#i imagine i’ll love people again eventually but not today & not up close

[firstfullmoon]

Jeremy Radin, “Day’s End”

#i imagine i’ll love people again eventually but not today & not up close #no matter what i say i’m saying hold me #w #poetry #jeremy radin #there’s a hunger in me a need to watch something grow

[joeys-babe]

Joey B blurbs: Isn’t She Lovely

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Summary: Joe brings the twins with him to one of his press conferences, but all Miles seems to want is ‘Momma’.

Warnings: Fluff

Pairing: Joe Burrow x reader

Imagine Universe: Into The Mystic

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*No particular date for this fic!*

(Joe’s pov)

“Joe, my mom’s calling. Can you take the boys with you?” - you

“To my conference??” - Joe

y/n, Tyson, and Miles came over to Paycor today to watch us practice.

Afterward, I and a couple of the other guys stayed back to play football with the kids. The guys made a few jokes after Tyson successfully threw a spiral at two years old. I thought it was accidental, but Ja’marr and Tee swore it was the ‘Burrow gene’.

Now that almost everyone had left the stadium, y/n and the twins were allowed to come into the locker room with me.

y/n got on to me about how messy my locker was. I told her it was fine, but Tee made a ‘Happy wife, happy life’ joke saying I should clean it.

In the end, I knew I would end up doing it anyway to please her because that woman had me wrapped around her finger. She has since high school.

Currently, I was just about to step into the media room when y/n came rushing up to me, the twins behind her, saying that her mom sent a text saying call me ASAP.

Zac had just walked out from his conference, and he heard our conversation.

“You’re allowed to take ‘em in if you want to. I know you would rather be with them than have someone else watch them.” - Zac

“Yeah, okay. Thanks.” - Joe

“No problem, kid.” - Zac walked off

y/n stood in front of me, her phone still ringing, and I made a split-second decision.

“Go ahead, I’ll take ‘em, baby.” - Joe

“Thank you, you're the best, Joe.” - you

She looked around to see if anyone was present, and when there wasn't anyone, she pressed a quick peck to my lips.

I watched her speedwalk down the hall toward the women's bathroom to have some privacy, and I bent down to the twin's level.

“You guys have to go in there with me for my press conference, okay? You know those videos you watch of me with Mommy where the people ask me questions?” - Joe

“Yeh!” - Tyson

“You guys are gonna sit on my lap for one, okay? If you wanna leave at any point tell me.” - Joe

“Ok, Dada.” - Tyson

“What about you Miles? Sound good?” - Joe

“Sound great, Daddy.” - Miles

I stood up and picked them both up, one in each arm, and walked into the media room.

It was kinda funny watching the reporter’s faces turn to shock. They knew I was a reserved, closed-off person, and that I hated the media, so for me to bring my kids in here was surprising to them.

Pulling my chair out, I sat down and situated the boys on my lap. One sat on each leg.

Tyson laid his head on my shoulder while Miles was looking around, trying to figure everything out.

“How’s it goin’.” - Joe

Everything was silent.

“What’s this?” - Reporter 1

“A one-time thing.” - Joe chuckled

Everyone in the room laughed before a reporter spoke up.

“Who are these cuties?” - Reporter 2

“They're my two-year-old twins. Wanna say your names?” - Joe

I almost laughed as Miles immediately lept forward and grabbed the mic.

“I’m Miles.” - Miles

His voice was super loud in the speakers from how close he was to the mic, and I couldn't help but bust out laughing.

Eventually, I pulled Miles back into my lap and nudged Tyson. He silently shook his head.

“This is Tyson. He's my little mini-me and doesn't like the media like his daddy.” - Joe

The room laughed again before I continued talking.

“You guys can interact with the boys for a little bit but I'm here to talk football.” - Joe

For the first time since I walked in, the room fell silent, till Miles spoke up.

“Momma!” - Miles

“Someone wants his momma.” - Reporter 3 laughed

“Yeah. She’s on the phone, which is why I had to bring ‘em in here.” - Joe

“Momma?” - Miles looked up at Joe

“She’s on the phone, buddy. If you guys can't already tell, he's a momma’s boy. He’s more like her than me personality-wise.” - Joe

“So he’s social?” - Reporter 2 jokes

I laughed as I nodded my head, finding his dig at me to be funny.

“Momma!” - Miles whined

“Guys, excuse me, but I'm probably gonna have to call my wife.” - Joe

This was the most unorganized thing I've ever done.

Pulling my phone out to call y/n, she answered pretty fast.

“Hello? Are you still in your conference?” - you

“Yes, but can you come get Miles? He wants you like bad.” - Joe

“Oh yeah, of course. I’ll be right there.” - you

“Okay, good. See you in a sec.” - Joe

“I won't say I love you, so you don't have to say it back. I know you don't want that being picked up on the mic.” - you laughed

“I love you too, bye.” - Joe smiled

“What?!” - you

I hung up just after that, not caring that I said it right into the mic.

“She’s coming to get this one.” - Joe

I nodded at Miles, then realized he was waving directly at a female reporter.

Just a few seconds went by before the media room door opened and y/n walked in.

She looked at me, unsure of what to do, so I flicked my head telling her to come in my direction.

y/n walked up the platform steps and took Miles from my lap, who was smiling from ear to ear.

“Do you wanna go with Momma too?” - Joe

Tyson shook his head no and sat up, now facing the room of seated reporters.

I leaned the mic away from my mouth and whispered to y/n.

“Thanks, Mama. You look beautiful by the way. I'll see you after this is over.” - Joe grinned

She grinned at me, her cheeks flushing as she situated Miles on her hip before waking away.

When I faced the reporters and fixed the mic back to point toward my face, they all had smiles on their faces.

“Did… did you guys hear that?” - Joe

All at once they all said yes, yeah, mhm, yup.

My cheeks turned red from embarrassment, this was an absolute trainwreck.

“So… Tyson, what can you tell us about your daddy? What does he do at home?” - Reporter 3

“Uhm…” - Tyson sighed

All of the reporters laughed, finding it so funny that Tyson just pulled something so characteristically me.

“He is just like you!” - Reporter 1

“What do I do at home, Ty?” - Joe

“Kiss Mommy.” - Tyson giggled

I immediately groaned and covered my face with my hand. Tyson kept on laughing, and so were the reporters.

“I’m getting exposed right now.” - Joe

“We, Uhm, pway foot…ball.” - Tyson

“We do.” - Joe nodded

“That’s it.” - Tyson blabbered

The room laughed once again till a reporter spoke up.

“So all he does is kiss your mom and play football?” - Reporter 3

“Mhm!” - Tyson

“Pretty accurate, not gonna lie.” - Joe

“Joe, you're pretty smitten with your wife, yeah?” - Reporter 5

“Have been since high school. She’s the best though. The best mom, wife, best friend… and so much more. She keeps me grounded. I know I usually keep my personal life separate from football, but I love her more than anything.” - Joe

“More than football?” - Reporter 2

“More than anything.” - Joe reiterated

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Authors note: though Joe would never do this, let's just imagine he would.

Request for this fic;

Hope you enjoyed! 💕

#joe burrow #bengals #joe burrow imagine #joe burrow x reader #joey b #cincinnati bengals

[sixosix]

LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO | LYNEY

notes wc 3.9k lyney pov back again babyyy (and he’s acting a little crazy) 🫶 enjoy the chapter!

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Lyney hasn't uttered a single word on the way back to their house. Not a single word, but he doesn’t need to. It shows, anyway—the skip on his steps, the ever-present smile seemingly stuck on his face, and a glow in his eyes that no one has seen before.

Lynette must have caught it, too. She keeps glancing at him, suspicious.

Damage control wasn’t all that difficult when you’re well-loved by the people of Fontaine. They were out searching for Lyney, demanding refunds if they were going to discontinue, but they were appeased eventually. Lyney and Lynette resumed the show, apologized for the emergency, and the audience was won back by their enthusiasm and charm (and lies).

Still, Lynette pushes on with her stern words.

“That was careless, Lyney.” She locks the door. “Everyone was watching.”

Lyney prepares two cups of tea, dancing around the kitchen to boil water. “You know exactly why I did it.”

Lynette sits on a chair and watches him. Her gaze expresses more than her face sometimes. “I know. But I won’t let you escape from dealing with the backlash.”

Lyney smiles. “If anything, I should be saying that to you.”

His dear sister huffs, turning away. “So it was them I saw by the alley… I recognized the Traveler right away, but I found it strange that there was a familiar figure pressed up close against him.”

Lyney makes a face. He doesn’t want to imagine that—he might break something, and Freminet is an expert, but not when it comes to teacups.

Lyney breathed in deeply, letting the muffled cheers from the other side of the curtain fill his ears. His sister settled beside him, her expression troubled.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Do you not feel like performing today?”

“No,” Lynette said. “I thought I saw something strange on the way here.”

That was alright. That meant Lynette wasn’t too nervous if she was letting her mind wander.

“Oh?” he said. Lyney looked for his hat, finding it underneath the stool he was on. Ah, Rosseland must have crawled in and put it there.

“I thought I saw the Traveler,” Lynette said, “in an alley doing something…” 

Oh my, Lyney mused in his head.

“With Y/N,” Lynette continued.

All at once, the noise became like streaming water. He didn’t hear Lynette calling for him. He didn’t hear her say she was most likely mistaken. His mind was blank the moment he heard your name.

It was a touchy subject.

She tapped his shoulder. “Lyney.”

“Haha,” Lyney said, choking on his own lies. “Have your eyes finally deceived you, dear sister?”

Lynette looked at him worriedly.

“And with the Traveler, really?” Lyney scoffed, moving his hat to his head. “I’m afraid it might’ve just been lookalikes getting handsy and couldn’t wait to get home.”

But the thought of it… Lyney scowled and looked at himself in the mirror, finding his own expression terrifying. He really needed to work on that.

Lynette has a ghost of a smile on her lips as Lyney spaced out, the devil.

“Y/N told us not to tell ‘Father’,” she recalls, casually, as if that isn’t the biggest source of Lyney’s headache at the moment. “What will you do?”

Lyney pauses, his hands hovering over a jar of sugar cubes, his back turned to his sister. “We’ve yet to hear news from ‘Father’, right?”

Lynette won’t be able to tell the expression he’s making, but she knows him well enough to figure out what he’s thinking. “Yes.”

Lyney hums, grinning. “I’ll be taking this opportunity.”

His sister has that same look backstage. Her eyes flicker to him, then return back to the table as if unsure of voicing her thoughts. Instead, she says, “What if Y/N doesn’t want to stay?”

“I’ll just clear up misunderstandings, at least! Maybe then, she’ll want to stay.” Lyney presses his palms against the table, looking at Lynette with a gleam in his eye. “I’ll tell her that I never wanted to be the next king. I’ll tell her the truth.”

Lynette’s brows furrow. “It wouldn’t be that simple.”

The water simmers. Lyney’s face is terrifyingly blank, not like the spitfire of his words as he says, “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Lynette leans back, still frowning. She looks mildly startled. Lyney must have been making a scary face again. He clears his expression and forces a smile.

A tuneful beat on the door cuts through the tension rising in the room. It swings open and reveals a frazzled blond.

“Freminet!” Lyney greets, his shoulders loosening. “Let me also prepare tea for you.”

“How was it?” Lynette asks as their brother nearly sinks to the seat as if prepared to melt against it.

Freminet sighs heavily, world-weary. “I didn’t really hear anyone talking about anything else about your show. They were all chattering about your last trick. The one outside the Epiclese—with the fireworks?”

“Good,” Lyney resists the urge to pat himself on the back. “It seems the diversion has worked. Though, we still have to be perfectly sure.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Lynette mutters.

“Why the sudden notice, anyway?” Freminet mumbles, pressing his face against the glass table. “Did something happen?”

“Y/N was at the show.”

The only sound that fills the room is the whistling kettle. Lyney wordlessly pours it into the three cups and hands them to his siblings, one already preparing her tea and the other looking like he hasn’t quite taken in what Lyney said. 

“What!” Freminet stands up from his chair, utterly gobsmacked. “Where? I thought—”

Lyney stares at the cup of boiling water that nearly spilled over from Freminet’s outburst. “Careful, now. That will burn you,” he chides, yet his expression is serene.

Lyney doesn’t even need tea. It looks like the tea would do nothing when he’s already acting like the Sevens have blessed him personally.

Lynette prepares Freminet’s tea for him as Freminet continues, “At—at the show? Is that why you were asking if anyone was talking about it?”

Lynette slides Freminet’s tea over to him. “Mhm. We were making sure no one would harm Y/N while she was in Fontaine. Lyney already made up an excuse, but some people might not believe it.”

“While in Fontaine?” Freminet falters, sipping on his tea. “Y/N’s not staying?”

“Afraid not,” Lyney says bitterly. “She’s working under Master Childe now, and he never stays in one place too long. It’s a miracle he took a pit stop here.”

“It’s strange,” Lynette wonders thoughtfully. “I thought I heard Master Childe is here for something personal.”

“Maybe Y/N became Master Childe’s personal recruit,” Freminet supplies. “Y/N’s really strong.”

Lyney’s face scrunches up. He changes the subject swiftly. “Freminet, do you want to meet up with Y/N? You were her first friend, right?”

“With whom?” Freminet asks suspiciously.

“With me!” Lyney beams, a flourish with his gesture. “I invited Y/N over to spar with me outside the city. Just like old times, no?”

“No thanks.” Freminet’s expression turns haunted. “I don’t want to be alone with you and Y/N. I always feel like I’m intruding.”

“He just gets too handsy and can’t wait to get home, doesn’t he?” Lynette chimes in. “That's why I don't watch, either.”

Freminet doesn’t understand it, but Lyney’s face explodes in a blush.

“Hey!” Lyney huffs. “Suit yourself. I’ll tell Y/N you skipped out on a reunion.”

Freminet smiles. “Tell Y/N I missed her a lot, and she should come visit us.”

Lyney sighs, because he can never even pretend to be furious when Freminet is simply too sweet. He ruffles Freminet’s hair, toppling over his beret. “Alright,” he says fondly, “I’ll pass the message.”

Lynette waves. “Don’t have too much fun, now.”

THEN

Things became a lot more tense when you left.

Freminet and Lynette were devastated when Lyney told them that you stormed off. His arm felt as numb as what he was feeling at the time, and to think that it was all you left for him. He didn’t tell anyone else anything, but the rest of them got the gist of it when you didn’t appear the next day or the day after that.

Most of the orphans didn’t care; in fact, some had the gall to look relieved when rumors of your transfer began floating around. When Lyney heard one about how you must’ve died sneaking off to another mission, he snapped. He yelled and told them that they didn’t know anything—they never bothered to know who you were. They didn’t have the right to talk if they were only there to stain your name.

Lyney bore the brunt of it. Anyone could tell he was hurt by it the most.

Once, after Lyney was told off for mouthing off, Lynette found him in the far corner of the training room, his knees tucked to his chest and his eyes stormy.

Lynette sat down beside him and stared ahead. She nudged his shoulder with hers. “Don’t be too harsh on yourself, Lyney.”

Lyney glared at the floor. “I’m not mad at myself. I’m not the one who left.”

Lynette turned to him, surprised. “You’re mad at Y/N?”

He sat up straight and exhaled sharply. “She got a Vision. That’s what she always wanted, to become ‘Father’s successor. Now that she can have it, she runs.”

“Maybe that's not what she really wanted.”

“That's what she hated me for,” Lyney clarified.

“You don’t really hate her, do you? Did you think it was only right for you to hate her because she did to you? I can tell when you’re lying straight through your teeth, Lyney.”

Lyney didn’t say anything in reply because he knew everything that would come out would just be a lie. But when it came to Lynette, his silence was louder than words.

“Y/N will be back. This is her home, too.” Lynette said softly. “Come on, wipe that look off your face.”

Lyney blinked, desperately wiping away whatever expression he didn’t even know he was making.

“I didn’t think it was true,” Lynette said offhandedly. What a turn of events, to have Lynette talk more than Lyney. At his impatient frown, she clarified, “I noticed that you can never control your expressions well when it comes to Y/N.”

Lyney wasn’t sure if Lynette pointed it out to rub on Lyney’s face that what he felt was real, or to remind him that fragile things like emotions in their line of work are a weakness. Maybe it was both. It was his first mistake to be curious and end up falling face-forward for you—and now he ended up like this, furious for reasons he couldn’t understand.

It didn’t take long before ‘Father’ stopped mentioning you, before the orphans acted like you never existed, and before your existence felt like just a secret shared between the three.

It took a year for them to realize that this was no longer your home. You never returned.

Lyney speeds past fields of grass. He had taken the long route, circling around; he didn’t want to deal with anyone recognizing him—he was already running a little late. When he sees your figure, standing still underneath the bridge for Aquabuses overhead, he feels his chest glow.

You’ve shed off the large skirt and now wore a simple dress, smeared with dirt on the edges. Lyney wants to reach out and dust it off, to fix it for you. But Lyney is also getting a feeling that he shouldn’t ruin the picture you’ve made for yourself.

“Hey,” Lyney says, and he was fully expecting it when your arm lashed out and aimed right at his face. He grins at your stunned expression. “I still just want to talk first.”

“Sorry,” you say, flinching away. “I was in deep thought.”

Lyney settles beside you, hoping to ease you into his presence. There is nothing special about the view. It was just water for miles, architecture that stretched over to the next island, and the sunset. He much prefers it when he looks at you.

“What were you thinking about?”

“Lyney, listen.” You fidget nervously. “About Lord Tartaglia… I didn’t actually know where he was. I was just—I didn’t—”

“That makes sense.” Lyney nods thoughtfully. He thinks back to all the rumors he’s heard before about the man. “I've heard that Master Childe likes doing things on his own. And I'm glad you were just taken to another faction.”

“Oh.” A beat. “Yeah, right.”

“Wait, don’t tell me,” Lyney gasps. Your shoulders stiffen, and Lyney just knew he hit the jackpot. “Master Childe doesn’t even know you’re following him! Why are you following him?”

Were you actually his personal subordinate? Was Freminet right?

“Why am I—” Your jaw goes slack, perhaps in awe of his deduction skills. “You know what, never mind. Let’s stop talking about Lord Tartaglia.” And that title, too. Did Master Childe make his subordinates call his Lordship that? “What did you call me here for, Lyney?”

“I just wanted to catch up, like what we’re doing now.”

“Great.” You clap your hands. “We’ve caught up. I’ve got other things to do, you know.”

Lyney smiles instead. “Would you like to spar?”

Your gaze is intense, yet far away. “If you want,” you cede, which isn’t a blatant yes, but Lyney knows it’s one.

“It is an honor,” he says.

You frown. “Are you trying to do something?”

“Can’t the reason just be that I missed this? That I missed doing this with you?”

“...Fine.”

Your gaze sharpens, and you charge straightaway. Lyney moves his arm just in time; it still stings, just as he remembers. but it doesn’t hurt as bad now. In the same breath, you swipe again, your polearm spinning in that same hypnotizing circle as you strike at him. Lyney swerves aside or blocks it off each time, unaware of the crazed grin on his face.

He shoots off three different arrows, waiting for the perfect moment while you’re deflecting them. As always, you move with ease, flowing through your movements like Lyney would be wrong to disrupt it.

As a kid, he could watch in awe as you get to do cool moves, but now, Lyney just appreciates the way your piercing gaze cuts through him and how you nearly beckon him with your body. Try, if you dare.

Lyney doesn’t want to show off; he wants to catch you off guard. He performs the same trick as last time—he disappears and materializes from thin air to your back. It doesn’t work, as he expected, but you’re now wary of his weapon.

Lyney blows a little air to your ear; you yelp and flutter away from him. Lyney uses this opportunity to hold your polearm down with his free arm. He flicks his hand and traps your back onto his chest with an arrow to your neck.

“What the hell?” You breathe sharply, your throat brushing against the shaft of his arrow, “I don’t think this is how you use an arrow.”

“How am I supposed to win without a little bend to the rules?”

You frown at him, your face upside down in his view. “That was unfair.”

“I have to be if I want to beat you.”

You laugh. Lyney feels the shake of your body pressed against him, and he’s entranced. He wants this, over and over again—you could numb him until he can’t breathe, and still, he wouldn’t let this go.

You’re glowing. This is exactly what Lyney wanted to see. If you were still keeping a wall up, then he would have to keep talking your language.

You tap his arm twice. Lyney loosens his grip and tries to calm himself. If you turn to look at him, you’d laugh for an entirely different reason—his face is too red. He decides to pick your weapon up instead but pauses at the sight of it. It looks old. It’s to the point where it shouldn’t even be used.

Lyney realizes it looks strangely familiar. “Is this the same one from the House?”

You stretch your arms. “Oh, that? Yeah, I still use it.”

“That’s dangerous.” Lyney grabs your hand and studies the red scratches on your palm. It’s littered with scars.

You tug your hand away. “That’s just because I was handling flowers—some of them have nasty thorns, you know.“

Lyney lifts an eyebrow. “Really, now? I’m getting you a new one.”

“What— It was actually from flowers! And I don’t want to owe you anything.”

“That’s sweet,” Lyney says breezily, mentally filing through connections he might have to gift you the perfect weapon—so perfect that you couldn’t resist. “I’ll get you a new one. Does Master Childe not provide equipment for his recruits?”

“Fine, suit yourself. It’s your money.”

Lyney grins. “That’s what I like to hear.”

“But let me keep it,” you say, reaching for it. “That polearm still means a lot to me.”

“Of course.” Lyney smiles and tosses it back to you. “So you work for Master Childe? Is that why you and the Traveler are close?”

Your face scrunches in confusion. “You ask too many questions. Mind your own Harbinger, will you?”

“That was your ‘Father’, too.”

The atmosphere goes a little cold. “Did she send you to this? To talk to me?”

“No, of course not,” Lyney says. “And if ‘Father’ sent me, I wouldn’t have gone. This is all out of my own will.”

It seems you’re strangely keen on avoiding the topic of ‘Father’. And Aether, too, unfortunately. At least Lyney could tell that there was truth to your confession about pride. If he were in your shoes, he would’ve felt the same.

“You know, I never wanted to be her successor,” Lyney says. Your shoulder stiffens. You turn to him, watching his expression closely. Lyney continues, allowing for his expression to be open. “Our fight was just a misunderstanding—I never intended to take anything from you.”

“Right,” you say quietly. You sound wounded.

“I’m sorry,” Lyney says.

“Don’t be sorry. None of it was you,” you sigh. “I told you, didn’t I?” Your eyes then narrow on his lips. “Are you hiding something? I don’t like the look on your face.”

“What?” Lyney chuckles, unsure. “I’m just smiling?”

“Yeah. It looks fake. You look weird smiling like that.”

Lyney feels his heart drop. He feels as if he was charged over by a strike of lightning. And then he laughs, because of course, if he knew you better than anyone, you’d also do to him.

“You make me swoon,” he says dreamily, tugging on your gown as if pawing for it like a cat.

“You haven’t changed much,” you tell him, glancing down at his arms as they curve around you, like before. Like they’ve made a home for themselves there.

“You’ve changed in some ways,” Lyney hums appreciatively, eyeing you.

“Gross!” You slap his arm in hopes of freeing you, but he doesn’t budge. “What are you doing? Let go.”

He grins brightly, and his cheeks ache faintly. He has missed this so, so much. “Still both bark and bite, though.”

“Is this why most of your audience were women? Is this how your shows are always sold out?” you ask, gesturing to how there are no inches between your clothes.

Lyney smiles, less softer, more suggestive. “What? You think I sweet-talk them into buying tickets like this? You think that’d work?”

He curls his arms tighter and draws nearer, your breath on his face. He knows he won when he hears and feels it audibly hitching. Your eyes narrow, hands moving to his arms as if prepared to push him off if he moves any closer.

Lyney bursts out laughing. “Well, I won’t lie and tell you that some of our loyal fans are those who fell for my charm, but, chérie, did you already forget my whole speech about loyalty? I’m hurt.”

“You can’t expect me to believe that,” you huff. Lyney doesn’t mind how he feels it gust against his skin. It makes this all the more real: you, in his arms, living and breathing, and thankfully not pulling away. “You magicians and your fabricated lies.”

“No faith in me whatsoever,” Lyney sighs, but deep down, he’s thoroughly enjoying how you’re acting like his jealous girlfriend. You’re so cute.

“You would know if I was lying to your face, trust me,” he says.

He doesn’t know why, but it took your soft expression, your palms on his chest, your skin brushing against his, to understand that Lynette was right: he could never hate you. He hated how you disappeared without a trace and came back without warning. He hated how you were still as closed off and wary of him as you were on the first day he met you. But this all led you back to him—how could he ever not be grateful for it?

Lyney pulls back, and as much as it pains him to do so, that sad look on your face hurts him even more. He scans his surroundings and brightens.

“Lyney?” you ask, watching as he scrambles over to a bush growing by a pillar.

He plucks a beautiful flower from it and hands them to you. It’s a Marcotte, bright and beautiful. No theatrical tricks. You watched it happen.

“You’re trying too hard to win me back,” you murmur. “What did I do to deserve this?”

