#seriously why did they make m!robin so interesting

[clinicalbrainstorm]

If main character not romancable, why so hot?

#fire emblem #fire emblem awakening #fire emblem 13 #fe robin #fe grima #fire emblem heroes #seriously why did they make m!robin so interesting #i want three houses dlc where i can drink tea with him #i just need more robin/grima in my life

[buckysgrace]

Twenty Five

Previous Chapter

Kim sat in a mostly empty theater to herself, hiding behind her popcorn and bag of M&Ms. She had bright ideas when she got here to ask for a refund and pick a different movie but had chickened out when she saw the busy lines. Instead, she sat alone as she pouted and tried to eat her emotions away to make herself feel better. She still couldn’t believe that Billy had been so rude. She felt very vulnerable and open at the moment. His words cut deep and were true, but she was still going to prove a point, even if it meant watching a movie she didn’t care for all alone.

“Is this spot taken?” Kim looked up, the M&Ms still in her mouth as she felt her veins go cold. Everything she had said earlier about being over Steve was suddenly gone. She chewed furiously, trying to swallow quickly and make sure no chocolate coated her mouth as she spoke.

“No,” She squeaked out, her cheeks hot as she adjusted in her own seat, “You can sit there.” She breathed out quickly, trying not to touch her hair to make sure that she looked alright. Her heart was beating harshly in her chest, so hard she felt as if it was protruding into her skin. Steve smiled as he took the spot next to her, his arm brushing against hers as he sat. She feared she may throw up. Then again, she didn’t feel quite so silly wearing the lingerie under her dress again. Maybe now, she’d have someone to wear it for. She wondered what sex was like with him, if he was more caring or rougher.

“I didn’t take you for the type to like these movies.” Steve chuckled; his smile warm as he looked down at her. She was freaking out, absolutely having no idea what to say. She half expected Robin to show up with him and felt a bit pleased when she didn’t see the other girl. This was the first time she had ever spoken to him alone and he didn’t sound like he hated her.

“I don’t,” She rushed out quickly, “I went for this guy but sort of got ditched so here I am.” She laughed out nervously, flushing as she tried not to groan in embarrassment. He did not need to know all of that. He reached into her popcorn bag without asking, grabbing a handful before pushing it in his mouth. She was too far in awe over him sitting near her to complain.

“Huh, the same thing happened to me. Well, except I was supposed to meet Betty, but she never came to dinner, so I figured the movie was a no go as well.” He smiled a bit cheekily as he looked at her, talking while he chewed on her popcorn. She felt her eyebrows furrowing, wondering if he was saying that to make her feel better.

“Seriously?” She questioned, jumping a bit as the trailers began to roll and the lights started to dim around them. Steve pushed his hair out of his face, and she watched, enhanced at his features. He looked a bit awkward as he spoke.

“Yeah, I mean my game has been really awful this summer. I don’t know why.” He muttered as he leaned his arm over their armrests and helped himself to her popcorn. She didn’t mind, still too thrilled that he was sitting next to her. She wanted to yell at him, to tell him that it was the universe telling him that he should be with her then. She would never abandon him to be alone for dinner or for a movie.

“Maybe you just need to evaluate your options again,” She said simply, trying to keep her cool and not stare at him while they sat so close, “Maybe there’s someone interested who you haven’t thought of.” She offered, trying to be as vague about herself as possible. She didn’t want to seem as desperate as what she felt. She watched his lips form into a frown.

“I just don’t think I’ve been the same since Nancy. I really thought things would work out between us.” He admitted and she nodded cautiously, not sure what to add to that conversation. She had never experienced a heartbreak before so she was unsure if she could actually give him advice for what he needed. She bit her lip, ignoring the trailers playing on the big screen. 

“I’m sure you’ll find someone that feels the same way about you, just don’t give up.” She wanted to yell that she was right here in front of him, but he still didn’t seem the slightest bit interested. No matter how kind he was being at the moment, he still didn’t perceive her in a romantic way. She tried not to feel too deflated, but she could feel her emotions dampening the more that he spoke. She felt movement in the corner of her eye as more people flooded into the theater.

She was a bit disappointed with Steve’s answer. She wasn’t sure what had him hooked up on Nancy, but she was jealous. She wondered if she would ever find someone that would give her the attention that Billy was giving her. Thinking about him made her upset all over again. She didn’t know why it was hard for him to understand that they could be together without being together . This had been his idea after all.

Steve shrugged, turning his attention to the movie as they settled in silence. It wasn’t particularly comfortable, but it wasn’t awkward either. She still would’ve preferred to be here with Billy, no matter how angry she was at him. She hoped what he had said was just him lashing out and that he didn’t actually mean it. She wasn’t sure what she would do if he cut their deal before she was ready to let him go. She had agreed to end it but only because she was so angry. She wanted him to grovel. He was like a drug to her; she couldn’t get enough of him.

She didn’t know how she’d go back to normal either. Pretending like she wasn’t thinking of him every time they walked through the house, when he’d give her rides in his car or when she’d eventually see his toned muscles again. There was no way she was ready to give that up entirely at the moment. She was utterly confused with her feelings. She didn’t understand how she could want Steve to be with her at one second and then the next going back to being lustful over her stepbrother. 

“Jesus!” The words slipped past her lips as she jolted back in her seat from a jump scare. She had been too caught up in her thoughts to have been paying attention to the dialogue or anything that was happening on screen. Steve snorted as people turned to look at her, her face growing hot. At least it was dark, and they couldn’t see her face.

“I think you picked the wrong movie.” Steve teased, glancing at her before looking back at the screen. She couldn’t help but agree, nestling back into her seat as she wished she had just switched her movie ticket. She got the feeling that Steve wouldn’t hold her hand or pull her close to him. That was fine, she could work with that. At least it didn’t seem like he hated her quite so much. She tried to focus but her mind kept lingering back towards Billy. Steve and Kim turned simultaneously towards the entrance as loud giggling drew them away from the movie.

She watched the couple appear for a second, noting how the girl's clothes were ruffled and frayed like she had redressed in a haste. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the movie, pretending like she wouldn’t have been in the same position if she had come with Billy. Only he had to be a dick about everything. 

“Is this spot taken?” Somehow, out of all the movies, of all the things to do in this dumb little town Billy had waltzed his way into the same movie she had to be seeing. She cursed her rotten luck. Her eyes narrowed as she looked up at his cocky grin. Tina was nestled to his side, a pleased smile light up her face as she leaned her cheek against his bicep. She gave Kim a condescending look and could tell she didn’t want to sit near her either. 

“Yes.” Kim answered at the same time Steve answered no. She exhaled slowly, trying not to look irritated at the brunette boy’s answer. Billy’s eyes peered at her amused as he chewed down on a red twizzler. She watched as his eyes followed Steve’s voice as he gazed at who was sitting next to her. 

His eyes narrowed as he noticed exactly who she was sitting by. Steve was completely preoccupied by the movie as he reached across Kim and dug his hand through her popcorn bag again. She felt a slow blush forming over her cheeks as his arm just barely nudged against his boob. Billy must’ve noticed it too because he clenched his jaw, staring.

“Dude, can you guys sit? We can’t see the movie!” The only other people were sitting behind them, and Kim thought about tossing out that the whole movie theater was empty so he could gladly sit anywhere else. Steve must’ve finally turned to face them because he cursed and adjusted himself, so he wasn’t quite so close to Kim. 

Billy flipped off the guy a few rows behind them before he plopped down next to Kim, completely ignoring how Tina was protesting. She sighed loudly before sitting down next to him, sending a glare Kim’s way. Despite being so upset with Billy, she still didn’t like Tina. Not after she had tried to drag him back to her place drunk. She didn’t understand why Billy would want to be with someone like that. She was surprised he hadn’t said anything about Steve yet. She figured he would’ve flipped out over it but maybe he didn’t really care that much.

“This spot is actually reserved for people who aren’t assholes.” Kim whispered towards him, feeling the flames of anger licking inside of her chest. He settled into his seat playfully, grinning at her while placing his arm on top of hers. Billy reached over the armrest and lifted up her Coke towards his lips. He took a long gulp, pretending to ponder over what she just said. 

“I guess you’ll have to tell Pretty Boy to move then too.” Billy shrugged as he plopped her cup back into the cupholder. She could feel angry words forming on the tip of her tongue as she began to argue back but all of that slid away when she felt a cool arm against the back of her shoulders. She froze, her complexion relaxing and turning into shock. Billy huffed, his face growing red as he turned away from them. She fought back a grin, feeling giddy inside as she looked at Steve from the corner of her eye. 

He didn’t say anything, just continued to eat her popcorn as he continued to watch the movie. She watched the pictures reflect off of his eyes, liking how warm and inviting they looked. She couldn’t believe she was sitting next to Steve, and he had his arm around her. Addi was going to flip out. She was so glad she decided to come out.

She didn’t like sitting next to Billy. She could tell he was purposely trying to piss her off by refusing to eat his own snacks. She figured that he thought if she’d share with Steve that he got the same rights. However, it was funny seeing Tina trying to hold her own bag out in hopes of getting him to give her more attention. It was like he had completely forgotten that the other girl existed. He had his legs spread so far in order to press his knee up against hers. She felt herself glaring at him when he started to obnoxiously bounce his leg up and down. Obviously, he hadn’t smoked for some time.

Kim could tell that Billy was mad that she had actually made him eat his words. She was proud of it though. He should be mad that he had said something so mean to her. She was trying to remind herself to not give in so easily this time or he’d just expect that he could do anything to her and face no consequences. 

“Can you stop?” She hissed between her teeth as his bouncing knee was beginning to rub against her bare skin and irritate her. Billy looked at her confused, like he was unaware of what he was doing. He probably was in all honesty. He always fidgeted more when he hadn’t smoked.

“Stop what?” He looked at her confused, his expression changing once again as he noticed Steve curling a piece of red hair between his fingers. She didn’t care how threatening he looked at the moment, she wasn’t going to push Steve away just because he didn’t like him. She could play the same game he was playing.

Tina leaned forward, her dark hair bobbing against her shoulders, “I can’t hear the movie over you talking.” She was trying to sound nice, but Kim saw right through it. She wondered if she was still mad at Kim telling her off the other day. Obviously, it hadn’t worked very well. She was here, snuggling up against Billy’s arm. Kim didn’t let it bother her though because she could tell Billy was more irked with her being under Steve’s arm.

“Sorry.” Kim mumbled, tucking her hair behind her ear. Steve’s finger rubbed against the crook of her neck, and she found herself giggling lowly at the tickling sensation. The side of her face burned from Billy’s intense stare, but she simmered in it. She could be happy on her own date. Not that it was technically a date, but she could pretend that it was. Steve was acting sweet; he even had his arm wrapped around her. It had to mean something. 

Kim didn’t even get a chance to reach her hand into the popcorn bag as every time Billy’s hand disappeared from it, Steve would reach right back in. It felt like there was some weird competition between them still even though they were only eating. She sat there awkwardly, trying not to kick Billy’s foot away as he continued to bounce his foot obnoxiously while she held onto the bag of popcorn. She found herself wincing a lot and would force herself back to her spot when she unintentionally moved towards Billy. She was going to have nightmares for sure. 

“Are you scared?” Billy leaned in towards her, sliding Tina’s hands away from him as she tried to scoot closer. Kim wondered if she was getting freaked out too. She huffed, blowing her hair away from her face as she tried to play it off.

“Scared of this? No way this is-,’ She paused, feeling her body curl up a bit as she watched the former dead corpse come to life. She glanced back down to the floor, trying to erase the image from her mind as Billy chuckled, “This is awesome.” She forced out a smile, glancing back over at the golden boy. She watched how his eyes lingered against Steve’s hand before he looked at her again.

“Does Susan know you’re watching this movie? I don’t think she’d be very happy.” Billy whispered, pretending to look concerned. She felt her heart leap for a moment in fear. She knew that he was right and her mom would freak out if she knew. She had painted Kim to be a certain way and anytime Kim did anything out of her mother’s ordinary she’d get upset. Kim examined him for a moment, trying to see if he was serious or not.

“I told her I was going to see a movie. She didn’t ask which one,” Kim mumbled, feeling like she had to defend herself. She was trying not to move too much, afraid that she’d brush Steve’s arm off of her and he wouldn’t hold onto her again, “Are you going to be a snitch?” She tried not to snap at Billy. He was looking all too pleased as he watched her. 

“I just didn’t think you’d be such a bad girl.” He whispered so quietly she had to strain to hear him. His effect worked though. She could feel the warmth spreading across her cheeks and down to her neck and she was sure she was as red as a tomato by the way he laughed.

“Do you think Alien Vampires actually exist?” Steve asked suddenly to no one in general as he reached across her waist again. Billy and her both turned in unison to look at him, watching to see how invested in the movie he was, “It just doesn’t really make sense.” Kim was glad for the distraction as she tried not to linger in Billy’s words and rub her thighs together. She was still mad at him.

A sudden movement from Steve had her eyes widening to the size of saucers as she stared up at the screen, her face suddenly on fire all the way down to her collarbone. He was digging into the almost empty bag, his forearm grazing against her breast oh so softly. He didn’t seem to notice, continuing to dig around as he started to speak about a Dustin and asking him about it. Kim wasn’t sure if she should move away or what she should do.

She glanced in the corner of her eye, watching how Billy’s nostrils had flared and how he looked like he was seconds from pummeling the other boy. Kim felt a panic rising in her chest, knowing she’d rather not go backwards with hers and Steve’s relationship.

“Shoot,” She laughed it off nervously, pretending to topple the popcorn bag to the side and let the few kernels left fall to the floor. She felt bad about making a mess but she figured the movie workers would rather deal with spilt popcorn than a dead boy, “I’m so clumsy. I’m sorry.” She tried not to fan her warm face and found relief when Steve pulled his hands away. He shrugged but she could notice an etch of disappointment on his face.

She turned to Billy, hearing a few curses slip out as he mumbled. She smiled cautiously, feeling a tension grow in the room. She wondered if Steve was actually that oblivious or if he was doing it on purpose to piss the blonde boy off. Billy seemed to bounce his foot even faster in his irritation. Kim sighed, praying the movie was almost over. 

“I’m going to go get us a refill,” Steve mumbled towards her after a few minutes of pained silence. He leaned in close to her, his breath fanning the side of her face. She turned, admiring his brown eyes and how he smelt of strawberries, “Be back in a minute.” He lifted the empty bag of popcorn from her lap, and she could feel Billy’s blue eyes glaring at him. 

Billy’s gaze turned back towards her, “I didn’t know you and Pretty Boy were so close.” Billy was too close to her as he whispered, sounding bitter and resentful. Kim smiled sweetly; glad he was getting a taste of his own medicine for once. She had an idea, a terrible one but an idea, nonetheless. She made sure Steve was out of her eyesight, completely gone before she adjusted in her seat. Billy’s eyes wandered down towards where she played with the hem of her dress. She acted nonchalant, pretending to be interested in the movie as she lifted it higher and higher under, she exposed the soft pink garter belt over her milk thighs.

“Do you think Steve likes lace?” She whispered to Billy so sweetly, so innocently as his blue eyes widening at her in surprise. He stared at her skin, drinking her in as he bit down on his bottom lip. She let him look for another few seconds before she flatted the dress back over her thighs, turning away a bit as she munched on her popcorn. She felt Billy shifting uncomfortable next to her and she glanced down, noticing the bulge that formed in his dark jeans. She smirked to herself, taking a sip of her drink. She thought it served him right.

She felt a bubble of anger form in her chest when she noticed Tina’s hand slide over his thigh and squeeze. Billy didn’t even react to it but it was enough to set her over the edge. She stood promptly, not even bothering to say anything as she headed out of the exit. Screw him. It was like he liked to torture her. She wasn’t sure why she was letting it bother her so much. 

“Hey,” Steve jogged to keep up with her, popcorn flying out of the bag as he followed her, “Is the movie over?” He questioned, keeping in pace with her as she pushed the door open and settled into the muggy, outside air. She shook her head no, unsure of why she had decided to come out here. She just needed to get away. She wondered if she would forever be bitter about everything now that Billy and her weren’t together. Not that they were really together to begin with, but she didn’t know how else to explain them. She made her way towards the sidewalk before plopping down.

“No, I just needed some fresh air. The movie is odd.” She responded, hugging her knees together. She kept thinking about the dead corpse reaching out to grab people. She shuddered despite the heat outside. She was surprised as Steve sat down next to her, munching on her newly filled popcorn. She turned to look at him, confused as to why he was joining her. It was unexpected but it was nice. 

“Yeah, it wasn’t that bad though. I mean, you saw her boobies.” Steve chuckled and Kim sent him a look as she shook her head. Of course, he’d remember the one scene with the naked woman. She was sure Billy enjoyed that part too. 

“Men,” She teased, pushing her hair out of her face as the wind swept around them. Steve watched her for a moment like he was thinking about asking her a question before he looked away, “Of course that would be the one thing that you remembered.” Steve chuckled, turning to face her. She felt a bit giddy again, trying not to think of Billy too much. She didn’t want to admit it but she was disappointed that he hadn’t come to look for her. She figured he had already distracted himself with Tina. 

“I mean that’s not the only thing that I remember, but pretty close,” He grinned, nudging her with his knee. She didn’t know how to explain it, but it felt different than the way Billy touched her. He wasn’t as warm, he wasn’t as rough in his movements, “I had fun tonight though. We should do this again.” Her heart raced fast in her chest, and she found herself pulling at her fingers as she tried to control her thoughts.

“You want to see a movie again? With me?” She asked, needing his confirmation that it was what he meant. She watched how he pushed his long hair back out of his face. She felt a blush form over her cheeks as she imagined what it would be like to hold onto his pretty locks while his head was between her legs. 

“Yeah, Robin said she mentioned doing that. All you have to do is stop by our work and we can sneak us all in.” She felt her shoulders sag a little bit when Robin was mentioned. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her, more so that she realized Steve wasn’t suggesting a date. She didn’t know why she was so surprised. He had never been very interested in her before and she didn’t know why she thought that would change. They had only met on a rare circumstance. 

“I mean, that sounds like fun.” Kim felt as if her smile was a bit forced and maybe he noticed that too with the way he exhaled. She gulped, hoping she wasn’t too obvious with her disappointment. She felt like her day had just been too rough for her to continue to pretend to be nice. She thought she was allowed to feel upset.

“You are really pretty, you know?” Steve turned to her again. She felt her mouth open in surprise as she stared at him. Her whole body seemed to grow warm from his compliment. She fidgeted nervously. It was fairly obvious in her opinion that she had a crush on him. If he thought that she was pretty, why hadn't he ever done anything?

“I am?” She questioned, tilting her head as he glanced away from her again. He didn’t hold eye contact as well as Billy did. Billy had told her plenty of times before that she was pretty, but it felt different coming from Steve. She had spent so long crushing over him and couldn’t believe that he admitted to thinking she was attractive. She felt like this was the chance she had been searching for all summer. If she didn’t make a move now, she never would. 

Her nerves were bubbling deep in her chest as she stared at the smile on Steve’s face. His brown eyes were so warm and kind. She thought of how sweet he had been the whole night. She took a breath of confidence, leaning forward until their shoulders brushed against each other. His eyes lingered towards her lips for a second as she moved her face closer to his.

“What?” She felt her face growing hot as she looked at Steve unsure, watching how he pulled away from her. He looked at her a bit sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. She thought of everything he had done and said tonight and didn’t understand why he didn’t want to kiss her. 

“I don’t-,” He inhaled deeply, his shoulders moving as he did so, “I did a lot of that stuff to piss Billy off. I’m sorry if it made you think I was interested. You’re nice, you’re pretty. I just can’t be with you.” Kim felt her eyebrows furrowing as a familiar sinking feeling grew in her stomach.

“Can I ask why?” She didn’t want to force him to answer, but she didn’t want to not know either. She thought they were having fun, “Does it have to do with Billy?” He had brought the other boy up. Suddenly, she was mad again. Billy was pissed at her earlier for getting too attached and now that she was actually out having fun with a guy, he had to ruin that too.

