#to have my own town just to myself and a lover would be all I’d ever want in life

[m-a-d-e-l-e-i-n-e]

I’m still not over them by the way

#'i was never afraid before you showed up' 😭😭😭 #actually one of my favorite television episodes I’ve ever seen #I thought the first episode was my favorite of the show but I’m rewatching it now and… nope it’s gotta be this one #to have my own town just to myself and a lover would be all I’d ever want in life #the last of us #bill and frank #long long time

[bagopucks]

T. Zegras - Can He Sing?

✄————————————

Trevor Zegras x Fem!reader

Requested✨

Word Count: 2.1k

Warning(s): None?

—————————————

“We’re ready when you are.”

“I’m good. Trev?”

“Uh yeah… I think so.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“Filming.”

“Hello! I’m Macy Grey and today we’re here with the singer-songwriter who brought you the famous album Silly Love Songs. And her lover Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks. On behalf of myself and the studio I want to thank you both for coming out today.”

“Of course! I love getting in touch with interviewers. Especially from locally known studios.”

“When I was informed you were in town for the All Stars, I wasn’t sure if you’d have the time, but I’m so happy you were able to fit us into your schedule.”

“Absolutely. I should be thanking you for letting Trevor come though. I know your forte isn’t exactly hockey players.”

Large studio interviews were a waste of time. It was something I always resented, and something that even morally never agreed with me. Large studios only wanted to get news first to make the most money. Smaller places offered a more personal environment and a more comfortable atmosphere. It was the only reason why I had invited Trevor along. I didn’t want him involved too much in the social half of my career, mostly because the industry and jealous fans could be cruel to artists’ lovers. But I reasoned with myself that one interview wouldn’t hurt. Especially with someone like Macy Grey. She was always so kind and open to friends, family, or significant others of musicians.

“To kick us off, I’d love to talk more on the exact reason why you’re in town. Everyone is aware of your successes, but let’s fill the crowd in on Trevor’s.”

“Where to start?” I glanced at Trevor, who let out that awkward wheezy laugh. He was uncharacteristically quiet, but this was a new thing for him. Usually hockey interviews happened when there were loads of other people around. These interviews were far more private. “He was voted in as one of the players this year to play in the All Stars, and he’s competing in a few skills competitions as well. He won a gold medal with Team USA one year before the NHL, he attended Boston University before being drafted.. what else?” I hoped to get him to join in, but Trevor looked fairly comfortable letting me do all the talking. I could fix that though.

“Trevor was voted most likely to cry in a haunted house this year for team superlatives.” I smirked as soon as I heard him gasp.

“Yeah, that’s enough of that,” Trevor cut in. “I’m not a baby, write that down.” He pointed toward Macy, as if the woman had some sort of notepad in her hands. “I’m just jumpy. It’s normal.” His blue eyes shifted toward me with a playful glare, Macy laughed softly at the exchange.

“Well, Trevor. It seems like you’re a pretty successful person yourself. Would you mind me asking how you two met?”

“Oh I love this story.”

“Me too,” Trevor chimed in, crossing his legs one over the other, and leaning forward like a kid during story time.

“So, I was in New York for a performance in MSG, and the Ducks were in town too for a game” I smiled, leaning back in my chair and trying to get comfortable. “My best friend had joined me for the eastern leg of the tour at the time, so we decided to go out for drinks downtown. My favorite bar in the city is 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar. So my best friend, Shelby and I, we just got two glasses of champagne and settled at a high table to watch the sunset. We’re minding our own business.. for the most part, but there’s this group of guys that are just carrying on. They’re loud and obnoxious and they look like your stereotypical frat guys. At one point Shelby had enough, and she got up to go yell at them.” I peeked at Trevor, his smile growing wider. He knew very well that this was the part where he came in. “So Shelby’s yelling at that group of guys, and I finally got up to go wrangle her. And just as I’m approaching.. I kinda stopped and asked myself if it was a good idea. Shelby doesn’t like to be told to stop much. Then I hear this voice right next to me. Scared the shit out of me. And the voice goes, “She yours?” I laughed softly, as did Macy.

“I apologized profusely for her behavior, and-“

“But I told her I wasn’t the one getting yelled at. So it didn’t bother me.” Trevor cut in with a toothy grin. “Then I bought her another glass of champagne and the rest is history.”

“Don’t forget about the part where you booked your hotel room for an extra night to see me perform.” I teased, “And bribed security into getting backstage to see me and ask for my number.”

“Those details don’t make me sound as cool though,” Trevor whined.

“That’s a really sweet story.” Macy chimed in.

“Thank you.”

“So he asked for your number, but who asked who out?”

“To simplify a long story, Trevor was beating around the bush too much for a little while, so one night be brought me flowers before an away game and I told him when he got back, we were going to go on our first date as an official couple.” Macy and I laughed in unison.

“And were there any arguments to that demand?”

“Not from me, no.” Trevor giggled. “I was more than happy to put a label on it.”

“And how long have you been together?”

“Two years. Three at the end of All Star Week.”

“How adorable! You guys must be a strong couple then.”

“Oh one hundred percent.” Trevor smiled as he spoke.

“Now, the question on everyone’s minds is.. can he sing?”

“Yes!”

“Absolutely not.” I corrected Trevor ruthlessly. “He thinks he can.. but he can’t.” I chuckled, glancing at the sandy blonde to see his look of pure betrayal.

“Does that mean we won’t be hearing any duets?”

“I wouldn’t say that,” I answered slyly, earning a surprised look from Macy. “Trev is featured on the album.. speaking. His features are mostly just backtracks.”

“I know this may be asking a lot but- is there any chance we could get a sneak peek at that?”

“For you Macy? I would love to.” I watched the girl’s eyes light up. I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened my files, scrolling through for a moment before I stood and dragged my chair closer to the woman’s.

“This song is called Spellbound. It was actually the first song I produced for this new album. I took some of my inspiration from the song Witchy Woman by the Eagles. The reason being, this was written during halloween, and that is just one of my favorite spooky songs. For this piece, I wanted it to feel supernaturally devoted to Trevor. Like.. kind of like.. like a love where one person idolizes the other, but not necessarily in an obsessive or toxic way. I think the lyrics and the tune teetering on the edge of insanity really adds to the supernatural edge and it also makes this song unique to Trevor. I can’t say I’ll ever produce another song like this, nor do I think anyone else will. Classic rock isn’t exactly my genre, nor do I plan for it to be. So this track really sticks out. Which is the main reason why I chose to give this song its own cover art. And I’ll be releasing it as the first single.” It was a lot of information to offer, but I was very passionate about the things I dedicated to Trevor. Especially this song.

Most of my music got old after constantly rerecording lyrics and harmonies, or sorting out instruments. But this song never did. I loved it through and through.

“This sounds amazing and so.. intricate. How long did it take in total from thinking of the idea to finalizing the song?”

“A full month maybe? I hadn’t been exactly itching to make a new album, so I knew if I was going to, my basis for it was going to have to be amazing. And I think I did a fairly good job.” I paused. “I hope so..”

“I’m sure it’s amazing. Let’s hear it!”

I wasted no time in playing the track, a steel guitar and stylized keyboard opening the musical scene. I was a person who loved using clips of recordings in my music, whether it was from everyday life, or a random video in my camera roll, or even if I took the recording of the sound specifically for a song. It was one of my many musical signatures, but the one I was most known for. Atop the smooth music, came the faded clinging of pans, and Trevor’s soft voice. “I can’t wait for you to be home.. Fuck I miss you so much.” It had been a voicemail, but my sound producers managed to give it a more authentic feel, as if someone was in the room with him recording instead of it being spoken into a phone mic. The music itself was fairly calm and collected. Certain instruments helped it sound taboo and old, but the lyrics were the driving factor that made it sound almost insane. A part of me worried my audience wouldn’t take to the song well, but Macy seemed enthralled from the start of the track.

I eyed her expressions carefully through every second, smiling to myself when she seemed particularly intrigued by a section. And I had to admit, it boosted my ego to hear Trevor not too far off in his own chair humming the song to himself. I could live with myself if everyone hated the song, as long as he loved it.

Near the bridge, Trevor’s voice returned, “I’m gonna keep you forever.” This section had been specifically recorded in the studio, and despite my endless attempts to get him to take it seriously, he had giggled at the end of every take. Eventually I settled on knowing I wouldn’t have it the exact way I wanted it, and we used the take with the least amount of amusement in his voice. At the end of the day when we put it all together, his laugh only ended up adding to the crazy feel of the song.

Near the end of the track, Macy finally spoke up.

“This is the weirdest and most mentally satisfying song I have ever heard.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Really?”

“You’re so right, it sounds nothing like what you usually produce, but it still has your essence in it. You can tell it’s your songwriting. I think this song is going to be crazy successful. And I also think having Trevor on it is going to make people go nuts” I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of that. I knew my fans would love to see Trevor featured.

“Thank you so much. I’m so excited to release the song.” I admitted with a slight grin.

“I’m just excited that I’ll be able to listen to it without having to say “babe can you sing me that song” every time I wanna hear it.” Trevor teased, causing my cheeks to flush as our eyes met.

“You don’t like her singing to you?” Macy joked.

“God no. I love it when she sings. I just hate how much I get made fun of when I ask her to do it.” The three of us laughed.

“Sounds to me like you have a pretty devoted girlfriend.”

“She did write a weirdly obsessive song about me.” Trevor agreed pridefully. “The first of many, right babe?” His question made my brow rise in surprise.

“We’ll see, Ziggy.”

“That’s a good answer. Can’t give too much away just yet.” My eyes trailed back to Macy. Our time was drawing to a close. “I hate to cut us short but I think we’re reaching our limit. And I know you have your own tight schedule today.” She paused. “I really wanna thank you again for making enough time to come out. It means a lot.”

“Mace, I think I speak for the both of us when I say we had so much fun being here. You always conduct the best interviews.” The woman blushed.

“We can come back anytime.” Trevor added, catching me off guard.

“I’ll have to take you up on that offer the next time you’re in town.” Macy grinned. “I hope you both enjoy the All Stars, and rock the red carpet of course.”

“Thank you so much. We definitely hope to.”

“I’ll be watching on tv.”

✾❀✾❀✾❀✾❀✾❀✾❀✾❀✾

#nhl imagine #nhl x reader #jack hughes #ella’s thoughts #quinn hughes #trevor zegras #nico hischier #ella’s updates #ella’s asks #cole caufield #trevor zegras blurb #trevor zegras imagine #trevor zegras x reader

[joongernaut]

glitter

⇢ pairing(s): park seonghwa x reader

⇢ genres: childhood friends to almost strangers to lovers, SMUT, fluff, a little angst but literally just a smidge

⇢ warnings: tooth-rotting fluff (i could not help myself with this one), subby-ish seonghwa because we love desperate men around here, oral sex (fem receiving), vaginal sex, cowgirl, reader gets called 'noona' once, creampie (i simply forgot to write in a condom but practice safe sex everyone!)

⇢ word count: 3955

⇢ author's note: well this took a bit longer than expected but i was able to proofread and tie up the loose ends on this fic last night and now here we are! this is also my way of wiggling into writing for ateez more as they are one of my favorite groups 😁 also the song title is based off the song glitter by jamilah barry <3 enjoyyy

✧

“Did you know your little boyfriend is back in town?”

The question stopped you in mid-sip of your cup of tea as you peered over the rim of the mug at your roommate, Hongjoong. He peered back over his own mug with a little smirk on his face and a lift of his eyebrow.

Slowly bringing the mug down you let out a heavy sigh. “Oh, I’ve only heard the news about a hundred times. Kinda hard to forget, y’know,” You bit back with a sarcastic smile, “Also, he was never my boyfriend. Why does everyone keep saying that shit?”

“Hm, I really don't know,” Hongjoong said with a shrug, taking a drawn out sip from his coffee before speaking again, “It’s not like the guy followed you around like a lost puppy before and you let him. Honestly, I’m a little surprised you two didn't tie the knot right after high school, I was so sure you would be childhood sweethearts turned old, disgusting married couple.”

Hongjoong hissed as your foot kicked at his shin from under the table, glaring at him before you finally downed the contents of your mug. “God, you all are so annoying! First, my own family and now you? I don’t care if he’s in town, okay? We haven't talked in like 5 years and I highly doubt that I’d see him anyways. It’s whatever.” You said exasperatedly, chair scraping against the floor as you got up to place the empty mug into the kitchen sink.

“What if you do see him, though?” Hongjoong asked, the question once again catching you off guard. “What if he hasn't forgotten about you in the slightest in those years you two have spent apart?” He pressed on with a pointed look, watching your mouth open and close as you blinked over at him.

Park Seonghwa, from what you recalled years ago, was a very sweet boy.

You remember the first day you had met him, walking into your elementary homeroom class clinging to his mother with a thumb in his mouth and fat tears rolling down his face as he refused to let her go.

You were only 2 years older than him but still had felt the overwhelming need to protect him from any harm. And that's also how you two became close friends.

When Seonghwa would fall down and scrape his knee or elbow, you were there telling him not to cry while dusting him off and helping him get back up. When he wanted to be like the bigger kids, who were taller and strong enough to get on certain parts of the playground, you were there to encourage him and give him a boost. And when his eyes sparkled with curiosity, wanting to learn more about this and that as he gained new interests, you were there to talk and listen to him ramble on and on about anything and everything.

That Seonghwa was the one you hadn’t seen in years. You had been really good friends leading all the way up to high school and then slowly drifted apart during that time. Once college had begun, it was like he dropped off the face of the earth and you didn't hear from him for a while.

It wasn't like you to be stuck on anybody for too long, you watched many people come and go into your life before. But Seonghwa wasn't just anybody and you couldn't help but wonder about the crybaby often and what he had been up to lately.

Okay so maybe you did care just a little bit that he had come back to town. But did it really matter? After all, neither of you really made the effort to reach out to one another after going your separate ways.

You shook your head, pushing those fleeting thoughts away before you reminisced too deeply. “Like I said, I highly doubt it.” You mumbled with a shrug before turning away, a part of you truly doubtful while a sliver of yourself remained hopeful.

✧

You were home alone the very next day. Usually Hongjoong would be the one to stay inside while you were out and about but he had run off to god knows where and he insisted that you stay at the apartment to relax. “Because you deserve it.” He had told you with a wink.

So, naturally, you were suspicious.

Not that Hongjoong was an untrustworthy person or anything but this almost, overly-nice front he had put on since this morning was just a little off-putting. Before you could really begin to question him, he had already flown out of the door and was barely responding to your text messages.

He did make sure to tell you to listen out for the door, however, as he said he was ‘expecting something’. You had almost forgotten about whatever that ‘something’ would be, hours into the afternoon, until you heard the sound of knocking coming from the front door of your apartment.

Dreading on leaving the comfort of your spot on the couch, you heaved a sigh before getting up from your seat and dragged yourself over to the door to answer it. “Hello-” You swung the door open and were immediately greeted by someone's chest in your line of vision. Your eyes traveled upward and you felt your breath catch in your throat.

“Y/N… It’s good to see you again.”

The man before you looked much different from the last time you had seen him. But even with the big and little changes in his appearance and how he seemed to carry himself differently, you could still tell exactly who he was just based on the look in his eyes.

“Seonghwa,” You gaped, still not entirely sure if you were seeing him in front of you or just hallucinating after watching TV all day, “H-How… How did you…?” You trailed off with furrowed brows as he gave you a sheepish look in return.

“Ah, sorry, this is rather impromptu of me. I bumped into Hongjoong a few days ago when I first got back and he mentioned you two were roommates so…” Now it was his turn to trail off as a small blush formed on his cheeks. You mentally cursed at Hongjoong, finally putting the pieces together that he had set this all up. You didn't know whether to kiss him or kill him.

“I see,” You muttered, reminding yourself to shoot the little mastermind a colorfully worded text later, “Well, please, don't be shy. Come in, come in.” You insisted, a smile spreading across your face genuinely as you stepped to the side for him to enter.

Seonghwa smiled back gently, a sight that made your heart soar as you saw a flash of the boy you used to know appear for a split second before he stepped over the threshold.

✧

It had been hours of just talking and catching up with Seonghwa. You had learned that he was finishing up his last year of college soon, reaching to earn his degree in astronomy, and planned to move out of his dorm and into a place of his own nearby. The university he had attended was well out into the city, roughly 8 hours away, meanwhile you had attended your local college in town and graduated with your art degree about a year or so ago.

“Definitely not as cool as studying the stars and planets, though. I’m like the definition of a starving artist.” You chuckled, albeit a bit bitterly, facing Seonghwa as you propped your elbow over the back of the couch and tucked your legs underneath yourself.

Seonghwa had turned to face you as well but a bit awkward in body language, one leg crossed over the other as his hands remained in his lap stiffly. “Ah, it's not all that interesting. Trust me. Once math is involved, then you’ll see what I mean.” He said, earning another laugh from you that made his shoulders less tense and a fond smile spread on his face.

“You were always the artistic type, though. That’s something I’ve always liked and admired about you. Never afraid to be yourself… Just being able to think of something so creatively, from a vastly different perspective than anyone else, and turning it into something so beautiful. That’s always been pretty cool to me.” He went on, leaving you a bit stunned at his words.

“Hwa…” The old nickname slipped from your lips in a whispered tone and his eyes found yours, locking onto them as a few seconds passed by in stretched silence. Seonghwa opened his mouth to speak again, hesitating at first before licking his lips, and asked, “Can I tell you something?”

Words felt like they would fail you right now so you simply nodded for him to continue. Seonghwa swallowed the lump in his throat before speaking again. “I’m really happy that you still remember me. I know that's silly to say because it's only been a couple of years but I wouldn't know how to feel if you acted as if I was a complete stranger…” He said, looking away with an almost pained expression despite the smile still on his face.

“I would never! We were important to each other back then.” You told him, scooting closer to him on the couch as you reached out to place your hand over his own. Seonghwa’s eyes shot down toward the movement, feeling the warmth of you from your body’s proximity and your fingers touching him so delicately, then back up to your face. “And now? He questioned, hopeful, as he placed one of his hands over yours and squeezed.

You squeezed his hand back and sighed. “I was scared of the same thing… that you would forget about me or pretend like you did. Or you would see me and want nothing to do with me so I figured I’d try to avoid you... But after you showed up and we talked, it feels like you never really left at all.” You admitted, feeling Seonghwa subtly shuffle closer to you.

“I thought about you almost all of the time during the years we spent not with each other, Y/N. I don't think I could forget you even if I tried.” He admitted back, similar to the words Hongjoong had said to you the other day. That had to have been something Hongjoong had heard him say when they bumped into each other and you mentally noted to punch the man whenever he got home.

Right now, however, you were going to focus on Seonghwa and what you wanted to do next.

Your hand came up to wrap around the back of his neck and he froze, his body stiffening as you leaned in close until your lips were a breath away from his own. “Tell me if this is okay. I want to show you how important you still are to me.” You murmured, the movement of your lips lightly brushing against Seonghwa’s causing him to exhale shakily.

A quick nod was all the confirmation you needed before diving in, catching his mouth in a deep kiss. You untangled your other hand from his lap and brought it up to join the one around his neck as you pulled him closer, crawling your way into his lap in the process until you were straddling one of his thighs.

Seonghwa’s body shook slightly underneath you, his hands hovering over your sides as if he were hesitating to touch. You pulled away briefly, nibbling at his bottom lip before tugging it and making him groan. “You can touch me.” You said, sensing his hesitation, and started to lick the seam of his parted lips.

He let you in with no resistance, the feeling of your tongue against his wet and probing as his hands gripped onto your waist tightly.

You licked in to Seonghwa’s mouth eagerly as you started to move forward until he was effectively pushed onto his back with ease. Feeling breathless, you parted from his mouth again to catch yourself but started to trail your lips from the side of his face to his neck where you began to bite and suck at the sensitive skin there.

“Y/N…” He gasped before letting out a whiny moan. Your eyes flitted up to his face to take in the sight of Seonghwa— already looking debauched and fucked out, and you barely even started. “What do you want, Hwa?” You mumbled against his skin and he shivered at the sensation.

“Whatever you want. You take the lead. Please.” Seonghwa replied in a strained voice, holding onto you as if you were a lifeline.

When you suddenly pulled away from him and stood up, Seonghwa shot up in panic wondering if he had said something wrong until you put your hand out for him to take wordlessly.

He kept his mouth shut and took it, letting you guide him all the way to your bedroom where you closed the door behind him with a click of the lock, officially sealing your fate together.

“You told me to take the lead, right?” You questioned once you were facing Seonghwa again, slowly approaching him. Your finger traced small shapes onto his chest as you backed him up into the bed, the back of his knees hitting the edge and making him sit down.

His ass hadn't been on the bed for more than 3 seconds before Seonghwa slid off of it and onto his knees in front of you, peering up with wide expectant eyes. “Yes. You can do whatever you want to me, I’ll enjoy anything you give me.” His tone of voice sounded airy as he uttered those words and you couldn't help but run your fingers through his hair as he leaned into your touch.

“You’re already on your knees for me… surely you already had something in mind.” You smirked at him teasingly, watching him shift under your gaze. “Can I…?” He trailed off questioningly as his eyes flickered quickly from your face to the crotch of your sweatpants and back up again. Heat pooled in the pit of your stomach seeing how eager he was to please. Eager to please you.

You tugged your sweatpants down until they dropped unceremoniously onto the floor, kicking away the article of clothing before stepping closer to Seonghwa. His breathing had gotten shallow once his eyes fell onto your panty-covered pussy, the thin layer of the material leaving little to the imagination. The small wet spot he could see near the center made his cock twitch, straining against his pants.

Seonghwa’s hands gently grazed along your ankles first, gradually going higher from there to the back of your knees and up the back up your thighs. A small shiver raked through you when his fingers traced the lining of your underwear, slipping under the band a little as he grabbed ahold of your ass.

“A-Ah… Hwa…” You moaned softly when he pressed you forward into his face and placed a lingering kiss onto your mound right where your clit was. You took a step closer to him, pressing his face fully into your pussy now, and what little hold he had of his composure immediately slipped.

Seonghwa groaned as he buried his face into every crevice he could fit into, his long tongue rolling out of his mouth so he could run it along the moist material messily. “Knew you’d taste good,” He mumbled against the inside of your thigh, “Smell good, too. I could only dream about something like this happening in real life.” He added before latching his lips onto your clit and sucking the bud through the fabric. This plus the friction of your panties still covering your pussy was enough to make your body lurch forward a bit.

The back of Seonghwa’s head was now pressed against the edge of the bed, pinned between the comforter as you began to grind against his face.

“You should've told me sooner. I think I like seeing you like this.” You told him with a breathless giggle, swiveling your hips as Seonghwa tried to follow every movement to the best of his ability. He didn't mind it. You were using him to pleasure yourself and he couldn't be any more happier.

His grip on your ass had tightened when he felt you begin to back up and you rubbed your thumb against his wrist to make him loosen his hold. “I just wanna move onto the bed, Hwa.” You reassured him and he reluctantly let go. Despite not being completely bare, the evidence of your arousal shined like a gloss on Seonghwa’s bruised lips when you got a good look at him.

You crawled onto your bed, peeling your shirt and dampened panties off before throwing them somewhere you’d worry about later, and waited for Seonghwa to join you. Realizing your lack of underwear now, he followed along until he was stripped bare and crawled slowly up the bed until he was situated between your spread thighs.

Seonghwa’s eyes stayed locked onto your own as he trailed kisses along the inside of your thigh, bringing his face closer and closer until he could finally taste you without restriction or barriers.

The first swipe of Seonghwa’s tongue starting slowly from your hole up to your clit had your legs spreading out wider for him. And when his plump lips wrapped around your clit sucking earnestly, you felt your eyes nearly roll to the back of your head as you reached out to grip his hair roughly.

Seonghwa groaned, muffled by his ministrations, and the vibration of it made your hips buck up. He unlatched himself from your clit briefly only to laser focus his attention on dipping his tongue into your hole to lap up whatever juices started to leak from it.

