#--''belong[ed] to the world'' made me roll my eyes and I just KNOW that would be how Sherry reacts to him being an international detective

[throughpatchesofviolet]

If only you guys could see me trying to piece this mystery together ... I was just making one of those poses Jil's drawn Sherry in.

^ One of these. I'm deep in thought, trying to solve this crime.

[steddiewithachance]

"Likewise"

(Steve shows up to Wayne and Eddie's house with all of his belongings on his back and it makes Eddie remember when he was in the same position)

Dedicated to my lovely and wonderful AND awesome friend, Birdie

Read on ao3 here

*

Eddie and Wayne have always been pretty inseparable, since Eddie was 11 and made a trek across Indiana to find him. But after all the Vecna shit happened, after the manhunt and the three week hospital visit, Wayne had been especially clingy. Wayne's version of being clingy is constantly asking Eddie to do mundane things with him, it's intense love and worry and near loss disguised as casual invitations.

Eddie is endeared by it even though he'll play his part: roll his eyes and act annoyed like it's a chore.

This afternoon Wayne had knocked on Eddie's door and asked "Hey Eds wanna come out'n watch the game with me?"

And Eddie flung open the door with a huge sarcastic grin. "Me? A sports ball match TV game? You know I wouldn't miss it for the world, Uncle Wayne!" Wayne scoffed and Eddie grabbed his acoustic guitar so that he could entertain himself while he kept Wayne company in the living room.

Which is where they are now. Eddie is spread across the couch. He's aimlessly moving his fingers around the fretboard until he finds a chord that sounds nice while a sports announcer drones on in the background. Sometimes Eddie will look up to find Wayne in his old recliner watching him instead of the game. Eddie doesn't say anything, just gives him a reassuring smile.

It's raining kind of hard today, which normally would be stressful. Eddie and Wayne would be running around the house with buckets trying to catch water from all the new places the rain was leaking in. But with their shiny new government gifted place, they could sit back and enjoy the weather.

Eddie violently startles when someone knocks on the door. He sets his guitar to the side and Wayne turns the TV volume down. "Who is it?" Eddie calls out while walking towards the door.

"Steve." He hears in response.

When Eddie opens the door he's confronted with a very distraught-looking boyfriend. He looks like he's been crying, he has two dufflebags and a backpack, and he's soaking wet from the rain. Eddie immediately steps back and lets him in.

"Sweetheart, what's going on?" Eddie asks closing the door behind them even though he has a pretty good idea what the bags mean. Steve sniffles and lets his stuff fall to the floor. He startles when he realizes Wayne is in the room too. He's quiet for a few moments, maybe composing himself, Eddie thinks. Always trying to be brave and strong even when he doesn't have to, this one.

"Can I sleep over tonight?" Steve asks like it's taking a lot of effort to do so, even if he's slept over a dozen times already. "My parents... I need a place to stay and Robin's out of town and I felt kinda weird letting any of the kids see me like this" Steve wipes his nose but his sleeve is just as wet and he looks miserable, so Eddie reaches out and wipes Steve's nose with his own sleeve.

"I'm gross, sorry" Steve apologizes.

"Of course you can stay here, Stevie, is that even a question? Let's get you something dry to wear-" Eddie tells him, when he's suddenly and overwhelmingly hit with the dreamy feeling of deja vu. He looks back at Wayne wondering if he's thinking the same thing. Wayne's meets his gaze and his mouth twitches into a half smile.

Eddie grabs Steve's stuff and pulls him into his bedroom. After he sets everything down, he gently runs his hands up under Steve's shirt, until it's all bunched up right under his chin. Eddie pulls the wet fabric over his shoulders and off his arms. Eddie leans forward and plants kisses on each of Steve's perfectly freckled shoulders.

Once Steve is all changed and sat on the foot of the bed, Eddie stands over him and wraps a blanket over his head and shoulders like a little burrito. He looks adorable like this, all cozy.

"You want to talk about what happened, or not yet?" Eddie whispers, to keep the energy in the room gentle and light. Steve shakes his head without thinking and looks up at him for reassurance. Eddie leans down to plant a soft kiss on his lips. "That's okay, Babylove. You know you gave me crazy deja vu walking through that door with your duffle bags in the rain?" Eddie places his hands on either side of Steve's blanketed head.

"When I came to live with Wayne it was raining too. I always thought rain was a bad omen, you know? But then in english class one year, we talked about how in literature, rain is like symbolic of change and new beginnings. And I thought, 'yeah actually that makes a lot of sense'." Eddie speaks quietly while Steve looks up at him, listening. "Do you want to hear the story of how I met Wayne?"

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

1977

When Eddie steps out of the school building he sees that the cloudy sky has gotten darker since recess. That's a bad omen, he thinks to himself, but hears it in his dad's southern drawl.

He makes his way towards the front school gates, twisting his backpack strings together, a nervous habit. A swarm of children, mostly younger than him, begin to unlock their bikes from where they're chained and wheel them towards the street. Eddie pushes his way through the crowd to do the same.

He feels kind of sick grabbing the handlebars of a bike he knows full well shouldn't belong to him. He should have known that when he asked his dad for a bike it would have been stolen from some other poor kid. He feels terrible thinking about the night his dad brought it home and put a sticker over where another kid's name was carved into the paint. He shakes his head and rides over to the tree where he promised to meet his best friend, Daniel.

Daniel's already there waiting for him, talking loudly to some kid from the other sixth-grade class.

"See you Monday!" Daniel yells out as the kid hops on his bike and takes off down the street. Daniel has a smile on his face, always has been better at making friends than Eddie. He's a sweet kid, but kind of naïve.

"Hey," Eddie mutters propping his bike against the tree. Daniel turns towards him and his eyes immediately catch on Eddies forehead.

"I still can't get used to you without hair. It's weird." Daniel says petting Eddie's buzzed head. "I kinda think it looked better before."

"Yeah yeah, I already told you my dad made me." Eddie swats his hand away. "Did you ask your brother? About driving me to Hawkins?"

"Oh yeah... he said it's too far. Sorry." Daniel barely looks regretful. Eddie's heart drops.

"What?! But did you tell him I could give him money and weed?" Eddie's starting to panic. If Daniel's older brother Paul, who just got his license wouldn't drive him to Hawkins, he was gonna have to think of a new plan, and fast.

"Oh no I forgot that part, oops. Well he's picking me up in 10 minutes, just ask him yourself." Daniel complains, and Eddie doesn't blame him for not taking it seriously. Daniel doesn't understand the urgency of the situation, Eddie hasn't really told anyone why he needs to get to Hawkins so badly.

