#the dishes. um sorry but back in my day I had all this shit going on. but I crawled out of my hole. somewhat | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

once-upon-an-imagine · 9 months

Text

Teenage Dirtbag - Eddie Munson

A/N: well, this keeps on working so far 😂😂😂 here's Eddie's story! and then is full Marauders, James, then Remus, and then Sirius! I hope you guys like it!

Request - lunamadhatter99 asked: I do have a request, my friend! I'm so happy requests are open😍 Anyway: Henderson!Reader x either Steve or Eddie (whoever works better for you), where the reader is very quiet, not necessarily shy, but still. She's targeted by the jocks too because she's the "loser" sister, you know, and maybe one day, one of their pranks went too far and she's very upset about it (maybe is the process a special possession of hers). Every time she gets bullied, Steve/Eddie helps her comfort her, especially because she doesn't want to tell his little brother, who thinks she is friends with them... does it make sense? I don't know, I'm sorry 😂👋

Warnings: mentions of sex; Billy being an asshole (also, this is kinda between s3 and 4 and Billy didn't die so Jason and Andy are his dumb friends I hope this makes sense) reader is kind of mean to Dustin (not really, she's just grumpy and a loner instead of shy, kind of like Kat in 10TIHAY)

Disclaimer: I don��t own Stranger Things :) gif isn’t mine :D

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Teenage Dirtbag

'Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby Yeah, I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me, ooh

“DUSTIN! Hurry up! Steve is gonna be here any second! We’re gonna be late!” you smashed your hand against the bathroom door, yelling for your brother to get ready. You had been feeling anxious all day. Something inside you told you that today might not be a good day and, as much as you tried not to, you took it out on Dustin.

“I’m coming! Geez, calm down!”

You rolled your eyes and walked over to the kitchen to finish your coffee and wash the dishes but you tripped over a bag full of garbage.

“Ugh! Dustin!” you yelled as he walked over to you.

“What? What did I do now?”

“The trash is your chore” you complained, grabbing the bag and handing it to him. “When I say take out the trash, I mean outside of the house. To the trashcan!”

“Maybe you can show me for next time” he laughed.

“Maybe I can give your Nintendo to goodwill” you smirked back, erasing the smirk off his face.

“Fine, sorry” he said, grabbing the bag and going outside.

“Let’s go!” you said as soon as you heard Steve’s car parking on your driveway.

“Wait, where’s lunch?”

“Oh, shit!” you said, grabbing some of the money you left near the door in case Dustin needed to order food. “Here” you said, grabbing $10 for yourself and giving Dustin $5.

“Why do you get $10 and I get $5?” Dustin complained.

“Take out the freaking trash!” you replied, mocking his exact same tone.

“Good morning, Hendersons!” Steve smiled as you got in the front and Dustin got in the back.

“Thanks for the ride, Steve” you said. “Robin still out of town?” you asked, confused to not see her there already.

“Yeah, she’s coming back next week-”

“Why are we even going this early? School doesn’t start for another hour!” Dustin asked on the ride to school. “And why do you always ride shotgun?”

“Because I’m Steve’s favorite Henderson” you smirked. “And Steve has an early shift, so I wasn’t going to make him wait for us” you explained. “Plus, I have to get together with Nancy for something about the school paper” you informed him.

“Well, I could have taken my bike-”

“Just say thank you, Dustin!”

“Thank you” he said, rolling his eyes a little.

“Hey, aren’t those your old friends?” Dustin asked as Steve drove into the parking lot. You looked to where he was pointing to see the basketball players hanging outside the school with some of the cheerleaders.

“No” both you and Steve replied at the same time.

“Are you sure?” Dustin asked, confused. He recognized some of them, although he had noticed you never talked to them anymore.

“I’m sure” you said, rolling your eyes. “Just… stay away from them, okay?”

“Okay” he said, unconvinced. “Um, are we having movie night?” he asked Steve.

“Yeah, my house” he nodded.

“Cool. I think we’re going to Mike’s after school, so I’ll see you there” he told them.

“Okay” you nodded. Dustin started opening his door but you stopped him. “Dusty” you said, making him look confused at you. You rarely called him that anymore. “Nothing… I’ll see you at Steve’s” you told him and he nodded before he got out.

You saw him make his way over to Mike, Will, Lucas, Max, and El and you heard him complain about you and all of them saying how you used to be fun and happy all the time. You let out a sigh of frustration, throwing your head back on the chair.

“You know, you could just… tell him” Steve shrugged.

“I’m good” you told him.

“Dustin’s just worried about you” he insisted. “And to be honest, so am I-”

“Harrington, I know my brother’s your best friend now-”

“That’s not true” he glared at you.

“But you were my friend first and you promised we wouldn’t discuss this with Dustin” you told him.

“I’m just… a little confused, okay? Why did you all of the sudden stop hanging out with them like, what, a year ago?”

“You did too!” you argued.

“Well, yeah, because they’re assholes-”

“Exactly” you told him.

“But, now you’re here alone, because I graduated, I just don’t want you to be alone-”

“I’m fine on my own” you shrugged. “Plus… Eddie’s my friend-”

“Oh, right… Munson. That’s another thing. I know something happened last Halloween, okay? You mysteriously stop hanging out with all of our friends, you started wearing darker clothes, darker makeup and you start hanging around with Eddie, the freak, Munson-”

“I told you to stop calling him that” you glared at him.

“Which you also hide from Dustin-”

“Well, I just don’t want him to think that the only reason he and his friends are in Hellfire is because I asked Eddie to look after them-”

“But you did-”

“Steve, it is too early in the morning to have this discussion” you said, rubbing your temple.

“Fine… I’ll drop it” he said. “For now” he added, making you glare at him a little. “You working today?”

“No, it’s my day off” you informed him.

“Cool, want me to pick you up after work?”

“You sure it’s not too much trouble?”

“Nah, you’re my favorite Henderson after all” he smirked.

“I knew it!” you said, kissing his cheek before you opened the door. “See you later, Stevie” you said.

“Have a good day, kid” he waved at you.

He noticed you walking close to the group of jocks and they yelled something at you but you simply flipped them off and kept walking. Steve felt a bit uneasy about it but decided he would ask you about it when he picked you up. Sooner or later, you had to talk to him.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

“Hey, princess” you felt a small smile, trying to contain the butterflies you felt in your stomach when you heard that voice. You turned around to see Eddie smiling at you.

“Munson, I thought you were standing me up today” you said as he sat at your usual table in the woods, past the bleachers.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, love” he said, sitting in front of you. “What do you got for me today?”

“I forgot to make lunch, so I had to grab something from the vending machine” you said, putting your cigarette out. “So, pretzels, or Reeses Pieces?”

“You just… happened to pick my two favorite things?” he smirked. “If I didn’t know any better, Henderson, I would think you like me” he mocked you.

“Uh-huh, is that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? And two cokes?” your sked, looking at his bag.

“Grape jelly. Your favorite” he winked at you.

“Huh, if I didn’t know any better, Munson, I would think you like me” you returned the smirk.

“Wanna split it?” he asked and you nodded as you split the three things between the two of you. “So, what are you working on?” he asked, about to grab your sketchbook.

“Nothing!” you quickly said, putting it away before he could get it.

“Oh, that doesn’t sound suspicious at all” he mocked you. “Come on, show me!”

“It’s just… a work in progress” you told him. “It’s not finished yet” you insisted.

“Fine, be all mysterious” he chuckled. “Hey, did you get new colored pencils?” he asked, grabbing one of them.

“Oh, um… y-yeah” you said nervously. “There was a discount at the store where I work and-”

“Really?” he raised his eyebrow at you. “Or were your old ones… broken?”

“Um… there may have been an… incident-”

“Who?” he asked, his tone turning angry.

“It doesn’t matter, Eddie-”

“Yes, it does! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I don’t want you to get into a fight and not graduate with me this year” you told him, making him laugh just barely. “Look, it’s fine. I really did get a discount and…” you said, looking through your bag. “I got markers too” you smiled brightly at him. “Look!”

You stood from your place and sat down on the table with your feet on the bench next to Eddie. You grabbed his hand and placed it on your knee, which was not an uncommon thing for you to do whenever you drew something on him but he felt his cheeks blushing. You quickly drew a small doodle of the Hellfire symbol using different colors and you smiled when you were done, showing it to him. Eddie rarely get to see that smile on you and he loved it when it happened.

“Holy shit!” he smiled, looking down at his hand. It looked cooler than the one in his shirt.

“Do you like it?” you asked, bashfully.

“I love it, princess! This is amazing!” he said, looking back at you. “You’re amazing” he smiled.

“Um, thanks” you said, looking down at his hand and feeling your cheeks burn. You could not ignore the butterflies in your stomach any longer. You grabbed his hand and stroked your thumb against your new drawing. “Uh, a-actually, what I didn’t want to show you is um… kind of… a surprise…” you admitted, not facing him.

You saw Eddie’s hand untangle from yours and make its way up to your chin, lifting your head gently and making you look into his beautiful, chocolate-brown eyes.

“A surprise?” he asked, smiling brightly. You simply nodded, unable to form any words by the way he was looking at you. “What is it?”

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise!” you chuckled. “I just want to finish it before I show it to you” you told him.

“Okay, fine” he said, as his hand suddenly found its way back to yours and you started playing with his rings. “But… you promise you’ll show it to me when it’s done?”

“I promise. I mean, it’s kind of… for you” you told him.

“Really?” he asked, and you nodded.

“Yeah, it’s kind of… a thank you” you admitted. “For everything” you added. “Even for my brother and his friends. Thanks for letting them in Hellfire” you told him. “I know they're a bit weird but… I love them and I'm happy they found someone like you” you said.

“My pleasure, princess” he told you. “They’re cool kids” he chuckled. “Especially Dustin” he added. “Although he keeps asking me why I always have different doodles all over me” he chuckled.

“Yeah, he’s pretty smart” you laughed too. “I don’t think it’ll be long before he realizes about us” you said, without really thinking. “I m-mean uh-”

“Us?” Eddie smirked. “And exactly what would he realize?” he asked, getting up and towering a little over you, placing his hands on both your sides. “That we’re friends?” he asked, with the same smirk still plastered on his face.

“Y-yeah, I guess” you said innocently.

“Would he mind?”

“Um- I don’t think so, I just… don’t want him to think that you’re only his friend b-because of me” you explained.

“Oh, he wouldn’t think that” he assured you, as he gently brushed your hair away from your face. “And… what if he thinks there’s something else between us?”

“Is there?” you asked, as you felt him getting closer. And then the bell rang. The stupid bell rang. “Fuck!”

“Ignore that” he pleaded.

“No! We have a Math test” you said, pushing him away and gathering all of your things. “I told you, Eddie, you’re graduating this year, with me. Let’s go!” you threatened him.

“You’re killing me, sweetheart” he said, as you pulled him with you but he was stronger and he pulled you back. “To be continued?” he smirked.

For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, you smiled. It was a different smile, one that you didn’t think you had in you anymore and you could see Eddie noticed it. You leaned in and kissed his cheek.

“To be continued, Munson” you said, before you started pulling him towards the school despite his protests.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

You were waiting in the parking lot for Steve. As much as you wanted, you were not able to be with Eddie alone the rest of the day. You were hoping to catch him at the end but, as a surprise to no one, he got detention, so here you were.

“Well, if it isn’t my lucky day?”

You cursed under your breath, silently begging for Steve’s car to appear any moment now. But no such luck.

“Hargrove” you sighed. “Oh, if it isn’t Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum” you smirked at Jason and Andy, standing with Billy.

“Fancy meeting you here, babe” Billy smirked at you.

“Can’t say the same” you said, trying to walk away but he stepped in front of you. “What do you want, Hargrove?”

“See, I have a question for you” he said. “Andy here, says he saw you coming out of those woods with Eddie fucking Munson” he said, getting closer to you and making you take a step back. “Is that true?”

“I fail to see how that’s any of your business, really” you glared at him.

“Well, for starters, I think Munson can do better” he said, making Andy and Jason laugh.

“Lovely” you rolled your eyes, trying to walk away again but they blocked your way.

“Aw, did I strike a nerve there? Do you have a crush on Munson?” he mocked you.

“Just, leave me alone, Billy-” you said, trying to leave but, you felt your sketchbook being taken from you.

“Oh, what is this?” Jason asked, opening the sketchbook. “Do you write your love letters to that freak here?” he laughed.

“Give that back!” you said, trying to get it back from him.

“Oh, it’s even better than that!” he said, showing your sketches to Billy and Andy who started laughing.

“Give me that!” you said as he tossed it to Billy.

“Looks like you’re a bit obsessed with him, babe” he said, looking at your drawings. “I’m guessing you wouldn’t want anything to happen to this, would you?” he said, tearing a few pages apart.

“Billy, give it back!” you yelled, but he pushed you back, making you fall to the ground, your hands aching when they hit the pavement.

“Whoops, clumsy me” he said, tossing your sketchbook on a nearby water puddle.

“Stop it!” you said, getting up and trying to get to it but Andy pushed you away.

“HEY! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!?”

“You want something, freak?” Jason yelled, smirking.

“Oh, speak of the devil” Billy smirked as Eddie approached all of you.

“Get the fuck away from her” he said, making his way over to Billy.

“Why don’t you keep walking and mind your business, freak?”

“You know, I gotta say, even for you, it’s pretty low, three guys against one girl” he smirked, erasing Billy’s.

“You really think it’s worth it? Standing up for that slut-?”

Before Billy could go on, Eddie quickly punched him in the face.

“Eddie!”

“You’re dead, freak!” Jason said, punching Eddie back while Billy got up, laughing.

“Looks, like you got some fire in you, Munson!” he yelled before he punched him too.

“Eddie!” you yelled, trying to get to him but Andy stopped you. “Stop it!”

“You having fun, Munson?” Billy smirked as he landed punches on Eddie before he grabbed him by his jacket. “No one tells me what to do!” he said before he pushed him to the ground again. He then threw himself at Eddie and started landing punch after punch, like a madman. The last time you had seen Billy like this was when he fought Steve and it shook you to your core.

“STOP IT! BILLY, STOP!”

“You really think you traded up, babe?” he smirked, looking at you. “He’s even worse than Harrington!”

“STOP IT, PLEASE!” you said, as tears started welling up in your eyes.

“Aw, you gonna cry, princess?” he said, mocking Eddie’s voice with the last word.

As if your prayers were finally answered, a car reeled in front of you, almost hitting Jason.

“What the fuck, Harrington?” he asked as Steve got out of the car.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

“Come join the party, Harrington” Billy smirked at him, finally letting go of Eddie. “Ready for round two?”

“Yeah, let me just get my friend here” Steve smirked, grabbing his bat out.

“Dude, what the fuck?” Andy said, letting go of you, and slowly walking away with Jason. You quickly ran over to Eddie, pushing Billy aside.

“Ready to go, Hargrove?” Steve said, walking closer to him as he and the other two stepped away.

“You know what? She’s not even fucking worth it” Billy said, throwing one last glare at you. “Let’s just go” he told Jason and Andy as they walked away.

“Eddie! Oh my God, Eddie! Can you hear me?”

“Do I have a concussion or did King Steve Harrington just save my ass?”

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

“Ouch!”

“Sorry, I’m sorry” you apologized, taking the cotton ball away.

You were now in Steve’s kitchen, cleaning Eddie up. You carefully pulled his hair up in a messy bun with your scrunchie so you could see him better. You placed your hand softly on his cheek and your heart broke seeing a big purple bruise printed on his left eye. He looked at you with his huge, deep brown puppy eyes and you had to take a deep breath to not lose it right there because you knew he needed you.

“You okay?” Eddie asked, worriedly.

“M-me? You’re asking if I’m okay? Eddie, Billy and Jason just beat the shit out of you, and you’re asking if I’m okay?”

“First of all, I’d like to think that I handled that with dignity. Secondly, you fell to the ground and that idiot Andy was hurting you” he said, grabbing your hand and tracing his thumb gently on the bruises forming in your arms where Andy grabbed you.

“I’m really sorry, Eddie” you said, coming out in a whisper and tracing your thumb against the now fading drawing you made earlier on his hand. A small tear fell down your cheek and Eddie quickly wiped it away before he cupped your cheek.

“Princess, you have nothing to be sorry for” he assured you.

“Yes, I do! You wouldn’t have gotten hurt if it wasn’t for me” you insisted.

“Hey” he said, pulling you closer to him. “I would do it all over again, love” he smiled at you.

“Hey, man” Steve said, coming into the kitchen and making you and Eddie jump apart. “Uh, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I got some clean clothes for you” he said offering Eddie a shirt and some sweatpants.

“Thanks, man” Eddie smiled, grabbing the clothes from him. “I’m uh- gonna go change and I’ll get out of your way-”

“We’re having movie night” Steve blurted out of the sudden. “We’re ordering pizza and Dustin, Mike, and the rest are coming over. If you’d like to stay” he offered.

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude, man-”

“You’re not intruding. It’s the least I can do after you got hit for me” you told him.

“You keep bruising my ego, Henderson” he smirked at you. “What are we watching?” Eddie asked, interested.

“Gremlins” you told him.

“Seriously?” he asked, raising his eyebrow at Steve.

“Don’t look at me, man. It was her turn to choose the movie!” he said pointing at you.

“Shut up, you two. Gremlins is an awesome movie!”

“Isn’t that what you call your brother and his friends?” Eddie laughed. “I didn’t know that was your favorite movie, princess” he said. “Well, how can I say no to that masterpiece and pizza, I really can’t” he said, leaving the kitchen.

“So…” Steve started.

“So?”

“Are we going to talk about what happened today or are we just going to pretend nothing happened?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Well, you can choose between telling me why your sketchbook has smudgy drawings of Eddie” he said, opening your wet, torn, destroyed sketchbook. “Or why Hargrove and his friends were beating the shit out of him in the parking lot” he added.

“Steve, I don’t want to talk about it-”

“Well, tough. Look, we’ve been friends for a very long time now. I told you why I stopped talking to Tommy and Carol and all of our friends but you never told me why you did and somehow Munson knows!” he argued. “I get that you don’t tell Dustin everything because you want to protect him but what is so horrible that you couldn’t tell me?”

“You don’t want to know-”

“Yes, I do! You’re my best friend! You can tell me anything!”

“You’re gonna hate me!”

“What? No! I swear, okay? Nothing you say will make me hate you! We’ve been through enough shit that you should know that already-”

“I slept with Billy!” you blurted out.

“W-what?” Steve asked, hoping he hadn’t heard you right.

“What?” another voice asked, from another side of the kitchen. Dustin.

“Oh, you have to be fucking kidding me!” you said, feeling like you were going to throw up. “What are you doing here?”

“We all just got here, I was looking for you” he said, walking closer to you and Steve. “You slept with Billy Hargrove, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Dustin!” Steve warned.

“You know what? I don’t want to deal with this right now” you said, grabbing your damped sketchbook and walking out of the house to Steve’s backyard. Dustin was about to follow you but Steve stopped him.

“Look, I get that you’re upset but you’re not going out there if you’re only going to upset your sister more. She had a hard day-”

“Well, how would I know that, Steve? She doesn’t talk to me!”

“What’s with all the yelling?” Eddie said, coming back into the kitchen.

“Eddie? What are you doing here?” Dustin asked confused. “What the fuck happened to you?”

“Uh- I am…” he looked at Steve, unsure as to what to say.

“Okay, what the fuck is going on? And what are you two and my sister hiding from me?”

“We’re not hiding anything from you. You need to calm down and we can go sort this out, okay?”

“Fine” Dustin said, unconvinced.

“You promise you won’t snap at her like you just did” Steve glared at him a little.

“Okay” he sighed, rolling his eyes. The three of them walked outside to find you sitting on one of Steve’s pool chairs. Steve and Eddie sat next to you and Dustin sat on the edge of the one you were sitting in. “Uh, hey” he said, nervously. “Um-” he continued when both Steve and Eddie glared at him. “I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier” he muttered.

“It’s fine, Dusty” you said, sitting up and hugging your legs to you.

“Look, Dustin and I are just worried about you” Steve continued. “We don’t want to push you or anything, we just… want to know what’s going on with you” he added. You looked up at Eddie and he softly nodded at you. He really wanted to hold your hand but he figured Dustin might freak out about it too.

“Um…” you took a deep breath. “Look, I know that… I’ve kind of been pulling away” you started. “And I’m sorry, it’s just…” you sighed. “It was a stupid mistake and I didn’t want either one of you to hate me” you admitted.

“What- uh, when?” Dustin stuttered. “Um, no, y-you go” he said.

“It just happened once” you informed them.

“At… last year’s Halloween party?” Steve guessed and you nodded.

“Look, I was… really drunk and, dad had just left and… mom was kind of a mess and… I don’t know, I guess I was too” you said, sadly.

“Wait, I was there that night, why didn’t you tell me anything?” Steve asked, confused.

“You had your own shit going on” you reminded him. “With Nancy” you added. “So, after you left I got drunker and… then I don’t know, Billy was just there and… it happened” you sighed. “And after I felt so awful” you told them. “When I came down I ran into Eddie and he saw I was upset” you explained. “He drove me home and… he stayed with me and he made sure I was okay” you smiled. “That’s how we became friends-”

“You two are friends?” Dustin asked. “I knew I recognized your doodles” he said, looking at the metalhead.

“Sorry I didn’t tell you” you told Dustin. “I just… didn’t want to get into the whole thing and… it’s not really the conversation you have with your little brother” you admitted.

“I get that but… we used to talk about everything” Dustin said, sadly. “We were always kind of a team and for the past year it just felt like… you hated me” he said.

“Dusty” you said, sitting closer to him and hugging him. “I could never hate you” you assured him. “I am so sorry I pushed you away, I was just… so embarrassed about what happened and, I kind of wanted to forget the whole thing and I guess that in the midst of it all I just… ended up pushing everyone away” you explained.

“So, what happened today?” Dustin asked, confused.

“Well, I was waiting for Steve to pick me up and Billy and his friends just started being idiots” you told him. “Eddie saw and tried to help me” you continued. “And then Steve got there with his bat and they went away” you told him.

“So, that’s why you tell me to stay away from them? I mean, I always knew Billy was a dick but… all of your friends?”

“Well, yeah. I told Billy that if he ever said a word about what happened to anyone, I’d tell everyone he cried like a bitch and he had a small dick” you said, making the three of them laugh a little. “And then, either I just stopped talking to them or they would stop talking to me and… it wasn’t just Billy, you know? You were right” you said, looking at Steve. “They were all just… assholes” you admitted.

“I could have told you that a long time ago” Eddie chuckled.

“You okay?” Dustin asked you.

“Yeah” you smiled. “I’m sorry… about… everything” you told him. “Both of you” you said, looking at Steve.

“Don’t worry” Dustin smiled at you. “I love you dumb-dumb” he said, putting his fist so you would bump it.

“Love you too, dumb-dumb” you smiled back and bumped his fist. “No more lies” you promised and he nodded, smiling.

“It’s fine” Steve said, getting up and kissing your head. “C’mon little Henderson, let’s go set everything up” Steve said, patting Dustin on his back.

“Wait, why do I have to go?” he complained, still getting up.

“Just be nice to your sister, man, she’s been through a lot” Steve complained.

“What about me? I have been through a lot too!” he said, dramatically as they went inside, leaving you and Eddie alone.

“Hey” you smiled back at Eddie.

“Hi, princess” he said, moving over to take Dustin’s place in front of you. “How are you feeling?”

“Not so bad” you sighed. “I still would have preferred not to discuss my sex life with my little brother but… it is what it is” you chuckled.

“Sorry about your sketchbook, love” he said, looking at it on the floor.

“It’s okay” you sighed, going through the damped pages. “It just… might take me a little longer to finish your surprise now” you said, sadly.

“Wait, is that… is that me?” he asked, feeling his heart flutter.

“It… was supposed to be” you told him. “I mean, your D&D character” you muttered. “I… wanted to um… I was trying to get it right and I thought you m-might like it-”

“It’s perfect, princess” he smiled at you.

“It’s ruined, Eddie” you chuckled.

“Well, then I guess I need to get you another sketchbook, love” he said, grabbing it from you.

“You don’t have to get me one, Eddie” you smiled as he scootched closer to you.

“Jesus, Henderson would you just let me do something nice for you” he smiled, cupping your cheek with his hand.

“You do nothing but nice things for me, Munson” you smiled.

“What can I say? You bring out the best in me, sweetheart” he smiled back.

“Well, in that case, maybe you can do one more nice thing for me” you said, pulling him by his shirt, well, Steve’s shirt and he pulled you gently, brushing his thumb against your cheek.

“Gladly, princess” he said, smiling before he finally connected his lips with yours. He felt you smiling against his lips as you started deepening the kiss before you were rudely interrupted.

“Hey guys, pizza’s here- what the fuck?” you jumped apart when you heard Dustin’s voice again, with Lucas, Will, and Max standing next to him, trying not to laugh. “You two are together? I thought there were no more lies!”

“Would you believe me that this literally just happened, Henderson?”

The End

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

A/N: hope you loves liked it! :D

#stranger things #stranger things imagine #eddie munson #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson oneshot

285 notes · View notes

aphroditesbaby1616 · 3 months

Text

The Bear & His Honey Chapter 6

Inspo: Lyrics - "Willow" (TS) "I'm begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans." Summary: (18+ ONLY FIC NO MINORS BEYOND THIS POINT) Winnie & Carmy have a late night phone conversation, Winnie contemplates her new situation with her closest friend, Winnie attends family night, Impresses Richies daughter with some Disney Princess behavior, Winnie admits she's learned more about Carmen then she's let on, Carmen and Winnie plan a night in together. W/C: 11K+ Posted: 02/16/24 A/N: Helloooo!!! It's here!! It's here!! Our first long juicy chapter!! I have realized with the pacing I've set, that the first of the smutty smut will happen *the next* chapter, sorry for the lead-on :( - but I promise it will be sooooo filthy and delish since I've made you wait for so long!!! Warnings for BTC: Heavy kissing, Swearing, Some fluff, some angst, thats pretty much it- smoking cigarettes? I guess.. and social drinking.

➜°✶ 🎀 𝒞𝒽𝑒𝒸𝓀 ♡𝓊𝓉 𝓂𝓎 𝑀𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉❣ 🎀 ✶°

➜ 𝓒𝓪𝓽𝓬𝓱 𝓾𝓹 𝓸𝓷 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓕𝓲𝓿𝓮

✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀

Carm’s P.O.V -

As soon as she left I leaned against the door for a moment, rubbing my face and sighing deeply.

What the fuck has been going on with me the last couple of days. What is my fucking fixation with her?

I grab the tray of dishes and open the door, looking at the time “Hey - you know your new toy thinks I’m a fuckin’ Berzatto” Richie laughs and I roll my eyes. “Very fuckin’ funny” I put the dishes in the sink. “I’ll be sure to fuckin’ straighten that shit out with her asap” I sigh deeply, looking over the kitchen and observing where everyone was in their prep for dinner.

“Chef” Syd says and I look over to her “Yo’ what's goin’ on” I clear my throat, hoping she’d forgotten about earlier. “I um- I just wanted to say sorry, ya know for - interrupting, whatever that-” I shake my head. “Nope, all good, all good. My fault I uh- sorry. It’s my bad, it won't happen again, work is more important.” she nods.

“I was coming to um tell you - When I - anyway I was looking over the liquor order for tomorrow and I realized we really underordered, and I can't figure out where the math went wrong, and- “

“Syd” I sigh deeply, rubbing my chin. “Don’t worry, ok?” I said and took the clipboard from her. “Just go, go take a break- ok?” I said and she nodded slowly. “Are you… feeling alright?” she asked and I looked at her. “What?” I asked. “I don’t think you’ve ever asked me to take a break, I don’t think you’ve asked anyone to take a break. “ I shrugged.

“Dunno, I just took one, a long break, maybe I’m fuckin refreshed. Go chef, go eat.” I said and made my way down the line. “Jeff” Tina said and smiled at me. “Yes, chef?” I raise my eyebrow. “So you’re not gonna mention the cute little thing that's pokin’ around here past 2 days? Who’s that you finally over your other girlfriend?” she asked and I swallowed thickly.

“Chef,” I said sternly. “Not talkin’ about my personal life right now, where are you with your vegetable prep?” I asked, she rolled her eyes a bit. “Soo sensitive Jeff” She uncovered the 2 bowls in front of her already done. “Good. How did you see her anyway, we’ve been in my office…” I said curiously.

She smirked, “I have my ways, she’s cute, short, didn’t know you liked the small ones” she teased and I smiled a bit at the thought of her, “Tina, back to work and no more talk about who I bring around on my breaks, heard?” I ask. “Yes Jeff, loud and clear” she retorts.

By the time the clock had hit 10:50, we were all cleaning, and Richie and Fak of course were shooting the shit as they cleaned their stations. “Dude so tell us about this Winnie the Pooh character man,” Fak says as he scrubs down the blacktop. “Firstly, don't fuckin’ call her that, secondly, none of your business- she's not a character, just a… a friend” I shrugged.

“Hey Fak, do we nail?” Richie says and I glare at him. “We do not nail, have never, but you are totally nailing that chick, or want to.” I clench my jaw. “Cousin, why do you have the fattest loudest fuckin mouth in the entire kitchen?” I questioned. He shrugs, “Dude, it should call for celebration if you’re finally getting laid!!” I roll my eyes annoyed, “Shut the fuck up, just shut up about it dude you’re both pissin’ me off” I continued scrubbing down the sink.

“Leave Jeff alone he can fall in love if he wants to love is beautiful Jeff I'm glad you're giving it another try after Claire that was so messy” Tina piped in and I groaned, “Tinaaa!! Stop! No can we all stop I have met this girl because she works across the fuckin street, she helped me with the menu because -” I try to come up with a reason that sounded better than ‘she reads’ when there are multiple members of the staff that read for fun.

“Becauseee… she's cute?” Richie said and I threw my wet sponge at him. “Off my fucking back! All of you! “ I huffed and rinsed out the now sparkling sink. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you take a lunch break, Jeff, sorry! Thats last I’ll say” Tina teases with a smile. “ We aren’t in love but you know what I do love? Fucking sleeping! Can I get a clean fucking kitchen so we can all leave?” I ask and am hit with a chorus of “Yes Chef”.

By the time everything was said and done it was 12:40, Satisfied with the fact that I was off earlier than usual I got changed and made the short walk back to my apartment, I couldn’t help but glance at Winnie's apartment at the end of the street as I headed inside, all I’d been thinking about since she’d left was hearing her voice again, because even though the sour candy had helped, I felt like it had just pushed it further down, allowing me to hold it back for a more convenient time.

I got in, taking a shower before crawling into bed for once. I took a deep breath, looking at my phone, not having realized Winnie had texted 4 hours ago now. I clicked on it and it opened,

Sorry.. I just keep thinking about what happened earlier. Idk why I feel weird.

I bit my lip, my mind darting between all the things she could possibly mean, was it the episode? Fuck I knew I didn’t let anyone see for a reason, but she seemed- like she would understand maybe? But why would I think that, I just met her, I don’t even trust Sugar like that. What if she was… rejecting me? I swallowed crossedly, and before I could realize what I was doing I had clicked on her contact and clicked call.

I panic, not sure whether to just hang up and after just 3 rings I hear a sleepy “Carmy?” and my heart tightens. “Uh. Yeah- sorry, hey” I said smacking my palm to my forehead lightly idiot. “Hey” I heard her yawn. “How was work?” she asks softly. “It was..work. What do you mean about - why do you feel weird?” I asked and the line got silent for a moment, all I could hear on the other end is what sounded like rain.

