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automaticenemycrusade · 3 years

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Joyride: Ch. 1 - A Tale of Six

It was but a day before that the fox was rising up from his desk after a less-than-preferable slumber to do the same things he did any other day, random and sometimes unnecessary chores that he (and others) put himself up to. Yet, here he was, alongside his cousin, watching him curiously as he rambled on about the route they planned to take. Admittedly, he hadn’t been paying all that much attention until a roll of vellum made its way onto that dingy table of his, unfurled to reveal a roughly-drawn outline of their pilgrimage.

Jole tapped at it with a pointer finger. “We start here,” He said, tracing his finger along the dotted line and stopping somewhere in the middle, before resuming his tapping. “Stop here. Neat lil’ ruin there, easy to scavenge, full of fun toys n’ keepsakes, stuff like that.”

“Is it safe?”

There was a pause. “Probably?”

“Jole.” He said exasperatedly. “These kits are being put under our care, so the least we can do is guarantee their safety.” He inhaled, reemphasizing, “Is it safe?”

The vulpera knocked back his head with a wince, sucking in a breath of air through gritted teeth. “Yeah,” He exhaled. “Yeah, I know a guy. He can scout it out, see what’s what.” The poor thing, he almost sounded ashamed of himself, so much so that Nord felt pressured to reassure him.

“We’ll make this work.” His tone, obviously, held a tinge of uncertainty, as this could have very well been bait to stroke Jole’s ego, which it was. It definitely, definitely was. “Just get everything sorted. There’s no point in it if we’re stressing ourselves out the whole time.”

“Half the charm, bud. We’re in the big leagues now!”

Nord cut in. “If you consider carting around kits the big leagues, then yeah.” Now he was the one being hypocritical! How the tables have turned. In any case, the interjection was met with an eyeroll and a scoff, as was customary. It was a miracle they still tolerated each other after all these years of quarrels and quibbles, but lo and behold, by the blessing of whatever the hell kept their hearts beating, they still co-existed. Generally, anyway.

“If you consider carting around kits the big leagues.” He mimicked.

“Very mature.”

“Y’know, you’re really dead set on there being kits.”

“That’s what you told me.”

“Did not.”

“So, you are just inviting those girls.”

“N- no! I didn’t say that!”

“Kinda sounds like you did.”

They could go on for hours. In fact, they probably already had. How long had it been? Who knows. The two todds, eventually, for better or for worse, came to the mutual agreement that things should be kept formal and professional for as long as the planning phase of their scheme lasted. Here’s hoping it never ended, right? It couldn’t be broken either, for it was by pinky that they sealed their pact, and if there’s any sort of promise you can’t break, it’s a pinky one.

The ashfur had long since departed from the tent by then, leaving with a, “I’ll spot out some company. Catch some zizzies! We got a big day next sunrise.” and for once, Nord went to bed properly that night, in his own bed, under his own sheets, and nestled against his own pillow.

Except he couldn’t sleep.

He was too busy thinking, and unlike the layman, he wasn’t mulling over all the insurmountable things that could go wrong. He was thinking about the very opposite, actually. The friends they’d make, the sights they’d see, the freedom he’d feel, but like all of his cousin’s incredibly ambitious projects, it felt just out of reach. He made a promise not to have any high expectations after the first few disappointments, but he’d be lying to himself if he said he wasn’t excited. Something inside of him called out for adventure, and the world had just conveniently given it to him. Who was he to put down the opportunity?

He shifted uncomfortably and tugged the sheets further over his chest as an updraft of wind made its way past the tent flap. He hadn’t tightened the rope enough, and yet he neglected to crawl out of bed to do just that. Why? He wasn’t sleeping anytime soon. Maybe it was out of fear he’d collapse at his desk again. Maybe he was already sleeping and his dream happened to concern being awake. He couldn’t have been that bland, right? He was still young, he could still experience the thrill of youth, which was something he had lacked up until now. For a day, he could be a kit again; for a day, he could be careless.

He recalled Jole’s words in that moment, “No supervision.” and it was just as that burden of responsibility washed over him that he pressed into the pillow, wrapped his arms around his shoulders, and forced himself into slumber. No more thinking, not tonight.

♦

The morning after was both the busiest and most unpleasant one he had ever woken up to. As if the lack of sleep wasn’t enough, Jole barging in and clanging two horseshoes together definitely took the cake. That’s what Nord woke up to, in any case, and Jole, true to his fashion, didn’t stop until he was sure his cousin was properly roused. An unnecessary amount of wake up’s, come on’s, and I’m awake’s were exchanged between the two before the onyx vulpera actually managed to scramble to his feet and dust himself off of the morning grime. He hadn’t even put on his vest yet, which he promptly went to remedy.

“Today’s the day, Nordy!” He had never looked so thrilled in the time Nord had known him, which was a high bar to jump. Not that he was surprised, the occasion called for it. “The day we rewrite the game, the day we add puh to the pow, you and me.” Nord gave him a look. “And I.” There you go.

“So, everything’s set?” He had just finished yanking his vest from an unkempt pile of clothes and fitting it over his torso when the question left his lips. Laundry. He should do that when he gets back.

Jole, meanwhile, slurred off into an, “Ehhh…” as he itched at the back of his neck with unease. “I mean, not all the people I asked said yes,” The vixens. Called it. “But we got a few applicants. Kits. We’re gonna go pick ‘em up, actually.” He instinctively went to raise up his hands just as Nord leaned back to pinch at the bridge of his snout. “Yeah, we’ll have to talk to some parents, but that’s why I do the talking! You just stand there and look, uh…” He trailed off.

“Mature?”

“Right. That. Look like you know a thing or two.”

“I do know a thing or two.”

“Not my point, but sure.” The ashfur paused, then rose a finger. “In fact,” He paused again, this time with an open grin. A joyous, illegible voice from outside then broke their silence, calling out a name that Nord couldn’t quite catch from this distance. It was unfamiliar to him, but seemingly not to Jole, who said right afterward, “Here’s one now.”

He had questions, lots of them, but it appeared now wasn’t the time, as Jole made pretty clear by shushing him, taking him by the hand, and ushering him outside. The glare of the sun took him by surprise once they left the safety of his shelter, squeezing out an, “Ow.” once it got him in the eyes. A part of him wanted to plead with Jole to slow down, to give him just a bit of respite, but the other pushed him on, the other kept reminding him of the spectacular day ahead once they got their wagon on the trail.

They never said it was easy having fun in the desert.

The voice called out again, clear enough to pick out the words this time, “Mister Jolluh?” and once Nord was able to track its source, his eyes landed upon a short, dappled orange vulpera who couldn’t have been more than five or six.

Jole called back, “Jole! It’s Jole.”

“It’s Jolluh.” Nord cut in, which his cousin was quick to prohibit by swiping a hand in front of his face.

“Jole.” He repeated. By then, he had waved the child over, who practically tripped over himself in trying to close the distance. It wasn’t any help that he was carrying quite a load on him, with a mix of knapsacks and nap snacks.

“Hi!” He offered a little wave, which nearly caused all that stuff he was holding to slip onto the ground. Should he help? Nord wasn’t sure. “I’m Lynsol!” He said, cheerily. Nord had never seen someone quite as bright and joyous as the boy, and that was enough to make him smile. Jole looked pretty proud of himself for that one.

Speaking of the ashfur, he had leaned over to be eye-level with the kit, presenting his hand to be shaken, which it was, almost immediately. “And how old are you, buddy?”

The boy, Lynsol, held up five fingers. Huh. He wasn’t far off. Nord had apparently looked off-put by this discovery, as the kit brought attention to it by waving at him and reassuring him, “Don’t be sad! Mom says I got a gold heart! And I got op-ti-mi-sm! Which means I’m super happy!” And then he giggled, and in a blink, Nord forgot what sadness was. He couldn’t help but laugh.

“She’s right, you know.” Nord, too, outstretched his hand, which was taken just as fast. “Maybe you can teach us how to keep our chins up as well as you do, huh?” Lynsol, in turn, nodded repeatedly, an exuberant smile still planted on his snout.

“Isn’t he just a bundle of joy?” Jole went to pinch at his cheeks, which caused another giggle to escape from the boy and another smile to sweep onto Nord’s face. “With that out of the way, how ‘bout I introduce you to the sacks of fluff we’ll be using this eve’?” He waved a hand off to the side with dramatic flair, which Lynsol felt pressed to applaud at. Awh.

“I’m gonna be really disappointed if one’s not pink.” Nord remarked. Jole, whilst in the motion of pivoting and leading them off to the stable, rolled his eyes in response. He could practically hear the unspoken hardy har har radiating from him. Strangely, it felt as if he blacked out somewhere along the way, because one second they weren’t there, then the next they were, and he had no recollection of the steps it took to get there. The fact Jole was giving him one of those looks only added to the mystery.

“You good?”

“Yeah.”

Two blinks, a shake of his head, and a roll of his shoulders later, and he had more or less snapped back to reality. By then, his cousin had disappeared into the stable, and by the next second, he emerged with--

“What.”

What lay before Nord was a pair of the scruffiest, shaggiest, and grungiest alpacas he had ever had the misfortune of looking upon. Had that one even been sheared since it was born? And the other smelt like marmot breath. He couldn’t help but recoil in disgust. “Are you s-”

“Oh, I love them! Can I pet them? Pretty please?” The boy queried, excitedly. Nord could barely believe his eyes. He was made so giddy by just seeing an alpaca, and not even a good, healthy one, for that matter. Should he have been giddy? Was he missing something? Either way, his cousin was happy to humor the little one.

“Go right ahead, lil’ guy!” He replied, twirling his fingers in the alpacas’ direction as if he were spinning a cane. Always the showman, this guy. Lynsol clapped his hands together in a rapid, exhilarated rhythm, as he--true to Jole’s directions--went right ahead. Those small hands of his darted over to scritch at what was likely a tick-ridden clump of fluff, but oddly enough, that didn’t look to be of any concern to the kit, nor to the alpaca. In fact, the alpaca looked at the boy like he was the first to have given them a scritch or two, as if everybody else had always judged them by their disheveled appearances. In a flash, Nord had gone from being generally neutral to feeling guilty and terrible. He felt pressured to redeem himself in his own eyes, and so it was that his subconscious took the wheel and put one foot in front of the other. A hand rose to caress the animal, but he found that it hovered in front of Jole’s face instead, as he had conveniently moved in front of him during his approach. The ashfur gently moved the hand aside, and with that, Nord blinked himself back to reality. No more thinking, not today.

“Apollo and Hutch.”

“Huh?”

“Apollo and Hutch, the alpacas.” Jole pointed a thumb over his shoulder at the duo. The alpacas, Apollo and Hutch, looked on expectantly, while Lynsol kept itching at their scruffs, cooing and chortling. “Something tells me you didn’t catch much sleep last night, big guy.” He clapped a hand onto Nord’s shoulder, almost sounding concerned. Almost.

“I’m fine.” Nord said, waving a hand dismissively. He really wasn’t, and Jole knew it too, but he didn’t want to bring down the mood. He wasn’t that selfish. Either way, he didn’t think his soul--nor anyone’s soul, for that matter--could sustain the boy being unhappy with his dismay. He didn’t think he could sustain the boy being unhappy at all.

“If you say so.” The words slapped Nord back to attention. It was obvious the ashfur wasn’t convinced of his cousin’s fineness, but he wasn’t one to push, especially not today. Why was it today that Nord’s head decided to preoccupy itself with all these thoughts? He wasn’t sure. Though, just like the last few times, life moved on, because Jole had a job to do. “Right! So, Lyn, Lynnie, buddy,”

Lynsol tossed a glance over his shoulder, the joy in his eyes never once dimming since the time they had met. “Hm?”