“Did you have to do anything? I just want to do it,” Lyney says, his voice equally quiet.

It’s just the two of you outside of the city, with the wind whipping through the grass, the world falling hushed enough for Lyney to pick up the faint beat of your heart. You’re silent, thinking deeply, Lyney can tell. He doesn’t want to interrupt, content with figuring out the complicated expressions on your face as you stare at the flower.

“Idiot,” you say, pushing a finger to the space between his brows. “You’re too soft for your line of work. Hey, tell me, what has the House been up to anyway?”

Lyney pauses. “You’re not aware of it already?”

“Well, no, not really,” you say nervously. “I haven’t been paying too close attention. And I haven’t heard anything about the House in years.”

He smiles. “Don’t worry. We’re not up to anything right now.”

It wasn’t a total lie, at least.

By the time Lyney returns home, the lights inside are switched off. The curtains haven’t been drawn, allowing for the moonlight to pour in and illuminate Lynette sitting on the couch, her eyes snapping to him instantly.

“She’s hiding something,” Lyney says, locking the door with a troubled expression. “I just don’t know what. I can’t start looking into it if I don’t know what I’m looking for.”

“I suppose there would’ve been something up,” Lynette sighs, crossing her legs. “Have you asked why she’s close with the Traveler?”

“I didn’t get a good answer.” Lyney flings his hat aside. “Have you found anything good?”

“Garrick knew something.” Garrick is one of their magic crew, helping Lyney perform seamlessly. “He told me that he recognized Y/N milling about—but it wasn’t just recently. He told me that he swore he’d seen her before, just in Fontaine City, months before the show.”

“Interesting,” Lyney murmurs, his brows drawn together. He’ll have to think about that later.

Lynette looks at her brother, her eyes carefully blank. “Are you sure doing this won’t drive her away again?”

Behind Lyney, the moonlight scatters all over. It is a little hard to tell what face he’s making. “I’m doing this exactly because I’m trying not to drive her away.”

YAAAAAYYY NEW CHAPTER!!!!!!! more lyney and reader interactions!!!!!!!!!1 more of the siblings ! !! <333 TYSM FOR READING, and, as always, lmk what u think <3

but before you go!! once again we are blessed with fanart but this time with emanami too!

look at her little doodles of this chapter its so CUTE

AND OF COURSE. AKAGI'S LYNEY!!! check this out he looks so fine

TAGLIST.

@thenyxsky @aeferkssr @1mewo1 @lacrimae-lotos @meigalaxy @hyacinth-daze @miwafei @popochakku @svasilios @heyhazelnut101 @kruinka @waveto-earth @superstar-ethereal @mxplesyrvp @achilleas-dream @episodecete @jellifizz @auranny @motherscrustytoenailclippings @lovelyevil @iawaaaaaaa @rionah @esmetrees @cherryig @kzhwaif @mystiquemare @unknownlololol @sanluvssu @blvdmrcnry @kascar-chronicle @idontevenknow129 @tarathecogsci @lunavixia @beaniedoodz @wendolrea @avalordream @egoistars @rains-mae @magnificentfireball @poemzcheng

#606: THAWED #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin x you #genshin impact x you #genshin impact #lyney x reader #lyney x you #lyney x y/n

[absurdthirst]

Unexpectedly Reunited {Joel Miller x F!Reader}

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 15.5k

Warnings: No Outbreak AU, cheating, infidelity, surprise reunions, flirting, mentions of loss of a child, seemingly unrequited love, past crushes, abandonment, fingering, vaginal sex, rougher sex, oral sex (female and male receiving), cum eating, feelings, miscommunication, angst, degrading comments

Comments: Running away to the Cape, you find someone you had never expected to see again. Joel Miller. The blast from the past manages to heal your broken heart and you learn where life has taken him to bring him here.

Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers

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|| MasterList || Joel Miller MasterList ||

Click Keep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says 'creator chooses not to use warnings'. You also agree that you're the right age to be consuming anything here.

"You motherfucker!" You yell at your boyfriend who is currently buried inside of the co-worker he told you to not worry about despite you discovering him in your bed after you decided to surprise him with lunch since he works at home. He scrambles, pulling out of Sienna and you shake your head, "it's over. Get your shit out of my apartment. Today." You shriek and he covers himself up with the blanket you got from your mom for your birthday. 

"Baby please. Let me just-" He tries to explain but you cut him off. 

"Today, Jason. Today!" You yell, spinning on your heel and you rush out of your apartment with tears in your eyes. You sob as you get into your car, the lunch abandoned in the kitchen and you're no longer hungry. You sit there for hours, watching from afar as Jason moves his stuff from your place and you call your mom to tell her what happened. 

"I always told you he was a piece of shit, baby. He's an asshole. You're better off without him. Better to find this out now instead of later." She says softly. "Your aunt has that place on the Cape and she's in Italy for the next two weeks. Why don't you go there? Go relax and get out of town. Take time to get yourself together." She suggests.

The Cape, the idea has a certain appeal. Texas is currently hot, too hot, and you don’t want to be anywhere near your old group of friends and acquaintances. People that know Jason. People that might pity you, or secretly approve of him cheating on you. You imagine walking along the beach and letting the salty air seep into your skin. Maybe read a few books in a lounger and find some bar where you can just have a few drinks. Or, the house is nice, maybe you will just sit out on the deck and drink wine. “I guess. If I leave now, I could be there late tomorrow. Are you sure she won’t mind?” 

Your mom snorts through the line and you can imagine her face. “Of course not. Get your bag packed and get on the road. The key is in a little box on the garage door. Combination to open it is 9-26-13.” 

You sigh, watching as Jason closes the truck of the car with the last of his stuff. “Thanks mom, I’ll be on the road in twenty minutes. I don’t want to spend a night in that bed. I’m going to have to order another one.” 

When you arrive at your aunt’s house; you are exhausted and waste no time showering and getting into bed. The emotional drain of the past 36 hours is too much and you take a nap. When you wake up, it’s late and you have some of the snacks you brought with you while on the road. You’ll go food shopping tomorrow. You eventually fall back asleep, eager to explore tomorrow which comes far too soon when you’re woken up by drilling. You startle awake, checking the clock to see it’s 7:30 am and you whine, rubbing your eyes as you shuffle out of the bed, ready to reprimand the asshole who is drilling next door.

“Goddamn header.” Joel grunts out a curse, taking his hand off the hammer drill he had been using to wipe the sweat that is rolling into his eyes. “Send me some fuckin’ lumber that’s straight and I’ll fix the goddamn thing.” High up on the scaffolding, he’s cursing everyone from the lumber distributor to himself for taking this job. It’s been a shit show and it doesn’t seem like anything is going to go his way today.

You wrap your robe around yourself and huff as you stomp outside, raising your hand to cover your eyes from the early morning sun as you look up at the scaffolding. “Excuse me!” You yell and Joel continues drilling. “Excuse me!” You yell again and the drilling continues. “Fuck me!” You scream and the drilling stops. 

“That’s a mighty nice offer darlin’ but I barely know you.” Joel jokes as he removes his headset. 

“Why the hell are you drilling at this time in the morning?” You yell at him and he sets the drill down so he can climb down the scaffolding to talk to you. You wait, tapping your foot impatiently. 

“I was hired to do this job. I have a permit. I am starting early to avoid the rain this afternoon. Not that I have to explain myself to - wait…do I know you?” Joel asks, frowning as he removes his sunglasses to get a better look at you.

When it dawns on him who you are, his eyes widen and he murmurs your name. Never expecting to see you again. “Holy shit. What are you doing on the east coast?” He asks when he can speak again. The last time he had seen you was at his wedding. After that day, you had just….ghosted him, making him feel like your friendship had meant nothing.

As soon as he says your name you recognize him. “Joel? Joel Miller?” You gasp in shock. It’s been a while since you’ve seen the man that was your teenage crush. He was your next door neighbor and a lot older than you but you always had such a massive crush on him. You became friends after you got back from college to live with your parents again and that’s when you truly fell in love with him. Then he met Helen and you knew he would never feel the same way. Resigned to being his friend, you supported him but always secretly hoped he’d realize what was right in front of him. He didn’t and you ended up leaving town after watching him marry Helen on a beautiful summer day. He’s just as handsome. Shit, just as sexy. “I- this is my aunt’s house. You know the one who is a journalist.” You explain, “I- I came here to escape the Texas heat.” You lie, “what the hell are you doing here?” You ask, genuinely curious how a typical Texan like Joel is in the northeast.

Joel’s expression shutters, his eyes flattening slightly and he grunts. “Work.” He lies, having sensed you are lying too. You have puffy eyes, like you’ve been spending a lot of time crying, though you’re still just as beautiful as the last time he saw you. “Like I’m tryin’ to do now. But it’s a bitch and-“ he twists his neck towards the dark clouds rolling in from the west. “I want to get this sealed up before the rain starts.”

You nod, “I understand. Sorry for yelling. I just got in last night from Texas and I’m exhausted from driving nonstop. I didn’t expect the work to be done so early. I’m awake now, so carry on. I’m gonna get some coffee. Anywhere local you’d recommend?” You ask when his eyes meet yours once more and you are taken back by how handsome he is. Your memories did him no justice.

He feels bad for being rude, sighing slightly and wiping his forehead again. “Two blocks over there’s a dinner called The Fungus Among Us.” He tells you with a grin. “Vegan place, really into mushrooms, but they have great coffee. You just have to use their non-dairy creamers.”

The last person you expected to frequent a vegan cafe is Joel who used to enjoy platefuls of barbecue at the family cookouts back when you were younger and you chuckle, “you gone vegan on me?” You ask and he shakes his head, “no. Still love some ribs but I can appreciate good coffee.” You hum and he shrugs. “I’m gonna go get changed. You want me to bring you a coffee back?” You offer, wanting to make up for being rude.m

“I’m good.” He looks up towards the sky again. “Too fuckin’ hot for coffee up here.” He looks back down and smirks slightly. “Hurry up before you get wet. New England summer showers are no joke.”

You nod, “I’ll be fast. I, uh, I’ll see you around. It was great to see you again.” You wave awkwardly at him as he flips his sunglasses back down. You aren’t sure if he’s married or has kids or what his situation is so you don’t want to overstep by suggesting a reunion of some kind. 

“See you around, sweetheart.” Joel says and you offer him a smile, “bye Joel.” You say as you head back into your aunts house to get ready.

He won’t deny that he watches you when you re-emerge from the large cottage next door, or as you walk down the street. His eyes follow you as he takes what he tells himself is a five minute break. He was rude to you. And the Joel you had known wouldn’t have done that. He sighs, twisting around and trying to pop his aching back before he glances at the cloud again. They are rolling in fast and he only has about twenty minutes to finish up for the day. “Shit, Miller, get to work.”

You return back with your coffee - a good recommendation from Joel - and you’re disappointed when you don’t see him working. You feel the droplets of rain and decide to have your coffee then go grocery shopping after the rain has come and gone.

****

The drilling happens a little later around 8:45am the next morning and you look out of the bathroom window to see Joel working on the house. He lifts his shirt up to wipe his face and you can’t deny that your jaw drops. He’s still as sexy as you ever thought he was but then you remind yourself that he’s married and you shake your head to clear your lust. You decide to walk to the coffee shop again and head outside just as Joel jumps from the last section of scaffolding. “Sure I can’t get you a coffee?” You ask him, “I’m gonna head over there now.”

“I think I owe you a drink, since I was kind of an ass yesterday.” Joel admits, shuffling slightly and wiping his hands on a work rag before tossing it down. “I’ve got a few minutes, can walk over there with you, if you want?” He leaves it up to you, knowing that you might not want to do anything more than be nice.

You offer him a smile, “I’d like that.” You say and he nods, grabbing his keys and he yells out to his partner to keep an eye on things. You walk along with him and you’re quiet for a minute or so before you ask “so how long have you lived here?”

It takes Joel a moment to think back and he sighs. “Fuck.” He snorts. “Nearly ten years? Hard to think about but I’ve not even seen you in nearly twenty-five.” He wants to ask why you just stopped talking to him and coming around after he had married Helen. He hadn’t even been able to tell you that she had been a few months pregnant because his wife had wanted to keep it silent until after the first trimester. 

"Has it really been that long?" You shake your head, "I- wow. It feels like yesterday you were just getting married. Is Helen enjoying it here?" You ask, not noticing his lack of wedding band but you haven't really had a chance to look at his hands.

Joel snorts. “Helen left me when-” He breaks off and there’s that familiar ache in his chest at the thought of Sarah. “A year after we got married. Don’t know where she’s at, don’t really care, if I’m honest.” She had abandoned her child, something that he could never understand or accept. “What about you? Sure you’re married and happy, husband on a business trip and you decided to take a vacation?” 

It’s your turn to snort, “no. No. I, uh, I haven’t been married. I - I walked in on my boyfriend fucking his coworker in my apartment so I told him to pack his shit and be gone by the time I get back. Decided to take a break to avoid the pity looks and whispers around town.” You confess, glancing down the street as you adjust your purse on your shoulder.

“Wow. You must have been with a real douche bag.” Joel scoffs. “I can’t believe anyone would be stupid enough to cheat on you. There’s no fucking way he’s right in the head.” He shakes his head and huffs. “Idiot. I’m sorry, I know you don’t want to hear that. But that bastard didn’t deserve you.”  

You offer him a self deprecating smile. “I appreciate you being pissed for me. I pretty much cried the entire way to the Cape. I- I thought he was gonna propose. I’m an idiot. I believed all his lies and I- I thought he was going to be the one.” You shake your head at your own stupidity. “Well, at least someone to spend the rest of my life with.”

“You’ll find someone better.” He predicts. “Someone who cheats on you isn’t worth your time. Or your tears.” Joel looks over at you and gives you a small smile. “Maybe you’ll find one of those romance story type guys here on the Cape.” 

You chuckle, “who is already married or has more skeletons in his closet than a haunted house. I think I’ll accept the reality that I’m destined to be alone and I think I’m okay with that. It’s not too bad. Getting to do whatever you want without answering to anyone. Romance is - it’s just something they sell to give people hope.” You confess with a sigh, “I’ll stick to reading about it in novels.” You chuckle softly and turn into the coffee shop, about to open the door but Joel does a little jog to open it before you can. “Don’t lose hope. You never know who’s gonna appear.” He says and you bite your lip as you brush past him, knowing he’s the man you’ve always envisioned when you read those romance novels.

The inside of the cafe is trendy, quirky. It seems like a place where Joel would look completely out of place with his buttoned up shirt and jeans, heavy boots. No one has given him shit about it and been friendly, even though he stays away from a lot of their menu. “Have you tried the muffins? They are pretty good.” 

You shake your head, “no. I had the chia pudding the other day.” You giggle when he wrinkles his nose. “The blueberry muffin sounds good.” You hum, crossing your arms, “and a latte. You seem like a black coffee kind of guy.”

“Only way to drink coffee.” Joel agrees with a smirk. He guides you to a table and pulls out a chair for you. “I know you probably like all those syrups and half pump venti shits.” He rolls his eyes, although he likes the way you sound when you snicker. 

“I’m a vanilla girl.” You reveal and Joel raises his eyebrows playfully. “For my coffee order.” You clarify with a smirk and he walks over to the counter to order your drinks and he returns with a blueberry muffin for you. “You didn’t have to pay.” You shake your head and he shrugs, “to make up for the early morning wake up calls.” He explains and You offer him a soft smile, reaching out to touch his hand, “thank you. I- I’ve missed you, you know?”

“You missed me so much you just….disappeared?” Joel asks, wanting to know why. “I tried calling you a couple of times. Wanted you to come out with me and Helen to dinner. You just didn’t ever call me back.” 

You sigh, withdrawing your hand. “I…it was complicated.” You glance around the coffee shop, feeling his eyes burn into you. “I couldn’t stay after you…I had to get out of town and figure out what I wanted. I’m sorry I disappeared but it was for the best. You had a new life…a wife. You didn’t need me hanging around.”

It’s not an answer that satisfies him, but from the set of your jaw, you won’t give him a proper explanation. “I- you missed a lot, obviously. I had wanted to tell you that Helen was pregnant. We weren’t announcing it before the ceremony.”

You swallow harshly, not realizing that he’s a father. “Did Helen…you have a - wow. That’s - I didn’t know. No one told me - my parents didn’t tell me anything. I asked them not to.” You finish with a murmur, shifting to sit back and look at Joel just as they call his name to get the coffees.

Joel stands up, happy to go get the drinks and muffins so he doesn’t have to show how that idea upsets him. Why does he care after twenty-five years? He shouldn’t. Bringing the tray over to the table, he sets it down and doles out the items quietly.

You bite your lip as you look at him, he’s broader than ever. He was gorgeous when he was younger and he’s still gorgeous with the grays scattered in his hair. “Is your kid in the Cape or elsewhere?” You ask him, wanting to change the subject.

Joel frowns slightly, looking down at his coffee. “No.” He tells you. “She- she died. Twelve years ago. It’s why I moved here. I couldn’t live in Texas anymore.”

Your brow furrows as you gasp softly. “Oh. Oh Joel. I’m so sorry. I- shit. Me and my big mouth. I’m so sorry. Oh God. That - that’s terrible.” You choke, squeezing the coffee cup in your hand as you see the devastation in his eyes.

“It was a long time ago.” The wound is still fresh and if it were anyone else, he wouldn’t even bring it up. But you had never met Sarah, you didn’t know how wonderful she was.

“I’m sorry Joel. I know that doesn’t mean shit when you endure that kind of pain but…I really am sorry.” You say and reach out to squeeze his hand again. “I understand why you left to come here.” You tell him and his dark eyes meet yours, clouded over with the pain of losing a child. “Do you…do you maybe want to come over for dinner sometime? Catch up properly? I meant what I said. I’ve missed you.”

His immediate response is to tell you no. That it wasn’t necessary, but he can’t get the words out. “Sure.” He figures it’s a nicety. That you are saying that and then you’ll politely avoid him.

You sip your coffee as he goes quiet. Joel was never one for small talk. “So have you got a wife or girlfriend here?” You ask after a few moments, wondering if that’s why he was hesitant to accept an offer to catch up over dinner.

“No, nothing like that.” He shakes his head, frowning slightly when he remembers Tess. He should have been better to her, but he ran out of time. “Not anymore,” he adds, looking back down at his cup. “So how long are you here?”

"Two weeks. Figured that was enough time for the dust to settle and for that asshole to get his shit out of my apartment." You sigh, looking down at the table before you flick your eyes up to meet his. "I really am sorry we lost touch. All I can say is it's complicated and too much time has passed to dig into it all again."

“Yeah.” Joel just shrugs. “It’s in the past.” He knows he’s changed a lot from the man you used to know. He’s harder, his heart is cold and most times people are wary of him. “People change, move on, whatever.”

You frown at his pessimism and you know he’s changed but he always used to be so playful and fun. Life has been hard for both of you, especially Joel. You finish your muffin and soon you’re walking back to your aunt’s house. “You wanna come for dinner tomorrow?” You offer, not wanting to end this interaction on a spur note.

“Sure.” He finds himself agreeing, not minding your company and he would love a meal he didn’t cook for himself. Or Ellie cooked. “Oh- uh, I should have told you. Can someone come with me?” He asks, not sure if you’d want a kid around.

You are surprised but don't ask who, wondering if he has a friend or something. "Uh, sure. Yeah. That's fine. Any allergies or things they don't like?" You ask, wanting to be sure before you plan what you want to cook.

“Nahhhh.” Joel snorts, shaking his head at the crazy things that Ellie has eaten. “She’ll eat anything. Nearly indestructible stomach, I swear.”

You are curious, barely able to swallow down the inquiries but you manage and offer him a smile, "sounds good. Wanna say seven?" You ask and he nods. You stand on your aunt's driveway and Joel rubs the back of his neck. "I'll see you tomorrow." He says and you rock on your heels, crossing your arms. "See you tomorrow, Joel." You smile and watch for a second as he spins on his heel and makes his way back to the neighbor's house.

****

“So whoooo are we having dinner with?” Joel rolls his eyes and ramps down the urge to bite back with something sarcastic. That would only make the girl more curious about who you are. 

“She’s an old friend.” Joel explains, “she’s in town and I thought I might be good to not have to put up with your shit cooking for a night.” He reaches over and pulls on her ponytail, grinning when she scowls and slaps his hand away. 

“Hey man, not my fault your cooking tastes like shit. You taught me.”

You wipe down your apron as you watch the water boil for the pasta. The doorbell rings and you take the apron off, making your way over to the door to open it to greet Joel and his mystery guest. You had purposefully avoided looking out of the windows this morning when Joel was working. You are shocked when you see a teenager with Joel, having convinced yourself it was another woman and he was trying to hint at it but you didn't pick it up.

“Woah. She’s a babe!” Ellie’s eyes widen and she sends Joel a smirk. “No wonder you didn’t talk about her. You gotta date, old man? Why the hell are you bringing me with you?” 

Joel rolls his eyes and reaches up to smack the back of Ellie’s head. “Behave.” He warns her before apologizing to you. “Sorry. She’s feral. Not a goddamn manner in her body.”

You fluster at the girl's compliment and you look at Joel with a chuckle, "don't worry. I've had worse with my cousins and their kids." You promise and step aside so that he and the kid can enter. You tell her your name as she walks past you and she offers you a grin and tells you her name is Ellie. "Hope you like chicken parm." You hum as you shut the door behind you.

“I love anything that he didn’t cook.” She hooks her thumb over at Joel and smirks. “He thinks heating Chef Boy-r-dee is a good meal.” She tells you, knowing that Joel is shuffling in embarrassment and not caring a lick. She likes to bust his balls.

You chuckle, remembering how hopeless Joel was in the kitchen. He even called you up one night to ask you to rescue the meal he was trying to cook Helen for a date night. It had been hard to help but you would’ve done anything for him back then. Still would if you’re honest. You ask Ellie what she wants to drink when they enter the open plan kitchen. “Damnnn. This is a nice place you got here.” Ellie says and you shake your head, “it’s my aunt’s. I live in Texas.” You explain and Ellie glances at Joel. 

“Texas, huh?” She says, raising her eyebrows and Joel ignores her. 

“Yeah. Joel and I used to be neighbors.” You explain a little more.

“So you can tell me what he used to be like?” She asks conspiratorially. “Before he became so boring.”

You lean in conspiratorially towards Ellie. “He’s always been boring.” You whisper playfully and Joel rolls his eyes. 

Ellie nods, “makes sense.” You chuckle and Joel huffs, biting his lip to smother his smirk. 

“Joel has always been a good guy. Grumpy, but he has always done the right thing.” You say, “and he tries to let everyone think he’s a grumpy bastard but he’s actually got a good sense of humor.” You say and Ellie shakes her head, “he doesn’t laugh at my jokes!” She whines and you smirk, “oh he’s laughing. Just on the inside.”

“No, I’m not.” Joel grumps and huffs, trying to hide a smirk. He likes to bust on Ellie as much as she busts on him, just in different ways. If he tries to be too soft with the girl, she will shut down. “Hope it wasn’t too much trouble for dinner. We would have been good with pizza.”

You shake your head, “it’s nice to cook. I am usually so busy with work and my ex…he was a vegan which made it almost impossible to cook what I know but I love cooking. I’ve missed it. Hopefully it’s good.” You say and turn back to the stove to put the pasta on to cook. “You want a soda?” You ask Ellie, knowing Joel will want a beer. The teenager nods and you hand her a soda before handing Joel a bottle of beer. “Go sit at the table. Dinner will be right up.” You say as you set your glass of wine down.

“Ellie and I will clean up.” Joel offers. He might suck in the kitchen, but he knows how to clean up a mess and it wouldn’t be fair to expect you to wait on them. “Sound good?”

“You’re my guests.” You protest but Joel shakes his head, “we can do the dishes.” You sigh, knowing you’re best to not argue, and turn back to the stove. It doesn’t take long for you to set the serving dishes on the table. “Dig in.” You order and Ellie groans, “shit. That looks good.” 

“Ellie.” Joel warns softly and you chuckle, “hopefully it tastes good.”

“I'm sure it’s great.” Joel tells you with a quick smile as he cuts into the chicken cutlet. “Thank you, it’s nice to have a good meal.” He admits. Often times it was something from a box or fast food for them. “And did you remember what beer I drink? Or was it a lucky guess?”

You bite your lip and fluster slightly, “I, uh, I remembered.” You confess, having remembered every detail about the man opposite you. Your heart is still thumping when his dark eyes meet yours. 

Neither of you notice the way Ellie smirks as she cuts into her chicken. “This is fucking awesome. You’re a great cook. Right, Joel?” Ellie hints at her foster dad.

"Huh?" He's been trying not to make it obvious that he's having a moment with the chicken farm. Looking up, he sees that he's being asked a question. "Yeah, oh yeah, it's delicious." He praises. "I don't know if I've had chicken parm this good in forever." He promises.