“Your brother? No, God no I could care less what he thinks,” Steve surprised her as he spoke. She felt her spirits dampening even more, wondering if there was something wrong with her, “I mean maybe I did at first. You know when you guys first moved here, he threatened to kill the entire basketball team if anyone even looked at you. There were a bunch of guys that talked about getting to you just to irritate Billy, but everyone was too afraid. I think he really means it too; I saw him at Tommy’s party.” Steve explained himself but she still felt confused. If he didn’t care, then why didn’t he like her if he thought she was pretty? She pondered on who was wanting to get with her to get back at Billy. Maybe that would explain Jason and his friend.

“He’s not my brother,” She rushed out quickly, hoping she didn’t sound rude as she spoke again, “So it doesn’t have anything to do with Billy?” Kim looked for his confirmation. She squeezed her fingers together, not liking how rejected she felt at the moment. She couldn’t figure out why Steve wasn’t interested in her then. 

“Sorry, Max calls him that so I figured you would too," She wanted to respond that Max wasn’t doing the things that she and Billy were doing together but she kept quiet. She didn’t need to scar the boy, “No, I mean I do believe that he would do that. He doesn’t scare me though,” Steve took a deep breath before glancing at her, “I have a friend who likes you. I’ve got to stick to the bro code.” She felt her eyebrows furrowing together as she turned to look at the brunette boy.

“A friend who likes me?” She asked again. She was naive, but she wasn’t dumb. That sounded like a straight up lie to her. She was embarrassed. She had tried to kiss him, and he didn’t even have a valid reason as to why he wasn’t interested in her. 

“Yeah, I can’t really say much about it because,” Steve glanced up at her again with his warm brown eyes. She hoped she didn’t look as upset as she felt, “They’re just not ready yet. You know? I’m really sorry about how tonight went.” She shrugged her shoulders, feeling a tightness in her lungs. She wanted to cry again.

“I had fun, thank you.” They both turned as the doors opened and people began to pour out from the exit doors. She sighed, waiting for Billy to come. She wondered if she pissed him off enough that he would make her walk home. She rested her chin on her hands as she waited, hating how this night had turned out.

“I can give you a ride home if you want?” Steve began to offer, looking a bit uncomfortable as he spoke. She wondered if he was worried, she’d try to kiss him again. She wanted to tell him that he didn’t have to worry about that. She had learned her lesson. 

“She’s got a ride,” She heard Billy’s lighter opening before she heard him speak. She moved into her hands, actually preferring to be with him rather than sit through an awkward car ride with Steve. She was kicking herself. She couldn’t believe she had tried to kiss him, that she had read everything wrong, “You can leave.” Kim stood, smiling kindly at the brown eyed boy as he turned to her unsure.

“I’m fine. We live in the same place, it’ll be easier.” She shrugged it off even though she really wanted to curl up in a hole and die. She thought about just walking home but she knew Billy would make a big deal about that. Not that she particularly wanted to. She feared she wouldn’t be able to run very far in the heels that she was wearing. 

“Alright, cool,” Steve pushed his hair back awkwardly, “Have a good night. I had fun.” He smiled at Kim, and she forced one back, feeling Billy nudge her to move forward. She glared at him but he simply blew smoke out towards her. She could tell he was irritated that Steve was around her, but she didn’t care. Even if it meant she had to walk home. She wasn’t going to apologize for speaking with him.

“Same.” She responded, ignoring the way Tina snorted. Kim thought that she should be the one to walk home but kept quiet as she walked towards Billy’s parked car. She was unsurprised to find it in the very back, away from everyone else. She felt her nose curling up.

“What are you doing?” Tina pushed right up against Kim, leaning against the car door so it shut. Kim felt her eyebrows raise widely as she tried to open it again. The shorter girl glared at her. She seemed to be less intimidated by Kim than she was the other night at Lover’s Lake. 

“Trying to get inside?” She glanced towards Billy, but he had already clambered inside and had the engine roaring to life as he started it. Tina stared at her, her hand going to the door handle that Kim had a hold of. She waited for her to move her hand, but it never happened. 

“Okay, you can sit in the back. I’m the one on a date with your brother.” Tina snapped back, looking up at her with such a harsh expression Kim hadn’t seen before. She quickly let go of the handle, dropping the urge to argue that the passenger seat was hers. That’s where she always sat. She realized how immature it sounded as she crawled into the back, biting back her tears. It had been a shitty, terrible night.

“I didn’t even think you liked-” Billy glanced at where Tina was sitting next to him, a confused expression written across his face as he blew smoke out. He turned his head, looking over his shoulder like he couldn’t believe she had climbed in the back. She crossed her arms, turning away from him and ignoring him like he had ignored Tina’s rudeness, “Let’s get you home.” Billy exhaled again, his music beginning to blare as he drove off. Kim hoped it would be quick. She could feel her bottom lip beginning to quiver from all of the emotions that were swimming around in her chest. 

Tina kept talking about mundane things and Kim did her best to block her voice out. Billy simply grunted as a response or nodded in agreement. She glanced at him, looking at how bored he looked through the rear-view mirror. His blue eyes looked at the same time, meeting her sorrowful ones. She turned again quickly, hugging her arms around her chest as she sank into her own pity. She was acting childish, but she didn’t care. Today had royally sucked. 

“Do you want to come in?” Tina asked, turning to face Billy. Kim watched as the other girl's hand cupped his bicep and squeezed. Billy’s eyebrow raised high on his forehead as he glanced down at her hand. He almost looked uncomfortable.

“Gotta take her home,” He used Kim as an excuse as he nodded towards the backseat. She felt herself beginning to fume again, not wanting to ruin his precious fun, “Maybe some other time.” She was sure that would fall on a time that she wanted to do something with him as well.

“Oh, it’s fine. The house isn’t far from here,” They both looked back at her much to her discomfort. She was sure she looked like she was seconds away from having a breakdown. Maybe that’s why a grin formed on Tina’s face, “I can walk.” She shrugged, pretending she wasn’t bothered by the way Billy’s eyes narrowed at her. She thought about sticking her tongue out to add more fire to the situation.

“See, she’ll be fine. I’m sure she could call here when she got home.” Tina sounded so hopeful that it made Kim sick. She wondered if this was how Steve thought of her. Reeking of desperation and desire. It made her heart hurt all over again.

“Fuck no,” Billy’s eyebrows furrowed as he laughed, tossing his cigarette out the window, “No fucking way are you walking home. Besides, I have other things to do.” He sounded so harsh and cruel that Kim almost felt bad for the other girl. Almost. She was still mad at her. Tina pulled her hand away slowly, looking as if she had been struck.

“Alright then,” Kim watched as the other girl tried to regain her flirty stance, “I’ll see you around.” Tina pressed her lips against Billy’s cheek quickly, smiling kindly as she stepped out of the car. Kim thought about flipping her off for good measure but ultimately deciding against it. Billy pulled his cheek away, looking surprised by the other girl's action. Kim was far too upset to even care about them. She wanted to go home and have a good cry in her room. 

“I can walk, you know, I’m not a child.” Kim responded as Billy pulled out of Tina’s driveway. It would take less than five minutes for him to get them to the house while driving. He had turned his music down this time, like he actually wanted to talk to her. She wondered if he would call her a brat again. She thought about kicking the back of his seat but ultimately decided against it. Billy shook his head, looking irritated as he spoke.

“Yeah, well you’re acting like one. What’s your deal anyways?” Billy asked the question, unknowing the can of worms that he had opened. Kim opened her mouth to snap back but was cut off by her tears rushing forward. She sobbed, covering her mouth and trying to relax herself. He glanced back at her in confusion and worry, “Are you crying?” He asked her, sounding concerned as he pulled into their street. So many things had gone wrong tonight that she was so overwhelmed. She didn’t want to be in this dumb car anymore with him. 

“Steve wouldn’t kiss me, because he hates me and it’s all your fault!” She laid across his back seats dramatically, trying not to think about Tina being sprawled out here before. It only made her cry harder as she thought about it. She was an emotional wreck at the moment. So many things had gone wrong and had just been bubbling inside of her. She couldn’t help but cry. It was all his fault. All of it. 

“What did I do?” Billy held onto the passenger seat as he turned to look back at her. She wanted to throw her shoe at his dumb face. She couldn’t believe how oblivious he was to all of this, “You tried to kiss Steve?” She ignored his second question, irritated how he seemed more bothered with that fact than what she was feeling right now. She didn’t want to talk about Steve, she wanted to talk about her and Billy. She didn’t care if he didn’t like to talk about feelings, he was going to listen to her. 

“Oh, I don’t know,” She sat up on her elbows, looking at him seriously, “You just tell me I have no friends, and I’m dumb because I have feelings. Not to mention you had sex with a girl I don’t like and forced me to sit next to you guys while knowing that. You were mean to me,” She wailed, sounding like a child who had just been told they were going into time out, “And you let her sit in my seat! That’s my seat!” Billy’s eyes watched her for a second before he turned. She felt herself growing more upset as she leaned forward to finish giving him a piece of her mind. She was surprised to find his eyes closed, his lips muttering out numbers. She settled back in her seat for a second, not wanting to face his wrath but still wanting to get her point across.

“First of all, we didn’t even-,” He sighed and started over again, “I’m sorry I acted like that. I just didn’t want Tina getting suspicious. She kept badgering me for dates and then brought you up, saying you were really hostile at the party. It just freaked me out and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.” He turned to look back at her again and she searched for any indication that he was still angry. 

“Are you really sorry or are you just saying that?” She sniffled, wiping under her bottom eyelids and hoping she didn’t smear any of her mascara. Billy huffed, pulling the keys out of ignition and she thought he was going to leave her alone in the car. She was surprised when he crawled over the middle console, squeezing his thick body between the seats, “Ouch, that’s my leg.” Kim complained as he toppled back next to her. He winced, rubbing the top of his head from hitting it on top of the roof of his car. She tried to shift away from him, crossing her arms stubbornly as she looked out at their dark house. He traced his warm fingers down her pale skin softly before gripping her hand. He nudged her arm towards him, chuckling.

“I’m trying to talk to you,” He was grinning when he finally captured her attention. She could feel the pout on her face as he cupped her soft cheeks. She could feel the tears threatening to spill again as he rubbed his warm thumb across her wet cheeks, “I’m sorry. What I said was shitty and I shouldn’t have done it. You’ve been so kind and patient with me. I don’t deserve that. I understand if you don’t want to keep the relationship that we had but if you do I’ll better myself. No more outside dates.” Kim felt her eyebrows raise straight to her hairline as her mouth opened.

“No more dates?” She questioned, repeating his words back towards him. He grumbled, his blue eyes reflecting off of the moonlight. It sounded so monogamous. She wasn’t sure if he’d actually be able to do that. 

“Don’t act so surprised. No, I won’t see anyone outside of you. I don’t want to-,” He paused for a moment, seemingly holding onto something for a moment. She tilted her cheek into his hands, feeling herself slide against him, “If Steve won’t kiss you then he’s a fucking idiot. Don’t let dumb guys like us make you feel like you’re worthless. You’re so much better than that. I wish you could see it.” Kim stared at him for a moment, her hazel eyes glazing over again as her heart started to beat again. 

“You had sex with Tina.” She spit back, unable to hold herself from saying it. He chuckled, squishing her cheeks together gently as he admired the jealousy on her face. She wanted to hide away.

“No, she tried,” He admitted, looking at her through thick eyelashes, “I uh couldn’t perform.” She stared at him for a moment, watching the pink that began to tint over his face. She didn’t understand. They had never had an issue before. She didn’t think she had ever heard of him having an issue before.

“Is it broken?” She asked him, unsure of her words. She really didn’t know too much to understand how that could’ve happened. He bit his bottom lip.

“Not necessarily. I just kept thinking about how you left. You and your eyes. That’s why we came into the movie so late. I had to think of something.” He chuckled, laughing away his own embarrassment as she pondered on his words. She thought about trying to find out why he thought her eyes were so sad but she couldn’t bring herself to do it at the moment. He pulled her closer, pressing her thighs up against his knees. 

“I don’t want to stop this,” Kim admitted slowly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear as she grew a bit nervous while she spoke, “I like learning from you.” It took her a second to phrase her sentence. She didn’t want to tell him that she enjoyed being in his company in case he freaked out about her having feelings again. He squeezed her face softly, leaning down to press his lips against the corner of her mouth.

“I like being around you too,” He admitted after a second. His gaze never broke from hers as if he was memorizing every detail on her face, “You make me feel better about myself.” She glanced up at him again, wondering what he meant by that. He never let her ask it as he bent down and kissed her. It still surprised her with how gentle he could be with her. His lips felt slightly chapped as they moved slowly against hers as he savored each gentle peck. His hands traced down her arms softly, drawing goosebumps as she sighed sweetly.

“Do you want to go to my room?” He asked when they pulled away. His face was still close to hers as he spoke and she resisted the urge to lean forward and press their mouths together again. She nodded slowly, giggling as he reached around her and pushed the door open.

“We need to go around front,” Kim wasn’t sure why she was whispering. They were outside and she could tell by how all of the lights were off that nobody else was awake. Billy nodded, taking her hand in his as he raced up the hill. A squeal left her mouth as she followed him up, trying not to trip on her heels. She could feel her hand burning from where they were touching, “Billy!” She giggled as he pulled her alongside the house. They passed by their rooms and she was thankful that he wasn’t suggesting that they crawl inside.

“You’re slow,” He teased, still holding her hand as he unlocked the front door. She was afraid to let go, unsure if she would ever get a chance to hold his hand like this again. Her heart was thumping hard in her chest and she wasn’t sure if it was from running up the hill or from the grip that he had on her hand, “Ladies first.” He smiled gently, allowing her to walk a few steps ahead before he was following her. It was almost too dark for Kim to be able to see where she was going.

They stumbled inside, despite being completely sober. He laughed too loudly in the dark room and she quickly placed a finger over her mouth to silence him. She stumbled out of her shoes, the heels knocking against the hardwood floors too loudly, making her wince. He kicked his shoes off carelessly, sliding around easily in his socks. Their hands were still connected as she began to make way to his room. He yanked her back playfully, sending her knocking into his chest. She looked up at him with wide eyes, a grin sprawled on her face as he backed her into the wall. She landed with a soft thud, feeling herself beginning to laugh.

She was giggling, trapped between him and the wall as he held her face gently between his hands and brought her lips towards his again. He kissed her urgently and with motivation. She could taste the buttery popcorn and cigarette smoke lingering on his tongue as he pried her lips apart. A moan left her lips as his thigh slid between her legs. She couldn’t help herself, too clouded in lust to car as she rutted against his clothed thigh. He groaned softly, his left hand moving to squeeze her soft thigh. 

He pulled her closer towards him, his tongue licking inside of her mouth rapidly as both hands went to cup her butt. She pulled the hem of her dress up, making it easier for her wet pussy to slide against his rough jeans. There wasn’t much material on her panties and she was really grateful for Addi at the moment. She’d had to buy her lunch later.

“Fuck,” Billy panted against the side of her neck. She thought how funny it was that his room was so close yet he was grinding his hard bulge against her like they had nowhere else to go, “You’re so wet for my cock, aren’t you?” He whispered into the crook of her neck, sparking fire as his breath tickled her. She nodded, wondering if he could feel her slick through his jeans.

“I thought you couldn’t get hard?” She breathed against his lips, looking up at him with her lip between her teeth. She grinned, watching how flushed he looked at the moment. He smacked her butt, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. She wanted to rub it in Tina’s face. She had no problems turning on Billy.

The sudden creaking from the floors of their parents room drew them away. They turned to face each other, eyes wide as they mirrored horrified expressions. Billy took her hands again, racing towards his room and shutting the door quietly behind them. Kim covered her mouth, standing in the dark room as she tried not to laugh. She should be scared, instead all she could do was giggle. Billy kept his hand against the doorknob, his back facing her as he listened. She felt more rebellious. She lifted her dress over her head, pulling it off quickly. Her heart hammered softly in her chest as she waited for him to turn. She heard him click his lock into place.

“It must’ve just been your mom-,” He paused, doing a double take as he turned to face her, “Shit. Did you get that for me?” His tone was playful as he stepped forward, his hands finding her waist as his eyes traced over the curve of her body. She felt herself growing warm as she nodded unsure. She didn’t want him to think this was her way of growing attached again.

“Only because Steve didn’t seem interested.” She played it off, grinning as she watched the cocky grin fade from his face. She knew he wouldn’t be able to kick her out though. He was just as turned on as what she was. He needed her just as badly.

“He wouldn’t fuck you that good anyways.” His eyes were unmoving as he stepped forward, clutching her sides in his rough hands as he traced over her curves. She wanted to ask him how he knew that but kept quiet. She was tired of fighting with him. Plus, it was hard to focus with the way his hands were squeezing the soft flesh of her body. He dipped his face between the crook  of her neck, kissing her skin softly as she felt her eyes slowly drifting shut as she got lost in his touch.

“I want you,” She responded breathlessly, pulling at his belt. He licked his bottom lip, looking at her deviously. He peppered a kiss up to her lips, leaving her for just a moment to remove his shirt over his head, “Do you want this off?” She asked, making her way towards his bed. She suddenly felt shy again.

“Fuck no,” Billy told her, pulling his belt from his jeans and discarding it throughout the room. She wasn’t exactly sure how this would work with her partially dressed but she accepted his answer. She crawled onto his soft bed and positioned herself by his pillows. She began to wonder if the picture of her would be underneath his pillow again, “I wanna fuck you in that.” He quickly undressed himself, joining her on the bed as he gently pushed her shoulders down until she was laying. She squealed softly, a smile forming on her face as she watched the blonde boy.

“You really like it then?” She asked him shyly, happy that at least this part of her day that she had planned out had worked. He pushed her knees up, dragging his lips across them slowly. A smile formed as he looked down at her.

“I fucking love it. You look so sexy,” He complimented, bending his head down low enough to press a kiss against her damp panties. She sighed out softly, raising her hands above her head as she felt a jolt of electricity travel between her legs, “Need you so bad.” He told her as he sat back up, pressing his hard cock against her clothed cunt.

“Billy,” She looked between her legs to see his glistening, thick red cock begging to be touched. An unholy sound left her lips as he ground his hips down slowly on her. She looked up at him while he groaned, his eyes fluttering closed and mouth opened, “Please, please. I want you so badly.” She pleaded with him. She felt as needy as how he looked at the moment.

“Okay, okay,” He said breathlessly, pulling the pink material to the side. She watched as he dipped his fingers between her folds before licking the slick off of his digits. She rolled her hips up towards him, moaning as he pushed the head of his cock against her entrance, “You’re so good for me.” He told her again as he rolled his hips forward, sliding his cock forward until he was fully sheathed inside of her. He paused for a moment, looking between their legs at the sight as he groaned. She gripped a hold of the sheets tightly, trying to keep herself from bucking her hips up against him.

“Oh god,” She stared up at him, mouth agape as he pulled out of her before snapping his hips forward harshly. Her body felt like it was tingling as he moved, each thrust sending a new jolt of electricity up her body. He bent over, licking the thin material over her hardened nipples. She moaned again, moving her hands so she could hold onto him, “I want you to fuck me.” She whimpered out, almost shyly as his eyes snapped over to hers. He grunted, lifting her legs over his waist as he positioned them again. She sighed in relief, enjoying the feeling of his cock moving inside of her.

“Such a needy whore tonight, aren’t you?” Billy’s words made her pussy clench around him, gaining another groan from the blonde boy. He held onto her waist, rubbing her skin slowly as he began to build up a rough rhythm. She was moaning in relief, in complete bliss over the way his cock was hitting against her bundle of nerves repeatedly. She nodded eagerly.

“Need your cock so bad,” She breathed out, “Did you miss your little sister?” His hips snapped into her harder, forcing her up higher in the bed as she cried out. She moved her hands, holding onto his forearms for support as he drilled into her. The sound of their skin slapping together filled the room and she knew they were being entirely too loud. She couldn’t find herself able to care at the moment. She needed this. She needed him.

“Couldn’t stop thinking of your pretty little cunt,” He breathed out harshly, grunting between his words as his fingertips dug into her soft skin, “You fit around my cock so perfectly. Like you were made to be fucked by me. Just me.” His breathing was rough and unsteady as he forced the words out. A trail of saliva landed from his mouth onto her navel but she didn’t mind. 

“Oh my god, Billy,” She rolled her hips up to meet his thrusts, her cunt squeezing his cock tightly as her orgasm came to her without notice. Her fingernails dug into his forearm as she furrowed her eyebrows, “Oh god.” She repeated, not able to force anything else out as the moans overflowed from her tongue He continued to drill into her, rolling his hips deeply and in awe.