“Lucky you, you're our first member aboard the wagon, bud, ‘cause we got friends on the way. You’re gonna help me and Nordy here pick ‘em up!” Jole planted a hand against his cousin’s vest, patting it twice, before sweeping his hand back to his side. “And yeah, you might be thinking, ‘but Jole, where are we gonna get a wagon this late into your special day?’ And my answer to that is riiiiight,” He held up a finger again, his eyes closed and his free hand set on his hip. He continued to hold out the word, to seemingly to no avail, because nothing happened. He began to look nervous. “Arrrrooouuund,” Nothing. “Thhhhhhe,” Nord’s amusement in the situation started to dwindle. “Cooorrrrnn-”

And, lo and behold, he was cut off by the familiar sound of wagon wheels crunching through sand. Soon enough, a vixen came into the view, an older, exhausted vixen, but Nord wasn’t paying attention to her. He was paying attention to the wagon she was dragging behind her, because unlike Apollo and Hutch, it looked incredibly well-preserved. The wood looked fresh, with not a splinter to be seen in the wheels, and the sheet that constructed its cover lacked the wear and tear that he was accustomed to. Suffice to say, he was amazed, and couldn’t help but mutter a soft, “Wow.” in its wake.

“Ah-ha!” Jole spread his arms. “I call it the Sandpiercer.”

“I still think that’s a stupid name, Jolluh.” The vixen remarked, to which the ashfur choked out a laugh that balanced somewhere between being sarcastic and legitimately wanting to punch someone in the face.

“It’s Jole-- okay, buh-bye, love you.” He quickly waved off the vixen, who did just that, leaving nothing but a roll of her eyes and a disgusted scoff with her departure. Nord and Lynsol both had their fair share of laughter at the exchange.

“You named it?” Nord finally asked.

Jole nodded. “‘Course I did! That’s what you do with a wagon bound for greatness. Plus, it’s cool, and no, you can’t tell me any different.”

“Uh-huh.” He rolled his eyes, though it wasn’t long until those eyes landed back on the wagon. “Sandpiercer.” He repeated, still awestruck by just how pristine it was. He really wasted no expense with this one, did he? Though, as soon as he entered that paradise of thought, it was interrupted by Jole’s voice, which swept in front of him like a moon eclipsing a star.

“Without further adieu,” He said, placing a hand against the door to the wagon and throwing it open not a second later. “Let’s not keep those new friends of ours waiting.” He frantically directed them in. “C’mooon, don’t be shy.” Lynsol took the initiative and eagerly scrambled up onto the wagon bed via Jole’s aid. Nord popped in just behind him, though his ascent was much steadier given his size. His cousin, however, didn’t follow them in, as he had to keep outside to guide over the alpacas and fit them into the reins. This conveniently left Nord in the awkward position of being alone in the wagon with Lynsol. Should he say something? Strike up a conversation, maybe? What sort of things do you talk about with a five-year-old? Nord had no clue. Maybe he didn’t have to. He looked preoccupied anyway.

In the end, it didn’t matter, because Lynsol took on that charge for him, lamenting, “You look sad.”

He did? He dragged a hand along his features insecurely, replying, “I’m fine.” How many times could he lie to himself? It wasn’t like he could describe why he wasn’t fine, in any case. Lynsol, unfortunately, didn’t look convinced, but similarly to Jole, he didn’t seem intent on budging.

“Do you got a happy place? That’s where I go when I’m sad.” The boy smiled, bright enough to light a lantern, if not a few dozen. “I think about the people I love!”

Nord paused. What was his happy place? Should he feel bad that one didn’t immediately come to mind? While he managed to force a smile, he wasn’t given the chance to answer, because a certain relative of his was knocking at the door frame for his attention. He looked over to Jole earnestly, tired eyes narrowed.

“‘Cause I feel generous, I’m gonna let you drive.” He said, slipping into the wagon and waving a hand outside. He assured, “I’ll keep our friend here company,” before taking Nord by the shoulder and guiding him to the door, where he simply nodded and wished him good luck. The onyx vulpera may or may not have stopped listening somewhere in there, but nonetheless, he shuffled outside and boarded the front of the wagon, where he took hold of the reins and steadied out the alpacas with a clicking whistle. Apollo and Hutch, despite their conditions, looked more than eager to get moving. Maybe Nord really did misjudge them.

As the pitter-patter of alpaca nails and the groan of wagon wheels invaded his ears, so too did the chatter within: Jole’s laughter and Lynsol’s kiddish giggling, on repeat in his head.

He deafened them out eventually.

♦

The first was a pair of siblings, both red-furred and accented with tanned patches. The younger of the two (he assumed) barreled in front of his sister and tugged at her impatiently, whining for her to move faster, not that she looked in any position to do that. Unlike Lynsol, she was carrying a burden of equipment made for two, though it seemed the younger was neglecting to pull his weight. The urge to lighten the load came along and he acted on it thoughtlessly, hopping down from his vantage and bolting over to lend a hand.

“Raysik!-” The vixen called agitatedly. It’s no surprise she was annoyed with the lack of help, but as she caught Nord in the midst of his dash, she looked a little relieved, if not a tinge confused. He was, after all, running at her without an established intention.

“I got it,” was all he said before closing the distance and shifting a thing or two into his arms. The girl looked thankful, smiling accordingly.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

It wasn’t a second later that Jole threw open the door, dramatic enthusiasm at the ready. “Heeeyyyo!” He hollered. Lynsol followed suit and popped his head out from behind the door, holding in a snicker or two. “I’ll be your oh-so-beloved conductor this eve’.” He tipped a nonexistent hat. The siblings’ parents, whom Nord had just noticed, looked less than impressed. One was stone-faced, while the other appeared much more delicate, which is to say they had a superb contrast. It was only then that Jole noticed the girl’s plight, darting over to aid her, but with his, “I gotcha!” came a stutter from the vixen.

“Are you sure? It’s a little heavy-”

Nord intruded. “I got it.” And so came an end to Jole’s zeal, for his vibe had been executed. He rose his arms in defeat, before spinning on his heel and approaching the older vulpera with a finger gun. Nord would have almost preferred to be the one talking if Jole insisted on being so… himself. Still, he aided the girl in getting their luggage onto the wagon bed, while the younger, Raysik, introduced himself to Lynsol, before going on a rant about something Nord had long since tuned out.

Eventually, the onyx fox was brought back to focus by another stutter from the vixen. “I’m Rheana.” She said shyly.

He turned to look at her. “I’m Nord.” He paused, quickly tacking on, “It’s nice to meet you.”

She nodded gently, pointing a thumb at the boys behind her, whose mouths were still running a mile a minute. Nord could only assume she was gesturing to Raysik. “That’s my brother. Raysik?” Her brother didn’t answer her, so she sighed annoyedly instead. “He’s… fun.” She didn’t sound certain, obviously, but Nord didn’t get the chance to discuss it further, for she had already moved on to the next topic, peering outside and pointing at the ashfur chatting up her parents. “Is that your brother?”

“Cousin.” He responded.

“You two seem close.”

Nord paused. She really had no idea, did she? “Yeah. We are.” Now was his turn to switch topics. “And how old are you, Rheana?”

“Oh, um,” The question took her by surprise, which Nord didn’t intend for, but he couldn’t exactly go back on it now. Add it to the ever growing heap of unspoken guilt. “Seven.” She said. “My brother’s four.” And suddenly, he couldn’t think, nor could he speak. He was expecting young, but this was young young, this was the influencing stages of life sort of young. He choked on still air for a moment, which Rheana instantly took notice to. “I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean to.”

He frantically waved his hands. “No, no--” He set his hands on her shoulders, affirming, “No. I’m fine. I was just thinking, is all.” And just as before, he forced a smile, which Rheana didn’t seem at all convinced by, but she wasn’t one to budge, right?

“Okay.”

And that was the last word spoken between them before Jole popped back in and bobbed his arms up and down to grab everyone’s attention. He was pretty good at that. “Just one more pitstop and we’ll be good to go!” The boys cheered while Rheana offered light applause, which was soon joined in on by Nord. Of course, he reminded himself that he was still the designated driver, which slowed his clapping to a halt. Wordlessly, he moved onto his feet, dusted himself off, and walked outside, repeating the same motion of grabbing the reins and steadying the alpacas with that clicking whistle. This time another voice joined the chatter, then a second once Rheana (he assumed) felt comfortable enough. This time he couldn’t deafen them out.

“Having fun in there?” He eventually said, and just his luck, the chatter continued to roar over him. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like the idea that he was brought along just to be a chauffeur. Did Jole really mean it when he told him to stand there and look mature? Nord wasn’t sure.

But, as fate was feeling kind today, both Jole’s and Lynsol’s heads popped out the window, which had been sealed via curtain prior to that. “Yeah!” The boy said, heartily.

“Party’s just getting started--” Jole began, though he cut himself off to slip his head back in and call illegibly for someone to “do the thing,” so to speak. Not a moment later did Raysik appear, sliding his head atop Lynsol’s and looping their ears together, before they collectively blew raspberries. Jole threw his head back in laughter, with the boys in tow, and ultimately Nord as well. However, as soon as it began, the rambunctious chuckling was again drowned out by chatter, as each of them fell back from the window.

And to subconsciously answer his own question, Nord muttered a reticent, “Yeah. Me too.”

♦

Within the hour, they arrived upon another settlement, where an older, peach-furred vulpera fumbled with the knapsack strapped across a younger vixen’s back. The girl was garnet-colored, with patches just a shade darker, and she appeared just as ecstatic as Lynsol had been. The vulpera Nord could only assume to be the father mumbled out a twitchy, stress-ridden, “I packed you three meals. One lasts an hour, one lasts six, and one lasts eleven, which is for breakfast, lunch, and dinner-- Oh, I forgot dessert.” He choked on his words, facing away to holler out for another’s attention, “Pumpkin, did I forget dessert, or is it with you?”

Another voice, practically illegible, called back out to him, though the only words Nord managed to pick out were ‘no’, ‘here’, and maybe ‘it’s’? The father huffed out a breath at whatever the voice had said, pleading with the girl to, “Just stick tight,” before straggling back into the tent where the voice had originated.

Through all of this, Nord had almost forgotten why he was there. That is, until Jole ruptured through the door with a spirited, “Heeeyyyo!” Oh right, their grand adventure. The ashfur slung himself from the doorway, where Nord soon joined him.

The vixen had just begun scurrying over to them when they slotted themselves against the frame, stopping just short of the wagon and slipping a sharp, “Oh!” before tripping on herself and scampering the opposite way, where she dove into another tent and fell silent. Meanwhile, the girl’s father had reemerged from the central tent, holding with him whatever they called “dessert.” When a sweep from left to right didn’t land his eyes on his daughter, he started calling her name.

Jole, ever the opportunist, took this as his chance for a meet-and-greet, so he did just that, tumbling from the wagon and approaching the fox with--you guessed it--a finger gun. “Heyyya, buddy,” was all Nord caught before they slurred off into murmurs and incoherent nonsense.

He didn’t know how, or when, but the moment he looked down, there she was, as if out of thin air. She shuffled her things closer to her chest before allowing a wave at him. “Hi.” She whispered.

Although he found it confusing, Nord felt the need to match her volume. “Hi.” And without any signal to do so, they both looked over to the ashfur, then back to each other, to which Nord outstretched a hand and said, “Long day?”

“Duh.” She tittered, taking his hand, where it was then gently shaken.

“Here’s hoping we can have some fun then, huh?”

“Mhm!”

Nord, too, snickered along with her, though he couldn’t help but feel like something was wrong. The girl kept an aura, like she was hiding a dozen secrets at once, not that that was something he was willing to bring up. “I’m Nord.” He bowed his head.

“Irro.” She bowed her own.

“Are you alone?” He asked.

She looked taken aback, shifting her eyes from side to side suspiciously, before focusing back in on Nord, to which she smiled, perked up her shoulders, and said, “Yep!”

He didn’t question it. Maybe he should have, but in the moment, he didn’t think to, and that was that. Instead, he dismissed whatever paranoia he held about the situation and gave her a warm smile, the best he could manage, before sliding his hand down her forearm and clutching on tight. “Alright, Irro-- big steps.” With a heave, he hoisted her up onto the wagon bed, which she giggled at; all the more when she noticed those who sat within and when those who sat within noticed her. Introductions began: hands were waved, names were exchanged, smiles grew brighter, and as with most things, Nord smiled subconsciously. They had rounded everyone up, as far as he knew, so finally, finally, they could do what they came here to do: have fun.

And when one fell, another came to take its place, because just as Nord turned around again, there stood Irro’s father, as well as Jole. He really couldn’t handle another jumpscare, seriously. “Sir--” The vulpera extended the dessert, flubbing. “Sir, is my little girl in there? I have her tarts, sir.”

Nord swerved his head back. “Irro.”

