#//one minute he's making crass jokes and damning people

[opheliajupiter99]

The funniest thing about The Baron is I keep code-switching between “eldritch god, DO NOT PISS OF!”, “Good babysitter, nice weird grandpa to Maggie :)” and “fucken’ bastard”. Right when you think, mabye he’s not so bad, he’s a dick. and then when you’re about to tell him off, he brings Maggie a plush. CANNOT get a read on the guy for the LIFE of me.

"It's called bein' complex, look into it. And bein' the first one is my job, so I personally don't think that be countin'. Well not eldritch god but, ya get the idea."

[ciderwitch]

Imagine Chandelure Hybrid Ingo that's taken a liking to you! Features 18+ towards the end!

You're the first person who hasn't been petrified of him or his brother in a long time.

You find a house in Nimbasa City that has super cheap rent because it's haunted. With these prices? Yeah, a little haunting is not enough to scare you off. Sure, things move around on their own and the knobs rattle at night, but you can afford coffee and better food now so it's a sacrifice you're willing to make.

When you find out it's a ghost-type pokemon, you relax. Chandelure's don't actually consume human souls, right? Right. When you tried to greet the Chandelure floating around in the hallway it dematerialized in an instead. Poor thing was probably petrified of people!

Well, Ingo wouldn't say he was petrified.

He was initially attracted to the residual spiritual energy of the place that went along with people thinking it was haunted and was just trying to recharge. It was a good place to rest after holding himself in full human form at the gear station all day.

When you start leaving out ghost-type treats for him, though, it makes him laugh. He likes the way you smile when you find them gone in the morning and ends up giving them to his own Chandelure.

He tried avoiding the place when you weren't home for a while, but he found it much lonelier without your presence. He knows most people would panic if he showed them his true form.

Also, you would probably balk at the idea of a grown man hanging onto your ceiling when you were home alone.

His choice was made for him when you slipped on the stairs one day. Suddenly you found yourself in the arms of a handsome ghostly subway master.

Not the weirdest thing you've experienced in Nimbasa, honestly.

He tells you why he hangs around and apologizes profusely.

Hybrids are rare, but everyone knows they tend to be more instinctual. It would make sense that he's drawn here and it's not like he's done anything other than haunt the downstairs area, so you're not particularly bothered. Plus, he is the reason this place is so affordable.

You thank him for saving you and tell him he can stick around. You work out the details so you know when he'll be around and agree that it would be both funny and useful to keep the haunted rumors alive and well.

From there an easy friendship grows until Ingo (and his Galvantula brother Emmet) are there almost all the time because it's one of the few places they don't have to mask or hide.

Cue Ingo (and maybe also Emmet) and you falling in love. Ingo is shy, but Emmet is not and you will know how they feel mere minutes after they figure things out themselves.

So now you have a boyfriend (or two). Cue shenanigans.

Now for the NSFW 🔞

Maybe one day you have to invite a work friend or classmate over. This guy is just laying it on thick despite you telling him you weren't interested. You both have to get this project done in a few days so you're ignoring him.

"Nah, this place isn't haunted. It's just old and ugly. Next time you'll have to study at my place, Y/N. It's much more comfortable."

"I like my house just fine, thanks."

The dude is totally oblivious and not noticing Ingo's attempts to frighten him off at all. He misses the floating objects in the hallway, doesn't catch his evil reflection in the bathroom mirror, and grabs his mug off the table before Ingo can finish knocking it down.

Then the guy makes a crass joke about you guys having sex instead of working. At this point you were one comment away from kicking him out and doing the damned thing by yourself.

Ingo watches the guy eye you up and just snaps. As if his Y/n would stoop so low! He can do things that jerk can't even dream about!

He lets his body sink into the floor and float back up over by you, ghosting his head through the form of your legs to rest his head there. He can feel his pulse raise at the excitement of being this close to you. You and Ingo hadn't done anything yet, but just the thought of your taste had his mouth watering. That, and the knowledge that he could have you in all the ways that loser couldn't.

The jerk shudders and asks if you felt the temperature suddenly drop.

You say no, you didn't, even as you feel a cool touch across your legs. You glance down and see Ingo's form passing through your body to where your shorts cover your sex without even having to open your legs. You have to fight not to gasp as Ingo presses a pale hand there, as if asking for permission.

His violet-white eyes are beautiful, full of want and need, and who are you to say no to that?

With the subtlest of nods, you look back up.

As they guy carries on his single-handed conversation, Ingo's eyes are on you up as he presses a first firm lick to your sex.

Suddenly, without even moving your clothes aside, he's got his mouth on you and all you can do is try not to react.

The man across from you is completely unaware of the man underneath the table kissing into your sensitive sex. Your legs are frozen as he holds you still with his powers. Just the movement of his tongue alone is making it hard to speak.

You reach down to grab his hair but your hands just phase through him, powerless to push him away or ease his pace. You don't know which you need more: to slow the onslaught against your hole, or to hold him closer and push your hips against him more.

He decides for you when you feel his invisible strength quickly but gently pull your body forward.

The lights start to dim as the man finally notices something is going on, as papers and pens around you start to float while your lover's mouth is taking you apart. You bite your cheek to keep from moaning at the slick slide of your lover's tongue between your thighs. No matter how you squeeze your legs together, it just feels like you're getting completely devoured. You can feel the sticky mess spread even as Ingo works diligently to lick up every drop from you.

Finally, something crashes and the guy flees, calling you possessed and running out of the house like a madman. Ingo quickly pins you down on the couch and presses deeper, and you can't stop the sounds that are finally allowed to escape from your throat as he moans against you like a whore, praising you and begging for you to come on his face.

He holds your body tightly as you gush and writhe against him, spasming as he continues kissing and sucking your sex until you have to beg him to give you a break.

It doesn't last long before he's diving in again, addicted to your taste and the pretty sounds of your begging.

[tinyvampire]

how the ghosts would react to you coming out as trans

(bc i have bbc ghosts brain rot & i’m up late with good ol trans anxiety) enjoy!!

thomas

he would support the hell out of you, but would definitely be the kind of cis person to make a big dramatic show of it every time he accidentally misgendered or deadnamed you. listen - i love this man, but he is a drama queen. after telling him you’re trans, he would probably make it about him in some way - like maybe he once knew someone who was queer, or he always wanted to write a poem about one of those greek myths that involve trans people but he was too scared to, and etc etc etc. so yeah, he’s a bit of an attention whore, but he would go full ‘damn your eyes’ on anybody who was malicious towards you for your transness, 100%.

julian

with a crass, in poor taste joke, confusion, and then acceptance. basically how julian responds to any semi serious situation. he’d make some awful joke, maybe about cross-dressing, and then after learning more about what being trans actually means he’d come around. i don’t think he’d apologize (does he ever, like fr lol) (love him but 🤨), but he would probably say it makes sense that you’re a man/woman/nb, because of x y z behavior (which is stereotyping, but like at least he has the general idea & he’s trying) and then he’d make a conscious effort to never use your old name again.

fanny

similarly to the way she reacted when the lesbian couple was married at button house. she’d be aghast & outraged for like five minutes, ranting around the house about how true gentlemen/ladies don’t exist anymore in this modern age and etc etc but by the next day or so, she’d sheepishly apologize and ask you some questions about it. from then on she’d be quietly supportive in her own way, like automatically correcting when someone misgenders you & then never bringing up the incident; even when you thank her she’d be like ‘what on earth are you talking about, (chosen name)!’

pat

exactly how any ultra-supportive dad would react. pat would make it his personal mission to affirm your identity & make you feel comfortable and safe regarding your transness. he would also definitely throw you a surprise party in celebration of your coming out, complete with ‘it’s a boy/girl/baby (if you’re nb)’ banners courtesy of alison. he would be so touched that you trusted him with this information & more proud of you than he could ever say in words. (he’d also excitedly tell you facts about 80s queer icons that you already knew, but you’d pretend not to just to humor him.) (‘wow, freddie mercury was bi?! 😮’)

robin

honestly the best to come out to imo. robin’s been around a long time; this has made him incredibly kind & understanding. humanity’s stereotypes & societal pressures are born & die just as fast as people do, and he’d tell you as much (in his own robin way). humanity’s prejudices are much the same & robin has no time for that bullshit. he’d always be there if you needed a shoulder to cry on, and would passionately defend you and your identity should the occasion arise, no matter what.

the captain

instantly eager to assist you in any way possible. “it was very sharp of you to come to me with this. there’s so much to be done. we must change all of your legal documents at once, not to mention the wardrobe issue. hmm..patrick! assemble the troops!” he’d take charge immediately as though the only reason you came out to him was because you couldn’t handle transitioning by yourself & needed someone to be in charge. he accepts you right away too, though, so it’s no bother to you that he’s being his usual bossy, captain-y self. also he’d respond as though an actual crime had been committed if anyone gave you shit for being trans.

kitty

the definition of ‘little confused but got the spirit’. she’d probably think you mean you want to play dress up with her, and she’d be so excited she wouldn’t be able to focus on any explanations being offered by the other ghosts or alison. (& i know the ghosts couldn’t even play dress up if they wanted to, but do you think this fact would stop kitty from trying??? absolutely not) eventually, though, pat would gently explain it to her & she would support you whole-heartedly. (she’d still be totally confused though, bless her)

mary

literally would have no fucking clue what you’re talking about. “what be a transgender?!?” it would take the better part of a day to explain it all to her, but i do think she’d eventually understand, at least better than kitty. she’d probably be worried you’d be burned for it at first, and might even discourage your transition goals because of it, but once you reassured her that times have changed, she’d be happy to support you.

humphrey

i’m headcanoning this headless man as a trans man & no one can stop me. honestly, now that i think about it, humphrey gives off some serious t-boy swag vibes. i feel like you’d tell him you’re trans & he’d be like “ah so that’s what they’re callin it now” & boom, y’all are best friends. i can hear you in the replies now, ‘but they didn’t have access to hrt back then - !’ well pffpffpff, i don’t care. humphrey is trans now. you’re welcome.

[twomanyideas]

The Way To A Man's Heart - Chapter 2

A collaboration by @mdelpin and @oryu404​

AO3 | Prev: Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Next:

Chapter 2

The hotel was fancier than Natsu remembered from their previous visit with Happy, Erza and Lucy, but he wasn’t all that concerned about it. Stuff like that had never mattered to him. He was much more worried about the line of people waiting to get into the restaurant. He’d been about to complain about it, but he never got the chance.

“Relax, Pyro. We have a reservation, remember?”

Right. And he was thankful for that. Outside of the unexpected train ride, this dinner had been a godsend. The perfect solution to what had been shaping up to be an uncomfortable situation.

Natsu loved his guildmates; they were his nakama after all, but they were too damn nosy for their own good. It was bad enough that they’d already made Gray’s life miserable by encouraging Juvia’s antics despite his constant rejections, but now it seemed they’d set their sights on him.

He knew he should have expected it, but he’d hoped that they would have interpreted his lack of romantic interest in Lucy for what it was. Instead, they’d decided he was oblivious, and encouraged her as well.

Natsu loved Lucy dearly. He just wasn’t in love with her, but he didn’t want to hurt her by telling her that. He’d kind of hoped she’d get bored by his lack of response and move on to someone else. Someone like Loke, who was clearly crazy about her. But that hadn’t happened yet, and even worse, he’d overheard Mira telling Cana that Lucy planned to make her move that night.

He’d jumped at the chance to escape the guild. A night full of food and drink was just what he’d been in the mood for, and the prospect of hanging out with Gray intrigued him.

He followed Gray to a podium, where a hostess greeted them. That already was a big change from the places they usually ate. The hostess verified their reservation and handed them off to a server, who led them down a dimly lit hallway and into a small room.

“Your table isn’t ready yet, but this is our lounge,” she announced with a smile. “It’s not as noisy as our main bar, and you can still enjoy a drink while you wait.”

She gestured towards the lounge’s bar area and left. Music played softly on the room’s music lacrimas, and along with the usual bar stools there were several sofas that looked more expensive than Natsu’s house, contents included. He decided the bar stools were probably safer.

The lounge had large windows, giving them a splendid view of the ocean.

“Oh wow, this is great!” he exclaimed, watching the people on the beach enjoy the warmth and beauty of the setting sun. Everyone looked like they were having so much fun, and there had been so many stalls to check out. He longed to go join them.

When was the last time they’d been able to do anything fun?

“Yeah,” Gray agreed. “Maybe we can check it out after we eat? Mavis knows I won’t be able to get you back on the train after that.”

Natsu hated to admit it, but Gray probably had a point. They took their seats, and the bartender walked over to them.

“Can I interest you in a drink?” she asked politely. “Yeah.” Gray pored over the wine and cocktail menu he received. “Could we get two of those magic drinks?” “Excellent choice, Sir. Two Magic Wonders coming right up.”

Natsu’s stomach rumbled as the smell of food wafted over to them, causing Gray to roll his eyes at him. Gray got the bartender’s attention again and added, “Can we get an order of your spiciest appetizer too?”

“Sure thing.” The bartender put their order in and continued to mix drink orders.

Gray got up and patted Natsu's shoulder, “There, don’t say I never did anything for you.”

“Hey, where you going?”

“To take a leak.”

He walked off and Natsu watched him go, amused to notice his friend had kept his shirt on for once. It felt almost unnatural. His eyes lingered briefly on Gray’s broad shoulders, traveling down his back, and before he even knew what he was doing, he found himself staring at Gray’s ass and thinking about how nice it was.

“Oh, and try not to destroy the place while I’m gone.”

Gray turned around then, a teasing smile on his face which turned into a wink when he noticed Natsu’s eyes on him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Natsu spluttered, his cheeks red with indignation, or at least that’s what he told himself, refusing to acknowledge for the moment that his best friend had caught him checking him out. Gray’s parting chuckle irritated him even more.

Stupid Ice Princess. Like he couldn’t be left alone for five minutes without getting into trouble. What did Gray think he was, a Vulcan in a pottery shop?

But seriously, what in the world had possessed him to do that?

It had to be Juvia. He cursed her for his sudden awareness. Ever since she’d joined the guild it had been Gray-sama this and Gray-sama that, until the guy’s name lingered in the air, working its way into Natsu’s brain like some kind of annoying hypnotic suggestion he couldn’t escape.

Yeah, that had to be it.

He went back to staring out the window while he waited for Gray to return.

0-0

Gray entered the restaurant’s bathroom, closing the door behind him quietly and checking the stalls to make sure they were empty before he allowed himself to react.

“Yes!” He pumped his fists in the air in celebration, smiling so widely he barely recognized himself in the mirror.

He had a chance! Natsu had been checking him out, and that had never happened before. At least, not that he’d ever noticed.

Feeling more confident that this plan might actually get him somewhere, Gray did his business, his head up in the clouds, filled with possible dream scenarios about how the evening could go.

You've got a little something there. Oh, it's me! Nah, too corny.

That sunset looks beautiful, doesn’t it? Not nearly as beautiful as you, though. Ugh… too sappy.

There had to be some smooth move he could make, something not too in-your-face yet still obvious enough even the Flame Brain would get it.

Well, whatever. He had Natsu all to himself tonight, with an enjoyable meal ahead of them and the beach to look forward to after that. He'd think of something. For now, he’d start small. Maybe he’d offer a compliment. Everyone liked those. Right?

Gray washed his hands, and after giving himself one last pep talk, he headed back to the bar. As he walked, he tried to remember a joke Loke had told him earlier. It had been a little crass, but he was sure Natsu would find it funny. Gray could almost hear Natsu’s laughter ringing in the air.

Yeah, just like that.

It took him a second to realize he hadn’t imagined it. As he got closer to the lounge, he could hear Natsu’s laughter loud and clear, and Gray thought it was the best sound in the world. A smile spread across his face, only to be wiped off immediately at the sight that greeted him at the bar.

More specifically, at the sight of the barstool he’d left behind, which was now occupied by none other than Sting Fucking Ew-cliffe.

He’d only been gone for a few minutes. Where had Sting even come from?!

Gray clenched his fists, fighting off the urge to grab the Sabertooth Master by the collar of his shirt and pull him out of his seat. But as much as he’d like to do something like that, he knew it was a bad idea. If he was a jerk, it would piss Natsu off and that would be the end of their evening.

Instead, he plastered a smile on his face and approached the two dragon slayers.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, hey, you’re back,” Natsu said as his laughter died down. “Sting told me a joke.”

Sting offered Gray a half wave, looking unexcited to see him. The feeling was entirely mutual.

“Well, it was nice of you to stop by to say hello but don’t let us keep you.”

“Me? Nah, I’ve got time to spare. Our table isn’t ready either.” Sting casually rested his arm on the bar and turned to Natsu, “I’m surprised to see you guys here.”

Great. This was going to be awhile. Gray decided he might as well sit down and begrudgingly claimed the vacant stool on Natsu's other side.

“Our table?” He looked around, trying to spot anyone he might recognize from Sabertooth. “I don’t see anyone else here. Did you get stood up?” “Of course not! He’s just late,” Sting said, sounding pretty sure of himself even as his legs bounced on the edge of the stool and his eyes darted in the direction of the hallway they'd come in from.

“Stood up? So you’re on a date?” Natsu asked, pouting in disappointment and giving Gray a mini heart attack for a second until he added, “I thought maybe Rogue would join you.” Sting promptly stilled, staring at Natsu and blinking rapidly. “Uhm... Rogue is my date.”

Natsu laughed heartily, “Good one, but seriously, is it anyone we know?”

Gray winced, almost feeling sorry for the guy. Definitely not what you wanted to hear, especially not from someone you looked up to. With any luck, Rogue would get there before Natsu’s obliviousness destroyed Sting’s confidence any further. Although, he had to admit that would be fun to watch, too.

“Why wouldn’t it be Rogue? I mean, you and uhm-” Sting looked over at Gray, eyes narrowing in concentration and fingers snapping before he shrugged his shoulders- “him don’t strike me as dating either, but here you are.”

“Well, but aren’t you the Twin Dragons? I thought you guys were brothers.”

Brothers?!

How the hell could Natsu think that? Sure they were called the Twin Dragons, but they looked nothing alike. They even had different last names, for fuck’s sake.

Gray could only stare at him in amazement. He was in love with an idiot. Might as well say he was moronsexual.

Sting spoke up before Gray could call Natsu out.

“That’s just our team name, stupid. Do you really think I’d date my brother?”

“Do you really think Gray would ask me out on a date?” It started out as a chortle, but Natsu soon burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

Gray no longer thought it was the best sound ever.

“Why wouldn’t he? And I mean, look at this place-” Sting gestured at the fancy decor and the expensive furniture in the lounge- “It doesn’t exactly scream just friends, does it?”

Natsu shrugged, a faint smile still playing on his lips. "Nope, that’s not what happened here. I just overheard Gray talking about having a reservation at an all you can eat restaurant as part of a job reward and invited myself along."

It seemed his and Loke’s plan had worked a little too well. Gray desperately wanted to ask Natsu what he would have said if he had asked him out, but he wasn’t about to do that in front of Sting.

“You got a reservation as a reward? Man, I wish I’d seen that job.” Sting looked at Gray, eyes wide in disbelief. “I had to make one 3 weeks in advance!”

3 Weeks?!

Gray had no idea this place was that popular, and he wondered what strings Loke had pulled to get the last minute reservation. And more importantly, what he would ask for in return. He’d better make the most of it.

“Do you think Rogue will like it? It's our first date, so I wanted to impress him.” Sting looked around the lounge, suddenly eyeing the place with a look of dread.

“Um... sure,” Natsu said, “It has an awesome view of the beach and, you know, there’s food.”

“You’ve just described every restaurant in Akane,” Gray pointed out. Then again, he was pretty sure with restaurants, Natsu didn’t pay attention to anything outside of the food.

Natsu shrugged. “Where are our appetizers and drinks, anyway? Shouldn’t they be here by now?”

Gray silently agreed. He was hungry, and he’d really like for their date to start, minus the interloper.

“What about me? Do I look okay?” Sting stood up and turned around, eyes wide as he awaited their judgment.

“There’s something different about you. What is it?” Natsu muttered, tapping his chin with his finger as he studied Sting.

“Well, for one, he’s wearing an actual shirt.” Gray said with a frustrated sigh. This was not how he had envisioned their date going. What was it going to take to get rid of this guy?

Actually…

“You look fine, dude. Might have overdone it a bit on the cologne, though.”

“He’s not the only one.” Natsu scrunched up his nose. “You both smell like one of the Trimens.”

Gray bit back a retort, but Sting went into a panic, grabbing a napkin from the bar and scrubbing his neck. “Fuck, I knew it was too much. Does this help any? It doesn't, does it? I should clean it off.”

He bolted out of the lounge, dodging a few other guests who were being guided to their table, and shouting a “be right back” over his shoulder. Just as Gray had hoped he would.

“Take all the time you need,” Gray called out after him cheerfully, reclaiming his original seat because… well, he’d had it first.

“Well, that was something.” He said, glossing over that minor act of pettiness. “Didn’t think we’d bump into anyone we knew.”

“Hey, you think they'd be down for a fight later?” Nasu asked, punching his left fist into the palm of his right hand.

“Of course not. They’re on a date, moron. Do you really think they’d want to do something like that?”

“I would.”