Eventually Paul pulls up in front of them, hitting the curb a little which just screams new driver and Eddie grimaces. Beggars can't be choosers, he supposes. He follows Daniel to the car. The kid gracelessly plops into the passenger seat and Eddie leans down to talk to his brother through the open door.

Paul has long blonde hair that makes Eddie miss his own hair desperately and a scar on his lip that he apparently got while skiing one winter. As always, he looks handsome, Eddie admits to himself and tries not to blush. He shakes the thought.

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

"Was he more handsome than me?" Steve interrupts Eddie recounting the story. He's pouting.

"Steve," Eddie exhales exasperatedly, "Not even close. Let me finish the story though."

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

"Hi Paul."

"Hey kid."

Eddie's face twists up, doesn't want Paul to think of him like a kid.

"Look Paul, I really need your help. I need to see my uncle and I would really be grateful if you could drive me." And before Paul can object Eddie adds, "I have money and weed that I can give you in exchange."

Paul clearly considers this. "How much?"

"How much weed? Uh I dunno a baggie?" Eddie puts his fingers up to demonstrate how much weed he remembers there being in the bag.

"No no, how much money?" Paul chuckles fondly. Meanwhile Daniel is ping ponging his head back and forth between his brother and Eddie.

"I have like forty bucks. I know it's not a ton, and it's a far drive, but this is really important." Eddie pleads. Paul stares out the windshield for a few moments.

"And you wanted to go tonight?" He asks Eddie who nods fervently. "When would you need a ride back?"

And Eddie looks at Daniel who seems bored by the whole ordeal, who is picking at the netting on his backpack. Eddie knows that if this plan works out, he won't be coming back at all. But Daniel's been good to him and Eddie hates disappointing people, so he does what his father taught him to do: he lies.

"I'm sure my uncle will drive me back, s'all good." And Paul nods his head.

"Okay kid. Let me drop Daniel home and I'll come pick you up from your place." And Eddie's heart skyrockets. Okay shit, he's actually doing this.

"Thank you! Thank's Paul. That's cool of you. Thank you." Eddie smiles big, shows all his teeth even though he's still missing a few. Paul nods and Daniel reaches forward to close the door when Eddie realizes this might be the last time he sees his best friend.

"Wait!" Eddie interrupts and grabs the door.

Paul and Daniel look at him worriedly. "Can- can I have a hug before you go?" Eddie asks Daniel shakily. He feels his throat tighten and his eyes go a little blurry. Fuck! He's always so emotional, despite Al's best efforts to chastise the sensitivity out of him.

"I guess." Daniel says, weirded out by Eddie's sudden change of tone. He unbuckles his seat belt and holds his arms out. Eddie fiercely tugs him in and realizes that Daniel can probably feel him shaking now. "But I'll see you Monday right?"

Eddie takes a deep breath, tries to will his voice to come out strong. He pulls back giving Daniel a reassuring smile and a pat on the shoulder. "Yeah man, see you. And see you tonight Paul. Thanks again." And instead of looking Daniel in the eyes again he turns away and grabs "his" bike.

*

Eddie's waiting outside with his bags and a map with directions that he carefully planned out a few nights ago. He's praying to any and all gods that his dad doesn't make it home before Paul get's there. Every time he sees a car turn onto the street he panics and prepares to run.

Despite the bad weather, and Eddie's paranoia, Paul pulls up first and Eddie lets out a huge sigh of relief. Eddie smiles at him and puts his bags in the back seat. The teen looks at him with soft eyes, clearly not as gullible as his kid brother. Knows what's really happening.

"Do you have everything?" Paul asks when Eddie sits in the passenger seat and hands over two twenties and a little bag of weed he stole from his dad's dresser. Eddie nods. "Are you absolutely sure?"

Eddie thinks it would be nice to have a brother like Paul. Never got to know him too well, but he seems to care.

"Yeah man, double and triple checked." Eddie looks into the rear view mirror just in time to see his dad's black pickup truck round the corner. He sinks into the seat. "Shit man, go! Drive!"

Paul startles into action and hits the gas. It doesn't seem like Al notices because he pulls into the parking garage speeding recklessly like he always does. When they're a few streets down, Eddie sits up again and opens the map.

"Am I gonna get arrested for kidnapping you?" Paul worries, wide eyed, as he makes his way towards the highway.

"My dad's afraid of cops. I really doubt he'd call em." Eddie responds before briefing Paul on the directions (ironically) to Hawkins' police station, where hopefully someone will know where his uncle Wayne lives.

*

It's a quiet drive. Eddie finds that he's not sure what to talk to a 16 year old about and would rather pay attention to directions. He can tell Paul wants to ask what he's running from, but refrains, which Eddie's thankful for. When they're about ten minutes out from Hawkins, it starts raining.

Eddie feels guilty that Paul will probably have to drive two hours home in the rain. He voices this concern, but Paul, the saint he is, reassures him it's no big deal.

Eventually they pull up to the police station and Eddie hauls his bags out of the back seat before coming back around to the passenger side door. He leaves the map with Paul and the set of hand written directions on how to get home that Eddie made for him.

"Thanks again for everything, Paul. Drive safely."

"Eddie do you want me to wait to make sure you get where you're going?" He asks softly and Eddie doesn't remember a time where anyone spoke to him with such care. He wants to cry for some reason. Wants to take him up on the offer, but doesn't want to inconvenience the teenager more than he already has.

"I'm okay, but thank you." As soon as Eddie slams the car door shut and turns towards the station, he starts to cry. He hears the gravel crunching as Paul pulls out of the parking lot behind him. Maybe this was all a mistake. He takes a deep breath, wipes his eyes and steps through the glass door.

"Hello, can I help you?," the woman behind the front desk asks, pushing her glasses down to get a good look at Eddie who is dripping rainwater onto the linoleum floor.

"Yeah. I'm here hoping someone knows where Wayne Munson lives? He's my uncle."

The woman holds up a finger and makes her way to a desk in the back of the station. She clears her throat and starts talking to a man.

Eddie shifts his weight as he tries to make out their muffled conversation. He looks up when a tall man sticks his head out and examines Eddie from across the room. The cop nods at the receptionist and grabs keys from his desk.

"You're looking for Wayne Munson?" The man, "Hopper" his badge reads, says while walking over.

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

"That's when you first met Hopper?" Steve interrupts again with a small smile. Eddie rolls his eyes, fondly. He nods.

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

"Yes sir." He responds to the officer.

Eddie wonders if Al has started looking for him yet. Wonders if Al walked into his room and saw half his belongings gone. Probably not. And even if he did, he'd have no idea where Eddie went. Too uninvolved in Eddie's life to know the names of any of his friends.