The kit emerged from the mass of giggling children the second he called for her, sliding onto her knees to retrieve the carefully wrapped box from her dad. “Thank you, Paaaa~” She leaned forward to lay a peck on his forehead, which, from what Nord could tell, put him on the verge of tears.

“Oh!” He grieved, turning to Nord and pointing an accusing finger at him. “You keep my little girl safe, okay, sir? You keep her safe.”

Nord nodded solemnly, taking the fox’s finger and shifting it into an open hand for him to shake. “You have my word. It’s only a day, you won’t even know she’s gone.”

“Love you, Pa.” She added, for better or for worse.

“I love you too.” He replied, inhaling shakily, before resigning himself and turning to depart.

Jole, on the other hand, tacked on a less-than-helpful, “Not a worry, big guy! This is gonna be the trip of a lifetime, and I’m sure she wouldn’t wanna miss out on it,” which caused the older vulpera to briefly stop, before continuing to walk. Nord looked less than amused with his cousin, but he wasn’t in the mood to push it. In the meantime, Irro returned to the circle the other kits had made, where they shared stories passed down to them by their parents. Likely all false, but who was Nord to ruin their fun?

The cousins had clambered back into the Sandpiercer by then, where Jole had unraveled a sheet of vellum, the same vellum that kept their route bound in ink, except now it was turned on its opposite side. His eyes flicked from the sheet to the kits repeatedly, until he eventually squinted over at Nord and whispered, “There’s supposed to be seven. We’re missing one.”

Nord knitted his brows. “Do we need to make another stop?” He was certain he said that was their last stop, because he sure didn’t see anyone else, unless Jole just miscalculated. Very plausible.

“No, her,” He vaguely pointed at Irro. “She has a sister.”

And it was that final piece of information that confirmed his gut feeling, and yet after everything, Nord felt inclined to put aside his better judgement and keep it their little secret. Who was he to deny their fun? They were all here to escape, if just for a day. He wasn’t going to be the one to strip them of that.

So he shrugged.

“Did you want to go back?” Nord asked.

Jole was as impatient as he was self-assured, Nord knew that well enough, so when he shook his head and wrapped up the vellum, his cousin was already ten steps ahead. “Nope. First come first served.” And with that, he thwapped Nord across the head with the scroll, before promptly calling shotgun.

Just Jole being Jole, right?

♦

Nord had never once had a companion in the front seat during the trip, so Jole, for once, was welcome company, even if he was just there to spout out directions that corresponded with their route. On that note, he wasn’t listening all that much, not like he needed to. He had spent his entire life in these dunes, of course he knew where he was going! Though, he was thankful for that time along the way where Jole made sure he took a left instead of a right.

Despite how much they bickered, they could often tell what was circling in each other’s heads, though this time around, the exchange was incredibly one-sided. Jole knew everything about Nord, but Nord knew nothing about Jole, which was… a little odd, he had to admit. His cousin was usually the much more open of the two, yet for this voyage, he had put on a façade just for the benefit of the children. What a charitable guy.

He inevitably gave into the urge to strike up a conversation that didn’t involve pointless directions, querying, “So, how’s it feel, Jole? One of your plans finally worked.”

The ashfur had been in the midst of calling for a left turn when the question was asked, causing his head to perk up and dumbfounded eyes to land on Nord. He scoffed. “Was bound to happen! Just needed the right idea, the right time,” He puffed out a breath. “The right people.”

“Awh,” Nord put a hand over his heart, or at least, wherever he thought it was. “I’m flattered.”

He shot back, “Don’t be, was mostly me,” and that one nearly caused Nord to scoff up his lungs. He’d never admit defeat, would he? And following that thought, his cousin conveniently went, “Thought you’d catch me off-guard, huh?”

“Read my mind,” Literally. “How’d you know?”

“It’s my job to know, Nordy. Think of where you’d be without me,” and just as Nord went to answer, he shushed him. “Don’t answer that. You’d be bored, is what you’d be.”

Well. He couldn’t disagree with that. “Right.”

That was the last of their conversation for a fair while, until it grew so quiet that Nord fell into a state of disassociation. He was still guiding the alpacas, following Jole’s directions, but he did so mindlessly, as if he himself was elsewhere, out-of-body. He didn’t remember the sights along the way, nor the awful one-liners his cousin may have slipped to him. He didn’t remember how the kits leaned their heads out the windows to catch the wind on their faces, nor when Jole…

Whatever Jole did, it kept them from leaning too far out. Good for them.

And then they were there, after a mere five minutes.

“You good? Your throat dry? Don’t think you’ve made a sound in an hour, big guy.”

Nord blinked, then blinked again. An hour? Had it been that long? He licked his lips, which he found to be immensely dry, and in his state of confusion, he didn’t quite catch what his cousin had said, which Jole obviously found to be concerning. “We’re here. We made it.” He said, nudging at him with an elbow, and that was enough to bring him back to life.

He inhaled a breath, then started gasping for it, before transitioning to panting. “Right. Sorry. Got lost in my head for a second there.”

His counterpart knocked at his shoulder. “Was more than a second, Nordy,” He paused. “But hey! We’re here, let’s go have some fun.” And to have some fun he went, dismounting from the wagon and throwing open the door to lead everyone out. Varied cheers roared from the kits as they barreled out the door, separating into what Nord guessed to be their social groups. Two boys, two girls, perfectly balanced.

By the time Nord had finished settling down Apollo and Hutch, Jole had already filed them all into a line, where he was now offering them exposition behind the grand ruins they were nigh to explore. It goes without saying, but it was all bullshit. He professed, “Have you ever heard of… The Dune Duke? He was the greatest of tomb raiders, you know. He retired in wealth and luxury!”

Nord had never slapped himself so hard in the face. “Jole.”

Lynsol, however, looked more than invested, though definitely a little confused by the terminology. “Mister Jolluh?”

“Jole.” He corrected. “What’s up?”

“What’s ‘retire’?”

“Well, my dappled friend, it’s something my dad really likes to shove in my face, but lucky us, we don’t gloat on the Sandpiercer!” And with those words came an uproar of questions and suggestions:

“Ooh, a gloat! Is that like a lizard goat? I want a lizard goat!”

“What’s a Sandpiercer?”

“That sounds mean!”

“Your dad sounds cool! Tell us about your dad!”

Nord cut in. “Yeah. Tell them about your dad, Jole.”

The poor ashfur let out a whine. Suave remarks weren’t going to save him here, so he opted for the next best thing, a change of subject. “All of those questions are GREAT questions, but how ‘bout we go on and get this party started, ‘kay? Who wants to do some looting, ‘cuz I know I dooooo!” The kits looked content enough with that answer, speeding past Jole with the fox himself close behind. Unfortunately for him, he’d find his path blocked by none other than his cousin, who still had one last question that definitely needed to be answered.

“Did your scout find anything? Is it safe?”

Jole shrunk in his place. If a vulpera could turn pale, he would have looked sickly. “Uh,” He wouldn’t lie to Nord, right? They could trust each other. “Yeeesss. Super safe. There was a Sethrak patrol moving through here, buuuut, uh, they went,” He wouldn’t lie. “Somewhere else.”

He lied.

Nord tuned out the laughter, the bonding of friendships, the joyous cries when someone had found something. All of his focus lay on a single phrase, looping in his head. Protect the kits. That’s all that mattered. He checked every nook and cranny; he searched behind every rock and every stone; he listened to every footstep and every claw tap. Nothing. The day he was meant to be free was spent being shackled by responsibility. The day he wasn’t meant to waste had been wasted.

Eventually, he found himself outside the Sandpiercer, staring down at the sand and devoid of emotion. Only then did he realize the shadow of night that cloaked his surroundings, and more importantly, the voice calling for him, “Nord! Nord, you good?” It was Jole’s. He finally turned to look at him, where it was revealed they had gathered around a makeshift campfire, with their loot dumped out in front of them. “We’re making a lootpile,” He explained. “You grab anything?”

Nord looked down at his hands. Empty. Not even in his delusions did he have the sense to grab a memento or two. “Ah, no. I didn’t. Sorry.” A few among the children seemed to find that funny. So much for no gloating on the Sandpiercer.

Jole looked nothing short of unimpressed, waving at him dismissively and emitting a disappointed, “Pfft.” Nord had never so desperately wanted to shove the blame off himself and onto another, but he said nothing. He kept his frustration pent-up. It was easier that way.

He allowed them but a second more, before approaching them and saying, “We should get you all home.” And that, too, faced an uproar.

“Oh, c’mon!”

“Can we stay out another day?”

“Mom and Dad won’t mind!”

The obvious ‘no’ became clogged in his throat. He cast a glance over the five of them, to Lynsol, to Irro, to Raysik, to Rheana, to Jole, who still, somehow, looked sly, like this had all worked to plan. They all looked on expectantly, waiting, anticipating, all aside from her, aside from Rheana, the only one with any sense. And he said that because he had none.

“Yeah.”

There was silence.

“We can stay another day.”

And with their rousing cheers, came a thousand broken promises.

#irromemoirs #wowrp #wowrpblog #wyrmrestaccordrp #vulpera #voldun #vulperarp #worldofwarcraftrp

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matronaa · 6 years

Text

Jungkook “fuckboy?” drabble

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Word count: 1,637

Genre: Fluff/mentions of smut?

Okay look its about 1 in the morning while im writing this and i just got done literally scrolling thru @jungshookz e n t i r e page and honestly ive been delusionally laughing over her stories for like an hour and a half like the tattooartist!jungkook fic legit killed me i love it and i’m probably going to force my friend to check her out because legit i love it so much and she seems like such a funny person and if she sees this 1) ily and ur writing and i wanna be friends but idk how to start a conversation because im a awKwARd bEan and 2) im sorry for probably spamming ur notifications with likes okay i couldnt help it so now im inspired for the first time in a while to write but im way to loopy to put together an actual fic so enjoy this ig

Okay i should stop rambling (okay just note that im so sleep deprived that i had to google ‘words for excessive talking’ to remember the word rambling because im an idiot and i cant think and ooo its 1:11 am rn make a wish b*tches)

Okay im sorry ill begin~

A/n all of this is completely unedited and if bad grammar annoys you srry not srry

Lets talk about what fuckboy!jungkook is oki

I feel like in reality there are just a bunch of rumors about him but hes so smol and hes the quiet type so he doesnt have the energy to dismiss them

Like im sorry soft jungkook is way to good in my mind rn okay #cuddles4days im not in the mood for him to strangle me with his amazing biceps

Anyway

you never rlly met him in the 4 years of going to the same highschool as him (since you’re in those smart people classes like humanities) until senior year

You and him had the same AP Lit. class lmao english class is l i t

Which surprised you bc of the rumors like i thought he was a badboy ?? arent those normally idiots ??