“On a date?” Gray challenged, although he wasn’t sure why he was surprised. This was Natsu, after all.

“Yeah, why not? Aren’t you supposed to have fun on dates?”

Gray couldn’t really argue with that, and fighting with Natsu was always fun. He was about to suggest they spar later when he spotted the bartender coming their way.

“Two Magic Wonders, and some Firecracker Shrimp to whet your appetite,” she announced, arriving with their drinks and appetizer and setting them down before them. “Apologies for the long wait, we're fully booked tonight so we're a little backed up.”

Finally!

“I think they’re broken,” Natsu complained, examining the drinks with slight disappointment, “they just look like two glasses of plain water.”

Gray had to give him that one. This wasn’t what he’d expected from the so-called magically infused cocktails either.

“The spell is still unfinished,” the bartender explained. “You need to wrap your hand around the cup and focus some of your magic energy into it. It doesn’t need much-”

Gray could tell Natsu had stopped listening. Before she'd finished her sentence, he'd already grabbed the cup in his hand and set it on fire.

“Natsu!”

"Sir!"

He ignored the protests from both Gray and the bartender, keeping his attention on the glass, which had begun to shake in his hand. The liquid bubbled and turned bright red, and then it shot up like a failed potion, right into Natsu's face.

“You idiot! Do you ever think?!”

So much for not insulting him.

“Geez, relax, will ya? A little thing like that isn’t gonna hurt me,” Natsu pointed out, evaporating the liquid easily, as Gray had seen him do so many times. The bartender breathed an audible sigh of relief, wiping the remaining spillage from Natsu's drink off the bar with a cleaning rag. “I’ll be right back with another drink,” she assured them before moving to another section of the bar, where she restarted the mixing process.

“You’re still an idiot,” Gray grumbled, making Natsu laugh in response.

“Well, you know what they say, it takes one to know one.”

Gray opened his mouth to answer, but Natsu quickly changed the subject.

“Why don’t you try it then?”

“Gladly.”

Gray focused a small amount of magic on his hand and wrapped the glass in a thin layer of ice. As soon as he did so, bubbles sprouted from the bottom, rising to the surface and forming a vortex that spun until the liquid had changed color from clear to the vibrant blue of glacier ice. Vapor rose from the liquid’s surface and transformed into small snowflakes that gently floated back down into the drink.

“That’s so dainty. Precisely what I’d expect from an Ice Princess,” Natsu snickered. “I bet mine’s gonna be way cooler.”

“I just hope the restaurant’s still in one piece by the time you’re done.”

Gray took a small sip, swishing the contents around in his mouth and closing his eyes.

The liquid was cold, so much so that it sent a small but welcome shiver up his spine. Hints of chocolate and peppermint danced on his tongue, reminding him of when he’d lived with Ur and Lyon.

Their training had been intense, but on days when she’d been pleased with their progress, Ur had made him and Lyon hot cocoa that tasted much like this. She had made them responsible for crushing the candy mints, and they would bicker about the best way to do it as Ur laughed at them from behind the stove. He could almost picture it, and rather than cause him the usual grief, the memory made him smile.

He opened his eyes to find Natsu watching in rapt fascination, his curiosity just about bursting out of him.

“Well? What did it taste like?”

Gray didn’t answer right away, still caught up in his memories. It took him a while to even register that Natsu was staring at him, focusing on his lips as if he’d never seen them before.

Gray thought of how to describe it, and suddenly he knew. “It tastes like winter.”

And just like that, Natsu snapped out of his trance, bouncing in his seat with excitement. “Ooh, me! I want to try winter!” Gray covered his drink with his hand, fixing Natsu with a glare that screamed at him to back off.

“Come on, don’t be so stingy! I don’t have a drink.”

“And whose fault is that? Besides, I don’t know where your mouth has been. No way I want that in my drink!”

Natsu pouted, but soon mischief crept into his eyes. Before Gray could consider what that could mean, Natsu had already grabbed his hand. Gray’s heart beat faster, not sure where Natsu was going with this, but excited just the same. Natsu’s tongue darted out, licking a stripe across the palm of Gray’s hand while maintaining eye contact.

Holy shit!

“Now you do,” Natsu grinned, looking quite pleased with himself even as Gray struggled to come up with an appropriate reaction. He took advantage of that, grabbing Gray’s glass and taking a sip.

“What do you know! Your magic actually tastes good, kind of like peppermint hot chocolate.”

Gray looked away, not wanting Natsu to see just how much his little stunt had affected him.

“So, uh, what were you thinking about? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like that before.”

“My drink tasted like the hot cocoa Ur used to make for us,” Gray said, relieved to be back on more comfortable ground.. “I hadn’t thought about that in a long time.”

“Why didn’t you just say that, you dumbass? I wouldn’t have pushed.”

“Yeah, you would have.” Gray chuckled.

Natsu tried to deny it, but he must’ve known it was a stretch, so he laughed along with Gray. “Okay, yeah. I would have.” He grabbed a Firecracker Shrimp and chewed on it. And for the second time since they’d arrived, Gray caught him staring out the window. “Another Magic Wonder,” the bartender returned with Natsu's drink. She'd also brought a fire extinguisher, and was trying, but failing, to hide it subtly under the bar.

If Natsu had noticed, he didn't seem to be bothered by it, focusing only on the glass in front of him.

“Don't overdo it this time,” Gray reminded him.

Natsu furrowed his brow in concentration, coating his glass in a small flame and anxiously watching the liquid change color again. It slowly turned that same intense red from before. Instead of the vapor from Gray’s drink, there was a plume of smoke that transformed into a bright flame that remained lit.

He eyed it for exactly one second before drinking all of it down in one gulp.

Gray had expected Natsu to react in some over the top manner. To yell, or go on about how his drink was superior, just like his magic, but there was only silence. That wasn’t exactly true, though. Now that he was paying more attention, Gray could see that Natsu’s eyes were teary.

“Natsu?” Gray put a hand on his arm, worried by the uncharacteristic change. “What’s happening?”

“I’m fine, it’s just- it tasted like Igneel’s fire,” Natsu sniffled, hugging the cup to his chest with reverence. “It’s been so long since I last tasted it and now it’s all gone.”

Oh no! Natsu looked like he was ready to cry. That wasn’t supposed to happen on a date! Gray panicked, not knowing what to do or say to make Natsu feel better. He looked at his drink, still sitting on the bar, and considered offering it to him.

Idiot! He won’t want your stupid drink after tasting Ignel’s fire. Oh, of course! How dense could he be? He could order him another one.

“Don't worry, I’ll get you another one.”

Gray scrambled out of his seat after glimpsing the bartender serving a customer at the other end of the bar.

“I’ll be right back,” he called over his shoulder, determined to fix this slight glitch in his plans.

He waited as patiently as he was able for her to finish.

“I need another Magic Wonder.”

“Sure, I’ll put in an order, but it’s going to take a while. We’re very backed up.”

“Isn't there something I can do to speed it up?” He thought of the jewels in his pocket. “I can pay extra if that helps.”

“Sir, I already-”

“Please? This can literally make or destroy my night.”

The bartender glanced over at Natsu, who still looked despondent, hugging the empty glass to his chest. Her expression softened slightly. “Alright, I’ll do it just this once. Stay right there.”

Gray nodded, tapping his fingers on the bar as he waited. A couple sat next to him blocking his view of Natsu but he dared not move, worried the bartender might decide to give the drink to someone else.

As soon as she returned with his order, Gray turned around, almost dropping the drink he'd shamelessly begged for when he saw his bar stool once again occupied by someone who wasn't him. Any relief he might have felt that it wasn't Sting this time was overshadowed by dismay at seeing Rogue talking to Natsu, leaning in ever so slightly and nodding in sympathy.

Oh, come on!

He all but stomped his way back over, still careful not to spill any of the drink, knowing he wouldn’t be able to get another for quite a while.

“You’re in my seat,” Gray informed Rogue, attempting to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know.” Rogue got up and moved to stand on the other side of Natsu.

“Here you go,” Gray said, placing the fresh drink in front of Natsu before reclaiming his seat.

He watched as Natsu put the glass he had been holding on the bar and stared at the new drink with something akin to awe. He cupped his hand around it and let out the barest flicker of magic to complete the spell.

“Are you okay?” Gray asked worriedly, not used to seeing Natsu act this way.

“Yeah, I just don’t want to waste any of it.”

The way he said that made Gray feel like he was intruding, so he turned his attention to Rogue, who still stood peering into the dim corners of the lounge.

“You’re looking for Sting, right? He’s in the bathroom,” Gray informed him, frowning as he realized the Sabertooth Master had been gone for quite some time. “Come to think of it, he’s been in there a while.”

Rogue looked heavenward and sighed. “Great. I hope he's not munching on the paper towels again.”

“Seriously? That’s disgusting!” Gray pursed his lips in distaste.

“Meh, he’s eaten worse things.” Rogue shrugged, taking a seat next to Natsu.

To Gray’s slight surprise, he in no way looked like he was about to go on a first date. As far as Gray could tell, Rogue looked just about the same as he always did, contrary to Sting, who had obviously dolled himself up for the occasion like a teenage girl.

Gray leaned back so he could see past Natsu and study the shadow dragon slayer better, wondering if he was about to deal with another nervous wreck. But Rogue showed no signs of being anxious. If anything, he looked tired and frazzled, which Gray guessed made sense. The guy was late, probably just rolled off a train.

“Is something wrong? Was this your seat too?” Rogue frowned at him, realizing he was under scrutiny.

“Huh? Oh, no. I’m just surprised. The way Sting was talking earlier I thought you’d be more into this,” Gray said, turning his attention back to Natsu.

He seemed to have calmed down, although he appeared to be in deep thought while staring at his drink. Gray supposed there was a first time for everything. He’d give him a few more minutes to snap out of it. It’s not like they could get anywhere until they were either called to their table or Sting got out of the damn bathroom.

“This? This what? You mean the restaurant?”

“He means Sting,” Natsu said, joining the conversation when Gray least expected it.

“What about Sting?” “If you don't like him, just tell him. He's your friend. You should be honest with him about how you feel.”

Rogue flinched so hard he almost slid off his seat. “I- What? What the hell are you talking about?”

Gray began to suspect that Rogue was as clueless as Natsu as to why he was there.

“Rogue! You made it!” Gray, Natsu and Rogue all turned towards Sting’s voice, which could somehow be heard over all the other noise. He walked toward them in quick steps and Gray brought his hand up to his mouth to cover up the laugh he couldn’t contain.

Sting’s shirt was covered in wet spots. His hair, which had been styled in perfectly gelled spikes, had flattened into bangs, and there was a long piece of toilet paper attached to one of his shoes.

He’d gone to wash off some cologne, but had returned looking like a survivor of some bizarre bathroom battle, and somehow he still reeked of cologne. But you wouldn't know it from his beaming smile.

Sting walked up to Rogue, reaching into his pocket and pulling out... something Gray couldn’t make out at first because he shoved it at Rogue with such speed that it became nothing but a blurry shape.

“Here, for you.” Sting said, placing what looked to be a small box into Rogue's hand.

“What’s this for?” Rogue said, breaking away from the mess that was Sting, to glance down at the box.

“Open it.”

Rogue slowly slid the elastic bow off and opened it. Whatever was inside caused him to jerk his head back toward Sting with wide eyes.

“Oh.”

“Do you like it?” Sting stared at Rogue in a way that Gray recognized, with a face full of hope and hearts in his eyes.

“I-I uh,” Rogue stuttered, looking back and forth rapidly between Sting, Gray, Natsu, and the lounge. “Give me a minute...”

“You know, I‘m thinking Rogue didn’t know this was a date.” Natsu whispered in Gray’s ear, which was to say he’d blurted it out in a voice loud enough to make his ears ring.

“You think?”

“Yeah, I do,” Natsu nodded, the obvious sarcasm flying straight over his head. “I kinda feel bad now. Maybe we should have told him.” Gray stiffened, Natsu’s words along with the advice he’d offered Rogue earlier echoed through his head. No matter how the thought caused his stomach to twist itself into knots, he knew he’d have to be honest about his intentions at some point. Natsu was his friend too, he deserved as much. “Is that true?” Sting’s shoulders slumped upon hearing the less than subtle conversation between them. “But I asked you and everything.” “Yes, I realize that now,” Rogue said, sounding a bit snappy, which Gray couldn’t blame him for. He gathered himself quickly, though, taking a deep breath and getting up from his seat. “Come-” he grabbed Sting’s hand and led him to a sofa that had just opened up when a couple was called to their table. Gray took another sip of his drink, mirroring Natsu, who he could tell was focusing his ears on the Twin Dragons’ conversation. Under any other circumstance, Gray wouldn’t give a damn about how that would unfold, but the possibility of having a heartbroken Sting join them for the rest of the night changed things a bit. He nudged Natsu, raising his eyebrows in silent question. Natsu didn’t answer, still listening, but if his expressions were anything to go by, it was not going well. Fuck. Please. This can’t be happening… Curiosity getting the best of him, Gray peeked over his shoulder. Sting looked positively dejected, and the visible part of Rogue's face looked no better. “Well, this is awkward.” Gray turned back to Natsu, not sure if he’d be able to watch that train wreck in his current situation. Would his night end like that, too? “Yeah,” Natsu sighed, but then he perked up and started laughing. “Actually, I think they’ll be fine.” “Oh-” Gray absently grabbed a shrimp and began eating- “Good for them.” “Uhm, Gray…” “Hmm?” Gray grabbed another and chewed lazily, not realizing that Natsu might’ve been trying to warn him until he felt his lips and tongue burning with the heat of a thousand suns. He swallowed what was still in his mouth in one go, sending the burn down his throat now as well, and broke out in a violent coughing fit. The blazing heat spread through his entire body fast, setting his skin on fire and causing sweat drops to form on his face. Whose stupid idea was it to get the spiciest appetizer?! Oh, right, that would be him. God bless his icy drink. He gulped it all down, only half hearing Natsu’s rambunctious laughter.

“Who the hell deemed this safe for consumption?” he gasped, fanning at himself in a sorry attempt to cool down.

“Someone who's not an Ice Princess like you,” Natsu snickered, holding out a shirt that looked awfully familiar.

Damn it! How did that happen?!

Gray grabbed his shirt and put it back on before anyone could complain, calling on his magic to help cool himself down.

Natsu shook his head, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “Pervert.”

“I can’t help it!”

“I know, Ice Block, I know.” Natsu finished the last of his drink and set it back down on the bar, his eyes straying back to the window for a full minute before peering back at Gray.

“Listen, I know this was a big part of your reward and everything, but do you mind if we take off?”

“You want to go back home?” Gray was crestfallen. He’d thought they were having a good time, outside of the unexpected drama.

“I didn’t say that, but it’s hard to sit still when I know that’s waiting for us,” Natsu said, pointing at the beach. “I’ll even pitch in since it’s my idea.”

Gray thought about it. This restaurant had been Loke’s idea and as far as he was concerned it had already served its purpose. If Natsu would rather go to the beach, then they’d do that. It was bound to be more fun. Plus, this way, if Natsu reacted badly to his confession, he wouldn’t have to worry about property damage.

As much.

“Yeah, we can do that.”

“Wow, that was easier than I thought. That shrimp too much for you?” Natsu taunted.

Gray ignored him, focusing on finding the bartender so he could close their tab. Luckily, she was heading towards him. He was just about to address her when a voice spoke up next to him. “Hey there! Can I get two of the Magic Something drinks?”

“Yes, of course,” the bartender assured Sting. She turned to Gray. “I believe your table should be ready any minute. Would you like anything else?”

“No, thank you. We actually won’t be needing that reservation after all.”

“Alright then, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“You’re leaving?” Rogue asked, appearing by Sting’s side. “But you haven’t even eaten yet.” “We passed a ton of food stalls on the way here,” Natsu said, already sounding excited by the prospect. “Besides, the food they serve here is too spicy for the Ice Princess.”

Gray glared, “Oy! That shrimp was the spiciest appetizer they had.”

Rogue rolled his eyes at the exchange, “You two sound like a married couple.”

"Well, you kinda look like one," Natsu laughed, pointing at the necklace Rogue was now wearing. A thin silver chain with a crystal pendant that was identical to the one dangling from Sting's ear.

"Oh, shut up," Rogue huffed, clutching the piece of jewelry as his cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink than Natsu's hair.

“I’m glad things worked out,” Gray said, mostly to be polite. He winced as he heard people scream in panic as they witnessed Natsu drying off Sting’s clothing with his fire. He could almost hear the bartender rushing to the extinguisher. Why didn’t the idiot ever think?

Yeah, going to the beach was probably for the best.

"Me too." Rogue eyed the spectacle warily. "Sorry you got dragged into that."

“Yeah, it was… something.”

“He means well.” Rogue smiled apologetically, but his eyes were soft with affection. "Oh. That reminds me, can you thank Natsu for me? He was right."

“Now there’s something you don’t hear every day.”

Rogue snorted into his hand, looking less tired than he had when he'd just arrived. "Alright. Get Natsu out of here before-"

Whatever Rogue said after that became inaudible when the screams increased and were almost immediately joined by the loud hiss of the fire extinguisher.

At a loss for words, Gray and Rogue watched the chaos of scattering guests, the bartender frantically trying to extinguish the fire, Sting inhaling the massive gust of white powder blasted at him, and a loudly cheering Natsu.

"... Just get him out of here."

“Good plan.”

Gray hurried over to the two dragon slayers, not about to give Rogue another second to reconsider his life choices. He grabbed Natsu by the arm and pulled him back towards their seats so he could pay for their tab.

“It’s on the house, please just go!” The bartender waved him away, looking like she was on the brink of having a complete meltdown.

“Thank you.” Gray took out his jewel pouch and placed a large tip on the bar, wanting to make up for some of what they had put her through.

Natsu, oblivious as ever, thanked her and waved blithely even as Gray dragged him out of the lounge.

They had almost reached the exit when Natsu shook off Gray’s arm.

“I can walk on my own, you know.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

They left the restaurant and walked through the lobby in silence until Natsu started giggling.

“The look on the bartender’s face when Sting ate that powder!”

Now that the restaurant was safely behind them, Gray couldn’t help but join in. Soon they were laughing so hard they had to hold on to each other to keep from falling down, earning them curious but mostly annoyed looks from the other patrons.

[westiec]

fic I want to see: five futures Tony/Rhodey/Pepper deserved but never got

Hey there friend! I'm going to take advantage of the @goodintentionswipfest to finally answer this ask by posting what exists of the fic I totally never finished writing you for this prompt before I burned out real hard on writing last year. Hope you get a little bit of fun out of what's here. <3

1 - MIT meet, 100% less drama

Tony meets James-call-me-Rhodey Rhodes at MIT. In other universes, they were on campus at the same time, but the whiz kid playboy tearing up the mech-e department and local bar scene seldom crossed paths with the steady grad student getting a masters in aircraft design courtesy of the Air Force. 

In this one, they are inseparable. 

Rhodey's got a way of following his train of thought that Tony's never encountered, and his intuitive understanding of flying machines outstrips Tony's own. (Tony is determined to catch up, but Rhodey never makes him feel bad for having to. Entirely unlike Howard, he thinks, and feels disloyal for the thought.) They bounce ideas off each other and make each other sharper, better, and it's a feeling of belonging Tony never expected to find. When they build an AI - a Turing-complete AI!! - Tony jokes about them becoming parents without ever going on a date, and the look of wistful fondness on Rhodey's face is all the encouragement he needs to finally ask him on one. 

After graduation, Tony owes years to SI and Rhodey owes years to Uncle Sam, but they keep in close touch, with plans to go into business for themselves one day. Times being what they are, no one asks, and no one tells, but he and Rhodey both know that the much publicized dates with various eligible ladies are for maintaining appearances and nothing that will really come between them.

When Howard and Maria die, Rhodey must cash in every favor he has to get the leave, but he's there for the funeral. Tony is pretty sure his steadfast support is the only reason he could stand to be sober those first couple weeks. Stark men are supposed to be made of iron, but Rhodey's always been the one with a core of steel. 

Rhodey never trusts Obie much, and - continued relationship with Tony notwithstanding - Rhodey is an impeccable judge of character. A few years later, an internal audit proves his instincts right when Stane is caught laundering company assets to sell weapons on the black market. Terrified at the thought of his weapons in the wrong hands, Tony quietly begins to diversify SI's business model - clean energy, healthcare, [THIRD THING] - things that can build the world up instead of tear it down.

Eventually Tony is able to hire Rhodey away from the military to be his chief airframe designer and personal test pilot. They move out to California to oversee the autonomous search-and-rescue drones they're developing, and set up in a preposterous mansion overlooking the ocean in Malibu, with their ever growing family of bots and JARVIS to make the huge place feel full.

Despite having no qualms shout their personal AI butler and robotic lab assistants, Rhodey calls him bougie when Tony brings on a driver, Harold-call-me-Happy Hogan, and a personal assistant, one Ms. Virginia Potts. Happy's a solid driver and a cheerful guy, but Ms. Potts is a downright revelation. She's the second person he's met now who has no trouble keeping up with his mile-a-minute mind, and though her competencies lie along a different line than his or Rhodey's, he quickly realizes they are no less remarkable. He also plain likes her in an easy way he so seldom clicks with people. Tony might be a little bit smitten.

