#stop- that is NOT a sticker on the bottom of that bottle is it

[heymeowmao]

一念关山 | A Journey to Love E6 ° asshole cat energy

#一念关山 #A Journey to Love #cdrama #Liu Yuning #character: ning yuanzhou #meowmao gifs #stop- that is NOT a sticker on the bottom of that bottle is it #the golden 'made in china' sticker #X'D

[fabled-fiction]

Maybe a Hobie Brown x Mabel-Pines-Type!Reader? Older obviously, with just like, her personality and fashion sense? A Chaotic Sunshine meets Chaotic Rebel type thing.

If not interested, just ignore. But I look forward to whatever you write!

Starstruck (Hobie Brown x Fem!Sunshine!Reader)

Summary: You’re Jess Drew’s gal in the chair (in training), and when you have to make a quick trip the spider society you happen to catch a certain punk’s eye.

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: MINOR SPIDERMAN ACROSS THE SPIDERVERSE SPOILERS, use of (Y/N)

A/N: I hope this meets your expectations!! I had alot of fun writing this!

EARTH-1618

KINGS, NEW YORK CITY

Your desk was more glitter than wood at this point.

It was hard to tell where the stickers stopped and where the wood of your desk started.

Especially now, as you squeezed glue on top of whatever artpiece you were currently working on. An array of different paint tubes and what looked like glitter bombs were spread about your work area, dangerously close to what looked like very expensive monitors and pcs. Though it was kind of hard to tell based on all the string worms and star stickers pasted on any surface that wasn’t a screen.

The project, which could only be identified as an oversized button pin upon closer inspection, was coming together nicely. Atleast in your eyes.

It read “BEST SPIDER” with a cute doddle of a spider surrounded by loads of blue, yellow, and red glitter. Currently you were putting your finishing touches on it by attaching color coordinated ribbons to the bottom ruffles.

The craftsmanship alone of it was indeed impressive, you just needed to look past the blinding reflectiveness of it.

It was for your mentor, Spiderwoman.

Who had taken you under her wing for the past two years, “training” you to be the best. Well, best in the sense of “gal in the chair”. At first it didn't make a whole lot of sense to you, but neither did the world you were thrown into. She apparently saw something in you from all the way across the multiverse.

The rest was history.

“(Y-)..(Y/N)...(Y/N)!”

The glue bottle currently in your hands spun in the air, a chaotically beautiful cascade of glue spewing in the air and (thankfully) somehow none of it landed on you. Slowly turning your head, you gave a small wave as you saw said mentor on the screen staring down at you.

“Jess! Hey…did you..did you try calling my watch?”

“What do you think?”

Spinning your chair across the room, you snatched your multiversal watch and flicked the screen on.

You did in fact have about five missed calls from her. You could feel her iced stare from across the room, hell from across dimensions.

“But it was getting in the way of my creative liberties!”

“I don’t care! As the second half of a spider person you need to be available 24/7! Your future spider will need to be able to rely on you.”

Slipping the watch onto your wrist, you shot yourself back over to your desk and smiled widely at her. She knew that whatever scolding she gave you would only have about a few moments effect. Sure the message would stick but she always had that nagging feeling in the back of her mind of how long it truly stuck.

“Well, You have me on the horn now! What's up? Who do I need to aid with my technological wonders? My sleuthing skills? I'm ready to Sherlock it up!”

After a few more long blank faced seconds, Jess reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose.

“We actually need you here. Our resident Spider who usually deals with all of our technological deals is having some connectivity issues.”

Your heart stopped for a moment, but only for a moment before you were shooting out of your seat and whooping. Jumping around your room, you threw your fist in the air before a sudden realization dawned upon you mid air.

It was almost comical how you seemed to pause mid jump.

“Oh my god…I have to change. I can't show up to Spider Society looking like this!”

“(Y/N) there's no time! Grab your bag and get here now.”

Standing in shock, you huffed as you watched your computer screen clip off.

She was crazy if she thought you weren’t at least gonna put on some body glitter.

-

“Jess said to meet her here…do you think she got lost?”

Hobie shrugged, shoving his hands into his vest pockets. His fingers found themselves fiddling with whatever computer chip or part he had nabbed as he leaned against what could be considered a front desk.

“You know ‘er best. She usually punctual?”

Gwen looked up from her watch with an exasperated look. That told Hobie all he needed to know as he leaned his head back with a sigh.

“Listen! I've never met her in person! She’s one of Jess’s other trainees! I just know she's not a spider, and that despite having worked with Jess for two plus years she's never stepped foot in Spider Society!”

“She’s a chair?”

Pinching her nose, Gwen nodded. “Yea. A pretty good one too. She is a bit…eccentric though. And loud…I think she blew my eardrum out one time. I had tinnitus for like a week...”

“So she’s got some vocals on ‘er aye?”

“Thats all you picked up on? C’mon Hobie help me look for anyone who looks lost we’re supposed to chaperon h-”

Usually the portals that opened here were the usual semi-chaotic reality altering ones. But for some reason the one that just opened in front of them was nothing of the sort. No..this one opened with a loud tear; Everything and everyone in the vicinity was enveloped in a neon pink hue.

It was hard to tell who came stumbling out of the portal, as Hobie feared that if he moved his hand he would temporarily blind himself. But as the portal closed, and everything returned to its normal color palette, he finally dared to move his hand.

Maybe he shouldn’t have moved his hand.

Cause he was only met with a very different, blinding sight.

You had just fully stood from what he could only assume was a clumsy entrance. You wore what could only be described as almost every color of the rainbow but someone you pulled it off. There was absolutely no way you could move silently, as you were adorned in a plethora of kandi bracelets, pastel chains and pins. Your hair was adorned in a multitude of clips that matched the ones on your bag. 

Was your smile an accessory too? Hobie was sure it was, cause it was blinding him just as much as the body glitter that was spread over your legs and arms were.

His hand slowly reached up to clutch the chest of his jacket, in hopes that it would remind his heart to beat.

It wasn’t until Gwen had elbowed him in the side (hard enough to bruise might he add) that he remembered to breathe.

“Don’t stare, it's rude.”

He didn’t want to look away.

“Hi! Im Gwen…Stacy! We’ve talked a few times over coms?”

You smiled even wider as you grabbed Gwen’s hand and shook it rather violently (or enthusiastically it could have been confused for either). When she removed her hands from your drip it was left brighter than before for only a moment.

“Hi! Its nice to finally put a non-masked face to the name! Im (Y/N). And you are?”

Your sneakers squeaked as you took a sharp turn to face Hobie fully.

“Im Hobie Brown. Quiet the entrance you made.”

He holds his hand out, and is relieved when you shake it for just as long as you did Gwen’s. He watches as it glowed then returned to its normal saturation.

“Yeaaaa. Apparently my Earth is like WAY brighter than most. I would’ve brought sunglasses if I had known that would happen. Anyways…can you show me to the computer lab..hub…wherever this Spider-Byte normally operates?”

Gwen had taken it upon herself to lead the charge, and include a quick run over tour of whatever facility you all happened to pass on the way to the lab. 

Everything was so bright, but what amazed you more were the amount of Spider people that were just casually walking about. Either they were coming back from patrol, returning from break or coming for the first time.

You were sure your neck was gonna hurt or have a permanent crook in it from how much you were whipping your head around and turning to take everything in. You weren’t sure when the next time you would be here would be, so you wanted to take it all in.

“And here is where all the computer magic happens! You uh…know what you’ve gotta do from here right?” Gwen awkwardly raised her hands as if to present the lab.

“Yup! Im TECHNICALLY supposed to monitor your guys software and stuff and blah blah blah but I actually connected with Layla on the way here-who is super sweet by the way-and Im actually just gonna fix Spider-Byte’s connectivity issues here so she can get back to it. Y’know since she’s more knowledgeable with everything here. I would probably just mess something up.”

Despite the fact that you spoke about a mile a minute, and it was obvious Gwen was struggling to keep up, Hobie hung onto every word.

You moved like you had been here before despite this being your first time even stepping foot on the premises. You just moved with this sense of self confidence that had the aura of the room commanded by your presence alone. If you hadn’t told them your Earth just naturally saturated Hobie would have just assumed your essence was just too potent that it leaked off you and onto whatever you touched.

You were leagues above him when it came to the coolness factor.

Watching as you moved around the consoles via spinny chair (when did that get there?), each screen popped up and immediately began to run code. Hobie liked to pride himself on being a tech wiz, but this was levels beyond what he knew how to do. Maybe he could learn a thing or two from you.

But as he watched your hands, he noticed…were you TAKING code off the computers too?

Oh, that just brought a smile to his face.

As Gwen wandered over to the other side of the console to watch the miles of code run across the screen, Hobie took the opportunity to have a moment with you on the opposite side of the room.

Right when you went to shoot across him (and might he add it was almost like you had spider like reflexes with how you moved around on this thing), his hand went to grab the back of your chair.

Pulling the chair back, he watched as you rubber banded back into the seat and stood straight up. He leaned over your shoulder to look at the screen in front of you both. His hand reached over to tap a few keys and pull up the results onto just this screen.

Ignoring how his spider senses were shooting down his spine at an all time high with how close he was to you, he looked at you with a smirk.

“Did you just ‘alf inch some of our code?”

“Im sorry?”

Leaning in closer, he pulled the thumb drive out of only this terminal and held it up. Your cheeks turned a dark red in realization to being caught, and you crossed your arm as you started at him.

“You know wha’ I said”

Turning quickly, you pulled ANOTHER flash drive out from your pocket and stuck it into the port. The downloading resumed, and much to Hobie’s surprise you stood and snatched the thumb drive from him.

“First of all, I am part of the ‘’our’’ and second of all…it's none of your business.”

Suddenly multiple of the screens, well practically all of the screens in the room flashed green. With a pat of his shoulder, you rolled over to every computer and pulled out each flashdrive. Hobie counted…12!

He covered his mouth, trying to keep his cool disposition as he watched you quickly shove each one in your bag. You little grifter you…he would definitely have to find out what Earth you were from…

With the push of a button, you turned to them with a smile as you placed your hands on your hips.

“Alrighty! My work here is done…wait..,”

Turning around, you pressed the enter key on the computer behind you only to whip right back around smile as all the screens returned to normal.

You had been here all but twenty minutes and you managed to do solve all of their problems and then some.

“Now Im done! Gwen, you have my contact coordinate. Call me if you need me at all.”

Your eyes raked over Hobie, and you couldn’t help but feel a flutter in your chest as he watched you carefully. The hair on your arms stood when he had leaned over you earlier. You could tell from his punk aesthetic and impressive hair that he was definitely anarchy incarnate…

He intrigued you. You were sure the data files you had picked up from the archives would barely answer every question you had about him.

You would have to push off your paper mache project for tonight…

“It was nice meeting you Hobie! Hope we can meet again sometime. Im like, basically free all the time…Later!”

Signing off with a peace sign, your neon portal opened again and closed in an instant as you fell into it.

“See what I mean, eccentric.”

“I thought she was pretty cool.”

Walking over to where you just stood, Hobie ran his fingers over where you had last touched hoping to catch some of the light leftover.

It was then he noticed you had left behind one of your thumb drives. It was definitely yours, a bright neon yellow covered in white glitter that fell off as he picked it up. His other hand came down to pick up the tag on the string connected to it.

‘Oops! Guess I left behind this VERY important thumb drive. Mind returning it to me? I like really need it for super duper important chair stuff…Earth 1618, Kings, New York City things y'know.

– (Y/N)’

#hobie x reader #hobie brown x reader #hobie brown #spiderpunk x reader #spider punk #x reader #across the spiderverse #oneshot #spiderman across the spiderverse #spiderman across the spiderverse x reader #marvel x reader

[samkerrworshipper]

sticker chart | kyra cooney cross & reader x arsenal women’s team

r and kyra r the pranksters of the team… but what happens when they take it too far and the arsenal parents seperate them as a result

no warnings just some fluff angst and chaotic bestfriend energy

“Kyra, Y/n, time out, right now.”

It was Steph’s burst of anger that had your eyes bursting open, both you and Kyra sharing an apprehensive glance. The both of you looked up from your current predicament, which was the drink bottle that you’d just emptied onto Alessia’s head. Her jaw was almost on the ground, and her body was shaking already from the cold water.

In a split second telepathic decision you and Kyra made the decision to bolt, sprinting away from the training ground and your teammates as fast as possible, the both of you cackling as you made it into the safety of the London Colney gym, running as fast as possible into the team room and the both of you searching for a hiding spot.

“In the cupboard.”

Kyra motioned towards the cupboard in the corner of the gym, the long rectangular cupboard being just large enough for the two of you, so you squeezed into it, just closing the door in time to hear a series of footsteps running towards the gym.

The both of you held your breath, holding in the laughs that were building up in the bottom of your stomach.

The two of you were trouble. Always setting up pranks and getting on the nerves on your senior babysitters. Majority of your pranks were centred around Vic and Alessia, the two of you taking advantage of the younger, innocent girls who were so easy to target. It got you in a lot of trouble, especially with Steph, Caitlin, Kim, Leah and Viv, who were stretched thin trying to stop whatever menacing plans that you and your best friend were plotting.

It was a pointless task, the two of you were unstoppable, and always finding yourselves in trouble. It had gotten to a point where you’d been separated indefinitely in training, and the two of you were on your last chance at Steph’s house, being told that the next time you shaved her dog in the middle of the night or woke her and her fiance up with screaming noises. The two of you for whatever reason just couldn’t stop, you were invincible in the world of pranks and it was completely destructive to the Arsenal community, no one was safe.

The both of you bit down on the insides of your cheeks as you heard the doors to the gym open, and a pitter patter of cleats tapping against the floor of the gym.

“The both of you have three seconds before all of your tv privileges and cheat days are taken away for the next month.”

You shook your head at Kyra, whos eyes bursted open at the mention of the removal of your cheat days, Kyra, for whatever reason, had been craving deep fried chicken and a icecream sundae. It was weird, and normally every Thursday you had a cheat day, so her craving could be relieved, but last Thursday the video review, for whatever reason, had gone over by two hours, so by the time it was over it was far past the time window of getting food, leaving a very grumpy and hangry Kyra who was desperate for the foodher body was craving.

Cheat days were her weakness, so you pulled her hand down before she had the opportunity to open the cupboard doors and reveal your hiding spot to Steph.

“1.”

Kyra’s body shook against your own, her bones jumping inside of her body in an attempt to try and leave the box that you’d inserted yourself.

“I swear to god if I get to three and neither of you are out here I’m calling mini and Sam.”

That was definitely another weakness for the two of you, the both of you slightly terrified of the idea of your seconds moms getting a call about your less than adequate behaviour.

“2.”

Steph’s voice loitered, she was leaving room for the two of you to come out.

You were stubborn, Kyra was not, you fought to keep her from fighting her way out of the cupboard, but it was a losing battle, that had the two of you tumbling out of the wooden box and leaving you completely vulnerable to Steph, who marched her way over to the two of you immediately.

“I’ve had enough of you two today, your going to go to the lockerooms, sit in your cubby for twenty five minutes and think about your fucking behaviour before you go and apologise to Vic and Less, am I clear?”

With Steph’s towering form above you, neither of you were in any position to refuse, so you just nodded like kicked puppies and picked yourselves up from the floor, dragging your feet towards the locker rooms, your bodies slowly moving like prisoners walking into a jail.

When you got to the locker rooms, the both of you walked over to your respective cubbies, sitting down and facing the wall.

It was a fairly common occurrence for you two, you spent probably eighty percent of all your time at London Colney besides training in your cubby, at least one training a fortnight saw you here, if not more. You didn’t really mind, it was worth it considering all the fun you and Kyra got up too.

Replacing Leah’s shampoo bottle with pink hair dye, stealing all of the girls clothes whilst they were in the showers, tying everybody's cleats together, mixing up all of the jerseys in the laundry room, replacing the water jugs with apple cider vinegar, replacing all the name tags on the secret santa gifts, taking Alessia’s beloved car for a joyride, showing up to training on moon boots and crutches, faking running away.

The list was endless, concerningly. It got you into trouble, for sure, but for you guys it was some light hearted fun, your way of keeping yourselves entertained in a foreign country that was still new to you.

You could hear Kyra thinking from the other side of the room, out of the two of you she was the more remorseful one, but she was also the plotter and cheekier one. You ran along with whatever she came up with, and your commitment to whatever plan she had was unmatched, once you decided you were doing something you committed.

“Kyra for fucks sakes stop the tapping.”

It was driving you insane, listening to Kyra’s fingers tapping against the wall of her cubby, one of her anxious habits.

“Time out is silent time, speak up again and I’ll start the timer over.”

You tried to block out Steph’s voice, but it hung over you like a big grey cloud, your brain silently drowning itself in your skull as you studied the uniform wall that was the inside of your cubby. It was exceptionally boring, and it didn’t seem to matter how many times the two of you found yourselves in this situation, it was still as boring as ever.

You listened out for people coming in and out of the locker rooms, the door swinging open and the sound of studs against concrete. You weren’t rewarded with the sound of voices or conversation, everyone who filtered in being silent. It was hard to monitor who was coming in and out with your vision completely compromised.

You sat as still as you could manage, not at all wanting to have to sit for any longer than what Steph had already ordered you.

You didn’t doubt that she would reset the timer if you did speak up again, Steph was a softie, but she never let up on a promise, especially when it came to taking care of you and Kyra, something that you knew she was getting sick of, the both of you toeing the line constantly.

It did get you thinking, sure a harmless prank was fun, Katie was the biggest supporter of your pranks, always egging the two of you on from the sidelines, and yet she never got in trouble for it, it was always you and Kyra, the troublesome duo that had been adopted by the Arsenal parents.

“Both of you, turn around.”

You took a deep breath, shuffling around on your ass and blinking to adjust to the bright lights that were a vast contrast to the darkness of the corner of your cubby.

You were rewarded with the sight of Steph, Caitlin, Viv, Kim and Leah all with their jaws set and looking at you with significant disapproval. Alessia and Vic were loitering at their own lockers, sitting in the seats in front of them their hands and heads pointing down towards their laps.

“We’re sorry?”

Steph’s frown only managed to deepen, it was clear that she was nothing short of furious.

“You’re sorry? The two of you have single handedly pulled a series of completely destructive pranks that have taken it too far. Do I need to bring up the chalk spray paint on Manu’s car? Or the midnight door knocking at Stina and Amanda’s house? We’ve all given you chances, all enabled you to have a little bit of fun, but you’ve pushed it way past the point of funny.”

Kyra just closed in on herself, you had a little bit more fight in you, a little bit more defiance.

“We didn’t even do anything that bad today.”

Steph’s eyebrows rose even more than you thought humanly possible.

“That’s a joke right?”

You bit your lip, tossing up the day's events in your mind.

“I mean I don’t understand why Vic is here to be honest, Lessi whatever but we didn’t do anything to Vic.”

Steph blinked at you, her jaw almost dropping to the floor.

“So throwing Vic’s shoes on the roof of the building was nothing?”

You snorted as you recalled Kyra and your happenings of the mornings, which had included tossing a pair of Vic’s shoes on the roof, not to say that you didn’t get them down when the time came around for her to need them.

“We gave them back?”

This time it wasn’t Steph who answered your question, Caitlin stood up from her seat Walking closer towards you.

“You should be fucking glad you did. Look, I understand, you guys are young and you like to have fun, but it constantly being at the expense of everyone else is getting annoying, and neither of you have made any motions to stop or even begin to think about how your fucking pranks affect everybody else, Steph is stressed out of her mind having to babysit the two of you twenty four seven, we all are.”

You could feel the conversation leading somewhere, Kyra’s puppy dog eyes were pleading with Caitlin but her tough guy act didn’t fade.

“I’m getting the feeling that this is leading to something and I just want to put it out there that I dibs anywhere but Chelsea if we have to move clubs.”

Caitlin just rolled her eyes at your attempt at humour, it was humour hidden behind genuine fear, because there was no way in fucking hell you were trading breezy arsenal for Sammy’s Chelsea, where you knew she would drill sergeant you and Kyra into being boring and non pranksters.