Nah my bby is a smart nugget, he just likes to look hella bf 25/8

First day of school cliche where you show up late to class and have to sit next to him because i d i e for those plots okay

But you dont know thats him because you’ve never seen him, so you’re confused on why most of the girls keep glaring at you

But soon enough you catch on and you’re like fml

And then the professor is like “where you are sitting is your assigned seating for the rest of the year” and you’re like f m L

He ends up introducing himself to you because i mean like table buddies

But hes really nervous because hes a cute little bean and you’re hella cute cuz lets be honest ur probably wearing like basic black leggings and a hoodie with your hood over your head to hide the bed hair you didnt feel like brushing that morning

Oh, just me? Okay…

He likes ur name because it rolls off the tongue and he thinks it suits you even tho he doesnt know you

Yet ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

You dont really think hes a fuckboy because he seems so nice and he has the cutest lil bunny smile sEE

That is until after school u end up getting to ur locker late because u left something in one of your classes

And u see him pinning a girl against the lockers down the hall

And ur like well shit nvm

And u quickly get ur shit and go because das a w k w a r d

But then he sees u run off and hes like awh crap i dun fucked up

A few weeks go by and u notice he barely really comes to class so u usually sit alone

On days he does come his chair seems extra close to yours and he’s basically smothering you

But u dont mind because he smells nice

And on the days he does come you get kinda excited because

1) you get a partner who doesnt expect you to do all of the work

2) this boy cute when he gets all intelligent

Ur like “yes pls continue speaking about the essay we are writing that i have no idea is on because i kept getting lost in the sound of ur voice”

He notices when u zone out because you start staring at his lips when hes talking and he thinks its the cutest thing

One day u get assigned a week long project and ur close enough friends with jungkook to basically scold and force him to come to class all week

But only if he can force u to come to his house to work on it after school

Which you’re low key nervous of because ur going to a ‘fuckboy’s house’ by yourself

And u dont wanna do the dirty because ur a pure child haha not for long

But you agree anyway

And honestly even after the project is done (which you got an A on) you continue going over to his house because his bed is comfortable and he always has snacks

And his mom loves you

Like legit on days you dont go the next day you do she’s like “wheRE WERE YOU”

When the semester is over the professor lets you pick seats but you both enjoy each other’s company so you stay seated together.

finally ur at his house one day and ur just laying on his bed scrolling thru insta and he’s sitting on his bean bag in the corner on his phone and u look up at him and realise

Shit

You like him

Like a lot

And u mentally face palm because this was not supposed to happen

But it happened and you’re too far down the hole to climb out

Sometimes u end up napping at his house after school because his bed is more comfortable than yours and one friday night u wake up in his arms

And its like the best feeling ever

Its so warm and hes so cuddly hes like latched onto you

You stay under the warm blankets before you question when he even got in bed since he was playing video games before you fell asleep

And then his phone lights up and ofc you check it for him bc ur a nosey bitch

But not before you observed how adorable he was while he was sleeping

Nope not creepy at all

its his friend tae texting him (you didn’t really know his friends since you had different friend groups)

You check it and its smth like “stop staring at y/n while shes sleeping and reply u creep”

And you’re like w a t

So you scroll up and see that while u were sleeping jungkook went on a full rant on how cute u are and how whipped he is

And ur like holy fadoodles dis boy likes me

And so u decided to text tae like “this is y/n, does he actually like me”

Which turns into you both having a convo on how thirsty jungkook is until he wakes up

Hes like wtf r u doing and he snatches the phone and reads through your messages with tae while u like sit up to stare at him

And he’s still half asleep so it takes him to realise whats going on

“Omfg y/n i can explain-”

He starts rambling about how long he had been crushing on u and that he didn’t want to tell you because you seemed uninterested so he kept it a secret and never told anyone

And honestly he was freaking out because the onE tiMe he tells anyone that he likes you, you find out

But while he’s rambling you’re coming up with an excuse to text your mom that you’re spending the night at his house, so you just say he’s not feeling well and his parents are gone for the weekend.

Lmao she doesnt care she’s just like “lmao ik ur lying but have fun dont get pregnant”

Or Maybe thats just my mom idk

You have to shut him up by snatching his phone out of his hands and kissing him

When you pull away you’re just like “you talk too much lmao”

You explain to him that you like him too and u just get under the covers again and snuggle up next to him, and he wraps his arms around you

And you stay like that for a while before hes like “its late you should get home”

And you tell him you’re staying the night whether he likes it or not

And he is so down for that

But then you end up just spending the weekend there because why not his parents love you

And every night is just filled with cuddling, watching netflix, making out, late night snacks, etc.

Saturday night he gets a lil touchy and soon enough ur like straddling him and grinding your hips against his

But then he’s like “Ive never done this before” and you c o m b u s t

Ur like aren’t you like the school fuckboy how have you not done this

And he tells you its all just rumors and hes too lazy to set the record straight

And you basically decide to take things slow that night since it was you’re first time too and honestly it was so cute

It wasn’t really steamy rough sex it was more soft fluffy love making that is filled with giggling and exploring and appreciating each other

That was definitely the night you fell in love with him

Which is big because you thought love was gross

The next day you’re cuddling and he’s like “you know ur my gf now”

And ur like duh

You start going on cute dates after that like going to cafes or amusement parks

He loved taking you to the beach during the summer because u looked gr8 in a bikini

You found out you were going to the same college with was fantastic, so you decided to rent an apartment together nearby the campus instead of living in a dorm.

Which normally you’d be against because moving in together so quickly ?? but you felt different like this relationship was going to last

UNTIL HE CHEATED

Lmao jk gotcha bitch

My baby is too pure and innocent to cheat

Well innocent until you both get into bed and then oh lord it gets steamy

He wants to experiment with like e v e r y t h i n g and honestly you were down

But ofc you set some boundaries.

There were lines he couldn’t cross

I mean sometimes he tried but you shut that down real quick

Overall your relationship was perfect and you couldn’t ask for a better boyfriend

I mean he brought you pizza rolls and dr pepper to ‘study dates’ how could you not love him.

Oml it took me over an hour to write this its like 2:30 am why am i awake anyway imma go to bed now, idk ur name jungshookz but pls write more fanfics i need more to read late at night okay gnite

#jungkook #bts #btsjungkook #Jungkook oneshot #jungkook fluff #jungkook smut #bts one shot #jungkook x reader #jeon jeongguk #im so sleep deprived #why am i awake #imagine #bts imagines #jungkook ima

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thisishawkins · 6 years

Text

Time of the Season

Here is the fifth chapter to the ‘Dammit’ Series. I apologize for the long wait, I’ve been super busy! Thank you for your patience! Please enjoy!

- K

Billy Hargrove x Reader

___________________

You laid your copy of War of the Worlds down in frustration. The project that Ms. Stein had assigned to you during the previous week was due after the weekend. And, of course this project was technically a “group” project. But, to your own luck, you managed to land into a group with Tommy H (who you were not entirely sure how he got into an honors literature class, as he was an absolute shit-for-brains), his buddy Danny, and Carol’s friend Taylor. As all three knew that they need not do the work because they had you, you had to tackle it all on your own, once again. You hated kids that pinned all of it on the hardworking students, you hated even more that they still snickered at your attempt to try and bring up the project out of class, and all of it made you despise Hawkins even more, if that were possible.

No to mention, the story reminded you too much of the terrible, extraterrestrial world that you were now involved with. With your mind distracted, you almost missed your footing as a green Adidas planted itself in front of your feet in the aisle-way between desks as you started to leave class. You glared back at Danny, who gave you a sleazy smirk in return. You could feel your ears burn with rage and embarrassment.

God, I need to get the hell out of here., you brooded. Though, you knew that you didn’t have it in yourself to leave just yet. There were people that needed you. Up until graduation, your future was certain - to help those that were close to you, and to keep yourself afloat.

Shaking your head, you finished your notes in a heavy-handed scribble, and sat back in your chair with a huff.

The library was practically vacant, except for the few students in the adjacent crowd of chairs, and the two librarians at their desks. It was open and quiet, just how you liked it.

With this, your thoughts meandered toward another dilemma, the party that you were going to with Nancy and Steve, and where you were meeting up with Billy. What were you going to wear? How were you going to let loose with all the shit piling onto your plate? What if things got out of control?

With the Upside Down, amounting tension between yourself and your friends, the secrets that your were keeping, and the extending list of other things, your mind felt crowded.

You had laid awake for awhile the night before thinking about it all, along with other creeping thoughts. What exactly could you call “you and Billy”? There was no denying that you and Billy had something going, for there was a tangible force that pulled the both of you together. But you couldn’t help asking yourself, what were you getting yourself into? Billy only showed you his softer, more care-free side. You wondered when his other side, the angry, dangerous blowhard, would show its rearing head.

Billy stepped outside into the brisk autumn air, completely disregarding that he should have been making his way to his history class. He pulled his lighter and a cigarette from his jacket pocket. In a blink of an eye, he lit it up, and leaned against the brick wall of the school. As the smoke filtered out of his mouth, he opened and closed it, making small “o’s” fly out into the weather that he so was not accustomed to. Again, he was reminded that his home was far away. The reminder only made the vacancy in his chest deepen.

He continued taking puffs of his cigarette, while casting his gaze onto the pebble that his boot-clad foot was rolling between the cement and the sole of his boot. The breeze picked up, bringing a chill to his normally burning skin. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jean jacket, balling up the lint between his pointer finger and thumb. Fallen, turned leaves scuttled past his feet as he stood there. They were nice, vivacious, and lovely, like you.

After leaving your house the previous evening, of which he and you had spent chatting and laughing while Cheers buzzed in the background, he was forced to park the Camaro near Benny’s Diner and sleep in the backseat. You did not know this, of course, because Billy was too embarrassed to mention it, and he had a feeling that you would have told him to stay at your house. No to mention, he was not the type to ask for help. He’d been booted out of the house before, so it was nothing new for him.

Billy had also discovered that the thought of staying the night with you made him feel wrong. Nervous. Fluttery. Vulnerable. He scoffed as that word crossed his mind. You made him feel more than the rage, grief, apathy, and sorrow that fueled his days and plagued his nights.

He couldn’t put his troubles, his darkness, onto you. He wouldn’t. You were too good, for Hawkins and for him. He already knew that much. Allowing you to care for him, welcome his friendship, and seemingly show more interest in him than anyone had in what seemed like forever, more than just in his hardened body, charm-laced tones, and lust-filled eyes. Along with your other worries, like the alien shit and school, he did not want to be another one of your burdens. He wanted to push you away, but he didn’t know if he had the strength to.

Which lead him to think about the party where the two of you were supposed to be each other’s “party-buddy”. He could not resist the smile that crept onto his lips. He admired your goofiness and innocence.

What was he to do?

“Nance, you can’t expect me to answer that.”, you told her after swallowing a bite of your peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Smirking, Nancy told you, “I’m not buying it. Don’t deny that there’s more to you and mullet-head than you’re telling me.”

“His name’s Billy, you know.”

“Yeah, and he’s an ass to Steve.”, Nancy replied as she took a slurp from her milk carton.

Shaking your head with a stern expression, you said, “I need to talk to Billy about that.”

“Yeah, before Coach has to drag them away from a brawl.”

The two of you sat atop the hood of the Gremlin, enjoying autumn’s presence and each other’s company. Days like this were becoming rare, as she was normally with Steve, and you were either with Jonathan or on your own.

“You know, I would bug you about how Billy is dangerous and undeserving of you and how this won’t turn out well, but I know how it feels to be pestered about taking interest in a king.”, Nancy began, a pang of sorrow running through her as she was prompted of memories of Barb, “I have no room to tell you what to do, because I obviously didn’t listen to any warnings. But, just know that Billy is a whole other animal. In fact, he is one.”

You gave her a look.

“Have you seen his hair?”

“Steve’s isn’t much better.”, you quipped, “I think the both of them spend more time on their hair than we do.” At this, the pair of you let out bubbly laughs.

“Honestly though, just please, be careful.” She punctuated the last two words carefully, emphasizing them.

Nancy’s warning sent another jolt into your brain. Billy was risky, you knew that. Though, he was more than that, underneath his bad boy facade, anger, and pain, he was kind and soft, at least to you. It added to your thoughts and doubts that had been brewing inside you since Billy left your house the night before.

“So, what’re you going to wear tonight?”, Nancy asked, bringing you out of your revery.

“Probably something simple. It’s just a high school party.”

Nancy smiled, a hint of devilishness her eyes, “Well, I’m sure whatever you throw on, Billy will enjoy.”

“Nance!” A blush rose to your cheeks, surely lighting your neck and ears.

“Don’t ‘Nance’ me. He’s an asshole, but he’s hot, I’ll give him that.”

Putting your hands to your face dramatically and dragging them down, you groaned, “I can’t believe you.”

“What? I have eyes. Just don’t say a word to Steve.”

“And give the two buffoons another reason to fight? Right, yeah.”

The both of you laughed, and continued eating your lunch.

“What’re your plans for tonight, honey?”, your mother inquired, as she walked into the kitchen, a soft smile perched onto her worn face.

You were finishing up cooking dinner, and planning on eating it quickly in order to give yourself more time to get ready for the party. Nancy and Steve were going to pick you up around ten, but they wanted to grab some milkshakes before driving to Carol’s.

“I’m actually going to a party.”, you told her slowly, meeting her eyes. Her eyes and face lit up.

“Oh, wonderful! Are you going with Nancy?”, she asked exuberantly, “Or Billy?” Her tone was almost teasing. You smirked.

“Yes, I’ll be going with Nance and Steve. And, uh, Billy will be there.”

“Great! Well, I’m sure that you will have fun. But, if you’re going to indulge, just please make sure that one of you is going to take care of the rest.”

“Don’t worry, Mom.”, you answered, turning off the oven and taking the lasagna out of it.

Your mom was practically shaking in excitement.