Your stomach twists with their praise, pleased they are enjoying it and you dig in yourself, hungry after cooking for most of the afternoon. “So Ellie is your daughter?” You ask Joel and Ellie snorts, “he wishes. I’m just his foster kid. He and my mom were friends and when he found out I was in home after home, he took me in.” Ellie says and you smile, “always knew you were a softie.” You tease and Joel grunts his response.

The truth was more complicated and filled in infinitely more guilt. Joel had gone down a dark path after Sarah had died. He was Ellie's mother's dealer. Giving her the drugs even though she was using more and more and that it could kill her. He had told himself that it wasn't his problem until he had learned about Ellie. He had started avoiding the woman's calls until he learned she had died of an overdose. No other family other than Ellie, it had felt like it was his fault so he had done the work to become the kid's guardian.

You can sense there's more but you don't push. The three of you have small talk, Ellie mainly asking questions about what Joel was like when you knew him back in the day and you explain that you were good friends until he got married and you decided to leave town. "You left? And didn't keep in touch?" Ellie asks with a frown and you tap your fingers on the table, "it was complicated."

Joel snorts and doubts that, but he doesn't voice it. You keep saying it's complicated, but you won't even say more than that to him. Ellie rolls her eyes and sighs. "Just say you love him already. There. Done." She turns to Joel and pitches her voice up slightly. "Joel, I was in love with you so I couldn't stand to see you married." She says, pretending to be you before she looks back over at you with a shake of her head. "Now. Was that hard?"

Your jaw drops slightly as the teenager calls you out and reveals the reason you left within an hour of meeting you. "I, uh, it - um -" You stammer and Joel shakes his head. 

"Ellie. Don't be rude." He reprimands her and she waves her hand towards you, "I'm right, aren't I?" She asks and you stand up, grabbing your plate. 

"I have dessert. You like chocolate cake?" You ask and grab the teenager's plate.

“Stop being a little shit.” Joel hisses the moment you disappear out of sight. “She doesn’t love me. She’s just getting over a break up.” Ellie’s grin falls and she looks upset over her comments. “And you have to open your big mouth.”

You sigh as you cut into the cake you bought earlier and serve three plates. You carry them back over to the table on the tray and Ellie’s eyes widen as she takes it in. “Holy shit, that looks delicious.” She says and you chuckle, “I didn’t make this. I’m not a good baker.” You confess as you sit back down.

“I doubt that.” Joel tells you. “I’m sure you are a good baker, but Ellie never turns down cake.”

“I never do either.” You wink at Ellie, wanting to lighten the atmosphere and you dig into the cake. After the cake is eaten, Ellie tells you about her school and how she wants to learn to play the guitar. “Joel used to play guitar.” You reveal, remembering how you used to hear him practicing in his bedroom.

“You never told me that.” Ellie sounds downright offended that he had never told her about his musical proclivity. 

“Haven’t told you a lot.” He grunts, smirking slightly when she pouts at him. 

“But you can teach me, and then I won’t have to pay someone.” 

He chuckles and raises a brow at his foster kid. “I’ll take payment in the form of chores being done on time and completely.”

You chuckle and realize that Joel is just as soft as you remember him but he’s covered by a hard exterior…like a piece of candy. Sweet but sour. “Deal.” Ellie says despite knowing she will slack a little bit she hopes Joel will at least teach her the basics. “So are you gonna be seeing Joel again?” Ellie probes and you shrug, “well, he’s working next door so I think it’s inevitable.”

Joel rolls his eyes at the scheming tone of the girl’s voice. “Maybe I should ask you when you are going to see Vanessa again.” He huffs with a small smirk. “You seemed to be really into hanging out with her.”

You lean in a little closer with a smile, “who’s Vanessa?” You ask and Ellie blushes, “she’s, uh, she’s this girl from math and she - she’s really pretty.” Ellie murmurs and you reach out to touch her arm, “then maybe you should tell her that.” You suggest and Ellie rears back and shakes her head. “Oh no. No. I, uh, I don’t know if she likes me.” Ellie confesses and you say, “well, you’ll never know unless you ask.” You suggest softly and Ellie bites her lip until her expression hardens a little, “I could say the same thing to you guys.” She says, looking between you and Joel. 

You shake your head, “we are friends. Have always been friends.” You say and don’t notice Joel frown slightly. “Anyway, I, uh, I’m sure you have an early start. Do you want to take the rest of the cake home? I won’t eat all of that.”

“I know the kid will want it.” He won’t admit that he might go to the kitchen in the middle of the night to sneak a piece. “Come on.” He motions towards Ellie. “Let’s get in there and clean up. Show our appreciation for the good meal.”

Ellie, for once, doesn’t groan about doing dishes and you already have most of it in the dishwasher so it’s only the serving plates and plates you ate off of. “It’s okay.” You try to argue but Joel and Ellie already have a well rehearsed wash and dry system. You stand there with your glass of wine and admire Joel.

You had obviously washed as you cooked, so there weren’t as many dishes as when Joel decides he’s gonna actually cook. Once the last one is washed and handed off to Ellie to dry, Joel rinses the rag and starts to wipe down your counters. “Tell you what?” He jokes. “You feed us like that and we’ll do all the dishes every time. Might even do your laundry too.”

You chuckle and hold your hand out towards Joel, “that’s a deal, Miller.” You joke and he squeezes your hand, sending electricity up your arm at his touch and your heart thumps. You stare at him for a moment until Ellie clears her throat and looks between you with a shit eating grin until Joel lets go of your hand. They finish washing up and you hand them the box of cake to take with them when you escort them out of your house “it was great to meet you, Ellie.”

"It was pretty cool to meet you too." Ellie smirks. "I think I'll probably see a lot more of you too." She predicts before shooting out the door. "Thanks for the food!" She shouts as she waves the cake box over her head.

You chuckle when Joel rolls his eyes, “she’s a handful.” He says and you reach up to squeeze his shoulder, “she’s a good kid. And you’re a good man for taking her in.” You say and he leans in to softly kiss your cheek. 

“Thanks for dinner, sweetheart. See you around.” He winks at you and you fluster, nodding before you shut the door. Your heart is fluttering, the ghost of his kiss on your cheek and you know that your love for him has never gone away, it’s just been concealed. 

**** 

The next morning, you’re woken up by Joel and his crew again and you sigh, getting ready for the day. When you open the curtains, your jaw drops as you come face to face with Joel working , his shirt looped into his jeans. “Shit.” You hiss, your stomach twisting with arousal as you watch his shoulder muscles move.

Joel sees the curtains opening on the bedroom you are obviously using in your aunt’s house. He looks back down at the board he was nailing into place and smirks. It was hot as hell today and that might have prompted him to take his shirt off. All the while, telling himself that Ellie’s prodding about how much you two obviously liked each other was a bunch of BS. You had been friends. He’s sure he had taken his shirt off around you at some point, so why shouldn’t he be comfortable.

Your mouth is dry as you try to discreetly watch. You hadn’t seen Joel without his shirt off and the muscles moving has you wanting to get back into bed and imagine Joel in it with you. Instead, you force yourself to get ready for the day and brew some coffee. The doorbell rings around mid morning and you brush yourself down as you move to open the door. “Joel. What’s up?” You ask, his shirt still off, he’s covered in some kind of grease, and you swallow harshly. “I hate to ask this but do you think I could use your shower? I got grease all over me from trying to fix my tool. Can I - I’ll be quick.” He asks and you nod, “of course. It’s upstairs to the left.” You say, “I can run your stuff through the washer if you want?” You offer.

“Thanks.” He shoots you a grin. “I appreciate it. This job has been nothing but a pain in my ass, but at least the view is nice.” He tells you, aware that he’s flirting, but he can’t help himself. He’s been thinking about you all day. Wondering what you’ve been doing.

You bite your lip as he grins at you and you aren’t sure if he’s flirting or not. You watch him as he carefully makes his way upstairs after taking off his boots at the door and you try to busy yourself by making some iced tea for when he’s done showering. Logically, you know he doesn’t have a spare set of clothes yet you’re still surprised when he appears with a towel wrapped around his waist and you swear your heart stops. Fuck, he looks gorgeous. You want to lean in and lick the drops of water speeding down his chest and stomach to be absorbed by the towel.

Joel shuffles slightly. “Sorry. I didn’t think about the fact I had nothing to put on.” He admits, rubbing the back of his neck. “And I- I swiped some of your deodorant.” He chuckles awkwardly. “Probably the best I’ve smelled all day.”

“That - That’s okay.” You nod, torn between stepping forward to rip the towel from his body and running to your room to disappear. “I, uh, I made some iced tea if you want some.” Joel nods and you pour him a glass. “I’ll put your things in the washer.” You hold your arms out and take the dirty clothes, quick to walk into the laundry room to put his clothes on to wash.

He hadn’t missed the way your breaking hitched, and he reasons that Ellie was right. You want him. Instead of drinking the tea, he puts it down and quietly follows behind you. Crowding in behind you as you close the lid to start it and smirks when you gasp as you turn around. “Sorry, realized I forgot to give you everything.” He rasps out, reaching for his towel. “Can’t forget that.”

Your eyes widen and you bite your lip to stop the whimper escaping. Joel is naked. In your aunt’s laundry room. You spin around and place the towel in the washer before pressing the button to start it. His hands find your waist and he pushes up against you, “Joel.” You whimper, “I- oh God.” You gasp when he kisses your neck. 

“I want you.” He confesses, “you want me, darlin’?” He asks and your knees would buckle if he didn’t have you pressed up against the washer. 

“I need you. I’ve wanted you since I met you.” You confess breathlessly.

His hardening cock twitches against your ass and he groans. “That is why you left.” He huffs. “Fuck, I wish I had known.” He squeezes your hips and then slides his hands around so he can unbutton your jeans. “I would have taken you to bed before I met Helen. Always thought you were a pretty thing. Never seemed like you wanted more with me, so I didn’t push.”

You turn your head to kiss his jaw. “I thought you thought of me as the dumb kid next door. Never saw me as the woman I became. I thought you just saw me as a friend. When you told me you were engaged to Helen - I - I couldn’t stick around and watch you be a family.” You confess as he pulls the zipper down and you gasp when he shoves your jeans down your thighs, his hand quickly pushing into your panties to rub your clit. “Joel.” You moan, reaching up to turn his head so you can press your lips against his.

He knows that this will change everything but he’s tired of being alone. Tired of the regrets he has and you have always been one of them. His work rough fingers press and rub your clit while his other hand slides under your shirt and pushes your bra up so he can fondle your tits. “Never thought you were a girl. You aren’t that much younger than me. Hated how much I wanted you. How much I thought about you.”

You gasp when he rubs your clit just right and you grind your hips back against his aching cock. “God. I- I thought about you all the time.” You confess and reach behind you to grip his cock in your hand. “I want you, Joel.” You whimper, needing to feel him inside of you after so many years of wondering what he would feel like.

“Then you’ll get me.” Joel promises. “Right after you cum on my fingers.” He twists his wrist so he can push two thick fingers inside you and rub your clit with his thumb. Groaning and twitching in your hand when your walls squeeze his fingers tight. “I’ll fuck your little pussy right. Make you forget all about that douche bag in Texas. Show you how a man should be treating you.”

His words send a whine up your throat and you squeeze his cock in your grip as his fingers stretch you out. “Oh God. Jo- Joel.” You gasp when his thumb presses harder against your clit. It’s more than you’ve felt in years while having sex and you are grateful for his hand squeezing your breast to keep you upright and pressed against the washer. “Shit. That - it’s so good.” You pant, knowing that Jason never made you feel like this. He never used to finger you until you came, just until you were wet. You’re a little embarrassed when you look back on it later to say that you came astonishingly quick, clamping down on his digits with a moan of his name.

“Good girl.” Joel moans when he feels your body tense and shake. “Fuck, your such a good girl for me. Bet you taste delicious, don’t cha?” He groans, the slickness coating his fingers makes it easier to work you through your orgasm until he feels your knees buckle and you collapse against the washing machine. “Fuck. You needed that, didn’t you. Still want me to fuck you or do you need a cigarette?” He jokes. He’s throbbing in your hand, but if you don’t want to go any farther, he won’t push. He doesn’t want you to regret it or feel like he’s taking advantage of your broken heart.

You squeeze his cock again, "don't you dare stop, Miller. I- I've wanted you for forever. I need you inside of me." You plead breathlessly, pussy still fluttering around his fingers, "please." You add pathetically, needing this even if it's one time.

“I’m so fuckin’ glad you said that.” Joel confesses as he pulls his soaked fingers out of you. “Otherwise I was gonna need to jerk off right now.” He kisses your neck and pushes your feet apart with his own to spread you out. “It’s gonna be quick.” He warns. “Been a long fuckin’ time for me.”

"I don't care. You can cum inside of me." You promise, bracing yourself on the vibrating washer as he positions himself at your entrance and starts to push inside of you. You whine when his cock slips inside of you, already stretching you out. "Fuck. You are so big." You moan, knowing that you've never had anyone this thick inside of you.

​​Joel groans your name roughly, rolling his hips until they are pressed against your ass and both hands are filled with your tits. “So goddamn tight.” He rasps in your ear, twitching when you clench around him. “Better than my dreams, better than I could have ever imagined. So tight around my dick.”

You reach behind you to tangle your fingers in his damp hair. He starts to move inside of you, a whine escaping your lips as the friction is delicious, and you rest your cheek on the washer. “Soooo gooood.” Your voice vibrates too and Joel chuckles darkly, making you clench around him again.

He moves his hands down to grip your waist, holding tight to you as he braces his legs. Starting to rock into you faster and harder to make your body slam against the machine you are leaning against. “Fuck baby, you’re goddamn perfect.” He grunts out, gritting his teeth. “Touch your pretty little clit while I fuck the shit out of you.”

You cry out in pleasure, your hand shaking as you push it between you and the machine to rub your clit. “Fuck Joel. Joel. Oh shit.” You practically sob and his fingers dig into your flesh, likely leaving bruises you’ll cherish. “Harder.” You demand, wanting to feel him for days after he leaves you.

He growls, deep in his chest and his pace increases. Slamming into you harsh enough that he rocks the machine. Loving how you take him and beg for more, how tight your cunt gets when you spasm around him. “Gonna cum.” He warns, feeling his body starting to tense. “Need you to cum, sweet girl.”

You rub your clit a little faster, wanting to cum before he does and his grunts echo in the laundry room, getting deeper and faster along with his thrusts until you fall apart. A cry rips from your mouth as you clamp down on him, practically shaking against the vibrating machine as you climax around the man you’ve wanted for so long.

As soon as you clench down around him, Joel is lost. The strangled groan pushes out of his throat as he buries his cock just as deep as he can. Painting your walls with hot spurts of his seed while he grinds into you and whimpers your name. Overwhelmed by how perfect you feel around him.

You pant, resting against the washer as Joel twitches inside of you, his lips kissing along the back of your neck. You are speechless. No one has ever fucked you like that. Your legs feel like jello and you know you'd collapse if it wasn't for him keeping you pressed against the machine.

Panting, Joel presses against your back, kissing along your neck as he tries to catch his breath. He’s out of practice, but the way your legs still shake makes him think he did it right. “Fuck.” He chuckles. “We shoulda done that years ago.”

You chuckle softly, "yes but you were married." You snort and Joel caresses your side. "I think I'm gonna need a nap after that." You confess and he smirks against your skin, reluctantly pulling out of you.

“Well, I can’t go back to work with no clothes on.” He reminds you with another chuckle. “Why don’t we take that nap?” He’s already told his crew what to do and he doesn’t want to leave you right now. Caressing your back, he watches his cum start to well up at your little hole, trying to push out.

You smile, reaching behind you to unclasp your bra after he steps back from you and you finally feel like you can stand up. You toss your bra and shirt into the laundry basket along with the rest of your clothes after using your panties to wipe his cum from between your legs. “I need to pee and then we can nap.” You say, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “You wanna head upstairs while I pee?” You ask.

“Yeah.” Joel smirks slightly when you wobble as you walk to the hall bathroom and he strides into the kitchen to grab you a bottle of water before heading upstairs to the bedroom you are using. Feeling great and hoping that you enjoyed yourself, he’s gonna have to ask you when you come up.

You struggle to get upstairs but you do it, finding Joel sitting on the edge of the bed, still naked and you admire him for a second. The sun coming through the curtains highlights the gray in his locks and you find yourself falling for him all over again. You shift to lay down on the bed, closing your eyes, “you’ve worn me out, Miller.” You joke playfully.

“You’re worn out?” It’s fucking ridiculous how he wants to touch you again, even though he knows it will be at least half an hour, maybe more before he could get it up again. “And here I was thinking about eating your pussy.” He flips back on the bed beside you. “Guess that’s out.”

You open one eye, “now I didn’t say I was that worn out.” You tease, shifting onto your side and opening both eyes to look at him. “I would happily cum on your tongue if you want to do that.” You murmur, reaching out to caress his chest.

“Figure I owe you that much.” He grunts. “Fucked you over a washing machine. Not exactly the classiest first time.” He shoots you a grin. “Shoulda been in the bed of my truck.” He leans in and presses his lips to your as he rolls you onto your back and covers you with his body. “Wanna find out how you taste. Used to think about it when I had my dick in my hand.”

​​You reach up to caress his shoulders and back, “the bed of your truck. The stars above while the radio plays. That might’ve been something I dreamed about a lot.” You confess as he kisses along your neck. “I want to suck your cock too. Imagined it so many times. How you’d look, how you’d sound.”

“Fuck.” He groans, imagining it. “You’d look so fucking pretty like that.” He agrees. “But right now, there’s no way I’m gonna get hard, baby. I’m old.”

You scoff, “you’re not old. You just need some time.” You murmur, caressing his back as he slides his hand down your side. “We have time.” You promise softly despite knowing you are on borrowed time in your aunt’s house. “Now…you mentioned something about eating me out?”

He laughs as his tongue slides between your breasts, looking up at you with a grin that makes him feel younger, lighter. “I was telling you that you were going to scream my name.” He boasts, kissing across your belly as he shuffles down the bed to move between your thighs.

You grin as you watch him until he kisses your inner thigh and your mouth falls open with a moan. “Joel.” You sigh when he kisses along the sensitive skin until you are moaning his name as his tongue slides through your folds. “Fuck.” You tilt your head back, sitting up on your elbows.

He hums, knowing you are watching him but his eyes are closed as he tastes you. Enjoying the musky, tangy taste, even mixed with his own cum. Using his hands to push your thighs apart more, he flicks his tongue over your clit before sliding down and pushing his tongue inside you.

You gasp in delight as his tongue curls deep and you shift your weight onto one elbow so you can reach out and tangle your fingers in his hair. "So good baby. So good." You coo, rocking your hips up slightly to push his tongue deeper.

Joel groans into your cunt as he tongue fucks you enthusiastically. Loving your responsiveness and how you moan his name. His fingers dig into your hips, dragging you closer as he feasts voraciously without even wanting to pull away to swallow, his spit and your juices sliding down to soak the bed under you.

"Oh God." You pant, chest heaving and you let go of his hair to squeeze your breast, pinching the nipple while his nose presses against your clit. "That - ohhh just like that." You cry as his tongue curls just right with his nose pressed against your bundle of nerves.

He hums, rubbing his broad nose against your clit to give you more. Desperate to hear you cum again and to feel you soak his face. He feels so fucking alive right now between your thighs.

"Shit. I'm - you're gonna make me cum, Joel." You pant, thighs clamping around his face as he sends you over the edge. "Fuck!" You squeal as you soak his face, almost suffocating him with your thighs as your stomach clenches with your orgasm.

Joel groans, his softening cock starting to twitch and harden. Loving how wet you are getting and how much you are soaking him. Working you through it, his eyes are fixed on your face while you moan and cry out for him.

You collapse back onto the bed, gasping to catch your breath and you swear your heart has stopped from how hard you came. It’s more than anything you felt with Jason. It’s all consuming. “So good.” You finally murmur, loosening your grip on his face as your legs come down to lay flat on the bed when he rests his chin on your mound.

He smirks, looking at your blissed out face. “Good to know that it was good.” He strokes your thigh and your hip with his hands. “Now we can nap.” He teases, winking playfully.

You shift onto your side after he snakes from between your legs to flop down on the bed beside you. “You don’t want me to-?” You ask, noticing his semi. 

“Nap first then maybe you can ride me.” He says, closing his eyes and you nod, shifting to curl into his side, watching him for several moments until you eventually drift off to sleep. 

**** 

You aren’t sure how long you’ve been asleep but you wake up to Joel snoring. You chuckle softly, knowing he would never admit to snoring, and you watch him for a moment, unable to believe you’re here with him. Your gaze slides down his body to his hard cock resting on his belly and you grin, carefully shifting to be able to kneel over his body. You gently grip his cock and lean down to take the head into your mouth, wanting to surprise him when he wakes up.

Joel grunts, the wet heat and suction around his cock pulling him out of the nap he had been enjoying. Confused for a moment before the last few hours come rushing back to him and he groans out your name. Reaching down to cup the back of your head as his eyes open. Seeing you looking up at him with a smirk in your eyes.

You take him deeper, gripping the base of his cock as you widen your jaw and choke for a second. You haven’t sucked a cock like Joel’s before and it takes you a few tries to get him down your throat without gagging.

“Good girl, fuck, watch you take that.” He marvels. Reaching around to caress your jaw and feeling the way that your jaw unhinges. “Couldn’t wait, so eager for it that you had to wake me up?” He teases.

You moan around his cock, closing your eyes as you take him deeper, your saliva dripping down his length and you pull back after a moment, working his cock with your hand. You twist your wrist and dribble some more spit onto his cock. “I couldn’t resist.” You confess, pumping him as you lean in to suck on the head, pressing your tongue against his frenulum.

“Shit.” Joel hisses, his toes curling in pleasure and his thighs tensing as his body responds to your tongue. “Cock hungry.” He grunts. “You gonna swallow? Or are you gonna tease me and not let me cum in your mouth?”

You pull back again, pumping him a little faster. “You wanna cum down my throat or do you want me to ride you? Your choice, handsome.” You coo, “I can do whatever you want. Just want you to feel good.” You promise, taking him back into your mouth.

“Fuck.” It’s such a tantalizing choice but he knows he lasts longer the second time around and then he’ll be done. It would make your jaw ache and he doesn’t want that. “Ride me, baby.” He groans. “Want to see you bounce on my cock.”

You don't argue despite wanting to watch him as he cums down your throat. You let his cock drop from your mouth and you shift to straddle his thighs, shuffling closer until you can wrap your fingers around his slick cock and position him. You sink down onto him with your eyes fixed on his, that dark gaze sends a shiver down your spine as he stretches you out. "God, Joel." You whine softly, placing your palms on his chest.

“Fuuuuuuuuck.” Joel goans out, his fingers digging into the soft flesh at your hips while you clench down around him. You’re even tighter in this position and he has the bonus of being able to look into your eyes. See your face. “Does that feel good, baby?”

"Joel. It's...shit. It's so good." You confess breathlessly and your nails dig into his chest a little as you start to rock your hips. "Shit. How does it feel so good? Never been like this before." You confess as your eyes meet his and your heart pounds in your chest, silently giving you the answer to your question.

Bracing his feet on the bed, he rocks his hips up to meet you when you lift off of him. Making both of you groan at how good it feels. “You look so good on my dick.” He groans. “Your ex is a fucking moron.” He doesn’t want you to think about that asshole, but he wants you to know that it wasn’t you. One hand slides up to cup your breast, squeezing gently. “Never wanna leave this pussy.”

His words make you clench around him and you whimper, falling forward to press your chest against his so you can kiss him. Your lips pressing against his and you tangle your fingers in his hair as he thrusts up into you. His arms wrap around you and you kiss his jaw when you pull back to take a breath. "Never want you to stop fucking me."

Joel grunts, shifting to take control. “Good-“ he pants. “Good thing I last the second time.” He starts rocking his hips up, pinning you to him as he fucks you. “It’s why I wanted you to ride me. Probably take me an hour to cum.”

You are surprised by that. Most men you've been with tend to leave you unsatisfied after finding their own orgasm. "Fuck, really?" You gasp and he chuckles, thrusting a little harder. "Yes. Gonna make you cum over and over again." You cry out when he hits deep, nudging your cervix, but you love it. "Yessss." You hiss, "do that again baby."

Joel groans and does as you demand, snapping his hips up sharply so he can push against that spot again. He might be getting older, slower, fall asleep after dinner in his chair, but he’s not going to disappoint you. Not when he has this time with you like this. Trying to give you the same performance if he had fucked you years ago. “That?” He teases. “I’ll do that as much as you want.”

The sound you let out is between a wail and a moan as he hits that spot again. “Oh shitttt.” You hiss, lost in the sensations. “Again. That- again.” You beg and he does it, making you shake above him. “Joel. Oh shit. Baby. I’m gonna - you’re gonna make me - fuuuu-” The word fading into a choke as you clamp down on his cock, soaking him as you shake above his body, your fingers tugging on his hair.

This time he slows down, rocking you through the pleasure slowly and finally stopping when you slump down into his chest. He’s still hard, buried inside you, and he hums softly as he lets you catch your breath. “That’s good, baby?” He asks quietly. “You want another one?”