“You know what we all have every right to send you off to Sam, how do you think she’d react hearing about all the shit that the two have you have gotten up to?”

She’d probably go ballistic. She’d gotten a taste of you and Kyra’s trouble making at the women's world cup and had very quickly put a stop to it, nipping it in the bud before it got to your current spiral.

“But you aren’t?”

You noticed from the corner of your eye that Kyra was looking very stressed from her corner of the room.

“Ky, come here.”

You opened up your arms to your best friend, unbothered as to whether or not you were disrupting Caitlin’s spiel, you were just worried about your friend. She slid her way across the benches until she made it to your side, digging her head into your neck and shoulder.

“No, we’re not, but honestly I think you’d prefer to stay with Sam then what you’re going to be dealing with.”

You visibly cringed, there wasn’t a lot of things that were worse than being in Sam’s bad books. You let your eyes flash across to the other captains and women who were in the room, aware that they were probably a part of whatever plot Caitlin and Steph had formed. Your curiosity peaked as you squinted at Caitlin, your anxiety spiking a little bit.

“W-what do you mean?”

Kyra’s voice quivered from your neck, her soft puppy dog pout hopefully doing wonders to convince the older women to back out of whatever they had planned. It was her signature move, and you were fairly sure that Steph would see through it, but there was always a point in trying.

“You’re both moving out of Steph’s, it’s not fair to her anymore to be burdened with the both of you. So Kyra, your going to Leah and Lia, Y/n you are staying with Beth and Viv.”

Your jaw slackened, Kyra jerking up in your arms as soon as the words left her mouth.

“What? You can’t separate us, we’re like conjoined twins, we’ll like die if you separate us.”

Caitlin kept up her stern facade, leaving zero room for vulnerability.

“You should have thought about that before you chose to take it too far. We’ve given you plenty of chances and you blew every single one off. So until the two of you can learn how to cohabitate without causing serious danger to the people around you, you’ll be separated. Beth and Lia have already been over to Steph’s house and collected your things. You both have sticker charts, when the two of you can go a whole two months without any seriously debilitating pranks then we’ll look at potentially letting the two of you move back in together.”

Kyra’s eyes lit up at the mention of a sticker chart, you were focused on your dignity, so even if the idea of shiny gold stickers did appeal to you, you tried to fight it.

“A fucking sticker chart? We’re not fucking six year olds and last time I checked this is a free country, so who says that you guys can control who and where we live anyway?”

This time it was Kim who stood up, intimidating both you and Kyra slightly.

“You’re acting like bloody six year olds. Last time I checked neither of you own apartments, neither of you have earned that kind of responsibility. So you are going to suck it up, your going home with a trusted adult and if you even try to pull anymore of the shit you’ve been pulling for the last few months there will be calls to Sam and Minnie who I have no doubt will have a lot more to say. Am I clear?”

Kyra and you nodded deftly, the both of you taken aback by Kim’s sterness.

“Do we get gold star stickers?”

You rolled your eyes at Kyra’s question, her big doe eyes peaking out of your neck to look at Kim.

“You can have whatever fucking stickers you like, I doubt they’ll be any need for them any time soon considering just how much trouble seems to find the two of you.”

You and Kyra played the pitiful act as you were led away by your respective caregivers, faux tears falling down your faces as Leah and Viv practically dragged you in the direction of their cars.

As soon as the car doors closed though and the babysitters were focusing their energy on the roads though, the two of you were already texting, plotting your next move in retaliation to the banishment that had the two of you grounded to Viv and Leah’s homes.

———————————————————————

notes:

thinking of turning this into a series of kyra and t just being completely chaotic besties so lmk how we feel about that !

#woso #woso community #leah williamson #marry me rn #arsenal wfc #steph catley #caitlin foord #kim little #kyra cooney cross #funny pranks #vivianne miedema #alessia russo #victoria pelova #arsenalwfc #arsenal x reader #arsenal women

[sweetandgentlecreature]

May I request a headcanon for single!dad Syverson? ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Absolutely you can! Single dad!Sy is a weakness of mine, and I’d love to share my thoughts on it. Thanks for requesting! ❤️❤️

Warnings: none, just tooth-rotting fluff!

In my mind, Sy is a girl dad.

My first thoughts are that Sy didn't know he had a daughter until he'd come back from deployment. It was a one night stand that brought on more than he'd bargained for, and when the child's mother showed up on his porch one day, she dropped the bombshell right then and there. "Sy, meet Grace. She's your daughter."

He, as most first-time parents, learned on his feet. Diaper changes, bottle feedings, and sleepless nights; he took them all in stride. Sitting at the kitchen table in the wee hours of the morning, he propped her up to sit in a hand-me-down highchair to have a talk. "Alright, lil miss. Here's how this is gonna go. Yer gonna go back ta' sleep, and yer gonna let yer daddy get some rest. 4am is not the time ta' get up and play."

She'd watch him with wide, curious eyes, as a slow, dimpled smile spread across her chubby cheeks and she giggled. As if to say, "Oh, daddy. You don't run the show."

And she was right, of course. By 5 o'clock, they were sitting together in the living room, watching reruns of Sesame Street in the dark.

As she grew, new challenges arose.

Toddler meltdowns became a daily struggle in the Syverson house.

Wanting the pink sippy cup and not the purple one; insisting on dressing herself for daycare (rain boots go best with tutus of course); dropping to the floor, dead-weight, in the middle of the grocery store demanding Lucky Charms instead of Cheerios.

Some days, he just had to pick his battles.

"Here, baby. I bought an extra pink one, just for you." "You look beautiful, baby girl. You want the yellow bow to match your boots?" *sighs* "Alright, fine. Lucky Charms it is."

Princess birthday parties, Daddy-Makeovers, stickers and glitter filling his work boots.

Little reminders to keep him going throughout the day.

And then came the day that he'd dreaded the most: her first day of kindergarten.

Hand in hand, they walked together up the steps of the school. He stopped her at the door and dropped to his knees before her.

Smoothing a hand over her wild curls, he took a deep breath and looked into her tearful eyes.

"Come on now, darlin'. It's gonna be alright."

Her bottom lip quivered as she did her best not to cry.

"B-but what if no one likes me?"

He'd do his best not to laugh. To her, this was serious.

"Oh, darlin'...that's the best part. Yer gonna go in there and make so many friends, you won't know what'ta do with yerself."

He'd kiss her on the head, then hand her over to her teacher that was waiting at the door.

Watching her walk away felt like losing the biggest piece of his heart, but he knew this is what she needed.

He stayed strong as he watched her disappear down the hall.

When he got to the truck, way out of sight, he let the tears fall. Damn, he loves that little girl.

#sweet anons #henry cavill #henry cavill fic #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill one shot #captain syverson #captain syverson fanfiction #captain syverson fic #syverson fluff #captain syverson fluff #syverson fanfiction

[goldnhourwrites]

Not enough people talked about these so I'm gonna do it myself because oh my god (commentary and headcanons below, it's just long)

Sett has a little travel-sized sewing kit in his bag... it's so tidy... sett stitching things back together when his bandmates rip them...

Sett just casually carries around like 20+ pounds of dumbbells. Mans is literally always working out. The grind never stops.

"yo Ezreal can you grab my bag for me?" "Yeah sure--what the FUCK do you have in here? This thing weighs a hundred pounds."

His little exercise headband... and is that a hair tie behind it? Sett with his hair tied back??

Sett's energy bar collection. Sett's the type of person to pack an entire backpack full of snacks for a road trip.

Ezreal has a plushie OF HIMSELF on his bag.

this guy practically collects aesthetic glasses. 3 pairs in the bag plus the circle ones he had in PARANOIA.

Sharpie (for signing autographs???) His signature on the polaroids of himself???

The photo under the lip balm looks like it might be Ezreal and Aphelios. Ezreal's the type of person to make sure he has photos with all of his friends. Ezreal hanging up his favorite polaroids in his room.

can we talk about the all-white fit in the very bottom photo omg

Aphelios has back-up headphones for his headphones.

WHO SENT THE SNACKS. WAS IT ALUNE. WAS IT SOMEONE ELSE.

The writing on the note looks like Korean but unfortunately I don't know any Korean :(

his sticky noted book... is it a journal? is it full of lyrics? who put the little smiley face sticker on the front!! does he write in it!!

I love the idea of Aphelios just pulling out a little keyboard whenever he wants to write down a tune. How well can he play the piano? Only enough to write music, or does he have songs memorized? Does he ever play for anyone?

K'SANTE'S DRAWING TABLET

he's not just in charge of putting together their fashion, he designs it himself. i'm going to scream

I am in love with those glasses. I need art of k'sante in those glasses ASAP. i will do it myself if i have to.

What is his book!! What does the W stand for!!

The way the button on his gloves matches the one on his jacket in his LoL splash art. This tiny detail is driving me insane.

Also, the cologne? The top is the same as his necklace? Does he have a specific personal cologne? So elegant...

Kayn's Pentakill guitar pick. Let me see him play the guitar I beg

The crumpled up receipts. This man goes Shopping (also see: cash, various coins). And he just has a bunch of random shit in his bag because he never bothers cleaning it out.

the open leaking bottle of hair dye. please. do you NEED that

The random jewelry... I love the idea of him either a) taking it off, shoving it in his bag, and forgetting where he put it or b) bringing backup drip with him everywhere in case he needs more

While Sett, Aphelios, and Yone all opted for headphones, Kayn's gone with good old-fashioned corded earbuds. Does he not like headphones? Is it because they mess up his hair?

Big ass box of matches and For Why? Does he smoke? Is he too cool to carry around a lighter? Does he just like setting shit on fire?

Yone keeps a little emergency travel kit. Band mom energy. He's got band-aids and a toothbrush and toothpaste At The Ready.

Bottle of lotion? Yone with a skincare routine? Yone who stays moisturized? Everybody in Heartsteel asking Yone for lotion?

Earplugs (for sleeping on long bus rides, maybe?) I want to see Yone going "I'm sick of this shit" and tuning the fuck out.

Yone is the only one with a real headphone case. Aphelios has his around his neck 24/7, but his wireless earbuds have a case. Sett's just shoving his in there with twenty pounds of dumbbells and hoping for the best.

Yone's got so many little gadgets and I don't even know what they all are. He has his laptop and (probably) his phone, plus a smartwatch, and maybe a portable charger? He's that prepared.

I can't tell what the object beside his smartwatch is (looks wooden?) If anyone knows, let me know? I'm so curious

This man's got even more stuff inside his bag. Yone doesn't leave the house without like fifteen things in case of an emergency.

good news everyone. i'm still losing my mind over them

#heartsteel #heartsteel sett #heartsteel ezreal #heartsteel aphelios #heartsteel k'sante #heartsteel kayn #heartsteel yone

[corn-fanfiction]

SAVIOUR COMPLEX (PT. 2)

Rated: M

TAGS: language/ drunk and disorderly content/ Mark Hoffman being a c*p/ reader is normal and likes to do normal things/Mark is protective bc it's his job but he's also problematic/ because he's a cop

(Pt 1)

The next day, you go into work as normal.

Scratch that- you do everything as normal. Brush your teeth, get dressed, eat a bagel and have some coffee, lock your door as normal.

What is not normal is the car idling outside your apartment. The windows are somewhat tinted, but you can still see the silhouette inside. You grumble, sigh, duck your head. But you still hear the car door open and close as you try to flee.

"Y/n! What the hell are you doing?"

You stop, turn.

"Walking to work. Same as I always do."

"You're in witness protection and you think you're gonna walk 15 minutes to work?"

"What happened to keeping out of each other's way?"

"Get in the car."

Your eyebrows shoot up in shock.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm just trying to do my job. Get in the car."

"Look, whatever happened with you at work is none of my business so don't take it out on me. I'm walking, unless you wanna arrest me I'm not getting in the back of that car."

For a split second you see something flash across his face that you realize is him actually considering it. But he drops his hands from his hips, mutters something, then gets back in his car. You're half worried he'll roll next to you the entire time, but he speeds off, presumably to the restaurant. Whatever, you think. 15 minutes of peace.

You feel a bit more energized by the time you reach work. It's a brisk morning. Smoke curls into the air from a cigarette pinched between the lips of a line cook on a milk crate. He nods to you and smokes to the end of ashes and embers. A bell rings as you enter from the backdoor into the server's alley. You move to your locker, decorated with peeling stickers that had been gifted to you by your previous mentor. When you came in five years ago, you didn't have any stickers for your book or your locker, so you got to pick from the bottom of the bin. A Budweiser bottle, a Limp Bizkit logo, and a Hello Kitty silhouette. Not you at all, but has become you still.

"Y/n!"

You turn. Around the corner, Gerry pokes their head, which is riddled with blue hair and silver piercings. A little younger than you, but you still always thought they were so cool.

"You have a table."

"What?? I haven't even clocked in yet."

Gerry shrugs. "He asked for you."

Your stomach sinks, and you know exactly who is waiting for you.

After you clock in, you fold your apron and fasten it around the front, tucking your book into the pocket. You blow out a puff of air, straighten out your shirt, shake out your hands, then step into the front of house.

Immediately you clock Mark sitting at the corner table of your section. Fury lights you up and you fight the waitressing urge to grab a menu and napkin.

You storm over to him and he looks up from his paper like an asshole.

"No menu?"

"I don't wanna get fired after shoving it up your ass."

“Assaulting a police officer?”

“You can’t be here.”

“It’s my job,” he returns his attention to the paper.

"At the very least, you're taking up a two top."

"I tip."

You scoff. "You're fucking unbelievable."

"Can I get the chicken salad?"

So he's been in here before. Asshole didn't even need the menu.

"White or wheat?"

"Wheat?"

"Toasted?"

"What do you think?"

"Raw, then?"

He smirks and you feel the blood rush to your face. You elect not to respond. He better tip you 200% just for getting on your nerves.

Your other tables are fine. There's one that tips you like shit but you know it won't kill your earnings. And, luckily, Mark does tip well and leaves when he's done. You do get a sense that he's waiting in his car outside. You almost feel bad for the guy. Almost.

And yeah, you know he's only doing his job and he didn't ask for it. But if this is what the first day is like, who knows what you're in for in another month.

God, another month? You should be so unlucky.

Once lunch shift is over and you do tip out, Gerry catches you.

"Hey! I'm pulling a double but do you want to go out tonight?"

You toss the idea around in your head. Gerry is the only one who can get you out of your apartment. Otherwise, you're happily indoors, watching a movie or trying and failing to knit. You also consider the fact that Mark will probably have to sit in the corner grumpily and the idea makes you smirk.

"You know what? Let's do it."

------

You know what you're doing.

You know what you're doing and he hates it.

Sure, being at the restaurant was his own, weird little form of entertainment, but at least he bought something and tipped you well, despite your poor attitude. But this is rude. He has important work to be done, and he can't have your little rendezvouses fucking it up. He needs to shake you, and fast. The best he can do is lie low as Jigsaw until they determine you're no longer in any danger. Not that you are, anyway.

That is, as long as you don't keep getting in his way.

You're going out to a bar which, even though he knows you're safe, is still monumentally stupid because you don't know that. And you're all dolled up for some attention.

Mark shakes his head from inside his car. However much you get on his nerves, he's not a misogynist or anything. Yay, you get to go out and look nice doing it. Meanwhile, he has to babysit you. He just hopes your tolerance is high or you don't drink too much. The last thing he wants is to drag your ass out of that bar and tuck you in at home.

Granted, you're not foolish enough to walk this time, but he knows you'd rather eat glass than have him drive you, so your friend from the restaurant picks you up. He follows.

It's not the seediest place ever, but it's definitely not a bar he'd frequent. He gives you and your friend a moment before he follows in behind you. He finds a high-top table and sits. It's not the kind of bar where someone takes orders, so he just sits and watches you.

You do seem looser than before. Your hair is down and your lips are red and your skirt is tight. You're doing shots with the friend from work- the one with the blue hair. A couple of guys come up and offer to buy you two drinks and Mark straightens a little, awareness on higher alert. But you don't seem bothered, so he decides not to worry about it too much.

An hour passes.

You're on your fifth tequila shot with a beer between and he's starting to get worried. Not that he thinks you can't handle yourself, even if you can't, but from the little speech you gave him in his office, it doesn't seem like your usual evening. Maybe that's a good thing, but he still keeps a watchful eye on you.

Another hour passes.

He glances at his watch impatiently. When he looks back up, you're wobbling over to him and he shifts, ready to balance you or walk you to the car.

"At ease, detective," you slur with a mock salute. "Gerry's taking me home when we're done, so you can skeedadle."

Mark scoffs. "Gerry may be taking you home, not that they seem in any position to be driving, but I leave when you leave. Just act like I'm not here."

"Well, your glaring is scaring people away. I'm having a hard time enjoying myself when you're staring every suitor down like you're my possessive boyfriend or something."

Jesus, is that what she really thinks? Mark wonders. That he's trying to drive people away from you?

"Just doing my job, sweetheart."

The pet name slips out between his lips before he has the good sense to bite it back. He hides his genuine surprise with himself with a sneer.

"And what a shit job it is," you mutter. "Not even gonna buy a drink?"

"I'm on the clock."

"You look like a fuckin' narc, dude."

"Probably because I don't want any drunk assholes to bother me."

You give it a moment to sink in, then scoff, then turn away, heading back to the bar. He hadn't meant it like that, not exactly, anyway. Oh well. It got you to leave him alone.

A third hour.

Mark decides this isn't healthy behavior, because at this point you're going to get alcohol poisoning or something, especially judging by your shit tolerance level. He also just wants to go home and sleep. Fuck his night job, he's tired.

He stands and comes up behind you and Gerry, tapping the bartop between them. Gerry sees him first.

"Ugh, get lost, creep!"

Mark ignores them and turns to you. "I think it might be time to go."

You roll your eyes and the action makes you dizzy. "Fuck you, Hoffman. You're not my fucking mother. If this is how I want to spend my evening, let me."

"I wouldn't give a shit except it's my job to make sure you're safe, and right now your sense of self-preservation has gone out the window."

Gerry looks between the two of you. "Y/n, do you know this guy?"

You blow a raspberry at your drink. "Unfortunately. It's a long story. I'll tell you once he leaves." You shoot daggers at Mark.

Mark sighs, braces his hands on his hips. "Don't be difficult. Remember, I'm a cop. I got no problem hauling you out of here."

You gawk at him. "Do you want to lose your job, golden-boy? Cause that's not how you get back on the team with the other big kids."

You're really grinding on his nerves now. He's actually trying to help you and you're too drunk to know it.

"Okay, that's enough."

Mark makes the mistake of taking you by the bicep and you shrug him off with a surprising amount of strength, but it still takes you out of your seat.

"Get the fuck offa me!" you hiss. The look in your eyes spells out danger and the willingness to make a scene, so he puts up his hands.

"Just come outside, then."

"Hey, buddy. We got a problem, here?"

Mark turns and behind him stands one of the two men that had been hanging around you earlier. Fuck. People are starting to quiet down and watch what's turning into a show. Mark curses himself.

"No problem. Just helping the lady."

"Well maybe she doesn't want your help."

The man steps closer. He's taller than Mark, sure, but also buzzed and therefore too disoriented to really threaten any damage.

Still, Mark needs to diffuse the situation.

"Look, why don't you and your friends go get another drink and let me do my job, alright?"

Mark turns back to face you but the man lands a hand on his shoulder, and when Mark turns around again there's a fist coming for his face. On a sober day Mark would not be faster than this guy but the alcohol has made the stranger sluggish, so Mark is able to catch his fist, twist his arm, and slam the guy's face against the bartop. The bar has gone dead quiet. Mark retireves his badge.

"Detective Mark Hoffman, LCPD," he says to the crowd. Then, to the man he says lowly, "Now, go get sobered up and we'll call this a friendly misunderstanding, hm?"

The man nods frantically and Mark lets him up, shaking off some wayward tequila that the ruckus has spilled. When Mark looks around for you, you're gone, along with Gerry.

"Fuck," he mutters, and sprints out the front door.

You are crouched down, back to the brick of the building as Gerry runs a comforting hand across your back. Mark spots you and approaches.