“What’re your plans for tonight, dearest mother?”, you asked, turning to watch your mother reach for a cup from a cupboard. She filled it with water from the sink.

“Well, actually...”, she began, taking a sip from her water and leaning against the counter. She swallowed it before continuing. “I’m going on a double date with Joyce and Bob.”

“Mom! That’s great! Who’s the lucky guy?”, you inquired, thrilled for your mom. You were also happy that Joyce was joining her, knowing that the woman could use a welcome distraction from the otherworldly troubles that had consumed her as of late.

“His name is Henry.”, she explained, blushing, “He writes for the newspaper. He’s very sweet.”

“Awh, Mom, I’m so happy for you! I hope that you have fun!”, you told her, enveloping her into a hug. She returned it, trying not to spill her cup of water.

You left the embrace and began to make your way out of the kitchen. However, before you met the threshold to the hallway, you turned and said, “You know, any other parent wouldn’t allow their teenage daughter to go to a wild party with her friends and a boy. What gives?”

Smiling, she told you, “I just trust you and your judgement is all.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

“Always, dear.”

Your mom had left a while ago, so the only presence in the house with you was the low thrum of an Otis Redding song filtering throughout your house from the radio in your bedroom.

Finishing up your makeup, which only consisted of mascara and tinted lip balm, you peered at your reflection in your mirror. You knew that it was bound to be quite stuffy and sweaty at the party, so you opted to have minimal makeup instead of having it run down your face halfway through the night.

You had chosen to wear a black, silk camisole and high-waisted jeans that hugged your lower half in all the right places, and paired them with your black leather jacket and black, block heeled boots. You felt nice, comfortable, and confident. Maybe tonight would not be unbearable after all.

You heard a honk of a familiar horn. With that, you swiftly turned the radio off, grabbed your keys and small pocket-wallet, and made your way to your door.

Flicking the lights off and shutting the front door, you briskly cantered toward Steve’s car. Steve flashed you a friendly smile.

You hopped inside the backseat, buckling yourself in as Steve drove away from the curb.

“Y/N, you look hot!”, Nancy told you, turning to face you from her passenger seat. You smirked.

“Thanks, Nance. Steven, has she had any-”

“She may or may not have consumed a couple of shots before we left my house.”, he told you matter-of-factly, making eye contact with you through the rearview mirror.

“So, I take it that we aren’t going to grab milkshakes?”

Before Steve could answer, Nance interjected, “Hell yes we are! Just because I’m buzzed doesn’t mean I don’t get to have my strawberry shake.”

Both you and Steve laughed. The three of you drove on, with Journey, and your banter filling the inside of the car.

Billy’s boots hit the wet grass underneath his bedroom window. He’d be damned if his father made him miss the party, of which he was admittedly thrilled at the chance to see you hopefully let loose. And, he could drown himself in praise from his podunk classmates and cheap booze. That was just another plus.

As he made his way towards his car, his back ached from being shoved into his dresser by his dad earlier in the evening. He knew that he’d have a bruise or two.

All was silent in the neighborhood, aside from the melodic chirping of crickets. Max was in her room in her room listening to her walkman, while Neil and Susan had already gone to bed, and his dad was definitely in a deep slumber, for he had drank several beers before ending the night.

Just in case, he started up the Camaro and pulled away from the house as quietly as he could. Once he was a block away, he turned up his stereo, thrumming his fingers on the steering wheel along to the drums of the song. This was going to be one hell of night.

The party was already in full swing once the three of you got to Carol’s gaudy house.

“Let’s go get some punch!”, Nancy told you and Steve, raising her voice over the Van Halen song that was barreling its way through the party, along with the voices of the drunken, wild teens of Hawkins. You pushed your way through the sweaty crowd, finally reaching the kitchen.

Nancy hastily scooped some of the frothy punch into a cup, and raised it to her lips, gulping it down.

“Hey, hey, hey! Slow it down, Nance!”, you told her, putting your hand on her cup. You looked at Steve as if to say What’s with her?

Steve grabbed two beers, and handed one to you. He seemed annoyed. You would have him explain later.

“Not right now, thanks, though.”, you told Steve over all the noise. You didn’t plan on drinking much, if at all.

Shrugging, he placed the beer back, and then popped open his own. Meanwhile, Nancy, looking rather antsy, grabbed both of you and began dragging you into the hoards of people.

“Dance. Now.” She threw over her shoulders to the both of you. Corey Hart came through the speakers, and you began to move along to the music with Nancy. Sharing a smile, you began to move, and Steve and Nancy began dancing with one another, Steve twirling her around goofily. You laughed, tension leaving you as you swayed, freely dancing next to your friends.

Billy spotted you before you spotted him. Steve had convinced you that he would watch over the two of you, having stopped drinking after a half a can of beer, and opted for a bottle of water that he found at the bottom of Carol’s refrigerator. You trusted Steve, so you had downed a fair few beers and a few sips of Nancy’s punch, going against your previous plans of having a sober night. Steve decided that he couldn’t stomach drinking while Nancy was already so inebriated. It didn’t set right with him. He knew what she was doing.

By the time Billy made his way into the house, you were feeling airy and warm and oh-so-right. He chuckled under his breath as he made his way towards you, having left Tommy, Danny, and the other guys outside to their own devices. You were moving along to the beat of what you thought was a Duran Duran song, but were too untroubled to be bothered of its name.

As for Billy, everything was null to him besides you. As he weaved through the party-goers, he kept getting glimpses of you swaying, bobbing, and dipping along to the music, and every bit of it was just as intoxicating as the keg that sat outside with his name on it.

“I see that you started without me, ‘party-buddy’.”, said a husky voice in your ear. You grinned, and turned around and met Billy’s baby blues. Only, they were corrupted with a wild glint in them.

“Took you long enough!”, you told him, “Where’ve you been?”

He beamed, “It’s called being fashionably late, princess.”

“Well, you should’ve been here a little earlier. You’ve been missing all the fun.”

“It looks like you been having enough for the both of us.”

Billy felt eyes on him, so he irritably glanced away from your eyes and met Steve’s, who was glaring at him from the kitchen, where Nancy was grabbing another beer for herself.

Of course, you noticed this change in demeanor, and looked behind you. You rolled your eyes and made a swatting motion at Steve, telling him that you could take care of yourself.

“Billy, don’t worry about Steve. He’s just protective of his friends, that’s all.”

Billy reverted his gaze back to you, his agitation easing up a bit.

“Yeah, well, Harrington should mind his own damn business. He already has a girl.”

Confused, your expression contorted, “Wait, what? What does that have to do with-”

Realizing his slip up, Billy interrupted, “Just forget it, let’s have some fun, yeah?”

“Uh, alright.” You answered, trying to dismiss the tension radiating from Billy. Just before Billy could ask if you wanted another beer, the music transitioned to a Scorpions song that you loved, and your drunk self became ignited by its crescendo. You grabbed Billy’s hand without thinking, and exclaimed, “This is my song, Hargrove!”

You began to drag him further into the crowd, where the noise, heat, and hormones pulsed inside the house like a singular heartbeat. Instead of declining, as Billy wasn’t much of a public dancer unless he had alcohol in his system, he went along with it, not wanting to face your look of disappointment or annoyance if he did.

You began moving, and Billy joined you, both of you getting comfortably close to one another. Your sober self would have not been so inclined to do so, as you kept this side of you away from everyone. But, you succumbed to your attraction to Billy, the alcohol, and the music as you both moved along to its rhythm and your magnetism towards one another.

The pair of you made your way outside. You could use a breather, and Billy wanted to have a smoke.

Carol’s house was in a newer housing addition at the edge of Hawkins, and was settled at the cusp of the woodland area that surrounded town. As you and Billy stepped outside, you faced the tall trees and eerie darkness. Leaning up against the stale-mint siding of the house, Billy took out his pack of Marlboros. He lit one as he looked at you, once again admiring you. With your head directed upward, you were gazing at the stars, or what you could see of them. You closed your eyes, the wavering chill of the night feeling like a welcoming heaven to your flushed cheeks, as you took in the air into your lungs and exhaled it, raising your shoulders up and down as you breathed in the October night. A waft of tobacco interrupted you.

“Billy boy,”, you blurted, your face still facing the night sky and your eyes remaining shut, “You should really stop that habit of yours.”

He smirked, letting out another cloud of smoke, “Probably. But, it feels good.”

You turned to face him then, your mouth quirked up into a small, devious smirk, “Like the way you keep checking me out?”, you teased, stepping closer to him, “You’re not shy about it, you know.”

You were close enough to pluck the cigarette from his lips, now. Billy’s heart began to race, but his confident smirk remained.

“I wasn’t trying to be, princess.”

“Good.”, you replied, taking a finger and flicking Billy’s earring, making it sway from side to side, “Because it gives me the excuse to admire you right back.”

Catching Billy by surprise, you leaned in and pecked him on his cheek, and retreated, meeting his big orbs. A small, slightly bashful smile slowly crept its way onto Billy’s face, replacing his bewilderment, and he tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear, while he briefly exhaled the cigarette smoke from his nostrils. Your skin became feverish underneath his gaze, your inebriated thoughts glazing over your rationality.

You couldn’t deny it, drunk or not, you wanted him. In every way.

In that instant, Billy wanted nothing more than to kiss you, but knew that it would not have been exactly right to do so while you were drunk. Any other time, he probably would not have thought about it if he were with some other broad in Hawkins, but he also would have undoubtedly been drunk if he were with anyone else.

He just couldn’t do that with you. He liked you too much. Before he had a chance to suggest taking you home, and not being buzzed or drunk himself, which was a rarity when it came to parties, a noise came from the woods. Brows pulling together in confusion and irritation of losing the moment, the both of you looked out into the trees, almost squinting.

A beat of silence passed, and you looked at Billy over your shoulder. The only sounds were the pulse of the music from the house, and the far off voices coming from the front yard. Then, you heard it once more. It was a scratching sound, then a few snaps. Like someone, or something, was chipping away at a tree.

Without thinking much of it, you began making your way towards the woods.

“Y/N!” Billy remarked, now flicking his cigarette out of his hand. A part of him wanted to keep you in the yard, but another part wanted to know what the sound was, too. Deep down, he knew that there was a chance that it probably wasn’t good, taking into consideration the Upside Down shit that you had told him about, and what he had witnessed for himself.

The drunk part of you was too curious to mind, but if you had been sober, you would have been more cautious, if not just waited to see if anything happened instead of walking toward whatever bad shit that it was bound to be. Yet, you kept marching, now entering the darkened haze of the woods, with Billy at your heels.

“Princess, we should probably-”, Billy mumbled to you before you shushed him, hearing the noises again. The sounds seemed closer to you now that you were amongst the hollow haven of trees.

Aside from the streams of pale blues and violets of the moonlight through the towering trees, it was a canvas of darkness. The streams of light were your only guide.

The sound kept getting closer as you crept along, the soles of your block-heels bumping over the fallen branches, tree roots, and lumps of leaves, making you wobble along, not to mention your buzzed swagger that accompanied it. Billy reached over and balanced you with his body, your hand taking hold of his taut forearm.

The sound changed. It sounded wet, like the voracious squelching of something being consumed.

“Y/N.”, Billy whispered, pulling you to a stop with his voice. There was an urgency to his voice, a detection of fear. If Billy was weary, then it definitely wasn't anything good. You could barely see through the patches of darkness, but your blood stopped cold, and you faced him. It was a sobering feeling.

“Don’t move too much,” he whispered lowly, “And don’t look. It’s that thing, and it has someone.”

Ignoring Billy and following your gut, you cast your gaze back to the direction of the sound, and you needn't stumble through the woods any longer. Your breath caught in your throat, Billy having stopped entirely. Fear stabbed at your lower abdomen.

Outside the nearest stream of moonlight and against the base of a tree was something moving, its front tucked away from you. Its skin reflected the moonlight, it looked slimy and grey, and it was bent over its prey. You could make out the feet of the monster’s victim, which adorned green and white Adidas. They were scarily familiar. You stared on in horror, afraid for you and Billy to move.

“Billy, that’s-”

“Danny.” He finished, his voice barely above a hushed mumble, his mouth slightly agape.

Billy yanked the both of you behind the nearest tree, almost praying that it would not attract the attention of the Demogorgon, or whatever it was that you had called the thing he ran into with the Camaro.