You lean back to look into his face. Fingers coming up to trace the lines that have been etched onto his skin over the years you’ve not seen each other. He’s still just as devastatingly handsome though. Every line is a story you don’t know about. “Yes.” You murmur, pressing your lips to his and you shift to sit up, wanting to ride him again. Your hips rock as you reach for his hands, joining them with yours to give yourself something to hold onto as you rock on his cock.

This time, you ride him. Truly ride him. You roll your hips and circle them around and make him groan. He squeezes your hands, but he doesn’t urge you to go faster. Knowing you will cum again before he does. He doesn’t want to hurt you or wear you out, so he’s just along for the ride. Aware that the sounds from next door have stopped and the guys have gone home.

You tilt your head back as you rock your hips. It’s slower, not as frantic, and you love the way he groans when you grind down onto him. “So good Joel. God, I- I can’t believe it’s so good.” You confess, squeezing his hands before you let go of him and lean back to place your hands on his thighs, grinding forward onto his cock.

He chuckles and watches you with a sense of wonder. “It’s because you’ve not had good sex in a long time.” He downplays his prowess because all that matters is that you enjoy yourself. “God, your pussy is fucking magic.” He moans quietly, twitching violently in the warmth of your walls.

You whimper, loving how he looks beneath you, and you moan his name again, “can you-?” You reach for his hand to bring it to your stomach, sliding it down to rub your clit and you moan when he rubs it just right. “That’s it baby. Shit.” You pant, rocking a little faster and you are soon clamping down on him again, head tilted back as a choked cry escapes your lips.

Joel watches you through heavy lidded eyes as you come apart again. Enjoying the pleasure you take as much as you do, although your body is the one shaking. He rocks his hips up slightly when your pace falters to work you through it. Groaning out your name and humming as you collapse against his chest to kiss you.

You caress his cheek, “I need a second.” You admit, chest heaving as your heart pounds in your chest and you pull off of his cock. Shifting to lay beside him and you reach down to grip his length, starting to pump him slowly while you lean in to kiss him. “Can’t believe you’re in my bed.” You murmur against his lips.

​​“Hard to believe since we haven’t seen each other in so long.” Joel agrees. “But it is pretty damn good, I think.” He reaches up and cups your cheek. “I know you deserve the fucking moon.”

You grin, turning your head to kiss his palm. “So do you. Always thought you were too hard on yourself.” You murmur, continuing to pump his cock. “I want you on top of me.” You request, letting go of his cock.

“Ready for more?” His brow shoots up and he huffs. “It’s a good damn thing that I didn’t cum.” He teases you, already moving to his knees so his could climb on top of you.

You giggle, reaching up to caress his shoulders and down to his chest, reaching for his cock to position him at your entrance. “I want you to cum. Fill me up again.” You promise, “and I’ll always want more.” You reassure him and he looks at you for a moment until he swallows harshly.

“Yeah?” He asks gruffly, not waiting for you to give him an answer, just lunging forward to fill you up again while he kisses you. Swallowing your cry when he pushes deep and immediately starts to rock into you.

You moan into his mouth, tongue tangling with his as he starts to rock his hips. It’s intoxicating and you are certain that you’ve never been fucked this well before. He kisses along your neck, biting your collarbone and you pant, closing your eyes. “So good baby. So good.” You whimper as he lifts your hip higher to sink deeper inside of you.

“Glad you like my fucking.” He huffs, chuckling breathlessly. He hasn’t worked this hard to fuck a pussy in years and he’s not regretting it. You both deserve this. He actually feels like he deserves this, surprisingly. You make him feel like he does.

“Oh God.” You can’t stop rambling about how good he feels, your heart pounding in your chest and you cross your ankles behind his back, your hands caressing his shoulders, strong from his years in construction. He lowers his hips and you swear you’re gonna cum again when the hair at the base of his cock brushes your clit.

“That’s it.” Joel grunts. The position has you perfectly positioned. Loving how tight you feel and how good it feels to be cradled between your thighs, he knows he’s gonna cum this time. “One more.” He begs. “Give me one more and I’ll fill you up again.”

You pant when he pushes deeper and drops his hips again and you swear you almost black out from the extent of pleasure he’s given you and you swear you are going to gush as he hits just right and you clamp down on his cock. “Joel. Joel. Joellll.” You squeal as you cum, soaking him and your ankles pushing against his ass.

Joel groans, unable to stop himself from pushing deep and letting go. His body draws up taunt like a guitar string. “That’s it baby, gonna cum.” He moans, feeling his cock pulse as he spills ropes of cum into your perfect cunt. Emptying himself as he holds his breath, feeling like his heart is about to beat out of his chest.

You sigh, closing your eyes and tilting your head back against the pillows as he paints your walls with his cum. You feel exhausted and yet feel like you could conquer the world. Alive and vibrating with pleasure from the man above you. The words would be so easy to say. The words you’ve wanted to say for so many years but you swallow them down.

Joel groans and pulls out of you slowly, flopping onto his back with a sigh. “Now I need another nap.” He huffs, closing his eyes even as he opens his arms if you want to snuggle to him again. “Wore me out, woman.”

You shift to curl into his side, throwing your leg over his thighs and not caring about his cum dripping out of you. You sigh and kiss his chest. “That was the best sex I’ve ever had.” You confess, closing your eyes as you cuddle into him.

“Good.” Joel hums sleepily. “Best damn sex I’ve had too.” His hand curls around your body and closes his eyes again, exhausted and for once, the nightmares don’t come.

**** 

You smile as Ellie sets the blankets up in the back of Joel’s truck. You watch Joel as he comes back to the truck with an armful of popcorn. “Fuck yeah.” Ellie says and you chuckle, taking the popcorn from Joel. “You’re excited to watch Dawn of the Dead?” You ask her with amusement and she nods, “duh. It’s the original. The remake is good but it has nothing on this one.” She says and you watch Joel snort. “Come on, let’s get in the truck, it’s about to start.” He says and you climb in after he does, taking his hand.

Joel can’t believe that you wanted to spend time with Ellie, but it makes him smile as she settles down and you sit beside her. Leaning him to squeeze in on the outside. “It’s always nice when they run these.” Joel admits. “Been a long time since we’ve been, but I always loved it as a kid. Remember all those times we would hang out at the drive in? Damn thing was the only movie theater for twenty miles.”

You shift to snuggle into Joel's side after the movie begins. Ellie chomps away on the popcorn and you inhale the smoky scent of Joel as he shifts to get comfortable with the pillows behind you. The past week has been incredible, spending most days with Joel after he finishes working on the house next door and you've had dinners at your place with and without Ellie. You've wanted Ellie to feel included, that you aren't taking Joel away from her all the time, and the teenager says she's happy she doesn't have to see the miserable old bastard all the time. That made you chuckle and Joel grumble, causing Ellie to go "see? My point." You flinch during the movie, on edge despite seeing this classic before, and Joel rubs your shoulder.

He ignores the way that Ellie eyes the two of you and snickers under her breath. Pulling you against him to where you roll to your side, hooking a leg over his. He tucks his other arm behind his head. “Maybe we can do that thing downtown next week.” He mentions casually, keeping his voice low. “Kid wants to go. Could be fun.” The little town loves to hold festivals and events, especially during the summer. 

You hum, looking up at him. “I would love that.” You have been having dinners with Ellie and she’s a great kid. Feisty and her manners could use some work but she’s a good girl really. She’s gonna be a ball buster when she grows up. You and Joel have grown closer and he told you about Sarah. How he asked her to pick up milk on the way home from school because he was too busy with work to pick her up himself so she said she’d walk home and she ended up involved in an armed robbery of the grocery store. She made one wrong move to try and help a pregnant woman and ended up shot. You held Joel after he told you what happened, both of you crying for the little girl who would never grow up. Since then, you’ve spent as much time as possible together, even spending the night at Joel’s house. You never want to go home. You want to stay right here forever. You kiss Joel’s jaw when it tenses and he turns his head to softly kiss you, making your heart flutter.

Joel hums into the kiss, keeping it soft and light since the kid is sitting right next to you. He’s already planning on having you spend the night. Getting used to the feeling of your body next to his and when he’s holding you, he doesn’t dream of Sarah. He doesn’t hear her last breaths as he sleeps. He nuzzles your cheek with his nose when he pulls away. “Enjoying yourself, baby?”

“Always with you.” You whisper softly while Ellie chomps on popcorn and laughs when someone new gets bitten. It’s the most at peace you’ve been in so long. You want to tell Joel how you feel but you don’t want to ruin this between you. When you arrive back at Joel’s, you bid goodnight to Ellie and Joel is dragging you to his room. “Someone’s eager.” You giggle and he shuts the door behind you.

“Always with you.” He uses your words from earlier, but it’s true. He’s always eager to touch you, to taste you. Feeling your skin against his is unlike anything else and he’s addicted to it. He quickly pulls off your shirt and unclips your bra as he kisses along your neck, moving down to take a nipple in his mouth.

You gasp, body still on fire as much as the first time whenever he touches you. You reach for his jeans, unbuckling them and reaching in to grip his cock, loving how hard he is for you. “Joel.” You whine when he bites down on your nipple, groaning into your skin.

He loves how you whine, how you beg for him. Switching to your other breast, he shows it the same attention, squeezing your ass and then hastily unbuttoning your shorts. Needing to feel how wet you are for him.

You let go of his cock so he can shove your shorts down and he groans when his hand dives into your panties and he finds you soaking wet. You’ve never been so turned on by a man, wet from just a few kisses from Joel. Even looking at him. You whimper when his calloused fingers find your clit. “Yesss baby.” You hiss softly, reaching back to squeeze his cock.

“Fuck.” He groans against your tit. His fingers rub your clit and then he slides them deep inside you and curls up. “Want you to cum for me, then I want to fuck you.” He growls.

You can’t deny him when he wants you to cum for him. His thumb pressing against your clit and you’re so close already. “Joel. Baby. Shit.” You hiss as you clamp down on his digits, soaking them and your grip on his cock tightens.

It seems like he’s learned your body perfectly over the last week. Groaning happily when your cunt gushes around his fingers and makes it squelch when he continues to finger you. “So good baby, so good.” He praises. “You’re so good for me.”

You whimper, “yes. Yes. All yours. I- shit. Need you inside of me.” You plead, letting go of his cock to reach for his shirt. You want to pull it over his head so you can touch his skin.

It’s a frantic rush to get both of you undressed. Acting like teenagers again. He chuckles when he nearly trips over his boxers as he moves you towards the bed. “So damn eager. All the time.” He grunts, pressing his lips to yours as he pushes you down onto the bed.

You giggle, looking up at him as he shifts to kneel between your legs. You stop giggling when he looks at you and you reach up to caress his cheeks. “It’s because it’s you.” You murmur, your heart pounding in your chest and you know you can’t say those words and ruin this so you surge forward to press your lips against gis.

Joel closes his eyes and moans into your mouth. Gripping his cock and guiding himself towards your dripping entrance while your tongues tangle together. Flattening his hands on either side of your head as he starts to push inside you.

You tangle your fingers in his hair, lifting your thighs up to rest on his hips so he can sink deeper inside of you. “Joel baby. Shit. Always so thick. Stretching me out. Would’ve - would’ve let you fuck me in your truck during the movie if Ellie wasn’t there.” You reveal when he leans back to kiss along your jaw.

He hums quietly. "Could you have kept quiet?" He asks, sliding a hand up and covering your mouth. "Or would I have had to fuck you like this? Keep those pretty sounds for myself while I fuck you?"

Your moan is muffled by his palm and you whimper when he starts to move inside of you. Your cunt clenches around him, making him chuckle darkly, and you swear that alone could make you cum. His hand slides down to your neck, holding you there but not squeezing. “I would’ve tried. The - the horror screams might’ve covered mine up.”

He hums, smirking as he watches you squirm underneath him. "Maybe." He tells you doubtfully. Your screams are too loud when he's really fucking you. Although you normally save that for when he's fucking you at your aunt's house.

You slap his chest playfully and he grabs your hand, pressing it into the mattress above your head. “I could’ve kept quiet.” You huff and he thrusts particularly hard into you, making you moan a little louder than you shoulder. His eyebrow raises as you open your eyes and you roll your eyes, “okay, you made your point. Now, you gonna fuck me, Miller?” You tease, leaning up to nip his jaw.

“I’m fuckin’ you, aren’t I?” He grumbles even though he’s smirking again. He’s been doing a lot of that around you lately. Reaching back, he grabs your hand and lifts it up over your head while he slams into you again. “Addicted to it. To you.”

Your mouth falls open, all joking gone as he hits so deep inside of you. “Fuck.” You gasp, closing your eyes as he rolls his hips on the next thrust. “Shit. Me too. Addicted. To all of you.” You promise, having seen some of his darker moments when he’d wake up in the middle of the night and momentarily forget he lost Sarah. You’d held him while he settled down and neither of you spoke about it the next morning. It’s his decision to talk or not talk.

With your confession, his pace falters for a moment before he starts rocking into you faster. Snapping his hips as harshly as he can to slam into you roughly. Knocking your breath and his own out of you as he fucks you.

You lift your hips higher, sending him impossibly deeper inside of you, and you can barely breathe with the way he’s pushing deep inside of you. “Fuck baby. That’s it. God. Feels so good. So good.” You moan, squeezing his hands in yours.

“You’re so good.” He’s done everything he fucking could to show you how sexy you are. How desirable. That your ex is a dumbass. He squeezes your hand and despite the rough pace, his lips are tender on yours.

His hips grind against yours and you are close when he rubs your clit just right. “Shit. Jo-Joel. Fuck. I’m gonna - I’m gonna - Shitttttt.” You hiss as you clamp down on his cock, soaking him and your lips hover against his as he works you through it.

It’s always so surprising how quickly you cum. Making him groan as your walls squeeze hum like a vice, begging him to fill you up. He kisses you again, keeping his cock working in and out of you as he chases his own high. Thinking about you and how sexy you are, different times he’s fucked you. Wanting to cum and snuggle with you while he can. “Fuck, fuck, baby.” He pants. “So fucking good for me. Soaking my cock. Moaning my name. You’re mine, ain’t cha?”

You nod, “yes. Yes. Yours. Always been yours. You just didn’t know it.” You confess and he groans, pushing deep inside of you with a hiss as he starts to cum. “That’s it baby. Cum for me. Yes. Yes. God, that’s it.” You squeeze his hands as he scrunches his face up while he paints your walls.

“You should stay.” Joel groans out as he collapses on top of you and buries his face into your neck. Panting breathlessly and trying to find the words he needs, even though he’s never been good at them. He needs you. Much like he needed Ellie, just in a different kind of way. He doesn’t want you to leave and he knows you’ve only got a few days left.

You want to stay. More than anything. You often daydream about a life spent with Joel but you have a life back in Texas that you need to sort out. You want to stay, forget everything in Texas but you have an apartment. “I can’t. Not yet.” You murmur and caress his back, “I have stuff to figure out in Texas.” You wish you could stay with him but you have to get everything sorted.

Joel doesn’t say anything. He knows it was a long shot. He kisses you softly and pulls out of you with a groan and rolls onto his back. Quiet and suddenly wondering is you are going to go back to that asshole now that you’ve fucked someone else.

You shift into his side, kissing his chest, and you know it’s hard to explain to Joel who sees the world in absolutes. You know he isn’t happy with your answer and you’ll try to explain it better in the daylight. He is soon snoring in your ear and you murmur to him, “I love you.” You will call your parents tomorrow and see if they can help you out. 

**** 

Joel looks at you as you finish making the sandwiches for lunch. “You nearly finished with the house next door?” You ask him as you set the iced tea down in front of him as he shifts to sit at your kitchen counter. 

“Nearly.” He says and he’s been quiet since last night when you told him you weren’t staying. 

You set the plate in front of him just as the doorbell rings. He looks at you and you shake your head, “I didn’t order anything.” You say and make your way over to the front door. You open it and gasp, “Jason?”

His heart sinks as he hears your gasps but his first instinct is anger. Lurching out of his seat, Joel rushes to the door and pushes you out of the way so he can grab the asshole who hurt you. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He growls, satisfied that the man nearly squeals and flinches when Joel draws his fist back to punch him.

Jason winces and you reach up to touch Joel’s arm. “Don’t. He’s not worth it.” You say and Joel glances at you, confused that you don’t want him to beat this guy’s ass and you say no. “What do you want, Jason?” You huff and Jason adjusts his shirt after Joel lowers his arm. 

“I want you back. I made a mistake. I'm sorry baby. Please. I miss you.” You ignore that to ask him how he found you. “Your phone…still has the location shared with me.” 

You hiss at your stupidity. “I don’t - I don’t love you Jason. You hurt me. So much. Just go.” You plead and he shakes his head, trying to push into the house but Joel puffs his chest and Jason backs away. 

“Fine. Whatever. Clearly you’ve moved on. Good luck, man. She’s batshit crazy.” Jason growls, “and she needs to do some fucking kegels.” 

Joel hisses and surges forward to grab Jasón but he manages to dodge Joel and runs down the path. “Motherfucker.” Joel hisses and tries to catch him but you place your hand on his chest, “leave it baby. It’s not worth it.” You remind him and Joel shouts out, “you worthless piece of shit!” You sigh and shut the door, feeling a little shaken by Jason’s random appearance.

Joel’s angry. Pissed off that you apparently still have feelings for that fucking loser. Enough that you wouldn’t let him beat the shit out of him and teach him some fucking manners. “Charming asshole.” He grunts, not even hungry anymore. “See why you want to go back to him.” You just said you didn’t love him, but why else would you give up on everything the two of you have if not to go back to that worthless piece of shit.

Your eyes widen, “go- what the hell are you talking about, Joel? Go back to him? That’s the last thing I’d ever do. I didn’t think he’d track my fucking phone to come and find me.” You shake your head, “I don’t want him. I want you. I only want you.” You want to tell him how much but you don’t want to risk your heart again.

“Except you aren’t staying with me, are you?” He demands. “You’re gonna fuck off back to Texas and maybe tell your friends that you rebounded with some dumb construction worker who knew you from back in the day.” His own fears ride to the surface and he lashes out at you. “Poor son of a bitch actually thought he had a chance and asked you to stay.”

You shake your head, “Joel. No. I- I have to go home because I have an apartment. A job. I can’t just up and leave everything. I want to stay. More than anything in the world but we aren’t kids, we have responsibilities and I have to handle it all before I come back here. I want to stay. More than anything in the world.” You assure him, noticing how tense he is and you feel guilty for not explaining yourself before.

“Whatever.” He’s angry and irrational. A little embarrassed about how he just flung his heart out there. “I’m- I’ve got to get back to work.” He picks up his tool belt off the back of the chair and turns towards the door. Hating how vulnerable you’ve made him feel and how easily you can hurt him.

You want to run after him, scream at him that you love him, that you've always been in love with him. No one has ever made you feel like he does. Instead, you stare at the kitchen counter. You told him you'd come back but he pushed it aside. Maybe it's best that you go home before you destroy the last of your relationship with Joel. You work on packing your things, booking a flight home, and you text Ellie to tell her you are heading home first thing. She tries to call you but you ignore it, wanting to have a glass of wine or two to smother the way your heart aches at leaving Joel again. You never discussed why you left. You never told him and now you doubt you will. You organize your aunt's house, leaving it how you found it and get into bed without Joel.

“You’re a fucking dumbass.” Joel ignores the jab coming from the teenager as he stirs the pan as if it was a mission to whip the water and milk mixture the boxed dinner called for. “Joel? Joel? She’s leaving.” She stresses again. “You know, not being here anymore?” 

Slamming the spoon down, Joel turns around to glare at Ellie. “I fucking know. What do you want me to do about it?” He demands. “She’s a fucking adult. She can go where she wants.” 

The girl’s eyebrows arch up to her forehead and she rears back at the anger in Joel’s tone. “Man, you got it baaaaaaad.” She huffs. “You need to tell her how you feel.” 

Joel snorts. “I have.” He admits, shaking his head. “Doesn’t matter, stay out of it.” 

Ellie harumps at him and crosses her arms. “Go talk to her.” She demands, staring him down and he knows she won’t let this go. 

“Fine.” He grumbles, slapping his hands on his hips to search for his keys. “Won’t do any good, but I’ll go talk to her.”

The doorbell rings and you frown, getting out of bed to see who it is. Hoping it's not Jason coming back. When you see Joel through the peephole, you sigh and open the door. "Hey." You say weakly as you stand there in your pajamas in the doorway.

“Can we talk?” Joel asks, shuffling slightly on the steps and wondering if you would tell him to fuck off. He had overreacted and fucked things up. “Please?”

You nod, stepping aside so he can walk in and you shut the door behind him. “Ellie told you I booked a flight home?” You ask and he nods, pushing his hands into his jeans. “Yeah.” He clears his throat and you bite your lip, taking a moment. “I don’t think you understand me, Joel. I- I don’t want to leave. Ever. If I could stay here forever, I would. But I can’t. Not because I don’t want to. I want to. I have a life back home. A home. A job. I can't abandon that stuff. I have to sort it out and then…I was planning to come back.”

His shoulders round, knowing that he hadn’t heard you say that when he was busy being upset. “I- I’m sorry.” He murmurs quietly, hating being wrong and feeling like he’s fucked things up. “I shouldn’t have- I didn’t hear you say that. I’m- no excuse.” He tells the kid to own up to her mistakes all the time and he should do the same.

You aren’t angry with him, just upset. “I- I never told you the reason why I left when you got married…did I?” You ask and he shakes his head, his hand coming up to run it through his hair. You fiddle with your fingers and lick your lips, giving yourself a moment. “I left because I couldn’t stand to see the man I love be in love with another woman, marry another woman. It tore me apart and I thought it was easier to leave than to watch you live your life without me being the woman you chose to be with. I was so in love with you and you didn’t see it. I had to go.”

“Oh baby.” Joel closes his eyes, pulling his hands out of his pockets so he can pull you close. “I wish you had told me.” It wouldn’t have changed things, he had married her, but maybe he could have kept you as a friend. “We didn’t last a year. She wasn’t the one for me. Not really, and we both knew it.”

You know he wouldn’t change a thing because he had Sarah because he married Helen but you hug him, breathing him in. “You had Sarah so life happens for a reason and you’re here now and I - I still love you. I’m still so damn in love with you, Miller.” You confess as you pull back to look at him.

“I love you.” He murmurs softly. “I - I was going to offer to come to Texas.” He’s not stepped foot in the state since his daughter died and he really didn’t want to go back, but he would for you. “To visit you. It would be hard to move Ellie.”

You caress his cheek, “I won’t be long.” You promise, “I can work remotely so I just gotta head home to pack up and find somewhere here to buy.” You tell him, “I won’t be gone long enough for you to need to visit me. I know you can’t move because of Ellie so I’ll come here. I don’t want to run anymore. I want you.” You promise, leaning in to nudge your nose with his.

“You don’t have to buy anything.” Joel murmurs quietly. “You can move in with me and Ellie.” He knows you might not want to move in with him after your ex cheated on you in your home, but he wants to offer. “No need to waste the money when you’re gonna be in bed with me.”

You smile, pleased that he’s ready to jump all in. “You want me in your bed?” You ask and he nods, “every damn night.” You giggle softly and kiss his lower lip. “As soon as I’m back, I’ll never leave your bed.” You promise, “I’m yours. Forever. If you’ll have me.”

“Baby, I want you.” Joel wraps his arm around you and pulls you close. “I promise you, I want you. Forever. Your asshole ex threw away the greatest thing he ever had and I’m not stupid enough to do the same.”

  ​​

#pedro pascal #joel miller x reader #joel miller #joel miller x you #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller smut #joel miller imagine #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fic #joel the last of us #joel tlou #no outbreak!joel miller

[idontknow-andyoudonteither]

Toji the Softie pt.2

Pt.1 : https://www.tumblr.com/idontknow-andyoudonteither/740171522886500352/toji-the-softie?source=share

For the first time in a long time Toji genuinely felt relaxed. He was often unbothered by most things, and never really afraid either. He was pretty patient too, especially with his line of work. But relaxed? That wasn’t something he had the luxury of immersing himself in fully often. Ever since he had started hanging out with his upstairs neighbor though, Toji was starting to get more comfortable fully relaxing. He didn’t have to focus on who he was going to fight next, or if he was going to have to deal with the Zenin clan. He didn’t have to worry about cursed spirits, or money problems, he could just be. Most people want to know all about Toji and his past. But whenever he’s with you none of that matters, you’re in a vacuum where only what’s present exists.

“Well I’ll be back to bother you tomorrow, I’ve gotta work out.” He said as he sat up and stretched. He didn’t want to linger in this feeling too long, because he didn’t want to be let down. He wanted to bottle this feeling, and drink it at night before bed. “Of course, I’m going to the store in the morning, but afterwards I’ll be here.” You said as you walked him to the door. He watched you as you walked, and he loved the way you looked leading him. He wished he was walking to your bedroom rather than your front door, but he had a job to do, and it wouldn’t get done cuddling and kissing grapes. As he walked down the hall back to his place, he began to think about what it would be like to live with you. Would you sit in the room with him while he worked out? Would you be in the kitchen making him a post- workout snack with the cat? He laughed to himself as he walked into his place. You had even got him to like cats. Your cat didn’t like him at first, and the feeling was mutual, but he tolerated Fluffy so he could cuddle up to you. Eventually he even enjoyed Fluffy’s soft fur against him, like a heated blanket that vibrated. It was like Fluffy always knew where he was sore, and would try and heal him with his purrs.