When you see him you stand and move back.

"Get the fuck away from me, you psycho!"

"He was starting something he couldn't finish so I took care of it. Are you ready to go home, now?"

"Fuck you, pig!"

Gerry comes to stand between you two.

"Okay, let's all cool off for a second. Now does anyone want to tell me what the fuck is happening?"

Mark sighs. He doesn't want to explain himself to anybody else, but if it gets you back to your apartment, he'll do it.

"I'm a cop. She knows me. I've been assigned her case. Now, could we please get in my car so I can drive you both home?"

Gerry looks between the two of you. Begrudgingly, you nod.

"Fine," Gerry says. "But I need to hear more."

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

Gerry is passed out in your bed. You two have known each other for so long that sharing it isn't a problem at all, and you want them to be comfortable. They were content with the explanation you and Hoffman both were able to offer.

Now, you and Hoffman are on your couch. You have a glass of water in your hand and he's loosened his tie. You both look worse for wear.

"I'm sorry that happened, really. I know you don't like this situation, I don't either. But he put his hands on me."

"You can't just dislocate someone's shoulder because they touch you," you mutter. "Fuckin' cops get away with anything."

"Like I said, I'm sorry. Hopefully he's gonna go home and sleep it off. Better than spending a night in a cell. Speaking of," he stands and groans. "I'm probably gonna go home now. I think I've caused enough trouble."

You watch him with tired, puffy eyes as he goes for his coat.

"I know it's late. You...want to sleep here? Sofa's not great or anything. I don't know how long your drive is..."

You have no idea why you offer it in the first place. You don't like him. He doesn't like you.

But...

Maybe there's something to be said about him taking his job so seriously, even if it inconveniences you. And his apology did seem genuine. And if he really wanted to be a dick, he could've thrown that guy in jail.

Not that it excuses any of it. But still. It's late.

Mark watches you carefully as you go over all this in your head. But he finishes putting on his coat and straightens out the collar.

"Thanks, but I really should go. And you should get some sleep."

"You too. You look like shit."

He laughs. "Well. Goodnight."

"Don't punch any more drunk people."

"I won't."

He leaves. You shuffle up from the couch to lock the door behind him. Your fingers pry between the blinds and you watch as he goes down the sidewalk to his car. Unlocking it, he spots your eyes and gives you one last wave- and he's smiling. You find yourself waving back. Maybe it's the sleepiness or the drunkness. Maybe it doesn't matter. You hate Mark Hoffman, but maybe you hate him a little less than yesterday.

Maybe you'll hate him less tomorrow.

But probably not.

#mark hoffman #mark hoffman x reader #saw fanfic #fanfiction #angst #hurt/comfort

[kekaki-cupcakes]

I dare you - Leo V x gn child of Nike/Reader

part two

┈┈┈┈┈◦•✩•◦┈┈┈┈┈

“Stop staring at that Nike kid,” Harley hissed, and Leo winced when he was elbowed in the stomach by the younger boy.                                                                                                       He drew his attention away from where said Nike kid was talking to Drew at the fire burning in the middle of the pavilion. They each scraped a bit of their dinner into the fire, which burned a bit brighter, and split, going to their own table as they laughed at each other over their shoulders. 

Jake slurped up a spoonful of chocolate flavored cereal, and grinned at Leo like he knew something Leo didn’t. “Is that the one you pissed off?” 

“Leo’s totally into them, you could see him drooling a mile away,” Nyssa muttered, taking a slice of cheese and some of the sourdough on the plate in front of them, making a sandwich out of it. 

He felt his heartbeat skip when the very subject of their conversation looked over at him, a hair tie in their mouth as they plaited Holly’s hair into twin braids. They did that upward nod thing that the cool kids seemed to communicate in. Leo just tried to hold back his blush, and ate a strawberry. 

“He’s obsessed.”

Leo looked up from the marble table he had been training his eyes on and wrinkled his nose at her, popping another strawberry in his mouth. He turned back to the conversation once again with narrowed eyes, hoping the red of his cheeks would fade before his apparently observant half sibling noticed. “Nuh uh!”

“Uh yeah,” She scoffed, like it was obvious, “you like their nose ring.”

“It’s an eyebrow piercing, actually.” Leo sulked.

Nyssa pushed her orange bandana back out of her face, the one that held back the dark curls all children of Hephestus seemed to have. “Gotcha.”

“What about Nyssa’s thing for-” Jake started, but stopped talking quickly, his face paling as Nyssa grabbed his wrist, scarred fingers digging into the cast dotted with stickers and signatures on his arm. 

Her lip curled, and Harley sunk down in his seat. “I will nail your ears to this table if you finish that sentence.”

Leo stole another glance behind him as his attention shifted from his bickering sibling, and once again made eye contact. Shit. Instead of crawling under the table like he wanted to, he just ate a strawberry and tried for a casual smile. 

Their eyes narrowed at him, and then they plucked a strawberry from Laurel's plate, who now also had a plait, and shoved it in their mouth. Before Leo knew what was happening or how exactly it had happened, they were both racing to find the most of the sweet red berries and see how many they could fit in their mouth, from opposite sides of the pavilion. 

Once he had six in his mouth, he could feel his jaw straining. There was nothing he could do about it now though, so he just squished another in and hoped that would be the end of it. 

Then Jake turned to the Nike table, following his gaze, only to see what was happening. He rolled his eyes with a smirk. “You know, people’ll think what you're doing is a metaphor for something else.”

Nyssa rolled her eyes. “That’s not what a metaphor means.”

Leo choked at that, spraying soggy strawberries and pieces of leaf he probably should’ve cut off the berries onto Nyssa. She brushed a splattered strawberry off her shoulder. “I think you lost.”

He whipped back around, wiping seeds off his chin to see that stupidly hot smirk again. Holly and Laurel cheering on the other side of the table. Leo stuck his tongue out at the trio.

“You did that on purpose,” he hissed to Jake, who just shrugged innocently.

Harley took one of the last strawberries left on the plate, “what was it a metaphor for that’s not a metaphor?”

┈┈┈┈┈◦•✩•◦┈┈┈┈┈

Drew unscrewed the lid on her bottle of clear lipgloss and swiped it across her bottom lip, raising an eyebrow. “So like, why do we have a crush on him?”

You sighed, shoving your hands in the pockets of your black tracksuit pants and followed the daughter of Aphrodite out of the pavilion and across the green grass that was becoming harder to see as the sun set. 

“This is not a ‘we’ situation, okay? And no one ever said I had a crush on him, he’s just kinda cute and literally useless in a fight and likes strawberries.”

“Sounds like you type,” Drew shot back with a shiny smirk, to which you shoved her shoulder lightly, not wanting to get the strawberry juice still staining your palms on her white hoodie. “And it is a ‘we’ situation, you don’t drool like that over boys very often. He needs my approval.” 

“As if.”

Drew stepped over one of the logs around the campfire. “Maybe I should find my old shotgun.” 

“Please don’t, you’re really being unnecessarily dramatic about this, Drew.” You grumble, not liking the direction this conversation was going in. It wasn’t your fault Leo had these tiny freckles on his cheeks that you couldn’t see until you were holding a spear to his chest. 

“I’m being just the right amount of dramatic about this actually, my baby’s finally getting a boyfriend!” Drew smirked back at you, with exaggerated jazz hands. Then she narrowed her dark eyes. “I’m choosing your outfit at the wedding though, I don't trust your taste.”

“We aren’t getting married, we’re just fighting to the death in Bunker 9 tomorrow.” You muttered back, fiddling with the bracelets lining your wrists. 

“Oh, sorry, was there supposed to be a difference there?”

“Shut up.”

Drew grinned over her shoulder as she stopped outside the Aphrodite cabin. “I’m making you two friendship bracelets!”

#pjo fandom #pjo #heroes of olympus #percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #leovaldez #Leo valdez #leo valdez x reader #leo valdez x oc #leo valdez x you #leo valdez x y/n #but no use of y/n lol dw dw

[chrisbitchtree]

Can't Touch This

For Harringrove Flip It Reverse It - Day 4

Prompt - Angst turned into fluff - "Don't touch me!"

***

If you’d first asked Steve when he met Billy what he thought the blonde would pursue as a career, kindergarten teacher would have been way at the bottom of the list, under mechanic and carpenter, below bartender or surf shop owner, even down below stripper.

But to Steve’s shock, it’s what Billy had chosen, finding that he had a passion for it, and he was thriving. He came home every day covered in stickers and finger paints, glitter and confetti in his hair, his curls up in a bun and one of his signature pastel button-ups on.

He’d regale Steve with stories about what a beautiful tree Lily drew or how Eddie had finally corrected his habit of drawing half the letters in the alphabet backwards on his worksheets. He glowed with pride over every single one of his student’s accomplishments, and it was the highlight of Steve’s day every single day to hear about it.

Billy always got home earlier than Steve, so he would make dinner. Steve would sit at their little wooden table for two, watching Billy with a dreaming look in his eyes while Billy would whip up spaghetti, sauce bubbling away at his side while he boiled noodles, or flip baked chicken breast and fluff up Rice-aroni, they favourite side, talking a mile a minute about the fact that Timmy was no longer scared of the toilet or that Rachel hadn’t tried to eat paste in three days.

It helped Steve unwind after a long day as a high school math teacher and all the drama that went along with educating dramatic, hormonal teenagers who would flip on a dime, going from polite model student one minute, to raging asshole the next. It took a lot out of Steve, but he got a lot out of it in return. But that didn’t mean that he didn’t envy the cozy little world Billy had created for his own students.

***

When Steve arrived home late one sunny April afternoon, he could tell something was wrong the second he saw Billy. His face was pulled into a tight grimace, his shirt was untucked, and he was trying with all of his might to scratch the middle of his back. From the way he was hopping around, his arm fully extended, it didn’t seem like it was going to well for him.

“What’s up?” Steve asked, trying not to laugh at the image in front of him, difficult as it was. He really wished he had a camera right now.

Billy kept hopping around, seemingly unable to find relief. “Don’t know. I’m so itchy, and it won’t stop. It’s been like this all day.”

Let me have a look, Steve said.

Billy stopped moving for a minute and Steve lifted the hem of his shirt. Billy’s back was covered in small, red spots.

“Ummmm, Billy? Have you ever had chicken pox before?” Steve asked, lowering the shirt and walking down the hall to the bathroom.

“No?” Billy said, although it came out more like a question. “I don’t think so? Why? Do I have it? Don’t touch me!”

“Well, I guess it was bound to happen at some point, working with little kids. I’m honestly surprised that you lasted this long. And it’s fine. I’ll put on gloves.” He returned to the kitchen a minute later, calamine lotion in one hand and a pair of rubber gloves in the other. “Take off your shirt and lay down on the couch. I’ll put some on your back and it’ll help with the itch.”

Billy did as he was told, laying on his front on the plush, floral couch that was the centrepiece of their living room. Steve straddled his hips, flipping the top on the bottle. He poured some into his palm before closing the bottle and dropping it onto the carpet. With the pointer finger of his other hand, he painted the dots, trying to make sure he caught every one.

He gave the lotion a minute to dry before having Billy stand and take off his pants, so Steve could check for spots below his belt. Thankfully, except for a couple on his thighs, he seemed safe so far.

“Stupid kids,” Billy grumbled. “Stupid parents letting their kids go to school sick. Now I’m going to have to take time off. We were supposed to vote on who won the art contest tomorrow. They even promised they wouldn’t just all vote for themselves. Now stupid Sandra is going to get to do it.”

Steve watched him with amusement as he ranted, the lotion drying an adorable pink colour that stood out in stark contrast from Billy’s golden tan. He’d come a long way from when they were foulmouthed teenagers, when every second word was fuck or shit or goddammit. Now it was all stupid and silly and gosh. It was cute that he was getting so worked up over this.

“It’s ok, baby,” Steve chuckled. “I know this means a lot to you, but there will be other art contests. It’s important that you stay home and get better, so you don’t make any of the kids sick.”

Billy sighed. “I know, it just sucks.” He raised his arm to scratch his back and Steve swatted it away.

“No scratching, that’s how it spreads.”

Billy stuck out his lower lip, pouting. “But it’s itchy! I can’t take it!”

As Steve’s mother had done for him when he’d had chicken pox years ago, Steve grabbed oven mitts for Billy to slip on his hands. “Here you go, this’ll help keep you from scratching. Sit down, put a movie on, and try not to think about the itch. I’ll order a pizza and then come sit with you. Ok?”

Billy nodded in agreement, making his way to the couch.

Steve watched him fondly, forever grateful for this sweet, kind, silly, wonderful man.

#harringrove #harringrove flip reverse it #flip reverse it 2023 #billy hargrove #steve harrington #billy x steve #harringrove fic #chrisbitchtree writes

[eclecticmickyalberta]

Wine Whining

Wine Whining

July 28, 2015

   Ain’t it great? Every year we get more down to earth and a few sacred cows topple in the dust. It seems that recently the laws of wine worship have been revoked and we’re blowing the whistle on the holy mystique of the nectars of Bacchus.

   Confess: Didn’t you fear your taste buds had an I.Q. of 70 when the experts swished a mouthful, rolled their eyes and babbled about hints of chocolate and licorice bark and a finish of coffee on your red wine? Who put that stuff in your wine?

   He: “Darling, the overtones of battery acid in this Pinot Noir are so subtle as to be scarcely perceptible.”

   She: “Oh, and the delicate suggestion of nail polish in this Merlot is so understated, it’s scarcely a breath. I’m glad we let it age for seventeen years to bring its intellectual sophistication in balance with the gentle whimsy of its fruitiness.”

   Out in Kelowna, the heart of British Columbia’s white hot wine industry, radio hosts chat about the valley’s bottled gold. They’re going, “Hey, it’s a business, and it’s a drink, and let’s not be so snooty.”

   Says one, “According to the experts, this cabernet Alicia must be drunk in a cabernet glass to bring out its full bouquet.”

   And who thought up that one? The people who make stemmed crystal, of course.

   The other comes back, “But we put wine on too much of a pedestal. At the end of the day, just shut up and drink it.”

   Stop talking and drink it? I’m on board.

   It’s no longer a requirement to wrestle with a corkscrew and then pass the cork around to sniff. Recent yuppie vintages come in a handy screw top and you can plunk the bottle on the table without fear of the butler’s giving notice. If you’re really brave, leave the price sticker on or brag about how cheap you got it in that little strip mall next to Wal-Mart.

   Who performed the great service to serious drinkingkind everywhere by tying the grape gourmand to a pillar and tickling him with a wine cellar feather duster until he spilled his guts about the breathing of red wine?

   “Tee hee, well, it started as a joke over beers—tee hee, oh stop, you’re killing me—and then everybody believed it and we didn’t know how to—tee hee, please stop and I’ll confess…”

   Seems a group of wine experts with post-graduate palates tasted four bottles of the same red wine. One bottle sat open for an hour, one was decanted for an hour, one was decanted and poured, and the last was opened and poured. The Ph.D Palates went for number four.

   Well, bless me if the wine industry isn’t as rife with naked emperors as cyberspace with nasty viruses. Red wine breathes? I guess we all looked that stupid, huh? It’s a bottle of fermented fruit juice, at bottom. Liquids do not breathe. Liquids exist to be drunk by humans, who do breathe.

   I do get it about clearing the palate between varietals. It gives you a chance to indulge in another great fermented food, this one in solid form. There must be as many cheeses as wines out there, all ready to be praised to the heavens in glorious, grandiose verbal cascades.

   So let’s not lose all the fun. Before this dandy one-upmanship passes into antiquity, raise the bar. Throw a classic wine and cheese tasting party and mandate that everybody get in touch with his pretentious side. Include two 4 x 6 file cards with the invitation. When guests bring their wine and cheese offerings for the occasion, they must bring a high-toned description of each. Give points and an extra pouring for hyperbole, alliteration and over-the-top verbosity. Award more points and a take-home bottle for the guest who is voted the biggest talent for pretentious prattle.

   And no cuspidors. No one is allowed to treat these elevated beverages like Listerine mouthwash. Why let the fruit ferment and then not get a little buzz? You have to swallow, so when the imbibing begins, the airs will flow as fast as the drinks.

   Don’t limit the grandiosity to the goodies. Call for a dress code. Insist on formal jeans, or maybe hats and gloves…any kind. Encourage your guests to indulge their sense of the ridiculous and the sublime, from Moody Blue and Cheez Whiz on Ritz crackers to champagne and Brie.

   Pop, pour, and party on.

#wine #wine tasting #pretentious #wine and cheese

[alowlycaterpillar]

If you are poor or just hate capitalism and want to do things to spit in the face of the construct, here are some things you can do:

- steal

- grow a garden of easy produce items like potatoes, beans, berries, greens, tomatoes, and herbs

- look into local food banks and free markets in your area, I promise your community probably has one, and the more people who use their service the more volunteers and donations the programs are able to get! They want more people to come!! Like if you're making 500k a yr maybe don't but if you're a student or single parent or in a lot of debt, take advantage!! The more those services get used, the more funding and support they will receive so they can continue to operate!

- get a library card and use everything your local library offers, use the books but also use the space and the tables and the fireplace and the wifi and the audiobook library and the printers and scanners and computers and the parking lot and the streaming services, use all of it, often. The more all of their stuff gets used the more it will be funded, the more stuff they will have to offer.

- learn to sew and patch your clothes & avoid replacing them at all costs. Save your favourite hoodies and jeans and button downs, stitch up the holes and add elastic to waist bands and patch the worn down joints of jacket sleeves and jeans. Stop giving up on your clothes. Maybe even start making your own clothes!! It turns out it's not actually that hard, if you're patient and motivated.

- s t e a l

- make food at home, not just cook your own dinner but bake your own bread, bake cookies and muffins to snack on through the week, cook dinners in batches and freeze some so you have stockpiles of microwave dinners without the commercial packaging or cost.

- shit on company time. I'm so fucking serious right now, clock in at your job and then go take a dump. Fill your water bottle on company time. Dilly dally at the water cooler on company time. Wash your hands for two and a half full minutes of company time, count those Mississippi's, scrub under those fingernails, get that soap all the way to those elbows, do it. Waste their time. Make them pay you to waste their time.

- S T E A L

- steal from corporations.

- steal from superstore.

- steal from walmart.

- steal from target.

- just kidding you should not steal, stealing is wrong and bad, you definitely should not stick your eco friendly reusable bags in the cart and then oopsy-daisy half your items land in a bag and don't get scanned, silly you, such a ditz. You should not get doubles of important household items and in the rush and chaos if the self checkout you happen to only scan half of them. You definitely should not put heavy items like flour or sodas at the bottom of your cart in that shelf that you always forget is there and then inevitably forget it's there and not scan them. You definitely should not peel sale stickers off cheap items and place them on other items to snag a discount. You definitely should not tuck one item into the pocket or open space of another item and it doesn't get scanned at the checkout. All of these things are bad and wrong to do, and you Should Not Do them.

- if you see somebody stealing, no you fucking didn't.

#anti capitalism #anti capitalist

[elsanna-shenanigans]

November/October 2023 Contest Submission #9: Three Things You Can Feel

Words: ca. 4,500 Setting: mAU Lemon: no Content: n/a

1. 

Spring

Twenty minutes before the track meet was set to start, the gleaming metal bleachers rippled with three dozen or so fans—a turnout just low enough, at this point, to keep Elsa’s social anxiety wobbling in the green. She picked her way down the stairs, careful not to rush, fall, and crack her head open. When she arrived at the bottom-most railing, she scanned the track for the figure that made this all worth it.

Elsa easily spotted Anna rounding the south corner. Her sister’s hair shone like molten copper under the late-afternoon sun as she streaked along the track. Elsa crossed her arms and leaned on the partition, admiring Anna’s speed and natural athleticism. 

Elsa didn’t even have to call out. Anna spied her immediately; she veered off towards the finish line and slowed to a halt at the railing.

“What are you doing here?” Anna said, panting through the grin she tossed up at Elsa. “I thought you had your thing.” 