After a while he realizes Ms. Potts-call-me-Pepper (and seriously, did Tony miss a memo on alliterative nicknames?) seems smitten too, though not with him. Rhodey's no longer active duty, but old habits of discretion die hard, so she has no way of knowing when she strikes up a flirtation with the airman that he and her boss are more than just business partners. Rhodey's flustered, and Pepper's embarrassed, but Tony's always had a big heart, and he loves nothing quite so much as making the people he cares about happy. He can see the way his honeybear smiles when she's around, and it's obvious how much she lights up with him, and he's a genius, right, but he doesn't need to be to see that they'd work. So he tells them to go for it, as long as Pepper doesn't mind sharing and Rhodey doesn't mind being shared, and they look at him like he's grown a second head because what they want is all of them together.

They totally work.

2 - IM1, BUT HAPPIER?

They meet when Lt. Rhodes is assigned the Air Force liason to Stark Industries. Warned in advance, Rhodey was expecting brash, crass, and totally out of control, but what he found in Stark, Jr. was someone with a passion for machines and an excitement for invention unlike anyone he's ever met. When they realize they'd been on campus at the same time, Tony (“please, Mr. Stark was my father”) declares them the Brass Rat Pack, which makes him roll his eyes, but doesn't make a Sammy Davis, Jr. joke, which bumps him up a couple more points in Rhodey's estimation.

3 - IM2 BUT WITH SOME DAMN COMMUNICATION 

Rhodey was always going to get a suit. Tony's best friend, the best pilot he knows, AND one of the few people in military he actually still trusts? Of course. He offered Pepper one too, but he seemed to expect her to turn him down, because then he offered her the position of CEO. Insisted, really. 

So Pepper becomes the head of Stark Industries while Tony and Rhodey become Iron Man and War Machine. The military brass doesn't love having one of those suits and all of their secrets in the hands and head, respectively, of such an unpredictable element, but knowing that Colonel Rhodes is liasing most of his activities goes a long way toward quieting the grumbles. The men's joint testimony on just how far off any imitators, foreign or domestic, are from duplicating the technology convinces Congress that Team Iron Man's op-sec, while unorthodox, is effective. 

Rhodey takes some well deserved R&R and joins Tony and Pepper in Monaco. It's new still, this thing between them all, but it's good. 

4 - POST-IM2

AVENGERS FAM DAMMIT

Aliens invade New York, and Rhodey is so glad he stole that damn suit. 

5 - POST-IM3

IN WHICH WE AVOID CIVIL WAR 

RESCUE HAPPENS

Rogers and Romanoff bring down SHIELD, and Pepper is horrified to realize how close she came to being murdered by the state. After Killian, after Extremis, she knows she could be considered a threat, but seeing her name, and Tony's, and Rhodey's, on the kill list in the data dump is chilling.

+1 - After Everyone Lives

"Meguna Petunia Stark-Potts-Rhodes, out of the lab and inside for dinner!"

Morgan laughed. "Not my name, Dad - and anyway, wouldn't it be Potts-Rhodes-Stark, alphabetically?"

"You know, you'd think that, but your pops actually called dibs on the anchor leg years ago…"

"A relay's got four legs, Dad."

"What did I ever do to deserve a jock for a daughter? Tell you what, find us a Q who doesn't run screaming, and we'll consider it."

"What are we considering, Tony?"

"Morgan thinks our polycule needs to be a quadrilateral, apparently, and I'm blaming the track team. I've told her we're only considering candidates with Q last names; we're so close to a straight."

"Tony, you've never been close to straight in your life."

Mom gestures at the two bickering and pleads, "Just not another guy, please, darling, I'm outnumbered already."

"I dunno, you usually like tha-"

"Tony!" Mom and Pops shoot him identical stern looks.

Family. She wouldn't want it any other way.

If anyone made it this far, thanks for reading! @allofthefeelings I'm sorry the full fic never made its way out of my brain, but thank you for the prompt anyway! And thanks again to the Good Intentions WIP Fest!

[xandertheundead]

Okay but CONSIDER!!!!!! Comedian!Eddie

OKAY ANON! YOU GOT ME GOOD WITH THIS ONE CAUSE I LOVE THE IDEA! This one really got long so umm…yeah sorry! lol

Eddie watched as that familiar tall gangly form made its way onto the dimly lit center of the stage, roars of applause sounding when the lights came up. There he was, in his loud Hawaiian shirt and black jeans that were a hair too tight and those gross ratty converse he always wore on stage.

Richard ‘just call me Richie’ Tozier.

He watched as Richie did his opening joke, that large cheese-ball grin on his face when the crowd roared with laughter at the line about being in New York and their horseback police who have brought Amish crime down so well.

He had met Tozier eight years back, on one of Eddie’s tours when he was in L.A, he had just finished his show ‘Short Person Complex: Fuck you!’ and was signing autographs and ticket stubs when a giant walked up to him. Eddie remembered his first thought had been ‘holy shit those glasses are thick’ and then ‘this man has a terrifyingly large mouth’ when the giant smiled at him widely.

“Holy shit. Ed Kasp.” The giant gushed, people beside him just barely restraining themselves from trying to push this guy out of the way because he was taking too long. “You are seriously one of my favorite comedians ever.”

“Thank you.” Eddie had smiled, looking around to see if the man wanted anything signed. “Did you want something signed?”

Eddie had made it sound polite, not wanting to brush off a fan but people were getting agitated with this guy. But the man just continued on like Eddie hadn’t asked him anything and that people weren’t starting to grumble.

“I mean, normally the ranting comedy isn’t my thing, but you really know how to make your anger into something that is just so amazing and funny.”

Eddie nodded slowly, trying so hard to cue to this guy with his eyes that it was time to move along if he didn’t want anything signed. “Thank you, now I think-“

“God and you’re just so damn hot.”

The tall man had been pushed along by the crowd and Eddie went back to pictures, autographs and shaking hands, but the image of those thick glasses with that smile stuck in his head. The words the man said made a small smile come to his face because normally people were too scared to approach Eddie because in his shows he was always ranting and raving so they thought that he was always like that. Either that or they wanted something from him and put up with him for it. It felt good to know that someone out there thought he was good looking even when he was stomping around on stage like a rabid lemur monkey and didn’t ask for anything. It was a nice memory to keep, Eddie’s tour ended and life moved on.

Until a year later when his manager introduced him to his newest tour’s opening act.

Eddie could have sworn the giant grew since the last time he had seen him, dressed in ratty jeans and a bright orange T-shirt with a twerking cow on it that read ‘My Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The Yard’. That wide mouth grinned, perfect teeth with the silver of a retainer across the top row, and suddenly they were shaking hands.

“Eddie, meet Richie Tozier.”

He hated the man.

Richie Tozier was rude, loud, crass and obnoxious, he left his dirty clothes all over the tour bus and several times Eddie’s not so fake anger came out. They fought constantly, where to eat, the mess, music, how many pills Eddie took, etcetera. Etcetera. Etcetera. 

Luckily they were on their last show in Chicago and thank God because Eddie’s jaw hurt from all the teeth grinding he’d been doing everytime Richie opened that fucking mouth. Eddie waved to the crowd as he walked off stage, the heavy velvet curtains of the Chicago Theater coming down to muffle the sound of applause as he wiped at his face with his handkerchief.

“Jesus the lights were warm.” Eddie muttered as he loosened the tie around his neck and pushed into his dressing room and stopped dead when he noticed someone else was in his room. “What the fuck?”

There stood Richie, dripping wet and in nothing but a towel, looking at Eddie in shock like he wasn’t the one being caught naked in someone else’s dressing room. “Eddie…did you end early? I thought I had a little more time.”

Eddie sputtered for a minute, rage and shock making his thoughts run a million miles faster than his mouth and it didn’t help that Richie’s stupid ass wide shoulders and chest were right on display. It must have been obvious he was on the verge of exploding because then Richie held up his hands in a defensive motion, his blue eyes cleared without those thick glasses on.

“Look, I’m sorry.” Richie started slowly, backing up a little and Eddie noticed the towel start to slip. Why the fuck were bony ass hipbones attractive to him right now? “I needed to shower after the opening and your dressing room was the only one who had one.”

“You should have gone back to the hotel then!” Eddie frowned at the guilty look that crossed Richie’s face. Good! This guy, acting like everyone else’s stuff was his own, it drove Eddie insane.

“Yeah,” Richie started slowly, looking down at the floor. “But then I would have missed your whole show. This way I only missed the last fifteen minutes.”

Eddie blinked. “What? Why would you-? You’ve seen it twelve times already.”

Richie blinked, turning to look up at Eddie again with a confused look that probably matched Eddie’s own. “So?”

“So? So why does it matter to see this one?”

Richie’s gaze quickly moved to the side, avoiding eye contact as his cheeks started to grow an alarming shade of red. “Jesus, you’re dumb.”

Anger spiked again. “Excuse me?”

Richie gave a halfhearted shrug and rolled his eyes, but even though his actions were flippant Eddie could see fear in his eyes. “If you can’t tell that I’ve been in love with you for years then I’m sorry. You’re a certified idiot.”

The knock at his intelligence flew right over his head because the love confession by the almost naked man in front of him consumed his mind. Love? Richie loved him? How? All they did was fight and bicker. Was this a joke? One of Richie Toziers dumb ass jokes that he thought would be hilarious?

“Is this a joke?” Eddie asked, his breath hitching a little as an embarrassed panic settled over him, the idea of his sexuality being the butt of a joke again causing his back and palms start to sweat. “Cause it’s not fucking funny in the slightest.”

“Wha-? No! Why would I joke about that?”

Eddie threw up his hands because he didn’t really have an answer to that. Richie was very vocal about his bisexuality, the confidence something Eddie didn’t have about his own sexuality until he was at least twenty-four. 

“People have before!” It was the best he could come up with and he had to look away from the sadness he saw in the other’s eyes because he couldn’t handle that right now. “People can be awful and two faced and we’ve done nothing but get under each other’s skin so excuse me if I’m a little surprised.”

It was quiet, the only sound being Eddie’s heavy breathing, his head starting to feel light with how many emotions he was trying to keep inside. When Richie spoke again Eddie’s attention snapped to him, Richie’s wet hair starting to curl now that it was starting to dry and Eddie had an insane thought of pulling on one of the ringlets.

“It’s not a joke.” Richie started slowly. “And damn I wish I had my glasses cause right now you’re just  a faceless blob, but I’m not joking. I just-you fought me first.”

Eddie blinked. The nerve of this fucking dipshit. “Are you serious?”

“You yelled at me because of my clothes.”

Eddie was about to explode, with what emotion he wasn’t sure which was strange. “They were all over the bus!”

Richie had the decency to look slightly ashamed. “Yeah, well-“

“Yeah, well-“ Eddie mimicked, pitching his voice lowers like Richie’s but adding more of an idiot tone. He frowned crossing his arms as he stared at the man, daring Richie to try to excuse how much of a mess he was. The tension was thick and honestly Eddie was glad this was the last show because if this went south, which it probably was going to, then he wouldn’t ever have to see Richie Tozier again.

Then Richie’s towel slipped completely.

Both of them stood there deathly silent, Eddie trying his best not to glance down while Richie made a face as if accepting that this was how he was probably going to be murdered. Eddie cracked first,it started out as a choked wheeze, his body barely able to contain the full on belly laugh that came after it and Eddie bent over and gasped for breath as he continued to laugh so hard tears came to his eyes.

“Yeah.” Richie muttered. “I confess to a guy, show him my dick and he laughs. That’s about right.”

Eddie started laughing harder and he was honestly about to choke on his own spit if Richie said anything else. Soon Richie started to laugh as well, not even bothering to pick the towel back up as he grabbed his pants and started hopping into them rather ungracefully. 

“You look like a literal noodle man.” Eddie whispered, his voice shot from laughing so hard. “Oh my god! How are you all limbs?”

“I’m real good at reaching for things up high. That’s my like top talent there. Number one on my dating profile.”

Laughter bubbled up from Eddie’s throat again and he had to go sit down on the couch because his abs hurt. “You’re ridiculous.”

The smile that Richie gave him made his heartbeat speed up a bit as he smiled back.

That had been five years ago, four dating anniversaries ago, moving into two new apartments and one house near the beach in San Diego ago and now Eddie sat in the crowd and watched his boyfriend act. It had been the twenty-seventh time he’d heard it, they both used each other as sounding boards for their newest material, and Eddie thought it was one of Richie’s best.

But it threw him when near the end, Richie segwayed into a completely different topic than he was supposed to.

“So did you hear about Ben Hanscome and Beverly Marsh finally tying the knot?” The crowd whooped loudly and Richie chuckled. “Man, it was great. Yeah, you heard right. I was there. I got invited because I’m special.”

The crowd laughed at the bratty cheerleader voice he’d used at the word special and Eddie watched in confusion as Richie laughed at himself and shook his head. 

“But man it was great. They were so into each other that anyone would look at it and be like ‘Damn I want that.’ Ya know, along with the million dollars they have, their banging bods and that awesome leg garter Ben was wearing all night.” More laughs and Eddie was starting to get nervous about what this was. Richie now a days only improvised when something had gone wrong with his act, but he had pulled off almost the whole thing without a hitch so Eddie didn’t know what was happening. “It made me think about if I want that. Like, get to see my little Napoleon dressed in his finest.”

Oh.

Oh shit.

“So, I think I’m going to try and make it a thing.” The world went silent as Richie pulled something from his pocket and moved to kneel down on his knee. “Spaghetti, what do you say? Wanna try matrimony with me?”

Richie was looking right at him, the whole crowd was looking for him and Eddie had no idea how to react. So, he did the only thing he knew to do, he stood up and cupped his hands around his mouth so the whole theater could hear him.

“You’re a fucking idiot!” He yelled loudly. “During a show? Really?”

The crowd starting muttering in worry, but Richie kept that dumb beautiful smile on his face and Eddie grinned.

“But yes! Obviously I’ll marry you, dick head!”

Send me a Prompt!

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[grilledcheem]

prompt : teen richie does something minor to piss eddie off and eddie gives him silent treatment all day but richie keeps annoying eddie to get him to talk to him which angers him more

this got away from me so uh it’s almost 2k. enjoy!

support me on my kofi

read on ao3

“Eddiebear has a teddy bear!” Richie’s voice rings out as he enters the clubhouse one summer afternoon, Eddie close behind him. The other Losers look up from the board game they were playing to watch the two friends argue.

“You asshole!” Eddie shouts, pushing Richie away as he tries to hug him from the side. “You said you wouldn’t tell anyone!”

Richie pouts a little, lip quivering in false shame. He sweeps his left arm in front of the two of them, gesturing to their friends. “It’s just us Losers, Eds, no need to get worked up about a silly toy.”

The look in Eddie’s eyes makes Richie regret his words as soon as they come out. There is anger there; blazing, heated, constant. There is anger and there is something that Richie could swear looks like sadness. He tries to backpedal, to apologize for teasing him but Eddie won’t look at him anymore. Eddie’s moved to sit between Bill and Mike, forcing his way into the circle. None of the other Losers say anything; they’re used to the two arguing but it’s never been this serious.

They all agree to start a new game so that Richie and Eddie aren’t just sitting there watching Stan win Monopoly. Richie suggests Twister and everyone groans; everyone except Eddie. Eddie is silent even though he usually speaks up against Richie’s insistence on playing that game. Richie sees this as his chance to tease Eddie, tricking him into speaking with him.

“Aw, Eds,” he coos. “No complaints about Twister? Guess you’ve finally succumbed to my charm.” He says this with a wink, wiggling his eyebrows at Eddie. Eddie’s face stays neutral as he turns to Bev and says, “I was thinking we could play Clue; does that sound alright?” Bev smiles, knowing that Eddie doesn’t want to talk to Richie right now, although she doesn’t know why. She agrees and soon the rest of the group, except for Richie, are all arguing over which character they want.

Richie hates Clue. He hates how he has to sit and think when games shouldn’t make you think, they should just be fun. There aren’t even enough characters for the whole group to play. He points this out and the look Eddie gives him tells him that that was the whole point of him picking it. A little hurt but mostly confused, Richie resigns himself to watching the game but it’s hard to focus when his mind keeps wandering to thoughts on why Eddie is so mad at him. He thinks back to when he saw the teddy bear, not seeing how anything that they talked about last night when he had snuck over could explain why Eddie reacted to weird. He wants to talk to Bill or Stan about it but they’re both so engrossed in the game and Richie doesn’t want to spoil their fun. To entertain himself and keep his thoughts from focusing on Eddie for too long, he starts commentating the game.

“Oh ho, my good chap,” he says, putting on a terrible English accent as Stan, who is playing as Colonel Mustard, brings Eddie’s character, Mr. Green, into the library. “Thank you for joining me in this wondrous library as we hunt for this mysterious killer who, by the way, is not me.” Bev and Mike chuckle under their breath as Richie carries on. “Quite right, quite right. Now would you do me the honor and the privilege of allowing me to bore you to death with a recitation of the facts?”

Eddie slams his hand down on the floor, startling the group and jostling some of the pieces. He doesn’t say anything but Richie can tell that it’s taking all of his willpower to not yell at him. Bill looks at Richie and gives him a sympathetic smile. “M-Maybe it’s best that you d-d-don’t commen-com-commentate, Rich.” Richie looks at Eddie for a moment, his hands shaking slightly as he realizes just how mad Eddie is with him. “Yeah, I guess you’re right, Bill.” He sits there for a moment, looking down at the board, at the game that had no room for him, and he sighs. “Actually, I’m just gonna head out. I, uh, just remembered something my mom wanted me to do.”

Everyone but Eddie murmurs their goodbyes as Richie leaves the clubhouse. Some part of him thinks Eddie will climb up after him, tell him to come back, tell him that he wasn’t really mad, he was just messing around. By the time Richie is on his bike and pedaling away, that part of him is gone.

It’s 7pm and the Tozier’s have just finished dinner; on any other summer evening, Richie would be running out the door to go sneak into Eddie’s room. Sometimes they’d just sit and talk for a while, maybe play a game or two. Sometimes Richie would spend the night, setting the alarm on Eddie’s clock so he can leave before Mrs. Kaspbrak finds them tangled in bed together. Platonically, of course, Richie’s mind reminds him and a hollow feeling takes over. He had been trying to decide whether to go over to Eddie’s tonight despite their argument earlier. It might give him a chance to apologize for real. It might set Eddie off again and he’d never want to see Richie again.

He’s washing the dishes from dinner in the sink, something that he does every night before heading to Eddie’s because he may be crass and make terrible “your mom” jokes but he loves his mother and he loves helping her out around the house. It makes him feel useful. Once the last plate has been washed, dried, and put away, Richie decides that if he doesn’t go over to Eddie’s tonight, he may not go over ever again. Dramatic, yes, but Richie knows it’s true. He hugs his parents before he leaves, being careful to not slam the door on his way out.

He gets to Eddie’s in just a few minutes, despite walking slower. He is nervous, more nervous than he’s been in a while. Eddie is his best friend and, somehow, some way, he really hurt him today. Richie bends over and picks up a small pebble, holding it gently in his palm before throwing it at Eddie’s window. At first, nothing happens. No one comes to the window; no noise comes from the house. Then, just as Richie’s about to grab another pebble, the window slides open. There’s no greeting, just silence and Richie takes that as his cue to climb up.

Once he’s inside the room, he looks around, eyes still adjusting to the slight difference in light. Eddie’s room is just like it was the night before; clean, not a speck of dust or a sock out of place. The only thing missing, Richie notices, is the teddy bear that had been sitting on Eddie’s quilt the night before. In its place sits Eddie, a scowl on his face.

“H-Hey, Eds,” he whispers, wincing when Eddie’s scowl hardens. “Look, man, I just wanted to apologize.” At this, Eddie’s gaze softens just a little bit. “I shouldn’t have told the others about the bear. I guess I just didn’t realize it was such a sore spot for you.” Richie chuckles, hands awkwardly hanging at his sides. “I still don’t understand why you got so mad but I won’t talk about it again, I promise.” He holds out his pinky, an offering of sorts. A pinky promise isn’t as sacred as a blood pact but it was the next best thing. Eddie sighs and grips Richie’s pinky with his own, pulling him close enough that Richie can see the wetness in Eddie’s eyes.

“There’s some things you don’t joke about, Trashmouth,” Eddie says, his voice thick and wet as if he had been crying before Richie arrived. Richie nods, smiling because damn, he had missed Eddie’s voice. He had heard it earlier today, when he was talking to the others, but there was something special in Eddie’s voice whenever he spoke to Richie, something different that wasn’t there for anyone else.

They spend the rest of the night playing games and reading one of Eddie’s new comics, each of them holding one side of the book so they could read it at the same time. Once they’re finished, Eddie sneaks Richie into the bathroom so they can get ready for bed. Eddie hides a toothbrush for Richie in his room so his mother doesn’t find out and this makes Richie feel special. Eddie is willing to risk making his mother mad just to be with Richie, one-on-one and outside of view of everyone else.

They’re in Eddie’s room now with practically no space between them where they lay, shoulder to shoulder, on Eddie’s bed. Their hands are resting at their sides and Richie fights down an urge to reach that one inch over and hold Eddie’s hand. He can tell that Eddie is still a little tense from earlier that day and he thinks about bringing it up again but before he can say anything, Eddie brings it up first.