"Alright, he lives in the trailer park. Forest Hills. Let me drive you over." Hopper waves his hand and steps into the rain. He opens the passenger seat of his car and ushers Eddie inside.

The thing about this whole situation is that Eddie knows next to nothing about his uncle. Only hears cutting remarks about him from his father once in a blue moon. But it's the kind of cutting remark that might actually mean Wayne's a good person, if it's coming from Al. Eddie only knows he lives in Hawkins, because Al mentioned it once, in passing. "Lives in a little shit hole town no one's ever heard of while I'm out here making it big in the city," he had bragged. But it's not like Al talks enough about Wayne to immediately suspect that this is where Eddie might have ran off to. He's trying to convince himself he's safe now.

*

Eddie is accompanied to Wayne's door by the officer. Hopper knocks aggressively before Eddie can even get it straight in his head what he's gonna say to Wayne. The rain is coming down hard now. He's hugging his canvas duffle bag to his chest, trying to protect his sketchbooks inside from the downpour.

"Wayne Munson? It's Jim Hopper with Hawkins PD. Open up." Hopper announces, knocking again.

And almost immediately after he knocks, the door opens a crack. Eddie sees a man with greying dark brown hair cut close to his head and a patchy beard. Wayne's eyes drop to Eddie almost instantly.

"Can I help you?" Wayne asks. His accent is stronger than Al's, Eddie notices.

"I have a kid here who claims to be your nephew?" Hopper says gruffly, scratching his mustache. Wayne opens the door wider, looking Eddie up and down with wide eyes.

"I'm uh... Al's kid?" Eddie adds quietly. And Wayne's face goes through a variety of emotions before nodding to the officer.

"Thanks Jim, I'll take it from here." Wayne mutters. Eddie watches as the officer tips his head and offers a "stay dry folks," before getting back into his car.

"Come on in, kid," Wayne says opening his door for Eddie to walk past him. Eddie takes in his surroundings. The place is... sad looking. There's hardly any furniture, just a TV and a recliner in front of a coffee table which is covered in empty beer bottles. In the corner of the room there are a handful of boxes, one of which is filled to the brim with different colored mugs. This confuses Eddie a little, but overall Eddie's not getting a good vibe. Probably still better than living with Al though.

He turns back to see Wayne watching him carefully. Eddie clears his throat.

"I'm really sorry to come unannounced like this. I know we don't really know each other, and you don't owe me anything! But I- I didn't know where else to go and I was wondering if maybe it would be okay if I stayed here for a little? I can sleep on the recliner or the floor I don't need much. I just can't- I can't go home." Eddie is shivering now, he's not sure if it's anxiety from the situation or if he's just cold and wet.

Wayne nods his head and reaches his hand out for one of Eddie's bags. "S'alright kid. Let's get you dry." He took Eddie's bags and set them against the wall. He disappears down the hallway leaving Eddie shaking by the door, before reappearing with a towel. Eddie wraps it around himself while Wayne stands and looks around the place, likely, realizing how uninviting it seems to Eddie.

Wayne walks towards the coffee table and starts grabbing empty beer bottles.

"You don't have to clean for me, I don't mind." Eddie says meekly, but Wayne continues on anyways.

"S'alright kid. Why don't you get changed into something dry. Ya have any dry clothes in those bags of yours?" Motioning towards Eddie's belongings with a hand full of bottles. Eddie kneels and unzips one of the bags feeling around for something dry which most of it is. Eddie pulls out a new pair of jeans and a sweatshirt.

"Bathroom?" Eddie asks quietly.

"Down the hall to your left."

*

When Eddie reemerges, the coffee table is clean. And Wayne looks up at him, puts on a smile which seems forced. He must be able to tell by Eddie's face that the smile isn't as reassuring as he was going for. He sighs and scratches the back of his head.

"Should I not have come here?" Eddie asks while stepping out of the hallway and towards the door. He's in desperate need of reassurance, just wants to know if he's safe here or not.

"No! You were right to. I mean Al, is he-" Wayne is searching Eddie's eyes for answers. "Is he hurtin' you?" Wayne crosses his arms but then quickly uncrosses them. Clearly uncomfortable, nervous. And it's making Eddie feel that way too.

"Yeah." Eddie admits into the quiet of the room softened only by the sound of rain pattering against the roof. Wayne exhales and rubs his face.

"Fuckin' bastard." Wayne mutters under his breath. "He's a piece of shit, I'm so sorry kid." Eddie just nods, agreeing. "It's uh... Edward right?" Wayne asks coyly. Eddie wonders when Wayne last talked to Al.

"I go by Eddie," he quickly amends.

"Eddie, alright. It's nice to finally meet you then, Eddie." Wayne roots around in his pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes before thinking better of it and tucking it back into his pocket.

"You can smoke around me, I'm used to it." Eddie shrugs and leans against the wall.

"Yeah well you shouldn't be." Wayne grumbles. He rubs his hands together and claps. "Okay so I only got one bed. I'm gonna wash the sheets and then you can take it tonight. I'll sleep on the recliner there until we figure out somethin' better. That sound okay by you?"

"No! I don't want to take your bed-"

"Just temporarily kid, s'alright. But first let's get you some food. You're as thin as store-bought thread." Wayne grabs a pair of keys off the kitchen counter and jingles them playfully.

"I don't have much around here, so lets go to the diner and then get some groceries on the way back, how's that?" He asks. Eddie nods in agreement.

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

"He took me to go get blueberry pancakes. It kinda became a tradition. To get blueberry pancakes any time I had a real bad day." Eddie shares while petting Steve's damp hair.

"What made you leave home that Friday? Before the school year was over?" Steve asks, seemingly distracted from his own problems which is what Eddie was aiming for.

"Al's girlfriend found out I was..." Eddie gestures between the two of them, "you know. She was constantly holding it over my head. Said she was gonna tell him. I didn't want to find out what would happen when she did."

"And he never came looking for you?" Steve furrows his brow. Eddie smooths it over with his thumb.

"I dunno. Maybe he talked to Wayne. But eventually we found out he was sent off to prison for grand theft. He's such a disaster, my god." Eddie sighs and tilts Steve's face up towards him. "Do you want to go get blueberry pancakes, Angel? It's been a day, huh?"

"I'm so sorry to say this, Eds, but I hate blueberry pancakes." Steve shrugs the blanket off his shoulders. Eddie gasps in horror.

"You dare speak ill of my comfort food, Steve Harrington?" Eddie dramatically responds, pushing his forehead against Steve's. Steve smiles and pushes him back.

"I like chocolate chip though." Steve tries to amend. And Eddie nods in understanding.

"Okay princess, let's go get you some chocolate chip pancakes. Can I invite Wayne?" Eddie starts tearing off his pajamas and scrambling around the room for outside clothes.