He stared at you, then back at the thing - he was sure that it was bigger and bonnier than the thing he had seen before. You closed your eyes, and focused on the horrid sound of it tearing Danny into bite-size chunks. Somehow, the thing hadn’t noticed you, yet, because it was too preoccupied. Though, you knew that when it had its fill, it would regain its full composure and probably be able to sniff you and Billy out, and surely have you for dessert.

Billy hadn't the slightest idea of getting away from the damn thing unless it meant sacrificing himself to allow you to get away. But what if there’s more than one? He thought. Your chances of making it were even more slim if he got turned into alien chow. He didn’t have a knife, a gun, hell even a brick to subdue it. He was stunned.

You roamed your frenzied mind for an answer to you and Billy escaping the woods alive. You tried to think of anything that could be used to delay the thing ending you both.

Think, Y/N, think. What did Jonathan tell you about them?

They seemed to always show up during the night, and in colder weather. The one that you had seen for yourself didn’t have eyes.

That’s it.

Your eyes shot open, meeting Billy’s again. His hands had been on your upper arms, because you had began to breathe heavily, and he hoped that a reminder of his presence would keep you somewhat calm.

You raised a shaky finger to your pursed lips, telling Billy to remain silent, and you slowly put your hand into his jacket, and his strong brows furrowed in uncertainty. Realizing what you might be attempting, he shook his head, telling you to not risk it.

You retracted your hand, the metal of Billy’s lighter glinting in the moonlight.

Reaching into your own jacket pocket, you pulled out your small can of pepper spray, your mom having given it to you ages ago, and just to appease her thoughts, you had kept it in your jacket. But now, it was actually going to be put to use.

“Y/N, it’s not going -” He told you in a deep whisper as you shrugged his hands off of you.

“Trust me.”, your uneven voice replied. “Help me find a branch.”, you instructed in a small whisper to Billy.

You knew that once you started, you could not go back, because it would definitely catch the Demogorgon’s attention.

Both of you bent down, grasping around for a branch or two to go along with your only plan.

After quickly finding one, you both bent upward, eyes sharing the same glint of disparity. Billy had known fear well, for he faced it every day, but this was something different. He had you to consider, too.

You were beyond terrified, but the will to live and protect overpowered your fear. You blinked back stinging tears, taking in labored breaths.

Suddenly, you noticed that the awful sound of devourment had stopped, and Billy had noticed, too.

The both of you heard a low hiss, then a gargling growl. It had sniffed you out. You were done for before you could begin your plight.

“Oh, fuck it.” You spoke aloud, your voice regaining its normal volume. You weren’t going to die hiding. You were going to go down fighting.

You hopped out from behind the tree. Despite the danger, Billy’s lip quirked into a small, proud smile, and he followed suit.

The Demogorgon had been creeping toward where the two of you were, but it could fully sense you now that you were basically in front of it, a spare few feet away.

Holding it away from you, you began rapidly dowsing your large twig with your pepper spray, and you glanced back at the thing as you practically tossed the can over to Billy, and he caught it effortlessly, and quickly drenched his branch.

The Demogoron gave a horrible growl, and its head sprouted open like a grotesque, newly bloomed lily. Except, it had rows upon rows of sharp teeth. It jumped towards you as you lit your branch with Billy’s lighter, it surprisingly taking no time in becoming makeshift torch. The torch provided more light to guide the both of you, giving a warm, golden glow. Hastily chucking the lighter to Billy, he did the same, his eyes trained on the monster.

The monster shrieked, stepping back a little.

“That’s right, you little bitch. You don’t like that, do you?”, Billy asked the monster, his voice laced with venom. It shrunk away from the fire, giving a dreadful hiss. Billy stepped in front of you, as if he was trying to hide you. From there, he could fully determine that it was Danny that the alien had attacked, and that he wasn’t going to let you see the poor kid. The sight would haunt Billy.

“I don’t think that this son of a bitch enjoys the heat like you do, Billy.”, you commented, a smile breaking out as you thought of your luck, your breaths still heavy.

You and Billy began walking backward, trying your best to not trip, for it would be your last steps if you did.

The alien creature followed you ever so slowly, but still kept its distance away from the fires.

Suddenly, Billy felt something patter onto the top of his head, then his shoulder.

“Shit.”, he spat lowly. You looked to him.

“What is it?”, you asked, but then you felt it, too.

It was starting to rain.

Panic spread through both of you like wildfire, taking your breath away as the both of you felt a couple more drops hit your shoulders. The creature hissed, as if it were laughing at you and Billy.

Billy knew of only one thing to do. With your pepper spray still in his hand, he told you, “Y/N, after I do what I’m about to do, you need to run as fast as you can.”

The creature crept towards you, like a lion to a gazelle. You jabbed your torch back at it. You looked to Billy, “I’m not leaving you.”, you told him, now casting your stubborn gaze toward him.

“I’ll be right behind you. Just on the count of three, run.”, Billy told you. His spur of the moment plan was to only buy you a little time. It didn’t insure his chance of living. He stepped forward, inching closer to the Demogorgon with his torch and canister in either sweaty, calloused palm.

“Billy-”

“One.”

You didn’t know which way to run. You only wanted Billy to be by your side as you fled, not leaving him behind you.

“Two.”

The rain was going to pick up, leaving you both stuck and defenseless. This was Billy’s only choice. He knew his mother would be proud, albeit pissed that he’d be with her earlier than they both thought.

The alien was going to pounce forward soon, its claws digging into the earth before it propelled forward to tear the two of you apart.

Your last thought was that you and Billy deserved more than this.

“Three.”

In a flash, you sprinted in the direction that your instincts told you to go, and Billy sprayed as much of the pepper spray as he could at the Demogorgon, and threw his torch at it.

Billy watched as the flames ignited, latching onto its greyish, gooey flesh. He dropped the torch and left the monster in the dust. It produced an awful, whistling wail.

You glanced behind you numerous times, but the cover of rain and darkness hindered your ability to see anything but the haze. You were still running, not sure of whether you were on the right path, and if Billy was behind you. Billy could barely see in the darkness as the rain began to pick up. He pushed himself further. In the distance, you and Billy heard a roar, and had the hopes that it was too injured to find you.

After a couple of seconds, the rain started to pelt into you, and your torch was extinguished. Before you knew it, you tripped. It was hard enough running in your boots, you were just hoping that your will to live outweighed your body’s need for flat shoes. You got your answer as you fell to the damp earth, dirt splattering onto you. You tried to pick yourself up, but a striking pain in your ankle told you to stop.

That’s when Billy finally found you, he heard your gasps of pain.

“Shit, Y/N.” He muttered, worried. He gasped your hands, pulling you up from the sodden ground, then tried to move along, his arm swinging your arm onto his shoulders. He bent down to match your height.

“Damn.”, you gasped, as you both started to move along.

“Fuck, this isn’t going to work.” Billy told you, looking behind the both of you, peering into the darkness and heavy rain to see if he could sense the creature coming after you.

“Billy, I can’t-” You began to say as Billy stopped moving the both of you, he swiftly picked you up, your legs slung over his arm. You exhaled in pain.

It was pouring, the rain pelting onto your struggling bodies. Billy began moving along, again, trying to keep a fast pace, making more of a trot than a run. You bumped along in his arms, trying to see over his shoulder to see if the Demogorgon was on your tail.

Billy could finally see a clearing, only because he could decipher bright spheres moving through the downpour, which he detected were headlights, and after a few long seconds, he reached it. He identified the area, it was still on the same road as Carol’s house, just farther down from it.

The Camaro was close. The wind picked up along with the rain. At least you were out of the woods.

“Almost there, princess.”, he told you. He was breathing in and our sharply, pushing himself to keep going.

He reached the edge of the road and clearing where a lot of the cars were parked near Carol’s house. It seemed like a majority had already bailed the party.

You sighed in relief as you caught sight of the Camaro.

As Billy set you down cautiously, and you winced as your left foot touched the ground. He briskly unlocked the passenger side door, allowing you to slide inside.

As he slid into the Camaro, he grimaced. He couldn’t help the squirming feeling that arose in him the moment his dretched clothing touched the interior of his car. It’s just water, he told himself.

After dismissing that thought, realization set into his features, and his eyes widened, water dripping from his nose and the ends of his hair. His disturbed gaze flicked over to you. You were in shock as you met his eyes. A tear mingled its way into the rain that covered you face.

“Oh God, Billy. Are you alright? Oh my God, oh my ...”, you sputtered, your lips beginning to tremble as you were overcome with both fear and relief.

Billy’s shock subsided at the sight of you breaking down, and his heart clenched. He instinctively pulled you to him, ignoring the stab of the gear shift in his abdomen and encompassing your shivering frame into his own. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders. His own actions surprised him. But, then again, too many things were surprising him lately.

“We’re alright. We’re alive. It’s gone.” He said into your hair, not entirely believing his own words.

Another terrifying thought hit you, “Fuck, what if made its way to Carol’s? What about Nancy and Steve?”, you pulled back from his embrace, his hands sliding down to your biceps, “We have to go back, Billy.”

“No, no we can’t. I’m sure Harrington took Wheeler home already. They are fine. Besides, that thing is injured and pissed. There’s no telling if we would make it in round two.”

Holding his sincere, stern gaze with your worried one, you nodded. Yeah, Nance and Steve probably already left. Nance was too far gone, so Steve had probably called it a night.

Billy slid his hands from you, and shifted forward to start the Camaro. It roared to life, and the headlights cast a yellow luster over the land in front of it. Reluctantly, Billy was able to pull the muscle machine out of its spot, and he drove onto the desolate road leading into town.

The time having to be at least two in the morning, your street was completely silent and cast in shadow when Billy pulled up to your house.

Billy huffed, the tension still present in his muscles. His lips pursed and his eyes bold, he shut his car off. Your head had been leaning against the cool, shuddering glass of the passenger window during the ride back, the shared shock and horror of what the two of you had escaped settling into the air of the Camaro’s cabin.

You opened your door without a second thought, wanting nothing more than to go to bed. Billy wanted a drink.

The pressure on your ankle was painful, but you didn’t have far to go. Billy hopped out, meeting you in front of the Camaro.

The rain was still coming down, but only as a mist. Without a word, you let him help you to the door, his arm around your waist and yours around his shoulders.

You made it to your porch, the both of you letting go of one another so you could unlock your front door.

As you looked at your reflection, you thought about how you could have been part of the cast of Evil Dead.

Dirt, rain, and mascara streaked down your face, and your hair was an absolute disaster. The only part of your outfit that was salvageable was your leather jacket, and one arm of it was caked in mud and specks of crumbled leaves.

Your mom had left a message over the phone saying how she was going to stay at the Byers, because Joyce wouldn’t let her drive home. Thank God for Joyce, you thought.

Meanwhile, Billy was showering in your bathroom. You had given him a large shirt and pair of sweatpants that you had worn when you had decided to paint your bedroom two years prior.

Thick steam filled the small bathroom, fogging up the shower door and the mirror above the sink. The water rushed down onto Billy’s head, caressing his skin and dripping from his eyelashes, down his nose and his fingertips while he stood underneath the welcoming scorched heat.

What in the fuck had happened? Was all of this a dream? He thought of several scenarios, such as him crashing the Camaro during the drive from California to Indiana, and how he could have just been in a medically induced coma. Yeah, maybe all of this was just a twisted dream.

But when he blinked away his spaced gaze and saw the pale yellow tiling of your shower wall, he realized that none of it was a dream. It was actually happening. Hawkins. His father. You. Fucking aliens.

At least one of those things were good.

At that, he shut the water off, the steam becoming stagnant around his form.

In the meantime, you were in your mother’s bathroom, washing the conditioner out of your tangled locks, the warmth of the water emphasizing the throbbing of your ankle. Besides that, you were feeling numbed by the lull of the heat and the sanctity of safety. Though, a nagging thought kept saying that you weren't safe as long as you were in Hawkins. You told yourself that it was better to be at home than out in the open.

You hadn’t been aware of the otherworldly circumstances that engulfed Hawkins for long, but somehow you had already been caught in their snare.

What was going to happen next? Surely people were going to notice that Danny was missing. A search would ensue, much like the one for Will. You and Billy were the only two that knew what happened to him, and where he was. Even he was an asshole in life, no one deserved such a fate.