“Are you….sleeping in the shower?” I asked and she giggles. “Oh my god, so silly. It’s fuckin’ rain noise, a noise machine, it helps me sleep.” she said and I snort. “Oh thats…cute. But- yeah why d’you feel… weird?” I asked again and she sighs softly, getting quiet again.

“I…don’t want to scare you away” she said finally and I furrow my brows in confusion, turning onto my side. “You couldn’t do that, Winnie, what’s wrong, talk to me” She takes a deep breath. “You know how… how you said you don't like being attached to anyone?” she asks quietly. I swallowed thickly, “Mmhmm” I hummed. “I get too attached, to people… and… I don’t think we’d be good for each other, now that you’ve told me,” she said sadly, and I felt my heart ache, my stomach turning with anxiety.

“You won’t get attached to me though, if you meant what you said” I counter, looking at the shadow of the passing cars on the wall. “But I will, and - when you never want me I’ll hate myself.” she said quietly. “No. You’ll see who I am soon enough, and you’ll realize that it’s for the best that I’m not anyones boyfriend.” I said and rolled on my back, looking up at the ceiling.

“It’s not about being my boyfriend! I don’t care” she huffed “Then what, Winnie?” I cross my arm over my chest “The day will come, that you meet a girl- and you do want her to be your girlfriend, and I’m going to be so attached to whatever we have, that it will break me for you to be with someone else.” she said softly. I chuckled a bit, “Winnie, I don't date. Ever” I replied,

“How do you mean?” She asked, and I sighed softly. “I - I’ve never had a girlfriend, there was this girl I thought I wanted, her name was Claire, a-and I fucked it up with her last year, Really, really bad. She grew up with us, but she… I couldn’t - move. With her, you know?” I said. “She wasn’t letting you grow?” she asked softly, and I sighed in relief. “Thank you, exactly, yes.” I rub my jaw slightly.

“But I did some really fucked up shit, and strung her along, and I fucked up at work a-and I can’t again, Winnie. I can’t “ I sighed, biting the inside of my cheek and cursing myself internally when it starts to bleed again. “I dunno.. Carm. I have abandonment issues” she said quietly and I snort. “You and me both” I said and sighed softly. “But… I -” I sigh deeply “Nevermind” I shook my head. “I’m sorry..f’waking you” I said.

“No” She replied “You did, because you wanted to, and you said you liked getting to know me..right?” she questioned. “Of course I do.. but - I don’t like answering questions as much as I like asking them to you…” I look over the bruised part of my arm that she had tended to last night and I hear her giggle. The sound sends butterflies through my stomach, and my chest lightened just a bit.

“Fine, question, for a question then, I’ll let you ask first” she mused and I smiled a bit. “So..you had alot of boyfriends growing up?” I asked, a bit nervous about the answer. I was not the most experienced in bed, I did Tinder in New York and had some god-awful experiences, but I was always willing to try things that were brought up, as long as they did the asking, I’d never share my internal desires with a hookup especially.

“Nope” she said popping the ‘p’ “My turn now?” she asked and I chuckled “No way! Hell no, if those are your answers I don’t wanna play” I said and she sighed, “Ok, ok, thought I’d give it a try…lets see, i’ve had 4 boyfriends total, 2 were in high school, so not sure if you can count those. One was more of a fling in college, and then my longest was my worst, learned my lesson about..older men.” she finished and I raised my eyebrows, “How much older?”

She tisked “Hold it, it's my turn now” she said and I huffed. “Fine, what’s your question” I asked “And you better give me a solid answer like I gave you” she said and I snort “Yes ma’am, c’mon, ask away.” I said. “What did you do to Claire?” she asks and my blood runs cold, my stomach turning to lead and I swallow thickly.

“Uhhh” I said, trying to come up with an answer that sounded as least prick like as I possibly could. As if she could read my thoughts, she said “Pure, honesty, Carm. All of you. Remember?” I bit down on my lip. “Yeah I…kinda- I don’t- don’t take this the wrong way, I don’t want her anymore, just…” I lick my lips trying to find the words. “I’m…guilty” I said “I-I feel, guilty, for what I did, and it was because she…she wanted to be with me, and I-I saw her, as like a…jumping off point, and I never intended her to want me how she wanted me, and I” I take a deep breath, feeling that burning anxiety in my chest.

“So..you lied to her about how you felt?” she asked and I sighed, “Yes, horribly, fully lied. Winnie, and it’s so so bad… when we first opened last year, we had the first family, I was so-” I swallow hard, “Distracted, with trying to get myself to like her… that I fucked up, and didn’t call the fridge guy, and I locked myself in the walk-in, a-and” I shake my head, “And?” she said softly.

“I thought I was talking to Tina, one of my sophomore chefs- about how I felt, and I was honest, because shes Tina, and I told her that I- I didn’t want her, and I never did, and she was right fucking there.” I sighed deeply and she was silent for a moment. “Do- do you- Really want me to come to family, or do you want to prove to yourself that you have it in you to hide your feelings well enough again until you decide what you really want?” she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

I swallow, my chest tightening at what I was about to do but I didn’t want to answer that because I wasn’t sure how, “It’s my turn now.” I said and bit my lip. “N-no- you can ask two- answer, Carmen” she said her voice trembling and my stomach drops. “I don’t know Winnie, I- I don’t want to hide from you, i’ve never- I-I never did this with Claire, talked to her.” I said and sit up a bit.

“Ask me your two” she said, her tone different then before. “No- no just one…” I said “H-how…why do you think our souls know eachother?” I asked, not even knowing where it came from before it came out. She quiets for a moment, before saying “I dunno… a feeling, like- why can we talk like this right now?” she asked and I think on it for a moment. “Not sure” i reply.

“Why did you say you won’t talk to me every day, but we’ve been in such close contact the last 3 days?” she asked softly, I rubbed my chin in contemplation. “Because when I inevitably fuck up and piss you off, I’m not the guy that's gonna run to you and bring you flowers- a-and beg for your forgiveness because I won’t deserve it, so I’ll run and hide, and i’ll only ever try to get you to forgive me if you tell me you - like.. Want me in your life still” I sighed.

“Well.. I won’t beg for your apology but i’ll ask you if you’re sorry if you hurt me” she replied, and I found myself smiling lightly. “You always know what t’say” I look at the clock on my phone, 27 minutes already.

I heard her yawn, “Hey, I think you’re right Winnie, about- the soul thing..I was gonna let you go but just one more thing” I look at the flower on my arm. “I realized… that- you make me feel the same peace..that Mikey did, because…because - it’s so stupid, but when you poked my arm yesterday? You- you poked the flower that I got, for him. And I had one of those- attacks, before you got there…and after you were there- I realized, that… that Mikey used to help me outta those when I was little.” I admitted, the words spilling out like word vomit. It could be deliriousness from not getting much sleep the past few days and all the stress at work.

“Mmm…see?” she mumbles sleepily “Thats how you know, that poke was Mikey tellin’ you,” she said softly. “Ye’...I dont usually think about shit like that but uh…I dunno- I wanted to tell you, thank you for being there for me by the way.” I said and she let out a sleepy “mmhm”

“Alright, sorry again f’wakin’ you, I’ll see ya’ tomorrow ok? 4?” I asked.

“4, Night Carmy” she said softly. “Night, Winnie” I said and hung up.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

Winnie’s P.O.V -

I woke up to the sound of my usual 7 am alarm. I rubbed my eyes groggily, grabbing it and hitting the ‘stop’ button. Did I dream that Carmen called me last night and opened up to me? I hit my call log, to see a 29:28 conversation with none other, then Carmen. I bit my lip gently,

You always know what t’say

His voice echos in my mind. I sit up in bed, rubbing Sephys silky soft fur absentmindedly as I think. I sat there for a few minutes going over the parts of the conversation I could remember through my sleepiness, and before I knew it I was opening up my messages and clicking on his name.

GM, excited to be wined&dined tn, Chef. See ya @ 4

I got up, getting my day started. I took my pills, showered, brushed my teeth, and put on some comfortable black yoga pants and a way oversized ‘Chiefs Kingdom’ hoodie, slicking my hair into a claw clip. I fed Persephone per usual, making myself some coffee.

I was leaned at my kitchen island, watching tik toks while I sip my coffee, when my phone buzzed. My mind meets Carm’s notification at the top.

Morn - since ik you’ve never had Caviar, I think tn will be alot of firsts for you.

I bit my lip, of course he meant ingredients, like fancy shit- he can tell I have an unexpirienced pallate. But… I couldn’t help but go to the more dirty firsts that I could be having. Getting fucked in a walk in freezer? Maybe…rough office sex? I shake my head, smirking at my own filthy ideas. But I still love to tease, and I can do that by leaving more to his imagination.

We can only pop so many cherrys in one night before I get worn out, Chef.

I smirked at the little delivered under the message, clicking back on to my tiktok live of this fabulous farmer who was always dancing with his animals. I finished off my coffee, grabbing my purse and taking my headphones putting them on. I just wanted to drown in music on this walk, to silence my thoughts.

“Love you honey!” I called to sephy as I walk out the door. I bounce down the stairs, opening the door and taking a deep breath of the crisp march air. Spring was finally starting to bloom. I smiled, seeing my next door neighbor, Ms.Mendoza waiting for her little weenie dog to do potty in the patch of grass.

I took off my headphones for a moment, “Good Morning Miss Mendoza, How are you?” I chirp and she smiles upon seeing me, her tan wrinkled skin crinking up at the corners of her eyes in a smile. “Good Morning my Sunshine, I am well thank you so much for bringing his dog food up, honey” she said and I pull her in to a hug, kissing her cheek. “Any time! I love this little guy and he’s gotta eat, right Kidlat?” I squat next to the little black dog and pet his head. He jumps on my legs making me giggle as he licks my hands.

“Oh, Sunshine- I hate to ask you, but I need some more detergent, do you think you can get some for me?” she asked and I look up at her, nodding with a smile. “Course! I’ll be home early today, in a few hours actually. I’ll swing by the store on the way home” I stood up and she cupped my cheek. “You are such a good girl, Mahal” she said, causing me to smile.

“And you are such a wonderful lady, Miss Mendoza, I’ll see you ok?” I said and gave her a quick hug before heading off. It wasn’t likely that she saw Carm and I with her bad vision in the dark, for that which I was thankful, because she hasn’t stopped pesking me about a boyfriend whenever I help her clean her apartment in the places she cant get down on her hands and knees anymore. And considering where Carmen stands on the word boyfriend - It would make me crazy to dodge all her questions with him on my mind.

I hum along to my music as I continued down, mumbling the lyrics to myself. I finally get to the store, opening the door since my coworker, Sadie was already here. “Hey Pooh!” she said and I smiled. “SadieBug!” I said happily taking my headphones off. “How was Cape Cod?” I asked and she smiled. “Really great! I love seeing my grandparents, they’re awesome” she said. Sadie’s smile was so pretty. “You’re gonna have to show me pictures” I said, putting my purse down in my usual spot behind the counter.

“Totally, what’s been goin’ on with you? Alot change here in 3 weeks?” she joked. She’d usually expect nothing of an answer, especially because she was my only friend, we work together, and the only time I didn’t see her was on our days off which was 2 a week. “Uh.. not- particularly” I said the end sounding a bit like a question.

“Okay, so tea? What’s goin’ on?” She asked and it brings a small smile to my lips. I feel so relieved. I completely forgot that Sadie was coming home this week, and would be starting back with me today. My ADHD makes it to where if I don’t see or hear from someone even someone I love as dearly as SadieBug they completely skip my mind.

I silently thank myself for not calling her the other night at 2 am when I got back from my date with Carm, she hates being woken up. “So. Ok so on break on Tuesday I saw this hot guy smoking and so I talked to him and - he invited me in to his restaurant, you know, The Bear -“ She cuts me off.

“The restaurant - that Sydney works at?” She asks and my eyebrows raise, jaw dropping and I smack my hand over my mouth. “Oh my god” I mumble into my hand, eyes wide. Sydney. That was where I’d seen that girl. She’s Sadie’s fucking cousin. “Who - who.” She asks.

“C-Carmen Berzatto” I said and she slaps her hand over her mouth. “Noooo” I whine “nooo- no. Sadie! Sadieee. What? What?!” I ask desperately. “Syd totally had a crush on him- do you remember last year when she was telling us about her super hot boss that she had a thing for but he was dating this girl he knew from childhood?” She questions and I run my hands through my hair in stress.

“Oh- oh my god! Is she- she’s gonna hate me. I-“ my heart sinks to my stomach, my coffee suddenly wanting to make a reappearance. “She- I mean. Is dating…I guess” Sadie said and I groan. “DATING?! So? So one of my only friends- granted she works so much we’ve only hung out twice with you there but…but- nonetheless!! She had a crush on the only guy that I’ve like- MADE OUT WITH since moving here?” I looked around terrified, thanking the lord the store was empty besides us.

Sadie starts to giggle “wait- wait…ok no forget Syd, you made out with the owner of The Bear ?! The guys loaded Pooh!!!” She said and I feel my cheeks heat. “I don’t- yes! We did. And I don’t care about his money.” I said and shook my head, walking over to relock the door since we were taking inventory today. “Okkayyyy but still. Is he..any good? Sydney wanted a piece of that Italian hunk sooo bad” she jokes and I snort.

“He would die being called an Italian Hunk. But…yes. Very good. Can you believe he’s shy - like- he’s never had a real girlfriend” I said and she raised her eyebrows. “Mmmm- first red flag, noted and saved in my mental flag folder,” she cuts open a box of books for us to stock and I roll my eyes. “He’s just…passionate about work and stuff. And he- is like. So good. So good” I said and she nods.

“Second red flag, the Carmen Berzatto folder has many do you know how many times Syd ranted to me about him and I just didn’t tell you because it was private conversations- but now since you seem to have a crush on him, I need you to be fully aware” she said and I sigh deeply. “Lay it on me then, because I’m supposed to be seeing him again tonight.” I said. She stood up from her crouched position on the floor.

“Fucking family?” She asked and my head snaps in her direction “How- fuck!” I rest my hand on my forehead. “Yeah? I’m actually family- I should be asking how you got invited!!” She said and I bit my lip. “He doesn’t- invite…people?” I asked and she laughed, sarcastically. “Dude. The last time he invited anyone it was that girl he was dating, and he aired out all of his red flag shit- and she ran in the other direction!!” She said and I felt my heart thumping in my throat.

“Claire?” I asked and her eyebrows raised “You know her too?” She asked and I shook my head, “no- no he…he told me about her..last night” I said and swallowed hard. “How many times have you seen him?” She asked “3…” I replied and she put her hands on top of her head, pacing in front of the counter.

“He's- he’s not good for you and you should stop this, Winnie,” she said and I crossed my arms. “What if he’s changed, Sadie?” I ask and she stops, putting her hands on her hips. “Sydney wouldn’t have moved on if he changed. She was waiting for him to change to tell him her feelings and he never did - that’s why she started dating Alex” she said and I bit my lip.

“He doesn’t even want anything…we’re just- we’re friends.” I said and she rolled her eyes “I’m not gonna play that game with you, Winnie. Here you go again, We’re just friendsing your way around a situationship- and then when he finally gets cold feet and runs in the other direction, who’s gonna be left heartbroken?” She asked and I sighed softly, knowing she was completely right.

“Well…I dunno Sadie. We’ll see! Right- tonight. And if he…if…if it doesn’t feel right I’ll stop it ok? I’ll- I’ll tell him I don’t want to see him anymore” I said, wanting it to be true but knowing how I felt when it was just Carmen and I. She shrugged “I know you, Pooh, and you love a man who needs fixing.” She said and I rolled my eyes.

“Okay!! Reading me at fuckin, what is it” I look at the clock “9:17!! He doesn’t- okay. He needs to fix himself and I will remove myself from the situation if he treats me poorly! Because broken people deserve love while they’re putting themselves together” I echo my therapist's words to her. She rolled her eyes. “That only works if you actually follow through and don’t give him a million chances when he hurts you and then doesn’t immediately correct the behavior,” she said.

I squat next to her, scanning each new book as I put it on the bottom row of the cart. “You’re right, and I will if he hurts me I’m out! Peace the fuck out and never look back!” I said and she smiled “okayyy..hopefully you mean that” she replied. The next few hours were filled with light pleasant conversation about her trip to the cape, how her family had been doing, and running back and forth to the stock room with stacks of books.

Our half-day went by quickly, even with no customers to fill the hour's conversation with Sadie seemed to make time pass well. I stood behind her as she locked the door to the shop and we continued our conversation about a video on tik tok she saw “And so I don’t even know how people could say that they would have done something different, if I was in her shoes I’d have punched her too!” She said and I laughed “We both would have. Fuck that bitch” I roll my eyes.

“Well. Here’s where we part.” She said and I pouted “I know…but see you in a few hours right?” I said and she nodded “Yup, I’ll save you a seat- just….if Syd is a little weird don’t - don’t take offense ok? The Carmen thing is still fresh for her and I know she’ll be happy he’s moving on it’s just…it’ll be raw that it’s with someone she knows” she said and I nodded quickly, swallowing hard.

“Course- I’d never hold it against her. And I- I hope it doesn’t…make things bad for us. I really like her.” I said and she pulled me into a hug “She’ll get over it, don’t worry, you know how we don’t respect men- we’d never let them come before our girls” she said and I giggled “100% chick. I gotta go grab detergent for Ms.Mendoza, I’ll see you there” I said and she nodded, heading the opposite way down the street.

I head the other way, going into a CVS and grabbing the tide scented pods that Ms.Mendoza liked before heading home. I put my headphones on and hum softly to myself swinging the bag next to me. I finally hauled up the 3 flights to my floor, slightly out of breath. I approached Ms.Mendozas door, knocking slightly and Kidlat starts barking. “One second” she called and I heard her shuffling over to the door.

The lock clicks and she opened it, her grey hair up in curlers “oh! Sunshine, thank you dear” she said and I handed her the bag, she stretches a $10 bill to me and I push it back towards her. “No- it’s ok, you’re always makin’ me dinner” I told her and she smiled warmly. “You need to eat better young lady” she said and pinched my cheek, causing me to smile. “Do you want to come in and have some lunch?” She asked and I shook my head.

“Sorry, I’d love to but I’ll be having a big dinner tonight, I’m going to a restaurant to meet a friend,” I said and her eyes lit up. “A boyfriend?” She asked and I blushed lightly “No- no not like that, he’s just… a nice friend,” I said softly and she nodded. “Well…the best boyfriends always start as friends, Mahal,” she said and I smiled, “that’s right Ms.Mendoza…I’ll see you,” I said and headed into my apartment.

I greet Persephone, giving her a few pebbles of treats and flicking her mouse around for her for a few minutes before heading to my closet to pick out an outfit. I bit my lip, looking over the choices. I finally settled on a little black dress, complete with fluffy cuffs and a black ribbon to tie in my hair.

I headed to the bathroom, singing and dancing along to Taylor Swift as I blew out my waist-length red hair to perfection, adding in some frizz serum to make it extra soft and silky, as well as smell like milk and honey which I loved. I used to hate my red hair, my brother and I both got bullied for it when we were younger. I’d heard every name in the book, carrot top even followed me into adulthood when I met an immature prick now and again. But since I’d grown, I’d made it my thing. I got it highlighted with blonde in the winter to match how it looks in the summer naturally, and in the summer those pieces get even brighter giving me a sunkissed look.

I look at the clock, 3:04 doing ok on time. I heard my phone buzz and the little ‘pop’ notification sounding over my speaker. I pick it up, clicking on the text from Carmen.

Don’t worry, one thing I am good at is delayed gratification - wouldn’t want to overwhelm you on your first time ;)

My stomach flutters in excitement, my core twitching and growing hot with arousal. Fuck. I swallow thickly.

Leaving in 30!

Was all I sent back and locked my phone. I did light face makeup, like usual letting my freckles that spotted my cheeks and nose shine through, and added highlight to the high points of my face. I did a sharp dramatic wing, and put on some whispy lashes. Completely transforming myself, from a doe eyed sweetheart- into a sultry Jessica Rabbit. I put on my Haus red liquid lipstick after putting on a deep maroon liner, knowing that once it dried it wouldn’t be moving no matter what direction this night took me until I wanted it gone.

I went in to the bedroom, putting on a lacy red thong and push-up bra set, adjusting my chest to look full and robust before carefully slipping on my sparkly black nylons. I put on my dress, zipping up the side and smoothing it out, I went over to the mirror, taken aback by myself. I look stunning. It wasn’t often that I allowed myself to go all out, I didn’t like the attention it brought since I was more of a casual person. But this. I understand what people mean when they say you feel sexy.

I put on my favorite perfume, one that I saved for extra special occasions. It was a French perfume that my grandmother bought me when I was 15, I couldn’t pronounce the name- all I knew was that my last spray I’d use on my wedding day, and I’d only use it when I really needed confidence any day before then. I spray on my pulse points, letting it dry down before gently inhaling the smell of honeycomb, dark rum, vanilla, and sandalwood. It was the best smell in the world to me, I love this perfume.

I switched over all of my contents to a small black leather night bag I had, going and grabbing my phone off the charger. I slipped on some black stiletto heels, buckling around the ankle and I headed out to the kitchen where Persephone was lounging on the couch.

“Hi missy” I said and she meowed, getting up and stretching before walking over to me. I crouched down, petting her. “Dinner time early tonight,” I said softly and she darted into the kitchen causing me to giggle. I go in, putting her food in to the bowl and setting it down for her petting her back. “Be home soon yeah?” I said softly and check the time on my phone. 3:48. I stood up, giving myself one more look in the hall mirror.

Knock ‘em dead, Win’

I heard Christopher’s voice in my mind and I smiled, adjusting my hair. “Knock ‘em dead…” I whisper to myself before heading out the door.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

I got to the front door of The Bear and knocked gently, Richie looks over and smiles, coming and unlocking it. “Hey you! You look snappy huh? Nice dress!” He said and I smiled big. “Why thank you, you look very handsome, Richie” I said and gave him a quick hug as I head through the door. “Thanks! Clean up pretty good don’t I?” He jokes and I giggle “very, where’s little chef boy?” I asked and he snorts “back in his office, fucker came in extra early this morning we’re running 2 hours ahead of schedule for once” he said and a little girl comes racing from the kitchen.

“Daaaddyyy look at this!!” She squeals and he picks her up admiring he picture she was proudly holding. “Look at that munchkin!! Is that you and Cousin Carmy in the kitchen?” He asks and she nods “making pancakes!!” She said happily and I smiled warmly. “Who’s this little tatertot?” I asked and she giggled.

“My daughter! Meet Eva” he said and I smiled, holding out my hand to her. “Wonderful to meet you, Eva.” I said and she takes my hand shaking it gently “My name is Winnie” I smiled. “Winnie like Winnie the Pooh?” She asked cutely and I giggle “yes! Exactly like that!” I said and she wiggles away from Richie to get down and looks up at me.

“Are you princess Ariel?” She asked, causing me to giggle “well I wish” I crouch down to her height. “You talk like a princess” she said and I smile “wanna know a secret?” I whisper and she leans in, nodding. “When I was in school…I learned how to sing like a princess, do you want to hear?” I asked and she gasped. “Yes!! Please please!!” She begs. I nodded happily.

“Do you like Princess Ariel?” I asked and she nodded enthusiastically. “Ok..” I clear my throat, taking her hands in mine and softly started singing to her

“Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think my collections complete? Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl, the girl who has everything? Look at this trove, treasures untold, how many wonders can one cavern hold? Lookin around here you’d think-“ I poke her belly, causing her to giggle before I continued “sure, she’s got everything! I’ve got gadgets and gizmos aplenty. I’ve got whosits and what’s its galore- you want thingamabobs? I’ve got 20! But who cares, no big deal- I want more” I finished and she claps, Richie staring at me intently.

“Well shit.” He said “daddy! That’s a bad word- will you marry her? Be her prince Eric!” Eva said and tugged his pant leg. I giggled “sorry sweetheart, I’m no real princess. But I’m happy to sing like one for you any time” I said and got up, smoothing down my dress. “She’s right you might be a princess I’ve never heard someone sing like that before” Richie said causing me to blush.

“Well, I was in theater all my life so.. yeah” I clear my throat with a shy smile. “Uh I’m gonna-“ I point to the kitchen and he nods “yeah- yeah f’sure. Sorry didn’t mean to keep you” he said and I shook my head “no! Not at all. Love a little song I don’t get to do it much anymore” I extended my hand to Eva, shaking hers gently. “It was a pleasure to meet you, young lady.” I said and she smiled. “Will you sing for us at dinner?” She asked and my cheeks went beet red “honey-“ Richie started “no- no honey she’s here to enjoy the food with us yeah?” He rubs her shoulder and she pouted.

“Someday we can sing together okay?” I told her softly and she nodded happily. I went back to the kitchen, opening the door. Surprised to see trays upon trays of food sitting under the warmers waiting to be plated, and all the staff except for Carmen was standing around the large island talking. When the door swings shut they look up at me, Sydney’s eyes widen and I swallowed thickly.

“Uh- Winnie?” She said “Syd!!” I said and smiled, hoping if I acted happy to see her she’d do the same. “What are you…oh- holy shit.” She said realizing. “You- you were” I shook my head a bit, widening my eyes hoping she got the message. “Yeah. Just..Here. For..for Carmen.” I get out awkwardly and she nodded. “It’s nice to finally meet you!” A short woman with black curly hair says. “I’m Tina” she comes over extending her hand to me.

I smiled and shook it gently “Winnie” I said softly. “Carmen’s in the office you can go on back” Sydney said flatly and I swallowed hard, nodding “thank you.” I said meekly and walked back, feeling the burning stare of their eyes on me as I headed to the office the only sound being the buzz of the lights and the click of my heels.

I should have went out back and texted him. Why on earth would I want to meet everyone on my own instead of him introducing me?!

I opened and shut his office door behind me, desperate to get their prying eyes off my back and Carmen looks up from his desk, his eyes widening a bit as he racked over me. I look at him and smile a bit, he looked so hot. His Chefs Whites were ironed to perfection, his curls were slicked back neatly and he looked a bit rested for once. “Hey” I said softly, finally breaking the silence.

“Hey…” he replied, eyes continuing to rack over my frame “you look…” he said, swallowing thickly. “Nice- r-really pretty” he said and I smiled, nodding a bit. “You look really handsome” I said and approached him, “thank you” he said softly a blush creeping in to his cheeks. “So…I met- like. Tina. She introduced herself. And - well. I know Syd.” I said and his eyes widened “you- you know Syd? How?” He asked.

“Oh- ah yeah her cousin, Sadie? She’s come for family before…she works with me” I said. He nodded a bit, eyes unable to read. “C’mere” he opened his arms and I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around him.

He rests his hands on my waist, pulling me into his lap causing me to giggle “woah! Hey I’m in a dress remember” I keep my knees together and he holds my legs for me nearly cradling me in his huge chair. “Thank you f’comin” he said and kisses my forehead sweetly. I blushed at the sweet, domestic like gesture and nod. “Course…how could I say no to some denied gratification… is that how you said it?” I said softly and my eyes flicker to his lips.

He smiled a bit “thats it” he strokes my thigh gently “these are nice” he said softly and I adjust his chain. “That always stays front and center when you’re around” he said and I look up at him with a smirk on my lips. “Gotta make sure you don’t loose anything” I whisper and he leans in a bit, stopping just above my lips.

“Am I gonna ruin this lipstick if I kiss you?” He asks softly, his breath hot on my lips. I pull him in by his collar, kissing him hard and running my tongue along the bottom of his lip. He hums and opens for me, and my tongue meets his immideately, tasting the reminence of a cigarette on his tongue. I hummed in satisfaction, nuzzling my nose against his sweetly and I feel him smile against my lips. I pull away and smiled, fluttering my eyelashes playfully.

“How’s the lipstick,Chef?” I asked and made a kissy face. “Perfect. Wow. Where’d you get that stuff?” He asked and pecked my lips for good measure. “Lady Gaga darling” I said dramatically and got up off his lap, fixing my dress. “Let’s go smoke” I took his lighter from my bra that I’d lifted from his pocket while we were kissing “robbed ya” I smirk and he chuckled.

“You are a sneak” he got up patting my bum with his hand and I squeak at the contact “you are getting too aquainted with my ass, Chef” I giggle a bit and he shrugged “you have a nice ass” he said and I rolled my eyes tugging the door open. I felt the lump in my throat as all eyes in the kitchen turn to us. He looks at the clock.

“Alright uh- appetizers let’s get em plated, I want everyone at their stations. Let’s keep up with the housekeeping tonight so we can get outta here on time yeah? We’ve been ahead a’schedule let’s keep it that way.” He tells them.

“Yes Chef” they said getting to work Sugar comes in the kitchen “Bear- oh! Hey!! Wowww you look cute!” She said with a smile. I blushed a bit. “Thank you, you look cute too” I told her. “What’sup Sugar” he looks at her.

“Oh I just wanted to say- great job tonight. Everything is like…perfect.” He nodded “thanks…” he muttered and tugged my arm gently “be proud of yourself, Bear. Really. Be proud.” She said sincerely and he nods. “Thanks, Sugar” I followed him outside and he sighed softly.

“She’s…right. You know that, right?” He took his cigarettes out, putting one between his lips and I lit it for him. “It’s not all me” he said once he exhaled. I crossed my arms over my waist “it is though, Carmen. You are the first one here and the last to leave, you are the person everyone looks to, when we walk out- it’s like sheep waiting to be told what to do next. They respect you Carmen. No one back talks you, no one asks why- they trust your decisions in there”

He takes in my words, looking down at our shoes as he smoked. “You run a beautiful business, Carmen. Really” I said honestly and rest my hand on his bicep. His cheeks heat, the bridge of his nose turning pink with blush. “Thank you” he said softly. “Really, means a lot” he said and I nodded, smiling a bit. I took a joint out of my purse, leaning in and lighting it on his cigarette before taking a drag.

“So, Chef Berzatto what do you have in store for me today?” I asked and he smirked at my words. “I wouldn’t want to ruin all the surprises” he said and I took another drag. “Fine but get me in the mood, make me wet, chef- my palate. You know.” I said in a sultry teasing tone. His mouth dropped at my words getting a giggle out of me. “You have a dirty mouth” he leans in and kissed me deeply, I hum in to the kiss, gently playing with the pendant around his neck.

“Maybe you have a dirty mind” I said when he pulled away and he shook his head with a smirk. “For an appetizer” he started and took a drag of his cigarette “Gladolia Petals, and spicy violet pearls, and grilled leek, aubergine, and mushrooms” he said smoke spilling from his lips in tendrils.

“Flowers?” I questioned and he nodded with a amused smile that I was interested. “Mmhmm, edible ones of course” he said. “Hm” I hum. “No wonder you’re so fit, eating like a king all the time” I teased, taking another drag of my joint. He laughs a bit “no- no. I don’t eat- I taste. I eat…honestly I eat like shit” he said and I furrow my eyebrows.

“You don’t have a super nice lunch like we had together every day?” I asked and he shook his head “oh- no way. I eat when I get home and it’s usually like” he snorts “a fuckin pb and j or a microwave burrito, I eat like..pure shit.” He said and I look at him puzzled. “Why?” I asked and he shrugged, taking another drag of his cigarette. “No time. Well - not worth it to have groceries im not home to use I guess.” He said and leaned against the wall.

I lean forward, squeezing his bicep “so…peanut butter and jelly diet huh?” I said and he chuckled. “Well yeah. I just….i work out when I can’t sleep so. Yeah. Guess it pays off being an insomniac” he smiled and I rest my head on the wall, taking another drag off my joint.

