#max on the other hand LOVES her dad they had one of those relationships where he wasn’t neglectful but wasn’t a great parent either but she | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

gerrystamour · 4 months

Text

the fire is so delightful

For: @mojowitchcraft / weird_witchcraft

Relationships: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington & Max "Maxine" Mayfield

Rating: Explicit

Wordcount: 5,500

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Single Parent Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington is Max's dad in this, Steve Harrington is a Christmas Lover, Falling In Love, Love Confessions, Frottage, Dom/sub undertones

Summary: Eddie hates Christmas. Steve, and his daughter, loves it. Eddie decides to grin and bear it.

This fic is a part of the @steddieholidayexchange

[ READ ON AO3 ]

All great things come with a certain amount of sacrifice, Eddie told himself that everyday.

So when the hot school teacher that frequented the bar Eddie worked asked him out, he knew there had to be some sort of catch.

He knew Steve was a single dad well before he asked Eddie out and he’d decided that was just fine by him. Eddie loved kids, was great with them even, plus Steve already told him he had a rule about not introducing new partners to his kid too soon. The kid was absolutely not a sacrifice, in Eddie’s mind.

He also knew that Steve was what one might call a jock, athletically inclined and holy shit, did he look like it. Eddie’s high school self was wailing and screaming about him falling for the enemy, but the first tumble between the sheets proved that the athleticism only did good things for things like stamina, strength, power. So once again, not a sacrifice.

Steve was hilarious, dedicated, hot as hell, and the perfect father. He was accommodating and kind, while also the bitchiest, most savage gossip in the entire world. He was also the best goddamn lay Eddie had ever had, what with the way he took control and helped still Eddie’s racing thoughts, sent his mind straight into the stratosphere where he couldn’t think about anything other than the pleasure he was feeling at Steve’s focused hands.

No, they made it three whole months into their relationship before the moment of truth came.

It was actually two months into the relationship when the first hint came up, if Eddie had been paying any attention at all.

“I’m not much of a Halloween person,” Steve had said when Eddie asked why the decorations on his front lawn were so lame. “Neither is Max, so we don’t really go all out.”

That was insane to Eddie, absolute serial killer vibes. There were several seconds where he was actually contemplating if they would work out.

“Maybe you just haven’t had the right person to show you how awesome Halloween is,” Eddie had teased as he crowded Steve against the kitchen counter.

“Maybe,” Steve had replied with a lazy smirk, glancing at Eddie’s mouth. “Definitely happy to let you try to change my mind.”

And damn, did Steve let him try. That beautiful man went to every goddamn haunt and ghost walk that Eddie dragged him to, and he even smiled through most of it. Steve even found something nice to say about everything they did, even the things that Eddie caught him giving bitchy eyerolls at.

By mid-October, Steve had decided it was time that Eddie met his daughter Max, and their first bonding experience was hitting up the Spirit Halloween and getting her a sick costume and then getting half a dozen pumpkins to carve together. They spent the whole afternoon gutting and carving them while Steve cleaned and roasted the seeds and made other treats and dinner for all three of them.

It had been a perfect day, one that ended with Eddie spending the night at Steve’s house, in his bed, and eating breakfast with both Steve and Max. It was one of those times that Eddie realized he was falling in love and falling fast. That morning, Max had asked Eddie if he would take her and her friends trick-or-treating and Eddie thought his chest might explode it felt so full of affection for the twelve-year old.

The moment of truth came sometime around the beginning of November when Steve came to the bar and bopped his head to the Christmas music that was already playing.

“Annoying, right?” Eddie groused, and Steve raised an eyebrow with one of his patient smiles.

“What is?”

“The music. Halloween just ended and we’re already being subjected to the sickening upbeat nonsense for a capitalist holiday?” Eddie had explained grumpily while he shined a glass. When he’d looked up at Steve, he barely caught the weird expression that was quickly wiped from his face.

“You don’t like Christmas?” Steve had asked, and he was smiling but there was something off about it.

“No,” Eddie said honestly and flatly, and Steve did that little laugh he did only when he was trying to not say something. “Do you?”

“Yeah, but like, a normal amount,” Steve said and then he quickly changed the subject.

After that, Steve seemed reluctant to invite him over until Thanksgiving and Eddie pushed about it. When he finally did, he got all the answers he needed.

Steve’s house was… well, lets just say what it lacked for Halloween decor, it definitely made up for with Christmas stuff. There was a big inflatable Santa and reindeer in the front lawn, and honestly the Christmas lights were so well done they looked professional. Like, straight out of those Christmas commercials.

When Eddie stepped into the house, he quickly realized that Steve was likely a lot more into Christmas than “a normal amount” like he claimed. Every surface had some sort of decor, and there was a stand in the front room for a real tree. Staring at that stand, Eddie kind of hoped he was invited along to go shopping for a tree, which was stupid because he hated Christmas.

“Sorry for all the, y’know,” Steve had said as he scrubbed the back of his neck, gesturing around. “This is our thing, me and Max’s I mean.”

“Stevie, babe, you don’t have to apologize. Like at all. Or pretend to be chill. You literally let me be my craziest about Halloween without complaint,” Eddie had said, insistent and desperate for Steve to understand that had he known, he’d have kept his mouth shut about Christmas entirely.

“Yeah, but I don’t hate Halloween, Eds,” Steve had said with the saddest little smile and Eddie had to stop that immediately.

“Listen, Steve, I don’t have many good memories around Christmas because I grew up poor and most of my extended family hated me, so I just— I never saw the point of it,” Eddie said quickly, grabbing Steve’s hands tightly in his own. “I am more than happy to let you try and change my mind. I want to be part of every single stupid Christmas thing you do if you’ll have me and I’ll even play nice about the dumb stuff, just like you did with me. I promise.”

Steve just smirked at him, an expression Eddie had seen only in the context of either playing one of his sports when he was sure he was going to win and in bed when Eddie challenged him to a seemingly impossible task.

“I look forward to teaching you the magic of Christmas, then,” Steve said simply, and kissed him so sweetly that Eddie’s knees nearly buckled beneath him. Then, when he pulled away, he smirked and pointed upward. “Mistletoe.”

When Steve walked away toward the kitchen and Eddie looked up at the mistletoe hanging above him, he knew he was in trouble if the butterflies in his gut were anything to go by.

The thing was, Eddie loved all the “stupid” Christmas shit Steve dragged him to, and it was a lot less like being “dragged” to them. Sure enough, that Thanksgiving weekend, Steve invited Eddie to go shopping for their tree, and Max had been loud in her demand that he say yes. If he hadn’t already been trying to figure out how to ask to go along, that would have convinced him to give up the Grinch schtick. His heart growing three times its size and that shit. Whatever.

Choosing the tree had taken a whole afternoon at the nursery, Max being exceedingly picky and Eddie just feeding into that to make the whole thing last longer. Eventually Steve reached his limit with the two of them and declared that they had to choose one out of the two contenders they were debating between.

“Eddie should choose!” Max declared, crossing her arms over her chest as she rounded on Eddie. “It’s the rules.”

“What rules, red?” he asked, bewildered and a little touched.

“It’s your first Christmas with us,” she said with a roll of her eyes, like it was the most obvious answer. “New friends choose our tree.”

“Yeah, Max, but that’s only if they’re into Christmas,” Steve said, shooting Eddie an apologetic smile.

“What kind of asshole doesn’t like Christmas?” Max asked and Steve’s mouth dropped open as Eddie winced a bit.

“Maxine!” Steve said sternly, putting his hands on his hips and sending Eddie an almost frantic look.

“Steve, it’s fine. More than fine. I would be honoured to choose your tree,” Eddie said, grinning as he stepped close to kiss Steve’s cheek.

“Our tree,” Max said firmly, and Eddie nodded.

“Of course, I meant ‘your tree’ as in the Harrington tree, not just your dad’s tree, little red,” Eddie had reassured her quickly and she just rolled her eyes.

“No, stupid, I mean our tree. It’s your tree, too,” she explained, frowning when Eddie’s mouth dropped open. Then she huffed and glanced away. “Hurry up and choose. I’m getting cold and Lucas wanted to play some dumb video game today.”

So, Eddie chose the Harrington tree and he even was part of bringing it back to their house, setting it up in the stand and decorating it. They spent hours on the whole affair, and that evening after Max had been in bed for an hour, he found himself laying on the floor of the front room staring up at Steve. He was illuminated by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree, his eyes shining so brightly in the dim room. They had been making out on the floor lazily, their mulled wine cooling in the mugs sitting on a table nearby.

“Thank you for humouring her,” Steve murmured, tucking some of Eddie’s curls behind his ear. “At the nursery. You could’ve said no and I would’ve made her understand.”

“Wasn’t humouring her, Stevie. I mean it,” Eddie insisted, reaching up and cupping Steve’s jaw. “I’m… I’m all in with you, okay? I want to— I helped with the tree because I wanted to, not because she made me.”

Steve’s grin had been blinding and they barely made it to the bedroom before clothes began to be tugged off of each other.

Thus began the trips to winter markets every single weekend, sometimes multiple markets, where Steve and Max would purchase even more kitschy Christmas decor and mulling spice mixes and various fancy pastries and such. It was a lot of Christmas music (which was still disgustingly overplayed) but it was also a lot of seeing Steve and Max smiling so big their faces had to hurt from it.

So, yeah, the sacrifice in this great thing with Steve was that Eddie had to pretend to like Christmas.

The only thing was, he wasn’t pretending, not with Steve. Not with the way Steve and Max did Christmas, the way they involved all of their loved ones and made sure everyone got something out of the holiday from them. It was a shocking revelation when Eddie realized he wanted to spend Christmas with the Harringtons for the rest of his life, that Christmas had the opportunity to usurp Halloween’s place in his heart if Steve kept this up.

When the Hawkins Winter Carnival rolled around, Eddie was ready for the inevitable invite that would come from Steve. It was the thing to do that time of year, and if Eddie was being honest, he had never gone. Well, he went when he was really young, but it didn’t count because he couldn’t remember it.

But the invite just wasn’t coming, and the carnival weekend was quickly approaching. It would be easy enough to secure the day off of work, but it was always better to have as much notice as possible.

“So, were you gonna be going to the Hawkins Winter Carnival?” Eddie asked one day as he sat at the island in Steve’s kitchen, and Steve’s ears went dark red.

“Uhm, yes, I was going,” he admitted sheepishly, and when he looked up, he balked at whatever expression was on Eddie’s face. “I’m just— I’ve been saddled with chaperoning all of Max’s friends and I didn’t want you to have an extra miserable time.”

Eddie blinked at Steve, confused at his logic there. “Why would I be miserable spending the day with two of my favourite people in the whole world?” he asked, grinning at the affectionate eyeroll and blush that got out of Steve.

“Okay, but it’s not just going to be the three of us. It would be us plus a whole gaggle of other twelve-year olds and I wouldn’t wish that fate on my worst enemy,” Steve replied, stirring the sauce he had simmering on the stove.

“Uh-huh, but that’s still not you asking me what I wanna do,” Eddie pointed out, raising an eyebrow when Steve opened his mouth to argue. When Steve snapped it shut again, Eddie puffed his chest up smugly. “That’s what I thought.”

“Fine. Eddie, would you like to join me and a gaggle of sixth-graders to the carnival?” Steve asked with another roll of his eyes, but he was grinning when he looked up at Eddie through his lashes.

“I would love to!” Eddie replied brightly, already texting his boss at the bar to get the day off.

The day of the carnival was bright and sunny, the snow on the ground blinding. The sun beaming through the windows of Eddie’s apartment was warm, so he just put on his jeans, an insulated pair of boots, and one of his heavier coats. He didn’t want to get too hot walking around, he decided, and the thought of keeping track of gloves and a hat was daunting on its own.

When Steve arrived to pick him up, he only had Max in the back seat, and she was practically vibrating with excitement. Not that she would voice it out loud, of course, but Eddie knew she was happy he was tagging along.

“You look good,” Steve sighed, leaning across the center console to press a soft, chaste kiss to Eddie’s lips, filling his stomach with a swarm of butterflies.

“You, too,” Eddie replied, chasing Steve’s lips for another quick kiss before sitting properly and buckling up. They could usually get away with two chaste smooches before Max started gagging noisily in the back seat.

“So, where are the gaggle of children I was warned about?” Eddie asked after Steve started driving, turning in his seat so he could see Max, too.

“We’re meeting them there,” Max replied, staring out her window.

“So their parents can get them all there, but can’t stick around?” Eddie asked and Steve laughed.

“Yep,” he said, and Max huffed.

“You offer to take us every single year, Dad,” she said flatly, for which Steve apparently had no argument.

Once they arrived at the carnival, it only took a few minutes before an entire gaggle of tweens surrounded them, all of them speaking at volumes that had to be against some kind of international law or convention or something. Eddie just stood off to the side, hands shoved deep in his coat pockets as he watched Steve take charge (kind of) and coral the little demons.

“Who’re you?”

Eddie jumped, startled by a voice right in front of him. Looking down, he realized that all of the kids were now staring at him, and he had no idea which one just spoke.

“Uh… Hi, I’m Eddie,” he replied, taking a hand out of his pocket to wave at the kids with just his fingers. Immediately, he put his hand back into his pocket as he realized the air was a bit colder than he had been prepared for.

“You’re Steve’s boyfriend?” the tallest kid asked with complete and utter disbelief in his voice.

“Gee, Wheeler, thanks?” Steve snorted, rolling his eyes skyward.

“He just seems way out of your league—” Mike started to reply before he was cut-off by a sharp elbow to the sternum from Max. “Hey!”

“Alright, children, let’s keep it civil please. We’ve got three hours to kill here, we don’t need to start it off with a fight,” Steve interjected, bodily stepping between Mike and Max. “Where do we want to head first?”

It was at that point that all the kids started talking at once, stumbling over each other. From what Eddie could gather, the kids wanted to split from the adults and do their own thing. There was a lot of back-and-forth, but eventually, they reached an agreement with Steve.

Firstly, they were to stay within the grounds of the carnival. Secondly, he would be calling one of their cell phones every thirty minutes to check on them and if they didn’t answer they immediately lost their adult-free privileges. Thirdly, they were expected to meet Steve and Eddie at the gates of the carnival at five without Steve having to round them up himself.

“You don’t want a chaperon, you have to act like you don’t need one,” Steve had said when they protested.

And that was how Eddie ended up walking around the winter carnival with Steve, just the two of them.

The carnival was a decent size, with several booths of local artisans and artists selling their holiday themed wares, a midway with food trucks galore, a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round, and carnival games. There was plenty to keep them busy for three hours.

However, Eddie quickly discovered that just because the sun felt warm through the window at home, that did not mean it was going to keep him from getting cold after more than thirty minutes outside. Within an hour and a bit, Eddie’s nose, ears, and fingers were chilly, even with his hair down and his hands kept deep in his coat pockets.

But in the end, Eddie found it easy to ignore his discomfort because Steve was smiling so huge and so bright. Eddie would suffer literally anything, even torture, just to see Steve’s grin, whether it was directed at him or not.

Somehow, though, that happy expression was for Eddie, so he would be brave and not complain about the chill. They only had a little more than an hour to go, and at some point, Eddie could buy a hot drink to wrap his cold fingers around. He was fine, perfect even.

As it came up on four, and Eddie was clutching the biggest polar bear stuffie he’d ever seen (Steve won it for him at the game with the basketball hoops), Steve sighed and wrapped an arm around Eddie’s waist. Cuddling into Steve’s warmth, Eddie tilted his head onto Steve’s shoulder as they walked.

“How about we grab some mulled wine?” Steve suggested, turning his head to kiss the top of Eddie’s head and filling his tummy with a furious swarm of butterflies.

“Sounds perfect, big boy,” he replied with a grin, letting Steve lead him to the truck serving the mulled wine. There was a bit of a line, so Steve nodded toward one of the nearby fire pits.

“Grab us a seat?” Steve suggested, and Eddie nodded quickly, more than happy to sit in front of a fire after freezing his dick off for the better part of two hours. When Eddie went to pull away, Steve stopped him. “Goodbye kiss?”

“You’re a sap,” Eddie teased, even as he leaned in and kissed Steve’s smiling lips chastely. “I’m just going, like, ten feet away.”

“You love it,” Steve said as Eddie pulled away, and he was correct. “Your nose is cold,” he added with a grin, and Eddie laughed.

“Yours isn’t much better,” he teased before pulling away and hurrying over to the fire pit, immediately laying his polar bear across the bench to save their seats and holding his hands in the warmth of the fire. It almost hurt, but it also felt really good.

It was only a few minutes before Steve stepped up beside Eddie, leaning close as he offered him one of the little disposable cups. Without hesitation, Eddie stooped to kiss his boyfriend sweetly, grinning when Steve sighed.

“Missed you,” Steve said as he pulled away and beamed at Eddie.

“You were just over there for, like, fifteen minutes,” Eddie replied, his cheeks hot with his blush as butterflies swarmed inside his stomach.

Steve just gave Eddie his most handsome and crooked little grin. “Tell me about it,” he hummed, leaning back in for a quick smooch before holding up Eddie’s mulled wine. “Here’s yours.”

When Eddie finally went to take his cup, their fingers brushed briefly and Eddie made a soft noise at how hot Steve’s fingers felt against his. The other man must have taken his own gloves off while purchasing their drinks.

“What the hell?” Steve asked as his hand flinched away, his expression a bit horrified when his gaze met Eddie’s. “Eds, why are your fingers so cold? How long have they been like this?”

Eddie could feel his cheeks heat with the intensity of his blush, and he shrugged. “Kinda… since we got here?” he said a bit sheepishly and Steve made a small sound of disbelief.

“Are you kidding me? You’ve been giving yourself frostbite and not—I’m rounding up the kids, we’re leaving—” Steve started, and Eddie quickly shook his head.

“No! Don’t! I don’t wanna ruin their fun,” Eddie insisted, and Steve scoffed.

“And you losing your fingers isn’t going to do that?” he asked bitchily, putting a hand on his waist and raising an eyebrow.

“It’s not cold enough for that and you know it,” Eddie replied flatly. “Seriously, Steve, I’m going to be fine. I have a hot drink, a hot fire, and a hot boyfriend. I’ll warm up real quick right here.”