As Toji climbed into bed, he imagined what it would be like to sleep with you in his arms. He wondered just how comfortable you were with him. You had accepted the grape much to his delight, and it made him feel like something was finally put in its proper place. He wanted to get closer to you, but he wanted to take his time. You were a safe space for him, and he wouldn’t dare do anything to jeopardize that. Also he knew your type. You were easy to read, but only because you felt comfortable with him. To anyone you didn’t want close, they wouldn’t see much in your actions. Toji however had an insider’s look on how you lived your life. He treasured that window into your life, because it allowed him to feel what he couldn’t give to himself. You were comforting, beautiful, smart, and ambitious.

When he woke up Toji started his day with a run. It felt good to push his body to a new limit, allowed him to expel some energy he had stored up. After his run he went to do some target practice. As he hit bulls eye after bulls eye his mind drifted to thoughts of his plans for the rest of the day. He had errands to run, and he was determined to finish on time, because he wanted to see you today. After target practice he decides to text you on his way home.

Hey you still out at the market?

Yeah what’s up?

He wants to tell you to grab some stuff for dinner, but figures its better to just surprise you.

Grab some more of those grapes :)

Will you eat them all again?

Toji would let you have every last grape if he could watch you eat them. He would savor every moment, just as you savor every grape. He would give you a kiss for each grape making sure not to miss anywhere on your body. But he figures saying that might freak you out if he said that, so he settles for something less committal; You can have some…………. If I can feed them to you. Toji finishes his errands, and begins cooking. While the curry thickened, he cleaned up around his place a little bit, making sure to check in and adjust the flavor when necessary. When he felt his place looked presentable he texted you a door emoji. That’s new what does that mean? you responded. Come down here and see ;) Toji responded. A few minutes later he heard a knock at the door. He smiled as he opened the door, and your expression made him smile even harder. You looked so suspicious of him, but in a playful way like a kid who knows their friend is going to prank them.

“Welcome to my humble abode.” Toji said as you stepped in and he closed the door. “Please make yourself comfortable dinner is almost ready.” “What’s going on Toji?” you asked as you nervously stepped toward the couch. “I figured we would do something different tonight, I want to thank you for how hospitable you’ve been these past few weeks, and for all the snacks I ate.” Toji said turning off the fire and coming to join you on the couch. “Do you want anything to drink? I can get some sake or some tea for you.” Toji says leaning forward in his seat. He felt so eager to take care of you; he wanted to make you feel at home so that when he made his request later you couldn’t refuse him. He couldn’t bare it if you did. He needed you to stay.

#toji #toji fushiguro #jjk #teddy bear toji #toji fluff #jjk fluff #toji x reader #toji x you #toji fanfic #jjk fanfic

[sparklypinkflightsuit]

The Containment Diaries: Entry 3

Pairing: Virologist!Bob Floyd x Reader AND Aviator!Bradley Bradshaw x Reader

ApocalypseAU

Warnings: Warfare, Military Inaccuracies, Scientific Inaccuracies, Swearing, Smut, Angst, Fluff, Breakdowns, Alcohol, I think that’s it?

- Entry 2 Here -

————————————

“Bradley!” You gasped, staring down at the familiar brown eyes.

“Oh, hey Rue. We have to stop meeting like this.” He chuckled.

You pushed yourself off of him as quickly as you could and wrapped the towel tighter around you.

“I’m so sorry! I dropped my clothes in the shower and thought I could chance it while everyone else was still at dinner. Don’t have a spare so was going to wait it out in my room.” You blushed, hard as you mumbled nervously.

Bradley got up off of the floor, his uniform shirt now slightly damp where your wet body had very briefly landed on him.

“I have a spare set of sweatpants and a T-shirt you could have, they might not fit but it’s better than… well I was gonna say better than nothing but I’m not sure if that’s true.” He chuckled again. Was he flirting with you?

“Uh… yeah, please, if that’s ok.” You nodded awkwardly, suddenly very conscious of how much skin was on display.

“You ok to follow me to my room? If not I can bring them to yours?” He offered, a touch of chivalry peaking through.

“I’ll follow you, quicker that way.” You smiled up at him and he began to walk.

You were pleasantly surprised to find that his room was only down the hall from yours, so you didn’t have to go far at all. He opened the door to an impeccably tidy room.

You hovered by the door way.

“Here, put this on.” He said handing you a T-shirt. “And… yeah these should fit, they gave me the wrong size.” A pair of sweatpants followed.

“Thank you.” You took them gratefully.

Bradley ushered you into the room as he walked out the door. “You can get changed in here so you don’t have to run the rest of the way to your room.” He smirked at you. You flushed red again but thanked him as he closed the door.

Once you were alone in the room, you dropped your towel and wet clothes, and quickly dressed into the soft sweats Bradley had given you, and you held the T-shirt up to take a look. A faded, soft UVA t-shirt, and you grinned to yourself as you imagined Bradley at university wearing it.

Once you were clothed, you let yourself out of the room, where Bradley stood with his back against the opposite wall. He grinned as he took you in.

“It looks good on you.”

“Thanks, it’s comfortable, that’s for sure.” You laughed, looking down at the baggy clothes. “So UVA, huh?” You quipped.

Bradley grinned wider, his smile was beautiful.

“Yeah, loved every moment. What about you, where did you go to school?”

“Harvard. Pretentious, I know, but I wanted one of their sweatshirts.” You joked.

Bradley let out a loud chuckle, your joke taking him by surprise. You stood in the hall, smiling like idiots for a few long seconds.

“Well, thank you again. Sorry I bulldozed you for a second time today.” You laughed.

“No problem, was nice to run into you again.”

You waved goodbye to Bradley and walked to your room, sighing when you got inside. It was nice to have a clean, dry set of clothes, but you made a mental note to visit Sergeant Williams in the morning for some actual clothes you could wear.

You sat on your bed for a while, but you weren’t tired enough to sleep. You didn’t have any books to entertain yourself with and your phone didn’t work on board the ship.

Eventually you’d decided, even in your baggy sweatpants and mismatched t-shirt, to take the opportunity to explore the ship. You were sure most people would have finished dinner by now and be back in their cabins, so you made your way out into the quiet hallway and towards the main mess hall. You wondered the corridors that didn’t seem to be restricted, and eventually stumbled across a large room, walls laden with books. You must have found the ships library.

Quietly you stepped inside and scanned the room, there were shelves restricting your view, but you could tell there was someone inside by the telltale sound of pages being flipped, only made louder by the echo of the otherwise empty room.

You walked towards the noise, thinking if it was the librarian or another staff member, you’d ask if it was ok to be there first, but as you rounded the corner you were pleasantly surprised to find Bob, deep in thought as he flicked through a large biochemistry book.

“Hey.” You said softly so not to scare him.

“Oh, hey.” He smiled, turning to face you, his pretty blue eyes lighting up.

“Whatcha doin’?” You asked, pulling out a chair opposite him.

“I’m trying to get a head start on this cure. Truth be told I don’t know where to start.” He chuckled in frustration as he rubbed his face.

“Yeah, to be honest I think they brought me here by mistake.” You breathed.

Bobs eyes shot up to look at you, concerned.

“What makes you think that?” He asked.

You sighed, “I dunno, I’m just a botanist, and here I am with some of the best scientists in the country, I just don’t feel like I should be here.”

Bobs eyes softened, and he reached across the table, gently grabbing your hand.

“Hey, you are probably the brightest and most resourceful scientist I know, and that’s saying something in my circles.”

“Ok now I know you’re a liar.” You grinned at him, squeezing his hand before you pulled it away and grabbed the book he was reading.

“Biochemistry for… dummies?” You shot him a playful glare. You were getting more and more comfortable with him.

Bob chuckled, “Well, viruses have either RNA or DNA, and Biochemistry was never my strong suit so I thought I’d brush up on some of that before we get started tomorrow. Can’t be too prepared.”

“I was actually going to go into Genealogy before I realised my love for plants, kinda wish I had now.” You sighed, handing Bob the book back. You stood to browse the shelves and Bob realised you were wearing different clothes.

“Nice sweats, you went to UVA?” He asked, eyebrows knit as you turned around and he noticed the t-shirt.

You laughed, “Oh yeah, uhm… no. I got this from one of the navy guys. I dropped my clothes in the shower.” You went red just recalling the situation.

Bob nodded, suddenly growing quiet, and went back to reading. You pretending not to notice as you went back to browsing the shelf.

You eventually found a book and you and Bob read together in comfortable silence for a couple hours. You began to yawn, which set Bob off and before you knew it, you were both abandoning your books and leaning back in your chairs as you made small talk.

“So yeah, I think if there is a God, he was definitely watching over me that day. I could have been in quarantine with the lot of them right now.” Bob mumbled, both hands joining at the back of his head as he stretched, his t-shirt riding up and exposing a toned, tanned stomach.

You quickly averted your eyes and bit your lip.

“Yeah.” You breathed, “Not gonna lie, if you weren’t here I think I’d go crazy.” You chuckled as you propped your elbow against the table and rested your tired head in your palm. “Sorry, that came out… weird.”

Bob smiled, “No, it wasn’t weird. It was nice, thank you. For what it’s worth, I’m really glad you’re here too, Rue.”

You yawned again, your eyes fluttering closed for longer this time.

“Alright little lady, I think it’s time we got you to bed.” Bob said, standing and pulling you to your feet.

You groaned, “But it’s so far. Can’t we just sleep here?” You joked sleepily, shuffling your feet as you moved towards the door.

Bob grinned, and suddenly your feet were leaving the ground and you squealed.

“Oh my god, Bob! Put me down!” You laughed, “I didn’t mean it, I can walk!”

“I don’t believe you, if I leave you to it I reckon you’ll sleep in that corner over there.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” You groaned, letting your head loll back dramatically.

Bob carried you the short distance to your cabin, and you tried not to stare at his handsome face for too long as he did. Up close, you could admire every freckle.

Once he reached your room, he gently put you down, and you cleared your throat awkwardly.

“Thanks for the ride, cowboy.” You blurted out, and immediately slapped a hand to your forehead. “Also didn’t mean that the way it came out. I’m sorry.”

Bob chuckled and shot you a wink, then turned to leave as you opened your door, “Goodnight Rue.”

“Night Bob.” You smiled, closing your door.

————————————————

The next morning was chaotic, no one having been briefed on where they should be or when they should be there, so when you were awoken to a loud pounding on your door at god knows what time, you were confused and disoriented.

You threw open the door and Sergeant Williams looked at you impatiently, a hoard of scientists standing groggily behind him, obviously having just been rudely awoken in the same manner.

“Get dressed, stat! We have some work to do today.”

You quickly dressed, made sure you looked semi decent and then joined the group outside your door. You followed Sergeant Williams to a few more doors and then finally Bobs, who looked just as displeased to see him as the rest of you had.

You were then ushered to the mess hall to grab breakfast and coffee, before you were shown to the lab you would be spending the rest of your time aboard in.

Sergeant Williams gave you a brief rundown of everything, and then left you to your own devices. No one know where to start, this was way out of everyone’s league.

“Ok.” You huffed, “I think we need a team leader. That way we have a starting point and no one can just go off and do their own thing.”

Everyone murmured in agreement.

“We should vote.” Martin said, and began ripping up 19 pieces of paper.

You each took turns writing down the name of the person you felt should lead the project. Martin then tallied the votes and cleared his throat.

“It’s a tie.”

“Between who?” Alberta chimed in.

“Dr Floyd and Rue.”

“Oh, I’m happy to relinquish control to Bob.” You piped up, not particularly loving the idea of being head on a project you didn’t feel like you could even contribute to anyway.

“No, we can be co heads. I’m not always gonna be right so it will be good to have two opinions, two sets of eyes.” Bob nodded.

“Okay, if the others don’t mind that, I’m ok with it.” You confirmed.

Everyone mumbled in agreement, but a few eyes glared in your direction. You brushed it off and everyone gathered around a table to brain storm.

Hours later, after your first semi successful day, you had managed to set the lab up into sections, everyone had a clear understanding of their roles. Notes and equations covered every white board in the room and everyone felt ready for actual work to begin as soon as a sample of the virus had been safely secured and transported aboard.

You had also put in a request for several medicinal and poisonous plant types to start testing once the virus arrived.

Bob excused everyone for the day around 3pm, once it was clear there was nothing further they could do.

You were desperate for some fresh air, but you knew you couldn’t just wander outside. You spotted one of the crew lacing up her boots in the main mess hall.

“Hi, excuse me!” You said cheerily, she looked up at you with a smile.

“Hi, everything okay?” She was pretty, dark hair, dark eyes, pointy features, and wearing a flight suit, so you imagined she was an aviator like your new friend Bradley.

“Yeah, I’m sorry to bother you, but I was really hoping for some fresh air, feeling a bit claustrophobic. Is there anywhere on board we’re allowed to go outside?” You asked nervously.

She looked at the clock on the wall and then nodded, “Yeah, follow me. I’m Natasha.” She said, extending a hand as she began to walk past you.

“I’m Rue. Are you a pilot?” You asked, shaking her hand.

“Is it that obvious?” She chuckled, and you immediately felt comfortable around her.

You made small talk as you walked through corridors and stairs and eventually the smell of crisp sea air and jet fuel filled your nostrils.

“While there’s no flight prep going on we’re allowed to hang up here, within reason.” She confirmed. The flight deck was mostly empty and the day was beautiful, you took a deep breath and stopped for a moment to enjoy the sun on your face.

“I can’t thank you enough, I needed this.” You sighed.

“No worries, it’s nice to have some fresh faces on board. Good luck with that cure.” She said with a grin as she disappeared back through the door.

You took a few deep breaths as you stared out to sea. You must have been very far out as you couldn’t see any land in the distance. You knew this should make you feel scared, but if anything you felt protected by all of the trillions of gallons water that surrounded you.

You suddenly felt overwhelmed by the guilt of being safely aboard the ship when so many millions were probably at risk of dying from a disease your compound had released.

You felt yourself begin to cry again, and you cursed yourself as you quickly dabbed away at the tears. You knew crying would do absolutely no good, you had to do everything in your power to come up with a cure.

“Rue?”

You spun around, the voice tearing you back to reality and making you jump.

Bradley stood in front of you, flight suit half unzipped, his black t-shirt revealing a toned body underneath.

“Bradley, sorry, I didn’t realise anyone was up here.” You sniffled.

He walked closer, a worried look etched on his face.

“You okay?” He asked, a hand moving to gently cup your face.

You nodded, leaning into his hand without really meaning to, “Yeah. Feeling a little overwhelmed today that’s all. Just needed some air.” You said as you bit your cheek.

“I’m sorry Rue. I know it’s a bit of a nightmare right now, but I’m sure things will go back to how they were before you know it.” Bradley smiled, and you couldn’t help but smile back at him.

Not exactly how they were before, you hoped, as you now couldn’t see yourself going back to work in that compound or any compound similar to it. It was more of a prison than a place of work.

“Yeah, fingers crossed.” You whispered.

After a beat of silence, Bradley looked around the flight deck, and grinned at you.

“Hey, you want a distraction?” He said, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

“Desperately.” You breathed.

Bradley took your hand and pulled you towards the hangar, “Ok let’s go.” He chuckled, “But don’t tell anyone or I’m dead meat.”

—————————————-

- Entry 4 Here -

I don’t have a Taglist for this series but I will be updating my Masterlist as I go 💛

#robert bob floyd x reader #robert bob floyd #bob floyd fanfiction #bob floyd imagine #bob floyd x reader #bob floyd fic #bob floyd #bob floyd x you #robert floyd x you #robert floyd x reader #robert floyd #top gun bob #top gun rooster #top gun #top gun fanfiction #top gun maverick #top gun maverick fanfiction #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #rooster top gun #bradley bradshaw fic #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw #miles teller #miles teller x reader #lewis pullman fanfic #lewis pullman x reader #lewis pullman #calvin evans #apocalypse

[lyranova]

Hello, congratulations on 900 followers❤️

Can I pls request for Fuegoleon x reader with fairy tale au? Omg omg imagine a little mermaid au!!! Where Fuegoleon is a prince and reader is an ethereally beautiful mermaid in love with him pls!✨❤️

Hiya anon! Thank you so much! So, the Little Mermaid movie AU is…pretty heavily saturated by a different ship so I decided to try and come up with something original as I didn’t want to accidentally get characterizations mixed up and such. Fue will still be a prince and reader a mermaid, but in an original setting. But I still hope you enjoy 🥰!

Taglist: @thoughtfullyrainynightmare

Word Count: 657

Warnings: None

————

“ Well, if it isn’t the prince again,” You called playfully as you watched him walk along the dock towards you. “ Finally decided to join me?”

Fuegoleon Vermillion, the Prince of Clover, chuckled and shook his head as he reached the end of the dock.

“ Not today I’m afraid,” He said as he sat down. “ I have a meeting I need to attend in about an hour.”

You pouted a bit, but nodded understandingly.

“ I understand, I have to attend meetings too sometimes,” You said softly, and that made him tilt his head a bit.

“ I didn’t think Merpeople had meetings.” He muttered in slight confusion, and you couldn’t help but giggle.

“ Well, we do,” You told him with a chuckle. “ After all; the only difference between us are legs and fins.”

Fuegoleon nodded slowly. The more you told him about the underwater kingdom and its people, the more he started to realize that there really was very little that was different between you.

“ Also that you can breathe and speak underwater, while we humans cannot.” He pointed out, and you blinked in surprise before nodding.

“ Fair point.”

You placed your arms on the wooden dock and hoisted yourself up and out of the water to sit beside him.

“ What’re you doing?” He asked in surprise as he moved over to give you some room, you turned towards him and tilted your head.

“ Since you can’t go swimming with me today, I thought I would come up here and join you.” You explained as though it were obvious.

“ Are you sure that’s wise? What if your gills dry out?” He asked, his voice full of concern as he turned to fully face you.

You shook your head.

“ They won’t,” You told him softly. “ And if they do then I can easily jump back into the water.”

You could see the clear concern on his face as he looked at you; and a gentle smile worked its way onto your face as you reached out and gently cupped his face, making him blink in surprise.

“ I’m glad that you worry about it; but I’ll be fine.”

He sighed as his eyes closed while leaning into your touch.

“ I know, I know,” He began softly as he slowly opened his eyes. “ It’s just…everytime I see you out of water I remember what happened that day and I…become anxious.”

You nodded slowly as you recalled the day that he found you wrapped up in a fisherman's net, barely clinging to life on the shore…

“ I know, and if our roles were reversed I would feel the same as you,” You told him as your thumb gently caressed his cheek. “ but I’m fine now, you got there in time to save me.”

“ But what if I hadn’t?”

“ But you did.”

Fuegoleon chuckled as he saw a stern yet fierce look in your eye that told him this was not up for debate any more. You were fine, alive, and safe. So while worrying about you was okay, he shouldn’t overdo it.

Eventually he sighed in defeat.

“ Alright, you win.” He told you, and you chuckled.

“ Don’t I always?” You asked teasingly before a leather bound book sitting beside him caught your eye. “ Is that a new book?”

“ It is,” Fuegoleon began as he reached out towards it. “ I saw it in the bookshop today and I thought you might like it.”

You tilted your head curiously.

“ Oh? And what is it about?” You asked and leaned over to look at the cover.

Fuegoleon chuckled.

“ It’s about a mermaid who fell in love with a human.” He told you softly, his purple eyes glancing over at you.

You smiled warmly.

“ Is that so?” You questioned with a hum. “ How will it end, I wonder?” You looked over at him, your gaze warm, affectionate, and playful.

The look in them was mirrored to perfection in Fuegoleon’s eyes.

“ There’s only one way to find out.”

————

Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you all have a good day~!

#asks #anon🌟 #black clover #black clover x reader #black clover x y/n #black clover fanfiction #fuegoleon x reader #fuegoleon vermillion #black clover fuegoleon #900 follower event #black clover au

[streamafterlaughter]

New Kid

gif credit

Chapter IV: The Freaks

MASTERLIST || chapter III || playlist

summary: It’s the day after your run in with Jason, and you fill your Saturday hanging out with the Hellfire Club… and the thought of Eddie joining you for family dinner.

tags: eddie munson x reader, nb!gn!reader, angst, fluff, teasing, flirty eddie, mutual pining, keep forgetting to mention reader is 18-19 (we don’t know really but they’re legal)

a/n: i hope the three ppl reading are enjoying it! i’m having a lot of fun writing it, and will continue writing it until my obsession dies probably. Disclaimer: I do not give permission to have my work reposted on other sites. Reblogs are more than welcome, but please inform me if you find my work elsewhere unless otherwise stated.

Eddie’s POV

Eddie wakes up first, to you in his arms, your head on his chest fast asleep. He takes you in, your face calm, a drastic contrast to this morning’s episode. He takes in your scent, a mixture of weed and his own shampoo from your shower, and he lets himself swim in it for a minute. He doesn’t want to, but he eventually shifts under your weight, moving slowly so as not to wake you up. The TV is still on, the screen buzzing with black and white static. You stretch as Eddie rises to his feet, letting out a massive yawn. “Good morning, sunshine.” You say groggily, squinting in the light as you look up at him.

Eddie can’t help but smile looking at you, wearing his t-shirt and tucked under his comforter on the floor. “Good morning, beautiful.” He says it so naturally, and you can’t stop the elated smile from spreading across your face. Eddie glances at the clock on the stove, reading 12:30PM. “Well, I hope you feel rested. We slept all morning.”

“I think I do.” You pause, and then remember, “Oh fuck. I need to call my parents!” You scramble to your feet, Eddie’s shirt riding up your back leaving your underwear exposed. Eddie looks away quickly, busying himself by looking in the fridge while you fix yourself. You rush to the phone on the wall, dialing your new home from memory.

Your mom picks up immediately. “Y/N! Where have you been?! I know it’s a weekend, but you told me you’d call if you stayed out!” She sounds like she hasn’t slept, and the guilt washes over you.

“I’m so sorry, Mama,” you use the cadence you used to as a child. “I’m okay. The party was fun, but we had a little run in with some guys from school. I stayed at a friend’s, I’ll be home later today. Tell Dad I love him.” Eddie’s heart stutters when you call him a friend, wondering if there’s a better term for what you two seem to be.

“Okay, thank you for calling. I’m glad you’re alright, but please don’t scare us like that again.”

“I won’t, I promise.” You hang up the phone, and walk to find Eddie in the kitchen, pouring two glasses of orange juice.

“Your parents okay?” He asks as you walk in. You wrap your arms around him from behind, resting your head between his shoulder blades. “They’re okay, definitely a little pissed at me, rightfully. Thank you.”

“Thank me? For what?”

“For last night. I’m sorry about the episode, really. I can’t imagine how badly I must have freaked you out. And for letting me stay in the first place. For comforting me. I felt safe. I feel safe with you.”

Eddie turns around and wraps his arms around your waist while you hug him closely. “Stop apologizing. You can always stay here. Seriously, though I may not agree that hanging out with me is the safest thing for you, I’d be happy to have you here.”

—

Your POV

You stay like that for a while, wrapped in each other’s arms, his head resting on top of yours. “I have never cared about what other people think is ‘best’ for me, I'm not about to start now.” Your response is muffled by his shirt, and you feel his grip on you tighten. You pull your head back and look up at him. “I’m gonna go smoke a butt real quick, care to join?” Eddie nods, grabbing his pack of cigarettes from on top of the microwave. He pulls one out and hands it to you, then another for himself, and follows you out the door.

You both exit onto the front porch, greeted by a middle aged man with graying hair. “Oh, hey Ed, I didn’t see your van. I didn’t think you were home. Hello,” he greets you, “I’m Wayne, Eddie’s uncle.”

“I’m Y/N.” You reach for his extended hand and shake it briefly.

“You’re Y/N! Nice to meet you, Eddie’s told me so much—“ Wayne stops short, making eye contact with his nephew. You turn to look at Eddie, who’s doing the “stop it” gesture, a hand slicing across his throat. “Well anyway, nice to meet you. Let me know if you kids need anything, I’ll be sleeping inside.” He walks by you, and you give him a small wave goodbye.

“You talk about me to your uncle?” You ask, a shit eating smirk on your face.

“You caught that, huh? Yeah, a little bit. He likes to know what’s going on with me.” Eddie shrugs, bringing his cigarette to his lips. “So, I have to get my van at Gareth’s, if you’re interested in a walk.”

You nod, eager to spend as much time with Eddie outside of school as possible. “Can we stop at my place? I have to change.” You look down at yourself, legs exposed, butt barely covered by Eddie’s t-shirt.

