl.”

“Give me the most recent update.”

“Requested.” It processed the request then told her, “Talia al Ghul entered Gotham Bay approximately two days ago, leaving behind Damian al Ghul in Batman’s custody.”

Damian al Ghul? Who the hell is that? (Y/N) raised an eyebrow as she pushed another button. “Who is Damian al Ghul.”

“Damian al Ghul is the biological son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul. Conceived…month and day unknown…year was two-thousand-three.”

(Y/N) stared at the screen, not sure if she should feel shock that her dad had a second biological kid, or disgust that he slept with Talia to get one. All the sudden, her training kicked in and she felt someone behind her. She spun around, catching the blade of a sword coming at her. She looked down at a young child, no older than ten, glaring up at her. She’d seen pictures of her father when he was a child, and though he had Talia’s emerald green eyes and olive complexion, there was no mistaking the resemblance between him and her father.

Her eyes narrowed into slits as she shoved him away. “The hell are you doing?”

He raised the sword again and said, “Testing you.”

(Y/N) crossed her arms, her gaze curious. “For what purpose?”

He ran at her waving the sword. “To see if you are really father’s daughter.”

She chuckled at that and dodged each attempt to cut her. “Trust me short-stack, I’m Bruce Wayne’s kid.”

Her insult seemed to set him off and he swung the sword wildly. “I am not short!”

(Y/N) grunted as the blade grazed her arm, and she clenched her jaw. “Alright. I’m done entertaining you.”

She let him come to her, then she twisted, wrenching the sword from his grip before tossing it away and coming back around. She gripped him by the collar and used the momentum to slam him to the ground before pulling his arms behind him and putting her knee in his back.

It all happened within seconds, and he didn’t know how to respond other than to cry out in anger. “Let go!”

She pulled his arms tighter until he stopped squirming and she leaned down. “Take a chill pill, runt.” He still cried out in rage at the name, and she heard someone grunt a few feet from her.

“Let him up, (Y/N).”

She looked up to see her father and Alfred walking towards her. She obeyed, rolling away from the boy and to her feet. “I was wondering where you were.”

Bruce nodded to Damian, who was pulling himself off the floor in a rather heated fashion. “We were trying to find out where Damian had gone.”

(Y/N) eyed him for a moment before murmuring, “So, he really is your kid?”

Damian cut Bruce off, spitting, “Are you jealous?”

She looked at Damian and snorted. “Not even an ounce short-cake.” (Y/N) laughed at the way his face pinched in rage, and she turned to Bruce. “You just can’t help collecting them, can you?” He glared at her and she laughed, walking over and nudging him. “Smile a little, Scrooge. Your face will get stuck like that if you don’t.”

He sighed, and muttered, “I don’t know what to do with him.”

(Y/N) glanced at the boy who was picking up his sword. “Too angry?”

“Belligerent is more like it.”

She chuckled and patted his back. “Don’t worry. I’ve got him.”

“(Y/N) I don’t think—”

“Relax, dad. I handled Dick’s anger, didn’t I?”

“Damian’s got Dick beat by a longshot. I don’t think he knows any demeanor other than attack.”

(Y/N) waved as she walked towards Damian. “No one’s able to beat Dick’s anger. No one in a million years could reach the level of pissed off Dick Grayson stays at.” Bruce grinned as he watched (Y/N) take the sword and move Damian towards the stairs. “C’mon pint-sized. We’re going to explore Gotham.”

“I do not want to go.” He retorted, pulling away from her.

She grasped the back of his neck like a puppy and held him firmly as they walked and she quipped, “I don’t really give a fuck whether you want to or not. You’ve been raised by homicidal psychopaths since you were born.” She looked down at him. “You need to see the real world.”

“My grandfather and mother aren’t psychopaths!”

“Oh really? So killing people for money or because honor demands it, isn’t psychopathic traits? What about when Ra’s kills people because they disrespect him?”

“That is different!”

“I mean you don’t see me poppin’ caps in people’s asses when they call me a whore, do you?”

Bruce watched the two of them climb the stairs, arguing, and he sighed, sensing Alfred walk next to him.

“Almost reminds you of Master Dick and Miss (Y/N), doesn’t it Master Bruce?”

He looked at Alfred, then smiled and nodded. “In every way, shape, and form.”

Alfred smiled. “It is such a good thing that Miss (Y/N) is the oldest. The boys have needed her.”

“She’s their protector.”

Alfred paused, resting a hand on his shoulder; Bruce met his gaze and saw such a solemnity in them as he said, “She is everyone’s protector, Master Bruce. Even yours.” Alfred walked away, then Bruce turned and looked at the photo resting on the desk. It was the first photo he and (Y/N) had taken in their suits.

He smiled at it and nodded. “That she is.”

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theladyofdeath · 3 years

Text

Life As We Know It {Chapter 22}

Summary: After the sudden deaths of Nesta’s sister and Cassian’s best friend, they gain guardianship of their nephew, Nyx.

Based on Life As We Know It (2010) and a prompt sent in by anonymous for our Nessian fanfic contest. This is a modern au.

Instead of doing a tag list for this story, we have decided to have a set posting schedule. Chapters will be posted weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Occasional surprise chapters could be posted at miscellaneous times. Chapters will be posted on both my and Shelby’s blogs! >> @snelbz

Life As We Know It Masterlist

Shelby’s Masterlist

Tara’s Masterlist

Cassian was happier than he ever thought he’d be.

Over the past few weeks, he, Nesta, and Nyx had really become their own little family. It seemed that after all the heartache, after all the awkwardness, everything was falling into place.

Since that night they had slept together, again, Cassian had spent every night with Nesta in her bed, and awoken to her face every morning.

Cassian had been training his replacement at the bar, and the opening of his bar in Nesta’s restaurant was quickly approaching.

Perfect.

Everything was going perfectly.

It was a Saturday and both he and Nesta had off, which meant they got the rarity of spending the entire day together, just the three of them.

And it was Halloween.

There was a little Halloween carnival going on downtown, just outside of the Rainbow along the Sidra.

And although Cassian was happier than he ever thought he’d be, he did feel completely and utterly ridiculous as he looked in the mirror and saw his reflection, dressed in the Halloween costume that Nesta had bought for him.

It could have been worse, he decided, donning the floppy hat it had come with. He didn’t have paint all over his face and he wasn’t dressed as a dog, like Rhys had been the year prior. Just a smidge of eyeliner Nesta had coerced him into letting her put on him. And he may only have one hand, thanks to the “hook” he had to wear, but at least he had a bad ass looking sword.

Even if it was plastic.

Nesta appeared in the doorway, wearing a green dress and matching slippers, complete with white balls of fluff adorning the toes. “You about ready to go, Captain Hook?”

He slowly turned to look at her. “Is it the hair? Hmm? Are you one of those girls where long hair automatically means pirate?”

Nesta raised a brow as she crossed her arms. “Are you complaining?”

Cassian blinked. “These leather pants are so tight that I don’t think my balls are going to survive the day.”

Nesta’s grin was feral. “I promise to make it up to the boys once we’re back home.”

Cassian’s eyes narrowed. “Tease.”

“Not a tease,” she crooned. “A promise.”

She gave him a wink before leaving the room and walking down the hall. After a curse about how turned on he now was, Cassian followed.

At the bottom of the stairs in the living room, Nyx was standing up in his little Peter Pan costume. Cassian laughed, quietly. “You put the poor kid in tights.”

“He looks adorable!” Nesta hollered, from where she had disappeared in the kitchen.

Nyx looked at Cassian for a moment, slightly confused, but then recognition lit his eyes and he giggled, reaching up for his uncle. The second Cassian picked him up, Nyx was playing with his floppy hat.

“Pretty damn cute, alright,” Cassian said, chuckling. “Ready, Nes? Bands start playing soon. A couple of local bands I know will be playing, I think you’ll like them.”

Nesta swept out of the kitchen with a tiny cooler bag full of water, juice, and snacks. “Then let’s get going.”

After a short ride and a short walk, they entered the carnival and spotted Elain, Azriel, and Seph sitting in the grass, listening to the music. Azriel was dressed as Tigger, Elain was Pooh, and Seph was the cutest Piglet they had ever seen.

Cassian plopped down by Azriel and chuckled. “And I thought my costume was bad.”

Azriel looked over at him. “Shut up, Captain Jack.”

Cassian gasped indignantly. “I’m Captain Hook, you heathen.” He held up his left hand and shook the cheap, plastic hook in his face. “Get your pirates straight.”

The cousins were instantly squealing at each other, Seph having recently started crawling and Nesta couldn’t help but smile down at them as she sat next to Cassian. He slung an arm around her and pulled her into him, kissing the top of her head.

Nesta looked at Elain and caught her small smile, even though she tried to turn away before her older sister caught her. “What?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

Elain shook her head, but that smile was still on her face. “Nothing.”

“Tell me,” Nesta said, leaning forward to see her around Cassian and Azriel.

“It’s just…” Elain blinked and Nesta could’ve sworn she saw tears shimmering in her sister’s eyes. “It’s just nice to see you happy.”

Nesta stilled for a moment. Was she happy? She supposed she was. It had all happened so quickly that Nesta hadn’t hardly realized.

She was happy.

Judging from his laughter with Azriel, and the way his fingers brushed along her skin, Nesta assumed that Cassian was happy, too.

“It’s a good thing, you know,” Elain whispered, when Nesta said nothing. “A very good thing.”

Nesta remained quiet, but she leaned into Cassian’s side with a little smile of her own.

The music began to play, and Nyx was having the time of his little life. He stood and danced, having no idea what was going on, but loving every second of it.

There were small tents set up around the carnival, passing out candy and other little toys and treats for the kids. Helion was there, at a tent sponsored by Nesta’s restaurant, handing out cookies and brownies she’d spent the past few days baking. Nesta had always loved Halloween, and having Nyx to enjoy it with made her love it all the more. They walked around while the bands continued to play, Nyx’s little bucket filling up with more candy and treats than the little boy could ever eat. Cassian ensured Nesta that it would not go to waste, but she just rolled her eyes.

“You know, I’ve always been a fan of Tinker Bell,” Cassian said, while they were eating candy apples.

Nesta looked at him, brow raised. “Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Hook.”

Cassian chuckled, looking at Nyx while he nibbled on some goldfish that Nesta had packed in the cooler bag. “And what about Cassian?” Cassian asked. “Are you a fan of him?”

Nesta laughed, softly. “Are you asking me if I like you, Nazari?”

Cassian’s eyes lit with amusement. “I care about you, Nesta. That’s what I’m saying.”

The words she longed to say got stuck in her throat. The truth she’d wanted to tell him since his birthday over a month ago, when they’d finally succumbed to their desire for each other. But she wouldn’t. She couldn’t, not here, not right now, with strangers around them. Elain and Azriel weren’t far, but…

Something about those words. She wanted it just to be the two of them.

So Nesta chose to smirk instead, reaching over and rubbing caramel off his cheek. “You aren’t half bad, I guess.”

He sighed, dramatically, looking up into the sky. “I knew it, you’re only in it for the sex.”

“Cassian!” She blushed furiously, hoping no one had overheard him.

Grinning, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Nyx threw a goldfish at them, hitting Cassian in the side of the face.

Nesta couldn’t stop her laughter as she pulled back.

Even after a month, Nyx didn’t like Cassian kissing her. The fit he threw the first time he’d seen them kiss on the couch while he was playing with his toys on the floor and they watched a movie would go down in history as the worst meltdown the two of them had seen.

Nesta thought his continued, but lessening, tantrums were hilarious. Cassian could only roll his eyes.

“Was that necessary?” Cassian asked.

“Da,” Nyx said, popping a goldfish into his mouth. It was the closest thing he’d come to yes thus far.

“He used to like me, you know,” Cassian said, looking at Nesta, “before the two of us were together.”

Nesta shrugged. “He’s protective, what can I say?”

“You can say, to him, that you like it when I kiss you,” Cassian replied.

Nesta laughed as Nyx threw another goldfish at Cassian. “He’s smart, Cass. He may be a baby, but he knows you’re talking smack over here.”

“I would never talk smack about a baby,” Cassian said, taking a bite of his caramel apple. “Even if it’s true.”

It wasn’t too much later that Nyx was falling asleep, his little, green cap long forgotten and tucked into the pocket of Cassian’s obnoxious coat. He gently rubbed Nyx’s back as he slept on the blanket they’d laid out on the lush grass. Footsteps and a groan alerted him to Azriel’s presence as he sat down next to Cassian. Seph, in a carrier strapped to his chest, had been asleep for nearly an hour already. Cassian couldn’t help but smile at his brother and niece.