“So fucking tight,” He hissed out, looking down between them again. She looked down lazily, feeling her toes curling again as he rocked her through her orgasm. She looked at how wet his cock was from her come and felt the familiar warmth growing inside of her again, “You can take another one. You gotta come for me again, okay?” He sounded desperate and she nodded her head, unsure if her body would actually be able to handle it. Then again, she whined like a child when he quickly stopped his movements and pushed one of her legs over to make her lay on her side. He slid up behind her, his chest pressed against her back as he started to move his hips fast again.

“You’re so big,” She moaned out in awe, enjoying the way he’d pull his cock out slowly so she felt every inch of him. He went far enough until all that was left was his tip before he’d slam into her harshly. He pressed his large hand over her navel, admiring the bulge that formed on her lower navel from his dick, “Mhkay..” She felt herself drooling onto his pillow as his lips traced over her shoulder. She yelped when he pulled the band of her bra back hard and snapped it against her skin.

“Poor little cry baby is so getting fucked dumb on my cock,” He tsked as he nudged her leg up high over her waist. He gripped onto her navel, holding her in place as he spread her wide and fucked into her harder, “You like that don’t you? You like being fucked like the dirty whore that you are.” He spit on the corner of her lips and she let it slide into her parted mouth before flicking her tongue out and licking the rest of it away. 

“Billy,” She whimpered looking over her shoulder, admiring how concentrated he looked at the moment. She had never seen him look so reckless before. His mouth was opening wide, his groans mixing loudly with her moans as he furrowed his eyebrows together, “Like it so much.” He used his other arm to wrap under her thigh and push her leg up towards her chest. Her knee dangled awkwardly in the air and moved each time he thrusted into her. She thought that she could stay like this forever, with his cock filling her wet hole. 

He caught her looking as a sound left his mouth that rang around in her ears and traveled straight towards her wet cunt as he continued to ram his dick into her. She watched his ears turn red before he bent forward and kissed her sloppily. It was all tongue and teeth as his slippery lips rubbed against her own. He licked at her own tongue slowly, drawing out a low moan from her as he hit her bundle of nerves again. She could feel her toes beginning to curl again as he drove her closer to the edge.

“So fucking pretty,” He told her when he pulled away. He cupped her chin before placing another chaste, rough kiss to her lips. She wondered if hers would be chapped by the end of the night. She wasn’t sure how her body could get any hotter but it did, “So pretty and all mine.”

“Gonna come,” Her cheek was still turned so she could watch him. He caught her quickly, smirking and she knew he was trying to hide the pleasure he was feeling at the moment. She wondered if he’d think that she would think of him as weak, “Fuck!” She rolled her hips up desperately again, her legs shaking down to her feet as she felt her eyes roll back in her head. Her mind felt fuzzy and she swore she saw white light as she creamed around his cock.

“You’re doing so good, baby,” He praised as he continued his rough movements. She felt as if she was on a cloud that was floating away before he pulled her back to him, dragging his cock into her deeply again. She felt her leg snapping back down, trying to hide herself away from how sensitive her pussy felt, “No, come on. One more time, okay? Fuck, I’m almost there. Please?” Billy sounded desperate as he rolled her back over, moving her like she was a rag doll. It seemed easy enough, her whole body felt limp as he rolled her onto her back again. She was so close to the headboard, her head slightly hitting it each time he pushed into her.

“Billy it’s too-,” Her thighs were shaking and she was struggling to find the words. She wanted more of him but at the same time her clit was aching so badly. It wasn’t painful but she didn’t know how else to describe it as the feeling overwhelmed her, “Good! Too good.” She cried out as his movements became more rapid. She was clinging for anything she could hold onto as the feeling quickly grew inside of her. He was sliding in easily from how wet she was around his cock. The sounds of them echoing filthily through his quiet room.  

“I know,” His blonde curls were stuck to his forehead as sweat broke down over his face. Her legs were around his hips tightly as she pushed him in deeper. He was hitting her bundle of nerves repeatedly and she thought that if she were to die that this would be the best way to go, “But you’re doing so good for me. Fuck, fuck you’re so wet and tight.” She could tell he was losing his demeanor as he leaned in closer to her.

“Oh my god.” Her voice was quiet and high pitched as she spoke. Everything felt too warm and too good. Her boobs were moving as he pounded into her, her hardened buds rubbing against her lacey material just enough to give her another sense of pleasure. Billy connected their lips again but she wasn’t sure if she could even count it as a kiss. She was in so much pleasure that she wasn’t able to kiss him back. He sucked and licked on her lips, her tongue, anything that his mouth could reach before he pulled away with a loud groan.

“Look at me,” He pleaded as he linked his fingers with hers. She was aware enough to feel the burn from his touch and she gasped when he held their hands far over her head.. She turned to face him, squeezing her hands with his as she felt herself toppling over the edge, “Got you, baby. S’okay, s’okay.” He talked her through it, her hips moving widely as she came undone beneath him. He quickly kissed her, silencing the loud cry that left her lips. She hadn’t even meant to be that loud but she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t help the way that he made her feel. Her eyes were rolling into the back of her head as she trembled around him. Her lungs felt like they were going to burst when he finally pulled away.

“Almost there,” He breathed out as his sweaty cheek pressed against her own. Her thighs were shaking as he continued to hold her in pace, his cock dragging into her slower as he neared his release, “I’ll pull out in a second, almost there.” He repeated, sounding filthy and desperate as he chased his high. Kim found herself turning to him in desperation.

“No, please come inside of me,” She pleaded, watching the way his eyebrows furrowed, “Please come inside my pussy. I need to feel it so badly.” She begged the older boy. He grunted loudly as his hips snapped forward once, then twice before he stilled his movements.

“Fuck, fuck,” He was pressed so far into her that she was almost certain he would get stuck inside of her. He squeezed her hands tightly, almost feeling her hands going numb from how tightly he was holding onto her, “Holy fuck.” He cursed, pulling his hips back slightly before pushing into her again, one last time.

“Billy,” She whined out, leaning her head up as she stared at his features. He looked so pretty after he came. She liked tracing over his pleased face, wanting to remember what he looked like, “Oh god.” She was breathing hard as he laid on top of her, his blonde curls tickling the side of her face. She could feel his come filling her, the sloppy feeling growing between her legs as some of him slipped out of her hole. It turned her on so much, thinking of their mixture between her legs.

“Good?” He was out of breath when he faced her again, his nose nudging against her soft face. Their chests were moving in unison as she tried to will her body to relax. She nodded quickly, wrinkling her nose at the sensation of his mustache against her cheek. Their hands were still tangled together over her head and he slowly drug his hands away. She missed the sensation of being wrapped up in him. 

“Fine, really good.” She breathed out as she felt her heart beat in the side of her neck. She wasn’t sure if she had come that hard before. Her clit was still vibrating as she rested. Billy chuckled, adjusting the pillow under her head as she rested. She felt like she was in a daze. 

“Just stay here for a minute,” She nodded wordlessly, still feeling in her own little trance as her body slowly lifted her back down to the ground. Her arms and legs felt weak, like she’d be unable to use them again for a long time. She closed her eyes, feeling the urge to fall asleep even though she was still in her lingerie and soaked in cum, “I think Max will be complaining about the happy screams again.” Billy teased. She snapped her tired eyes open, unexpecting him to reappear so suddenly. She smiled nervously, taking the makeup wipes from him as he pushed her legs apart. She wondered if she looked messy because he stopped his movements and cleaned her face up for her. 

“I’m tired.” She mumbled, uncaring about what he said as all she could think about was how nice and warm his bed felt. He chuckled, pushing her panties aside and making her wince as he cleaned her up. It was a good ache but it left her tired and exhausted all the same. He really did a great deal on her tonight. 

“I know, I think you’ll be more comfortable if you change though,” Billy spoke gently as he pushed her underwear back into place. The thought of having to stand on her wobbly feet left her exhausted. She looked at him through tired eyes, the urge to sleep pulling at her. He shifted her softly as he began to unstrap her garter belt, “Did I fuck you that good?” He teased softly.

“It’s past my bedtime,” She reasoned, smiling softly as she tried to sit up. He placed a soft hand on her shoulder to lay her back down. She didn’t resist, “That movie was really weird.” He looked at her curiously, pulling her stockings and garter belt off. She thought he looked nice holding the pink material in his large hands. 

“Hold on,” Billy reached around her, unsnapping her bra with ease. She tried not to think about how it was because he had been with so many girls, “You don’t want to sleep in this. I thought it was really good actually.” He smiled gently at her and she thought that it was too soft to be a Billy smile. She raised her hands over her head when he pushed one of his white undershirts over her head. Despite being similar in height it still hung down to her thighs. She shifted her hips to help him pull her panties down her legs. She wasn’t surprised that he enjoyed the movie. It seemed to be something that he would like considering she wanted to see it for him. 

“How does this work?” She sighed, as she rolled to her side and rested her cheek on his pillow. It smelt just like him, “I mean if we’re not going to see other people but we don’t have feelings for eachother, what does that make us?” She smiled sleepily, inhaling his scent as she thought about closing her eyes and just resting for a minute. It wouldn’t hurt just to rest for a few minutes, she wouldn’t fall asleep.

Billy shifted his covers up over her shoulders, his voice sounding further away as he spoke, “There doesn’t always need to be a label, we’re just with each other.” She thought about worrying about what that meant and why his emotions had shifted so easily. He was so hard to read sometimes. She nodded as her head rolled back onto his shoulder like it had the other night. He was mumbling something but she was too tired to hear it, her eyes already closed and drifting into a deep sleep. 

Next Chapter

#Billy hargrove #Billy hargrove smut #Billy hargrove stepcest #tw stepcest #tw pseudocest #Billy Hargrove x OC #Billy Hargrove x fem!OC

[booksandpaperss]

The fact that a lot of people are being so pressed and homophobic about byler *possibly* being canon when Robin x Vickie are practically canon onscreen already and no one is batting an eye tells me that

1) Straight ppl (and a lot of queer ppl too tbh) don’t take sapphic ships seriously bc there is a culture of literally ignoring lesbians and how special and equally queer wlw love is, so homophobes don’t see it as that much of a problem

and 2) The difference between having a queer ship as part of the main plotline between two crucial main characters, vs having a cute but relatively unrelated side queer pairing just for the sake of giving an LGBTQ character a love interest MATTERS when it comes to representation. There are so. Many. Cishet ppl who claim to be “allies” or just “okay” with the queer community until suddenly it looks like a queer ship between two MAIN CHARACTERS is going to be endgame *instead of the het ship*. A few minutes of screentime for Robin and the character put into the show specifically to be her love interest that showed up a grand total of three scenes in the entire season? Yeah, sure, that’s fine, but as soon as it becomes apparent that one of the main young teenage characters is in love with his best friend who is also a major character might actually be reciprocated? Ppl throw a goddamn FIT.

It is so telling that people are coming up with all of these excuses for why byler could never and shouldn’t happen, and why they’re adamantly against it:

“Mike has to be straight cuz he’s with el!” (bi ppl and comphet exist 🤨)

“It’s just not realistic, they’re just friends it came out of nowhere” (it’s canon that Will’s had feelings for Mike since season one so idk wtf ur talkin abt)

“M*leven is the main ship you’re just delusional” (they’re not tho??Are u forgetting abt lumax? Cuz they got wayy more attention and love in s4 than m*leven did. Also jopper and jancy exist)

“Mike isn’t obligated to like Will back” (literally no one said he was? It’s not that he’s “obligated” it’s just that he’s acting pretty fuckin fruity)

And ofc my personal favorite: “It’s the 80s it’s just not realistic for so many ppl to be gay” (if u rlly think gay ppl didn’t exist in the 80s I beg u to open a proper history book)

Translation? “I simply cannot bring myself to believe that a queer character on a show this big would be essential and well loved enough by the writers and actors to get a happy ending. This show was never stated to be strictly abt the queer experience (as opposed to something like heartstopper) so obviously my het ship will be endgame over the queer one, bc a major endgame relationship couldn’t possibly be queer. That makes me uncomfortable.”

Basically, straight people are getting upset about byler bc they’re used to queer ships being sidelined or just put there for clout.

They’re ALSO just used to seeing the main female protagonist end up in an endgame with a guy, bc god forbid a female MC gets to finish her arc single 🙄

We can acknowledge the difference between a queer side ship with one insignificant character and a queer ship between two major characters that is essential to the plot, while also talking about the fact that Robin and Vickie being relatively ignored both by homophobes AND the fandom is bc sapphic ships tend to get sidelined to mlm ships.

Sincerely,

Your local lesbian byler shipper

#if you managed to read this all the way through I appreciate it <3 #byler #robin and vickie #byler endgame #mike wheeler is queer #deal with it #stranger things fandom

[lesbianlotties]

Okay real question. After seeing how popular Ronance has become (plus everybody wanting Robin happy and Nancy + Jonathan (or even Steve) decaying), do you think there's a chance the Duffers considering Ronance? They still have to write season 5 so who knows? They need to give fans a good queer couple (I personally think Byler won't happen since Mileven is too popular and Duffers are too attached to the couple). So maybe we have Ronance? Their popularity has become insane! Don't wanna have my hope up but I can't stop thinking about it

Uh oh. 'm seriously struggling with this answer because I can't help but be realistic BUT I'm also aggressively delusional at this point... let's say i'm 50/50. i'll give you both answers...

first,

I really, really, don't think they'll dare to make Ronance canon for a few reasons. they already seem overwhelmed and out of their depth with one and a half gay canon gay characters. if they don't straight up kill Robin or Will, they probably can't handle more than one gay relationship on their show and, i agree with you, I doubt Byler has any chance, and it seems unlikely that they'll just drop a new love interest for Will out of nowhere, so that leaves us Robin, who already has whatever that was with Vickie. they did not handle the Vickie situation well, but she is more than just an extra, and the actress!! they have to bring her back. i'd kill for Ronance but I think it's so much more likely that Robin will end up with Vickie. Do I think they're right? Absolutely not. Do I think they'll be able to dig themselves out of the "Nancy's entire arc revolves around Steve or Jonathan" hole that they put themselves in? I doubt it. and as aggressively gay as the Robin and Nancy interactions might seem to all of us, I'm not sure if any of it was gay enough to overpower all the odds against them

on the other hand,

it would just make so goddamn sense 😭😭😭 and we all love to hate on the duffer brothers but at the same time, they do have the most popular show in the world, they can't be that stupid, right? they have to be aware of the things their audience wants (tho after seeing vol 2 apparently all they want is to anger their audience so yikes) like. the audience wants it. the actresses support it. it would be a wonderful twist. it would make so much sense and do wonders for Nancy arc, rising above the love triangle bullshit to find her real self and fall in love with someone that would be her future and a departure from all the trauma of the past. it would be fair with robin! an actual love story instead of attaching her to a copy of herself because they couldn't think of a personality for another gay character??? there are many more points in favor that i've seen in other posts as i'm sure you've seen and like. i genuinely believe it would make sense, it would be a smart decision, and they can absolutely pull it off if they really wanted to.

OH and like. i kind of believe both things but i choose to stick with the delusional part of my self so yeah. if you want to discuss more of why it should totally be canon and how it definitely will be canon. i'm here!!

#a little nervous to post this and i have a feeling most of it doesnt make sense but yeah #answered #anon #ronance #stranger things

[staceymcgillicuddy]

okay wait also before i go to bed: babysitters club au please. bonus points for including at least one ridiculous outfit description here. triple bonus if the outfit includes a jaunty beret with like a sequined tiger appearing to leap from chrissy's forehead at some point. (sorry for plagiarizing u, ann m. martin. probably.)

YES EXCELLENT. OKAY. My brain immediately went to mapping the characters onto their BSC counterparts and then this happened.

Nancy Wheeler as Kristin Amanda Thomas. I will not be taking comments at this time.

Chrissy as Mary-Anne Spier. HEAR ME OUT, because I know Chrissy is aesthetically the Stacey BUT Mary-Anne is quiet and reserved until you piss her off and then she turns into Little Miss I Love Myself and gets sassy haircuts and is the only member of the BSC with a boyfriend AND if she's Mary Anne I can kill off Laura.

For Claudia Lynn Kishi, I'm going back and forth on El or Will, because El has a very unique sense of fashion, and would probably do well with some of Claudia's canonical outfits, while Will is a talented artist who probably needs his own phone line since he keeps breaking his mother's when he calls her from the Upside Down.

Argyle as Dawn Read Schafer because he has long hair and is from California and some people find him annoying but I like him.

Steve as Anastasia "Stacey" Elizabeth "Boontsie" McGill because if he was from New York City he'd probably talk a lot about being from New York City. Also he probably has the nickname Boontsie.

Barb as Mallory Pike because Mallory is a horse girl and Barb gives me big horse girl energy. (Also lol that Mallory doesn't have a middle name? I guess her parents forgot? I don't really care for Mallory.)

Max as Jessi Davis Ramsey because nobody on Stranger Things is canonically a dancer BUT Jessi was cool and precocious and hung out with older kids while being suave, just like Max.

Erica as Shannon Louisa Kilbourne because she gets. shit. done. and you can't spell America without Erica. Seriously, though, Shannon was a high-achieving mfer with no patience for fools.

Eddie as Logan Bruno SIMPLY for Mary Anne proximity but also because I think making Logan a metalhead would be the most interesting thing that anyone ever did for Logan's character.

Robin as Abby Stevenson because she showed up late in the series, stole my heart, and is definitely a lesbian. Abby also doesn't have a middle name, so that's fun.

This leaves me with Lucas, Mike, Jonathan, and Dustin if I'm doing main cast. SORRY, KIDS. Let's see how many "other" characters I remember from Stoneybrook.

Lucas as Sam Thomas because Sam seemed cool and was kind of a jock but still had time to flirt inappropriately with Stacey, but in this universe we'll say it's APPROPRIATE flirting with Max-as-Jessi and Lucas-as-Sam is 11 not 15.

Mike as Trevor Sandbourne because IIRC Trevor dated Claudia for a while which works if you are a Byler OR a Mileven shipper, which probably says a lot about why both those ships are fun!

Jonathan as Bart Taylor because of the Nancy proximity, only instead of coaching a kid's softball team, he takes pictures for the yearbook and Nancy, in addition to running the BSC, a softball team, solving 70 mysteries, and going on many trips around the world in various Super Specials, is also the editor of the yearbook.

Dustin as Janine Kishi simply because Janine was a geek who liked computers and shit, and Dustin enjoys such things. I'm sorry, Dustin! The BSC did not have as many nerd tropes as I needed!

Bonus:

Angela as Cokie Mason because fuck her

Jason as Alan Gray because Alan is the closest thing the series has to a real dick

Billy as Robert Brewster (if you're into Harringrove and subscribe to my Steve-as-Stacey theory) because they dated.

Anyway, this took FAR longer than it should have and I am like 30% proud of it. Please be gentle.

#bsc diaries #hellcheerocracy #this one was fun #stranger things headcanons #bsc au #stranger things #some of these are stretches i will admit #but i got all the kids in by jove

[liquid-luck-00]

My Life is One Complication After Another 2

Some cursing 🤬

Ao3 *** Previous *** Next

~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay so where were we?" she smiled turning and sitting back down with Fang.

"As Damian had asked are you in reality my biological child," Bruce took back control automatically.

"You can't be serious Brucie!" Jagged went and began to squish Mari's face. "This little ray of sunshine related to your broody majesty. I don't buy it."

"I am not broody Jared." Bruce defended.

"I'll believe that when Ladybug dates Chat Noir." he joked.

"So it is possible" Bruce responded with a straight face.

Now it was Mari's turn to laugh, "Not a chance. Ladybug and Chat Noir dating is as possible as Atlantis resurfacing." she finally stopped laughing. The Wayne's tensed as if they knew more than others about Atlantis. "I honestly don't know if I am your child. I have no objections to taking a paternity test if you want, but I already have parents who love and support me, but I am not opposed to adding to my family though." she again smiled like the sunshine she is.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng What the Hell!?!" Chloe screamed storming into the room.

"What did I do!"

"How are you trending and you never told me" she gave a mock gasp.