Steve’s eyes narrowed as he considered Eddie’s words and when he opened his mouth to speak, his phone began to ring.

“It’s Max,” he said, frowning a bit as he answered. “Hey! What’s— why’s everyone yelling…? So, no one’s hurt but…? Okay, let me get this straight,” Steve started, smirking a little bit and rolling his eyes at Eddie. “You and Jane are done hanging out with ‘smelly, stupid boys’ but you want me to call in five minutes and end everything early…? What’s in it for me, huh?”

Eddie snorts and sips at his mulled wine, shuffling backward to the bench and scooping his polar bear up into his lap while Steve hummed noncommittally as Max spoke.

“Hmm, I’ll consider your offer closely. Eddie’s been giving himself frostbite this whole time anyway, so I was about to call it anyway,” Steve finally said, ignoring Eddie’s indignant squawk. “Yeah, the butthead didn’t wear any gloves. Do I still have to wait five minutes…? Perfect, we’re at the fire pit near the mulled wine stand… Yeah, the one close to the gates. See you soon.”

Eddie pouted at Steve as he hung-up and sat down next to him. “You didn’t have to do that,” he grumbled, relaxing as Steve wrapped an arm around his shoulders and tugged him closer.

“Hey, Max wanted to be rescued from the boys anyway. If anything, I’m doing her more of a favour than you,” he said flippantly, and Eddie rolled his eyes.

“Sure, whatever,” Eddie said, and within seconds they could hear the noisy approach of the gaggle of preteens.

The ride back to Steve’s was a whirlwind, with Steve insisting on dropping Mike, Lucas, and Dustin off at their homes first, even though they had to circle back on their route to drop Max off at Jane and Will’s house. The moment they dropped Dustin off and it was just the three kids in the back, Eddie immediately understood the inefficient route. Near-silence immediately fell in the car, the only disturbance being the Christmas music quietly playing on the radio as they drove.

“Holy shit, I think my ears are actually ringing,” Eddie commented, and Steve snorted.

“You get used to the shrill din of Mike Wheeler and Dustin Henderson arguing at the top of their lungs,” he replied, and Max scoffed at that.

“No one gets used to that, Dad,” she argued, and Eddie could see her smirk when Jane and Will giggled at that.

Finally, once they were child-free and back at Steve’s house, Eddie felt ready to crash on the couch and maybe pass out for a little nap. But of course, Steve had other ideas.

“Nuh-uh, you froze at the festival I dragged you to, so I’m gonna make sure you get all warmed up,” Steve insisted, dragging Eddie into a kiss that he refused to let Eddie deepen.

Despite Eddie’s best efforts, Steve was apparently on a mission to actually warm him up. It wasn’t just a euphemism for getting Eddie upstairs to his bed or anything like that.

Instead, Steve drew Eddie a bath in the huge soaker tub in the master bathroom, complete with a fancy bath bomb and even fucking candles. To drive home that this wasn’t about sex, Steve kissed him sweetly, chastely and said, “Enjoy your bath. I’ll let you know when dinner’s ready.”

Eddie wasn’t sure how long he was in the tub, luxuriating in the warm, lavender-scented water, before Steve poked his head inside to let him know that dinner was served. But the bath did the trick, warming him to his core and leaving him feeling loose and relaxed. Sleepy almost, but not completely exhausted like he had felt when they got home after the festival.

‘Wait, not home. To Steve’s house,’ Eddie corrected himself internally, getting out of the tub and slipping on the fluffy bathrobe Steve had said he could use while he was over a couple weeks ago. There was also a pair of slippers that Eddie had left by accident when he spent the night months ago that Steve had placed with the robe.

Downstairs, there was a fire going in the fireplace and Steve was setting out two plates of the meal he prepared on the coffee table. Steve had also gotten changed into his own bathrobe at some point, and that had Eddie struggling with the urge to confess his love right then and there.

“What?” Steve asked and Eddie blinked, startled out of his thoughts. He hadn’t realized he was staring, or standing there for so long.

“Nothing, just admiring my amazing boyfriend, that’s all,” Eddie replied with a giant grin, crossing the room and wrapping his arms around Steve’s shoulders to pull him into a kiss. Once again, all of his attempts to deepen the kiss were thwarted until Steve pulled away.

“Eddie,” he warned, his tone light but the scold in it was obvious to Eddie’s ears. “Dinner first.”

“Haven’t you heard the saying, though?” Eddie challenged lightly, grinning against Steve’s lips as he placed another kiss on them. “Life’s short, so eat dessert first?”

“What did I say, Eds?” Steve asked instead, his tone full of that firmness that Eddie found himself craving more and more often.

With a sigh, Eddie replied, “Dinner first.”

“That’s right,” Steve said with a pleased hum as he stepped out of Eddie’s embrace and motioned for him to sit on the couch.

They ate their food in comfortable quiet, nothing but logs crackling in the fireplace breaking the silence of Steve’s living room. Usually, such quiet would be excruciating for Eddie, but with Steve it felt natural, perfect even. Like it was safe. Quiet moments with Steve never made Eddie feel like he had to fill them with chatter or noise like he would with most other people.

By the time they were done eating, Eddie felt so relaxed he was close to dozing off right there on the couch with his plate in his lap.

“Let’s get you upstairs and tucked into bed,” Steve hummed, standing up and holding his hands out to help Eddie to his feet.

“The dishes…” Eddie pointed out, but Steve just kept tugging him along behind him.

“They can stay right there for one night, Eds,” he replied as they climbed the stairs.

It wasn’t long before they were cuddled up under the covers on Steve’s bed, robes and slippers discarded on the floor next to the bed, and holding each other as they kissed softly, sweetly.

“How’re you feeling?” Steve asked quietly without pulling away. “Warmed up?”

“Definitely,” Eddie replied, eyes fluttering as his body lit up under Steve. “Feeling so warm.”

“Mm, I bet,” Steve chuckled, finally deepening their kiss as one of his hands wandered over Eddie’s chest, down his abdomen, and toward his hip. Before Eddie could dream of whining about being teased, Steve shifted his weight and his thigh pressed between Eddie’s legs. At Eddie’s choked off moan, Steve sighed and said, “Yeah, definitely feeling warm now.”

“Stevie, please,” Eddie whispered against Steve’s mouth as he fought the urge to rut against his thigh.

“You’re not too tired, sweetheart?” Steve asked, and Eddie could hear the genuine concern in his voice.

“Never too tired for you, babe,” he replied easily, and he absolutely meant it. Then he sheepishly added, “it might have to be just this, though, if that’s okay?”

“Of course, that’s okay, Eds,” Steve replied, pulling back to meet Eddie’s eyes as he shifted until he was settled between his legs. “So perfect when you tell me your limits, baby.”

The praise hit Eddie hard in the gut, heat pooling south so quickly he felt dizzy with it. Spreading his legs wider to wrap around Steve’s waist, Eddie moaned when they slotted against each other like matching puzzle pieces.

They rocked together like that, lazy and relaxed, making out softly until Eddie was squirming underneath Steve.

“What do you need, baby?” Steve asked in a whisper, rolling his hips a bit more determinedly, dragging a flurry of whimpers out of Eddie’s throat.

“Need t’come,” he gasped, arching against Steve and whining when Steve worked a hand between their bodies and wrapped his fingers around both of them. “Please, Stevie, m’so close.”

“Me too, Eds,” Steve groaned before capturing Eddie’s lips again in a sloppy, hungry kiss. Just when the coil in Eddie’s gut pulled so tight it was almost painful, Steve whispered a gentle, “come for me, sweetheart.”

Just like that, Eddie spilled between them, making a mess of both of their stomachs and Steve’s hand. When Steve didn’t stop his rocking and stroking, Eddie whimpered almost pitifully, begging Steve to come so the exquisite, perfect torture of overstimulation would end. After only a few more strokes, Steve came with a cry so sweet, Eddie felt tears spring to his eyes as he threw his arms around his boyfriend, refusing to let him go.

They held each other, panting and kissing each other sloppily for a long time, just long enough for the mess between them to become tacky and unpleasant.

“I’ll go grab a cloth, okay?” Steve said with a laugh, carefully getting off the bed to avoid smearing anything on the linens or comforters.

Eddie watched his beautiful boyfriend disappear into the ensuite, feeling warm and floaty, taken care of, and treasured. When Steve returned, Eddie knew he was looking up at the man with the sappiest, lovesick gaze if the way Steve’s cheeks turned pink was anything to go by.

“What?” he asked with a little smirk as he carefully wiped the warm cloth over Eddie’s lower abdomen and softened cock.

Taking a deep breath, Eddie replied, “I love you.”

Steve froze and his eyes met Eddie’s with a fierce intensity that would’ve terrified Eddie if a grin didn’t split Steve’s face a second later. It was huge, bright, and absolutely goofy with the way it crinkled the corners of his eyes. It was Eddie’s favourite Steve smile.

“Even though I prefer Christmas over Halloween?” Steve asked in a voice that was so happy that Eddie couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled out of his own chest.

“Hey, you might’ve made a convert out of me,” he confessed, winking at Steve’s shocked gasp.

“Are you serious? I made you a Christmas lover, too?” Steve pressed, tossing the cloth in the general direction of the ensuite so he could lay on top of Eddie.

“Yeah, just as long as I get to spend it with you and Max,” Eddie replied, reaching up to tuck some of Steve’s hair behind his ears. “As long as you and Max still want me around.”

“Well, you’re in luck, Eds, because I intend to keep you as long as you’ll let me,” Steve hummed, dipping his chin to capture Eddie’s lips in a slow, searching kiss before whispering against his lips, “I love you, too.”

And, yeah, Eddie was pretty sure Christmas was going to become his favourite holiday and stay that way for a long time. Maybe even forever if his luck kept up.

#steddie holiday exchange #steddie #steddie fic #steve/eddie #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #gerry writes

150 notes · View notes

plentyoffandoms · 1 month

Text

Main Masterlist ♡ Miscellaneous Wrestler Masterlist

Just like all my other stories, this has not been proofread, but please enjoy.

Warnings: none

Gifs & photos do not belong to me. 1st gif @beingallelite 2nd gif @jasvvy 3rd gif @elitehanitje

Requested by anonymous. Hope you like it.

WC: 1036

I zoned out Austin as he spoke about the new song he wrote. It is hard to zone out my youngest son, but there is only one person who can make me do that.

Every single time I see her, it is like I can only focus on her and her alone.

I met her after Tina and I got a divorce, and we became instant friends. We had a lot in common, and it took me a very long time to realise that I have feelings for her.

But at the time, she was in a relationship, and I decided it was time to move on not only from her but from Tina.

Also, Colten and Austin insisted I get back out there. They told me that they were comfortable with me dating, and that is all I wanted.

Ever since then, she has been in and out of my life, well work life, but now she is working for AEW, and I have seen her ever day since.

"Dad, are you even listening to me?" Austin asked as he snapped his fingers in my face. I swatted his hand away and asked him to repeat himself, but of course, he didn't. He knew why I zoned out.

"You know, she is single. You are single. Maybe it is time you ask her out." He calmly said.

"I have heard her talking to Amanda, saying that she wants to be single for a bit." I said to him.

"But that was months ago, and we see the way how she looks at you." Colten said as he stood next to me.

"Maybe you two should worry about your own love lives instead of focusing on mine." I was done with this conversation.

"Our love lives are just fine there, Dad, but I will say that you need to ask her before she gets taken off the market again. This is the longest I have ever seen her single." Colten said to me, and he was right, but I just didn't want to ruin our friendship.

COLTEN GUNN'S POV:

"Austin, I think it is time." I told my younger brother as we watched our Dad walk to the woman we were just talking about.

"You mean, Operation Love?" He asked excitedly.

"Yes, that. I think we need to include Anthony and Max in on this." I told him, as I pulled out my phone to text Anthony. He answers far faster than Max does.

"I agree. They have mentioned how Dad is always looking at her."

The two of us found the two of them in the spot where Anthony said they would be.

"Okay, so are we going super romantic or just something casual?" Max asked. I could see the wheels turning in his head.

"Something a bit casual, I think. If we go over the top, both of them will be pissed." I said to the three of them.

"We got a bit, though. We will be in Massachusetts next week, and the two of them have talked about Olena for a bit now, but they have never made reservations to go. Dad says he thinks it is too romantic." Max rolled his eyes at me.

"Well, they have four cupids to help with these two lost causes." Max and Austin seemed to have one mind as they both said that.

Anthony and I just looked at one another, knowing the two of us would have to rein these two in.

◆

"Reservations for two. Got them a table in the corner to give them a bit of privacy. Now, let's go over the plan one more time." Max said as he and Austin paced back and forth.

"We go with our Dad to Olena, ask him to go inside and get our table." I said. "Austin and I will say we forgot something in the car and meet you two at our dinner our reservation across the street."

"And we will tell her that you three are already inside and that we will be inside in a bit." Anthony said after me.

"Operation Love is a go!" Austin said, almost jumping in the air. He gets excited about anything, and I love that about my brother.

BILLY GUNN'S POV:

I should have known that those two were up to something. We got to the restaurant, and they both said they forgot something in the car and that I should go on without them, as they will catch up.

When I got to the table and saw that it was only for two, I almost turned around and cancelled the whole thing, but then I saw her walking towards me.

"I see that it just the two of us." She pointed out.

"It seems so. Would you still like to have dinner with me, or we could cancel," She placed her hand on my arm, and I stopped talking.

"I would love to have dinner with you, Billy." I seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. I pulled out her chair and waited until she sat down. I took my seat across from her.

After our food came, and the two of us were enjoying it, she spoke up, "I guess the four of them got sick of waiting on us to make a move."

"Yeah, I mean, I should be mad at them for tricking the two of us into doing this, but I am not. I am happy they did." I smiled as I reached across the table and grasped her hand in mine.

◆

The two of us left the restaurant, with my jacket drapped over her shoulders, her hand in mine. "Even though that place was delicious, I am feeling some ice cream." She said.

"Toscanini's Ice Cream it is then." As I opened the car door for her.

"You remember my favourite place here."

"I remember everything about you." I was serious.

I got in the driver's side, and the two of us drove off. I ignored my four sons as we passed them, as they were leaving the restaurant that was across the street from Olena.

I am thankful that they actually butted their heads in my business for one.

Tag list: @lghockey @nicoleveno14 @legit9thlunaticwarrior @hooks-martin @wwenhlimagines @melissahausen @faerieofthenightcourt @tahiri-veyla @crowleysqueenofhell

16 notes · View notes

driftwithme · 7 months

Text

Right now I'm kinda sick which means I have no brainpower to talk about this properly or at least how I want to.

Subject at hand: Mako, Chuck and Raleigh all had an specific item in the movie that kinda explains or contains them as characters.

Mako and her relationship with swords is the obvious example. If you'll permit me to call it her motif, then let that be it. For the sake of storytelling, Mako is given an object that is the summary of her struggles and dreams, of her traumas and her hope. Swords are part of her heritage, given that his dad dedicated his life to making them. An item capable of both great damage and impossible beauty, the movie even adapts it to be more like the girl itself: chainswords that stay hidden and silently away for their turn to strike, capable of flexibility and quick adaptation, they are almost unbreakable, used to support others in need, cut straight through the heart of the enemy and provide a sure win even under great underwater pressure or up in the sky.

Mako is the girl welding the sword and she's the one crafting the sword from scratch designing it and she's the sword itself, okay?

Mako's a weapon in the context of she being a soldier. She's deadly, trained to kill, efficient with a perfect score in combat simulations, one of the brightest in the Jaeger Program. But she is also a craft in the sense of being someone intricate, because her story is way more complex than people imagine. She is beautiful as a woman, delicate in her ways of treating others, elegant in her movements...

In this case, the objectification serves a more artistic purpose. Whenever you think of the chainsword, you think of Mako and the other way around. Her scene killing Otachi in the name of her family is her breakthrough in the movie, where she achieves her dream/goal, when all she has gone through pays off. Then the scene where she uses the chainsword to oin Slattern to G. Danger is the culmination of her arc to say so: now she will kill the Kaiju that killed her adoptive father and will finally put an end of the apocalypse.

Without having to make it explicit in the film, you know that Mako gave those chainswords to G. Danger during the restoration program hoping that it'd be somehow her jaeger, that she'd finally become a ranger piloting it, etc.

Now, I said something similar can be found looking at the depiction of both Chuck and Raleigh in the movie. That's because, to me at least, the narrative does something similar in Chuck-Max and Raleigh-his photographs.

Raleigh is our narrator, our protagonist, we see the world through his eyes. I guess the thesis hear is that Raleigh is the man behind the camera, guiding our perception of this fictional world. Photographs can be intimate, int he way they reveal the interest of the one taking them. In sharing with us the concept of Raleigh having photography as his hobby, the story reveals us a man oriented to details and sensitive to the art of framing an instant, telling a story in one snap.

It also tells just how sentimental he is, how much he loved his home, his brother, 'cause he was surviving with rations at the end of the world but wherever he traveled, he took his pictures with him, put them on the walls of his residency. He's then a man who likes to take a look at the past. He said it himself: he spent 5 years on the past, never thinking of how the future would be. Nostalgic or even melancholic, but ultimately willing to make new good and bad memories and capture them for posterity. Loyal, down to earth in the sense that he knows where he came and what made him the way he is, sensible and patient, likes walking around cities or touring maybe, which is interesting really. For all the cocky American dream of a man the movie suggests he was, he didn't have posters of action movies or pics of him in fights or any of that. He had pics of architecture, nice tiny shots that suggest calmness, a steady hand and a more passive spirit. It really matches Mako Mori in that sense.

I could dive more into the subjects of how his photographs characterize Raleigh Becket, but I'm not lying when I say I'm feeling sick and my brain is kinda foggy.

I'll close this post talking about Chuck and his relationship with Max instead.

One of the first things I noticed on my last rewatch is just how many times Chuck and Max are practically switching roles in the film

As in Chuck gets treated like a dog and Max gets treated like a son. As in they are one and the same sometimes, given that Max is the vehicle of Chuck's repressed emotions, since he refuses to let them out openly. As in Max is the representation of the intricate rituals the Hansens use to communicate the things they cannot say but want to.

I'll try explain it quickly using two scenes from the movie, okay?