“So you two are actually making this work, huh,” Azriel said, smiling down at Nyx.

Cassian’s laughter sounded as if even he had a hard time believing it. “I guess so. It’s just…so easy with her.”

“I get it. I completely get it,” Azriel said, looking at something over Cassian’s shoulder, and from the way his eyes softened, he knew his brother’s gaze had found Elain.

“I think she feels the same way,” Cassian said. “She’s hard to read, though. Easier than she used to be - thank the Mother - but sometimes… I just want to grab her by the shoulders and ask her what the hell is on her mind.”

Azriel snorted. “Nesta is…”

When he didn’t complete his sentence, Cassian raised an amused brow.

“An interesting woman,” Azriel finished, at last.

Cassian laughed, quietly. “Yeah, she is. But, that’s what I like about her. She’s not a surface-level person, you know? She’s like an onion.”

Azriel blinked. “An onion?”

Cassian nodded. “A lot of layers.”

Azriel laughed, quietly. “I would keep that one to yourself. Not sure how Nesta would feel about being called a vegetable that makes you cry.”

Cassian chuckled, and shrugged. “I think it sounds nice.”

Azriel grinned and looked down at Seph. “Do you see it working out long term, then?”

“You make it sound like a legal document,” Cassian replied, snorting.

Azriel shook his head. “Fine. I’ll ask it simpler, then. Do you love her?”

He hesitated. “It’s only been a month.”

“And?” Azriel asked. “You’ve lived together for half a year. You've known her for over five years.”

Cassian was quiet. He contemplated Azriel’s question, watching the gentle rise and fall of Nyx’s breathing. “I don’t know.”

“You still think Rhys and Feyre didn’t know what they were doing when they set you up all those years ago?”

Looking up at Azriel, Cassian wasn’t expecting to find him smiling softly. “I still think they were bat shit insane,” he chuckled. “But… No. I get it now. They… They just wanted to give us the chance to be as happy as they were.”

“And are you?” Azriel asked, curiosity on his face.

Cassian looked around, finding Nesta laughing with Elain and Mor and Emerie and Gwyn. The smile as he watched her wasn’t faked. “Yeah. I am.”

Azriel’s smile was as genuine as his own. “Then I think you know.”

It had been a good day, and an even better night.

Nyx fell asleep in his carseat on the way home, and Nesta had gotten him out of his costume and into a fresh diaper and pajamas without him hardly stirring. After that, when Nesta meandered into her bedroom, she found a half-dressed pirate with a mischievous glint in his eye. He had made a show of taking Nesta’s costume off with his hook, which had her unable to stop the wide smile, the giggling, that escaped her control.

It was all sweet, adorable play until his lips found her skin, and then Nesta’s giddiness faded away as complete euphoria took control of her body.

They laid together as Halloween faded away and November 1st approached. Nesta’s fingers danced over his bare chest.

“Today was a fun day,” she said, quietly, as she watched her fingers move along his tattoos.

“It was,” he murmured, already half asleep, his arm wrapped around her, tucking her into his side. He had spent most of his day chasing down Nyx, while Nesta had watched, a smile on her face, as Elain took picture after picture. She’d promised to email the best ones to Nesta as soon as she’d edited them.

She could tell Cassian was exhausted as she looked up into his handsome face, the eyeliner still smudged under his eyes. Sensing her gaze on him, he cracked an eye open and looked at her. “What?”

She shook her head, laying it back down on his chest. “You still have make-up on,” she chuckled.

“What?” He asked. “You don’t think I look pretty?”

Snorting, she nestled into his warm body, settling as his calloused fingers scraped over bare waist. She felt his lips press against the top of her head and in that moment, she realized that this was how it was supposed to be. Nothing had ever felt as…right as this did. As being with him did.

“Cass?”

He grunted in answer, and Nesta realized he was just about asleep.

She decided not to reveal the bit of truth she’d been about to, not when he very well might not remember it the next day.

Instead, she settled her head back on his chest, and said, “I had fun today.”

He mumbled something that sounded like me too, but within seconds, his breath had evened out, and he was asleep.

She wouldn’t reveal that bit of herself, not tonight. But tomorrow…

Tomorrow, she would tell him.

And she prayed he felt the same way.

It was hardly after eight when Nesta woke up and found Cassian beside her, in bed, with a sleeping Nyx on his chest. He was scrolling through his phone, his back propped up against the headboard, his sweatpants nearly blending into the navy blue comforter.

Nesta blinked a few times before she yawned and said, “Good morning.”

Cassian’s eyes darted away from his phone, to her. He smiled. “Good morning. Little man woke up about an hour ago. Fell asleep again five minutes ago or so. Apparently he got worn out yesterday.”

Nesta chuckled. “I’d say so.”

“I was going to put him in his crib but he seems comfortable,” Cassian said. “I can, though, if you want me to make breakfast.”

Nesta shook her head as she propped herself up on her elbows. “That’s okay. I can make breakfast. I was in a french toast type of mood.”

“Sounds good,” Cassian crooned, and Nesta reached up to kiss him, softly, before dragging herself out of bed. After slipping on some cozy shorts and one of Cassian’s oversized t-shirts, she was headed downstairs.

Sunday mornings were her favorite, nowhere for either of them to be. Just time together and time with Nyx. She was humming quietly to herself after she’d made a pot of coffee, pulling what she needed to make French toast and bacon out of the fridge when there was a sudden knock on the front door.

Nesta froze, listening to ensure she had in fact heard—

Another knock, just as insistent as the first.

“Was that the door?” Cassian was carrying Nyx downstairs, the baby’s pacifier barely staying in his mouth as he sleepily leaned his head on his uncle’s bare shoulder.

“Yeah,” she replied, eyebrows furrowing as she reached the door and opened it.

Nesta froze as she found Alis Birch on the other side.

“Ms. Archeron, good morning,” she said, eyeing her choice of attire.

“Ms. Birch, good morning. What a surprise,” she said, trying not to panic.

“I hope it’s a good time,” she said, looking past Nesta to see what chaos she could find. “This is the last of my surprise visits.”

“I see,” Nesta said, then cleared her throat as she stepped aside. “Come in, please.”

Alis did not need to be told twice. She swept past Nesta and into the foyer, where Cassian caught sight of her. He stopped as their eyes met, and he hesitated.

“Ms. Birch,” he said, as if it were a pleasant surprise. “Nice to see you again.”

“You too,” she said, looking at Nyx. “Big Halloween, was it?”

“Fun Halloween,” Cassian corrected. “We were at the carnival downtown for most of the day. He had a blast.”

Alis nodded, but said no more.

“Have a seat,” Nesta said, gesturing to the living room furniture. “Please.”

Alis sat in a chair while Cassian carefully and slowly sat back on the couch, Nesta sitting beside him.

Before anyone could say anything else, Alis said, “The two of you have become intimate.”

Nesta swallowed roughly while Cassian could only blink. After a moment, she collected herself. “I—We…”

“It’s fairly recent,” Cassian admitted, taking over when it was clear Nesta was floundering.

She wanted to demand how she could tell, but she was very clearly wearing his shirt while he wore nothing at all, aside from his sweats. They were cooking breakfast while the baby dozed. It was all so…domestic.

Alis would have been blind not to notice it.

She hummed once before opening her notebook and scribbling a few notes down. “The two of you have come a long way in a few months then, since you were barely even friends the last time I was here.” She threw Nesta’s own half-drunk words into their faces.

“Things have changed,” she breathed, yearning to reach over and take Cassian’s hand, but not wanting to look weak in front of the woman.

The woman who controlled whether or not they’d be keeping Nyx.

“So, this is not a fling, then?” Alis asked.

Cassian opened his mouth, but it was Nesta who politely said, “I’m sorry, but I’m not sure how our romantic life is an appropriate topic-.”

“Oh, it is most appropriate,” Alis assured them both. “If this is nothing but a fling, it could create a lot of drama in the home, which could in turn affect Nyx’s well being. However, if this is love, something that will become steadier day by day, then I could not be more overjoyed.”

You don’t sound overjoyed, Nesta wanted to say, but didn’t.

“We are aware that everything we do affects Nyx,” Cassian said, not unkindly. “We thought it through before we decided to get together.”

Nesta almost wanted to laugh. Thought it through? They hooked up twice, and the second time it stuck. She wasn’t sure that was exactly thinking it through. In fact, there hadn’t been much thinking at all.

It just kind of...happened.

Nyx had indeed lost his pacifier at some point and patted Cassian on the cheek.

“Babababa,” he chanted, which the two of them had learned meant he wanted his bottle and Cassian stood.

“Excuse me, I’ll be back,” he said, carrying Nyx into the kitchen.

Alis held Nesta’s stare, eventually asking, “Does Nyx have a support system, outside of the home?”

She blinked. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

Alis set down her pen and looked at Nesta as if she were the child in this situation. “Let’s say things don’t last. Let’s say whatever is between you and Mr. Nazari isn’t a love match and it falls apart. Aside from the two of you, does Nyx have other people who could step in to take care of him?”

“I don’t see why he would need it,” she replied, her voice cold. “Even if things don’t work out, Cassian and I will still take care of him. Nyx is our responsibility now. We love him.”

“And will you do that from one home?”

“We… I…” Nesta shook her head. “Ma’am, with all due respect, we haven’t even had time to figure out what exactly this is between us.”

Alis scooped up her bag and tucked her notebook against her chest as she stood. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. And I’d like the two of you to have that figured out before my next visit. I’ll reach out a few days before, so you can expect me. But I’d like this…” She gestured around her, “situation to be more straightforward before I return.”

She turned and headed for the door.

When Cassian came back, Alis was gone. He blinked, Nyx now awake, downing his milk. “Where’d she go?”

“She left,” Nesta said, quietly. “She’ll let us know when she’s coming next time.”

Cassian’s brows furrowed as he sat next to Nesta on the couch. “What’s wrong?”

Nesta hesitated, then said, “I think she thinks that us getting together is a mistake.”

Cassian looked at Nesta for a moment, then snorted. “She also thought that us living together, unromantically, and raising Nyx was a mistake.”

Nesta said nothing as she watched her hands, quietly.

Cassian’s smile faded away. “What? You don’t think us getting together is a mistake, right?”

“No, of course not,” Nesta said, but it lacked passion.

Cassian watched her. “Nesta.”

“She brings up some good points, Cass,” Nesta breathed.

Cassian’s jaw ticked. “What does that mean?”

Nesta closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Well, what if we don’t work out? What will happen? We should at least have a plan.”

“You don’t think we’re going to work out?” Cassian asked.

“I don’t even know what we are, Cassian,” she breathed, opening her eyes, but continued staring at her hands. “Am I your girlfriend? Are we exclusive? Is this just what’s convenient for us both?”

Cassian was staring at her, unable to think of anything to say, barely able to understand what had happened in the past thirty minutes since he’d gotten out of bed. “This sure as hell isn’t just about convenience, not for me. But if it is for you, I guess I’d like to know now.”

She still didn’t look at him. “I don’t know, Cass.”

He had no idea what to say, no idea what to do. He shook his head. “I’m going to take Nyx on my jog with me. When we get back, you let me know if this is still convenient for you.”

His voice was colder than she’d heard it in months, barely recognized it as he silently made his way up the stairs. She didn’t move, could hardly think as she heard him get changed and then dress Nyx as well.

Her face fell into her hands.

This isn’t how she wanted the morning to go.

As she laid in bed with him the night before, listening to the steady beating of his heart after he fell asleep, she had a long list of things she wanted to say to him today, had a long list of emotions she wanted him to feel.

Pissed wasn’t one of them.

Unsure wasn’t one of them.

Nothing was going as planned.

It wasn’t until Cassian was carrying a babbling Nyx back down the stairs that Nesta looked up. Cassian wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“Cass-,” she began, but he strode through the living room and out the door, the door closing just a little too hard behind him.

No, this wasn’t how she wanted the day to go.

She didn’t get to tell Nyx goodbye.

She didn’t get to tell Cassian goodbye, or any of the other things she had planned.

But maybe it was for the best. Maybe things would continue to fall into place, just not the place that she had planned.

Nesta sat back on the couch, her face falling back into her hands.

As the first tear fell, she wondered if this was a part of Feyre’s plan.