However it was not the same for Mari. "I'm what." She opened her phone and sure enough she was trending. "How did this happen?"

She went into the first article she could and backtracked, through the sources and timestamps. Then it all made sense. She was on the Ladyblog, an interview with Lila claiming she was friends with a Wayne. The media then believing her a lost Wayne which explains why she is sitting with the Waynes and them asking about her paternity.

"How did you not know. M."

"All my accounts are private and I've been busy. But this explains the reporters now huh."

"M you are ridiculous, utterly ridiculous" Chloe grumbled. She was now sitting on the armrest Mari was leaning against next to Jagged. "At least tell me you remembered to send the photos and interview." Mari sprung up, Fang having sensed the impending jump. "logged into my laptop" Chloe yelled throwing her key to Mari.

"Meet you at the hospital. 20 minutes. bye" she yelled as she ran down the hall taking the stairs faster.

Chloe and Penny got up followed by Jagged heading to the door.

"Whatcha wait'n for Brucie come on" Jagged called to the billionaire.

Slowly the Waynes stood and followed the others to the hospital, sharing looks and texts the entire time.

True to her word Marinette met with them 20 minutes later on the dot in the hospital.

Both Marinette and Bruce had a blood sample and a mouth swab taken. The doctor then came back an hour later with the results.

"Alright. By the genetic markers that were tested. I can say quite confidently that M. Wayne is the biological father of Mlle. Dupain-Cheng." The doctor handed them a folder. "I'II leave you to process."

Marinette didn't need long to process. In fact her only thought was, Well one more for the list. Everyone in the room was watching her. "Okay" she jumped down from the bench, crap. Forgot about that. Her smile never faltered but her eyes were closed a second too long.

In that second Chloe had taken her purse and was holding up a pair of athletic gloves. “Care to explain!” She held the gloves waving them towards Marinette.

"Um, Well, You see" Marinette started to mumble.

"Why don't you explain in the car" Penny came to her rescue.

"We'll get Pizza and have a Rock' n time" Jagged lightened the mood.

Everyone nodded, walking out Mari kept her hands in her pocket. She was putting on her second pair of gloves, Tikki in her hood, she needed to think and running always helped. Mari was only a few yards away when Chloe noticed, Mari spun to face her when she heard her.

"Red!" Chloe yelled. She noticed how two boys froze, Jason and Tim if she is correct.

"Goldie!" she responded, not missing a beat. She heard Chloe behind her.

"Cat." Penny stated.

"Bird." responded Jagged further confusing the Waynes as they neared the hotel.

Tim was the first who noticed the two girls in front of the hotel. Meaning he was on his phone mapping and timing the route.

"Pizza will be delivered in 10." Mari spoke as the other seven stepped out of the car.

The two girls went ahead of them, but instead of the elevator they took the stairs.

Half way through the second of three pizza did Tim finally speak. "How did you two get back so fast." Tim set down his Pizza as he began to gesture frantically. "There is no way for you guys to have beat as it is a fifteen minute drive and a 30 minute walk, 20 if you run. Wait how did you get there in 20 minutes with a detour." Tim surprisingly still had breath.

"The fastest way from point A to B is not through C." Was Marinette's response as she took a bite. Yet that didn't seem like a sufficient answer as her now brother's eyebrows were still knit in confusion, so she took a breath and said. "Free running, it's a great stress reliever." she finished.

"What did you hit this time?" Jagged gave her a semi serious look.

"I didn't hit anything," a pout on her lips. "The pigeon flew into me."

Dick started laughing "she is definitely yours B, I can say for sure even without that paternity test." Another two hours had passed before she noticed the time and bid everyone goodbye. She gave her number to her father and brothers, Damian begrudgingly because Dick put it in and gave it to Mari.

Her parents had closed early for a date so she was home alone. She went to the couch to sketch a few gift ideas for her newly extended family. She was finishing a semi formal coat with a hidden sling for a katana for Damian. He kept grumbling that if he had it, the way the sword appeared in his akuma form, and she is pretty sure Jason's jokes were more literal by everyone's expressions. When her parents came home.

"Bon soir Maman, Papa," she cheerily greeted them.

"How was your day sweetheart." her Papa smiled kissing the top of her head.

"I met a handful of interesting people." she really didn't know how to broach this subject.

"What's wrong sweetie," her mother must have noticed her be uncomfortable. She sat down next to Mari, and her papa sat across from them.

"Did someone or did these people hurt you." her papa's words began to ring with a hard edge.

"Non, nothing like that. It's just, um," bitting her lip then looking up. "Your not my biological father, are you?"

Her parents froze, and had a silent conversation.

"Marinette, your biological father is an important and busy man. Who has no time for children." Her Maman spoke gently and calmly. "His name is Bruce Wayne."

Okay hold up, she tilted her head empathizing her confusion. "He didn't seem to bad, in fact he has four boys."

"That was who you met today," her papa affirmed, seemingly surprised.

She nodded her head and told them what had occurred today, leaving out the akuma and her free running. When she finished her parents once again held a silent conversation.

"Why don't we invite him over tomorrow for lunch. While you show his boys around." her maman smiled.

"Okay I'll send them a message then." Mari smiled taking out her phone.

Tomorrow will be interesting.

But first she had to survive tonight.

Tonight Ladybug, Todd Tenko, and Emeraude Racer were on patrol. Meaning she had the evening with the Couffaine siblings. Since both were holders it wasn't uncommon for them to swap. Meaning Luka would either be Todd or Viperion, and Juleka could be either Racer or Kitsune.

They each knew what was their designated route, and because of the akuma sent earlier the chance of Hawkmoth striking again was less likely. Each one of the heroes went their separate ways and made their rounds. So when the three heroes went to their rendezvous at Notre Dame's bell tower it ways almost two hour later. However, she noticed she had a tail when she passed the Eiffel tower. So she called Todd and Racer to set an illusion and ambush at the bell tower.

When she stepped on the bell towers stopped in the center and so did her tail with four others, forming a 'v" behind her. Todd's illusion left a Ladybug in the center of the tower while she moved to an ambush point. Four figures swung in and stood at each corner, a Todd Tenko, Emeraude Racer, Honey Bee, and Chat Noir.

"Shouldn't all of you be in Gotham?" Ladybug asked for her.

That seemed to take the vigilantes in her city by surprise.

"We heard about the situation and we just want to help." Nightwing, she is pretty sure, spoke up.

Chat Noir scoffed, "huh as if we would believe that."

"Tt. believe what you want. That is the truth." Robin spoke this time. Interesting.

"Yes after being ignored and called liars for three years really builds trust." Honey Bee's hand curled on her top as she spoke.

Batman seemed like he was going say something, but she jumped down from her perch breaking the Ladybug illusion. As they watched her materialize fifty feet up, followed by Racer and Todd flanking her mere seconds later.

"Todd," her eyes never left the five in front of her as she spoke.

"What!" Red Hood jumped in surprise, "How?"

"Curious. But Todd," this time she turned. "can you drop Mirage." Her teammate nodded and the four illusions disappeared. "Do you need to recharge?"

"Already did LB", he smiled.

"Okay," she pulled out her yoyo, and a box fell out into her hands. "who wants a snack before heading back out."

"Me!" Racer rushed to the box pulling out a strawberry eclair.

It is almost a good thing she always makes eight eclairs for patrol. Seriously she makes two for those on patrol, but after Adrien always left them with one and ate four, did she start bringing more.

Before leaving to do a final sweep of patrol. The three Parisian heroes spoke with the visiting vigilantes.

"We could send them Pinky's way," Ladybug responded to Batman's ask for more information.

"Do you think that's smart?" Todd asked.

"Who is Pinky?" Red Robin stepped into the conversation.

"She is our civilian contact and reserve hero." Racer answered.

"Why isn't she a permeant hero?" Nightwing brought up the question.

"Her identity was compromised but and we aren't sure how many know. So she is kept an back up." she answered.

"Who is she and how do we contact her?" Batman demanded or asked in his case.

"She is Multimouse, her name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng." All of them seemed to flinch and paled slightly. "And she'll find you."

The three Parisians stood and left.

Yup, tomorrow is going to be interesting.

Extra:

“So was I supposed to find out the Wayne’s were the Bats on my own or would you have told me?” Mari scolded her boyfriend over video call when she got home from patrol.

“I knew you were smart but less than a day you really are a lucky bug.” He smirked at her.

She crossed her arms and glared at him.

“Okay, okay.” He rose his hands in surrender. “But how did you figure it out anyways?”

“Apart from Tim and Jason flinching when Chloe called me Red, Damian’s katana grumbles and Tt., Jason freaking out because Todd was on patrol with me, and all of them paling at my name. It wasn’t to hard to piece together after that.” She shrugged.

“You know you’re scary sometimes right?” He feigned chills a goofy grin on his face.

“You love me though.” She teased him.

“I know I do but I know to keep in your good graces.” He responded now completely serious. “By the way, why was my idiot in Paris?” '

“I apparently made headlines a a lost Wayne.” She waved. “Which has more truth than the media knows apparently.”

“You’re serious!”

“Turns out your idiot is my adoptive idiot brother.”

“So are you related to Dick or Tim?”

“Try Damian.”

“To Demon Spawn! How?!”

“Bruce is my biological father.”

“The bug is a bat. Great!” he rolled his eyes, “I knew you weren’t normal but this is ridiculous.”

“You aren’t exactly normal yourself.” She replied pointedly.

“Ya but you love me.” His goofy grin was back.

“Yes I do.” She smiled in return.