“My dad gave me that bear,” he whispers, his voice so quiet that Richie almost doesn’t hear him. “It was right before he died so it’s the last gift I have from him. I just, it’s embarrassing but it’s the last piece of him I have so…”

Richie wants to roll over and hug Eddie tight, squeezing him until he can’t breathe. Of course Eddie would be upset about being teased for having the bear; it wasn’t just a bear, it was a memory of his dad. Richie felt more like an asshole than he ever had in his 17 years. “I’m sorry, Eds, it was really shitty of me to make fun of you for it.”

Eddie turns onto his side, facing Richie with a melancholic smile. “It’s okay, ‘Chee. You didn’t know.”

“That doesn’t matter!” Richie sits up now, too worked up to stay laying down. “It was shitty of me, no matter what. I-I don’t, I don’t know why I did it. I knew it would upset you but I was like ‘oh, but it’ll be funny and he’ll end up laughing too.’ Bullshit. I, god, Eds, I’m such a shitty friend.”

Eddie pulls Richie back down to lay beside him, gripping his face between his hands. “You are not a shitty friend, Richie. You made a mistake. People do that, you know.” He says this with a small smile, eyes soft and warm. Richie finds himself leaning forward on instinct, nose brushing against Eddie’s. “Thanks, Eds.”

Minutes pass by as they lay there, nose to nose. Richie’s almost worked up the courage to kiss Eddie when he yawns, mouth stretching wide. Eddie pushes him away, laughing quietly. “God, your breath smells even after brushing your teeth!” They both giggle and then Eddie yawns, making Richie snort with laughter. As they’re trying to keep quiet, hoping that Eddie’s mom is asleep already, Richie thinks about the bear again.

“Hey,” he whispers. “You know, if you want to go get your bear, I, uh, that’s okay with me.” Eddie tenses for a moment before hugging Richie tight. He gets up and goes to his closet, sliding open the door and wincing when it squeaks. A few seconds later, Eddie is climbing back into bed beside Richie, bear securely in his arms.

“Goodnight, Richie,” he hums, eyes already fluttering shut. Richie, his courage from earlier not quite gone, leans forward and kisses Eddie’s forehead.

“Goodnight, Eddie.”

[marshmallowprotection]

Hello! I have a request i hope you'll take cause i love your HCs✨ So how would RFA+trio react to an MC who loves to make people confused about her gender because she believes it's just stereotypes, so she dresses in a ""masculine"" way and doesn't stop making sexual innuendos and puns in front of people (But she can also feel ""feminine"" some days).

Yoosung

First of all, Yoosung adores you for your personality. You taunt and tease and poke at him for a lot of fun. He likes it when you push his buttons and drive him up the wall with jokes. It’s annoying with Seven does it but he likes it when you do it to him. Take that how you will. It never even really occurred to him that you weren’t dressing like some of the other girls that he knows. You had a personal style all of your own and it worked for you. He never really thought much of it until he sees how people misgender you or mistake you for his “boyfriend.” 

Yoosung is always the first one to call anyone out if they’re rude to you because you’re the most important person to him and he won’t stand for anyone being mean to you. It’s okay if it doesn’t bother you but he feels like you don’t deserve to be treated rudely. 

Jaehee

Jaehee was always more traditionally feminine than anything. She never really put much into her appearance but she liked the way that she looked. She did what she had to do for her job, and once you come around, she looks so much happy back to how she was before. You, on the other hand, feel at peace with your style and it suits you. She admires your confidence in your style and how you dress however you want without anyone getting on your mind about their opinions. She never knows how to handle your taunting and teasing though, she has never been all that great at keeping her composure when people that she likes flirt with her and it really drives her up the wall. 

She makes no qualms about what you look like. You’re great the way that you are, darling. She will defend you if someone is rather harsh about the way you dress, or if you get insulted on the days you dress more “feminine” that you should “dress like that all the time because you’re a girl”. 

Zen

Zen thinks you’re a darling no matter what you look like. He’s going to flirt right back with you and lean into your embrace when you tease him or try to see how much you can rile him up the wall. It isn’t all that hard to do that because as big a mouth that he has, his bite is not as big as his bark. He’ll be stuttering and reminding you about his beast when you get a little too under his skin. It’s kind of cute banter, honestly. Beauty is not in the looks, it’s in the heart and he knows that better than anyone else. He admires your personal style because you wear it with such pride and confidence. 

He’ll make anyone think twice before they rag on you for the way that you look because Zen isn’t here for some bullshit. You’re his girlfriend and you can dress however the hell you want. 

Jumin

Oh, God. You’ve stolen his heart and you have the attitude of Luciel. He isn’t sure what aligned in the universe for this to happen but he’s not mad about it because you make him smile when you try to pull him out of his comfort zone with such glee. You’re uncouth, but he thinks it’s cute. Turnabout play is fair and you’re in a real hell if you push him too far over the edge while he’s at work the minute he comes home. He knows that your style isn’t traditionally feminine but that really doesn’t bother him. You seem much more comfortable in slacks and shirts. 

He thinks that it works for you, personally. You’re rather handsome, and it does not take much to make him glance at you and then take a second look when you’re wearing something that makes you feel good. He’s like Zen, he will call out anyone who talks shit. 

Seven

Oh, you like to play around with people and tease them until they’re crying or pouting at you? Same hat! You and Seven are a destructive duo that everyone fears to be around some days because you both are relentless when it comes to flirting and poking fun at how prudish some people can be. Yoosung and Zen are quaking. Seven loves your style. He thinks that you look good as hell in anything that you wear but your style is one that he loves. This man dresses however he wants when however he’s feeling, and so, he knows more than anyone how great you can feel some days when you’re wearing a specific type of clothes for yourself. 

He thinks it’s fun when he can dress up or something to counter how handsome you look. He revels in the sheer fun when people think he’s your girlfriend or vice-versa. He doesn’t care about gender roles or how people gender clothes, clothes are clothes and if you look good, then it’s great. He’ll reassure you always. 

V

V has never really been with someone that is so outwardly blunt with their tongue in the way that you are. You say such crass things and it leaves his face stained red in embarrassment. It’s kind of cute, you think. He doesn’t know what to say so he can of coughs and stutters trying to keep his cool when you get under his skin. Apart from that, he really doesn’t even notice that you’re any different from anyone else. He saw your smile and your warmth, and that’s what drew him into you. Your laughter is what makes him want to keep going. 

Your style is fitting for you. He wants you to feel comfortable in your body and that means you wear whatever the hell you want. You’re his girlfriend, and if you ever feel down about what anyone has said to you then he’s going to remind you that you’re his partner and his muse. You inspire him daily.

Saeran

Okay, so what? Saeran literally doesn’t care what you wear or what you look like because he’s never been obsessed with looks. You’re nice to him, you care for him, and that’s literally all that matters. You beam with pride and confidence when you’re dressing the way that you want and he would give anything to see you show yourself off in a way that feels right for you. You both share a lot of clothes, honestly. It’s simple and it’s easy. Who owns what? Oh, you both own this closet, no worries. 

He will turn red in the face from his cheeks to his ears when you pull his leg the way that you do. He gets flustered but he’s got such a straight face that he can really hide it without much issue. He’ll be like Jumin, if you push him too far then he’s going to bite back. 

Vanderwood

Ain’t nobody saying anything to Vanderwood about clothes or style because they look eccentric themself, even if they aren’t going to admit it. The leather, the faux print, the lavender! You both extrude this energy that everyone is in envy and in awe of because you both are so comfortable with your personal styles. They are just glad that you feel powerful in what you’re wearing because damn, you make those pants look good. Apart from that, they sort of take your teasing and games lightly. 

They’re used to that sort of stuff from Seven and it can be a little annoying at first but it sort of grows on you after a while and Vanderwood isn’t going to say a damn thing about it but they’re fond of the nonsense that you pull every now and again. 

[bumblesimagines]

Off to the races

Request: Yes or No

This is loosely based off an oc story. Also, since Tommy (Malachai's actor) is Venezuelan and speaks Spanish, does that mean Malachai can too? 👀

My old man is a bad man

But I can't deny the way he holds my hand

And he grabs me, he has me by my heart

He doesn't mind I have a Las Vegas past

He doesn't mind I have a L.A crass way about me

He loves me with every beat of his cocaine heart

(Y/N) watched as Malachai and some of his buddies beat up a kid. He glanced at Jaime, crossing his arms. When a hot stranger offered him a ride, he didn't expect to hookup with him and later find out he was a gang leader. (Y/N) looked at Malachai when he backed up and walked over, knuckles bloody.

"Come on, baby." He said casually, grabbing his hand and holding it as he went back to his car.

Swimming pool

Glimmering darling

White bikini off with my red nail polish

Watch me in the swimming pool

Bright blue ripples, you

Sitting sipping on your Black Cristal, oh yeah

(Y/N) laughed when Jaime splashed him with water. The good moments when Ghoulies acted like normal people. (Y/N) liked those moments. He looked over at Malachai who watched him intently while sipping on his drink.

"Aw, cuties." Jaime cooed, making (Y/N) splash her.

Light of my life, fire in my loins

Be a good baby, do what I want

Light of my life, fire in my loins

Gimme them gold coins

Gimme them coins

(Y/N) bit down on the lollypop, chewing when it cracked and broke. He looked up when some rolled up money was tossed on the table. Malachai motioned to it.

"They're yours." He said. (Y/N) cocked a brow.

"Why?" He asked, picking it up. Malachai shrugged.

"Because you're my boyfriend and I want to give you money." (Y/N) raised his brows. Boyfriend? That was a first. He smiled, leaning forward.

"Well thank you, boyfriend."

And I'm off to the races, cases

Of Bacardi chasers

Chasing me all over town

'Cause he knows I'm wasted,

Facing time again at Riker's Island

And I won't get out

(Y/N) huffed, feeling someone grab his arm and pulled him back. He turned around, almost tripping from how intoxicated he was. He saw Malachai's face and grinned.

"Baby!" He cooed, wrapped his arms around him. (Y/N) heard Malachai sigh.

"Come on, let's head home." (Y/N) nodded happily. He knew going out and partying without Malachai's knowledge annoyed Malachai but he never stayed mad or annoyed. (Y/N) really needed to shake off that habit.

Because I'm crazy, baby

I need you to come here and save me

I'm your little scarlet starlet

Singing in the garden

Kiss me on my open mouth

Ready for you

(Y/N) laughed, falling back onto the bed.

"I already have to deal with those Serpents, I don't need to drive around town because you snuck off." Malachai said, helping him undress.

"Why don't you just kill them? Blow their brains out!" (Y/N) cracked up as Malachai rolled his eyes.

"You're crazy.." Malachai mumbled, leaning down and kissing him. (Y/N) happily kissed him back.

My old man is, a tough man

But he got a soul as sweet as blood red jam

And he shows me, he knows me, every inch of my tar black soul

He doesn't mind I have a flat broke down life

In fact he says he thinks it's what he might like about me, admires me

The way I roll like a rolling stone

(Y/N) woke up to soft kisses trailed around his face and neck. He grunted softly, bringing a hand up to his pounding head. Malachai chuckled, nudging him. (Y/N) opened his eyes, grabbing the painkillers and water. He sat up, glancing down at Malachai when he nipped at (Y/N)'s hip. Once (Y/N) took the painkiller, he lied back down and cuddled against Malachai.

Likes to watch me in the glass room, bathroom

Chateau Marmont

Slipping on my red dress, putting on my make up

Glass film, perfume, cognac, lilac

Fumes, says it feels like heaven to him

(Y/N) cracked open one eye, looking at Malachai. He smiled, sliding down so the water went up to his nose. Malachai watched him affectionately.

"Hey, little merman." He greeted. (Y/N) sat up, chuckling. Malachai approached him, crouching down and kissing him. (Y/N) pulled back, noting a smell.

"Are you using my cologne?" He asked. Malachai grinned, nodding.

Light of his life, fire of his loins

Keep me forever, tell me you want me

Light of your life, fire of your loins

Tell me you want me, gimme them coins

"I love you.." Malachai mumbled, pressing a kiss to (Y/N)'s shoulder. (Y/N) smiled, turning his head and looked at him.

"Who doesn't?" (Y/N) grinned. Malachai rolled his eyes, nipping his shoulder. (Y/N) laughed softly, turning around and wrapping his arms around him. He leaned in, kissing him softly.

"I love you too, Mal." He tangled his fingers into Malachai's soft curls.

And I'm off to the races, cases

Of Bacardi chasers

Chasing me all over town

(Y/N) tilted his head back, drinking the beer in one go. He placed the bottle down and looked at Malachai.

"You're gonna get liver problems." Malachai mumbled as he counted his money. (Y/N) cocked a brow, glancing at Malachai's beer bottles.

"Your one to talk." He replied. Malachai put him on house arrest after going out without his knowledge again.

Cause he knows I'm wasted, facing

Time again at Riker's

Island and I won't get out

(Y/N) stood up, going around the table and hugging Malachai from behind.

"Can I-"

"No." Malachai cut him off. (Y/N) pouted, resting his head ontop of Malachai's.

"Why not?" Malachai sighed, grabbing his arm and kissing it.

"I want you home. Safe. With me." Malachai replied. (Y/N) kissed the back of his head and hummed.

"Sorry for making you worry so much, Mal." (Y/N) apologized quietly.

Because I'm crazy, baby

I need you to come here and save me

I'm your little scarlet starlet

Singing in the garden

Kiss me on my open mouth

Malachai tilted his head back, meeting (Y/N) in a sweet kiss. (Y/N) pulled back and bumped their noses together before grabbing another bottle and opening it.

"You've had enough." Malachai grabbed it from him.

"Go take a shower, I'll join you in a minute." Malachai said. (Y/N) huffed but nodded, walking away.

Now I'm off to the races, laces

Leather on my waist is

Tight and I am falling down

I can see your faces, shameless

Cipriani's basement

Love you, but I'm going down

(Y/N) watched Malachai's car pull up, arms crossed. Malachai got out of his car, approaching him.

"I expected-" Malachai was cut off by his own grunt, holding his jaw as he stumbled back. (Y/N) shook his hand, knuckles hurting a bit.

"You promised you wouldn't get in trouble with the law and I have to find out through Jaime that you got arrested!"

"It isn't the first time-"

"And it'll be the last or else we're over."

God I'm so crazy, baby

I'm sorry that I'm misbehaving

I'm your little harlot starlet

King of Coney Island

Raising hell all over town

Sorry 'bout it

"You're fucking joking, right?"

"You have no fucking idea how worried I was, Malachai. Don't you understand how difficult it can be when you're locked up and the Serpents take advantage of it?" (Y/N) asked. Malachai sighed, eyes hard.

"Go ahead and try me if you think I'm joking." (Y/N) turned around, entering their home. Malachai groaned loudly, following his boyfriend inside.

"You need to calm down-"

"You're so fucking lucky I didn't go to that damn jail and beat your stupid ass. You've been dealing drugs for how long? Some rookie mistake and your ass is off to jail, God, you're so lucky that Peggy is a good lawyer." (Y/N) sneered. Malachai approached him, hands up. He slowly wrapped his arms around him.

"I'm sorry, baby." Malachai said softly. (Y/N) began to realx.

My old man is a thief

And I'm gonna stay and pray with him 'til the end

But I trust in the decision of the Lord

To watch over us

Take him when He may, if He may

(Y/N) played with his necklace, glancing at the clock. Malachai knew the cops were gonna be keeping an eye on him yet he had gone out to check on the drug run. (Y/N) was usually the one to make stupid and crazy decisions but Malachai was stepping it up. He heard the front door open and stood up, leaving the kitchen. Malachai shrugged off his jacket. He tossed some money onto the coffee table.

"Where'd you get that?"

"Some of the boys robbed a gas station." Malachai replied, yawning softly. Seemed like he was coming down from a high.

"Okay... I'm going to bed." (Y/N) said, walking to their bedroom.

"Babe? What's wrong?"

I'm not afraid to say that I'd die without him

Who else is gonna put up with me this way?

I need you, I breathe you, I'd never leave you

They would rue the day I was alone without you

"I'm just tired.." (Y/N) replied, glancing at him. Malachai leaned against the doorway, playing with his bracelet.

"I love you, you know that, right?"

"Yeah." (Y/N) lied down, taking off his necklace and putting it on the nightstand. Malachai headed into the bathroom, taking a quick shower and hopping into bed with (Y/N). Despite being annoyed with Malachai, (Y/N) wrapped his arms around him.

You're lying with your gold chain on

Cigar hanging from your lips

I said, "Hon', you never looked so beautiful

As you do now, my man"

Malachai was always a pretty sight to wake up to. A blunt hanging from his lips as sunlight poured into the room. (Y/N) took a moment to admire his man. He lifted himself up, kissing Malachai's arm. (Y/N) smiled up at him. Malachai leaned down, kissing him.

"Morning, babe." He mumbled. (Y/N) hummed, flopping down onto the pillow.

"Morning, Mal."

And we're off to the races, places

Ready, set, the gate is down and now we're goin' in

To Las Vegas, chaos, Casino Oasis

Honey, it is time to spin

(Y/N) felt the wind slip through his fingers as Malachai drove. It seemed like getting shot with an arrow brought Malachai back down to earth. (Y/N) was, of course, worried when he heard that his boyfriend got an arrow to the shoulder but couldn't help bursting out into a fit of laughter learning it was a teenager who had done it.

"Still can believe you laughed at me while I was bleeding out." Malachai mumbled.

"Oh, please. Penny and the others bandaged and stitched you up." (Y/N) smiled, looking at him.

"What do you think, Mimic?" (Y/N) asked, looking at the Rottweiler puppy sitting in his lap. Mimic barked in response.

"Right? Your other daddy is so dramatic." (Y/N) cooed. Malachai rolled his eyes. Their road trip was gonna be filled with lots of fun.

Boy, you're so crazy, baby

I love you forever, not maybe

You are my one true love

You are my one true love

You are my one true love

[mblay-and-company]

It’s Self Indulgent FanFiction time, ya’ll!!!

So I came across this Prompt List by @palettes-and-prompts and IMMEDIATELY became intrigued by the very first dialogue prompt, and since a certain Hotel in Hell with a certain Radio Demon has became my Hyperfixation for the time being, I have decided to indulge myself.

When I started, I really struggled to decide if I wanted to directly insert myself into this or make it a Reader Fic.  I decided fuck it, this is for me!  And then I struggled to decide which name to use for myself, bc most of my OC’s are named after me in some degree and it’s very awkward... :I

So, without further ado, have a FanFic featuring a human me hanging out in the Hotel and having been foolish enough to have made SOME deals with Alastor, but not stupid enough to sell my Soul to him.  Misadventures of Michaela the Hell Temp, go!

"C'mon, toots, ya gotta tell me what yer kink is!"

Michaela let out a hard sigh, looking at the Effeminate Spider Demon with an exhausted glare.

"I don't need to tell you anything, Angel-"

"But I gotta know what freaky shit Smiles is into!  You two clearly are into something!"

After Angel Dust learned about the "bizarre Deal" she admitted to have with Alastor, along with what she described as a light crush, he immediately started making assumptions.  Honestly, it felt like he had been drilling her for hours for the "deets," even though it was probably only a few minutes at best.

"Angel, do you not understand how being Ace works-"

"Is it a Foot Fetish?!  Are ya two into suckin' toes?!" He almost let out a cheer when he watched her react, but quickly realized she was recoiling in disgust.

"Angel, that's fucking gross!  Do ya even know how much DEAD SKIN there is between toes???" She gagged out, her nose scrunched up.

"And why are we wondering about dead skin cells?" The two quickly turned to see a curious Alastor, quietly drinking a cup of coffee.  He could hear the sounds of their argument halfway across the Hotel, and it finally piqued his interest.

"Al, you really don't wanna be a part of this-" She tried to warn him, only to get shoved out of the way by Angel.

"Smiles!  What kinky shit do you two do during sex???" He practically screamed out with excitement.  Alastor let out a sudden cough, choking on his coffee.

"I beg your PARDON?!" He sputtered out, his grin pulled tight and twitching in the corners.  The static that emanated off of him seemed to intensify in agitation.  With another hard sigh, Michaela gave Angel a harsh check to his side, knocking him to the ground.

"This idiot is CONVINCED that we must have sex together just because we do business with each other.  He's been trying to delve into this nonexistant sex life for WAY too long, and I can feel a migrain coming on because of it." She scowled, rubbing her temples.  Alastor made a cough to clear his throat out, looking over at Angel.

"I fear you have forgotten that not everyone is in the Prostitution Business, my effeminate fellow!  And besides, I believe it is in your best interest to know that your little pet has squeezed himself under the oven, and our Charming Demon Belle can't coax him out.  I offered my assistance, but she doesn't seem to trust me with the pig's safety!"  He cried out in feigned offence, dramatically putting his hand over his heart in a swoon.  Upon being told his beloved pet was potentially in danger, Angel let out a distressed gasp.

"Fat Nuggets, hold on, Daddy's coming for ya!!!"  He cried out, sprinting down the hall at full speed.  Michaela let out a hard sigh of relief, her shoulders slumping down.