First one: when Pentecost and Mako were showing Raleigh the jaeger bay on the Hong Kong Shatterdome and the Hansens arrived just in time to greet the newcomer, Herc tells someone to stay but he is not talking to Max.

His clipped tone given as a short command surprised me because it sounded like the one you'd give your dog when you see someone or some other dog approaching. Now, if you know your dog is a troublemaker and if you have trained, you could give the command to tell him to stay away from the trouble.

But Max runs freely to Mako and Herc only jokes about how Max is always slobbering over pretty girls, a comment you'd expect from a dad about his teenage son. He doesn't tell Max to stop. He doesn't even look at the dog as he's talking with Raleigh.

The one who stayed behind, grounded, was Chuck. This alone tells us so much about the Hansens and their stiff relationship. Chuck is the dog who might bite, the one you need to pull the leash to avoid him attacking. Herc is not a perfect man but here it's obvious he did fuck up as a dad. He gives orders like he's a commander and Chuck a subordinate. Stay.

(I can't remember exactly the dialogue, so you might forgive any discrepancy. What I know is that Herc told Chuck to stay behind while he greeted Raleigh, meaning that Herc knew Chuck might cause a scene. What did he know about Chuck and Raleigh and why did he tell Chuck to stay behind?).

The second scene: on the farewell moment before Operation Pitfall, Chuck kneels to pet Max one last time and tells him to take care of Herc (or was it the other way around?).

I choose this moment to defend my point because here? Here Chuck is assigning Max as his replacement. Not in the mean way, of course, but he acknowledges that his dad might lose his only son and trying to soften the blow, he gives Herc one last mission: to take care of Max and also let Max take care of him. Max is an extension of Chuck, so it's a way of saying that their bond stays there and they will ALWAYS take care of each other, it doesn't matter if Chuck dies during Pitfall.

It's also telling that Chuck kneeling to pet Max is a metaphor for Chuck asking Herc for forgiveness. All his intentions go to Max in that sense. Now Chuck has become Max and Max will always be Chuck. Now, man and dog are one, because the dog has taken Chuck's place as Herc's son and Chuck is the dog that gets send to die at the bottom of the ocean, some fucked up version of Laika up in space.

That's why we see almost every pilot eating at least once in the movie, but not Chuck. He was feeding Max and once it was over, they both walked away like the food was not on Max's belly but Chuck's. That's why Max and Chuck almost never interact with someone at the same time.

Chuck is the kid who got instructed but not raised by his dad. He's the war dog with an impressive killing count that doesn't get to brag because he barks too much and he's not nice to strangers. He is, to any means, just an scared animal behaving like he was taught to. He is confused and jealous when Herc gives his attention (and affection in Chuck's eyes) to someone else. Chuck is desperate to be told he's a good boy, he's enough, he's loved and appreciated. He lashes out when he feels threatened or cornered and he gives puppy eyes meaning "sorry" when he knows he has fucked up, etc etc etc.

An if it feels abhorrent to reduce Chuck to the role of a dog, it speaks volumes about the way he got treated in the movie. In the end, the only thing he really wins during the movie is to be called his father's son. You can argue "but Shan, doesn't he also wins the respect of most characters?" and I'd tell you that it's a sad sad thing that the only way you can get others to acknowledge you as a good man is by exploding yourself at the bottom of the ocean.

I'm not talking about Mako or Raleigh here, because through Max, we know that Mako and Chuck could be friends but in the movie all we get is a tense relationship summarized in maybe one exchange of words (that got Chuck beaten up by the way). And when it comes to Raleigh, all the resolution we got was a silent apology and the equally silent acceptance of such after the Double Event, if we don't count that Chuck was on Raleigh's left side during Stacker's motivational speech

But you know those metaphors of pets being like children? From that angle, Pentecost and Herc are always treating Chuck as an spoiled brat. Which he is, but c'mon. It's not like Herc can talk much being that he failed Chuck big time and it's not like Pentecost wasn't there to witness how the youngest ranger ever to be graduated survived 5 years of actual hell and achieved the best killing count. You don't get there for being a kid. You don't go so far without maturing hard and fast. Chuck is not some annoying puppy picking fights because he's bored. He let's Max sleep and eat and okay to his liking because that's the side that Chuck himself can't be: carefree, soft, selfish in the sense of being self-indulgent.

Mako had to shape herself into a sword to avenge her family and make justice and even survive in a world that tried to kill her when she was still just s little child. Raleigh had to freeze his memories in photographs because he's by now used to tragedy and not having enough time, things ending fast, his happy days going away, losing his home and family. Chuck gave his dog the comfortable life he wishes he could have, he devoted himself to the task of giving Max all that he felt Herc failed to give him, and finally gave Max his place as Herc's son.

Which yeah, pretty much is what I tried to say in many clumsy words ejdjdkjfkfkdn:

Mako, Chuck and Raleigh all had an specific item in the movie that explains or contains them as characters.

#pacific rim #pacrim #pacific rim 2013 #pacrim 2013 #raleigh becket #chuck hansen #mako mori

39 notes · View notes

buckyhad · 2 years

Text

On the road

wc: 1674

pairing: Soft!Dark!Billy Hargrove x fem!reader, mentions of Steve Harrington

tw: dub-con, non-con (just for safety), voyeurism (Steve Harrington), public sex, breeding kink, toxic relationship (I think that’s it).

I had like the principal idea for this but while writing it turned totally different, so I hope yall like it, also english it's not my first language so any correction it’s welcome.

Billy met Y/N when he was 18; she was 15 and Max's friend.

He immediately feels in love with her, or what he thinks its love, in his weird ass concept of loving someone who isn't him.

He made sure that everyone in the town knew that she was his, so of course no boy came near her.

When Y/N was 16 Billy started to give her flowers, he was 19 so of course he wasn't going to take her on a date, he still wanted to hook up with other girls, again, weird ass concept of loving.

Y/N turned 17 and Billy decided that it was time to win her mother's heart, so he brought flowers to her mom, and a little car to her brother, her dad wasn't around so it was even easier.

Her mom was fascinated with him, who wouldn't? I mean, he was tall, and charming and has the prettiest hair in the town.

When Y/N turned 18 Billy went crazy, it wasnt even her birthday when he was knocking the door to finally kiss her and took her on their first real date to a restaurant in the center of the town.

Of course everyone was shocked, Billy Hargrove finally setting with a girl? It's not something you see every day.

Their first year went amazing and filled with love.

She has her first time with him, of course he made sure no lame boy touched her, she was his, and he was going to make sure she was his in every aspect.

And thats when everything started to go down the hill.

Billy was angry or drunk almost every day.

He was mad when she talked to another boy, it didn't matter that it was because she was working, he would get angry at her and scream how much of a whore she was. And after that he always hate fucked her. So of course she loved to make him angry.

She decided to quit her job after a while.

And Y/N wasn't that behind him either, while he works at the pool, she sits beside him to make sure neither of those old bitches, as she liked to call them while fighting with him, looked at her boyfriend.

He has been angry with her, but nothing like that day.

He fucking humillated her.

And she loved it.

Its was a hot day and Y/N wanted an ice cream, so she went to the best ice cream shop in Hawkins, first mistake, Steve worked there.

Billy hated Steve, he said it was his worst enemy.

Actually, Steve didn't do shit to him, but anyways, after a few punches, Billy hated him even more.

Y/N entered the shop to order an ice cream, and there was Steve, in his blue uniform, Y/N sighed, praying that Billy didn't see her. She wasn't in the mood to fight with him today.

Billy liked to fuck Y/N in every single place, so she always wore the prettiest little skirts, just like she was doing while shopping.

— Hey Steve!.— she cheered. Steve looked around looking for her crazy boyfriend, sighing happily when he wasn't there.

— Good evening, Y/N.— Y/N and Steve where friends before Billy, he was always with her friend group, almost babysitting them as he says, (actually he loves them a lot) so for him it was really sad seeing one of her kids being in such a toxic relationship.

— I would like a cone please, strawberry ice cream.— she smiled.

— Right away.— He said.

And she never got to eat her ice cream, because there was Billy, driving his blue camaro, stoping when he saw her. Cursing God when her prayer didn't work.

She knew what was coming next, so she smiled at Steve with an apologetic smile.

Billy entered the shop stomping towards her and Steve frowned watching the scene in front of him, and got closer to her just in case, with her cone in hand.

— Here you go, than... —

— I told you to dont fucking speak to him, are you dumb or just too horny to care?.— Billy talked throught his teeth.

— Dont talk to her like that.— Steve tried to interfere

— Its none of your damn bussines.— Billy responded without looking at him.

— I'm just buying something to eat, fuck off.— she stated rolling her eyes.

— Wait in the car.— Billy said to her while looking at Steve.

Y/N handed Steve the money while grabbing her cone and skippin towards the car.

Billy entered the car, not even looking at her.

— Do you want some?.— she said liking her candy.

— Are you dumb? Im serious, I FUCKING TOLD YOU DON'T TALK TO HIM!.— he smacked the steering wheel in between his last four words —Don't roll your eyes at me.— he whispered the last part while grabbing her ice cream and throwing it out the window.

— WHAT THE FUCK IT'S WRONG WITH YOU?.— She screamed and looked at him gasping.

— With me? What it's wrong with me? WHAT ITS WRONG WITH YOU, being a fucking slut all the damn time with every single boy you see.— Billy was driving like a mad man at this point.

— I was literally just buying something to eat, you are crazy, really crazy.—

— You want to be a whore?.— Billy stopped abruptly the car at one side of the road — All right, i'm gonna treat you like one, get out of the car.—

— What? I'm no... —

— It sounded like I was fucking asking? Get out of the car.—

Y/N did as he said, expecting to be left there, but Billy also got out of the camaro and that's when she felt real panic.

— What are you doing?.— she asked shaking a little bit.

— Hands on the hood, and i'm not going to ask you twice.—

Y/N placed both of her hands on the hood and felt her boyfriend standing behind her.

— You know who drives through this road to go to his home? That's right, your little friend Steve. — he said while placing his hand on the back of her neck and pushing her so all her upper body was on top of the car, and leanded to keep talking to her.

— Stop, you're really scaring me.—

— There is no reason to feel scared sugar, you're really going to enjoy while I fuck your brain out in here.— Y/N felt a cold run through her spine, already ashamed of the wet feeling in between her legs.

— No, let go of me, i'm deadass serious.— she wiggle trying to scape him when she started to feel Billy pulling down her underwear.

—Watch your mouth.— he hissed —You know which it's the best part? Steve's shift is over in 5 minutes, so he is probably going to see you get fucked.— he let out a mocking laugh.

— Billy, please, you can fuck me all you want when we get home, please.— she heard the sound of his jean opening.

— I love when you beg me like that, just get me even more horny.—.

Billy let his dick spring out of his boxers, already fully hard with the idea of fucking her girlfriend raw in the middle of the road, and he was even more excited to show Steve that Y/N only belongs to him.

He spitted on his free hand and fisted his cock, tucking at it a little bit preparing himself.

Y/N was still shaking, with shame and anticipation.

He lifted her skirt a little bit, and prodded his tip on her pussy, spreading her wetness and his spit.

— God, always so tight for me.— he said after fully pushing inside her.

He thrusted his hips at a slow pace, and lifted his head when he heard another car, smirking when he recognized it.

— Look who it is sweetcheeks, your friend, say hi to him.— he grabbed her hair making Y/N arch her back and look at Steve, who stopped when he saw Billy. Y/N was just moaning really low while her eyes rolled in her skull.

— What the fuck are you doing? This is fucking illegal Hargrove.— Steve shouted.

— Yeah? Well, too bad, I just couldn't resist my girl you know. Yes, you probably know, because you love to flirt with her.— he powered up his pace making Y/N moan louder.

— You are really sick man, you really are.—

— Im not the one watching his friend get fucked and getting a fucking boner.— he chuckled.

— He is right Stevie, you are real... fuck, really enjoying this.— Y/N talked for the first time in a while. — Fuck i'm going to cum, Billy, please.—. Her boyfriend reached his hand to her front, rubbing her clit.

Steve was just mesmerized with the sight in front of him, frozen in place watching his friend cum.

— Oh dear God, fuck, Billy so good.— he fucked her throuhg her high, overstimulating her — No more, too much, stop.—

— You wanna see me cum too Steve?.— Billy was really getting off in showing power over his girl. — Wanna see me breed her? Cum inside her? Because i'm gonna put a fucking baby inside her, because she is fucking mine.—. Y/N almost screamed while her second orgasm of the evening hit her after Billy talked about putting a baby in her.

— Oh man you really are crazy.— Steve whispered loud enough for them to hear.

Billy came inside her after a few more thrusts, gasping while grabbing Y/N face to give her a depp kiss. Steve was still standing there, horny and shocked, not knowing what to do.

— You can already leave to go touch yourself Steve. Don't talk about this with anyone.— Y/N laughed a little to ease the tension.

— Yeah, yeah, of course.— he rushed inside his car and left as fast as he could.

— Put your underwear back on, and don't stain my car.— Billy tucked himself back in his jeans. — You did really well sugar, I love you so much.— he hugged and kissed his girl.

— I love you too.—.

#billy hargrove smut #dark!billy hargrove #dubcon #billy hargrove #steve harrington #billy x reader #billy hargove x reader #billy hargrove x y/n #stranger things #billy hargrove imagine #billy x reader x steve

376 notes · View notes

sad-brunnettee · 1 year

Text

Heaven can wait

Billy Hargrove x female reader

Warnings: mention of death, angst with happy ending

Word count: 1,861

A/n: Listen to this song while reading

Masterlist | Rules (requests closed)

—

There were countless nights that you spent laying awake next to Billy. Your head laid on top of his arm while you caressed his chest. Attempting to calm him down after a bad fight with his dad. He would have one of his hands play with your hair.

Most times it was done in silence with a few whimpers escaping his lips. Other times, he was able to speak about what happened and his fears.

He would confess many times that he was scared his dad would hit him too hard to the point of going unconscious. Another of his worries was that he could drive too fast after a fight and loose control. As much as either of you hated talking about such things. Billy always wanted to make it clear that he’d never leave you.

“If I die, I’d find a way to come back to you.” Even if it sounded like a joke, his voice was filled with sincerity. It always brought tears to your eyes, you were sure that he is your soulmate and the mere thought of him dying brought you pain.

Billy wasn’t sure how he got so lucky to have you by his side. He grew up thinking he’d die alone, never getting the opportunity to get his dad’s love. You were his first real relationship, he still had room for improvement but he made you the happiest. Aside from this, he could never bring himself to tell you he loves you.

No matter how many times he practiced saying it in the mirror. The words always got stuck in his throat, yet you knew. Because you also understand how hard it is to say it, your past relationships weren’t the best. You also never spoke those words to anyone, yet just like him, you showed it any time you had a chance.

Your only wish was for him to survive the battle of star court. Everybody except you and Max seemed to care for Billy’s well being. Yet no matter how hard the two of you tried, nothing seemed to get the monster out. He looked unrecognizable as he stood between El and the monster, acting like her shield.

At that point, Billy’s main priority was to protect you and Max. Nobody wanted him to risk his life, you were all sure that there was another solution. The next few minutes happened so fast that you had no time to react. The mind flayer plunged itself once more to Billy. The scream that he let out made everyone’s feet stayed glued to the floor.

As the rest of you tried to get closer to Billy in hopes of saving him. Billy’s mind seemed to be somewhere, a place where all of his memories passed in front of him. There were some he wish to forget about and only brought pain. They were all a blur by how fast they showed themselves but he was still able to decipher each one of them.

Yet they seem to slow down as they showed him memories of the two of you. They all brought him happiness, he started to feel guilt for leaving you like that. He believed there was no way of saving him yet it felt like he broke his promise to you. He would never leave you.

—

Billy isn’t sure for how long he has been stuck in the upside down with no body to keep him company other than those pesky bats. He has tried countless times to find a way out, a way to get to you. Yet it seems to be almost impossible. He could almost swear that he could sometimes hear your voice whenever he roams around Hawkins in search for safety when the bats invade his hideout.

It has been a month since he started to stay in your house, at least the upside down version of it. There are times that he hears you crying and playing music. Yet no matter how loud he screams or bangs on the wall. You can’t hear him. He wonders if he’s going crazy or if it’s really you.

Just last week, it dawned to him that the voice and sounds he heard, where not made up. It really was you, he could hear you talking to Nancy and Robin. Saying you tried to move on but you felt guilty for some reason. When Billy heard this, he felt his heart drop. He was so selfish thinking you’d always hold onto his memory just like him that the thought of you being with someone else made him angry. He needed to get back to you fast, he started getting desperate that he did what he always does when he’s frustrated. He broke things.

You on the other side sat on your bed while you faced Nancy and Robin who sat across from you. Right when you had finished telling them about your last encounter with a guy, you saw something from the corner of your eye move.

Billy started off by hitting the walls repeatedly and then moved on to the things on your nightstand. He dropped everything that some bottles of perfume fell and broke while the rest of the papers went flying.

In your room, the only thing that fell from your nightstand was a polaroid of Billy. Your mind started to question how it happened, while Nancy and Robin blamed it on the wind. You knew they could be right but you believed that it was a way of Billy trying to connect to you.

—

Since then, Billy hadn’t heard you again. He thought you had officially moved on and forgot about him. If only he knew of the new monster terrorizing Hawkins. One that you and the others have to get rid of.

You were on the boat with Steve, Nancy, Robin and Eddie on your way to find a gate. One moment you were sitting on the boat scared of going inside the water and the next second you followed Eddie to go with the others. As soon as you went through the gate you came yourself face to face with a pack of bats that were attacking the group.

You felt yourself overcome with rage at the thought of them being controlled by Vecna and all the other monsters. Including the one that lol Billy from you. Without thinking much you grabbed a stick from the ground and used it as a weapon.

After that, everything was a blur but you and the rest believed you had it all figured out. Including a way to get out of there. Even though you told them that you wanted to stay and search for any clues of Billy. They were all against the idea, not only was it dangerous but they didn’t want you to get your hopes up.

Just as you were about to grab the rope, everything went dark. Everyone was gone but you heard a clock chiming in the distance. You were the only one that Max shared her experience with. You weren’t sure why Vecna was now after you, you didn’t have any of the symptoms that Max had.