#nessian #fanfic #snacmc collab #snacmc lawki #nesta #cassian #acotar #acomaf #acowar #acosf #fanfiction #modern au

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quinn-tessence · 3 years

Text

Nocturne for a Clown

Part 1

In this frightening, destabilizing global pandemic, we all seek comfort. I found mine in Arthur, and I know many of you did too. This community has given me so much, I cannot express my gratitude enough. So here's something I can give back. A Nocturne for our beloved Clown, who still inspires us to this day, and will probably never stop. 🤡🖤

Summary: you stumble into an intriguing neighbor, a tragic, beautiful party clown named Carnival with jade eyes and cocoa hair. His meekness around you gets under your skin enough to lead you unconsciously into his path by accident.

Length: 3.5k

Warnings: mentions of mental illness, alcohol use, nudity, playful flirting and light fluff. Pre smut intro, this is going places… 🤭🤡❤

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You should have taken more bags, you could barely hold all these groceries as you opened the door to let yourself inside your block of flats. You greeted granny Mabel picking up her mail but swiftly turned your attention to the closing door of the elevator.

‘Wait, hold the lift, please!’

In your haste to catch the ride, a foot was lodged on the door, sliding it back open to let you in. Careful not to spill all the veggies on the floor, your attention fell onto the man sharing the ride with you only as he asked what floor you were going to.

‘5th please, thank you for holding the door'

‘Sure'

The lift shook in its slow ascent, your heart would have skipped a beat had it not been a part of your daily routine to feel that bump in your bones. His hair is really nice, the length and the curls around the edges. Hm. You couldn't help looking at him, he was all of your visual field after all, so you scrutinized, as you’d often do. He’d politely turned sideways, avoiding to keep his back to you, but you couldn't see his face clearly in the dim yellow light. He wasn't much taller than you, his complexion quite slim and fragile looking, his back slouched as if carrying the heaviest weight on his shoulders. Gotham made that easy, grey and gloomy by day even during good weather, a pile of construction and buildings with no defined identity, enough to fit all from the scourge to the wealthy.

‘This building's awful, isn't it?’ an uncharacteristic curiosity made you try out some small talk in the hopes you'd get a better glimpse.

You knew too few people in this building, and you were far from chatty in elevators with strangers. Usually. He looked so old fashioned wearing that shirt and the linen vest, but the ochre of his jacket heightened the cocoa brown of his hair, yellow light reflecting off the edges delicately. He was cute, in an oddly endearing sort of way. A pair of basil green eyes turned to your as he bit the bait, the sly grin cutting through his cheek a stark contradiction to everything else about him, the scar on his upper lip a peculiarity that only furthered your intrigue. There was a deep well of sadness in his eyes, overbearing, bone chilling. It prickled your skin as you noticed it, but the gaze under his eyelids was piercing. That unnerving feeling the striking contrast brought, you couldn't shake it off.

The joy ride on strings stopped just as your cheeks started to fluster. You bid him good night as you walked out, your awareness over your morning overuse of perfume now as acute as ever.

‘Hey!’ he shouted in a shy, husky voice as you stepped out.

You turned to him one last time to see him mimicking a gun shot to the head as a rather late comical attempt to reply to your earlier remark. Unconventional, yes, but not a sort of humor you didn't enjoy. The fact that you just couldn't make him out drew a puzzled smile on your face as the elevator door closed.

Hm. What was that? you wandered as you had one foot in stirring curiosity, the other guiding you to your door as if by reflex. You'd lived here for months already, yet you hadn't seen him before. He was quite handsome in an outlandish sort of way, you would not have let that go unnoticed had you seen him before.

Months had passed, yet you still had storing boxes around your living room. Your stay should have just been temporary, yet you'd started decorating it with your own sketches and it had suddenly become your home, your sanctuary, your oasis to recharge you after long days at the office close by. You'd stumbled into this place by accident while looking for a cozy place to stay, but you found no reason to leave it behind. Your own art gallery, with bright lights flooding the windows throughout the day that allowed you to paint during weekends without your eyes squinting, your safe space.

Not today though, your feet were sore and your arms hurt from carrying those groceries. All you wanted was a glass of white wine and an excessive bag of popcorn while you watched the Murray show, but you picked up Dostoyevsky to delve again into the question of the perfect murder while you waited. This book you could never grow tired of, and it rattled you to devour chapter after chapter, accompanying a tormented soul on a journey of falling into madness, its universe a silent revolt and escape from the reality of Gotham you'd craved deep down without ever voicing.

‘We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, that begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.' Hm. Go figure.

The deafening silence in the room would soon be filled by your own comments at the starting show, Murray’s humor making you roll your eyes at his lack of self awareness, quite versed he was in ridiculing one person or another. A comedy show, yes, but sometimes he would take it a bit too far even for your inappropriate taste in humor.

A few hours and half a bottle of wine later, the sweet taste of the wine still lingered on your lips, flooding your murky mind to a familiar place of solitary self indulgence. Not long after shutting your eyes, a recent memory took shape at the back of your eyelids, and you felt an irrational urge to trace a sketch of him. You were too tired to start drawing at this hour. Your fingers would be of much better use tracing those lines you were curious to feel off his own fingertips. You hadn't indulged yourself in a while, but the thought of this bewitching man flashing in the most vulgar parts of your mind soon changed that. Maybe you were blatantly objectifying your neighbor… but only a little… You'd been so busy with the new job, the long hours exhausting, the absence of a soul to keep you company a nuisance you'd learned to bury in piles of work. But the urges only amplified the more you'd stifle and ignore them, demanding to be satiated. So you gave into yourself, into him, into the sweet, intoxicating effect of your favorite wine, into the memory of the piercing green eyes that had you whimper in silence.

Something about him was out of place. You’d seen him from afar and he looked defenseless. But as you came closer, you could feel yourself swallow hard as you waited for his gaze to look to your direction. Odd, wasn't it? He hadn't said much, but the tension in the elevator had penetrated your bones to late night reminiscence. Something was not right about him, an 'I should be afraid, instead it turns me on' vibe to him had taken you right to the edge.

The next day you bumped into him after work at the corner store, he was buying cigarettes and a chocolate bar. With that level of nutrition, no wonder he was so feeble, yet there was something about him that had kept you up at night. You'd already developed a weakness for him, but that stifled your reaction instead of filling you with courage. He smiled shyly and walked out the door, his eyes counting his slouched steps. Shit. Next time.

One particular evening you noticed two blue diamonds peering meticulously through the store shelves, the greasepaint on the man's face rendering him almost unrecognizable lest for his unmistakable skinny complexion and beautiful cocoa hair. Your freight of clowns had shaped your life since childhood, yet that terror had somehow melted instantly at the sight of his jade eyes underneath the white blue makeup. He'd shied away as you noticed him, stealing a smile that got your feet walking into an opposite reaction, trying to hide your pleasant surprise at his creepy, endearing stares. You wondered if that was his job, it would be absurd to just walk around in a clown costume, stalking women. Not to mention, horrifying and nightmare inducing, as even you would have felt until a moment ago if it hadn't been him wearing the clown costume.

Fumbling around the store, shying behind the counters as you paid for your groceries, you couldn't resist glancing at him one more time. You'd missed your chance before and you regretted it. All it took was to reach for one item from the isle he was hiding in, even if you had no use for it. Startling him was the last of your intentions, so you mimicked his behavior peering at him through the shelves, perhaps that would open him up to you. As you both walked in the same direction towards the corridor, he stopped shy in his tracks, eyes now as big as the clown shoes on his feet, scanning the floors, anxiously facing the inevitable.

‘Hi there. I've seen you around, haven't I?'

You'd planned on being more casual in your approach, yet the tone of your voice evoked a warm intimacy built over nights of having him wander purposefully in the depths of your fantasies. The clown costume should have helped alienate that feeling, instead it only burned deeper. The youthful innocence draped across his face contrasted strikingly with the furrows in his forehead betraying his age. He couldn't be younger than 35 at least, yet the spark of his almond shaped eyes took 15 years off his complexion. He cleared his throat before being able to speak.

‘Hi! Yes, we met in the elevator last week. I didn't think you'd recognize me in my work outfit.’

‘I thought that was you. You could frighten ladies if you keep peering at them while wearing a clown costume, you know? Not a lot of good press on them in the past years’

A nervous chuckle escaped his throat, he couldn't have missed that connection himself but he seemed caught red handed.

‘Well I haven't even pulled my gun yet. I was waiting for the store to clear out a bit before I robbed the place and kidnapped you'

There was that dark humor, but damn him for making you smile like a teenager.

‘A clown with a gun and a plan, not at all frightening. You're funny! Pass me that pasta sauce, would you?’

He quickly reached for the item on his counter and reached over it to hand it to you. The gawkiness in his hasty moves was proof enough he wasn't used to being approached by women, you were sure his cheeks were as flaming red under the white makeup as the flower pinned to his colorful checkered blazer. You shook your head and pointed at the end of the counter, your feet moving in the direction where you wanted him. He followed shyly, dragging his oversized clown shoes.

As he handed you the item, you thanked him kindly and immediately put it back up on the shelf. His gaze fell to his feet again, surely flustered by the subtext of your action. Yet within a split of a second, his eyes pierced back at yours and you'd forgotten all words.

‘Why don't I walk you home instead? I'll keep the gun and kidnapping for another occasion. Let me help you with those' he reached for your groceries, his proximity to you feeding the fire. You gladly agreed and walked the couple blocks with him, curious of his day job and adoring the purr of his soothing voice, it tore you up every time you heard it falter. His suit and makeup should have kept you a mile away, yet he seemed to be the most welcome companion to comfort you through your biggest irrational fear. As you reached the apartment complex sooner than you'd wished, he stopped and let out a complicit chuckle.

‘I… seem to have forgotten to do my own groceries, I’ll have to go back now, somehow I got distracted…’

‘And I thought you were there just to kidnap me.’ You just couldn't help continuing his apropos, hoping deep down he'd actually do it. ‘Thank you for walking me home, that was sweet of you'

‘You're very welcome. I'm Arthur, by the way, or Carnival if you prefer the party clown'

‘Nice to meet you, Arthur. I'm Y/N.’

‘Y/N…’ the sound of your name off his lips jolted you shamelessly to the point where you needed to take that step back, and yet you didn't. ‘I'll see you around?’

The smile on his painted face a ray of sunshine in an otherwise wretched day. Carnival, you cheekily thought to yourself, never had you wanted to experience one as badly as you did seeing him light up a cigarette and inhale it wantonly almost halfway through, walking back a few steps, then turning and making his way back to the store.

Days at work had flown by rapidly in your constant distraction with a lingering image of a colorful clown. Not even the new guy everyone was talking about could catch your attention, even if your girlfriends kept mentioning a stunning pair of black eyes and a charming swagger. Had he been a smoker, you'd perhaps get a glimpse of him during your breaks, at least. The Fridays hardly ever felt like the weekend, and this one made you want to smash some bones, your own sorrows bubbling up inside you, like a mint candy in a bottle of Cola. You were more of an indoors cat, but your really couldn't pass on a 3rd invitation for a night out, your buddies would think you were willfully ditching them. Fine I'll go! Just one drink though.

Mixing gin and tequila hadn't been up there among your smartest choices. You should have stopped after the 3rd shot, but you hadn't had so much fun in months. Hah! I feel dizzy. But this feels good, your thoughts pieces of a puzzle you were too drunk to make out. As your feet moved out of the taxi and into the cold early morning air, you were finally back home. You must have remembered to pay the fare otherwise the cabby would have chased you down. You drifted in your scrambled thoughts as your feet walked out of reflex, your mind miles away, preoccupied with a certain pair of turquoise eyes. Perhaps you had a propensity for dark hues, but those had always just been mere dust in front of green shades. I’m not in my own mind anymore… I’m in someone else's... And I’m touching myself, I’m licking my lips, the tip of my tongue grazes over the scar on my upper lip, the heat of my breath comes from within a boiling body, my skin sizzles. I hum and I moan and I... hah, fuck, I think I just broke my heel, I’m so fekkin drunk. You dragged yourself to the elevator, your mind desperately hoping you were managing to keep yourself composed so the sweet old doorman wouldn't judge you as a drunken failure in life.

Why did you do this to yourself? And can you just not redirect all your remaining fluids to where they're not required before you're at least in your bed? Fuck, I can't... you'd been pushing the elevator button for a minute before you growled a tad too loud at the drunken realization you’d have to climb all 5 storeys in this wretched state you'd put yourself into.

Fine, just get your sorry ass up before you make a fool of yourself clowning around. Just one more and you're there. Fumbling for your keys in your bag, you leaned on the door and, to your surprise and annoyance, it opened. What the fuck, was I drunk before I left my apartment? How could I have forgotten to lock the damn door?