Next

~~~~~~~~~~

Taglist: @dolphin-ghost @unabashedbookworm @bookgirl14 @laurcad123 @mochegato @vixen-uchiha @jjmjjktth @deathwishy @toodaloo-kangaroo @stackofrandomstuff @megaafangirl @trippingovermyfeet @chocolatecatstheron @nathleigh @nyx-in-line @indecisive-mess-named-me @ichigorose @maribat-is-lifeblood @user00000001

#dc x miraculous #dc x mlb #mlb x dc #miraculous x dc #maribat #batfam #bio!dad bruce #MLiOCAA #roynette

[dragynkeep]

I saw that you did top 5 best female & male characters in rwby and why, so i was wondering could you do the same but for 5 rwby worst female & male characters you dislike and why.

luke did this ask before along with the best one so i’mma steal this for me.

worst female characters.

robyn hill  —  hands down one of the most annoying additions to the show. she is meant to be robin hood yet fails in the character’s motivations & ideals in every instance, her outfit / general design are clunky & poorly thought out, her personality has the exact desirability of hot garbage juice & she herself is just as appealing. the only slightly fun thing about robyn is her voice actress, the amazing christina vee & the potential she could’ve had that i really enjoy seeing be brought out in fanfics instead. in canon? robyn can go rot.

blake belladonna  —  our resident all lives matter queen who was meant to be a champion for all minorities watching the show, a bisexual icon & a shining example of an abuse survivor ... only to fail on all three. blake’s influence on the racism storyline only makes her come off as a privileged brat who would lecture those who are just trying to survive & blame them for the actions of a terrorist organization she was part of, & it was dropped as soon as her abusive ex was killed. her actions as an abuse survive are nonsensical at times. & blake wasn’t even confirmed to be bisexual representation until eight years into the show & she / her female love interest still aren’t canonically together while the cishet writers hide behind a slow burn excuse that was never applied to their m / f couples.

ruby rose  —  it sounds nonsensical to say this about our main character & i wouldn’t have put her on this before v7 & 8, but her favouritism by the narrative in those two volumes to the point the story would break it’s back to justify her drove me crazy. i was watching this character who we were meant to root for make mistake after mistake after mistake & hide behind her age & inexperience like a coward; like she hadn’t shoved her way into this war & rejected everyone around her who had experience & wanted to help because they didn’t want to do it her way. ruby behaved like a petulant child & i have no doubt that this isn’t going to change.

cinder fall  —  listen she was always a middling type of character for me, i didn’t hate her but i didn’t love her either. cinder was just cinder, a kind of flat antagonist who didn’t go anywhere; until they tried to make her go somewhere & in doing so had her repeat the same character arc like three times. her “backstory” that was just cinderella lazily copy & pasted eight years after people had been asking for it was the final nail in the coffin for me. they waited too long & got too lazy.

nora valkyrie  —  again, not really a character i thought i would’ve put on here after i really started to like her in volume 4 when she & ren finally began to get character development. they were kind of in the background which annoyed me but they weren’t being obnoxious so it was fine. i want to go back to v4 - 6 so bad lmao; nora in these two volumes has been horrendous. not only did she ignore all of ren’s boundaries when he was trying to ask for space, she thought the appropriate action to him asking for that space & struggling to vocalize it was to kiss him without consent. and then, she co opts his entire arc anyways for v8 & now it’s nora who wants the space & ren is being unreasonable, ren is forcing her boundaries, ren is in the wrong. fuck her stupid ass one liner backstory too. nora dropped so far on my shitlist because of her actions the last two volumes smh.

worst male characters.

qrow branwen  —  again much like ruby & nora; i never thought i’d put qrow on here but his behaviour in these last volume especially has just dropped my fondness for him all the way to the grave lmao. he acts so much like ruby, a petulant child who was told no & lost his favourite toy, while acting like he didn’t specifically break that toy. he went from someone who was level headed, if an absolute asshole to a whiny manchild who spent the entire volume crying in a jail cell about how he was gonna kill his dead boyfriend’s boss because he doesn’t wanna admit he got him killed. & then he forgot about that in the last five minutes to cry about his potentially dead nieces, which only left me thinking, where was your concern about them the rest of this volume qrow? so yeah. on the shitty character list you go buddy.

ghira belladonna  —  i would change my mind & make this dumbass number one but he’s always annoyed me so i’m more settled with that emotion whereas qrow is a new development. but ghira is literally worse than annoying, he’s a useless character who takes up space & actively worsens the plot & the character  —  mainly blake  —  that he’s connected to. everything from his useless pacificism to the fact he’s a privileged faunus living in a mansion while his people are in huts to the fact that he’s now retaken the helm at the head of the white fang like?? what about his mentality has changed & how will that prevent another terroristic faction raising up in result of his negligence towards their people in favour of his own comfort driven pacifism?

hazel rainart  —  sir, your motivation is hokey & your hair is dumb & your braid ribs are giving me nightmares. originally i didn’t have as much of an issue with hazel infantilizing his grown twin sister because i thought we were at least going to get some rebuttal to this man using her death to metaphorically & then physically beat on ozpin. but no, he was validated & then had the gall to use her name in order to guilt trip ozpin in the “ no more gretchens ” line  —  like he hadn’t created dozens of gretchens in mistral with tyrian? sir you are a mass murderer  —  & then went out like an ass in one of the laziest redemption arcs i’ve ever seen. bravo, you suck.

adam taurus  —  he’s really not the highest on this list because i recognize that this is more because of milk & kornflake’s white comfort bleeding into their writing of a marginalized man & less of actually him as a character. adam is a bastard but he’s so much of a hate sink that i can’t take him seriously or hate him because of these traits; if mkek told me he killed puppies as a hobby, i wouldn’t hate adam for that, i’d hate them for continually making him edgier & edgier while ignoring their own racism around his writing.

scarlet david  —  this one’s a little bit of a joke one but also, i just hate this catty fay gay. get back in the closet sir because your face annoys me & your attitude stinks. i’m renting the down with cis bus just to run him over. ♥

#rwby #rwde #mkek critical #rwby critical #robyn hill #blake belladonna #ruby rose #cinder fall #nora valkyrie #qrow branwen #ghira belladonna #hazel rainart #adam taurus #scarlet david #owl.txt #answered #q

[myfearless-love]

The Wildest Place You Run (8/?) - A Nice Trip

The next chapter is up with a little more insight into Killian's past, hopefully answering some of the questions (or maybe creating more?).

Huge thank you to everyone who commented, reblogged, liked the previous chapters! Also thank you to my beta and artist @thejollyroger-writer for helping with correcting my mistakes and making this amazing art!

Summary:

Vampires, Werewolves, Mages, and Elves. For centuries, they kept their existence a secret, but the constant rebellions against the strict laws of the Guild had led to a terrible tragedy. In an open clash, it became apparent to humans just what kind of monsters lived among them. Emma Swan loses the love of her life in the first battle of the war. A few months later, while still trying to process what happened, a mysterious and terrifying figure worms his way into her life. But the man is hiding far more terrible secrets than he reveals to her, pulling them both into a horrible situation...

Chapter: 8/? - A Nice Trip

Fandom: Once Upon a Time

Rating: M

Relationships: Killian Jones/Emma Swan

Read on: FF.net or AO3

Words: ~5.5k

Previous parts:

Ch 1 II Ch 2 II Ch 3 II Ch 4 II Ch 5 II Ch 6 II Ch 7

.

It took a while for the dreams to cloud her mind as she slipped into unconsciousness. Her shoulder was still throbbing and the events of the day played a loop in her brain. A few hours later, she woke up surprisingly relaxed and relatively refreshed. She allowed herself an hour to just lie motionless on the bed, and for the first time in a long time, she didn’t know what was waiting for her that day. The usual languid calm was gone.

She climbed out of bed and decided to find a bathroom and then the kitchen. She wasn’t ready to face the day’s problem until she’d a cup of coffee. But no sooner had she set foot on the floor, the door suddenly slid open. Ruby wasted no time knocking, she simply barged into the room as if she’d owned the place.

“Good, you’re awake! We’re leaving.” Her words came quickly as she gestured urgently towards the door.

“Where are we going?” Emma asked, getting up from the bed slower than usual with her shoulder still aching.

“To your house,” Ruby nodded, smiling at her. “Get your stuff and pack some things for David too. You can change at your apartment if you want, but you’ll have to hurry because we’re going to Leo’s funeral after that. And then back here. It would be best if you took everything you wanted from home, because you won’t be returning anytime soon.”

“Great.”

-/-

“Why am I the one going with him?” Emma stared blankly at Ruby’s smiling face. It was a mystery to her why the brunette was in such a good mood. Emma didn’t feel like grinning at all, especially now that it turned out she was going to be alone with Killian again. Of course, David had no idea. If he did know, he’d surely have an aneurysm.

“It was pure fate,” Ruby said with a shrug, but Emma could see she was hiding something.

She didn’t want to argue with her, so she left it at that. But Ruby couldn’t seem to let the subject go. “Why are you so against him?” she inquired cautiously as they climbed the stairs to the first floor that led to the crumbling wooden house.

“I’m not, I just don’t understand. I thought David’s drama queen behavior yesterday would have kept him from having anything to do with me.”

“The decision on matters like this isn’t up to Killian, or even David. It’s all the Council,” Ruby explained.

“Oh, how I’d love to meet them one day,” Emma remarked, grudgingly, multiplying her steps as she followed Ruby, who was still grinning like a Cheshire cat.

It was terribly cold upstairs. Emma was only wearing her sweater from yesterday and was already chattering her teeth as she rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself up a bit.

When they reached the clearing, she noticed at least a dozen motorcycles and twice that many cars parked there. She had no idea if they’d all been brought here under the cover of the night, or if they’d been hiding around here all along. Looking around, she immediately spotted the black Porsche. It actually wasn’t hard to spot, nor was the talk, dark figure lurking beside the vehicle.

Killian seemed unaffected by the cold. His hair was ruffled by the light breeze (or by his fingers running through it), and he was also forgoing his usual eyeliner today, which made his face look younger. He was wearing a simple black shirt and his favorite leather jacket.

“Be at the cemetery by two in the afternoon, and get back here by four at the latest. Don’t wait until it gets dark, for everyone’s sake.”

“Will do,” Killian nodded, stubbing out his cigarette, which Emma just noticed, on the outside mirror without hesitation.

“Have a nice trip!” Ruby waved at them, then walked after Robin and Mary Margaret.

“Ready to go?” Killian hid his hands carelessly in his pockets and stared at her expectantly. Was he seriously going to wait for her approval now?

“Yeah,” she sighed.

This is not going to be fun.

-/-

To her surprise, they made their way to the apartment in not-so-uncomfortable silence. She didn’t know what to say as she stuffed her ham sandwich into her mouth and Killian remained stubbornly silent. She was sure his mind was on their “conversation” from yesterday, too. Which, well, let’s face it, had been pretty interesting.

“Be ready no later than half-past two,” was his first sentence after they got out of the car.

“You’re going to help, too,” she announced. “We’ll be done quicker if you help with packing up David’s stuff.”

“As you wish.” He didn’t comment on her instruction, so Emma showed him David’s room and the bathroom, loaded her brother’s suitcases and bags onto his bed, and left Killian to his task.

She made her way upstairs and began packing up everything she might need with heavy movements. Of course, she had a hard time packing all her things into her bags, she didn’t want to leave anything in her room. She really wanted to take her favorite books, her ancient boombox she’d gotten from David, and every trinket that held precious memories for her. However, she had to realize that was pretty much overkill. She probably wouldn’t even have enough room for her things, let alone time to actually read books.

Eventually, she felt compelled to put a few things back on the shelves, including the boombox, of course. It was already quarter past two when she finally finished packing and headed to the bathroom. She only wanted to take a look at her reflection, but the sight that greeted her made her pause.

Her face was paler than usual, the remnants of her black eyeshadow around her eyes complemented by dark circles under them didn’t look particularly attractive. Her hair almost resembled a crow’s nest, her clothes were dirty, bloody, and torn in places. Honestly, she looked like a survivor of a zombie apocalypse. Which, when she thought about it, wasn’t that far from the truth.

Grimacing, she turned away from the mirror, quickly ridding herself of her clothes, and climbing into the shower with boundless relief as the warm water hit her tired skin. Carefully, she peeled the bandage from her shoulder and was glad to see that she didn’t need stitches. Only five smaller, circular, red wounds adorned her collarbone and shoulder. At first glance, they didn’t look like serious injuries, but she knew — and felt — that they were deep.

She quickly washed her hair as well and finished as quickly as she could, not wanting to test Killian’s patience. As soon as she was done, she wrapped a towel around her body and hurried to her room to get the hairdryer she had already packed in one of her gym bags. It would do her good to think ahead sometimes…

She rummaged in the bag that was next to the door, but of course, the damned device was hidden away well. She cursed under her breath and ripped open the zipper of her last bag as the door slammed open, connecting with her hip head-on.

She yelped more in surprise than pain. She had just enough presence of mind to reach for the towel slipping off her body, but she lost her balance and landed on her ass.

“Did no one teach you to knock?” she growled in annoyance.

“Apologies, but I didn’t think I’d find you dressed only in a towel,” he retorted, glancing impatiently at his watch.

But then he walked over to her and reached for her hand to help her up. She considered refusing him for a few seconds, but then she deemed it unnecessary to continue being hostile and grabbed his offered hand.

This time, there was no unbearable headache to warn her as she glided through space and time. She simply found herself under the open sky without any of the uncomfortable transitions a vision usually entails.

The sun burned bright and hot; it was a sultry summer day. The air was stuffy, not even a slight breeze was blowing through the air. At first, it seemed to Emma that she was standing in a playground, but in the background, the image of a school with at least hundreds of students unfolded before her. She turned her head in wonder, for the children’s clothing was clearly reminiscent of the late nineties.

No one noticed her, so she was sure she had just stumbled into another vision. A girl in a towel appearing out of nowhere would have been quite the sensation, but they were not just looking through her, they were walking right over her body too.

She didn’t understand any of this, she had no idea what to look for. She whirled around the courtyard, trying to figure out why she had gotten here. Soon, a calling of a name broke through the dull fog of shock.

“Hey, Killian! What’re you doing?”

Emma immediately spun around and turned in the direction of the voice, but saw only a completely unfamiliar, short, and dark blonde boy. He couldn’t have been older than twelve. His flashy red leotard stretched over his stomach with dark spots down the front. His jeans were already worn and a little too short for his legs, with patches of green grass staining the knees.

He scurried toward a sullen, skinny boy sitting alone on the back of one of the benches, staring off into the distance. Panting, the blond came to a halt in front of the other and braced his hands on his hips. His bloated, freckled, but lovely face glistened with drops of sweat.

“Killian, why don’t you come play?”

Emma stared wide-eyed at the boy skulking on the bench. Was this Killian? He didn’t look any older than fourteen or fifteen, either, but his gaze was almost as unsetting as it would be twenty years later.

His hair was longer than it was now in the present, tied behind his head with a rubber ring. His slightly worn Pearl Jam t-shirt was much larger than his torso, his jeans were worn and torn — but not for the sake of fashion. The soles of his sneakers were about to come off the dirty shoes.

“Aren’t you coming?” the blonde repeated.

Killian didn’t answer, just stared unflinchingly at the school’s iron gate. “No, Kristoff. Not now,” he shook his head, and his voice, unusually deep for a kid of his age (and size), caused Emma another surprise.

“You’re waiting for Milah, right?” Kristoff looked at Killian sympathetically, and Emma’s ears perked up at the name.

Maybe now she could figure out who Milah was to him.

Killian turned his head to Kristoff with an impatient sigh. “If you already know, why even ask?”

The other boy just shrugged, leaving Killian’s question unanswered. He settled down next to him on the bench. “Killian, come on! You can’t sit here all day! You know she’s not coming anyway.” Kristoff shook his head and glanced sadly at Killian with his big, piercing blue eyes.

“She will!” Killian’s hand clenched into a fist, his eyes flashed. “She promised,” he added a little more quietly, and Emma moved closer to the two of them, so as not to miss a word.

“It doesn’t matter. Her father won’t let her anyway. Our last class is about to begin, Killian! I’m sure…”

Before he could finish the sentence, the school bell started to ring. Kristoff immediately jumped up from the bench as the sea of students moved towards the main entrance of the building.

“We’re going to be late!” Kristoff shifted his weight impatiently, but Killian didn’t even move, staring fixedly at the school gate.

“We are,” Killian finally nodded, picking up his bag that had been lying next to the bench.

It was a dark green, awkwardly patched, worn backpack. It was quite dirty with dust and sand, but Killian didn’t seem to care.

“My mother will kill me if I’m late…” Kristoff turned pale, blinking more and more nervously across the slowly emptying courtyard.

“Go to class, Kris,” Killian smiled, then picked up his bag on his shoulder and hurried to the school gate.

“Killian! Stop! What are you doing?” Scared out of his wits, Kristoff ran after Killian.

He grabbed him by the arm and turned the older boy to face him with a forceful jerk.

“I’m going to Milah’s,” Killian shook Kristoff’s’ arm off.

“No! You’ve gone mad! Your parents will… oh, there’ll be nothing left of you if Milah’s father sees you there! I thought that scar on your arm would have been a good reminder of that.”

“I’m not afraid of her father,” Killian laughed. His voice was husky and mocking. Emma knew very well where his confidence came from.

Elven blood.

He could easily handle a grown man, no matter how big or muscular he was.

“You can’t go there! Even Milah told you that!” insisted Kristoff.

“I don’t care.” Killian shook his head and headed for the gate again.

Kristoff stared after him for a while, panting, apparently unable to decide what to do. “Killian, wait! I’ll get my bag…”

The little blond boy slipped off in the direction of the school building. Killian, meanwhile, settled himself at the entrance and, to Emma’s small shock, lit a cigarette. If she could’ve, she’d have flicked it out of his fingers. He was too young for that sort of thing.

However, when she took a closer look, she saw that his hands were shaking, he seemed quite nervous, and his appearance, as well as his manners, made him seem much older.

“Uh… Humph! We can go!” Kristoff gasped as he finally reached Killian, more specifically through her spirit body.

She’d never get used to that.

“You really don’t have to come. It won’t be...without risk,” Killian admitted, and Emma believed that only she understood what he meant.

He could defend himself, but he couldn’t split himself in half and be there with Kristoff all the way. And if the boy wasn’t in his immediate vicinity, Killian couldn’t guarantee his safety.

“Come on!” Kristoff waved. “I want to come!”

“Suit yourself,” Killian nodded, rising from the parched ground. He dusted off his jeans, which Emma thought was completely unnecessary, and walked with quick steps to the side of the road.

“You really have a crush on her, don’t you?” Kristoff seemed to have quickly gotten over the trauma and aftermath of missing school. He stared at Killian with a grin.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Killian shook his head and blew out the smoke with relish.

“Well, about Milah, who else?” Kristoff waited anxiously for Killian’s answer, but it didn’t come.

“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Killian glared at the younger boy.

“You don’t have to deny it! I saw you both out in the meadow by the bunker yesterday,” he reported with a triumphant smile, and to Emma’s surprise, he achieved the desired effect; Killian’s cheeks and the tips of his ears turned the color of tomatoes.

“What the bloody hell were you doing there?” His eyes widened in shock, and he quickened his steps almost unconsciously.

“Well, I was just going to the bunker because I left my sweater somewhere and I thought it was there.” Kristoff shrugged, his mouth still twisting into a smile. “But in the end, I found something completely different there,” he chuckled.

Killian narrowed his eyes.

“But I was far enough away, I didn’t see everything!” Kristoff added hastily.

“Wonderful,” Killian growled, scowling at his friend. “What did you see?”

“I thought you didn’t want to talk about it,” Kristoff clasped his hands behind his back and whistled softly as he stared up at the completely cloudless sky.

Emma had to admit, she was starting to like this kid, Kristoff. The little rascal knew how to get a rise out of Killian, and it was strange to see such strong emotion on his face.

“You’re starting to get on my nerves, lad,” Killian hissed.

Kristoff grinned wickedly at him and just shrugged. “Did you kiss her properly? Like in the movies?” He eagerly watched Killian’s every move.

“Aye,” Killian coughed, then watched with a forgiving smile as Kristoff punched the air with a loud cheer.

“And what else did you do?” Kristoff almost climbed into Killian’s face.

“Never mind that, you’re too young for that,” Killian grinned, blowing the smoke in Kristoff’s face who leaned away from him, coughing.

“Stinking shit-face!” he groaned, gasping for air.

“Vouyer rat!” snarled Killian back playfully

They walked along the road in silence for a few minutes and then soon turned onto a narrow, weedy dirt road. They were in a small rural town that Emma was unfamiliar with.

“I’d never dare kiss Anna,” Kristoff confessed shyly.

“Well, I wouldn’t either,” Killian laughed hoarsely, and hearing his voice, Emma wondered how long he’d been smoking.

“Are you making fun of me?” Kristoff raised an eyebrow in offense, but Killian just shook his head.

“Anna would talk your ear off before you could even reach her lips. Don’t you think she’s a little hyperactive?”

“Maybe... But she’s still the prettiest one in the class.”

“That’s one thing,” Killian waved it off, then tossed the cigarette away and stomped on it carefully.

“But still beautiful!”

“And a chatterbox,” Killian said, shaking his head.

“Does it matter? At least there’s no awkward silence.”

“Then it really doesn’t matter,” Killian laughed again.

It was weird to Emma to listen to this conversation as she slipped invisibly behind the two of them. Killian... There was just no way he was only like fourteen. She had no idea what could have happened to him, but a normal boy his age wasn’t like him.

After a good twenty-minute walk, the hundred-degree weather made it almost impossible to wring the sweat from Kristoff’s and Killian’s t-shirts.

“Do you really go out here every day?” Kristoff growled as he wiped his brow. “At least slow down a little!”

“I don’t come out here every day, her father would really kill me. Besides, we’re not far away, their house is just around the corner,” Killian replied.

Nearby, the grass was yellow from the drought, and the road was pure dust beneath their feet.

“And what’re you going to tell her?” Kristoff asked.

“I don’t know,” Killian lowered his head. “We’ll see.”

“Is it really true that her father is crazy? I’ve heard all kinds of things about him, but I couldn’t decide if it was true.”

“He is,” Killian said in a lowered voice. “One minute he was completely calm and quite friendly, and then suddenly he got angry, howling and lashing out at the things closest to him. He’s already been treated in a mental hospital, and he has also been in prison several times…”

-/-

The large but rather old-fashioned residential building included an old barracks. Several dogs were roaming around in the company of a few cats around the porch. The platform of the rusty van in the backyard was already packed, and a burly, shirtless man was in the process of dumping the rest of the suitcases onto the others.

He watched the boys’ arrival with keen eyes. He brushed his graying hair out of his forehead and stared expectantly at Killian and Kristoff with his hands on his hips. Sweat glistened in droplets on his exposed skin, his large beer belly covered in dirt.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he growled unkindly. It was obvious from his expression that he was already on the verge of strangling the boys with his bare hands, but for some reason he controlled himself.

“I came to see Milah,” Killian replied confidently.