“Steve!” You yelled out, hoping it would somehow bring them all back to you.

A few seconds later, you heard groaning and movement to your right. But when you looked there was nothing there, only vines and darkness.

Next thing you knew, a vine moved and wrapped itself around your body. It caused a yelp to escape your mouth as you tried to get away but to no avail. It then started pulling you. You closed your eyes, afraid of crashing into something. Just then, you heard a deep breath coming in front of you. It was then followed by something touching your face. This only made your eyes shut even more if it was possible while moving your face away.

“There’s no escaping now y/n, i have you where I want you.” Vecna said as he made the vines squeeze you harder. It made you gasp and open your eyes.

What you didn’t know, was that Steve’s desperate calls to your name caught the attention of someone else. Your house was near the trailer park and as Billy was using stuff around your house to block the windows. He heard a male’s voice screaming your name. It sounded much more closer and clear than when he heard you in your room. Without thinking, he dropped what he had in his hand and ran towards the noise.

“Please, I-I…” you tried to talk through sharp gasps but found it impossible.

“You’ll face the same destiny as Billy did.” Vecna said.

It caused your breathing to pick up and brought tears to your eyes. “The same Billy, you left to face me alone.”

“What? No! I-we tried to save him.” You stuttered out.

Vecna closed his eyes and moved his other hand in a motion that made Billy appear next to you. It left you no time to react as the Billy that Vecna created started blaming you of his death. The only thing you could do was cry and say no, trying to prove the fake Billy that you tried to save him, countless times.

Just as Billy had walked through the doorway at Eddie’s trailer. He saw how Steve was shaking your shoulders, all while your eyes were white and you stayed still.

“What did you do to her?” He barked as he stormed in and pulled Steve away from you. Steve’s face paled as he saw Billy and did nothing but stare at him in fear and confusion.

“Y/n, wha-what’s wrong with her? Answer!” Billy said as his eyes filled with rage.

Steve had no time to answer as Dustin’s head appeared with headphones and a cassette tape on his hands. “Steve, we found a- oh shit, oh, oh shit.” He said as he stared at Billy with an open mouth.

It was enough to get Steve back on track and focus on trying to get you back before you would tart levitating like Max did. “Quick Henderson, throw it to me.” He said as he got closer to the opening on the roof. As he caught them swiftly he ran back to you and started to play the song.

Billy had no time to question the logic behind the roof as he looked at you. Hoping you would come back to them. A few minutes later, your eyes turned back to normal, but as you tried to calm yourself down. Billy rushed over to engulf you in a hug. You thought that maybe you were still under Vecnas power but as you heard Billy speak you melted to his hug.

Gasps and questions erupted from the others but you paid no attention to them. Billy was back and you will make sure to keep him safe and away from Vecna.

Billy was just grateful to finally be out of there and knows that with this second chance, he will make things right. Not just with you but with everyone else. Even if that means teaming up with Steve to defeat Vecna.

—

🏷️: @kawaiibear0704 @mama-miya @hellomyweirdos @lubsana @n39ro-chann @kenzi-woycehoski @yookayur @wittleespur @jadesbrain

#sad-brunnettee #stranger things #stranger things x reader #billy hargrove #billy hargrove x reader #billy stranger things #billy hargrove angst

132 notes · View notes

berenwrites · 8 months

Text

Beyond the Battle - Chapter 41 - Stranger Things - Steddie

Beyond the Battle: Action & Consequence

Click here for All Posted Chapters

Summary: Steve hits things with a bat or gets hit depending on who you ask. He definitely does not have anything to do with the psychic stuff. That is El’s domain. However, as Vecna is defeated, the rules change.

Pairing: steddie (Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson)

Other Relationships: Steve & Robin, Steve & Dustin, Eddie & Dustin

Rating: Teen

A/N: Multi-chapter story, updated regularly. Honestly not sure how many chapters it will have yet because it's still a bit hand wavy in the middle, but definitely more than 12. Thank you to my beta for find my mistakes and to all those who read/like/reblog.💖 Follow #st:beyond-the-battle for updates.

Also on AO3

Chapter 41 - Back Down to Earth

Steve was doing his best to make sure everyone had drinks, be it alcohol or something age appropriate, and stay in the background. The last thing he wanted was to be quizzed about his part in everything. The looks he had been getting from the Buckleys were bad enough once Robin had filled them in on the details Owens had left out about Starcourt. He’d also noticed several sets of eyes on the scar around his neck.

Max’s mom was the only adult without a glass of something in their hands, which Steve took as a very positive sign. His mom had taken over making sure the woman was alright and Max was glued to her mom’s side as well. Most people had wine or beer, but his dad had headed off any issues with Ted Wheeler by furnishing the man with the good Scotch.

So far Steve had managed to keep his distance from Dustin’s mom, mostly because Eddie hadn’t, and she’d almost squeezed the life out of him. Steve loved Claudia, she was a great mom and treated him like a second son a lot of the time, but he wasn’t sure how many grateful hugs he could take. Listening to their story retold, even without all the details, had dragged up a lot of memories. He would really have liked some quiet time to put everything back in its boxes in his head, but he couldn’t exactly just disappear.

All of the older members of the party seemed to be equally on edge, so they were all holding it together as a group. The kids seemed to all be dealing with it as well as they usually did, which was still amazing to Steve. El was even giving little demonstrations of her powers up close for various people.

It made his skin itch that he couldn’t make sure she wasn’t damaging herself while she did it. As if she knew what it was doing to him, she looked up and gave him a little smile after every time. She’d only had one tiny nosebleed so far because she wasn’t doing anything particularly hard, it was just the quantity that had set her off.

“You look like you’re about to vibrate out of your skin.”

Steve looked down to his side to find Erica was standing next to him.

“Yep,” he agreed, because there was no point in denying it. “How are you doing?”

“I’m too young to fully conceive of my own mortality,” Erica replied with her usual poise and confidence, “but I could use some ice cream.”

It was obvious she wasn’t quite as fine as she was making out, but he appreciated her efforts and the out she had given him.

“That I can do,” he replied. “Come on and you can pick from the flavours I have in the freezer.”

That earned him a genuine smile. They headed into the kitchen and then into the pantry where the chest freezer resided. He always kept the corner of it stocked with ice cream for just such moments of need and he pulled out the tubs Erica chose. Taking them back into the other room, he set about making her a sundae with the sauces he knew she loved.

“Is that ice cream?”

He looked over to find Mike standing in the doorway as he presented the concoction to Erica.

“It is,” he replied. “Care to set sail on an ocean of flavour with us?”

Mike was clearly as tense as the rest of them, but managed a smile at that.

“You’re not wearing the uniform,” he said, walking in fully, “and um, yeah, thanks.”

“I burned it. Pull up a stool,” Steve offered and headed back into the pantry because he knew he had Mike’s favourite flavour still in the freezer.

Somehow it seemed to be like one of Eddie’s magical summoning spells, because as he scooped ice cream, Dustin appeared. Then Lucas, then Max, then Will and El. Before he knew it, they were laughing and bickering and trying to steal spoonfuls from each other’s sundaes. Basically, they were acting like kids, and it made him smile.

“You guys are having ice cream without me?” Robin’s betrayed tones broke him out of his reverie.

“We would never, we saved you some,” he promised and held the bowl he had been about to tuck into out to her.

“Scoops Troop forever,” Erica and Dustin piped up as Robin crossed the room.

It was ice cream, it was kind of dumb, but Steve still had to pinch the bridge of his nose to push down his sudden desire to cry. It had been a very stressful day and that he could help the kids with something so small got to him. Robin bumped his hip, giving him a small smile as she read him perfectly as usual.

“Dustin, don’t you dare,” he said before Dustin could throw sprinkles at Lucas. “You make a mess you’re cleaning the whole kitchen.”

Dustin grumbled but put the shaker down.

“Tell me why I put up with this again,” he said to Robin, because it was just what he needed to prevent him embarrassing himself.

“Beats me,” Robin replied. “Pass the strawberry sauce.”

He did, picking up another spoon at the same time and helping himself to a spoonful of Robin’s sundae. Probably said a lot that she didn’t complain in the slightest.

~*~

Erica and Dustin were having a staring contest to see who could claim the last scoop of fudge ripple when Steve looked up and noticed there was a delegation in the doorway. Dustin’s mom, Erica’s mom and Mike’s mom were all huddled in the opening.

“Oh, hi,” he said as soon as he noticed them, “sorry, do you need the kids?”

“Oh, no,” Karen said, stepping into the room, “we were just wondering where they went.”

“Ice cream,” Dustin said with a grin and all but bounced over to his mom.

“Steve owes me ice cream for life, so I was cashing in,” Erica said.

“I do,” Steve agreed with a nod, “a deal is a deal.”

“That’s quite a deal,” Sue Sinclair said.

“Um, ah, Scoops,” Steve said, not quite sure how to explain it now he had opened his big mouth.

“Negotiations about ice cream are a good distraction when dealing with Russians,” Erica said, and Steve almost died of heart failure.

She hadn’t technically lied, but she had just covered for him with her mom.

“Everyone else is just crashing our party,” Erica added.

“It’s ice cream, of course we are,” Mike said, still nursing his bowl.

“I’m afraid we’re out of the most popular flavours,” Steve said, “but I do have some other ones in the freezer if you ladies are interested.”

“Thank you, Steve,” Claudia said with a smile, “but I have already eaten far too many of your mother’s lovely hors d'oeuvres.”

“And I have seen our kids with ice cream, and I like my limbs attached,” Sue added her own polite refusal.

“Mom,” Lucas complained as if he was mortally embarrassed.

“I’m not sure it’s quite the weather for ice cream yet,” Karen said, also smiling, “but I wouldn’t mind a coffee.”

“Oh, of course,” he replied, jumping into action.

He’d been so focused on the kids he had forgotten about making sure all the adults had drinks.

“Dingus, sit,” Robin said before he could get to the coffee machine, “you’ve been running after everyone all afternoon. I’ve got this.”

He went to protest since this was his house, so it was his responsibility, but Robin gave him a look. His protestations died on his tongue. When El linked her arm through his and dragged him towards the kitchen table he had no choice but to go. Apparently, he was being ganged up on. Erica gave him a small superior smile and the boys wisely chose not to comment lest they become targets as well.

“Can I have a hug?” El asked very seriously as she pulled him into a chair beside her.

“Of course,” he replied and opened his arms.

This had to have been so hard for her and he felt her relax as she wound her arms around him as he did the same for her. El was so strong and he would give her anything to help her stay that way. His instincts also kicked in the moment his arm overlaid the bare skin of hers and he was pretty sure she had instigated the hug for that very purpose. He congratulated himself on knowing what he was doing for once, even as he automatically checked her over, boosting her own healing just a little to make sure her nose was not sore. It barely took a thought given how well his abilities seemed to know her.

“I like your hugs,” El told him. “They make me feel safe, like my dad.”

“Well, I learned everything from my dad,” he replied, letting her get comfortable. “He is the best hugger I know.”

“I might barf,” Max said, but she was grinning broadly as she said it.

“If you want a hug too, all you have to do is ask,” he shot back, giving her the most innocent of smiles.

She scoffed at him as if that was the furthest thing from her mind, but he made a mental note to make sure Max got another hug before she went home. She was still the same brash, independent Max on the outside, but she needed all their support right now. The shadows of Vecna’s games were still in her eyes.

“Anyone else for coffee?” Robin asked as she handed a cup over to Mike’s mom.

“Me,” said a voice from the door.

Steve looked over to see Eddie hovering in the doorway.

“I’m beginning to get jittery,” Eddie added with a grin as if it was a joke.

“Won’t coffee make that worse?” Will asked with a thoughtful little frown.

“Nope,” Eddie replied, “weirdly the opposite actually.”

“Well, that makes sense then,” Dustin said.

“What does, faithful party member?” Eddie asked with his usual dramatic style.

“I was trying to work out why you keep failing to graduate but you can write a whole detailed DnD campaign in two days. Y’know to see if there was anything we could do to help,” Dustin replied, “and I mentioned it to Suzy. She thought you might have undiagnosed attention deficit disorder. One of her brothers has it and one of the signs can be that caffeine has the opposite effect that it’s supposed to. Would explain why you can’t concentrate for shit in class, because God some of those are boring, but get hyper fixated on things that actually interest you.”

It was all delivered in Dustin’s usual vaguely offhand tone as if he could have been talking about the weather. Eddie for his part just kind of stopped.

“That does sound surprisingly like me,” he eventually said, clearly surprised and also a little embarrassed.

“Dustin,” Steve said, “now might not have been a great time to bring that up.”

“What? Why?” Dustin asked, apparently genuinely confused by the gentle reprimand.

One day Steve was determined to teach his young friend to think before he opened his mouth.

“Nah, it’s okay,” Eddie said, recovering quickly, “something to think about at least. Better have that coffee soon then, or we might need Supergirl to get me down off the ceiling.”

“I would be glad to help,” El said, still snuggled up to Steve’s side.

“On it,” Robin said and the awkwardness in the room began to dissolve.

Steve saw the three mothers exchanging looks, clearly seeing the dynamic between their children in a new light. It wasn’t as if he could blame them. They had had a lot of information thrown at them and it must have rearranged their world view. Steve knew that feeling all too well, from afar and everything recently.

Eddie began to demand to try what was left of the ice cream, which helped remove the last vestiges of discomfort that remained. What Dustin had said made sense, even though Steve had never heard of attention deficit disorder. Eddie had one of the sharpest minds he knew, right up there with the kids, Nancy and Robin. That he had failed high school twice seemed more and more bizarre. He made a mental note to ask Dustin about it later and turned to Claudia, asking about a recipe they had talked about the last time he had been over to her house.

It was a nice neutral topic and he really did want to know what went into her tater tot casserole.

End of Chapter 41

Chapter 42

#stranger things fanfiction #steddie #steve harrington/eddie munson #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #eddie lives #stranger things #st:beyond-the-battle #fanfic #post season 4 #vampire eddie #hurt/comfort #vampire eddie munson #steve harrington has powers #steddie fanfic #steddie fic

4 notes · View notes

not-close-to-straight · 10 months

Note

Oh boy, this could get long (I already apologize in advance) but I had thoughts while reading the new chapter so here we are.

Heather is alive and could be ok??!!!! Oh please, I hope so!! I hope so for her and also for Billy because Billy will need a goddamn friend!

“Don't.” Will picked at a loose thread on his jeans. Didn’t look up and couldn’t quite meet anyone’s eyes as he whispered, “Don’t say that. Don’t uh-- don’t think about the most likely scenario. We don’t want that.

I think I'm in love with this version of Will. I just ADORE him! I also love his relationship with Steve that we saw bits of during the story. 😍😍😍

I love Hopper in this universe too. How he says 'I'm sorry about your brother, I really am' to Max and how Hopper and El interact before the adults go away. They are sweet together and I love it.

“We can’t halt an entire operation cos the hunky Ken doll is missing.” 👍👍👍😂😂😂

“But if Steve is flayed, he will use his bat to turn us into DND flavored pancakes!”

“That doesn’t even make any sense! Hed never hurt us, possessed or not!”

This warms my heart. How they are so sure of Steve. How they trust him so deeply that they just know he would never hurt them. The love between Steve and the kids is so huge and sometimes even overwhelming but I love every second of it. They've all been through a lot and Steve is their rock/their anchor and they would go to hell and back for each other.

ROBIN IS MY GIRL!🥰 Spelling out some harsh truth to Jonathan. I know I talked about the love the kids have but Steve also needs someone like Robin, who will put his wellbeing first and who will be a rock for Steve when he's having a hard time. (And boy, will he have a hard time after all this).

starcourt mall in the furthest edges of his consciousness, lit up with fireworks and shaking with the sound of screams. billy straightened up and dropped eleven’s hand. Pushed her behind him gently, firmly, promised with all the certainty of a boy not afraid to die, of a man too tired of living, “stay behind me. i won’t let it get you. i’m gonna do one thing right. one thing right and then i can-- then i’ll just--”

Billy ready to give his life to save El, to save them all. What a great moment! It was so powerful, even more so with us seeing all those memories, all those glimpses of sadness and pain in Billy's life. Eleven did amazing

“she was pretty.” eleven whispered. “really pretty. and you were so happy. you look like her when you smile…”

THIS WAS PERFECT!

And the ending. Billy and Steve moving their fingers, reaching out to each other... That was a movie worthy ending of the chapter. I am so damn impressed!! It was BRILLIANT, you are BRILLIANT!

I actually saved Heather cos one of the commenters on AO3 asked me to. Like she was legit gonna die but then… I’m tweaking canon this mush, what’s a little more? Plus it’s less guilt Billy has to feel later if they can say “your friend survived”

Listen. Hopper is the first guy I ever saw with a dad bod that made me go 👀. He is far from perfect but good gravy is he just incredible. I adore everything about his character arc and personality— everything.