Of all the moments to freeze up entirely for words. Elsa’s breath hitched as she drank in the sight of her younger sister: Anna’s chest heaved, glistening with a slick sheen of sweat. She was a fucking treasure—the best thing in Elsa’s dumb life. How could Elsa possibly think of leaving Anna for college in a few short months? Surely Elsa could take a gap year, loaf around at home while Anna finished her senior year, glom on and hover overhead like a creep while Anna partied and dated like a normal teenager—

Anna stared up expectantly while Elsa wrestled with her mopey internal monologue. Elsa cleared her throat, dug in her backpack, then held out what she’d brought for Anna and blurted the only thing that came to mind:

“Hydrate to dominate.”

Anna accepted the water bottle with the dopey grin she seemed to reserve just for her big sister. 

“And dominate I shall,” Anna said, “now that I’ve got Old Faithful. Seriously, how do you remember this stuff?” She unscrewed the dented cap from her track meet lucky charm—a banged-up metal bottle their parents had bought her from the Yellowstone Park gift shop years ago. The image of the geyser Old Faithful hid behind stickers in various stages of wear and tear: Sanrio’s lazy egg, Gudetama, napping under a slice of bacon; “THE FUTURE IS FEMALE” in tie-dye bubble lettering; a die-cut Dolly Parton sticker Elsa had ordered for her off Etsy. 

Elsa thought it was a hypothetical question, but Anna paused before taking a sip and eyed Elsa expectantly. 

Because you’re the only thing that matters to me in this stupid town. Elsa answered with her usual eloquence: a bashful shrug. 

While Anna gulped down water, Elsa squinted at the tiniest hint of sunburn glowing at Anna’s hairline. She bit her tongue to keep from fretting or lecturing about sunscreen, because despite Anna’s easygoing response to Elsa’s innate protective nature (reserved just for her little sister), Elsa still worried that she was doing too much, always doing too much for Anna, always giving Anna too much time and attention, hovering—her therapist had gently suggested this months ago, and ever since then, Elsa couldn’t stop agonizing over—

“You okay?”

Elsa froze, mouth ajar—caught zoning out at she stared at the long expanses of Anna’s skin, burn and sweat and freckles and all. 

“Yeah,” Elsa said. “Just wondering, um—”

Think of something, think.

“—whether I have enough time to grab coffee on my way to—after this.”

Anna’s expression melted into rueful insecurity—and still she smiled through it, because she was an irrepressible people-pleaser.

“You’re sure you can’t miss your appointment this once? You’ve been so good about not skipping, and it’s my last meet of the season.”

Elsa’s heart wrenched with regret over the hurt that flashed in Anna’s eyes whenever she blew her off. Still, if ever there was a time when Elsa needed to sit in a session with Dr. Green, it would be now: now, as Elsa drowned in the unhealthy thoughts and urges that had flooded in over these past few months; now, as Elsa came to grips with living apart from Anna for the first time in their lives…

…And now, as Elsa’s attachment to Anna began warping into something that both sickened and thrilled her.

“I’m sorry,” Elsa finally said, trying to smuggle every layer of regret and shame she could never truly voice to Anna inside this simple apology over one simple track meet.

I’m sorry I’m such a mediocre sister. I’m sorry I’m such a freak.

Anna scanned Elsa’s expression. “I know you have Dr. Green to talk to,” Anna said carefully, “but if you ever want to talk to your sister about anything, I would love to be there for you.”

“Thanks.” Elsa swallowed around a lump in her throat. Her gaze drifted to the other girls rounding the corner of the track, Anna’s friends—younger girls whose sideways glances had never failed to send Elsa slinking out of any room.

“Well,” Anna said, screwing the lid back on Old Faithful, “I should probably finish warming up.” Before Elsa could react, Anna hopped up, planted her palms on the partition, and pressed a soft kiss to Elsa’s cheek.

“Thanks for always taking care of me,” Anna said, rocking her body forward and back where she balanced just inches from Elsa’s face. Elsa blinked once, twice, at a loss. Her heart soared.

Then, over Anna’s shoulder, Elsa spied Anna’s teammates trudging by, watching them with narrowed, curious eyes. Her heart plummeted to her stomach. 

“I have to go,” Elsa blurted, lurching back until her shins jammed into the hard bench behind her. Anna hung, suspended for a moment, then vaulted off her palms and landed neatly back on the dirt. 

“Have fun,” Anna said in a sing-song voice. Elsa offered a jerky wave before darting off up the stairs. A steady stream of fans had begun filtering into the bleachers. Elsa forged upstream, blood beating in her ears as she fought to dispel the image of Anna’s friends, their stares burned in her mind. She focused on distracting from her anxiety with a grounding technique Dr. Green had taught her:

Five things you can see: 

Tufts of blue and white tissue paper squeezed in the chain link fence; elongated shadows moseying with their owners; scattered popcorn kernels on the pavement; a candy wrapper bouncing off a trash can; loose blonde hairs falling into her eyes.

Four things you can hear: 

Heels crunching the gravel in the parking lot as she hurried to her car; shouts receding into a faint rumble; car doors slamming on either side; keys jingling as Elsa unlocked the BMW.

Three things you can feel: 

Sun-warmed car door handle burning her palm; steering wheel bumping against her knees as she slid in; hot leather sticking to the stripe of thigh below her skirt.

Two things you can smell: 

Pine-scented air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror; dust from the vents as the air conditioning kicked on.

One thing you can taste: 

Copper on her tongue as she chewed the inside of her lip to pulp.

Something had to change.

2. 

Four years later. Halloween.

Breathless from darting out of the Uber across the street—or from the gilded corset that hugged her ribs—or from the anticipation of what she had planned tonight—Anna stood on the wet, glistening curb outside the Ruby Lounge and waited for her roommate to catch up.

“Do you always have to run straight into traffic?” Rapunzel griped, edging around a parked car to Anna on the curb. She carefully gathered her lacy fairy-princess skirts and stepped over a puddle.

“Always,” Anna said over the bass that oozed out from inside the club. “Come on come on, the night is young.”

They shivered in line for ten minutes, rolled their eyes at the stocky bouncer who ogled Anna’s generous cleavage, accepted the red, gemstone-shaped stamps on their wrists, and finally, finally slipped inside. Anna had been to the Ruby Lounge once—it was your typical weekend ass-shaking meat market—but tonight, the organizers had gone all out to transform the sprawling, two-story venue into a decadent masquerade party, swimming in shadows and teeming with partygoers ranging from Victorian elegance to downright slutty. Anna considered herself somewhere in the middle.

All the dress code required was a mask.

Anna and Rapunzel donned their masks as soon as they crossed into the dark, humid coat check, and suddenly, they were everyone and no one. The anonymity exhilarated Anna. If you wanted to shed your identity for the night, this was the place. But then again, if you were looking for someone…

Rapunzel nudged Anna’s elbow. “Have you heard from—”

“Not yet.” Anna fished her phone from her cleavage. No signal. She stashed it away again and promised herself she wouldn’t go searching straight away. She’d come to dance with her friend, to egg her friend on in talking to cute guys—and she’d come to dance with herself, to shake off the pre-midterm neurosis, maybe even coax herself into battling her own cute guy neurosis. 

It was her senior year, after all, and she was so, so restless.

A sprawling skylight crowned the dim, pulsing lower level. It took Anna and Rapunzel twenty minutes to muscle through the dense crowd, shout their drink orders, and return to the action. Before long, the dance floor swallowed them up entirely. 

Anna loved this part. 

Warm bodies pressed her on all sides, stoking the pleasant heat that raced along her bare arms. It was intoxicating, made doubly so by the intrigue behind the masks that kaleidoscoped around her. She barely noticed when Rapunzel drifted away, laughing and dancing with a guy who wore a prince’s grin and a duelist’s swagger.

Amid the thrumming waves of music, Anna remembered, vaguely, the meeting she had arranged for tonight. She turned on her heel—did she even want to begin her search?—and stumbled into the arms of the woman behind her. The woman held Anna’s elbows steady and laughed, low and throaty next to Anna’s ear. A startling jolt of pleasure coursed across Anna’s skin at the sudden contact. She twisted her head to look at the stranger, all at once dazed and acutely alert. From behind a jeweled mask, curious eyes locked with her own. The stranger wore a royal blue corset buttoned up the front, and a sheer dress of thin blue lace draped from her elegant shoulders. A snowy white plume curled from her temple and swept over the side of her head. Swan Lake, Anna thought distantly. 

The woman’s red lips curled in a smile, a question in itself. She said nothing, and neither did Anna. Purely by instinct Anna remained flush against the other woman, and because a split-second had passed and the woman hadn’t pulled her hands away, Anna followed the natural impulse and arched back into the stranger’s body.

On the dance floor, it may as well have been anyone.

…But, no. Not anyone.

Anna had never felt such electricity from another person’s touch. A searing current raced up her arms as the woman pulled her closer, and sensation blossomed with alarming intensity where the woman’s breasts pressed tight against Anna’s bare shoulder blades. She’d never even felt it with Hans—Hans, whom she’d meant to go looking for, whom she’d forgotten entirely. Instead, she dropped her head back into the crook of the woman’s neck. Time melted into the deafening bass as Anna danced, melded to this stranger in the whirlpool anonymity of the dance floor. 

It was inevitable that Anna had to stop and fan herself, short of breath. Behind her, the stranger gently pressed her hands to the curve of Anna’s waist, a minute gesture of concern (which, of course, only elicited another gasp). A warm puff of air played across Anna’s ear. 

“Let’s get you some water,” came the woman’s voice for the first time, blending into the music so seamlessly that Anna barely caught it. The stranger circled around and squeezed Anna’s hand, then said—what did she say?—Anna lost the words in the hypnotic glimpse of the woman’s delicate white teeth.

The woman slipped away. Anna fully intended to wait—she really did—but two minutes later, Hans and Rapunzel found her. Funny enough, he was the duelist Rapunzel had been cozying up with, And seriously, Anna, isn’t that hilarious that you could be talking to someone you know the entire time? Rapunzel, at least, had the decency to look embarrassed. Not so with Hans, who wanted to check out the rooftop right now, and led Anna from the dance floor before she could devise an excuse to protest. She left before the stranger came back.

A stranger, Anna thought to herself, climbing the stairs with her hand in Hans’s, light-headed. It just had to be a stranger who did this to me.

On the roof, Anna stood with Rapunzel at the water cooler while Hans waited at the bar. She pulled off her mask for the first time all night and relished in the soft breeze cooling her flushed cheeks. Leaning on the railing over the massive skylight, Anna scanned the crowd below. Without raising her eyes, she accepted a cup from Rapunzel and murmured, “Hydrate to dominate.”

Rapunzel chuckled. “I haven’t heard you say that since high school.”

“I know, right?” Anna sipped the cold water. Instant relief. “I actually picked it up from my sister. I know literally everyone says it, but for some reason I thought she came up with it on her own.”

“Elsa?” Rapunzel raised her eyebrows. “You haven’t mentioned her for a while, either.”

Anna’s gaze remained fixated on the party below. “We haven’t spoken in a hot minute. D’you know, Elsa actually moved to town a few months ago for grad school? She reached out once to hang out, but left me on read the couple of times I tried to follow up.”

Rapunzel gave a low whistle. “Harsh.”

Anna shrugged. “Elsa has her own life, and she wants to keep it private. Simple as that.” The pang of grief that raced through her was fleeting, confusing. Anna willed the sadness away. Tonight was not the night for this. Not while Hans was edging his way to the railing with her drink; not while the fine hairs on the nape of her neck still stood on end from the stranger’s touch. Before turning away, Anna glanced one last time through the skylight. She thought she glimpsed a sweeping white feather bobbing through the crowd—her heart leaped to her throat—but Hans nudged her elbow with the cold glass, she looked away, and by the time she looked back, whatever she’d thought she saw was gone.

3.

Two years later. Winter.

Elsa hesitated at the entrance to the subway station. She touched a gloved hand to the stair railing. It would be so easy to catch the 8:10 train home, text Anna from the platform with some flimsy excuse about being tired—Anna always accepted with little argument, she didn’t want to encroach and push Elsa away. But Elsa’s heart ached in her chest, a dull flare throbbing in her otherwise numb body. She’d already walked the ten freezing blocks from her office building to Anna’s neighborhood, and right now, Elsa was just a gust of wind away from falling apart. She shuddered, then turned from the subway entrance and retreated from the bustling pedestrian traffic.

Fuck it. This wasn’t high school anymore. They’d been good for an entire year now, so of course Elsa could handle getting close to Anna again. After six years of distance, Elsa was better now. 

The moment Anna’s apartment door swung open, Anna grabbed Elsa by the coat sleeve and dragged her inside, into a fierce bear hug. 

“She’s a dumb bitch,” Anna murmured into Elsa’s hair, “and she’ll realize in about two days how badly she fucked up by letting you go.”

Elsa stood frozen in Anna’s arms, melting into the warmth of her sister’s words and arms—and melting, too, into hot tears and a sniffly nose.

“Maren’s not dumb,” Elsa mumbled. “And I can’t blame her for choosing…” She choked on the words and slumped into Anna’s embrace. 

“Choosing to be a dumb bitch,” Anna supplied. “I’ll kick her ass if I ever see her again.” She began to stroke Elsa’s hair. Despite the harsh words, her murmur was velvety soft, so close to Elsa’s ear that the vibration made her shudder. 

Elsa recognized her body’s response; her stomach turned to ice.

God, no. It had been six long years. They had tentatively picked things up and gotten off to such a good start—she was supposed to be better. 

Elsa squeezed Anna’s arms and pulled back. “This was a mistake.” She tried to sound gentle.

Anna’s face fell. “What do you mean?”

“I—” Elsa searched for a painless excuse. “I won’t be any fun. I really just want to go to bed.” 

“Come on, dummy, you know you don’t have to be fun. Just crawl into my guest bed.” Anna absently stroked Elsa’s wrist with her thumb. “After Hans cheated on me, I don’t know what I would have done without you, so just let me return the favo—”

“Sorry.” Elsa twisted her hand away and reached for the doorknob. “I just want my own bed.”

“Elsa, please. You shouldn’t be alone right now.”

“I like it better being alone,” Elsa said, and with a rush of self-loathing she added, “I’m not like you.”

Anna’s shoulders slumped. She looked so lost. “Well—at least let me call you an Uber.”

Elsa was already halfway out the door. “I’ll catch the train. It’s fine.”

“Text me to let me know you got home okay,” Anna called down the hallway after her.

Of course, Elsa never texted.

* * *

In fact, days went by with no response from Elsa. Anna must have sent a dozen texts into the void that was her sister’s inbox, efforts ranging from “reach out if you need me,” and “are you remembering to eat?” to TikToks of pizza-stealing subway rats with Anna’s caption, “Maren sighting.”

Nothing but read receipts in return. Anna cursed herself, wondering why she ever believed that anything had changed after six years, that Elsa would let her back in.

By the end of the first week of radio silence, Anna began cursing Elsa instead. Not only was her older sister being a dick for shutting her out, she was seriously worrying Anna. Elsa had a track record of—well, not hurting herself, but self-hating to the point of serious neglect. Anna imagined Elsa curled up in bed for days, rotting away in severe breakup depression. After work on Friday, Anna reached out one more time:

Anna: 5:26 p.m.

please drink some water ok?

Anna grabbed beers with a few coworkers, then checked her phone around nine p.m. while she waited for her train home.

Read: 5:28 p.m.

She nearly threw her phone across the platform. Instead, she set her phone to vibrate—then changed her mind by the time she let herself into her apartment. She switched the ringer back on as she climbed into bed.

You never know.

* * *

In the morning, Anna found herself in the second-floor hallway of Elsa’s building, bag of groceries in one arm, rapping on her sister’s door with a no-nonsense *THOCK-THOCK-THOCK-THOCK.* She was well past the jaunty shave-and-a-haircut knock, and well past irritation with her sister. 

A minute went by. Anna rapped again. Another minute went by. Anna rapped again. She was about to start pounding when the door swung open. 

“Elsa, I’m sorry to wake you up, but—”

Anna closed her mouth. Elsa looked fine. Her hair was combed, her eyes were bright, and her chambray work shirt even appeared to have been ironed. 

“Anna—hey.” 

Anna squinted, confused. “You look… nice.”

Elsa pressed her lips in a thin line (she’d put on lipstick, too), as if trying to trap unruly words inside her mouth. Then: “Thank you?”

Anna shifted the grocery bag from one arm to the other. “You’re—you’re okay, then?”

Elsa leaned against the door jamb with a sigh, then seemed to remember her manners and stepped aside. “Come on in.”

The place was spotless—Anna even caught a whiff of laundry detergent. It was a far cry from the depression nest she had expected. She fought down her growing irritation as she busied herself unloading the groceries for her sister, who apparently was doing just fine, and couldn’t—wouldn’t—answer Anna’s urgent texts for—what reason, exactly?

Anna stewed for a minute. She poured herself a glass of water to buy herself time to simmer down. She held together her self control for a record minute and a half, then whirled around and blurted out, “Why have you been ignoring me?”

Elsa winced. “You know, just…” She gestured vaguely. “Breakup-hibernation. I wanted to be alone.”

Anna’s eyes narrowed as she spotted a red smudge on Elsa’s wrist. She stepped closer and snatched Elsa’s hand midair, then turned it over, revealing a gemstone-shaped stamp. “Alone—at the Ruby Lounge?” Anna said with a scowl. “What, did you rent the club out all to yourself on a Friday night so you could hibernate there?”

Elsa groaned and tilted her head back. “Anna, listen…” She made to pull her hand away. Anna only tightened her grip. 

“Why do you feel the need to lie to me? You don’t have to invite me to do anything with you—I get it, you want to keep your private life separate—but why—” Anna deflated and let Elsa go. “See, this is how little I know about you now. Since when are you the party-the-pain-away type?”

Elsa blinked and spread her arms in a What do you want me to do? gesture. “I can’t get so attached to you, okay? You don’t know how hard I’ve worked to be normal, to meet other people and—”

“Normal?” Anna pulled back with a frown. “So, let me get this straight. You don’t think it’s normal for us to get attached? All those weeks when I was relying on you after my breakup, was that abnormal to you? What, too clingy?”

“I can’t—” Elsa turned away and leaned on the kitchen counter. “You’re fine, Anna.”

Anna scoffed. “So it’s okay for you to have a key to my apartment, but I can only come up here once a year? It’s okay for you sit on my bed and watch me blubber to the point of throwing up, but I can’t even get a text back when youget dumped?” 

“I’m enforcing. My boundaries,” Elsa enunciated through gritted teeth. Restless hands danced along the kitchen counter until she gripped Anna’s glass of water like a mooring in a storm. The therapy-speak triggered a memory. Anna suddenly remembered an early-early root of their distance,  the beginning of the end of their relationship back in high school, when Elsa started to see a therapist and decided she was too cool to spend time with her baby sister. The vivid memory sent a bolt of defiance thundering through Anna. 

“You’re nothing but a walking, talking boundary. Even giving a damn about you seems to cross a boundary.”

Anna could have sworn Elsa’s eyes flashed with vulnerability, and for a moment her heart leaped with fragile hope. Do something. Do anything, Elsa. 

But Elsa let out a terse sigh. “I think boundaries are great.”

Anna had to prod. “You thought that was messy, then? Me knocking on your door?”

“Anna, you don’t have to do so much.” 

“Heaven forbid, me double-texting you?” 

Elsa’s long fingers tightened around the glass. It lasted only a moment, but the notch of frustration that twitched between her brows was enough to send Anna careening over the edge. 

What’s the messiest thing I could do?

“You haven’t seen anything. What about this?” 

Anna grabbed Elsa’s face in both hands and crashed their lips together. Electricity erupted where their lips met, motionless with wet shock. Anna hadn’t planned on this—she only wanted to provoke a reaction, Jesus, and what the hell was this? Through some ungodly impulse, Anna breathed hot jets of air from her nostrils—and was that a whine that escaped Elsa’s throat?

SPLASH. 

Anna stood completely drenched, her mouth hanging open. Elsa held the empty glass in midair. The water dripping on the tile was deafening in the sudden silence.