You felt sick to your stomach, you couldn't walk to the bed. You hadn't drunk so much for over a year, you’d forgotten how useless you were in this state. The couch would do for tonight. You almost dropped yourself to the floor, the couch not in the same position as you'd left it, but who cared. I'm never drinking again, you thought as you coiled around the pillow, a shoe dropping on the floor while the other hung half way. It smelled of cigarettes, most probably from your clothes.

A familiar enticing aftertaste of alcohol clawed its way out once again, you should have known this was coming. You wished he'd be there so you could release yourself to him, as frail as he was he'd surely handle you gently, and mmm wouldn't that feel sweet. The alcohol had just been a low end substitute to bury your frustrations and aches. Hah, even if he was here, you'd be useless. But that didn't stop you from dozing off to the thought of his gentle fingers strolling down your neck to your breasts, drawing circles on your waist before goin... down lo...

There was too much light in the room, as drunk as you’d been you’d forgotten to draw the curtains. You couldn't open your eyes, the headache was throbbing, so you rubbed your temples and turned your led limbs from the aching position you'd landed on as the most shameful drunk in this city.

Your mind thought you could take opening your eyes, and as you did you felt the alcohol pressuring your Adam's apple, a deep breath a flimsy stronghold to keep everything down. A deep breath that turned swiftly to a high pitched shriek at the sight of this man walking towards you dripping water off his naked body, a towel being rubbed onto his hair with both hands. You shrieked as you fell to the floor, hitting yourself against an unfamiliar coffee table, flagons of pills spilling all over it.

Oh shit, you heard him say as he hid behind the wall, peering at you but quieting his anxiety the more he looked.

'What are you... Y/N, you're in the wrong apartment! Shit, I need to put something on'

Oh god what had you done?? A sous chef could have mistaken you for a lobster and thrown you in a bucket of boiling water, you’d surely been simmering in that since the realization of how much of an idiot you were at walking into his apartment, of all damn places.

‘Oh my god, I am SO SORRY, I had a few too many drinks with my friends and I must have... I surely have climbed too many storeys to my place. I'll be out of your hair, I am so sorry!!!’ He'd been hopping throughout your dreams for the past weeks, you'd seen him naked so many times before, but not once in the flesh. You were flustered at the brazen realization of how far off you'd been as you fantasized about him bare before you. It was nerve wrecking, you wished you could just disintegrate into a million atoms and let the ground swallow you whole.

He chuckled as he returned in a half clothed state, clearly having shortened the process just to catch you before you shut the door behind you.

‘Yeah, the elevator was out of order yesterday. Hey, it's ok. You just really scared me, I wasn't expecting to find you on my couch, you know? You're... welcome to... stay a bit longer if you want. You look like you've had a rough night, I could whip out some breakfast and get you back on your feet. If you wish…’

He'd whipped out more than you'd thought he would a couple minutes ago, thank you very much for the extra sleepless nights.

‘Oh my god, no, I couldn't take advantage of you like that, I just slept on your couch uninvited, I am so horrible. Please excuse me, and thank you for not calling the cops on me.’

He'd smiled at you in the elevator before your heels had started flaming for him a few weeks back, but this was different. His whole face had lit up, his eyes sparkling as if emerald and jade had caught a reflection of the sun, his crooked tooth a tantalizing new discovery, especially as the scar on his lip etched itself deeper into your psyche. You were in his house, after all, where else would he feel most comfortable if not in his private, intimate home, one that you'd shamefully invaded and found him completely naked and wet.

‘They're on their way actually, I’m just stalling before they show up to escort you from my property.’

You chuckled as you held your temple, you must have been a disgusting mess, your makeup all smudged, on your face a decrepit layer of last nights overindulgence, and yet he made you laugh.

‘You're funny, Arthur... I'll take care of that myself, tell them it was a false alarm...’

As you opened the door to remove yourself from this torrent of shame, his voice stopped you in the doorstep.

‘Hey, you wanna… grab a coffee later tonight? It might help with that hangover’

‘You really want to go out after all this?’

‘Yeah!’ his eyebrow twitched in reflex, startling you at its sudden air of impertinence. You couldn't tell if your limbs had mellowed from alcohol, or his facial expressivity had been the melting catalyst. ‘Pajama night, I'll take you to the best Donut diner in town. 9 PM?’

You really wished you could process everything clearly, but he wasn't making it easier at all. ‘Alright then, pajama night it is!’

‘Great! Are you sure I can't help you to your place?’

‘Sorry to ask, what floor is this?’

‘6th.’

‘Oh, I’m right downstairs, maybe going down a flight of stairs will shake off this horrid hangover. Thanks again for... hosting me I guess, nice to see you again, Arthur. I'll see you later!’

You waved at him more in a futile attempt to cover your face as you stepped back out of that bubble of shame, feeling soaked to the bone. The droplets on his skin, he'd just gotten out of the shower, that routine gesture to slick back his hair, that wide morning gaze were mere special mentions as you went down the stairs, one other morning factor keeping your mind fully flustered as you unlocked your own front door this time.

-------------------------

Thank you for reading this far! 🤡🖤

A special thank you to a few wonderful people who inspire me daily ❤❤❤

@littlebird92 @life-or-something-like-lt @ralugraphics @jokers-puddin-pop @arthurfleckownsmysoul @bustafatclownnut @jokers-doll @rommies @bananabreaddough @paperorigami @ransomguest49 @daydreamhustler @arthurjokersgirl @lesbianearrings @arthurflecc @iartsometimes @arthurflecksgirl @forever-fleck @sweet-nothings04 @wuika @mollyxlyla-rosex @impulsiveclown @jokerlicious @jokergirl10491 @jokeconic @ajokeformur-ray @shaw-2000 @softyash @arthurflecc

#joaquin phoenix joker #joker arthur fleck #joker film #arthur fleck #joaquin phoenix #joker #joker fanfic #joker x reader #joker x you

54 notes · View notes

fleckcmscott · 4 years

Text

The Find

Summary: Arthur and Y/N tidy up their wardrobe. What he comes across surprises him.

Warnings: Smut, Swearing

Words: 3,664

A/N: This request comes from Karen - it’s the first one I ever got! Thanks to @sweet-nothings04 for beta-ing and helping me improve this piece by sharing her thoughts!

If you have any thoughts or questions, please comment, feel free to message me, or send me an ask. Requests for Arthur and WWH are open!

If you’ve sent me a request and I haven’t responded, it’s because I am working on it and will answer once it’s posted!

Instead of allowing a lazy Sunday, Y/N decided they needed to do a project together. She had too many clothes, she claimed. And Arthur could use some new ones. Though he disagreed with her assertion, never having owned much, he went along with it. Such suggestions were part of having a girlfriend, he'd learned. Sorting through the bedroom closet would be a couply activity, anyway.

It turned out to be nice, better than when he'd kept house alone. Her smile was infectious as they rearranged everything, and it grew each time they inadvertently bumped into each other. He succeeded in talking her out of donating a sheer blouse, insisting it looked good on her. She replaced the dry cleaner bags on his Carnival costume with zippered nylon ones. Then she retrieved a wooden box from the top shelf, sat on the edge of the bed, and patted the spot next to her.

Floral patterns were carved in its top and sides, and the center held a purple and yellow pansy, pressed under smooth glass. It was quite old, the corners worn, the front closure tarnished. The hinges released a quiet squeak as she lifted the lid. "These are my most important keepsakes," she said. Her degree was in there, the Christmas ornament her sister had made, and her divorce papers. The rose he'd brought when he'd come for dinner was now dried and delicate. And she'd held onto the cork from their first bottle of wine. The letter he'd written her after Murray was sealed in a clasp envelope to protect it.

Arthur's chest swelled. The small container resting on her lap was something she'd had long before they'd met, perhaps since she was a kid. It was astonishing he took up so much space in it. Maybe she'd like to keep one of the payment slips for the ring he was planning to give her. (They were currently tucked safely in his journal.) He wrapped an arm around her back and squeezed her to his side.

The bleating of the phone interrupted them, right when he was planting a kiss to her shoulder. "Wait for me," Y/N said. "I'll tell them to call back later." He watched as she left the room, admiring the slight swivel of her hips. After a minute, "Mabel, what's going on?" drifted in from the kitchen. Ah, her sister. That would take a while. Sighing, he stood and continued alone, hopping on the step stool and humming as he went.

The shelf was dusty. The old law books were likely from when she went to college. He flipped through a photo album and set it aside to go through with her later. In the back corner, there was a red, paper gift bag, its top neatly folded closed. When he retrieved it, the weight surprised him, and he studied it with a curious expression. She probably wouldn't be perturbed if he opened it - she'd shown him her mementos, after all. Gingerly, he took a peek.

A carton was in there, a foot long. Pictures of women in athletic gear were on the side. They were holding a white object to their elbow, their calf, their lower back. He read the sentences on the packaging carefully. "Helps relax muscles." "Relieves tension." "Soothing vibrations."

Oh. Oh. Arthur crumpled the top of the bag quickly as he giggled, his cheeks on fire.

On her radio show, Dr. Sally had said the massaging wand was revolutionary. That it helped educate women about their own bodies, learn what they liked. Y/N hadn't mentioned owning one. It would have troubled him a few months ago. His insecurities would have told him it meant he wasn't very good. That he wasn't enough for her and never would be. But because of his ongoing treatment and comfort with her, those concerns were minor today. And he was intrigued.

The women he'd pasted into his journal were often touching themselves, ecstasy clear on their faces. Even though he still found those pictures arousing, he wasn't stupid and knew they were staged. Experience had stripped away the illusion. But the thought of Y/N pleasuring herself made him shiver and lean against the closet's door frame. His mind filled with images of her sprawled on the bed, on the sofa, on the floor. The scenarios he'd pictured since they'd met were numerous. His mouth at the apex of her thighs while she tried to type papers for work. Her going down on him in the dressing room at Pogo's. Or his favorite, the one he'd gone back to most, joining with her completely as she fell apart, because of him and only him. If he asked, would she be willing to-

Upon hearing Y/N hang up, Arthur haphazardly tossed the bag back in its spot. He busied himself with the sweaters and shirts in the "keep" pile, folding and hanging them as needed. She started telling him about the call as soon as she came in. Caught between his natural bashfulness and the urge to blurt out what he found, listening was difficult.

She must have sensed something was off, because she stepped next to him and said, "You look warm."

He ducked away as she tried to feel his forehead. "I'm okay." That was only half true. It was going to take awhile for him to figure out how to express what he wanted. But he shot her a grin. "It's just a little hot in here, that's all."

~~~~~

Y/N's seamed stockings finally sent him over the edge three days later. He'd noticed them when she put on her heels at the door, and ogled her as she strode down the hallway after their longer-than-usual kiss goodbye. It was possible she simply wished to be pretty (which she always was, no matter what she had on), to be professional, to make herself feel good. Still. She knew those nylons turned him on, and he chose to believe she wore them for him.

He made a quick call to her at lunch and said he was looking forward to tonight. There was strain lurking beneath her kind tone when she asked, "Why? What's tonight?" Nothing, he clarified, rubbing the back of his neck. He just missed her. She sighed, told him her day had gone sideways, that she needed to go. But she couldn't wait to see him later and loved him.

Both to relieve his own nerves and to cheer her, he resolved to make everything perfect for her to come home to. That's why, rather than cooking together, he was stirring minestrone and adding pasta. Why he'd already set the table and put the bunch of pink carnations (her favorite) from the grocery store in the middle. Why the wine was open and ready to serve. The kitchen radio had been switched to the sixties and seventies music she preferred. He swayed along to it, even as he hoped one or two slower songs would play so they could dance.

He'd been trying to find the right way to broach the subject all afternoon. Stuttering through his request wasn't his preference. It'd be fun to be playful - if he could gather his courage. God, it would be absurd if he couldn't. Shouldn’t courage come naturally if he hoped to spend the rest of his life with this woman? "Y/N, I was wondering if you could-" Cocking his head, he tried anew. "I love you, Y/N, and I wanted to know if-" Rolling his eyes, he retrieved bowls from the cupboard. "It's your fault I can't think straight." He took a breath, stretched his arms, and tried to focus. Nothing felt right. He'd have to improvise.

The unlocking of the door and the thudding of her bag to the floor alerted him to her presence. He laughed lightly as he tested the soup, enjoying the thrill of anticipation. She approached in his peripheral vision. "Arthur, you didn't have to do all this," she murmured.

The gladness in her words made it worth the effort. He poured a glass of wine for them both. "You were having a busy day."

She took a sip and braced herself on the counter. "I had to run back and forth from the office to the courthouse. We were missing copies of motions for tomorrow's hearing. My typewriter's ribbon ran out and we didn't have any replacements." A puff escaped her before she turned to him. "But every thing’s lovely now. Come here.” She pulled him in for a kiss.

Arthur tried to pay attention while they ate; he disliked missing a moment of her. But she was already driving him to distraction. The way her lips pursed as she blew on the food before taking a bite. Her caresses to the petals of the flowers. How she kept touching his sleeve. When she untied the bow at the collar of her burgundy blouse, opened the neck to reveal the start of her clavicle, his stomach flipped. "I wanted to- to ask you a question," he said softly.

"I knew something was going on." She dabbed her mouth with her napkin. "You haven't said much besides 'yeah' and 'mhm.'"

Damn. He'd tried to be normal. "Sorry." A sheepish smile crossed his face and he smoothed back his hair. "I'm a little nervous."

"You don't have to be." There was excitement in her voice, barely contained, and she scooted her chair closer. "I'm sure I'll say yes."

He quirked a brow at her. "Um, okay." A sharp exhale as he sat straighter. "I've been thinking about this a lot." His gaze darted to hers, seeing it sparkling and filled with affection, before falling to his lap. He fiddled with his spoon as he forced himself to speak. "I found something. When we were cleaning."

A pause. "What did you find?"

The wine was sharp on his tongue when he sipped it. "The massaging wand?"

The blush on her cheeks traveled to the rest of her face and she hid behind her palm. "Oh my god," she laughed.

Having the advantage wasn't usual for him in these situations. It was refreshing. Luckily, she didn't seem upset, so he continued. "Dr. Sally recommended it on her show. You're beautiful. We both might like it. I mean, I know I would, but... Would you show me?" Her quiet nagged at him, so he changed his approach. "You turn on the light every time we make love," he teased. "Don't you remember when you came home and surprised me?"

She peeked at him, the corner of her lip lifted. "It's never even occurred to me. I can't believe it occurred to you." After a few moments, she cleared her throat. "I won't lie - it's...an arousing idea. And all this," she gestured at the table as she spoke, "has made me pretty hot and bothered." Her hand went to his inner thigh, fiddling with the seam. "Though I have to admit, I was expecting you to ask something else."

His eyelids fluttered at her caress. "What?"

Grasping the tie at the front of his pants, she finished her drink. "Never mind. I'm sure you'll ask me later."