The memory walking with El and Billy. That was one of those scene where I could see it in my mind so so crystal clear and on a TV it would be fairly simple to execute but man it was difficult trying to get it right on paper. But el telling him “you look like her when you smile”

Please. My heart. It shattered

2 notes · View notes

kimoralov3 · 2 years

Text

final thoughts on stranger things

so as y'all know i finished stranger things last night so it is time for me to share my thoughts. this will probably mainly be about s4 and maybe s3 because those are the freshest on my mind but if i have anything to say about s1 and s2 i will

also imma be talking shit about some stuff because i can't live without talking shit

characters

as far as characters go i think the ones i love the most are lucas, max, will, eddie, steve, and robin. like i would literally fucking die for them if given the chance (same goes for el and dustin)

characters i fucking hate include mike, billy, jason, and dr. brenner. any time i see someone defending one of these people i question their sanity

and as far as like nancy and jonathan go i obviously love them but i don't love them as much as i love some of the characters listed above

i love joyce and hopper, if i could replace my parents with them i would

think that's about it for characters but i'll come back later if i think of anything

relationships between the characters

now

i don't know what to start with so i'm gonna start with some dynamics i like before i start shitting on the love triangles

i truly adore dustin's relationship with steve and eddie. like it's just so wholesome but like heartbreaking at the same time. dustin obviously doesn't have a father in his life (where is he??? will we ever find out???) so i feel like he looks up to steve and eddie and takes on some of their traits because they're like parental figures to him

i absolutely love max and lucas' relationship. like it is the best romantic relationship in the show besides joyce and hopper. they have my favorite dynamic of like the couple that makes sarcastic comments to each other all the time but you can just see the love in their eyes whenever they look at each other. all of season 4, every time lucas looked at max or he was checking up on her or something like that just made me want to cry because i knew it wasn't going to end well in terms of their relationship/max not getting hurt. definitely my favorite ship of the show

now there's a lot of debate about what the best brother relationship on tv is, but i'm here to settle it for y'all: it's will and jonathan. the love that these two share for each other is so strong it literally makes my heart hurt. like in season one, the way jonathan was so focused on finding will and how even when he wasn't talking about will or anything you could feel the stress radiating off his body. like he went to see his father who we know he hadn't seen since he left because he thought that lonnie had kidnapped will (also the way lonnie basically told us that he used to put hands on jonathan + the fact that jonathan checked his trunk as soon as he got there.... shitty dads should burn in hell). and then this season, when jonathan was watching and listening to will basically confess to mike, then he later talks to will and basically tells him that he'll love him no matter what and that he's sorry for being distant and that he's gonna try harder??? girl i wanted to fucking cry

joyce and hopper have my second favorite romantic relationship of the show. like from season one you just knew that they still had feelings for each other (i believe that they had feelings for each other in high school which is why i said still) like yeah it took 4 seasons for them to even kiss but honestly i'm fucking glad it did because that scene was so fucking cute and sweet n shit. i am excited (but very fucking nervous) to see what will happen to them in the next season (also the scene where murray reads them for filth??? fucking chef's kiss bitch)

now when it comes to the whole nancy, jonathan, and steve love triangle i am not ashamed to say that i am a hater. love triangles are so frustrating to me because it's either i love one guy and hate the other or i fucking love both of them but with this one... i don't like either of the potential couples. my main issue is the fact that when nancy is in a relationship with one she starts flirting with the other??? like girl your name is not elena gilbert or bella swan please don't do that shit. like why be in a relationship with one knowing damn well you got feelings for the other??? and as far as the boys go, despite me being the steve harrington stan that i am i will not be forgiving him for the shit he pulled in season one. and in this season with jonathan when he said he was basically avoiding her so he wouldn't have to break up with her cuz he didn't want to go to the same college with her i was like nigga you gotta be joking. like that's the worse plan ever, that shit never ends well for either people involved

when it comes to mike and el i will once again say that i am not ashamed to be a hater, but i think a lot of the problems i have with them come from my issues with mike. which obviously means that mike is the problem in the relationship. like the whole thing about mike being annoyed/upset for eleven for her hitting angela with the skate (as she fucking should've i would've done more) really pissed me off because why did he not have the same energy when she was defending him from his bullies???? and like don't get me wrong i totally understand being insecure in your relationship but literally all el wanted you to do was for you to tell her that you love her because she knows you've said it before

and as for mike and will.... girl i don't even know what to say about these two. like overall mike is just a very shitty friend in seasons 3 and 4 especially, and will and everyone else deserve way better than that. "it's not my fault you don't like girls" NIGGA WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH WILL MISSING YOUR FRIENDSHIP?!?! chile that scene enraged me to no end. and with the whole thing in the pizza van like how do you not clock the fact that will's words have a double meaning... like if he was genuinely your best friend you would notice that something was up because of his tone of voice. he doesn't have to know that will has feelings for him, but he should be able to tell that something was wrong

other dynamics i enjoy are el and hopper, dustin and lucas, murray and joyce, and max and el

other opinions

i think the trope of a character dying in the same season they're introduced in is so fucking stupid, and stranger things does this basically every season, but the one that bothered me most was eddie. maybe it's because i am way more attached to him than other characters that fall into this plot, but it's just so fucking lazy to me. i don't mind eddie finally being like "hey, you know what, i'm tired of running, i'm gonna stay and fight" because it's a great character arc- but if he fucking dies then what was the point??/ y'all doing this just so y'all don't have to kill one of the main characters?? and it was obvious that he was a sheep for slaughter because of all the "when i get out/once this is over" conversations. like i just don't know what to say anymore

i do not understand why billy has stans. like at all. i don't wanna hear any of that "but i love villains and he's a good villain" bullshit. billy hargrove is a racist abuser and is not someone you should be stanning. i hate that they tried to give him a sort of redemption arc by having him sacrifice himself, because that is not enough. for it to be a true redemption arc, there needs to be moments where the character goes "hmm maybe i shouldn't be doing this", then the sacrifical event, and then them making amends and fully changing their actions. if a character dies before they truly change, it's not a redemption arc, and therefore you should not be out here praising him. i felt absolutely nothing when he died

also if you're one of the people who believes that eddie and billy would be great friends if billy was still alive you are sorely mistaken. billy is a fucking bully and eddie is the town freak, none of their interactions would be positive

a lot of people started hating mike in season three but i started disliking him in season two because he was a dick to max every time she much as so breathed a way he didn't like

the wigs on this show are better than whatever the fuck marvel be putting on people's head

lucas and will lowkey have an underrated relationship and i would love to see more scenes of them together in season five

if more people listened to joyce and dustin this show would be so much shorter

concluding thoughts

overall i really enjoy this show, despite it's many problems and i'm glad i finally caved and started watching it. i cannot wait for the last season (think it's gonna be the last one right???) i'm very open to discussion and hope y'all are too cuz i wanna hear your thoughts! and if you wanna see my reactions click on the "kim watches st" tag!

#kim watches st #eleven hopper #mike wheeler #lucas sinclair #dustin henderson #max mayfield #nancy wheeler #steve harrington #will byers #jonathan byers #eddie munson #robin buckley #jim hopper #joyce byers #stranger things

9 notes · View notes

castle-dominion · 11 months

Text

Starting with Hedge Fund Homeboys to ease myself into the earlier episodes (rather than getting whiplash from going straight from the s3 finale to the extended pilot).

c1x4 tho technically I think it is 1x3...?

I have 45 minutes & I need to watch a 45 minute episode. I recognize that from the intro, I love that abt these. Coffee <3 Whose dad is in what? Rehab? Grams had a party? Oh it was cinqo de mayo nvm. Love the music

Senieh? Lanie <3 I prefer esposito's hair here compared to s3. I was literally thinking about viking burials, mostly bc of unus annus.

Hold on I saw those chairs & I thought they were viking celtic shields lol. Ah yes, I remember the good old castle sherlock moments. I also really prefer beckett's hair & character design. Nice scarf, nice jacket. Who had the money to send rick to all those different schools & how did he get kicked out?

Amanda, Romy, Brandon, Spencer, & Max. Really 2009 isn't it. lmao what a bad video. They're lying True, he can't get in trouble he kind of got into drugs?

Goat song...? Casually twists his ear lol.

Love how she just lies abt going to york.

Ah, I hadn't heard mention of it much at all in s2 when I first got into the fandom, I heard from the fandom that ryan used to be a narcocop but I hadn't heard it from the show. I see now. It was season one. KR: During my narc days, this area was pretty much an open bazaar, especially at night.

Castle sherlock moments Drug dealers can have hobbies ms panizzon.

Hey, Detective, get over here! You see someone you recognize, Mrs. Falcigno? No, I miss your sparkling personality. Yeah!

RM: It's not about putting him on his heels. This is about building a case for the DA. RM: Watch this. Watch her now. KB: Maybe you can drop me a line in about twenty-five years. Scoville: Coupla dudes. Coupla chicks. One was Asian. Kinda hot. XD ok bestie

y'all should get your story straight (but not too straight) Having seen it twice I'm starting to think they DID have a straight story. & I can so so easily see the stuff going on.

They could let Romy into that room first to see that they can indeed not see her. If Ryan can hear beckett why can't the numbered fellows?

Just straight up asks her "do you do drugs" & I love these two & their relationship. Tailor, Kelsie, Paige. We know their names & I remember they show up later. This is me & my mom. Well i'm actually a bad kid sometimes & alexis is an angel but other than that. I love & trust my mom so much.

Gentlemen gentlemen!

I like all the purple & at least Ryan looks somewhat normal (so I'll be able to ease into the pilot without whiplash) Ryan just walking around with a rick castle book under his arm lol; kate really did get him into those books

Yankman & his emo lookin hair. Yeah rich kid rebels. ngl I kinda like yankman Lol the knicks game with montgomery, castle, & the mayor. ha, castle but acab

Becks wow kinda rude in front of the parents. "we did it all the time" is crazy & not a good cover. Wow gun laws in the usa huh... Murder not manslaughter? Why did they call ryan to talk to beckett That ought to be fun to explain /s

I love the "you should be writing" screensaver Girl fare dodging isn't even a crime. Public transport should be free. Ok good for you, you swiped your card the next day w/o riding it & that is justice. You lied to him but then you told him & that is also justice. Lmao ice cream for breakfast "after the DC trip" RC: that's my girl!

Yeah...

I love Lanie & her hair WOAH THAT IS HELLA DRUNK But who would move the body & then frame someone looking guilty? Unless! they moved the body first & then when they realized they'd get caught THEN they killed/framed max!

lol zen koan one handed clapping

KB: If by screwing around, you mean intentionally putting a bullet in a chamber, knowing that Max was gonna shoot Donny, then yes. You and I are in total agreement. Not a good line imp

Kid's lying Mad respect to these kids for their crime genius stories straight.

This video is not proof of where you were last night like it sounded like you said. Gosh they just.. filmed it.. Except that one time pendrick accidentally broadcasted a murder

Already finishing each other's sentences

Amanda has a great aesthetic. r/whyweretheyfilming Beautiful green shirt on beckett. I bet he did. Oh her face as she realizes.

Brandon is insane. Ew u'r a high schooler. idc if you have a nice jacket, you're a dickwad.

Not yet. But one day I'm gonna write it. RC: Funny thing is, if he did, Brandon would've known. It would've popped up on his shared folder as soon as their phones... *gestures really funny* Is there a record of syncing???

...Fun? Suck a lemon little man? I confess... that I'm dying to cop a feel under your cop blouse. I hate him sm

It took me a while to finish this bc I had to go away for the weekend but finally I'm finishing this.

Castle is using his dramatic writer skills to get into this kid's head

Rick going with Alexis <3

Martha... Martha...

I LITERALLY HAD THAT MUCH OF THE EPISODE LEFT FML

#castle 1X4 #castle 1X4 spoilers #castle 1X4 quote

0 notes

merrock · 1 year

Text

CHARACTER INFORMATION

face claim: Florence Pugh

full name: Maxine Wicker

nickname(s) / goes by: Max

pronouns & gender: she/her & cis woman

birth date: May 1, 1996

birth place: Merrock, Maine

arrival to merrock: Local

housing: the suburbs

occupation: Horse trainer

work place: animal sanctuary

family: Father and younger sister

relationship status: single

PERSONALITY:

Free-spirited and sarcastic, Max either clicks with you quickly or not at all. Need someone to climb a tree to rescue your cat? She's your girl. Need someone who will nod her head and agree that your boss is being totally unrealistic? She's your girl. What you see is what you get with her and she's proud of being forthright and honest. Take it or leave it. She doesn't care.

WRITTEN BY: Clare (she/her), est.

BACKGROUND / BIO

TW: death (parental), illness

In the Wicker household, things came in twos. It was their blessing; it was their curse. Two sisters, born to live in each other's pockets. Two puppies adopted in August. Two broken bones from getting thrown off Orion. And, of course, two months from their mother's diagnosis to her funeral.

Max was ten the winter her mother passed. Before that season she'd known nothing but Merrock and it's surrounding country. She lived at the edge of the suburbs in a ranch home. They bumped up against creeks and farms and forestland. She'd known backyard camping, smores, winter carnivals with powdered funnel cake, and pumpkin picking. She'd known a little sister nipping at her ankles and snoring in the bottom bunk. Everything tasted sweet; everything tinted yellow. After the funeral the girls were left to their father's care. He could be careless, could stumble, but he came at the challenge with an open heart. Max loved him fiercely.

The first time Max sat on a horse she was a goner. She'd beg off days from school when she heard a foal might be born at the local ranch. Riding was freedom. To her, it was pure unfiltered joy. When she was old enough she took a job as a ranch hand. She wasn't afraid to do the dirty work of cleaning the stables or the pastures. Sometimes when her dad arrived to pick her up she'd be found napping in the hay, a horses head in her lap. She was a goofy teenager, free with her laughter and with her words. She was protective of her little sister, but not inclined to set anything close to a good example. What she was careful with, was her heart. She didn't go about falling in love with classmates or Merrock. She was always planning to leave.

After high school, she packed her bags and went to study equine sciences. Two years later, an associates degree under her belt, she traveled to Georgia to work at becoming a professional horse trainer. Those were the happy years when the days went by in a blur. She traveled with the jockeys to derbies and would whisk home to Merrock over the holidays with stories caught between her teeth. She dreamed of a future where she might be able to open her own ranch, take in the retired stallions and mares.

And then, on Valentine's Day one year ago she got a call that her father had suffered a stroke. She flew home and spent three weeks at his bedside. He'd recovered but he could require care and just like that, the season changed on Max. She's moved back to Merrock and back into her childhood bedroom. Finding work at the local Animal Sanctuary was no problem, but she still mourns the horses and life she gave up.

#merrockbio #maxinewicker #death tw #parental death tw #illness tw

1 note · View note

mochegato · 3 years

Text

Even the Losers

Chapter 8

Chapter 1 Chapter 7

“Your father is Bruce Wayne and now he wants to reconnect,” Nino recapped as though anyone involved in the call was unaware. From the look Chloe gave him, he was particularly happy she was in New York not Paris and couldn’t actually smack him upside the head.

“Thank you for that waste of time and breath,” Chloe grumbled.

“I just… don’t see the problem.” Nino did actually move away from Alya before she could swat him. “What? Your dad is Bruce freaking Wayne! Even if you don’t connect with him, you can totally draw on that Wayne money.”

He wasn’t fast enough to move away from her smack that time. “Ow!” he pouted at Alya.

“It’s not about the money!” Alya groaned, already exasperated by him. “It’s about him not wanting to have a relationship until the press found out. It’s about him cutting her out but taking in a gaggle of other kids.” Nino lightly shoved Alya’s shoulder and motioned toward Marinette’s expression on the screen. Alya grimaced and gave him a nod of understanding.

Marinette looked down and pursed her lips to keep from frowning. It was bad enough thinking it in her own head constantly, but hearing it out loud, repeated back to her? That made it so much worse. That made her feelings real. That legitimized her feelings. She couldn’t pretend like she was just overreacting. They were justified. Which meant she couldn’t just freeze them out. Or rather she shouldn’t. She had to face them.

She focused her energy on not changing her body language so she didn’t worry Adrien any more than he was already. Keeping her body relaxed instead of tensing up. Adrien had gone into a frenzied panic when he and Max had returned from their apartment search to find her collapsed on the floor, blocking the door. She’d missed the worst of it according to what Tikki said, but she still remembered the terrified look in his eyes when she woke up. He hadn’t left her side since, keeping constant physical contact.

Max seemed to inherently understand the situation and was jumping up to get anything either of them might need so they didn’t have to abandon each other for even a few moments. She was eternally grateful to him for it because she wasn’t sure who the physical proximity was having more of a calming effect on, her or Adrien, but regardless, they both needed it.

Her attempt to not react didn’t seem to have been as effective as she thought it had been judging by the way Adrien hugged her closer to him. Marinette lightly bonked her head into his chest and returned her attention to the laptop screen. “It’s okay, Nino,” Marinette assured him weakly.

“No it isn’t,” Chloe said over her. “Both of you need to stop talking.” She flipped a page in her magazine and looked up at the screen. “I mean, that’s true in general, but especially during this call.” Her eyes were sharp when she looked up but Marinette could see the concern she was trying to hide by focusing on her magazine. She wasn’t sure what Adrien had told them about how he found her but she could tell it was enough to scare them too.

Marinette rolled her eyes at Chloe. “Yes, it is.”

Chloe groaned. “This is the way we work Dupain Cheng. You and Adrien let people walk all over you, Nino keeps the peace, Alya starts trouble, and I tell people the truth and to back the fuck off when it’s warranted.”

“Which never starts trouble,” Alya snarked.

“I do not let people walk all over me!” Adrien objected, looking around for support. Marinette gave a curt nod of agreement, but Max was avoiding his eyes and Chloe was staring at him flatly.

“No, you don’t let people walk all over us,” she motioned toward the screen, trying to indicate the rest of them. “But you let everyone walk all over you.” Her eyes moved slightly and her eyes narrowed slightly. “You both do.”

Marinette wrinkled her nose at the screen with a pout. “I stood up to you,” she groused.

Chloe scoffed. “And it only took you like ten years to do it. So proud of you.” She rolled her eyes so strongly, her entire head moved as she did it.

Marinette’s mouth dropped in offense. “I’m better now.”

“Are you, though? Really?” Chloe deadpanned.

Marinette pouted. “Yes!”

“Statistically, she is accurate,” Max added. “She does stand up for herself more now than when we were younger.” Marinette pursed her lips at Max, unsure how to respond to his comment. On one hand, it defended her. On the other hand, she did not at all appreciate how he stressed the word ‘statistically’ and she was certain everyone else caught that as well.

Chloe opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by Nino. Marinette sighed in relief until she started processing his words. “I get that it’s hard and it hurts, I guess I just thought you wouldn’t take it this hard. After Jagged with Luka and Juleka and your grandfather… you forgave all of them. You helped Jagged with Luka and Juleka, making sure their relationship didn’t go bad.” He motioned vaguely at nothing. “You seemed to brush it off and take it as a challenge. So why isn’t this?”

Alya dropped her head in her hands. “Tact, Nino. God.”

“No, he’s not wrong.” Marinette frowned as she thought about his words. “I went after Grand-père and convinced him to reconnect. Papa never held it against him so I guess I didn’t either. Luka never held it against Jagged, just moved forward. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe…”

“No!” Adrien interrupted before she could follow that train of thought any further. He gently turned her toward him to focus her attention on him. “There’s nothing wrong with you or how you’re reacting. There’s no wrong way to react to news like this. If you feel sad, that’s fine. If you feel annoyed, that’s fine. If you feel frustrated, that’s okay. If you want to just move past it, there’s nothing wrong with that. If you feel angry, that’s okay. And if you feel like you need space, that’s okay too. There’s no wrong way to react to this,” he repeated.