Slowly, Elsa set the glass on the counter and raised trembling fingers to touch her lips. “Oh, god,” she murmured, cheeks flaming. 

They decided to talk.

* * *

…Well, first, Elsa had to rein in her reeling surge of anxiety. Immediately after dousing Anna, Elsa teetered against the counter, woozy, and counted: Five things she could see—Don’t look at the curves under Anna’s soaked T-shirt, that won’t help—four things she could hear—Except the erratic pounding of my heart is drowning out everything else—three things she could feel—Not the throbbing low in my stomach, pick something external—and so on.

Anna was terrific with her—all she wanted wasa chance to prove she could be terrific in a crisis—rubbing Elsa’s back and meeting her profuse apologies with soothing words: “It’s okay, Elsa, it’s my fault, do you want me to leave? Okay, I’ll stay, you’re okay.”

Eventually Elsa regained her bearings, fetched Anna some dry clothes, and beckoned her sheepish little sister to sit down. They sat together on Elsa’s couch, Anna curled up in one of Elsa’s threadworn college hoodies, Elsa hugging her knees and wondering how the fuck they would proceed from this. 

Anna didn’t waste time cutting to the quick of her feelings.

“Do you know why I got so upset?”

Elsa waited.

“Because I need you,” Anna went on, “and it makes me feel stupid. Because I wish you needed me, too.”

“I do,” Elsa said quietly. Anna glanced at her in surprise.

“I need you,” Elsa went on, “to make me give a shit about someone besides myself. Caring about you makes me feel human.”

Anna eyed her for a minute. “You know,” she said finally, “it’s that logic that compels lots of people to adopt a kitten.”

Elsa hmmm’ed and her eyes swept up to the ceiling. “I see very little difference.”

“Rude.” 

Elsa shifted her weight and moved to reach around Anna’s shoulder—then hesitated, doubt clouding her expression. The withdrawal was obvious. Anna’s face fell. 

I’m sorry I’m such a mediocre sister. 

Screwing up her courage, Elsa reached around Anna’s shoulder and pulled her sister into her chest. Anna melted into Elsa’s side with a sigh of, what—weariness? Relief? Disbelief?

“I’m sorry,” Elsa murmured. 

It was Anna’s turn to wait while Elsa searched for words. She couldn’t help herself: “For?”

“For, um…” Elsa looked away. Her arm tightened around Anna’s shoulders. “For not inviting you out to the Ruby Lounge.”

Anna snorted. “Try again.”

“For being a freak.”

“You’re—”

“By that I mean, for trying to be someone who doesn’t need you. It’s—” Elsa cast her gaze around the apartment for inspiration. “It’s—complicated, Anna.” 

Anna examined Elsa closely, her eyes shining with open curiosity. She opened her mouth to press some more—then shut it again and relaxed into Elsa’s side, relishing in this miraculous opportunity to do so.

“I’m sure it is,” Anna said. She picked at a stray thread on the knee of Elsa’s leggings. “Lucky for us, we have time to figure it out.”

Elsa’s chuckle ruffled Anna’s hair. Her voice dropped to a murmur: “You’re a fucking treasure, you know that?”

#elsanna #October 2023 contest #prompt: water #submission

[pretendfan]

{Roommates} NINE

(A\N This chapter has all the things you’re used to: idiots in love, plans not working, friends not helping, mutual pining, fluff and flirting…hope you enjoy🖤this was so off plan and so long if it sucks let me know)

(Pairing)

Adrian Chase x Female reader

(Summary)

Desperately in need of a roommate, your co-worker knows a guy, but why did it have to be Adrian? The guy both annoyed and frustrated the hell out of you getting under your skin from the very moment that you had meet him.

But this was only temporary there was no need to complicate things by really getting to know one another or even worse catch feels along the way. Sure it had been a while for both of you but hooking up with your roommate was a terrible idea…wasn’t it?

(Words)

10,096

(Warnings)

Mentions of ex, mentions of throwing up, drunk Adrian, mutual pining is strong, idiots in love, caring Adrian….lots of flirting, 18+ ONLY

{NINE}

Gliding the pad of his thumb over the warm condensation pooling down his now empty bottle of beer, Adrian starts to peel off the sticker which isn’t as satisfying as he hoped it would be frustrated beyond belief that he was here at this bar with Scott, when instead he should’ve been back at the apartment with you.

According to his friend, Adrian had been moping around waiting for you to appear after your shift at Karma coffee like an idiot, but he didn’t notice having pretty much felt this same way ever since he had made you breakfast waffles all those weeks ago and heard you laugh for the first time.

Only since then these feelings he couldn’t quite grasp had intensified, causing him to make things a million times worse by kissing you and now he had to act as if that hadn’t happened, he was literally aching for you it was so fucking pathetic.

All he knew was that he wanted you, in the most animalistic of ways which kept him wide awake late at night, with thoughts of you occupying his head like a song stuck on repeat.

Clearly alcohol wasn’t going to help neither Adrian’s mood or his libido right now either, but here he was spiralling, whilst waiting for Scott to make a reappearance from the busy bar with his drink.

Briefly considering messaging you Adrian stops himself because he knows once he started he wouldn’t be able to stop, he didn’t want to freak you out anymore even though the last time he had done something impulsively you had responded in kind.

Wishing he could taste you on his mouth again Adrian licks his bottom lip then pulling off his wire framed glasses, he rubs both palms of his hands across his face completely over tonight already despite barely being here an hour.

Opening his eyes again Adrian replaces his glasses in time to see Scott finally coming back over to the table, only he wasn’t alone having put his wingman skills into play which makes Adrian smile briefly.

A distraction was well needed in these dire times that held Adrian hostage, all from his own idiotic mistakes of course but regardless of that he was merely a dude, a dude with obvious needs.

“Took you long enough!” Adrian smiled at Scott even though his focus was on the two women beside him instead .

“Look who I met!?” Scott winks at Adrian who tries his hardest to plaster a smile on his face because he needed this right now.

“Come join us!” Adrian declares pulling out the seat next to him which the redhead beside Scott takes with a confident smile on her face.

“This is Lola.” Scott begins motioning to the tall blonde next to him then pointing at the redhead he adds with a wink “And this is Gwen.”

“Adrian.” Nods Adrian who then instantly feels like an idiot so he takes a long gulp of beer noticing Gwen’s blue eyes watching him closely.

“So, what brings you guys to the bar this evening?” Gwen asks with a smile, it’s nice but it pales in comparison to his roommates which makes him shake his head at the absurdity of where his thoughts were going, again.

“Just out to have some fun!” Scott winks at Gwen whilst she rolls her eyes back at Adrian who smirks happily seeing how she had sense not to fall for his friends idiotic comments, unlike him.

Adrian watches as Lola leans into Scott to talk into his left ear, making the guy look like all his Christmases have come at once, causing Adrian to grab his beer again in frustration.

“What is up with your friend?” Gwen questions with a small giggle at the end.

“Too many things to mention-“

“So, what’s your deal then?” Gwen cuts off Adrian with a super valid question, just one that he cannot pinpoint the answer to.

“My deal?” Adrian asks whilst pulling a confused face in the redheads direction.

“Like, what makes Adrian tick? Also how the hell do you not have a girlfriend you are adorable!” Gwen tells him placing a hand on Adrian’s knee which instantly makes him feel awkward, if only he had his Vigilante mask on then he would be making a killing, in flirty one liners.

“Er, thanks I guess I am kind of adorable in certain lights plus I have so many likes-“

“So you are single then right?” Gwen asks her blue eyes staring into his and Adrian feels, absolutely nothing which shoots the awkwardness factor up to an eye watering eleven.

“It’s complicated-“

“Dude!” Scott cuts off Adrian with a warning look that he doesn’t see but of course Gwen does.

“What does that mean?” Gwen asks folding her arms across her chest with both her eyebrows raised expecting a quick answer.

“It means I like someone but they are my roommate and I’m temporarily living there so I don’t want to make a move and ruin everything-“

“Dude, just give it a rest!” Scott groans making Lola smirk at him clearly she was smitten with his friend for some unknown reason, seeing how this hardly ever happened in real life.

“No, now I’m really interested!“ Gwen exclaims making Scott curse and Adrian nod then take another long drink of his beer trying not to burp once he was done.

“If he starts talking about his roommate then Adrian won’t stop it’s why I bought him-“

“So you’re trying to stop him get with someone by throwing me into whatever he is dealing with right now? Uncool dude!” Gwen admonishes Scott who scoffs back unceremoniously.

“Yeah, uncool!” Adrian yells at Scott pointing a finger at him which makes Gwen smirk back with a grin.

“Either way it’s a shame you are so cute and pretty hot, how does your roommate-“

“That’s why things are complicated.” Adrian pouts looking down at the table ignoring the look he just knows that Scott is giving him.

“What did you do?” Lola asks then backtracks when she sees the look that Adrian gives her in return.

“I’ve done nothing-“

“Exactly!” Cuts in Scotts triumphantly then he quickly adds “This guy used to be able to close but since moving in with Y/N he’s become a total idiot.”

“This is too cute!” Squeals Gwen excitedly sitting up a little taller on her seat as she states “I love stories like this, I need to know everything perhaps I can help?”

“There is no helping Adrian, the dude is beyond help.” Scott jokes with a laugh whilst Adrian flips him off then focuses his attention back on Gwen.

“Why do you even care? I thought we were-“

“Sure, I like you! But if you already have someone else occupying your thoughts what’s the point, plus I love hearing cute stories.”

“I’m gonna be sick.” Scott groans making Lola giggle at him even though he wasn’t funny, at all it was confusing to say the least how the blonde even liked his friend, still.

“How do you know you even like me? It isn’t that easy right-“

“Oh Adrian!” Gwen giggles at Adrian who feels his cheeks and the tips of his ear heat up from the look she is rewarding him.

“Let’s go back to the bar.” Lola nudges Scott who is standing up seconds later ready to be alone with the hot blonde.

“He’s hopeless!” Scott informs Gwen as if Adrian wasn’t even here but he was too busy finishing off his beer to even care.

“So, let’s hear it then what’s so complicated about liking your roommate?” Gwen asks cocking her head to one side waiting for Adrian to reply.

“Do you want the short or long version.” Adrian scoffs with a humourless laugh.

“Long version baby, tell me everything!” Gwen winks at Adrian who shakes his head in confusion.

“Ok, but if you get bored I will-“

“No way dude! I live for this shit and it isn’t as if there are any other cute guys here at the bar.” Gwen states with a smirk noticing the pink streaks of colour reappear on his face again.

More drinks get ordered via table service because neither Adrian or Gwen wanted to move so he starts to tell the story of you and him, probably going into far too much detail but noticing how the redhead was listening to his every word, he cannot help but tell Gwen absolutely everything.

How at the beginning you both argued all the time, literally avoided each other until Adrian had noticed the calls that upset you at night so he made you waffles, and that broke the ice between the pair of you leading to moments that he still obsessed about, even now.

“So what are you doing here exactly?“ Gwen asks in exasperation once Adrian had finally finished his story and she had stopped waving her hand over her face.

“Like right this second-“

“No! I mean why are you here at the bar when you should be back at the apartment because you need to tell your roommate how you feel!” Gwen cheers excitedly making Adrian shake his head.

“It won’t work-“

“What you need!” Cuts in Gwen with a smile as she adds “ Is some liquid courage that I am more then happy to provide for you!”

“You mean get wasted-“

“Not totally bombed but just enough to confidently tell Y/N how you feel, it’s the least you can do for yourself just get it out there!” Gwen exclaims whilst clapping her hands excitedly.

“That might just work!” Adrian nods in agreement three beers deep into the night already after a dinner of microwave noodles, which he knew was a bad idea but it seemed his life was full of those right now.

“It will! From what you’ve said your roommate has it as bad as you.” Nods Gwen confidently despite fancying Adrian on sight she knew she was doing something good by giving him some sound advice.

“But what if it doesn’t work-“

“We need shots!” Shouts Gwen which perks up Adrian because what if the redhead was right, and tonight was the night to make a declaration because the rules needed changing.

From here on out things get a little hazy for Adrian whilst he continues to plan and chat with Gwen, until he is shoved off his chair to go forth and meet his destiny.

Ending up on this knees on the floor Adrian realises two things, one that he was quite drunk and secondly he couldn’t see Scott anywhere he had left him high and dry.

“Let’s get you a cab.” Gwen helps up Adrian then tells him “ You need to make a move tonight and the rest will fall into place!”

“Either that or I will fall and break my face.” Jokes Adrian with a laugh realising that he was being funny for once at the right time it was quite an achievement, one he would probably forget about tomorrow morning.

“Let’s hope not dude, it’s one of your best features.” Winks Gwen with a smirk when she notices Adrian gawping at her with his mouth opened wide.

“You’ve been too good to me tonight, whoever you end up-“

“Dude, I’m after a hook up not the one!” Gwen starts with a laugh but then states “You are a good guy let’s hope your roommate will finally see that.”

“You think I’m a good guy?!” Adrian asks now standing back up feeling both very confused by the floor coming towards him and your statement.

“I know it! Go get her stud.” Gwen winks walking out clumsily with Adrian next to her perhaps shots weren’t that great an idea.

In a cab with vague directions aimed back at the apartment Adrian sinks low into the fake leather seat, eyes closed whilst he tried to recover the confidence he had felt back at the bar.

The self assuredness that had hit him right between the eyes when Gwen had told him to go back to the apartment and make his move, the thought makes him break out in a sweat how was he supposed to do this whilst clearly drunk.

Yet Adrian knew deep down that he had to because drunken logic kinda ruled his brain, so he definitely owed it to Gwen who had told him he could do this, so fuck it he was gonna make this happen!

Lounging on the couch in the pj’s that you had hoped Adrian would see you wearing, you sigh to yourself grabbing another handful of Skittles from the bowl beside you picking out the best ones with your right hand, clearly this was going to be the highlight of your evening.

It was getting late, you had work early tomorrow opening which was exciting, clearly you should have gone to bed ages ago it wasn’t as if you were waiting to see your roommate or anything, yeah right.

Switching off the TV as some old Judge Judy re-run played in the background you finish eating your candy then decide it was time you gave up pining over Adrian because this was exactly what you were doing, it was ridiculous.

You almost wished that Lara would come round and hit both yours and Adrian’s head together like she had suggested, then perhaps things would make more sense hell something could finally happen between you two, maybe.

A sudden knock at the door makes you jump as your eyes widen, what if that was your ex and he wanted to talk like right this second?

Not ready for this you get up from the couch almost knocking over the bowl of Skittles, but ignoring them you find yourself marching confidently over to the front door, despite your hands shaking nobody else but you could see you were scared right now.

Another hard knock followed by a muffled bump against the door has you stepping back, but a very loud yet familiar voice on the other side has you scrambling for the metal door handle.

“Adrian!?” You exclaim seeing him looking back round at the door looking shocked to see you, even more so when you wrap your arms around his middle to hug him.

“What’s wrong-“

“I’m just really happy to see you!“ You cry happily from somewhere round his waist letting go as you feel Adrian pat you on the head awkwardly.

“I’m-I’m.” Begins Adrian readjusting his glasses so he could focus on you properly but currently there are at least three of you in front of him and he wanted to talk to the right one.

“Will the real Y/N please stand up.” Adrian chuckles to himself misquoting the Slim Shady song that he would now have stuck in his head for weeks on end.

“Adrian, are you drunk!?” You laugh noticing your roommate shyly look at his feet then back at you with a cute pink tint across his cheeks.

“I- I need, need to talk to you.” Adrian stumbles over his words then pulls a nasty face as he tastes the last shot he had repeating on him, the acidic taste burning at the back of his throat.

“Are you-“

“Fuck, I’m gonna be sick!” Yells Adrian holding a hand over his mouth as he rushes past you at breakneck speed to the bathroom.

Closing the front door you briefly smile to yourself totally glad that it was Adrian at the door but then you feel bad that he clearly had too much to drink tonight, so you head to the bathroom wanting to check on your roommate but he has the door closed.

“Adrian are you ok?” You knock gently on the door but there is no answer so you push it open, seeing your roommate with his head facing the toilet bowl.

“I’m so sorry!” Adrian groans dropping to his knees on the hard tiled floor which makes you walk over and crouch down beside him.

“What are you apologising to me for?” You ask Adrian placing a hand flat on his back which makes him whine so you quickly move it away.

“I wanted to talk to you but now I’m throwing up you don’t have to be here-“

“I want to.” You cut him off with a smile then add “ I want to help you we’ve all been here.”

“I’m never drinking-“ Adrian begins but whatever else he was about to say gets lost in the toilet with the rest of the alcohol he had drunk.

“It’s ok.” You soothe replacing your hand on his back, palm flat as you rub soothing circles flushing the toilet for him whilst his head remained near the bowl.

“Ugh, this is all Scott’s fault!” Adrian groans then adds “Gwen told me to get confident by drinking but now all my confidence has escaped me.”

“Who is Gwen?” You ask then instantly regret it because you didn’t want to know who Adrian had clearly been on a date with tonight, probably no thanks to Scott.

“I met her through Scott she helped me come back here to see you.” Adrian looks up with a watery smile at you stating “I missed you tonight.”

“I was right here-“

“That’s where I should’ve been.” Adrian groans finally sitting his head up from the toilet bowl wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Do you want me to run you a shower?” You ask Adrian who silently nods so you get up from your arched position to switch it on whilst your roommate looked sleepy.

“Thanks.” Adrian smiles sweetly at you then asks “ Can you stay with me incase I fall asleep in the shower?”

“Of course I can even scrub your back for you if you want.” You tell Adrian with a smile which makes him close his eyes but there is a cheeky grin on his face.

“Does that offer extend to the morning when I would definitely appreciate it more.” Adrian asks with a hopefulness in his voice and a puppy dog look in his eyes as he reopens them that floors you.

“One time deal I’m afraid.” You shrug whilst he rolls his eyes then tells you that he will be fine by himself then.

“I can wait outside?” You ask him and he silently nods so you walk out of the bathroom wondering what the hell had caused Adrian to get so drunk.

So much for being his best confident self, Adrian sighs unable to comprehend the fact that he had throwing up in front of you, so much for being cool he was such a loser and would always be one.

The high he had achieved earlier through various shots that he would never touch ever again was now gone, instead Adrian felt like an idiot having told Gwen so much about you and still he was unable to close.

Standing under a cold shower matches his mood as he hurriedly washes himself, wanting to get rid of signs of tonight, ready to pass out somewhere soon even right here in the bath would do right now.

Feeling empty Adrian couldn’t believe how tonight had gone down, this was the last time he would listen to Scott anytime soon, now he had to go and face you but first he needed to get dressed.

Noticing Adrian walking to his room you make a point of looking away and not staring at his bare chest and strong arms, well you did try but a glimpse was enough to make you bite your bottom lip, but you do scold yourself because now really wasn’t the time.

Worried that Adrian wouldn’t make a reappearance, he is in his bedroom for twenty four painful minutes, until he reappears whilst you try and fail to hide the smile from your face.

“You have such a pretty smile.” Adrian tells you not for the first time but it still makes you blush a little as he walks over in an old green tee shirt and grey fitted boxers.

“I weren’t sure if you were even going to come back-“

“Did you miss me?” Adrian questions with a smile as he takes a seat next to you on the couch, making you smell lime and mint as he settled down.

“Why did you get so drunk? When you got home you said you had something to tell me.” You ask Adrian who suddenly looks caught out but you give him a moment to see if he would lie or come clean with whatever was clearly bugging him.

“Oh it was nothing important-“

“Did it have something to do with whoever Gwen is?” You ask in a poorly concealed jealous voice that Adrian picks up on when he glances in your direction.

“I just met her tonight, I had wanted to talk to you about-“

“What is it?” You ask Adrian with concern.

“Nothing, it really isn’t important right now let’s just forget about it.” Adrian begins hurriedly then sitting closer to you he starts chatting about some woman named Lola who Scott has met tonight.

“Sounds like you had fun.” You nod at him trying to hide a yawn even though you were really tired you wanted another opening to ask about Gwen, because you liked tormenting yourself clearly.