"I thought he would never leave..." She muttered, before looking up at Alastor.  "Is Nugs really stuck?"

"It would seem so..." He hummed thoughtfully.  "I wasn't planning on telling Angel about it, but it certainly became a much needed means to remove him from the room!"

"It seems we both conveniently benefit from this..." She mused, rubbing her temples again.  She was trying to think of ways to politely thank him without incurring a higher "tab" of debt with him.  The dealings she already had with him were careful, but she knew full well that he was much more cunning than she was, and he was VERY good at pulling the "favor" card.

"Most certainly, my dear!" He laughed heartily.  "I couldn't leave you in such a distressing state!  Not when I would find myself just as uncomfortable!"

"Thanks for that..." She let out a soft sigh.  Perhaps finding situations that were mutually beneficial really was the way to go?

"However..."

And there it was.  She couldn't help but cringe as she watched him tap his chin thoughtfully, his eyes focused entirely on her.

"I can't help but think that our business dealings isn't the ONLY reason that spider was so insistent on believing we had a... Less than professional relationship?" His eyebrows quirked as he carefully studied her expression. She was a combination of conflicted, embarrassed, and possibly mocking?  She was a massive kaleidoscope of emotions, many often showing off at once, making a very entertaining - Sometimes even unique - show for him.

"First of all..." She started, swirling her hand in circles to keep her thought process going.  "... Describing our relationship as "Professional" is kinda laughable, considering the CLOSEST I could be described is a Temp for you."  He simply responded with a static laced chuckle, followed with his disembodied laugh track, and a shrug.

"Second of all..." Her pause was a lot longer, rubbing one side of her temples with one hand as she held up a finger with the other, as if to say "One moment."  She let out another hard sigh, and let out a mumbled "I can't believe I'm explaining this to you..."

"You have my full attention now, sweetheart, I am most intrigued with what you have to say!  No backing out now!"  He chimed with a quirked eyebrow, his eyes glistening with intrigue and possible mischief.  With another sigh, she looked him dead in the eyes.

"I have a minor crush on you... A small infatuation..." She admitted, already regretting saying anything.  She braced for the inevitable mocking as he processed what she said to him.  Eventually he broke the silence with the hard laughter she expected of him, and after what felt like an eternity he wiped a tear from his eye.

"A horrible decision, really.  I pegged you to at LEAST be a little smarter than that, darling..." He chuckled darkly, before bending down to bring his face to eye level with her.  "After all, you know full well what horrors I am capable of, yes?  What I have done, and will continue to do, for all of eternity?"

She could feel a lump of nervousness caught in her throat.  His grin was impossibly wide and extremely dangerous, and his eyes were half lidded.  He looked exactly like what he was; A predator with full control over the situation.  If he decided to, he could kill her with such ease.  With a hard swallow, she explained herself.

"I'm not naive...  Nor am I complacent.  I certainly don't support or condone the atrocities you've done..." She let out a hard sigh, repeating the circling motion with her hand to process her thoughts.  "It's just easy to be... Charmed by your more gentlemanly behaviors... Your... Damn it, brain, you had this word five seconds ago...  It's usually used in reference to illnesses that spread easy..." She muttered as the circling became much faster.

"Contagious?" He offered with a chuckle, straightening himself out.  She admitted to this problem of forgetting words quite a while ago, despite her brain fully remembering the concept of the word she's attempting to say.  It was an interesting dilemma, to say the least.  She once anguished over forgetting the word "oven" for a week.

"Yeah, that one.  Your high energy and smile are very contagious..." She said with a point, before continuing.  "I always enjoy the music.  I may be modern, and I know you don't support most of my taste, but I do really like smooth jazz and swing.  You also genuinely make me laugh with your Dad Jokes, I find them hilarious..." The circling of her hand slowly became slower as she started to run out of her steam.

"I could never, in my right mind, try to chase after a serious romance with you, knowing full well the kind of monster you are...  But I can still find some of your other traits endearing.  I absolutely love a man who is passionate, kind of silly, gentlemanly, and for fuck's sake, you're an amazing cook!  It's hard to not be smitten by something that's being chased away by modern views of how men should act..." With a final sigh, she looked him in the eyes, resolved but quite tired.  She was surprised to see how much his expression had softened, especially with her last sentence.

". . . You are a remarkably. . . Perceptive individual, Michaela." He started softly, the static crackle nigh inaudible.  "Especially with how your own mind works.  I have seen, time and time again, fools allow themselves to spiral in such frivolous fantasies and drive themselves mad not knowing WHY they chased them in the first place.  And yet you seem so capable of picking apart your own brain like a professional Psychologist.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed to some degree."

She looked at him with a bewildered look, certainly not expecting any form of PRAISE from him like that.  She said nothing, cautiously holding her tongue and waiting for the preverbal "but..."

"Given Angel's more... Crass nature, I can certainly see how he misconstrued your infatuation.  However, it's clear as crystal to me that you wouldn't harbor such lustful intentions towards me!" He nodded to himself, seeming almost proud of this sudden character study.

"Never really was interested in sex." She laughs out matter of factly.  "And I think most of us can agree you aren't, either, so I don't see how two people not interested suddenly makes a duo WILDLY interested, especially in the weirder things Angel was suggesting..." She cringed slightly at the thought of the toes again, but the both of them started laughing again.  Alastor took a step closer, giving her a firm pat on the shoulders.

"Yes, indeedy, my dear!  This is an unexpected turn of events for me, to find someone who shares my woes!" He chimed happily, using his hand to gently coax her head to look up at him.  He hadn't seen her laugh and smile like this in a while, and it was a nice change of pace compared to her exhausted melancholy or entertaining - Albeit quick - flashes of anger.  "There's that lovely smile that's been missing!  As you know-"

"Yeah yeah, never fully dressed and all that." She chuckles with an eye roll.  "Though it IS definitely nice to talk to someone who actually UNDERSTANDS the lack of interest..."

She continued to ramble on, but he stopped listening.  She was usually very cautious about how he touched her, showing to be quite aversive if he attempted to go close to her neck in particular.  But it was like she didn't notice where his hand was, and was getting complacent.  Comfortable.  Lowering her guard.  He didn't bare his teeth to her, yet, but his smirk still pulled tight.  He watched through half lidded eyes as she caught herself stumbling over her words, and slowly realized the situation she was in.  As she slowed her ramblings to a stop, she attempted to move her head away; Only for him to tightly grip onto her face, his clawed fingers dangerously close to cutting into her cheeks.  It was at this point, looking at her terrified realization, that he bared his teeth to her.

"A-Alastor, I..." She quietly pleaded, feeling cold sweat starting to bead on her forehead.  Her body had tensed and her arms raised half way, but she stopped herself before trying to pry his hands away.  Not only did she know that it would be a futile attempt with his Demonic strength, but it could have been foolish to DARE try to touch him.  Her hands trembled in fear and conflict as he slowly pulled her face closer, forcing her to stand on her tiptoes, as he leaned in to close the distance.  Mere hairs separated their noses.

"I will admit..." He started coolly, his eyes flicking down the hall quickly to make sure no one would interrupt him, before returning his gaze to the frightened girl in his grasp.  "... The fact that Angel considered such a thing possible is quite amusing, even despite our... Lack of sexual desires.  Do you know why, my dear..?"

"N-No, I don't..." She swallowed hard, not understanding where he could be bringing this conversation.  She shuddered as he let out a cold laugh.

"It's amusing because even if we were both more active in seeking sexual gratification... You are still a small and weak living human.  And, if I could be so frank..."  He leaned closer to her ear, whispering with a sweet venom that made her blood run cold. "I don’t know if your fragile body can handle what I want to do to you."

He let out another dark chuckle before lowering her and releasing his grasp, reveling in the look of utter terror on her face; Eyes wide, mouth slack, and trembling like a small kitten caught in a rainstorm.  And then, as if a switch flipped in his mind, his expression softened to the more excited and less threatening version of himself.

"Now, I do believe it's lunch time!  Now I'm sure that Angel managed to get his little pet out of that little spot of trouble it was in, but perhaps I'll be able to have some bacon anyways!" He laughs with a jovial energy, as if the previous conversation never happened.  He quickly disappeared around the corner, heading straight for the kitchen.

Michaela stood alone in the hall, slowly bringing her hands to her cheeks.  It started to check the damage, but she slowly found herself becoming flustered as she thought about his strange threat.  What could he have considered?  Biting?  Clawing?  Crushing with tentacles?  The thought was, admittedly, exciting, and she had to stop herself from calling for Alastor to ask for clarification.

The last thing she needed a Sadist like him to learn was that she was, very contradictory to most of her Asexual nature, Masochistic and easily excited over such thoughts.

[itsbuckysworld]

Drabble request! #62 :)

62. If you can’t sleep…we could have sex?

this one… this one’s a bit longer… and i quite like it *smug emoji* a read more cut cause… well… it’s longish

college AU

Bucky Barnes was insufferable. 

The very definition of the guy you stay away from. Everyone and their mother had warned you about guys like him. Even movies. He filled almost every cliché of every young adult book and teen movie. 

You didn’t think guys like him actually existed, until you met him. And yet no amount of warning could have prepared you to meet him. 

Because while he was crass, and tongue-in-cheek smug, confident almost to a fault, and most times a jerk – the typical bad boy, playboy, etcetera – he still had moments where he was kind and funny, and no one could deny the guy was charming. Which is why you wouldn’t consider the two of you friends, but still more than acquaintances. 

Sure he annoyed you, with his ‘you wish you were me’ attitude and his cheeky jokes and the fact he knew he had sex appeal and used it like a weapon. But when he showed up at your window, needing a place to crash for the night, looking like he’d been through another fight at some bar, leather jacket sprinkled with droplets of the threatening storm, his hair casting a shadow over his bluer than life eyes as he gave you his signature smolder.

You rolled your eyes, suppressing a groan. God damn it why was he like this and why couldn’t you say no? He didn’t have any friends close by, he had been locked out of his place. What else was new. Pulling down on your sweater to cover your body – you didn’t miss his smirk when he noticed your shorts – and pinching him when he threatened to make noise, you unlocked the window, letting him into your bedroom. Your housemates couldn’t know he was there. Not only was it ‘against the rules’, but you’d never hear the end of it if you were discovered ushering the Bucky Barnes to your room in the middle of the night. 

He toed off his boots, shrugged off his jacket and you were left to secretly peek at his toned body when he was stripped down to boxer briefs and white t-shirt, the light of the crashing thunder casting shadows around his muscles if only for a split second. 

His eyebrows danced up and down when he caught you looking, and the next thing he knew you had thrown a pillow to his face. 

You made him make a cot on the carpet and sleep on your uncomfortable floor. Hushed protests and promises to keep his hands to himself – “that is, if you want me to keep them to myself…” – came through one ear and out the other. You were not having Bucky Barnes on your bed. 

You tossed and turned trying to find sleep but each time a clash of thunder came striking down, you would shudder. You hated thunder storms, they quite frankly scared you still. And you hated that you were showing any signs of laughable fear anywhere near Barnes.

“Can’t sleep?” his gravelly voice almost startled you, had you not already been scared by the last clap of thunder. 

“Go to sleep Barnes”

“Come on, I’m just trying to make conversation”

“2 AM isn’t time to make conversation” you snuggled into your blankets, closing your eyes shut tightly, as if the stronger you squeezed your eyelids together, the faster you’d find slumber. More thunder, more rain, more tossing and turning. 

“You know…” Bucky wandered off. You heard him shuffling around, and inched your head to the left to catch him looking at you, head propped up on his hand. His eyes looked sincere in the dark of the night, and for a moment you just wanted to look at him. You just wanted him to look at you. That would be enough. “If you can’t sleep… We could have sex?”

“Oh, my-” and there it was. Bucky Barnes, ladies and gentlemen. Another pillow hit his face, muffling his laughter. “You’re the absolute worst, Barnes”

“I’m not that bad, it was an honest offer, it can help you get to sleep.” There’s a wink from him and you give him your back, pushing the covers up to your ears and praying he can’t see you’re mildly blushing in the darkness of the night

“Hard pass.”

“Fine… Tea?”

“Tea?”

“I could make you tea.” You turn back around to look at him incredulously. Did he just offer to make you tea to help you sleep? “I could be quiet. In and out of your kitchen in a blink of an eye” he shrugs as if it was a no brainer, no big deal. For a moment you’re fighting off a silly smile. People should really start adding ‘Dork’ to their definitions of Bucky Barnes. Much to your dismay. 

You shake your head no. He doesn’t have to make you any tea. You’d rather he doesn’t, lest he gets caught and things get out of hand. Another shrug comes from him, as if saying ‘suit yourself’ and he puts his hands behind his head. 

“What’s your favorite tea?” he continues, the smile on his face is audible.

“Hmmm, that’s a hard one…”

And for the next 25 minutes you carry on a whispered conversation, about tea, coffee, classes, everything and anything in between. Whatever can come to two sleepy heads. Before you know it the morning sun is spilling through your blinds and you realize you somehow found rest in the middle of a stormy night. 

Your second realization is that there’s a note by your bedside table in place of Bucky’s limbs sprawled out on your floor. There’s not a single clue he’d ever been there in the first place, except for the little folded paper. You bite back a grin as you reach for it and make out his messy handwriting.

Morning, babydoll. You look pretty when you sleep, and I mean that in the most non-creepy way possible. I hope you slept well, told you I could help you get to sleep.

Thanks for letting me crash. Blankets are in the closet, right next to your really nice bras – I swear I didn’t mean to see them, THEY found ME –

And don’t worry, I slipped out before anyone could catch or hear me. 

It’ll be our little secret,

- Love, B.B.

Your cheeks were warm, too warm for your liking, and the smile on your face was too hard to keep at bay. You didn’t want to be smiling. Damn that insufferable, charming Bucky Barnes. 

»»———————————————««

Short Bucky Drabbles Thursday - pick a number from this list

[nancythebisexualslutwheeler]

Momma’s Boy

Part Three to this: 

It only took six months after Gemma was born for Went and Maggie to move closer. They’d only lived an hour away before, but even that was too far. So now, they lived as close as Richie would let them, which was about fifteen minutes. Eddie was now thankful for this as well, as the ages of their children, seven, four, and now a year, didn’t really work out with long distances.

It’s Labor Day and they’re late. Eddie hates being late. Even if it’s just to his In-Laws. “Gemma, baby, let’s GO!” He shouts up the stairs. He’d been in charge of the packing and food. So he had diaper bags, the games and toys, and the cooler packed and in the car, and no one was anywhere to be found. He’d then allowed himself time to dawdle, eat a popsicle as he wandered around the house grabbing himself a book to bring and Richie the tanning oil. But after that, there were still no kids.

Eddie checks his email on his phone before storming upstairs. It’s not that big of a deal, but the closer to dinner time it got, the less time there was for photos, and today       was Ian’s official birthday, it was important to get them done before the friend party tomorrow. Richie always joked with Eddie and asked if there was ever one birthday that wasn’t important. “No, they’re all important Richard! This is how we make memories!” He says, scrunching his nose. Richie had laughed at how seriously his husband was taking it, “Okay babycakes.”

So every year they outdid it for everyone’s birthday. It made for a long year, but Eddie loved it, Richie did too, deep down, he just worried for his husband’s wellbeing. Ian is in the pack n play in the toy room, babbling away, which means it’s his older two, Gemma and Liam holding them up. There’s music, still the Frozen 2 soundtrack of course, coming from the bathroom. Eddie doesn’t know where to start with his bitching.

Liam is half dressed, standing on the toilet lid singing into a hair brush. Richie is dancing and Gemma only has one french braid done, but at least she’s dressed, though not in her matching outfit. Richie freezes when he sees Eddie, and Gemma bounces over to him,

“Papa! Sing with me!”

Eddie hoists her up,

“Baby, we can’t sing, we have to go see Grammy and Grampa.”    

Gemma wriggles her way down and Eddie nudges her towards the sink so he can finish braiding her hair. He watches Richie in the mirror as he sheepishly grabs Liam and brings him to his bedroom to get him dressed.

It’s been hard since Eddie went back to work. Their routine was disrupted and Richie was back to watching the kids full time. He knew they’d been struggling to listen to the rules as much, Gemma had been pitting them against each other, and Richie had been feeling disheartened. The last thing Eddie wanted to do was make Richie feel bad, and he feared he’d done just that.

Eddie ties purple bows on the bottom of the braid, and makes sure to grab a third piece of ribbon for Liam. He’s been very into hair accessories lately. Gemma refuses to change, so she’s wearing an orange dress while the rest of them are wearing purple and gray and Eddie wants to have a meltdown, because they need pictures for their September page in their annual Calendar Christmas Present. He’s sure the food’s been sitting in the car too long, and Went will have given up and started cooking already, and damn he cannot wait to crack open a Mike’s Hard Lemonade and sit in the pool. He’s got pit stains on his shirt and Richie forgot to brush his teeth, and Ian’s now screaming because he’d fallen asleep in the pack n play and didn’t want to be in the carseat and Liam’s untied his hair bow for the third time and is sniffling, and Eddie’s hungry and tired and-

Maggie greets them at the car. She’s wearing a huge white sunhat and oversized sunglasses and she’s wearing a leopard print swimsuit coverup. She tries to open the door before Richie can even unlock the doors, “Jesus Christ,” he mutters. Eddie laughs, unlocking the doors and Maggie’s poking her head in the door,

“Hi my angels! Oh Ian, happy birthday my sweet boy! Gem, my princess! Liam, what’s wrong honey?”

Richie shoots Eddie a look and Eddie laughs. He laughs because he knows his husband hates it. He’s grown up with his mother his whole life, but Eddie never had that. Never had someone who loved him in the right way. He’d had the micromanaging part of having a mother, but not the nourishing part. Maggie and Went made him feel loved, and cared for, and yes it was too much, especially Maggie, but it was nice at the same time. They were family.

Eddie grabs the bags and leaves the heavy cooler for Richie. He heads through the gate to the backyard. The Tozier’s backyard is huge with a swing set, an underground pool, a hot tub and a fire pit. Eddie had never dreamed of it. Sure, with his own kids he saw all of the hazards, and sometimes it led to panic attacks, the thought of something happening to them. But then Richie reminds him to be grateful they’re not sick, and that he can take care of them but they don’t need him to if nothing is wrong. It’s all very confusing and scary but Richie is there and his therapist, Meredith is there and Walt and Maggie are there. Which doesn’t explain why his children are naked in the pool!

“We brought swimsuits!” He starts running toward them.

“No running by the pool son!” Walt shouts.

Eddie lets out a squeak, Maggie’s already undressing Ian,

“I have swim diapers!” He jogs on the grass around the pool, to her.

His son is safely in a swim diaper, when Richie finally strolls in, setting down the cooler. Eddie jumps up,

“Richie,” he whines, “they don’t have their suits on!”

Richie looks at the kids and laughs, before seeing Eddie’s distress. He gives him a hug. He’s so warm from the sun. Eddie relaxes and Richie kisses his head,

“Just relax. Mom’s got them, baby.”

Eddie always starts out up tight, mainly because he’s at work when Richie sets up the playdates, and brings them to the birthday parties, so he’s not used to other people watching his kids. But they’re safe, there’s a separator in the pool that divides the shallow from the deep and Liam has his life jacket on, and Gemma has water wings. Richie yanks his shirt over his head and leans into the cooler to grab out a hard lemonade. He pulls his keys out of his pocket and opens it with his bottle opener before handing in to Eddie. Eddie stares at the freckles and hair on his back as he bends over to grab himself a beer. He cracks his open before walking over to his mom, where she’s sitting on the stairs of the pool, playing with Ian. He gives her a side hug and a kiss on the head, before he goes to greet his pops. Eddie hears them greeting each other in accents.

Eddie all but downs the drink in his hand, and by the time Richie is walking over, he’s holding another one out to be opened. Richie sits next to him, body pressing against his. He’s sweaty. It’s gross.

“How are you doing my love?”

Eddie nods, and takes a sip of his drink,

“Everyone’s having fun.”

Richie nods, maneuvering Eddie so he can lay down on the sun chair, even though if Eddie stays in this position, he’ll be blocking Richie’s sun but he doesn’t complain.

“Except you, Eds. Relax. We’re supposed to be celebrating,” he says softly.

Eddie’s chest tightens. It’s times like this especially that he wishes he could calm down. It’s embarrassing. Eddie wouldn’t let Richie tell his parents what Eddie’s mom did to him, for fear of judgement, so it always feels kind of awkward. To Eddie at least. Why he preens a little too hard for Maggie’s approval. Which is why he appreciated keeping himself cooped up with his kids and no one else around. No one to perform for. Because Richie knows he’s a good dad.

Eddie gets a little tipsy, assuming by relax, Richie meant, with him, so imagine his shock when his husband slips out from underneath him on the sunchair and cannonballs into the pool. Walt is lighting a fire in the pit and Maggie goes into the house to fix the food he assumes. He should go help her. But then Gemma squeals and Richie dunks her underwater. It’s entertaining.