“Except however Chloe would respond,” Alya added with a smirk.

“Hey!” Chloe objected loudly, glaring at the screen, but with no real heat behind it. “For the record, how I would respond to news like this is to spend all my new found father’s money, pressing my boundaries until he finally said something. And if he didn’t say anything, I’d use those billions to do whatever the fuck I wanted and never see him in person.”

Marinette blinked at Chloe, as did the rest of the group. That was certainly… an option. Not one Marinette would ever choose, but it was… Marinette started giggling at the idea. Adrien joined her quickly while Max, Alya, and Nino watched them worriedly. Chloe rolled her eyes and flipped the page in her magazine, but the corners of her lips quirked up.

“He is correct,” Max added, bringing them back to the original point. “There are a variety of ways people will react to finding out they have a parent they didn’t know about. Markov found hundreds of studies on psychological responses to similar news and responses are extremely varied.”

“Juleka had a harder time with accepting it and connecting to Jagged than Luka did, remember?” Adrien pointed out. “And there’s nothing wrong with her. She wasn’t wrong to react that way, right?” Marinette shook her head reluctantly. It wasn’t that she thought there was anything wrong with the way Juleka reacted, but in agreeing with Adrien’s observation, she would have to agree with his point that she was allowed to freak out about this instead of ignoring it like she wanted to.

“Marinette,” Alya raised her voice to bring attention back to her. “You can do anything you want here and we’ll support you. You know that. No matter how this ends we all love you. No matter how you react, we’ll love you. Nobody is going to judge you for any decision.”

Chloe scoffed. She waited until everyone was looking, or in Alya and Adrien’s cases, glaring at her. “What? You want me to lie to her?” She looked incredulously at the other faces on the video call. “We won’t judge. Hell, I’m willing to scratch his eyes out in public for you. But, your name was already getting out there and his name, now yours, is on the largest corporation in the world. Every news and gossip organization is going to be talking about it forever if you guys don’t make a good show of it.”

“So?” Alya demanded incredulously. “She should just do whatever is best for publicity?”

“Did I say that?” Chloe scoffed. She finally put her magazine down to show how serious she was taking the conversation. “When have I ever let the threat of bad publicity stop me from doing something? I just said it would be out there, not that she should care. It’s a factor, a big one when she’s figuring out what she wants.”

“What do you want?” Adrien asked gently, turning his attention back to Marinette.

Marinette looked at Adrien for a few seconds while her brain whirred at high speed thinking through all the options. What did she want? None of this. That’s what she wanted. After a few seconds she took a breath and let it out. “What I want is to not have to deal with any of this. What I want is to not be his daughter. What I want is to figure out where we want to live and work and start a company there like we planned. What I want is to live a normal life now.” She ignored Chloe’s scoff. “What I want…” she sighed and looked away. “What I want doesn’t matter.”

Chloe huffed almost loudly enough for it to echo. “Of course it matters, it just doesn’t change the past or the current situation. But, you control your next steps. So Ladybug this bitch. Some egomaniacal, rich, pampered megalomaniac has created an utterly ridiculous problem that you now have to fix. This is your specialty. Show this bastard who he walked out on. Make him regret not dying with his parents.”

“Woah! What the Hell?” Nino exclaimed. “Too far.”

Chloe scoffed and looked back at her nails. “If you think that was too far, you should have heard what I wanted to say. I toned it way down for your sensitive ears,” she added condescendingly. She just barely looked up when Marinette started giggling. Chloe’s lips quirked up the more Marinette tried to stifle the slightly unhinged sounding giggles.

“Dude, that’s her grandparents…” Nino whisper shouted. Marinette suddenly sobered and paled in realization.

“Or!” Adrien interjected with false excitement positioning himself between Marinette and the screen. “Or, you could, you know, try to build a relationship with him.” He looked decidedly away from the incredulous looks from Alya and Chloe and the doubtful look from Nino on screen, trying to pretend like they weren’t judging him. He moved closer to Marinette and took her hands in his giving her a sincere, serious look. “You have someone, your father, who wants to connect to you.”

He ignored the loud scoff from the computer and continued as though Alya or Chloe, or both, hadn’t verbalized their opinion. They clearly weren’t that opposed or they would have said it instead of making a noise. He “accidentally” closed the video chat and gave Max a pointed look.

Max nodded slowly. “I’m just going to go to my room for a few minutes. Let me know if you want to talk.”

Marinette and Adrien both shot him thankful smiles. Adrien waited until his door was closed before looking back at Marinette with a concerned look. “You got screwed in this deal. Nobody can deny that, and however you feel, that’s real and valid. It’s okay to be hurt. It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to say this is too much for you right now, or ever. But, do you really want to walk away? Not connect to him? Not try?”

“He didn’t want…” Marinette started weakly.

“Maybe he wasn’t ready,” he cut her off before she could spiral again. “Maybe this is the universe’s way to saying it’s time. You got the embodiment of luck in your pocket. Is it really so farfetched to think luck played a role?”

“Bad luck,” Marinette scoffed to the floor. Adrien gently rapped her on the top of her head with his knuckle. She looked back up and caught his unimpressed look. Marinette sighed and looked away before looking back up at him uncertainly. “I don’t know…”

“Do you think you want to try?” Tikki asked floating out of her resting spot. “It’s your choice. But I don’t think this is going away, so whichever decision you go with you’ll have to face the consequences.”

“Or I could just cataclysm him,” Plagg offered rubbing his paws together. He darted away from Tikki before she could shut him up.

“No!” Marinette and Adrien chorused at the same time.

Adrien glared at Plagg but made sure to soften his eyes before looking back at Marinette. “Okay, maybe things don’t work out with him. But it sounds like you have siblings. You already like Jason. Maybe you’ll like them too.” He gave her a small smile and rubbed her arms soothingly. “You always wanted siblings.”

Marinette gave him a weak smile back. “I don’t need siblings anymore. I have you. That’s more than enough. I don’t think I could handle more of yous.”

Adrien scoffed good naturedly at her. “If anything I’ve made having siblings more appealing.”

Marinette scoffed playfully. “Keep telling yourself that,” she muttered.

He pulled her into a hug. “You always wanted more. And it sounds like you might have sisters.”

“More people he adopted after walking away,” Marinette groused into his shirt.

Adrien hugged her tighter. “Maybe he had a reason? Or maybe he just royally messed up. Maybe he hates himself for the decision. It’s something you won’t find out unless you stay. And you can just talk once and see how you feel about it. If it doesn’t go well, you can walk away and we can find that bar Roy mentioned. If it goes well, you can decide to stay or we can decide to move to New York or Metropolis, like we were thinking and you can still see him every so often.”

“Even if it doesn’t go perfectly,” Tikki added softly, “it’ll give you closure. You deserve to have that.”

“And you’ll wonder what could have happened if you don’t,” Adrien nudged her gently. “You know you’re going to regret not trying.”

“So is that an absolute no on the cataclysm idea,” Plagg popped up between them. “Because I’m still willing.”

Marinette rolled her eyes at him but shot him a grateful smile. It was as close as Plagg got to admitting he cared. She scratched him on the forehead and looked back to Adrien with a frown. “I don’t think I can handle this.”

“I’ll stay with you. And Max will be here. Tikki will be here for you. Plagg will be here, but don’t let that deter you…”

“Hey!” Plagg pouted.

Adrien continued without acknowledging him. “Chloe could be here in a few hours if we needed and she’d drop everything to get here, no matter what she says. Alya and Nino will only be a phone call away. We will support you no matter what you want to do. But we can’t make this decision for you, so, the question is what do you want to do?”

Marinette groaned and pouted at him. “You sure you can’t do this for me?”

Adrien gave her a sympathetic look and shook his head. “Not this time, Bug.” He waited a few minutes for her to think through her options. When she looked just as lost after another few minutes after that, he spoke up gently. “Do you want to talk to Sabine and Tom first? They might have some answers you need to make your decision.”

Marinette looked back up at him with a pathetic looking pout. “Can’t I just sleep through this instead?”

Adrien chuckled and shook his head, relieved she was now in a light enough mood to make jokes. “You could,” he nodded and put on a mock serious face, “but your problems will still be there when you woke up.”

“What bullshit,” she scoffed in a weak voice.

Adrien nodded. “Yep, utter bullshit.”

Marinette kept eye contact with him for a few moments waiting for him to impart some kind of insightful wisdom upon her. When he held silent and let her make her own decision, she whimpered and looked away. “What if it isn’t him I cataclysm,” Plagg asked, flying between them. “I could do it to his house instead… a few of his cars? Rich people always have too many cars.”

Adrien grabbed him out of the air and shoved him in his pocket with an exasperated groan. But Marinette giggled again. When her laughter had settled, she took a deep breath and motioned toward her phone. Adrien smiled at her as he placed it in her hand. She took a deep breath and pulled out the paper M. Wayne had given her. She dialed one of the numbers before she could talk herself out of it, which knowing herself could happen if she was given more than a few seconds to think, and looked up to Adrien, letting his soft smile ground her. “M. Wayne? It’s Marinette. Would you be free for dinner tonight?”

Chapter 9

Tags:

@maribat-bdbwm @jayjayspixiepop @redscarlet95 @alice-hazelwood @deathssilentapproach-blog @unoriginalmess @alyssadeliv @emotionalsupportginger @frieddonutsweets @when-no-wings-do-broomsticks @toodaloo-kangaroo @colorfulmongerpsychicranch @iloontjeboontje @wolf-for-life @maribatserver @aespades @prettylittlebutterflie @imarivers8 @ certainmuffinbagelcalzone@ritacrow-blog @unoriginalmess @demonicbusiness @kking13 @lady-bee-fechin @blur-of-colours @kittenmywaythrulife @kashlyn @loysydark

#maribat #bio!dad bruce #bio dad bruce wayne #roynette #Even the Losers #mbdbwm2021 #prompt - driving/cars #Yeah... I took a lot of liberties with this prompt #I'm pushing all the rest of the prompts back a day because this didn't fit any other way

278 notes · View notes

sirenofthetimes · 3 years

Text

Every Proposal on Gilmore Girls Was Absolutely Unhinged

This show was rich in couples, swimming in conflict, and desperately lacking in healthy communication. Which made for some batshit marriage proposals! Let's go:

Christopher to Lorelai in Season 1 ep. 15: Christopher Returns

In Christopher's first appearance on the show, he rocks up to Stars Hollow on his motorcycle at the end of the previous episode, out of the blue, and in this one archetypes are made clear: he establishes himself as the irresponsible deadbeat single dad to Lorelai's hardworking, mature yet still fun single mom. They have a weird dinner with everyone's parents where his parents, Straub and Francine, are shown to be even more uptight and awful than Richard and Emily can be. A lot of fighting and yelling and relitigating past choices ensues. Then Lorelai and Christopher go off to have emotional, nostalgic sex on her childhood balcony, and off the strength of that, he walks into her kitchen the next morning and blurts out that he wants to marry her so they can be a "real family". They barely see each other. They know hardly anything about each other's current lives. This is the first time he's visited the town they've been living in since Rory was a child and yet. A marriage proposal. Naturally, she turns him down, but we have not heard the last of Christopher Hayden.

Max to Lorelai in Season 1 ep. 21: Love, Daisies and Troubadours

This relationship was used mostly to discuss Lorelai's commitment issues, the difficulties of dating as a single mom, and have her fight allegations of her being promiscuous (which are not true, she can be very sexually conservative) by having her do something risky like try to date one of her daughter's teachers at the stuffy private school that also exists in her parents' world. So despite them having okay chemistry, they haven't really dated much and broke up after two months before getting back together shortly before the night of the proposal. Max comes by the house to pick Lorelai up and finds Luke there getting his toolbox and relaying the news that Rachel broke up with him (because she has a basic level of intuition and picked up on his feelings for Lorelai). Max and Luke have a very cringy dick measuring contest, Max (in possession of similar intuition) assumes Luke and Lorelai dated at some point but it's not season 5 yet so she's not legally allowed to admit she's into Luke. They argue, Max expresses frustration that their relationship can never seem to get off the ground, and what does he propose as a solution? Yoking their lives together in blessed matrimony. Lorelai is justifiably frustrated and tells him that's not how you propose, that a proposal is supposed to be special and grand. She lists "a thousand yellow daisies" as an example how to truly pop the question and the next day Max arranges for that famous logistical nightmare romantic gesture at the inn, then says some flowery bullshit on the phone and because it's the season finale and emotions are high, Lorelai accepts. Though later, right after her bachelorette party, she runs away and calls off the wedding. They meet a couple more times for closure, and then the relationship is truly dead.

Jackson to Sookie in Season 2 ep 13: A-Tisket A-Tasket

Sookie and Jackson's budding relationship has actually been pretty nice to watch up until this point. They have a fun balance between awkward but cute flirting and comical bickering about produce. But there's something in the area's water supply that makes people unable to clearly express their wants and needs in a romantic relationship so when Sookie doesn't respond how Jackson wanted her to to him saying his lease was up and asking her what she thought, he sulks. The sulking manifests itself in him not bidding on Sookie's basket at the bid a basket auction so she confronts him to see what's up and they actually manage to have a decent conversation about what moving in together would mean. And that could've been a nice ending for that storyline. But shacking up together? Out of wedlock? Impossible. So at their picnic for two, Jackson fakes Sookie out and says he doesn't want to talk about moving in together any more... because he thinks they should get married. Sookie, reeling from that whiplash, accepts, and since the rules of TV beta couples states they must move faster than the main will-they-won't-they couple at all times, they get married, stay married, and continue struggling to effectively talk through big life decisions,with some admittedly nice moments in between.

Lorelai to Luke in Season 5 ep 22: A House is Not a Home and Season 6 ep 1: New and Improved Lorelai

Lorelai and Luke are in kind of a weird place at the moment, with Luke upset with Lorelai for considering selling the Dragonfly to a corporation owned by one of her father's contacts, which would have her traveling and consulting instead. While she's not too serious about it, she's enjoying being courted by the company, but this is in complete disregard for the giant house Luke bought without telling her or the kids he's thinking about having that he also hasn't discussed with her so it's causing problems. This is forgotten however with the news that Rory wants to take time off from Yale after receiving some rare negative feedback, and that Richard and Emily are letting her stay with them after just telling Lorelai they would help her force Rory back into Yale. So when Lorelai walks into the diner lamenting the fact that Rory is making a decision independent from the vision Lorelai had for her life, and Luke comes forth with a nonsensical plan to, again, force Rory back to Yale, Lorelai is touched that she finally has someone on her side. And since she's a veteran of the season finale marriage proposal, she celebrates having her partner agree with her by asking him to marry her. He accepts in the next season's premiere with no hesitation, but eventually their tendency to hide things from each other to not ruin their relationship.... ruins their relationship. Shocking.

Zack to Lane in Season 6 ep 16: Bridesmaids Revisited

Zack is on a bit of a redemption tour after ruining Hep Alien's showcase in front of a major label by throwing a tantrum about Brian potentially writing a song for Lane. This random burst of jealousy sends him on a power trip that has him throwing out their set list and screaming at his band mates until a fight breaks out and the band and him and Lane split up. But when he sees Lane in the music shop some time later putting up a flier advertising her drumming services to other bands, the thought of her daring to potentially continue living her life without him spurs Zach into action. He convinces Brian and Gil to get the band back together and they're in if Lane's in. And his way of getting Lane back is to walk into Luke's while she's working, go off on some tangent about how he doesn't feel good, and propose in front of a huge crowd of gossipy small town people. Lane must have smacked her head on some antique furniture that day because although she at least stops to ask if he's thought about this, when he presents her with the pawn shop ring he got that "belonged to like an Elk or a Moose or something", she accepts and walks right into marriage and babies land and right out of development that would make sense for her character or be interesting.

Christopher to Lorelai in Season 7 ep. 7: French Twist

Ever since Lorelai walked out of her fraught engagement with Luke and into Christopher's bed, he has taken the reality of a woman coping with feelings of rejection by hooking up with the man she keeps stashed in the background for occasions such as these, and spun it into an elaborate romantic tale of two star crossed loves who waited their whole lives to be together. And when Sherry who, guided by the hands of karma, previously abandoned Gigi leaving Christopher to raise her on his own, writes a letter saying she's totally fine now trust her and wants Gigi to spend a few months with her in Paris, Christopher invites Lorelai along for a big romantic gesture trip. They spend most of it jetlagged, but Christopher remembers he's super rich now (as opposed to just being regular rich like before) and he bribes a restaurant to open early for the two of them. Lorelai, basking in the romance™ of it all, confesses her love, and Christopher pounces on that and starts in on a whole speech. Basically, even though he said he'd be willing to wait for Lorelai to fall in line with his vision, he doesn't feel like waiting any more. Lorelai, sensing where this is going, suggests they wait, as they've only been really dating for a couple of months. She also brings up Rory, figuring she'd want to be up to date and present any big changes. But Christopher waves those perfectly valid concerns away, stresses how long they've known each other, insists that they're meant to be, and fate has brought them together. And then comes out with it and asks her to marry him. Which are very intense words for Lorelai, an emotionally vulnerable woman who just broke off an engagement because her fiancé seemed overly hesitant to actually get married, to hear. We don't see her accept, but there's a scene of them returning home where he calls her "Mrs. Hayden" (as if she would ever change her name), and their marriage immediately began to fall apart like wet tissue paper.