"Yeah, of course Wayne can come." Steve sighs and lays back on the bed looking much more like himself than he did when he got here.

"'Kay one sec," Eddie pulls on his favorite Judas Priest shirt while he stumbles back out into the living room. "Hey old man?"

Wayne looks up from the TV at Eddie. "Everything alright?" He lowers the volume again, even though it wasn't all that loud to begin with. Wayne always does this, it's like he can't think while something is playing in the background. It's impossible to add commentary when they're watching TV together because he'll either not process what Eddie said or not catch what the TV did.

"Yeah. We were thinking of going to the diner for pancakes, it's been a day. You coming?" Eddie combs his fingers through his hair realizing he probably still has bed head. Wayne looks up at him with shiny eyes.

"I'm proud of you, y'know?" Wayne whispers. This catches Eddie off guard.

"What? For what?" Eddie crosses his arm. Doesn't like when Wayne gets sappy.

"Being a decent kid. Taking care of people the way you do." Wayne gets up and reaches for his keys just like he did in '77. "Real glad you found me when ya did, son."

"Likewise, Uncle Wayne"

[ashwhowrites]

Hey you!

So I had this idea after I watched re-runs of Friends today. Don't know if you've seen it, but basically Rachel tells Chandler that she had a sex dream about him and that he rocked her world. Ross, whom is in love with Rachel gets mad at Chandler (logic!) and Chandler is all "sorry, but it's not like I can control her dreams, right?!" anyway, that gave me the idea that Eddie tells the reader, whom happens to be Steve's gf that he had a sex dream about her, because Eddie has no boundaries whatsoever and they're all friends, right?! Reader just laughs but Steve gets so jealous and possessive and afterwards he reminds reader on who she belongs to!

and makes her cum over and over but she doesn't have to safeword, just say 'yellow' because it's starting to become too much

Smut prompt 8, 11, 17, 26

I LOVE LOVE LOVE FRIENDS

“Do I look like I’m messing around? Do I look like I won’t punish you?”

“Be a good girl/boy for mommy/daddy.”

“Keep your eyes open, look at me, baby.”

“Do you need to use your safe word, darling?”

⚠️ rough sex, daddy kink

Not proofread

Steve sometimes hated how outspoken Eddie was. He hated how he had no filter and said whatever popped in his head.

Eddie made it obvious he had the hots for Steve's girlfriend. Jokingly flirting with her whenever he got the chance. Steve never said a word so both figured it was fine. He knew it was all jokes.

But Steve wasn't in the mood for jokes when Eddie admitted he had a sex dream about her

"wait you what?" She gasped, sitting up as she turned her whole body to face Eddie

"you had a sex dream? About my girlfriend?" Steve huffed out. Now that pissed him off

" well to be fair, she wasn't exactly your girlfriend in my dream. She was a total hot babe I fucked in a party bathroom" Eddie smirked throwing a sly wink to her as she burst out laughing

"that is hilarious! I need every detail"

"NO, we don't" Steve said fast. Easily placing himself between the two

"oh come on Steve. It's funny" she said, swatting his chest as she leaned over him

Listening to every detail Eddie explained.

~~

Steve could feel his body burning as Eddie told the story. Details of how wet she was, how loud, what she felt like. All the things he should only be able to know. He hates how comfortable she is with the thought of Eddie dreaming about fucking her.

"four orgasms? Jesus" Steve hated the way her body slightly squirmed as she repeated Eddie's words. The way her thighs clenched.

He hated how Eddie's eyes watched over her body like a dog in heat.

"baby, can you grab me a water please?" Steve asked sweetly as he looked at her

She nodded and headed off to the kitchen.

Now alone he turned his attention to eddie

"get the fuck out of my apartment"

"dude seriously? It was a dream!" Eddie tried to defend

"yeah a dream where you apparently made my girlfriend have four orgasms on your cock so I'm not interested in hearing such details. I don't care if she thinks it's funny. I want you to leave. And stop eye fucking my girlfriend"

Eddie held up his hands in surrender. Grabbing his jacket and walking out the door.

"hey where did Eds go?"

Steve turned around to see her innocent eyes looking around the small living room

"he needed to go home" Steve shrugged

"did you make him leave? It was just a dream. Don't be so jealous" she scoffed

Steve felt the anger build in him

"you seriously think it's just perfectly fine for him to think about fucking you?" He huffed out

Y/N smirked, he was getting very worked up over it. He looked hot.

"you look so sexy right now" she teased, moving her hands around his chest. Purring into him.

“Do I look like I’m messing around? Do I look like I won’t punish you?” he growled. Hands gripping hers in a tight grip.

"gonna punish me baby? For being a slut and fucking your best friend?" She edged him on. Loving the way his eyes got darker.

Steve rolled his eyes, throwing her over his shoulder as he marched to his bedroom. Throwing her easily on the bed and trapping her between him and his sheets.

"I don't want to talk about him" Steve growled, yanking off her shirt and unhooking her bra

"because he fucked me better in his dream? Poor baby so jealous that your best friend had me scr-"

"be a good girl for daddy, and shut your fucking mouth" he snapped, his hand covering her mouth completely as he stared deep into her eyes. His other hand unbuttoning her shorts and yanking them down. She moaned as he shoved her underwear aside, two fingers plunging inside of her

He didn't bother to be gentle. Forcing his fingers in and out of her fast and rough. Steve smirked as she clawed at his hand covering her mouth. Her loud moans being muffled

"what's that? I can't seem to hear you" he mocked. Fingering her even harder as he slipped in a third finger. Relentlessly scissoring his fingers inside of her.

Steve removed his hand from her mouth to grip her neck

"fuck daddy" she moaned, gasping for air as his hand tightened on her throat. Her hands gripping the sheets in a fist as he ruined her. She's never felt his fingers go so deep and move so fast. If she wasn't so turned on, she might be embarrassed by how loud her cunt sounded as it clenched around him

"hear how wet you are? Don't think you'd ever be this wet for him would you?" He growled

"Jesus Christ daddy. I think I'm gonna cum already" she whined. Her head throwing back as she clawed at his hair

"don't you fucking dare" he demanded, his grip on her throat tightening even more. Cutting off her air as she gasped breathlessly. Using his thumb to rub her clit fast

"da...daddy" she whined. She tried to hold it. She used everything in her to hold it back.

"I can't" she cried, tears welling in her eyes as she felt her body betraying her

Steve released the grip on her throat. His hand smacking her face lightly

"you better fucking hold it you whore" she cried at his words. Her whole body clenching as she tried to hold herself together.