“I didn’t” Adrian begins with a groan but then adds with a cute smile “Because you wasn’t there but now I’m here and this rocks.”

“I think we should hang out more, I kind of missed you tonight-“

“You did?” Adrian cuts you off with a wide smile that makes you instantly blush under his gaze.

“Well sure, I’m still waiting for us to have that sleepover soon.” You remind him with a smirk that makes him arch as single eyebrow and look hot as fuck somehow whilst doing it.

“Can I lay my head on your lap?” Adrian asks and you nod with a smile as he yawns himself then places the back of his head on one of your thighs with a sigh.

“Does that feel better?” You ask him hand instinctively going to his head where you gently thread it through his soft hair hearing him groan gently which only encourages you to do it again.

Adrian remains silent as you play with his hair there is so much he wants to tell you, but right this second he is trying to ignore the very obvious tent in his boxers that he hoped you wouldn’t notice.

Your hands feel so good brushing his hair and softly scratching his scalp that he can’t help but imagine them elsewhere, over his body the thought makes him groan again, causing you to shift a little which for some reason makes him smile.

This wasn’t exactly how he had planned on ending tonight but Adrian feels so relaxed laying his head on your lap, he closes his eyes and falls asleep right there dreaming of how better things could have ended.

You smile to yourself when you hear Adrian’s quiet breathing signalling he was asleep, looking down you see how handsome he looks which makes your heart flip but you tell yourself off because clearly he had already met someone whoever Gwen was, so he couldn’t make it any more obvious that he wasn’t interested.

Sure you both flirted so easily it was part of your dynamic, everything you did it was done platonically which you could do but right now you didn’t want to think about it, so you close your eyes and fall asleep with your hand cradling Adrian’s head.

Waking up with a start the first thing you realise is that Adrian is gone, not feeling his head on your thigh which had felt so comforting, he had instead placed one of his hoodies over you which was a poor substitute.

Looking up you notice his bedroom door was closed, then seconds later you jump out of your skin when your alarm on your phone goes off to signal you had to get up for work, the thought instantly puts you in a bad mood.

How long had you been asleep with Adrian’s head on your lap? You wish you could’ve taken a picture to remember the moment even though the image of him is pretty clear in your mind, of course.

Work is chaotic because orders come into the store wrong and Conor yells at you like it is entirely your fault, causing you to bite your tongue otherwise you would end up with a warning or even worse no job.

This is pretty much a benchmark of how the rest of the morning plays out, progressively getting worse especially when you see Scott walking in whistling the whole way which even makes Phoebe give him a funny look.

“Morning, everyone!“ Scott cheers whilst you wait for the seconds to pass until the barista says something idiotic in your direction.

“Have fun last night?” Scott winks at you eight seconds later, probably a new record if you kept track of those kind of things.

“What do you mean-“

“Did you actually see Adrian last night?” Scott questions with a grin that makes you want to glare at him but you won’t be giving him the satisfaction of knowing he was getting to you.

“Yes, I did he came home drunk-“

“Oh really? Was he by himself.” Cuts in Scott with a question that momentarily makes you pause for thought but a cough brings you back into the coffee shop.

“He was alone but he did want to talk to me about some woman named Gwen.” You explain with a shrug trying not to act as if that kind of hurt when he kept talking about some redhead he had met at the bar.

“No, you got it completely wrong!?” Scott laughs loudly which instantly makes you fold your arms across your chest initiating defensive mode.

“Excuse me-“

“I mean!” Cuts in Scott hastily holding both his hands up in front of him as he adds “Adrian was talking about you to Gwen like all evening, well until I had left with Lola.”

“He talked about me?” You asked in confusion which only caused to make Scott roll his eyes.

“Yes he was gonna tell you-“ Scott stops talking suddenly which makes you widen your eyes at him in annoyance.

“Tell me what?” You snap in obvious frustration.

“Well, it isn’t my place to say and Adrian would kill me.” Scott gives you a weak grin that causes you to scoff and carry on with your work, even though thoughts of your roommate occupied your mind.

Avoiding Scott who kept holding his hands up apologetically at you, you just wanted to get this shift done and go back to the apartment, back to bed where you could hide.

“Why don’t you ask Adrian?” Scott asks when he catches you just before you could make a break to your car.

“Ask him what?” You question sarcastically which makes Scott shake his head at you like you were a lost cause.

“Oh god! You two just need to bone-“

“Hey!” You cut off Scott who gives you a sheepish look back despite deep down you knew he was right, just hook up with Adrian and move on.

Easy….

Spending the whole day alone in the apartment, Adrian was feeling pretty sorry for himself and bored beyond belief all because he wasn’t working until tonight when he put on his costume and became Vigilante.

Obviously having the place to himself had been fun for a little while, but then boredom and settled in and for a brief time he was horny so he jerked off until that wasn’t fun anymore and that was his day pretty much.

Not entirely sure what had happened last night pieces had replayed in his mind, meeting Gwen the redhead who didn’t compare to you, not that anyone but him was obviously comparing because Adrian had it so bad, it ached.

Wait, Adrian had felt that ache last night hell he had even told Gwen he recalls then it hits him why he had drunk so much, for courage to tell you how he felt because he had spoken to the redhead all night about you…how embarrassing.

Shit! What had he said to you last night Adrian could not remember just that he had puked and you had looked after him, he had used the memory of you stroking his hair earlier because it had been so hot.

But that didn’t matter right now he had more pressing issues of whether he had annoyed you last night at any point, but Adrian was sure that if he had you wouldn’t of let him fall asleep on your thigh.

Adrian had wanted nothing more than to kiss your soft thighs last night, moving to the inside to spread your legs and glide his tongue over your skin until-the fantasy stops there when he hears his phone having to get up from the couch to find it.

“What do you want.” Adrian grumbles at Scott once he had located his phone on one of the kitchen stools, where else would it be.

“Hungover are we?” Asks Scott with a chuckle.

“I’m never going out to a bar with you again, what the hell happened last night?” Adrian groans wondering if his idiotic friend could fill in some gaps for him.

“Not you as well!” Scott cries down the phone then elaborates “Your roommates been asking me question about last night and now you, fuck you two are so clueless!”

“Y/N’s been talking about me?” Adrian asks hopefully which causes Scott to laugh once again.

“I told your roomie to go talk to you because Ive already said I was getting bored by all this and now I just don’t care.” Scott announces in a bored voice.

“Thanks.” Adrian scoffs then states “If I hadn’t of gotten so wasted last night things would have ended a lot differently.”

“That wasn’t my fault, by the way I went home last night with Lola-“

“By the way you suck at being a wingman!” Cuts in Adrian in frustration.

“You could have gone home with Gwen and ended this dry spell, both your right hand and dick would’ve thanked you for it.” Scott states clearly making sense but Adrian was never one to do the right thing in the right order.

“It isn’t just about sex-“

“Wait, do you actually like Y/N?” Scott talks over you with a shocked voice, unless he was being sarcastic he could never tell sometimes.

“Of course I fucking do but now she thinks

I’ve met someone which I have, well did but she totally doesn’t count I want Y/N.” Groans Adrian how had this all managed to get even more complicated.

“Well you know what you need to do you idiot.” Scott laughs then adds “ Make it up to your roommate I bet even you could figure out how.”

“I’m not gonna pounce on her when she gets home dude-“

“I thought it wasn’t just about fucking?” Scott giggles lamely.

“Dude, fuck-“

Before Adrian can tell his friend where to go Scott decides to hang up on him which finishes his mood off because now Adrian was completely pissed off.

Make things up to you? How could Adrian do that he wondered realising that firstly cleaning the bathroom would help, because of last night and then maybe he could make food for you and himself.

Blasting out one of his playlists which had a cornucopia of different genres and artists but maybe a little too much Taylor Swift, even though Adrian didn’t see a problem with this, he got to work cleaning and tidying the apartment.

Sure it was his job as well to ensure the apartment stayed tidy and such, so this wasn’t part of the making up he just wanted to impress you with a tidy apartment, after he would head out to grab some stuff for dinner hopefully you didn’t already have plans.

With the apartment block in sight you feel the tension reappearing in your shoulders, the thought of seeing Adrian was putting you on edge even though you really wanted to see his goofy smile right now.

Walking through the front door finally you find yourself smiling when you spot Adrian in the kitchen, he was cooking and it smelled absolutely delicious, looking round you spot your roommate smiling back at you.

“Just in time for dinner come join me.” Adrian asks you easily even though deep down he is nervous you will say no to him.

“Sure, just let me change first.” You nod back with a smile that lights up Adrian’s face making you look away shyly.

Changing your top for a grey cropped one you go to check your reflection in the mirror behind your bedroom door, telling yourself off for even caring but you did want to look a little presentable in front of Adrian, which was telling.

Back in the kitchen you sit opposite Adrian who joins you at the kitchen island, the food looks delicious and you can’t help but grin to yourself.

“I could get used to this.” You nod then groan when you take a bite of chicken fajita noticing how Adrian looks away from you but his ears are tinged red which makes you smile to yourself.

“Oh yeah? Well this is just to say sorry for last night so they are apology fajita’s.” Adrian tells you with a smile that showcases his dimples.

“So we’ve had truce waffles and now apology fajita’s what’s next?” You question with a laugh which makes Adrian’s face light up.

“I love your laugh.” Adrian smiles then realising what he had just said he backtracks “ I mean it’s a cute laugh.”

“Thanks.” You tell him sweetly then add in a teasing voice “ These fajita’s are worth it they make up for last night and anything else you will do wrong in the future.”

“I will probably do so many things wrong.” Adrian states looking down at his food lost in thought.

“We all get things wrong!” You tell him with an encouraging smile “ I’ve had the morning from hell but now I’m here with you and-“

“What?” Adrian asks looking up at you after you had suddenly stopped talking looking adorable with a blush colouring your cheeks.

“It’s just nice to hang out with you that’s all.” You continue slowly then add “ But thanks for cooking it was so good!”

“No problemo!” Adrian declares with a smile the pair of you once again just smiling at the other like an idiot both lost in a million and one thoughts between you.

“I saw Scott at work today.” You begin stating the obvious because of course you would so you explain “ He told me who Gwen was the woman you kept talking about last night.”

“Scott tried to set me up, but do you actually want to know what I spoke to the Gwen about all evening?” Adrian asks honestly smiling when you nod back.

“You.” Adrian tells you with a nervous smile aimed in your direction which makes you grin back because this just confirms what Scott had told you earlier.

“Fed up with me-“

“I could never be fed up with you!” Adrian cuts you off enthusiastically as he adds “ I like being around here and of course with you.”

“Like I told you last night, you should have stayed home and hung out with me-“

“You mean like spend more time together?” Adrian asks with a wide grin.

“Sure.” You nod back cheeks going red whilst you wished you could stop yourself doing that so easily in front of your roommate.

Adrian wants to comment again about how pretty you look when you blush but doesn’t want you to think he just liked you for your looks, you were funny and smart too a wining combo if ever he saw one.

Recalling Gwen’s wise words in his head like she was the Yoda to his Luke, Adrian thought it was about time he found his confidence and put it into good use.

“We could watch a movie and see where it leads?” Adrian asks cockily his question landing flat whilst his confidence disappears with a click of his fingers.

“What the movie?” You joke back knowing full well what your roomie meant but grin when Adrian rewards you with a confused look on his face.

“No, I meant us finally being alone-“

“Adrian, do you want to have sex with me?” You ask him in a faux shocked voice which makes your roommate almost fall back off his stool.

“What, no? I mean sure if you, this feels like a trap-

“Obviously I’m just teasing you, Adrian.” You tell him in a sexy voice complete with wink that has him gawping back, mouth wide open.

“Ha! Of course! I better go clear the table-“

“Let me help.” You tell him getting up from the stool as you work in silence together making you wonder if you had broken Adrian, the thought makes you grin.

Adrian goes out like planned later that night as Vigilante, hearing you in your room he races out full of conflict but ready to meet some criminals, he needed to shut off his mind and quick.

Seeing how right now and back at the table earlier he would have easily kissed you again, but Adrian didn’t just want it to be about sex between you two he knew you were worth more than just a quick hook up.

Yet in his line of work both as a busboy and a anti hero Adrian couldn’t get too close despite that being exactly what he wanted, like you had suggested earlier spending more time together, the idea made him very happy.

Calling Lara as soon as your break was due, right down to the second you walked outside the front of the store already calling your friend before you even took a large sip of your cold brew drink.

It was a sunny Friday and the days were staring to get warmer with summer soon to appear but you had far more pressing matters that needed your best friends help.

“Hello stranger!” Lara calls like it’s been years since you had spoken to her and not literally days.

“Can we go out somewhere tomorrow night?” You ask Lara because you needed a night out desperately, only you wouldn’t drink too much and end up like Adrian you just wanted to let off some steam.

“Of course, I’m down for that!” Lara cheers excitedly then adds “Will your lover boy be joining us?”

“Of course not-“

“I can finally meet Adrian tomorrow! Oh shit, I can finally meet the guy who is driving you mad perhaps I could even help push-“

“No! You won’t!” You exclaim loudly causing a couple walking past you to stop and look at you weirdly

“Either way I get to meet him-“

“Very briefly you can but don’t embarrass me, say hi and then we leave to go to the bar!” You state firmly but then you get an idea so ask “Maybe I could meet you there instead.”

“No chance I want to meet the guy who has been driving you mad for the past few months and you’ve still failed to jump his bones.” Lara snorts with a laugh.

“It’s complicated-“

“It really isn’t! You remember the birds and the bees right?” Lara giggles when she hears you curse under your breath but clearly she hears you.

“Sure, of course I want to hook up with the guy.” You state in a low voice in case someone heard you as you quickly explain “ But I don’t want it to just be like one quick fumble I want more.”

“Holy shit you have a crush on the guy?” Lara practically screams down the phone making you almost drop the damn thing.

“Let’s not label this I-“

“You have a fully fledged crush on your roommate my god it’s worse than I thought it was!” Lara states either to you or herself you wasn’t sure but she is babbling out loud.

“It isn’t like that! Either way what is wrong with a crush it’s harmless.” You decide even though your feelings right now didn’t fit into that category at all but you wasn’t going to tell Lara that right this second.

“This is so cute! Now I definitely need to meet Adrian and find out his true intentions with you.” Laughs Lara as she puts on a flirty voice which makes you regret calling your friend.

“Ok, I’m cancelling-“

“No! I will behave I promise, ok I will try really hard but you have to let me at least meet the dude.” Lara announces trying to negotiate badly which makes you laugh.

“You can meet him for a whole two minutes and then we are hitting the bar.” You relent hearing your friend cheer excitedly in return.

“Why do you want to go to the bar so suddenly? Wait, are you trying to make Adrian jealous or something?” Lara asks with a short giggle.

“No, I just want to do something on a Saturday night and can you just forget what I said about-“

“Having a huge crush on your roommate? That’s a negative I’m going to remember it forever more.” Lara states with obvious glee that makes you clench your jaw in annoyance.

“I’m already regretting this-“

“Why? Tomorrow will be so much fun!” Lara declares and you hope that she is right because you needed some of that injected into your veins right now.

“Let’s hope-“

“Whilst I still have you.” Begins Lara with a laugh in her voice as she then states “ I told you so.”

“Told me what?” You question completely confused by the direction the conversation was going in.

“I said this back at the speed dating night I would say I told you so when you confessed your love for-“

“Woah! No one said love!” You yell in a squeaky voice almost dropping your beloved drink in the process.

“Ok your in crush then, or would it be lust seeing-“

“I need to go but you have to swear to me you will behave yourself tomorrow night!” You tell Lara firmly really hoping she would understand how serious you were being right now.

“Of course I will! I can even help nudge you in the right-“

“No! That’s the opposite of what I want.” You explain to Lara with a groan which turns into annoyance when you hear her laugh.

“Oh! Lover boy must really be something to have you in a mess like this I cannot wait to meet him!” Lara cries happily then you end the call with an uneasy feeling in your stomach.

Adrian cannot believe his eyes when he spots you standing in your bedroom, door opened wide looking around for something so you don’t notice the look he is giving you.

Wearing a blue sundress that hugs your curves and sits just above your knee, Adrian openly stares at you wishing he didn’t have work so he could look at you all night on that outfit.

“Looking good roomie!” Adrian states making you look up quickly from your bedroom floor to see him standing by your door with a wide grin on his face.

“Thanks, I wasn’t sure-“

“You look like an actual babe! Not that you don’t always look-“

“Thanks. Adrian.” You cut him off before he spirals noticing the pink on his cheeks which makes you smile.

“Going somewhere-“

Before Adrian can finish his sentence there is a loud knock at the door, which makes him look behind him to scowl at the door, why were they always being interrupted all the time?

“That’s for me!” You yell making Adrian look back at you to see you brush past him, his body tensing up when he feels your bare arm rub against his which makes him shudder.

Watching as you open the front door Adrian grins when he recognises the tall blonde from the coffee shop, but your roommate obscures you from seeing anything else so you look away.

Obviously curious Adrian carries on getting ready for work for his evening shift at Fennel’s tonight, eyes glancing towards the front door where you were still talking to your friend outside.

“Why are we standing out here?” Lara questions catching you off guard which makes your friend smirk back happily.

“Just wanted to warn you that if you embarrass me-“

“Me? Embarrass you, never!” Lara laughs with obvious glee which makes you roll your eyes.

“Can we just go to the bar?” You beg Lara but she shakes her head, then pushes past you walking back into the apartment.

“Holy shit!” Lara exclaims making you look past her to see Adrian shirtless, a cocky grin on his face whilst your friend is giving you a wide eyed look.

“Ok, let’s go-“

“Hey, I’m Adrian.” Adrian informs Lara who smiles knowingly at you then grins back at your roommate who pulls on his dark burgundy shirt in front of you both.

“Lara, I’ve seen you before at the coffee shop right?” Lara asks with a smile blatantly checking out Adrian who looks far from embarrassed whilst you felt your cheeks heating up already.

“I remember! Are you both out tonight?” Adrian asks glancing in your direction as you give him an awkward smile back.

“Just a couple of bars, I’ll be sure to look after her for you.” Lara winks at Adrian who looks caught out placing a hand round the back of his neck.

“Cut it out.” You tell Lara giving her a pointed look when she grins back at you.

“What? I’m just letting Adrian know-“

“I’m actually on the way out, so I will see you later roomie and great meeting you Lara.” Adrian states with a nod in your direction and a wink aimed at Lara who watches your roommate leave the apartment.

You shake your head glancing at Lara who looks seconds away from bursting with excitement, so you make a carry on motion with your hand for her to get it over with.

“What the hell?! He is so hot how-“

“Now can you see my problem?” You ask Lara with a sigh whilst your friend shakes her head.

“What problem? You should have totally climbed the dude by now and I saw the look he gave you.” Lara smiled excitedly as you grabbed your purse and phone from the couch.

“It’s complicated-“

“Like fuck it is! Sure he isn’t my type exactly but I could make exceptions the dude has muscles on-“

“You’re drooling.” You tell Lara sarcastically making her give you a fake laugh in return.

“No wonder you’re grumpy and horny all the time-“

“I am not!” You begin then quickly add with another sigh “Ok, maybe I am some of the time.”

“I think we need to talk-“

“No! I just want to have a drink and talk about anything other than my roommate and how hot he is, or how cute his dimples are or anything like that.” You snap clearly beyond the point of needing a drink right now.

“This is amazing!” Lara cheers noticing the look on your face because you clearly didn’t agree.

“It’s terrible.” You announce loudly then add “ I have a stupid crush on my roommate and-“

“Ok, your freaking out! Let’s get out of here grab a drink and have a talk.” Lara tells you in a soothing voice.

“Why aren’t you teasing me-“

“I’m still thinking about Adrian’s muscles you need to give me a little while longer.” Lara fans her face causing you to roll your eyes and head out the front door again.

Finally at the first bar of the evening it is already packed and you have to both stand at the bar waiting to be served and in hope of a table becoming free.

“So, did you really not peek a look at Adrian in the shower?” Questions Lara into your ear making you give her a dark look in return.

“Only when he had a towel on-“

“I bet he looked so good.” Lara nods happily making you follow suit because of course he did.