“You’re fascinating” I said softly. He smirks “why’s that?” He asked. “Well for starters- I did google you, considering when I looked up this place- there were all these articles about how you’re this decorated chef with alll these achievements and titles. And so I was like who is this big-shot? And I googled your name…and I filtered it by oldest- and it’s like you didn’t- exist. Before 2016. Nothing. Nothing in school, no sports, no clubs, no community service. But then in 2016, there was an article about you in your culinary school paper, how you were top of your class that semester. And then all these articles about how you just won award after award, and…. I just- how? How did you do it, Carmen? Where did you come from?” I asked finally.

He took a deep breath, “A lot of it has to do with my brother, let’s talk about it tonight ye’? I promise, promise I’ll tell you” he put out the butt of his cigarette and I dropped the end of mine crushing it. “Ok…are we- am I gonna be able to see you tonight?” I asked and he nods. “ ‘course baby don’t worry. I’m gonna bring you your food and everything yeah?” He pulls me to him, resting his hands on my bum. I nod and look up at him, “like…after-can we…hang out?” I asked.

He nodded a bit “sure- sure if you wanna. I don’t have to work tomorrow but I’m probably gonna be outta here at 11” he played with the hemp of my dress. I bit my lip, contemplating asking for a moment before I just bit the bullet.

“Come over? To mine? You can meet Persephone…” I said and he smiled a bit “didn’t know you had a pet” he said and I gasp “I never showed you?” I dig my phone out of my purse excitedly and open my phone showing him my Home Screen.

“Your eyes are just like hers” I giggle and he smiled, blushing a bit. “She’s super cute.” He said and I put my phone back in my bag. “Sure. I’ll probably need to shower first so how’s like midnight?” He asked, pulling me back to him gently. “That’s fine.” I said and leaned in, kissing him sweetly. The door opened and Richie pokes his head out. “Hey- sorry lovebirds. It’s 5:02 everyone’s gettin settled in. Winnie you might wanna go sit so you don’t miss appetizers.” I nodded “thanks” I said and look at Carm again.

“Kick ass out there, Chef” I said with a smile and head back in after Richie.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

I sat down at the table with Sadie and her boyfriend, Mitch. “Hey guys” I said smiling “hey! You look cute!” She said and I smiled, looking at her lavender dress. “So do you! Love that color on you” I said and Sydney came over with a tray of drinks. “From Chef Carmen.” She said evenly, placing a cup in front of me. Spicy mint margarita with a pink umbrella, just like we had the other night. “Thank you” I said softly, putting my straw in and she sets down Sadie and Mitch’s dark blue looking drink.

“This is the house cocktail, coconut rum, vodka, and cream soda” she told them, Sadie nodded “Thanks Syd! This looks awesome” she said and Sydney nodded, smiling a bit. “I’ll be back with your appetizers in a moment.” She said and went off to the kitchen. I tried my drink, looking over at Sadie. “So…” she said softly.

“How’d it…go” she asked and I bit my lip gently. “Good…we talked, apparently we’re gonna eat flowers” I said and Mitch scrunched his nose. “Babe your cousin is in to fancy shit” he said to Sadie and she rolled her eyes “We talked about this, if you’re still hungry when we go home then we’ll stop” she said and Sydney approaches our table once again with a platter of plates.

“Gladioli’s petals with spicy violet pearls” she places a plate in front of Sadie, then Mitch, when she places a much bigger one in front of me I gasp softly. The same sauce that was in tiny dots atop the petals had been painted in to a portrait of Winnie the Pooh, ‘Winnie’ written in beautiful cursive on the side of the plate.

“Holy shit” Sadie whispered, admiring it. “Compliments of Chef Carmen, Enjoy.” Sydney went off back to the kitchen and I bit my lip to contain the smile that was forming. “Well that dude is dick-whipped” Mitch says, earning himself a kick in the shin from Sadie. “Shut it!” She hissed. “That is actually like…cute..Pooh” she smiled a bit, causing me to blush.

“Yeah…” I said in response, carefully eating around the art. “Wow” I muttered “This is weird, tastes like spicy garlic” She said and I smile. “I’ll be sure to give the chef your notes” I nod. “It kinda does though, I agree.” I hum. I slip my phone out of my purse, taking a photo of the plate and sending it to Carmen.

Here I was thinking you weren’t a romantic type, you’re a sap Berzatto!!

I smiled as I hit send, putting my phone back in my purse. I finished off my drink, and when the next round came out there was a waitress with curly brown hair bringing us the food. “Hello, I’m sure you were greeted by who invited you this evening, Here we have the second part of the appetizer, grilled leek, aubergine, and mushrooms with a cream sauce.” She puts a plate down in front of each of us.

“My name is Tara, I will be your waitress for the rest of the evening. Miss, would you like another of your cocktail?” she motioned to my drink, I nodded “Uh- sure! Yeah, thank you” I smiled and handed her my cup and she went off to the bar. Sadie scrunches her nose in a way I knew she would at the dish which makes me laugh. “Sadie!” I whisper between giggles. “Stop- we have to try it, if Syd sees our plates untouched shes gonna be so mad!” I said and she started laughing quietly but I could tell she was holding back by the little squeaks that were coming out.

“Ssssadie!!!” I cover my mouth to cover my laugh. “Stop it!” I whisper and pick up my fork, cutting a piece of it and putting it in my mouth. “Ok, it's not bad just…earthy- you’re not gonna like it” I said and she pushed her plate away. I took one more bite before deciding it wasn’t for me and pushing it aside. Bussers came to all the tables taking the empty plates and the waitress comes back with my drink.

“Thank you” I smiled, “Of course- The head chef requested he personally bring out your meals to this table, it should be out momentarily, in the meantime would you like another drink?” She asked Mitch, since Sadie had barely touched hers. “Yeah sure but um- a beer is fine, just Miller lite” he said and she nodded, taking his empty glass to the bar and coming back with the beer before returning to the kitchen.

“Oooo he’s comin’ to bring you your food - we didn’t even see him last time I was here” she said and I felt my cheeks heating “See! I told you he’s nice, and he’s gonna ask how we’re liking everything, and you better not laugh!” I give her a look although I was trying to hide a smile. She starts giggling again “Then don't look at me!!!” she said causing me to laugh and the door swings open, the waiters and waitresses all filing out to tables and Carm was at the end of the line.

I smiled at him, before breaking my gaze and looking at Sadie shooting her a don’t giggle! Look. He approaches the table “Hey you” He said softly and I smiled, “Everything is awesome, Carm” I said quietly for only us to here and he smiled “I’m glad you’re enjoying” he puts the plates down in front of us. “So we have for your main course, Roe Deer in a salt crust, crunchy Cavolo Nero, a Hazlenut pesto, and Celeriac” he said and I furrow my brows, He leans down “It’s really just deer steak, kale, pesto, and grilled celery root baby, we just say it fancy” he whispered in my ear and I smiled looking at him, my whole body covered in goosebumps by the use of the intimate name.

“Chefs, are the art bro’s of food” I said softly and he chuckled a bit. “Enjoy your meal” He told us and went back to the kitchen. “This taste like a potato” Sadie said, eating some of what I now knew was celery root. “I guess its a fancy celery root” I said and cut up my steak. I hum at the flavor, our whole table growing quiet as did most of the restaurant as we enjoy the meal. At the end of the course the buspeople came out again and collected the empty plates, before the waitresses came shortly after with the dessert.

She placed my plate down last again, this time, my chocolate cake had a heart drawn in chocolate sauce next to it, causing me to smile and blush. “He’s… like- actually in to you, Winnie” Sadie said, observing my plate. “I dunno- it’s it could be flirting” I shook my head with a smile, taking a bite of the delicious cake. “Wow… this is great” Sadie said and I nodded “mmm- absolutely…I’m gonna need Carmen to give me some of this again” I said and took out my phone, seeing he’d replied to my text.

Only with extra pretty girls who share their sour candy

I smiled at the thoughtful reminder of yesterday, quickly typing and sending a response.

Can’t wait till 12 to see you- can I pay my compliments to the Chef before I go?

I slipped my phone back in my purse, continuing to talk with Sadie and Mitch about different pop culture things and the gossip of what's going on in our lives at the moment. I nibbled on my chocolate cake, feeling fuller by the second and knowing I’d never be able to finish it.

I heard my phone buzz in my purse and put my fork down, fishing it out and looking at Carmens response

Course I just have to thank everyone for coming & everyone says their goodnights

I locked my phone again, “Sadie- Gotta go to the bathroom, comin’?” I asked and she nodded, getting up and following me back to the womens room. I pushed open the door and she followed behind me. “Ok, well I will say he’s being sweet, and way more romantic then Syd said he was with Claire” Sadie said as I touched my makeup up in the mirror. “Told you, he's changed” I touch up my face powder and she huffed, leaning against the wall.

“Or he could be in his honeymoon lovebombing stage, and wanting you to fall for him so he can go all cold” She said and I rolled my eyes. “Yes” I replied, partially annoyed, “But, he could also be into me, and showing it! Like a nice guy, like you said- he has this place, and I googled him before- you’re right. So why not…ya know” I shrugged. She sighed a bit “I guess” she opened up the stall door to use the restroom and I waited for her near the door.

“You’ve been texting him the whole time, doesn’t that say lovebombing to you?” she asked as she pulled on the toilet paper roll. “Oh- the whole time” I laugh a bit, rolling my eyes. “I texted him first, we’ve exchanged like 2 texts!” I said and she flushed, opening the stall door and coming out to wash her hands. “And I assume you’re seeing him tonight…” she raised her eyebrows.

“Yes…and?” I said and she giggled “I will say it with my chest like Ari!” I said causing us both to laugh. I opened the door to the bathroom for us and we went back to the now cleared table, sitting down. There was soft chatter throughout the restaurant and all the Chefs came out. “Alright I just wanted to thank you all for coming tonight, Means alot- and Without further do- Chef Sydney, who created the main course tonight” Carmen said and we clapped.

“Thank you all so much for coming, I hope you enjoyed the dish I worked very hard on it, and I hope to see you all next time, stay safe!” She said and we gave her a round of applause before the Chefs broke off to their respective families, to my surprise- Carmen and Sydney both came up to our table.

“How was it?” He asked and I smiled wide, so happy he was wanting to show off to people that he invited me. “So- so good, Chef Sydney- you are so amazingly talented, I’m so grateful to call you a friend” I said honestly and touched her hand. She looked at me a bit surprised and grasps my hand gently with hers, “Ye-Yeah, yeah, totally, thank you, Winnie- really” she nods.

“Ok- what the fuck was that appetizer- mushroom shit” Sadie asks Syd and I can’t contain my laughing at her usual boldness. Carmen’s jaw drops and Syd’s eyes widen, and my giggles caused Sadie to start laughing herself. “What do you mean oh my god Sadie! That is my boss” she said and I gasp in laughter, leaning in to Carm’s side.

“Don’t worry Syd, Carmen,” I look at him and his shocked expression just makes me laugh harder. I caught my breath and wrap my arm around his bicep, “Sydney and I are both sorry for Sadies outburst, shes picky” I giggled and he shook his head, chuckling a bit. “I can see why you two are friends” he said and I raise my eyebrows, “Better be a good thing Chef!” I giggle and he nods, “Course, 2 firecrackers I’m sure you two cause lots of trouble, c’mon I need a cigarette before we clean y’comin?” He wrapped his arm around my waist and I nodded “Thank you again, Syd - Sadie- see ya monday” I told her.

She gives me a look as Carm tugs me away, my purse tucked in my arm, and gives the ‘call me’ sign and I giggled, nodding and taking his hand as we slinked through the kitchen to the back alley. As soon as the door shuts, I leaned against it, pulling him by his collar into a deep kiss and he hums softly, cupping my waist with his hands and lightly squeezing. I swipe my tongue over his bottom lip and he opens for me, our tongues meeting roughly, a needy wanting kiss. His hands travel down and cup my ass, squeezing. He pulled away after a moment, lips swollen from our kiss, us both slightly out of breath.

“That was so fucking amazing Carmen, holy shit you are fucking amazing” I breathed and kiss his neck, biting gently at the skin under his jaw and he gasps softly, his hands trailing up to the small of my back, “What was- dinner? Or the kiss?” He asked, “Both” I breathe in to his neck, kissing the pulsepoint below his ear before nibbling his earlobe “Oh- okay” He said softly. “I- I wanna keep doing this with you but I have to get back inside, baby” he said lowly and I pulled away, pouting a bit. “Ok” I said, taking his lighter out of his pocket while he found his cigarettes and lighting it for him. He leans against the door and exhales in a sigh, rubbing his hand over his face.

“That actually went really fuckin’ well” He said and took another drag. I leaned on my shoulder, watching him. “I’m glad.. It was all so, so good Carm, it was delicious” I said and held his other hand, kissing the tattoo of the chefs knife gently. “Guess you’re my good luck charm yea?” he teased and I smiled, cheeks heating slightly. “No- that would be you, you’re the lucky charm” I kiss over each one of his knuckles gently.

“Could I…maybe take you up on that massage tonight? If you were serious that is.” He said and I smiled, “Of course, Would you like to make a reservation at Winnies Massage Parlor for 12 midnight?” I asked and he chuckled, “I would actually, I tip very well” He teased and I smiled, my heart picking up. “Sounds good, I’ll see you then” I said and he stomped out the butt of his cigarette.

“Thanks f’comin honey, I really mean it” He said and wrapped his strong hands around my waist. I smiled, “Of course! Carm, anytime” I said and he leaned in kissing me sweetly. When he pulled away I look up at him. “Twelve?” he asked.

“Twelve, I’ll text you my apartment number” I said and went down the step “See ya, Chef” I winked and he gave me his priceless smile as he went inside.

➜ 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃!

#the bear fic #carmen berzatto #carmen berzatto fanfiction #carmen berzatto fluff #carmy berzatto #carmy berzatto fanfiction #the bear fanfiction #the bear fx #the bear hulu #carmen berzatto x oc #carmy berzatto x oc #carmen x oc #carmy x oc #the bear oc #the bear 🐻#carmen berzatto smut

39 notes · View notes

stitchdfox · 7 months

Text

Cross posting from my Twitter fan account!

Eddie’s on Tour pt 1

Eddie can’t remember the last time he tapped out first from a night of celebrating with the band post show. Sure, they were only on the third show of the tour they, by some miracle, booked to open for A Day To Remember. It felt like a fever dream.

His head was swimming with excitement from the exposure of playing with a legit band. They had only ever played at local bars like the Hide Out and that one time they played Battle of the Bands in Indy. It’s crazy the last show of tour will be at the House of Blues in Chicago.

Eddie had to figure out a way to make it through the tour without vibrating out of his skin.

So, here he was, half drunk and spiraling in the van. Thanks to his favorite crop top his back stuck to the vinyl of the middle bench he deemed the best place to suffer.

“Goddamnit,“ he sighs as he shoves his hand into his pocket, pulling out his phone. He opens his contacts and selects /Uncle/ and clicks the speaker icon before dropping the phone on his chest.

As it rings Eddie realizes how late it must be in Indiana and thinks about just ending the call when—

“Hellooo?” The voice says on the other end.

“You’re not Wayne” he sputters out.

“You’re right.” The voice is deep but sweet somehow.

“Why are you on my uncle’s phone?” Eddie is so confused.

“I’m not, actually.”

“Shit.”

Wayne had a new number from when he moved out of the old trailer.

“I’m an idiot,” Eddie whispers. The new number was under /Wayne/. He’d have to write the old man, like he promised, and tell him about the mix up. He’ll find it funny—

“You okay over there, stranger?” The voice asked.

Eddie had gone silent, lost in his thoughts.

“That’s a loaded question, sweetheart.” Eddie drummed his fingers on his bare midriff.

“That’s fair. Why don’t you start with why you were calling Wayne?” The man on the other end of the phone urged him on.

“Why the hell not?” Eddie hums. “I guess, I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed.”

“Hmm.” There’s a sudden clatter of dishes. “Shit.”

“You okay over there?” Eddie holds in a laugh.

“Fine. It’s fine.”

“Are you doing dishes? Oh my god. I’ve called a complete stranger and I’ve interrupted his chores. You were probably busy cleaning up after you made dinner for you and your lady friend. She’s patiently waiting for you to join her for the movie you settled on but you’re that weirdo that insists on doing the dishes right away.” Eddie rubs his hands down his face.

A sharp laugh comes through the phone. “You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?”

“Hardly.” Eddie sighs. “Look man, I’m sorry I interrupted. I’ll let you go.”

“Wait.” The response was quick and Eddie could swear there was a pinch of desperation. The man continues. “I mean… uh. I don’t mind. See I just… um. I wouldn’t mind the company is all I’m saying.”

Eddie couldn’t help the stupid grin on his face anymore than the butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

“Well then… Hi.”

“Hi.” The man chuckles on the other end. “Wanna tell me why you’re overwhelmed then?”

“It’s kind of a long story.” Eddie isn’t sure he’s ready to dive into this deep rooted fear of failure with a complete stranger. Nice enough as he seems, it would be weird, right?

“I’ve got the time.”

There’s silence from both of them for a three count.

“Fine. I’m in a band.” Eddie pauses.

The man on the other end hums.

“We have only really played dive bars and Battle of the Bands type shit before, right? And I’m convinced one of the other guys made a deal with the devil to get us here, touring as the openers for one of our favorite bands. We’re three days into this tour and I can’t even enjoy it because I’m waiting for the fallout or to wake up from this dream and I can’t stop wondering when they’re gonna pull the rug out from under us. You know?”

“Sounds like you don’t see how amazing you really are then.” The man’s voice is so soothing, motherly almost. “Clearly this favorite band of yours saw something in you. They probably started out just the way you did. Give yourself some credit here, man.”

Eddie swallows back tears. “You don’t even know me though. I’m the freak, the fuck up. I…” he sighs. “Why do they think I can do this?”

“I dunno. It’s not just you though. You’ve got your bandmates with you. Don’t you believe in them?”

“Of course!”

“Don’t you trust them?” The man asks.

“With my life.”

“Then reel it in a bit. I’m sure they need you as much as you need them right now.” The man’s tone goes low. “Trust it.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“Oh, I know I’m right.” There’s a smile in the man’s voice.

“Cocky, cocky. Wish I had your confidence.” Eddie rolls his eyes.

“Shit. I’ve got call.

“I can let you go, man.” Eddie couldn’t mask his disappointment in letting the stranger off the line.

“No! No. Sorry. It’ll be a quick call. I’ll be back.” There’s a lull. “I promise.”

The phone beeps and Eddie is left with a faint static sound and his buzzing thoughts. This is absolutely not where he thought he’d be after the show tonight. There’s something about being on stage and the confidence he has in himself when he’s performing, but the second the lights go down and their gear is packed up, he feels like an imposter. Maybe the stranger was right, maybe he just can’t see what everyone else does. Maybe–

“You still there?” The man comes back on the line.

“Yeah. I– Still here.” Eddie covers his face, embarrassed.

“My friend needs a ride and I’m the designated driver it seems. I gotta go, but I…” there’s a soft huff, Eddie can almost feel the warmth of the breath, “I’d like to chat again. I mean, uh, if you’d like to. I figure the tour could get lonely? But now that I say that I realize you have so much happening and so many people there and fans to meet and this is probably dumb and–”

“Hey now. I’m the one that’s supposed to be spiraling tonight. You can spiral the next time, okay?” Eddie chuckles.

“Next time?” The hopeful sound of the man’s voice was all Eddie needed.

“Yes, sweetheart.” Eddie coos. “Next time.”

“I’m Steve, by the way.”

“Eddie.”

“Can’t wait. I’ll talk to you soon, Eddie.”

The line dies before Eddie can make a bigger fool of himself.

There’s a ruckus outside and he jumps as the rest of the band topple into the van.

“Are we sleeping in the parking lot tonight, fellas?” Eddie asks.

They all grumble. —

Part 2 on the way. You can catch up on Twitter if you’re impatient enough. Ha!

#Eddie Munson #Steve Harrington #steddie #modern AU #idiots to lovers #cross posting from my twitter #eventual smut

57 notes · View notes

boltupbitches · 4 months

Text

A #94 Jersey

She could feel her hands tremble as she folded the tiny #94 jersey in the equally tiny orange and black gift bag. Black tissue paper was filled into the bag to hide Sam’s surprise. She couldn’t wait to see his reaction.

At 28 years old, the young couple had decided to try for their first child. Sam had been open to the idea right after their marriage two years ago. They had agreed to wait and focus on their marriage first before making another huge leap.

After talking with her gyno two months ago, and stopping her birth control, it was only a matter of time before they got a positive test. Today was that day.

After a couple of weeks of nausea, excessive eating, tenderness of the breasts, exhaustion, mood swings, and a missed period… She decided to buy a test and see what the results would be. It didn’t hurt.

The moment was filled with anticipation. It wasn’t the first pregnancy test she had taken (a scare earlier in their relationship) in her life, but the difference now was the nerves were based on excitement - the trepidation and fear were not there this time.

She bawled in happiness as soon as she read the test and saw the positive results. Her heart was filled with so much joy that she didn’t think a moment in time could ever top her wedding day. This did.

—-----

As she sat down in front of Sam, she could feel her nerves flaring up. She knew he was going to be over the moon with this news. She couldn’t wait to give it to him.

Sam was collecting their dishes to load into the dishwasher when his wife excused herself to the restroom. It was in there she did a little pep talk in the mirror, going over in her head again and again what she wanted to say.

A knock at the door interrupted her low muttering, “Babe,” Sam called, twisting the locked knob. “Are you ok in there?”

“Y-yeah! Just one second! I had one of my earrings stuck in my hair. Can you get the cheesecake cut and ready in the living room? I’ll be right in.” She called back through the door.

“Yeah, no problem. I’ll wait for you to come out before I pick the movie.” He had walked off then, not waiting for her response.

She sighed to herself, smoothing her hands down her face to ease her nerves, “Ok, let’s do this.”

She walked out then, carrying the tiny orange gift bag in her hand.

Sam was sprawled on one side of the couch, eating away at his cheesecake with a hefty topping of strawberry and whipped cream.

Her stomach growled at the sight of her slice sitting on the center table. She cleared her throat to get his attention. The cheesecake would have to wait.

“I got you something today while I was out and about.” She said softly, holding the bag up.

Sam stopped chewing and stared at her in confusion, mute for a few moments, “D-did I forget an important day or something?” He suddenly looked alarmed at the prospect, “Shit - babe - I am so sorry -”

“No - no!” She laughed as she cut off his ramble, “There’s no important anniversary or anything. I just have a surprise for you. That’s all.”

Sam nodded, unsure but at least subdued with her response. “Ok… thank you.” He reached out for the bag, sitting up and putting his plate down next to her untouched slice.

She sat next to him and handed the bag over gently, gulping audibly with nerves.

Sam pulled the tissue paper out, his hands coming in contact with the familiar fabric of a jersey. He stared at her in confusion, “um… is this some kind of lingerie thing?”

His wife laughed once more, “would you just look? And no, it’s not lingerie!”

Sam smiled at her reaction and pulled the cloth material out finally.

It was a folded mini version of his very own #94 jersey. His heart started to beat fast as he realized what the significance of this jersey meant. He had flipped it over to see ‘Baby Hubbard’ on the back.

Sam sat it down on his lap quietly and stared at it quietly for a few moments.

He looked back up at his wife with tears clouding his crystal blue eyes. “We’re having a baby?”

She had tears in her own eyes now, “Yeah. We are.”

He sat the jersey down on the other side of him and pulled her into his arms. He pressed kisses to her forehead as he cried happily along with her. They were finally going to be parents.

“Holy shit,” Sam laughed, happiness beaming across his face as tears continued to pour down his cheeks, “This is one of the best days of my life.”

“Mine too.” His wife agreed before pressing a deep kiss to his lips.

When they pulled away, Sam stared down at her with so much love and fondness it made her knees weak. ‘Thank god I’m sitting.’ She thought to herself.

“Thank you.” He whispered, “This is so fucking amazing. I mean.. Holy shit! It’s our time!”

“Didn’t take long,” She winked, referencing his insatiable appetite in the bedroom.

“It’s not hard when I’m married to the most loving, amazing, and beautiful woman in the world.” He praised, “Holy shit, I gotta call my mom and dad! They are going to be over the moon!” He launched up out of his seat, “Or do you wanna call yours first?” He asked after a moment of realizing they had her parents to call as well.

“We can call yours first.” She smiled, not caring who got the call first.

“Right, right,” Sam rubbed his hands through his grown-out locks, “Holy shit. Ok, ok. I’m going to call them on speaker - be right back!” He dashed off to get his phone off charge in the kitchen.

His wife just smiled as she heard him calling his parents as he walked back down the hall towards the living room.

This was their lives now. She couldn’t believe it. Baby Hubbard would be here by the end of the year.

#sam hubbard one shot #sam hubbard imagines #sam hubbard fanfiction

26 notes · View notes

the-name-is-z · 30 days

Text

SKELETONS | ch. 14

daryl dixon x f!oc

masterlist

a03 link

Summary: As everyone reels at the events of the past few days, Glenn reveals a big secret, causing a larger conflict to develop. Warnings/Information: AMC's The Walking Dead OC Insert | 18+ Advised | strangers to lovers; the slowest of slow burns; gore; angst; horror; humour; m/f; group conflict, threat of violence/murder, Shane is an asshole, killing walkers that used to be loved family members (including children)

Chapter 14 - Out of the Frying Pan

The sound of steel scraping against stone did nothing to make the morning less awkward. Iris felt like she knew too much of everything, and she wanted it off her shoulders. Carol was cooking eggs over the fire, and Andrea was loudly and incorrectly sharpening a knife.

“It’ll be more comfortable if you swipe the other way.” Iris said quietly, coming to sit down on the chair beside Andrea. She looked up, staring questioningly at Iris. Andrea looked back down, at Iris’ plethora of knives, before she changed her grip, swiping the knife against the rock a different way. Iris nodded in confirmation. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you or put myself in between you and Daryl. I’m just… glad it’s over.”

“It’s okay.” Andrea nodded after a moment. “I get it. I respect you, Iris. I could probably learn a lot from you. But you have to give me the chance.”

“That’s fair.” Iris replied. She extended a hand. “Truce?”

“Truce.” Andrea agreed, smiling as they shook hands. Iris pulled something out of her pocket, handing Andrea her survival knife sharpener. It had several slots depending on the size and type of knife, and Iris pointed to the second one.

“It’ll work faster. Pull evenly, in one motion. Also, if you’re gonna use a rock as a whetstone, it should be wet so you don’t damage the knife.” Iris explained, motioning with her hands. Andrea followed her instructions, examining the blade of her knife.

“Thanks.” She said with a half-smile. Iris nodded. Carol called the others for breakfast, dishing out portions of eggs as the group gathered around the fire. Shane kept a bit of a distance, considering the glares Iris was shooting his way.

“Um, guys?” Glenn called, standing up from a small tree stump. Iris paused, fork halfway to her mouth. Everyone looked up, turning to him. “So… the barn is full of walkers.” Everyone stopped, the sounds of chewing and polite scraping screeching to a halt.

“I’m sorry?” Iris asked, glancing from Glenn to the large barn a little ways away from the house, the one Hershel was fairly secretive about. The group collectively pilgrimaged across the land toward the barn, peering in through the wood slats to hear soft moans and shuffling coming from inside. Shane lurched back as a walker spotted him, pressing itself against the wall from inside. “No shit.” Iris murmured. Shane stalked back to where the group was gathering, at a safe, respectful distance.

“You cannot tell me you’re alright with this.” He hissed to Rick, brushing straight past him.

“No, I’m not, but we’re guests here. This isn’t our land.” Rick replied sharply. Shane scoffed, pacing.

“This is our lives, man!”

“Lower your voice.” Glenn warned.

“We can’t just sweep this under the rug.” Andrea protested, folding her arms.

“It ain’t right, not remotely. Okay, we’ve either got to go in there, make things right, or we’ve just got to go. Now we’ve been talking about Fort Benning for a long time—” Shane started.

“We can’t go.” Rick hissed.

“Why, Rick? Why?”

“Because my daughter is still out there.” Carol answered, and Iris was impressed she stood up for herself and her daughter. Plus, she was right.

“Okay.” Shane almost laughed, rubbing both hands down his face. “Okay, now I think its time that we all just start to consider the other possibility.”

“Shane.” Lori scolded.

“We’re not leaving Sophia behind.” Rick said firmly.

“We’re close to finding this girl, Iris and I just found her damn doll two days ago.” Daryl protested.

“You found her doll, Daryl, that’s what you did. You found a doll.” Shane replied.

“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!”

“I’m just saying what needs to be said! You get a good lead, it’s in the first 48 hours—”

“Shane, stop!” Rick yelled.

“Let me tell you something else, man. If she was alive out there and saw you coming all methed out with your buck knife covered in blood, she would run in the other direction!” Shane spat. Daryl threw himself at him and Rick shoved himself between the two before they could start swinging at each other. Everyone had to pull them apart, shoving them in opposite directions.

“Just let me talk to Hershel. Let me figure it out.” Rick told him.

“What are you gonna figure out?!” Shane cried.

“Enough!” Lori hissed.

“If we’re gonna clear this barn, if we’re gonna stay, I have to talk him into it. This is his land.” Rick insisted.

“Hershel sees those things in there as people.” Dale announced, turning to everyone. “Sick people. His wife. His stepson.”

“You knew?” Rick asked, feeling somewhat betrayed.

“Yesterday, I talked to Hershel.” Dale explained.

“And you waited the night.” Shane hissed.

“I thought we could survive one more night.” Dale shot back. “We did. I was waiting till this morning to say something, but Glenn wanted to be the one.”

“The man is crazy, Rick, if Hershel thinks those things are alive or no!” The noise they were making was aggravating the walkers and the chains on the barn doors began to rattle. They pounded up against the door, the wood shaking and creaking. Iris sighed.

“How many are there?” She asked quietly.

“I don’t know. Maybe… two dozen? More or less.” Glenn replied. Rick sighed, running a hand over his face. Shane stormed off and started to walk around the barn, scoping out its stability.

Glenn turned to go talk to Maggie, to inform her of what he’s told them. Carol, Andrea, Lori and Carl went back to the campsite to keep a safe distance. Iris and Daryl stood with Rick and Dale at the front of the barn, Rick and Dale conversing about how they could speak to Hershel in an amicable way.

“How do you think they get them in there?” Iris wondered, watching the barn doors shake every so often. Daryl shrugged.

“Does it matter?” He asked. Iris pursed her lips. She supposed not, but… a hundred what-if’s spun through her mind. “We gotta go look for her. I’m gonna go get the horse again.”

“You can’t, you’re still injured.” Iris protested, following after him. “And Rick had to talk Hershel down from skinning you when he found out you almost stole them last time.”

“I don’t care.” He grumbled.

“Well I do.” Iris replied, stepping in front of him. “We can go out later to follow the trail with Rick.”

“Yeah, well, I ain’t gonna sit around and do nothing.”

“You almost died, Daryl. We don’t even know if we’re gonna find her.” Iris continued, her voice faltering at the end. He blinked, looking down at the ground. “I can barely look Carol in the eyes thinking about it. But we can’t afford to lose anyone else.”

“You gonna come with me then? Or not?” He asked after a moment, his voice ever-so-slightly less harsh. Iris sighed, looking back at the barn before turning to him.

“Yeah. I’m coming with you. After Rick talks to Hershel.”

“Fine.” He replied. He paused, looking down at her for a moment before trudging back up to their campsite.

Rick talked to Hershel, going out to see Shane at the barn a little while after. They had what seemed like a small argument before Rick stalked back to the campsite. He gathered those that wanted to search for Sophia and brought them to their usual spot, at the map on the hood of the station wagon.

“It also shows she could be moving this way south.” He murmured, moving his finger along the creek. “If Sophia went in that direction, she might have gotten out of the forest and into the farmland. So we take 74 up to Ivy Road, then push down south on foot through the forest till we hit Christopher, go east a couple of miles, then double back.” He explained.