"can you...at least...go slow?" She stuttered out

Steve laughed, "not a chance"

Moving his mouth down to her clit. Three fingers deep as his tongue flicked on her clit. Steve didn't want it to be easy for her. He wanted her to fuck up and cum. Give him a reason to destroy her

"DADDY I CAN'T" she screamed. Her head thrown back as she clenched around his fingers. Her body came without her permission. Soaking Steve's fingers as she gushed on him.

"you are so going to regret that" Steve snapped, removing his fingers out of her

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to" she cried, tears falling down her cheeks as his tongue still moved on her clit

"you don't seem to want to listen to daddy today" a harsh smack to her pussy as he sat up. Removing his clothes completely

"I swear I'm sorry"

"I don't fucking care" he snapped, his hands squishing her lips together as he held her jaw. She nodded and whimpered.

"you are going to suck my cock until I cum deep in that throat"

She nodded with watery eyes and moved to her knees

Crying out as Steve yanked her hair hard and moved her lips closer to his cock. He smacked his cock against her lips a few times before shoving himself inside of her mouth. Not waiting for her to adjust, just completely bucking his hips into her throat. Within seconds she was gagging. Tears down her cheeks as she choked on his length. Spit going down her chin as she tried to keep up with his pace.

"that's a good girl" he praised, holding her hair in a pony as he bucked his hips faster. He usually likes to take his time, slowly feeling her warm mouth around him. But tonight, she was getting punished. And he wanted her throat sore.

He could feel his anger building thinking of Eddie's cock in her mouth. Growling as he forced her to deep throat her. He watched as her eyes went wide with panic

"you can do it my good girl. It's okay" he said softly. Removing his hands from her hair, fingertips grazing her cheek, affectionately.

Smiling proudly down at her as she breathed through her nose, deep throating him.

"that a girl" he moaned, slowly pulling out of her throat. Giving her time to breathe.

"ready to help me cum baby?" Softly holding her cheek

"yes daddy" she smiled, nodding fast, sticking out her tongue

Steve moaned at how obedient she was, pumping his cock fast as he set his tip on the top of her tongue. Just as he felt the first spurts of his cum leaking out he shoved himself down her throat again. Moaning loudly as he emptied himself down her throat.

"swallow" he said, removing his cock, watching as she swallowed and stuck out her tongue

He smiled as he saw her clean mouth

"good girl" he praised, kissing her lips softly.

"are you going to fuck me now?" Her hand moved back to his soft cock, pumping it as he clenched his teeth. Twitching at the sensitivity

"yes baby, I will"

He shoved her body back down on the bed, flipping her body over as he pushed her ass against him

She moaned as his hand smacked her ass, her body jolting forward at the impact

"you like that?" He mocked, smacking her other cheek just as hard

She gripped the sheets as she whined

"answer me!" Smacking her ass even harder

"YES FUCK" she cried

"go grab your vibrator baby" slapping her ass playfully as she crawled to their bedside table. Grabbing the pink vibrator as she handed it to him

She turned herself back around, ass facing him as she laid on her elbows, back arching.

"so good for me baby" Steve said as he rubbed her red ass softly

Turning on the vibrator and placing it on her clit

"hold it" he demanded. Waiting until her hand held the vibrator before moving his own hand

Watching as her body slightly twitched at the vibrator on her clit.

He dug through their bedside table, slipping on the condom as he placed himself behind her

"ready?" His hand trailing down her spine

"yes daddy"

Within seconds he bottomed out in her. Moaning instantly as she clenched around him.

Steve started slow. Thrusting into her as deep as he could, moaning as he felt every part of her sucking him in.

"Eddie will never get to feel this" Steve growled, thrusting into her faster. Nails digging into her hips as he held her. Pounding into her desperately. Her loud moans filling the room and the buzzing from the vibrator.

"only you daddy" she moaned. Shivering as the vibrator chased her closer to an orgasm

"is that right? My pussy baby?" Pounding harder with every word

"your pussy daddy, I need to cum"

"you wanna cum?" He mocked, smacking her ass

"yes please!" She begged

She felt his hand press the vibrator harder against her clit

"DADDY PLEASE" she cried

"cum for me baby"

~~

She should have known it was a set up

Now she was sobbing as her body was shoved against the mattress. Her fourth orgasm ripping through her

"DADDY I...I...GOD"

Steve licked away her tears, a toy dildo moving inside of her as he pulled it out and shoved it back in

"doing so good baby. Look at you" smiling down as her body was covered in sweat. Breathing hard as she clenched around the toy. Back arching off the bed, smacking into Steve's hairy chest.

"can you give me one more?"

"daddy I don't know" she cried. Hands reaching for his body

He kissed her skin softly, nuzzling his face in her neck. Her hands wrapping around his neck

"shh it's okay. Just one last one? For me? "

"isn't four enough?" She sobbed into his neck

"daddy just wants one last one but only if you can do it baby"

"I can do it" she sniffled

"you sure baby?"

"yeah. Just slow and hold me?" Her puffy eyes had his heart melting

"of course baby. Just keep your eyes open, look at me, baby.”

She nodded at his words. Clenching her jaw as she felt his cock enter her again

"shh it's okay" he whispered, kissing her cheek as he slowly pushed in her

Praising her and kissing her head as he went deeper and deeper

"it hurts"

"do you need to use your safe word, darling?" Stopping himself inside of her

"no just yellow please"

"of course baby" he nodded, kissing her deeply as he slowly moved inside her again. Kissing her harder as he rubbed her sensitive and puffy clit

She screamed soundlessly into his mouth

"let go baby. It's okay"

She was cumming in seconds. Sobs leaving her body as she came for the fifth time that night

He pulled out of her as softly as he could. Kissing her tears away

"you did so well for me baby. I'm so proud" she sniffled and smiled

"really?"

"of course baby. Daddy is so proud of you. Let's go take a bath, okay?"

She nodded excitedly, laying in the bed as he ran the water.

Adding her favorite bubbles and grabbing her towel. Walking back in the bedroom to scoop her up

"I love you. Eddie has nothing on you. Especially after that" she joked, sighing as Steve placed her in the warm water

"I love you too. And trust me, he's got nothing on me" Steve laughed

Tags!

@ago-godance @manyfandomsfanvergent

[watchoutforthefanfics]

achievement unlocked 🔓 (part seventeen) || Streamer AU! Reddie (IT)

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

AVAILABLE ON AO3

Inspiration: this prompt + BIRDS OF A FEATHER by Billie Eilish

Summary: Richie liked to play video games, and by some stroke of luck, it became his job. Being primarily known as Trashmouth on stream, he found his own little group of streamer friends and they became intertwined: The Losers Club. It never did feel quite complete, though. Well, until, he got his very own backseat gamer in chat.