“The image has stayed in my mind ever since.” You wink at Lara who laughs back.

“I’m sure it has! But why settle for just the image when the guy is actually in the next room?“ Lara asks in a teasing voice that makes you groan.

“It’s-“

“If you say it’s complicated, I’m going to literally scream.” States Lara raising both of her eyebrows as she rewards you with a stern look.

Luckily before you could start to unpick why you hadn’t made a move yet, Lara is served and you decide to glance around the bar in the vague hope of finding somewhere, to sit and have this conversation.

Lara silently hands you a beer and you accept taking a long drink until you notice a guy across the other side of the bar watching you, not in the mood you look away catching the excited smile that your best friend gives you.

“So, why haven’t you-“

“Can we not talk about this right now?” You ask with a groan but you curse when you spot Lara shaking her head.

“I felt total vibes between you two!” Lara exclaims which makes you laugh.

“You met the guy for like two minutes-“

“As you had discussed.” Cuts in Lara flippantly.

“So how could you notice something between us? I swear the easiest thing to do is just move on from this-“

“Or you make a move? I would bet good money on Adrian reciprocating if you set the pace and started things off.” Lara giggles at you clearly noticing the hot red covering your cheeks.

“I don’t want to mess-“

“You have it so bad! It’s fucking adorable.” Lara cuts you off with yet another laugh.

“Can we stop talking about Adrian now?” You ask giving Lara your best pissed off look which only seems to encourage the giggles from within her.

“Ok, let’s go meet some guys you can practice talking to, then you can try them with lover boy later?” Lara asks with a happy smile whilst you roll your eyes.

“I know how to fucking flirt-“

“It’s closing that’s the problem then.” Lara nods with a sudden pensive look on her face.

“Since my ex, it’s been hard my confidence has been knocked I’m so off my game-“

“First of all fuck your ex!“ Lara shouts causing several people close by to cheer in response which makes you smile as she adds “ Plus you are the perfect package, Adrian would be an idiot to ignore your advances.”

“I just want to hang out with him first-“

“Yeah, that’s how it starts then you fool around and the fun really begins!” Lara winks at you cheekily biting the tip of her tongue which catches the attention of the guy next to her.

“Sign me up!” The guy jokes which actually makes you smile and that’s how you got to meet Cal and his friend whose name you can’t remember right now.

Cal was here with his friend, they had a table and two spare seats with your names on so after ordering more drinks courtesy of your new friend you all head over to sit down.

Awkward introductions aside, Lara starts talking to Cal’s friend Alex whilst you take the seat next to the friendly blonde from the bar.

Taking a long sip of beer you decide this will be your last one not wanting to get too drunk tonight and make an idiot of yourself in front of Adrian, the very thought makes you shudder.

“So, what’s a gorgeous girl like you doing in a place like this?” Cal asks making you widen your eyes as you burst out laughing from the terrible line he had just fed you.

“That was-“

“Just an ice breaker! You looked so lost in thought so I decided to cheer you up and hey it worked.” Cal cuts you off explaining easily which makes you shake your head but continue to smile regardless.

“It did, I needed that thanks!” You wink at Cal lifting up your beer again ignoring the look that Lara gives you obviously bored already by Alex who was currently glued to his phone.

“So, I couldn’t help but overhear at the bar you were having some guy trouble?” Cal asks with a smile which makes Lara choke on her drink all the while you feel your cheeks going red.

“It’s complicated-“

“How so?” Cal questions after taking a drink he places it down at the table and asks “Look tell me if I’m overstepping but if this guy is messing you around you need to ditch him.”

“No, it’s nothing like that!” You begin with a nervous laugh followed by a sigh as you then explain” He’s my roommate and I’m not sure if he feels the same way or I’m just overthinking.”

“Dream fantasy right there living with a sexy roommate!” Cal laughs with a wink that makes you roll your eyes “ But seriously if he hasn’t made any moves yet-“

“Oh but Cal, he has!” Lara cuts into your conversation with glee making you narrow your eyes at her but she ignores you.

“So he’s left it in your capable hands to make the next move then?” Cal questions with an arched eyebrow making you nod back shyly.

“See! I told you, I said the same thing!” Lara cheers at Cal who smirks back in her direction.

“Am I going to need another drink for where this conversation is leading to?” You ask with a grin looking from Lara to Cal who were having some kind of staring match across the table from each other.

“No, don’t get drunk!” Cal informs you finally looking away from your friend to state “You need to be in control and safe if you plan on hooking up tonight.”

“I didn’t say anything about-“

“Tell me about this roommate, I kinda feel like an overprotective brother right now I want to know the details does this guy have moves?” Cal asks and you notice the look of wonder on Lara’s eyes, it makes you smirk to yourself.

“Adrian has moves alright!” Lara winks at you which makes Cal nod both of them looking at you expectantly.

“Ok, fine.” You sigh then give Cal the bridged version of events leading up to right now because you didn’t want to tell this guy everything, you had just met him after all.

“I think you know what you want to do.” Cal tells you with a wide smile adding “ That whole time you spoke about Adrian you had such a cute smile on your face, it was adorable.”

“It was wasn’t it?!” Lara coos at you with a smirk on her face.

“Ok, now I’m gonna be sick.” You joke then state “ I think I deserve another drink after that.”

“But what if-“

“I know my body, I know when I can stop drinking and who even says I will make a move tonight it’s my choice.” You announce firmly slamming your hand on the table.

“Let’s get more drinks then!“ Cheers Lara jumping up from her seat pulling Cal up out of his who happily lets her as the walk off to the bar together.

“It’s that easy is it?” You mutter to yourself looking back to see Alex finally look up from his phone offering you a weird look.

Silently he gets up and leaves you alone at the table with your thoughts which of course start and finish with Adrian, so you grab your phone and decide to message him at work.

Adrian wouldn’t probably reply anyway so you leave your thumb poised over the messenger app debating whether to message him or not, you weren’t even supposed to be thinking about him but here you were.

Instead you switch from messenger to the camera app, deciding to take a quick picture and send it to Adrian, in case he had forgotten what you looked like or something.

“Cocktail time!” Lara cheers placing something pink in front of you causing you to drop your phone back into your purse.

Thankfully talk of your roommate ceases whilst you enjoy the daiquiri which was very sweet making you relax a little watching Lara and Cal flirt easily.

Meanwhile Adrian stops in the middle of the restaurant floor, when he hears his phone beep in his trouser pocket,using one hand to grab it he sees you have sent him a message pressing the notification to see your gorgeous smile on his screen.

Smiling widely to himself Adrian saves the picture to his phone then looking up in case anyone was watching him, he replaces his phone back in his pocket then carries on working but he can’t stop grinning to himself.

You spend the rest of the evening chatting and having fun feeling you inhibitions escape you after a couple more cocktails have you grinning and feeling so happy, even though Adrian hadn’t replied to your picture but he had seen it.

Not exactly drunk but your thoughts were currently being fuelled by alcohol, everything pointing back to you showing Adrian how you felt, no words needed.

Of course you had pretty much been horny for your roommate since you had seen him appear from the shower that time, only difference was that it wasn’t just about how he looked.

Adrian was funny, clever and always knew what to say to make you laugh whilst he grinned down at you with his dimples on show.

“You ok there?” Lara asks with a smirk noticing you lost in your own thoughts.

“I need to go see Adrian.” You announce getting up from your seat feeling a little light headed but you could deal with it.

“Well the bar is closing now so we best go.” Lara winks at you as you notice her taking Cal’s hand so you follow behind them until you reach outside.

“Cab?” You ask at the same time Cal says to Lara with a grin.

“Your place or mine?”

“Now that’s a bad line!” You joke with a laugh.

“Yeah, but it works.” Lara smiles then tells Cal in a low voice “ Lets go back to mine.”

Sharing a cab with Lara and Cal puts a slight dampener on things what with them making out and asking you questions about Adrian in between, so awkward.

“Are you going to put Adrian out of his misery and hook-“

“Adrian sounds like a good dude!”

“Please stop talking to me.” You groan making Lara wink at you whilst she continues to make out with Cal wishing you were anywhere but here.

“Have fun!” Cal shouts out the cab window finally back at the apartment you rush to head inside excited at the idea of seeing your roommate.

Adrian should have got undressed from his annoying work uniform by now the nylon of his shirt causing him to itch but he didn’t want to move, in case he missed you.

Seeing how you had looked after him when he was drunk, Adrian wanted to be here incase you came back in a similar state he wanted to make sure that you were ok, unless you weren’t even coming home at all.

Deciding to end the night with some beer Scott had left in the fridge, Adrian welcomed the warm buzz that envelopes him blaming the alcohol but he knew otherwise, the cause of this electric need surging through him.

Checking his phone Adrian notes it’s been three minutes since he had last looked at the time, groaning to himself because he was so tired but the need to see you outweighed that by a long shot.

All Adrian wanted was to see your face, hopefully alone but he didn’t mind if you were with Lara just not with a guy that would probably finish him off.

Balling a hand into a fist at the very idea of you not being alone, Adrian had succeeded in annoying himself sure you were your own person but he wanted you all to himself, he was kinda greedy like that.

Adrian would give anything to have you in his arms right now, the tension between you both was truly suffocating and he knew exactly how to remedy that but you kinda needed to be here with him.

{TAGLIST} comment to join❤️

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#adrian chase x female reader #vigilante x female reader #roommates fic #adrian chase fan fics #fluff and heart eyes #slow burn to eventual smut #next chapter #adrian chase #vigilante #peacemaker #freddie stroma #adrian chase is a babe #enjoy #part one of the series

[engeorged]

The Restaurant Part Three

Turning the corner into the refrectory, Josh looked around for Dave. It was unusually quiet for a lunch time, with only a few students eating lunch. Walking past the serving tables, the smell of the food, caused some severe hunger pangs in his middle. He hung over the food, breathing deeply. Some cheers and muffled voices from the annexe of the cafeteria broke his daydream. He walked through and saw a large crowd hanging round a table in the corner. Making his way over, he notised a few of the rugby team in amongst the crowd. They seemed to be cheering some guy on. It was probably some dumb ass freshers having some macho drinking competition over some girl, but he was intregued anyway. He stood next to Ben, and leaned above to see what was going on. To his partial surprise, he found Dave, face covered in tomato sauce, guzzling down a piece of pizza. Several boxes lay down by his side, and there was just one left on the table. His gut was stuck out in front of him like an over inflated beach ball and was resting on top of the table. It was quite a sight to see. Dave finished the last piece and drained what was left of a bottle of coke. He glanced up and saw Josh and smiled.

'Hi big man! Just got a little peckish! hope you dont mind!'

'Not at all, looks like you were enjoying yourself there! You ready to go and get some lunch? I'm starving!'

'Sure! Lets go into town! There is a chineese buffet place open that we could put out of business!' Dave added cheekily. He struggled out of his seat and tried to pull his shirt down over his tight ball and failed! 'Oh well! needed some new clothes anyway!'

As they were going down the hall on the way into town, Josh and Dave went past the sports hall and looked up. There was bunting and balloons and a huge poster heralding 'The Grand Pig-out Eating competition 2003!!' They stopped dead in their tracks and looked at each other. Daves eyes lit up like fairy lights!! .

'Lets do it man!! It says a fiver to enter and the prize is £100 quid and a meal for 2 at that restaurant we ate in the other night!!' Dave exclaimed. As if to punctuate the statement, a low rumble from Josh's taught abdomen broke the silence.

'Even your gut agrees with me man! We'll wipe the floor with them with these fuckers!' He added patting Josh's blimp. 'Plus I am still not full, I feel as if I could eat a horse'

'Fuck the that, I want a whole fucking stable of horses!! Lets go for it man!!' Josh turned and made his way into the hall. A large crowd was gathered on the bleachers and a long table was set up at the other end for the contestants. The couple made their way to the table marked 'Registration' and joined the queue. They reached the front of the queue and the girl at the desk, without looking up from her papers asked,

'Name?'

'Josh Matthews'

'Oh, hey Josh! How old are you?' she asked, head still looking down

'21'

'OK, you are contestant number 5 if you'd like to . . . woah!!! What is that?' It was only then that the girl looked up and started Josh's 70 inch round ball, his t-shirt covering only the top half, revealing a good foot and a half of flesh, with its dark brown hairy treasure trail disappearing into his over stretched tracksuit bottoms. 'Man alive! what happened to you? You werent this big last week in Physical Chemistry?!'

'What? Oh this?' He said coyly 'Oh this is just a few beer pounds, nothing a week in the gym wont shift!'

'Well I hope your right!! that is huge man! You sure you wanna enter the contest? Looks like you've already eaten?'

'Oh yeah! I've had a spot of lunch but I've always been a big eater!' He replied, handing over his five pound note.

'Your call man! Good job though mind!! We've done enough food for 20 contestants and only 4 and you 2 have signed up!' She took the money and gave him a sticker with the number 5 printed on it 'Go and sit on the stage and it'll start in about 5 minutes.'

Dave registered and they went to sit on the stage. The other contestants were already on the stage and ready to begin. Next to Josh was Will from the rugby team. He was one of the guys who had helped him when he got stuck to the water fountain. Will was also quite a big guy, at 6 foot 7 he stood head and shoulders above the others on the team and he was good looking too, dark hair and dark brown eyes with rugged stubble all over his face. But he wasnt just tall and pretty. He weighed in at about 320 lbs and most of that was in his impressive beer gut he had achieved during his 6 years in medical training. It jutted out quite a way under his white rugby shirt and strained at his 40 inch twisted jeans.

'Hey Josh, Dave!' He nodded as the 2 sat down!

'Hey Will! Hows it going?' Dave asked

'Not bad, looking forward to this man! I won the past 4 years running you know! Havent eaten a thing since yesterday you know! Looks like you've done the same!' He joked stroking the tight curve of Josh's belly.

'Well, we're not as prepared as you, but we'll kick your ass man!' Dave laughed

'Yeah! Whatever! Been hearing about you two!! Didn't realise you were joining in with this though! Glad of the competition!! The others didnt look up to much! Might have to get a bit serious now though!' He laughed as he undid his belt and slid it from its loops. 'Looks like I won't need this now! Anyway! I'm up for the challenge! May the best gut win!'

The other 3 contestants who were looking nervously across at Will's impressive belly, were now taking double takes at Josh and Dave. The compare made his way to the stage and took the microphone,

'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome the the Pig Out eating contest 2003!' The crowd cheered wildly and held up their banners and started waving them around. 'Today's contestents are Ian!' Ian was the football captain and was 6 foot tall and about 190lbs.

'Contestant number 2! Brian!' Brian was much shorter but much fatter, he was a computer lecturer and weighed about 250lbs and sported a fat flabby gut.

'Contestant number 3! Brad!' Brad was the opposite of Wayne, he was tall blonde and toned. He was a typical pretty boy, with highlighted blonde hair and french connection clothes. There was no way he would pose any threat to anyone!

'Contestant number 4, Will. Number 5, Josh and number 6, Dave! There is our line up for 2003 Pig-out. You all know how this works, there are 3 knock out rounds and a final. This year, to try something new, the knock out rounds will be themed, they are all television and film moments!! Our first round will be . . . . the milk challenge from Jackass! Each contestant has to drink a gallon of milk in the shortest time possible! Can you bring out the milk jugs!'

6 girls came on in spangly tops each carrying a large gallon jug of milk, they placed it in front of each contestant and walked off stage.

'There is a bucket at the side for those who need it!!' Cheers went up from the crowd 'Contestants, ready, 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . GO!!'

Josh and Dave dove straight in to their milk and guzzled greedily, unlike the other contestants, who were struggling through, drinking one glass at a time, Josh and Dave knocked it straight back, Josh beating Dave by 2 seconds. Looking around Josh let out a humungous burp which echoed around the hall, at which cheers went up from the crowd. Dave let out a mighty belch and turned to look at Josh, neither had even broken a sweat. Looking at the others, They found that Will had nearly finished, as had Brad which was very surprising, even more surprising was the small bump under his usually tight abs. Ian was just draining the last few dregs and Brian had thrown nearly the whole gallon into his bucket and was lying sweatily on the floor.

'Well! I think we have our first contestant to be knocked out, bye bye Brian!' The crowd clapped as the girls returned to escort him off the stage. 'I think we have an all time record for that round as well with Josh Matthews finishing in 18 seconds flat!! Well done Josh!'

Josh smiled and looked very pleased with himself. He felt the gallon of cold milk sloshing around in his gut as the lining cramped with hunger pains. Brad was panting hard and rubbing his belly whilst Ian was leaning forward and belching to make room for the next round. Will and Dave both sat totally calm, if slightly larger, and smiled with pride.

'The next round is taken from the film Beethoven and each contestent has 5 mins in which to eat as many hotdogs as possible! Girls bring on the trolleys!' the girls came back on with a trolley each filled with large plates of hotdogs. 'On your marks, set, GO!!'

Yet again the 5 tore into the food, Stuffing the hotdogs into their mouths with gusto. Josh and Dave, totally lost in the feeding trance, were guzzling two at a time and were neck and neck. WIll was struggling but was managing to keep up with them. When they were on 15, Ian was still on his 6rd and was looking very green, the memory of the milk surfacing in his gut. Brad had given up after 5 and was busy throwing them back up along with his milk into the bucket. At 4 minutes, Ian had stopped on 7 but Will, Dave and Josh were still eating. 20, 21, 22, 25!! All three had guts which were swelling up. Will stopped a minute to undo a button and give the gut a rub, his hugely swollen belly expanded to fill the space. Josh and Dave still racing ahead, 30, 31, 32. The whistle blew for 5 mins. Ian and Will stopped and panted for breath, Will undoing another button to make room for his inflated balloon. Josh and Dave totaly oblivious, continued to eat, much to the girls surprise. They raced on both hitting 40 hotdogs.

'Gentlemen! we've finished! LEave some room guys!' The compare tried! 'Girls, take the trollies away!' As the trollies were wheelied away Josh grabbed a further 3 hot dogs and stuffed them into his face, whilst Dave looked up and grunted.

Silence rolled around the hall as the students looked on shocked. Someone at the back started clapping and soon the whole place was cheering again.

'Well, ladies and gentlemen!' The compare continued 'I think we are gonna have a good contest today. Ian managed 7, Brad managed 5 but then threw up, Will managed a whoping 35 whilst Dave managed 40 and our winner of this round is Josh who managed 43!! I think its time to say goodbye to Brad!'

Brad was wheeled off on a wheelchair, still hiccuping. Ian was lying on his back with his shirt off rubbing his fairly swollen gut. Will had also taken his top off but was busy recovering by massaging his bloated ball with baby oil. Josh was sat watching all this, not really caring that his gut had totally snapped the elastic in his tracksuit bottoms and was covering up half of his lap. Just waiting for the third round. Dave was the same, his elastic still holding but his Gut had totally escaped the holds of his shirt, and all of the buttons were gone, and his protesting belly had escaped and was sitting there, its fine coating of hair glistening with sweat. Without moving, he belched and farted at the same time, both thundering round the hall explosively, each recieving a cheer. This also had the effect of shrinking his gut slightly but added the advanatge that there was some more room to be filled.

'Round 3! We thought this was going to be a real challenge, but looking at the size of our contestants and seeing what they have already eaten, i'm not too sure anymore. The next round is from Cool Hand Luke, each contestant will be given 50 hard boiled eggs to eat and it was going to be the one who eats the most or the one who finishes all 50, but I think that we may need to change it. Erm,' He paused, thinking, 'Well bring on all the eggs, we've cooked a thousand eggs, thinking we'd have 20 contestants, but theres only 4 left so just see if you can manage the fifty! And GO!'

Without hesitating, they dove in. Ian managed to keep up until number 30 when he dropped outof the competition, literally! He fell off his chair. His gut was clearly as swollen as he could make it and he never quite got rid of the slight green colour after the hot dogs. To his credit though he wasnt sick, he just lay there with his tanned ball jutting into the air, his pecs still visible on the top of the mound. His trousers had been forced undone and were unzipped all the way to the bottom, revealing to everyone that he was not wearing underwear. Raucous laughter went up from the crowd as the notised his flacid cock hangning out! Too stuffed to care, he just lay there groaning clutching at his hugely inflated belly. The laughter soon died down when they notised his ample size and girth!