The man’s eyes narrowed. “She doesn’t have time for you, she’s packing right now. You’re in the way, we want to leave today!”

“Where are you going?” The confidence left Killian’s voice and was replaced by horror.

“We’re moving. We’re going back to England. It’ll be a better place for the girl!”

Emma could clearly see Killian’s face turning pale despite the blistering heat. His lips opened slightly and he stared at the man with widened eyes.

“Where… where’s Milah?” Killian’s hands clenched into fists again, trembling with rage, and at that moment Emma no longer feared for Killian’s safety, but rather for the man’s. If he couldn’t restrain himself, there would be trouble…

“I thought I told you to fuck off—”

“Killian!”

A girl’s stunned voice came from the direction of the barracks. She had long, dark brown hair that ended in wild curls, and her eyes were almost the same bluish-green shade as Emma’s. Emma immediately knew she was Milah.

The girl blinked at her father in alarm, then looked back at Killian.

“We’re leaving in half an hour. I don’t want to have to look for you, you know what we agreed on,” her father growled at her and set about securing the bags on the platform.

Milah sighed in relief and signaled for the two boys to follow her.

She led them into the kitchen. It was an immaculate room, but the cleanliness in no way made up for the deplorable sight of junk, old furniture, and weathered paint on the walls.

“Are you...really moving?” Killian didn’t sit down, and neither did Kristoff.

The blond preferred to slip quietly into the backyard, but Emma stayed in the kitchen, not feeling guilty for eavesdropping.

“Yes.” Milah didn’t look up at Killian.

He blinked in horror. “But why?” he snapped.

Milah flinched in fright and raised her eyes to him, almost pleadingly. “Stop yelling!” It wasn’t long before she began to cry.

“Apologies,” Killian soothingly walked up to the girl, wrapping his arms around her.

“I don’t want to leave, but Papa says nothing would become of me here. We’re moving to London and I’m going to attend an all girls school. Killian, I don’t want to leave!” she blurted out, desperately holding onto Killian’s worn t-shirt.

“You’re not going then,” he said firmly.

Milah laughed softly and leaned her head against his shoulder, smiling. “What’ve you got planned?”

“We’ll run away!”

Milah laughed even louder at his answer. “We can’t possibly! He would find us, and if he did…” she shuddered at the thought. “He would beat you up like never before…”

“He wouldn’t catch us, and you know it,” Killian grumbled heatedly, casting a startled glance outside, but Kristoff continued to pet every single animal outside and seemed to hear nothing of their conversation.

“We can’t run forever! Sooner or later we’ll get tired, especially if I’m there to slow you down.”

So Milah probably knew what Killian really was. That was interesting. Maybe she wasn’t a simple human either, that was why they were so close…

“I’ll hold out as long as it takes! He would never find us and…”

“And then what? What would we do after that? This is all foolish. When you think about it, maybe it’s best to walk away...”

“Pardon?” Killian froze at her words.

“Yesterday... He found out what we were doing in the meadow! Why do you think I’m wearing a sweater in this heat?”

“So you don’t want to see me anymore.” Killian let her go and took a step back.

“It’s not that! You’re more important to me than anything, but that’s not good. I’ve had enough, don’t you understand? I can’t take this anymore,” she raised her voice.

“Milah…” Killian’s gaze was desperate, almost pleading, watching her every move.

“What the hell is going on?” Milah’s father entered the kitchen, apparently having heard his daughter’s screaming.

“Nothing, Papa!” she replied immediately, perhaps a little too quickly.

“I let you say goodbye to my daughter, and this is how you thank me? You’re—”

“No!” Milah cried out, but her father was already marching toward Killian.

Emma couldn’t decide if she or Milah was more scared. The man didn’t care about Killian’s satisfied grin, he didn’t really know what it meant.

“He begged for hours to say goodbye to you today, I let him because we won’t be here by tomorrow. And he has the audacity to…”

“Papa, no!”

She wasn’t worried about Killian, she was worried about her father.

The man’s fist swung for Killian’s face, but a thin arm knocked the fist aside with unobtrusive speed, then Killian pushed the man back. Milah’s father fell onto the kitchen table, shattering two of its legs. The vase on the table hit the back of his head, making him even angrier, washing away his momentary shock. He jumped up, glaring at Killian, and gasped as Milah screamed deafeningly. She was already standing next to Killian, tugging at his arm in horror.

“Killian, no! Please, don’t do it! Calm down, don’t do it!”

But Killian paid her no mind. His vision seemed to be clouded, his arms tense.

“What the…?” Milah’s father blinked in confusion at the little boy, who’d just flung him away with one hand.

But nothing registered in Killian’s mind anymore, he was on the verge of losing his temper.

He pushed Milah away from him, and she hit the floor at the other end of the kitchen, knocking three chairs aside.

“You little shit! I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Milah’s father rummaged blindly in one of the boxes that stood next to the kitchen entrance. He managed to grab a knife with a blade at least twelve inches long.

Milah was lying dazed on the floor, Kristoff was about to run off into the woods, scared out of his wits as he witnessed what was going on in the house. Milah’s father scurried to Killian, and now for the first time, Emma recognized the terror in Killian’s eyes. She couldn’t really place it, because it was only a knife, and it wasn’t as if this mammoth of a man could inflict a wound on him that wouldn’t heal in ten minutes or so anyway.

Killian tried to back away, but his back hit the wall and his gaze searched for Milah. That much inattention was all the man needed. He grabbed Killian’s arm and jammed the blade into his stomach. Killian cried out and slid along the wall to the floor. Milah’s father didn’t seem to care. He scooped his only daughter into his arms and stormed out of the house. The van’s engine roared to life not long after.

Terrified, Emma knelt beside Killian, though she knew he would soon be healed and survive the ordeal. It was a horrible sight. He leaned to the side, not knowing if it was the pain or Milah’s departure that had brought tears to his blue eyes. He reached for the handle of the knife and yanked it out with a quick jerk. He groaned loudly and winced.

The knife fell from his grip and he bowed his head to the floor, his cheek resting on the cold tiles.

He had a hard time getting out of his loose t-shirt, but when he did, he pressed the garment to the wound. His chest and abdomen were snow-white, but his arms were tanned. All of his ribs were visible…

The bleeding wouldn’t subside, however, and the wound contracted. Killian soon lost consciousness, and the journey was over for Emma.

“Swan! Emma, answer me! Do you hear me? Bloody fuck!”

At first, she didn’t understand the words, they only gradually made sense and formed complete sentences. But it didn’t matter that she managed to comprehend what she was hearing, she couldn’t give an answer yet. Her head was pounding and she was having a hard time getting air into her lungs,

Something — or someone — was caressing her face, but she felt terribly cold. Goosebumps covered her body from head to toe, and then she was finally able to slowly open her eyes, and the first thing that flashed before her was Killian’s blurry face. She was still in her room, her open bags lying to her left.

Her head rested on his shoulder. He sat on the floor and she lay on his lap as he hugged her tightly.

“Are you okay, lass?” His concerned gaze searched her face, and he immediately pulled his fingers away from her cheek.

“I think so.” She nodded cautiously, then her head immediately flushed as she realized that she was still only wearing a towel.

“You’ve been unconscious for more than half an hour,” he said softly.

“Figures,” she mumbled with a nod, unable to take her eyes off his face.

She tried to recognize the sweet, broken little boy, but it was very hard to do so.

“A vision?” He still wouldn’t let go of her.

“Yeah, I think so,” she nodded again, unsure and still a bit disoriented.

She was ashamed to admit it to herself, but it felt good to be in Killian’s embrace. His anxious gaze and the reassurance of his arms around her filled her with a warmth she couldn’t explain.

“What did you see? You’ve gone pale,” Killian searched her face curiously, but she averted her eyes.

She wanted to know what had happened to him, what made him...what he was now. She was unable to put it into words.

Strange.

Special.

Kind of an old young person.

But she was afraid to ask, to dig into the past. She was scared it would open up wounds too deep and painful.

“Are you sure you want to know?” She sighed in resignation, knowing in advance what his answer would be. Reluctantly, she disentangled herself from his hold and rose from the floor, careful that the towel wouldn’t fall off her body. “Think about it.”

With that, she left him alone and marched into the bathroom. She rubbed her half-wet hair with another clean towel, no longer needing a hairdryer. As she dressed, she suddenly remembered why they’d been in such a hurry earlier.

“Killian! The funeral!” The door was nearly ripped out of its frame as she stormed out of the bathroom.

“We already missed it, Swan,” he sighed. “I talked to David, they know what happened. When they’re done, they’ll come straight here.”

“Oh…” She’d wanted to be there for Leo and she’d blown it with her stupid ability to see visions.

Killian was still cross-legged on the floor. He watched her, curiosity shining in his aquamarine eyes. “We still have some time before then, so why don’t you tell me what you saw?”

“All right,” she said, sitting down beside him. “But first, I want to ask you a few questions.”

“So my suspicions were correct. The vision was about me,” he said, frowning.

“Yes,” she nodded. “Tell me, who exactly Milah is?

Killian’s eyes widened in shock and she could see he wanted to jump up and leave, but she held his arm before he could do so. He almost pulled her up with him, but finally relented and sat back down.

Killian glared at her with his familiar, expressionless poker face. He tried to barricade himself away.

“Killian, don’t do this…”

“This is none of your business,” he said sharply.

His voice trembled with suppressed anger. But Emma could also see confusion and terror. “Tell me who she is. You always clam up when I want to talk to you about...well, you.”

“Swan, don’t, please.”

“See? You’re doing it right now!” she poked him in the chest with her finger.

“I hate talking about my past," he shook his head.

“Have you actually tried?” she raised an eyebrow.

He grimaced and shook his head again.

“Killian, I want to understand you. And I want to know what happened to you.”

“Why would you care about a repulsive beast like me?”

She knew it was inappropriate, but she couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled out of her. Killian, repulsive, and beast? Those three words were completely different things in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, but none of those apply to you,” she chuckled, feeling a tear leave her eye.

“No? Because that’s what people usually call me,” he hissed angrily.

“At first glance, your appearance and manners don’t exactly scream trustworthiness,” she remarked, still smiling. “But you only pretend not to be.

“Maybe because that’s how it is, and you’re the one who’s wrong. Have you ever thought about that?”

“No. And you’re wrong. Now answer my question,” she’s starting to feel like an interrogator.

“You don’t know me, Swan. You know nothing about me, and that’s the only reason you dare to be alone in a room with me.”

Then he jumped up from the floor and marched out the door.

Perhaps she’d succeeded in opening a more painful wound than she’d first intended. At that moment, she felt like a pathetic fool. Because let’s face it, tact wasn’t exactly her strong suit.

#cs ff #captain swan #cssns21 #cssns 2021 #captain swan ff #emma swan #killian jones #captain hook #thejollyroger writer #ouat #ouat ff #once upon a time #captain swan supernatural #my fic #TWPYR #cs fanfiction #captain swan fanfic #emma x killian

[graphicabyss]

I watched The Falcon And The Winter Soldier and I liked it more that I expected, although frankly I didn't expect much. Overall, I love the setting, the cinematography and the character development. The director and the writers did an excellent job. But it also sent me down an emotional roller-coaster and that's the thing I really need to talk about.

I know there are countless rants about TFATWS, Endgame, queerbaiting and poor MCU narratives but I've never really been hanging out in the fandom until recently so for me it's my first one and I need to get it off my chest. It's gonna be long.

It was interesting to see where the show's gonna take things but start to end there was an elephant in the room. It doesn't sit well with me the way they completely sidestepped the Steve Rogers issue. Like, "we didn't make this mess, so we're not gonna go there". And it's just wrong. You can't just avoid the subject altogether and pass it on for future writers to handle. Also, you see Bucky so sad and lonely it breaks your heart. And this inevitably made me think about Endgame and Cap's storyline. I didn't feel like writing it all down after Endgame but now all these thoughts and feelings came up again and I need to get it off my chest. If they ended it all at Endgame, and I thought they did, it would have been fine, sort of. We'd forgive some loose ends. But they didn't end it there and that makes them fully responsible for this mess. I mean, I didn't hate Cap's ending. After all, it could have been worse. Steve could get together with Sharon like in the comics and they probably considered it at some point but the reactions were so bad they backed down and dragged Peggy along. Still, the ending just felt forced, no matter how you look at it. The thing is, if I knew about it after the first movie, I'd rejoice. But at this point, after everything that went down after, it just doesn't feel right.  I love Peggy and I can't deny the dance scene made me flutter a little but now I wish this was Steve's way to keep his promise before going back. In the end, Peggy would be fine without him. She had a good life, she made a career and a family. We know that thanks to Agent Carter. And we got many cues that Steve and Peggy's relationship, as important as it was, was over. Her saying goodbye to him by destroying the serum, him carrying her casket... Yet, Endgame effectively undermined that basically erasing all of these events from existence and making Peggy just a prize for Captain America.  On the other hand, Bucky needed Steve the most. And the show made it clear how bruised and broken he was. Bucky and Steve's relationship was the closest of any relationship in the MCU. At that point it was clear Bucky was everything to him, the only one who could truly understand him. Steve lost him many times and every time he fought to bring him back, no matter how impossible it seemed. When Bucky was captured Steve went into an enemy base alone on a suicidal mission and saved him and everyone else. That's basically how he became Captain America. Then Bucky got killed in the war and it devastated him. Bucky returned as Winter Soldier and there was hardly any Bucky left in him but Steve nearly let himself be killed because he needed to save him and he trusted that James would not hurt him. When Bucky finally got to his senses, there was an ultimate war going on and in the Snap James fell to dust in front of Steve's eyes. It took 5 years to get him back. And as soon as Steve succeeded, he left him, along with the rest of his traumatized friends and the world in deep chaos, to be with Peggy in 1940's, thus throwing 12 years of his life away. It just didn't feel right. That does a disservice to both Steve and Peggy's storylines. But it's not just about Peggy or Bucky. Steve going back and living his life to return to that park as an old man has opened a rift with a host of questions. I tried to get to the bottom of it but it got me nowhere.  According to Russo, when Steve went back he created an alternate reality. He also retired as Captain America. First off, I think he just made that up after to cover up the mess. If that was the case, Cap would return to the designated spot and not be sitting on a bench like he was waiting there all along. But, like, even if it was alternate reality, it could not be that different, right? He wouldn't just live in Peggy's basement, would he? He knew about the things to come like, you know, the HYDRA thing, and being the man that he was, he couldn't just sit and do nothing. Especially when Peggy was one of the founders of the SHIELD. Captain America or not, Steve would do everything to make this world a

better place. Also, if Steve went back after he crashed that plane, that means there's another Steve still locked in ice, which Russo confirmed. Even more importantly, in Steve's timeline Bucky is still with Hydra being tortured. There's no way he could leave him there. So much for the 'quiet life'. Then there are the writers of Endgame who claim that Peggy's two children are fathered by Steve. Really? That directly contradicts the earlier version that the father is a soldier Steve saved, which is shown in Agent Carter. Seriously, guys, if you're gonna make up random bullshit at least get your stories straight first.   Fans love to make all sorts of theories to try and patch up the holes but the truth is, MCU is not just one mastermind's creation and the comics weren't either. It's bound to be a mess because it's created by dozens of writers and directors and each phase gets increasingly messier because it has to fit in with the 547 previously released movies and shows. I get that and I applaud the effort of Endgame but they really can't expect us to get involved with the characters only to see them being treated as an afterthought. And the thing is, I thought that it might be just me but after a quick survey of the fandom I realized that a lot of people feel the same way. If you look at the comment section of nearly any relevant video, you're gonna get top comments saying all these things. If Marvel listened just once maybe things would make more sense. And all these thoughts aren't necessarily what I wanted to see, but what would be right for the characters. And while I do love Stucky, I'm a reasonable shipper and I really didn't expect them to be canon gay or anything, I just wished they had at least spent some time together not fighting, just healing and catching up on their lives. Honestly, I don't always like the way people ship m/m characters in every show but this time it was really more than justified. The whole storyline going through Winter Soldier and Civil War was just massive queerbaiting. It was undeniably a love story, romantic or not. "Why do you ship male characters?" some people ask. Idk, maybe if the writers put half the effort into developing m/f relationships as they do m/m ones and not just randomly throw them together I might care about them. And MCU was terrible with romance. That traumatic kiss Steve had with Sharon Carter? In the comics, Steve did love Sharon but who cares? In MCU they met, like, twice. Mostly after Peggy's funeral. Peak romance. If they had to pick a new love interest they could go with Natasha. They cared about each other, they bonded in TWS and they were both dealing with some difficult issues. But they became just good friends, which I loved. Instead, Natasha got together with Banner? And then there's Wanda and Vision, which seemed like the most random of pairings with no buildup whatsoever. The wonderful world of heteronormativity where a witch/robot couple comes before a gay one. And the thing is, I only recently learned that there's some legit leverage to portray Bucky as gay. Bucky is based on two characters from the comics. Bucky Barnes was Steve's teen sidekick, kinda like Robin, so this origin was too weird for MCU. Instead, the writers used the origin story from a character named Arnie. It was a boy Steve grew up with, a boy who protected him from bullies, and a boy who kept inviting Steve to these double dates. A boy who was gay. Which wasn't explicitly stated but was pretty obvious. And this was in 1984. So making Bucky gay would be neither woke nor against 'canon'. It would be way overdue.  So with TFTWS it was nice to see Bucky recover and bond with Sam but to me the whole ending also felt a bit excessively positive and this time the queerbaiting felt even more intentional, almost as if the writers wanted to distract the discontent fans with a new shiny ship so they forgot all the things they were mad about. Like, of course I want Bucky to be happy but also I hate the way the show's pushing the idea that he just needs to get over losing Steve and move

on with his life already because surely all his problems come from his inability to trust people and not trying hard enough, and not from being brainwashed and tortured for 70 years and then losing the only person who loved and cherished him.

#MCU #Endgame rant #Stucky #TFATWS #Marvel

[hargrove-mayfields]

Dream Boy Lover

June 12, 1985

The dead heat of Hawkins summer is almost in full swing, but in the damp cement back room at Hawkins Community Pool, it’s freezing.

Waiting out the time before her next turn in the chair is Heather Holloway, laying down on the wooden bench, one leg hanging lazily over the side. She’s got a pair of sweats on over her bathing suit and a throw blanket that was supposed to be on the back of her mother’s expensive couch wrapped around her shoulders.

With her on the same bench is Billy Hargrove, laying on his back like her, their heads touching so that curly pieces of their sprayed hair get tangled together. He’s got his ankles crossed one over the other, wearing his lifeguard hoodie and a pair of boots, but the tips of his nose and fingers are still ice cold. Even out of the sun, lounging around on break, he’s got a pair of aviators propped up on his nose.

They don’t have to be back out in their chairs for another hour or two, something about the manager's nieces coming in and taking over everyone’s shifts, so they’re just killing time.

Heather’s got a gossip magazine that’s a bit too immature for her, the kind aimed at middle schoolers rather than a couple of fresh out of high school adults, and she’s reading out loud anything she finds interesting. Billy’s got a bag of skittles he got from the vending machine on his chest, and occasionally, when he doesn’t have a cigarette hanging from the corner of his lips, he drops a few into his own or Heather's mouths. She’d suggested the skittles, he likes M&Ms better.

After a few minutes of silent page turning, Billy feels himself start drifting off to sleep, it’s too cold and he didn’t sleep last night and he’s bored, but Heather startles him awake with an exclamation of, “Oh! Listen to this.”

She clears her throat and reads in a smug, over enthusiastic voice. “How to tell if your crush likes you back.”

Billy groans, he knows the teasing that’s about to come will be insufferable. Ever since Heather got herself a relationship, she’d been trying to get him to follow suit, and she’d weaseled it out of him with hardly any effort that he’d already been gunning it for someone.

Pretty much every day he had to get at least one reminder that he was a coward and a wimp for not making a move, her obsession with his romantic life just that intense, but he’s usually a good sport about it. Like now, as he listens to her read out of a magazine too lame for even his little sister, not interrupting her once as she reads off the list.

Well, at least until she strays from what is actually printed on its glossy pages. “Number one. Does he or she talk to you everyday?” She waited for barely a second before reprimanding him. “Come on William, I’m expecting answers here.”

Sighing through his nose, he plays along. “Whatever. Sure.”

“Okay. Number two. Does he or she tell you all of his or her deepest secrets?”

“Deepest? Dunno about that.” That answer isn’t good enough for Heather, who waits impatiently for him to give her a better one. “Alright, fine. Yes.”

The smile on her face is almost audible through the excitement in her voice. “Number three. Did he or she give you his or her phone number like, the third time you ever talked to each other?”

“That’s not in the magazine, Hetty.”

“Um, it totally is.” She says it like she means it, but there’s a little hint of humor in her tone almost giving her away.

Because she’s so relentless, Billy admits, “It was the fifth time.”

“Number four.” The pause between her words as she thinks of something to taunt Billy with is enough that he knows something ridiculous is about to come out of her mouth. “Does he take you out to the quarry, a place we all know is the cooler older brother of Lover’s Lake, in the middle of the night ‘just to hang out’?”

“That’s it, I’m cutting you off.” He announces, reaching behind his head and snatching the magazine from her hands, flipping it around so he can read it. “My turn.”

“Oh no.” She says with a giggle.

There’s the sound of laminated pages flipping until, Billy says, “Ooh, this one sounds good.” in a tone matching the one Heather used when she started reading.

“How to know if your relationship is going to last.” He gasps for dramatic effect, and Heather can’t stifle a giggle while she waits for the rest of the question, “Do you call each other a thousand times a day and whisper sweet nothings over the phone?”

Even though he can’t see her face, she rolls her eyes. “Duh.”

“Did you pine helplessly after each other for literally three years just to kiss on the first date?”

“Yeah and it was awesome.” They both laugh at that one, her obviously overdone response enough to break the false seriousness they had going.

It’s also a challenge for Billy to do it again.

“Do you stay over at her house every night just so you can wake up together in domestic bliss? Does she pack your work bag for you every morning like you’ve been married for years, and make you your lunch in a little brown bag and kiss you on the forehead on your way out the door and-“

“Alright, alright. I get it.” Billy’s point having been proved, she takes her magazine back and sets It aside with the rest of her stuff. “You’re just jealous because you won’t shoot your shot with Steve.”

“Am not.” He scoffs, trying not to let the little bit of offense he felt at that show. “Have the situation perfectly under control.”

“Sure. Is that why you spend all of your time sighing wistfully and daydreaming about your one true love?” Her hands are clasped together at her cheek and she lets her voice get higher and dreamier.

“My options are limited.” It’s a lame excuse just to deflect the truth and they both know it.

So she calls him on it, and uncontainable smile accompanying the song-Singh remark. “You didn’t deny it!”

“What?”