TWs: cursing, talk of sex, mention of toxic relationships, and shameless flirting.

[[A/N: There's a lot in this one. Mostly sweet stuff though. And more Loser shit !!! So get hype. Anyway. Enjoy :))]]

"If I wasn't an option," Richie posed, "-which Loser would you date?"

It was the second day of driving, they were about halfway through their 'driving hours' and Richie was trying to keep himself entertained. With Eddie now, it was easier to occupy himself -whether it be fidgeting with his hand or just keeping up a conversation.

"What?"

"If I wasn't an option, which Loser would you date?" Richie repeated -casually.

Eddie paused -thinking, wordlessly. Richie kinda wanted to look at him, but they were on the road. He'd get to look at him later anyway, he'd stare at him as long as possible later. Like he did in that mirror-

"Bill," Eddie answered, half-certain, "-He's kinda like you in a different font."

Good point.

"But you'd secretly yearn for me the whole time," Richie added, playfully, "-right?"

"Obviously," Eddie responded, grinning (completely in-sync, it made Richie want to scream how much they just... belonged).

"That's what... Beddie?" Richie thought on it, before shriveling up his nose, "-Disgusting, actually."

"That is pretty bad," Eddie relented, before stating -stubbornly "-Not that I like fucking... Reddie."

"Awe c'mon, Eds," Richie blindly moved around, searching for his hand -Eddie met him in the middle (laughing a little), "-It only means they love you."

"I already know that," Eddie added, and Richie could feel him look at him, "-They're always spamming chat with the fucking spaghetti emoji. Thanks for that, asshole-"

"Uh, uh, uh," Richie tsked, pulling Eddie's hand to his lips and kissing it, "-I have it on good authority that you like that shit, actually."

"You're such a fucking dick," Eddie rolled his eyes, but he was definitely smiling -it made a smile peek along Richie's lips too.

"A dick for citing my sources?" Richie asked.

"Shut up," Eddie stressed out, "-I take all that shit back. Turn around, take me back to that shithole-"

"It's so cute when you lie to me, Eds."

"Shut the fuck up-" Eddie laughed, taking his freehand (the others stayed intertwined) and shoving at Richie's shoulder -hard, "-asshole."

"Next question-" Richie started.

"Hey, no," Eddie interrupted, "-You didn't answer. Don't try and fucking slip out of that shit."

They were technically playing 20 questions at the moment but Richie was pretty sure they were way past 20. So, yeah, there were rules. Technically.

"Yeah, okay, Eds, let me think," Richie hummed -thumb dancing along the back of Eddie's hand (a mix of tapping and rubbing along the skin), "-Is this a completely imaginary world? Could I hypothetically like women? Because-"

"Bev is such a cop-out," Eddie hissed.

"Okay, okay," Richie laughed -tapping his fingers along the wheel.

Miles and miles of road ahead of them (but Richie didn't really mind that with Eddie there). He could probably do anything with Eddie. He gave him like secret fucking powers, he felt fucking invincible with him. Like everything was fucking amazing, like nothing could hurt him.

"Honestly?" Richie finally started to answer, "-Probably Stan. He knows what's best for me, and other than you and maybe Bev, he's the only one who can deal with me."

"What about Patty?" Eddie asked -curiously.

"Throuple," Richie clarified, "-obviously."

Eddie hummed, and he took it as a sign to continue.

He added, "I always told them if I was still alone at 30, to clean out a room and I'd be their practice kid."

"You already are their fucking practice kid," Eddie remarked -pulling their hands into his lap and fidgeting with Richie's (fingertips tapping along his knuckles).

"That's very true," Richie leveled, "-You can't fucking imagine how much Stan the man has helped me with you."

"Helped you with me?" Eddie furrowed his eyebrows, "-What the fuck does that mean?"

"Stanny's like my surrogate parent," Richie explained, "-So any time I had like new feelings or any of that... shit, I went to him. And well, Steve too, but you can only have so many appointments-"

Eddie followed up, brown eyes set on the side of his face, "But about me? What about me?"

"Um, early on, we talked about you," Richie answered, "-but like every big event, probably. Like when we actually like really started messaging all the time, when I said you could move in with me, when I figured out I was in love with you. Well, actually, he helped me figure that shit out-"

"When was that?"

"When was what?" Richie asked.

Eddie clarified, still staring at him, "When did you find out that you loved me?"

Richie's eyes flashed to him for a second, taking in his face -all big eyes and curious glance. He had to keep it quick, because otherwise, he would physically not be able to stop. Every time he looked at Eddie he found something fucking new to love-

"This count as a question, Eds?" Richie asked.

Eddie paused a second, before answering, "Yes, yeah, I'll answer it after you do."

Richie let that sit for a minute. Okay.

"When you told me my smile was crooked," Richie spoke -instinctively (it was still stuck in his mind), laughing a little, "-and then insulted me for getting embarrassed. That was... That was the first time it ever fucking... hit me. And I wasn't really sure that it was love, hence the Stanley thing, but yeah. Then."

Eddie eyed him silently for a second, "That was like 4 days before you actually said it."

"Yeah," Richie laughed, "-I'm really not fucking good at keeping my mouth shut. But I do think it was probably longer, that's just the first time I thought it."

There was a pause.

"What about you, Eds?"

"The first time I thought it?" Eddie asked.

Richie clarified, "Sure, whatever you can remember."

Eddie took a moment before his eyes fell to their hands -unlacing them just to trace the creases in Richie's palms. It sent goosebumps down his spine, he was getting used to the touching constantly still, not that he didn't initate 75% of it-

"I think-" Eddie started, before pausing, "-I think the first time the fucking... word came to mind was probably... um, when you were cooking? And you did that stupid alien skit."

Richie blinked, "What?"

"Yeah, I just-" Eddie continued, fidgeting with his hands with more intention (nervous maybe), "-I saw you fucking... being you. Just a giant fucking dork and only I get to see that shit, and I don't know it just... I thought about it for a second."

"Shit," Richie laughed, red climbing up his collar, "-Seriously? How did you-"

"I didn't like fucking cement it," Eddie clarified, a little flustered, "-it was just there. I think when it did was... Well, it's fucking cliché but a little after you did that fucking speech about loving me. It was when you told me that you'd drive fucking 43 hours for me. The fact that you'd thought about it beforehand, and that you would just do that shit for me. I don't know it just... I was just like 'fuck, I really do love you'."