“Rick.” Iris mumbled, jerking her chin over to Hershel, who was rolling his sleeves up as he walked toward them.

“Rick.” Hershel called.

“Hershel.” He replied. “We just have out guns out because we’re gonna go look for Sophia.”

“Before you do that, I could use your help with something.” He stated, putting his hands on his hips.

“Count me in.” Andrea said instantly. Iris waited, raising an eyebrow.

“Thank you, but I just need Rick.” Hershel said, looking to him expectantly.

“We’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.” Iris told Rick, and he nodded to them, following Hershel toward the field.

“Iris, can I talk to you for a sec?” Carl asked, walking over. Iris nodded, stepping away from Andrea and Daryl with the kid. “I know Shane thinks Sophia is dead, but that’s bullshit. We’ve gotta stay here until we find her.”

“I know cowboy, I know.” Iris agreed, grinning. “That hat fits good, you’re like a real cowboy now.” He nodded. “Carl, we’re not gonna stop looking, okay? And if you heal before we find her, you can come help us look, okay? But not before.”

“Okay.” He nodded. Iris smiled softly. He took it all so seriously.

“And watch your language. Your mama will have my head if she thinks I’m teaching you bad words.” Iris joked, and he relinquished a smile. Shane stormed past them toward the RV, looking for the guns, presumably. Except Dale had taken them.

“Iris!” Shane called, stomping toward them.

“You go see your mom, alright?” Iris said quietly, sending Carl running to Lori. “What, Shane?”

“Where’d he go?” Shane asked.

“Where’d who go?” She asked, looking up nonchalantly.

“Don’t bullshit me, girl.” He spat, pushing her up against a tree with one arm across her shoulders. She shoved at him, but he was clearly stronger than her.

“Hey!” Daryl called, running over.

“You’d better learn some respect.” Iris snapped. She hooked her foot behind his knee and tugged, sending him off balance as she grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back, brandishing her knife. She held it away from him, but the looming threat was evident. Daryl paused in front of them, Andrea following suit. Iris kicked Shane forward. “I’m sick of your shit. You want to find Dale, go find him, but don’t expect to push me around.”

He pushed up off the ground, looking at her like he looked at Dale that day. He turned away and stormed toward the SUV. Andrea paused before jogging after him, and Daryl raised an eyebrow at Iris.

“Where’d you learn to do that?” He asked, looking her up and down.

“I grew up in a bar. Didn’t have a choice.” She replied. Iris sighed, recalling her teenage years. “Assholes like Shane are not hard to come by.” Daryl sat back, seemingly satisfied with that answer as he looked over his shoulder at Shane and Andrea’s animated yet muffled conversation.

“Where the hell is Rick?” Iris asked, walking over to Glenn and Maggie who sat beside one another on the porch. Daryl and Andrea strode beside her, T-Dog and Carol coming up the other side.

“You know what’s going on?” T-Dog asked.

“You haven’t seen Rick?” Glenn asked in response.

“We were supposed to leave a couple hours ago.” Daryl grunted.

“Rick told us he was going out.” Carol said, shrugging.

“Oh, good. Brutus is back.” Iris grumbled as Shane appeared, the bag of guns slung over his shoulder and a rifle in hand. “What did you do to Dale?”

“He’s on his way.” Shane replied lowly. “Time to grow up.” He started handing out guns. “You already got yours?” He asked Andrea.

“Yeah. What’s going on?”

“I thought we couldn’t carry?” T-Dog asked.

“Yeah, well, we can and we have to.” Shane spat.

“Oh god.” Iris muttered, running a hand through her hair. “Shane—“

“I don’t wanna hear it.” He yelled, pointing a finger at her. She raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. Beth and Patricia came over from the other side of the porch, Carl in tow. “Look, it was one thing sitting around here picking daisies when we thought this place was supposed to be safe, but now we know it ain’t. How about you man, you gonna protect yours?” He asked Glenn, offering him a shotgun. He even turned to Maggie. “Can you shoot?”

“Can you stop?” She retorted. “You do this, you hand out these guns, my dad will make you leave tonight.”

“We have to stay, Shane.” Carl said firmly.

“What is this?” Lori asked, storming out from inside the farmhouse.

“44 BC, The fall of the Roman Empire.” Iris replied.

“We ain’t going anywhere, okay? Hey, look, Hershel, he’s just gotta understand, okay? He— well, he’s gonna have to. Now we need to find Sophia, am I right?” He knelt down in front of Carl, offering him the small pistol he’d stolen yesterday. “Now I want you to take this. You take it, Carl, and you keep your mother safe. You do whatever it takes. You know how. Go on, take the gun and do it.”

“Rick said no guns. This is not your call.” Lori hissed, pulling her son away from Shane. “This is not your decision to make.”

“Oh shit.” T-Dog murmured. They all turned to see Jimmy emerging from the forest, clapping his hands loudly. The noise was attracting walkers. Two, specifically, that also happened to be caught at the end of two snare poles that Rick and Hershel held. They were herding the walkers… somewhere.

“What is that… what is that?” Shane spat, bursting into a sprint.

“Shane, wait!” Daryl yelled. They all shot out after him, running across the field.

“What the hell are you doing?” Shane yelled, running over.

“Shane, back off!” Rick retorted.

“Why do your people have guns?” Hershel asked, scowling.

“I feel like there is a more appropriate question for this situation.” Iris pointed out, skidding to a stop as one of the walkers reached for her. Rick pulled it back and the others raised their guns, just in case.

“Are you kidding me? You see? You see what they’re holding onto?” Shane yelled, circling them.

“I see who I’m holding onto!” Hershel snapped.

“No, man, you don’t.” Shane replied simply.

“Shane, just let us do this, and then we can talk.” Rick grumbled as they continued shoving the walkers toward the barn.

“What do you want to talk about, Rick? These thing’s ain’t sick! They’re not people! They’re dead! Ain’t gotta feel nothing for ‘em, ‘cause all they do, they kill! These things right here? They’re the things that killed Amy! They killed Otis! They’re gonna kill all of us!”

“Shane, shut up!” Rick yelled. They were almost to the barn, but Shane put himself in between them and the barn, his pistol tight in his grip.

“Hey, Hershel, let me ask you something, man. Could a living breathing person, could they walk away from this?” He asked as he shot the walker Hershel was herding. The bullets went straight through it, the dress it was wearing already shredded.

“No!” Hershel cried.

“Stop it!” Rick yelled.

“That’s three rounds in the chest.” Shane snapped. The walker still lunged for them, bloody, broken nails scratching the air. “Could someone who’s alive, could they just take that? Why is it still coming?” He shot again, two more rounds in the chest this time. “See that? That’s it’s heart! Why is it still coming?” Three more rounds.

“Shane, enough!” Rick yelled.

“Yeah, you’re right, man. That is enough.” Shane growled. He stalked forward, and once he was in arms reach, he put a bullet through it’s brain. The walker collapsed, Hershel lamenting at the loss of someone he probably knew. Jimmy’s hands were on the back of his head in shock and Patricia clutched her chest. “Enough risking our lives for a little girl who’s gone! Enough living next to a barn full of things that are trying to kill us! Enough! Rick, it ain’t like it was before. Now if y’all wanna live, if y’all wanna survive, you gotta fight for it! I’m talking about fighting! Right here, right now!” He moved to the barn doors.

“Take the snare pole! Hershel, take the snare pole!” Rick urged. “Hershel! Listen to me, man. Please! Take it now! Hershel! Take it!” Shane cried out as he went at the chains on the barn doors with a stray pickaxe, pulling at the locks, the boards.

“Rick!” Lori yelled from closer to the house, holding Carl close.

“No, Shane! Do not do this, brother! Wait!” Rick pleaded.

“Don’t do it!” Glenn yelled.

“Rick!”

“Come on! Come on! We’re out here!” Shane yelled as he tossed the board aside, slamming on the doors. There was one chain left at the top that he couldn’t reach, but the walkers could make quick work of that.

“This is not the way!” Rick continued. “Please!” Everyone trained their weapons on the barn as Shane took a few steps back, pulling out his gun.

The chain was nothing to the walkers, the barn doors folding like cardboard. An undead young man, tall, bald with overalls, was the first to push his way through, snarling, bleeding from every orifice. Shane kept his gun trained at them, shots firing, and Andrea ran forward as more started pushing through. That young man. A young woman. A teenage boy. A middle-aged woman, an elderly woman. The others began stepping forward, guns firing. There was double what they thought.

“Maggie…” Glenn breathed, asking for permission.

“It’s okay.” She replied, sobbing as she held her father tight. Iris took that as her cue. She pulled out her gun and joined the fray. Shot an elderly man. A teenage girl. A middle-aged man. Shane made a point of turning around and shooting the walker that Rick was still holding in the snare pole. One by one they fell, in a semi-circle of corpses around the door of the barn. It wasn’t difficult, it went quickly. At some point, Hershel’s wife. His stepson. It was impossible to know who, but if they were in there, they went down. There was a wave of silence as they seemed to stop coming.

Iris was worried about the gunfire attracting more walkers, but the thought dissipated rather quickly when the final walker stumbled out from the doors of the barn. Iris heard Carol sob somewhere behind her. The walker with short brown hair in little bow clips away from her face, a blue t-shirt with a glittery rainbow. Khaki capri pants and sneakers with red socks. Soft growls and slow shuffling. There was no denying it was Sophia, but it was a shock to see her anyways. No one moved but Carol, who darted to her daughter. Daryl was quick to catch her, holding her back even as she collapsed to her knees.

“Sophia! Sophia! Oh no, Sophia!” She wailed. At one point in her life, Iris would have looked away, but she stared through that walker, straight into her dead eyes. Lori was muttering to Carl, who had fat tears rolling down his cheeks. Sophia moved forward, her gaze cloudy with decay, stumbling over the bodies.

“Don’t watch.” Lori whispered to Carl.

In the end, it was Rick who stepped forward, taking his gun from it’s holster and pulling the trigger.

Taglist:

@heidiland05 @ryoujoking @catlalice @maxinehufflepuffprincess @lowkeyhottho

#thenameisz #daryl dixon #daryl dixon x reader #skeletons #the walking dead #the walking dead daryl dixon #twd daryl #twd daryl dixon #daryl dixon x oc

19 notes · View notes

justanormalfangirlx2 · 11 months

Text

Sing A Little Song For Me Pt. 3

nobody asked for it, but here’s a part three i thought about 🫶🏼

three years later…

wilbur was miserable. he let the love of his life slip away just because he was afraid of commitment and being a bad husband. he was scrolling through instagram, liking random pictures and memes, not even realizing he scrolled to y/n’s profile and frowned, clicking on their profile picture, wanting to see what they’ve been up too. he sees a new guy in your life now, apparently, and frowned. he realized the girl he loved, no, still loved, moved on and had a new boyfriend it seemed like it. damn, it hurt. he wipes his eyes and calls his friend, phil and tommy.

“hey guys, i just found y/n’s instagram again and it’s making me feel like shit.”

phil looked at wilbur, worried and frowned. “wil, don’t succumb yourself to sadness that isn’t necessary.”

wilbur gasped. “PHIL! I LOVED THEM! I CANT JUST NOT UNLOVE THEM? WE WERE TOGETHER FOR OVER 7 YEARS!”

tommy sighed. “mate, you’re fucking miserable when you’re sad.”

wilbur groaned. “how do i move on though? i need some sort of closure or something.”

tommy looked innocent. “I have her address?”

”why the fuck do you have her address?” wilbur fumed.

“I um.. uh.. am partners for a project with their daughter?“ tom questioned.

“and why didn’t you mention this to me?” wilbur said, scarily calm.

“because i didn’t want to make you rip off the bandaid? or because i secretly have a crush on their daughter?”

wilbur held the bridge of his nose, sighing. “you better give me the fucking address now.”

phil looked on, watching, waiting for wilbur to blow up.

”here! her address is 2523 Rd 173 Grover Hil, OH 45849. Just don’t do stupid shit.” Tommy said.

wilbur grinned. “no promises! now bye!” he hung up the phone and visually mapped out his response to her in his head.

TIMESKIP

wilbur went out the next day, saw the house y/n was living in and grasped the ring he was carrying. he made his way to the door, sighed and knocked. and knocked.

a little boy opened the door and yelled. “mum! there’s a hot guy at the door!”

he heard a “alright, wilbur! let me get the door.” and then a perosn came into view and his heart stopped. (yes i named y/n’s child wilbur, sue me)

it was them. y/n. and god did they look amazing.

he cleared his throat and said, as any normal ex would do, “I missed you.”

the person at the door shooed wilbur away and closed the door behind them. “why the fuck are you here?”

will started to get down on one knee when jarred arrived, greeting his wife with a kiss. “hello dear, who is this?”

they kissed Jarred back and put their right hand, the one with the ring on it, towards wilbur, on his chest and smiled up at him. “just somebody that i used to know, dear. nobody really that important.“

wilbur. still on one knee frowned. “i was going to give you the world, y/n! i came here today to make you my wife! instead i find you with him.”

y/n frowned. “you had that chance a long time ago. i’m a different person now. at least i have somebody who loves me and respects me as i am, and we’re on the same wavelength with our relationship, unlike you and i. and me, i’m as happy as i can be, which is suprising after what you made me do. i have 3 amazing kids, an amazing and loving husband, and where are you? still eating ramen out of the same dish?”

wilbur scoffed and threw the ring at Jarred. “You can have the bitch for all i care.”

wilbur peeked out of the door. “mum, what’s a bitch?”

y/n stood there stunned. “well honey, a bitch is this guy here. but in the future, don’t use that word, alright, sweetheart?”

he nodded. “okay mum!”

Jarred turned to wilbur. “you better move the hell outta here before I call the cops, you bastard. and don’t come back!”

wilbur stood up and ran towards y/n gave them one last kiss on the lips and ran off. “i had to do that, at least once.”(I HAD TO QUOTE GALE FROM THE HUNGER GAMES)

y/n sighed and leaned into Jarred. “I’m sorry, I don’t know how he found me or why he decided it’d be a good idea to approach me.”

Jarred stood there, shocked. “As long as you’re here with me, it’s all that matters, dearest.”

you hugged him. “that’s all i’ll ever be.”

THE END

33 notes · View notes

limeade-l3sbian · 11 months

Note

hi, I'm sorry for the rant :( idk I really have no idea who to talk to right now, sorry

idk how do I even call this? I have difficult relationships with my mother?? like I'm a teen and I live with parents and I'm doing a lot of housework? I wouldn't say that it's something crazy but still i often don't have any strength to do something for myself by the end of the day..

I go to college and after that I come back at home and cook or clean here and there and than I mostly sit with my younger brother until they go to sleep. no one actually ever directly tells me to sit with him but just... my parents are always tired after work and mostly when they "sit" with him, they just turn on cartoons and I never liked it so I'm always trying to play with him and everything even if I'm tired myself, and actually even if I'm tired and I stay at my room, he very often come to me and ask to play with him and of course I can't say no because it's just heartbreaking :(

I'm tired of it obviously?? even on days when I have time for myself I often just lay in the bed and don't want to do anything. and on Saturdays there's no one at home because parents are working all day so I usually clean the house and cook the dinner and then I have free time before everyone will come back (usually just spend laying on bed or maladaptive daydreaming...). but sometimes I'm too tired that I'm not doing much. like today?? I just moped the floor and washed dishes and then have myself time to do something for myself. and so mom came back and yelled at me because I didn't do much :)

and it happens almost everytime when I just give myself a rest. I never say anything back when she yells because I'm scared of arguing with her. and I just always forgive her for that?? even if she really hurts me. I think we're actually a fucked up family because um growing up I never heard anyone apologising to anyone or talking to each other about feelings, so I myself have a hard time talking about what I feel, especially to parents. I can see that my mom tries to do that recently but she mostly talks about how she feels and I never respond to that because I have no idea what to tell. like I know what actually to say but it's just scares me to actually answer.

and recently it harder to forgive her because I'm starting noticing that she thinks I am living a happy life and she's the only one who struggles and I am so ignorant and don't understand how tired she is. but I am?? she very often tells something to me about how she feels and she thinks that it's something I never thought about but I knew since I was 14 or even younger. like about her mental health or how hard it is for her to work or anything else.

she once told me that she thinks that she have a depression and showed me her results on these online depression tests and result was like light depression or smth. and then she told me that sometimes she looks in the window and think about jumping and "I don't want to kill myself right now but I am just telling you in case. I already told dad. just so you know if something happens." and I just started crying so badly. I felt so bad for her and it's hurting me that she have to go through so many things I wish she never had to. and after some time she asked "why are you crying? feel bad for yourself?" and just left my room. I just. idk. it made me feel even worse that she thinks that I was crying because I am pitying myself.

and?? I don't think that tests are an actual thing and feel silly saying this but I also take this kind of tests sometimes and result is always severe depression or something like that. like I am not saying that these are diagnosis but I think it still means something. and it felt so bad to realise that she's showing and telling me all that and she never thought that I might suffer from that shit too.

she clearly thinks that I don't care about her but it's the opposite! what I do is actually not a very healthy shit, I think, but what I mean is that i think a lot about how to make it easier for her even if it will make it harder for me.

one summer (I don't even remember when it was) I wasn't eating so my mom don't need to cook more food. like if there's something from yesterday but it's only enough for two. it's actually stupid because I could've just cook something myself but I was so tired and just didn't want to do anything. it felt like a better idea to not eat then to cook. and also sometimes I felt like if I would it it will be a waste of food and I don't deserve it because I am not doing anything. and like this I could've not eat for days. I still can't come back to eating normal amount of food in one day after that period. maximum is twice a day but usually it's just once or I even forget to eat something.

another thing is that I am trying to waste as less money as possible because of how hard it is for mom to get those money. everytime she ask if I want or need something to buy I mostly say no. and also about eating, I very often feel bad after eating something outside of a house. pizza with friends, lunch at/after college, icecream, chips, anything I buy to eat makes me ask myself "why did I spend money on that?".

I also never tell her about how my physical health is. I can cry because of how much it hurts but still never tell mom. because I feel bad for giving her troubles.

and the wildest shit is that I would never told her about my older brother sexually assaulting me when I was 11 if she didn't asked us that day why our relationships are so bad. because I knew how it would hurt her. I knew that she never actually loved my brother because of how much he's similar to our biological dad who mom hates (me too). that day she told me that as if it was a secret and as if I never noticed how much she force herself to love him. and at the end she cried and begged me to forgive her but I never blamed her for that. what hurted me is that her first response after what I said was "I don't like that you're walking without a bra at home", then she asked me to not make her choose between us, then she told me that he told her that "he knows that you hate him and he hates himself too" as if I care. I remember clearly how he showed how annoyed he was when I asked my mom to talk without him because I was scared to tell that infront of him. because I wasn't even sure if i wasn't just crazy and nothing like this happened and what if he would use that. he's also a lesbian fetishist and I am a lesbian. I am a fetish for him. he have screenshot from a shitty wlw manhwa on his lockscreen. before that he had cover of shitty wlw manga as his lockscreen for years. he have screenshot from hentai on his pfp for other social media. he talked to me about pedophilic incest hentai anime with lesbians when I was younger. he was telling me that I am actually a closeted lesbian when I myself never even thought about my sexuality. and he actually did more shit to me that is non-sexual before and after assault. is it how someone who hate himself for what he did is acting? I wonder if it was him who lied to my mom or my mom who lied to me. and even with all that I still forgave my mom for all that. because I know it's hard for her.

and then she asks me to move to his old room because they want my younger brother to have room that is closer to theirs. I understand that it's hard for her but it's sickening for me to even think about living in that room, I don't want to and I said no and she was annoyed. she's not bringing that up anymore but I'm scared that if she will ask me again I won't be able to say no, so I'm hoping that after they renovate this room it would be easier for me to be there. and I forgave her even for being annoyed because I am uncomfortable about living in the room where my offender lived before.

I keep forgiving her for everything she's doing for me and then she hurts me more and I forgive her again. I wonder if I am just running away from problems. but I am scared to talk her about anything. I feel like if I will start talking I will tell everything that is on my mind from not liking how she treats me to being a lesbian and dating a girl and my political views, and that it will completely destroy our relationships. I am so scared that she won't accept me because of that, but accepted him even if he assaulted me.

I am very sorry, it's all fucked up and I suck at english and I also just blurted everything out but it just so bad I want to cut my head off and never think about it again. I now exactly why is she like that and I don't want to hate her and I know how she's also a victim of this fucked up world. but instead of trying change something she's just bringing me down with her into living an unhappy live just like hers. I don't want to do at this point. I don't want to just leave her and I also have no idea how to live with her. I think I need to talk to her but I am scared. idk. I want to just disappear sometimes so everyone who ever knew me will forget me. or just to disappear for my family so they don't remember me.

I'm sorry once again for this long ass sad teen anon, thank you very much if you still read all of this :(

It seems like you've done enough apologizing for a lifetime so don't waste one more on me.

I don't know how to say this without it coming off as cruel but - your mother is not being a good mother to you. You don't tell your child that you're suicidal. You don't burden a child with their own existence. You say that you forgive her often, and I assume for your sanity, you do it to retain some level of peace in the home. But you should know that you have every right to hold resentment in your heart. Not that I want you to, because that'll tire you even more. But you would be more than valid in this.

Above all else, I'm so sorry you seem to have the world against you. I'm sorry it seems like the people around you don't see you for the person full of hopes and dreams that you. I'm sorry you ever had to know what it felt like to be uncomfortable in your own home, in your own body. I'm actually, like, tearing up here because for all the apologies you deserve, I don't know how else to say on behalf of everyone who ever hurt you that I'm sorry. Especially being a teenager and just getting started in life. I'm so sorry, anon.

I'm so grateful you have friends and that you're going to college. That you have some respite from your home life. Hold onto those things! You don't have shit to feel bad about when it comes to being with your friends. Just as you feel your mom deserves some peace, SO. DO. YOU.

You don't deserve to just disappear. I felt that way for problems far less severe than your own. You deserve to feel happy and to exist. You deserve to take up MORE room. And just by virtue of hearing your story, I'll NEVER forget you. You've taken up space in my memory and my heart. 💜 And I really mean that. So if you "disappear", know that you'll have left a hole in me and others who resonate with your story.

I don't have all the answers. God knows I wish I did. But you can message me ANY time you want. About anything. I wish I could fix it all. But the best I can do as a stranger on the internet is offer you a shoulder. And I mean this as one woman to another, I love you. 💜💜💜

#ask

6 notes · View notes

inactive02939 · 2 years

Note

I GOT IT I GOT IT!

okay the request was a highschool mirko x reader but like, she wanted to talk to them since they didnt talk but they just kept smiling at each other which caused her butterflies so keigo helps her talk to them!

DW ABT DELETING IT ITS FINE DW EITBKWRB

character pairing(s): usagiyama rumi x gn! reader

scenario: rumi hasn't ever been uninformed of someone, but the one person she hadn't heard about caught her eye.

word count: 585 words

content warnings: hawks is a dumbass. possibly ooc? i use italics a lot

authors note: okay don't come at me because i know that mirko is 27 and hawks is 23.. but we don't talk about that. anyway that was really fun to write!! sorry it's short..

"time for lunch! finally, i was starving!" rumi slung dramatically over her seat before piping up and running her hands through her alabaster hair. "keigooo!" she yells to the winged boy next to her, "let's go get some food! i heard it's miso today!" she punched the air excitedly.

"calm down, rumi, i'm coming," he gave a sly smirk, watching mirko fidget around from how unbearably slow he was being.

as soon as keigo starts walking to rumi's side, she yanks him and runs, beating everyone else to the lunchline-- except for you.

ah. rumi. you'd seen her a lot in the halls, even smiled at her. she always smiled back.

you had never talked before, you two. she'd just awkwardly put her hands behind her back and keigo would snicker. you saw rumi's eyes flutter up to meet yours. you were only a few yards away, but it felt so... far. you softly smile and meet her gaze, and she smiled in return. your heart flutter.

rumi, meanwhile, felt like she was about to scream. you were adorable. she spun on her heel and faced lunch rush, who handed her a tray of miso soup and rice.

your smile faltered. it seemed like she had forgotten all about you. you sigh and wait for the line to move along, got your tray, and watched keigo and rumi chat about whatever it was they were chatting about. you couldn't hear them, but you saw your name being mouthed a few times.

"what's wrong?" keigo teased, "is the amazing rumi not able to speak up to them?" he gesticulated at you. you sat up in surprise.

"leave them alone," she huffed.

"defending now, are we?" his smirk got wider.

"maybe i'll talk to them tomorrow," she sighed softly, sipping on the warm broth of her favorite dish.

that became the excuse every day. i'll talk to them tomorrow. keigo was sick of it. it was excruciating to see his usually quick-witted friend so speechless.

"tomorrow my ass. talk to them today or i will, and i'll make them go on a date with me. and you get to watch," he sighed as he took his tray to the trash. he fluffed up his hair and sat next to his best friend. the words echoed in rumi's brain.

"go."

"no."

"yes."

"fine!" she snapped and looked at you. you were oblivious to the whole conversation, sipping on miso broth and snacking on rice. you couldn't hear them bickering, and she was glad, because it would give away how much she liked you.

this is it, she thought; her hands were clammy and her breath was off. she slowly breathed in. jesus rumi, get your shit together before you look like an idiot in front of them. she ran her hands through her snow-white hair and softly stamped her feet.

"okay, i'll go now, and if you even try and ask them out-" she pointed a finger accusingly at keigo before he cut her off, a grin plastered on his stupid face.

"alright, alright! jeez!" he exclaimed, then added that "it was just a ruse to get her to hurry on with this cheesy love story already!"

she cracked her knuckles and walked over to you.

"hey, rumi!" you smiled cheerfully. her heart stopped and she could feel her ears twitching. her eyes widened.

"um, hi,"

"is something wrong?"

"no! nothing's wrong, but uh.." she scratched the back of her ears, "would you.. want to go get lunch with me tomorrow...?"

"i'd love to!"

75 notes · View notes

mylovley · 2 years

Text

Honey cake

707 x reader

WARNING: mentions of ed, angsty/afterfluff, hurt

If you havent played 707s route in mystic messenger this might be confusing. But basicly this is when he ends up coming to your house to protect you but treats you like shit. (unlike my bakugou fanfic this one turns out good lol)

ENJOY<3333

Its been two days since seven came over to your house. He wont speak to you and if he does its being rude to you somehow. It hurt.

He was being so cold, and no matter what you did to make him look at you or even smile for once it never worked.

You just smiled it off, trying to be positive for him but in reality, it really hurt you.

You began to stop eating, the feelings of neglect from someone whom you really like swelling into something deeper. You felt horrible. You just wanted him to love you like you loved him.

So, you had gotten what you thought was the best idea ever. You would make him a honey cake, to represent his favorite honey budda chips.

After hours in the kitchen, you had finally gotten the cake ready, as you put a honey drissle over the top of the cake all you could think about was his eyes that resembled the honey. you step back and observe your handy work. "hmm, it needs something" you think when you get an idea "Honey budda chips!" you excitedly say as you quickly wright it down on your notepad, as you scatter over to the room seven is in.

"hey seven!" you say smiling

"what." he replys coldly

"Um, I was wondering if I could borrow like a handfull of honey budda chips?"

he rolls his eyes "Get your own damn chips"

You swallow the slight hurt down "um well, please?"

"cant you just leave me alone?!" he snaps, looking up at you with venom in his honey eyes.

"I-I was just trying to-"

"Cant you just stop being annoying for once Y/N?!"

"i-im sorry.." you say rushing out of the room looking down, heading for your room.

you lay in your bed and break down, crying into your pillow so that seven wouldnt hear. curled up in a ball, you sob the rest of the night.

SEVENS POV

Seven walks into the kitchen to make a sandwich, when he notices the big honey cake sitting neatly on the counter. Confused, he walks towards it noticing the piles of dirty dishes now in the sink. Beside the cake there is a checklist of sorts

Cake for Seven~!

--Vanila cake mixed with honey

--Honey drizzle on top

--honey budda chips

Seeing the honey budda chips yet to be crossed out, he realizes what hes done.

YOUR POV

you hear a soft knock on the door, opening your eyes you quickly shoot up, rubbing your eyes of any evidence of tears.

"c-come in!" you shout as seven walks in closing the door behind him

you sit in awkward silece for a moment when seven walks over to you hugging you, rubbing small circles in your back.

"s-seven whats wrong?" you say with concern

" im sorry y/n. I didnt mean to yell at you."

"its okay, i know your stressed." you say, slightly muffled by his shoulder

"no, its not okay. Ive noticed how bad ive been affecting you."

you stay silent rubbing his back, inhaling his sent

"I noticed how youve stopped eating. Was that because of me?

You dont respond

"I thought so. y/n im-" you interupt him with a soft kiss. His eyes widen but close as his face softens and accepts the kiss.

when you release him you give him a small kiss on the nose, cheek, and chawline. "I know" you whisper, looking up at him while cradling his face.

you both smile in eachothers presence " thank you for the cake. it looks really good" he says with a goofy smile, cheeks squished by your hands. "why dont we eat it together."

you smile, letting go of him. "that would be great"

short and sweet ig lol i dont have energy to make epic fics so im sorry if these arent good enough

#agent 707 #mysme 707 #mm 707 #707 x mc #707 x y/n #707 x reader #707 x you #afterfluff

40 notes · View notes

domestikhighway58 · 1 year

Text

Home, Alone

HOTCHREID

18+ Explicit

Not too explicit but IDK how this works on the Tumblr

WC: 1600

Hotch comes over for dinner and a movie after Spencer takes a day off. Dinner is heavy and the movie is relaxing but they still find a way to get down with the dirty-dirty, even if it is a little new.

YO--Go order the Hotchreid Zine if you haven't yet! Orders close in like 2 days or so. <3 This is for fun but also for that. <3

...

"Hey, yeah, come on up--chicken's done--hang on!"

BUZZ

Hotch shook his head with a tired smile and made his way up once the door to Reid's apartment building finally clicked open.

He had to tell the kid to get the code fixed so he could buzz himself up next time. Hotch had been there every night for nearly two months now. It was probably far past time but Spencer had never had a boyfriend before. This was all new.

Hotch let himself in and found Spencer bustling around his cramped kitchen in an old band t-shirt and a ragged pair of cords, barefoot for once.

"I roasted a chicken, an entire, organic, humanely sourced chicken I had to order from the Market and it only just got here--Aaron, it still had a few feathers in it, I tweezed it but--"

Aaron held up a hand while he shrugged his jacket off.

"Sorry, wait--Spencer, you tweezed the chicken?"

Spencer stared with a rapid blink as he stood up to his full height.

"Yes?" he asked with a wince just as the buzzer dinged again.

"Oh--shit, okay--is it--yes, that's brown enough right? I broiled it for the last little bit, the internal temperature read just at 175 degrees Fahrenheit--"

Hotch placed his hands on Spencer's hips just above the loose old cords. His fingers met warm skin and both men sighed at the subtle contact.

"Get it out and we'll taste test once it's rested. What else did you make on your rare day off?" Aaron breathed into Spencer's long hair.

Spencer shivered and batted him off.

He made quite a lot and he didn't feel like getting distracted yet again before they could actually eat.

Hotch stood back and chuckled, hands raised at the look his love shot him over his shoulder.

"Show me, Reid, I'll behave."

Spencer proceeded to outline in depth the meal he planned for hours that morning at 4 am when he realized he had to take a day off or risk it not carrying over to next year. He was still junior enough on the FBI payroll not to get rollover PTO. It was annoying, sure, but...

He rather enjoyed his random day at home, all alone. Waiting for Hotch to get back from a thankfully clear paperwork day.