~~~~

This was happening. It wasn't his imagination. Y/N was taking a fantasy of his, one that belonged in dirty magazines, and turning it into a demonstration of her love for him. Was it weird to be moved by something this lewd? He should be ashamed to have asked her. But he wasn't. And when he felt her smile as they lay in bed, his throat tightened. Their breaths were harsh as the pearlescent buttons of her blouse opened halfway under his ministrations. A soft moan left her when he cupped her breast, tweaked its taut tip through her bra, and she yanked at his shirt until he pulled it off.

She ground against his clothed hard-on and hastily unzipped her black skirt to slip it down. He swallowed thickly, following her movements, huffing at the sight of her dark red garter belt and matching panties. It wasn't often she donned those, preferring more practical undergarments. Had she, by some means, known what he was thinking when she'd gotten dressed that morning? The notion was silly but warmed him anyway. Relieved, he groaned and reclaimed her lips.

The dance of her fingers across the lean muscles of his chest caused him to suck in air, which he held while she skimmed past his ribs to his stomach. "I haven't done this in front of anyone before," she said, a little uncertain.

Arthur chuckled, letting her take his hand and guide it between her thighs. "I hadn't, either." He pushed the cotton to the side and fondled her slit, reveling in how she bucked into his touch. It was almost enough to get him to forget the show, to forget about his plan, to sheathe himself inside her without a moment's pause.

But she grabbed the vibrator off the stand and switched it on. Its buzzing was louder than he'd presumed, like a hornet's nest. Amusement must have shown on his face, because Y/N smirked and turned the wand to a lower setting. "Remind me to plug the clock back in when we're done," she said, shedding her underwear and kicking it off her foot. He settled next to her hips, boosting himself on his elbow to see her. Shyly at first, then growing bolder, she swiped and pulled at her outer lips. They drew back as they swelled and she giggled, running the pads of her fingers over herself. "You're the only one who could persuade me to do this."

He grazed her inner thigh, the straps holding her stockings in place, and pressed a kiss to her leg, observing as she lay the massager's rounded end to her core. Even as her pelvis arched slightly to meet it, she kept it in one spot - he'd thought she would have moved it around. The heat flaring in his groin was, thankfully, lowering his inhibitions, and he found he could ask, without anxiety, "Did you do it a lot?"

"I did this more after we met." He laughed happily, realizing he'd been the cause of her increased desire. A whimper fell from her as she moved towards the vibrator again, her frame trembling. Her brows pinched with every increasing undulation of her hips. "It's been awhile. I'd forgotten-," she gasped, "-how intense this feels."

When she began writhing, he watched the sway of her breasts, straining against her bra. Her stomach was quivering with every shallow breath, and he felt his own ardor heighten with hers. He leaned forward to get a better look at her folds. But, upon finding the toy covered her completely, he furrowed his brow. And it registered that he didn't need a prop involved; he just needed her.

Gently, he caught it, waiting until she met his gaze to turn it off and put it on the bed. "You're enough," he said quietly. "If that's okay." She nodded lightly. One of her legs spread to the side, the other bent at the knee. He shuddered as she held herself open, fingers drifting over her sensitive nub. "Are you - Are you thinking about me?" Say yes. Please.

Her explorations went lower, tracing the edges of her entrance, open and waiting for him, then dipping below to gather slick on her fingertips. "Yes," she hissed, tapping her bud repeatedly. She jerked towards her hand as she bit her lip. It was enchanting, watching her play herself like a well-tuned instrument. She seemed to know exactly how to touch her own body. What pressure to apply. How fast to go...

Her breast spilled out when she pulled down the cup of her bra, her head falling back into the pillow. Her thumb teased her areola and she keened. "You're all the way inside me." Another tug to her pebbled nipple, and the hand at her vulva hastened. "Your cock feels so good, Arthur. You fill me so well."

"Y/N, god." He hadn't expected pornography to spill from her mouth. Groaning, he pushed his briefs away and gripped his erection, running his thumb along the tip as he glanced from her face to her center.

The glistening of her arousal was spreading, a spot forming on the blanket beneath her. Her cries were becoming frequent, her body tensing. Her eyes opened and went to his length. "Get in me."

That took him aback. "What?"

"Get in me. Please." He scrambled out of his underwear and knelt between her legs, positioning himself so her thighs rested on his, and he held the soft skin of her upper leg. After a couple of quick pumps, he sank into her entirely, grunting at the sight of her reddened, desperate sex welcoming him. She stroked herself, first pulling at the clitoral hood, then circling it, more frenzied with every rut.

This was far superior to any photograph, any adult film he may have caught a glimpse of. Because it was personal. She was devoted to him, and he to her. And she was repeating his name, the syllables strung together and becoming unintelligible. Soon she wailed sharply and stiffened, her pulses gripping his cock. "Fuck me harder," she whined.

His movements stilled. While he wanted to give in, he feared harming her - he was stronger than his skinniness suggested. But she begged for him again, and he couldn't resist pressing her wrists into the bed on either side of the pillow. Their kisses turned hard while she brought her trembling legs about him and he plunged into her. A wanton cry escaped with each inch she moved up the mattress, with every pound of his hips. The sear of her surrounding him was intoxicating, and he took her nipple in his mouth, laving and sucking at it. Her body grew rigid and bent into him and she moaned, her muscles clamping around him a second time.

Their intimacy had traversed the scale from slow to fast, loving to urgent. But Arthur had only been unrelenting with her once. Her enjoyment hadn't been a consideration; she’d been a means to an end that night. And the guilt he'd felt afterward had prompted him to promise himself to not be rough without her explicit permission. Seeing her trust in him in action, feeling it in the embrace of her body, pushed him forward to give into what they both craved.

He threw his head back and fucked her, up on his knees, slipping his grasp from her wrist to entwine her fingers. He held her neck and the side of her face as he mashed their lips together, losing himself in her as he increased the punishing pace of his thrusts. His motions stammered, seeking his climax, going deeper and deeper still.

With one final shove he came, emptying into her with each throb as they clung to each other. His brain was foggy with pleasure, breath ragged and panting. Vaguely, he was aware of her tight hold on his ass, as if she coveted every drop of him. As he came down from his high, the last tendrils of pleasure fading, he squeezed her hand. The kiss he gave her was tender, soft. A stark contrast from how they'd joined moments ago.

Y/N was giving him that dazed grin, the one she usually had after lovemaking. But he felt the need to check. "Did I hurt you?" Averting his eyes, he brushed his knuckles over her collarbone.

She pecked his nose and raked her nails through his hair, her look full of adoration. "You could never hurt me." A giggle bubbled up. "I do need a minute to recover, though." He stayed inside her while he softened, nestling in the crook of her neck. "I'm proud of you," she said.

His eyelids shut and a toothy grin appeared as his heart clenched. "Why?"

"You weren't afraid to ask me. Well, even if you were, you did it, anyway." Her arms wrapped about his torso and she palmed his back. "And you trusted yourself to let go."

He dragged his thumb along the faint stretch marks at her areola. While what she said was accurate, he usually liked it softer. During the periods in which his anger or despondency nearly consumed him, when he thought he might erupt, he was afraid he would lose the ability to be gentle. So far, her love and support had helped bring that tenderness back, even if it took a couple of days. He ached for that to continue. "You know, when I- when I see things that aren't there... I always say the right thing. I'm funny. I know how to do good." He took her hand and placed a kiss to the back of it. "But with you it's real."

Guiding him out and off her, she turned on her side. "Because that's who you are, Mr. Fleck. Don’t forget that. I won’t." She nuzzled his nose. "How else could you have broken through my shield enough to have this ridiculous pillow talk?" He chuckled as she tugged on a curl. "I lost that part of myself for a long time," she sighed. "I'd hate to lose it again."

"I won't let that happen." He pulled her closer, caressing the edge of her garter belt. "Especially if you keep wearing these," he said lowly.

Leaning forward, she pressed her breasts flush to him. "Let's be ridiculous until we're old and gray."

"Mhm." Tears prickled but he blinked them away, managing a wide smile. It was one of her hints that she wanted to be with him forever. He prayed she would accept his proposal next week. "Only if you promise to laugh at my jokes."