“Hwa,” His name came out in a shuddered moan as you placed your hands on his shoulders and squeezed to get his attention, “I really need you.”

Seonghwa’s response came delayed, spending a couple extra minutes using his tongue to simply savor your taste before he made his way up your body where his mouth came crashing into yours. “You have me, baby.” He panted between open-mouthed kisses as his hand came up between your bodies to grab ahold of his throbbing cock.

“Do I?” You smirked against his mouth, nudging his hand out of the way so you could wrap your own around his length. Seonghwa gasped lightly, bucking up into the tight ring of your fist. “You think you could switch places with me, baby?” You purred as you stroked his cock languidly. It didn't take long for him to carefully flip the two of you over and have you hovering above him.

“Fuck, you're–” Seonghwa breathed out, eyes glued to your face as you rubbed the tip of his dick through your folds, “you’re just as beautiful as I always remembered but this is truly a sight.” He said while trailing his hands along your thighs then higher up to your hips where he held onto them as you lined him up to your entrance.

The breach stung a bit once you started to sink down onto him and Seonghwa rubbed his thumbs gently into your hip bones as you took your time taking him all the way inside of you. “I’m starting to believe that crush everyone keeps saying you had on me.” You sighed out once your pelvic bone met his, moving your hips slowly in small circles as you relished the way Seonghwa felt so deep inside of you.

“Have,” Seonghwa corrected as he tried to keep himself still under your movements, twitching every time he felt your walls constrict around his cock, “I think it was obvious to everyone but you.” He licked at his lips before tucking his bottom lip between his teeth when you lifted yourself up momentarily only to sink yourself back down onto him.

Picking up a steady pace now, not going too fast or too slow, you simply enjoyed the way Seonghwa stretched you out and filled you up with every movement of your hips. A whimper-like sound punched out of him when you came back down just a little bit harder, clenching around his cock, and you cooed at the noise. “Poor baby. Am I at least making it up to you well?” You pouted at him with a tilt of your head, smoothing a hand down his chest soothingly.

“Noona,” Seonghwa whined, your body immediately stiffening at the sound of his voice sounding so wrecked, “Please, please go faster.”

You obliged without question, deciding that you would have a chance to tease him another time. You pressed your hand down flat on Seonghwa’s chest and used it as leverage to ride him the way you knew you would both love; bouncing on his dick as he thrusted upward involuntarily to meet the action.

This helps Seonghwa to go a little bit deeper, the head of his cock brushing along your walls just right until he hits directly at the spot that has you quivering above him.

You can barely hold yourself up and soon feel your arm give out as you bow your back and press your foreheads together. “Feel s-so good, baby…” You muttered while staring into Seonghwa’s eyes. His half-lidded gaze stared back briefly before pressing your mouths together in an intimate kiss.

He then caught you off guard by starting to buck up into you, almost frantically, as he wrapped his arms around your body and pressed you to his chest. “Cum with me, please, please, please–” Seonghwa begged, seemingly right on the edge of cumming.

Thankfully you weren't too far behind him with the way he had started to desperately fuck into you. And with the remaining body strength you could muster, you rode him with just as much urgency while still pressed closely to his chest.

Seonghwa had been the first to tip over, pleading over and over again until his voice became slightly hoarse. He stilled himself deep inside of you before you felt warmth filling you up in spurts, a pretty drawn out moan falling from his lips as you clenched around him tightly and followed suit.

You whimpered as Seonghwa helped you ride it out, his hands placed on your waist to help you grind down against him and giving your clit some added friction.

Feeling boneless, but most of all satiated, you finally collapsed against him as he started to rub along your back and traced over your spine. The delicate feeling of his fingers sent a tingle throughout your being that you could only chalk up to the resurfacing of those feelings you had kept hidden so deep within.

Seonghwa attempted to sit up and you grumbled in protest causing a laugh to escape him. “We have to get cleaned up.” He reasoned but you only clung on to him tighter as he rose and had you seated on his lap. “Will you stay afterwards?” You asked quietly, hope laced into your tone with a hint of vulnerability. Because now that you had him in your life again you would be damned to see him go so quickly.

“Of course. I’m not going anywhere without you again.” Seonghwa said, leaning forward to press his lips chastely against your forehead before looking at you with eyes full of love and sincerity.

Those same eyes that always held the stars in them that sparkled like glitter and reassured you that he would be right by your side for as long as you would let him.

#park seonghwa #seonghwa #ateez smut #ateez fluff #ateez fics #ateez reader insert #ateez seonghwa #ateez x reader #kpop fanfic #kpop fics #kpop smut fics

[whimsyfinny]

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: Charlie discovers the Winchester boys to be struggling with keeping the bunker tidy, looking after themselves and being able to do their job simultaneously. Luckily she has a friend who’s from a Hunter family that is in need of work and can help them with research. Or so she thought that’s what her job would be. When Dean sees your more domesticated side, his head won’t stop swimming with all the wrong ideas.

Slow burn, enemies to lovers, smut

Warnings: stalker/ unsuccessful kidnap, violence, depictions of blood and assault (let me know if I should add more)

Chapter Word Count: 2318

—-MDNI—-

A/N: Sooooo I’m sorry it’s not spicy like I said it would be… But I absolutely promise the next one will be! Chapters 5 and 6 were supposed to be just one chapter but it got too long so I had to split it… And again please let me know of any errors because this is only proof read by myself.

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Please Read the Below First:

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

I’m Not You’re F*cking Maid

Chapter 5

After thorough interviewing of the staff and regular patrons; long searches through copious auction records and meticulous studying of the items in the shop we narrowed our search down to one item: an old jade hairpin. The hairpin belonged to a young lady who was given the gift as a wedding present, however when she found out on her wedding night that her new husband was having an affair, she stabbed him to death with it before jumping to her own demise from their third floor balcony. That was just over a century ago, and she was still wreaking havoc on unfaithful men to this day.

“I mean I get where she’s coming from,” I shrugged as we walked back to the motel. Both brothers turned to look at me with concern smeared over their features. “OBVIOUSLY I don’t agree with all the murder,” they breathed a sigh of relief, “but you can’t hate her for being mad. I would be too.”

“Remind me never to get on your bad side,” Dean said, raising his eyebrows a little and holding his hands up. I gave him a look of bewilderment.

“What side do you think you’re on, Dean? Because this,” I gestured between us, “isn’t my good side.” He mumbled something incoherent as we got to the motel so I chose to ignore him completely.

“So what’s the plan? It’s getting late and we can’t really do anything now until that charity event taking place at the auction house tomorrow. We’re already pretty clued up on how to get rid of ghosts so there’s really not much to do except to get both your names on that guest list,” Sam patted his laptop, looking at both of us.

“Food?” Dean and I said at the same time.

“Food sounds good,” Sam nodded. The boys turned around to leave when I stopped them.

“Just whilst we’re still at the motel, I’m just going to freshen up real quick.”

Dean rolled his eyes, “really?” I flipped him the bird.

“I can just meet you there? There’s like only one diner in this town and I know the way. I won’t be long.” The brothers looked at each other for a few seconds before Sam looked at me and smiled.

“Sure ok, we’ll get a seat in the window so we can see you coming.”

“Great! I’ll see you soon,” I grinned at the younger Winchester before turning away and letting myself into my room.

I had the worlds quickest shower and threw on some clean underwear and a clean top, feeling better after getting the grime from the day off. I pulled on my jeans, socks and boots, applied a small amount of eyeliner and mascara and tidied my hair the best I could before slinging on my jacket and applying some perfume to my wrists and neck. It was one of my favourite scents: I’d bought it from some lingerie store a year or so ago and it’s apparently one of those aphrodisiac perfumes, however I have no idea if it even works or not. It’s probably a scam, nothing works that well in real life.

After I’d finished sorting myself out - which took no longer than half an hour - I grabbed my phone and keys and left the room, locking up before making my way towards the diner. Night had descended, the air turning cold against my warm skin and the usually busy streets now lay deserted and car-free. It was only about a five minute walk or so from the motel and I was now only about a minute away when I noticed that I wasn’t alone. I’d caught a glimpse of a figure dressed from head to toe in black in the reflection of several shop windows, and they were following my exact trail. I sped up, walking faster down the empty main road and hoping it was all a coincidence as worst case scenarios started to race through my mind. It wasn’t long until the diner was in sight and I breathed a sigh of relief, however the relief was short lived when those footsteps were getting closer and closer, quicker and quicker right behind me. It dawned on me that this wasn’t a coincidence at all - I was definitely being stalked. I started to run, my legs moving before my brain had kicked into gear and I was only inches from the front door when the stranger caught up, slamming me against the wall of the building and putting a knife to my throat, covering my mouth with a gloved hand.

“Don’t make a fucking noise - you’re coming with me,” he said aggressively yet quietly. I could feel the blade of the knife pressing against the soft skin of my neck and I couldn’t help but feel tears well in my eyes, my breath turning shaky as my heart hammered in my chest. I couldn’t even get any words out as his hand was too tight over my lips.

I wanted to cry out for help so badly it hurt.

I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing that this was all a bad dream. My cheek was pushed into the rough brick which grazed my skin, and I silently prayed for my attacker to just let me go or for some hero to come and save me. At that very moment I heard the door to the diner and my eyes shot open, instantly connecting with Deans. I watched as surprise turned to horror which then turned to pure feral rage on his face and before I even had a chance to blink he was gone from my line of sight - but so was the pressure keeping me pinned against the wall. I spun around and I watched Dean throw the stalker to the floor with more force that I thought he could muster and tower over him. Dean didn’t say a word, but the stranger let out a sharp cry of pain as Dean instantly brought his boot down on his ribs. There was a CRACK. He did it again.

And again.

And again.

And then he got down and pinned my attacker flush against the tarmac before he brought a closed fist down on his face over and over and over again, cracking his jaw and breaking his nose. Dean didn’t stop until the man was totally unrecognisable and unresponsive. Standing up off of his limp body, he looked over to me, his furious, almost animalistic stare softening instantly, even through all the blood that now painted his face. He took one step towards me before my feet worked on their own and carried me straight to him. I put my arms out to reach for him and he grabbed my hands and pulled me into his chest with zero hesitation, his arms circling me and his blood-soaked palms gently stroking my hair. I sobbed. I sobbed from the fear I felt, I sobbed for feeling like such a victim and I sobbed for the relief I now felt flooding my veins as Dean held me, not saying a word. Listening to his heartbeat with my ear to his chest, I felt so safe and secure that it made me want to sob even more.

*

Dean ended up taking me straight back to my room - he called Sam to tell him what had happened as he wasn’t going to be returning to the diner. I had my second shower of the day as soon as we returned, wanting to scrub everywhere that horrible man had touched. Whilst I was washing, Dean had headed back to his own room to shower off the layer of blood coating his skin. After I was satisfactorily clean, I dried myself and dressed in that old T-shirt I wore the night before, pulling on some fresh underwear and perching on the end of the bed. I picked up the remote and started mindlessly flicking through channels, hoping to find something to distract my racing brain.

I’d been sitting in the same position for around ten minutes when there was a gentle knock on the door. I held my breath as I got up and walked over, looking through the peephole. It was Dean. I released that breath as I opened the door and let him in. He’d changed from his usual gruff attire to something way more comfortable - a plain white T-shirt and a pair of plaid pyjama bottoms. He smiled at me. A kind smile, nothing like those teasing and sly ones we’d been throwing at each other since yesterday. This one was genuine, and it made my chest feel warm. He locked the door behind him as I padded back over to the bed and climbed on it, sitting right in the centre with my legs crossed. I pulled the T-shirt down to cover my dignity as Dean placed a carrier bag in front of me. I peeked inside. It was full to the brim of all different types of snacks and I grinned up at him.

“You sure do know how to treat a girl, Winchester.”

He let out a soft laugh and looked down at the floor before taking residence beside me.

“You’re the first one who thinks so”.

“Oh yeah?”

“There’s a long line of women who definitely think otherwise,” he smiled a slightly sad smile. We both paused before I continued.

“Well if it means anything, what you did for me today, I-” he held a hand up to stop me as he saw the look of fear flit across my features again, the horrid memory bubbling to the surface.

“It was the least I could do,” he said softly before his brows furrowed, “but to be honest I should never have let you out of my sight.” The almost protective tone of his voice made my heart flutter a little, but It was my turn to reassure him as I placed my hand on his shoulder delicately.

“Dean, none of us knew that would happen. I know you wouldn’t have left me alone if you genuinely thought I was in danger - after all, you DID promise to keep me safe from my own shadow,” I flashed him a grin which he quickly returned, chuckling. We sat for a few moments in a strangely comfortable silence before there was another knock at the door. I went to get up to answer it but Dean beat me to it, swinging it open to show a very concerned Sam stood in the doorway. He looked at me with those big ever-worried eyes and I shot him my best ‘please don’t worry’ grin.

“I’m fine, Sam” I called out to him as I tried to listen in on the hushed words Dean was speaking. They conversed for a while, occasionally throwing glances at me as I rustled around in the bag of goodies Dean had supplied. Growing bored of not being involved with their conversation, I scooted back on the bed to lean back on the headboard and proceeded to flick through dozens of channels until I found something decent to watch. A few more minutes had passed and I’d munched my way through almost half a bag of Doritos when I heard the door close and it was just me and Dean again. He had a paper bag that Sam must’ve passed him, which he held up and pointed to.

“The blood stains came out of my clothes, although Sam said the people in the laundromat were giving him strange looks,” he laughed slightly, those striking eyes of his looking down into mine as he took a few steps closer. I laughed slightly, only imagining Sam’s awkwardness in that situation. I broke my gaze away from Dean for a few seconds, looking down at my hands before looking back up. I could tell he was hovering now, just waiting for me to say something.

“Dean I’m fine, you don’t have to stay.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind staying for a bit longer if you need me to” his hand ran over the stubble on his chin, his eyes not leaving me.

“Really, I’m ok. I’m probably just going to sit here and watch whatever this is-”

“It’s obviously Men in Black,” Dean scoffed. I smiled, finding comfort in the familiar snarky remark.

“Obviously - I don’t live under a rock Dean,” I rolled my eyes as I stood up, placing my hands on his chest. He was so warm to the touch that it was almost enticing me not to let go. The gentle thrum of his heartbeat was so soothing. But I did let go, and I spun him around to start ushering him to the door. As he was leaving, I grabbed my half eaten bag of chips and started munching again. He opened the door, stepping outside.

“Go back to your room Dean. I promise I’m ok. I don’t want you both hovering over me constantly making sure I’m fine; that will just make me feel worse,” I said as he spun to face me, nodding his head.

“Back to normal. Got it.”

“Great,” I said, sucking the tangy chip dust from my thumb. Dean suddenly reached out and snatched the half-eaten bag from my hand before quickly walking away.

“I’ll see you in the morning!” He shouted back at me before shovelling food into his mouth.

“You ass! I was eating those!” He shrugged in an overly animated fashion, not bothering to turn and look at me as he continued towards his room. I sighed, closing the door and locking it, sliding the chain across this time too. I padded back towards the bed and climbed in, pulling the covers up to my chin. As I started to drift off, the buzz of the movie still playing in the background, I smiled a little to myself:

Fucking Winchester.

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Up Next:

Chapter 6

#dean x female!reader #dean winchester x you smut #dean winchester x reader smut #dean x y/n #dean winchester x you #dean winchester x reader #dean x you #dean x reader #dean winchester smut #dean winchester #dean winchester enemies to lovers #enemies to lovers #eventual smut #slow burn

[reviewsdefinitionofsatisfaction]

Taylor has been lying on Joe since You’re Losing Me (Important Thread)

I’ve been confident in this theory since Midnights, but didn’t know how to spread it. Taylor is now blatantly lying about Joe and rewriting history. SHE was the one who didn’t want to get married, and Joe broke up with her over it. She chose fame over marriage, and the evidence is all over her music.

Ever since I heard “Mine” I instinctively knew Taylor was afraid of marriage. It’s the classic child-of-divorce case. “You say we’ll never make my parents’ mistakes.” / “Brace myself for the goodbye ‘cause it’s all I’ve ever known.”

Her fear of marriage continues throughout her discography. Don’t let “Lover” and “Paper Rings” fool you—those were false promises to Joe at the start of their relationship. Listen to “champagne problems,” a song she and Joe co-wrote. What couple writes a song about breaking up because the girl is terrified of marriage 4 years into their relationship? Why, one where that’s happening, of course. “Your Midas touch on the Chevy door,” aka how she always references Joe turning things to gold. And don’t forget “Renegade,” a song where in the music video SHE is the one anxiously staring out the window being told to “open the blinds.” (“Is it really your anxiety that stops you from giving me everything or do you just not want to?”, the lyric referring to Joe asking for marriage) This was a song written by Taylor from Joe’s perspective at the time. “I tapped on your window on your darkest night” (referring to Rep era) / “Starry eyes sparking up my darkest night.” … “And then you squeeze my hand as I’m about to leave.” (Joe’s POV) / “It’s on your face, don’t walk away, I need to say…” Taylor was the one always blowing up on him and then apologizing, as illustrated in Afterglow, The Great War, and most obviously her post-breakup behavior. Joe was NOT the volatile one of the two (also supported by articles released by her team, stating Joe’s personality was “great for Taylor” because “he is very calm”).

Then, just look at Midnights. The Bejeweled music video (which Taylor wrote and directed) is the clearest thing. A video all about choosing pop-stardom over a ring from a prince? While she and her boyfriend are having marriage disagreements? Hmmm. Interesting. Seriously, just go watch the intro to that video and tell me Taylor was the one fighting to get married behind the scenes.

Midnights lyrics: “He wanted a bride, I was making my own name. Chasing that fame.” (a person who WANTS to get married would NOT be writing this song!!!) “All they keep asking me is if I’m gonna be your bride. The only kind of girl they see is a one night or a wife.” “No deal the 1950s shit they want from me. I just wanna stay in that lavender haze” “I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser.” “I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money. She thinks I left them in the will.” (accompanied by elaborate scene displaying family-related anxieties in music video)

This is someone who is terrified of marriage and being an adult. I believe she launched herself into a fame-hug to avoid confronting her issues with Joe at this late stage in their relationship. After he broke up with her, she realized how deep of a mistake she made during the Eras Tour. Hence, the big lie in “You’re Losing Me” (which was written THEN, in 2023, conveniently dropped during the Matty Healy controversy) and her daring him to “say something” about the lie. (False God lyric: “I can’t talk to you when you’re like this, staring out the window like I’m not your favorite town.” When they fight, he was always the one ignoring her craziness.) And soon after, her peculiar surprise song choices on June 23: “Paper Rings” (“I’d marry you with paper rings”) and “If This Was A Movie” (“If this was a movie, you’d be here by now”).

The initial breakup article by People (Tree Paine’s mouthpiece) even outlines this story. “According to multiple sources, Swift and Alwyn had been ‘talking about marriage as recently as a few months ago.’ But at the end of the day, the couple wasn’t ready for a future together. ‘Taylor didn’t see them working out in the long run,’ says the insider.” This was before she wrote YLM, trying to provoke him, and now she will be driving it further with this new album I’m certain she wrote during 2023, NOT 2 years ago like she and Jack are trying to push. Her having Jack drop YLM’s “2021 date,” and then liking that tweet implying Sweet Nothing was not about Joe (when it was clearly about Joe)… she’s rewriting the narrative. You can’t trust a word she says.

#you are losing me #taylor swift #anti taylor swift #anti matty healy #joe alwyn #matty healy #the tortured poets department #midnight album #reddit #midnights

[mollierdr2]

Harvest Moon

Summary: Short Arthur and f!reader oneshot that takes place well before the events of the game. They reunite after Y/N leaves the gang for a short while after a blowout fight with Arthur. ALSO, I know that this isn't the long one I said I was going to put out, but I'm still not happy with that one & this one feels fine. 'Tis all.

Warnings: not beta-read lol

Word Count: Roughly 2300

As you strode through the desert, shoeless, horseless, and in a tattered purple skirt, you found yourself wishing you’d elected not to rob the burly rich man from the bar.  Not only did the man catch you, but he spooked your damn horse, knocked you upside the head a few times, and left you in the middle of nowhere with no shoes, for whatever reason.  You were, for lack of a better term, worse for wear.  You were considerably thinner than you’d been in a while–a consequence of leaving the place that fed you steadily–and it had aged you slightly, making you appear to be in your 30s, which you had a certain aversion to.  Your feet hurt–the desert is not particularly kind to bare feet in the blazing sun–and you limped ever-so-slightly as you walked.  This is good, you thought.  Maybe people will think I’m crazy and choose not to approach me.

“You know, it would be easier if you had some shoes on, Y/N,” a familiar voice called, and you stopped dead in your tracks.  You were tired, no doubt, but you’d never been tired enough to hallucinate the voice of your detested lover.  The sound of horse hooves drew closer, and when they stopped, you looked up at the driver slowly, almost comically, and your heart fluttered.  You had missed him.

“Mr. Morgan,” you said, doing your utmost to sound cordial. “I’ll have you know that they was taken from me.”

“Seriously?  Not Arthur?”  He held his hand out, adding, “How the hell did that happen?” He sighed. “Come back to camp and get some damn clothes.”

“I told you I was goin’ off on my own,” you responded, crossing your arms.  “I am doin’ just fine out here; makin’ a real name for myself, you know.”

“Yeah, tryin’ to rob the owner of half the shops in town is ‘makin’ a name for yourself’, huh?  You seem to be real good at that, then.”

“Quit followin’ me around.  I don’t go botherin’ you when you need your space.”  Arthur raised an eyebrow.  “I told you I’d come back when I was ready, and I ain’t ready.”  You spat at the ground with conviction, as if to add some sort of leverage to what you’d said.  

“You’re starvin’ damn near to death, Y/N.  Come for one night, get some food in you—get some shoes—and you can leave again without a word from me.  You just… forgive me, but you look a mess.  Let Miss Grimshaw and the girls take care of you.”

“Arthur-” 

“I won’t give you no trouble, okay?  I got lookout duty tonight, so I won’t be in camp anyway… Abigail asked me to fetch you; do it for her?”  Arthur looked down at you with his big blue eyes and a fresh scar on his chin–perhaps from shaving–and you couldn’t say no.  Besides, Abigail probably did need a lady friend who wasn’t past menopause or in the midst of puberty to help her with her pregnancy struggles.  

Reluctantly, you took Arthur’s hand and allowed him to help you onto his horse, Boadicea.  “Don’t think this means I’m stayin’, Arthur Morgan,” you said, making a point not to hold on to his shoulders.  

“I’m not expectin’ anything,” he said back, gently steering the two of you back towards camp, which you’d been–though subconsciously–heading for anyway.  “Just wanted to make sure you didn’t get yourself killed, is all.”

“How thoughtful,” you mused.

“It has been quiet without you, though-”

“Where’d you get that scar? Fightin’ in bars again?” you interrupted, crossing your arms again. 

“What?”  Arthur’s pitch rose.  

“On your chin.”

“Oh, that’s from tryin’ to help John with shaving. Made a fool of myself an’ he won’t let it go.” Arthur gave Boadicea a nice pat on the shoulder and chuckled. “I suppose you have more new scars than I do, huh, Y/N?”

Feeling heat rise to your cheeks and ears, you said, “I don’t intend to speak to you for the remainder of this ride.  I have been doing my utmost to avoid you.”

Arthur hummed, laughing a little, and  steering Boadicea to the left.  “As you wish.”  

It made you mad that he thought he could tease you after everything that had transpired. He knew you weren’t ready to come back—if you were you’d have gone back on your own accord—but here he was, playing the role of the hero that he’d worked so desperately to fit into. You knew Arthur though, and you knew that no matter how good he was, he would never be the hero he tried to be. No one was a hero in this life. You were certainly no heroine, and you figured that your shared lack of heroism was what brought the two of you together in the first place; your bad would always outweigh your good, but you could make peace with the meshing morality if there was someone else who understood your plight. Someone who understood the way it felt to be so bad and good at the same time as intimately as Arthur did was hard to come by, so you found yourself flocking to him from the very beginning. It was only a matter of time before the curtain fell back and he saw how haunted you were by your past—by the wicked things that you’d inflicted upon people—and you couldn’t help but run from that. You couldn’t have the one person who understood you know how awful you truly were.