They made it to the table this time without a bedroom detour. Spencer found he rather enjoyed the dinnertime banter, the perusal of flavors he found that day in the two dozen cookbooks he memorized, the way Hotch tried and loved his puffed pastry for dessert...

It was truly the first time they had to take time together since starting this secret thing they had.

When the dishes were finally done after a silly attempt at domesticity--Hotch deciding Spencer was far too clinical in his approach and Spencer deciding Hotch knew nothing of hygiene whatsoever--both of them were far too exhausted and full to consider their normal raucous romp.

Spencer leaned against the sink drying his hands with a towel before carefully tossing it in the little basket next to the door for immediate washing. Aaron nearly laughed but groaned instead when he remembered laughing hurt his ridiculously over-stuffed stomach.

"Remind me not to let you force seconds on me of every course, you're like my grandmother, Spencer, Christ, I could pass out right now," the older man lamented with a very content sigh. Spencer blushed and shrugged at him.

He grabbed Aaron's wrist to pull him along to the living room where the rest of their night home alone waited.

Spencer might have been envisioning this for a while. It was all going according to plan so far.

"I didn't forcefeed you, Hotch. But now that you mention it, I would just like to... um, relax? Together? We can have sex, but maybe... right now let's just... be?" he asked quietly with a nod to the couch. His lips twitched up in a hopeful smile and honestly, Hotch had never seen anything more perfect.

"That sounds pretty damn good, Reid. Movie?" he asked with a reciprocal smile.

Spencer sprawled out with a laugh on his couch and reached a hand up to pull Aaron down with him.

"Mhmm. Your choice."

Hotch grinned with a glint in his eye that had Spencer questioning his motives but he stuck by his offer to hand his partner the remote.

Forty-five minutes later found them both nearly catatonic on the couch staring open-mouthed as the fighter jets of Top Gun whizzed to and fro across Spencer's old TV.

Their feet rubbed against each other where they met perched on the coffee table but otherwise they kept to their respective sides out of comfort. Both of them assumed they'd start fucking within the first five minutes like they usually did when they sat down to "watch. a movie" but this time...

The comfort level was at an all time high. Sex could wait.

They both somewhat forgot where they were when the comfort level got a little higher than usual.

Spencer's hand was down his pants within ten minutes of the captivating movie. He was too tired to realize his old private passtime playing out beneath his cords. Simply touching and holding, nothing too crass. Maybe he'd be diverted enough eventually to focus on a fantasy and play it out til orgasm, maybe he'd just sit there touching himself until he fell asleep.

He never did know. Right now, it just felt natural.

Aaron took longer in the pursuit. It wasn't until he saw Spencer's hand moving beneath his pants with long, erratic little pumps that his own cock demanded the same attention. At first, he just watched Spencer just stare at the screen and touch himself like he was entirely alone. He waited for the man to look over and tease him with a grin, invite him over to join.

Then the movie caught his attention again somehow and before he knew what was happening, he was simply stroking his cock out of comfort, completely lost in the theatrics on screen.

They kept going like that until Spencer noticed for the first time with a yawn where his hand was. A glance at Aaron confirmed to him with a shock that they were both just lying there playing footsie absently while playing with themselves.

It was, perhaps, the most erotic moment of Spencer Reid's life.

His hand increased its tempo, sliding up and down his cock beneath his pants as he watched Aaron just fondle himself like that.

Spencer let a tiny moan escape. Aaron shook himself from the sleepy stupor to look over at him. Eyes on his face. On his crotch. The hand moving there.

"Hey," Spencer whispered while Top Gun played out loud in the background.

Aaron swallowed hard.

"Hey."

They both increased the tempo of their strokes.

Feet tangled with feet.

Spencer let hishead fall back against the couch. He pulled his cock out of his pants fully and let it all go, fast, furious strokes, the way Hotch always touched him. When he opened his eyes he saw Hotch had his out too, dragging his fist up and down slow, steady, just the way Spencer rode him.

Spencer felt himself building to that point the longer he watched Aaron touch himself like that.

"You know I... I touched myself every single night for years before you took me that first time... always thinking it was you...." he whispered with a tiny moan like he used to when he still held back.

Aaron nearly lost it when he heard that. Ever since they'd let it all go, ever since they went for it, he hadn't heard Spencer be anything but loud and wild.

Hearing that tiny whisper again...

It had him coming right then and there.

"Fuck--Spencer--baby--k-keep going--come on yourself for me--" he managed to choke out between the throbbing spasms of his cock into his own hand. Hotch didn't care that he came first that time.

It just meant he got to watch Spencer whine and whimper and need more--more Hotch would not be giving despite that desperate look. Their movie was ending. It was time for bed, no matter how much Spencer begged.

"A-Aaron... hmmm... not the same without you--fuck--"

Aaron couldn't help the gasping smirk as he waved his cum-covered cock at his boyfriend with a sleepy grin.

"I wanna see you come without this in your ass, Spence. Let's see it. Then maybe tomorrow, you can have it for breakfast."

Spencer's eyes got big and he nearly cried when he finally came all over his t-shirt, avidly imagining the next morning while he banged his feet against the table through the sensation.

"Good boy, Spencer.... god... dinner and a movie with you is never just dinner and a movie, is it?" Aaron muttered with satisfaction at the sight of Spencer shaking and covered in his own cum at the end of the couch.

Spencer laughed through the last shaky bit of his release and shook his head. When he opened his eyes it was to find Hotch standing with his shirt off, wiping the cum from his chest and belly like he did it every day.

"Here."

Spencer blushed gratefully and pulled his own cum-soaked tee off before cleaning up half-heartedly.

Why bother...

Aaron pulled him for a deep kiss while the credits rolled behind them. Spencer melted into it and he didn't care that they were both about to go to bed covered in cum without brushing their teeth.

Breakfast was bound to be messy.

#hotchreid #smut #18 +#criminal minds #fanfiction #hotchreid zine #discord fam #drabble turned whatever this is #aaron hotchner #spencer reid #dates

13 notes · View notes

steddieworks · 1 year

Text

finally safe for me to fall - chapter 9

hello! this chapter is a little longer than i expected it to be, so I hope you guys enjoy it! (ps, Happy Easter to those who celebrate!)

read on ao3

Summary: Steve and Eddie prepare for Robin's baby shower, and Eddie finally meets up with someone from his past.

Warnings for this chapter: swearing, discussions of domestic assault/violence (nothing major, just a reference to a previous abusive partner)

Words: 11.1k

The next twenty-four hours pass by in a little bit of a blur. It’s odd, in a way, to be going back to sleep in his own bed after sleeping with Steve for the past two nights, but with both of the twins feeling better, Eddie sees no reason to push for that. So he goes to bed alone, and they do their usual routine all over again the next day.

Eddie finds other menial tasks to do while he’s home alone, and in the afternoon he goes to pick up the girls. It’s just life as he’s gotten used to living it, but there’s a fissure of excitement thrumming under his veins as he looks forward to Saturday. He’s beyond excited to go see Gareth and talk things over, as it’s been so long since he’s even had a friend to talk to, let alone someone who knows so much about him.

Friday night, after dinner, Eddie remembers to ask Steve about the baby shower.

“Hey,” he says when Steve goes to put away the last of the leftovers from dinner. When Steve turns to look at him, Eddie gestures to the calendar on the wall behind him. “Did you want me to go with you guys to the baby shower tomorrow?”

Steve glances at the calendar before nodding. “Oh, yeah. I meant to ask if you would mind going. The kids will be fine playing, probably, but it would be nice to have an extra pair of hands if I need them.” He smiles at Eddie as he comes over to help finish up washing the dishes, and Eddie pretends he’s not staring.

“Okay,” Eddie says with a nod. “I don’t mind going at all. I’ve got a, um… I’m getting coffee with someone in the morning, but I’ll be back in time to help get the girls ready and everything.”

At that, Steve’s body language changes. His hands freeze on the plate he’s drying, the rest of him going rigid. “Oh,” he says, quietly. He glances sideways at Eddie. “I… I didn’t realize you had plans.”

Eddie frowns. “Yeah, I mean, I just made them yesterday, so… sorry, I didn’t think to tell you until now, but-“

Steve waves his hand, the gesture erratic enough to stop Eddie mid-sentence. “It’s fine. If you plan on, um…” His face goes a little pink, and Eddie is confused. “Well, anyway. If you need more time, you don’t have to come with us. I’ll manage.” He offers Eddie some sort of half-smile, but it only deepens the grimace on Eddie’s face.

“No, no,” Eddie says quickly. “I want to go with you guys.” He forces a little half-laugh to match Steve’s half-smile. “Besides, I bet you forgot to get something for the shower.”

Steve’s whole face changes at that, going ashen with stark realization. “Shit,” he whispers. “God, you’re right. I completely forgot. I had it on the calendar for a month, and I still-“

Eddie hands him the last bowl to dry, drying his own hands on the spare dish towel. “It’s fine. I thought maybe since it’s Friday, me, you, and the girls could go shop for something. Would that be okay?”

And just like that, Steve’s body sinks back into something more relaxed. “That would be perfect, actually,” he says. He gives Eddie a sheepish look. “Don’t know what I would do without you, sweetheart.”

Eddie squirms a little under one of his favorite nicknames. “Well,” he says, fumbling for a response. “You managed just fine before me.”

Steve gives him a look. “No idea how I did that, either,” he says solemnly. When Eddie goes to protest, Steve interrupts, a gentle hand coming to rest on Eddie’s wrist. “Eds, I’m serious. I know it probably sounds like I’m pandering, but having you here… has improved my life so much. In all kinds of ways.”

“Oh,” Eddie says lamely. His wrist feels like it’s boiling where their skin is touching, and he wishes Steve would never let go. He stares at their hands for a minute too long before finding something to say. “I’m happy to hear that,” he says, which to be honest, doesn’t sound much better than the pathetic oh from before.

Steve squeezes his wrist, smiling so sweetly at him that Eddie has to look away. He can’t stand it, he really can’t. “You wanna go grab the girls and tell them what we’re doing?” Steve asks.

Eddie nods. “Yeah, I’ll… I’ll go do that.”

“Alright. I’m gonna go grab my wallet and coat, then I’ll be right there, okay?”

“Okay,” Eddie nods, almost in a trance. His hand still feels warm, even after Steve pulls away and leaves him standing alone.

~~~

After explaining their plan to the twins, Eddie helps them into their coats and shoes, assuring them that it’ll be fun to go shop for baby stuff. Even if the truth is that it makes Eddie feel slightly nauseous with nerves- but they don’t need to know all that.

When they’re ready, Eddie marches them to the front door so he can slip on his own shoes.

“Everyone ready?” Steve asks, pulling his coat on and messing with the collar.

Eddie doesn’t let him struggle for long, stepping behind him to fix the stupid thing, flattening it down so it’s not sticking straight up in the air.

“Thanks,” Steve says with a smile. He glances at the girls, then at Eddie. “Where’s your jacket?”

Eddie frowns, looking down at himself. “Oh, I’ll be fine,” he says, surveying his t-shirt and plaid button-down thrown over the top of it.

Steve gives him a blank look. “I’ll go grab it- is it in your closet?”

He’s already down the hall before Eddie can argue, and Eddie groans in mostly mock-annoyance. Truth be told, he actually doesn’t mind being coddled a little bit. In fact, it’s kind of… nice. Still, he has a reputation to uphold, and a coat is not part of it.

“Hon, are you sure this will even be warm enough?” Steve asks as he comes back down the hall with Eddie’s leather jacket in hand.

Eddie rolls his eyes at that. “It’ll be fine. Thanks,” he tacks on, almost as an afterthought, as he reaches for the jacket.

Steve surprises him again, instead holding it out for Eddie to slide his arms into. Eddie feels his face grow hot, but does just that, ignoring the little giggles the twins are barely containing behind their little hands. He sticks his tongue out at them, which apparently makes it all the funnier.

“There we go,” Steve says, rubbing a little circle or two onto Eddie’s back before stepping around him. “Alright, let’s go.”

~~~

They take Steve’s car, as usual, and Eddie finds that he barely misses his van these days. He misses the dream that the van represented- a proper van, full of children, taken on long road trips and vacations.

But Steve’s flashy beemer is still nice, too.

He lets Eddie pick the music sometimes, but tonight isn’t one of those nights. He goes straight for his Tears for Fears, and Eddie can only hide his fond smile in the passenger window, lest he do something silly, like reach out to hold his hand.

The twins sing along with their father and the radio in the back seat, and Eddie even finds himself tapping along on his knees, just content to be in this moment, relaxed with his little quasi-pack.

“What do you think I should get them?” Steve asks when they’re almost to the mall.

Eddie hums. “Well, do they have a baby registry? Or a theme for the nursery?”

Steve’s eyes are wide, and he looks a little lost. “Uh… garden? No, uh, jungle? Bees?” He lists off several more things in quick succession, none of them having anything to do with the others. Finally, he shrugs. “I… have no idea.”

Eddie rolls his eyes. He’s not surprised, really. Steve is a great guy, but something like this probably doesn’t just stick around in his head for long. “Okay. That’s fine, Steve. That just means we can pick a couple different options, and you can decide what you think Robin would like.”

Steve nods, giving Eddie a grateful smile. “Okay, I think I can do that.”

~~~

Steve, as it turns out, cannot do that.

They’re making their rounds in the baby section of a department store, and Eddie is halfway to losing his mind with Steve’s indecision.

“Maybe a baby stroller?” He says, for what feels like the third time.

Ivy groans. Jasmine wanders an aisle over to look at kids' clothes. Eddie just sighs, nodding. “Sure,” he says, the same response he’s given Steve four times now. “They’d appreciate that, I’m sure.”

Steve frowns. “But it’s so…”

“Impersonal?” Eddie supplies.

Steve gives him a sheepish look. “I know I’m being annoying. It’s just… been a while since I shopped for baby stuff. I’m kind of overwhelmed here.”

All of Eddie’s annoyance (or most of it, at least) melts away when he hears that. “I get that,” he says softly, stepping closer to Steve and patting his back. “Let’s look at some baby clothes, okay? Can never have too much of that.”

Steve agrees, glancing over his shoulder for his daughters. “Ivy, Jasmine, c’mon.”

“Are we done yet?” Ivy whines, dragging her feet. She holds her hand out for Eddie to hold it, but he has to practically drag her to get her feet moving. “I wanna go get ice cream!”

Eddie glances at her with a raised eyebrow. “Who said we’re going to get ice cream after this?” He asks, mostly teasing. He’s known the Harrington family long enough to know that Steve loves a treat on Fridays.

Ivy’s face falls, and she quickly turns to her father. “Daddy, we’re going to get ice cream after this, right?”

Steve shrugs, already focused on the table of folded baby clothes in front of them. “If Eddie says no, then that means no.”

He says it so simply, so casually, like it’s not at all a big deal for him to give this amount of control over to his nanny. Not that Eddie never makes decisions on behalf of the twins, but it’s usually when Steve isn’t there to do it himself.

So this…. This is new.

Ivy pouts, but doesn’t let go of Eddie’s hand. Instead, she tilts her head, batting her eyes sweetly at him. “Can we please have ice cream after this?” She asks.

Eddie smiles at her. “Can you be patient and let dad take his time finding a good present for aunt Robin?”

Ivy nods, then mimes zipping her lips. “I won’t say another word!” She says. Then she covers her mouth, her eyes wide. “Oops.”

Of course, Eddie can’t help but laugh at that. “C’mon, you and Jasmine can help me look for a cute baby outfit.”

Jasmine, who had been hanging back a little, perks up at that. “Can we both pick out something for the baby?” She asks, excited.

Eddie shrugs, glancing at Steve. “I don’t see why not. Would that be okay?”

Steve nods. “Sure. Baby Buckley is gonna need a bunch of little outfits, so that’s perfect.” Steve glances back at Eddie then. “I think I’m gonna go back and look at strollers again, if you wanna stay here with them for a minute?”

Eddie nods, holding himself back from teasing Steve about his indecisiveness. “Sure, we’ll be right here.”

Steve gives him a little smile and a grateful hand brushes his back as Steve goes back to the other aisle. Eddie pretends the touch doesn’t make him shiver, then turns back to the girls, who are searching through a stack of onesies on the other side of the table.

“Finding anything good?” Eddie asks, coming around to join them.

Jasmine giggles and nods, holding something up in front of her and whirling around to show Eddie. “Ta-da!” She says excitedly.

It takes Eddie a second to read it. When he does, he frowns, confused. “Oh. But- does Robin have an older kid? I thought this was her first one?”

Jasmine nods, holding the onesie out to Eddie with a sly little grin that Ivy mirrors beside her. “No, this is her first one. But I think we should get this one for us. Just in case.”

Eddie blinks. Then looks back down at the onesie.

Little Sister it reads in bright, pink, sparkly letters.

Eddie is confused.

“Why would you…” he trails off, his eyebrows knitting together as he glances back in the direction of where Steve disappeared to. “Oh,” he says. He suddenly feels a little sick. Is Steve seeing someone? Or has he re-established contact with his ex? Surely it’s got to be something along those lines, or else the girls wouldn’t be thinking about this.

“Do you think Daddy will let us get it?” Ivy asks, gesturing to the little outfit.

Eddie shrugs, feeling completely out of his element now. He feels a little unbalanced, unsure. “I dunno,” Eddie mumbles. “Maybe. Might need it someday, I guess.” He’s not pouting. He isn’t.

The girls grin at each other, Jasmine tossing the onesie over her arm. Eddie is definitely going to be sick.

They keep looking through the baby clothes, eventually finding two separate outfits for baby Buckley. One of them is a little long-sleeve white and green striped onesie with a pair of green overalls (Jasmine’s pick), and the other is a pair of zippered footie pajamas with little sheep all over them. Eddie is almost recovered from the first onesie and everything that it could mean when Steve finally rejoins them.

“Hi,” he says, smiling. “I finally decided on a stroller and had someone take it up front for us. Did you guys find anything good?”

Jasmine and Ivy are all too excited to show him the outfits they picked out for Robin’s baby, Steve ooh-ing and aah-ing appropriately as they show them off.

Then comes the part Eddie was dreading.

“Very nice,” Steve says, collecting both of their finds so he can carry them to the register to pay. He glances back at Jasmine again, gesturing to the other outfit still bundled under her arm. “What’s that one, honey?”

Jasmine grins at him, and Ivy, curiously, looks over at Eddie with what is undeniably a smirk. “Oh, this one isn’t for Aunt Robin,” Jasmine says sweetly, making no move to hand it over.

Steve gives her an odd look, glancing at Eddie for help. Eddie just shrugs, still a little pouty and embarrassed over the whole thing. It’s stupid, he knows, to be jealous of something he doesn’t even have confirmation of. The twins may have just misheard or misunderstood something, he might be making a big deal out of nothing.

But he’s probably not.

“Okay,” Steve says slowly. “Would you like for me to pay for it?” He asks her, almost amused.

Jasmine nods, clearly pleased with herself. “Yes, please,” she says sweetly.

Steve smiles at her. “Well, I’d like to see what my money is going towards, if you don’t mind.”

Jasmine hesitates at that, glancing at her sister with something like uncertainty in her eyes. When Ivy just shrugs, Jasmine nods slowly. “Okay,” she says.

Eddie watches as she pulls it from under her arm, and his heart is aching. His reaction is going to depend entirely on Steve’s, but he genuinely has no prediction for how Steve might react to something like this. If there is somebody in his personal/romantic life, surely this will embarrass him a little, but he’ll probably be pleased. An alpha like him surely wants more than just two children, so he’d probably be thrilled at the notion that his pups want a younger sibling.

If there isn’t somebody, however… Eddie’s not sure what he’ll think about this.

He doesn’t have to wait long to find out. When Jasmine hands the onesie over, Steve glances down at it, his amused half-smile slipping into something like confusion. He stares at it for a second, then for some reason, glances up at Eddie. His gaze quickly flits from him to the girls, however, for which Eddie is very thankful.

“Who would we be getting this for?” Steve asks carefully, glancing between each of his daughters, who are suddenly very interested in staring anywhere but at their father. “Girls?”

Ivy sighs, nudging Jasmine with her elbow. Jasmine yelps, nudging her back, and finally, Ivy speaks. “For us,” she says, shrugging. Like it’s that simple.

Steve quirks an eyebrow at her. “Pardon?”

She smiles in that sweet, coy way that Eddie has grown so used to lately. “Just in case,” Ivy says, rocking on her feet.

Steve just blinks at her. “In case of what?”

Jasmine decides to pipe up then. Normally, this would be a good thing.

Not this time.

Because when she opens her mouth, she says, “Eddie said that we might need it.” She turns to look at Eddie, smiling. “Right?”

Eddie freezes. He can feel Steve staring at him, and he knows he needs to say… well, something.

“Um,” he says. Real great start. “I just meant…”

“Couldn’t you and Eddie get a baby? Just like Aunt Robin?” Ivy asks, clearly oblivious to the implications behind her words.

Eddie feels like he’s about to die of mortification.

“Honey…” Steve says, his face a shade pinker than normal as he looks at his daughters. “That’s not… I don’t think that’s what Eddie meant.”

“Of course not!” Eddie blurts quickly. He realizes how defensive he sounds, and is well aware how that might make him seem somewhat guilty, but he’s so embarrassed he can’t help it. “I thought they meant…” he doesn’t want to admit what he thought they meant. He blushes, avoiding Steve’s curious gaze.

“So, we can’t have a little sister?” Jasmine says, disappointed.

Steve sighs. Maybe it’s the recent addition of scenting to their daily routine, but Eddie feels like he can sense how disappointed Steve is, as well. “Not anytime soon, no,” Steve tells her with an apologetic smile. “Daddy would need to find a mate to get you a little sister.”

Jasmine and Ivy share confused looks. “Oh…” Ivy says. She turns to look at Eddie, and he already knows what she’s about to say. “Is Eddie not good enough?” She asks, nothing but childhood innocence and confusion in her words.

Still. Eddie feels it like a knife in his chest.

“That’s- I didn’t-“ Steve stumbles over his words. Eddie frowns. Steve seems… embarrassed. “That’s not what I meant, Ivy,” he says firmly.

“But why-“ she starts, clearly impatient.

“Maybe we should talk about this at home?” Eddie suggests, interrupting her mid-sentence.

Steve sends him a look of relief. “Yes, that’s a great idea,” he says, nodding. “Let’s go check out, then we can go have ice cream?” He glances at Eddie when he says the last part, and Eddie nods.

“Ice cream sounds great.”

They’ve taken a few steps away from the baby stuff when Jasmine pipes up. “Uh, daddy?”

“Yeah?” Steve replies, leading the way.

“Aren’t you going to put that one back?”

Eddie’s eyes shoot down to where Steve is still very much holding the “Little Sister” onesie.

“Oh,” he says, like he’s surprised. “Um. Yeah, I’ll just…” he goes back to the table, gently folding the tiny outfit and laying it carefully on top of the others like it. Then he hesitates, staring down at it with a pinched expression.

Eddie wishes, more than anything, that he knew what was going on in his head right now. If he could just crawl into Steve’s brain and understand what exactly it is that he’s thinking… maybe he could fix it.

He wishes he could fix it.

“Alright, let’s go,” Steve says. He gives the girls a very fake smile, taking Ivy’s hand as they make their way, again, to the front of the store.

Eddie glances back at the baby clothes, a pang striking through his heart, making him feel like he’s missing something. Or maybe that he lost something he never had.

He turns away.

~~~

Later, after ice cream and a quick stop at the grocery store so that they could grab some baby shower wrapping paper and gift bags, they head home. Steve is unusually quiet on the way there, the music turned down to nearly a whisper as they drive. The girls are sleepy in the back seat, too much excitement for a Friday evening weighing down their eyelids. They haven’t spoken in a while, and when Eddie glances back at them, he smiles when he sees the way they’re struggling to stay awake.

“They’re so sleepy,” he murmurs softly to Steve.

Steve tilts his head, glancing at the kids through the rearview mirror. He smiles fondly, shaking his head. “At least it’ll be easy to get them in bed tonight,” he says.

Eddie nods. He’s pretty exhausted himself, even though he hasn’t really done much today. Something about the nervousness about seeing Gareth tomorrow, along with the twins’ teasing and putting him in such an odd situation earlier… all of it’s making him feel like he’s about a million years old.

“Hey,” Steve says quietly.

Eddie glances at him. “Yeah?”

Steve spares a glance back at the twins before clearing his throat. His voice is noticeably lower when he speaks next. “Listen… about what the girls were saying earlier…” His face is noticeably red, even in the darkness of the car.

“Oh, that,” Eddie says lamely, immediately seeping back into embarrassment. He knows his scent has probably soured, which can’t be pleasant in the confined space of Steve’s car, but he can’t help it.

“I know they didn’t mean anything by it,” Steve says, surprising Eddie. “They don’t… they really don’t even know what they’re talking about. I haven’t had the… you know… mating talk with them.” He coughs, clearly a little embarrassed as well. “But they’ve always wanted to be older sisters. And I guess… Since you’re the only omega I’m ever around, it’s just natural…”

Eddie nods slowly, but his brain is caught on one sentence in particular: “you’re the only omega I’m ever around.”

He hates himself a little, but it’s reassuring to hear that. To have his worst fears assuaged, even if it doesn’t change anything in the grand scheme of things.

“Right,” he finally says. His voice sounds odd, even to his own ears. “Of course.”

Steve glances at him again. “I just didn’t want you to think… Well, I don’t know. I know it was awkward, is all.”

At least they can agree on that.

“It’s fine,” Eddie finally says, unsure what else to say. “Kids just say stuff sometimes. It’s not a big deal.”

Steve gives him a grateful smile at that. “You’re right.” He hesitates for a second, but Eddie’s quiet while he waits to see what else he wants to say. When he speaks, it’s not what Eddie was expecting. “It was a cute outfit though,” he says, his voice wistful.

Eddie laughs, covering his mouth to stay quiet. He glances back, and Ivy is fully asleep, but Jasmine is doing a slow-blinking thing like she’s trying not to fall asleep herself. “Yeah, it was,” he agrees.

“I kinda wish… I dunno. I hate that they want that so badly, and it’s something I can’t just… snap my fingers and give to them.” Steve frowns at the road. “I’m not used to that, I guess.”

And although Eddie can’t really relate to that (he grew up in a home where wanting for things but not getting them was normal), he understands why it bothers Steve as a parent. “That makes sense,” Eddie says softly. “I don’t like, fully understand it, but I get what you’re saying. It must be hard.”

Steve just shrugs, turning his head just enough to give Eddie a wry smile. “It is what it is, though.”

Eddie hates the resignation in his voice, but it makes sense. If there’s no omega in his life, it is kind of an equation without a solution. He hates that for Steve, but more than that, his omega side hates it for himself.

I’m right here! it screams at him, unhelpfully.

He can still practically feel the pressure of Steve’s lips on his own.

“You okay?” Steve asks a second or two after that thought flits through Eddie’s brain.

Eddie feels his whole body cringe in embarrassment, which seems to be the theme for the evening. Fuck this whole stupid omega hormone thing, honestly.

“I’m fine,” he mumbles, trying to get his scent back under control. As much as he loves to have Steve’s scent on him throughout the day, he hates the secondhand effect of scenting each other, that comes in the form of Steve being able to read him like a book.

Steve gives him a long look, but doesn’t argue. They’re pulling into the apartment parking garage anyway, thankfully, so Steve loses his opportunity to inquire further.

Then comes the fun part: getting two fully-asleep children inside and into their beds. It takes some shuffling of the shopping bags, but eventually they manage to make space to carry a twin each. Steve takes Ivy, as she was sat behind his seat in the car, while Eddie takes Jasmine.

Steve leads the way inside to the elevator, and Eddie is careful to walk slowly, so he doesn’t jostle Jasmine awake. “We’re lucky they’re still little,” Eddie murmurs to Steve as they get on the elevator. “Otherwise this would be sort of rough.”

Steve offers a tired smile, but nods. “Imagine doing this, but there’s still two of them and only one of you. That shit was difficult,” Steve says, rolling his eyes with a little snort of a laugh.

Eddie frowns. He hadn’t even considered that, really doesn’t know how long their mother has been out of the picture… but apparently longer than he thought.

“I’m sorry,” Eddie murmurs to him softly.

Steve looks at him oddly. “For what?”

Eddie shrugs one shoulder, careful not to dislodge Jasmine. “Well… you had to go through all this on your own. I can’t even imagine… I just hate that you had to go through all this by yourself.”

There’s a soft look on Steve’s face when Eddie looks back at him. “It’s not your fault,” he says, shrugging. His face changes then, his lips tugging down into a frown. “Not anyone’s fault, really. Just sort of the way things are, I guess.” He’s got such a far-off look in his eyes, like he’s thinking of something Eddie’s not privy to.

Eddie can smell the sadness, though. Steve’s scent is stronger than usual in the confined space of the elevator, and Eddie feels his insides clench in pain for the other man. He risks waking Jasmine up, bumping his arm against Steve’s lightly. “Hey. I’m sorry for bringing it up. But you’re a wonderful dad, and I’ve never known someone to love a parent the way these kids love you. And that’s gotta mean something, yeah?”

Steve smiles at him, nodding. “Yeah. It means everything.” He glances down at Jasmine, his smile turning somehow fonder. He presses a kiss to the top of Ivy’s head, his eyes meeting Eddie’s. “Thanks. For… for saying that, and helping me find something for Robin, and… everything else.”

The elevator dings, finally, and Eddie just smiles and shrugs. “It’s what I’m here for,” he says lightly. And it’s true, literally of course, but he means it deeper than that. Even if Steve didn’t pay him, this is where Eddie would want to be. Even if it hurt, even if he’d never be a real mother in the twins’ eyes… he’d choose this, over and over again.

He hopes Steve knows that.

They take the twins to their bedroom, leaving all the lights off except the hall light, given the very real risk of tripping over something in the dark. Steve pulls off Ivy’s shoes and gently wrestles her out of her coat while Eddie struggles to do the same with Jasmine. It takes him a minute, but he manages it easily enough. Ivy appears to be completely dead to the world as Steve tucks her in, but Jasmine, on the other hand, stirs a little when Eddie goes to lay her down.

“Daddy?” She mumbles, her eyelids fluttering but never opening fully.

“Shh, it’s just me, honey. Daddy’s tucking in your sister,” Eddie whispers. He pulls her sheets and comforter up, tucking it up to her chin before leaning in to kiss her forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart. Love you.”

Jasmine snuggles into her pillow, and Eddie turns, assuming she’s already asleep.

“Goodnight, Mommy.”

Eddie freezes. Surely he didn’t hear that right. He turns around to check, but Jasmine is already asleep, breathing deeply. His heart is pounding, helpless joy and crushing heartbreak warring for dominance in his chest.

“Eddie?” Steve says behind him, his hand coming to read on the small of Eddie’s back. “Did Jazz go down okay?”

Eddie nods, feeling a little numb. She called him… he’s almost a hundred percent positive that he heard it correctly. “Yeah,” he finally says to Steve, shaking himself. “Did Ivy?” He peers around Steve’s shoulder to find her snuggled similarly to her sister, with her arm over the comforter clutching her stuffed bunny.

“Yeah, she was out like a light.” He steps past Eddie then, going to brush his hand gently through Jasmine’s hair, leaning down and pecking her forehead the same way Eddie had done a minute before.

Eddie heads to the door, glancing back to make sure their night light is on. Steve follows, pulling the door almost all the way shut behind him.

“Well,” Eddie starts, feeling awkward. He always feels a bit odd when they part like this at night. He knows it’s mostly an omega thing- the desire to get some form of physical affection as a goodnight parting, but he pushes it down every time in favor of some awkward small-talk.