Y/N traced his jawline and kissed his dark brows, her gaze shining as she gave her response. "Arthur, I'll laugh with you for the rest of my life."

~~~~~

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thebibliomancer · 4 years

Text

Essential Avengers: Avengers #223: of Robin Hoods and Roustabouts

September, 1982

Apparently a “roustabout” is an unskilled or casual labor.

And lets admit the obvious that if Hawkeye is either of the two things, he’s a robin hood. And its not inaccurate but be nicer to Scott Lang.

Even if he manages to be even more hapless in this issue then in modern takes that leans into him being a fuck-up.

As for the cover? Pretty striking cover. I’ve been waiting for Hawkeye to shoot Ant-Man at someone. Its apparently an Iconic Avengers moment and to think it first happens in a filler.

Because I’m pretty sure this is a filler. Its written by David Michelinie alone instead of Jim Shooter getting a plotter or co-writer credit. It doesn’t really have anything from the dangling plot threads of Hank Pym or the Masters of Evil.

Between this and and the filler with the immortal child who badly wanted to die and all of the plotter or co-writer credits, you just really get a sense that Jim Shooter did not have time to devote to Avengers anymore.

So what kind of filler will this be? Weird? Impactless? Good Actually? Let’s see!

Well, apparently Hawkeye is going to the carnival so at this point, it could go either way.

I like that Hawkeye has a H belt buckle because that’s the kind of thing that he would do and that I can make fun of him for.

I know that it’s been a while since he’s mentioned kewpie dolls but Hawkeye came from the circus. He and his brother ran away to one when they were little and the Swordsman taught Hawkeye archery. The point being, “he’s come home.”

As in, this is specifically the carnival he used to work before he became very briefly a superhero, and then for slightly longer a supervillain, and then for much much longer a superhero for real.

Point is, he’s been away for a while. But he received a flyer in the mail and decided he just had to come.

Because someone wrote HELP! on the back.

Hawkeye figures that the previous owner’s daughter and current owner Marcy Carson sent it as a goof but heck if she’s going to go to that trouble, he’ll be happy to visit.

So he breezes past the workers outside the owner’s trailer and-

Actually they beat the shit out of him for trying to breeze past them. Goes to show.

When Hawkeye threatens to beat them up for this rude treatment, they get ruder and call him a rube. Can you believe! Him, a former employee himself being called a rube! Also they pull a fancy sci-fi gun on him.

So Hawkeye does buzz off. So he can change into his hawking eye duds and buzz right back on.

Roustabouts carrying laser pistols is very suspicious. And I guess Ant-Man isn’t the roustabout of the title. He’s moving up in the world.

MEANWHILE, Perfectly Ordinary electronics technician, ex-con, and Ant-Man Scott Lang is having a night out with his daughter Cassie. And they’re having a bit of a disagreement.

See, Cassie, future superhero, wants to ride the really cool roller coaster the Spin-’n-Heave. Scott Lang, dad with dumb views on gender apparently, insists that a roller coaster just isn’t ladylike enough and she should ride something more refined like the pony ride or ring toss.

Also, Scott is carrying the Ant-Man suit with him, loose in his pocket. And the helmet just drops out of his pocket and the damn fool would have lost it if Cassie hadn’t spotted it and mistaken it for a marble.

Geez, Scott! I stood up for you!

Scott’s attempts to dad by restricting what his daughter can and can’t do based on his own views on what is ladylike get dropped when he spots Hawkeye hauling ass across the carnival and decides that This Cannot Stand!

Scott Lang Ant-Man may not be an Avenger but dangit he can’t leave a fellow hero in the lurch! He must offer unsolicited aid!

So he caves on the Spin-’n-Heave issue because its a way to keep Cassie occupied for the length of exactly this issue.

Scott gives the operator a bunch of money and tells the operator to let Cassie ride until it runs out and then takes off.

Cassie is thrilled.

Meanwhile, Hawkeye has returned to the owner’s trailer but Marcy is gone and so are the two goons that were guarding the door. But he spots them marching Marcy through the crowd.

The goons are complimenting Marcy on being so cooperative but also say that if she’s not cooperative, her star acts are gonna get fed to the lions. And that might happen anyway once everything is said and done because their boss be like that.

Anyway, that’s when the two get hit by a KRAK THUBB arrow. Punch arrow? It looks nerf-y.

Hawkeye grabs Marcy and runs off with her into a tent so she can explain it all.

But first: he has to notice that she is beautiful. He has been gone a while so, y’know. People grow up or whatever.

Hawkeye: “There, that’s better! Now maybe I can get to the bottom of -- hey! You’re beautiful!”

Marcy: “I’ve waited a long time for you to notice that, ol’ buddy.”

Hawkeye: “Yeah, well, it’s hard noticin’ anything when you’re bein’ tripped into a pile of elephant dirt -- which, as I recall, used to be your favorite pastime!”

Marcy: “People change, Clint.”

Young Marcy sounds like a really interesting person. She certainly gave Hawkeye the business.

Anyway, she explains that it was pure luck that she was able to sneak that message out to him. And that the carnival has been taken over by some freak with powers.

Marcy: “Why, if he even suspected I was in touch with you he’d kill me deader than a Monday night in Des Moines!”

Off-screen Villain: “Nicely put, dumplin’! Should make you a dandy little epitaph!”

SCENE CHANGE TO PRESERVE SUSPENSE

Scott Lang has ducked behind some circus carts to change into Ant-Man.

Except he still has the whole shrunken costume piecemeal in his pockets so the process is one of slapstick. Scott goes digging in his pockets for the suit and accidentally drops it all in the straw.

Then he has to go digging around for the incredibly teeny pieces of gear while realizing that this was a stupid plan.

Maybe he should keep the suit in a tin. Like a mint tin or something.

But he finally gets all the pieces together and uses a safety pin to trigger the enlarging gas to full-size the outfit so he can put it on.

Huh! Enlarging gas! Early days in Avengers, they were all about the logistics of the shrinking and growing for Ant-Giant and the Wasp but it hasn’t been talked about in a long while. Wasp just changes size without the how being discussed.

But if it is Pym Particles, then I guess Scott isn’t at the point yet where his body naturally produces them so he has to use the gas canisters on the belt.

Scott does get dressed in his ant duds and uses the helmet to command some ants to find Hawkeye. And this is a carnival with a lot of dropped funnel cake and cotton candy so you know that there’s plenty of ants available.

SCENE CHANGE because we can only preserve suspense so far.

The mysterious off-screen villain hits the lights in the tent that Hawkeye and Marcy were talking in. Which reveals a bunch of gym and training equipment. It’d be nice if carnivals could provide such robust gym benefits to their workers but I feel that this is actually suspicious, finding this here.

Especially the combat flight simulator.

Hawkeye: “This place looks like a training ground for World War III!”

Off-screen villain, about to be onscreen: “And what better setting for the world’s greatest trainer? Namely... the TASKMASTER!”

Heyyy its the Taskmaster!

I forgot that he was a loose thread. He got away after the THREE-PARTER that introduced him. Then again, I guess since he’s the explanation for where villains get their armies of mooks, he didn’t really need to be tied up because that would defeat the purpose.

Anyway, Hawkeye wasn’t on the team for that three-parter but thankfully, the Avengers take thorough records.

Hawkeye: “Yeah, I remember readin’ about you in the Avengers’ files! You’re some sorta goon peddler!”

Taskmaster: “Watch yer mouth, bow-bender! What I am is a teacher!”

And then he recaps his goon, mook, henchman training business for the audience. He even clarifies that his series of secret academies are going great, thanks, but he’s trying to branch out with a mobile recruiting center.

Aka, this circus. And heck, according to Taskmaster, carnies already come off unscrupulous so having a bunch of goons hanging around won’t stand out.

THE PERFECT CRIME.

Actually. I don’t know if this is a crime? It’s not illegal to do combat training or learn how to fly a plane, probably. Then again, when 100% of your alumni wind up arrested for helping steal the Statue of Liberty, a legal goon school would get a lot of unwanted scrutiny. So best keep it secret.

And of course, extorting the owner and workers of a circus is definitely a crime. Pretty sure.

Anyway, the mobile recruiting center scheme is helped by Marcy telling anyone who asks that the new people hanging around are a new act that isn’t ready to open yet.

Hawkeye is sick of Taskmaster’s smarmy smarm and tries to shoot a grabber arrow? at Taskmaster.

Who just blocks it with his shield.

And takes the opportunity to brag about his photographic reflexes, where he only needs to see a sweet move once and he can do it perfectly.

He shows off by doing some Cap moves and then doing a Spider-Man move. Which he seems to do just to do.

And by Spider-Man move I mean hanging upside down from a line. Which, yes, Spider-Man does do that but it doesn’t really seem that necessary or helpful here and you’re totally doing it just to show off but really you look a little ridiculous.

Taskmaster even shows off some Tigra moves by kicking Hawkeye in the face. Its fun to me that he shows off Tigra specifically. Its for some acrobatics like flippy kick but there’s gotta be other acrobatic heroes. Like Spider-Man.

But Tigra was on the Avengers recently and briefly and dammit, he’s gonna show off what he learned!

Anyway, Taskmaster beats up Hawkeye until he gets bored of it and then just takes Marcy hostage to get Hawkeye to surrender.

He just really wanted to show off some of his sweet moves. And as soon as he ran through five different hero movesets (Cap, Spider-Man, Tigra, Daredevil, and Iron Fist) he’s just like ‘k I’m done’.

Meanwhile, back to Ant-Man ant-again.

He’s lurking around a corner trying to be inconspicuous while children are pointing and asking if he’s a clown. Perhaps realizing that he didn’t need to put on the full costume to use the helmet and that he’s just made himself look foolish.

But some of his ants report in that they’ve found Hawkeye so Ant-Man shrinks down to ride an ant into action.

Wait. Yeah. You could have just shrunken down and perched somewhere to wait for ant reports. You’ve made yourself look a fool and you fully had the power to avoid that in so many ways.

Meanwhile back to Hawkeye yet again, Taskmaster knows that killing an Avenger would attract notice so he’s going to make it look like an accident.

So he’s locked Hawkeye in an electrified cage with a lion, a normal situation that can accidentally happen to anyone. So now when Hawkeye gets mauled to death by the lion, nobody will suspect it was anything but an accident.

Taskmaster walks away because its villain tradition that you don’t watch the heroes you lock in the death traps. That’d just be gauche.

The lion sizes up Hawkeye and decides that he’s food and leaps for the kill!

And Ant-Man grows out from under the lion and throws it into the electrified bars, knocking him out.

Pretty good timing Scott! And that poor attempted man-eater lion! That poor five hundred pound lion! WOW SCOTT, do you work out?

I also feel that Republic Serial has aged poorly for more than just lion tossing.

Ant-Man and Hawkeye get each other on the same page. As it happens, Ant-Man actually has more experience with Taskmaster since he was actually in that three-parter. That’ll give them a tiny, tiny, tiny edge.

They’re still stuck in a locked cage and Hawkeye is like ‘gee whiz shrinking hero guy how can we possibly get out?’

Would you be surprised that Ant-Man just shrinks Hawkeye? Scott does muse that he could probably have picked the lock if he had the tools for it but shrinking just saves time.

Hawkeye does not care for it though.

I don’t know what he’s complaining about. Big sleepy cat even bigger now. You could live in the mane at that size.

You could be a tiny man living in a lion’s mane. Imagine.

Anyway.

Over in Taskmaster’s private tent, he’s telling Marcy she done fucked up calling for Hawkeye and she’s going to wish she was getting mauled to death by a lion in an electrified cage like Hawkeye was.

And Hawkeye does the equivalent of clearing his throat and saying ‘hey dingus, not dead’

Taskmaster reaches for a magnesium flare like he used against the Avengers but Ant-Man’s expert knowledge of meeting Taskmaster one time lets him warn Hawkeye who shoots it out of Taskmaster’s hand.

Taskmaster just questions why they didn’t go for a killshot when they had him surprised and then calls a goon squad on the heroes.

Of course, goon squads being called on heroes is just a setup to make heroes look really cool showing their stuff on some expendable targets.

“While the Taskmaster’s troops have been well-trained for normal combat, they fare woefully poor against these super-normal foes!”

And show their stuff they do. Like Hawkeye leaping around firing net and bola arrows!

And Ant-Man... shrinking down really small to punch a guy’s earlobe.

Look. He’s trying.

Also, Marcy is braining people with a juggling pin like some manner of alien clown because she is exceptionally irate at Taskmaster and his goons.

While the three beat up this crowd of goons, Taskmaster runs off to set up his “escape insurance.”

Ant-Man and Hawkeye chase him into the big top where there’s already a crowd watching the show. And waiting for the human cannonball act.

BUT! Taskmaster is apparently a cartoon villain because he’s replaced the human cannonball with a dummy full of explosives and he’s going to shoot it and blow up the grandstand, killing a couple hundred innocent lives.

Taskmaster tells them they can capture him or they can stop his ridiculous scheme.

Taskmaster: “Have fun decidin’, chumps!”

And then presumably he runs off giggling.

Hawkeye wants to go after Taskmaster and have Ant-Man take care of the nothuman cannonball bomb.

Ant-Man: “No, Hawkeye! There are too many lives at stake! And it may take both of us to stop that cannon!”

Hawkeye: “But we can’t just let that psycho walk! We can’t -- .”

Ant-Man: “Hawkeye! Think about it! Think! Please... !”

Hawkeye: “Yeah, I guess you’re right... blast it.”

Scott Lang has his heart in the right place to be a hero even if he is a bit of a goofus about it. I like you, Scott Lang.