Logan to Rory in Season 7 ep. 21: Unto the Breach

It's the end of Rory's time at Yale, and on the heels of her New York Times fellowship rejection, rejections from other newspapers across the country, and the fact that she rejected her one job offer for better things that did not come, Rory's future is wide open and unstable. On the other hand, Logan is completing his character transformation from irresponsible party animal trust fund kid to hardworking and responsible trust fund kid, accepting a job offer for an internet company in San Francisco. The question emerges: How will the young couple handle this next phase of their lives? And when Logan shows up at Lorelai's house in the previous episode, he comes with a solution. He wants to marry Rory and take her to California, and he wants Lorelai's blessing to propose. She gives it, though not without trepidation, and Logan does propose. In the middle of the graduation party Richard and Emily are throwing for Rory, he gets up in front of everyone and takes out the ring. Rory is caught completely off guard and takes him outside to talk about it, where he reveals that he got the job, picked out a house for them to rent, researched newspapers where she could apply to work, and even planned activities for them to do in their spare time. The original plan being that she would say yes to his proposal without knowing all this and walk blindly into her new, pre-arranged West Coast life. But Rory needs time to process the idea of marrying Logan immediately after college, and on the day of her graduation, she declines. Logan decides if he can't marry her, there's no point in being with her at all, and the two go their separate ways, to eventually meet again in a years long affair, for some reason. Though I barely acknowledge the revival.

Honestly, the only proposal that truly makes sense is Lorelai's to Luke in the revival but I won't discuss it here because a) again, the revival basically doesn't exist to me and b) they should've married during the original run of the show.

#gilmore girls #originals #this sat in my drafts for ages because every time i watched a proposal scene i need to Take A Minute #i mean imo even a lot of your standard proposals are still wild to me #but these.... woof

79 notes · View notes

samdeancass · 3 years

Text

Friends with Benefits

Requested on Wattpad

Pairing: Scott x OC, Derek x OC, Isaac x OC (brief)

Genre: Angst, Fluff, Smut

Characters: Scott, Stiles, Derek, Isaac (briefly), Erica (briefly), Allison (mentioned), Kate (mentioned), Braeden (mentioned), Liam (mentioned), Kira (mentioned), Max (OC)

Words: 2,742

A/N: Max (OC) is Stiles' twin sister.

Description: After being unlucky in love with Derek and Isaac, Max falls into the arms of Scott.

Being Stiles’ twin sister was hard work. Max had to live with his incessant need to be annoying all day, every day, and to be honest he was beginning to drive her up the wall. Stiles always felt the need to be nitpick at everything that she did, which he knew annoyed her to no end. Sometimes, your dad, the Sherriff, had to pull you off Stiles because of how much he had angered her.

“Seriously Stiles, can you not go one day without annoying me?! You’re like one of those tiny bugs that you can’t see but is buzzing around everybody.”

Stiles pressed his hand to his chest mockingly. “Max, you cut so deep. How could you say that to me? I’m your brother!” A smile played on his lips when their father stopped Max from pouncing on him.

Although, if it wasn’t for Stiles, Max would never have met Scott. The three of them have been inseparable ever since they met. Scott had been there through everything Max and Stiles went through, especially the passing of their mother. After that, a solid friendship was cemented between the three of them. That’s why Scott trusted Max wholly with the fact that he was a werewolf. At first, she was a little hesitant but after some coaxing from both Scott and Stiles, Max grew more comfortable with it which made her trust in Scott grow stronger.

However, when Max met the mysterious new friend of Scott’s, her whole world changed.

“Err, Scott. Who’s that?” Scott and Stiles both turned in the direction you were looking. “That’s Derek. Derek Hale. He’s a werewolf, like me.”

Max couldn’t take her eyes off Derek ,who was leaning against his Camaro. There was something about him that drew her towards him. Before she knew what was happening, Max’s feet began to carry her towards Derek, a fire in her chest.

When Derek seen Max making her way towards him, he stood up straight and kept his eyes on her, as if he was entranced. “Hey, I’m Max. Stiles’ twin sister.” He took your outstretched hand and gave Max a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry about that.” “HEY! I’m right here!”Both of them erupted into giggles at Stiles’ reaction and stared at each other for a while before Derek broke the silence. “So, do you know about everything that happens in Beacon Hills?”

Max nodded. “I’ve known for a while. I’m not gonna lie, it scares the shit out of me, but there is no way I’m going to let my town come under attack.” Derek nodded appreciatively before opening the passenger door of his Camaro. “Want to go somewhere else and get to know each other?”

Max turned back and looked at the two boys who were flirting, very badly, with girls two years older than them. A wide smile crossed her face before nodding. “Hell yeah!” Derek laughed at her enthusiasm before closing her door and making his way around to the drivers side.

Max’s feelings for Derek blossomed over the next few months but she wanted to keep them secret, so their friendship wouldn’t be ruined. However, during a fight with Derek, this secret was let slip.

“You need to stop fighting with Scott, Derek. Please. All he’s trying to do is keep this town safe!” Derek slammed his fists down on the table and turned to Max, his red eyes shining bright. “And what the hell do you think i’m trying to do, eh?” Anger was beginning to bubble in the pit of Max’s stomach.

“You really think that killing people is helping this town? Because it’s not! By doing this, you are pushing everybody away, including me. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to lose you!”

Derek’s eyes shone brighter as he walked over to Max and grabbed her shoulders. “I’m only killing the bad people, Max! Why can’t you understand that?! I’m doing this town a favour!”

A tear was threatening to slip down Max’s cheek as his words sunk in. “How can you think that killing people is the right thing to do? I thought you were better than that, Derek! I need you to be better, I need you to change!”

“Why? Why do you need me to change?! I’m perfectly fine the way I am!” The anger was beginning to bubble more; to the point that Max blurted out the one thing that she wanted to keep secret.

“Because I love you!” Max slammed her hands over her mouth as the last word was said. Loud cackling came from behind and Max turned around to see Erica walking towards them. She turned back around to Derek, who was staring at her in shock, before running out of the Hale House and into the forest.

For the next week, Max avoided anything to do with Derek. That was, until he decided to break into her house one night.

Max’s eyes shot open when she heard the sound of her bedroom window being opened. Carefully, she grabbed her lamp off her bedside table and hid at the side of the window, ready to attack the intruder. As soon as she seen two feet on the floor, Max swung the lamp towards the person.

“Ow! What the hell was that for!” Max walked closer and seen that the intruder was indeed, Derek Hale. “Derek?! What the hell are you doing sneaking into my room at 1o’clock in the morning?!”

“Well, I was hoping to talk to you about something, if you wouldn’t mind.” Derek nursed the back of his head whilst he took a seat at the bottom of Max’s bed. “What makes it so important that it couldn’t wait until morning?” Max took a seat next to Derek and examined the back of his head.

“I wanted to tell you before I lost my nerve.” Max quirked an eyebrow at him, clearly interested in what has made Derek so nervous. He took a deep breath and turned to Max.

“I know I should have told you this straight away, and I’m sorry that I didn’t. I just wanted to make sure that what I am feeling for you is genuine because.... I care about you too much to hurt you. I guess, what I’m trying to say is that I love you to. But we have to wait until you’ve graduated. It won’t look very good if a grown man is dating a high school student.”

Max stared at Derek with watery eyes and a large, beaming smile. She placed both of her hands on his cheeks and leaned in to plant a passionate kiss on his lips. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

A playful glint was evident in the corners of Derek’s eyes. “Yes, yes I do.”

Around a month after confessing her feelings to Derek, Max started to date Isaac. It was going so well at first. Max was beginning to develop feelings for Isaac as well as Derek. She loved being in Isaacs presence and he made her feel safe. However, all of that fell apart when Max found out that Isaac had cheated on her with Allison on their 6 month anniversary. After, Max had a fling with Aiden. This relationship wasn’t serious and it quickly ended when Aiden was killed by the Oni.

Max has been single ever since and she only had a year and a half left until she could graduate high school and finally be with the one man that she has always wanted. However, she didn’t know that the plans that she and Derek made all those nights ago was going to come crashing down around her.

Max had heard through the grapevine that Derek was dating Braeden, which she was absolutely fine with, until he left with Braeden after the pack had saved Scott from Kate and the Berserkers.

She was left heartbroken and through herself into her school work and the pack to keep her mind off Derek. Max became more focused on helping Liam hone his new werewolf abilities as well as helping him study for school. Stiles was, well Stiles. Scott was determined more than ever to keep the rest of the pack in Beacon Hills which is why he was broken when Kira left to gain control of her kitsune powers.

One night, Max and Scott were ‘studying’ for a huge maths final that was coming up. Laughing and giddiness filled the room as the two of them messed around on Scott’s bed. “This is the most fun I’ve had in a while. Thanks, Scott, I really needed this.”

Scott turned to Max with a beaming smile. “Anything for my best friend.” Max cocked an eyebrow at him. “I thought my brother was your best friend.” Scott placed a a finger to his lips. “Shh, it can be our little secret.”

They both lay down on the pillows and stared at the ceiling, content with each others company. “I’ve missed being with somebody like this, just having fun.” Scott turned to Max, his head resting on his arm and a warm smile on his face.

“I forgot to ask, how have you been since Derek left with Braeden? I know how much you cared for him.” At this question, Max’s whole demeanour changed and she stiffened up, still bitter about everything that had happened to her.

Scott sensed this change and immediately sat upright, concern written all over his features. “I’m sorry, Max. If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s Ok.” Max shook her head and sat up. “It’ll do me some good talking about it. I’ve kept it bottled up for so long, I’ve grown to resent what me and Derek had.”

Scott scooted closer and wrapped a comforting arm around Max’s shoulders as she began to talk about how the events had affected her. “I just feel as though I’m not good enough for anybody. First, Isaac cheats on me and then Derek leaves me when he promised that we’d be together when I graduated, which isn’t to long away now.”

Her head hung low at the thought of graduation. What once was a happy thing to look forward to was now something that she resented as it would remind her of something that was never going to happen. “I’m never going to be good enough for anybody. I’m better off away from everybody, where nobody can get bored of me. I’m just something that people can have before they find something better.”

A low growl left Scott’s mouth as the last few words came out of Max’s mouth. Out of the blue, Scott grabbed Max’s face with both of his hands and kissed her. Max immediately melted into the kiss, running her fingers through his chestnut brown locks. Tongues began fighting for dominance as the kiss became more heated. Scott placed his hands on Max’s waist and heaved her onto his lap so she was straddling him. Max’s hands left Scott’s hair and travelled down the back of his neck and around to his chest.

She began to tug at the bottom of his shirt, indicating that it needed to come off. Taking the hint, Scott broke away and took his shirt off, throwing it onto the floor. One by one, more clothes came off as the kiss developed further. A pile of them were at the foot of Scott’s bed, and both him and Max were naked in front of each other.

Max lay down on the bed as Scott manoeuvred himself on top of her, his eyes travelling the whole of her body. “So beautiful.” He leaned down and placed a loving kiss on her lips. One of his hands began to massage one of Max’s breasts, which made her groan into the kiss. Scott chuckled at her response and began to kiss down her body, leaving small hickeys in places that nobody could see, all while his fingers were flicking her ever growing nipple.

He stopped kissing just before her pussy which caused Max to whine. “Please, Scott. Don’t stop now.” He flashed her a devilish smile before disappearing inside her, his tongue lapping circles on her clit. Max felt the familiar sensation brewing in the pit of her stomach and she was desperate to get her release. “Scott...more....please.”

As if her knew, Scott ceased his actions and wagged his finger at Max. “Did you really think it was going to be that easy?” Max gulped as his eyes flashed a deep red. He chuckled at her silence and he slid two fingers into her, her juices acting as lube. Max’s face was in bliss as Scott’s fingers moved faster and faster inside her. He slid in a third and a fourth finger and a smile crossed his face as he felt her walls beginning to pulsate around his fingers.

Scott slid his fingers out and crawled onto her once again, sliding his long length inside of her. Max’s walls stretched to the maximum as she adjusted to his size. He was the biggest that she had ever taken and she was looking forward to the fun they were going to have.

Max gave Scott a nod before he began moving inside her. His movements were slow at first, careful not to hurt you, but soon after his alpha side took over. Scott fucked her into the bed, screams of delight and pleasure leaving his lips. His hands wrapped around her hips so tight that he was sure it was going to leave bruises.

Max could feel herself coming close to her release, so she grabbed Scott’s shoulders and squeezed as her walls clenched around Scott’s length. He released after a few more pumps and came, loud profanities leaving his lips.

Scott pulled out and lay down next to Max, pulling her into him. A thick sheen of sweat covered both of their bodies as they both lay there, heavily breathing. A loud vibration sounded from the nightstand and Max reached over to answer it. She talked for a while before hanging up and gathering her stuff to leave. Stiles was on his way home and he had offered to pick her up from Scott’s as she had left her car at home.

“I’ll see you later, Scott. Stiles is coming to pick me up.” Max left the room without looking at Scott and walked down the stairs, out of the front door. Stiles was already waiting for her by the time she had got out. Max opened the passenger door to the jeep and threw her stuff in the back before hopping inside.

“How did it go?” Max shrugged. “You know, same old boring school work. Nothing new.” Stiles nodded in agreement before starting up the jeep and driving the journey home.

The next day, Max was stood at her locker at school when Scott approached her. She kept focused on the stuff in her locker and kept packing her bag, completely ignoring him. Scott let out a small sigh. “Please talk to me.”

Max took a deep breath and closed her locker before turning to him. She tried her best to keep a straight face but the puppy dog look Scott was currently wearing was too much to handle and Max smiled at how adorable he looked. This made Scott smile, small dimples revealing themselves in his cheeks. However, that smile soon faded and concern grew on Max’s face.

“What’s wrong?” Her head cocked to the side as Scott shuffled his feet. “Do- do you regret what happened between us?” Max blushed at the question and shook her head. “Nope, do you?” He also shook his head. “Of course not, but I am a little scared that Stiles will hit me with his bat when he finds out.”

Max laughed. “Do you really think that I’m going to tell my overprotective twin brother that I had sex with out best friend?” Scott then laughed and shook his head. “I guess not.”

Scott and Max carried on their conversation and came to a realisation that, since they are such good friends and they don’t want to ruin that relationship, they should be friends with benefits.

Both of them were extremely happy with this arrangement. They kept it a secret from the pack and Stiles, of course, but when Max was alone she had lots of fun with the Alpha.

Tags: @stellastyless

#scott x oc #scott mccall #scott mccall imagine #scott mccall fanfiction #derek x oc #derek hale #isaac x oc #isaac lahey #teen wolf #teen wolf imagine #teen wolf fanfiction #teen wolf smut #scott mccall smut

175 notes · View notes

mandoalorian · 3 years

Text

I Believe In Love [Maxwell Lord x F!Reader] — One: Direction

Summary: When you find your calling to leave Themyscira, you venture out to the World of Man with intentions of helping and healing a very specific person's relationship with his son. You've heard his voice before, but only in dreams. You've felt his pain and anguish and you've never been able to relate to anything more. But things don't come easy for you, and they certainly don't come easy for him either. [This series contains spoilers for WW84 and is my interpretation of what happens after the movie ends].

Taglists (let me know if you wish to be added!)—

Permanent: @supernaturalgirl @phoenixhalliwell @ah-callie @luvzoria @stardust-galaxies @wickedfrsgrl @goth-topic @nerdypinupcrystal @wonderfulfluffer @kiwi-the-first @pedroepascal @castiel-barnes @honeymandos @rocketqueen @ladycumberbatchofcamelot @dybalalover10 @girl-obsessed-with-things @elena-myth

I Believe In Love: @mrschiltoncat @thebloodrobin @greatvaluedazzler @bxxbxy @marydjarin @the-feckless-wonder @typicalnerd98 @biharryjames @thwiso

Rating: 15+

Word count: 4,700>

Masterlist

Previous - One - Next

"I wish to travel to the world of man," you announced with a deep breath and a confident smile. Hippolyta looked at you and laughed. Her Amazonian guards copied the actions of their queen and burst into a fit of giggles that made you feel like a silly small child.

"And where has this outburst come from?" Hippolyta asked with a quirked eyebrow as she folded her arms across her chest. The laughing slowly quietened down as she waited for a response.

"I've been having these dreams," you began to explain hesitantly. Hippolyta leaned forward in her throne and looked at you quizzically, making a small gesture with her hand that urged you to continue. "I've been seeing death and destruction, I've been watching the world of man crumble…"

"You want to travel to a collapsing society? Don't be foolish, that doesn't sound safe. Why leave the beautiful walls of Themyscira to travel to the world of man?" You had heard stories about the world of man and how it was filled with greed and corruption. Themyscira was peaceful. It wasn't that you wanted to leave, it was that you knew deep in your heart that your time had come.

Hippolyta was right. You looked around the palace that you had stepped foot in, the marble floor under your toes and the gold intricate details that patterned across the walls. "You let Diana." you mumbled under your breath, turning away from the queen and beginning to walk towards the double doors that you had entered through, ready to leave the palace.

"What was that?" Hippolyta asked, rising to her feet. You opened your mouth to answer but an excruciating pain shot through your head— and that's when you heard him. You heard his voice again. His pain. It wasn't just in your dreams anymore… you could feel him like he was there, with you, like he was part of you. You screamed and fell to your knees as tears spilled from your eyes, your fingers clenching into a fist so hard your knuckles turned white. The pain was so intense and you heard his words over and over again. Hippolyta ran over to you, sinking down to your level and cradling your weeping body in her arms. She called your name. "What is it?"

"He's calling for me," you choked back a sob. "The world of man is in grave danger."

"From who?" Hippolyta questioned, wiping your tears away as you tried to regulate your own erratic breathing.

"I don't know, but I must help." you gasped. "I must help him. Please allow me to go." you grabbed Hippolyta's arms and looked at her with pleading eyes. "You allowed Diana."

"Diana was a fighter, our best one," Hippolyta said slowly, shaking her head at the memory of her daughter. "You are not a fighter." She said the four words matter of factory but her denial made your anger rifle through your body.

"Maybe I can win this without fighting," you sobbed. "Yes, I have no training. I do not use a sword or a shield, but my mother taught me that battles can be won if we just use our heart. If we love." you felt like you were begging as you recalled Hestia's words to you. Your Themysciran tribe were of a peaceful nature, and although small, your leader, Aphrodite, preached about the power of love.

"Olympus and Eurydice loved and what happened to them?" Hippolyta scolded, her question rhetorical. You recalled the story in the back of your mind and winced, knowing their fate. "We are Amazonians. If the world of men needs saving, then Diana will save them. Go home my child, I forbid you from leaving Themyscira."