Arthur wondered, as he accompanied you back to camp, if this was really worth it. He knew he missed you—desperately—but he didn’t want to fight anymore.  He was sick of spending his days bickering with you, though he found that he missed your presence more than he disliked the arguments.  Arguing meant that you were there, at the very least.  He couldn’t stand not knowing where you were or whether or not you were safe–it was why he’d wound up this far South from Camp anyway.  

He remembered why you’d left.  It was his fault, in a way, for trying to convince you to talk about your family.  He remembered the way you shoved him, crying for him to leave you the hell alone, telling him that you hated him.  He was certain it wasn’t true, that it was a spur-of-the-moment type of thing, but it still ate at him.  There was so much he hadn’t told you yet, and he was afraid that he’d never get to tell you if you stayed gone.  He tugged slightly on the reins, taking a right turn.  He shouldn’t have pushed you, he knew that, but it irked him. He just wished you’d learned how to communicate.

You, despite your best efforts to the contrary, could not bring yourself to commit to hating Arthur.  You tried.  You gave him your best angry glare, but you felt that it was too weak.  You were exhausted anyway, too tired for anger.  You decided you’d be angry at him the next day, after you’d slept for a good 18 hours or so.  You thought back to the last time you’d seen Arthur.  You were so angry with him for trying to get you to talk about your Ma and Pa—that was none of his damn business—but now that you thought back on it, it couldn’t have been too unreasonable.  Arthur was not an unreasonable man.  He was no hero, but he was a levelheaded person. You could have at least told him about your brother, but you didn’t, for whatever reason, and you felt guilty for that.  Still, you had to remain firm in your escape.  If you didn’t force the space, you figured, you would never learn to miss him enough to open up to him.  Or you’d forget all about him and the whole thing would be over.  Either way, you had to remain firm.  If you gave up, the throbbing in your left eye would be for nothing.  Your weight loss, acceleration of aging, bankruptcy, and lack of clothes would all be for nothing, and you couldn’t have that.  It had to be for something.  

Being as tired as you were, you found it increasingly difficult to keep from leaning on Arthur.  Your eyelids were magnets, and you felt it rude to neglect such a powerful force of nature, allowing yourself to indulge a little by closing them.  Soon, you were wrapped around Arthur’s torso, head resting on his shoulder blade, and snoring loudly.  He chuckled but didn’t wake you.  He loved seeing you, perhaps the fieriest woman he’d ever met, at peace.  He sang softly to himself the rest of the way to camp, a smile plastered on his now-scarred face.  

When he slowed, you awoke.  You never woke up peacefully–it was not in your nature to–and instead found yourself pushing your body off of Boadicea, momentarily scared out of your mind.  As you hit the ground, landing rather clumsily on your wrist, you remembered what had happened before and that you had, regrettably, fallen asleep on Arthur, your current sworn enemy.  “You okay?” Arthur asked, chuckling slightly.

“I am fine, thank you,” you spat, sitting up.  You then flew to your feet, wiping the dirt off of your palms and bottom, and stomped to the center of Camp in pursuit of Abigail.  

“Y/N, it’s good to see you back,” Hosea remarked from somewhere or other, but you waved him off.  You were on a mission.  You were to find Abigail, curse her for sending Arthur after you, and then tell her all about everything that had happened in the almost month that you had been gone.  

When you located her–heavily pregnant and lounging in a chair by the fire–you beelined toward her, frowning.  “Abigail Roberts,” you angrily exclaimed, pushing through the crowd of men by the fire.  “Why did you send Arthur after me?”

Abigail, taken by surprise, looked up at you, brows raised.  “Y/N, you’re back!”

“I’m visiting,” you corrected.  “And why did you send Arthur after me?  I was doin’ just fine on my own, you know.”

Looking you up and down, a smirk spread its way across Abigail’s lips.  “Yeah, you look it.”  

“Abigail!”

“All I’m sayin’ is that you’ve looked better in your day, okay?”  She rubbed her swollen belly as she spoke.  “And I didn’t send anyone after you–I figured you’d come when it was your time.  You’re like a cat, you know.”

You frowned.  “So Arthur made that up?”

“Seein’ as how I got no idea what you’re goin’ on about, I’ll venture to say that it’s a yes,” Abigail responded, leaning back.  “Now, will you please fetch John to give me a foot massage?”

You nodded idly, looking around camp.  You did not care about wherever John was, for you were far more worried about the location of Arthur, who had seemingly lied to you about his reasoning for picking you up.  The sun had begun to set, though, and it made it significantly harder for you to find anyone.  This did not stop you, though, and you located Arthur at the Southern outskirt of camp, sitting on a large rock and writing in his journal.  

“Arthur Morgan,” you said, finger pointed.  “You lied about why you made me come back here.”  

Arthur lazily looked up, smirking.  “You wouldn’t have come if I didn’t come up with something.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t have-”

“Let me say my bit now, if that’s okay with you.”  He folded his journal, tucking it into his satchel.  You scoffed, but he started talking before you could make an ass of yourself.   “I really missed you, Y/N, more than I’ve missed anyone.  I kept goin’ back into that town to make sure you weren’t gettin’ yourself hurt or nothin’, and I hated not bein’ able to just tell you that I missed you.  I mean, you were right there, but I couldn’t do it.  After that man scared away your horse, I beat him–I mean really beat him–so he couldn’t do anything like that again.  And I know I ain’t the best at tellin’ you these things or showin’ that I love you, but-”

“You love me?”  You asked, eyes wide.  You’d never been told those words before.

“Well, yeah… I guess I never told you, huh?”

Tears spilled onto your cheeks and you found yourself in the same place you’d been a month before–crying, truly vulnerable in front of a man who wanted to know and love you.  This time, though, you wouldn’t tuck tail and run.  “Arthur, I-”

“You don’t gotta say nothin’, Y/N-”

“No, I just… it’s just… no one’s ever said they love me before,” you mumbled, staring at the ground.  “Not even my Mama.”

“Well, I do, Y/N,” Arthur reassured, putting his left hand on your shoulder and wiping a stray tear with the other hand.  “And I’m sorry if that scares you away because I know you don’t like lots of emotions or anything, but it’s the truth.  I love you.”

You crumpled into Arthur’s embrace, digging your face into his warm, strong chest.  You’d missed this–being in his arms–and though you were scared, you were pretty sure that you loved him too.  The chip on your shoulder melted.  It didn’t matter how long you’d left because you were back and you were, for perhaps the first time in your life, loved, and that was more than you’d ever thought to be imaginable.  Sniffling, you nestled closer, wrapping your arms around his waist.  He wrapped his arms around your weakened, starving torso, holding you tight.  You couldn’t say it out loud yet, not after the pain you’d endured growing up, but you were at least aware of the fact that you loved Arthur Morgan and you could no longer pretend it wasn’t the truth because he loved you too.  He loved you.  

You knew you’d be able to tell him soon enough.

You wanted to dance and scream it from the rooftops–Arthur Morgan loved you and he was willing to wait on you to be ready to be with him.  He was the first person to openly love you, and nothing else mattered.  “Arthur,” you said, looking up at him.

“Hm?”

“Let’s go dance together, real proper, like rich folks do.”  You smiled, pulling away.  Arthur nodded, letting you lead him to the music at the hub of Camp.  Abigail still sat at the center, waiting on her foot massage from John, but seeing the way you and Arthur were together, arm in arm, she decided it was a lost cause.  You were smitten.  Twitterpated, even.  She just wanted her damn feet to feel better.  

“John Marston,” she called, tipping her head backwards towards their shared tent.  “Come give me a foot massage!”

“Yes, ma’am,” he called back, hurrying to her aid.  

Camp was camp again, illuminated brilliantly by a beautiful full moon, and backed with Javier’s soft plucking on his guitar.  It was like out of a book, you decided, as you danced and dipped and twirled in Arthur’s arms.  It was perfect. Softly, too quiet to hear, you whispered, “I love you too.”

#arthur morgan #rdr2 #arthur morgan fic #red dead redemption two #high honor arthur #high honor arthur morgan #rdr2 arthur #red dead redemption 2 #arthur morgan x reader #idk

[rendy-a]

I’d like to request Jade, forest, romantic 

I love your writing, I'm so glad I found your blog. I hope you're having a great day!

Thank you for the kind words!  I have only been writing for a few months and had worried my blog wouldn’t gain any traction.  So, to hear from people who are finding it and enjoying it is so wonderful.  My readers really make my day! So, thank you all!

You are cute as a button, Valentine.

You stared at the Valentine card, feeling a bit confused.  Jade watches you closely, observing your reaction with an interested smile.  “Is there a problem, Prefect?”  You jump slightly and look up.  “Oh, no.  I was just wondering why you drew mushrooms on the card.  It doesn’t match the poem at all.”  Jade puts one gloved hand to his chin, “Why, what do you mean?  These are clearly button mushrooms.  What a shame, Prefect, how will you pass your botany test without being able to identify the local flora?”

You feel a grimace set onto your lips.  You worriedly ask, “Do you think this will be on the test?”  Jade chuckles, “I do believe that was within the scope given to us, Prefect.  Do you find yourself unprepared for this?  Perhaps I can assist such a poor unfortunate soul and remedy this situation.”  Your grimace deepens.  At first, your intimidating classmate had made you rather apprehensive.  Over time, you’d gotten to know him better and recognize that he is, in fact, rather benevolent.  Only not for free.

“Ok, I give in.  What is this help going to cost me?” you ask him with a rueful smile.  “Why Prefect, you wound me to suggest,” Jade begins before you cut him off.  “I know, I know.  You are the soul of charity.  But if I was so moved by your compassion as to want to do something for you in return, what would that be?” you ask waving aside his crocodile tears.  Jade chuckles at how well you’ve managed to cut through his act and get to the point.  “Well I was planning to take a hike later this afternoon.  Alas, the Mountain Lovers Club has but one member.  How lonely it is hiking always by myself.”  At this, he puts his hand to his chin and lets his sharp-toothed grin show.

“Alright,” you begin, “It’s not like I was planning any romantic Valentine’s Day activities.  I’ll change into something suitable for hiking and meet you on Main Street after classes.”  You hadn’t intended to spend the day with Jade but honestly, it wasn’t sounding half-bad.  Nothing was worse than spending Valentine’s Day alone, so spending it on a fun activity with a friend had its own appeal.  Plus, there was something just so interesting about Jade; he was so knowledgeable about everything and, more importantly, he was never boring.

The climb was tiring but worth the effort.  Jade was an excellent guide, showing you various plants to sketch for your notes and telling you facts and details about them.  You felt like you were in good hands with him by your side, both on the trail and as a tutor.  As the elevation rose, the views became more and more breathtaking.  You were often stopped by the sight of the nearby town and forest as seen from high above.  Jade never hassled you to move faster but instead appears to enjoy watching you take in the sights; as though he gets more enjoyment from your awe than the scenery itself. 

You reach a bend in the trail and see that above you the greenery is thinning out.  After this point, there are probably no more forests and plants.  Jade sees you pause and asks, “Would you like to see some more interesting specimens instead of moving on?”  You smile back at him, pleased that he was able to read you so well.  Jade leads you off the trail and into the forest until you came upon an old decaying log, in the shadow of which a colony of mushrooms had grown.  You gasp and rush forward, “Look Jade, button mushrooms!”  You climb on the log and do a little pose, “What do you think, am I still cute as a button?”  You laugh at your own joke while Jade looks on amused at your lively antics.

Only, the rotten log wasn’t meant to hold the weight of human anymore.  As you stand happily upon your stage, a sudden Crack! sounds.  In a split second, your merry joy becomes a frantic flailing; your arms windmilling as you fall.  Jade moves suddenly, with all the speed of a striking eel and manages to catch you before you land on the ground and hurt yourself.  You cling to his chest as you pant, the adrenaline making your heart pound.

As you catch your breath, you gaze down and notice and unfortunate sight.  “Jade, the mushrooms…”  In the rush to catch you, Jade had trampled over the mushrooms he so loved.  “I’m so sorry.  If only I hadn’t been so reckless.”  Jade turns to you sharply and asks roughly, “Do you really think I don’t care for you more than some mushrooms?” 

When you had climbed the trail, you had felt a sense of altered perspective when seeing the familiar town from above.  What before had been glimpsed before only a piece at a time was made suddenly whole as it was laid out before your eyes.  You felt that same sense of perspective now, looking at Jade.  He had made no moves to resume his gentlemanly mask, instead leaving his expression unguarded, as you’ve never seen him before.  Suddenly, the paths and trails of his love were no longer glimpsed though small gestures but laid out before your eyes as clear as a map to his heart. 

“Jade.”  You speak his name softly, feeling as though you are saying it for the first time.  “I never knew.  How did I miss it?  All this time we could have been together, wasted.”  Jade carefully sets your feet back on the ground, “It was never wasted when we were together.  You must know that.”  You gaze into his eyes, “So where do we go from here?”  He smiles at you gently, “Well, you never did answer me about being my Valentine.”  You smile a beaming grin and throw your arms around his neck, “Jade Leech, will you be my Valentine?”  He never did reply but, from the way his lips captured yours, you assumed the answer was yes.

#200 follower event #twst #twst wonderland #twisted wonderland #jade leech x reader #jade leech #twisted wonderland x reader

[guess-my-next-obsession]

Ivy & Stone, Chapter Eight: One Must Lose

pairing: victorian au!javi g x f!oc Lady Florence Bell

chapter rating: M (talks of infidelity, talks of bisexuality, period-realistic class/social/gender dynamics, angst, happy-ish ending) unedited/un-proofread.

word count: 4.9k

series masterlist | team stone playlist

London felt particularly cold as Lady Florence’s carriage rolled into town, the bleak and dreary winter seemingly affecting the men and women of the city just as it had her. There wasn’t a smile to be found amongst the townspeople passing by, a frown decorating their faces instead of the smiles she was accustomed to back in the countryside. Still, in all the scowls and dark clouds looming over the city, there was one thing that served as a beacon of light for her—Javi.

Although she felt stuffed neck-high with guilt over her night with Frankie, she couldn’t bring herself to ruminate on it too much, the prospect of being in her other lovers arms too inviting—too exciting. She missed Javi’s wit, his humor, his bright smile that never seemed to disappear for too long in her presence. She missed the way everything felt okay when he was near, that calm sense that life would work out just how it was supposed to. And above all else, she missed holding him close, feeling the warmth and firmness of his body against hers, his hands carrying such tenderness and affection as they mapped her out as if to learn her by memory. Though she’d lied and told Frankie they were waiting for marriage to consummate their love, no such antiquated promises were made, and she couldn’t help but daydream about what their first time together would be like—and when it would occur.

“We’ve arrived, m’lady,” the carriage driver announced, pulling Florence from her daydream. She looked out the window of the carriage and smiled at the stone facing of Javi’s family home, so beautifully manicured and tended to that she quickly decided it was the finest home in all of London.

As she was helped out of the carriage by one of the Gutiérrez estate’s butlers, Javi was quick to jog down the front steps of the home to relieve the man currently holding Florence’s hand, exchanging it for his own.

“My love,” he hummed as he gave her a fond smile. “It’s been too long.”

“It’s only been a day and a half,” she reminded with a chuckle.

“You’re right. A minute is too long. A day? That’s criminal.”

“I’ve missed you,” she reached to touch his face and he leaned into it.

“Are you tired from the journey? My father is staying in the country for the remainder of the season, but my mum is here and would like you to join us for tea if you’d like.”

“Oh, I’d love to!” She beamed, the prospect of spending her afternoon with Javier’s mother filling her heart with enough joy to wash away the lingering guilt of last night’s indiscretion.

Javi held Florence’s hand firmly as he walked her up the stairs of his family home, proudly showing his new bride-to-be off to his entire servant staff as they admired her from afar.

“I forgot how lovely your home is,” she commented as they made their way through the grand foyer and down the hall with walls adorned with golden-framed paintings of his ancestors and distant relatives.

“It’s my mother’s doing,” he whispered. “If it were up to my father, I think the walls would be bare and the furniture covered with beige tapestry.”

“Your father is an unlikable man,” she lamented. “I’m very glad you’re nothing like him. I think if you were, I’d resent you.”

“If I were, I would resent myself more than I already seem to,” he chuckled, but his words didn’t amuse Florence. What did Javi have to resent himself for? “Forgive me, my love. I don’t mean to weigh your thoughts down with my self-deprecation.”

“Javi, my dear, there is nothing in you worth resenting,” she assured earnestly, resting her hand upon his face. “You are simply good. I do not wish to hear your opinions on anything that alludes to the contrary.”

“Whatever you wish,” he smiled, though it failed to reach his eyes like it normally did. “Come, let us not keep my mother waiting too long. She’ll come looking for us.”

With a nod, Florence buried her interest in the conversation for the time being, instead focusing on righting herself so that she could present properly to the Viscountess.

Entering the grand tea room, it’s mint green baroque walls and bright white molding around the ceiling and floors momentarily fooling Miss Bell into believing spring had come in the matter of minutes, the Viscountess looked elated to see the couple entering the room hand in hand. She rose from her chaise amd glided across the floor to greet Florence with a tight embrace, throwing all formal decorum out the window.

“My dear, you look positively stunning. Even after a trip as grueling as that, you seem to be glowing. You must tell me your secret,” she praised with a friendly smile, welcoming Florence over to the sofa in the middle of the room. Javi followed behind, sitting in an armchair across from the two women, watching Florence engage with his mother with a content and nearly prideful smile. “How was your trip? I hope the rain didn’t cause any delays.”

“No, no,” Florence shook her head and smiled. “It went as smoothly as one could hope. Truthfully, I find the rain to be quite soothing, more than snowfall at least.”

“Really?” she implored with a chuckle. “I would take the snow over the rain any day.”

“Ideally, there wouldn’t be either,” Florence joked. “But if I had to make the choice, I’d choose rain. I find it to make quite a good ambience for ruminating.”

“Do you ruminate often?” she asked while ringing the bell sitting on the end table beside her.

“I try to,” Florence replied.

“On ideas such as?” the Viscountess implored.

“Many things,” Florence answered. “Mostly the arts, and I suppose my own feelings.”

“Those are very private matters,” she chuckled. “So I shall only question you more about the arts. What is your preferred medium?”

“I quite enjoy painting,” Florence replied, chancing a glance at her lover across from her. His gaze met hers instantaneously, like he’d been waiting for her to finally look his way ever since she sat down. Blushing, she turned back to his mother and attempted to continue her thought. “My younger sister is quite good at writing. I wish that I had the gift, it seems much less time consuming than painting a scene.”

“I was quite fond of writing when I was a young girl, as well. I found it quite…therapeutic, I suppose. Although, I haven’t picked up a quill to write for myself in years.”

“Well, it’s never too late to begin again,” Florence suggested with a casualness that seemed to be appreciated by the Viscountess.

“I miss the optimism of youth,” she mused with an airy sigh, her eyes turning to greet her servant as they approached with a tray of tea, setting it down on the coffee table between where the ladies and Javi sat. “Thank you, Rodrick.”

The servant bowed and graced the Viscountess with a smile.

“Now then, before we get too wrapped up in the arts, I would like to discuss the wedding with both of you,” her accent was almost exactly like Javi’s, only a tad stronger. “Where are we to host this no doubt lavish event?”

“My love,” Javi gestured to Florence, but she didn’t look any wiser than him.

“I haven’t given it much thought,” she admitted, much to the Viscountess’s shock. “I do not have much of a preference.”

“W-we could have it in Spain,” Javi suggested, nerves written in the way he bounced his knee and stuttered. “It would be less crowded that way.”

“Don’t you want a crowd on your wedding day, Miss Bell?” The Viscountess turned to Florence, sipping her tea.

“I don’t much care for an abundance of people who do not truly know me,” she replied, eyes flickering to Javi’s for support.

“So, Spain?” The Viscountess turned to her son and asked him since it was clear his bride-to-be was clueless.

“Yes,” Javi nodded.

“And are we thinking of spring?” she asked, this time Javi shrugged.

“We haven’t gotten the chance to speak much about it, mamá,” he sighed out a chuckle, wringing his hands together. “Perhaps it would be better to wait until the summer.”

“Are you content with waiting six months?” she asked him with a laugh.

“I’m content,” he replied before judging his chin towards Florence. “And you, my love?”

“Summer sounds wonderful,” she forced a smile onto her face, hoping that neither of her current company could sense just how anxious she was becoming.

Six months. That’s all she had left to herself, and then…she’d simply be a bride.

“Well,” the Viscountess stood, clapping her hands together. “I will not keep you any longer, I’m sure you’re weary from the trip. Javi, would you kindly show her to her chamber?”

“Yes,” he replied, standing up and eagerly accepted Florence’s hand.

As the pair walked through the halls of the manor, Javi’s hand squeezed Florence’s, words seemingly failing them for the time being.

While guilt swarmed like an attack of locusts inside her head, Javi had his own shame weighing heavily on his broad and perfectly postured shoulders. Mr. Seaworth, in all his snide and harsh temperament, had meant a great deal to the Viscount-heir, or at least he had before their relationship turned sour and filled with jealousy. He was glad to have him gone, but he felt a pit in his chest at his absence, though it felt pale in comparison to the pit he was sure would form if Florence had ever bowed out of his life.

“Is that Mr. Seaworth?” Florence spoke as if she had direct and crystal clear insight into his mind, her gloved finger pointing at a painting of a younger Mr. Seaworth and his family.

“Yes,” Javi finally spoke after a few beats of study, the painting having gone unseen by his eyes for many years now. “His family has been friends of my mother’s for at least a decade now.”

“Mm,” Florence hummed and turned from the painting to Javi, studying the anxiety in his dark but warm eyes. “You mentioned something about him last time we spoke at my family’s home.”

“Yes,” he turned to her and cracked a hesitant smile. “But I’m afraid I’m terribly nervous to speak about it.”

“You needn’t be,” she assured, resting her hand on his arm. “Please, tell me.”

“In your room,” he finally gave in and finished guiding her towards her chamber.

When they entered the room, it’s pale pink walls dimmed by the dwindling of the already hidden sun, Florence took her place by the window, sitting on a chaise lounge. Javi lit a candle and carried it over to the windowsill, setting it down before taking his place beside his bride-to-be.

“I have long struggled with this truth, a truth that I know is certain to be valid—to be accurate. I do not wish for you to question it’s validity, or my love’s validity, for I know that I love you without question. I know that I crave you as often as I breathe,” he began, grabbing both of Florence’s hands and shedding them of the satin that kept their skin apart. Lifting her eyes to her lover’s, she waited eagerly for him to continue speaking. “I am a man who delights in many things. I take pleasure in many things. I appreciate the softness of a woman’s curves as much as I appreciate the rigidity of a man’s brow. I, in short, have loved both sexes, and, unfortunately, Mr. Seaworth has been one of them.”

“Oh, my love,” Florence cooed, lifting her hand to cup his cheek. “Is this what you were nervous to tell me?” Javier shrugged bashfully. “You needn’t be nervous any longer. I do not care who you’ve loved or what they were. I do not dare pass judgements upon you for indulging in all life has to offer, as someone who’s indulged herself. Not with the same gender, perhaps, but indulged nonetheless.”

“You don’t mind that—forgive me for my crudeness—that I’ve enjoyed the touch of a man?” he asked in disbelief, sure that she would cast him out just as his father had.

“No,” she shook her head adamantly and gripped both of his hands firmly, as if to cement her indifference on the subject into his mind permanently.

“Do you wish to know more? About Seaworth and I?” he asked, now sure that she wouldn’t rebuff him over his sexual preferences.