Hawkeye runs back into the tent and shoots the goon manning the cannon with a bola arrow. he gets the goon but the goon falls on the button.

Fortunately, its the elevation control, not the fire button.

Unfortunately, there is no firing button, so the firing cycle is automatic.

Fortunately, hitting the elevation control accidentally made the cannon point up instead of at the grandstand. So the bomb is still going to fall and blow everything up but they have time and Ant-Man has an idea.

He has Hawkeye nock his fastest arrow and jumps on it.

Hawkeye shoots the arrow and hits the explosive filled mannequin in the neck right as it reached the top of its trajectory and hung very briefly in the air.

As the bomb starts to plummet, Ant-Man crawls up the arrow onto the bomb-man and to the detonator.

All too soon the bomb hits the ring

but doesn’t detonate.

Ant-Man managed to defuse the bomb!

And he also managed to survive the fall because of course! He’s not destined to die for a long while and only then in a really dumb way.

Thanks to Scott’s experience of watching Raiders of the Lost Ark twenty-seven times he’s a real expert on jumping from one speeding object to another.

Aka, from the falling bomb to a flying ant. Sure.

The heroes see that Taskmaster has escaped while all this was going on but Hawkeye decides he’ll get him next time.

Also? The audience has thought that this was part of the show the whole time so they’ve loved every second of this.

Soon the other Avengers arrive, too late to take part in the plot but in time to help clean up the goon operation.

Also, She-Hulk is in her tattered white dress outfit again. I really think there was some miscommunication here. Like with having her dressed like that on the previous cover and having her dressed like that here in this filler issue.

She doesn’t wear that anymore but its the Iconic outfit for her so if an artist needs a ref to draw her, they’re probably looking at a picture from her Savage She-Hulk series.

And Scott Lang gets the last page because whoops, he left his daughter on a roller coaster the whole time and forgot her in the heat of the adventure. DAD OF THE YEAR!

Scott runs to find her sitting outside the Spin-’n-Heave looking down, head in hands. Scott is worried that something is wrong with her but

Cassie Lang: “I’m a little tired right now, daddy *yawn* but can we come back an’ ride the ‘Spin-’n-Heave’ again t’morrow?”

Scott Lang: “Tomorrow? Again? *sigh* Kids.”

Hah, she tuckered herself out riding the roller coast over and over again but is game to keep doing it again tomorrow. That’s the Cassie Lang that will grow up to join the Young Avengers!

So, Avengers filler but it wasn’t weird or inconsequential. It doesn’t do anything with the ongoing plots but it feels like it does since Scott Lang has come back into the books recently because of the Hank Pym plot. And it follows up on Taskmaster who has gone unaddressed since his introductory stories.

Its just a nice story and by focusing on a guest star and one of the Avengers doing an impromptu team-up it has some fun energy.

Good times.

Hey. Follow @essential-avengers maybe? Its better than the Spin-’n-Heave! ... I can’t actually prove that. But also like and reblog this post because I’m a cool person. ... I can’t actually prove that either...

#Avengers #Taskmaster #Hawkeye #Ant Man #Scott Lang #some roustabouts #some robin hoods #essential avengers #essential marvel liveblogging #some avengers in a one panel cameo in their own book #ant man and hawkeye make a good team weirdly #i'm weirdly fascinated by the Spin 'n Heave #it has a waterfall

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westannatasharomanoff · 4 years

Note

Halloween pairing: brutasha (42,47) please

42. Did you leave the baby in the haunted house?

47. I got everyone pumpkin spice lattes!

This story takes place a few months after AoU, except in this story Bruce never left.

*It was Halloween and Clint and Laura had been invited to a big Halloween party by some of Laura’s old coworkers. They had RSVP’d and their costumes were perfect. There was only one problem. Children weren’t allowed to go and they couldn’t find a babysitter. *

Laura: Just call Natasha. She’s the only person we haven’t talked to and we’re running out of options. The worst she can say is no.

Clint: The problem is that she isn’t going to say no. She already has plans, but she’ll do anything we need her to just for the asking. She hasn’t had a night off in months and she’s going to the Haunted Carnival with Bruce. We can’t just ask her to give up her date night so we can go to a party.

Laura: We’ve already RSVP’d. We can’t just cancel the day of the party. I’m in charge of appetizers! Look, I don’t want to ruin her night any more than you do, but we don’t have any other choice.

*Meanwhile, at the compound*

Natasha: Okay, Wanda, let’s give it one more try. Just gently pick up Sam’s extra ammo and send it his way. He’ll catch it in the air.

*Wanda tries the move again and succeeds. Sam grabs the extra ammo and reloads midair. *

Natasha: Great teamwork, you two. I knew you’d get it. *her phone rings* Oh, it’s Clint. I’ll be right back.

* Steve and Bruce continue to coach the new recruits in teamwork and other important skills. Natasha answers her phone.*

Natasha: Hey Clint. We haven’t talked in forever! What’s going on?

Clint: I really hate to do this to you, but could you watch Cooper, Lila, and Nathaniel tonight? Laura and I can’t find a babysitter.

Natasha: Of course I can watch them. I was going to the carnival tonight with Bruce, but I’d be happy to bring them along. Of course, if you don’t want them going to the Haunted Carnival, we can stay home and watch a movie or something. Do I need to take them trick-or-treating? Wait, there are booths for that at the carnival.

Clint: You can take them to the carnival. Thank you so much, Nat. You’re a real lifesaver.

Natasha: Anytime. *hangs up* *sigh* Well, I guess I better tell Bruce there’s been a change of plans.

*Natasha walked back into the training room and pulled Bruce back out into the hallway with her.*

Bruce: What happened? Why do you look so disappointed?

Natasha: I know tonight was supposed to be just you and me, but Clint needed a babysitter and I couldn’t say no. We have to take Cooper, Lila, and Nate to the carnival with us.

Bruce: That’s okay, Nat. We’ll have time to ourselves eventually. We’re still planning on disappearing as soon as the recruits are trained.

*Later that night, Clint dropped the kids off at the tower, and Natasha and Bruce headed to the carnival with them in tow. Natasha held onto Cooper and Lila’s hands while Bruce kept track of Nathaniel and his carrier. The children trick-or-treated for about an hour. After that, they all got candy apples and bought tickets for a haunted house. Lila and Cooper were scared, but they weren’t as terrified as Bruce. At some point, Bruce set down the carrier by accident. Once they got out of the haunted house, Cooper and Lila wanted to play some games so Natasha bought them game tickets.*

Natasha: How’s Nate doing? It’s almost time for his bottle.

Bruce: Uh oh.

Natasha: What do you mean “uh oh?” Where’s Nathaniel?! Bruce, did you leave the baby in the haunted house?!

Bruce: I think so!

Natasha: Cooper! Lila! Come back here a minute! *whispers to Bruce* You keep track of them, I’ll go find the baby. Don’t let them know he’s missing.

*Natasha ran to the ticket booth for the haunted house*

Natasha: Excuse me, ma'am? Hi. Is there a baby in your haunted house?

Ticket salesperson: A baby? In the haunted house?

Natasha: Yes. My boyfriend thinks he set my nephew down in there and we need to find him.

Ticket salesperson: He set your nephew down?

Natasha: Yes. I need to get that baby back. Can I go in and look?

Ticket salesperson: I’m sorry, I can’t let you in without a ticket. *Natasha buys a ticket* Okay, you’ll have to wait in line. Also, I know it’s not my business, but you should dump that one before you two get stuck with a child.

Natasha: *angry* You’re right, it’s not your business! That was not an okay thing to say to a stranger and my relationship is not yours to judge! One more thing, children aren’t something you get stuck with. I love my niece and nephews and you need to let me in to find that baby! He could get seriously hurt!

Ticket salesperson: Who do you think you are, telling me how to do my job?!

Natasha: The Black Widow. Who do you think you are, telling me how to watch Hawkeye’s son?!

*The woman’s eyes widened as she realized who she was talking to.*

Ticket salesperson: I am so sorry, please don’t kill me! I didn’t mean any harm. I’ll radio some of the scarers and see if they’ve seen a baby!

*A scare actor quickly responded to the salesperson and brought Nathaniel out to Natasha. Natasha took the carrier and thanked the scare actor for bringing him out. The baby was fast asleep, and now he was safe and sound. They’d had enough chaos for one night, so Natasha and Bruce took the kids back to the tower. Clint came to pick them up a few hours later.*

Clint: I got everyone pumpkin spice lattes! Consider this an extra thank you for watching the kids even though you had plans.

Natasha: I’m happy to help, really.

Clint: I’m just sorry you had to give up your night off. Laura feels terrible as well.

Natasha: It’s really fine, there’s no need to be sorry. Besides, Halloween isn’t over yet. We still have a few hours to spend together.

Bruce: Yeah, we’re watching Beetlejuice.

Clint: Okay, have fun.

#brutasha #Halloween #natasha romanoff #bruce banner #brucenat #hulkwidow #marvel #mcu #avengers #the avengers

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maldonaveen-rp · 3 years

Text

@ouchspecter || carnival starter

Naveen liked horror as much as the next guy; anything that got your blood pumping was a worthwhile activity in his opinion. And if he craved a little excitement after much of his had been spent sitting around at a kissing booth—not as fun as it sounded on the surface—the haunted house seemed like the perfect attraction to visit.

One of the costumed performer’s jump-scares had just given him a good startle, but he was already laughing in the next moment. “Ah, well, you cannot scare me more than my bank account,” he joked.

#ouchspecter #ouchspecter1 #interactions #wghqcarnival

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tallstales · 4 years

Text

Day 4 Books (13 Days of Halloween)

There are so many books perfect for reading in the fall. Many people read with Halloween in mind at this time of year and I happen to be one of them from about July through mid November. At this time of year, we gravitate towards Stephen King and now Joe Hill or the latest big name. Sometimes we forget about the classics that started it all or we don’t think to look in our own backyard for new favorites.

Today I’m going to share a list of 13 of my favorite spooky classics mixed in with brand new hits on my to read list. And as a bonus, I’m including a list of Rhode Island authors of Supernatural fiction, Mysteries, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller, and more to keep you enthralled as we get closer to Halloween.

Let’s check them out!

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

For those who know me well, they know the special love I have for The haunting of Hill House. Last year I even got the crazy opportunity to direct the play at the Rhode Island Stage Ensemble because they knew of my crazy obsession. I might talk about this book too much. That being said, I will keep it brief today. Read it! Go! No, you have not experienced it through Netflix or even the play. They’re wonderful, amazing interpretations, but they are very different.

To truly know Hill House and the people staying there to study it, you need to read this book and get trapped in the mind of its not quite reliable narrator.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Speaking of Netflix, on this list is another psychological haunted house thriller that has just been made into a streaming hit in The Haunting of Bly Manor.

The Turn of the Screw is a short but not so sweet story with an atmosphere of slowly growing tension. This is a great quick read for a rainy day home alone to get your nerves just the right amount of frayed for when the trick or treaters start knocking.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Another classic is the travelogue Dracula! With any other title, people would question how a travel journal could be scary, but Dracula needs no introduction. If anything, time and popular culture has added so much to this story that when we go back and look at the original tale we are terrified all over again by the simplicity of atmosphere and characterization over props, costumes, and all the other added layers.

There’s a scary bit of truth to this tale as well, one that even connects back to Rhode Island! Did you know that Bram Stoker was inspired by the story of Mercy Brown? Yes, news of her tragedy and horrific exhumation made it all the way to London! Stay tuned this week for our 13 Haunted RI Tales for more on Mercy.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

While we’re in the Victorian Era and talking about classic monsters, we can’t forget about Frankenstein’s monster! This is another one that’s been taken apart and put back together by so many different writers, directors, and actors that we forget how terrifying the original is.

What really makes this story stand the test of time even past the language changes that can make other stories written in the same period slog along, is Shelley’s understanding of human nature.

We all question the meaning of life and death and Frankenstein has a way of helping our imagination come up with the most terrifying answers.

Edgar Allan Poe

How could we discuss Horror classics without the twisted tales of Edgar Allan Poe? I can’t even pick a single story to discuss for this list, just trust me and get a collection of his stories if you don’t already own one. You won’t be disappointed.

Haunted houses? Evil animals? Disease? Death? Human Nature? Poe has covered all of the best horror tropes and even invented a few himself. If I had to choose a favorite to start with… one that sticks with me and makes me shudder to even think about is The Lighthouse. It’s the rats. They get me everytime and unlike the suspense they bring in The Pit and the Pendulum, the rats in The Lighthouse just bring terror and an overall sense of disgust. Happy reading!

His Hideous Heart Edited by Dahlia Adler

While we’re on the subject of the laste, great E.A.P. I bring you a fairly recent edition to his fandom.

His Hideous Heart is an anthology put together by 13 well known YA authors for a new, contemporary audience. Edgar Allan Poe may be gone, but his works and their themes have stayed with us and in our classrooms with a love their surprising and unsettling nature.