This time, Steve beats him to it. “Will you help me wrap the stuff we got for Robin? I’m terrible at it, and I’d like it to look sort of nice.”

Eddie smiles, but nods. “Do you want me to go get the stroller box out of the car?”

Steve shakes his head. “I’ll go grab that, if you can check the hall closet and see if we have any little boxes for the clothes?”

Eddie nods. “Sure.”

Steve sends him a grateful smile, his hand brushing against Eddie’s back gently before he steps away, grabbing his keys. “Thanks, hon. I’ll be right back.”

Eddie can’t help but smile to himself as he goes in search of everything they’ll need- tape, scissors, and the boxes. It’s horribly domestic, he thinks, to be wrapping gifts together, and he’s giddy in a way he’s not used to being about such a mundane task. He wonders, vaguely, if he’ll get the chance to spend many birthdays with the Harringtons, or if he’ll still be here by Christmas.

He hopes so.

“Jesus Christ, this thing is heavy,” Steve pants as he comes back inside lugging the brand new baby stroller he’d just bought. “I hope this shit is easy to assemble for how freaking heavy and expensive it is.”

Eddie smiles, shaking his head a little before going over to help him carry it into the living room. “Well I just hope they haven’t already gotten one,” Eddie says as they set it down by the coffee table.

Steve looks up at that, a look of pure panic on his face. “Shit, I didn’t even think about that,” he says.

“Well… if they did, they can just take this one back. You got a gift receipt, right?” Eddie asks, settling on the floor, criss-cross applesauce style.

Steve sucks his teeth, but doesn’t meet Eddie’s eyes. “Um.”

“Steve,” Eddie says, a light admonishment.

“I didn’t think about it!” he protests, his voice almost a whine as he drops to the floor beside Eddie. He reaches for the scissors, spinning them around with his index finger while Eddie takes the plastic off the wrapping paper. “They can still take it back though, right?” He asks, sounding unsure.

Eddie nods. “Yeah, we could take it back for them, or stop back by the store and ask for a gift receipt on the way to Robin’s.”

“Perfect.” Steve makes a noise of relief, shifting the box onto its side so they can measure out the right amount of wrapping paper for it. “Thanks, by the way,” he says, holding one end of the wrapping paper while Eddie carefully unrolls it.

“For what?” Eddie asks, not taking his eyes off his current task.

Steve hums an affirmative when Eddie thinks he’s got the right amount of paper unraveled. “For helping me with all this. It’ll be nice to show up to a function with my life somewhat together for once. Usually I show up late with a half-wrapped present and whining kids.” He gives Eddie a little grin. “Robin’s gonna be so amazed.”

Eddie smiles at him as he holds the paper still for him to cut it. “Glad I could be of service,” he says, teasing a little bit. “What time should we leave tomorrow?”

Steve shrugs, holding his hand out for the tape. “Well, it’s supposed to start at two, so maybe like one? They live on the other side of town, and Saturday traffic can be bad.”

Eddie nods. “Okay. I should be back before then, and I can help get the girls ready and everything.”

They have to work together to get the box turned over to tape down the other side, but Eddie catches Steve frowning at him. “I forgot about your… thing,” he says, his voice sounding a little odd around the word. “You can take as much time as you want, and I could just pick you up on the way, if you want to do that.”

Eddie shakes his head. “No, that’s fine. We’re supposed to meet pretty early, and I seriously doubt I’ll be gone more than an hour or two.”

It seems like Steve wants to say something else on the matter, but instead he just nods. “You do one end while I do the other?” he asks instead, gesturing to the box.

They maneuver it so that each of them has an end to tape up, and Eddie hums to himself as he works. He would never admit it, but he sort of loves the repetitiveness of wrapping gifts, even if he’s not the best at it. It looks decent enough, he thinks, and it’s not like they’ll be paying much attention to the wrapping anyway.

A thought strikes him then, and he can’t help but glance up at Steve. “This may be a weird question,” he prefaces. “But I didn’t even realize Robin was pregnant when I met her.”

Steve gives him an odd look. “Oh, she wasn’t,” Steve says simply.

Eddie blinks.

“Oh. Then…”

Steve seems to realize his confusion then, and nods, taking pity on him. “She’s an alpha, but usually tries to mask at work. She thinks it’s embarrassing, being a female alpha secretary to a male alpha.” Steve rolls his eyes, sighing. “I don’t think people would make that big a deal over it, but I’m definitely not gonna say that to her.”

Eddie nods slowly. He never would’ve guessed it, having only met Robin briefly, one time over a month ago now. “So, she’s mated?”

At that, Steve’s mouth quirks into a thin line. “Yeah. It’s… a new development, to be honest with you.”

It sounds like there’s a story there. Eddie decides to risk pushing, just this once. “Oh… Is… This is going to sound insensitive, but… is the pup hers?”

Steve nods. “Yeah. I probably shouldn’t tell all of Robin’s business like this, but long story short, they were just sleeping together at first, just friends and all that. And then Chrissy came up pregnant. They’re thrilled, of course, but have only been properly together for like four months now.” Steve snorts then, shaking his head with a wry smile. “The twins haven’t even met Chris yet, it’s that new.”

“Wow,” Eddie says. He finishes taping his end, sitting back to watch Steve finish up his side. “They seem excited either way, though,” he says with a smile.

Steve grins. “Yeah. A pup is a pup, I guess. They’re just thrilled at the idea of having a little cousin, to be honest with you. I think we could tell them that the baby came from the moon, and they’d still be just as excited.”

Eddie laughs at that. He agrees wholeheartedly, they absolutely would be, without a doubt. “That’s sweet, though.”

Steve nods. “It is.” He puts one last piece of tape on his end, then sits back to survey their work. “I think it looks pretty decent. Now we just need to whack a bow on, and we’ll be done, right?”

“We’ve still got the clothes, remember?” Eddie reminds him, pointing to the little outfits carefully laid out on the coffee table.

Steve looks over at them with a wince. “Could we just… stuff them in a gift bag and call it a night?” he asks hopefully.

Eddie grins, pulling a gift bag from his stash of supplies. “Way ahead of you,” he jokes as he does just that, folding the little outfits carefully before laying them at the bottom of the sack. “You wanna pick out a bow for the box while I get some tissue paper in here?” he asks, glancing at Steve.

“Sure,” Steve says. He goes to stand, his knees clicking as he does. “God, it sucks getting old,” he laments. “Are the bows still in the closet?”

Eddie nods. “Can you put these back in there as you go?” he asks, handing him the spare boxes that they decided not to use.

“Mhm,” Steve hums. He ruffles Eddie’s hair gently as he passes, murmuring, “I’ll be right back.”

Eddie smiles to himself as he fixes up the gift bag, fluffing up the tissue paper after stuffing it inside until it looks nice and neat. It’s nice, he thinks yet again, to be able to do these little domestic things with someone else.

“I’m going with silver,” Steve announces when he comes back in. “I think it’ll make the little bits of silver on the paper really pop, you know?”

“Sure,” Eddie agrees easily, sitting back and watching as Steve carefully centers the bow, sticking it on with such intense precision that it almost makes Eddie laugh.

“There!” Steve announces, looking down at his work proudly. “All done.”

“Very nice,” Eddie says. “Help me up?” he requests, holding a hand out so Steve can help drag him from the floor.

Steve smiles, reaching for him immediately. “You’re gettin’ old too, huh?” He teases.

Eddie rolls his eyes. The jab doesn’t bother him quite as much as it would have five or six months ago. “I guess so. Twenty-six, going on sixty.”

He manages to get onto his feet without pulling Steve down onto the floor with him, which he’s certain has more to do with Steve’s strength than his own coordination. Steve is giving him an odd look when Eddie faces him. “Twenty-six?” he asks, confused.

Eddie frowns, but nods. “Uh, yeah. Last I checked.”

Steve tilts his head at him. “You’re older than me, then. Huh. I hadn’t realized that.”

Then it’s Eddie’s turn to frown. “Wait, how old are you?”

“Just turned twenty-five, actually.”

He’s not sure why, but the information surprises Eddie a little. He hadn’t realized that he was older - not that it particularly matters - and the epiphany gives him pause. “Huh,” Eddie hums.

Steve sets the gifts out of the way, likely aware of some twin-related danger that Eddie isn’t privy to. “It’s kind of weird, right?” Steve asks, turning to face Eddie, his hands on his hips.

Eddie nods. “A little, yeah.” He feels awkward then, either from the odd realization they’d just had together, or the lack of purpose now that they’ve finished wrapping the presents for tomorrow. “Well… I’m gonna head to bed. I know tomorrow’s Saturday, but I’ll probably be up kind of early to get ready, so I’ll go ahead and make breakfast around eight or so, if that’s okay with you?”

Steve’s mouth does that thing again, a flat line where Eddie would normally find him smiling. “You don’t have to. I’m sure the girls will probably sleep in a little tomorrow, so I can make them something when we get up after you leave.”

“Oh,” Eddie says. A wave of inadequacy washes over him, but he tries to just smile and nod through it. “Right, sure. Well, um… I guess I’ll see you when I get back tomorrow?”

“Okay,” Steve replies, nodding.

Eddie’s just turned away to head to his room when Steve says his name. “Yeah?” Eddie asks, glancing back at him.

Steve’s face is flushed, and he rakes a hand through his hair almost aggressively. “Um. Before you go… Maybe we should…”

Eddie blinks at him, confused. “Should…?” he prompts when Steve just stops there.

“Um.” Steve rubs the back of his neck. Eddie thinks it’s just a nervous tic thing at first, but then he catches the way Steve is staring at his neck, and it clicks.

“Oh. You want to scent me tonight?” Eddie asks, forcing himself to sound very neutral and normal about it, although secretly, his omega side is rejoicing.

Steve nods, his eyes downcast like he’s… embarrassed? That can’t be right. He hasn’t been embarrassed to ask for this a single time yet. If anything, Eddie should be blushing. “Yeah, if that’s… alright with you. I mean, if you don’t want to because of your… you know,” he gestures vaguely, and Eddie doesn’t know. “We don’t have to. But… I just figured…”

God. He’s so damn sweet and clearly nervous of Eddie’s response, although Eddie can’t imagine why he would be, and really, there’s only one response that makes any sense at all.

“Of course, honey,” Eddie says, making his voice just as soft. “C’mere,” he murmurs, stepping into Steve’s space just as he steps forward into his.

Steve’s arms are warm and sure as he wraps Eddie up in a hug, looping around his waist and dragging Eddie against his body like that’s where he belongs. In turn, Eddie loops his arms around Steve’s broad shoulders, tucking his face up against Steve’s neck and breathing deeply.

“Smell good,” he mumbles against the column of Steve’s throat.

Steve shivers. “Mm. You,” he replies nonsensically.

For a moment, they stay like that. Not fully scenting each other, just hugging and inhaling deeply, as if they’re trying to breathe each other in. Then Steve shifts, and Eddie’s whole body relaxes when he scents him, a wave of calming alpha pheromones flooding his senses. He has just enough presence of mind to tilt his own head, scenting Steve back.

He doesn’t do that every time. He doesn’t think Steve minds when he does, exactly, but he’s never specifically asked Eddie to scent him back.

Though, if it does bother him, he’s got a funny way of showing it.

Steve sighs, his arms tightening briefly around Eddie’s waist before loosening. “Mm,” he hums, clearly content. “We should definitely do this in the morning and at night. Feel like I’ve taken a shot of melatonin.”

Eddie giggles against Steve’s throat. “Hm, not sure it’s supposed to be that addicting,” he jokes lightly.

When Steve pulls back, he gives Eddie an odd little half-smile. “Yeah,” he murmurs, reaching up and tucking a lock of Eddie’s hair behind his ear. “You’re right. It shouldn’t. But it is.”

Eddie freezes. Something about his voice, that solemn, sure answer… it makes his head spin. “Oh,” is all his stupid mouth can come up with, apparently, as his brain has fully taken the night off apparently. He can feel it building between them, that tension that often seems near-unbearable, but when it breaks, it’s not in the way he’s hoping for.

Steve smiles, brushing his knuckles against Eddie’s cheek sweetly. “Goodnight, honey. I hope everything goes well tomorrow.”

Eddie just nods stupidly, barely even processing a single word out of his mouth. Steve is either oblivious to his state of stupidity, or is choosing to mercifully ignore it, because before Eddie can say something dumber, Steve is stepping away, squeezing Eddie’s hip in some sort of parting gesture as he heads to his own bedroom.

It takes Eddie a long moment to do the same.

~~~

When Eddie’s alarm goes off the next morning, he doesn’t feel like he’s actually gotten the amount of sleep that he knows he has. He’s quick to turn it off, afraid of waking up the rest of the household on their nice free Saturday morning. He picks his outfit carefully, scanning each of the items Steve bought for him with the utmost scrutiny before finally deciding on the nice red button-down and a pair of jeans. He thinks this shirt says both “hi-best-friend-I-haven’t-seen-in-years-let’s-catch-up-over-coffee” and “hi-best-friend-of-my-employer-I-hope-your-baby’s-great” without being too much for either occasion.

He’s quiet as he goes through his normal morning routine, showering and washing his hair with excited jitters tugging his every movement. He’s not sure he’s been this excited for socializing since the last time he went to a gig back in Hawkins, and that was before him and H-

Well. It was a while ago.

After towel-drying his hair to the best of his ability, he makes his way to the kitchen, pouring a cup of orange juice as he scans the chalkboard by the fridge. They don’t really need anything he can’t just pick up on the next grocery run, so he’s got nothing to worry about there. He spares a minute to marvel at the fact that this sort of casual domesticity, checking a grocery list for his pack, is something he gets to have now.

He’s rinsing out his glass and checking the time when he notices a slip of paper at the end of the bar. He frowns, but curiosity gets the better of him.

Scribbled on the scrap of what is apparently notebook paper is a short message.

Good morning! Have fun and be safe on your date. See you later :)

xoxo, Steve

Eddie stares at it for a lot longer than is probably socially acceptable, his brain hyper-focused on one word: date.

Is that what Steve thought this was? Did he think it was an honest-to-god date, with any sort of romantic intentions? God, Eddie had been so stupid not to clarify that when telling Steve about his plans. Now he feels like an idiot, and a bit like a cheater, even though-

No, that’s silly. They are not together. Even if this was a proper date (which it isn’t!), it really wouldn’t be any of Steve’s business. Because they had decided to be mature adults. Mature adults in a business relationship, who won’t sleep together or date or do any of the things Eddie is craving like a man starved, because it’s wrong.

And maybe because Eddie has been hurt one too many times by pretty alphas with kind voices and opulent lifestyles. Maybe because of that, too.

It’s already nearly twenty minutes until nine, so Eddie leaves the note there, unable to even think of a halfway decent or clever response to leave him with before he goes to tug on his shoes and coat. He’s quiet as he lets himself out of the sleeping apartment, locking the door behind him and taking a deep breath.

He can do this.

~~~

He gets to the coffee shop he and Gareth agreed to meet at with not a minute to spare, and Eddie’s very first thought is, I can’t do this.

Fitting, then, that almost immediately after the thought pops into his mind, he spots Gareth waiting by the door. The kid - well, grown man now, Jesus - still has the same round face, the same cheery grin when he spots Eddie and waves. The only thing that’s changed is his hair. It’s a little shorter than Eddie remembers it, but just as curly as it was back in high school. He’s wearing a dark green plaid flannel shirt, no coat, the weirdo, and a pair of black jeans.

He looks good.

“Eddie!” Gareth says loudly when Eddie approaches. His arms are flapping out to pull Eddie into a hug before Eddie can decide between that and a handshake, and it’s remarkable how relieving it is to feel that familiar embrace and smell his familiar scent after all this time apart.

“Gare,” Eddie mumbles, hugging him back tightly. “God. I missed you man.” He pulls away, shoves at his shoulder playfully, mainly so he doesn’t do something stupid like cry. “Look at you, dude. You’re like, old, and shit.”

Gareth grins even wider at that, but Eddie notices the way his nostrils flare a little as they part, a curious glint in his eyes. “Pft. Says you, Crypt Keeper.”

Eddie laughs so hard he thinks he bruises something. Gareth’s right, in a way. Eddie is the oldest of the two, by a whopping three years. Still, it’s odd, trying to reconcile the fifteen-year-old Gareth Eddie met in high school with the twenty-three-year-old Gareth that stands before him now. And somewhere in the middle is that twenty-year-old Gareth, the one that Eddie left behind, what seems like a lifetime ago now.

He shakes himself from the melancholy. Here-and-now Gareth looks at him with understanding, and it’s like no time has passed at all between then and now.

“Let’s go inside,” Eddie says, to save himself any further embarrassment.

Gareth follows him inside the coffee shop, and Eddie thinks it should be at least a little awkward, hanging out with someone he hasn’t seen in literal years, but it’s not. They make polite small-talk while they wait in line - the “how’s your family?” “Good, how’s yours?” of respectable adult catch-up conversations, but Eddie finds that unlike having this conversation with other people, he actually cares about Gareth’s answers.

When they reach the counter, Gareth smirks at Eddie. “I bet you still drink your coffee ‘black like my soul,’ don’t you?”

Eddie can feel the sheepishness of the grin that tugs at his lips, but shakes his head. “Actually, no. Steve has gotten me on a caramel kick lately, and I’ve got to say, that shit tastes so much better with some sugar in it. It makes those six o’clock mornings much easier,” he jokes.

Gareth studies him then, right up until it’s their turn to order. They each order their own thing, but Eddie insists on paying.

“Really, Gareth, I’ve got it. I barely spend the money that I make, so that in and of itself is basically a treat for me,” Eddie says. It wins him the argument, but Gareth still has that shrewd, considering look on his face.

By the time they sit down, Eddie can hardly stand it anymore. “Dude, what? Why the hell do you keep looking at me like that?”

Gareth smiles, but it’s all sarcasm. “Hm… I dunno, Edmund. You got something you wanna tell me?”

Eddie rolls his eyes. “Yeah, the first thing I want to tell you is that Edmund is no longer a funny joke.”

Gareth shrugs. “It’ll be funny until I stop laughing at it, to be honest.”

“Sure,” Eddie says, sending his eyeballs for another spin. “Seriously. What is it? Do I… Do I look that bad these days?”

That gets Gareth to crack, at least. “Pft. Please. First of all, since when do you care about your appearance?” He ticks the items off with his fingers as he speaks. “Second of all, you know you’ve always been attractive. I won’t sit here and stroke your ego, but twenty-six looks good on you, man.”

Eddie knows he’s blushing a little at that. They’ve never been the complimenting sort, his friends, but out of all of them, Gareth was definitely always the first to offer any sort of reassurance or confidence boost. On the other hand, he was also always the first to call someone out on their bullshit, without fail.

“Thanks,” Eddie finally forces out. “I… I feel better than I have in a long time.”

Gareth has a soft look of understanding on his face as he leans forward, patting Eddie’s nervously-tapping hand. “That’s good, Eddie. That’s really good.”

And suddenly, Eddie can’t stand it anymore. He knows that Gareth would probably bring it up eventually, in some capacity, but Eddie feels this violent need to clear the air, to sage away the invisible demon lurking over them.

“I broke up with Henry.”

Gareth’s face doesn’t change all that much. His shoulders drop in a noticeable sigh of relief, but that gentle acceptance never leaves his face. “I’m so fucking proud of you,” Gareth says, squeezing Eddie’s hand tightly.

Eddie lets out a deep breath, one that’s stale with the weight of nearly three years. He doesn’t really believe in the whole demon-possession, God-fearing religious thing, but he can’t imagine that being exorcized of a literal demon feels any better than this.

“It took me a while,” Eddie confesses. Really leaning into the Catholicism of it all, aren’t we, his subconscious offers unhelpfully. “Like… A lot longer than it should have. I just called it quits for real like… maybe a year ago?”

Gareth nods, but his eyebrows knit together in confusion. “That’s amazing. I really am proud of you, man. But… why didn’t you ever reach out to any of us? Like after you called it off?”

Eddie drops his gaze to his hands, watching as he twists his rings around and around, four times for each ring before moving to the next. “I… I guess I didn’t think you guys wanted to hear from me. And I figured… I probably deserved that.”

There’s a short silence, and then Gareth snorts. Loudly. “Well, that’s some bullshit,” he says. He shrugs when Eddie casts him a glare. “You’re my best friend, Eddie. And I can’t speak for the others, but… I would’ve been fucking thrilled to have heard from you. Especially after going through… all that.”

Eddie had promised himself he wouldn’t cry, but he feels the traitor salt leaking from his eye anyway. “Well,” he mumbles, trying desperately to pull himself together. “I wish I had realized that. I missed you guys constantly. And you were right, being with Henry… it wasn’t fucking worth it.”

Gareth shrugs, in a sort of “what can you do?” gesture. “It is what it is, you know,” he says calmly. “Everyone makes mistakes. Yours was just… a several-years-long mistake, with a bit of domestic violence thrown in.”

Eddie flinches at the words. He doesn’t mean to, but… it’s been a while, since he let himself think about any of that at all, or since he’s allowed himself to even engage in conversations even remotely similar to this. But it’s been a year. He needs to do this. He has to.

“Yeah,” he says lamely. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. For everything that happened that night. The whole argument, the taking his side.” Eddie huffs, embarrassed. “And for saying the band would be nothing without me. That was… that was really fucking stupid, and I see that now,” he says, getsuring to Gareth. Because Eddie is no idiot. He knows that his old bandmates aren’t on the same level of fame that they had all dreamed of, but he knows that they’ve made a name for themselves within the metal scene.

“Yeah. That was pretty fucking stupid,” Gareth says. It sounds harsh, but then he grins, significantly softening his words. “I forgive you, by the way,” he tacks on after a minute.

Eddie glances up at him sharply, surprised. “Yeah?”

Gareth nods. Nothing in his face shows any sign of deception, and Eddie realizes suddenly how foolish he’s been. All this time spent being mad, then guilty, then regretful, of everything that happened, and here Gareth is, showing him the kind of grace and forgiveness Eddie would never think himself capable of.

“There’s no point in being mad,” Gareth says, his voice gentle. “Even back then. We knew the situation. Like, as soon as you started dating him, Jeff and I knew something wasn’t quite right. And then, at that party…” Gareth shakes his head slowly, his gaze unfocused, like he’s reimagining that night. The night that the band sort of fell apart, or at least fell a lead singer short, and Eddie lost the only real friends he’d ever had.

The first night Henry ever hit him in front of another person.

“I’m sorry,” Eddie repeats.

Gareth stares at him, and Eddie recognizes that shift in his jaw, the flash of his eyes. “Eddie, you are not the one who fucked up. That fucking asshole is the one who should be sorry. He hit you, right there in front of everyone, and then made you apologize for him.” He reaches forward, taking Eddie’s hand in his and squeezing firmly. “Stop. Apologizing. For. Him.” Each word is said slowly, with a deliberate punctuation between each one as Gareth emphasizes it.

Eddie nods, blinking harshly to try and clear his suddenly blurred vision. “I’m sor- er. Okay,” he tries again, chuckling wetly at himself. “Just force of habit, I guess.” He wipes at his eyes, and offers Gareth what he knows is a shaky smile.

“I get it,” Gareth says softly. “But you finally got away from him. And you deserve to live a life where you don’t have to apologize for someone else. Okay?”

“Okay,” Eddie says, struggling to nod his assent when he’s been conditioned this way for so long. “Can we, uh… Maybe talk about something else? Please?”

Gareth nods immediately, proving once again why he deserves his status as Best Friend. “Of course,” he says, sipping his coffee and leaning over the table like he’s about to tell a secret. “Why do you smell like alpha?”

Eddie nearly chokes on his coffee.

“Maybe not that either,” he says through a choked gasp, struggling to get his breathing under control. He’s not sure which is more embarrassing: Gareth knowing he smells like alpha, or Eddie’s near-death reaction to it.

“Oh, come on,” Gareth whines. “I don’t see you for three years and you won’t even tell me all the juicy details about your life?”

Eddie shrugs, but can’t help the smirk that’s tugging insistently on his mouth. “Well… there’s not much to tell!” He’s not even lying, technically. Although he is bursting at the seams to tell someone about this situation with Steve, he doesn’t exactly have much to tell.

Gareth rolls his eyes. “Oh, please. You expect me to believe that? You didn’t even smell like alpha the majority of the time you and…” he trails off, no doubt reading the pain in Eddie’s expression. “Right. Not talking about it. My bad.”

Eddie gives him a grateful smile, and chooses to ignore the second half of that statement to respond to the first part. “Well… I’m being serious, I don’t really know what to tell you. I’m not in a relationship. I don’t have a mate.”

Gareth quirks an eyebrow. “And yet you have a scenting partner?”

“God,” Eddie whines, covering his face when he feels heat crawling up his cheeks. “You make it sound so… filthy.”

“Is it not?” Gareth argues.

“No!” Eddie sighs deeply, finally making direct eye contact with Gareth. “Look, can I level with you?”

“Always,” Gareth says, shrugging.

Eddie chews on his lip for a moment, unsure how exactly to say it. “So… um… You know how I told you I’m a nanny now, right?”

Gareth’s eyes immediately narrow. “Yes.”

Eddie swallows hard. Now or never, he supposes. “Well, the father of the kids I nanny, he’s a single dad, an alpha, and he thought it would be best-”

“Hold up,” Gareth cuts him off there, giving him a disapproving look. “Please don’t tell me you’re doing that omega thing where you seek out a savior to get over your abusive ex.”

And, ouch, that fucking stings.

“Um, no,” Eddie says with certainty. “That’s not at all what I’m doing. Steve is nothing like Henry. He’s kind, and charming, and funny, and-”

“You said all of those things about Henry at one time, too,” Gareth says, his voice soft.

Eddie sits back in his chair, putting some distance between them. “I’m not a fucking child, Gareth. I am capable of making my own decisions and having them not blow up in my face, contrary to popular belief.”

Gareth raises his hands in a sign of peace. “Sorry, sorry. I’m not trying to say you aren’t, dude, really. I just…” Gareth sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Listen, I’d just hate to see you go through the same thing again, is all. But if you really think this guy is different, I trust your judgment.”

“He is,” Eddie insists immediately. Gareth just shrugs, impartial, but Eddie continues. “No, I’m serious, Gareth. You know how Henry had, like, no friends, and we could never figure out why?”

Gareth nods slowly. “It was because he was a massive twat and most people who got close saw that within like, two seconds.”

It’s probably not meant to be a slight against Eddie, but it still stings. “Exactly,” Eddie says anyway. “Steve’s not like that. He’s got friends, and his coworkers all seem to like him, and… and his kids.”

Eddie is aware, vaguely, that he must have a stupid, dreamy look on his face. But thinking about Steve and his kids is just like that, it really is the dream Eddie always had for his own family, in a lot of ways.

“What about his kids?” Gareth asks with a smile, clearly just humoring Eddie at this point.

“They love him so much, Gare. Like,” Eddie pauses, shaking his head slowly as he collects his thoughts. “Like, I can’t remember a time I ever stayed up at night to see my dad come in from work, but these kids do. Every night that Steve comes home late, they beg me to stay up to get to see him, just for a little while. And he just loves both of them, so much. And even though he’s a single dad, he does everything he can to give them everything he can to make up for it. I just lo-”

He pauses then, his eyes darting quickly to Gareth to see if he caught his almost-mistake.

Gareth definitely did, if his poorly-hidden smirk is any indication, but he doesn’t tease Eddie for it. Instead, he just shrugs. “He sounds like a great guy,” he says, his tone completely neutral. He softens his smirk into something closer to a smile, reaching out and patting Eddie’s hand. “I just want you to be happy, okay? And I would prefer if that happiness didn’t come with the price of a relationship, but-”

Eddie is quick to correct him then. “We’re not in a relationship.”

Gareth tilts his head knowingly. “Maybe not,” he agrees. “But you want to be.”

“I…” Eddie sighs, looking down at his hands. “Yeah. I do.”

“All I’m saying is to be careful,” Gareth says. “He sounds wonderful, though. Which brings me to the most interesting part…” he leans in, definitely smirking again. “Why aren’t you dating? If he’s scenting you, and you’re already living together, raising his kids… what’s the hold-up?”

Eddie scoffs. “Well, it’s- he’s- it’s unprofessional!” he exclaims, shaking his head. “I work for him, Gareth.”

Gareth shrugs, his eyebrows raised like he’s not comprehending. “So? People date their coworkers all the time, dude.”

Eddie rolls his eyes. “This isn’t like working at the fucking - convenience store or something. He’s my superior. And if it went bad, how would the kids handle it? It’s just-”

“Wait a second,” Gareth says, waving his hand. “You’re not dating based on the technicality that you work for him, right?”

It takes Eddie a second to process that, to make sure that is truly what he’s saying. “Yeah,” he says finally. He shrugs. “Other than that… I would think things would work out perfectly. When we kissed, he-”

“You’ve already kissed him?” Gareth asks, his eyebrows shooting up his forehead. “Are you sure you’re not dating?”

Eddie huffs. “Yes, I’m sure. God, Gareth. I would know if we were dating.”

Gareth raises his hands in defense. “Sorry, man. It just sounds a little…” He makes a face, and weirdly enough, Eddie understands the exact emotion he’s trying to communicate to him.

“I know,” Eddie admits sheepishly. But I swear, nothing is going on. I just…” Eddie flushes, but he feels relatively safe here to admit the truth. “I just wish it was.”

Gareth gives him a sympathetic smile. “Yeah. I get it.” He pauses, then laughs, shaking his head. “Well I guess that’s not technically true. I don’t fully understand it, but… Eddie, I think you should just go for it.”

“What?” Eddie asks.

“Look,” Gareth says placatingly. “I know you think it would be some awful thing, to date him while you’re working for him. So maybe you find another job. You’re in the city now, there’s gotta be other opportunities around here. And if things go well, one day maybe you two will be mated and having pups and living happily ever after.”

Eddie hates himself for how much he actually loves the idea of that. The idea of a proper future with Steve, one where they could be together properly, sharing a life and sharing children like proper mates. It’s probably pathetic, but he’s a little bit obsessed with the idea just the same.

And finding a new job… he hadn’t even thought of that.

“Well…” Eddie says, trying desperately to think of a refute. “I dunno, man. I… I guess I can think about it.”

Gareth nods. “You do that, and let me know what you decide. I expect that you’ll keep in touch from now on, right?” he gives Eddie this look, like refusing is not an option.

Eddie nods, smiling widely. This, at least, is an easy decision. “Of course I will. But hey, enough about me. Tell me what’s new in the world of Gareth.”

Gareth gives him a little hesitant look, like he’s not sure if Eddie is serious. “Are you sure you don’t have to go?”

Eddie glances down at his watch, and finds that it’s already almost eleven, somehow. Still, he turns to smile at Gareth, carefree. “We’ve still got at least an hour. Spill your guts, man.”

And for the next hour, that’s exactly what they do.

#steddie #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve harrington and eddie munson #babysitter eddie munson #single dad steve harrington #alpha steve harrington #omega eddie munson #abo dynamics #alpha beta omega dynamics #omegaverse #original harrington children #cw for discussions of domestic assault #gareth #fluff

6 notes · View notes

nadja-antipaxos · 1 year

Text

CAN’T MAKE YOU HAPPIER NOW - FIVE

Previously - Four || Masterlist || Next - Six

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: swearing, brief mentions of shooter at ATN, brief mentions of cruises scandal, talk of sex, PIV, fingering

Note: Thank you so much to everyone reading. Now that my Ted Lasso fic is done, I'm back on Suck Session, babies. This is a long chapter, but I've made you wait enough. Episodes covered at 2x04-2x07. Please enjoy your read and leave feedback etc if you liked it. xxx

Word Count: 7,151

For what feels like the millionth time that day, Nisha hits Kendall’s name in her phone. It rings. It’s been ringing all day since she saw the shooter at ATN on the fucking news. Antifa, political posturing, all sorts of bullshit, but no one can answer her one question. She hasn’t been able to breathe all day. She tries to keep it from the kids, but it’s impossible. She assures them that Kendall is fine without any evidence to back it up. Ramesh takes them to his house to distract them. Nisha declines because just the sight of her will worry them. Shiv texts her back letting her know that they’re safe around 5 pm. She asks about Kendall shoplifting which Nisha has no idea about but that’s all she gets. It’s dark when he finally picks up and her heart jumps to her throat.