—

The walk from Eddie’s trailer to your house is quick. You’re wearing your pants from last night that are still covered in dirt, Eddie’s shirt, his jacket, and a knit hat he said you could keep. You smell more like him than yourself, his shampoo wafting from your hair in the wind. The two of you stop at your door. “I can wait out here.” Eddie offers as you pull your key from your belt loop.

“Oh please, my parents are harmless and I just met your uncle in my underwear.” He laughs with you, and follows you inside.

“Hi, Dad. This is Eddie, from school.” Your dad looks up from his book, and his face goes from neutral to ecstatic. “Is this the friend you spent the night with?” He teases, rising from his chair at the dining table to greet you both.

“Yeah, he let me crash. Don’t worry though, he was a perfect gentleman.”

Your father extends a hand to Eddie. “I’m David, wonderful to meet you, Eddie!”

Eddie shakes his hand briefly. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

“Mom’s out grocery shopping, but there are snacks in the fridge. Are you staying here?” Your dad asks you, taking your appearance in.

“No, we have some errands to run actually, I'm here to change.” You gesture to your muddy pants.

“Okay! Well, we’re making lasagna for dinner. Eddie, you’re more than welcome to join us.” He sends a wink in your direction.

“It’s a date!” Eddie responds before you can cut in, and you bite your lip to hide your excitement.

“Fantastic! I’ll see you guys later. Be good!” He returns to his chair, and you make your way upstairs.

—

Eddie’s POV

“You sure you don’t mind me coming in?” Eddie asks as you reach the top of the stairs. He doesn’t want to pry into your personal effects so soon, despite wanting so badly to know you better.

“Nah, I’ve got nothing interesting hiding in here.” You open your door, letting Eddie in first.

He walks in front of you, taking everything in as he walks along the perimeter. The dull white walls are accented with a pink trim, and covered in movie posters of Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday The 13th, and Naked Vengeance, along with tour posters from Joan Jett, Blondie, and Bad Brains. He migrates to the shelf next to your unmade bed, investigating your record collection closely. On your bedside table sits a diary he’s tempted by, and a worm copy of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar.

“You have a lot of good stuff here.” He pulls out your copy of Autoamerican. “Blondie?” He already knows you’re a fan, having seen the Debbie Harry pin on your backpack in English yesterday.

“I love Blondie!” You walk to him and snatch the record from his hands. “And I’m not ashamed of it.” You kid, putting the record back in its place.

Eddie sits on your bed, his back turned. “You can change, I promise I won’t look.” He covers his eyes as if to make his point.

You roll your eyes. “You’ve seen me without pants already, Munson. And anyway, I have a bathroom..” He still doesn’t turn around, so you change from your dirty jeans into a long black skirt, keeping Eddie’s shirt over top. “Alright, I’m decent.”

Eddie pivots toward you, peeking through his fingers before removing his hands from his face. “You’re still wearing my shirt.”

“I told you, I’m keeping it.” You smile, and he doesn’t push the subject. He’d let you have all the clothes off his back if you wanted. “Let’s go get your van, pretty boy.” You say, pulling on your boots and grabbing your jean jacket off the hook on your door.

Eddie follows, closing your door behind him, his heart practically in his throat after you call him that.

—

Your POV

“Bye, Dad!” You call, closing your front door behind you. You and Eddie continue down the walk way, and you find yourself reaching for his hand. He lets you take it, entwining your fingers like it’s the most natural act in the world.

“I never actually got to tell you,” you start once you’ve reached the street, “You’re incredibly talented. I'd go as far as to say you guys have a shot at really making it.”

Eddie snorts in response. “I appreciate that, seriously. I don’t know if that’s our end goal though.”

“Why not? It’ll get you out of this shithole.”

“Maybe I like this shithole.”

It’s your turn to laugh. “Why would you? What do you have for yourself here?”

Eddie stops walking, causing you to stumble as you come to a halt. “I have you, don’t I?”

You feel your face blush, unsure how to respond. Of course, he has you. But you’d go anywhere with him, regardless of the consequences. “I’m sorry,” he says, breaking your train of thought. “I don’t mean to assume.”

“It’s okay. You do have me.” You squeeze his band, and he squeezes yours back.

—-

Eddie’s POV

“Oh, no.” The two of you reach Gareth’s house, his car one of three still parked in front of it. “What did they do to you?!” Eddie rushes to his van, which is now covered in spray paint that reads “THE FREAK LIVES HERE.” in angry red spray paint. Eddie groans, scratching at the paint to no avail.

“It looks kinda sick.” You say from behind him.

“What?”

“I dunno, it’s kinda badass. Something you can kinda lay claim on, embrace maybe.” You shrug, approaching the van. “Add some nice big flames and she’ll be good as new.”

Eddie thinks about it. Painting the van over would cost too much, and there’s no way one car wash would get it all off. “Maybe you’re right.” He says finally, patting the side of the car. He opens the passenger door for you, and you hop in as he climbs into the driver seat. “Let’s just hope they didn’t siphon my gas too.” He turns the key that had been abandoned in the ignition. To both of your relief, the car starts with a mechanical groan. “There she is!” Eddie exclaims as the radio, cranked to full volume, blasts through his tinny speakers. “I wanna show you something.” Eddie puts the car in drive, and peels out of Gareth’s driveway.

—

Your POV

You end up at a nice house about ten minutes away. Eddie opens your door for you, helping you down from the van. “What I’m about to show you is the most important part of me. I totally understand if it makes you flee and never come back, but for some reason I don’t think you’re gonna do that.” Eddie raps on the front door, and you’re greeted by a lanky kid with wild black hair, a strong jaw, and bony knees. “Holy shit, Y/N! Uh. I mean. Hey, guys! You’re early.”

What the fuck. “Uh, hey.” Why does this child know your name?

“We were in the neighborhood, Mike,” Eddie is speaking through clenched teeth. “this is—Y/N. Y/N, Mike Wheeler.” Wheeler. OH! “Are you Nancy’s brother?” You ask, remembering something Nancy had said last night about her brother starting high school this year. Mike nods, welcoming you into his house. “Game’s not set up yet, but we have snacks downstairs.” Mike gestures to the kitchen, where a little blonde girl in pigtails scribbles in a coloring book. “Holly, say hi to our guests.”

“Hi to our guests!” The girl, Holly to be reasonably assumed, responds giggling. Mike rolls his eyes, opening the door to his basement and heading down.

“Welcome to Hellfire.” Eddie gestures to the basement, a room with a low ceiling held up by a few wooden beams. In the center of the room sys a table cluttered with Dungeons and Dragons figures, character sheets, and dice, surrounded by some old couches. “We usually play at school, but with vacation coming up we’ve started our winter campaign down here. Is it totally lame or what?”

You shake your head, approaching the table. You take in the display of creativity in front of you. “Did you do all this?” You ask, turning back to Eddie. Mike chimes in, “He’s one of the best Dungeon Masters I’ve ever played with. Next to my friend, Will.” Will Byers. You’d heard that name whispered in the halls, attached to phrases like Zombie Boy, and slurs you’d rather not repeat. “You gonna play with us?”

You look at Mike, then at Eddie with the same question in your eyes. “We’d love to have you.” He says, so you agree. You’ll play your first game of DnD since you were thirteen.

—

Eddie’s POV

His heart races when you nod your head, agreeing to play with Hellfire. He hasn’t expected you to even consider it, but he can’t help being taken with your excitement. He watches as you grab a blank character sheet, scrawling your character stats from memory as you wait for the rest of the club to show up. He tries looking over your shoulder, but you catch him and cover the sheet with your hand. “No peeking!”

“Hey,” Mike walks up to Eddie, pulling him out of your earshot. “What is going on with you guys?” He whispers, a glow of teenage boy curiosity on his face.

“If you must know, which you mustn’t, nothing. Nothing is going on. We had a bad night, we’re making up for it.”

“The party go south?” Mike frowns, watching Eddie consider what was appropriate to share with a fifteen year old.

“Yeah, you could say that. We’re okay, though.”

“Your eye says otherwise.”

Eddie gives Mike a playful shove, and Mike responds with a weak punch to Eddie’s shoulder.

—

Your POV

In about an hour, the doorbell rings and a cacophony of footsteps tread from the front door to the basement. The curly haired boy from Eddie’s lunch table leads the group, followed by a tall boy with a flat top, and Gareth, Jeff, and the third guy from Corroded Coffin. Behind all of them, a walkman clasped to her jeans and headphones stuck in her ears, is a young red headed girl wearing a scowl on her face. When she looks at you, her face twists into a confused glare.

“Welcome, players!” Eddie exclaims from behind you. “And Max,” he gestures to the redhead. “Today we have a very special addition to our team. I’d like you all to welcome Y/N.” He extends a hand to you, queueing you to continue. “Hi, everyone. I’m Y/N. Level three chaotic neutral elf.”

“Eddie! Is this the person you keep talking about?” The question comes from the curly headed boy, who is immediately met with a smack upside the head from Mike. You stretch your face, trying not to smile at the display of immaturity in front of you. You’re flattered, in fact, to learn that you’ve become a household name.

“Ow! What?!”

“Don’t embarrass him, he’ll make the campaign even more impossible.”

“Whatever. I’m Dustin,” he holds his hand out and you shake it firmly. “This is Lucas,” he gestures to the boy with the flat top, “And I assume you know Gareth, Jeff, and Roger.” He gestures to the members of Corroded Coffin. “We’re happy to have you. This asshole makes these campaigns almost impossible.” Dustin sets his binder down on the crowded table. “You ready to kick some ass?”

You nod, taking a seat next to Eddie, who’s at the head of the table behind his binder.

—

Eddie’s POV

“To the death!” The chanting is loud and clear, they’ve made their choices. Eddie’s eyes are glued to you almost hungrily as you stand taking your place at the end of the table. You hold the die to Dustin, who gives it a stiff blow for good luck. You shake the D20, then release it across the board. You cover your face with your hands, not ready to look at your roll. Mike, Dustin, and everyone else lean further in, even Max is on her feet.

This whole time, Eddie’s staring at you. He watches your every move, memorizing the way you pull your hair back when you’re stressed, or clench your left fist when you’re angry, bite your lip when you’re scared or shy. He’s very much infatuated, unable to deny that any longer.

You look up from the D20, meeting his gaze, and keep your eyes on him as you shout, “CRIT HIT, BABY!” Slapping the hands of your teammates. They crowd around you, lifting you up with them as they jump, arms flailing to high five and hug each other.

“That’s why we play!” Eddie slaps his hands together. Even though he loves being the asshole with impossible campaigns, he prefers watching his friends celebrate a well earned victory. Of course, it’s a small one, the campaign has only just begun. This boss was awfully weak compared to the ones he’s cooking up for spring. But it’s a victory nonetheless.

He’s especially proud of you, someone that hasn’t played in six years, rolling 20 your first time back. The panic in his chest returns when he realizes what he’s starting to feel. It’s been four days, he needs to chill out.

—

Your POV

Your heart bangs against your chest as you catch your breath. You had so dearly missed the feeling of a campaign well run. It feels incredible to be surrounded by people like you, and you let yourself find comfort in Hellfire.

You pull yourself from the rest of the boys, making your way over to your new Dungeon Master.

“Good game,” You hold your hand out, and Eddie shakes it stiffly, as if you two had never met. “Great game. One of the best.” He brings your hand up to his mouth, kissing the bruises on your knuckles. You could melt, right there, like the Wicked Witch of the (West? East? You never remember which one was crushed by the house and which one melted), and you’d accept your fate. “C’mon, let’s get outta here. I hear there’s lasagna somewhere?”

He holds his arm out for you, and you link yours around it as you make your way to Eddie’s freak mobile. Eddie opens the door for you, but before you step up, you lift yourself onto your toes, and place a quick kiss on his cheek. “Unbelievable.” You whisper.

“What is?”

“Just. You.” You gesture less than gracefully. “You’re so kind. It makes me so sad to watch how people treat you. Everyone that knows you, loves you. It’s incredible.” You don’t know why this is spilling out of you, possibly the adrenaline from the campaign win.

“Everyone, huh?” He deadpans, and you frown. “Jason and his bitches don’t count. They’re not worth it.”

Eddie shrugs. “No, you’re right. Still, though, I can’t say it doesn’t suck to get jumped with precious cargo.”

“Your precious cargo is in good hands.” You desperately want to kiss him for real. Something in you wants him to make the first move, though. Fear of rejection has always gnawed at you, and unfortunately this circumstance is no different.

Eddie does not sweep you up in a passionate cheesy romantic kiss only meant for blockbuster movies and your mom’s dirty romance novels, though, to your absolute devastation. So you climb into the van, fasten your seatbelt, and begin digging through Eddie’s tapes.

—

Eddie’s POV

Could I have kissed them? Shit. Shit! Eddie punches the air on his way around the van, taking a deep, frustrated breath before entering. When the engine starts, the speakers blare, and it takes a second for Eddie to gather what’s happening.

You're gonna say you miss me

And you're gonna say you'll kiss me

And you're gonna say you love me

'Cause I'm gonna love you too

I don't care what you told me

You're gonna say you'll hold me

And you're gonna say you love me

'Cause I'm gonna love you too

Eddie turns to you, and you just shrug. You shrug! “You have a Blondie tape in your van.”

“I absolutely do not.”

“My Blondie tape is resting securely at the bottom of my backpack, in my room, at home. This one was in the glove compartment. You like Blondie!” You accuse, a finger jutting out to point right between his eyes. Eddie grabs your wrist suddenly, keeping his eyes locked with yours. “Don’t tell anyone, I have a reputation to keep.”

You cackle, and he joins you, his heart warming with the sound of your laugh. You have no idea he bought that tape when he saw the Blondie pin on your backpack. He’s got it bad.

—

Your POV

You absolutely cannot believe he didn’t say anything about the song you chose. Nothing! I’m Gonna Love You Too?! One of the least subtle love songs of the century?! Unbelievable, how dense some people are. So why do you find it so fucking cute?

The two of you continue jamming to Blondie, and Eddie sings every word until you reach your house, entering to the smell of sauce cooking on the stove. In the den, you spot your grandmother, and yank Eddie out of her sight line. “Shit.”

“Should I be concerned?”

“No! No, I’m sorry. That's my grandmother. I don’t know why they didn’t tell me she was coming, I wouldn’t subject you to her on purpose. Stay right here.” You leave him behind the doorway, entering the kitchen to pull your dad aside. “What the hell is Grammy doing here?”

“I’m so sorry, kid, I had no idea. She just showed up.” Your mom joins you two, huddling in a corner. “If it makes you feel better, she’s only staying for dinner.” She offers, and it does little to calm your nerves.

“Eddie doesn’t have anything to wear, I don’t want her making more comments about him than I already know she will.”

“Let him borrow some of my work clothes, you guys can go upstairs and change.”

“Alright. You owe me, though.”

“Trust me, I know!” He calls to your back, and you snatch Eddie by his arm and drag him upstairs. In your parents room, you pick out a pair of black dress pants and a long sleeve blue button down shirt. “I’m so sorry about this, my grandmother’s crazy. Put these on.” You toss him the clothes, then go digging in your own closet for your emergency Grammy Visit dress.

“Are you sure I can stay?”

“Please, you’re the one person I want to be here with right now. Unless you wanna go, then please by all means. I would leave too, if I could”

“Oh, hell no. I’ll be right back.” He makes his way into your bathroom, and you change out of your clothes into a short sleeve dress that falls just above your knees, exchange the hoop in your nose for a diamond stud, and swap the spikes in your ears for small silver hoops. Your hair is harder to tame, but you flatten it with an iron, tucking the flyaways behind your ears. You knock on your bathroom door, and Eddie pulls it open forcefully. “Tada.” As much as you prefer his grungy look, he cleans up quite nicely. The clothes are almost perfect, a little loose around his arms and legs, but overall he looks like a respectable young man.

“God, we look lame.” You laugh, and Eddie joins you. ”Here, turn around.” You take an elastic off your wrist, tying Eddie’s hair in a low ponytail. “She’ll still give you shit, but at least we can say we tried.” You shrug, dropping your hands back to your sides.

“Pretty dress.” Eddie chuckles at your clear discomfort. “You somehow manage to pull this look off just as well as your preferred one.” He crosses his arms over his chest, looking you up and down, and you squirm under his stare.

—

Eddie’s POV

He can’t help it, he is absolutely checking you out in that dress. It’s a good dress, fitting you just right. It definitely isn’t your style, a flowy, lily patterned mid length, falling right above your knees, exposing your bruised and scratched up legs. But you’re still as breathtaking as he finds you in your everyday clothes.

You catch him staring, and he averts his eyes. “Shall we?” You ask, opening the bedroom door for him.

“Anything for lasagna!”

The two of you make your way to the small dining room, Eddie’s place set up next to yours. You walk to your grandmother, arm hooked around Eddie’s. “Hi, Gram! Nice to see you. This is my friend, Eddie.” Eddie isn’t sure what he’s expecting, but hearing you call him a friend stings a little. He guesses you can’t really say “Hey, Gram, this is the guy I got beat up with that also gave me drugs.”

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Eddie holds his hand out, and your grandmother gives it a stern shake. She’s a short, round woman, with a tuft of white hair on her head, and deeply set frown lines. “Hello, Eddie.” She says dryly, taking her seat next to your father.

“What brings you to Hawkins, Mom?” Your dad asks, cutting into his dinner.

“We’ll, I figured I’d check in, see how you’re getting along. Looks like I may have interrupted the move-in process.” She inspects the room, still cluttered with half empty boxes, bubble wrap, and a mess of different knick knacks sitting without a place.

“We’ve only been here four days, you know.” David jokes with his mother, who only rolls her eyes.

“Y/N, how is school going?” Eddie watches you as you respond, trying to read your mood.

“It’s okay, classes are pretty easy so far.” You're being vague, leaving even Eddie to wonder if what you say is true.

“And how did you meet Eddie here?”

“We’re in English together, he was the only one to introduce himself to me.” You meet his eyes, giving him a gentle smile that he returns.

“This man is in high school?!” Grammy barks, causing you to jump in your seat. He doesn’t mind the outburst, he’s well aware old people don’t have the social filters to realize they’re being rude. Eddie looks from you to your grandmother, before volunteering. “I’ve been held back a few times.”

Grammy gives him a glare before turning to you. “Y/N, you can’t just hang around delinquents if you expect to make anything valuable of yourself.” Your grandmother points her fork at you as she says this. “Also, I can see those awful tattoos under his sleeve. You’re going to regret those when you’re older, you know.” She says in Eddie's direction before turning back to you. “What happened to you? You used to be such a beautiful, intelligent girl.” The old woman shakes her head, her eyes on her plate. Eddie is stunned into silence, hearing you referred to as a girl for the first time since meeting you. “You should cut your hair, son.” She adds, flinging her knife in his direction.

You let loose a long, angry growl from the depths of your throat. This has been the longest two days of your life, and you are not in the mood to play passive aggressive Grammy games right now. “You know what, Grandmother? I couldn't care less for what you have to say about Eddie, or about me for that matter. He is the nicest person I’ve ever had the pleasure of coming into contact with, and you wouldn’t know what nice was if it slapped you in the face!” You shove yourself from the table, throwing down your silverware before stomping up to your room, the door slamming behind you. Eddie looks from your empty seat, to your grandmother, to your parents who are silent, completely dumbfounded.

“I’m gonna…” He trails off, excusing himself from the table to follow you upstairs.

—

Your POV

There’s a knock on your door. You figure it’s Eddie. Though he’s the only one you can see yourself confiding in right now, you don’t want to face him. He wasn't supposed to see you like that, weak against the words of your elder. “Go away!” You shout.

“Stop with the melodramatics.” Eddie opens the door despite your warning, softly closing it behind him. You stuff your face into your pillow, refusing to look at him, but you feel your bed shake as he flops down next to you. “It wasn’t that bad.” Eddie settles a hand on your back, and you feel yourself relax. You roll onto your side to look at him, propped on his elbow, patiently waiting for you to speak.

“It would’ve gotten worse. You’re lucky she didn’t mention the black eye.”

“What’s with that, by the way? Your parents didn’t say anything either.”

“My dad had a rough childhood. He did a lot worse than I have, and he still survived.” You shrug.

“Would that have anything to do with the wretched woman out there?”

He manages to coax a grin from you. “Yeah, I guess it might. But she did the whole homemaker, ‘obey the husband’ thing. She thinks it works for everyone. She gave my dad hell when he started dating my mom. Thinks she made him a satanist.” You roll your eyes.

—

Eddie’s POV

He’s focused on your every word, grateful to hear you talk so comfortably to him about your family. “My mom was a huge hippie, I guess. She took my dad to Woodstock for their anniversary. They never told me what to wear, who to hang out with. Every time my grandmother visits I’m reminded how good I have it. I feel kind of guilty, I guess?” You pause, and Eddie waits, showing you he's listening with every fiber of his being. “No matter how much they show me they love me, there are always going to be those who don’t. Who refuse to. Usually they’re pretty vocal about it, too. None of this is new to you, obviously. I'm preaching to the choir here.”

“You left the biggest part out, though.” Eddie finally gains the courage to respond. You raise an eyebrow, so he explains, “You're still strong enough to do it. To wear, listen to, talk to whomever the fuck you feel like, despite knowing people are gonna hate you for it. I guess we both do.” He looks down at the two of you, very out of place in your dinner garb. “Except for right now, apparently.”

There’s a knock at the door then. “Hey, guys.” Your mother peeks her head in the room, making sure the two of you are decent, and Eddie can’t help but smile at her kindness. “Grammy’s gone, you two are free to go, stay, whatever you want. Dinner’s in the fridge for later. Your father and I are going out for some much needed drinks.”

“Okay, Mom. Thank you, drive safe, call me if you need a ride home.”

“Of course, sweet pea. Eddie, we’re so sorry for tonight, we’d love to have you again, sans the decrepit grandmother. It’s been lovely to meet one of Y/N’s friends.”

“No worries, ma’am, Thank you for having me. Have a good night.” She gives you both a small wave before closing the door again.

“I should probably get going.” Eddie suggests, rising to his feet. He doesn’t want to. He wants to make sure you sleep tonight, free of nightmares, screaming, and whatever else haunts your brain. But he can’t keep doing this to himself. You barely know each other, and he doesn’t trust that fact enough to slow him down. He’s about to open your bedroom door again when he hears you.

“Please don’t go.” He’s ninety percent sure it’s what you say, but it’s muffled by your pillow. He turns around to see you on your stomach, hands by your side, a kind of dead man’s float pose. He’s still looking at you as you push your head off the bed, craning your neck to see if he’s left.

“You should sleep.” He frowns, aching to crawl back into your bed, wrap his arms around your waist, feel your breathing even out as you fall into a deep, hopefully peaceful sleep. There is no appeal to leaving you right now.

“That’s the plan.” You say, and Eddie swears he can hear your disappointment.

Fuck it.

—

Your POV

Eddie turns on his heel, entering your bathroom instead of exiting. Mere moments later, He emerges, wearing only his boxers and his Metallica shirt that you’d left on the bathroom floor.

“Hey! You robbed me!”

“It’s my shirt!” Eddie flings himself on top of you, pinning you to the bed with his weight. You screech with laughter as you wriggle under him, struggling to get the upper hand. You stop moving after minutes of no progress made, the abrupt pause causing your face to line up with Eddie’s above you, inches away.

“Are you gonna let me change out of this piece of shit?” You say between heavy breaths, the air from your mouth moving the hair around Eddie’s face.

“I dunno, you look kinda cute like this.”

You know he doesn’t mean to, but the comment hurts your feelings. You’re used to people saying you’d be prettier if you’d just wear a dress, wear a little makeup, stop chopping your hair off. You never expected to hear anything like that from Eddie.

Eddie senses your change in demeanor, and doesn’t move as you more forcefully shove at him, a real attempt to get away from him.

“Hey, hold on, I didn’t mean that. I mean, of course I meant it, you look good! But you always look good. I don’t prefer this, if that’s what you’re thinking. Not that it matters what I prefer, you can obviously do whatever you want, but-“

“Oh my god can you just shut the fuck up for a second?” You fling your arms around Eddie’s neck, bringing his face down into the pillow next to you. You could have kissed him, pulled his face into yours instead. Something inside of you holds you back, afraid to scare Eddie away. You keep your arms wrapped around his neck as he turns his face to the side to look at you. “There are better ways to get me to stop talking, y’know.”

“I can’t wait to try them all.” You joke, finally sliding out from under him, making your way to the bathroom to change.

chapter V

tag list @beebeerockknot @children-of-the-grave @five-bi-five || send a message to be added!🫶

#eddie munson fan fiction #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #stranger things #stranger things fan fiction #st4 #new kid fic #willow writes sins #dustin henderson #mike wheeler #lucas sinclair

[thearchivistsjournal]

Scattered Pages: Day 554,

It’s the Solstice once again.  I should probably head out already, but I’m taking a moment to drag out this extra little bit of quiet time to myself.  It feels significant somehow that this will be my first solstice fully healthy and… well, “present” let us say.  I’ve been looking forward to this for the past couple of weeks about as much as I have finally being at the library for the last day of school for the season.

But I suppose I should get moving before Cass shows up on my doorstep wondering what’s keeping me.