Contributors include Dahlia Adler (reimagining “Ligeia”), Kendare Blake (“Metzengerstein”), Rin Chupeco (“The Murders in the Rue Morgue”), Lamar Giles (“The Oval Portrait”), Tessa Gratton (“Annabel Lee”), Tiffany D. Jackson (“The Cask of Amontillado”), Stephanie Kuehn (“The Tell-Tale Heart”), Emily Lloyd-Jones (“The Purloined Letter”), amanda lovelace (“The Raven”), Hillary Monahan (“The Masque of the Red Death”), Marieke Nijkamp (“Hop-Frog”), Caleb Roehrig (“The Pit and the Pendulum”), and Fran Wilde (“The Fall of the House of Usher”).

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Continuing to move forward in time, I find myself thinking of Ray Bradbury. Bradbury has a wonderful way of slowly seeping discontent into the reader but with Something Wicked he seems to put pedal to the metal.

This is the only book on my list to feature a nightmarish carnival and Bradbury might be why. I somehow walked away without a fear of clowns or carnivals but reading about them… still gives me the heebie jeebies. Now that I think about it, this book might have something to do with why mirrors creep me out too.

Readers be warned. Something Wicked This Way Comes has all the marks of a beautifully written coming of age tale, but the themes stick with you like a shadow well into adulthood.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

If you haven’t read this book, you have definitely heard of it. That book with the weird typography, with the backwards words and print in the margins and all that weird stuff? Yes, it’s House of Leaves and “all that weird stuff” makes for one exciting and unsettling ride. People I give this book two either firmly LOVE it or HATE it, but I recommend it today because 8 out of 10 are on the love side and passing around their copies to others because it’s hard not too.

As you read, you follow two stories. The main story is about the Navidson family moving into a new home where some very strange things begin to happen. The second story takes place in the footnotes where we follow a man named Johnny as he finds, reads and obsesses over the first story which is referred to in the book as The Navidson Record. Now, I have set out with the mission of not spoiling anything for anyone today, especially since most the books on this list are of the thriller or suspense genre so I will stop here, but know I really, really want to tell you everything that happens and everything I think of it! Go read this crazy work of art and message me. We’ll talk.

Twelve Nights at Rotter House by J.W. Ocker

I said it earlier and I’ll say it again, I have a soft spot for a good haunted house. Now, haunted by people or haunted by spirits… I think both are the best kind. Those who have started reading my series The Monsters Within can probably guess that I love the “Humans are the Monsters” horror trope. And, well, nothing brings out the monsters in humans faster than the particular fear that comes with staying in a haunted house. Or at least, a house perceived to be haunted where your mind can play such glorious tricks on you.

Twelve Nights at Rotter House is admittedly slow to start, but I like and recommend this title because that slow pace is there for a reason. We get comfortable when nothing much is happening, when the pace is slow and friendly. I think it makes everything that comes next that much more exciting. Give it a chance and let me know what you think.

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

The Twisted Ones is a delicious cocktail of Suspense, Thriller, Horror fiction, Psychological Fiction, Occult Fiction. It’s everything I wanted M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village to be when the trailers came out back in 2004 and everything it wasn’t for me. Add into it the the main character is cleaning a hoarder’s house in the woods… yeah! Sold, this is creepy and gross and sets off all my alarms, I’m reading it with ALL the lights on.

And somehow, through not being able to put it down and finding myself breathlessly speed reading , I still found time to laugh. There are these little gems in the main character’s personality and the story telling that are so relatable and likeable that it adds an effortless humor on top of the effortless horror. This is the only work I’ve read by this author, but she is absolutely on my follow list and I hope she makes yours as well.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Some might recognise the name Leigh Bardugo from popular YA fantasies but fear not (or do for that matter) Bardugo can write the hell out of terrifying adult themes. Ninth House is almost impossible to out down in its fast paced, constantly twisting and turning mystery and terrifying ghost story.

[Now, I feel the need to mention before we move on that this is an award winning piece and it is loved by too many to count, BUT if you are on my blog then you may be here because I write about mental health and mental illness and all the emotions dark and light that come with psychology. I try my best to do so in an educated and realistic way that relates back to what I’m going through with good intentions. I try my absolute best to write realistically without including triggers. That being said, as someone who has mental health issues, this story did trigger me. Did I still enjoy the read and do I think you would too, absolutely! I wouldn’t have it on my list otherwise. But if you have anxiety, depression, ptsd, or are overcoming assault you may want to do some further research into the adult topics of this novel before reading. Please feel free to ask questions or leave comments regarding this topic. Thank you.]

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Moving into this year’s releases there is the ever popular The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. This is another one that seamlessly works in some brilliant comedy into the spooky plot.

Some have compared this to Fried Green Tomatoes and Steel Magnolias meet Dracula and I’d just like to throw in Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the cherry on that brilliant summary sundae.

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

I had the pleasure of studying under Emily Danforth while going after my BA in Writing at Rhode Island College. At that point, she had just published The Miseducation of Cameron Post and I was completely enamored. That being said, I have kept up with her writing and oh man am I glad because Plain Bad Heroines was GREAT!

There are so few great additions to their horror genre that I just want to paste gold stars all over this beautifully written, funny, sexy, and utterly disturbing coming of age hit. I hope you love it as much as I did and if you do, be sure to review! This book is brand spanking new and new book sales depend on reviews to help audiences find them. Get out there and post what you liked or even what you didn’t about everything you read. In the end, even negative reviews help new readers find something they will enjoy.

Supernatural/Paranormal

Lorne J. Therrian Sr.

Jeanine Duval Spikes

Alexander Smith

Elizabeth Splaine

D. R. Perry

Sheryl Lynn Kimball

Lisa Jacob

Paul & Ben Eno

Christine Depetrillo

Roland Comtois

Daniel Cano

J. C. Brown

Horror

Alexander Smith

H.P. Lovecraft Lisa Jacob

Christa Carmen

Science Fiction

Rachel Menard

Tabitha Lord

R. K. Bentley

Fantasy

J. Michael Squatrito, Jr.

Lorne J. Therrian Sr.

Angelina Singer

Scott William Simmons

C. K. Sholly

Heather Rigney

Rachel Menard

Paul Magnan

M. A. Guglielmo

Heather Dunn

Susan Catalano

A. Keith Carreiro

Daniel Cano

Noel Anne Brennan

Tim Baird

Mystery

Anne-Marie Sutton

Elizabeth Splaine

Dusty Pembroke

Risa Nyman

Rick Marchetti

Jean Kelly

Sam Kafrissen

Ilhy

Daniel Currier

Judy Boss

Julien Ayotte

Thriller

Heather Rigney

Glede Browne

Judy Boss

David Boiani

David Aiello

DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT BELOW!

13 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN IS A SPECIAL TREAT FOR ME AND MY READERS. ON HALLOWEEN, THERE WILL BE A VERY SPECIAL GIVEAWAY I’D LOVE FOR YOU TO TAKE PART IN. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO ENTER IS COMMENT OR SHARE THIS POST TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING AND BEST OF LUCK!

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weebtarurights · 4 years

Text

Seasonal Event: HOLIDAY PARK CARNIVAL - Part 8

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8 || Part 9 || Part 10 || Epilogue

Tenma: Can I have a minute? Hisoka: What is it? Tenma: Sorry for suggesting this right before the performance but I want to talk about the gestures we'll use for this play--. Tenma: I realized that we can convey the story by making bigger gestures than we practiced even if they can't understand our language. Juza: I see. Certainly, yesterday's musical 's like that too. Banri: It'll be easier to understand the story that way. Citron: Let's do it! Tsuzuru: Yeah, let's try that during the performance. Tenma, take the lead. Tenma: Yeah, leave it to me.

CHARACTERS:

Banri Settsu as Tony Tsuzuru Minagi as Ron Citron as Bob Tenma Sumeragi as Randy Juza Hyodo as Jean Hisoka Mikage as Connor

Tony: "Oof..." " Phew, seriously... this bird's head is way too heavy" Ron: " Rabbits have long ears. It's heavy too." Bob: "Oh, you're here. Can everyone gather for a moment?" "I'll introduce you to a new employee. Everyone, this is Randy." Randy: "I'm going to start working here today ! I'm looking forward to working with you all!" Tony: "Wait. You're wearing dog costume already?"

Randy: "Just thinking about working here today makes me feel restless! I will do my best ! If there's anything I need to learn, please tell me. " Ron: "Are you the type who doesn't listen to what the other person is saying? " Jean: "Isn't it nice that he's full of motivation" He's a very passionate guy." Connor: "Even if a new comer join now, there isn't much work left for them." Randy:" Eh? What do you mean?" Ron: "I don't want to say this but there aren't many visitors coming to this amusement park anymore and it's only a matter of time before we completely go out of business. " Jean: "Of course we really don't want it to go bankrupt but..."

Izumi: (It seems like their gestures are bigger and easier to understand than we originally practiced. Did they talk about something by any chance? )

Randy: "If that's the case, let's do our best to prevent this park from getting bankrupt! !" Tony: "Do you know what you’re talking about? No matter how much we try, it's absolutely impossible now." "Let's go, Ron. " Ron: "Yeah. See yah around, newbie. " Bob: "Gotta go back to work too. Randy-kun, it's nice that you are enthusiastic about your work but try not get too passionate, okay~ " Randy: "Ah, everyone..." Connor: "They all left." Randy: "Um ! Why don't we all gather and think of new ideas to revive this amusement park? I'll think of different ideas too. Please lend me your strength! " Jean: "....I see. I kinda like this amusement park too. Let's try a little a harder" Connor: "... Well, it might be a good a idea to give it a last push.." Randy: "Thank you very much ! Let's do our best ! "

Randy: "Want some animal-stamped burger? " Jean: "We have ice cream too ~ " Connor: "It's super delicious~ here you go~ "

Randy: "I wonder if idea about food is too average. " "Then the next idea I have is---- " "Animal dance ! Come on, everybody, one, two three !" Connor: "One two three !" Jean: "This costume is making it hard for me to dance ... ! Uwaaa !? " Randy: "Gyaaahhh !? " Connor: "W-wake up, you two !" Audience A: <Ahahahahaha! The dog is super cute~! >

Randy: "Dance is no good. Let's do magic then ! " "I'll make bubbles come out of this box ! " Jean: "That's ! So fluffy~" Connor: "Next, I'll make a flag come out of this hat!" Randy: "! ? Connor-san ! ? The mechanism inside your hat is popping out!" Connor: "Ehh? Uwaaahh !! I-I'm sorry ! I didn't notice! " Audience B: <Pft.... hahaha ! > Audience C: <Mr.Tiger, Mr. Cat, you can do it ! >

Izumi: (Even if they don't understand the language, they're still able to convey the story and the slapstick skits seems very funny for the audience.)

Jean: "Thanks to the various things we tried, the number of visitors increased a little but it's still not near enough than it used to be...." Connor: "We made quite a difference ! Well, actually not much... I wonder if there's any point to what we're doing..." Randy: "We're not done yet. There's still a lot of things we haven't tried. I'm not going to give up !" "I'll think about what else we can do while handing out balloons. " Jean: "He's really insistent, isn't he?" Connor: "He's stubborn but...I think he's a good guy."

Randy: "What else we can do... " Tony: "Phew.... Geez..." Randy: "Wha---What the hell are you doing ! ? Visitors are passing by this place !" Tony: "It's so hot. I can't help it, 'kay." Randy: "Even so ! Don't take it off on a place like this ! You're destroying people's dreams..." "No, wait....?" "On the contrary....." "That's right ! Why does taking off mascot's head is like destroying people's dream? "

Ron: "Isn't it because it's scary? Well, I'm not in the position to say it when I took it off too. Tony: “Wait ! Why are you pulling my hand? Oi, newbie ! “ Randy: "There's no other amusement park where mascots take off their head ! We can sell it and it might become a big hit !" Tony: "No no no no! " Ron: " Wait, wait ! There's no way we can do that ! " Randy: "But wearing the costume's really hot, isn't it? If we can take off the mascot's head, things will become easier for us." Tony: "Well you have a point-- oi, don't tell me, you just want to take it off? " Tenma: "I'll propose it immediately. Ah, Perfect timing ! Bob-saaaaaaaaan ! " Tony: "Hey-- Wait up !.... You're running way too fast ! " Randy: “Bob-san ! I've got a proposal !” Bob: “Hm? What is it? “ Randy: “Please listen to my idea !” “I'm planning to do this and this and then--- what do you think ?” Ron: .”..He really went off to suggest it... There's no way they'll allow it, right?” Bob: “Kinda interesting. Hmm.. taking off the the head huh. “ “Isn't it a great idea? Approved! Let's give it a try. “ Tony: “He approved it? ! “ Randy: “Yay ! ! I'll let everyone know ! “ Connor:” I didn't expect taking off mascot's head will be this popular. “ Jean: “Yesterday, the kids asked me to take my head off.” Bob: “A lot of visitors are coming to see it recently. The amusement park is starting to regain its popularity. “ Randy: “It's mission accomplished, right? It's all because Tony-san and the others gave me this opportunity! Thank you, everyone !” Tony: “Y, yeah....?” Ron: “What's with this soppy ending? ! Don't y'all think it's weird? !” Audience: Ahahahhahahaha!

#a3!#a3! translation #act addict actors #a3! actor training game #a3! event story #HOLIDAY PARK CARNIVAL #A3! Holiday Park Carnival

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