“If you would like to tell me, I’d quite like to listen.”

Javi smiled, albeit nervously and giddily, as though he was a child spilling all the secrets he’d been forced to hide within.

“It began as it always does, at least for me, with a deep, sentimental friendship. As I mentioned, we met through my mother and his mother, the two women kind-natured unlike their husbands, as you’ve seen firsthand with my father,” Javi began, excitedly recalling the events that led him and Mr. Seaworth to the present.

He told her about their friendship, how it was rooted deeply in their mutual respect of the arts—Seaworth dreaming of becoming a playwright and Javi dreaming of becoming a painter. Eventually, their friendship began to turn into something more feverish, more…desperate. Both men had to suppress these urges in the past, but now together, vulnerable and left alone too often, could explore them freely, and so they did.

“It was never something serious,” he assured. “I did not love him, not…not like I love you. I didn’t want to spend my life with him, but there was an undeniable weaving of his life into mine over the years that prevented me from punishing him for his jealous antics and foul mood. Until, that is, I met you.”

Javi pinched Florence’s chin before leaning in to steal a kiss, their content hums at the rejoining of their lips sounding out at the same time.

“Like that,” he whispered. “I’ve never felt that for Seaworth, no matter how much he begged me to. I could love him in some ways—I love his art, his passion, his humor at times, but I do not live him for his breathing, for his mere existing, for his faults as I do you.”

Florence couldn’t do anything more than blush at his praise, her heart beating twice as fast as it normally did.

“Mr. Seaworth was very jealous of you, of the effect you have on me. He began to get malicious, to plot against you as though you were anything to plot against. The night I cast him out, I saw nothing left in him that warmed my soul. The friend I once had had vanished, and in it’s place I found a beast of jealousy and cruelty. I sent him away, knowing that as long as he remained in my company, you and I would never find peace. You see, my sweet love, mi amor, mi…mi vida,” he enunciated the word with vigor. “With a party of three, as far as love and peace are concerned, one must lose. Be it now or later, one must be crowned victor, and one must returned to whence it came with it’s tail tucked between its leg. And so, knowing I could breathe without you, I crowned you the victor of my heart, and Seaworth the loser.”

Florence swallowed the lump of guilt that gathered in her throat, her eyes seemingly giving away her inner turmoil as Javi’s eyes began to fill with concern as well.

“My love?” he asked, as soft as a whisper.

“I betrayed you,” she confessed in a soft gasp, as though she was shocked the words were coming out of her mouth. A tear ran down her cheek and she lowered her head, pulling her hands from his. “I betrayed you and laid with Mr. Morales.”

At once, Javi stood. He stared down at her for a moment with an unreadable expression, something, if she had to guess, that looked like pure and absolute hurt.

As quickly as he stood, he left, the door a dull thud as he pulled it closed behind him, leaving his intended to sit with the weight of her confession, and how ironically it contrasted with his own. While it was easy for him to choose a winner and a loser, Florence, in her youth and softness of heart, could not manage it herself.

The next morning, Florence awoke to a knock on her door.

“Miss,” a soft, feminine voice sounded on the other side of the wood.

“Come in,” Florence croaked, sitting upright and massaging her temples. He head ached after a long night of crying into her pillow, scolding herself for her confession.

A tiny woman, hardly old enough to be considered a woman, entered with a friendly, but mindful smile. She carried with her a gown and an envelope, sealed with her family’s crest.

“For you,” she announced, resting the gown on the bed and handing over the envelope.

Florence was quick to open it, a gasp leaving her mouth as she read the contents of the letter addressed to her by her brother.

My dearest Sister,

I am pleased to inform you of my upcoming nuptials to Lady Maribel. I have sent over a gown for you to wear tonight to dinner, if you and Lord Javier would kindly join us. Further details on the wedding will ensue. I look forward to celebrating the end of my time as a bachelor in the company of my dearest sibling.

With love,

Benjamin.

“My goodness,” Florence looked up at the servant who she did not know well enough to relay the shock of the announcement. “Is Javier awake?”

“Mr. Gutierrez is out of the house today,” she informed, further twisting the knife in Florence’s stomach.

“Have you any idea on where he’s gone?” she asked, desperate to see him, to talk to him in the way that only they talk.

“I believe he mentioned something about the theater, though I cannot be sure,” she replied.

Florence breathed in a shaky breath of jealousy, the idea of Javi finding comfort in the arms of another turning her stomach sour. She swallowed the vomit that creeped up her throat at the mere thought of losing him, of losing his friendship and love.

“Very well.” She stood up and tried to feign indifference. “I would quite like to promenade this morning.”

“I’m afraid Mrs. Gutierrez is preoccupied as well, Miss.”

“I don’t need a chaperone,” she snapped, taking her sickening jealousy out on the wrong person. Gathering herself, she sighed and reached to touch the woman’s shoulder. “Excuse my shortness, I am not feeling well. I think a breath of fresh, crisp air will do me well. Can you arrange a horse for me, miss?”

“I do not think Mr. Gutiérrez—“

“I believe I may be the last thing on his mind today,” she forced herself to chuckle at her own words, the possibility of them holding any truth scaring her more than she cared to admit, even to herself.

“Your wish,” the woman bowed and left the room to fulfill Florence’s request while the future Viscountess dressed for the day.

Setting out on her own was indeed a quite unheard of venture for a young woman. London, while not necessarily a dangerous place in most aspects, did have it’s occasional criminals and troublemakers lurking in hidden alleyways, but Florence assured herself that she was simply going to the park. Nothing ever happened in the park, as it was much too busy with the snobby upper class who seemed to take pleasure in imprisoning the more unfortunate souls to wander the city.

Riding there on horseback proved to be an entertaining sight for the gentlemen wandering the city. She felt bored by their catcalls and lingering stares. Hadn’t they anything better to do than to spend their time gawking at her? She supposed not, and that alone reminded her of the very reason she was so taken with both Frankie and Javier. They were men with passion, men that had honed their skill through years of focus and practice. These men, in their suits and false gaiety, had nothing better to do than torment and spend their great-great grandfather’s fortune. How incredibly dull.

When Florence finally arrived at the park, she tied her horse up to a tree and patted it goodbye before making her rounds. Typically, a freshly engaged woman would be seen with her doting lover, parading their romance for all to see, but as Javi seemed to be preoccupied, she was left alone to show off the flashy engagement ring he’d placed upon her finger.

“Miss Bell!” exclaimed a bubbly voice that sounded like every sophisticated lady she’d spent her entire youth avoiding like the plague. Turning in the direction of the sickly sweet tone, she was met with the scrutinizing eyes of Miss Blanche Greene, Miss Beatrice Townsend, and Miss Claire Weatherfield.

Each of the women were dressed in their best silks and satin, their hair ornately thrown up with ringlets cascading around their soft, heart shaped faces. They were known to be quite ruthless in their gossip and opinions, and judging by the way they eyed her relatively modest gown, she would be the newest subject of their chatter.

“I had half a mind to believe we’d never see you again,” Miss Blanche spoke first. “Locked away in the countryside with your betrothed.”

“Speaking of, where is the dashing Mr. Gutierrez?” Miss Claire asked, every bit as pompous as the bright pink of her gown.

“He’s engaged at the moment,” Florence replied, not bothering to hide her distaste for the conversation, and for the women.

“Is it true your brother is marrying Lady Maribel?” Miss Beatrice asked.

“Yes,” Florence nodded. “I’m quite happy for both of them.”

“Leave it to Benjamin to marry a Spaniard,” Miss Claire whispered, not so successfully, to Miss Blanche.

“If you ladies are done, I would quite like to finish my walk,” Florence gestured to the pathway in front of her.

“Yes, yes,” Miss Blanche smirked at her as she gave her leave.

It wasn’t long into her promenade that a hand grazed her arm from behind, causing her to whip her head around and swat the unwelcome groper, that is until she saw who the hand belonged to.

“Javi!” she exhaled, resting her hand over her heart in hopes of slowing the pace. “You scared me.”

“My apologies,” he chuckled and offered his hand properly. “What on earth are you doing out here by yourself, mi vida?”

Florence eyed his hand for a moment before taking it, a bit thrown by his sudden cheerfulness when last she saw, he was leaving her alone.

“I was trying to distract myself,” she replied as they continued their walk. “I heard you’d gone to the theater—“

“Yes,” he nodded, though his eyes held no guilt. “I did not go for the reasons you’re thinking. I simply had business to take care of.”

“Mm,” she hummed, still not convinced. “Regardless, I suppose whatever occurred can be forgiven given my own…transgressions.”

“Florence,” he sighed. “I do not…I do not…I—“ He seemed to struggle for words which did nothing for the anxiety she felt. “I do not wish to play the role of second any longer. I love you,” he squeezed her hand that rested on his arm. “But I ache. You’ve made me ache. I’ve never loved this way before, so deeply, so painfully. I thought…if I gave you my forgiveness, my trust, my understanding, you’d realize the love that I have for you, and you wouldn’t hurt me. But you have. The very moment I left, I feared you would, and you did.”

“Javi,” she started, nearing tears.

“Please don’t cry,” he soothed. “I am not leaving you. I love you. But I will state this plainly, once and for all: if you cannot make this choice yourself, I will have no other option but to make it for you. If you cannot choose me over him,” he paused, swallowing thickly as if it hurt him to speak the words. “Then I will walk away. And I will not come back.”

Florence’s chest heaved as though she was having a panic attack, her hand trembling as it clutched his arm for dear life.

“Look at me, my sweet angel,” he guided her eyes to his with a lift of her chin. “I love you. More than I love anyone.”

“And I love you,” she choked out, earnest and sincere, but full of fear. “I’m…I feel like I will—excuse me.”

Javi watched as Florence ran off into the park, hiding her frame behind a bush. He came nearer, the sounds of her retching now clear. She was made sick with fear of losing him, and while he shouldn’t have rejoiced over this, he couldn’t help but feel a rush of confidence. Sometimes, he wondered if she loved him at all, or if it was just a game of friendship, of alliance, to her. But seeing her bent over a shrub in public, for every watchful eye to witness, he knew that her love for him ran deep enough to turn her sick.

With a hand to her back, he rubbed soothing circles until she’d finished. When she stood, her olive skin looked pale, her eyes glassy.

“I think I should get back to bed,” she croaked, nervous to meet his eye.

“I think…I will join you,” he smiled.

“At home?”

“Yes, and in your bed.” Florence flushed, her eyes meeting his. She furrowed her brows as she took in his smile. “You have nothing to fear, my love. I am not leaving you unless you force me. Please don’t force me.”

“April,” she spoke abruptly, earning a furrow of his brow.

“Pardon?”

“The wedding. I would like for it to be in April,” she replied. “The first Saturday in April. In Spain.”

“Yes,” he replied, sucking in a sharp breath and smiling widely. “I think that sounds lovely.”

“Four months,” she smiled. “And then, I am your wife.”

“And I,” he started, fighting the urge to kiss her. “Will be your husband.”

“Sister,” Benjamin greeted Florence with a bright smile as she stepped into their family’s London townhome where tonight’s dinner was held. “It’s lovely to see you.”

“And you,” she chuckled. “I’ve never seen you so giddy.”

“I never had cause to be, not until Mari,” he beamed again before turning to Javi. “My brother, or at least soon to be.”

“And cousin? Strange to work out all the intricacies of our intermingled family,” he laughed. “But, I cannot fault you for your choice in bride.”

“And neither can I. I am glad that we will be family soon. You make my sister very happy, and that is all I’ve ever wanted.”

Javi looked to Florence as she floated around the room, mingling with old family friends. He watched the way everyone seemed to light up in her presence, her jewel of an existence brightening every room.

“She makes me feel every emotion a human is capable of feeling. I cannot say I long for much in her company, except—“

“I’ve heard,” Benjamin cut in, a sympathetic look on his face. “But, I have good news on that front. Mr. Morales will be offered a place at my Uncle’s estate in America in the coming weeks. I do not imagine he will turn it down, as it comes with his very own land and title.”

“Who’s told you this?” Javi asked, half-elated, half-fearful for Florence’s reaction to the news.

“My father,” Benjamin replied. “I am on orders not to tell my sister. But, I suppose you are not. If you wanted—“

“I cannot,” he shook his head. “She would run after him, or, worse, think it was my doing.”

“It’s best to let things unfold naturally,” Benjamin advised. “After my wedding, there will be no need for her to revisit the country until after your own. If you can keep her occupied until then, she will not even realize he’s gone. She can move on, live the happy life she was meant to live with you.”

“This feels…deceitful,” Javi trembled. “I am not sure I can lie to her.”

“There is no deceit,” Benjamin argued. “You are not lying. It is simply a matter that does not involve her. Choose yourself, Javier. I love my sister, but she is young and full of folly. She doesn’t realize what she deserves, what she needs. Whisk her away to Spain, or Paris, or…the bloody West Indies. Anywhere. Show her what she truly deserves, and before she realizes it, she will no longer think of him. Only of you.”

“I must excuse myself,” Javi cleared his throat. “I need wine.”

“Yes,” Benjamin nodded and gestured to the servants floating about the room with trays of wine. “Drink all you wish, dear brother. Tonight is a night meant for celebration.”

“Celebration indeed,” Florence joined the men again and beamed brightly, looking towards her betrothed. “Come love, I miss you.”

“Anything you ask, mi vida. Anything.”

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#pedro pascal #pedro pascal fic #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal fluff #javi g #javi g fluff #javi g fanfiction #javi g fic #javi gutierrez #javier gutierrez #javi g x oc #frankie morales x oc #frankie morales fanfiction #frankie morales angst #ivy & stone

[pxrxcxa]

Opposite Ends 

Chapter Ten - Doomed love

C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 | C6 | C7 | C8 | C9 | C11 | C12 | C13 pt1 | C13 pt 2 |

Chapter Eleven is out now, enjoy Sunflowers x 🌻

Pairing | Eddie x Female reader 18+. Steve x Robin x Female reader platonic friendship

Series summary | Dustins older sister got brought into the group during the events of Starcourt mall, 3 months on she's in her senior year and the kids are starting high school. After everything that went down she feels that she has to keep them safe at all costs, that includes keeping them way from the charismatic 'freak' Eddie Munson that runs a club based on their favourite game. They've both hated each other since freshman year -with good reason-, but when keeping distance between the kids and Eddie means putting herself in the firing line, boundaries get blurred, intentions get lost & the heart speaks louder than the brain.

The story is told from both Y/N & Eddies point of view.

What to expect | Slow burn enemies to lovers, Angst - with a happy ending (fix-it-fic if you will), fluff & smut (in the later chapters). 18+ to read this story.

Series Warnings | Mentions of abuse, drug use, 18+ smut content

Chapter word count | 9 K Word Count

Chapter warnings | Nothing too out there in this chapter

As always, any & all comments/reblogs are most appreciated - Thankyou, P. x 🌿

Authors Note | Again thank you for your patience, and as always thank you for reading! I did have to split this chapter up because we had a 20 k + word count but that's great news because 11 will be out in a couple of days! On top of everything else I had some pretty serious writers block but Im back & better than ever - at least I think so, let me know what you all think!

Eddie | March 1986

I didn’t walk around Hawkins with the intention of having my guard up all the time against almost everyone, it had just happened. When the entitled, judgemental residents of the town had taken one look at my ripped jeans, listened to the metal music blasting from my van and watched the fantasy game that my DnD club played that they deemed as ‘satanic’, and decided that I wasn’t worth more than the dirt beneath their shoes, it hadn’t exactly shaped me into a model citizen.  

But the feeling of being an outcast my entire life had sat fine with me; I had no interest in anyone in the small town I’d grown up in. They were all carbon copies of their parents, and their parents before them,  there wasn’t anyone worth being interested in. 

Until she came along. 

Henderson had strutted into my life like I didn’t have a choice, knocking down every single solid wall I’d spent years building up like they were made of feathers, even before she turned them into dust with each glance of her bright eyes and a hint of her sweet smile that she threw in my direction, she had been unconsciously destroying them with every death stare and exasperated sigh, breaking me down with every addictive movement of her.

She was meant for me, every hate filled eyeroll and love filled smile was ingrained on my soul in marks that would last a lifetime.

I’d never stood a chance. 

I never thought I would find myself completely and utterly consumed by another until I found her, or perhaps it was the other way around and she’d found – no saved - me. 

She’d taken my hand and led me out of the darkness of my own corruption and showed me that, whatever our souls are made of, however they were shaped from the loud, hurtful world around us… 

…hers and mine were the same, broken halves of the same blooming whole. 

I’d loved her from the moment I’d met her, I just hadn’t known it yet. 

And now I was never going to be able to tell her. 

In the three months since running into her at the Hideout, when we had both been trying to drown our sorrows over each other, we’d spent almost every day inseparable from each other. There had been a regular post-school afternoon once at my trailer when I had almost told her I loved her, and then I had been dying to tell her every day since.

“You’re an idiot Eddie Munson.” She laughed, smacking her hands against my bare chest as I nestled into the crook of her neck, tickling her through the thin sheets twisted between us. 

“Unfortunately for you, I’m your idiot.” She wriggled under my arms as I found her sweet spot, making her beg for mercy as I rolled over and pulled her on top of me. The setting sun that shone through my bedroom window sparkled magnificently in her hair, bringing out vibrant colours that weren’t usually there. The glittering sunlight brightened around her silhouette as a light breeze ruffled the stray whispers of hair falling into her face, furthering my suspicion that she was an angle.   

As she laid naked, pressed against me, she certainly had the angelic look to pull it off. 

“And I am entirely okay with that.” Resting her chin forward on my chest so that I had to tuck mine to still stare into her eyes, she pouted attractively.   

“How did we get here?” I breathed into the warm air, my thoughts falling back to us in our first Calculus class at the beginning of my third and her first senior year. “I used to hate you; you know.” I couldn’t ever remember or even fathom myself feeling any type of way that wasn’t absolute reverence towards the perfect creature in my hands. 

“If I remember correctly Munson, the feeling was extremely mutual.” Her smile was wide and carefree, her body pressed into me in criminal ways as her frame shook with laughter. Everything about y/n healed my soul, and although my only vice was weed, I was no stranger to the occasional dangerous party drug, but even their temptations cowered in the hulking shadows of Y/n's etherealness. 

“College will still be there y’know?” I blurted out suddenly, tightening my arms around her as the thought of losing her punctured my chest painfully. 

“What do you mean?” Her brows furrowed in confusion cutely, I smoothed the creases with my thumb as I traced light patterns along her spine.

“Come with me.” I stated, a sense of peace flowing over me as I realised it to be the only thing I would truly ever want, I’d been a fool to think I could walk away from her now, only three months in and she already had me willing to stalk the ends of the earth for her, God knows what kind of state she’d have me in by the end of the school year. 

“Be serious.” She scoffed; her eyes searched my face for a glimmer of falseness. 

“I am. Everywhere. Travel. We’ll travel everywhere, and we’ll fuck in every state and take a photo of it! I don’t want to forget a single moment with you.” I pressed my lips against hers ferociously, pulling away when her moans became too distracting, refusing to let our conversation be derailed.

“Come with me… please. A year or two, it won’t make a difference.” I begged, letting my excitement flare on my face, not even contemplating the very real possibility of her saying no. 

“Okay.” She didn’t miss a beat, determination and excitement reflecting in her own features now as I pulled back, shocked.

“Really?” I laughed disbelievingly, doubting that I had earned the right kind of karma to have y/n in my life. 

“Don’t give me a chance to change my mind Edward.” She warned, rolling to the side as she slipped from my arms, pulling my Hellfire t-shirt over her loose hair. I bit my cheek as I watched her strut over to my desk, my shirt barely covering her perfect ass as she bent down to retrieve the bud stashed away in the top draw. 

“How are you real?” I asked, watching carefully as she sat back into my desk chair, rolling a fat joint for the both of us between her deft fingers, waiting for her perfect form to burst into a cloud of air. 

“Don’t I feel real?” She laughed.

“Incredibly.” I shot back, wiggling my brows suggestively.

“You are damn near perfection” I promised and laughed as she broke off into a giggle. 

“Near?” She gasped; feigning being hurt over my careless words. 

“Well until you’re in my arms again how can I ever be sure you’re real?” I held them back out for her expectantly, but she dropped the rolling paper as she gasped out in pain this time. I flew from the bed instantly, tearing the sheets out of my way as I stumbled in my haste to get to her. 

“Another one?” I murmured concerningly, watching her face contort as she pressed her fists into her temples. She’d been getting relentless headaches, their appearances increasing over the last few weeks. The only thing that seemed to help was when I played my guitar for her, I already had my hand outstretched towards my acoustic one when her nails traced the skin on my arm. 

“I’m okay, this one wasn’t too bad” She smiled, placing her warm, soft palm against my cheek before turning away to re roll the joint. Even though she’d touched me a thousand times, the feeling of her still shot hot, fiery needs of desire and nerves through me. 

I needed her, and not in a sexual or even romantic way, I needed y/n like I need air to breathe, she was the only one who had walked into my life where I hadn’t spent a second worrying that she was about to walk right back out of it. Even my uncle Wayne, I still had nights where I woke up in a panic that I would find he had abandoned me like the rest of my family, but the suffocating thought never crossed my mind with y/n. 

She was my rock in a raging storm, the safe embrace of warm sheets after a hard day, the only arms that brought me comfort when the hate from our peers bit down through my metal exterior just a little too deep. 

Y/n saw me for who I truly was, scars and all, and still thought I was worth something. 

The most powerful, knee buckling feeling of affection rushed through me, and without thinking I opened my mouth. 

“I lo-“ I coughed as her eyes swung up to me, her cheeks reddening as instantly as mine. 

“Stay?” I amended, hoping she could hear the weight and meaning behind the single word. 

She laughed, like she knew what I had started to say, but chickened out at the last second, not wanting to ruin the most perfect moment of my life. 

“Always.” Her smile dropped as she stared back intently at me, walking over to place my head between her hands so I couldn’t turn away from her, she pressed her delectable lips against mine softly, pulling back slowly to wipe the unlawful tear away that brimmed at the corner of my eye. 

“Always Edward.”

But as y/n had put it, I’d been stupid enough to believe her. 

Those words, the entire night, every single moment shared between us had been ripped away from my rose-tinted glasses as my ring tumbled from her fingers onto the field, holding me rooted to the cold grass as she sloshed away from me and jumped into Jason Carvers truck. The painful sight had sent me spiralling after her once I figured out how to get my legs to work again, anger shot through me as I patted my jacket pockets for my keys as I sprinted across the field, finding them flat and empty. 

By the time I tore through the empty school corridors back into the drama room and found my discarded keys sitting on the tabletop, the parking lot was dark and empty, no trail of y/n or any of the basketball team. 

Even for my standard, I drove like a mad man to the nearest pay phone, smoothing out a crumpled piece of paper with y/n's loopy writing on it, Steve Harringtons number scribbled across the aged piece from her notebook.

“For emergency’s.” She’d smiled, slipping it into my glove box, at the time I had suspected her of just wanting Eddie the freak and Steve the hair Harrington to become friends, but whatever her reasoning, I was grateful for it now. 

Even when I’d fallen from the roof of my uncles trailer at the tender age of ten playing air guitar, snapping my arm in the process, that didn’t even come close on the emergency scale compared to y/n disappearing with Carver. 

The phone rang three times before someone picked it up. 

“Harrington.” I breathed. 

“Uh yeah…? Who’s this.” 

“It’s Eddie.” 

There was a loaded pause. 

“Eddie Munson.” I gritted through my teeth, as I lightly banged my fist against the glass backing of the payphone box. 

“Yeah. I got that, there’s only one Eddie Munson in Hawkins after all.”

I sighed heavily into the phone as unwanted thoughts of what Jason could be doing right that second consumed me. 

“What’s up?” Steve’s voice was cautious as he waited for my answer. 

“Y/n.” My voice dropped off as I stuttered over her name, cowering over the phone box as her words echoed in my mind. 