Eddie met Richie at one of his shows, the jokes were a bit more crass than he’d been willing to let the group of coworkers he’d gone out with, know he thought was funny. But when he saw the comedian at the bar,. Alone, he’d gone up to see him. Richie’s everything made up for the fact he was a terrible boyfriend. Forgetting anniversaries and dates, crude pick up lines. He traveled so much that Eddie started to feel like a constant one night stand. Richie’d be around for the sex but suddenly gone in the morning. He loved Richie, but it sucked. Eventually he’d given Richie an ultimatum. Although he was two years older than Richie, he was 29, and that was old enough that he needed to get his shit together. He knew Richie loved what he did and he made good money, and Eddie wasn’t worth all that. But Richie thought he was. That was the night Eddie told Richie about his mom. That was the night Richie proposed.

They get married in an elaborate ceremony in Paris, with their closest friends and Richie’s parents. They’d paid for everything. Eddie asks, one night after calling Richie ‘daddy’ for the first time, if he’d ever want to have kids. They go to a surrogacy clinic the following week. Raising Gemma was one of the hardest things they’d ever had to do, but after she made it out of her terrible twos, they were contacting Sierra, their surrogate again.

Eddie really loved Richie. He’d gotten so lucky. He’d never thought that someone who publicly talked about getting his asshole waxed would be a stay at home dad. But Richie had something that Eddie could never explain. Most times, if he raised his eyebrows, their kids would stop the undesirable behavior. He never got tired of kid music or waking up with the baby or having to relearn basic math with Gemma. He was the most beautiful person he knew. And that's saying a lot from someone who still made fart noises. (And not just when the kids were around.)                                                                      

Eventually Eddie realizes he’s a bit too tipsy and sits up, tugging his shirt on. He pads up to the porch and lets himself in the screen door. The gust of air hits him in the face and he shivers. Maggie is singing to herself and setting up the food on the table. Eddie’s head is spinning.

“How can I help?” he asks, hoping he’s not slurring.

She turns around and laughs,

“Sweetie, you look sloshed. Sit, sit, I’ll get you some food.” She pulls out the barstool and he sits down. She makes him two ham and cheese sliders and puts them on a paper plate, passing it to him. “Soak up the alcohol.”

She busies around, and he can see she’s making the kid’s plates.

“Eddie, what’s wrong? It’s Ian’s birthday honey, you’re surrounded by family. You’re not having a good time?”

Eddie wolfs down the food and takes the opportunity to walk around the table and make himself a real plate. Richie’ll kill him, he usually lets him eat first, but Eddie deserves it. He scoops himself some potato salad,

“I never had any gatherings as a child. It was just my mom and I, so I think I get social anxiety or something.”

Maggie clucks her tongue,

“Well I don’t want you to ever feel that way around us. Where’s your mother now?”

“We don’t talk.”

Maggie hums.

“When I was younger she, she made me think I was sick.”

Maggie nods. Eddie shoves a bite of food in his mouth.

“I’m sorry that happened honey, I can’t imagine. But I’m so glad God blessed me with another son. You are a son to me Eddie. Went too. And you’re welcome anytime, even just you if you want to talk or anything.”

“Thanks Maggie, I appreciate it.”

“Of course honey. I’ll send Richie in. I can feed the kids.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Let me take care of my grandbabies! You relax.”

There’s that word again, relax.

Richie comes in and gives him a concerned look,

“You’re looking about 10% less hot than usual, so what’s wrong?”

“Can I have a kiss?”

Richie leans over immediately and pecks Eddie,

“Talk.”

“I told your mom about my mom.”

Richie lets out a low whistle,

“Damn babe. You wanna talk about it?”

Eddie shakes his head and smiles,

“No. I think I’m going to be more comfortable here from now on.”

Richie walks around the bar with his full plate,

“Want to go outside with the kids?”

Eddie shakes his head,

“No. Sit by me, I think they’ve got it.”

Richie grins,

“Sweet.”

Eddie’s right, he does get more comfortable with Maggie, and it’s not but a couple months later, when they’re supposed to go to the Tozier’s for dinner and Eddie finally decides to give in and call Maggie.

“Hey Maggie, yeah, we’re not going to be able to come.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Oh yes, Liam’s just not feeling good and Gemma’s in a time out and I haven’t even started the sides yet, so,”

“Oh that’s okay. How about we just come over? The ham is done and the mac and cheese, and I made that coconut cake for you. We don’t mind the kids when things come up. We still wanna see you guys. Eddie, come on, it’s your birthday hun.”

Eddie nods,

“Yeah, okay. That’s fine.”

“We’ll see you soon.”

It’s silent for a second,

“Thanks Mom.”

He can hear the smile over the phone,

“Of course honey, I love you.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

Part One      Part Two 

[nobodyfamousposts]

In one of your posts you mentioned Felix as a possible rival for Adrien to come to his senses. Could you talk a little more about what that dynamic would be like please?

My vision of Felix is a little strange compared to others, so please bear with me.

Since this isn’t a Felix who needs a curse broken, he has no interest in Ladybug or a kiss, so there’s no real rivalry in that aspect. He wouldn’t be a “love” rival for Adrien so much as a rival in other matters that Adrien is involved in. Possibly in any of Adrien’s extracurricular activities (piano, fencing, etc) or even in modeling if we wanted to go for the fame angle. Because everyone loves the “bad boy” and Felix just comes off as so much more mature and intense than sweetheart Adrien and would be considered the new “thing".

On the plus side, this would free Adrien up more in terms of modeling time. On the downside, it would make Adrien feel replaced and inadequate. He would question himself more in terms of his personality and how he would appear to others. Imagine if Felix was the new cover of the latest Gabriel lineup. All of Adrien’s classmates are even raving about him. Even Lila is trying to target Felix now. I’d see it being less a matter of Adrien being flat out “jealous” of Felix in the conventional way and more a matter of questioning himself. Is Felix really that much better than him? Is THIS what people want? Is THIS the type of guy who has Ladybug’s heart? Maybe cue an episode where Adrien tries changing his look and personality to be a “bad boy” type and utterly fails at it—to the point that Marinette of all people calls him out on it. (Marinette: Adrien, this isn’t you. This so horribly not you that it seems like a bad joke more than anything.)

It doesn’t help that Adrien is a generally friendly guy and would naturally try to reach out to Felix. Maybe try to find common ground in that they’re both in the modeling business. It would be cool to have a friend who is a model and knows what it’s like. But Felix really wants nothing to do with him. He’s probably the very first if not only person in all of Paris who just flat out does NOT like Adrien. And Adrien is not used to having someone actively dislike him. Adrien is like pudding. Everyone likes pudding!

Except Felix, who hates pudding. And doesn’t like Adrien.

I see Felix being like a cat in personality. He’s grumpy and wants to be left alone. He doesn’t care about your classroom drama. He doesn’t care about your silly love triangles. He wants to be left to his own business. If he is to interact with people, it’s going to be on HIS terms, otherwise he could care less. It’s part of the reason he’s so standoffish and has absolutely no problem calling folks out on anything. He is abrasive with a sharp tongue and a cold attitude that would be off putting to most people. He’s not necessarily hated like Chloe, but the class does find it really difficult to be able to approach him.

Marinette is probably the only one who can. Partly due to her role as the class representative and her duty to reach out to and interact with all members of her class, but she pushes past the multitude of barriers Felix puts up and manages to have a decent discussion with him and even just be able to remain in his presence for more than a minute without being driven away.

For Felix, Marinette is…tolerable company. She seems to know when he’s open to interaction and most importantly, DOESN’T PUSH HIM. There are times she will simply do her own project next to him in silence and he’s perfectly fine with that. Other times, she’ll strike up conversation. There are even points when she encourages him to get involved with the rest of the class. Maybe gently point out when he’s coming off as crass. He won’t apologize, of course, but he will at least make an effort to be aware and try to be more considerate.

Compare that with people like Lila, who intrudes regularly, telling lies so blatant they foul the air, and sees fit to try touching him and grabbing at him without his permission and that his HIS ARM you damn leech, release it before he resorts to gnawing it off! (And yes, he would.  Marinette: FELIX, NO!)

His words are harsh at points, but she doesn’t take what he says personally and comes to understand that’s just his way of interacting with the world. She takes his statements as his observations and can respond in kind. As she gets to know him, she becomes more comfortable in doing so and better at reading him. Even better at matching him in some ways. They at some point end up getting into a very heated debate about a few particularly high end brands being needlessly expensive and whether the same look can be made with different cheaper materials. Marinette proves they can when she makes a jacket that matches Felix’s own and is more durable. Felix is actually impressed, which is a major win as far as Marinette is concerned.

Felix overall doesn’t appreciate small talk or people trying to cozy up to him. And above all, he will not tolerate bullshit. Lila is definitely going to have a hard time. Adrien as well. Felix is not going to be nice about his opinions and commentary. If you’re doing something wrong, he will let you know. He won’t yell or shout or be outright insulting or anything like that. But he will be assertive and he will not go out of his way to spare anyone’s feelings.

This surprisingly makes him a good go-to for critiques and advice, as he will not hold back his punches in telling someone where they’ve made a mistake, but he will go into full detail as to what the mistakes are and how to correct them. This becomes vital for those in the class who have hobbies they’re looking to turn into careers. Alya and her journalism (Felix: Fact checking means you look for outsides sources to verify! You don’t take information from only one person and base everything only on that. That’s how you lose your job and all respect as a journalist.). Nino and his music (Felix: There is a skip at time 2:23 and a period from 1:47 to 1:59 where the bass overpowers the rest of the music and muddles the melody.). And of course, Marinette and her fashion.

Adrien is admittedly somewhat jealous that Felix is able to have more conversations and interactions with his father and his friends about their interests than he does. He also doesn’t like the way Felix talks to Marinette at points since his statements can seem overly harsh and critical, particularly in regards to her projects (which are her life and how dare anyone say anything negative about them!) but Marinette actually appreciates his input and incorporates his suggestions.

Felix and Adrien’s dynamic is going to be somewhat volatile. Adrien initially wants to be friends. Felix flat out does not. At first, Adrien sees Felix as someone he can find things in common with and be able to interact based on that aspect, maybe even as someone who could offer support in that regard.

Felix does not want to be a support. They are competitors. Not friends. Not allies. And he doesn’t appreciate being expected to deal with people who won’t step up when there is clearly a problem. He hates Adrien’s passivity. He especially hates Adrien’s self-righteous attitude. And he will absolutely call Adrien out on his sheer hypocrisy if he were to know about it. Adrien’s little lecture to Marinette at the end of Chameleon about how you don’t make a bad person be good by confronting them? Yeah, he’s going to steamroll right over that, chew Adrien out for letting his friends be played, and call out Lila on every change of her story. And he’s going to do it with all the bluntness and casualness of someone commenting on the weather.

This will naturally rub Adrien the wrong way as it will come off to him as being needlessly mean. Adrien’s thing is about wanting to avoid conflict, and Felix will be initiating it. This will combine with Felix’s annoyance with Adrien’s “high road” stance and the two will start to bump heads more as things go on. Felix won’t look kindly upon Adrien’s moral compass when Adrien isn’t really the one on the receiving end of any of the problems he’s lecturing about and how it seems more of an excuse to simply not get involved in the first place. Adrien will similarly want to cut in and defend anyone Felix throws a comment at, regardless of Felix’s points or whether the comments are actually warranted.

Felix will be the first person to not like Adrien, not cater to his view of how the world should be, and not give in to his wishes about keeping peace if it comes at the cost of others. And Adrien will honestly not know how to deal with that. Even his friends, while they may not necessarily LIKE Felix, won’t exactly jump on board with Adrien’s complaints towards him. This will make Felix not someone Adrien can ignore or dismiss and not someone who can be convinced by his idealistic perceptions of right and wrong.

This will ultimately become a matter of honesty and assertiveness VS safety and complacency, which is Adrien’s biggest problem. And Adrien is going to have to find a way to address that, especially as Felix calls him out on things and shows he isn’t always right. This will especially become important if Adrien turns to Ladybug regarding the situation to get her take on matters only to have her note where Felix has a point.

That’s how I see Felix aiding Adrien’s growth. Just having one person who doesn’t accept Adrien’s behavior or speeches, who can’t be charmed, who cannot be convinced to see things his way, and who will not conform to Adrien’s expectations. Because that’s not how the world works.

At least, that’s my perception. I hope that makes sense.

[a-secondhand-sorrow]

I can finally see you’re as fucked up as me (so how do we win?)

I love dodie and kleinsen and I have many regrets but this has yet to become one of them. give it a hot second tho it’ll happen

trigger warnings: suicide, suicideal idealation, alchohol mention, depression

***

“You’re just a family friend. Speaking of which, could you mention to your mom I’ve been being nice to you? I need my car insurance payed.”

Jared’s already flinching inwardly at how crass he sounds. It’s not even distancing; it’s straight up dickish. But he makes sure to keep his face the same calculated blank expression as always, and Evan nods, an expression Jared can’t quite read on his face.

But really, Jared knows. He knows he’s not fooling Evan when he says they’re only family friends. He doesn’t even believe himself.

***

Jared’s not quite sure when he became an asshole.

Or, no-he’s pretty sure he’s always had the asshole-ness inside of him. More accurately, he’s not sure what made him share it.

(If he’s honest with himself, he knows damn well what. But honesty has never been Jared’s forté, especially with himself.)

Since he doesn’t care much for honesty, he can just continue on being a dick, without much problem.

He’s already invisible to everyone; no one really cares about him, and he knows they can’t stand him. He can’t even stand himself.

But there’s Evan. Evan, with the patience of a goddamn saint. Evan, who puts up with him being an asshole who blows him off and says he only hangs out with him to appease his parents. Evan, who has never once turned Jared away when he needed human contact.

(Evan, with the most beautiful eyes and glowing personality and infuriatingly nice hair, even though his anxiety may mask it.)

And Evan is all he has, which he’s perfectly fine with because he’d be fine with only Evan for the rest of his life, except for the fact that every time he sees him he screws things up and he knows that one day Evan will be done with his shit and finally leave. It’s a day Jared knows has to be coming, since he’s such a fuckup and he’ll have to wake up. Jared can’t even handle himself. And if Evan ever knew just how deep things went—

He could never know.

So Jared pushed Evan away and kept him at arms’ length with the assistance of “family friends” and cruel jokes. He could almost ignore the pang in his chest every time he saw him frown at one of his jokes or stare at the table during lunch. He could almost ignore the way Evan walked on eggshells around him. He could almost ignore the sleepless nights where he wondered how Evan was, what it would feel like to be able to reach out without letting down his carefully curated veneer.

And that was fine. It wasn’t good, or enjoyable. But it was fine. He was fine.

Until he realized there was nothing else for him, besides Evan. All his middle school friends had ditched him long before when he became too “clingy,” both his parents worked full-time, and he didn’t do anything.

He slapped a crooked smile on his face and sharpened his wit so he’d always have a joke ready to deflect with. He forced himself into seats at lunch tables with barely-even-acquaintances. He broke into his parents liquor cabinet and drank himself asleep.

Words became his weapons as he wrapped himself in humor like armor, wielded his cruelty like a sword, wore a fake confidence to cover all of his insecurities. He was never anywhere but he forced himself everywhere. He didn’t think he was funny but he built himself around his jokes. He was never happy but he was never upset, either.

He could almost convince himself it was all true.

Jared became one hell of an actor.

And that’s...fine.

And if Evan finds him having a panic attack in the bathroom one day because the acting was just too much, he never talks about it.

If Evan, with the tiny crease between his brows as they furrowed in concern, with his hands gripping at his shirt, with his eyes nervously darting to Jared’s but knowing exactly what to do, was the only thing that could actually calm him down, he didn’t think much of it.

If he wanted nothing more than to apologize in that moment, if nothing else, or to lean in and kiss him and feel Evan’s arms wrap around him as panic finally left him, to leave the bathroom hand in hand and never let go, he never said it.

And if he knew, in that moment, that he’d fallen in love, he never let on.

If he bit out an insult about how much of a freak Evan was and how he’d never need help from a loser like him, he’d never admit it.

If he could feel his heart tear as Evan’s eyes watered and his hand dropped and he rushed out of the bathroom leaving Jared to resume his uneven breathing, he refused to acknowledge it.

If he sunk to the floor and dropped his head into his hands and finally let himself cry, for the first time in several years, he never mentioned it.

He told himself all of that, anyway. He never was one for honesty. He could almost believe it, too.

(He never quite did.)

And that’s fine. Even though it’s really not fine...it’s fine.

It’s not good, but it’s normal, and Jared will take it.

Change is just too much.

Senior year is just another step in the road. After senior year, he’s off to college and finally away from the suffocating persona he’s crafted for himself.

And Evan has a broken arm.

Which would be normal, except Jared knows damn well that as much as Evan loves trees he’d never climb one.

Unless he was planning something drastic.

He sees something, something deep within the set of Evan’s shoulders and the depths of his pupils. Something he’s felt echoing in his own mind increasingly, broken and distorted.

But Jared’s one to talk.

It’s almost as though he’s willed it into existence, but a few days later Connor Murphy kills himself.

Hey, loving the new haircut, very school-shooter chic.

When he finds out, he takes the day off of school. Something settled in the pit of his stomach, a dark and writhing shame that felt like a question.

His mother tries to find out what’s making him so sick, but eventually he convinces her to let him stay home alone. She’s against it, and she means well, he knows she does, but for once he really wishes his parents could just say no.

Once she’s gone, he crawls his way out of bed and makes his way through the house with slow, heavy steps. He’s never noticed how filled the house is with pictures, mostly of him as a child, all beaming at the camera with that opened-mouth smile. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt happy enough to smile like that. He couldn’t imagine ever feeling like that again.

He’s fine. He’s fine. He’s fine. He’s fine. And that’s fine.

He’s in front of the liquor cabinet before he knows he is. Unconsciously, he’s pulling out that bottle of vodka he knows has been sitting there for years, taking a swig that’s probably a little heavier than recommended with an upset stomach.

It’s habit. It’s normal. But it feels different, almost.

Jesus, Connor Murphy’s dead days after you call him a school shooter. You might as well be dead too, huh?

You’re the fucking freak.

He takes another swig out of the bottle, feeling it burn on the way down.

No use being alive when you’re already invisable, right? Who’s gonna grieve you? Your parents who never make sure you’re okay? Your classmates who laugh at your jokes but call you clingy? All the people you torment just because it makes you feel like you have some social standing? The boy you’ve been desperately in love with for three years who deserves way better than a dick who won’t even be seen with him in public?

If this is his life, than living isn’t worth shit.

There’s sleeping pills in the medicine cabinet upstairs. Or he could clear out the liquor cabinet and hope that that’s enough.

Either way, another drink wouldn’t hurt.

He thinks of Evan for a moment. There’s nothing for him but Evan, but he doesn’t deserve a minute of Evan’s time. There’ll be no pain for Evan if he’s gone. The only pain will be what Jared is feeling, and once that’s out of the equation...

He’s interrupted by a knock at the door, frantic and sporadic.

Shoving the bottle back into the cabinet, Jared smoothely makes his way to the front door, hoping he looks sick enough to pass.

All he gets is another wave of nausea while Evan stares up at him, hair disheveled and breathing ragged.

“Oh my god,” Evan says, and it’s only then that Jared realizes Evan’s entire body is shaking. He launches himself at Jared, arms wrapping around his neck. He’s shaking so hard Jared is surprised he was still standing out there.

Without thinking, Jared wraps one arm around Evan’s shoulders while attempting to close the door around him.

They stand like that for another moment before Evan attempted to explain himself.

“I’m sorry, I just, god, I know you don’t want to hear from me and I know you hate me but I’m in a really bad place and I can’t believe Connor Murphy is dead and I feel so horrible because he stole my letter—”

Jared pulls back. now that he can feel Evan becoming steadier, and cuts him off. “Wait, wait, sorry, just—”

“I, um, I had to write letters to myself as a therapy assignment and I was printing one on the first day and Connor saw it and freaked out and the whole thing sounded like a suicide note—”

“What?”

“And,” Evan continues his word vomit. “I think—I think that might have been part of why he’s—oh god.” which is punctuated by Evan dropping his head into his hands.

Jared blinks once, trying to process everything. “Wait, but, why...did it sound like a suicide note?”

Evan doesn’t move, but Jared swears he can hear a sniffle.

“Evan,” and this time, his voice is soft but clear, coercing him into looking back up. “Were you going to...”

Evan’s eyes go wide. “No! Not then. I don’t think. Except,” he pauses, fiddling with the hem of his t-shirt. “It wasn’t— it was earlier this year and-I don’t know why I’m here, I’m so sorry, just, bye, I’ll leave—”

“Jesus Christ, Evan,” Jared said, trying to sound just annoyed enough that the affection and worry in his voice would be masked. “What is it?”

“I didn’t fall.” He blurts, and Jared is silenced. “From the tree. This summer. I let go. I...”

Somehow, Jared knows what Evan was going to say. His tone is flat as he fills in where Evan left off. “...felt like you could disappear? Like it would be better if you did?”

Evan nods, not quite meeting Jared’s eyes.

Puzzle pieces start to click in Jared’s brain, even through the fair amount he’d had to drink. “And that’s why you came here. Because you thought that if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be able to stop.” He was suddenly aware of his palms shaking and stomach turning over, vision tunneling so all he could see was Evan. Evan wanted to die, and it was his fault, at least partially.

Jared could’ve burst into tears. He just managed to swallow the lump down.