Your heart broke. You couldn't believe that Hippolyta was confining you to the walls of Themyscira. She didn't understand. She couldn't understand. It was only once in a turn of centuries did an Amazonian connect with someone from the outside world— and now, you had. You had made that connection, but Hippolyta forbade you from acting upon it. You composed yourself as you stormed out of the palace and hurried down the stone steps. Tightening the buckles on your gladiator sandals, you wiped your furious tears away and took a deep breath as the anger consumed you.

It wasn't fair. You had spent your childhood studying the world of man, learning about them and their ways. Nobody had cared more about helping others than you. Your desire to care for those around you came from your very own purpose. When Zeus sculpted you in his own image, he made you goddess of home and hearth. He gave you your abilities for a reason. Amazonian's outside your tribe shamed you for your kind and compassionate heart— telling you it was a weakness more than a strength. They belittled you and made you feel unworthy. As you remembered your childhood trauma, you pulled out your hair from your tiara. You lived on Themyscira your whole life but it never truly felt like home. You always craved for something more.

You ran home. You ran as fast as your feet could carry you, letting your tears fall and your screams of anguish echo through the Themsycrian forests. It wasn't fair. What did Hippolyta expect you to do? Deal with this for the rest of your life. How could you not help the man who's pain was destroying his very soul? The Gods had connected you and him for a reason. You had to go. You had to.

As soon as you arrived home you broke down. Your mother heard your cries and found you in the garden, picking at the native Themysciran flowers as your salty tears dropped on the lilac coloured petals. "Hippolyta denied your request?" Hestia asked, sitting on the wall next to you. You nodded sadly. "Sweet child, tell me more about these dreams. About this...man."

You didn't see the point now that you knew you wouldn't be able to leave Themyscira. But Hestia was your mother and you loved her dearly, and so you took a shaky exhale and done your very best to explain. "It feels like I've known him forever, like he's always been a part of me," you admitted. "But— I don't even know his name." you shrugged helplessly and cracked a small smile, listening to how pathetic you must've sounded. Maybe Hippolyta had a point. "I don't even know how he looks. Even if I did venture to the world of man, how could I possibly find him?"

Hestia sighed, unclipping her lasso from her tunic and wrapping it carefully around your wrist. You looked up at your mother, your eyes comically wide as the lasso glowed yellow. "Close your eyes, my child," Hestia whispered. "See him. See the truth."

You closed your eyes and let your soul space away as the lasso transported your mind to elsewhere. To him— the man of your dreams.

"Alistair?" Maxwell cleared his throat, his son's head snapping in the direction of his father. "That was your mother. She wants you home." Maxwell pointed aimlessly back at the telephone.

"But daddy, you promised the whole weekend together!" Alistair's eyes began to well up with tears. Maxwell ran to his son's side, his heart aching at the sight of disappointment and he pulled Alistair into his chest.

"I know, and I will keep my word," he hushed Alistair, smoothing out his hair. "Don't worry." Alistair nuzzled his face into Maxwell's dress shirt, sniffing in fear of losing his father again. There was a few beats of silence as Maxwell's brain ticked like clockwork, trying to work out what his ex wife's intentions were. "Does your mother… does she ever talk about me?" Maxwell asked hesitantly, unsure if he was about to regret the question.

"I hear her, sometimes. I hear her talk about you to Ted," Alistair admitted, referencing his mother's new boyfriend. Maxwell hummed, still stroking his son's hair. He wondered whether or not he should ask Alistair what exactly she said, but decided against it, not wanting to hurt his son anymore than he already had. He knew that Juliana had nothing good to say about Maxwell.

"Ted? I thought he liked to be called Theodore," Maxwell chuckled, rolling his eyes and Alistair giggled back. Max and Alistair would often joke about how pretentious Ted could be.

"Well now he wants me to call him dad," Alistair sighed, too young to understand the implications of that revelation. Maxwell's heart broke. Of course Juliana wanted her son to call her new boyfriend 'dad'. She got Alistair on the weekdays and Maxwell got him on the weekends, it was more than likely he saw Ted more than he saw Max, and Max knew for certain that Juliana's hatred was fueled further with his every breath. The prolonged silence urged Alistair to speak up. "But I told mom I won't."

"You did?" Maxwell smiled sadly. "Why?"

"Because you're my dad!" Alistair grinned. "And you'll always be my dad, no matter what."

Maxwell couldn't bring himself to reply. His stomach twisted into knots as he thought about Julianna's words over the phone. "You do not deserve him. I don't want you anywhere near my son ever again."

He knew the level of determination his ex wife possessed and if this meant she wanted sole custody of Alistair then Maxwell knew there would be very little that would stop her. He had messed up bad this time. Alistair felt tiny in Max's arms, but Max knew his son's heart was huge and filled with unconditional love. But the worry and guilt consumed him. How could Max possibly fight and win this case— after everything that had happened? He didn't even have the money for good lawyers. Maxwell whispered an incoherent 'I love you' into the crook of Alistair's neck, his shutting as a tear slipped down his cheek.

Your own eyes snapped open, your chest heaving and panting as the lasso of truth unravelled itself from your wrist. "What did you see?" Hestia asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Did you see the man of your dreams?"

You tried to process everything. "I didn't see him," you whispered feeling defeated. "But I heard his voice. And I learned his name. He's a father and he's afraid of losing his son," you explained, taking in everything you had learned. "And his son is afraid of losing his father."

"When you awoke last night, what did you hear?" Hestia asked.

"He was crying. He said he renounced his wish. I've been struggling to understand what exactly that means but…" you closed your eyes, remembering the dream like it was a perfect painting illustrating the patterns of your memory.

Hestia smiled wearily. "I always prayed to the Gods that you would not be chosen. My dear child, I love you so much, but it's clear that this man needs your help. You're the goddess of home and hearth, and Zeus blessed you with the ability to bring families together and that is your purpose. To live a life without serving your purpose— who would you be?"

"It doesn't matter," you sighed sadly, rubbing your eyes. "Hippolyta won't allow me to leave." you reminded your mother.

"I can help you leave Themyscira," Hestia cupped the side of your face with your hand, her thumb brushing over the height of your cheekbone. "But if you are to help this man there is something you must know."

"What is it?" you asked your mother, your eyes beckoning for answers.

"There were once two brothers; Romulus and Dolos. Their entities combined were a force of pure evil, but the brothers left Olympus to go to the world of man. When they left, Zeus gave them two magical citrine stones, and the brothers practiced their powers on the stones. Dolos went to a place called Greece, where Romulus travelled to Italy and built the city of Rome. Not much is known about the stones, but now, only one remains. We don't know which one or where it is, but it's dangerous."

"Why are you telling me this?" you furrowed your eyebrows together in bewilderment.

"The stones are indestructible, unless the power of the stone is harnessed by a person themselves. Then, the entity of the stone vanishes but the power lives in the person. The power of wish granting. If he has renounced his wish, that means…"

"...he's had a wish granted," you clicked on to what your mother was saying. "How do I find out which stone has been destroyed?"

"You need to find the man of your dreams and ask him who granted his wish," Hestia explained. "You must destroy the final dreamstone."

"But why?" You quizzed, your shoulders falling limp as you took in this abundance of information.

"Because Romulus and Dolos are the God of Lies." Hestia whispered, her hands falling from your shoulders as she clipped the lasso back to her tunic.

Your heart sank into your chest as the revelation hit you. "The God of Lies?" you repeated.

"If you go to the world of man then your purpose must be more than just helping this man and his son," Hestia told you. "You must find the final dreamstone and destroy it."

"How can I destroy the God of Lies?" you shook your head furiously. "No, nuh-uh, not happening. I can't even fight. I don't have any weapons— never trained. I can't do it. I can't." you scowled, standing up and brushing down your Amazonian dress, turning away from your mother. You felt her hand grab your shoulder.

"Remember what I taught you, my child. Battles can be won through the power of love," Hestia smiled. "If I didn't think you were worthy, then I wouldn't be allowing my only daughter to travel to the world of man. But I am because I believe in you. And I believe in love."

***

Maxwell couldn't focus on the video game anymore, shuffling around uncomfortably at the mere thought that Juliana and Ted could be on their way to collect Alistair for themselves. "Hey, how about we get some fresh air?" Maxwell asked, nudging Alistair playfully. "I think there are still some 4th of July celebrations happening in the park."

Alistair grinned ecstatically. "Really daddy? We haven't been to the park since… since… you were still with mommy!"

Maxwell scrunched up his nose and brushed off his sons comment. "Go grab your coat, okay?" he urged and Alistair bolted out the living room and into his bedroom.

Maxwell caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. No amount of biotin was going to rid the dark circles from under his eyes. At least he had his health restored, but he hadn't thought of the implications of utilizing the government's multinational broadcasting service.

Every single citizen of the world had seen Maxwell. Knew him by name, by face. Maxwell had no idea how people were going to react upon seeing him again. He contemplated a disguise, but figured the best he could do was roll up his shirt sleeves to his elbows and brush out any hair product from his dark blonde locks. At least he wasn't wearing his signature tailored suit and ties. On the surface, he could just be mistaken for an ordinary guy. Maxwell Lord had never wanted to blend into society this much in his life.

The memory of how power corrupt he had become before Diana had saved him struck his heart like a dagger of guilt. But he couldn't regret. He had to think forward and think to the future if he wanted to change his errors.

Maxwell jumped when Alistair took hold of his father's hand and pulled him to the door. "Hey, let me help you zip your coat up." Maxwell smiled, kneeling down and making sure Alistair would be warm enough.

By the time they arrived at the park, it was as if nothing had happened. It was like the world had returned back to the way it was before all the death and destruction. Children squealed merrily as they played on the swing sets, families sat on the grassy fields eating picnics and vendors were serving hot dogs, burgers and cotton candy.

"Why don't you go play with the kids over there?" Maxwell pointed towards a group of children standing by the slide. "Daddy just needs a moment to himself, but then I'll come play. I promise." Max kissed Alistair on the forehead and Alistair nodded understandingly before racing off into the playpark.

Maxwell scratched the back of his head and took in the cool Summer air as evening began to dawn. He looked around at the happy families and figured it was something he could get used to. He imagined living a peaceful life outside of the spotlight. No fame, no money, just him and Alistair. But things didn't come easy for Maxwell Lord.

You woke up in a muddy puddle under a tree, groaning as the brown dirt stuck to your arms and legs. You looked down at your dress and tunic, thankful that the leather material could be washed easily. You smelt something unfamiliar yet distinct, your nostrils twitching as the scent of burgers and hotdogs from the vending vans engulfed you.

The screams of children alerted you and you looked over at the playpark, watching intently as the kids laughed and danced around. There wasn't many children back on Themyscira, but being the goddess of home and hearth; it filled your heart with joy and happiness.

You slowly walked over to the playpark, looking around at your awe inspiring surroundings. So this was the world of man? You beamed upon seeing the swans in the duck pond and the beautiful flowers that grew around the stone path you walked upon.

It was mesmerising, but your delight was cut short when you heard a thud followed by a child's cry. You looked over to see that, not too far away, a group of children had pushed a young boy to the ground. The boy fumbled to get to his feet but the children circled around him, pointing and calling him names. You walked over to the crowd of children and placed your hands on your hips. "Excuse me?" you called out and watched as the kids stiffened up and their circle disbanded. They ran away, shooting you a strange look before you could even say anything else. You extended your arm and helped the little boy to his feet. "Are you okay?" you asked, kneeling down to mirror his short height. The boy nodded sadly, his dark eyes glazed with tears. "What's your name?"

"Alistair." the boy mumbled, his cheeks heating up with embarrassment.

"That's a beautiful name," you gleamed before introducing yourself. Alistair smiled at the compliment.

"I like your costume," he pointed excitedly. "Are you a princess?" he pointed at your tiara which held back your hair.

"Something like that," you shrugged with a small laugh. "Are you here alone?"

"No, I came with my daddy." Alistair informed you, looking around as he tried to locate his father. Your gaze followed his and you watched the young child begin to panic as he couldn't find him anywhere.

"You can't see him?" you asked with an empathetic frown. Alistair burst into tears, holding his head in his hands. "Hey don't cry!" You pulled the child into you and hugged him tightly. "He won't be far. Come on, let me help you look for him."

"He-, he always leaves," Alistair sobbed and your eyes widened slightly. "But this time- this time he promised. No more leaving."

"You must believe in your father, okay?" you whispered, pulling Alistair's hands away from his face and wiping his tears. "Tell me, what does he look like?"

Alistair sniffed and grabbed onto your hand for support. "Strong," Alistair smiled. "Really really cool. Best dad in the world." you chuckled at Alistar's words, and how he had described his father's personality rather than his physical appearance.

"Do you remember what he was wearing?" you quizzed as you and Alistair exited the playpark and back down the stone path.

"Umm, a white shirt and grey pants," Alistair recalled. "He's on the television sometimes."

You furrowed your eyebrows together. "Television?" you asked curiously and Alistair nodded before gasping.

"Look! There he is!" Alistair screamed, pointing across the road into a store window, at a man with golden coloured hair and chocolate brown eyes. You swallowed the lump in your throat as you took in his appearance. The man shook his fists and nodded his head, grinning enthusiastically.

"That man on the screen over there?" you tilted your head as Allistair squeezed your hand and dragged you out of the park, across the road, and over to the shop.

"Yep, that's daddy!"

"Welcome to the future, life is good, but it can be better. And why shouldn't it be? Everything you've ever dreamed of is right at our fingertips. But are you reaping the awards? Do you have it all? Welcome to Black Gold Cooperative, the first oil company run for the people, by the people. Think about finally having everything you've always wished for. For a low monthly fee, you can own a piece of the most lucrative industry in the world. And everytime we strike gold, you strike gold! No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you deserve to have it all. Do you have everything you've always wanted? Aren't you tired of wishing you had more? Join me today. You don't need a pile of money or some business degree to get started. You don't even have to work hard for it. At Black Gold Cooperative all you need is to want it."

You were so hypnotized by the man's business scheme, you didn't even notice Alistair disappear. Your eyes widened as you looked around, desperately trying to find him. You called his name a few times, hoping he wasn't far.

Maxwell tugged on Alistair's arm and dragged him around a corner. "What are you doing?" Max hissed and Alistair looked away from his father nervously. "You don't talk to strangers, do you understand me?"

"I couldn't find you in the park, she was helping me look for you." Alistair explained, his voice timid.

"So why were you out of the park, huh? Standing outside a television store watching one of my-" Maxwell sighed. "-one of my infomercials?"

"I wanted to show her what you looked like," Alistair frowned. "I'm sorry daddy."

Maxwell leaned down and kissed his son's forehead. "It's okay, just please don't do that again, alright? This world is full of bad, dangerous people. You need to be careful." Maxwell said and Alistair nodded his head. Max slid his hand into Alistair's and walked him back into the park. "So, who was that woman anyway?" Maxwell asked, quirking his eyebrow.

Maxwell had barely managed to get a glimpse of you, but if your short warrior tunic was anything to go off, he figured you were someone hired to be in costume for one of the 4th of July celebrations. He didn't see your face, only the back of your head, but in the split second he saw you, he admired the way your hair gleamed under the amber setting sunlight and the shape of your body, how your dress sculpted it perfectly. He shook away the thoughts, reaching into his pocket and taking out his wallet as he approached an ice cream vendor.

"She was nice," Alistair smiled as he looked at the ice cream menu painting on the side of the van. "She told me she was a princess and she helped me." Alistair recalled the way his bullies ran away when you had come over.

"Helped you how?" Maxwell quizzed, pulling out a few dollar bills.

Alistair stiffened up, not wanting to tell his father about the bullies. He was afraid Max would be ashamed of him for not sticking up for himself. "Can I get a raspberry sundae?" Alistair asked his dad, brushing off his initial question. Maxwell nodded his head and slid the cash over to the vendor who began to prepare the ice cream.

"Hey, I'm looking for my friend Alistair?" you were asking plenty of people wandering the streets of DC the same question. "Do you know where Alistair is?"

Some people would reply with, "Alistair who?", but most people would look you up and down with disdain and hurry away. You wondered why nobody else was dressed like you, and why nobody knew who Alistair was. Back on Themyscira, everyone had their own individual, unique name and everyone knew who everyone was. You frowned. It clearly wasn't like that in the world of man. You needed a different tactic. You thought back to Alistair's description of his father and tried to remember the words he spoke on the television. "Welcome to Black Gold Cooperative."

"Do you know where Black Gold Cooperative is?" you asked an aging lady who was walking along the sidewalk.

She, like everyone else, looked you up and down in bewilderment. "The headquarters?" she asked. "East Avenue, about a ten minute walk away."

"Which direction?" you prodded further.

The woman blinked. "East." she repeated.

"Thank you." you smiled, curtseying politely before setting off to find this mysterious place that the man on the television spoke so highly of. If he was really Alistair's father, then maybe you could find Alistair there and ensure his safety. That's what really mattered.

You found it difficult to walk in your gladiator sandals, and the quality of the air made leather tunic chafe against your thighs. Nevertheless, you preserved, ignoring all the sky comments that were being made by passers by regarding your appearance.

Finally, you found yourself standing outside Black Gold Cooperative headquarters; the large building looming over you as a cold shadow hung above your head. Attempting to go through the revolving doors proved to be a challenge in itself, as there was no such creation back on Themyscira. After a few attempts of trying to push through you finally found yourself in the deserted lobby. "Welcome to the future," your head snapped up to the television on the wall, where the same infomercial you had seen in the store window was playing in the reception area. "Life is good, but it can be better."

You slid behind the main desk and placed your hand on the television screen, allowing your fingers to trace the man's face. It was that same charming smile and honeyed brown eyes you remembered. His hair was golden and styled perfectly, curling at the nape of his neck, like a fairytale prince you had read about in the storybooks of your youth. He was fitted in colourful patterned suits which accentuated his broad shoulders and every word glided off his tongue so sweetly. That's when it hit you— his voice. That was the feature that had attracted you to him. It was what brought you to him. It was the voice you had dreamt of, the voice you had heard over and over again. The voice that had brought you to the world of men. It was fate that had brought you to Alistair, something that could've only been written by the Gods. That man was the first man you had ever seen, and my oh my, he was something else.

#pedro pascal #pedro pascal x reader #maxwell lord #max lord #maxwell lord x reader #max lord x reader #ww84 #wonder woman 1984

428 notes · View notes