“Y/n? Is she okay? What’s wrong? Where is she?” His voice raised an annoying octave with each question. 

“She’s with Carver, she’s not safe, find her.” I slammed the receiver as I stumbled from the payphone, ripping my cigarettes from my pocket as I jogged towards my van. A long shadow crossed across my vision and the dimly lit carpark; I pulled my lighter away from my face as I squinted into the darkness.

Chrissy Cunningham had skipped out of the shadows next to the closed convenience store, she had her hands clutched together in front of her cheer skirt and her face gleamed from panicked sweat as she asked me in a hushed whisper despite that we were alone, the nearest soul probably a mile away, for something no ‘Good suburban girl” should even know about. 

I wasn’t proud of it and given the situation I’d landed myself right after I’d invited her to my trailer, it had been the worst decision of my life. 

But seeing her in her cheer uniform with her pom poms dangling by her side, an image of her holding hands with Jason in their matching Hawkins teams uniforms after the school pep rally this morning had flashed in my mind, and the urge to hurt Jason the same way he’d got to me, surged through me in a blinding, white, hot stab. 

Feeding hardcore drugs to his innocent, preppy girlfriend had seemed like the perfect start, and after Chrissy admitted that she followed me from the school to find some reprieve from 'loosing her mind', she had smiled cautiously, but still trustingly as I pulled open my passenger side door for her and slipped inside. 

Y/N | March 1986

“If only we could just, like, combine.” Robin intertwined her fingers as she leant against the poster across from me, I was seated on the three-legged stool behind the counter, my knees pressed to my chest as I rested my chin on them, holding a wet bag of ice to my head.

“Combine?” Steve raised his eyebrows at her questioningly, sliding the last of the returned tapes back into their place on the shelves as he joined Robin. I had been put on checkout duty, though I’d mostly spent our shift at Family Video quietly withering away in the corner. There hadn’t been too many customers this morning considering it was a Saturday, and Robin saved me from most of them anyway, leaving me to revel in my pounding hangover and the sickening memories from yesterday that plagued me. 

Robin and Steve had both offered to cover for me at work, saying that it was okay if I needed to take some time for myself. They’d both shut their mouths when I’d glared at them, ripped Robins front door open and stormed past them towards Steve’s car, yelling out behind me that I would be in the back seat waiting to go to work. 

After what I’d seen last night, when I had torn myself from Max’s couch, tearing across the living room as I tried to escape, drunkenly beating on Steve’s chest when he tried to hold me back. I had begged him to take me away, with hot tears streaming down my frozen cheeks as I collapsed on the gritty carpet. Steve held me as I fell to pieces, the weight of everything baring down on me relentlessly. A nearby lamp post flickered unnervingly as Steve had draped his jacket over my slumped shoulders as he helped me walk back to his car, while I pointedly avoided looking across from Max's trailer, afraid of what I'd see.

I couldn’t stand to face any of the consequences of what happened yesterday, the excruciating headaches and tormenting visions that came with them, my choice to drink the pain away with the basketball team and what Jason attempted or seeing Eddie with Chrissy at his trailer. 

So when I woke up blearily in Robins bed this morning, with her and Steve watching me worriedly from the doorway, I had pretended that I couldn’t remember anything apart from ending things with Eddie on the field, quickly slipping between them towards the overtly pink bathroom as they tried to bombard me with inane questions, the steaming hot water that burned my skin hadn’t been enough to drown out their half-whispered fight behind the door as they argued over what they thought happened. 

Eddie owed me no loyalty after what I’d done; but I had never felt more gutted than when I realised he had meant a whole lot more to me than I to him, how easy it had been for him to move on with another warm body, how easily interchangeable I was for him when he had been irreplaceable to me. 

A whirlwind of emotions wrecked me. I felt devastated one moment and angry the next. My broken heart was coursing feelings of shame, doubt, confusion, and anxiety through me. 

But no words were grand enough to describe what I was really feeling when thoughts of him trickled into my mind, sending great whips of agony to lap at my raw skin as I buckled over on the tiled shower floor. 

I had ended things with Eddie and smashed both our hearts with my cruel words. They’d burned fiercer than the whiskey as they fell from my lips, each false word sending a new lash of pain across his face as we stood on the school field. I had almost gone back on my choice when he’d begged me to stay, the double subtext behind the word held it's on meaning between us. The true rawness of his pain crippled me, but the quick flash of the blazing headache that flickered behind my eyes had reminded me of what I’d seen in the school bathroom, and that my broken heart wasn’t anywhere near as important as Eddie, I needed him safe. It was better if he was heartbroken and alive, rather than the alternative he was guaranteed to succumb to if he continued to be a part of my cursed life. 

That knowledge hadn’t kept my heart from ripping itself apart inside of me though. 

I had to keep myself distracted, because if I stopped then I started to think about things; things like Chrissy walking up those steps, him inviting her into his trailer, opening the door for her like he’d done for me a hundred times. His hands tracing across her skin in the same patterns - 

I was going to scream. 

I slipped from my chair and started fiddling with a stack of receipts on the counter. I looked up as Robins heavy footsteps slapped against the floor as she ran past the register, her dark green work blazer flapping wildly as she spun around with a wide smile and snatched up a new tape.  

“Doctor Zhivago.” My gaze flickered over to Steve’s as he rolled his eyes and stood up straight from where he leaned against the wall.

“Ugh, you know I don’t do double VHS.” Despite my black mood, I grinned as he waved his hands in dismay at her choice for our morning movie. 

“But it’s about doomed love.” She held it up to her chest as her eyes puckered up in a puppy like state, I dropped mine to the tapes in my hands as my knees crumbled, her words sending an agonizing stab of invisible pain through me. 

“Oh well that’s relatable.” Steve mumbled as he grabbed the tape trolley.

“Precisely.” Robin smiled, clasping it tighter to her chest. 

I flattened myself against the counter as they both walked around it to join me, anger at their obliviousness surged through me as Robin continued to chatter aimlessly. I loved my only two, age-appropriate friends dearly, but their similar tactless ignorance was too much even for me at times.

“Also, Julie Christie is b-b-bonkers hot in this. Like seriously, the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my life.” Steve rolled the trolly into the corner by our gumball machine as Robin snatched up the TV remote, I busied myself by drumming my fingers along the outdated computers keyboard as I waited for the monitor to roar to life. 

“We’re in the Forest Hills trailer park in east Roane County.” A deadly shiver shot down my spine and something evil enough to scare the devil churned in my mind as the words from the reporter crackled from the speakers. A strange mixture of knowing panic and relief settled in my chest as I turned to look at fuzzy screen with the others, like I’d been waiting for something terrible to happen and it had finally arrived. 

“We don’t have a lot of details now, but we can confirm that the body of a Hawkins High student was discovered early this morning. Police have not released the name..." 

I didn’t need the name. I knew, I’d always known. 

I had been too late, I’d been too selfish and given in to my basic human desires, it didn’t matter that it had been virtually impossible to stay away from Eddie, like there was something stronger than fate weaving our paths together, because now whatever brutal and fatal incident had happened at the trailer park, had pulled him into the cursed series of events that my friends and I were branded to never escape from. 

All because I wasn’t strong enough to stop loving a boy I wasn’t supposed to so that I could keep him safe. 

I gripped the side of the counter as blood rushed to my head, my body swayed dangerously as an ocean of blackness lapped at my consciousness, offering sanctuary as the glaring images from yesterday came to life before my eyes, the vision of Eddie’s lifeless body threatened to choke me as bile rose in my throat.

“Holy shit.” Steve moved closer into Robin as her eyes darted across the screen in shock, watching the older, dark-haired report deliver the news that was about to smash my world apart. 

“Max…” She whispered, shame pulsed through me that her name had not been the first one I’d panicked and worried over, a double shot of frenzied terror shot through our group as I pictured sweet, passionate, fiery Max taking Eddie’s place in my mind, her luminous pale skin turning a sickly white in death. 

The TV distorted in my vision as the blackness fought my last remaining feeble strings of hope, winning out as my knees collapsed onto the bristly carpet beneath us. 

Eddie | March 1986 

A trucks horn blared out as I dashed across the cracked road into the thick bush on the other side. My hair tangled with leaves and broken branches stung my eyes as my legs hammered into the uneven ground faster than they ever had before as I tore deeper and deeper into the woods. I hadn’t stopped running for hours, no straight thought in my mind except to run away from that. 

I crouched down and curled over my knees against a flaky tree trunk to catch my breath as the heady silence of the trees pounded down on my eardrums, sweat dripping down my brow mixed with my tears and stung my eyes. I buried my head into my balled up fists until I was pressing hard enough on my eyes that I saw distorted shapes behind my darkened lids as I tried to shove away the images flashing though my mind like a horror movie. 

It wasn’t enough. 

The shapes soon turned into thin, pale snapped limbs; a sickening cracking echoed around the empty woods as hysterical sobs wracked my chest. I pulled at my hair frantically, trying to drown out the mental pain with physical. I flinched as a flock of birds soared over the canopy of green leaves above me, I turned to side as I fell forward on my hands, sharp rocks and stick scratching into my palms as I heaved, my loose hair fell around my face in curls as I breathed through my mouth. The rich smell of the damp earth invaded my mind as I bunched up my hands, watching the dirt squeeze through my fingers as I tried to ground myself, shivering as a light wet mist started to fall, unable to escape the past twenty-four hours that had been torturous and downright unbelievable. 

I was in hell. 

I had to be, there wasn’t any sane reason for what I had seen. 

Unless I was crazy, maybe everyone that had ever call me freak was right, maybe I’d imagined it. 

As the image of Chrissy’s shaking body slowly rising into the air, snapping into gruesome angles under an invisible force played over in my mind, I leant forward to press my face into the coolness of the ground beneath me. I’d been pretty great at creating fake scenarios for my clubs DnD campaigns, but the sounds of her bones cracking and the bloodied empty sockets where her eyes should have been, was beyond anything I was capable of conjuring up. 

Comically – given my current situation and what happened with her yesterday –my thoughts flashed to y/n, my panic and worry for her was stronger than for myself right now, pathetically ironic since she had made it clear that I was nothing, that I meant nothing to her. I clenched my eyes shut and pressed my dirty palms to my forehead as tried to keep the images of her at bay, I’d rather face what happened in my trailer last night again then think about what she said, and how she’d looked at me on the field.  

It would have been easier to.

I still couldn’t help but wonder if Steve had taken me seriously, he wasn’t my biggest fan but the previously douche jock did seem to be a genuine friend to y/n and I hoped he’d heard the panic in my voice and had enough sense after my phone call to track her down and make sure she was okay. 

Even if what she had said to me, as her words tore me apart, was true, and there was no real feelings behind her actions the last couple of months towards me – my heart and eyes squeezed together as a wave of pain washed over me – that didn’t mean that there was anything but genuineness in my own behaviour, I had opened and bared my soul to y/n in a way no one else alive had ever seen. 

I still cared about her. 

I probably always would. 

No matter what reasons lingered behind her cruel words to me, I wasn’t going to let her go off drinking with the guy that she had told me tried to attack her months earlier. 

Or maybe I just didn’t know her as well as she knew me, I wondered what she would think when she saw the news this morning, would she instantly believe and know that I wasn’t the one who hurt Chrissy?

Would she even care?

And it was that thought that kept me running, because if I couldn’t even believe it why the hell would anyone else? As far as the narrow minded, straight path Hawkins residents were concerned, I was a satanic, devil worshipping, trailer trash, no good teenager and our High schools ‘It Girl’ was dead, crumpled gruesomely on my trailers living room floor. 

Something clattered to my left, I sprung up and slammed into the tree as I shuffled back on my hands, my chest heaving as I stared at the rodent sniffing around for food in the grass a few paces from me. The terrified scream locked in my throat as its' confused, beady eyes met my scared ones, died as I realised it was just a wild animal and not a vigilante group hell bent on finding me. 

I leapt up and took off again as distant horns hooted angrily in rapid succession from the main road, sending myself flying further into the disorientating clutches of the forest as my jacket flew out behind me in the whipping wind. 

My feet that shuffled uncertainly first in one direction, sped up with purpose as the reflective surface of Lovers Lake glinted in the far-off distance. 

Y/N | March 1986 

Déjà vu hit me like a tonne of rocks as I sat against the back wall behind the counter on the grainy floor, the red-tinged luminous Family Video sign flickered above me. I sat with my legs pressing into the rough carpet beneath me as Robin rubbed my back and asked me if I was going to hurl, her voice sounded thick and far away as she turned to where Steve leaned against the counter still watching the news as her palm rubbed warm circles into my skin. As I breathed through my mouth to ease the nausea, I wondered if monstrous events were going to become an annual occurrence for me, but I guess it didn’t matter. 

Because I didn’t think I’d survive this one. 

Not if it involved Eddie. 

Robin’s head snapped up, but I hung mine further into my hands as the store’s bell rung out loudly, the new arrivals slammed both doors open against the walls with a surrounding bang. 

“Hey Steve!” I looked up at Dustin’s voice from the front of the store, dread coursing through me at the expressions on his and Max’s face. She had an open flannel over the navy sweater I’d seen her in last night and her wild red hair thrown up in a loose ponytail, Dustin was dressed similarly but just on the opposite colour spectrum, sporting his ironic blue and white ‘thinking cap’. I hurried to my feet as Max’s eyes landed on me, guilt plastering her face as she tried to avoid my stare. 

“You guys seen this?” Steve shuffled uncomfortably as Robin moved to sit on the stool behind the counter as they both looked at Max in relief, neither of them voicing their solace in seeing that she wasn’t the unnamed dead student. 

Self-reproach wracked me as the same comfort did not fill me, my eyes only on my brother and my thoughts on the man we both cared for too much about as Dustin spied me behind the counter. 

“Y/n.” He gulped, his eyes flashing over my dark under eyes from crying all night; sleep had been well missed stranger to me for a while now.  

“Do you know where Eddie is?” I dug my nails into my palms hard enough to draw blood, my worst fears coming to light. I couldn’t speak as I opened and closed my mouth several more times, no sound except a gutted gasp escaping from it as my eyes flew to Max’s. 

I shook my head as I began to shake, waiting for the crushing blow I was sure he was about to deliver to me. 

“Come on y/n, you have to have some idea of where he is.” My voice failed me as my lips mouthed around the word no, Dustin snapped his head away in annoyance and turned back to Steve. 

“How many phones do you have?” He pleaded, laying his hands flat against the counter as he hunched over it, I looked between the two freshmen as an air of urgency and fear filled the air around us. 

“Someone was murdered.” Steve ignored him, pointing at the tv that had the images of a crime scene flashing across it, I squeezed my eyes shut as I recognised the background. 

“How many phones do you have.” He drawled out, his voice raising louder with each word as Max fiddled impatiently beside him. Steve’s head swung around to lock eyes with me over his strange request, confusion reflected in my gaze as well. 

What did this have to do with Eddie?  

“Uh two. Why?” His brow furrowed as he turned back to them, with slow movements I walked to stand behind Steve, watching erratic thoughts spin in Dustin’s eyes. 

“Technically three if you count Keith’s in the back.” Robin piqued up, jamming her thumb over her shoulder as she pointed to our managers office behind us. 

The others shared a confirming glance between them. “Yeah three works.” Max turned to Dustin, nodding ferociously as he slid his bulky backpack from his shoulders. 

“What are you doing?” Steve asked apprehensively as I tensed, Dustin slammed the bag down on the counter. 

“What are you-“ Steve yelled as he slid his bag across the tabletop and onto the ground below it. 

“My pile!” Robin jumped up from her chair and slammed into me as my brother launched himself onto the counter. 

“No no no! My tapes! Dude.” Steve grabbed his hair as Dustin’s feet swept the pile of movies into a loud clattering mess as he scrambled towards the computer. 

“What are you doing man?” Steve whined, throwing his hands up angrily in the air. Max snuck around the corner of the square counter to join him as he plopped down in front of the computer, rapidly firing away as his fingers stroked the keys at lightning speed. 

“Setting up base of operations here.” Robin peeked up at the screen as he typed madly away, absentmindedly handing me one of the scattered tapes as we both bent down to pick them up. 

“Base of operations?” Robin repeated, shooting Dustin a quizzical look. 

“Stop. Get off of that.” Steve tried to usher Dustin from the seat as Max stared over his shoulder intently at the names scrawling across the screen.

“No I need it.” He shot back, flexing his fingers in irritation.  

“Need it for what?” Steve grumbled, sounding awfully like a tired parent. 

“Looking up Eddie’s friends phone numbers.” He explained, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. My neck snapped up from the pile of tapes I had stacked in my hands, slamming them down on the counter at Eddie’s name. 

“Oh Eddie your new best friend because he’s so much cooler than me.” Steve replied immaturely. 

“Ehhh yes.” Dustin swung his head around on his shoulders in frustration at Steve’s childish antics. “I never said that.” He exclaimed. 

“Dustin.” I whispered, but my voice got lost as the store phone rung in a loud shrill. 

“Seriously you guys maybe on a Monday you can play around in here like toddlers, but it’s Saturday. It’s our busiest day.” Robin slammed her own pile down next to mine as she bent up to pick up a sign that Dustin had kicked off the counter. 

“Dustin.” I tried again, turmoil boiling within me as my mind ran rampant, Eddie’s face contorted in different types of pain burned behind my eyelids. 

“Look Robin, I totally empathise but this cannot wait until Monday.” He spun back in the chair as he ripped a notebook from his pocket, frantically scribbling down something as he stared as the computer screen.

“Oh my God.” Steve mumbled, rubbing his face as he bent down to pick up more stuff scattered on the floor. 

“What, because calling all of Eddie’s friends is an emergency?” Robin shot back. 

“Correct.” Dustin yelled. Max turned to look at me as she felt me move behind her. 

“You want me to strangle him? Or do you wanna do it?” Steve offered to Robin as he helped her return things to their rightful place. 

“We could take turns.” She smirked. 

“Dustin!” I yelled, slamming my hand down next to Max and making her jump. 

I knew something was seriously wrong when my brother refused to meet my eyes, his brows puckered as he dropped the notebook in front of him and pointed his pencil over his shoulders at us. 

“Can you just fill them in while I do this?” He aimed his words at Max, so I turned to her expectantly, so did Robin and Steve. A rage filed scream filed my throat as her stare met mine, pity and sorrow reflected in her blue eyes as her lips quivered, hesitating on the edge of words that were about cut through me like a rusty, serrated knife. 

“Fill us in on what?” Robin questioned, her gaze flicking between our faces as dread filled mine and guilt clouded Max’s. 

Eddie | March 1986

I sped past the front door of the house nestled by the glistening blue water, the darkened windows and dusty front porch giving off an air of neglect and headed straight for the boat house hidden down the back of Reefer Ricks property, I swung my head to the sides as I sprinted down the uneven slope.

Even out here, miles away from the nearest suburban household, I felt like there were eyes on me. I slammed my hands against the white sheet metal of the unlocked door, barrelling through it and spinning back to slam it shut. 

My breathing was heavy as I rushed to the grimy window, gripping the sides as my bulky rings strained against my skin painfully, I peeked through the smears of dirt and dust into the empty surrounding woods, the blaring sunlight filtered down through new spring trees, shining far too much exposure onto my scarcely hidden position for my liking. I slumped over the windowsill as my breathing slowed, clutching at the stich in my side. The small boat suspended in air over the hole in the middle of the floor that dropped off into the lake, held by four chains attached to each corner, creaked eerily as a cool breeze flowed in from the still water outside, the reflection of its' depths danced across the walls in a dizzying pattern. 

A pungent off smell surround the boat house from the life jackets and fishing gear hung up around the walls, I swept my hands across the rough wooden benches that lined the far wall across from me as my stomach rumbled, pushing piles of crap and junk onto the floor carelessly as I searched for some kind of weapon. 

Something. 

Anything. 

I scoffed to myself as I pulled a warm pack of beer from beside the turned off old fridge in the corner, out of date snack bars layered in dust, packed behind it. 

Yeah, it’ll have to do. 

The glass bottle slipped through my fingers and split into a thousand shards as something screed behind me, I flung around and fell back against the grainy wood bench, swinging my head wildly towards to source until I spotted the Bald Eagle soaring over the reflective blue water as it dived, it’s wings spread wide as it dipped and flew in spectacular patterns. I walked over slowly to the edge of the open window, my thoughts moving to my Uncle Wayne. 

They were his favourite birds; he’d always come home with a new random fact about them, his face bright with excitement as he shoved his favourite nature book under my nose as we sat at our dingy dinner table eating a five-star microwaved meal. 

“You know kid, they mostly eat fish?” 

“Really?”

“Yeah, follow a Bald Eagle and you’ll never go hungry.”

I coughed as a desperate sob racked my body, bending over to grab my knees as my heart clenched for my Uncle, wishing he was here with me now, torn between not wanting to be alone in this mess but praying to a God I definitely didn’t believe in or at least, - didn’t have a good relationship with – that divine fate had intervened, and my uncle didn’t return home this morning from his shift to find what drove me out last night. My hands trembled as panic consumed me, imagining what he must have thought when he found the bloody, crumpled mess that used to be Chrissy. 

Would he think it was me? No, he knew me better than almost everyone. He must have called the cops by now; he had to be worried about me. Once my name was dragged into this there would be hell to pay, a fury of uniform clad search parties out for my head. 

I wondered if there’d be anyone on the opposite side of that, out looking to help me. My uncle definitely, My Hellfire club maybe. Though I couldn’t imagine anyone or anything able to stop whatever did that to Chrissy. 

My thoughts flashed to Henderson as I watched the Eagle soar low over water’s edge, disappearing into the orange horizon as the sun quickly set. Jealously floored me as I wished for my own pair of strong wings to fly me away from this mess. 

Like a rabid animal, I shot up and dived under the damp blue tarp covering the rusty boat, rapidly spreading it over me to cover my sneakers as the far-off sound of tires spinning over gravel made its way towards the boathouse.

Y/N | March 1986

“Have you seen or heard from Eddie recently?” Dustin paced back and forth in front of me as he pressed the phone harder into his ear. The world around me passed in a blur as my thoughts consumed me. 

Chrissy Cunningham dead in Eddie’s trailer. 

Eddie missing or worse. 

I had nearly torn poor Max’s arms off as I gripped her shoulders, leveling my face with hers as I made her repeat what she said, she had to tell me three times that she had seen him leave – alive – before I collapsed back against the stool behind the counter in relief. 

Steve, Robin and I had all stood wordless as a cold tremor ran though the three of us as Max spoke about the electrical problems at the trailer park and what her and Dustin thought that meant. 

I didn’t think that I would ever feel relieved to hear that the upside down and the monsters within it were wracking havoc on Hawkins in again, but relief flowed through me that they thought and agreed that it had to be something supernatural because there was no way Eddie had hurt Chrissy. 

Alive but on the run. Thing could be a lot worse. I bit at my raw nails beds, my ringers tracing the ghost of Eddie’s ring that no longer sat on my finger as I impatiently sat and listened to the three phone calls happening around me, I had been dismissed from my list of names to ring, Robin gently tugging the phone from my hand with a small, pitiful smile as I shook like a leaf in the wind. 

“Eddie Munson.” Max sped past me in the other direction to Dustin.

“When was the last time you talked to him?” Dustin sighed and crossed another long shot name off the short list.

“Yeah have you seen him?” Max quipped. 

“Okay, sorry to bother you” Dustin slammed his receiver down and reached for another number. 

“Know anyone who’d know where he is?” Max groaned, her eyes snapping up to meet mine as I fiddled and leaned in closer to hear the irritated voice on the other line.  

“I reallyyy don’t think he’s at the arcade.” Robin grabbed the phone dial and held it to her chest, walking over to the other side of the counter. “Yep, I’m pretty sure.” I sighed and pressed my lips together as she looked up at me in disappointment. 

“Reefer Rick? No. Does this Reefer Rick have a last name? I mean, it’s kind of…” Max jogged over to the blank notebook in front of the register, waving her hand around as she tried to drag the information out from the person on the other end of the call. 