“That you’re in love with him!”

“Thought that was obvious. Why the hell else do you think I’m still single?” He motions vaguely to himself. “Just look at me, Hetty. Could have anyone I wanted.”

“Except Steve.” The reminder is mostly meant to be like, a way for her to show him that he should just make his move already because he can have anyone he wants, but, having missed the point entirely, Billy sighs and agrees. “‘Cept Steve.”

“I don’t know though, Rob’s been putting out some feelers, and like, her gaydar is super good.” Her and Robin are probably more involved in this than their idiot best friends by this point, it seemed to be all they ever talked about anymore. “She’ll be able to tell you if he’s on the market.”

“I don’t need a lesbians dating advice, thank you.” Billy chuffs. “Pretty sure I can figure it out on my own.”

“Oh.” In a show of feigned nonchalance, she holds her hands above her face so she can examine her painted nails as she says, “So I guess you already knew that his freshman year, Steve dated Tommy Hagan for an entire month.”

The rest of their skittles were sent scattering all over the stained up concrete floor as Billy sat up quickly, his boots swinging to the floor and blood rushing to his head fast enough to knock him silly. “What?”

“See. You had no idea.” Sitting herself up much more gracefully, Heather turns so she’s facing Billy with her legs crossed. “For months you’ve been moping over your straight dream boy, and he’s been bi the whole time.”

“No way.” Stupidly baffled is the only way to describe the look on Billy’s face.

“Yes way.” She nods smugly. “He said so himself.”

This was something she thought was completely obvious at this point, so she can’t help but say, “Seriously, William, when were you going to open your eyes? Someone who doesn’t like you isn’t going to let you crash at their place and tenderly bandage your wounds.”

“S’not tender.” It’s such a confident comeback, Heather could almost believe it.

Almost, but she’d heard all the stories about how Billy’s dad would rough him up, kick him out with a nasty split in his lip or bruises all over, and he’d drive all helpless to his savior Steve Harrington’s house to get patched up. Not tender her hind end.

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter, because I also seem to remember him driving an hour into the city to pick you up when your car broke down, sooo…..” Billy wouldn’t win this one, she had just about a million other courting attempts from poor Steve on stand by.

“It wasn’t like that, H.” His gaze fixes to the floor, to a green skittle melting over in the corner, as he mumbles, “We’re not even friends.”

“What about when he saved you a seat on the basketball bus?” The nerve of him to come running back to her with all of his romantic troubles and woes, and still deflect like this. She almost couldn’t bear it. “Or literally like, a week ago when he hand delivered a bunch of super thoughtful birthday gifts to you?”

“I don’t know what you want me to say!” His hands are thrown up in exasperation, though Heather would argue he doesn’t have the right be upset when he’s the one doing all this to himself. “He’s just too nice for his own good.”

“Please lord give me the strength to deal with this boy.” She turns her eyes to the wooden ceiling, joining her hands together in a false prayer. Sighing through her nose, she turns her attention back to Billy, who’s trying to hide his smugness with how frustrated he’s making her. “William. I know you think you screwed that friendship over forever, but I promise you, if Steve didn’t forgive you, he wouldn’t let you in his house, let alone do all this other stuff for you.”

“Dunno Het, kind of hard to forgive someone who doesn’t apologize.” She could ring his neck for how casually he says it.

“What! You mean you didn’t say you were sorry yet?” Rolling up the discarded magazine, she smacks him on the back of the head with it. “William that was like, seven months ago!”

The strain in his voice tells her they’re on the same level of annoyance. “What am I supposed to do! Tell him I’m sorry I almost killed him with my bare hands, and he’ll just forget about me being an evil bastard so we can live happily ever after like you and Robin?”

She hits him again. “One, you are over exaggerating by a long shot buster, and two, you need to quit projecting your crap onto that boy before someone else comes along and swoops him up.”

“What does that even mean?”

“It means that you’re an idiot William Hargrove.” Another whack with the magazine as she tries to explain the situation, something that makes perfect sense to someone who isn’t emotionally constipated, to Billy who is, well, extremely emotionally constipated. “Steve is trying to move on. He flirts with you like, every day and he was willing to be civil without an apology. That doesn’t mean you ‘aren’t even friends’”

“It means that you,” Her cherry red fingernail presses into the material of his hoodie, “you are the one that needs to forgive yourself.”

“You think so?” There’s a sort of disbelief in his voice, but it’s not like he’s doubting himself so much as he’s mocking Heather for thinking it’s so easy.

And that, well, she’s used to it. They’ve been friends since early December, so she didn’t let him being a big jerk put her off after so long dealing with him acting like this. “Yes I do, as a matter of fact.”

“Think you’re giving me too much credit then, sweetheart.”

“You are so difficult.” She felt like a tired mother scolding a child. “Now you listen up and you listen tight. I don’t want this self-deprecating garbage keeping you from what you deserve, you hear me? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I’m telling you, you have got to take it.”

“Steve does not care one little bit what you think of yourself. He likes the real you. Not who you think you should be, not who you think he deserves. He wants you.” Maybe she’s being dramatic, who knows, but Billy keeping his mouth shut means she’s probably on the right track. “And I guarantee you, you will never forgive yourself if you let that boy go.”

Sure, she’s up on her high horse there, talking down to Billy like he’s completely incompetent, but she’s been in the same boat. From experience she knew Billy’s heart would never recover if he lost Steve to someone else. It was in part for her sake so she wouldn’t have to hear about it, but mostly for her best friend, who already had so much other stuff on his plate to deal with that she wanted to make sure that didn’t happen.

“Don’t be so dramatic Het.” Is what he comes up with, but he’s biting the corner of his nail, something he only does when he’s thinking hard about something. It doesn’t take very long for him to break. “Promise you’re not just hyping me up?”

“You know me better than that. I don’t have a dishonest bone in my body.” With her hand on her heart she promises, “I wouldn’t say any of that stuff if I didn’t mean it.”

“Yeah, whatever.” He waves her off, but he looks sort of queasy, won’t hold eye contact with her for more than a second. “I’ll think about it.”

“You better.” Leaning over across the bench Heather wraps him in the best hug she can in the awkward position. “You know you’re my best friend in the whole wide world, right?” He lets out a breathy laugh against her hair, “I know, I know.”

It’s for Billy’s sake that she lets him drop it. Were it up to her entirely, she’d want him to make his decision now, she’s tired of watching him be too scared to make decisions for himself, but really, they’ve been at it for half a year, what’s a few more days to get the ball rolling?

So she listens with her full attention, keeping her arm around his waist to never fully break off the hug, as he shifts the conversation to more casual topics, like his failed attempts at trying to teach his little sister how to drive, how his new tattoo is taking way too long to heal, and how he’s triple booked for swim lessons tomorrow morning.

When after so long Adams' voice cuts over the speakers calling for the next ten minute pool check, their break is officially over.

The manager pops his head in to tell them they need one of them to switch out, and Billy, after sitting in one place for so long, stands up and stretches his limbs before he offers himself up, “You stay here in the cool, princess. I’ll keep watch over your loyal subjects.”

It’s obvious he just wants some time to himself, so, where she normally would’ve come back with something silly about how the pool goers respected his abs more than his authority, she instead gives him something to think about during his solitude.

She waits until he’s kicking his boots off and shoving them under the bench to say, “You know, maybe it’s fate that the both of you, absolute hunks that you are, have stayed single this whole summer. You’re probably like, destined to be together.”

“Keep dreaming Holloway.” He says, snatching up his whistle and his smokes from the pile with the rest of his stuff.

All smugly nonchalant she replies, “I’m leaving that up to you, lover boy.”

Billy just laughs as the metal door swings shut behind him, but he admittedly goes on to do exactly that, dreaming of his pretty boy up in the lifeguard chair.

Realizing it might be a hazard to public safety to ignore his responsibilities to drool over Steve Harrington while he’s on duty, he blows his whistle at a kid holding another one under the water, and tries to let the noisy pool distract him.

Heather’s right, this is getting to be ridiculous.

Read also on ao3!

#heather holloway #billy hargrove #robin buckley #steve harrington #harringrove #buckleway #is that how you spell it? #ej writer #story by ej! #this will be part of a series #it’ll kind of be all over the place #but there’ll be one where heather and Billy met #one where Steve and rob have a similar discussion as these two have #another about how they meet #and probably one about how heather and Robin started dating? #we’ll see when the time comes #anyways hope y’all like this! it was really hard to write because I hate dialogue #but also really fun! #sorry the quirky Midwesterner jumped out in heathers dialogue I have no excuse for myself #I don’t know if the ao3 link will work because I’m on mobile #and for the same reason sorry for any formatting issues!

[sailorbadger]

Book Review - 6 modern female-led Robin Hood adaptations

In the past 8 months or so I have read/watched/listened to over 30 different Robin Hood adaptations. Over the summer I found myself reading almost exclusively adaptations that were written by women and centered women in the story one way or another. (I also found out that “lesbian Robin Hood” is a whole genre on its own.) I decided to write short reviews for 6 of these books since I know I have followers that probably share my enjoyment of this particular niche. 

This post includes spoiler-free reviews for the following books

Outlaw and Scarlet by Niamh Murphy

Nottingham: The True Story of Robyn Hood by Anna Burke

Hood by Jenny Elder Moke

Marian, Princess Thief by C.K. Brooke

Heart of Sherwood by Edale Lane

The rest of the post will be under the cut since this is quite long.

Despite the fact that I read other books that could technically fit this same category, I decided to focus on these six in my review because these ones are easily accessible to most of my audience (meaning that they are in English and new enough - the oldest one being from 2018 I think - so that you should be able to find them easily). 

I tried to keep these reviews relatively short and spoiler-free. That means that describing specific plot points is impossible because in most of these, the basic premise is the typical Robin Hood origin story. I tried to focus on my general feelings about the books and the characters and their relationships. 

I won’t be doing any numerical ratings. I know that the order in which I read these impacted on how I felt about them. If I had read them in a different order, I would probably feel differently about some of them. That’s why it’s difficult for me to give any real ratings. The reviews are not in any real order either, apart from my favorite being the last one.

These reviews are also about 75% serious and 25% not serious. When my friend and I started to go through all these different Robin Hood adaptations, we made a bingo card that features tropes/themes/details found in a lot of different versions of the story. I’ll leave quick comments on the reviews on how each of these did, but I won’t go too much into detail on those.

Niamh Murphy: Outlaw & Scarlet

I grouped these two books together because they are the first two parts of a series. My understanding is that the author does plan on eventually releasing more, but since Scarlet was released this year, it might take a while. If a third book does come out, I might read it, but I’m not in a hurry to reread these two.

Outlaw tells the story of how Robyn, the daughter of a baron, ends up becoming an outlaw. If you are familiar with at least a few Robin Hood adaptations, you will know how it goes. There are no big surprises, but I suppose the purpose of this story is to introduce us to the characters and set the scene for the later books. Scarlet continues Robyn’s story and introduces a new character to the story. (I won’t go too much into details on the second book to avoid spoilers, since its plot does not follow familiar beats as much as the first one.)

Besides the books on this list, I have also read/watched/listened to several other Robin Hood adaptations as well, and when it comes to plot, Outlaw lands in the “uninteresting” section. There was nothing new or exciting there, and seeing that I have spent most of the year in a Robin Hood -bubble, I was left wanting more. Scarlet was a slight improvement seeing as Outlaw was mostly a very generic Robin Hood origin story. Together they still feel like this is just the beginning of a longer story, so I hope that if a third book comes out we get into the real action.

Outlaw is marketed as a “lesbian retelling” of the Robin Hood story, but compared to some of the other titles on this list, I was left wanting more. The romance aspect is barely there, so if you’re going to pick these up for Robyn and Marian’s relationship, prepare for slow burn. 

The characters didn’t leave a huge impression on me. I do have to say that the Sheriff’s wife was interesting and I wish we had gotten more of her. Other than her, I felt that at times many of the characters could have been from any adaptation. 

Overall, there wasn’t anything really wrong with these books, but they just didn’t entertain me as much as the others. I feel that if I had read these before all the other ones on this list, I would have enjoyed them more. Outlaw and Scarlet are a good read for someone who wants a basic Robin Hood story with a lesbian lead. I still think that marketing the first book as a “lesbian retelling” is setting unrealistic expectations for some, but I hope that in the future the series really earns that title.

I completely forgot to fill out a bingo card for these two and at this point I have forgotten many of the details so unfortunately we’ll never know the result. Most of the tropes hit were so general they probably weren’t on our card anyway.

Anna Burke: Nottingham: The True Story of Robyn Hood

Out of all of the books in this list, Anna Burke’s Nottingham is perhaps the most explicit in its queerness. Although the story obviously doesn’t use modern labels, I would say that it includes representation for (at least) lesbian, bi and trans character(s). None of this feels too out-of-place, and instead Nottingham offers a (mostly) historically accurate Robin Hood tale with a queer main cast.

The plot mostly follows your typical Robin Hood -formula: After a hunting accident, Robyn becomes an outlaw, surrounds herself with loyal friends and helps those in need. This aspect of the book doesn’t offer any new ideas or challenge the existing ideas about Robin Hood as a story. However, it focuses more on the characters, so it doesn’t really need anything new. Marian especially has to come to terms with her feelings towards Robyn and women in general. I do have to say though, that the romance between Robyn and Marian happens a little fast - they only meet a few times before falling in love. [Insert joke about lesbians moving too fast here] It didn’t bother me too much, but I do wish there had been a little more buildup. 

From this list, I read this book the most recently. It may be that I was just so burned out from reading all these Robin Hood -stories but I didn’t connect with the book that well. I enjoyed it, but I wish there had been more of that fun sense of adventure I look for in these stories. 

I would recommend Nottingham to anyone who wants to read a story that manages to be historically accurate and use the Robin Hood mythos to its advantage while not shying away from its portrayal of queerness. Although it did not hold my attention as well as some of the other books, it is still written well and has a good story.

This book didn’t get a bingo unless you interpret “lähentely* which is uncomfortable for the audience” as the sex scene (there is sex in this book but nothing that explicit, I would say high T/low M in Ao3-ratings) being uncomfortable for the reader OR the third person in that scene being uncomfortable. About half of the bingo card was still filled.

*I couldn’t come up with a good translation for this word, it means something along the lines of making moves/coming onto someone/making advances, though for this bingo I use it to generally mean anything flirty/intimate/sexual/etc.

 Jenny Elder Moke: Hood

This book was the first one on this list I read. Compared to the other novels, I would say that Hood is the least like your typical Robin Hood story. The book follows Isabelle, Robin and Marian’s daughter, who has to find her father in order to save her mother. The adventure is brand new, though there are still familiar characters and the basic concept of Robin Hood is honored. This is a story about the next generation of outlaws, so if you’re looking for something that focuses on characters from the legends, you may be disappointed.

Speaking of the characters, I loved Little, Patrick and Helena. I could have just read a book where this group of young outlaws has adventures and been satisfied. Unfortunately I didn’t connect well with the main lead, Isabelle, and the love interest, Adam, felt like a very generic hot guy from a YA novel. The romance itself is practically non-existent, and honestly I could have done without it. Seriously, I had completely forgotten about that whole thing until I started writing this review. This story is more about Isabelle’s relationship with her parents, which I like. She also gets to build genuine friendships with the other characters. I just wish the book had been a little longer so that it could have spent more time developing some of these relationships.

Had I read this book when I was a teenager, I most likely would have loved it a lot more. It is YA, and at times it really shows. As far as Robin Hood stories go, I generally enjoy the “outlaws being outlaws in the forest” content the most, and unfortunately this featured surprisingly little of it. It still offered its own take on what could happen after the legends everyone knows, even if it doesn’t add much to the legends themselves.

It is important that I mention here that if Allan has a child in an adaptation, this child must be named either Allan jr. or Alana. This book fulfills this basic need for me and I am satisfied. It also checked most of the boxes on the bingo, and I almost filled the whole sheet. So somehow, despite not really following the typical Robin Hood formula, Hood managed to include all the important tropes.

If you are a teenager who enjoys Robin Hood -stories, I would definitely recommend this book. It’s not the best YA novel out there, but it’s a good standalone story. I think that for adults, this can be a good read if you are a fan of Robin Hood -stories and/or enjoy this type of YA anyway. I wasn’t sure what type of book this was when I started reading, but if you just prepare yourself for a fun adventure aimed at young teens, you can enjoy this. It’s very quick to read, I think I read it in one day.

Also, I must quote a review I saw on Storygraph (imagine this is in all caps) : “hjsxhfjsdksfjk???????????? Patrick best character no cap”

C. K. Brooke: Marian, Princess Thief

In Marian, Princess Thief, Robin Hood doesn’t exist at all. Instead the story follows Marian, who in this version is a princess, who escaped an assassination attempt and is now living in the forest as an outlaw with six other women - the genderbent versions of the Merry Men. Eventually there is a romance in this book as well, but the biggest force carrying through the book is the friendship between the women. If I had to describe the novel in just one word, I would say it’s lovable. If I had to describe it in two, I would say it’s dissappointingly heterosexual. 

Maybe the fact that I found a genre that is basically “lesbian Robin Hood” has ruined me, but how can you write a story that features seven women living in the forest as outlaws, and not one of them is queer? This is entirely a thing that bothers me personally, and the book doesn’t need queer representation to be good, but there is no reason to not include it. Headcanons can fortunately go a long way, but I’m just saying that you could easily keep everything about Scarlett’s backstory the same except make her a lesbian. (In fact, I’m 98% joking when I say that her not being a lesbian is a homophobic choice. I will elaborate on this if you ask me but I won’t go too much into it here because I would have to explain things about other adaptations as well.)

As for the straight romance, I can’t say that I was feeling it. I could see the points where I was supposed to feel something, so maybe it’s just the fact that I’m aspec myself, but I didn’t care that much about it. Still, it was refreshing to see a story where the romance doesn’t overshadow the friendships between the women, and instead they are valued just as much (if not more) as the romantic relationship. The story doesn’t dig too deeply into the characters, but I still loved all the women. (I don’t care about the male lead. But I know others who would.)

I think the biggest “problem” this book has (apart from not making Scarlett a lesbian) is that the ending feels just a little bit rushed compared to the rest of the novel. I still think that the novel achieves everything it tries to do, but I could have used one more chapter to flesh out the climax.

The bingo card wasn’t even close to being full, but you know what, Marian, Princess Thief is good enough as it is and doesn’t need to follow all the familiar tropes. Still, how hard is it to include a bird?

This was a very quick read, in fact I basically just read it all in one go. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to read something lighthearted and, like me, is often disappointed by the lack of women in Robin Hood stories.

To end this, I will leave you with a translated quote from my WhatsApp commentary: “What is it that in all these Robin Hood stories these old dudes are all after these young maidens like get yourself a hot milf and leave the kids alone”

Edale Lane: Heart of Sherwood

Heart of Sherwood is my favorite Robin Hood -novel that I have read so far. It has just about everything I could want: good characters, a fun sense of adventure, political scheming, great relationships (both romantic and platonic) and a good ending. I was less than two chapters into this book when I knew that this would be a difficult one to top.

The premise of this book is very similar to Burke’s Nottingham: both follow the story of Robyn becoming an outlaw, making friends with the other Merry (Wo)Men and developing a relationship with Marian. I don’t want to compare these two stories too much, but I did prefer the more lighthearted tone of Heart of Sherwood. This was also the first book where I was actually invested in the romance. Normally in pretty much all Robin Hood adaptations, the relationship between Robin and Marian doesn’t interest me greatly; I don’t mind it, but it’s not something I have too many personal feelings about. However, only a few chapters into Heart of Sherwood I thought: “If these two don’t get a happy ending I’m going to jump out of the window.” (I won’t spoil where this threat ended up going.)

One thing I appreciate about the romance in this one is that Robyn and Marian already know each other, so I didn’t have to deal with a romance that develops too fast. The novel also had other things to offer besides being a “lesbian Robin Hood” story, so I didn’t feel like I had to enjoy the romance to enjoy the whole story. I was very invested the whole way through, and out of all the books I’ve reviewed here, this one made me the most emotional. 

As a fan of the BBC show, I do have to say that this novel had a very similar vibe; there was a good balance of action and humor. Maybe that was a part of why I enjoyed this so much. I was also able to predict exactly how certain things would end up. I kind of wish I would have been more surprised. 

This novel is well paced, it is exactly the right length for the story it’s telling and overall I can’t really find things to complain about. If I wasn’t petty, I would give this book full five stars, but because I am petty, for very personal reasons I’m giving it 4,99999… stars. As for the bingo, this one filled most of the sheet.

I’ll end this review with this random line I had shared on WhatsApp for some reason: ""Does this mean I am dead?" Alan asked in jest. - - - "Nay; same annoying jester, alive as ever, and likely wanting for a pint about now."”

Conclusion

Writing these reviews was surprisingly difficult because most of the stories follow the same formula, so commenting on anything that moves away from said formula could be considered a spoiler. Hopefully if you read this far you were still interested enough in at least one of these books and feel inspired to read them. I would happily recommend any of them, and if you want to know my more detailed thoughts on them, feel free to message me. The same applies to all the adaptations I’ve gone through. I have Thoughts that I’m dying to share. 

#robin hood #my post #I have no idea how to tag this??? #my own tag for the bbc robin hood is pretty much my general rh tag but I don't want to put this in the public tag since this technically has #nothing to do with it

[astronomoney]

This story was made by @tomatosamla and @le-green-lion and inspired by that one Oogway quote and the villain from spy kids 4 because why the fuck not

Summary: The Teen Titans of the future are sucked into the past where they run into their parents and must work together to get back to their own time

Word Count: 2.1k

Warnings: cursing, time travel, speedsters (they deserve their own warning)

Gifts

Chapter One: A Twist in Time

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift! That is why it is called present.

-Oogway

The day was as clear as Gotham could be. Batman and the Teen Titans were battling the villain known as Tick Tock, another Arkham wannabe that was kinda powerful in his own right, he was able to slow down time which definitely gave him advantage over the team, thankfully the speedster was able to do more damage than the rest (thank you superspeed).