Will was managing to keep up with Josh and Dave and at 40 they were all neck and neck. 50 and niether showed signs of stopping, 60, 70 and 80 eggs dissapeared down each of their throats and their guts continued to swell. Will actually reached 100 eggs slightly ahead of the other two and was in the lead, this was mainly due to the fact that he was eating 3 at a time and josh and Dave could only manage 2! At 150 eggs, will started to slow and by 156 he had given up. Groaning he fell to the floor, clutching his immense belly. He undud the last 2 buttons on his fly and let his gut relax, it expanded again to fill the new space. Audible gurgling sounds were heard by the first few rows.

Meanwhile, Josh and Dave were on their 200th and 206th eggs respectively, now totally lost in their feeding frenzies they continues. When Josh reached his 300th Egg the whistle went and the rest of the eggs were removed from the stage.

Cheers erupted from around the hall and the compare came up to the stage! 'That ladies and gentlemen has got to be a record!! 300 eggs, 43 hot dogs and a gallon of milk!!! Josh's gut was defineatley larger than ever. It must have been at least 85 inches round, and Dave wasnt far off. His gut was swollen enormously and was a huge round ball.

'We will now take a break and will convene in half an hour for the finals where our mamoth competitors Josh, Dave and WIll will compete for the big grand prize!!!'

#bloatedaf #bloated gut #stuffing #stuffing art #gay gainer #swollen #fat gut #gainer fiction

[bleachedjam]

I got this sticker months ago, the bottom one that is. I bought it the same time I bought the water bottle. And I said when I get a new mirror I'd get one for the mirror.

Today I noticed the state it's in. So beat up. The passage of time affecting it and showing how long its really been. Inside I feel as beat up as this sticker. Scratched, color peeling off, worse for wear but you can still read the message. And maybe the scratches add to it.

I know it's weird to get so emotional and thoughtful over a sticker. As we work towards rebuilding, everything that reminds me how long its been makes me emotional. As I said before, my brain is still in September. I wonder if it will ever stop being September.

Birthdays are still happening. Holidays. Time marches ever onward, unbothered by the issues we are faces. Maybe that constant is nice. Comforting to know that no matter how bad things get, what horrible things happen, time continues on at its usual pace.

I got a rosemary. I have so many new plants. Rosemary can aid with memory and help attract good energy. Drives away nightmares. Smells nice.

I also got amazonite and amethyst, to help with anxiety and negativity. I'm happy with my hair most days, I'll probably never grow it out again. Having it short is so much easier, and I'm so over being looked at as a woman. I like that it makes me look androgynous.

I finished a sweater for my daughter, and I'm working on a blanket in mandala squares.

Things keep going. On and on. Towards a new and hopefully better tomorrow. I wonder the kind of person I'll be in the summer. I wonder how we'll make it.

I wonder.

#journaling

[cricutguide]

12 Cricut Joy Easter Projects for Joyful Celebration

I know you all must be very excited to welcome Spring. It allows artists to unbox their crafting machines and start making new DIY projects. If you have a Cricut cutting machine but don’t know which Cricut Joy Easter projects to create, you are on the right blog. This small, compact, portable machine can cut 50+ materials ranging from the thinnest to the thickest.

Apart from this Cricut product, all crafters need to ensure they’ve got all the necessary supplies while making festival projects. Whether you are a beginner or an expert isn’t a big concern; no one can stop you if you are obsessed with learning new projects.

Check out the following blog section, where you will learn about the most optimistic and easy Cricut Easter projects that will help you enhance your creativity.

1.  Vases

Give your main hall a new look by adding a set of vases to spread the festive message. Beyond question, designing vases encourages artists to explore their inner talents. With the help of Cricut Joy and other supplies, you can redecorate it as per their choice.

2.  Treat Box

See a charming smile on your children’s faces by giving them a treat box with their favorite candies and cookies. The customized treat box is one of the quickest and easy-to-make Cricut Joy Easter projects. You can give the treat boxes as a present to your grandchild, kids, and other family members.

3.  Stuffed Bunny

Stuffed bunnies in each corner of your kid’s room can decorate the room. You can invite your kids to help you make this DIY craft using the cut-die machine and other tools. Moreover, one can also make stuffed bunnies of different sizes using various materials.

4.  Goodie Bags

Don’t bid farewell to your guests empty-handed; as a return gift gesture, you can give them a goodie bag. Fill the bag with lollipops, cookies, and more so they won’t forget you. You can effortlessly make one of these Cricut projects for Easter using Cricut Joy and other items.

5.  Wreath

Further to the post, redesign your door with a cute, eye-pleasing customized wreath. Passers-by or guests will instantly love your creativity after seeing the wreath outside your home. Moreover, you can also give the wreath as a gift while attending any party or event.

6.  Earrings

Do you love to dress yourself in a perfect look from top to bottom? Then, it would help if you made customized earrings. Initially, you might think designing this jewelry might be hectic, but it isn’t. With the help of this Cricut machine, it will be a lot easier for you to make it, as the machine will work according to the command. 

7.  Banner

Hang a customized bunny-shaped banner near your chimney to add a little sparkle. You can make one of these Cricut Joy Easter projects in any shape, size, color, or material from the Cricut cutting machine. It will also excite your guests and give the surroundings a positive vibe.

8.  Apron

If you love to cook a variety of cuisines, then you need to have a DIY apron with you. The apron will protect your clothes from getting dirty and make you look more professional. If you intend to make your favorite apron, use the correct cut-die machine and other compatible tools.

9.  Can Holder

No party seems complete without chilled soft drinks, so protect your cans from getting hot by covering them with a funky can holder. To ideally form one of these Cricut Joy Easter projects, you must have essential supplies to make the craft properly.

10. Stickers

Simultaneously beautify your journals, water bottles, and textbooks by putting stickers on or inside their covers. You can make uncountable stickers out of Cricut Joy that will help you learn about your talent. Without question, all DIYers must have specific crafting tools to help them create their chosen craft.

11. T-Shirt

Are your kids planning to participate in the Easter Day parade? If so, then you should make a custom-made T-shirt for them. Making a t-shirt for them will make them aware of how much you love them and their importance. To make a DIY t-shirt, choose the correct cutting machine, materials, and Cricut Heat Press.

12. Wine Glasses

Referring to the last Cricut Joy Easter projects, spend some quality time with your partner or friends with classy wine by your side. Designing wine glasses is a relatively easy task with the Cricut cutting machine. With the help of your Cricut model, the DIYer can easily make designs for glasses and make them look good-looking.

Wasn’t discovering so many projects you can effortlessly make with the Cricut Joy machine inspiring? Beyond the question, you must be careful while making any craft, as mentioned above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What Easter Crafts Can I Make for My Kids With Cricut Joy?

Answer: Some of the most popular do-it-yourself Easter crafts that you can make out of Cricut Joy are as follows:

Notebook decal

Greeting card

Gift bag

Banner

Mason Jar

Can holder

Stickers

Apron

Question: Is the Cricut Joy Worth the Purchase?

Answer: It is worth buying a Cricut Joy cutting machine for crafting. It is small, compact, and portable and can accurately cut more than 50+ materials. In addition, Cricut Joy can write, draw, and score on the material, which is compatible with the Design Space app.

Question: What Cricut Items Do I Need to Make Easter Projects?

Answer: To make the desired Easter project out of the Cricut machine, all the users must have the below-said supplies:

Cricut Joy machine

Materials

Design Space account

Weeding tool

Cutting mat

Spatula

Brayer tool

Source: Cricut Joy Easter Projects

Visit here for more Information: Cricut.com/setup

Cricut Design Space

#Cricut Joy Easter Projects #Cricut.com/setup #Cricut explore 3 #Cricut Design Space #Design space Cricut

[luciusime]

Apartment 21C, And The Fucker That Lives There

Bad things happened, but they weren't as permanent as Dylan thought they would be. Well, except for the arm. Fuck Monsters, and fuck loosing an arm. Spoilers, of course.

There are tags explaining what this is, but they're at the bottom. I recently finished the audio recording for a book called Fuck Monsters, which you can find on Reddit, YouTube, and Amazon should you feel like checking it out yourself. I liked it alot, made me laugh and then almost cried because how could you do this to my meow meows for real. Now that it's over, I'm writing a sorta fix-it comfort fic. I need them together and whole again. Also my AO3 iffin ya wanna read it there.

The ceiling of Dylan's new apartment is white, except for a little brown spot on the roof he tries hard not to look at. The walls are white too, and as much as he'd like to fill them with something, he really can't think of a single thing to put on them. The floors are bare too; once upon a time there might have been a rug or two, one at the door to clean shoes before you took them off, and one in the bathroom to catch water when you got out of the bath, but even though he'd moved in almost a month ago, he hadn't gotten around to going to any stores but the grocery and liquor ones. There's a tiny voice in the back of his head telling him he should be doing better, living better; but there's a louder one that yells that shitty bourbon is the answer to all of his needs.

He has the basics from his last apartment: the couch, which was brand new when it made its way to his last apartment so now it's mostly fine; his king sized bed, which was a nice bonus from the hazard pay from his last job; his dresser, which served as a kind of bookshelf for a few titles he'd picked up while at a general store getting groceries; all the stuff that went in a kitchen and a tv. All in all, everything he'd need for his "indefinite leave" which headquarters was miraculously paying for.

He hates it.

He hadn't been without a job to do in years, so he'd almost forgotten what he did before. But when he did remember, he discovered it was just more drinking. 'cept he'd had friends to drink with before all this. 

He puts his current read down on the coffee table beside him and carefully sits up, taking a moment to lament his redeveloping ability to roll off the couch before standing. He walks over to the kitchen and grabs a half empty fifth of…something, hell he doesn't know. He'd peeled the sticker off the bottle for some perceived slight while he was shit faced, and he never really bothered to look at the bottles when he bought them, only the price. Sadly, while headquarters covers his apartment and minor living expenses, booze is not among their list of covered necessities. Either way he steadies the bottle against the counter and pops the cork out, tipping his head back as he empties some more of the bottle down his throat. He sets the bottle down as he turns to the fridge.

His hand grasps the handle of the fridge, except it doesn't, and he sighs as he reaches out with his left hand. That too had been a problem for the last two months. Forgetting, feeling it when it wasn't there, face planting into doors and walls and floors when he slips up and forgets. Stopping his falls, of which there were many, had become a serious problem. He almost broke his nose the last time he'd fallen over one of his shoes that he'd left on the floor. He got more careful where he left his things after that.

Looking into said fridge, nothing strikes him as particularly appetizing. There's some sliced pineapple, milk, leftover take out, and some lunch meat. He's about to close the fridge without getting anything, but his rumbling stomach reminds him he hasn't actually eaten anything that day, so he grabs the lunch meat and closes the door with his hip. It takes some maneuvering, but he's eventually able to get his bag of lunch meat and his bottle of booze in his hand before he makes his way back over to the couch. Upon looking though, he decides the couch isn't really where he wants to be, and so he retreats to his room.

His room is dark, the blackout curtains drawn over the afternoon sun and the lights off from when he had left it that morning in a burst of surprise energy to go running. He doesn't bother turning the lights on as he walks over to his desk and sets his goods down to start his "lunch".

By the time he's done, it'd been an hour and he's thoroughly smashed. He'd gone slow with the rest of the bottle, purely because he hadn't had anything to eat that day, and because he literally could not tell you if he'd had water in the last 72 hours, so the buzz is pleasantly spread across his body and not giving him much nausea. His bag of lunch meat had run out about 5 minutes in though, so there he sits at his desk with an empty fifth and a plastic bag of nothing.

His bones creak as he stands and moves over to his bed, sprawling out as far as he can. He lets his hair dangle in his face as his eyes drift closed. For a long while he just sits there, feeling all together as pleasant as he could. It might have been seconds, it might have been minutes, but it was nowhere near hours when for the first time in 2 months, there was a knock at Dylan's door.

At first he doesn't get up, very sure that it's a door to door salesman or something of the like, but then the door is being pounded on and refusing to be ignored. Before he could get up though, the pounding stops, and a tapping on his window starts. Dylan might not have been on an assignment, a hunt, in a while, but two months is in no way enough time to erase the instincts and paranoia that had been pounded into his body during his time as an exterminator.

He crouches low to the ground, slipping the replacement he'd gotten for his beloved gun out from under the bed as he slowly backs up towards his bedroom door, intent on putting as much space between him and whatever was at his 4th story window as possible to buy him some time to think. Well, he was backing up, until another pounding starts at the door, and seconds later more tapping comes from the glass of his window. For a moment he feels something brush across the back of his head, sliding over his shoulders before entering his ears, a whisper of a whisper. He shakes it off and continues out of his room, intent on locking himself in the windowless bathroom so he can call someone from headquarters to make sure they were doing something about the current situation outside of his apartment.

Halfway down the hall however, he freezes as a voice rings out from the front door. It's scratchy and low, like years of smoking makes a voice. It isn't loud, but it projects across the threshold of his doorway nonetheless.

" I know you're in there you motherfucker, open up Dylan," and hasn't he been longing for months to hear that voice one more time, his alcohol addled mind whispers as yet again that force slides over him and into his ear. Once more he bats it off, but this time there's more than just a whisper, and Dylan thinks this might be the point at which he's lost his mind.

" I know this is overwhelming Dylan, but I promise you can open the door, no harm will come to you."

He's gonna scream, he thinks to himself as tears well in his eyes and his mind fumbles over itself to provide any and every monster it can think of that could mimic a voice like that without previous contact with the owner of the voice or someone who had met that voice. He thinks about any and every encounter he has had in the last two months, and the answer he comes up with is emptier than his work email. He grips his gun tighter as he slides down the hallway wall just around the corner of the living room.

More sounds come from the front door, this time not accompanied by the hellish knocking on his window. He buries his head in his knees as once more those voices come from his door. He pulls his arm in so his gun is pointing straight up and his elbow is resting on his knee. He wishes he had his other hand to better block off the noise.

Not real, not real, not real, not real, not real, not REAL, NOT REAL, NOT REAL.

" I promise this is real."

Softly, ever so softly, that same energy comes around him again, this time accompanied by a second less familiar one, and he doesn't know whether that should frighten him or reaffirm that this is, in fact, a monster come to torment him one last time now that he's down on his luck. The second one doesn't hurt though, no, it's just as gentle as the first as they roll over his mind and begin to show him things, to tell him things.

An image of that day, that horrible day, starts to play in his mind. It's from the eyes of someone else, thrust right into the center of the cluster of parasite ridden bodies, and as soon as he heard that smooth voice, like aloe over a burn, he knew that this was a memory from Theodore. He ripped free the first time, crushed Athena and watched as her look of gratitude shifted to nothing as she became a fine mist, watched as Theodore's win became temporary, then nothing at all as the world went black and all that Theodore was was ripped from his chest and made to be a part of the thing. 

Suddenly he's looking at himself, whole except for the wounds to his legs, and at the sight of those he can feel a slight pang of regret that isn't his own. Memory Dylan was propped up against the wall looking on at the destruction and creation wrought around him, and then he was once again subject to Sandra's plan. As memory Sandra slipped away from memory Dylan, part of him wants to beg her not to go, to stay with him as the end came about, but this was only a memory. He felt as that ever steady presence slipped over the thing and found Theodore.

As soon as Sandra started talking he can see Theodore from above, from behind, from in front, from below, from so many impossible angles it makes his head begin to hurt, and then just from above again as that first energy, one he's beginning to grow frighteningly fine with, settles on the best direction to view from. 

Sandra of the memory explained the plan to Theodore, going as fast as she could now that she was fading almost as quickly as her words could come. He understood just as fast, and once more he was a witness to the prowess of his former teammates. In that moment, for a brief second between bouts of grief, horror, and rage it's enough to make Dylan feel stupid, once more inadequate in the face of their genius and ability, and then he's just sad again. The second energy, one he's having to fight not to put a name to in fear he'd be gravely wrong, slides down his skull and over his back in what he thinks is supposed to be a comforting motion. Really it just sends a shiver down his spine.

As memory Theodore ripped himself free from the being's control with the help of memory Sandra, there was no sight or sound, only feeling as he boldly lashed out once, then twice as Dylan failed to hit the first time. Then a third, final lash to close the portal for good. As the world began to fade, Dylan felt as his two closest people began to do so as well, wrapped around each other so as not to truly die alone. 

What Dylan had missed as he was leaving, and the clean up crew had missed as they were coming in, was a single little light, a pure gold wrapped in brilliant silver, drifting down from the air and settling into one of many cracks and crevices of the building, one that no one had bothered to check. Slowly the one light became two, and then none at all. For a moment Dylan thinks they had finally died and found rest, but then the world started spinning, gnashing against reality in little, unnoticed ways. 

2 months, 1 month to wake up and realize they weren't dead, though it was a little longer for Sandra, and another to use that discarded, unnoticed mystery meat to make new bodies. Dylan looks up from his knees and to the door, and with all of his heart he wants to tear it open and gaze upon those two faces, but he knows what monsters are capable of, and he had taken Sandra's ashes back home for her and watched as those things tore Theodore to pieces. But as that familiar energy runs over his mind and the second slips over his body, he can't really seem to bring himself to care. He hasn't had a purpose in two months, nothing to keep him going besides the knowledge that to end himself with the last thing headquarters had authorized him to take would be giving them too much.

As he rips the door open and lays eyes on those two faces, identical to his memory, he reasons that it doesn't really matter whether or not the two outside were monsters, because really, what else does he have to live for. They're frowning as he looks at them, probably on account of the fact they can read his mind and his thoughts were pretty self-deprecating, but that doesn't even matter as he tries to wrestle them into his arm. They eventually start helping by wrapping him in their four perfectly working arms, and he starts crying in earnest once he's surrounded in their very real warmth. If he didn't know that his neighbors were at work he was sure that they would be peaking at the spectacle happening in front of his door, but there's never anyone around during the afternoon. 

One of them, Theodore he thinks, backs them into his apartment and kicks the door shut. Then in a move that is entirely Theodore, he's being hoisted into the air along with Sandra and startled out of his tears. They begin moving towards the couch, but all his mind can think about is how it's too small to comfortably fit them all in a way they could remain touching. He needed them to stay touching. He yanked on Theodore's hair slightly to get his attention before motioning towards his bedroom door. He feels Theodore slip over his mind and is grateful he won't have to talk as his breath stutters over a tearful sob. He gets the message loud and clear, and steers them towards Dylan's room. 

Theodore softly dumps Sandra and Dylan onto the bed before moving to climb in on Dylan's right. Sandra tucks her head into the left crook of Dylan's neck, pinning his arm to his side as she throws hers over him, and Theodore warps as much of the two of them as he can reach up in his arms. Dylan cries for the next 10 minutes, and the two just let him. No judgment, no probing, no words. When he's finally done he keeps his head buried in Theodore's chest so he doesn't have to look them in the eyes. Sandra runs her fingers through his hair softly as Theodore taps little nonsensical rhythms into his cheek. They don't talk, not that night, they just sit there and enjoy each other's company. Dylan hopes they never leave him like that again.

Fuck Monsters, and fuck being alone

#i just finished the youtube audio recording for this book called fuck monsters #it was really good #and i had like this whole list of tags when i made the draft for this post this morning when i finished the book #but tumblr is so very dumb #and they got deleted #but #the book is by a redditer #u/RehnWriter #or Rene Rehn #Rene Rehn #and the youtube recording is by Jordan Grupe Horror #Jordan Grupe Horror #and these are my newest blorbos #my little meow meow #Dylan #Sandra #Theodore #who is my favorite little rat bastard #im gonna give you a couple head cannons while im here #im pretty sure Dylan is the oldest and Theodre is the youngest #Sandra is the middle one #being somewhere in her mid to late 30s but not yet 40 #where as Dylan feels 30-40 something years old #and gor reasons i cannot properly explain but would be happy to ramble about #Theodore is mid to late 20s #also for reasons i could ramble about #i think Dylan's parents are no contact or dead