“Doctor Zhivago.” Steve strutted past me on the other side of the counter as he weaved his way through the isles of stacked movie, the double VHS tape held up in his hand as he smirked as the customer – she was what both he and Robin would have described as a ‘babe’. I huffed and slipped from the chair, ignoring his antics as I watched Max scribble something down madly, peeking over her shoulder to make out her messy handwriting.  

She slammed the phone down and turned to the me watching her with a hopeful expression. “Hey guys, I might have a lead.” 

“Seriously?” Dustin spun around with a keen grin as Robin hung up mid conversation. 

“Yeah. Apparently Eddie gets his drugs from some guy named Reefer Rick. And sometimes Eddie crashes there.” Max’s face scrunched up over the name as she shook her head. 

Uh oh. 

Ricks place out by Lovers Lake, sat in the middle of nowhere surround by thick tufts of trees. 

Perfect place to hide. 

Panic and frustration shot through me that I hadn’t thought of Eddie’s supplier myself, while I listened to the group try and figure out where to find him. 

“That sounds promising. Where does this Reefer Rick guy live?” Robin 

“See that’s the thing, no one knows. He’s more of a legend than someone that people actually know.” Max shrugged her shoulders as she acknowledged how ridiculous it sounded. Guilt pulsed through me as I considered letting them figure it out the hard way, saving me the grace of not admitting my habit to Dustin, not that I’d been keeping life together well recently, but I still wanted to be a good older sibling example to him. 

No, Eddie’s safety was more important than my bruised ego taking a hit to my questionable-to-begin-with reputation, and with the man hunt that was already brewing from the news that there was a high school student murdered, every second was crucial. 

“What about a last name?” Dustin suggested. 

“I don’t know that either.” Our heads flung to the front of the store as Steve cut Max off.  

“Bet the cops know the last name.” He was loading more tapes into the trolley, mumbling away from us as he pointedly tried to ignore my outraged face, his vest swayed like a red flag as his back made for a nice, large target for the tape I’d subconsciously picked up. 

“The cops? Really Steve that’s your suggestion?” Dustin spat, a similar expression of disgust and anger reflected on his face. 

I needed to speak up now. 

“We don’t need the cops. I know where Reefer Rick lives.” The older friends of the group shot me knowing and disappointed looks as Dustin scrunched up his face at me. Steve slammed the last of the tapes down and spun around towards the counter. 

“How the hell do you-“ I cut Dustin off before he started on his tangent. 

“That doesn’t matter right now.” I waved him off, turning my attention to Steve as I slid closer next to him to join him at the counter, placing my own arms on the tabletop, forcing him to look at me. My body was like an electrified live wire, burning at the touch as each wasted second that ticked away put my teeth on edge. 

“We need to find Eddie before the cops do, and every moment counts right now.” I forced myself to hold back the anger in my voice, we couldn’t afford to fight between ourselves right now, Steve didn’t know Eddie like I did – not that he’d given him much of a chance – but if what happened at his trailer had anything to do with the upside down, then we needed to stick together, I needed his help, my friends help, to save Eddie.

And myself, if I was honest. 

Because if Eddie didn’t escape from the evil supernatural forces of the upside down or the inevitable witch hunt by Hawkins residents, then I had no intention to either. 

The only way we were going to be able to fight this was together, like we always had. 

“I just think that they should be filled in on what we know, what’s going in.” He shrugged, turning to face me as my expression pleaded with him, his own conveying his urgency for me to understand his point.  

“You think Eddie’s guilty, don’t you?” Dustin snapped, my younger brother grew fiercer than even myself for a moment as Steve tore his stare away from mine and leaned on the counter towards him, an apologetic look on his sharp features as he shrugged again. Dustin crossed his arms and raised his brows at him as I placed my hand over his, clenching down harshly on his fingers. 

“Steve, you and I have been through things that we can’t even bare to speak about. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t trust me. I know Eddie, better than anyone else ever will. He didn’t do this. We need to go find him and save him from whatever did.” Dustin swiped his bag back onto his shoulders as he shoved Max and Robin towards the exit, mumbling for them to move faster. 

I turned away to catch the door as it swung back closed after them, pausing as I noticed Steve still hadn’t moved, his eyes glued to his hands as he clenched them together. 

My thin patience snapped as I watched a police patrol car speed past with its siren blaring as its lights reflected off the store front’s windows. 

“You’re coming, or so help me I will put hair removal in your shampoo until you go bald.”  

Chapter Eleven

➢ Eddie Tag List } @dotslabyrinth @chanaaaannel @lem0nb0iii @xcarabear @projectcampbell @munchabunch @grungegrrrl @sammararaven @ches-86 @alinepichi @halbhohehalluzination @kalalikalas @thetrashqueen23 @bruh-tato-chap @sagittariughs @c0rroded-coffin @averagemisfit03 @eddiesgffff @churchmuffins

Copyright © 2022 by P.McCann.

All Rights Reserved.

#eddie smut #eddie munson fan fiction #eddie munson #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson headcanon #eddie stranger things #stranger things 4 #stranger things s4 #eddie fanfic #eddie x you #opposite ends #eddie fluff #eddie x reader #stranger things #eddie munson one shot #eddie munson slow burn #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfic #Eddie Munson angst

[veronicaphoenix]

Chapter tags & trigger warnings: best friends to lovers, sad!noah. | Word count: 1.2k | Cross posted on AO3. | Series masterpost. ✧.*

General trigger warnings: This work addresses and depicts issues related to addiction and violence, contains explicit sexual content, and explores themes of childhood trauma. Reader discretion is advised. +18

“I thought we agreed on going to the movies tonight,” I said, my voice tinged with a simmering anger as I locked eyes with her. 

“Yeah,” she replied, her tone hushed. She shifted uncomfortably on her feet. “But Mitch wants to take me out for dinner. He insisted it has to be today because he’ll be out of town for two weeks. Something came up.”

I could see the struggle in her eyes. She’d probably been battling herself about deciding between our plans or going out with Mitch. 

Clearly, Mitch had won. 

“Two weeks,” I repeated, standing on the other side of the kitchen island. “Can’t you meet him then? We planned on going to the cinema tonight. We decided it last month, Lia.”

“I know. I know and I’m sorry,” she insisted, raising her voice a little, her features still marked with her apprehension. “But I don’t want to disappoint him.”

I made a face, not particularly concerned about whether Mitch would be disappointed or not. 

“And what about me?” I shot back.  

“Noah, I really like him,” she was begging now, demanding understanding from me. Her eyes locked onto mine from across the room. 

“Yeah, I can see that…” I muttered. 

I let my shoulders fall and turned around, busying myself with the coffee machine. 

“You know what? Whatever,” I concluded. “Go hang out with Mitch. It’s all you’ve been doing lately, anyway. I’ll call Matt and give him your movie ticket.”

My response caught her off guard, and the room filled with an unexpected stillness, silence.

“I’m not doing anything wrong, Noah,” she said. Her tone had changed. She knew she had lost a battle against me, so there was no point in keeping up the never-broken-a-plate-princess façade. “And what do you mean with that? If you weren’t my friend, I’d say you’re jealous.”

That’s the fucking problem, I thought bitterly. I’m your best friend. I shouldn’t feel like this.

“And what if I am?” I turned to face her again, holding an empty cup of coffee in my hand. “I feel like a barely see you these days. With your side jobs and this guy there are days in which I don’t even know if you’re here or on the other side of the country.”

“Well, that’s how life is, isn’t it?” She gestured broadly, a bit of exasperation tinging her voice and features. “We have things to do, and it’s the first time I feel like I really like someone. Mitch is funny and interesting, and I can tell he likes me. I want to give it a chance, see where this is going. Maybe… Maybe he’s the one. At some point we have to move on, don’t you think?”

I didn’t like where that conversation was going. Not one bit. 

She must have sensed my unease, just as I could sense her emotions, because her following words came out from her mouth with a tenderness that I couldn’t fight against, “and being busy doesn’t mean that you will stop being my best friend and the person I care for most in the world.”

There it was, that look again. Those captivating brown eyes of hers had a way of bringing me to my knees. 

I slumped my shoulders again. 

“I’m sorry,” I admitted, vulnerability in my voice. “I just… I don’t like it. I don’t like… not seeing you that often.”

“I know,” she said softly, extending her hand over the kitchen isle until it reached me. I lay my hand on hers, and her fingers wrapped around my skin, the coolness of her rings spreading to me. “I feel upset about that, too, but didn’t we have a similar talk when I decided to move into my own apartment? You thought that not leaving under the same roof, not seeing each other for breakfast and then before going to bed, would strain our relationship. Has that happened? I’ve had my own place for over a year now. Have we steered away from each other?”

The opposite. As the years went by, I felt more attached and connected to her.. The more restricted time to talk had helped to create a secret language between us that was based on looks and… Sensations? Yeah, I could feel when she was extremely happy about something or whenever something was off. Our bond intensified during this time that we had spent living in separate spaces, which only solidified my belief that we needed each other.  

“I agree with all you say. Maybe I’m just scared that at some point our lives will follow different paths and eventually, we’ll just forget each other.”

“That’s not gonna happen,” she reassured me, her thumb gently stroking my hand. A small, reassuring smile graced her lips. “It doesn’t matter if I end up moving to the other side of the world, or if you… I don’t know, get married and have kids. You’ve had that dream since forever, haven’t you? We’re supposed to pursue our dreams at some point, but you have always been the only constant in my life. I’m never forgetting that, and I’m definitely not throwing it away.” 

Her words stirred confusion within me. The mention of me getting married and having kids suddenly felt like an unwelcome intrusion into the life we had built together – a life that felt practically perfect.

Something tugged at my heart. I wanted to be honest with her. 

“I don’t want you to stop needing m—.”

Then, the doorbell rang. 

“That must be Mitch,” Lia said, both of us turning to face the interruption. 

Damn it. 

She sent another reassuring look my way, removing her hand from mine as she headed to the entrance and opened the door. I watched her smile widen as Mitch appeared into vision, wearing a worn jeans jacet and denim of the same color. He kissed the cheek she offered him, his eyes catching mine as Lia welcomed him inside. 

“You spend more time in this house than in your own apartment,” Mitch said, making his way in. He hid his hands inside the pockets of his jeans, and I noticed he didn’t seem quite comfortable there, not even when he glanced at me and sent me a friendly smile. 

“Noah doesn’t think quite the same,” Lia replied, her voice joyful. 

She was so lovely, her tone, her attitude. I could tell Mitch made that comment with a tinge of annoyance, and a minute earlier I had been pestering her about spending too much time away. Yet, she managed to focus on her own excitement and joy and not let any of the two men affect her mood. 

I had no choice but to let her go. 

Mitch shook my hand and pointed out at the empty coffee cup I was uninterestedly holding. I had forgotten about coffee. I wanted something else. 

“I’ll grab my things and we can go,” Lia said, ushering towards the studio at the back of the house. 

“Sure,” Mitch said, following her figure until she disappeared in the dark. “Has she been here all day?” He asked me. 

“We had work to do,” I replied, and ignored him as I put the coffee cup back in its place. 

Lia came back a moment later, all pretty and radiant. She kissed me on the cheek before leaving, squeezed my hand and gifted me a beautiful smile, and I was left standing there with two cinema tickets and a bittersweet feeling. I was happy for her; I wanted her happy, but I couldn’t stop myself from thinking that I had always been the one to make her happy. 

#noah sebastian #bad omens fic #noah sebastian fic #noah sebastian x ofc #bad omens

[simmancy]

I’m planning on playing a Stardew Valley-inspired save and was wondering what mods you’d recommend using.

I don’t expect to get things 1:1, but I’d like to have some mods that add and expand on the gardening system and relationships.

So first as a disclaimer I'm going to out myself and say I'm not a SDV girlie--I grew up with Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons and they're what scratches my cozy farming itch--but they're similar enough and I do have a whole ass farm save to one day return to so...

For vanilla gameplay, you can get a basic cozy farming save going with Cats & Dogs, Seasons and Cottage Living but these mods SHOULD enhance your gameplay overall. I've used most of them to varying degrees in the past--anything I haven't used I marked, but they come from creators that I highly recommend.

As always, read the requirements for each mod! A lot require the XML Injector, and relationship ones often require the Mood Pack.

This mod list was written on Patch 1.98.158.1020 / Mac: 1.98.158.1220 (June 13 2023).

Mods for Better Relationships

First Impressions by Lumpinou: I know I always suggest this one, but if you are doing ANY sort of save where romance/relationship building is a core part of it, you want this! Starting off strong with a villager is a good thing! OR you can have enemies-to-lovers!

RPO by Lumpinou: I also always suggest this one. If you don't have it, please get it! It's beautiful! It's powerful! I honestly use all the modules, but I would specifically suggest Modules 15 & 17 here as they add to relationships. Module 17 is the new RPO Attraction system. But it's nice to have the rest of it too if you don't already, especially if you're planning on kids in your save. It really adds to the gameplay to find your ~ideal partner~ and then it turns out they don't want kids when you do :O

Road to Romance by Lumpinou: This adds a romance skill to the game, with custom interactions. Add in for more in-depth romance. (It also adds in rabbit hole dates which I like to get sims offscreen for a minute)

Have Some Personality Please! by Polarbearsims: This one I suggest to help with autonomy. You want your potential love interests to act of their own accord? Their traits to matter? Get this. It'll help. It can also block off romantic interactions :) so you feel like you've earned the heart events you're imagining

Wonderful Whims by Turbodriver: I'm not currently using either WW in my saves but I would suggest it for the attraction system, as again that will help with your quest for love. It can work in tandem with the attraction system from RPO as well :)

Home Regions by Kuttoe: this isn't really a relationship mod, but I would use it anyway JUST to keep your SDV sims in town where they belong... and keep the other townies OUT. You can set which TS4 worlds you want to see overlap from as well (like if you want some out of town visitors from Windenburg showing up, etc). Fun fact, it also fixes the problem where all your townies are Japanese so

No Randoms by Zero: and finally, this also isn't a relationship mod but it's pretty handy. Maybe you're like me and you don't want the default Mayor in your cozy farm save. You created your OWN characters to fill that role. Well, with this, you can assign the NPC roles in the game. Henford-on-Bagley has several NPC roles that play into the "story" of the world (Mayor, Garden Stall owner, Agatha & Agnes, Creature Keeper, etc) so it's definitely helpful for that!

Mods for Better Farmlife

Free Range by lot51: this mod lets your cows and llamas roam freely without the Animal Shelter. They DO make messes that you'll have to clean up though (cow pies, trash, etc) and there's a few other extra little things like fairy circles that can spring up :)

Bug Life by lot51: and THIS mod brings bugs to your active lots. I always did a lot of bug collecting to make extra money in my Harvest Moon games.

Bird Life by lot51: I have NOT tried this mod out yet but I'm adding it already because if you're going to add Free Range and Bug Life already... Enhance the outdoors! Why not! Bring your farm to life! BIRDWATCH! (has anyone else played Wingspan? great game)

Farm Animal Set by TheKalino: this adds more custom animals to the game, some of which you can harvest wool or eggs from. Some are just aesthetic. They're added to the Animal Shelter. Nice to expand your farm options, if that's something you want to do!

Cottage Living Tweaks by Zero: specifically Agatha & Agnes are Mortal; Village Gossipers are Residents; Dogs Chase Foxes More Often; and Patchy Scares Foxes (that's right. Use that scarecrow for something). These are just little tweaks to help you out. To be fair, if you're using Home Regions I don't think you'll need Village Gossipers are Residents but I also don't trust TS4 and I used them both at the same time in the past so.

Better Animal Hygeine, Better Animal Hunger, Better Animal Activity by LittleMsSam: these are small tweak mods just to make your life easier with the animals. :)

Calm Bees by LittleMsSam: if you want to add beekeeping to your farm (I would), this is a nice little addition to calm your bees tf down!

Flower Arrangements slower decay by LittleMsSam: I don't remember the Harvest Moon game I got REALLY into doing flower arrangements for, but there was definitely one and I definitely spent a lot of time doing them and gifting them to my love interest. So I'm suggesting it for that reason lmao

More Woodworks by LittleMsSam: you know, just in case your farmer is really into crafting...

Pets Everywhere by Kuttoe: adds stray cats & dogs to every world, including Henford-on-Bagley. Nice if you want to play it as if your farmer befriends the dog and they join the household that way.

Dairy Cowplant by Icemunmun or Cowplant Farming by BrazenLotus: you could have both of them but I think it's just easier to pick one. These add new cowplant varieties that make... milk! They can also make different kinds of milk.... See below with the harvestables... I feel like the Cowplant really does fit with Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons' level of quirky, you know?

Functional Mill, Plant Milk Press, Dairy Churn by Icemunmun: these are custom objects to, again, add onto your gameplay. They work with the custom harvestables below to add some more stuff for your farmers to create. And they're very on theme.

Cheesemaking Skill by BrazenLotus: another custom object/mod/skill that adds to what your farmers can make. I have NOT tried it yet but I'm honestly about to throw it into my game today because I'm obsessed with the very IDEA of it. I've used BrazenLotus mods in the past so I can recommend

Custom Recipes and Harvestables

One of the best parts of these cozy farming games has always been the cooking, right? The custom harvestables will add more variety to your farm... The custom recipes are just my suggestion to spice up your game. I am a glutton for custom recipes, tbh. Besides, the way to a love interest's heart is through their stomach, right? What better way to

Custom Harvestables by Icemunmun

Custom Foods by Icemunmun (requires custom food interaction)

Custom Foods by BrazenLotus (there are a LOT here--BrazenLotus has a whole homesteading section which is really cool and was not there the last time I went to their site and I'm literally obsessed)

Grannie's Cookbook by Littlbowbub

Oni's Food Mod (I use this one the least--right now in my "gutted' mod folder I only have Grannie's Cookbook--but I've used it in the past and still highly recommend)

Hopefully this helps! Happy simming!

#ts4 #ts4 mod list #ts4 mod recs #wcif #mod list #simblr help #honestly this made me want to play more Story of Seasons so thank you

[spinningintheshadows]

75 All Time Low Lyric Prompts!

“Thoughts and prayers, so what, who cares?”

“Out of my way, I’m going in”

“Not your one-and-only, just someone to get you through tonight”

“So meet where the stars collide, the Milky Way is ours tonight”

“I found god and we found heaven on the bedroom floor”

“I don’t mind if you fuck up my life”

“I shut my eyes at seventeen”

“If I said I want your body, would you hold it against me?”

“All that I know is that I just can’t say no to you, funny how things never change”

“You’re everything I love about the things I hate in me”

“Mixing fireworks and gasoline, never meant to make you fall with me”

“How long can we be happy if happy ain't meant for us”

“We said forever but forever wouldn’t wait for us”

“The sweetness of you on my tongue, I breathed you in, you filled my lungs.”

“I never want to leave this sunset town, but one day the time may come”

“It’s hard to be brave when you’re alone in the dark”

“Three hundred days with no reply now”

“You look just fine on your own, but we look better in the afterglow”

“So long and thanks for all the make-believe, the memories of you and me”

“What a shame, what a shame. Beautiful scars on critical veins”

“They won’t catch us in the dark, roll like thunder, burn like stars”

“If you need a friend, I’ll help you stitch up your wounds”

“I know it gets hard for you to stay, but do you really wanna throw it all away”

“It was a one night stand ‘til I woke up next to you”

“We’ve got scars on our future hearts but we never look back”

“We go together or we don’t go down at all”

“You had me at “come over boy, I need a friend””

“All you ever wanted was a part of me that I couldn’t fake”

“I’d kill for one more way to tell you how you make me better everyday”

“We’ll talk about how your parents separated and how you don’t want to make the same mistake as them”

““We all recover” say the friends turned to wine drunk lovers”

“Why can’t you just be happy for me”

“Thanks to you, I’m not myself. I’m all strung out, that much is clear”

“There’s a monster standing where you should be”

“Pick yourself up off the ground, you’re sure as hell too good to let them hold you down”

“Damn, it’s such a shame that we built a wreck out of me”

“I’m getting sick of your bullshit attitude”

“You know, there are some days when I really feel like this could work, like you and I are finally going to get it right. Then there are days like today, when you make me want to tear my fucking hair out”

“Is this what it feels like finding out I have the guts to say anything.”

“Your favorite enemy and your most hated friend”

“I’ll build up an army of cellophane soldiers, cheap origami”

“We’ll take it over ice tonight, with a little salt and a little lime”

“She’s got me hooked on her like good cocaine”

“Did you fake it just to break another stranger in your bed?”

“What do you say when your heart’s not in it?”

“I’ll misbehave if it turns you on, no Mr Right if you want Mr Wrong”

“Suburban living with a feeling that I’m giving up everything for you”

“That’s just the price I pay when I don’t even know her name”

“Feels like I’m falling in love when I’m falling to the bathroom floor”

“When the world comes crashing down, who’s ready to party?”

“I was young and horny. In retrospect, I wouldn’t do it again”

“So tell me what your best friend knows that I don’t know”

“Lit a match just heat things up, but I got more than bargained for”

“A handful of moments I wish I could change, but I was carried away”

“I’m just a face for every picture, a smile for your scrapbooks, and a story to be told”

“Right now I want to watch the tide roll in with my best friends”

“I’m guilty but I’m safe for one more day”

“Just another pretty face, but I want one more taste”

“It was the very last time we said goodbye to the beach”

“Telling another tale of the American dream”

“You talk like your famous, you’re shameless”

“Now the rain is just washing you out of my hair, and out of my mind”

“I would have married you in Vegas had you given me the chance to say I Do”

“Before you ask which way to go remember where you’ve been”

“The night and days fly by when I’m lost on the streets”

“When it all comes down to a sunrise on the east side, will you be there to carry me home?”

“I’ve never told a lie and that makes me a liar”

“Don’t forget, we’ve got unfinished business”

“Am I depressed or am I just bored?”

“I wanna drive this car right over the edge of every bad idea I didn’t have yet”

“She didn’t stutter, my chest flutters, cardiac attack in the cradle of the summer”

“And it makes it all okay if I don’t care”

“When I wake up, I know the dream isn’t done. I want to see your face and know I made it home”

“I take a drink because the truth is hard to swallow”

“Secrets don’t make friends, we make love and love falls apart”

#all time low #lyrics #lyric prompts #song lyric prompts #writing prompt #writing prompt list #writing prompts #lyric prompt #this took me so long

[wolfkg]

Never Alone

Billy Hargrove x Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Eddie, Billy and Y/n are in a relationship together that the town of Hawkins doesn’t understand. They don’t care about anyone else as long as they have each other. Their relationship is put to the test when Jason becomes more of a problem and a danger to them all especially Y/n.

  Warnings: Language

Part 1

Are relationships strange, yes? Are they supposed to be normal, no? Does a relationship have to be with one person? Yes, or no? Well, mine defiantly isn't. I have been in a relationship with Billy Hargrove and Eddie Munson for three years now. It is called polyamorous of course no one understands it except our friends but the whole town is against it. Not that I care but the bully from Jason has gotten out of hand especially towards me. He would call me a witch behind my back and start rumors that weren't true about me, Billy has wanted to put Jason in his place as did Eddie, but I wouldn’t let them, Jason needs to know we’re no longer in high school and he needs to grow up. Billy now owns the only car shop in town and Eddie has gigs in town with his band Corroded Coffin. They are well known in this town and have made successful music/albums in the past few years. Eddie has been offered shows and tours out of Hawkins but declines every single one because of me, I’ve told him to go but he always says no. He can’t leave me and never will. Same with Billy, his friend has a popular car shop in California that he offered a full-time well-paid job to him he would only need to move back to California but declined the offer for me. These boys mean the world to me, but I always feel I’m holding them back that they will forever be stuck in Hawkins, Indiana because of me. Sometimes I think breaking up with them will make them leave but to do that to them would break me as well. We needed each other, I knew that, and so do they things change in the future, but towns do not and neither do people. We must leave somehow, someway but we needed to leave. Sooner or later. 