*******

Taking a brief breather in an empty-for-the-moment room at Cass’s family’s house.  It’s been a good day, but this many people in an enclosed space for hours does still get to be a bit much at times.  Funny, you’d think I’d be more used to it with teaching the kids, but it’s not quite the same.

I should keep this aside short though, seeing as I’m expected to be helping with dinner preparations.

“You’re not a guest, you’re family.  And family helps cook.”

I almost cried when Antigone said that a couple hours ago, shoved a knife in my hand, and set me to chopping vegetables.  At least I don’t think she noticed.  I can just imagine her voice teasing me about vegetable chopping not being that bad a chore.  Cass’s voice too.  I’m starting to see where she gets it from.

Yeah, I really better stop before I get choked up all over again.

Family…

*******

I really should be sleeping right now, but I once again made the mistake of taking Antigone up on her offer of tea.  Not that it was that much of a mistake.  It was pleasant staying up and chatting with her while everyone else was winding down for the night.  I just hope I don’t end up sleeping in late enough to interfere with tomorrow’s plans as a result.

Even with the tea though, I’m finding myself pleasantly exhausted.  I was up early enough that I actually beat Norman and Marva to the family home.  Upon arrival I was put to work assisting with the dinner preparations.  Just as much as Antigone’s words I think it was that act of going through the motions of helping with a big family holiday meal that really got to me emotionally.  I’ve long since resigned myself to never being able to recall any specific or personal details of my past life, but this seemed achingly familiar.  At the time I just made myself focus on that sense of belonging that the ritual brought me and kept my mind focused on the series of small tasks set before me and the swirling filial banter that I’ve slowly learned to at least partially keep up with, but now, alone in my home once more waiting for sleep to catch up and take me, I’m feeling a nostalgic pang of loss that I’ve rarely felt before.

I’ve often gotten the impression that whatever relationship it was the past me had with my past family, it was a good one.  Close and loving.  Now I’m more sure of it than ever.  Standing there in the kitchen was the closest I think I’ll ever come to a real memory of my past life.  And now I find myself torn between smiling at the joy of that memory and weeping for its loss.

Maybe I’m just growing maudlin with the late hour though.  Still, I don’t think that makes it any less real.  Perhaps I’ll talk to Lin and Maiko about it tomorrow.  I like to think they’d understand.  A little at least.

But back to today (probably technically yesterday by now if I’m being honest with myself).  Norman and Marva arrived less than an hour after I did.  I did eventually admit to curiosity about them spending solstice with Marva’s family and they told me they’d spent the morning with them already but would probably spend the next solstice dinner or two with them instead.

The rest of the morning and the early afternoon was a whirlwind of meal prep activity.  It seems the family goes for a bigger, more elaborate meal when it’s hosted here instead of in the Village proper.  It was actually the break in tasks while most of the food was in some state of setting, rising, cooking, or boiling that made me start feeling the need for the break I took to write my prior entry.  I’ve come to realize about myself that without specific tasks in front of me to focus on I get overwhelmed more quickly and that which I’d managed to tune out before catches back up with me.  I must have sequestered myself for longer than I meant to though, with the teasing from Cass and Manfred I got asking if I fell asleep in the chair again.  I really will never live that first visit down.

Dinner itself was good, if earlier to start than I expected, but it was spread out over a long period and after I helped pitch in with the cleanup we moved to a fire pit out back behind the house for drinks and dessert.  And stories.  Tellings from Cass and myself of course (I swear she’s been practicing despite the change in apprenticeship), but also more intimate family stories.  Childhood anecdotes and doings of ancestors.  Folklore passed down.  Tales of the Village and the island that never seem to end up in the archive.

Come to think of it, I think this was the most I’ve heard anyone other than Pat speak of the dead outside of funerals.  Was the last solstice dinner I attended like this and I was just too out of it from everything else that was going on at the time to notice?  Or is this a sign that I’m being treated as part of the family in a way I wasn’t before?

I’d dwell on it more, but I think I’m finally starting to crash following the tea’s wakefulness.  And I really should sleep seeing as I’ll be doing similar over again tomorrow.

#writing #original fiction #serial fiction #sliceoflife #Writeblr #daily writing #epistolary novel #writers on tumblr #WIP #creative writing #literature #prose #writers #web novel #novel #journal #isekai #epistolary #fantasy #slice of life #fiction #my writing #epilogue #Scattered Pages

[nuggets-and-french-fries]

I have a request for Jimmy Keene! What if the reader is his secret girlfriend. Since he is locked up she has to run his buisness for him?

Note: First and foremost, I just want to say that I know prisons would be a little more thorough with the searches they preform on any visitors coming to and from the facilities but this is an imagine and I wanted to think outside the box a little bit. 

That being said, thank you so much to the person that requested this. I hope that this matches what you had pictured your mind and I hope that it all makes sense.

I also want to note just how grateful I am for you all and your patience with me while writing the Jimmy Keene imagines.

I hope you all enjoy this particular imagine and I will see you soon with my next and final Jimmy imagine for now.

Enjoy!

Growing up, Sabrina Riley was your normal run of the mill kid. She loved playing in the mud, collecting frogs and having hot wheel car races around the house with her father when he was home. It was heaven for her. As she got older though, that relationship between her and her father dwindled when he eventually left Sabrina and her mother in favor of the woman four houses down. Since then Sabrina vowed that she’d never let a man get close to her again….until she started working as a bar tender at the grubbiest Kankakee pub you could think of.

Flashing forward two years, Sabrina was in a relationship with one Jimmy Keene. He had come into the bar she happened to be working at and his attempts at flirting with her went ignored which of course only made him try harder. Sabrina agreed to go out with him so that he’d stop, and she could get on with her shift.

Soon enough, all of that turned into her helping him with his dealings in the drug cartel. It wasn’t something she ever saw for her future but somehow, it gave her a thrill and she loved it. Dealing with the dicks though, that wasn’t the greatest.

Thankfully the couple had agreed to keep their relationship hidden from everyone because if people found out, they could and would use that as leverage against Jimmy and vice versa.

Just after Jimmy went to do a drug drop one day, he came home and sat Sabrina down and told her that he had a bad feeling. It wasn’t a feeling he always got but when he did get those said feelings, he knew to listen to them.

He made sure that Sabrina knew to carry on doing the dealings if he was ever caught and thrown in prison. Sabrina was reluctant at first but when she saw the sincerity in her boyfriend’s eyes that he needed her, she agreed to it.

That leads us to today.

“Bri, some old geezer wants to talk to ya.” Crystal said as she pointed over her shoulder lazily.

Sabrina looked over and saw a scruffy but frail looking old man sitting at one of the stools. She had never seen him before but figured that somehow, he knew Jimmy.

“What can I do ya for?” Sabrina asked, her southern drawl shining through.

The old man -Big Jim- looked up at her with a somewhat blank expression.

“M-m-my son said y-y-you could help?” He stuttered, pulling on Sabrina’s heartstrings a little bit.

“Son, eh?” Sabrina responded, leaning closer to the man so that their conversation was slightly more private.

The man nodded.

Sabrina smiled at him and nodded in return. She wanted to ask him more, but she knew that personal shit never got in the way of the side business she was currently running.

“How much you need?” She questioned, knowing exactly what he meant.

The man pulled a piece of paper out and with shaky hands, attempted to open it. Sabrina held her hand out when she saw him struggling. He handed it to her, and she read it.

‘Operation Black Bird’

The code words she and Jimmy came up with when she visited Jimmy in prison the first time. It meant that he was in trouble on the inside and needed help.

Her eyes scanned the rest of the words carefully before she looked up and glanced around the room.

“I’ll take care of this.” Sabrina said confidently and Big Jim nodded.

“T-thank you.” He muttered, pulling his lips into a tight line. Sabrina smiled a little and nodded.

“You’re welcome.” She replied.

She expected the man to make his leave, but he didn’t, he continued to sit there.

“Anything else you need?” She questioned. Big Jim lifted his good arm the best he could and pointed at her.

“My son was right, y-you are nice.” He told her, making Sabrina’s brows raise in attempt to not blush.

Sabrina desperately wanted to ask if Jimmy had said anything else and wanted to bombard the man with millions of other questions she could think of, but she knew better.

=

Days later, Sabrina and her fake baby bump successfully got through the high-tech security system at the prison Jimmy was currently at, trying to gain information from another inmate that had been suspected of doing the most heinous things you could think of doing to another human. The reason for the fake belly? Well, it was the only thing she could think of that would allow her to get in with the paraphernalia undetected. Of course she had a few other options such as taking a job at the prison, but she figured that it would take too long and with the urgency of Jimmy sending his father to her, she knew he required it now.

She managed to get everything to the person Jimmy told her about with no issue and she was glad for that but oh was she pissed at C.O Bryant.

Once the transaction had been made, Sabrina was given the all clear to go and see Jimmy.

Once in the visitors section, Bri sat down and waited for her man.

“What the fuck Bri.” Jimmy whispered as he hugged her, taking note of the bump between them.

To be fair, he had been in prison for a while and for all he knew, he could’ve knocked her up and not known it.

Sabrina stifled a laugh and gave him a quick kiss before they both sat down.

“Babe, relax. It’s not real.” She told Jimmy.

“Oh thank fuck.” He sighed. Sabrina smiled, she had to agree with him, she didn’t want to have kids; not yet anyway.

“So, is it done.” Jimmy asked, leaning forward.

“With the addition of a blow job, yep.” She said with a straight face. This caused Jimmy’s eyes to turn dark and his blood to boil.

“Jimmy, I’m kidding.” She said, laying her hand on his arm gently.

“That’s not funny Bri.” He said lowly. She knew how easy it was for her to get under his skin and she loved using it to her advantage.

Jimmy looked down at the table and rubbed his forehead. A clear indication that he was stressed.

“Hey, are you ok?” Sabrina asked, feeling worried for him.

Jimmy looked up at her.

“No Bri, I’m not.” He replied.

All Sabrina wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and hold him like she would in the privacy of their bedroom. She hated seeing him so distressed. It made her heart hurt.

“If I could switch places with you Jim, you know I would.” She told him calmly, but Jimmy snapped.

“Don’t you dare fucking say that.” He seethed, alerting some of the officers in the room.

Jimmy glanced at them before taking a deep breath.

“You are way too pure for this place.” He muttered, making Sabrina’s heart soar. She had never thought of herself that way but to know that someone did, made her happy beyond all comprehension.

“I don’t know about pure but thank you.” She replied with a warm smile. One Jimmy happily returned, not wanting her to worry anymore.

“When I get out, you and I are moving far from this place and starting over.” He said, taking hold of her hand before the officer closest to them could see.

“You mean it?” Sabrina asked, liking the sound of that.

“You bet, babes.” Jimmy said.

=

Sabrina went back home that night and smiled to herself as she pictured all the things she wanted to see and do with Jimmy by her side. The biggest thing she couldn’t wait for was no more code words for things, no more walking on eggshells and most importantly, no more Operation Black Bird.

 ===

#taronegerton #taron egerton blurb #taron egerton fanfiction #taron david egerton #taron egerton au #taronegertonsmut #taronegertonimagines #taronegertononeshot #taronegertonfanfic #taronegertonxreader #taronegertonxy/n #jimmy keene #jimmykeenimagines #jimmykeeneimagine #jimmykeenefluff #jimmykeenexreader #jimmykeenexy/n #bigjim #taronegertonfluff

[unboundpower]

You and Me - CH 2

More build up stuff. Eventually, I'll get to the real good stretch of the story, but for the sake of not sacrificing quality, I must be patient...

Writing this made me realize that Amita's brain lowkey short-circuits whenever she's around people she finds very aesthetically pleasing, but considering that (in present time) she thinks Vegito's the hottest person on Earth, it's not too relevant.

It was windier today, so much that a high wind alert was issued for the city and the surrounding area. However, it wouldn’t stop her from going out and visiting the farmer’s market again. Despite her previous trip, she hadn’t bought enough potatoes for dinner, but Amita honestly wasn’t annoyed by that. It just gave her another reason to go see Vegito.

Remembering where the stand was, she slowly made her way over, attempting to shield her eyes from whatever particles or debris the wind blew at her face all the while. When she finally reached the booth, she saw Vegito currently with another customer. Hanging back and waiting for her turn, her ears picked up on some of their conversation.

“He still hasn’t returned?” The elderly woman asked with an inquisitive, but vaguely sad, tone.

“No. Haven’t gotten any word.” Vegito responded back with that same kind of strained feel Amita recalled from their last interaction. She saw his eyes briefly dart away, falling upon her, before his gaze once again fell on the old woman. It was unsurprising that he has also been telling other customers -  presumably regulars of Goku like she was - that he was gone, but being reminded of Vegito’s somewhat odd behavior about it once again got her brow to quirk and gears to attempt to turn.

“Shame…oh well. Could you get into contact with him, and say that I wish him the best wherever he’s gone? I imagine I can speak for all the rest of his customers as well. Goku was such a lovely man.”

“…Yeah. I’ll…do that…”

Now she saw a more visible change to Vegito’s expression; something that felt like dejection. The woman seemed to miss it though, as she gathered her bag and left. The stand now being free, Amita approached and observed Vegito’s eyes close for a few seconds before opening. That saddened light was gone.

“Hey…Amita. What brings you by?”

“I forgot to buy some more produce the other day.” Though she was extremely curious, she saw it best to not pry about what she had witnessed. It was all too possible she was overthinking things, and Vegito probably didn’t know anything about Goku’s sudden – and apparently indefinite – disappearance.

Even if he did, it wasn’t her place to question him about it. It could be a family matter that’s far too personal to share.

“Such as?”

“Potatoes. About eight of them.”

“I can get that sorted for you. Just give me a moment.”

She handed him her basket so he could fulfill her request. Just then, the wind had again picked up in strength. She had to cover her eyes with an arm to shield them, but she didn’t stop the puffy bangs covering her forehead from being temporarily lifted upwards. The air blasted the closed eyelid of her very sensitive third eye, and for a few seconds, it involuntarily opened.

Instantly, her attention was grabbed by a strong light being emanated from…Vegito. His body was cloaked in it, and despite how intense it was, she could perceive it being incredibly dense. As if it was being tightly forced down, suppressed, like too many clothes forced into a small suitcase.

With the gale stopped, her hair fell back in place and her eye closed. She moved her arms away from her face. Amita’s expression was in disbelief, but it changed to shock when she noticed Vegito staring at her with blatant interest.

“You have a third eye?”

He saw it…hesitance made her voice lock up in her throat, but there was no point in denying it. She was no gaslighter.

“Yes.”

He resumed filling the basket. “Is there any reason why you cover it with your hair?”

“So people won’t stare at it.”

“Fair.”

Her mind was racing due to what she witnessed, but Vegito’s behavior momentarily distracted her. Aside from his curiosity, he was far more nonchalant about her additional eyeball and socket than she was expecting. It was far better than the startled or grossed out looks she has gotten in the past, but Amita still couldn’t help but comment.

“You don’t think it’s weird I have a third eye?”

“Nah. I…know someone who does too. Haven’t seen him in a long time though.”

This further piqued her curiosity. He was surely referring to another member of her clan, the Three-Eyed People or “Triclops” for short, but hardly any of them ever ventured outside of Dagi Village. If they did, it was for a short period, as the community traditionally closed out the outside world as much as possible. There was always the chance that Vegito has visited the place himself, however unlikely that was, or one of the villagers chose to leave long-term.

After all, that’s what she did.

“Here you go.”

Vegito handing her basket back halted her train of thought in that direction for the best, and she reached into her handbag to pull out her wallet. She didn’t bother counting the bundle of zeni she pulled out to give to him.

“You can keep the change. Consider it a tip.”

“Oh? That’s a lot of change for tip money.” He flipped through it, before putting it away in a box behind the stand. He gave her a little smile; the first one she’s seen from him.

“Thanks.”

The fact that his ki was far stronger than any person’s she’s ever seen up until now was pressing against her skull and demanding she speak up about it, but there was something about Vegito’s smile that prevented her from doing so. It was a little too charming, and complimented his features a little too well.

“You’re welcome. You sell good produce, so…you deserve it.” She gripped the handle of her basket, as those feelings of self-consciousness once again surfaced. Not only because of his looks this time though, but being reminded of them surely wasn’t helping.

“See you around.”

Amita managed to keep some measure of elegance in how she walked away from the stall, but this time, she could feel the man’s eyes being fixed upon her until she stepped around a corner and out of sight. She then released the breath she was unconsciously holding in her chest.

His physique definitely was no lie, and served as an actual hint to what existed beneath. Vegito was extremely powerful and she couldn’t fathom how or why. Or where he came from, for that matter. It made her wonder if Goku also possessed powerful ki like his yet suppressed it, but sadly, there was never any bursts of wind that caused her hair to uncover her third eye and there was no way for her to find out at this point.

More and more mysteries kept piling up, and she still didn’t even know the guy that well. A person like him working such a mundane job growing and selling vegetables was unheard of. Her desire to know more, learn more about him, was surging like a torrent. However, the glaring fact that they were total strangers made her unable to act on any of it without coming off as a creep.

As she headed back to her parked car, Amita tried to push Vegito out of her mind, but she doubted she would have any success…

#amito fic // ♡ you and me ♡

[hummingbird-of-light]

Semper Meus

Part 49

Scotty

Sunday had gone great… or at least it didn’t turn out bad. They had watched the movie, meeting Chris at the theater. Together the four of them had visited a close by restaurant with him. All the while, the young Scott had asked Leah thousands of questions. Scotty felt kinda embarrassed about it. And it got even worse during today’s lunch.

“So… Your nephew. What’s his deal with me?”

Scotty nearly spit out his drink when Leah asked him about it.

“I’m so sorry lass…”

McCoy’s sister laughed warmly as she clapped him on the back.

“Don’t worry. It’s just… he seems a bit… flirty?”

The engineer quickly shook his head, chuckling too.

“Oh no, no. He does nae try to flirt with ye. It’s… about Robbie.”

“Your brother?”

Scott nodded as he placed his cutlery next to the plate.

“Aye, my brother. Ye see… Chris really misses a motherly figure in his life.”

Leah gave him an understanding nod, inviting him to continue when he stopped. Scotty’s smile vanished.

“She left when he was a wee baby. She… never wanted any kids. Robbie convinced her to keep the child. But… she couldn’t handle it. So she left them.”

“Oh man, that’s horrible.”

The Scotsman sighed.

“Chris always kinda blamed himself that his mother had left Robbie alone.”

Leah grabbed his hand so that Scotty looked at her.

“Tell you what?”

“Hm?”

“I do have that cousin. She’s divorced and… I don’t know. Maybe I can set something up at the wedding.”

It was a nice offer. It really was.

“Well, ye can try I guess. Though I must admit that if it wasn’t for yer Jacob… I would have loved for ye to get to know my brother better.”

They both laughed.

“Nah, I think I’ll give Jacob his chance first.”

They continued to chat about some relatives which were coming to join the wedding. They had invited round about fifty guests. So that was one wish of Leonard’s “What-not-to-do”-list checked. Scotty could never imagine to have 200 people with him on that big day. It wouldn’t be personal anymore now, would it?

“So… what else should we do today?” Leah eventually asked. In the morning they had already gotten a suit for the Scotsman. Despite him being quite sure that his mother would bring their family kilt, he really wanted something more… American. He was proud to be a Scotsman - that was out of question - but… he knew that most people here weren’t too used to a man in a skirt (especially with nothing underneath).

The suit was simple but elegant. Leah had been a real help finding it. And… it fit. Right away.

Others might have called Scotty crazy, but he believed that the one suit had to fit perfectly without any tailoring. If it didn’t fit, it wasn’t the right one.

But they had found it. And he was so happy about it.

Still, there was another thing yet unfinished. The vows.

“So… I may have a wee problem,” he admitted shyly. “My vows… I… just can’t seem to get them written.”

Part 50

McCoy

McCoy shook his head again as he got out of the car in the garage. He hoped Jim hadn’t planned something horribly debauched. And Christine had helped. He was in for some trouble.

He entered through the kitchen and saw Scotty and Leah leaned together over the dining table. They were focused intently on something and hadn’t heard him come in.

“Hey guys,” he said and got the satisfaction of watching them both jump in surprise. “What are ya doing?”

“Nothing!” Leah said as Scotty quickly pushed some papers into a pile.

McCoy raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Scotty laughed nervously.

“Hello love, you surprised us.”

“Didn’t mean to,” McCoy smiled. “Sorry. I’ll go change and I’ll make dinner, alright?”

“Is it dinner already?” Leah looked across at a clock. “Where did all the time go?”

McCoy walked down the hall to the bedroom. He wondered what they had been working on. Something important no doubt. If they wanted to tell him, they would. Otherwise, he’d just let it go.

He freshened up and changed and headed back for the kitchen.

“Did you know Keenser is taking you out on Saturday?” McCoy asked as he reentered the kitchen.

“Aye,” Scotty replied. “He and Jim coordinated. Did Jim not tell ye?”

“No. Not until lunch today. You know what Keenser has planned?”

“Nope,” Scotty said with a smile. “But I heard what Jim planned.”

McCoy groaned.

“Don’t worry mo ghràdh; you’ll enjoy it,” Scotty said as he crossed over to kiss McCoy.

“You aren’t going to tell me are you?”

Scotty shook his head.

“Tell me?” Leah asked. She was grinning at her brother.

“Later lassie,” Scotty smiled at her.

“Fine,” McCoy sighed. He looked in the fridge. “We’ve got hamburgers or leftover lasagna. Preference?”

“Hamburgers,” Scotty and Leah agreed.

“I’ll get the grill started,” Scotty said.

McCoy pulled out the other things they’d need and got to chopping. Scotty went outside and Leah came to help McCoy.

“What were you two working on?” he asked his sister quietly.

“Don’t let him know I told,” Leah said even quieter, “but it’s his vows. He’s been trying for weeks.”

McCoy tilted his head at his sister with a curious look. He was touched that Leah would help his fiancé with something so meaningful.

“He’s getting there,” Leah continued, “but it might help if you let me read yours. Then I can kinda guide him to something that matches.”

McCoy nodded, considering.

“Ok. They’re in my suit. Inside pocket. But I swear if you show them to him…”

“Of course not!” Leah said indignantly.

“You better not make fun of me either…”

“That I can’t quite promise,” Leah laughed.

“Grill’s ready,” Scotty said, coming back inside.

#star trek #montgomery scott #dr leonard mccoy #scones #au #semper meus #leah mccoy #leah is a great sister in law #some backstory to Chris

[serendimplity]

i spoke about you today to my close loved ones. i spoke about the ways you helped me grow, and how much i loved you, and how much you loved me. they said you must have loved me so much, because there was excess, enough left from the rubble to help me build myself back up. i told them there is no doubt. you loved me. just because you left does not mean you did not love me at the time you were with me. i am learning to understand that people can love you and let you go.

it’s still bittersweet. it feels so much longer ago that i last saw you. i feel like i’m talking about a person i don’t even know anymore. but i still feel like i’ve known you forever somehow despite that feeling. i can still see your face in my memory, and remember the way you laugh. i can’t bear to look at our texts anymore but i keep them alive for the day i have the strength to reminisce. do you still miss me? do you still think of me fondly? i hope you do. i hope you still love me. i hope you still come back.

i know, i shouldn’t be hoping, but you’re never going to see these anyways. i hope to the gods above that you find happiness in all the forms it can be received. i do hope you find love again. i hope someone comes along to love you better than i did. you deserve that. more than anyone you deserve to be loved so well and so warmly. i am excited for you. i am excited for what the world has yet to give you in gifts of love and joy.

i will learn to be kinder to myself and reserve that same excitement for myself. i will let you go eventually. just, in the mean time, i’ll learn how to make salt and pepper squid without setting the house on fire from the oil. that and also tofu. i’ll still talk to the videos and pictures i have of you and update you about my life every so often because you were the only person who ever wanted to hear about it. i’ll imagine what you’d say back, and i’ll imagine the kind of day you’d have.

good morning and good night, i hope you slept somewhat well, and drank and ate enough water. i’ve been sick the past week and haven’t been able to recover, but i can’t keep using sick days i don’t have. i hope work has been good, and i hope school is alright. i love you. take care of yourself dummy, don’t forget, someone’s still out here wishing the best for you always.

[myellowtheodore]

Happy 3rd Monthsary, Theo. 💞

Hi Theodore, good afternoon. I hope a smile is painted upon your face when you open your eyes for the first time today. I don't know how many apologies I've said in the last 24 hours, but I'm really sorry for messing things up. Sorry I can't be a lover who understands you best, and yes— I’m indeed a very sensitive person. Maybe you're just tired, but since I wasn't feeling well I overreacted yesterday. Did you know that actually it’s your fault because I’m crazy about you. I just want you to know that when we first met I never imagined you’d mean this much to me, like you’d become the only I really care about. 😔

For many others, today is just another day for them don’t they? What a casual Friday on the first of July. But still, today is a special day for us, it marks 3 months since we started dating. I was very happy and still I am, until this day. I hope you also still consider today as a special day for you, beside what happened last night. Theo, have you ever thought that this world is very unexpectedly unpredictable? Sometimes I often think that the Roleplayer World is just as wide as the hairline. Have you ever thought that maybe we've met before—or not? It's hard to believe that we used to be strangers living in this universe without loving each other. But look, here we are now, hand in hand loving each other endlessly. Sometimes I still can't believe it, why do I love you so much now, why did I fall in love with you in such a short time? Why did I trust you to keep this fragile heart of mine, why? Sometimes I have a lot of questions like this in my head, but maybe what happened to us has gone like that, it was written like that. But I am truly in love with you.