"Damnit," Andromeda Kent cursed as time slowed once again. "I can't land any hits on this guy!"

"Just keep trying," Thomas Wayne shouted back. "He can't keep this up forever so we just need to outlast him! Kid Flash, go right!" He threw an exploding batarang at the villain and it moved in slow motion, drifting towards Pamela West who used her Super speed to give it an extra boost. Even with her help Tick Tock still had time to casually side step and avoid getting hit, luckily Nobody had planned for this and the batarang exploded next to the villains head.

He was thrown off balance and the effect of his powers disappeared giving Jaiden Pham a chance to use their powers. With the Green Lantern ring they tied up Tick tock so he couldn't slow the time. The Teen Titans walked over to him cautiously and Pam spoke up.

"Haha we stopped you! You really thought you'd get away with it butcha didn't cause we're here! The Teen Titans can stop anyone who threatens the innocent!" she rambled in true speedster fashion.

The villain laughed. "Do you really think you've defeated me? I'm offended. You must think of me as any old cheap bad guy without a backup plan. Well children, that was your first mistake." A swirling light came out of the ground underneath him, it stretched and began sucking things in. The heros were taken by surprise and none of them had time to react before they were sucked into the void.

Batman was the only person left on the road.

"KIDS!" screamed Damian as he saw his children fall into the portal, he reached out to grab them but they were already gone.

The Titans landed in a hard surface face first, Caipora was the first one to react, she tried attacking Tick Tock but he once again used his powers, she was able to land a hit thanks to her super abilities. Thomas once again began giving orders, until he saw his brother.

"Orphan! What the fuck are you doing here?!"

"I don't know. I was collecting intel and then I landed here!" he replied.

"Watch out!" screamed a guy in the... Robin costume?

"What the he-" said Kai, right before being pushed aside by none other than the Yara Flor herself, but she was younger...?

Tick Tock tried using his tricks once again, this time accelerating time (which none of them had seen before) in order to send Pam flying with too much speed for anyone's liking, Jai West was able to catch her in time.

"What is going on?" this time spoke Minh, Damian was... confused to say the very least, why was this kid dressed as him? Were these teenagers cosplaying or playing dress up? Those costumes looked like real hero stuff, so what the hell was going on?

Andromeda launched herself towards Tick Tock once more, the villain accelerated time again and Superboy came to catch her as the time warper slowed time once more. Damian started barking orders to all the heroes, he figured the abilities of those weird teenagers just by observing, maybe they would serve a purpose. Together the two teams tied Tick Tock once again, Damian touched his communicator in order to contact the batfam and take this dangerous villain to Arkham, in the meantime, they needed to talk.

Tick Tock laughed at their attempts to catch him before slowing time so much that they could barely move. "As fun as this is, I really must be going. I'm sure I'll see you all later." And with that he disappeared behind a corner leaving two generations of Titans behind, and one of those generations stranded.

Once the villain was far enough away his powers wore off and everyone was released from the time trap. Damian, kind of frustrated, went over to someone who was dressed like Nobody, first as he assumed that was the leader.

"Do you know that guy?"

"Yeah, an Arkham villain, before today we didn't think much of him, but now... I don't know."

"I don't know any Arkham villain with those abilities."

"Seriously? He's one of the popular ones."

Damian looked at him with just a brow raised, not much else in his face, Thomas eyes widened, he looked around and saw every other hero there, his sister gave him a confused look as he began to kinda panic.

"You're R-r-obin... the fifth Robin."

Damian moved his head in surprise, the other Titans started to figure out as well and they also started to panic.

"Yes, who are you?"

He didn't know if he should tell him, Thomas looked at his teammates and all of them nodded their heads, he took his mask off, Damian formulated a theory before the guy talked (they looked way too similar to him to be a coincidence), boy was his theory wrong.

"I'm your son."

Everyone of the present Titans froze at that, "What?"

"My name is Thomas Wayne, this is my brother-" he said signaling for his siblings to come over, "Jackson Wayne, and my sister... Minh Wayne." Damian was in shock, he kinda believed him because the similarities are way too many to ignore, still, he wouldn't totally believe them until he made some DNA tests.

Andromeda went over to Jon and Yara, "Mom... Dad-" she said, hugging them, they reacted kinda late, Jon totally believed her right that instant and hugged her back, Yara on the other hand wasn't quite sure.

Pam on the other, other hand didn't make any sentimentalism shit and just launched herself to her father, Jai didn't react right away, it took him a moment to process.

The Pham kids firstly went to Lian and then, smiling, Kai signaled his dad to come join them in the not so comfortable hug, Tai was shook, and drama completely ensued, because... well... he was not dating Lian... he was dating Mar'i.

"Wait a second, you're saying that you guys," Lian motioned towards the future Titans. "Are our," she pointed back at her team. "Kids? More specifically me and Tai have... kids?" She was definitely in shock as she looked over at Tai.

Mar'i stepped forward and spoke up. "That can't be right. I mean I'm dating Tai but if you guys are supposed to be their kids then," She paused as if trying to figure out how to word the question. "Then what happens to me?"

"YOU GUYS DATED?!?" Pam exclaimed before anyone else could say anything. "You never told me that!"

"KF, now's not the time." Thomas jumped in, he realized how confusing the situation was and he wasn't too sure what happened either but he did know they'd be better off talking about it somewhere more secure. He turned to Damian who still looked sceptical about everything. "You probably don't believe us and won't want to take us back to your base so why don't we head to a safe house. Is the one on Schapp avenue up yet?"

"We don't have any safe houses on Schapp avenue but I do know of a place nearby." He glanced at Jon, his eyes told the super to be alert. The Future Titans looked, acted, and had powers awfully similar to the Teen Titans but who's to say they weren't just trying to trick them. "It's on the corner of Camron and Murphy, are you familiar with that area?"

"Upper west side right?" Minh asked. "We know it but where we're from it's called the West River district."

"Interesting," Damian muttered. He looked around at the future Titans again before turning towards his bike. "Let's all meet there." With that he sped off, the Teen Titans followed shortly after most of them having some form of fast power. The Future Titans were left standing on the corner.

"Listen team, I don't know what's happening but we're clearly in the past and I don't think telling them everything about the future is the best idea." Thomas said in his signature Batman authority voice. "If they know what'll happen to them they might try to prevent some things and that won't go over well for anyone so be careful about what you say. Especially you KF."

"What? Why are you targeting me?" She asked with exaggerated offense.

"Because out of everyone on this team you're the most likely to tell them about some crazy important event that they definitely shouldn't know about," Jaiden laughed, pointing out how bad Pam was at keeping secrets.

She smacked their arm lightly. "That is so not fair."

"Also, Kai, I know you didn't do it on purpose but... come on man" Thomas continued.

"Everyone was doing it!"

"So they DID date, why didn't anyone tell m-"

"Just!" interrupted Jackson "let's get this over with, we will meet them there and then we will find a way to go back to our time and also to capture Tick Tock."

Andromeda interjected, "or... we can capture Tick Tock and wait for our parents to come for us."

"Either way, we should get going, knowing my dad he called grandpa Bruce to bring some DNA tests and uncle Tim will be there too, and knowing them they will bring the whole family and uncle Dick will be very impatient." said the team leader with his siblings nodding every word he said.

"In that case, wouldn't all of our families be called?" Asked Pam.

"I don't know, probably not." answered Jaiden.

Thomas and Jackson were carried there by Andy, because super strength, Kai was carried by Jaiden, because ring, and Mihn was carried by Pam, because speed. Maybe some drama would ensue, but they were sure of something, everything would work out.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS?!"

"I don't remember uncle Jason ever being this strong worded with his kids, or us for that matter." said Mihn in a whisper to Kai who just nodded in shock.

"Little Wing, just... don't." Dick put a hand up before anything else could be said or done. "Ok, so... ummm, jeez, how do we start this?"

May we clarify that this conversation took place right after the DNA results returned, and they CONFIRMED that those kids were the Titans kids. Bruce went into shock, with Selina trying to calm him down (the main word being trying), Tim and Dick were surprised but said nothing, Jason... we already know, Clark was already playing with Jon and Andromeda, Roy almost fainted, Kori also started playing with Pam, and overall it was a very quiet moment for everyone... surprisingly.

"Soooo... who is your mom?" asked an Irey full of curiosity to her niece.

"Oh, she's-"

"Nope nope nope nope nope, you won't do that, nope." interrupted Jaiden.

Pam whined "But whyyyy?"

Andromeda puts a hand on her shoulder and says "Because, if anything in this world screams 'Temporal mayhem' it is speedsters."

"Ugh Andyyyy, that's no fun." Pam slumped.

"All right" says Irey, Andy lowers her hand and the next thing anyone knows is that Pam is almost on top of Irey screaming out loud "HER NAME IS RENATA AND SHE'S A CIVIL- ow, what was that for?" she said holding her head after Kai had used one of his arrows on her, barely touching her but making her stop.

"Why wouldn't I?"

Thomas just shook his head in disappointment for their behavior, and Dick came to ask him something, of course he wouldn't miss a chance to tease his little brother.

"So, who's your mom?"

"I definitely won't answer that one, thank you very much."

On the other side of the safe house (in the same room, just on the other side of it) Jason aproched Jackson.

"What's your name kid?"

"Jackson...?"

"No motherfucking way, shit dude, HEY DEMON SPAWN, YOU NAMED YOUR KID AFTER REPLACEMENT?"

"Wait what?!" asked Tim before anyone could say anything.

"HIS NAME IS JACKSON!"

Mihn walked over to them, "Ummm, yeah, so?"

"You get along with Demon Spawn and you get along with Replacement, oh how great this day is."

"Jason, please stop, you're embarrassing me" complained Drake while Damian was giving them all his best ew face, Dick was kinda giving them a little smile, Jason was laughing his ass off and Bruce had a face that spelled regret for having so many children.

"Yeah, and my second name is Peter." Everyone froze at that, everything was silent until Dick, Tim and Damian, all at the same time started hysterically laughing

#teen titans #future titans #future timeline #titans #dc characters #dc writers #dc fanfic

[flowerflamestars]

top five books overall?

This is the hardest question! But I’m going to try to be succinct.

1) This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal al-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. 

THIS BOOK. This book ripped out my heart in the best way possible. It is equal parts intricate and aching, utterly real and completely borne of the fascinating, impossible, just barely glimpsed but flawless world it exists in. It gets love. It embodies it. Just 209 pages and every one of them perfect. I want these two to team up and write at minimum, 60 more books about literally anything they want.

2) Sunshine by Robin McKinley.

I have failed to describe why I love this book so wholly for years. It is a vampire book from before vampire books were cool- the writers extremely specific style is like nothing else you’ve ever read, and honestly, can seem really dense if you’re not expecting it. The titular character is a twenty-something year old baker who is unapologetically bitchy, somewhere between ignoring destiny and fist fighting it...and did I mention the explicitly not sexy but fascinating vampires? Also known as: the book I make everyone read.

3.  Deathless by Catherynne M Valente OR Uprooted by Naomi Novik OR The Lovers Dictionary by David Levithan (because actually, I cannot choose)

Deathless because is has sprawled in my mind for years- dark twists and harshest truths, love like blackberry wine poured after sundown looking like blood. Koschei’s whole thing you see quoted here on tumblr all the time: “Oh, I will be cruel to you, Marya Morevna. It will stop your breath, how cruel I can be. But you understand, don’t you? You are clever enough. I am a demanding creature. I am selfish and cruel and extremely unreasonable. But I am your servant. When you starve I will feed you; when you are sick I will tend you. I crawl at your feet; for before your love, your kisses, I am debased. For you alone I will be weak.” INCREDIBLE. I am also weak beyond measure for the speech that gives us the title.

Uprooted is the story that all weird girls who grew up to be women still longing for that freedom deserve. It has one (1) shaky, shitty moment, but everything about the world is my jam. I want a sequel. I want...five of them.

Lover’s Dictionary will punch you in the face. It’s not a novel- more like an extended, rage-fueled poetic frame of a story with the detail filled guts ripped out. Did yall know David Levithan used to be Maggie Stiefvater’s editor? It shows. 

4. we’re going to call this category Series I Reread too Often and have thus Imprinted On: The Complete Works of Maggie Steifvater, The Wayward Children Series by Seanan Mcguire, The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski.

I read The Raven Boys at the exact right point of youth where all of their ferocious energy sank directly into my veins. Everything about these books is being on a brink- childhood and adulthood, life and death, brutal summer sinking into winter, friendship that bleeds into love. 

Not all of the Wayward Children books work for me- I am particularly not a fan of Lundy’s book. But the core arcs: Jack and Jill, Kade, Christopher, Sumi and Nancy. The whole concept works for me: you have to find where you belong, and it’s okay if it’s not with your family, it’s okay if it’s not what’s right for even your dearest friends, no one can tell you where you belong. Beneath the Sugar Sky, MVP.

Do I even need to say why the Winner’s Trilogy is good? ARIN. KESTRAL. UGH. These books appear to be frothy: romance, forbidden love, covers of gorgeous ballgowns...and then you get incredibly well constructed imperialism and identity, love and understanding, war as a real and devastating happenstance. Read these books, yall. They’re smart and amazing.

5. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsin Muir.

I guarantee beyond a shadow of doubt you have never read a book like this before. Muir pulls off- without it weighing down the plot or just info dumping- what might be the most inventive, complicated, interesting world building I’ve ever seen. The story is so far from our world labels don’t come up, but she’s talked about how she pictures the characters: we have a cast full of PoC. Queerness is casual, accepted, everywhere: our main two girls are childhood enemies to lovers...(slow burn on the love bit), but it is NOT a tragedy. It IS a love story, even if the end of this, the first book, hurts so damn bad. The next book? even crazier, delivers in every way you need it to. One flesh, one end. You will not be disappointed.

Honorable mentions: The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand (I maintain this is LITERALLY bougie Parisian rival bakers Nessian. It is a romance novel and it WORKS.)

The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern (this book was so popular for a while peope don’t want to read it now, but seriously, its great)

The Daevabad Trilogy by SA Chakraborty (Again with the world building! There’s so much magic in these, and such DELICIOUS conflict. I made the mistake of reading the first book the week it came out, waiting nearly killed me. Also, a 10/10 love story)

The Serpent and Dove books by Shelby Mahurin (can I just scream? screaming. they are delightful)

The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee (Can I just: “Screw you, Hilo,” she snapped. “I can kill my ex-boyfriends myself.”)

I could go on for eighteen years but I’m going to stop- thank you so much for this ask! My next tbr is Cemetery Boys and I am so excited about it. 

[carryonmylovelies]

A Lively Game

hi hi! this is for the carry on quarantine round robin that the super cool and very gucci @xivz put together and i really really appreciate it because signing up for this literally forced me to get some writing done and it was actually FUN to write so thank youuuuu. 

rating: M (there’s a LOT of swearing … you’ll see ;))

word count: 1,500+

prompt: ‘Board Game’

read here on ao3!!

***

“Shepard! Penny! C’mere for a sec,” Simon yelled from the living room.

Shepard paused the show on his phone and poked his head out from the kitchen. “Sup?”

Penny’s door then swung open and she, too, poked her head out. “Yeah?”

“I’m bored as shit and Baz isn’t paying attention to me so let’s play a game or something!” 

Shepard grabbed the chips he had been snacking on off the counter and headed into the living room, nodding. “Yeah, sounds good. What are our options?”

Penny came up behind Shepard and snatched the chips away from him before flopping down in the plush armchair next to the couch. “The games are in there,” Penny pointed, “but Simon puts them away so horribly that they’ll probably all fall out and attack you the second you try to open it. Be warned, Shepard.” 

Simon tried to defend himself but Penny just looked at him. His mouth snapped close. Shepard smiled as he crouched down and opened the small cabinet that was underneath the coffee table in the living room, snorting when he saw how unorganized and crammed together the games were.

They were going on week three of the ‘Stay at Home’ quarantine crisis and even with four young adults stuffed into an apartment really only meant for two, they were trying to make the best of it. Penny and Baz still had online assignments for their uni classes and Simon was working through recipes for culinary school, which resulted in a lot of weird but strangely tasty meals, all things considered. Shepard was supposed to be on his way home to Omaha but with all the corona-craziness and risk of infection, he really didn’t want to get on an international flight and chance bringing anything back to his parents. So. 

“Uh let’s see, you guys have Jenga, Battleship–”

Simon yawned, “Ehh I’m too lazy to set up the tower and I want all four of us to play so Battleship’s a no.”

Simon was hanging upside down, legs bent over the top of the couch, trying to bother Baz who was sitting cross-legged on the floor next to him. Simon poked Baz’s cheek with his tongue and snickered when Baz made a face and distractedly tried to push the other boy away, continuing to type on his laptop.

Shepard kept reading off games, “Scrabble, Twister–”

“Yes! Twister!” said Simon excitedly, a huge grin on his bright red face as he sat up and immediately tried to shake the dizziness away. 

And at the exact same time Penny shuddered and said, “No, absolutely not,” looking thoroughly grossed out. 

Shepard’s interest was piqued. There had to be a story there. 

“Why no Twister?” Shepard asked, looking from Penny to Simon.

Without looking up from his laptop, Baz snorted. 

Penny glared at Baz, who still wasn’t paying attention, and then at Simon who was now perched on the arm of the couch with his arms crossed, pouting. 

Penny directed her gaze back to Shepard, glasses glinting in the afternoon light. “Well, Shepard,” she said, matter-of-factly, “in the past three times I have allowed Twister to be played in this flat, our friends Simon and Basil here take it upon themselves to play seriously until one or both of them are in a very compromising position and then they immediately give up and get halfway to shagging on the bloody Twister mat.”

Shepard burst out laughing and then slapped a hand to his mouth, trying and failing to muffle the sound as Penny narrowed her eyes irritatedly. 

“It’s not funny, Shepard! This is a communal living space that needs to be respected and not defiled when those two horny arseholes decide to make a bloody children’s game extremely inappropriate!”

Shepard was still laughing as he looked over at Simon who was scowling at Penny, flushed red in embarrassment. Baz appeared more or less unaffected as he continued to work but with most of his hair pulled into a messy bun atop his head, Shepard could see the tips of his ears had gone pink. 

“Come on, Pennyyyyyy,” Simon whined with pleading eyes, “We haven’t played in forever and now Shepard’s here so we can play even rounds! And I promise me ‘nd Baz will keep our hands to ourselves this time, right Baz?” Simon nudged Baz’s shoulder with his foot and looked at him expectantly. 

Baz finally looked up from his laptop, met his boyfriend’s stare, and then raised his eyebrows doubtfully, as if to say yeah right.  

Simon made an indignant sound and pushed Baz again with his foot but Baz just shook his head and went back to his assignment. “I’m staying out of this.”

Penny scoffed and pointed an accusatory finger, “You’re 50% of the problem, Basil, you can’t just ‘stay out of it’.”

Baz smirked at his screen, grey eyes bright with amusement. He knocked his elbow against Simon’s calf. “Bunce doesn’t seem to be budging on this one, Snow. Best to drop it.” 

Simon huffed and let himself fall onto the couch with a wumph. His face was squished in the cushions so his words came out muffled. “Ugh, fine. Whatever. We’ll play something else.” 

Baz clicked a few things on his laptop, closed it, and set it down on top of the coffee table. 

“Prat,” Baz said fondly before grabbing Simon’s leg and yanking, hard. Simon yelped and fell off the couch, landing in Baz’s open arms. Simon adjusted himself so he was sitting upright in Baz’s lap, mumbled something about ‘stupid vampire strength’, and then happily slid his arms around Baz’s neck. 

Baz kissed a curl on Simon’s forehead and then loudly addressed the room, “If Bunce says no to Twister with her and Shep, then I suppose Simon and I will have to play Twister later tonight, in our room, when everyone’s trying to sleep.” 

Simon scolded Baz while failing to keep a cheeky smile off his face, Penny made puking noises, and Shepard laughed so hard that he started choking on the chip he was eating. 

“Ugh,” Penny groaned, burying her hands in her purple hair, “you two are disgusting. And you’re killing Shepard, so I really hope you’re proud of yourselves. Both of your game choosing privileges have been revoked.” 

Simon turned and looked at Penny with wide eyes, “What? How is that fair? Baz said it, not me.”

Penny just sighed. “Remember when I said that Baz was 50% of the problem? Guess who’s the other 50%?”

“… I don’t want to guess.”

“Exactly.”

Shepard clumsily sat down on the floor and managed to swallow the chip that almost sent him to a premature grave. He wheezed, “So who’s picking the game then?”

“You pick something, Shepard,” Penny replied, exasperated. “Something that’ll give me the chance to make these barmy gits wish they had never disgraced my poor Twister mat.” 

Shepard pushed up his glasses and grinned. “I know the perfect game.”

***

“Change it to green, change it to green, change it to gr– AW FUCK YOU AND YOUR BLOODY FUCKING MOTHER THAT WAS STINKING BOLLOCKS!”

“Did-did you just reverse my bloody fucking reverse? Penny, what the fuck is WRONG with you?”

“Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, and uh, FUCK YOU.”

“Oh you wanna skip my turn? I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP, BUCKO.”

“DUDE, WHAT THE ACTUAL CLOWN ASS FUCKERY WAS THAT? I ONLY HAD ONE CARD 

LEFT, JESUS CHRIST.”

“No, no, no, no, NO I WILL NOT DRAW 4 BLEEDING CARDS IN MY OWN HOME, YOU MANKY MUPPET.”

“I hate you, Shepard. No, I really do.” 

“Merlin’s shit-stained arsehole, how could you change it to blue? How could you? What did I ever do to deserve this level of hatred and betrayal from the man I LOVE?”

“Simon, I am terribly sorry to inform you that you will not be living past the age of 22.”

“YES I KNOW IT’S MY TURN; I’M DRAWING BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE ANY YELLOW CARDS YOU DISGUSTING RAT WANKER.”

“That was absolute piss. PISS, BASILTON.”

“Shit. Fuck. Bitch.” 

“THAT’S IT; I’M KICKING YOU OUT. GO BACK TO THE UNITED STATES OF FUCKING AMERICA FOR ALL I CARE.” 

“I’m going to murder you with your favorite kitchen knife. YOU THINK I WOULDN’T SIMON SNOW? SKIP MY TURN AGAIN, I DARE YOU.” 

“That was a bitch move.”

“Keep it red, keep it red, oh for the love of Crowley keep– OI YOU LOOKING FOR A FUCKING FIGHT? STAND UP AND FIGHT ME AND I’LL PUT YOUR ARSE RIGHT BACK ON THE GROUND, YA BARMY FUCK.”

“Penelope–and please know I mean this with absolute full offense–fuck you.” 

“TYRANNUS BASILTON GRIMM PITCH IF YOU PUT DOWN ANOTHER DRAW FOUR I’M BREAKING UP WITH YOU.”

“You. Are. A. HUGE. Prick.”

“BRO, YOU DID NOT JUST–OH MY FUCKING GOD BRO YOU DID NOT JUST HIT ME WITH A DRAW TWO I–”

“Morgana’s gigantic fucking TITS I WILL END YOUR ENTIRE BLOODLINE.”

“Oh I am SO breaking up with you.”

“SON OF A WEASEL FUCKER.”

It was a very lively game of Uno, to say the least.

***

i can confidently say from experience that uno games with friends DO get that crazy … especially considering those four have all been stuck in an apartment together for almost three weeks … there would definitely be blood. also i thought that it would be more fun to just get the profanity-laced dialogue rather than a play-by-play of the game so!! hope it was fun to read! <3

@bazypitchandsimonsnow was super supportive, as always, (love ya theo) and i definitely couldn’t have done it without @lifeasafail encouraging and comforting my anxious dumbass. she even SANG to me while i was editing omfg i love her so much. 

#carry on quarantine #simon snow #baz pitch #penny bunce #shepard #snowbaz #carry on fanfiction #carry on fanfic #rainbow rowell #got a little carried away with all the cursing and shit but it was just sooo much fun to write i couldnt help myself hehe #raegan writes a story