Today marks our 4-year anniversary of being together. To celebrate we invited all our friends out to lovers' lake for a swim day. Lovers Lake was the place I fell in love with both boys and them vice versa. Steve invited Robin and I out to Lovers Lake with everyone else, I declined at first knowing I’m not good at meeting new people, but Steve insisted that I’d come because he wanted to introduce me to the two new members of the group which were Eddie and Billy. Dustin brought Eddie and Max brought Billy. It was hard for me to trust new people and to let anyone in, it took me a whole month to finally let Steve and Robin in and even longer for the kids. My past, my parents, they made me not trust people easily, they made me suffer for twenty years under their roof when I got the chance to move away to make my own life in Hawkins, I took it without hesitation. I told myself to never trust too quickly, never let your guard down around anyone. But that all the changed the day I saw both boys messing around with the kids laughing, living just free. They opened a new world for me, a world where I can be myself and love whoever I want and not care what anyone thinks. Our first meeting turned into multiple meet ups alone just us. They both understood what this was, what relationship we were creating, and they both didn’t leave, they both loved me and I them and were willing to share with no argument. They both could take care of me and I them. I love them and no one is ever going to change that, and I mean no one. 

Robin and I showed up at Lovers Lake just after Steve who already had a BBQ going with Dustin, Will, Mike, El, Lucas and Max already in the lake splashing around. Eddie was on his way and Billy had work, so he wouldn't be by till later. All the kids cheered and hollered when they saw Robin and I walk up “Hey ladies weren’t sure if you were going to show up” Steve mocked, I shook my head and laughed while setting down my bag “And miss out on all the fun that I planned no way.” Steve rolled his eyes and grabbed the food from Robins hands “So, where’s your boys anyway?” Before I can answer the sound of Eddie’s van rolled up making me smile “well there's one.” I turn and walk towards Eddie’s van, meeting him halfway. He smiled and pulled me into him spinning me around as I laughed “Happy anniversary sweetheart.” He set me back down on my feet and I wrapped my arms around his neck “and to you too my love.” He kissed my cheek and looked around at what everyone was already doing but I know who he was looking for “He had to work again but he said he be by later, he promised” Eddie smiled my way seeing the slight sadness in my eyes “and you know he keeps his promises sweetheart, he’ll be here.” I smiled as he put his arm around my shoulder leading me to the others enjoying our time all together.

We had food, music, lounging, Eddie brought the hot dogs Steve asked for along with some alcohol. Nancy and Jonathan showed up an hour after Eddie, all the boys started talking to the kids while Nancy, Robin and I talked around the fire as the sun began to set. Billy texted me not that long ago saying he was on his way which made both I and Eddie smile like kids making everyone else laugh our way. Steve brought out the Smores making all the kids run out of the water and gather around the fire, the kids made Smores while the adults talked, ten minutes later the sound of a car pulling up got all our attention, but I know Billy’s car and this sure wasn’t it.  

A white Porche 944 pulled onto the dirt road parking behind Eddie’s car, immediately Eddie, Steve and Jonathan all stood up as Jason stepped out of the car walking towards us. Everyone had their attention on Jason as he spoke “I heard there was a celebration down here, didn’t expect to see the freak and the witch hanging out with you all.” Eddie spoke before anyone else “Call her that again and see what happens.” Jason only scoffed in his direction turning his attention towards Steve “what happened to you Harrington, you used to be as popular as I was now look at you hang with children and nobodies.” I then got his attention standing up and standing beside Eddie “What do you want Jason?” His eyes were red and bloodshot, and he was swaying back and forward like he had been drinking “Just thought I’d wish your boys a congratulations for sticking with you for so long especially after what everyone says about little miss Y/N.” Eddie glared Jason’s way “you better choose your next words carefully Jason.” He then got in Eddie’s face yelling “you think I’m scared of you freak? You're about as threatening as a skunk.” Before Eddie could do anything, Steve got between them and pushed Jason back “get out of here Jason before you do something you’ll regret.”  

Jason stumbled back a little smiling “Fine, fine just let me talk to Y/n first then I’ll be on my way.” I froze when he mentioned my name. What on earth does he have to say to me? “Like hell” Eddie went to lunge at Jason, but Steve stopped him. “Jason whatever you have to say you can say here, don’t think for one second I’m stupid enough to be alone with you.” I spoke as I placed my hand on Eddie’s arm calming him down, “Well the others might not like what I have to say, but if you insist your relationship with Hargrove and Munson is a sin. Whatever you’ve done has Billy against me and the freak no longer a freak, everyone knows him as the lead singer of Corroded Coffin like he was never the leader of the Cult in high school. You’ve done something from the help of the devil and soon I will rid you of the spell you have on my best friend and on the freak's status just you wait.” Everyone was speechless from what came out of Jason’s mouth he basically threatened to murder me in front of everyone, his words had me shaking in fear and Eddie knew it but before he could do anything a deep voice startled everyone a voice I recognized immediately. “What the hell did you just say to her Carver?” Jason did a quick turnaround coming face to face with an angry Billy. Jason began to laugh seeing his old best friend ready to kill him. “She done something to you man, something that I’m trying to break you out of, there is no way you would date something like her let alone this freak, Hargrove you need to wake up!!” Jason was scaring me, scaring everyone and Billy knew that, and he wasn’t having it, “I’m going to give you five seconds to get out of here before Eddie and I fucking kill you.”

Jason had a broken look on his face like his whole world was falling apart, he took one last look at everyone before turning back towards Billy with a disappointed look on his face. “Fine stay here with the lowlife for all I care, but you haven’t seen the last of me.” He bumped shoulders with Billy as he stumbled back to his car, he then slammed his car door then stuck his hand out the window flipping us all off as he sped off back into the woods. With Jason finally gone everyone relaxed as I started shaking, everything Jason said sat in my mind making me feel sick and start rapidly breathing. So much was happening in my head I didn’t even realize Eddie and Billy were trying to get my breathing back to normal. “Baby look at us.” “it's ok he’s gone.” “Your safe love.” I looked around and noticed the others were gone probably to give us space as Eddie and Billy both wrapped their arms around me placing me in between them as I relaxed into their arms. My breathing became calm as Billy kissed my head and Eddie hummed my favorite song in my ear everything around me came back to normal, I didn’t realize we were on the ground and there were tears falling down my eyes.  

“We’ve got you darling.” I sigh in relief being in the arms of the two men I love “I’m ok, sorry” Eddie laughed next to me and placed his hand on my chin, so I’d look at him “there is nothing to apologize for sweetheart he scared you and that’s ok, but I promise we got you.” Billy then spoke “He’s not going to touch you with us around.” I nodded and finally told them I was ok, and they helped me up. I noticed the others were farther down from our last spot “we moved farther down in case he came back.” I nodded and kissed both their cheeks making them both look in my direction “thank you boys” they both looked at each other confused then back at me “for what?” I smile at them “for everything, for not giving up on us even with the whole town against us, you boys mean everything to me, and I know you already know that, but I just wanted to let you know, I love you both.” They both laugh and smile “we love you too Y/n” I kissed them both and walked hand in hand with them back to our friends, our family. 

                                                    One Week Later 

A few days have passed since the incident with Jason, I’ve put it behind me as well as everyone else, but Eddie and Billy still looked out for him. They refused to leave my house till they knew he wasn’t going to try anything let alone break into my house. They took shifts staying at my house with me when the other had to work. Don’t get me wrong, I love having them around, but I need my space, once I finally convinced them that nothing was going to happen, and I was fine they both finally went back to working and their own places. Eddie had a concert today and Billy worked late so I was home alone all day getting my house cleaned up and catching up on my shows. Billy and Eddie both promised they would come by for a visit when they were done, which I didn’t mind waiting. I was just happy to have the house to myself. I did know that Jason has been telling more rumors around town about me, everyone but my friends, Hopper and Joyce believe that I am a witch or spawn of satin who would cast a spell on you just by look at you. I know it's gotten worse because getting a job here was impossible for me, they seem to be interested in me until they ask for my name and they either hang up or tell me they have someone else for the job, I’m so used to it that I no longer look for work, Eddie has tried to get me to work with him but I’m too shy around crowds to even try singing in front of people. The boys and my shower walls are the only ones who know I can sing and I’m keeping it that way. The sound of my phone ringing next to me brought me out of my thoughts, on the screen showed Eddie and I wrapped in each other's arms smiling at the camera with Metallica's Master of Puppets playing in the background. I smile and pick up as fast as possible not to worry him “hey Ed’s.”

  The commotion of people in the background and music softly playing made me know he was few minutes from his performance in the local bar in town I guess I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t realize what time it was, the clock on my phone read 7:50pm and his performance was at 8pm and Billy was off in an hour. “Hey sweetheart how are you?” I laughed at the sigh of relief that came from him when I answered “I’m ok nothing interesting to report just a chill kind of day. Keeping myself busy and you sir have a show in a few minutes, so why you are calling me?” I heard him laugh on the other end “What can’t call my girl to make sure she’s ok?” I sigh and smile into the phone I know they are both just looking out for me, but I wish they knew I can take care of myself “no you have every right to call me, but I promise Eddie I'm ok you have a show to put on and I don’t want you to get distracted from it or not put on your best show because you’re worried about me, I can take care of myself Munson you and Billy both know that.”  

He got quiet on the other end which made me feel bad, but he spoke before I could say anything “Sweetheart we know you can take care of yourself we just don’t want you to have to do that no more, you’ve spent your entire life taking care of yourself and all we want to do is show you that we can take care of you too, You’re not a distraction and you never will be. We love you and nothing will change that. I swear to you.” I sigh into the phone knowing I made Eddie feel bad “I’m sorry Eddie, I didn’t mean to upset you I’m just” he laughed into the phone stopping me “Worried as much as we are I know if you come work with me Billy and I might not be as worried.” I rolled my eyes at his offer “Eddie you and I both know I can’t sing in front of crowds even if I tried. They probably wouldn’t even want to listen to me they’ll think I’m a siren next.” Before he could answer I heard someone enter the room on his end making the music louder in my ear, it must have been his manager telling him its time. I couldn’t hear most of the conversation, but I knew he was arguing with him “I’ll leave you to it Eddie, don’t worry I’m fine and will see you when you stop by tonight ok?” He sighed into the phone “Fine, I love you” I smile “Right back at you, go kill it Munson.” He said goodbye and hung up the phone and not a minute later Billy’s ringtone went off on my phone showing the two of us sleeping in each other's arm that Eddie snuck of us one night that I couldn’t get myself to delete. Living on a Prayer blaring in the background as I sighed but smiled and answered the phone “hey love, on break?”  

The echoing sound of machines going off in the background along with people yelling brought me back to when he first took me there to fix my car everyone was staring but were very nice especially when Billy was around, out of our relationship Billy protected both Eddie and I especially me which I didn’t mind at all “hey darling yea on my break just checking in, how are you?” I was going to say the same thing I told Eddie that I was fine and there was nothing to worry about, but I know Billy will see right through me he was harder to lie to harder to cover my fear from he would just see right by my lie “Darling?” I didn’t realize how quiet I was and finally spoke “To be honest I’ve been on edge all day today and I don’t know why. I get this terrible feeling that something is going to happen, maybe Jason and this town has got me paranoid.” He must have gone into his office because it got quiet on his end “Baby do you need me to come by because I will I’ll drop everything and leave Tony to watch the shop.” I would love to have him come to my rescue and be here to make me feel better, but he sounded busy, and I wasn’t going to let him drop everything for me “No Bill’s I’m ok just paranoid is all if I feel you need to come by early, I’ll let you know, this town is just getting to me. When the town thinks you're a witch it will get to you.” I feel his anger through the phone when I mentioned the witch thing, he and Eddie are not the biggest fans of that rumor Jason started in high school which seems to have spread through town and followed me out of it. “If I ever hear anyone else call you that in front of me again, I’m going to put them in the ground. Tommy learned that the hard way, I’m off in an hour love but call me if you need me, I’m only a few blocks away.” Tommy had lost a few teeth and almost his eye that day he called me a witch and threatened to burn me at the stake when I bumped into him walking down the hall what he didn’t know was Billy was waiting at my locker for me and heard everything he said to me, Luckly Hopper kept him from going to jail when I told him everything that happened. “I know love you’ll be the first one I call, because Eddie’s performing his heart out, but I’ll let you get back to work, I love you Bill’s.” I can tell on the phone that he didn't want to go back and wanted to come to my house and make me feel safe, but he can't, and he knows that. “I love you too, I’ll be by in an hour.” We said our goodbye and hung up. 

Throughout the rest of the night, I cooked myself dinner, watched a few of my shows and decided to put on my record player. I looked through all my music and I found the one I wanted to listen to too. The beat of Running Up That Hill filled my house, I never really got into this music till Max introduced me to Kate Bush, Eddie and Billy both despised this song but listened to it anyway for me. I believe I caught both humming it a few times which brought a smile to my face. “It doesn’t hurt me. Do you want to feel how it feels? Do you want to know, know that it doesn’t hurt me? Do you want to hear about the deal we’re making? You, it's you and me.” I danced through my house singing along to Kate Bush making my worries fade away “And if I only could I’d make a deal with God and I’d get him to swap our places be running up that road be running up that hill be running up that building. Say if I only could oh.” The record machine was at full volume as I danced around my room enjoying my time alone until the sound of something breaking downstairs caught my attention, I froze for a second keeping the record going so whoever was in my house didn’t know that I heard them, hell it could have just been in my head. The chorus was back on when I leaned against my door, opening it slightly to see down the hall towards the stairs.  

The sound of footsteps walking up got me silently shutting my door and running to my bathroom locking it with my phone in hand and sitting between the toilet and the shower. I immediately dialed Billy’s number because I knew Eddie wouldn’t hear his phone in the busy bar, the phone rang and rang sending me to his voicemail after the fourth ring, I knew trying again wouldn’t do me any good, so I called the shop directly. The footsteps from the stairs were now down the hall searching through all the rooms upstairs Luckly my room was the last one down the hall. The phone only rang twice when a man's voice answered the phone and recognized it was Tony “Hawkin's repair shop how can I help you?” I spoke as quiet as possible but enough for him to hear me “Tony its Y/n can you put Billy on the phone and tell him it's an emergency, please.” Without hesitation Tony called out to Billy who must have been working on a car to not hear his phone, the second I heard his voice on the phone I broke down “Billy, someone's in my house.” 

#eddie x reader #billy x reader #eddie munson #billy hargrove #polyamarous #xreader #x fem!reader #stranger things #fanfic

[wolflord02]

Gauntlet of Shame (Stardew Valley Expanded fic)

First time posting any fics in ages... based off of this post because this convo gave me a spike of inspiration and I couldn't help myself.

Warning: Mentions of cheating/infidelity, cruel and unusual punishment by the sexy witch lady Camilla (she is her own warning)

~

The farmer could have sworn they had a heart attack when they heard the angered voices of their lovers from the inside of Castle Village’s tavern as they stood at the door. Magnus, Camilla, Lance, Isaac, Jadu, and Alesia’s words were too muffled for the poor person to hear clearly, but it was plain as day that they were talking about them given that their name was mentioned more than once, alongside very… derogatory words.

They really should have expected this, given what happened when they tried dating the vast majority of the younger people of Pelican Town, how the men gave the newcomer the cold shoulder for a long while after that… but then again, the women welcomed them to their chatting session when they’d arrived with a lucky rabbit’s foot with them. The farmer remembered that they happened to have a rabbit’s foot with them… maybe this’ll go better than their gut told them?

They took in a deep breath and stuffed their hand into their pocket to hold the paw charm as they used their spare hand to push the door open.

Their heart dropped as they saw their partners glaring at them. “...Oh dear sweet Yoba…” they thought, feeling their very soul being pierced by the eyes of the most notable mages and adventurers of the village.

Jadu’s piercing violet eyes burned with anger as he spoke up. “Funny seeing you here, my dear. We were just talking about you,” he growled sarcastically, with a voice dripping with so much venom the farmer felt their entire body tense, ready to flee the situation at any opportunity like they were a cornered animal faced with a much stronger predator. 

“You… After all this time, and all we’ve been through, I thought I’d finally found a partner I could actually trust… how fucking dare you show your face here knowing what you’ve done to me? To all of us!?” Isaac clenched his fists so hard, that the farmer thought he was about to tear his leather gloves in half.

Alesia didn’t need to say anything. She didn’t yell at them, nor did she give them the stink eye… in fact, she didn’t look at them at all. All she did was place an arm over Isaac’s shoulder to comfort the scarred warrior as much as she could.

“Have you come to find even more hearts to break, Farmer? Were the most famous and powerful of Castle Village not enough for you?” Magnus scowled, but behind the mask of anger, the farmer could see honest pain in the wizard’s eyes.

But no other gaze of disgust or hatred compared to the look Camilla gave the youth. She had a look that reeked of disapproval, pain, disappointment, and disgust so potent they could almost taste it on their desert-dry tongue.

“So, you thought you’d get away with all of… this?” Camilla said first with a sneer, gesturing to herself and the others surrounding the table where the group stood.

“I-I…” The farmer started, earning even more hateful stares, some even by other patrons which they hadn’t even noticed before. Some of the older adventurers gave disapproving looks as well, while the younger ones mostly snickered or whispered to one another. Even if the upstart managed to talk their way out of this, they would still have a horrible reputation in the village and far beyond… what have they done?

SLAM.

The farmer let out a shout of fear and nearly drew their sword when the door slammed behind them. They damn near jumped out of their skin, and their head snapped behind them at the source of the noise. Their eyes met with Lance, who had his hand against the back of the door with a more sour than usual cat-like leer. “Well? Care to explain to your lovers why you’ve chosen to betray us?” the pink-haired man said as he stepped towards them, looming over them like a tower as they struggled to think of anything to say.

“Ha! Did you honestly think a rabbit’s foot would save you? This trivial magic might work with the magicless, but this is child’s play here.” Camilla laughed as she took the item from the Farmer’s pocket. The farmer watched in dismay as the blonde woman held the paw in her hand, and lit it ablaze with no effort in the slightest.

“...Oh.” they whimpered pathetically as the burnt paw’s ashes fell to the wooden floor of the tavern.

“Well? Are you going to say something?”

The farmer froze under the penetrating gaze of their partners. They couldn’t say anything.

“...What are you going to do to me?”

They were only met with a grin from Camilla that made their skin crawl more than any monster could ever manage.

~

The farmer’s screams echoed through the Crimson Badlands. They ran through the vast sea of blazing sand, their bare feet burning in the desert sand while laughs and mocking cheers called to them. Camilla wasn’t entirely cruel when dishing out this punishment. She’d cast a spell on them that increased their defense to the point where a nuke couldn’t leave so much as a scratch on them, yet the sense of pain remained as they ran through the sandy hellscape, barely avoiding the swarms of monsters targeting them.

Normally, they’d be skillfully swinging their sword and cutting these swarms down with ease which made even the most seasoned adventurers jealous, but Camilla made sure that they were incapable of such a thing. Even though they still carried their weapons with them, it would be an utter waste of time trying to use them considering their attack was so low, they may as well be throwing pebbles like slingshot ammo, and swinging pencil-thin twigs as swords and daggers. It was a cruel punishment… but what would most people do, if given the power to use non-lethal, but oh-so-frightening means to get revenge on their cheating partner, especially if it was with so many others who were just as unaware as the rest?

Magnus chose to leave, seeing this as a childish and unnecessarily cruel way of disciplining the young adventurer. Meanwhile, the rest stayed to watch the chaos from Castle Village’s tall outer walls.

Childish or not, they all knew damn well that the farmer would never do this again, and none of their “lovers” would give them a chance to hurt them ever again, lest the next punishment include… harsher events. Maybe they would have the same punishment, but they’d be reduced to their underwear with even more bystanders watching on as the gauntlet of shame commenced…

However, there was a slim chance that they’d attempt to continue their relationship with any of them. …They weren’t that foolish… right?

#stardew valley #sve magnus #sve camilla #sve isaac #sve jadu #sve alesia #sve lance #stardew valley expanded #constructive criticism welcome #i really hope no one is out of character

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS Do-S Kyuuketsu CD VERSUS Ⅳ Vol.1 Ayato VS Kino VS Shin [Track 1]

Original title: ゲーム・スタート

Source: DIABOLIK LOVERS Do-S Kyuuketsu VERSUS Ⅳ Vol.1 AYATO VS Kino VS Shin [CD not owned by me]

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Midorikawa Hikaru, Morikubo Shoutaro & Tomoaki Maeno

Track 1 ll Track 2 ll Track 3 ll Track 4 ll Track 5

→  LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

TRACK 1: GAME START

*DINGー DONGー*

Ayato: …Hm? 

Ayato gets up. 

*Rustle rustle*

Ayato: Where am I…?

He notices you collapsed on the floor.

Ayato: …!! Oi…! …Oi…!!

*Rustle rustle*

You slowly wake up.

Ayato: Haah…You were just snoozin’...? God. You’ve got some nerve to wake up after me! Under normal circumstances, I’d punish you now. 

You try to get up but nearly fall over again. 

*Rustle*

Ayato: Woah there…Are you ‘kay? You’re shaky on your legs. Guess I have no other choice but to lend you my shoulder. Can you get up? 

Ayato helps you get up on your feet. 

*Rustle* 

*Thud* 

Ayato: Anyway…Where are we? It looks like a manor, but it’s not ours. I’m pretty sure the two of us were hangin’ in town so how did we get here…?”

*Rustle*

Ayato: Ugh…This headache is killin’ me, I can’t remember. However, I’m positive someone carried us here…

*Rustle*

Shin: …Ugh…

Ayato: …!! Who’s there…!? 

Shin: Could you please pipe down? I’ve got one hell of a headache as well. 

Ayato: Shin…! Why are you here…!? Don’t tell me you’re behind this again? I haven’t forgotten ‘bout the last time you kidnapped her! What’s your plan this time, huh!? 

Shin: Good question! I’m in the same boat as you though. I woke up and found myself in this place. While out having some fun in the Demon World, I was suddenly knocked out cold by someone. 

…Fuck! Who in their right mind would even come see you of their own free will? You’re just some arrogant prick who thinks he’s the shit after inheriting his Father’s powers! 

Ayato: Excuse me…!? ーー Anyway, who’s behind this if it’s not you? 

Shin: Once again, how am I supposed to know!? 

*Creaaak*

Ayato: …!? 

Shin: Hah…? 

Kino enters the room. 

Kino: …Oh? You finally woke up? Good morning, Princess. …And friends. 

Ayato: …Ah? Are you pickin’ a fight?

Shin: Who are you anyway? You appear out of nowhere and don’t even give us a proper greeting? Are you asking to be killed? 

Kino: Ah! Now that you mention it, I have yet to introduce myself, don’t I? …Nice to meet you. My name is Kino. I am…the illegitimate child of Karlheinz. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. …Or something like that~? 

Ayato: Wha…!? Illegitimate child!? I’ve never heard anythin’ about that!

Kino: The term ‘secret love child’ exists for a reason, right? You may have inherited your Father’s powers, but it seems like his intelligence was not passed down in the process. You poor little thing.

Ayato: You jerk…You really think you can run your mouth, huh!?

Shin: Well, I have to agree with you on that one, but give us a bit more of a thorough explanation. So, why are we here? Judging from your laidback attitude…You’re probably the one who kidnapped us perhaps?

Kino: Kidnap is such a cruel way to put it. I invited the three of you to this place. To participate in the game which will commence shortly. 

Ayato: A game, you say?

Kino: Exactly! That’s why I made sure to block all exits. Also, I want it to be fun, so I made sure to set up a thing or two…Say, haven’t you felt anything?

Ayato: Stop talking in riddles and just tell us what’s up!

Shin: …!? Ugh…Ah…

Ayato: …? …Oi, what’s wrong…?

Shin: I don’t know but…Haah…For some reason…My throat…

Kino: Perfect timing. ーー You should start reacting to it any second now as well, Ayato.