I know our relationship hasn't been that long, but I also don't understand why I could love you this much. From the start, I never ever had plans to love you this much. I was afraid I would get hurt in the end, but look at me now, I can't even imagine myself if I broke up with you. Together with you is my favorite place. Whether it's because you always cheer me up with your weird stories, with your cat (Ruby) photo dumps, or simply because of your weirdness.

Happy 3rd Monthsary, Theodore. Dating you is different, so much different from my previous relationship. Because you're a very different person from any other individual I've met before, there's a lot of differences between you and me. We’re so so so different, and sometimes it scares me—like what I always told you before, I’m afraid that we no longer understand each other. Dating you makes me learn a lot of things, especially how to lower my ego. We are two different people in many ways. I hope our differences make us better beings, who can truly understand and appreciate each other, Theo. I adore you as both my lover and my best friend. I hope we can share more ups and downs over such a long time. I love you, truly. I want to spend another luscious moment with you. I didn't expect that our not-so-close friendship would grow into something called love. I never thought that you and I would eventually become lovers. I'm so grateful that you're mine, I hope you feel the same way.

I love you Theo, I hope you don't feel burdened by the way I love you. You can stop whenever you want. If you can't stand me anymore, I’ll let you go with a big heart. But do you know Theo? I woke up with this idea in my head that together is my only favorite place so I keep thinking why am I being like that yesterday, why do I always need reassurance from you. It turns out, maybe I'm afraid, afraid that it's just me alone loving you, I always put my energy into loving my partner, so I’m afraid that it was just me. I've been through those things before, and— I don't know what to do if I go through the same thing again. I know what past is past, but I feel the strange feelings like this sometimes, I’m really sorry. Yesterday there were a few things that triggered me to have this strange feeling that made me think you were bored with me, thinking that you would leave me. I know that I shouldn't be like that, I should be able to politely ask you to comfort me, I should just say 'I have a bad day, can you hug me'. Sorry if I haven't been wise in dealing with the crisis I'm going through. Sorry if you have to be dragged into my past trauma. I’m truly sorry. And— I love you, dearly. Even though you don’t really like me right now, but I just want to remind you that you’re the man of my dreams and the love of my life! I hope you forgive me.

The idea of not having you in my life scares me the most, I’m sorry if I hurt you. Besok lagi aku akan lebih berusaha lebih wise dalam menghadapi hal kaya gitu. Kamu pernah tiba-tiba share link spotify and it turns out lagunya keepyousafe, aku gatau apa maksud kamu tapi kalau aku melalui fase ini lagi aku akan dengerin lagu itu sambil inget kenangan-kenangan baik kita. I love you Theo. Makasih udah bertahan sama aku sampai detik ini.

Aku nulis ini semua dengan mixed feelings, aku berharap kita bisa kaya normal lagi karena aku orang yang awkward kalau habis arguing, aku gatau gimana harus memulai. Tapi kalo kamu merasa udah baikan kamu mau gak nonton sama aku? Aku udah download ANNA bajakan lewat tele dari kemarin, (maaf bajakan) niatnya aku mau ajakin kamu movie date tadi malem tapi karena diriku sendiri makanya gak jadi. Kalo kamu udah merasa lebih baik please let me know ya… I love you. 🥺💞

Oh iya sebelum aku selesai nulis ini tiba-tiba Christmas Tree keputer.

⛅️

By any chancе. There's a side to you that only I know. Likе the first snow of a midsummer night. You're an incredible miracle, an amazing moment. Someday again. When the wind blows. Even if my heart flies. I will be waiting

Dearly,

Sashila.

[artzee-bee]

Not going anywhere | Lucifer Morningstar x reader

Fandom: Lucifer

Request:” Hi i have request for you ,Lucifer and the reader have a big fight they are married, and this fight it's lucifer fault The reader leaves home and Lucifer decides to give her space After a few days, he goes to the reader and realizes that she has been missing for a few days,When the person behind all this claims that the reader is dead and gives them a her body . Everyone thinks that the reader is dead and Lucifer He gets depressed and thinks it's all his fault , and after a few days, the thieves release the singer and the reader goes to Lucifer.Lucifer first thinks it is an imagination and then apologizes to the reader Thank you so much”

Genre: Angst with happy ending

Warnings: kidnapping, death

~~~

Your intention had never been to start a fight. All you wanted an explanation (preferably one that also made sense) and an apology, but apparently that was too much to ask, because as soon as you voiced your opinion, Lucifer went up in flames

“Don’t start this again!”

“I dislike it just as much as you do but what I hate more is being cancelled on, AGAIN, through a text message no less!”

“It was an emergency!”

“It’s always an emergency Lucifer! It’s starting to sound a lot like work means more to you than I do!” “The detective needs me, damn it!” your husband yelled

“And she has you! Every day of every week! All I ask for is one date night and for the past month you’ve done nothing but avoid committing to one or backing out at the last second! I’m tired of being your second choice Lucifer! I’m your wife and you are my husband, I love you to the ends of the world, I just wish you'd say no to Decker from time to time...”

“I’m saving people’s lives Y/N. So if you’re not on your deathbed, other people are and they need me now!” as he said this, Lucifer walked right past you and into your bedroom, seemingly ignorant to the painful words he’d just said. You looked around the living room, vision blurry with tears, your chest heavy with anger and disgust. You rushed towards the elevator.

“When you find time in your busy schedule and feel like being my spouse again, let me know!” the elevator door closed before Lucifer could say anything

~~~

When Lucifer woke up the next morning to a cold and empty bed, he didn’t think much of it.Truthfully, he was still kind of pissed at the attitude you had given him a day before, so he got dressed as usual and went to the precinct, assuming you’ll be home by nightfall.

Except when he got home that night, he stopped by Lux first, which ended up like it always does: with him sucked into an endless cycle of booze and dancing, that lasted until well into the night. When he did enter the penthouse eventually, he found it empty. Exactly the way he had left it in the morning. Even the tie he had left on the floor, after deciding last minute that it didn’t go with his suit, was untouched. Now this was curious, but still, Lucifer felt like you must be playing hard to get. He sent you one text message, before going to bed

“Call me when you can!”

The day after that, he figured his part was done! By reaching out first, he had already made a big compromise, so now it was your turn! To reach out, come home! But that didn’t happen that day, or the day after that.

Three days after the text message,Lucifer was getting worried. He was looking at his phone every other minute. Always making sure he hadn’t accidently put it on silent or missed any texts. He sent more messages, telling you he was sorry and that he wanted you to come home. That he would listen and spend more time with you, promising luxurious dates and weekend trips, if only you forgave him. You didn’t even open the messages.

“Lucifer are you listening?” Decker was insanely annoyed at her partner’s lack of concentration

“Sorry detective. I’ve...I’ve got a lot on my mind”

“Well, better get it out of the way now, so that we can move on to our case!” she said, cleaning out her desk quickly, before resting back into her chair “Talk to me!”

“It’s Y/N. I’m worried about her!”

“Why?” “We...had a fight a couple days ago and she left. She hasn’t come back since”

“Have you heard from her at all?”

“No���” Lucifer said, embarrassed at his own lack of care for you. He should have called you earlier, reached out more! He should have tried harder!

“How long had she been missing for?”

“4...maybe 5 days…”

“Lucifer, are you sane? And you’re only telling me now?!” Chloe jumped from her seat, turning on her computer

“I thought she needed space! I thought she was avoiding me intentionally cause she was angry! I didn’t know…” Lucifer choked back a sob, not wanting to break down in tears in the middle of the precinct

“Lucifer!” Chloe caught hold of his hand “I’m gonna find her! I promise you!” A few days later, she did. Well, more like Y/n came to her, in the shape of a pretty little gift box left on Decker's doorstep.

“A lil too late on your case detective” read the note attached to it. 

Inside were Y/N’s clothes, all of them stained with dark, dried blood. Y/N was declared dead that day and the case was closed. At her funeral, only her closests friends were present. Lucifer wanted it to be as intimate as possible.

That day was also the first time anyone had seen Lucifer, since the news. His eyes were bloodshot and the dark circles under his eyes almost matched the black suit he was wearing. Throughout the ceremony he kept twisting his wedding band, a habit he’d picked up on since you went missing. He chose not to do a speech, but once the crowd disappeared, and he was left face to face with your grave, he pulled out a little piece of paper from his pocket and sat down on the grass.

“In hell, everyone feared me. There, I was nothing but another server of the universe, ruling over an empire I never really wanted, because I never had a choice. So eventually I left, thinking anywhere will be better than what I had, and I came to earth.

I ran into you about 2 weeks later, before I really even knew how to behave myself. Before I knew anything about who I really was besides ‘the devil’. I longed to know, grow and discovers different sides of me, where I could be something new, and you gave it to me. You made me who I never thought I could possibly be. You made me a lover. I never thought of myself as capable to love anyone, in any degree, but your light shone everywhere you went and your kindness touched me and everyone around you. It became impossible to not get infatuated with your person. I allowed you to see and feel around every dark corner of my soul and being and every time I thought it was the end. Everytime I would take in your touch as if it was the last, I would prepare myself for abandonment, but it never came. Through everything you stood by my side and when I felt my darkest, you gave me a fistful of your light and that was enough to keep me going. You married a broken man and called him perfect, despite everyone telling you how much of a foul you were. Even then, you shooed them away. Even then you chose me. I wasn’t worthy of your love or your trust and our last night together proved it.

You’re not here anymore to hear my apologies and I’ll never forgive myself for it. You’ve gone now somewhere I can not follow, but I know you are well taken care of there. I hope, someway, somehow, you’ll hear these words: I am sorry. I loved you with my entire soul. Not listening to you was the biggest mistake of my life and I’ll never forgive myself. I choose however, to remember you as you were, because I know that’s what you’d want. I’ll remember you and your laugh.I’ll remember our date nights and shopping sprees. Nights in Lux or on the penthouse balcony. I’ll remember all the meals you prepared for me and the flirtatious remarks you used to make, because you thought they were so silly. I’ll remember the little frown on your face whenever you worked on an important project for work and I’ll remember every evening walk around the block you’d make me accompany you on. I know I always complained about them, but they were always fun. Everything I ever did with you was always fun.

I loved you. I still do. You are my everything Y/N. Thank you for devoting yourself to me in all the ways that you did. I’ll forever live on in my heart.“

~~~

It had been months since your disappearance. After all this time, you finally managed to escape your kidnappers and report them to the New York police station, since that’s where you had been held hostage for so long. As soon as the paperwork was done and you were sure that the people who ruined you were getting the punishment they deserved, you jumped on a train and headed straight back home. Straight to Lucifer.

Lux looked exactly the same as you had left it. You were washed over by a wave of comfort that almost brought you to tears. Home. You never thought you’d get to step in here again. Overwhelmed, you took a seat on one of the couches, allowing your head to rest back on it, as you took in every detail of your surroundings: the feel of the leather on your fingertips, the cool breeze of the air conditioning, the warm lights. Everything was still here.

“Y/N?” you jumped at the sound

“Hi love…” your voice broke as you said those words. Words you never thought you would be able to mutter again. The sight of your husband, messy as he was, made you weak in the knees. He was standing at the top of the staircase, dressed in nothing but his robe, tied carelessly around his waist. He had probably just woken up. You wanted to say something again, but before you could, he laughed

“Nope” he said simply, before making his way down the stairs and to the bar “I’m not doing this. Not today, not ever!” Lucifer filled his glass to the top with bourbon, before turning around and trying to leave back to where he came from

“Lucifer, it's me!”

“Sure you are, except you’re not real! Nice of dad, taking my ability to stay endlessly sober, getting me drunk, forcing visions of my dead wife onto me to teach me another lesson about managing my emotions. Real clever, except this is too much! So I’m going to enter that elevator and I expect to never have to see you again, hum? Right, well, au revoir now!” he continued on his way, but before he could get far, you were clutching on the silk tie of his robe. Lucifer felt the tug around his waist and turned around slowly to look at you, this time a little more unsure. As if he was trying to figure you out

“Lucifer, I’m Y/N. I escaped”

“Escaped? But that’s impossible, she died! I saw it-”

“What you saw was a bloody shirt!” he looked up to meet your gaze, tears already forming “They lied to you Lucifer”

Finally, it seemed like he had connected all of the pieces of the puzzle. The glass of alcohol fell to the ground and your husband wrapped you in a big hug for the first time in months. He nuzzled his head in your hair and took in your scent, your figure, your warmth. Hell, you were even more perfect that he remembered! Silent tears fell down both of your cheeks as you collapsed to the ground, still holding onto each other for dear life

“I’m so sorry” Lucifer sobbed in your hair “I’m so so sorry”

“It wasn’t your fault Luci”

“If I hadn’t been a jerk you wouldn’t have left! If I would have simply listened to you, they wouldn’t have gotten to you! You would’ve stayed here, where you belong! You would have stayed with me but instead I was too busy with my stupid job and the stupid cases and I’m sorry! I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry” he continued crying on your shoulder as you rubbed small circles on his back

“I’m here now my love” you whispered, kissing his cheek “And I’m not going anywhere”

#lucifer #lucifer netflix #lucifer morningstar x reader #lucifer morningstar imagine #lucifer morningstar angst #lucifer morningstar

[venomous--fics]

Anon Requested: Omg wait can i request a fic where reader feels like they aren’t good enough for eddie and venom so reader breaks up with them and eddies sad and just a lot of angst (BUT happy ending) if not thats okay !

A/n: Day 5!! I'm think about just extending the weekathon to the entire month! Not too sure yet, but I should decide quickly huh!! I just think it'd be fun to do something like that. Maybe get more and more festive along the way. What do you think?

Song: Halley's Comet by Billie Eilish

"So, that's just it? You're just gonna up and leave and not tell us why?"

He wanted to sound mad, but his voice gave it all away. You couldn't stand the thought of what you were doing to them both. You couldn't even bring yourself to look at them as you left. You didn't even bother to grab your things. You just left emptyhanded.

Subconsciously, maybe you knew you'd find your way back eventually. But...Not now.

The weight of the world began to crush you with every step you took away from their place. You knew they were watching you from the window. If you had to leave, they'd at least make sure you'd stay safe.

It all felt like a cruel punchline to an unfunny joke. How could you be such a fool to think you'd be good for them? They....They were a protector. A lethal one, but still a protector. They helped people and saved the world from every threat imaginable. You sometimes couldn't even drag yourself out of bed.

It didn't seem fair to drag them down like that. They deserved better. They deserved the world, and you just couldn't give them that. Someday they'd find someone who would.

That night was spent alone on a friend's spare guest bed. The world was so quiet. There were no streetlights beaming into your room. There was no more sounds of late night traffic or the people talking and walking as they passed under your shared window.

There was no more fighting Venom for the comforter because he'd purposely hog it just to get your attention. It always worked. There wasn't the usually jokes about forgetting to set your alarms for the work morning ahead.

You simply set your alarm and laid down. The world seemed so much colder and emptier. It didn't seem fun and bright anymore. The bed felt much more spacious now.. The pillows felt too squishy and new. The sheets looked nothing like his.

Staring at the wall wasn't going to put you to sleep any faster, so you rolled over and clamped your eyes shut. You willed yourself to not cry.

The tv kept repeating the same old stuff. Robbery after robbery. Someone got shot. A car accident. Oh, it's going to rain tomorrow.

We should be fixing that..

"I don't feel like doing anything anymore."

"I don't feel like doing anything anymore either, V."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Normally there'd be some form of a pep talk from you, but now.. Your spot on the couch was empty. All that was there to suggest that you even existed was your favorite throw pillow.

With hesitation, Eddie grabbed the pillow and held it in his lap. It still looked brand new, and that's simply because you always knew how to take care of things. Nothing of yours ever really got broken or misplaced..And you always knew just how to handle things.

"I miss them."

A thought they shared in common. It's felt like months, but it's only been a couple of weeks. Your things were still occupying space here. It was almost torturous having to look at them each day and know that you weren't going to come home.

It was that thought that broke them both. They curled up on the couch, sad and defeated. The world was incomplete because you weren't here to make ti better. A rough day at work? You'd say, "Oh, don't worry." as you made some hot coco to relax with. Emotions getting out of control? You were always there with ways to fix them.

Did they take you for granted? Did they forget to cherish you? Did they do something wrong? Everyone always told them that they were just screwups who ruined everything, so maybe they just fucked it up again.

Maybe they'd learn to live with it. Just not today.

It's just not home anymore. Home is where you were.

The rain was awfully heavy today. But you were thankful. Today was hitting you harder than the last few. You were stumbling down the sidewalk, tears streaming down your face. Nothing seemed to hold any meaning anymore. You'd pass by Mrs. Chen's shop, and normally you'd stop by there to get Eddie and V a snack or two. But now, you simply keep walking.

Today you just let your body walk. To where? Wherever you felt like you needed to go. You were so tired, and so worn down. That only help cement in the fact that you just... You were an absolute nobody. Who could love a nobody?

If only you were born gifted with the brains, the talents or even the powers. Maybe you'd be worth something. Maybe you'd see yourself as more. Maybe if you felt like you held any importance to anyone, you'd find a reason to stick around anywhere, with anyone.

Despite wanted to be more to literally anyone, all you could think is being better for them. They meant so much, no, no, they mean so much to you. It felt so dumb and childish to be so hung up on two of the goofiest creatures on this planet. You couldn't lie to anyone. You were hopelessly in love with Eddie Brock, a man who truly was a breed of his own. And you were in love with Venom, an alien with a heart bigger than his stomach but he's too embarrassed to say it.

You don't want to love them anymore. Because you still believe it was better to not be with them.

You slumped against a light post and wiped your eyes. You tried everything to stop the tears from flowing, but that only made them multiply. You'd scold yourself if you had the energy.

The world really did begin to feel more and more empty. People seemed to walk pass and not even give you a second glance. None of them cared, and to be honest, neither did you. Normally you never noticed other people, because you'd be so wrapped up in whatever it was you and Eddie, and yes, Venom too, were doing.

But they aren't here anymore. You were back to where you started. Alone and afraid of what the world had in store. You used to wake up knowing what you'd be doing...But now you weren't sure.

You remained leaned against the streetlight for an eternity. The sun had set and the moon had risen, yet you remained put. Everything was cold now. The rain had subsided, but the light continued to drip down on you, but even then, you didn't have the willpower to move.

It's better to be cold than to have never been warm, right? That is how the saying goes...Right?

You sniffled, waiting for the next set of drops to hit your head, but they never did. You slowly looked up and saw someone's hands holding up a jacket. They looked like they were doing their best to hold it up like an umbrella, and without touching you. You recognized the jacket immediately, even just from seeing the inside of it. You'd worn it so many times.

You stood up straight and turned around, being greeted with the sight of Eddie. He looked just as tired as you, and just as lost. He looked like he had a million things to say, but it seems like the cat had his tongue.

The universe was giving you a chance. For some reason.

"I'm sorry." was the first thing to spill out of your mouth.

"We're sorry, too."

"You didn- It was me. I was.." You took a step back from under the jacket, but it seems like Venom wasn't having any of that. He moved Eddie's body for him, this time, draping the jacket on your shoulders.

You gently crossed your arms and held them close, appreciating the gesture now.

"You can leave now. If you want." Eddie moved back a little, "We just saw that you were cold.."

"I don't want to go." you gripped onto the jacket, trying to fight the new wave of tears threatening to come out, "I just.. I had to because I felt like I wasn't good enough."

You were about to ramble on when Eddie cut you off, "That's why you left?"

"I'm sorry." You felt like you could just curl up and die on the sidewalk.

You looked down, staring at the cracks that littered the walkway. You'd find someway to make this poetic.

Two hands, one human and the other very much not, wrapped themselves around you as they pulled you into a warm embrace.

"Did we make you feel that way?"

The way Eddie's voice cracked made your arms go limp at your sides.

"No. I made myself feel that way- But I can't help it. You guys do so much good and I-"

"We love you."

The hug got tighter, "We used to do what we did because it was the right thing to do. But then we met you and it all changed. It seems so cliche to say that, but...It's true."

"You're just saying that."

"We adore you. We promised to do everything we can to make sure we leave this world a better place for you."

Your hands shook as your fought with yourself. You wanted to hold them just as close as they were holding you, but you felt-

"I don't deserve this.."

Unworthy.

In typical Brock fashion, and never knowing how to truly deal with his emotions, Eddie clung to you, almost pleading, "Would you just listen to what we're saying."

"You can't love me."

"Why the hell not? Huh? Whose going to stop us?"

"Nobody's going to stop us."

"Why is it me. Out of all the worthy people, why me?"

"You're such a good person. I know you don't see that..But you're the kindest person I've ever met."

"Certainly the nicest I've met..."

Every last word you wanted to yell out into the night sky just vanished from your mind. You wrapped your arms around Eddie and squeezed as hard as you could.

"How many times do we have to say it to make you believe it?"

"I'll say it a billion times," Eddie said, "Most guys would quit at a million but me? I don't know when to quit."

"It's true. He doesn't. But if saying it a billion times gets you to come home, then I'd do it a million more than him."

"I," You started, taking in a deep shaky breath, "I wanna go home regardless."

"We can talk more there if you're comfortable."

"With coco."

"I would like that."

The walk home was a talkative one.

Eddie's hand held yours tightly, but not too tight. He was so afraid that if he didn't hold it firmly enough, you'd simply slip away again. He was sure as hell not letting that happen again.

The apartment looked the exact same as when you left. You were so surprised by that. Normally they'd be a mess if you were gone for too long, and the apartment would reflect that.

"It all looks the same."

"Oh. Yeah." Eddie busied himself with fetching the hot chocolate ingredients.

"We couldn't bring ourselves to ruin your hard work...Or move your things." For the first time, Venom seemed sad.

They both seemed tired. You wanted to feel bad, knowing that they felt that way because of you. But knowing that they loved you meant that they felt bad, not because of you, but because you were gone.

Without thinking, your hand reached out and grabbed Eddie's arm, startling him a little.

"Can we go lay down for a little bit.." you asked quietly, "I think we all need a little rest."

Relief washed over him as he set down the cups and lead the way to the bedroom. There was no more words as you three crashed onto the mattress. Venom used a small tendril to turn the lamp off and pull you closer to Eddie.

"Are you okay with loving a nobody like me?" you asked as you watched him shut his eyes.

"Are you okay with loving two nobodies?"

"We are all losers."

Venom pulled a blanket over you and Eddie, going so far as to fluff the pillows under your heads.

"And that's okay. I love us the way we all are."

You yawned for the first time in ages as your eyes closed, "I love us too."

There was that familiar light coming through the window. And there was the sounds of the cars and the people. The world felt just right and you were home. You moved closer to Eddie and placed a quick, soft kiss on his lips, and his arms were quick to wrap around you.

You felt a soft tendril wrap around your arm.

"I know what you're feeling and what you're thinking." His voice sounded surprisingly quiet, "But you are more than enough for us. We don't say it, but sometimes we feel the same way. You could certainly do better than us. But.."

The tendril tighten a little, but not enough to really do much.

"You left and we realized...We don't know what to do without you. We didn't feel like doing anything anymore. It felt pointless."

You turned your head to look at your arm, seeing two small white eyes staring at you with a mixture of sadness and adoration.

"I know I'm not good with these human emotions..I might never be good with them, but..I know that I love you. And Eddie loves you too. We always try our best to show you..But you are truly all we need to be happy in this life."

You were a bit shocked with how much Venom had to say. Most of the time, he tried to use the least amount of words possible to get his point across, so you knew that he meant it.

"You both complete me, and for once, I finally have the courage to say it, because I don't know when I'll get the chance to say it again."

You smiled softly at him, and moved your arm in a way where you could place a soft kiss onto the top of his tiny little worm head.

"I won't leave again. I promise we can talk about it first."

"Talking is good."

"I love you, V."

"I love you too." He seemed to pause as he shot a glance up to Eddie, just to make sure he was still asleep, "More than that guy."

"Not possible." Eddie groaned, adjusting a little.

You smiled a little as you curled up under the blanket and actually shut your eyes for good for the night. Finally, a good night's rest. You still had doubts, maybe not many and none as big and frightening as before, but that was normal.

Not everything in life is a given or a certainty. You're not promised to tomorrow and it's not a give that you'll be a millionaire. But where you are now is where you're supposed to be. Don't doubt it. The two halves of your heart will quite literally walk to the ends of the universe just to see you smile, and that's more than enough for you.

#venom imagine #eddie brock imagine #eddie brock x reader #venom x reader #marvel imagine #marvel x reader