“Hey.”

“Hey? You serious?

“I’m okay.”

“Yeah, I know. Shiv told me.”

“Okay.”

“I need you to come over.”

“Okay.”

She hangs up and clutches the back of her neck with her fingers. The exhaustion of the day finally hits her. She drags her feet to the fridge and grabs the chicken curry she made yesterday. She only ate at breakfast. She grabs a fork and digs in without heating it. She pours a glass of wine when she hears the knock on the door. She rushes over to it and sees Kendall on the other side. Instinctively, she throws her arms around him. His breath catches in his chest. She sighs. He doesn’t speak not wanting to disturb the moment. He inhales her perfume.

She pulls back and beckons him into the house.

“The kids in bed?”

“Yeah, at Ramesh’s. Since there was shooting at Daddy’s work and he wouldn’t pick up the phone.” She walks back to her food and he just stands in her kitchen like the most useless scarecrow. He nods. “Look, Ken. I know we’re not—our shit aside—you’re still their dad. I still need to know if you’re alive.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“I mean, I found out from Shiv but…anyway…I’m glad you’re safe.”

She turns away from him and puts the glass dish in the microwave.

“Thank you.”

She almost laughs. Why would he thank her for caring that he’s alive?

“We’re looking to buy Pierce. It’s a good idea. Would fit right in and it’s what Dad wants, so—“

“Jesus, Ken.” She scoffs. “You’ve had had his bit in your mouth before but this is fucking ridiculous.”

“S-Sorry.” He swallows hard.

She puts the dish back on the island and hands him a fork.

“It’s at Iverson’s spice level. You’ll be fine.”

“I like spicy food.”

“You have a limit.”

“Doesn’t everyone?” He knocks her fork away to grab some chicken.

She laughs and sees a small smile on his face. They haven’t been alone like this in a long time. He’s right next to her and he feels oceans away.

“So, um, what’s the deal with the batteries?”

“Batteries?”

“Shiv complained that you’re shoplifting and Daddy Roy’s covering it up.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I hope this isn’t a cry for help before you stick up a bank. Cause I got a lot of deals to finish this week—”

He laughs and hangs his head. He breathes in and exhales a choked sob.

She sets the utensil down and takes it from his hand before engulfing him in her arms. He buries his face in her neck and the tears drip onto her skin. She blinks back her own and holds him tighter.

“I wish you’d tell me what’s wrong.” She sighs, voice cracking. “I hate seeing you like this.”

He lifts his head but stays in her embrace. His thumbs wipe away her tears. She tilts her head up as he dips down and their mouths meet. He clutches her waist like if he lets her go she’ll disappear. She backs into the island and gasps at the stone hitting her spine. He tastes like cigarettes and hints of curry as his tongue moves into her mouth. She moans, gripping his shoulders.

He groans and scoops her up, locking her legs around his waist. He carries her down the hall and places her delicately on the bed. They break apart to remove their clothes but end up kissing before they get everything off. His fingers ghost over the fabric in between her legs and she bites her lip. Once their clothes find the floor, he pushes her down on the bed. His mouth still working hers while one hand fondles her bare breast and the other slips between her thighs. He swallows every sound she makes. No one else can compare. Every woman he’s been with can’t even come close to how perfect she is. She breaks apart around his fingers and yells his name. It’s everything.

She barely recovers before grabbing him and lining him up. He wants to say something to reassure her that he’s clean and always uses a condom with the others, but the words melt out of his mind at how tight she is. Fuck, she’s perfect. She’s so fucking perfect. He hooks her leg around his hip and she throws her head back. She meets his thrusts wanting him to move faster, but he wants this to last. Nisha isn’t used to him being this delicate. His mouth leaves gentle kisses on her neck as his thumb circles her slowly in time with his hips. She’s going to shatter into a million pieces. Kendall wants to tell her how much he loves her and how beautiful she is, but instead, he opens his eyes and watches the way her mouth falls open. She’s trembling, shattering and it’s the most gorgeous thing he’s ever seen. He can’t hold on after that and gives in.

Her soft breath pants under him. Her eyes are still closed. He was never worthy of her before…and now? He will never be. He doesn’t deserve her. She deserves someone strong who can give her everything. Not a coward. She never suffers fools and he’s one of them now. The blood on his hands and all the other people in his bed is an ever-growing chasm between them.

Kendall slips out of her and rolls onto his back. She goes into the bathroom. He allows himself to watch her sleep knowing he isn’t going to get this again. He wishes he could be the one to make her happy. Keep her looking so peaceful. She needs to find someone better and that’s not him.

Before the sun comes up, Nisha wakes up alone. She lets out a shuddering breath and lets the tears fall. How could she be so stupid?

It’s almost two months later when her period doesn’t come. She doesn’t even want to call him. They’ve never been in this position before. She couldn’t wait to tell him when it was Sophie or Iverson. Now, she wants the ground to swallow her up. He picks up on the second ring.

“I’m late. I’ll keep you posted.” She hangs up before she can hear his reaction.

17 years ago

After their first meeting, Kendall was relentless. Nisha told him multiple times that she was more interested in getting into law school at Columbia than dating. It doesn’t stop him. He got her an unlimited tab at her favorite coffee spot. She refused to use it and always paid for her own. He had her favorite dish from her restaurant delivered to her door for two weeks. When he saw her at a party on Saturday, she murmured a thank you, and that was it. She was perfectly friendly and that’s all she was. Friendly. He didn’t realize that she wasn’t as easily won over as the other girls on campus. Gifts no matter how extravagant meant little to her. When he bribed the writing center where she works to have her peer review his paper, he hoped he could talk to her, but she was strictly business. All it got him was a better grade on his paper and an excuse to see her for a month. She was far smarter than him in her sophomore year than he was in his senior year. She was a challenge and he loved a challenge.

Now

Nisha feels a little sore after getting her IUD put in. They said to expect it. The minute her period came, she called and made the appointment. She’s not taking chances. She took a half-day at work and allows Mayala to cook dinner. Her phone buzzes and she sees Kendall’s name. She doubts he remembered she was seeing the doctor this week.

“Yeah?”

“Hi, uh, how are you?”

“Not pregnant so you don’t have to worry. Not that you did.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Nisha nods. That’s about what she expected.

“That it?”

“We’re meeting with the Pierce family this weekend.”

She doesn’t say anything. She’s not giving him an inch. She was stupid to be so vulnerable with him before.

“They wanna know as a family before they seal the deal.”

She looks down at the black nail polish on her fingers. This has nothing to do with her.

“Dad wanted me to ask you if you’d come. I told him—”

“No. Marcia’s gonna be your token brown person.”

“Y-Yeah that’s uh, what I told him.”

“Okay. Thanks for that. Enjoy your rich white party.”

“Yep. Thanks.”

She hangs up the phone and lays back on the bed. Maybe she should get a new mattress and bedspread. Something colorful, unlike the terribly boring neutrals Kendall likes. She spends the weekend with the kids. Iverson gets to pick what they do Saturday and Sophie picks for Sunday. It meant a transportation museum and then a Broadway matinee. She finds Kendall sitting by her door when they get out of the elevators. The kids cheer and give him a hug. He looks relatively sober. Surprisingly, she doesn’t feel much looking at him. It just reminds her of the times he was locked out in college.

“Stewy put a sock on the door?” She asks dryly making him chuckle.

“Something like that.” Kendall stands up.

“So, we just saw SpongeBob and now we’re gonna do pizza. You wanna do pizza?” Nisha asks.

“Uh, sure.”

Nisha nods and lets him in. Iverson tells him all about the museum and the different subway routes he learned about—which ones no longer operate, how the trains have changed if he thinks there’s something inside the abandoned ones. Sophie prefers to tell him about the musical and what she liked and didn’t like. Nisha lets them do all the talking.

“Did you have a fun weekend?” He finally asks her.

“Go to spend it with my favorite people.” She smiles at the kids. She didn’t mean that as a dig. Okay, maybe a little.

“Mummy said we can go see Wicked again.” Sophie perks up.

“I like the set design.” Nisha shrugs. “The spectacle.”

They want a SpongeBob marathon consisting of four episodes before bed. Kendall stays for it, but she can see him on the phone. He gives them both a kiss before bed and Nisha tucks them in. He’s still in her kitchen when she walks back out.

“How was the NPR convention?” She asks getting a glass of water.

“We got the deal.”

“What Daddy Roy wants he gets.” She muses.

“One of the Pierces—Naomi—I slept with her.” The words tumble out of his mouth.

“I hope that’s not the old one. Didn’t think you were into Mrs. Robinson.” Her tone is sharp because she’s too tired to control it. She moves from water to wine. “You can’t go two seconds without humiliating me, huh?”

Kendall just stares at her.

“I don’t know how it’s so easy for you. I can’t even imagine fucking someone else. You? You can fuck me, leave, then find someone else immediately.” She laughs with derision. “Fuck, I tortured myself for months after kissing Stewy.”

Anger flashes across his face and he steps forward.

“You kissed Stewy?”

Shit. She hadn’t meant to tell him.

“Yes.”

“When?”

“You wouldn’t talk to me. You sold our apartment that day.”

“Two days? After two fucking days you’re all over Stewy?” He tries to control his voice but he fails.

“I was upset. It didn’t mean anything.”

“That’s fucking perfect, Nish.” He slams his hand on the island.

“He barely got his tongue in my mouth before I stopped it. Which is a lot more self-control than you have.” She spits, blinking back tears. She takes another gulp of wine. She wishes she had never done it, but he made her feel so isolated that day. He sold their first home without even talking to her. She didn’t want Stewy. She had wanted him. They had never been more in sync and then she was thrown out for reasons she still doesn’t understand. The tears spill down her face.

“Please, just tell me. Were you cheating on me the whole time? Or did your Kendroid brain flip turn off the monogamy switch one day?”

His face changes. He’s no longer panting like he’s going to break something because he doesn’t have to. He broke her. She whimpers. The most beautiful thing in his life and he broke her. He hates seeing her like this.

“No. It wasn’t the whole time.”

She hangs her head and sobs.

“My mom saw the photos, Kendall. She told Ramesh it felt worse than when she found out my dad had a mistress. Cause she never wanted it to happen to me.” She buries her face in her hands. “You humiliated me.”

Kendall exhales slowly and places his hands on her wrists. He takes her face in his hands. She should pull away, but she doesn’t. His thumbs brush her cheekbones. Those big brown eyes are swimming with tears as she looks at him.

“You don’t know how much I miss you.”

“You just fucked someone and now you miss me?”

“Baby, she’s not you.” He leans in closer. “They’re never you.”

Their lips crash together in a desperate kiss and he slides his arms around her back. She tucks her head under his chin.

“Please. Tell me what happened with the bear hug. I know something happened. I know it’s killing you. I can see it. Please.”

“Nish.” Kendall takes a deep breath. “I can’t.”

She shrugs him off and points to the door. “Go. Fuck, why do I always fall for it? You chose this. Deal with the fucking consequences.” She wipes her eyes.

“But just me? What if I tell my dad about you being in on the fucking bear hug, huh?”

If he told Logan, the first thing he would do is go after her. With his media empire, he would spill anything and everything about Nisha, her family, and even the kids. Iverson would be a prime target. They would be swarmed. Has Kendall even thought this through?

“You have no proof.” She straightens up and meets his gaze. Does he really want to make an enemy out of her? Has he learned nothing? “And you’re not credible right now.”

“You’d lie to him and sell me out?”

Her eyes darken as she steps forward. It’s not a side of her he ever encounters. He’s only heard stories about this version of her. She becomes unnervingly calm.

“For my safety? For my children’s safety? Against Logan?” She arches an eyebrow. “You better fucking believe it.”

Kendall storms out and she doesn’t stop him. If he goes against her, he will lose. Every time.

Nisha’s glad to be at Shiva Tech the next day. Her brothers floated some names for general counsel since their current is retiring and Nisha said she wasn’t able to take it. Normally, they would just text her, but Kapil seemed very excited about this one and wanted her to come in. She sits at the table in the big conference room. Her brothers aren’t giving her any clues.

“We’re ready to make the deal, but we want your stamp of approval,” Ramesh tells her.

“I feel so included.” She puts her hand on her chest.

“Good. Cause that’s the only way this is gonna work.” Her head turns to the door opening. She recognizes the voice but her brain plays catch up to the person in front of her. Slight frame. Broad shoulders. Dark hair. Strong brow and cheekbones. Five o’clock shadow bristling over tanned skin.

“Holy fuck!” She jumps up and throws her arms around their oldest friend. “Sebastián!”

He laughs with his whole body and it echoes through her as he lifts her off the ground.

“You look amazing.” He sighs.

“Shut up, look at you.” She laughs.

She pulls back and glares at her brothers while Sebastián’s hand settles on her waist.

“You assholes, why didn’t you tell me?”

“We needed your blessing.” Kapil laughs.

“Stamp. Stamp. Stamp. Sebastián Velasco, General counsel. ” Nisha places her hand on his chest.

“After you turned us down, we needed someone we could trust,” Ramesh explains.

“I’m always second to you, Nish.” Sebastián grins.

“You’re damn right.” She laughs as her eyes wander over his face. She hasn’t seen him in at least four years. Definitely not since his divorce.

“He’s gonna be a nomad like me.” Kapil smiles.

“Does that work for you?” Nisha looks away from her brother and back at Sebastián.

“Yeah. The kids are in California. My last job had me here exclusively so I’ll actually see them more.” A smile tugs at his mouth.

“Good.” She pats him on the cheek. “You know Mom is gonna lose her shit.”

“The son she always wanted.” Kapil sighs.

“Oh, fuck off with that.” Sebastián glares at him with his hand still resting on Nisha’s waist. Kapil and Ramesh exchange a look but say nothing.

“Okay, enough enough enough. We have paperwork to sign.” Ramesh opens his folder. “We need this all squared away before Argestes.”

“Ah, the Olympics of conferences,” Kapil smirks.

“How is it the Olympics?” Nisha asks sitting next to him.

“I heard you get all the swag and they put condoms in the rooms.” Kapil shrugs. “I’ve never heard of that. Sue me.”

“Christ, Kap. Please don’t—I’m sorry I asked.” Nisha grimaces and Ramesh does the same.

It’s the Asuris first time at Argestes which has sparked a lot of chatter about Shiva Tech possibly dipping into media. If Apple could do it, why couldn’t they? Still, there’s been no confirmation, but the buzz makes them feel like the belle of the ball. Anyone who knows anything knows Nisha’s the essential element and the toughest to crack. She stays pleasant but knows none of them are what Ramesh is looking for.

When Kendall’s going back inside after a chilly conversation with Stewy, he spies Nisha standing out in a magenta blouse in a sea of Northface neutrals. Why is she here?

“Did you know about this?” He barks at Jess.

“Uh, um, no.” Jess blinks.

“Why not?” He snaps.

“Last minute addition?” Jess scrolls through her iPad. “Oh, Ramesh is doing a talk on using data responsibly tomorrow with Kapil. Otherwise, it says honored guests? And she’s not on here.”

“Uh-huh.” He needs to be thinking about cruises, but right now he’s rooted on the spot. He should go over there. Right? He should go over there. Who’s watching their kids? Her mother? Ramesh’s wife? Both? Whatever. She’s still legally his wife.

He should talk to her. He steps forward when he sees a strong hand touch her shoulder attached to the rest of the body of Sebastián Velasco. Ridiculously handsome Sebastián Velasco with his stupid flawless brown skin that only gets better with age. The 5’9” bane of Kendall’s existence.

“Why the fuck is he here?” He looks back at Jess.

“Um, I don’t know who that is.”

“Sebastián Velasco. He’s a lawyer. Why the fuck is he here?”

“He’s, um, Shiva Tech’s new general counsel.”

Nisha laughs loudly—a real genuine laugh. Sebastián grins and squeezes her shoulder.

“Fuck.”

17 years ago

Kendall graduated from Harvard with a decent GPA, a degree in business, and a job at Waystar. He didn’t make any progress with Nisha Asuri despite his many, many attempts. He didn’t think he’d see her again. Why would he? She was gonna be a junior and he was gone. So when he saw her in the lobby at the start of summer, he didn’t know what to do with himself. She looked very professional with a tight bun, a light blue blouse, and a black blazer. She had a lanyard that marked her as an intern. Why the fuck didn’t that ever come up? Gerri walked over to her and shook her hand before ushering her back to her office. Well, that would look good on an application to law school.

He wasn’t surprised at how well she did. She was basically Gerri’s assistant for the summer. She summarized her briefs and gave her presentation decks while he followed his dad around. She was always there before him and still working when he left.

The Lincoln Line was a fledging but incredibly popular newspaper in the DC area. It wasn’t great, but it was extremely conservative and it was outdoing their paper in the capital. Logan wanted opinions on how to crush them. Kendall suggested a few interviews with conservative superstars to remind everyone who really held the power. Then Nisha stood up.

“Respectfully, sir, is your only motivation to destroy the competition?” She asked, confidence unwavering.

Logan looked at Gerri. “Yeah?”

“After looking at their finances, acquisition and subsequent shutdown would be more financially effective. Nisha did the numbers last night.” Gerri handed him a folder.

“Sir, they are bleeding out. Even though they might be a critical darling, you’re the mogul.”

“So, why not let them fuck off and die? Kendall’s plan is solid.”

“It makes you look like the hero. That instead of being threatened, you offered to bring them into your empire.” Nisha explained. “You’ll own them and make sure they can never publish again. You strike me as someone who makes sure his enemy is dead. You don’t want to risk him getting better and stabbing you.”

Logan began to laugh and Kendall’s eyes darted between them.

“Fucking balls of a samurai on this one. Gerri, draft up your plan—and you, um…”

“Nisha, sir.”

“Nisha, bring Kendall in. Maybe your killer instinct will rub off on him.”

“Yes, sir.”

He rubbed his hands together before clapping. Kendall just stared blankly. Logan clapped him on the shoulder after Nisha and Gerri walked out.

“Watch that one. She’s too much woman for you, but you could learn something.”

Kendall took his dad’s advice and let her lead. She was far more ruthless than she looked. He was a little more distracted by her than he wanted to admit. She acted like a true professional and didn’t show any hint of annoyance towards him. She complimented him on his ideas and was a great partner. The more they worked together, the more she seemed to respect him.

He was jealous of how calmly she took his father’s criticism and even more at how he seemed to like her for it. She offered no excuses and simply did better the next time. How did she make it look so easy? His father would humiliate him over his mistakes and he couldn’t get a word out. So he yelled at him for being more emotional than “the fucking girl”. Kendall just nodded. Everyone left the room and he threw the folder in the trashcan before kicking it repeatedly. He could never get it right. She cleared her throat and he wiped his eyes, not realizing she had come back.

“I was wondering if I could take a look at your file?”

“Why? To give me more shit?”

She simply shook her head and pulled the file out of the trash.

“There’s something here. Just needs a little more finessing.”

“Yeah?” He sniffed.

“You’re smart, Kendall.”

“Right.” He scoffed.

“You are.” She put her hand on his shoulder and walked out with his file. Her touch burned right through him.

True to her word, she read it and handed it back with colorful tabs full of suggestions. In the next meeting, Logan didn’t have anything bad to say about it. He commented that Kendall had improved. He was just attracted her to before, but now, he was crazy about her. He met her in the kitchenette after the meeting and he moved in to hug her, but without thinking, their lips met. She leaned into him, standing up on her tiptoes. His head was swimming. After constantly thinking about her all summer, he was kissing her and it was better than he imagined. His hand cupped her face and she stepped back with wide eyes. She rushed off and he followed her to the elevators.

“Nisha. Please. Talk to me.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Please, Kendall.”

He grabbed her hand before she could run. Her breathing hitched and she looked down at his large hand swallowing hers.

“Tell me you don’t feel that.”

“I worked too hard to throw this away. No matter how much I like you.”

If he dated his fellow intern, no one would care. But if she dated the boss’s son, everyone would accuse her of sleeping her way into the internship. She didn’t deserve that. So, he let her go.

On her last day in August, Gerri brought her a cupcake and gave her a hug. She really stood out to earn affection from Gerri and a stellar letter of recommendation. She stayed late even on her last day.

“I think you can go home.” Kendall chuckled.

“Just one more thing.” She jotted down some notes for Gerri and put them on her desk.

“Can I walk you out?” He knew they took her badge at five.

“Uh, yeah.” She gathered her things and joined him in the elevator.

He didn’t see the way her eyes kept darting from the buttons to his face. Outside, the street was damp from the rain.

“How are you getting home?” He asked, not wanting to leave her.

“Oh, subway. I have a cousin I’m staying with in Queens.” She nodded.

“Cool.”

“Not really.” She laughed. “But it worked. It was really nice working with you, Kendall. Sorry I was so mean to you at school.”

“It’s okay. I deserved it. Great working with you too.” He offered his hand and she shook it. She waved and started walking towards the subway.

Kendall looked down at his shoes. He was standing in a puddle letting the rain seep into his expensive shoes. Fuck it. He wasn’t gonna let it end like this. He called after her and she turned.

“Can I please take you out for dinner?”

She just stared at him.

“Before—at school—it was just looks and trying to win. No girl talked to me like you did. I didn’t know you, but now, I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re so fucking smart and badass. I like you so much.”

She smiled. “I still don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

“Aren’t you tired of it? Being so good all the time?”

“You have no idea.” She smirked.

He raised his eyebrows. She sighed, cursed under her breath, and pulled him down by his tie. Her mouth covered his. He kissed her back harder. Her tongue nudged his lips open and he groaned.

“That a yes?” He was panting.

“Of course it is, you fucking idiot.” She rolled her eyes playfully and tugged on his tie.

“Love it when you’re mean. It’s so hot.” He leaned down and kissed her again.

Now - Second Day of Argestes

The other darling of the conference is Ryan Sutton. The 26 year old English born tech icon behind Her Tech and Girlie Can Code. She’s looking to branch out to the US and everyone wants a chance with her. She stands tall in a pale pink sweater and tailored grey slacks with wide hazel eyes, and china doll features. She looks bored by everyone who approaches her. That is until she sees Kapil.

“Kap! Hey, buddy.” She shouts with her Liverpudlian accent.

“Hey!” They hug.

“Welcome to Argestes.”

“You too!”

He steps back and ushers his siblings over.

“This is my big brother, Ramesh Asuri. This is Ryan Sutton.”

“Nice to meet you.” Ramesh smiles.

“Likewise. And this must be the secret weapon I’ve heard so much about.” Ryan turns to Nisha.

“Nisha. Great to meet you, Miss Sutton. My daughter just started your coding series on YouTube.”

“Yeah? What does she think?”

“She’s obsessed. She’d rather watch you than Harry Styles.”

“Wow. I really made it then.”

“I think you made it well before that. I’m looking forward to your presentation on Women in Business.”

“Thanks. I don’t think they’re gonna like it, but I don’t give a shit. Maybe I’ll get less pitches. So, what’s up, Kap?” She places her hand in her pocket.

“Um, well, we have a pitch.”

“Ahh, no, we were doing so well!”

“I know I know.”

“If it helps.” Nisha steps forward. “We don’t actually want to pitch you here. We’d love to meet you at our New York office.”

“Okay, and why should I do that?”

“Because I know you want equal footing. I’ve read who you’ve turned down. You’re taking your time because Her Tech is your baby. You’re not looking for a big check to buy an island while someone else has free reign over your blood, sweat, and tears. The rest of these people will see you as a goal. A conquest.”

“And how do you see me?”

“As a partner. We want you to work with us—not for us. Everyone else in this room—they came from money.”

“Like your husband?”

“Exactly. They don’t know what it means to build something. We do. We both came from the outside and made it to the top. I think that gives us a shorthand.”

“That’s why she’s the secret weapon.”

Ryan pauses, looking her over. Ramesh and Kapil hold their breath.

“Okay. One meeting.”

“Thank you so much. Really. You won’t regret it.”

“You Asuris are always surprising me. I thought Kap wanted to hit on me when instead he wanted to debate me about Linux. Show me what you’ve got.” Ryan offers a dazzling smile.

“We look forward to it.” Nisha offers her hand and Ryan shakes it. “Enjoy the conference.”

“You too.”

They leave her be and Ramesh claps his hand on her shoulder.

“Fucking killed it.”

“For real.” Kapil smiles.

Once the cruises article hits, everyone avoids the Roys like lepers. Nisha honestly had no idea because why would she? Most of it happened in the 1990s and the coverup is exactly the kind of thing Kendall wouldn’t tell her. For once, she’s glad because it’s not a mess she wants to be anywhere near. She’s smart and ruthless, but she’s not abusive. Every assistant she’s had has been promoted or left on great terms and her brothers are the same. If Ramesh or Kapil were ever accused of such behavior, she’d be done with them. She can’t say she’s too surprised considering the number of creeps at Waystar.

It’s brought up in passing, but Ramesh assures everyone that they’re not together anymore. She would say it, but she feels a little put on the spot. She doesn’t feel like saying “I’m in the clear cause my husband’s a secretive asshole”.

She feels eyes on her as she brings a glass of water to her lips. Among them is Kendall. She feels a tug in her gut. She’s so used to cleaning up after him and offering advice that part of her is surprised he hasn’t at least texted. Things really have changed. He locks eyes with her and she can’t read him. His default look is varying degrees of misery. She feels a hand tap her shoulder. It’s Sebastián.

“Think we should draft a statement?”

“No. That seems reactive. It has nothing to do with us.”

“Okay.”

He presses his palm between her shoulder blades. She turns to face him.

“Oh, look at that.” Stewy appears behind Kendall. “That’s a nice reunion of old friends.”

“Hmm.” Kendall wants to look away but he sees the way Velasco keeps his hand on her back. It’s been like that for five minutes now. They haven’t seen each other in years. How the fuck are they so goddamn comfortable with each other? She should be shrugging him off.

“He was like her first boyfriend, right? First…everything.”

Kendall clears his throat not wanting to give a response. He’s well aware of their history.

“Fuck me, he’s hot. You’ve got heroin chic and he’s just a fucking specimen.”

Kendall exhales through his nose, burning with jealousy. He knows exactly what Stewy’s trying to do. And Christ, it’s working. Velasco tilts his head and she smirks. He would give anything to know what they’re talking about. Nisha laughs, straightening his wire-framed glasses.

“Looks like you’re not in the way anymore.” He tuts.

“Heard you two kissed.” Kendall finally tears his eyes away.

“Barely, bro. I’m not the one you need to worry about.” Stewy chuckles and walks away.

Kendall steals one more look before leaving to prepare for the panel. He had wanted to talk to her, but he didn’t even get near her. Fucking Stewy. He has no idea that Nisha watches the panel from the back. Ramesh’s eyes nearly roll out of his head every time Kendall speaks. Nisha has seen this fight play out at many family dinners. All vying for Logan’s approval. The dinosaur comment isn’t going to go over well. She leaves.

“You okay?” Ramesh goes after her.

“How bad…is this?” Nisha moves out of the hallway to a more isolated spot.

“Um…you only did the internship before law school. You’re clean. And Kapil just joined the board so we’re fine.”

“Right.” Nisha just nods.

“I gotta go change for the panel. I’ll see you there?” He hugs her.

“Yeah. Definitely.” She gives him a half-smile.

Their panel is well received. No controversy. No drama. Just good business. Without Kendall, these things are so much easier. She walks back to her room to freshen up a bit when she sees Kendall walking toward her. She sighs.

“Hi.”

“I know you know. And that we’ve been fighting. But—”

“We haven’t talked since you stormed out of my kitchen with your hissy fit.”

“Hissy fit?”

“You were—”

“I was just standing up for myself and our children.”

“Nisha, listen. Can we just talk—I know you—”

“No, you listen. I’m here for my brothers and their company. Tell your dad to clean up his own fucking mess.” She blinks back the tears and jogs over to Kapil and Ramesh.

They turn and see Kendall staring at her. Kapil flips him off and Ramesh slings his arm around her guiding her away. Dinner is a blur. Once she’s back in her room, she doesn’t even remember what she had.

A quiet knock on the door causes Nisha to get out of bed. She isn’t doing anything besides looking at her phone. She opens it and sees Sebastián in her doorway.

“Hey.” His voice is soft.

“Hey.”

“Seemed kinda checked out at dinner. You okay?”

“Yeah just ran into Kendall before. He actually thought I’d help.”

“Wow. That fucking sucks.”

“Thanks.”

He stammers at the same time she starts talking. She chuckles and shakes her head. She looks over his shoulder. She doesn’t expect the press to be lingering around the lodgings but she wouldn’t bet against it. He raises his eyebrows. She nudges the door open and nods. He closes it behind him.

“I’ve wanted to do this all weekend.” She grabs him by the collar and crushes her mouth into his. He nips at her lower lip and pulls back.

“Really?” He chuckles. “Cause I’m just here for extra condoms. I’m all out.”

“Fuck you.” She laughs.

“That’s the idea, honey.” He takes hold of her jaw.

His mouth moves firmly against hers. The mouth that gave her the first kiss when she was eleven and he was twelve. Very chaste and quick. Lasted only three seconds before he was called home for dinner and ran down the street. The mouth showed her what a French kiss was the night they snuck into the community pool to avoid the California heat. Her mom working eighteen-hour shifts left her alone a lot and they took advantage. The mouth that trembled on her neck as she lay still beneath his awkward hip thrusts for five minutes in her childhood bedroom. Neither of them knew what they were doing other than making sure they didn’t go onto college as virgins. He climbed out her window and down the lattice when they heard her mother’s car pull into the driveway. The mouth that swallowed her sounds in the backseat of his Camry when he made her legs shake with his fingers before her sophomore year of college. The last time that mouth had been on hers.

They are both older now with four kids and two failed marriages between them. Age has made him much more comfortable with his body and how to use it. His hands squeeze her waist and lift her off the ground onto the dresser. She’s tired of feeling like shit and wants to feel good just once. He licks his way into her mouth and she clutches a handful of his dark curls, moaning. He feels good. He feels very good.

When she wakes up in the morning, his tanned back faces her. All of her muscles are sore in the best way. He hears her stir and rolls over.

“Hi.”

“Should I go?”

“No.”

“You sure?”

“Mhmm.”

“Last night was fun.”

“You know…this is just sex, right? I’m not even divorced yet and—”

“Nish, we’re good. I promise.”

She giggles and covers her face.

“Oh? Now you’re shy?”

“Shut up.”

His fingers dance over her ribs tickling her. She can’t contain her laughter and squirms.

“Hold on, hold on. I’m looking for something.”

“Sebastián, I swear to—" She’s cut off by her own moan as he dips a finger inside her. His thumb rubs the bundle of nerves and he adds another thick finger. He curls them and she arches her back.

“God!”

“Found it.”

Things only get better for the Asuris after Argestes. The pitch with Ryan Sutton invites another meeting that invites another meeting that leads to lunch. Kendall sees all the phones online. They look harmless, but Velasco is always right fucking next to her. He has a feeling his father might be the one who sent the photographers when he asks if her brothers are pimping her out. Kendall doesn’t answer. The pictures on Instagram are worse of close dinners, laughter, lots of wine, and even one where Nisha has her chin on Velasco’s shoulder for a smiling selfie. Was this fucker just waiting? Did he attend their wedding thinking one day it’d end and he’d slip back in? He hates this. Even fucking Naomi Pierce seems to only make him forget for a little while.