Ayato: Haah…? …!! Ugh…Kuh…What is this…? I’m…thirsty…

You seem worried but Ayato smacks your hand away.

*Rustle*

Ayato: Don’t touch me! You just stay put, okay? 

He turns towards Kino. 

Ayato: Oi, what did you do!? 

Kino: Fufu…Let’s say that I injected you guys with a nifty little drug while you were out cold. For Ayato and Shin, it’ll result in a strong desire for blood. As for the Princess over there…She got the antidote. 

You seem surprised. 

Kino: There is only one way to suppress the thirst. You have no other choice but to suck her blood and ingest the antidote. 

Ayato: …Fuck off! This whole time you’ve just been doin’ with us as you damn please!! ‘Game,’ my ass! I’ll end this farce at once! By sending both you and this manor flyin’...! 

Ayato charges his powers. 

Ayato: …Hah! 

*Woosh*

Ayato: …!? My magic…disappeared…!? 

Shin: Aah…!? Don’t tell me you still don’t have full control over your own powers? That’s why I kept saying that Nii-san - as a First Blood - was a much more suitable candidate to inherit Karlheinz’ powers!

Ayato: You’re wrong! It’s bein’ shut down by some kind of strange force!

Kino: Fufu…You look frustrated. Too bad! This manor is surrounded by an anti-magic barrier which was invented by the Church community. No matter how powerful your Father’s magic may be, right here you are completely powerless. 

Ayato: …The Church!? What do you mean…!? 

Shin: Could it be…Did you use those same powers to knock us out cold? 

Kino: Exactly! I guess I should have expected as much from a Founder? However…I wonder what your beloved ‘Nii-san’ will say when he finds out that you were bested by a technique developed by mere humans. 

Shin: Ugh…! Seems like you seriously have a death wish. 

Shin charges at Kino but his attack is easily dodged.

Kino: Woah there!

*Rustle* 

Shin: …Hah. 

Kino: Your reflexes are rather slow. I guess the drug is taking its toll on you? Come on, if you keep on wasting time, you’ll only grow even more thirsty.

Shin: Ugh…Haah, haah, haah…

Kino: Hahaha…!

Ayato: You bastard…! What are you after…!? 

Kino: Once again, this is a game. …Could you not have me repeat myself a million times? 

Ayato: No way I’m buyin’ that shit! Who are you even!? If you’re that Old Man’s son, you must be a Vampire, right…? So why are you workin’ together with the Church then!? 

Kino: Do I really need to answer those questions? More importantly…Are you sure you can afford to let that guy out of your sight? 

Shin: Haah, haah…

Ayato: …!! Shin!

Shin: I’m so…thirsty…Give me blood!

Shin runs towards you.

Ayato: …!! Watch out! 

Ayato protects you. 

*Rustle*

Ayato: Are you alright? Make sure to stay hidden behind me…! …Ugh! …Fuck…I’m so darn thirsty…

You offer him your blood so he’ll feel better. 

Ayato: Aah…? Don’t get ahead of yourself, Chichinashi. If I were to suck your blood under these circumstances…

Shin: Haah…You’d end up sucking all her blood, down to the very last drop. That’s just how thirsty you are, correct?

Ayato: Che…So what do we do then!? 

Shin: It’s easy. The antidote has been injected in her blood. So why not just suck her dry? If you don’t want any, then hand her over, come on! Hurry up already!

Ayato: I won’t let you…She’s mine!

Shin: I beg to differ. That woman belongs to us Founders. 

Ayato: We’re not gettin’ anywhere with this…Oi, let’s make a run for it. 

Kino: Heh…I’d like to see you try. 

*Beep beep* 

Chains appear from the walls, locking Ayato in place.

*Cling cling* 

Ayato: …Ugh…Where did these chains come from…!? I can’t move…!? 

Kino: Smartphones really are so convenient, don’t you agree? All it takes is a simple click to activate these kinds of traps. You’re going to have to skip a turn over there.

Ayato: Fuck…! …Oi, run away!

You hesitate. 

Ayato: What are you dawdlin’ for…!? Hurry!

You run away.

Shin: …! Wait…!

Shin chases after you. 

Kino: Well then, I suppose I’ll sit back and enjoy the show. Hehe. ーー Let the games begin. 

*Snap*

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #ayato sakamaki #shin tsukinami #kino #diabolik lovers versus IV #diabolik lovers translation #diabolik lovers drama cd #drama cd

[arielhopepeace]

This is a Javier Peña and Harry Styles (again lol) short story for all my fellow Pedro Pascal lovers 💕 This one isn’t gonna be as sweet as the Joel one. Y/N’s life kinda sucks lmfao. I will be posting the trigger warnings since some of the content is sensitive! This was a story suggestion by my best friend who doesn’t have a tumblr otherwise I’d tag her lol. BUT I will be coming out with another Joel story after this one so, feel free to follow me if you’d like to read that when it comes out!

As always, enjoy ❤️

Part two is here

Part three is here

Final part is here

Part One

18+ only

Tw: prostitution, abusive father, mention of drugs, mention of death, extreme violence, guns, murder, abuse in general, mention of sexual assault, implied smut (there’s gonna be a lot of this, she’s a prostitute 😬)

I’d also like to quickly say that I’ll never ever write sexual assault into my stories. It’s just a topic that is too sensitive for me, and for many others out there. There are mentions of it because men are sick and twisted in this world, but I will never describe it happening, or have it happen to y/n. Just a heads up on that ❤️ Anyway, onto the story to escape reality…

4,200 words

There's nothing that I love more than the scenery of Columbia; the beaches, mountains, forests. For the last few months that I've lived here with my father, I've always felt melancholy about the fact that I wasn't born in this beautiful country.

The move was a necessary change in order for my dad to be more successful with his business ventures. I despise the man, but he's filthy rich due to running with the narcos of Medellin. Of course he's never given me anything from his wealth, and instead has pawned me off to be a prostitute for extra income.

I tried my best to fight him on it, but to no avail. You can't argue with a powerful, dangerous man like him. All it does is get me badly beaten. He doesn't like to hit me often since it's bad for business, as he likes to say. Men don't generally like to sleep with women who are all battered and bruised. They think I'll carry some sort of emotional baggage and try to cling to them for security.

Truthfully, I'm very numb to all of it; the beatings, the sex, the disgusting clients, everything. There's no point in me feeling bad for myself. After all, I'm still the daughter of an important drug dealer who works for the drug dealer of Colombia, Pablo Escobar. Nobody would dare to hurt me, since it could possibly end up with them "disappearing". I don't think my father would ever kill someone for my sake, though. But I know he has for his.

It's been a difficult transition since I know hardly any Spanish, and that is the only language anyone speaks here. There's been countless encounters where I've been left feeling imbecilic and witless. My father never bothered to teach me the language, but hired his own personal tutor in order to better conduct business. This way, nobody will be able to talk about anything right in front of his face without him being able to understand. He never wants to be made a fool of.

The house my father lives in is incredibly opulent and pristine. It's just outside of Medellin, sitting on an emerald hill overlooking a vast crystal blue lake that shines brilliantly in the sun. Anytime I'm there for a visit, it makes me wish I lived in that damned mansion. Instead, I have to live in a shitty apartment in the more run-down side of town.

My place is close to one of the whorehouses where I like to sometimes find clients. Usually, I'll dress nicely with a provocative touch and head to a bar, fishing for men whose eyes linger on my breasts. The proposition I set is only said with my body, and once the man understands that I can't speak Spanish, not much else needs to be said, anyway. I'll say my price before we leave, choosing a number I'm comfortable with charging and pronouncing.

I have yet to find someone who refuses to pay, or is unnecessarily rough. It's a relief, because that was one of my biggest concerns going into this. My dad doesn't think that my job has any danger, but he also couldn't give two shits about me, it seems.

There's a slight sense of giddy elation that courses through me, knowing that I'm able to take the day to myself. All I want to do is go to the clinic to do my weekly health check, and then to my father's lakeside house to bask in the sun while he's away for a while today.

He always has to be made aware of my company, just in case he were conducting business and I startled one of his ruthless peers. They all know what I look like, and a few have even solicited sex from me before, but I'd rather be cautious about it than get shot for showing up unannounced.

Once the clinic gives me yet another clean bill of health, I go on my way to my dad's mansion. The warm air whips my hair around the car from the open windows, allowing me to breathe in the crisp feeling of summer. It trails goosebumps of satisfaction along my skin, a smile splitting my face as I giggle lightly to myself.

There aren't many moments when I'm truly happy, but being alone on the drive to my dad's is definitely one of them.

  To my dismay, my father is home, his smooth, lavish car parked at the top of his gated cobblestone driveway. He was supposed to be out all day, but I'm sure he'll explain why he's here so early.

I step out of my run-down sedan, closing the creaking, rusted door shut with a slight slam. My breathing is a bit more shaky as I approach the front door, not really wanting to face my dad today. He knew I was coming, though, so he shouldn't be mad, right?

The living room is relatively quiet as I enter, being greeted by one of the maids in the foyer.

"Dad?" I call out, hoping he doesn't answer me.

His raised voice echoes through the halls, my high heels taking me clicking down the marbled pathway, the walls are so tall it feels like they could swallow me whole at any moment. There's some profane Spanish coming from my dad's office, and I inwardly kick myself as I push the ajar door to it open slowly, not knowing if he's going to scream at me for this.

He has his front turned towards the countless amount of books that he never touches, an obvious strain in his irate tone. The large, gray mobile phone is pressed to his ear, the antennae shining silver above his head by several inches.

My eyes widen as he turns to me, my body immediately cowering in fear as he takes in my presence. He ends the call, gripping the phone so tightly in his fist, I'm worried he'll crack it.

"Hey, y/n," he says quickly. "What have I said about being in here when I'm on calls?"

"I'm sorry," I stammer. "I just wanted you to know that I was here. I'm sorry," I apologize again. All I ever do is apologize to this man when really I want to punch him.

He holds up a large, murderous hand, shaking it side to side. "It's fine," he snaps. "You do what you have to, I don't care. Just leave me be. Got it?"

Without his eyes meeting mine for even a second, I nod, scurrying down the halls as fast as I can without breaking an ankle in my heels. I'm once again greeted by the warmth of the air and sun, surprisingly able to breathe better out here than I was inside.

"You're here," a British voice says beside me.

My head turns to see the charming, dashing Harry, my father's right hand man. "Oh, hi, Harry." I spot the gun sticking out of his belt, making me swallow hard.

He stuffs his ring-clad fingers into his powder blue suit pockets, a small smile settled onto his pink lips. "What are you doing here today?"

I point to the lake over the hill. "Gonna sun tan for a while. Need to not look so—gringa."

Harry chuckles lightly. "I think your skin is perfect as it is."

His words make my cheeks feel hot, and I turn my face away briefly. "Thank you."

"How's business? Anybody need correcting, darling?" he asks with a hint on concern.

I've only known Harry for about a month, and he's been nothing but lovely since I met him. He's always had a bit of protectiveness towards me and I'm not sure why. We've done nothing but have conversations with each other, and he worships my father, a man who seemingly can't stand me. Maybe he feels like he needs to protect me just because he's obsessed with my dad. That reminder always turns me off to him, even if his dreamy looks and refreshing accent do the exact opposite.

"No," I shake my head. "Not everybody knows who I am, but those that do are very—respectful."

"If there's ever a time when somebody isn't," he lifts his suit jacket to flash the grip of his pistol, "you'll tell me, yeah?"

"Yes," I nod. "Thank you."

Harry tosses me a dimply grin, his teeth neat and white. "No need to thank me, y/n. You should always be respected."

I go to tell him that I'm respected by everyone except for my father, but I refrain. Do I think Harry would ever hurt me? Probably not. But that one percent of uncertainty is enough for me to keep my mouth shut.

When I'm settled near the lake, I strip off my dress, kicking my heels to the side shortly after. Being laid out in only my matching black bra and thong with the sun licking my skin is more euphoric than any sex I've had in Colombia.

The men haven't really interested me in the slightest. Of course there's been the few attractive ones who have approached me, but even if it feels good, it's not often that I'm pushed past that delicious precipice. I've yet to have a client who cared about my pleasure, but they're not paying for mine. They're paying for theirs and theirs alone.

My eyes are closed as I relax my shoulders into the grass, allowing my body to be consumed by the intense rays. Being here with nothing but the sound of nature puts me so much at ease that I sometimes fall asleep. The birds that sing their songs proudly above are all giving me unique, individual lullabies, and I love every single one.

The distant sound of shouting makes me sit up, looking up towards the house for any indication on what could be happening. I abandon my dress and heels, my pulse immediately rising from the anticipation of what is unfolding at the top of the hill.

My body freezes as I see several men on their knees in front of my father with Harry standing beside him. He has his pistol tucked underneath both of his hands that are crossed over his front. My dad has his large pistol pointed at one of the men's heads.

Even if I spoke Spanish, there's no way I'd be able to tell what they're saying. They're too far away. I do my best to stay out of sight as I move in closer, creeping behind a shrub that lines the pool, giving it a green privacy gate.

I jump involuntarily at the sound of a single bullet being emptied from the chamber, one of the men falling back into a puddle of his own blood and brain matter.

My sweaty palm flings to my mouth, tears unable to escape from the shock I feel in my body. Of course I know that my father kills people, but I've never actually seen him do it.

He presses the barrel to the next man's forehead who is speaking with a trembling voice to my cold-faced dad. It's eerie how he has no empathy or emotion, only wrath and strategy. I've been convinced that he's a psychopath since I was a kid, but now I truly believe it.

There were nights before my mom died that they'd argue, and he'd slap her around like he does to me. It always made me furious, but what the hell is a kid supposed to do in that situation? The only thing I could do was imagine I was somewhere else that was far away, like a tropical island.

But here I reside in a tropical land, not at all living the way I'd imagine when I was a child. This is hell simply being disguised by pretty packaging and a sparkly bow.

The next man falls back after a shot, the third one not even being interrogated before my father shoots him dead, tucking his gun into the back waistband of his pants. A few men begin to get to work moving the bodies as my dad walks away, Harry looking down at them.

He shifts as if he's thinking, his own gun being wedged between his hip and his pants. I fall to my bare knees onto the soft blades of grass, curling up behind the bush as I hold myself tightly, still not having shed a single tear. Why can't I cry for the dead? Am I as psychotic as my father?

As I stand to walk away back towards my things at the bottom of the hill, a voice stops me in my tracks, my body freezing in place as if Medusa herself has turned me to stone.

"Y/n?" Harry comes into my view. "What are you doing up here?"

Panic. The only thing I can do right now is panic.

"Please don't hurt me," my voice wavers. "I'm sorry."

His green eyes soften, his hands stretching out towards me. His palms graze my arms, my eyes squeezing shut from fear. "Hey, I'd never hurt you. Look at me," he says gently.

Reluctantly, my eyes flip up to his, meeting his delicate gaze. "I heard yelling so I came up here. I didn't mean to see anything."

"Shh," he coos calmly. "Let me walk you back down to the lake."

With reluctant, frozen feet, I begin to tread down the hill with Harry's hand gingerly gripping the crease of my arm. I'm not sure why I feel so terrified of him right now. He's obviously killed people before, too, but I'm just the most concerned about him killing me. What if he tells my father that I was snooping? I don't know what he'd do to me.

My dress and heels lay lifeless beside the lake, my eyes fixed on them instead of the tall man beside me.

"Please don't tell my dad," I plead quietly. "I don't know what he'd do to me, Harry."

Harry tilts my chin up, giving me a comforting smile. "I never saw you, darling."

"Who were they?" I ask softly.

"Rats," he answers firmly with a furrowed brow. "They were giving information to the DEA that just got into the country. You know it's serious if America is getting involved."

I swallow the lump in my throat. "Will you be caught?"

"Not if we're smart."

"Okay." My arms wrap around my midsection. "Thank you for your discretion."

Harry chuckles, nodding. "I'll always protect you."

My brows furrow. "Even against my father?"

He stands gazing at me for a moment before letting out a small sigh. "It depends on the circumstances."

Fuck, that's disappointing.

"Right," I nod, picking up my dress. "I think I'm gonna head out. I've had enough of the cartel for today."

Harry grazes my face with the side of his finger, the cool metal of his ring electrifying me. "Please know that I want to protect you from everybody, including your dad. It's just in certain situations, my hands would be tied."

"Like if I was a rat?"

He nods. "Exactly. I'd lose my head too if I protected you."

"I'd never do that, though. I know better."

Harry leans in and presses a delicate peck to my cheek. "I know, darling. You're too lovely."

"Why are you so nice to me?"

He beams, stroking my hair and tucking it behind my ear. "I like you, y/n. You're fucking beautiful and incredibly bright. I love any time that we talk."

Butterflies settle into the pit of my stomach, making my face turn hot. "And you don't care that I'm a prostitute?"

Harry shakes his head. "You didn't ask to be one in the first place."

I sigh as I sit down beside the lake, looking at the glimmering water. "I begged not to be, but he just—"

Harry rests beside me, tossing his arm around my shoulders. "I know. I'm sorry I can't protect you in those moments, either."

"I'm used to not having protection, Harry. It's fine."

He sighs, gently easing my head to rest on his shoulder as we both gaze at the water. My body relaxes in his embrace, my face turning to nuzzle into the crook of his neck. Harry lifts my head up by my chin, quickly and suddenly capturing my lips against his, making me gasp in my throat.

It's not at all that I'm opposed to this, but rather it was extremely unexpected.

"What are you doing?" I ask, his hands on my waist.

He pulls away, his eyes having darkened. "Do you want me to stop?"

With a small smirk I shake my head, pushing my head forward for more of his delectable lips.

We lay on the field naked and breathless, my legs shaky and weak from my orgasm, and my body glistening with sweat just like Harry's. I had no idea that today would turn out like this, but I can't say that I'm disappointed.

I gaze up at him from his tattooed chest, his golden cross necklace buried in his sprinkling of chest hair. He peers down at me, smiling as he pulls me up for another sweet kiss.

"I have to go," he says softly. "He'll be wondering where I went."

"Okay," I answer quietly, sitting up.

Harry slides on his briefs and pants, handing me my things with a gentle grin. "Let me walk you to your car."

Once we're both fully dressed, we make our way up the hill, Harry's hand in mine the whole way. He's being rather romantic about it which is not at all something I'm used to. And he actually made me have an orgasm, another thing that isn't ever achieved for me.

He pulls me in for a swift kiss, his hand at the small of my back as I giggle, my fingers twisting into his soft brown curls.

"Oh," he says quickly as if remembering something. Harry pulls out his wallet and hands me a thousand dollars all splayed out, a bashful smile on his face. "I don't want to take advantage of you, y/n. Please take it."

"That's way too much, Harry. And also, clients don't ever make me orgasm."

He chuckles, pulling me in for another kiss. "Consider me the best client, then."

Reluctantly, I take the money, shaking my head. "This is the most I've ever been paid for one session."

"God, I'd give you more if you wouldn't make fun of me."

I laugh, shaking my head. "You're sweet. You didn't have to pay me."

He pulls my hand up to his lips, kissing my knuckles. "I wanted to."

With one last glance to the handsome British man, I get into my car, Harry giving me a small wave as I drive away, his figure disappearing in my rear view mirror.

The encounter with him has left me feeling giddy and excited. Not only was he thoughtful towards me, but also just thoroughly romantic the entire time. I wasn't expecting Harry to ever become a client, but god, I'll look forward to the next time that I see him.

Later on, I decide to head to a bar near my house, just wanting to get a couple of drinks in my system for the night. I'm definitely not interested in anybody soliciting me since it's my day off, and I'm hoping nobody does.

I'm perched on a barstool, ordering myself a drink by only saying the names of the alcohols since I don't know how to make it more complex of a request. I've had to acquire the taste of neat tequila and vodka, which now I don't mind. The buzz comes on fast and it doesn't require me to know any Spanish of any kind.

A man sits beside me, saying something in Spanish to which I ignore, pretending as if he's not talking to me.

Then, in perfect English, he says, "No Spanish then, huh?"

With surprise and shock fixed onto my face, I turn to look at the man beside me. He has tanned skin and soft brown eyes with a dashing smile that sports a black mustache above it. His hair is also a slightly shaggy, shiny black that is flipped to the middle of his forehead. He's truly very attractive, but I really wanted to take the night off.

"No," I laugh slightly. "Hardly any."

The man chuckles as he sips his drink, a lit cigarette in the other hand. "Then what are you doing in a Spanish-speaking country?"

I wiggle in my seat, not wanting to give him any information about myself. "I could ask the same thing about you. You don't sound like you're from here."

"I'm not," he beams. "I was born in Chile, but then moved to America shortly after."

"And what are you doing in Colombia?" I ask with my head propped up on my hand.

"Vacation. I'm here with a few friends."

My head turns around to scan the bar. "Are they here now?"

"No, they're at their hotels with their wives."

"And you don't have a wife?" I laugh.

"No. It's hard to with my job."

My brows raise. "Oh, yeah? And what exactly is your job?"

"Would you be impressed if I told you I'm a pilot?" he chuckles with an arched black brow.

"Very," I giggle, "but only if that's the truth."

"And why would I lie?" he asks as he leans in, his voice low.

"Fine, Mr. Pilot. You wouldn't mind paying for my drinks then, would you?"

"Not in the slightest."

I giggle, shaking his hand as I stand off my barstool. "Then you have a good night."

With a victorious smile on my face, I leave the bar, making my way back to my apartment that isn't too far away. I thought it'd be better to walk rather than drive in case I drink too much, which in this case I haven't. Maybe a little tipsy, sure, but not enough to be impaired while driving.

There's a brief moment where I think I hear someone behind me, but I turn and nobody is there, making me shrug it off. I come up to the next alleyway, instinctively turning to look down it to find it empty. Perhaps it's the alcohol or the unsettled feeling that nighttime gives me, but I can't help but feel like I'm being followed.

I make it back to my apartment safely, climbing up the stairs in the building with groans of disapproval, my feet aching from my heels. At my door, I push the key in, being greeted by my shitty apartment that still somehow envelops me with a sense of comfort.

Even though it's a rather run-down section of town, and a less than adequate building, I still feel the most at ease here.

My tight dress slides off my body with a gentle tug, slipping on a nightgown before I tuck myself into bed. My mind flicks back to Harry being thrust inside of me, and his beautiful face twisted with pleasure. It causes me to clench around nothing just from the memory of him, and I know that he's going to be my new addiction.

As I shut my eyes, there's a knock on my apartment door to which I groan. Who the hell is here this late at night? With a wobbly, tired and tipsy walk to my front door, I pull it open, a man bursting inside suddenly.

"What the fuck?" I ask, watching as I can now make out the man to be one of my father's associates, José. "What are you doing here?"

"We were raided," he says with his back turned to me, holding several keys of cocaine in his arms. "I'm hiding this here."

"What? No the fuck you're not!" I shout.

José pulls his gun out and draws it on me, making my hands fly up immediately. "How about you shut your stupid bitch mouth and listen to me?"

"I'm gonna tell my dad—"

He scoffs, stuffing the cocaine beneath my couch cushions. "Who do you think cleared me to come here? Ever think that maybe your dad just doesn't give a shit about you?"

My emotions are once again held at bay. Why the fuck can't I cry?

"Just please hurry up and get out."

He finishes hiding the rest of the powder, finally lowering his gun. "You're lucky I don't fuck you right here for being such a bitch."

I swallow, my eyes staying on the floor as I decide to not answer him.

"Don't act like you wouldn't love it," he laughs. "It's your job to be a whore." José gives me a rough smack across my face, making me fall to the floor as I grip it. "Be happy that's all I'm doing before I leave." He slams my apartment door.

For a bit after he leaves, I'm sat against my living room wall gripping my cheek that throbs with a stinging pain. This isn't a feeling I'm unfamiliar with. The burn in my face only reminds me that I really am worthless here, and nothing more than a prostitute with no life worth living.

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