We’re just family friends.

Evan’s saying something, but Jared can’t remember what. There’s the bottle of vodka, and there’s the sleeping pills upstairs. They’re sorely tempting, but Evan’s standing in front of him. How could he want to die when Evan is standing in front of him, needing him to save him?

He wanted nothing more, but how could he save Evan when his own brain wanted nothing more than release?

How could he save Evan when he’d been part of the reason for his destruction?

Now it’s Jared who can’t meet Evan’s eyes, and he begins to ask “how did you knows this?” His eyes fall on the hastily hidden vodka bottle and the cabinet which had fallen open in Jared’s haste to get to the door.

Jared scrambled to explain. “I-I just, I was a dick to Connor and I was horrible and he’s—no one cares about me anyway but I’ve still been horrible enough to someone that they killed themselves and—now it’s like, you felt...like that, and it’s just—how can I keep going in like this? I’m just,” he broke off for a moment, choking over his words, “all I do is hurt people.”

“No,” Evan breathes, looking more crestfallen than before. He shoots himself forward again, lips crashing against Jared’s, and the world crashes to a halt just for a moment. It’s desperate and hurried and frantic, but Jared feels that he could smile again, even if this moment is his last with Evan. Or last ever.

There’s a million unsaid things in the air, but somehow in the space of a moment he hears all of them. They’re everything he’s needed to hear for the last seventeen years. I need yous and you’re important to mes and it wasn’t yous and I love yous.

Evan pulls away too quickly, murmuring another no as he buries his face in Jared’s chest. “No. You can’t... I wouldn’t...”

“Oh yeah?” Jared says, voice choked with tears. “How do you think I felt when you said it, asshole?”

Evan laughs a little, a wet, discordant thing, but still reaches up to kiss Jared again. And then they’re both crying, not quite sure how to move forward but desperately grasping at each other to make sure the other won’t disappear.

Those unspoken things hang in the air again, but they ignore them for a moment. There’s an adrenaline rush coursing through their veins, terrifying and intoxicating and suffocating at the same time. There’s only one thing that’s abundantly clear: they’d both been ready to see the end that day. It turned out that this was just another beginning.

Neither is fine, but fine is overrated anyway.

[choicesfanatic86]

If Only:  Chapter 8 (Liam x MC)

TAGS:  @kawairinrin @jamielea81 @gracechoices @hopefulmoonobject @madaraism @blackcatkita @bobasheebaby @kaitycole @drakelover78 @starstruckzonkoperatorbat @theroyalweisme @mfackenthal @zilch3 @herladyshipxx @mspaigemoore @trianiasti @choiceswreckedme @jayjay879 @umccall71 @queencatherynerhys @asprankle @hdcathcart @ranishajay @viktoriapetit @boneandfur @flyawayblue56 @jlouise88 @pbchoicesobsessed @xxrainbowprincessxx @decisso @liamxsworld @flowerpowell @crookedslimecreatorpasta @debramcg1106 @ladynonsense

CHAPTER 8

“You told him no?” Riley asked incredulously.  “As in like your chief of staff or something?”

He chuckled lowly.  “As in my father,” he said simply.  “He demanded that I annul our marriage and return to Cordonia at once before the press caught wind that anything was amiss,” he mused.  “I told him that when he was ready to accept that I very much wanted to remain married to you, he could call me and we could talk then,” he sighed.

“Wow,” she murmured.  “Is that the first time you’ve ever told him no?”

He nodded, taking another sip.  “It was rather liberating,” he said.  “I imagine that’s how my brother Leo must have felt when he abdicated,” he said thoughtfully.

“Liam, not to burst your bubble, but why would you do that?  Things with us . . . you know very well that we could still be walking out of here today toward an annulment, and then all you would have done is create strife with your family back in Cordonia,” she tried to reason with him.

“I know that,” he said sadly.  “Annulments are a dime a dozen, we could probably find an attorney’s office on the corner and get this all taken care of as if nothing happened.  But I don’t want to do that, and I hope that you’ll remember enough that you’ll realize that you don’t want that either,” he murmured.  “I’m not much of a gambler, but us . . . us I want to gamble on, Riley.  Even if it means upsetting my father.  The monarchy will survive and have to adjust,” he said simply.

“What did you say?”  She asked, the words sounding so familiar.  It was a feeling of déjà vu.  

“That the monarchy will survive and adjust?” He asked, his eyebrows furrowing in bewilderment.

“No, before that,” she shook her head, closing her eyes, trying to focus on where she had heard those same words before.

“That I’m not much of a gambler,” he asked.

She nodded.  “You said that to me before, right?”

His forehead wrinkled, nodding in agreement.  “I did . . . last night. Are you remembering something?”

She nodded slowly, allowing her mind to drift off again.  This time, tough, the images were clearer and there was much more detail.  She could picture exactly what had happened between them.

“Walk with me,” he murmured, clasping her hand in his as he had them both get off of the bench.  She was still stunned by his beautiful words.  She tentatively accepted his hand, following after him.  

“So, what do you say?  Give me a shot?  One hour?” he pressed, waiting on her answer.

Her hands began to tremble.  No one had said anything so romantic to her before.  Even in her limited relationship experience, she knew his words were pretty damn special.  This man was something else.  She gnawed at her lip nervously, uncertain if she should end the night and chalk all of this up as one of those things that happen in Vegas or if she should take a risk and go with him.  She wasn’t much of a risk taker.  Every decision, every step in her life had been carefully calculated.  She was a planner, and this man had not been a part of her plan for Vegas.  She looked at his waiting eyes, her heart thumping erratically in her chest.  He was only asking for an hour . . . it was just a little after midnight . . . and if she were being honest with herself, she didn’t want to end things just yet.  She was almost certain that her friends wouldn’t be missing her.  After all, they hadn’t even called yet.

“You have one hour,” she whispered, trying to sounds a bit disinterested.  Her voice failed her, cracking toward the end.  She couldn’t possibly tell him that she’d gladly let that hour meld into two then into the whole night if he’d let her.

He led her from the imitation Brooklyn Bridge, pulling her out once again through the bustling streets of Las Vegas.  It reminded her so much of New York.  The crowds, the towering buildings, the bright lights . . . but Vegas was a lot wilder.  It was loud and crass.  Scantily clad women wandered the strip, even at this hour.  Instead of being a little after midnight, it seemed like it was just after seven o’clock.  So many people were so wired; that it hardly seemed like the night would be winding down anytime soon.  It was crazy.  There were so many people around, she felt like she could easily just get lost in the masses.  Not that Liam would let that happen.  He had such a firm grasp on her hand, that she doubted he’d let her go.

“Where are we going?” she asked, as they passed another large hotel.  Her eyes darted every which way for some indication about where they were headed.

“Venice,” he chuckled, as the grip of his hand tightened.  “I suppose you could say we’re doing the whole world tour tonight,” he gazed at her.  “We need to get those long sought after stamps in your passport somehow,” he joked lightly.

She giggled, a little surprised that he had actually been paying attention to what she was saying at the Paris Hotel.  Butterflies once again flitted around in her stomach.  What was this man doing to her?  She blushed.  “Well, thank you for helping some of my European dreams come true,” she laughed.

He nodded briefly.  “My friend Maxwell brought us here yesterday, and it is absolutely amazing.  I’d love to show you around, take a look at some of the designs.  There’s a little bar in the corner of the lobby.  We can get another drink and talk,” he suggested.

She looked at him, “That’s your big plan to sweep me off my feet?  A few drinks and some talking?”

“Well, maybe I have a few tricks up my sleeves,” he murmured, guiding her off the strip and out toward the towering complex of the Venetian.  As they entered the hotel, it was like nothing she’d ever seen before.  Even though they were definitely not in Europe, it was as if they had walked into a European fantasy, because just as The Paris Hotel and The New York, New York hotels had been, the Venetian was an exact replica of what she would imagine the real Venice to be like.  The architectural design was intricate, and the details were stunning.  The hotel’s ceilings were high vaulted, with beautiful panels of hand-painted images throughout.  She had to admit, everything in Vegas was done bigger and louder.

“This is very romantic,” she whispered, her heart beating furiously inside of her chest.  “You think you’re pretty smooth, huh?” She raised her eyebrows at him.

“Well, I do only have one hour to convince you that this can turn into something real,” he shrugged, leading her over to the water way.  “You can’t go to Venice without having a gondola ride,” he said surely.  “Care to join me?”

The butterflies that had been growing in her stomach started to do flips.  Of course she wanted to join him.  She nodded excitedly as he helped her stand on the loading area.  “Careful now, we don’t want our evening spoiled by you falling in,” he laughed.  “I’m sure the hour would be up before it really even began,” he chuckled.

She looked up at him, a smile plastered on her face.  “Okay, funny guy, help me in, then.”

Once they settled into the gondola, he sat closely next to her.  Their gondolier pushed off from the dock, allowing the gondola to glide smoothly along the water.  His hands remained in hers since they left the Brooklyn Bridge, and that sort of intimacy absolutely thrilled her.  It was amazing how a simple thing like holding His hands never leaving hers.  It was almost as if they were an actual couple on an true date.  He was attentive and kind, and nothing like any of the men . . . well boys . . . she had dated previously.  They were all so immature and uncommitted.  Liam was a true gentleman.  She was glad he’d been honest with her about everything . . . it showed his true character.

“I have a question,” she hesitated, not wanting to ruin the moment, but her curiosity getting the better of her.  “Say this . . . this thing between us is real, what happens then?”

He looked at her, shrugging.  “Then I guess I’ll have some serious thinking about if I’ll be going back to Cordonia, won’t I?”

She sat there mouth agape, in utter confusion.  “Wh-what?”

“If this connection between us is real, I’m going to have to rethink my entire life plan, Riley.  I’m not letting this go,” he said firmly.

She sucked in a deep breath, the butterflies in her stomach were now gigantic moths.  “But your father . . . your country . . .” she trailed off.  The last thing she wanted to do was be the cause of the breakdown of hundreds of years of a political monarchy.

“I’m aware of the stakes, Riley.  I’ve never been a gambler, but something tells me that I should bet on you.  Bet on us.” “Are you sure you aren’t trying to get in my pants?” She asked skeptically.  “Because this sort of thing doesn’t happen to normal people, Liam.”

He only smiled, shaking his head.  “Who said anything about us being normal?  Nothing about meeting one another has been normal, Riley,” he gave her a small smirk.  

God, he knew exactly what to say to make her heart sing.  As the gondola drifted back toward the dock, Riley couldn’t help but feel disappointed.  Had their hour been up already?  It barely felt like they had spent any time together at all.  Regardless, he’d proven to her that there was something between them.  There was definitely a connection, and she definitely wanted to explore it.  She just didn’t want him to throw his whole life away for it.  She wasn’t going to change her life plan.  Why should he?  They’d figure things out.  Long distance relationships were all the rage nowadays with video chatting right?  They could spend some time getting to know one another while he straightened things out back home.

“So I have twenty minutes left in my one hour . . . I’d like to buy you that drink now,” he murmured into her ear.

“I think I’d quite like that,” she smiled.

The bar was small, and although the hour was late, it was bustling.  They were lucky enough to find a small table near the entrance.  She sat reserving it for them while he went to order their drinks at the bar.  He came back with water and a gin and tonic for her and a glass of scotch for himself.  “Hydrate,” he murmured.  “Don’t want you swaying again,” he laughed.

She shook her head.  “I didn’t realize you had such a teasing side of you,” she said honestly.  “You seemed so respectful and polite.  I would have thought you to be more on the serious side,” she explained.

“I am . . . typically, but maybe you bring out a different side of me,” he smirked.

She blushed.  “Maybe . . .” she trailed off.

There was a lingering silence that lay between them as they sipped their drinks.  They’d sneak little glances at one another, and then share curious smiles.  They were silently flirting.  She liked it.  It was kind of adorable.  She wondered for a moment if she had been all wrong about the whole love at first sight thing, because there was a feeling swelling in her chest that made her feel happier and more excited than she had ever felt before.  

“Riley, whose idea was it for you to go to medical school?” he asked suddenly, breaking her from her thoughts.

She looked up at him, confused.  That was an odd question.

“Was it because you wanted to be a doctor or was it because of your dad?  And remember, we’re still doing the whole honesty thing,” he murmured.

“I-I don’t know,” she licked her lips nervously.  “I mean, I guess it was always a part of the plan,” she shrugged.

“Yes, but did you want to do it?” he asked.

“Why are you asking me this, Liam?” Her guards towered back up.  She started to feel a bit offended by his accusatory tone.

“Because I’m trying to figure you out.  Earlier tonight, you didn’t seem too interested in becoming a doctor,” he took a small sip from his scotch.  “I figured that maybe it’s not how you picture spending the rest of your life.”

She paused, clearly caught off guard by the sudden change in subject.  “I was drunk, I said a lot of things that I didn’t mean,” she defended herself, but she couldn’t help but feel that maybe he was right.  She considered his words carefully.  Could she spend the rest of her life in the medical field?  It wasn’t as excited as she originally thought it would be, and the workload was getting to her.  She found herself obsessively studying every spare moment she had.  Could she spend the next seven years like this?  Her father did it, and he survived.  But did she just want to survive?  She didn’t know anymore.  It had been what she had worked so hard for, for so long she started to forget why she was doing it in the first place.

“I wanted to help people,” she said vaguely.

“Yes, but you’re not answering my question.  Is being a doctor what you wanted to do?  You said you wanted to be a social worker . . . why didn’t you pursue a degree in that?”

“I-I don’t know,” she said as her eyes turned downward.  “I guess I just wanted to make my Dad happy.”

“And there it is,” he stated as a matter of fact.

“There what is?” She looked at him in confusion.  “What are you talking about?”

“You don’t want to be a doctor,” he murmured.

Her lips formed into a thin line.  Who did he think he was talking to her like that?  He knew nothing about her.  She had spent years to get to this point.  So what if she was a bit overwhelmed with the program now.  She had to see it through.  She had the scholarship to think about and all the work she had put in.  She wasn’t going to let him confuse her.  “Liam, where is this coming from?”

“I want you to be happy,” he said.

“I am happy.  You don’t even know me,” she snapped.

“Really?  Then if you were so happy, why were you sitting alone at that bar tonight while your friends had the time of their lives.”

“Okay, Dr. Phil, I can ask the same question to you,” she countered.  “I wasn’t the only one sitting alone at that bar while their friends had a grand old time.”

“I was miserable,” he said simply.  “There’s no denying that.  I was consumed by the thought that I was going to spend the rest of my life married to someone I didn’t love.  Olivia is nice enough.  We get along relatively well, but is that all I could look forward to for the rest of my life?  That my wife and I got along relatively well?”

“Liam,” Riley began to say, but he just continued with his monologue.

“So I went through the motions, did all the right things.  I allowed my friends to plan this weekend getaway as a sort of last week of freedom.  Then I see this beautiful woman sitting by herself at the bar, and I think ‘wow, if only I had the opportunity to go up and talk to her.’  And if I were in Cordonia . . . maybe I wouldn’t have done it.  Maybe I would have let it just continue to be a “what if” thought inside of my head, but because we were in Vegas and because I figured I’d probably never get another chance like that again, I went for it.  And I went up to you.  And I’m so glad that I did.”

She looked at him, her face softening.  “Liam . . .  what is it that you are trying to say here?”

“Come back to Cordonia with me,” he said firmly.

“What?” she squawked.  “Are you insane?”

“You keep asking me that, and I keep telling you that I’m not,” he smirked.

“Be serious, Liam.  I’m not even from here.  My life is in New York.  I can’t just hop on a plane and go to Europe,” she exclaimed.

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because . . . because that’s being reckless,” she said.  “What about my classes?  My father?”

“We can figure it out.  You don’t want to be in medical school, Riley.  Come on an adventure with me.  Come to Cordonia, we can go to all the places on that list of your’s.”

He’d surprised her again.  He remembered her bucket list – all the places she had wanted to visit in Europe.  He listened to everything that she had been saying all night.  He actually cared about what she was saying.  “You remembered that?” she murmured.

“It was important to you, of course I remembered,” he shrugged.

Her heart started to beat rapidly in her chest.  She was falling for him.  She was falling for a man that she had no business falling for in the first place.  This was insane.  He was insane.  No matter how much he tried to deny it, all of this, everything that happened tonight was just utterly crazy.  This sort of thing doesn’t just happen.  

She glanced at a nearby clock, shaking her head.  “Your hour is up,” she said sadly.  “This was never going to work between us, Liam.  You should go back, marry your fiancé, and just forget about this.  Pretend it never happened, alright?”

She tore her hand out of his grasp, turning away from him.  She was struggling to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall.  She didn’t want the night to end.  She wanted to spend as much time as she possibly could, but she couldn’t get caught up in the craziness of a whirlwind romance.  Those never ended well.

“Riley,” he grabbed her on the shoulder.  He moved toward her, turning her to face him.  He locked his eyes onto hers intensely, but she shied away, unable to meet his gaze.  “Liam, I’m done with this game,” she said quietly.  “I don’t know if this is how you get your kicks, but whatever it is, I’m done.”

“Who said I’m playing?” He whispered, his lips brushing over her ear.

She swallowed hard.  His hand caressed her cheeks, and for a moment, she thought about bolting.  Pulling herself from his grasp and running out of this beautiful hotel back out onto the craziness of the Vegas Strip, but she couldn’t.  It was as if her body was frozen in front of him.  She was drawn to him.  Something about him , as crazy as it all was, she just couldn’t let this pull between them go.

His mouth closed the small distance between them, his lips pressing onto hers.  She knew it was coming, she saw his face inch closer and closer to hers and she knew that inevitably they’d kiss.  Still though, when his warm lips pressed against hers, he took her breath away.  It wasn’t a soft kiss, or a kiss that was just testing the waters.  He kissed her fiercely and forcefully; his intent was clear, he wasn’t going to let her walk away. She’d been fighting the connection all night.  Fighting the desire to know him, to touch him, and here he was fighting for her to stay.  His tongue slid over her lips, and his hands moved from her shoulders into her hair,.  His tongue rubbed at hers, encouraging her to join in the dance.  She moaned into his mouth, her body bucking under his touch.  This was more than just a first kiss.  This was the start of something.  Something magical.  Something she’d never be able to keep her mind off of.  

Her arms moved on their own accord, encircling his neck.  She needed him closer.  Her fingers played with the ends of his hair.  All the while their lips remained molded together, their tongues dancing slowly with one another.  It was the most sensual kiss she’d ever experienced in her entire life.  She could feel her body light on fire as he pulled her closer into her body.  Her hand started to grab at the hem of his shirt, completely forgetting that they were in the middle of a very classy Vegas hotel.  Nothing else mattered though.  She needed his kisses, his touches.  Reluctantly, he pulled away, gazing into her eyes.  “My hour still up?” he murmured softly.

“I think I want to do that all the time,” she said in reply.

“Yeah?  Since we’re still being honest . . . I might be rethinking that whole getting into your pants thing,” he chuckled, kissing her lips softly.

“Get a room!” a drunk patron yelled from the bar they just walked out of.

“We’re going to,” he yelled back, smiling down at her.  “Let’s get out of here . . .” he trailed off.

“You’re a bit crazy, you know that?”

“You’ve told me that several times tonight,” he smirked.

“Because it’s true,” she laughed, still holding onto him.

“Well, can I say one more thing that’s a little crazy?”

“Liam, you’ve been telling me crazy things all night, I don’t think there’s anything more to tell me that would surprise me.”

“I’m falling in love with you,” he smiled brightly at her.  “I’m ruined for other women,” he laughed.  “It’s you I want day in, day out for the rest of my life.”

“Liam . . .” she trailed off.

“Marry me,” he said with great certainty.  

[crzcorgi]

Words with Friends...with benefits

For the beautiful @flames-bring-a-ton-of-ash ‘s “Ash’s Birthday Negan Challenge”

AU Negan x Librarian Reader (y/n)

My prompt was Words with Friends

Word Count ~4500

Warnings ~ NSFW with lots of smuffy (smut/fluffy) fun

@negans-network

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Jesus fucking Christ on a fucking cracker, what the fuck is this?!” I slammed the piece of paper on the principal’s desk.

 “Mr. Negan. Would you please refrain from using profanities while in the school.”

 “What the f…ever. What is…” I pointed at the paper. “THIS?!”

 “It’s Words With Friends, a game Mr. Negan. Basically it’s Scrabble and…”

 “Yeah, yeah, I know all that. But this fu… says we’re going to be playing it with the other teachers. Say what?”

 “Yes, well, we’ve been seeing a lot less camaraderie among the staff, less of the help your neighbor. Aren’t we all here for the same reasons? To help shape tomorrow’s leaders, to help them grow and learn in a healthy environment. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”

 Old fucker was babbling some shittin’ nonsense and I had pretty much tuned him out. “Yeah, okay. Do we get to choose who we’re partnered with cause I’m thinking that new nurse might be…”

 “No, Mr. Negan, we will choose your partner. In fact, let me see…” He started shuffling through some papers, pulling one out of the pile. “Yes, here it is. Your playing with Ms Y/L/N!”

 “Uh, who the f…who’s that?!” I was dreading the shithead’s answer.

“She’s the new librarian! How fortuitous Mr. Negan! Imagine that!” He had the biggest stupid fucking grin on his fucking fat face.