"I'll never understand how you didn't fucking say it. It was all I could fucking think about, every time we talked it was like a blaring fucking alarm," Richie made his voice a little louder and more robotic, "-I LOVE EDDIE KASPBRAK, I LOVE EDDIE-"

"Because I have self-control, unlike you, idiot," Eddie snapped, playfully, "-but it wasn't fucking easy. It was the first thing I said to you, don't you fucking remember? Or is your memory-"

"Of course I do," Richie interrupted, seriously (noting that there was a gas station the next exit), "-I'm never gonna fucking forget that. Probably ever."

Eddie's lips snapped shut, and a silence enveloped the car. Richie paused, Was that too serious?

"Are we stopping anywhere soon?" Eddie asked, something in his voice that Richie couldn't name.

"Yeah," Richie's eyes flicked to the fuel gauge, "-Imma fill up at this next exit. Why?"

Eddie decidedly didn't answer that, and soon enough, Richie pulled off into the exit and then into the gas station. There wasn't much chatting, but Richie was a little focused on getting where he needed to, so he didn't note it.

With a breath, he pulled up to a pump and parked.

"Are we parked?" Eddie questioned -pointedly.

Richie furrowed his eyebrows, turning to Eddie and unbuckling his seatbelt, "Uh, yeah, wh-"

Before he could finish the sentence, Eddie launched himself forward and kissed him. So fast that Richie barely fucking blinked, and took a moment to understand what was happening. When he did though, Richie laughed. Eddie pushed forward (a little like he was craving it which made Richie's head swirl), but it only made it worse -in between kisses he laughed even more.

"Stop fucking laughing at me," Eddie finally separated, now fully over the gearshift between them -angled to match Richie's face, and smacked his chest.

"It's just you fucking-" Richie laughed, before retorting with a suggestive eyebrow raise (it should be noted that Eddie kissed him after each word with a cute little frown), "-My serious voice get ya hot under the collar, Mr. Kaspbrak?"

"Maybe," Eddie pulled back, but not too far, "-plus, I like when you drive. You do that thing where you stretch your arm out to look behind the car and-"

Richie was grinning, and Eddie’s voice faltered -frown flat on his lips (cute little cheeks puffed up). Fuck, I love him-

"-Fuck you, asshole. Sue me for being attracted to my boyfriend."

God.

"I love the fuck out of you, Eddie Kaspbrak," Richie laughed, putting one of his hands on the side of his face and pressing their lips together again. A slower kind, deliberate.

Richie felt Eddie relax into him, frown dissipating and the tight grip on his shirt lessening (his hands laid flat against his chest after a moment). And he was losing his shit a little that he could do that to Eddie. Because what the fuck-

With a breath, and when Eddie seemed completely... well, calm (if that made sense), Richie pulled back. And he relished in the second that Eddie stayed there -eyes still closed like he was waking up from a dream. God, Richie felt so fucking powerful-

His eyes fluttered open, brown resting on Richie -affectionately (lovingly, even).

"You satisfied, Eddie baby?" Richie laughed, "-That work for you for a while? Because I really gotta go get some gas and then we gotta drive a lot more-"

"You're such an asshole," Eddie scoffed, still a breath away, "-See if I ever let you kiss me again."

"You sure you can hold yourself to that, Spaghetti?" Richie leveled laughing a little, voice a lower than necessary whisper, "-If I remember correctly you kissed me first-"

"Shut up," Eddie puffed out his cheeks -lips in a thin line and pink crawling up his collar. He leaned forward a kissed him again, a surface-level kiss, a peck. A little like he needed it to physically survive, and you know what, Richie did too-

"Okay, okay, Eds," Richie laughed pulling back again -hands smoothed along his face, "-I love you, I do, but we really gotta fucking fill up now."

"I know," Eddie hummed, before letting out a deep sigh and pushing himself back into his chair -Richie on instinct almost chased him, "-Let's go get gas, fuckface."

"You coming with?" Richie posed, curiously.

"Of fucking course I am," Eddie responded, instantly, "-why wouldn't I?"

"I dunno, I just-" Richie shrugged, "-I just gotta go in and pay and then I'm back out here again, it'll just be a minute."

"I wanna stretch my legs, asswipe," Eddie countered, "-Plus, I've spent enough time away from you, I'm not doing that shit anymore."

Richie grinned at him, slightly tilting his head, and he saw Eddie's eyes flick over his face like he was taking him in. Totally and completely.

He teased, a cheesy grin clear on his face, "You want some candy don't ya, Eddie baby?"

Eddie's lips fell into a flat line, and he puffed up his cheeks.

"Yeah, maybe," he spoke, quietly, before adding (and combing through Richie's hair), "-but I really fucking do want to be around you 24/7, I'm not just saying that."

"Yeah, I know, Eds," Richie laughed, smiling at him gently, "-I don't think you could physically escape me ever now. I think you're fucked-"

"Not fucked," Eddie interrupted, "-That's actually what I wanted. What I want, present tense."

And then, after Eddie wrestled him down for one more kiss, the Eddie kind where it felt like he'd been wanting to do it for decades (in reality, they'd kissed like 1 minute beforehand. But hey, you wouldn't find Richie complaining-), they finally got out of the car and loaded into the gas station.

It should be said that Eddie left with a bag full of an assortment of candy. He actually didn't even fight him to pay, which Richie was pretty stoked about (If he could, he'd take care of Eddie for life). Even if it was just tiny little things. As said before, he'd give him anything he'd wanted.

All that being said, they were back on the road -splitting some Starburst. Eddie only liked the pink and yellow, and Richie ate all the others. So Eddie would meticulously unwrap them, and instead of placing them in Richie's hand (he kept their hands intertwined), he popped them into his mouth. He distinctly had to wonder how Eddie wasn't losing his shit touching Richie's lips because he sure as fuck knows he would-

"What's your go to move?" Eddie suddenly broke the silence, and clarifying, "-Flirting with a guy."

"Does Eds want me to pull the moves on him?" Richie teased, "-Sweep you off your feet? Because I-"

"Shut up and answer my question, asshole," Eddie snapped back -popping a yellow Starburst into his mouth.

Richie pressed his lips together in thought.

"Probably try and make him laugh," Richie started, "-Just kinda warm him up, I guess."

Eddie hummed, tilting his head, "You did start talking to me with jokes."

"I did," Richie agreed, "-and I was definitely trying to flirt with you. And your cute ass freckles."

"You can barely even see them," Eddie pointed out, hand patiently waiting with an orange Starburst (Richie's least favorite if he was honest, not that he'd tell Eddie that because he wasn't sure if Eddie would then try to eat them himself).

"Yeah, but they're there," Richie reasoned, "-and the sunny skies of San Francisco will get those babies out for me to love-"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever fuckface," Eddie shoved at his shoulder with the side of his hand -carefully of the candy, "-What about when you're actually trying to flirt? After the whole fucking... warm up."