But, if he was found, would the police somehow link you and Billy to Danny? No one would believe either of you. Billy was the sketchy new kid, and you were the quiet outsider.

You were going to tell Hopper, you had decided that much. Together, you would lead him to where you thought Danny would still be, possibly along with the body of the Demogorgon.

Was it still alive? If it had survived, then you and Billy would have definitely been dead. So, Billy’s actions had bought you a chance for life. Your plan had at least injured the nasty being. So, where was it?

At a leisurely pace, you stepped within the threshold of your bedroom, the light from your bedside lamp cast a muted orange luminescence that colored your room and streamed into the hallway.

Billy laid on one side of your bed, his hands intertwined on his stomach and his head tilted up toward your ceiling. His body was rigged, knuckles almost white.

“You okay?”, you asked him, your voice sounding small.

He hadn’t heard you come in, his thoughts cast onto the horrifying image of the Demogorgon and Danny’s corpse.

Startled, he popped his head of wet curls up from your pillow. “Not really.”, was all he could manage to answer.

Before you managed to make it to your bed, Billy said, “I think I’m just going to go back to the house for tonight.”

Billy had thought it over, and he had concluded that him staying the night would only make things between you more complicated, and more intense. But, one look into your eyes gave him the answer to an unposed request.

“Please, just stay.”, you spoke, your voice almost trembling. Although you normally enjoyed your alone time, you knew that wouldn’t be able to sleep through the night if you were left alone. And it was difficult for Billy to admit it to himself, but he needed your presence, too.

Billy nodded. You were both vulnerable. You needed each other.

With that, you turned off your bedside lamp with a small click. Billy lifted the covers up for the both of you, and the two of you climbed into the soft confines of your bed.

At first, Billy didn’t know what to do, and it was the first time in a long time that he was awkward around a girl.

You sensed this, and let out a hushed chuckle.

“What?”, he asked somewhat grumpily, not happy with himself, and a little insecure that you were laughing at him.

“You’re cute, Hargrove.”, you answered with a small smile, taking Billy by surprise as you grabbed his wrist and turned your back to him, placing his arm around your waist.

Though you didn’t see it, you could feel his smirk as he pulled you into him more, his hold tightening around you.

#billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove #stranger things #stranger things 2 #me #my post

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btsinspirationtakesme · 6 years

Text

Prompt: “My dick feels like it’s about to fucking fall off, I haven’t fucked anyone because of you!”

Description: Fuckboi! Jungkook series continues!

AN: I am taking prompts, they can be 1-2 lines and you can send me separate OC profiles too!

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

You thought Jeon Jungkook was successfully out of your life. A small part of you treasured how you had the best sex of your life with him, even though the experience for him was probably apart of some twisted little fantasy to get past on his fuck boy conquests of college.

You were so wrong.

“Did you drug me?” Jungkook asked from behind as you walked out of lit class and went to the nearest coffee vendor.

This was the 10th question Jungkook had asked you in the past week about the quote ‘out of this world’ sex you had both had at the party. It was also the last straw.

“You’re not going to leave me alone, are you?” You sighed.

“My dick feels like it’s about to fucking fall off, I haven’t fucked anyone because of you!” He hissed in your ear to get your attention. You saw the frustration laced on his face, anyone else would say he was looking at you with the gaze of a mad man in love…or lust. You looked at the way his lips slightly curved when he was angry a little too long before snapping out.

“Why are you even telling me this? Don’t you have the college sorority sisters to help you out? Go tell them about your little problem!” You yelled, fire in your eyes as you were blinded by the thought of Jungkook’s raging, engorged member tucked away in his tight jeans. Your mouth watered.

Snap out of it, Y/N!

“You’re eyes are dilating, Y/N. I’m sure you could help me out.” He said softly in your ear this time boring his eyes into yours. Shit, you were obvious.

“Two americano’s on the house. You two look great together.” The kind vendor that you had liked for the past three years said, but now she had just become your worst enemy. She placed two americano’s in front of you which Jungkook took with a bunny smile thanking the vendor. You swore your heart skipped a beat.

“Thanks, Ajumma.” You smiled brightly before you shot a disinterested look to Jungkook as you started walking away from him by the coffee cart. He looked at you with awe before telling the vendor how cute you were. You felt red rise up your cheeks, he really loved riling you up.

Later that night, you were nestled in with your housemates watching a movie. Thinking about Jungkook out of the blue had become a regular part of your life now, like when in the movie the protagonist fell into the arms of the super hero. You normally sneered at stuff like that, but you were suddenly reminded of Jungkook’s strong arms as they pounded into you…

It was that bad.

You didn’t even have time to register the tense atmosphere around you, where all your housemates were looking at you.

“Is it true, Y/N?” Maddy asked, a look of curiosity on her face.

‘True what?” You asked, taking another handful of popcorn and stuffing your face as your eyes still focused on the scree in front of you.

Maddy nudged Miranda.

“I can’t deal with this tension.” Miranda sighed before bursting. “How long have you and Jungkook been together? I mean, not to be rude or anything but we kind of are your housemates, and it would be nice to find out from you since we’ve been living together for the past 3 years and Jungkook is kind of a big deal.” You stopped eating your popcorn midway through.

“What the- how did- no?!” You stuttered in astonishment looking at both of them.

“She’s lying.” Maddy said.

“I’m not fucking dating Jeon Jungkook!” You yelled. “Where are these rumours coming from?”

Maddy and Miranda looked at each other with confusion.

“You don’t know?” They asked in union.

“Tasha from Physics and I are partners for a project so we met up a few days ago. She’s in the sorority too and was telling me about how Jungkook’s been rejecting all of his usual fuck buddies lately because of you. Someone saw you two kissing at a party a few weeks ago before going into a room. He hasn’t gotten with anyone since. We all thought you two were probably a thing.” Maddy explained.

“But that mean’s he’s so into you! This is Jungkook- fuck boy extraordinare who hasn’t fucked anyone because he’s so dick whipped for you!” Miranda said, lifting herself up on the couch.

“Are we still in high school? You guys I can’t deal with people talking about me!” You said, your heart beat rising in realisation that people were talking about you. You hated it, you could literally do anything as long as people weren’t talking about you.

“So you two did get together?” Maddy confirmed.

You nodded weakly. “I mean, he was really, really good and I can’t stop thinking about him but people are talking about me! Sorority girls too, you know how viscous they can get!” You said, internally hyperventilating.

“Awh, babe I’m sure it’s not that bad. I mean he’s not use to girls like you so he probably needs to think a little before going back to his usual game.” Miranda came over and hugged you, but you were starting to get a headache as you thought more and more about how the hot topic of the sorority house- Jungkook was now involved with you. All you wanted to do was avoid that sort of crowd, but by sleeping with Jungkook who couldn’t fucking move on, you were on their hit list probably.

‘I just don’t want to be talked about in the sorority, you know how it gets there?” You said, pushing your head in your hands.

Your housemates tried to spend the rest of the night consoling you but it was no use. They knew you tried to keep yourself away from stuff like that. The next morning you rushed into class after spending a sleepless night debating whether to call Jungkook and tell him that he needed to move on, since he did put his phone number into your mobile when you weren’t looking in class. You decided against it eventually, you didn’t have the energy too because the thought of his velvety voice on the phone would make your knees weak.

“Y/N, right?” You had come back from asking the professor a question at the very end of the lecture when everyone had mostly gone, when a pretty girl you recognised from the sorority house asked. Shit. At least you were prepared now, thanks to your housemates who had coached you on how to act.

“Stay away from Jungkook.” She hissed in your ear before grabbing your hand and squeezing your wrist with her sharply manicured hands a little too much that you nearly screamed.

Your eyes widened as you realised the bitch had scratched you. Your mouth dropped because of all things, you didn’t know sorority sisters were that bad.

“D- did you just scratch me?”

“Jungkook doesn’t go with girls like you. He needs a girl that can keep his interest.” She glanced your body up and down and winked, before sauntering away without any sign of remorse. You sat back down in your chair in shock. Were you still in high school? This shit couldn’t happen at college, you didn’t work your ass off to get to a place like this and have girls scratch your wrist.

You looked at bloodied scar. a straight red line. Your mouth dropped ever further.

Taking your phone out, you debated on what to do. You knew you had to call someone, because you couldn’t just walk out of a lecture hall around campus with blood dripping from your wrist. Taehyung…Taehyung was a good option, but you thought about who caused this to happen in the first place.

With little thought, you pressed Jungkook’s name.

“Hello, Y/N. I hope you’re calling with some good news.” He answered cockily on the second ring.

The words struggled to come out of your mouth and you realised calling him was a stupid idea. What would he do anyway?

After a pause Jungkook spoke again.

“Y/N? Are you okay?” His voice had morphed into worry now, sensing something was wrong since nothing came out of your usually cocky mouth. The worry in his voice, something that you never knew existed made you even more tongue twisted.

“Y/N? Speak to me. Where are you?”

“Hey, do you know what class Y/N/L/ had?” You heard him ask someone close by, who answered he thought you might be in the same class as one of his other friends. He was right.

“Are you still there? Stay on the phone, I’m coming.” Jungkook said, and you heard him move around.

“I’m in the next building, I’ll be there in like, 20 seconds.” Jungkook said, and you were even more confused now with the worry in his voice. He shouldn’t be worried. He should have just laughed and hung up. You expected him to laugh and hang up.

“Y/N!” You saw Jungkook sprint into the empty lecture hall and up to you. He couldn’t understand the small feeling that started building inside him when he saw you sitting alone looking scared.

Coming up to where you were sitting, he scanned your features before landing at the bloodied slit on your wrist.

“Fuck.” He whispered, sitting down and taking your small wrist in his hands.

“What happened here?” He asked softly, soothing your hand. His hand felt warm and inviting. It send shockwaves of pleasure down your spine.

When your hand was warmed up from his soothing, you snapped out of your initial shock and took your hand away.

“I’m so sorry Y/N. I should have known they’d do this.” He said, looking into your eyes with regret.

“You knew?” You asked, horrified.

“Not like how you think. Sorority girls are…kind of wild when it comes to guys they get obsessed with…this is their way of telling someone to back off.” He said, training his eyes on you wrist.

“That’s completely fucked.” You said, even more horrified with this secretive little practice that existed. Even more fucked was that they could get obsessed with someone so much that when they rejected them, they decided to harm people as a threat.

“Does it hurt a lot?” Jungkook asked even more softly, taking out a box of plasters from his back pocket. That surprised you. He took your wrist again.

“Do you carry that around for all the girls that get scratched by lunatics because of you?” You asked sarcastically trying to take your mind off the pain of your wrist, not answering how much the scratch hurt because it was still pretty big and stinging.

Jungkook ripped the wrapping off gently and placed the plaster on your cut, smoothing his fingers over the pink rectangle.

“Only the pretty ones.” He smirked meeting your eyes. The corners of your mouth curved up involuntarily.

A moment of silence washed over you both.

“This shit won’t happen again, Y/N.” Jungkook said sincerely. These sororities were ancient and they had weird codes that he had subjected himself too by fucking nearly every girl in that group some way or another. Y/N had to bear the brunt of it now he had an issue with being unable to think about anyone else because of her. Jungkook knew it from the beginning when she was so different from the girls he usually went for, and he thought Y/N was just an flavour to get rid of.

That clearly didn’t happen.

“You kind of need to stop coming after me for that to happen.” You pointed out, grabbing your bag as you prepared to get up.

“They’ll stop if they know we’re together. If they see you with me, they won’t think it’s just a rumour and they’ll leave you alone.” Jungkook said taking your hand in his and meeting your eyes with determination. He feel uncomfortable with the thought of you having to face those girls again because of him. Was it regret he was feeling? If he didn’t start this, you wouldn’t have to worry about some girls that didn’t grow up from high school.

He fucked around himself, but he wouldn’t bash a guys head out for fucking someone he fucked every now and then. Well, if that person was you…Jungkook sighed. He couldn’t resist you, your flavour was becoming his favourite. That’s probably what it was. It couldn’t be anything else. You were cute, and very funny, and in your own world most of the time when he caught you ever since you screamed at him at your party- but Jungkook was probably, just really interested by you. Surely that was it.