 “Jesus, Gregory! You fucking did that on purpose! Pair the gym coach with probably the biggest egg-fucking-head in the whole damn school. Probably has a fucking stick so far up her scrawny ass it’s sticking out of her mouth. No, not doing it.”

 He sighed, he’s fucking beady eyes blinking quickly at me. “Mr. Negan, you know what I’m going to say. You will be play this game I’m afraid, or you will be looking for another job.”

 I laughed, “you can’t fucking fire me because I refuse to play a fucking nerd game, Gregory.”

 “Negan.”

 “Gregy.”

He stood up, walking around to stand beside me. “Come on, the others, the teachers, they see you playing along, it looks good, you know?  I don’t ask much from you, do I? I let you pretty much rule your roost, give you all the funds you need, right? Can’t you do this one thing for me?”

 “Begging Gregory? Isn’t that fucking beneath you?” I ran my hand over my chin thinking about how I fucking needed a shave. “Fine, I’ll do it. But this Ms…”

 “Ms. Y/L/N.”

 “Yeah, Ms. Y/L/N she better not be one of those uptight bitches that can’t take a little joking around. I don’t need her running here to tattle on me. Jesus.”

 “Negan, to be fair, Ms. Simon was 75 years old and you were telling highly inappropriate jokes in the library no less.”

 “Old bat needed to get a sense of humor.” I started for the door. “So what do I need to do Gregory?”

 “Report to the library after school, our first round of Words begins today.”

 “And my fucking team practice?”

 “Will just be late today. They’ll just have to practice without you for an hour.”

 I opened the door. “Fine, whatever. You owe me. Fucking big.”

 He smiled, a big stupid fucking grin. “You have a good day, Mr. Negan.”

 “Yeah, what the fuck ever.”

 I wanted the fucking day to be over. But I also wasn’t looking forward to the afternoon. Whatever I’d done to piss off the gods I wish I could take it back. Words with Friends, what the ever loving fuckity fuck?!

 As I made my way to the library at 2:30, I remembered that I had a date the next night. A fucking hottie that worked at the sandwich shop down the street from my house. Fuck, I needed to get laid like yesterday. I’d been in a bit of a fucking dry spell. But I saw a tsunami coming my way and I was fucking ready with my surfboard. I was gonna ride that wave until I couldn’t fucking move.

 “Mr. Negan, Gregory said you agreed to game time but I didn’t believe it!”

 “Yeah, well fucking surprise Mrs. Smith.”

 I rolled my eyes behind her back, I spotted an empty seat toward the back of tables that were set up in rows, game boards set up on each one.  I sat down, leaning back and closing my eyes, thinking about tomorrow night.

 “Excuse me, Mrs. Smith pointed me back here. Are you Mr.Negan?”

 For a minute I thought I was fucking dreaming and a sexy fucking angel was speaking. But I opened my eyes to who I assumed was Ms. Y/L/N, the new librarian and my partner. With a bun. Dressed like a nun. And glasses so fucking thick I couldn’t even tell if she had eyes that needed those glasses.”

 “Yeah, I’m Negan.” I stood up, pulling her chair out for her. “You must be Ms. Y/L/N?”  Pushing her chair back in, I noticed she had what looked like a tattoo, that was partially covered up by makeup, behind her ear. Hmmm.

 “Yes, I’m her. But you can call me Y/N, we’re both adults.” She giggled, a sweet sound.

 “So, looks like we’re fucking partners, huh?”

 She giggled again, “yes, I guess we are Mr. Negan.”

 “Just Negan, sweetheart, afterall, we are both adults.” I leaned over towards her, winking, causing her to blush.

 After Gregy boy gave us our little fucking speech, explaining the rules like we were fucking kindergarteners, we started our game.

 “Ladies first.” I nodded towards her.

 Smiling, she played. “It’s not much, but I have horrible tiles I’m afraid.”

 “Brach? What the…?” I caught her expression, stopping myself from finishing that sentence.

 “It’s a female dog, Mr., I mean, Negan. But if you would like to challenge me, go right ahead.” She grinned at me.

 “I’m sure you know what you’re doing doll, so it’s fine.” I looked at my tiles, instantly spotting a word. My lips turning up into a cocky smile as I played my word.

 We played for awhile. Our scores fucking amazingly similar.. She played all the smarty fucking pants words, words no one ever uses in any normal fucking conversations. I played my words, breasts, ass, cleavage, horny, each word making her squirm uncomfortably in her seat, her face turning pinker with each play.

 I played my last word, putting me on top, in more ways than one. I was fucking proud of this one.

 “Phallus. Nice one Mr. Negan.” She looked away, shaken.

 I laughed. “Well darling, no one plays games like me.”

 “I imagine. I’m running out of tiles so excuse my choice.” She placed her tiles down, adding to one of mine.

 “What the fuck? That ain’t a word sweetheart!”

 “Are you challenging me, Negan? I was sure you would know that one.”  She looked up at me, taking her glasses off and batting her pretty eyes at me, a supposedly innocent smile on her lips. I got a better look at her and fuck me if she wasn’t gorgeous.

 “I know that, I mean, not fucking personally if that’s what your fucking implying!” She was fucking with me and I was getting pissed.

 “Oh no, of course not.” She leaned over, her lips mere inches from my ear, her hand landing on my knee, moving upward. “I’m sure you have no first hand knowledge of one those.”

 Fuck! What the fuckity fucking hell did she just do?! I had to fucking compose myself, wasn’t going let Ms prissy pants see my reaction to her. Fucking breath man.

 “Okay, microphallus for the win doll. Nice”

 “Thank you, Negan.” She removed her hand quickly, her glasses back on. “You play a mean game. But I never lose.” She turned to face me, a sly smirk on her face.

 We both turned to face the room, realizing we were all alone.

 “What the fuckity fuck?! Were we playing that long?!”

 “I guess so Mr. Negan.”

 The way she said my name, something stirred in me. She’d been saying it all afternoon, no effect. But just now, the way she purred it, my dick came to life, twitching, itching to escape.

 She stood, picking up the tiles from the board and placing them in the box. “It looks like they left me to clean up.” She sighed.

 “Would you like some help sweetheart?” I needed to get to practice but I didn’t want to leave here, her.

“That’s okay, Mr. Negan, I’m sure you’ve got places to be.” She sounded almost disappointed. “It won’t take me too long anyway.” She began picking up the game board on the next table.

 I stood up, moving up towards the front. “I’ll pick up this side, you get that side. We’ll be done in no fucking time darling!”

 “Well, thank you Mr. Negan, you’re such a gentleman.” She smiled, placing the boxes on a cart. “Not at all what I was warned about.”

 “Warned? What did the old busybody bitties say about me now?” I laughed, causing her to smile.

 “Well,” She started walking towards me, stopping when she reached the other side of the table I was at. “They told me you were rude, crass and loved to make people, especially women…” she reached up, pulling her long hair from the bun it was in, her curls bouncing off her shoulders. Pulling her glasses from her face and placing them on the table, she turned, walking back from where she had come. “Embarrassed, uncomfortable. But you see Mr. Negan.” She turned her head, looking at me over her shoulder. “It takes ALOT to embarrass me. And you haven’t done it.”

 “Well sweetheart, you’ve only just met me, give it time.” I started walking towards her. Reaching her, her back to me, I ran a finger up the back of her sweater. “You’d be fucking amazed at what I can do, say. I’ve made a sailor fucking blush.”

 She turned to face me. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of y/e/c, her lips so fucking enticing, her tongue running over them, making them glisten. I was so fucking wrong, she wasn’t the uptight prissy librarian, fucking no. She was the librarian songs, movies, were written about. A teenage boy’s wet dream come to life. Fuck, she was hot, plain and simple. And I wanted her.

 “I’m no sailor, Mr. Negan. I’m just a simple librarian.” She unbuttoned her sweater, pulling it off and throwing it on the table. I could now see why she had the fucker buttoned up to her chin, she only had one of those silky things on underneath. I knew I was fucking staring but shit, she was all tits and nipples. And I was a kid in the proverbial candy store. “It’s awfully toasty in here, don’t you think?” She had picked up a magazine and began fanning herself. And fuck if it wasn’t making me squirm.

 “I believe it has gotten quite hot in here sweetheart.” I moved next to her, blowing on her neck. “Better sweetheart?”

 She giggled. “Your breath is hot, Mr. Negan,” She turned away, walking away between the stacks of books.

 “Where ya goin’ sweet thing?” I wondered aloud.

 “Come and find me Mr. Negan!” She answered in a giggle.

 I followed after her realizing that she had disappeared. “Where’d you go doll?” I began looking between the racks figuring she couldn’t have gotten far.

 “Check our the 600 aisle Mr. Negan. It’s the most interesting row.” She purred.

I glanced on the endcaps of the shelves, noticing the numbers. I quickly made my way to the 600’s. I tipped my head, peeking down the row and seeing her, leaning back against the shelf, reading a book.

 “What ya reading there darling?” I asked, moving slowly towards her.

 She glanced up at me, a sweet smile on her face. “Nothing much, Mr. Negan. You read much?”

 By her side now, I placed my arms on either side of her, my legs on either side of hers. “I’m not much of a reader if there’s no pictures sweet girl.”

 She looked up at me. “This book has plenty of pictures.” She turned the open book around so I could see what she was reading. “Very interesting, doncha think Mr. Negan?” She hummed as she moved her face towards mine.

 My fucking face must have shown my shock as she began laughing. “Did I embarrass you Mr. Negan?” She had placed the book in my hands, freeing her own to wrap around my neck, her big y/e/c eyes blinking seductively at me.

 I laughed, a bit fucking nervously. “Ha, no no! Hell no baby girl. You showing me this for a reason?” I winked, my tongue running slowly over my lips. “Wanna try one of these positions out?”

 “Maybe…” she whispered in my ear. “The Kama Sutra is a favorite of mine.” Her breath tickling the hairs on my neck. “And I’ve always wanted to have my brains screwed out in a library.”

 Fuck she was nothing if not forward. “You,” I brought one hand up to run along the side of her face, my thumb stroking her cheek lightly. “Are my kind of girl.”

 Of like mind, our lips slammed together, our tongues quickly tangling. Her fingers quickly finding their way into my hair, pulling lightly. I brought my hands down to her ass, squeezing each round cheek through the thin fabric of her skirt. She suddenly pulled away.

 Panting, her hands quickly making easy work of her skirt’s zipper. I watched, fucking mesmerized as she slid the skirt down her legs, stepping out of it. Pulling the little silky tank she had on over her head, she stepped back, letting me truly take her in. She was a fucking stunning beauty, all curvy legs, ass and breasts.

 “So, dressed like that makes me think you were fucking expecting to be enjoying yourself a bit tonight, huh?” I laughed. She had on the sexiest pair of fucking underwear I’d ever seen. All silk and lace. Some fancy floral design. Her breasts all pushed up, looking so fucking enticing, I wanted to just dive into them. Her panties were perfect, barely covering her bits but just enough silk to make you wonder. But the best part was she was wearing thigh high stockings with the garter belt, a instant make me fucking hard as steel deal. Shit, I was a fucking goner.

 She smiled. “Honestly, no, this is nothing special.” She ran her hands down her thighs. “A girl likes to feel pretty, sexy, no matter what she’s wearing or where she’s going.”

 “Well sweetheart, you most certain-fucking-ly are sexy and gorgeous. Couldn’t quite see how beautiful through all that frumpy shit you were wearing.”

 She giggled, her hands running up my chest. “Well, Mr. Negan, the school kinda frowns upon dressing like this.” She looked down at her body.

 We both laughed. “I’m not sure any fucking work would get done if you did doll. I can just see all those fucking horny teenagers walking around with shittin’ boners.”

 “How about you Mr. Negan?” She had risen up on her toes, her lips brushing against my ear. “Could you get any work done?”

 I sucked in a deep breath, inhaling her scent. Fucking shivers running down my spine. “I don’t believe I fucking would sweet thing, no.”

 I brought my hands down to grasp her ass, squeezing, kneading, our lips upon each other again, my tongue winning the war of dominance. She tasted so fucking good causing me to groan. My hands working their way around to her front, dipping into her panties. She let out a sigh, that quickly turned to moans as my fingers found her damp folds. I inserting two of them into her pussy, my thumb running circles around her hardening clit.

 “Oh… god…yes!”

 “You can call me god, baby, but I usually just go by Negan.”

 “Shut up and just make me cum!” She growled in my ear.

 “Oooh, a feisty one! Mmhmm!” I laughed. I hastened my movements, adding a third finger and hooking them at just the right angle, my thumb adding extra pressure.

 She came undone, her moans so loud I was sure someone fucking heard. As she leaned her trembling body into mine, I brought my juice covered fingers up to my mouth, tasting her.

 “Fucking heavenly baby. Jeeeesus!” I licked each finger clean, she watched me, her head leaning against my chest, a sly smile appearing. We both jumped when we heard some enter the library. “Shit doll!”

 She whispered. “It’s probably just Joe, the night custodian.” She quickly slipped her skirt and top back on, stepping out into the main aisle.

 “Doll!” I realized her skirt was pulled up in the back, her hot ass exposed. She turned to face be, bringing a finger up to her lips is a shushing gesture. Fuck.

 “Is that you Joseph?” She yelled.

 “It sure is Miss y/ln! Just here to clean. What are you still doing here this late?”

 She disappeared, obviously going to talk to Joe. With her skirt around her waist and her ass on display.  I took off after her, willing my fucking hard on down. I jogged my way down to where y/n was standing, talking to Joe.

 “Mr. Negan, you’re here too?!”

 She turned to look at me, an angry scowl coming across her face. I looked at her, my eyes darting down to her ass. She must have thought I was fucking flirting or something because she wasn’t catching on. Just kept giving me fucking side eye and chatting with fucking Joe, who couldn’t keep his fucking eyes off of her.

 I reached over, trying not to be obvious, reaching for her skirt. She must have noticed, because she turned around quickly, jumping away from me.

 “What’s going on?” She yelled. I heard Joe make a gasping sound and realized he was fucking staring at her ass. Fuckity fucking fucker.

 “Uh, Miss y/l/n, your skirt, uh.”

 “What?!” She turned around, looking down and realizing. “Oh my god, I’m so embarrassed! I don’t know how that could possibly have happened!” She had pulled her skirt down by now. Her cheeks a gorgeous shade of pink.

 “Uh, I don’t think the library needs cleaning tonight, I’ll just see myself out.” He turned, waving over his shoulder as he headed for the door. “And Mr. Negan, Miss y/l/n?”

 We both answered with a questioning “yes?”

 “Please don’t make a mess. And remember the walls are thin, it’s amazing what I can hear all over the school.   Have fun!”

 “Oh my god, Negan! He knows!” She look shocked, embarrassed, but then started giggling. She grabbed my hand, pulling me back down the aisles of books.

 “Where are  you taking me sweetheart?”

 “Maybe finish what we started?” She questioned me over her shoulder, a wink and a smirk pulling at her lips.

 My dick twitching at her spoken promise. “Sounds fucking good to me baby.”  I followed her willingly towards the back. “Where we headed darling?” My question soon answered when I saw an old couch.

 “A bit more comfortable, don’t you think?” She was turned towards me her top already thrown off, her skirt sliding down her shapely legs. She sat down, leaning back against the cushions, crossing those go on for fucking days stocking encased legs, her tits pressed forward so far. I was aching to touch them. She patted the seat next to her. “Sit with me Mr. Negan?”

 “Fuck sweet thing, you don’t have to ask me twice!” I moved over to the couch, sitting down. She slid over next to me.

 “Now, where were we?” She began pulling my shirt up my chest.

 “Let me help doll.” I pulled it off quickly. “Better?” I asked her, winking.

 “Much.” She purred, startling me as she was suddenly in my lap, straddling my legs. She placed her hands on my shoulders, moving them slowly downward, her fingers tickling the chest hairs, her nails lightly scraping. “I love a man with body hair, Negan.” As she spoke, her panty covered core began rotating over my painfully hard cock.

 I must have been making a face because she noticed. “Am I making you uncomfortable Mr. Negan?”

 “Kinda y/n.” I smirked, trying to hold myself together.

 She slid backwards, off my dick, which made me let out a breath I had been holding in. She then slid down to the floor onto her knees. “Can I help you,” she ran her hands up my thighs towards my waist “with your pants?” She skirted around my massive protruding bulge, reaching up to undo my belt, button and zipper.

 I couldn’t stop the throaty moans from escaping me. As she began pulling my pants down, I shifted my ass up to make it easier. Her eyes stayed on me as she slowly pulled my pants, and boxers, down, my more than fucking ready dick springing free.

 She stopped her actions, moving her hands up and grabbing a hold of my dick. Still eyes on me, her tongue darting out and running a wet stripe right up the underside to the head. I couldn’t decide if it was from fucking pain or pleasure but my eyes closed shut and I began groaning, my hands grasping at the pillows next to me.

 “Fuck baby!” I couldn’t be quiet as her tongue circled the head, dipping into the slit.

 “Macrophallus for the win Negan.” She purred as she swallowed me. All of me.

 “Fuck…that mean…” I moaned out.

 She released me with a wet pop. “Abnormally large penis Negan.” She giggled as she stood up.

 “Well, what else would you fucking expect?!” I laughed, but quickly quieted down when she began to slowly slide her panties down her legs. And I was unabashedly fucking staring.  “That has got to be the most fucking gorgeous pussy I’ve ever seen sweetheart! God fucking damn!” I slammed my palms down on the sofa.

 She giggled as she straddled my legs, lowering down onto me. She began rubbing her folds over my hard cock, making us both moan. The wetness from us both making her glide easily, but I wasn’t going to be able to take much more of the fucking foreplay.

 “Up doll. Now!”

 I startled her, but a fucking smirk appeared on her gorgeous face. “Yes SIR!” She stood up off of me, stepping beside me, her arms reaching out to lean against the back of the sofa. She began wiggling her ass at me, two fucking glorious y/s/c globes. I moved to stand behind her, my hands grabbing her ass, squeezing tightly, so fucking soft, velvety, so pliable.

 “You want this big fucking cock in your tight pussy baby girl? I’m not gonna hold back, you wiggling that ass at me, teasing me all afternoon. You are most certain-fucking-ly are going to pay for your insolence.”

 She looked over her shoulder at me, her beautiful y/e/c eyes blinking at me. The sweetest innocent fucking smile on her luscious red lips.

 “Keep your eyes on me doll.” I ordered her as I lined my cock up to her wet entrance, slamming into her in one thrust, causing her arms to give out and gasp out loudly. I swung my arm around her waist pulling her body back into mine. “I’ve got you sweetheart.” I cooed in her ear.

 “Oh Negan, yes, God YES!”

 “You are so fucking tight baby, never had a cock as big as mine huh?” I growled into her hair.

 “No…no, not ever!” She whined.  “Oh God…”

 I held her tightly as I rammed into her, pulled out as far as I fucking could, jamming back in. I could feel my cock tip hitting her inside, it was causing all kinds of new fucking feelings for me. I twisted my waist just enough to hit her at a different angle. I reached around, grabbing her bra, pulling it down letting her tits free. I tweaked both nipples, making them harden instantly.

 “Oh MY GOD!!!” I swung one hand down, my fingers tweaking her hardened nub, sending her over into fucking bliss. I was right behind, my jerks becoming erratic, I began shaking.

 “Fuck baby girl… I’m cumming…” I growled out, panting heavily. Just as I felt my stomach tighten, her tiny fingers reached around gripping my fucking sack, kneading it lightly and causing me to shoot my fucking seed so far into her that I swear it was gonna come out the other end. I could stop cumming, fuck I was full.

 As I finished, I turned us both around, falling onto the sofa with y/n in my lap, my dick still inside her. Her head falling back onto my shoulder, one hand reaching up to gently stroking her damp hair away from her face. We both groaned at the loss as my dick softened and dropped out.

 She turned to face me, her small fingers finding my scruff, tickling it. “You’re an amazing man, Mr. Negan. And you play a mean game of Words With Friends.” She snickered, her lips meeting mine in a sweet quick kiss.

 “Fuck doll, you’re the mean gamer. What’s that word you used again, macrophallus?”

 She laughed. “Yes, Mr. Big Dick.”

 “I like that, maybe I should change my fucking name to Mr. Big Dick on my door.” I laughed, nuzzling my nose into doll’s neck. We stayed like that for quite awhile, fucking cuddling. Something I never do. But fuck if this girl didn’t do something to me. She was humming some song while running her hands up and down my arms, fucking soothing me.

 “Negan?” She whispered in my ear. “I think we should clean up, get dressed. Don’t want Joseph to come looking for us again!” She giggled.

 “Guess we should!” I helped us both up, she ran off, coming back with damp towels. I had her sit down so I could clean her up, nothing fucking sexual. We got dressed, making sure nothing looked out of the ordinary.

 As we made our way to the door, I took a chance, taking her hand in my own. She squeezed it tightly, looking up at me with a sweet smile.

 “Can I drive you home sweet thing?”

 “I would love that Mr. Negan. Maybe stay a bit?” She looked up at me through her long eyelashes, a bit hesitant.

 “I would fucking love to stay baby.”

 I ended up forgetting all about the hot sandwich shop girl.