While Nisha’s out finalizing things with Ryan, Kendall calls her multiple times while downing more and more beers. It’s the early hours of the morning in England after his mother refused to talk. He misses her so much it feels like his heart is thousands of miles away ripped from his body.

“I’m willing to tailor this to whatever you’d like,” Nisha tells her ignoring her buzzing phone.

“Really?”

“Look, Ramesh has a reputation for being selective—“

“And ruthless.”

“Right, but he’s not. He knows everyone wants to see him fuck up and he’s passionate about protecting his interests. Her Tech would be one of them.” Of course, Kendall would be trying to ruin this in his own way. She shoves her phone back into her purse.

“I’m sorry. I know that’s not professional. That’s not how I usually am. My husband and I have separated and work schedules, kids and their schedules, it’s just a difficult time. Not that I’m not committed to you or—”

“Oh, it’s okay. I had a breakup last year and I don’t have any kids so I can’t imagine. I think I’m ready to sign some paperwork.”

Sebastián smiles and pulls out his briefcase.

In the limo back to her place, he places his hand on her knee.

“You are a vision. Fucking magnificent.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m serious. Thank god Cecilia only calls about the kids.”

“I don’t know how you did it.”

He places his hand on her wrist. “Support from everyone who cared about me. And a great lawyer. I can recommend some firms.”

She smiles at him and threads her fingers through his. She finally answers Kendall when she’s in her bedroom getting undressed. The back of her dress is open.

“Hi, Kendall.”

“Nish, oh god.”

“What?”

“It’s fucking awful here.”

“The horror movie that was never made starring your mother.”

He laughs a little too loudly. “Fuck, you’re so amazing.”

“Not hard to make fun of a proud colonizer.”

“I’m sorry.”

“About your mom? She didn’t colonize India personally.”

“No. I would never tell my dad about….you and the bear hug. You’re an amazing mom and you’re always gonna look out for our kids.”

“Ken, where the fuck is this coming from?”

“Miss you, baby.”

“You wouldn’t if you’d just tell me the truth.”

“No, I just wanna talk to you. You don’t understand.”

“I do, Ken. Believe me. Everything is always up to what you want and I’m tired of it. It’s exhausting and I can’t do it anymore..” She licks her lips and her vision blurs. “I want a divorce.”

She hangs up as Sebastián walks out of her bathroom with a white towel slung low on his hips. She can see the patch of hair below his belly button. He’s so hot it hurts.

“You okay?”

“Mhmm.” She kisses him deeply.

His hand trails down her neck and settles between her breasts. “Tell me, honey. Tell me what you want.”

“Make me feel good.”

It doesn’t take him long. She hisses as he bites Spanish words into her skin. He flips her over and places his palm on the base of her spine. This is exactly what she wants. To forget.

#succession #kendall roy #kendall roy x oc #kendall roy x ofc #oc: nisha asuri roy #fan fic #happier now

2 notes · View notes

mymindisacage · 1 month

Text

A DAISY PUSHER — CHAPTER TWO

The Painting at the End of the Stairs

Word Count: 5,964

description: sylvia goes away for the week.

a/n: hey guys please tell me if theres inconsistencies in my writing. usually theres a literal month or two between when i write each chapter because i forget my book exists and im worried i forget things ive solidified in canon... please do enjoy this because i keep forgetting abt this even though its my lifes work...........

“—And I told her that she can suck my big fat balls.” Anastasia chuckled.

“You don’t have balls, Anastasia,” I responded.

“The point still stands, you weirdo.”

“Yeah, stop being a big fat party pooper, Syl’,” Emily told me.

I picked up my lunch. I had a homemade ham and cheese sandwich, pineapple chunks, and a bag of salted almonds. Zorion always tried to convince me that the school lunch was the best thing on the planet, but I never believed him. During freshman year, I got food poisoning from the school’s food. I don’t remember what it was, but it was gross.

“Sylvia,” Klara started, chewing and covering her mouth. “Did anything cool happen in class today?”

“Um…” I mumbled.

“While we’re young, Sylvia.” Anastasia groaned.

“Sorry. Some girls looked at me like I stabbed their mother when I walked into the bathroom. They were doing their makeup or something, I don’t remember.”

“Wow, I hate chicks like that.” Emily nodded.

“Thank god I use the dude’s restroom.” Zorion groaned. “They just fingerboard on my stall and turn all the lights off.”

“Whoa. They do what?” I gaped.

“They… fingerboard and turn all the lights off?”

“Yeah, why?”

“They’re crazy.”

“God, dudes are scary—”

“Oh, that’s not even it!”

“Here we go again…”

“I remember in eighth grade, some kids would run full-force at the door. The locks rarely ever worked, so a lot of the time they’d just burst in while I was trying to take a shit. Now, because I’m trans, they were probably just attacking me because they recognized me by my shoes. Middle school dudes are a million times worse than high school dudes because they have so many of the worst aspects one could have. Audacity.”

“At least dudes let you know they hate you.” Anastasia groaned, talking while chewing. “Chicks just stare at you and giggle.”

“Anastasia, I hope you get jumped today.”

“Oh, fuck you.”

I looked over at everyone else’s plates as they talked. They were nearly finished with their lunches, and I was barely starting. I took nibbles at my sandwich, but I wasn’t particularly thrilled to eat it. I took the fork out of my lunchbox and began eating my pineapple chunks, but I still wouldn’t eat them. I just sat and played with them.

I ended up eating my bag of almonds. I never got hungry during school. I had a small stomach and quickly digested food, so I wasn’t very suited for meals. I snacked through the day. People would say it wasn’t healthy for me, but I tried to mix in fruits and nuts and lunch meat during the day. I would always eat what people deemed sides at meals because the main dishes were harsh on my stomach. I always felt rude.

I zipped my sandwich back into its bag and closed the plastic container my pineapple was in, zipping it into my lunchbox. I kept my almonds out and munched on them as the chatter filled my ears and I sat, listening.

“My brother got a girlfriend.” Emily groaned.

“Woah, woah,” Anastasia gaped. “You have a brother?”

“Anastasia. You have been friends with me since you were in elementary school. Tell me you know my goddamn brother.”

“Dude,” Klara cackled, banging on the table. “You didn’t know about her brother?”

“No?” Anastasia responded, shock filling her face. “Who the hell is he?”

“He’s probably in your classes. He’s that ginger Freshman.” Emily told her.

Emily sat up from her place in her seat and looked around the cafeteria so she could search for her brother. She sat down and began speaking again.

“Okay, Anastasia,” Klara said, turning around and pointing. “Look for a tall, skinny, ginger kid over yonder.”

“Um…” Anastasia mumbled. “Holy shit, Andrew’s your brother?”

“What, you know him?”

“Yeah, my girl Savannah is dating him.”

“Oh, my god. Small world, I guess.”

“We live in the middle of nowhere. It is a small world.”

I checked my watch. It read twelve thirteen, which was two minutes before lunch ended. I began putting my things away and into my bag, and everyone at the table followed. I wouldn’t tell them, but I loved eating with them. I loved sitting with them and learning about how Anastasia didn’t know Emily’s brother until now. I was grateful to have friendship, no matter how little I showed it to others.

“Guys, I’m going to my class,” I began. “I’ll see you later.”

I began walking, but Zorion followed.

“Don’t forget, you have little ol’ me in your fifth period!” He beamed.

“Thanks, Zorion,” I mumbled. “You ruined math class for me.”

I walked to class as he rambled on about things I didn’t care enough about to take an interest in on my own, but he was my brother. I cared about what he liked, so I let him ramble.

“So me and Klara—” He started.

“Klara and I, Zorion.” I corrected him.

“Klara and I were hanging out yesterday, remember? We went to McDonald’s or Wendy’s or something…”

“You went to Subway, Zorion.”

“Same thing!”

“Those aren’t remotely similar.”

“They sell sandwiches. We were at Subway and I was eating my footlong, and we were talking about something I don’t remember, but the funniest song came on over the speakers while I was talking, so we just stared at each other for a few seconds before I started laughing. Then, I started choking on my sandwich.”

“Ah. That was so interesting, thank you for that.”

“Dude, you’re so mean to me sometimes, you—”

He ran into the door trying to turn into it. It swung in his face because it didn’t have a stopper.

“Ow! Fuck, that hurt!” He whimpered, holding his head in his hands.

“Language, Zorion.” I reminded him, hitting his arm.

“Oh, bite me.”

We walked to our table, where we sat next to each other. He sat to my left. I unpacked the contents of my backpack needed for math class. My graph paper notebook, pencil case, and laptop. Zorion seemed neglectful of what he had to do in that class and was doodling on his hand with a dry-erase marker. The teacher started attendance and Zorion continued doodling with his chin against the table. It was astonishing how he could sit like that all day. Though he did have horrible back pain he made a point of complaining about it, so it’s not like he’s free of ailments.

“Sylvia? Sylvia Becker?” The teacher called.

“Oh, I’m here,” I replied, shooting my hand up.

“Okay. Zoe Becker?”

“I’m here,” Zorion mumbled, putting his head down on the table.

I looked at him. He congested his posture and moved his hands to the top of his head, clutching his hair lightly and letting his cheek rest on the cold table. I put my hand on his back and patted him gently. I tried to be comforting.

“It’s— I’m sorry,” I mumbled.

I wanted to say “It’s okay”, but it wasn’t okay. He had told the teacher many times about his name since the first day of school, even emailing his teachers in advance. He tried so hard just for that to happen. It wasn’t okay.

“No, it’s not your fault,” He mumbled. “Don’t be sorry, Syl’.”

“Oh, sorry.”

I did it again. I would always apologize to people. I would apologize to the point where sorry wasn’t a word I meant anything through anymore. He sat up and began rummaging through his backpack for something. He pulled his sketchbook out and began doodling when the teacher began her lesson. I watched Zorion doodle for quite some time as the teacher gave us notes to take. He poured his feelings into art, I knew he did.

I never had anything to pour my feelings into. I had music, but I couldn’t write music if my life depended on it. I often tried to explain my feelings through instrumental songs, ones where the guitars told the story. Or I had songs where the lyrics were there for the ambiance.

We were told to pull our computers out, and I followed through. Zorion did too, but he was way more off-task than I was. He just sat and played MineSweeper or other games, while I tried to do my work.

Maybe I poured my feelings into my work. I would often find myself doing my homework, a habit many wished for. I would put everything I had into my work because it was all I had. In band, I tried so hard to be the best trumpet player in the band. I dreamt of going into drum corps, but those programs exceeded four thousand dollars.

I looked again at Zorion to see him asleep on his desk. His head was in between the nook of his arms and the back of his pink head of hair faced me. I could hear him breathing, but I could hear everybody breathing. I decided to leave him alone.

Students began to pack up their belongings as the clock ticked ever closer to the end of fifth period, so I nudged Zorion on his shoulder and he shot up, mumbling about something he was dreaming about. He packed up his things quickly and stood by the door, waiting as if nothing had happened. I rushed to meet with him and he was swaying on his feet.

“That’s so embarrassing!” He groaned.

“You just fell asleep,” I muttered. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Yes, it is!”

“No, it’s not.”

“Whatever.”

“Anyways—” He said, getting cut off by the bell as students began filing out. “—See you at home.”

“Bye, Zorion,” I responded.

I had one more class to get through. American Sign Language II. If I could just get through sixth period, I would be free to go home. I didn’t have a seventh period class, I made it so I wouldn’t. I took four core classes and two electives, but Marching Band gave me credit for P.E., so I didn’t take it. However, during concert season, I had zero period, so a free seventh period didn’t really shorten my school day, it just kept them at their usual time.

I sat at my desk and listened to the teacher bore on to those who would listen, while occasionally reminding the class that she was the one in charge. Next to me were people whispering to each other in an attempt not to get caught by the teacher, but we all knew it was them filling the classroom with noise. It was always so painfully obvious who was talking that whispering was just for fun at that point.

Eventually, the class began to pack up and I finally got the chance to be alone. Emily had a free period the year before, but her ambitions were not fit for a seven-period schedule, so she took the extra class: Psychology. I’d wanted to take it, but the class was limited to Juniors and Seniors.

I pulled my headphones over my head as I left campus, walking at what I deemed a “leisurely pace”. I made my way through campus and left the doors of the school and began enjoying the scenery of the outside world. Despite what everyone else thought, I could hear through my headphones, and I heard my name through muffled conversation.

“Dude… Sylvia’s right there!” I caught through the muffled noise of my headphones, prompting me to turn the song off and walk slowly so I could hear them.

“Shut up, she can’t hear us,” The second voice said. “She has her headphones on.”

I turned my head around to see Zorion and Anastasia, who appeared to be walking somewhere I wasn’t going. We made brief eye contact before Anastasia and Zorion attempted to run off, but Anastasia fell flat on her face in the wet grass.

“God dammit!” She yelped, shooting up and clutching her skirt in her hands. “Is my hair okay?”

“Is it ever okay?” Zorion laughed.

“Shut up, Zorion,” She spat, turning to me. “If you say anything to Ma, you’re dead.”

“You guys do know I don’t care if you ditch, right?” I interjected, staring at Anastasia.

“Oh. C’mon Zorion, let’s go.”

“Ope, bye, Sylvia!” Zorion grinned, running off.

They always saw me as this rule-abiding saint, when that wasn’t who I was. I wasn’t the kid to remind you of the syllabus or the student handbook, I would just mind my own business; It’s what worked best for me. To stay as inconspicuous as possible and go unnoticed was often the ‘goal’ of the social aspect of school, as I never liked people having opinions about me.

Of course, school was more than that to me, I loved many aspects of school. I loved band, I loved math, and I loved things that made sense to me. I loved performing. When I said that, nobody would understand, but I loved performing. I lived for performance. Since Freshman year, I have found an unusual fondness for field shows. I loved field show and the nature of tournaments.

As I walked down residential roads, the trees narrowed in closer to the street, the leaves covering the hot September sun. Though, at the end of this street, there was a blinking stop sign. It ruined the general look of the street, but what did I care?

Cars revved by me and I passed other students, students I recognized and could tell you nothing about. Parents parked on this street, so I passed many students sitting on the curb in front of houses, or maybe standing on the sidewalk. I walked home, I loved walking. Marching band combined with my love to walk gave me chiseled, masculine calves. I wasn’t fond of it.

Soon enough, I pushed my way onto my street and entered through the back to see someone I didn’t expect to see so early. My mother.

“Mom?” I mumbled, wondering why she was home so early. Worrying why she was home so early. “What happened, are you okay?”

I set my things down as she began to talk, her accent thin from her time in the Midwest. While it had been spread out over time, her dull tone still revealed her Russian heritage when she said certain words.

“Nothing, Sylvia, it is nothing.” She said, shooing me away. “We’ll talk later, I am on the phone.”

“Oh. Okay.” I muttered, picking my things off the floor.

Ma began shuffling papers together, and I noticed a picture frame on the table before it quickly joined her pile. I looked around and a frame from above the television was missing. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what the picture was, thinking for a few seconds to no avail. I turned to the stairs and for the first time noticed the painting. It was a grayscale image of a living room with a colored, glowing bassinet in the middle. In the bottom right was a signature, the signature of my mother.

I walked up to my room, ignoring the painting as it took a permanent space in my subconscious. I changed into flowier clothes that allowed me to lounge better, consisting of no shirt, a sweater, and no pants. I lay on my bed and quickly escaped into unconsciousness. The bed, blanket, and pillow wrapped around me as my body consumed my conscious mind in its effort to recharge.

To no surprise, I was awoken too soon by Zorion calling my name. I checked my clock and it was four o'clock. I grumbled, itching my eyes, and Zorion called my name and ordered me to come downstairs. I, somewhat begrudgingly, left my bed and grabbed a skirt from my dresser. As I ran down the stairs, I pulled it over my legs and fastened the zipper. I glanced at the painting again. It had gained a residence in my mind until I talked about it. I stood next to the stairs and Zorion, Anastasia, and Ma were sitting on the couch.

“Dude, finally, Ma said she wanted to tell us something,” Zorion groaned, putting his phone down. “Sylvia, this is an intervention!”

“No it’s not, Zorion, please be serious,” Ma scolded with her hands in her lap. “Sit down, Sylvia.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I said, finger-combing my hair and sitting down on the couch.

She cleared her throat and began talking. “I know you all noticed I am home quite early, and I have called you here to tell you that you are going to need to take the next few days off of school. I am traveling abroad to take care of family business, simply formalities. You three will be staying with your uncle.”

Groans emerged from Zorion and Anastasia, while I remained unphased.

“Uncle Nick, Ma?” Zorion whined, clutching his face and throwing his head off of the arm of the loveseat he was lying on.

“Yes, and you need to stop complaining or I will make your stay much worse. I have emailed your teachers and they said that you can do your work online and that any tests will be made up next week because I know you three would not do it if I did not.”

I got the point. We would go to Uncle Nick’s for four days, not including Tuesday night and Sunday morning. Zorion and Anastasia complained as Ma rattled on about how she hadn’t seen her family in decades, but I snapped back to the conversation when Ma started talking about packing bags.

“If you three would pack now and we leave by five, I will pick up dinner for you.”

“Ooh! Guys, hurry, I want Sonic.” Anastasia yelped, running up to her room.

“Hell no! I want chicken!” Zorion yelled, following suit.

I hated chicken. It was rarely made well and was often too dry and stringy for my liking. I did not want chicken, but I also didn’t want to go to Uncle Nick’s, so I assume nobody gets what they want in this world. I quickly rushed to my room and began packing. I brought a jacket, two sweaters, six shirts, four pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, eight pairs of underwear and five bras. I packed my school computer, school binder, music binder, and sketchbook, as well as my trumpet. I brought chargers for my phone, computer, and headphones, as well as an extra phone charger in case Zorion or Anastasia needed one.

I walked downstairs to wait on the couch to see that Zorion had finished before I did. I sat down and put my hands on my lap.

“Zorion, did you pack?” I queried.

“Yeah, why do you think I’m here?” He scoffed.

I picked up his duffle bag and it felt like the only thing in it was his computer and a pair of socks.

“Zorion, what’s in this?”

“Clothes, my laptop, chargers.”

“How many shirts?”

“One.” He said, not looking up from his phone.

“One? One?”

“Yeah, the two I’m wearing now equals three but...”

“Did you pack any underwear?”

“Yeah. Two pairs.”

“Two?! You are insufferable.”

“Well… front side, backside, inside-out, backside inside out? A single item of clothing can last me a week as long as I shower.”

“Shut up, Zorion.”

Time went by. When I sat on the couch, it was four thirty-six, and the clock ticked to five, and when it hit four fifty, I called for Anastasia.

“Anastasia, come down!” I called.

“Wait, I’m almost done!” She huffed loudly.

“You’re not even finished?” Zorion laughed.

Anastasia came barreling downstairs, holding her bag across her body. She was leaning as if when she stood up straight she’d fall over.

“Anastasia, what is in there?” I groaned.

“Huh..?” She mumbled, blinking quickly at me before responding. “Oh! My bag, my bag! Yeah, I packed clothes, makeup, clothes… Um… A jacket.”

“Gosh… Am I the only sensible person right now?” I groaned, holding the bridge of my nose. “Ma, we’re done!”

“Good, please get in the car,” Ma called from her room, audibly gathering her things.

Anastasia, Zorion, and I ran out to the car, Zorion, and Anastasia arguing over the front seat. Ma came out, her suitcase in hand. She clicked her keys, unlocking the driver’s seat.

“Mom, can I have the front seat?” Zorion whined.

“No, I want it!” Anastasia cried.

“Neither of you two gets it now, Sylvia can sit up front,” Ma said coldly.

Thank the stars. I would always get nauseous if I sat in the backseat. As Ma opened the trunk, she unlocked the other doors of the car. I preferred to sit with my things, but the others put them in the back. We started driving and Zorion and Anastasia argued about where they wanted to eat, but Ma pulled into Sonic, not bothering to ask anybody in the car.

“Hell yeah!” Anastasia exclaimed, telling Ma her exact order.

Zorion groaned, but I just zoned out before telling my mother that I wanted a corn dog. After I ate my food, I sank into my seat and shut my eyes, longing for the touch of sleep once again. My eyes drifted back into my skull as the dark vignette of sleep consumed my brain.

“Sylvia, wake up, we are here.” My mother whispered, shaking me lightly.

“Huh..?” I mumbled, opening my eyes. “Oh. Uncle Nick’s.”

I grabbed my things and checked my watch. It read seven forty-eight. I shuffled the limbs of my body to wake them up, quickly grabbing my bag off the floor of the car and stepping out. Anastasia stood with her arms crossed, making quiet conversation with Zorion as they both awaited being let into the house.

The sun just barely dipped below the horizon, painting streaks of pink across the sky before fading off into a deep blue. The dark, warm air hugged my skin as I mindlessly approached Zorion and Anastasia. They were rattling on about how much they wanted to go back home until someone emerged from the front door of the house. It was Nicolai.

He said nothing, simply gestured that we could come in with his hand, and went back inside. His dark blonde hair was gelled down to his scalp and he wore a light blue button-up shirt with a pair of khaki dress pants. He walked back into the house and the three of us followed quickly.

“Fuck, man, I don’t want to be here.” Zorion groaned quietly.

“Shh… Shh…” Anastasia hushed. “He’s right there.”

A chill ran through my spine as we walked into the front door and we were all addressed.

“Zoechka, Silvushka, Nastya! Hello, you three.” Uncle Nicolai spoke. His use of diminutives showed his love for us, as they were used with affection.

His accent was thick, and as the feeling of uncertainty and distance set in, I felt alone. I felt different. Different from everyone in my whole family, my whole world. He stood next to the stove, cooking what was dinner for seven.

“Masha, you are here.” He smiled, his face lighting up.

My mother’s name was Mariya, but her family referred to her as Masha. His tone had more inflection than I had ever heard in a voice like his as he talked with my mother in Russian. His cold expression was one I couldn’t read, one I couldn’t learn. Ma’s, however, was distressed as she rambled on with only simple words flooding to me as she spoke.

Uncle Nick simply looked at his son to signal to him what he wanted, and he followed his silent request. He shooed us out of the kitchen, pushing us to the living room. Amelia sat on a cushion closest to the wall on the couch that faced the back windows. As Zorion and Anastasia sat on the couch, she tensed in fear at the sudden interruption.

“Oh. Hello, you two.” She grinned, her soft voice reflecting an accent as well.

They clamored on, but I quickly sat down at a chair facing the living room entrance. Nicolai stood to the right of it, the side without couches, with his hands behind his back. He had a cold expression on his face as he stood, looking dead as always. His face resembled his father's every time I saw him.

As I stared more and more intensely, we locked eyes. I quickly looked away, making sure I couldn’t see any part of his body at all. I did the one thing I could do: Pull my headphones over my head and play on my phone. I was always the outcast. Unlike Nicolai, who had things to do and people to relate to, I had nothing and nobody. Nothing to do and nobody to relate to.

I wasn’t tired. I’d slept so many times that day that sleep became something unimportant to me. I stared off into space as I fully grasped the situation around me as if my eyes were sucked into my brain for just a brief moment, but I was finally alive and could process what was going on. My mind rattled, a disgusting, eerie sound, as my mind raced, yet I came up fruitless. No reasons could come to my mind as to why I was there.

Then, it clicked in my mind. The one person I was sure knew was Nicolai. Yet he saw me as someone otherworldly, not in a good way. He saw everyone as inferior, especially women, so getting a straight answer out of him would be one of the hardest social interactions I’d have to have. I had to do it, though, and I knew I would.

Eventually, I mustered up what little courage I had to talk to the one relative my age who genuinely frightened me. I got up from my seat in the oddly comfortable chair I was sitting in and approached Nicolai, still standing next to the doorway.

“What do you want?” He spat, his cold gaze unmoving. His accent was nearly as thick as his father’s.

“Why am I here?” I asked, quietly. “Why are any of us here?”

Nicolai physically turned his head to look at me, and the look he wore was pure disgust and shock.

“Do not act that way, Sylvia, you are not dumb.” He said, looking away from me and back to the wall. He was ungiving.

“Listen, you need to tell me, I don’t under—”

“You do not understand? What is there not to understand?”

“Hey don’t cut me off.”

“Sylvia, you will follow the same path your father has. It has been laid out in front of you like a devastating work of art.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If you are too idiotic to understand that, I guess you are just like him. Now, get.” He shooed me off with his hands, but I remained relentless and stood where I was.

“What do you not understand, Sylvia? Get.”

“No! Not until you tell me what is going on here.”

He looked at me weirdly before he called his father in his mother tongue, something about dinner. Quickly, he left his post next to the entryway and went into the kitchen to set up the dinner table. Zorion, Anastasia, and Amelia sat on the couch, laughing. I sat quietly next to them on the floor, playing with my hair.

“Look who joined the party!” Anastasia laughed.

“Hi, Amelia,” I said, ignoring Anastasia.

“Hello, Silvushka!” Amelia responded, her face lighting up. “Oh, you three, it is almost dinner time, I see Kolya setting up the table.”

She had referred to me with a diminutive, which warmed me, as I knew the history behind them. It took me a bit to understand who Kolya was, but I saw Nicolai setting up the table in the background. It was a weird nickname in my opinion, as it had a K and a Y, and completely rearranged the other letters of his name.

She got up from her seat and I looked at what she was wearing. She wore a black, short-sleeved button-up and an ankle-length, brown, pleated skirt. Her wavy, brunette hair was different from her brother's straight blonde hair, something I had never noticed before. It was shoulder length, but the back was up in a small tuft of a ponytail. She clearly hadn’t brushed her hair in a few days, but I understood. Hair is awful, sometimes.

She made an indiscernible conversation with her father, who just stared at her with the same look Nicolai had looked at me. It was like it was genetic, the only face the two of them could make. His son, however, walked not past the entrance of the kitchen to alert us that dinner was ready and that we needed to come to the table.

As I sat at the dinner table, my body tensed. The atmosphere was rigid and thick like I was swimming in snow. There was a bench that touched the wall, two chairs facing the wall, and two more chairs on the sides of the table. I sat in the chair closest to the basement, the one on the side of the table. Ma was sitting to my right in a chair, and as everyone picked their seats, Uncle Nicolai began serving food in the seven bowls his son had laid out.

Nicolai sat down before the other three did, and he stared at me the whole time. He looked at me above his glasses, which had a beaded chain that went around his neck. For the brief moment we locked eyes, I felt uneasy.

Zorion sat next to me, Anastasia sat next to him, and Amelia sat next to her. Unlike Zorion and Anastasia, she was silent. Her hands were on the table, staring blankly. As Uncle Nicolai finally plated his bowl of food, he somewhat awkwardly patted my mother’s back. Something was wrong. I knew something was wrong and I didn’t know. I didn’t know what was wrong.

“Masha would like to speak about our arrangement before we begin eating.” Uncle Nicolai said, sitting down.

“Yes, I would, thank you,” Ma said. “I know I haven’t always been on the… best terms with my family, so you three have my eternal gratitude for taking care of my children on such short notice. I am leaving for Germany to take care of family business tomorrow morning. I expect you three to respect my brother and the rules of his home, please.”

Uncle Nicolai made a gesture, in which Amelia and Nicolai started eating. I followed, picking at the odd sausage and gravy mixture in my bowl. Chatter made its way across the table, but it wasn’t much. Somehow, even Zorion and Anastasia were reduced to whispers. The loudest anyone would talk was Uncle Nicolai scolding anybody who put their elbows on his table.

Amelia and Zorion ate quickly like they had somewhere to be. Nicolai, much like his mannerisms, ate slowly, yet faster than I did. Ma ate with haste, as she did have somewhere to be in the morning. As Zorion and Amelia finished their food, the four others were only halfway done. I, however, wasn’t close to halfway done. As everyone finished their dinner, I found myself just halfway done with my food, eventually sitting alone at the table.

“Uncle Nicolai, I can’t eat all this food,” I mumbled.

“I made that for you, you will sit at this table until you are done.” He said coldly.

“Kolka, she has a small stomach,” Ma said, washing her dish.

“No, Masha, she will eat what I made for her.”

“You’ve always been like this Nicolai, you won’t listen.”

They continued to fight in Russian as I tried to eat the rest of my soup, but my mother took it from me.

“Sylvia, I’ll eat it,” She said, a cold smile on her face. “Please, go set up in the living room, it’s almost time for bed.”

I hurried off in fear to the living room, where Anastasia was blowing up an air mattress she pulled out of god knows where. I stared blankly as she pumped air into the mattress, Amelia bouncing her hands on it every few seconds.

“Oh my— Anastasia, where did you get that?” I sighed.

“Well,” She giggled. “If it matters so much, I brought it. This couch messes up my back.”

“Dude. You brought a whole mattress?”

“Yeah. Are you mad you have to sleep on the furniture?”

“No.”

“Sounds like you are.”

“No, I’m not.”

Anastasia set the pump down and lay on the mattress, loudly groaning. She was trying to flaunt her one smart moment to everyone.

“Oh, you three, it is time for bed. Goodnight.” Amelia sputtered, rushing to her room as quickly as she could without running.

The heels of Nicolai’s shoes clicked quietly against the wood of the hallway, and he quietly walked off to his room. As the noise from the four of us died down, the hushed argument from the kitchen dripped into the living room. I listened, trying to understand what little words I knew, but Zorion and Anastasia were too loud.

“Shut up Zorion!” Anastasia giggled, bouncing on her bed.

“You shut up, this is why you’re adopted!” Zorion spat back.

“Oh my god,” Anastasia gasped satirically. “I’m adopted?”

The volume of her statement was unknown to herself and even Zorion, who kept talking. I, however, noticed that once Anastasia said what she said, the argument stopped. The hard clacks of Uncle Nicolai’s shoes were much different than his son’s, though it might have been because he was upset.

“We do not yell past ten.” He yelled, quite hypocritically.

Anastasia stared and nodded her head, while Zorion fiddled with his fingers.

“I’m sorry,” Anastasia mumbled.

Uncle Nicolai scoffed and turned the ceiling light off, walking to his room. He left Ma in the kitchen, but I didn’t want to wait for her to come out. Zorion turned onto his side, looking away from us and onto the couch. Anastasia tossed and turned until Ma came into the doorway, where she shot up.

“Goodnight, you three.” She whispered, walking off.

“Night, Ma,” Zorion mumbled, somehow already nearing sleep.

I said nothing. I sat upright for some time, listening to Anastasia tossing around and Zorion’s soft snoring. Honestly, some would just describe it as heavy breathing. The shirt I wore irritated my neck, but no matter how many times I pulled it away from me, it came back just as fast. I laid down on the throw pillow on the couch, too lazy to bring out my own.

I stared at the ceiling. It wasn’t mine, it was different. The couch wasn’t mine, the room wasn’t mine. None of this was as familiar as my room and that made it so hard to sleep no matter my exhaustion. I was always like this when I went to someone’s house, but it was worse here because I couldn’t stay up until I dropped, I had things to do.

The air conditioning whirred, Anastasia mumbled, and Zorion breathed. So many noises in that one room accompanied by the sound of my breathing was too much to handle. I reached for my phone and headphones on the floor. In the time it took me to turn my headphones on and play music through them, my heartbeat was strong and I was sweating cold.

Soft guitar filled my ears, and while the shirt still bothered my neck, I didn’t care. I didn’t care about anything outside of what I was doing. I stared at the ceiling once more, longing for my room. The longest week of my life was ahead of me, I knew it.

#꒰ a daisy pusher ꒱#— 🌐 ꒰ chapter ꒱#original work #original story #original character lore #original character #oc #oc lore #writer #artist #fiction #writeblr #creative writing #content creation

1 note · View note