“You mean…like pretending?” You asked, wanting clarification. He had a point, everyone knew those girls could get wild when it came to a girl they didn’t want with their ‘idol’ guy. It was fucked up.

“Depends what you mean by pretending. Pretend sex…could be arranged.“ Jungkook said, his eyes darkening as he pulled your body closer to his.

“You want to fake date me but have sex on the side?”

“The regular, the better.” He winked. “I know you want me too, I can practically feel you dripping from here Y/N.”

Your ear was starting to love the sound of his voice so close to it. You clenched your legs at the sound of his voice.

“Okay.” You said, giving in to what you wanted for once. He would probably break your heart in the process, but you guessed the sex would compensate.

“Only until they move on though. When they start forgetting, this thing is finished.” You said, trying to regain your head sense again after feeling dizzy with his sweet voice in your ear.

“No problem.” Jungkook answered, taking his phone out. He didn’t know why he was going to such lengths, a simple walk around a party with his arm on around your neck would do and they’d just back off. He became certain that he just wanted to find out more about you, there had to be something he didn’t like or was repulsed by so he could go back to what he was use to- something that was not you.

“Wait- what are you doing?” You asked, seeing Jungkook turn his phone to his camera selfie mode.

“Smile, I need a new display picture.” Oh. This was to make his project more believable.

“Is this really necessary?”

“I haven’t changed this display picture since I started college. It’s a pretty big deal, shouldn’t you know as a true millennial?” He teased, moving closer to you and positioning his phone.

You rolled your eyes before putting on a big smile.

“Why aren’t you taking it?” You asked still smiling with gritted teeth. He was smiling himself, beautifully might you add. He looked too good to be true.

You moved your face to ask him why but as soon as you moved your head his face tried to pull a ridiculous face. Your laugh was then interrupted by his lips settling on yours quickly, slowly easing the smile that you had out.

Click.

Your mouth was just getting use to the taste of him and you began to realise how parched you felt from not having his taste when he slowly pulled you.

“You’re cute when you’re flustered.” He said with a bunny smile, before checking the candid picture of him kissing your smiling face and setting it as his display picture. Inside, a small part of you was screaming. Jeon Jungkook was to everyone else, officially your boyfriend. The other part of you realised he kissed you, and you…like was an understatement.

You hoped that Jungkook wasn’t going to play you so well that when he left after getting his final fix of you, you’d be left crying on the side walk.

“Jungkook?” You asked, your voice smaller than he had ever usually heard it.

‘Can you promise me one thing?”

“What is it?”

Don’t break my heart too much.

“Just don’t over do it.”

#bts reactions #jungkook #fuckboi kook #jungkook fic #bts fanfic #bts scenarios #bangtan fic #fuckboy jungkook

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xmydaysinmilanx · 7 years

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(You could do these when you're bored) Hi!! My small headcannon would be for Young! Prompto and how he gets embarrassed and shy when his (younger!)s/o fangirls about how big he is and she tells him how he's so perfect to her. -in cooking class-for Ignis, his s/o gets very irritated when the teacher is bragging about Ignis's work. - and for younger! Gladio- His s/o and little Iris play with Glass hair and try to put it in small ponytails and/or buns but he ends up doing it on her.

A young Prompto’s younger S/O who fangirls abouthis bigger size and how she views him as perfect:

11 year old Prompto was a freshman in high school and despite hisinsecurities about his chubby figure, he caught the eye of his S/O in Scienceclass, third period on a sunny Monday morning. His S/O, a quirky female withstrawberry blonde hair and a face full of the most beautifully unique freckleswith piercing indigo night sky eyes. They were partnered for an astrologyproject and became best buddies – only, she was his ONLY friend for a while,till he met the chocobros. After a whole month of working solidly on theirproject, Prompto decided to discuss his weight woes.

Prompto: ‘I’ve been the big blonde kidsince I was 6. My parents, it’s not their fault, I just, I feel so lost andhopeless, food became my comfort. Only now, it’s uh, not so comforting.’

He finishedhis confession with a chuckle.S/O: ‘I guess you’re right, I mean um,constantly eating won’t lessen how lonely you feel huh? Hey, look, why I don’tI help. Don’t worry, I’m not going to put you on a diet, I just want you tofeel more comfortable in yourself. Besides, I think you’re amazing the way youare.’Prompto’s mouth opened slightly. Prompto: ‘Uh, wow, hey, thanks……’Only a few days after their heartfelt conversation, Prompto plucked up thecourage to ask his friend to be his girlfriend. She promptly accepted the offerand much like when they were friends, she’d try to play the part of a ‘motivator’,encouraging him to do things to please himself. In fact, it was during theirscience project that Prompto discovered his fondness of capturing the finest ofmoments. One dark Saturday night, Prompto suggested the two of them gostargazing – finding an empty field near the Citadel proved challenging, sothey caught a bus and walked to a deserted location bordering Insomnia. Okay, alittle dangerous for 12 year olds to be venturing off at night but that’s whatmade it even more exciting. Besides, they had each other. They leaned against alarge rock, sitting close to eachother, Prompto’s S/O grabbing his belly.S/O: ‘Six, I’ve always wanted to sayPrompt. Your rolls are so adorable and I am clearly blessed by the six that Ihave you all to myself. My little chubby nugget.Prompto would’ve normally been offended by this sort of trace of hisappearance, only he knew she meant well. He could see it in the moonlight glowof her eyes; she adored him so. The gaze of adoration she demonstrated beforeresting her head on his shoulder was all that mattered to Prompt. Although they’re (evidently) no longer together, in present times, Prompto looksback on memories with his first girlfriend, fondly. She helped him become whathe grew up to be, a loyal, loving sidekick who despite his fears, would putthem aside for his nearest and dearest in critical situations.Star pupil Ignis and his cooking class – his S/O becomesfrustrated when the teacher is bragging about Ignis’s work.

14 year old Ignis recently acquired hisfirst ever significant other. Even at his tender young age, he would alwaysrefer to his S/O as his partner, as opposed to girlfriend. Formal might as wellhave been his middle name and that’s partly what attracted his S/O to beginwith – always the guy to have an answer for teachers in lesson, whilst the restof the class evidenced a lack of enthusiasm, leaning their elbows on desks,eyes barely open.

Food tech class was Ignis’s personal favourite. He doted on the creation ofunique recipes – fun fact: Ignis was not always a great cook. In fact, as afreshman, he LOATHED cooking class till his teacher pulled him aside for a oneto one lesson on a gluten free, vegetable supreme pizza. Eventually, Ignis gotthe whole kitchen thing figured out and became a cooking whiz, earning exceptionalgrades and a reputation as the ‘most likely to be a chef’ student.

Fast forward a couple of years to Ignis and his S/O sharing the same cookingclass every Wednesday and today’s lesson revolved around custom coffee making.The class had been asked to spend the previous 2 weeks mapping out ideas for their‘ideal’ coffee and specific ingredients they’d choose, tailored to suit their preferences.As one would predict, Ignis was ALL OVER this project like a mad man – his S/Owould beam would pride, even when he couldn’t make it to her after schooldinner due to his commitments to the project. Ignis decided to list ingredientsto make the perfect ‘morning energy’ beverage with a hint of cinnamon. When thetime came to present ideas in class, the teacher made no secret that hishomework was her personal favourite; constantly comparing his list of ingredientsto Insomnia’s finest of cooks. Ignis’s S/O felt a little insulted. She too hadworked pretty hard on her coffee, naming it ‘moondust’ because the liquid wouldbe ‘dark as night’ topped with small speckles of sugar for added sweetness anddecorative purposes.

Post class, Ignis couldn’t help but notice his S/O acting a little distant.

Ignis: ‘You’ve been acting awfully stand offish sincecookery, might I dare intrude?’

S/O: ‘Okay, so maybe my idea was more about theaesthetics but still, I should of got a few points for originality. Damn, isn’tit time someone else got a standing ovation for their efforts? I’m kinda doneof seeing the same old!’

Ignis doesn’t do drama or confrontation so he decided to lether cool off to avoid aggravating the situation further.

His S/O gets pissed off when he doesn’t answer themasquerade of text messages she sent that night, complaining about the teacher’sconstant bragging.

Ignis becomes somewhat displeased with her behaviour. Hesends ONE text back suggesting the two discuss the matter in private afterschool tomorrow.

They meet as soon as the bell rings to end the school day,at exactly 3:15pm. His S/O complains that cooking has become his livelihood andwhilst that’s fine, she wants to be recognised for her efforts now and then, alsoexpressing how it’s unfair on other students.

Ignis understands her point of view but is not willing to rationalise– he does have a selfish trait, he wants to be perceived as the best cook inthe entire Royal Advisory school and is not willing to have that reputationtarnished, even if his S/O comes up with some great ideas now and then.

S/O essentially not willing to compromise and says otherpeople deserve a shot.

Ignis: Nope.

S/O has only been dating Ignis a couple of weeks but herfeelings instantly diminished, so to avoid further tension and disagreements,she decides to call it off.

Ignis: His ego is a little bruised but he won’t admit it. Heinsists the two remain friends and whilst they DON’T for the rest of the schoolyear, come senior year, they have become acquainted once again, as friends.

Inshort, teenage Iggy was selfish when it came to the subject of cookery and itcost him his first relationship.Gladio brings his date home: HisS/O sister Iris play with his hair and attempt to style it intopigtails/buns.13 year old Gladiolus Amicitia was a bit of an outsider – dark tall,handsome and mysterious, although he didn’t have many friends at school, he wasa hit with the ladies. The most popular girl in his school year pursued himfrom the moment they first set eyes upon each other in English! Occasionally,the pair would skip Eos history class to hang out at the back of the school’sart block – there was a good hiding spot for optimum privacy! Gladio: ‘How about you stop over at myplace Friday after English?’S/O: ‘Ohh, forward! Won’t your family bearound?’Gladio: ‘My Dad’s always away for workbut our housekeeper will be in for babysitting duties…. and uh….Iris is nobother! C’mon, whaddya say, she really wants to meet you!’S/O: ‘Sure, sure, cool, let’s do it!’Gladio: ‘Oh and we are having cup noodles for dinner.’Gladio’s S/O winks.Friday arrives and classes finish earlier than usual – an excited Gladio meetshis S/O outside the school gates and they walk back to his home. She wasastounding at the size of his house – it was a huge bottom floor apartment.Gladio’s S/O nervously stepped into the premises and was greeted by anexcitable young Iris.Gladio: ‘Why don’t you two wait in theliving room whilst I make some drinks. Ebony for my sweetheart and fizzylemonade for the sis right?’Gladio’s girlfriend was hella nervous to be left alone with an excitablechild and was hoping her evening wouldn’t be spent babysitting but wanted tomake a good impression.Iris started playing with Gladio’s girlfriend’s hair, making plaits – she waspretty good for a child.Gladio smiled to himself whilst finishing the drinks – heentered an empty living room a little worried shouting for Iris.Several stomps were heard in Iris’s bedroom– Gladio rolled his eyes and turnedaround to see Iris and his girlfriend running out the room in a dramaticfashion.Iris had 2 boxes filled to the brim with Moogle hair bobblesand various headwear accessories.Gladio: ‘Awh, time fordress up sis? Think you can make my sweetheart any more beautiful?’Gladio’s S/O blushed before running over to him, grabbinghold of his thick dark chocolate brown hair and Iris rushing to aid her instyling his hair, ‘pretty princess’ style. Gladio made no attempt to flee, he was delighted to see hislittle sister and girlfriend bonding.Gladio allowed one plait before turning it all around,requesting that he and Iris style his S/O’s hair to make her feel special andpampered.Okay so his S/O would not have imagined such an event butnonetheless, to see how he played with his sister was darn right adorable – he obviouslyknew how to treat the ladies in his life, ultimately reflecting what partner hewould be long term.S/O enjoyed the pampering – she was pleased the attentionwas on her. Eventually, Gladio and his S/O styled Iris’s hair in braids. The housekeeper arrived at 5:30pm, allowing Gladio and hisgirlfriend to finally enjoy their evening alone, complete with Gladio’s customordered cup noodles he bought in bulk to see him through the week. Thanks for your request. I was having troubles in regards to the bullet points for headcanons as I had typed this up on Word and pasted it here! Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy!XMyDaysInMilanX

#Mine #writings #scenarios #headcanons #chocobros #ffxv #final fantasy xv #request

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