"Uh," Richie blew a raspberry, "-I'm actually not fucking... sure, Eds. I don't... I don't think I'm great at flirting."

Eddie laughed, "Yeah, right, asshole."

"I'm serious," Richie relented -honestly.

Eddie stared at the side of his face, blinking, "You're so fucking stupid."

"Jeez, Spaghetti, I didn't-"

"Shut up," Eddie quickly interrupted, "-You're so fucking... charismatic and nonchalantly confident. It's fucking... hot."

Richie laughed a little in disbelief (but he believed Eddie wholeheartedly), "Nonchalantly confident?"

"God, you do it all the fucking time," Eddie paused for a second, maybe trying to explain, "-It's just... Like when you called me fucking... beautiful. I was trying to fucking embarrass you, and you just... doubled down. Confident as shit."

"That's-" Richie paused, "-I mean, I just meant it."

"You were being confident," Eddie annunciated, "-and it's hot as fuck. There's no way you don't pull that shit out."

"Well," Richie echoed, carefully, "-I did with you, apparently, and that's all that matters to me, personally."

Those words settled in the air for a second.

And then Eddie pulled their intertwined hands to his lips -kissing the back of Richie's hand. It made his heart skip a beat, so incredibly tender and fucking... loving.

"Your turn, Eds," Richie finally said, playfully, "-What are your moves?"

"Batting my eyes," Eddie answered simply, popping the Starburst into Richie's mouth (his lips tingled for a second too long), "-and probably the whole bullying thing. If you count that as flirting."

"I definitely fucking do," Richie clarified, before commenting on the other part, "-and your eyes are fucking... enchanting, you have the longest eyelashes in the world. You could probably make me do anything if you just fucking looked at me-"

"You'd do anything for me just by me fucking... existing," Eddie laughed a little -popping a pink Starburst into his mouth.

"And your eyes are definitely a fucking part of that," Richie pointed out, before agreeing, "-But yeah, just you being you makes me want to rip the moon out of the sky and give it to you."

"You know what that would do to the world?" Eddie laughed -throwing the Starburst wrapper into their makeshift trash bag.

Richie smiled, and wished he could kiss him then, "I would end the world for you, babey~"

"You're such a dumbass," Eddie kept laughing, as the road twirled ahead of them.

They drove for a few more hours until night fell. Well, actually, a little past that, which took a lot of convincing on Richie's part. But Eddie did eventually cave. At like 11 though, Eddie nearly grabbed the wheel himself to pull off. So, they ended up at a little hotel, one that Eddie was... okay with. Richie would've liked to make him more happy with it, but he actually was pretty tired -although, he made sure not to show Eddie that. Or tried to anyway (he was pretty sure Eddie could tell).

Eddie led him to book a room, hands intertwined -grabbing the keys and guiding him to the door. Richie was holding his bag, and only his on his shoulder (Eddie had told him just to bring his, "I'll just wear something of yours", he was decidedly not thinking about it). And then, they were off -tucked away into their room.

Both dressed, Richie threw himself into the bed and Eddie was going through his nighttime routine (he might have not had his bag, but he did have the 'necessities' or so he says).

Eddie was rubbing something on his face, probably a moisturizer. And Richie was watching him through the doorway -light trinkling into the room, as he leaned against the pillow. Eddie was wearing his clothes, a soft graphic tee that was a little too big on him and some gym shorts that hung too far on his legs. Richie almost fainted, but luckily he is currently, wrapped into the comforter -face peeking out (along with what he could imagine was an insane amalgamation of hair on his head).

"Eds," Richie called, sing-songy, "-Spaghetti, Eds, Eddie baby-"

Eddie snapped to him, face glistening with whatever he was putting onto it, "What, dickweed?"

Richie didn't say a word, just extending his hands forward and opening and closing them into fists. Grabby hands, like a toddler when they wanted to be picked up.

Eddie stared at him -blankly, he tried to keep his lips in a frown but Richie saw them quirk up.

"Are you serious?" Eddie spoke -flatly (or trying to be).

Richie ignored him doing it again, stressing out the words, "You know you wanna, Eddie baby."

Eddie laughed a little then like he couldn't help it -a flush bubbling up his skin. Big brown eyes skimming along Richie (lovingly, if he had to describe it), he tilted his head slightly to the left. Richie felt like he wanted to rip out his heart and give to Eddie. It's his anyway-

Instead of responding, Eddie turned to the sink and scrubbed at his face. Richie watched with a warm kind of smile, watching as he patted his face with a rag (his own packed one, of course). He put it back into his tiny little zipped bag that Richie somehow was cute. Because, of course, he did.

And with a breath, Eddie made his way to the bed -staring at Richie the whole way. It made Richie smile brighter.

Until he stood by the edge of the bed (the left side, naturally), brown eyes heavy on his -Richie wanted to squirm a little because he was just so... seen. Known, really. Had he ever been fucking known? Totally and completely-

Eddie stepped toward the bed, leaning forward slightly. With the gentlest of hands, he cupped Richie's face -all soft fingertips (because of course Eddie's skin was fucking soft). Richie leaned into the warm as much as he physically could, and it made a smile smooth across Eddie's face that made Richie's head spin. He just made him feel so-

Eddie interrupted his thoughts, warm (it made Richie's heart melt a little), "I love you so fucking much."

Richie grinned, brighter than before before turning his head to kiss Eddie's palm once, "I love you too, Eds."

"God," he huffed out (and it made Richie laugh), before gently taking his glasses off his face, "-You can't sleep with your fucking glasses on, dickweed."

With a breath, he turned to put them onto his, not Richie's, side's nightstand (funnily enough). Richie opened up his arms and Eddie climbed into them -unhesitantly. Richie near immediately tugged him into his chest -making Eddie giggle a little and the sound made him physically want to explode. Love, love, love, love-

Eddie turned to face him -brown eyes heavy on him. Richie must've looked a little tired because-

"We should've stopped earlier, huh," Eddie hummed, bring up his hands to trail along his face (Richie's eyes slipped shut because Eddie was Eddie and he loved him and he was touching his face).

"Maybe," Richie echoed out -not bothering to open his eyes (all he could smell was strawberry and it was fucking bliss-).

"Yeah," Eddie hummed again, maybe more passive-aggressive, "-You gonna fucking listen to me next time then?"

Richie laughed, cracking open his eyes -Eddie was close enough that he could see him (mostly), "Yes, dear."

Eddie rolled his eyes, and shoved into him -not far enough to move him anywhere (strangely, Richie didn't think he wanted him to really move at all), "Shut up and go to sleep."

"No pillow talk? No foreplay? Or, wait," Richie paused, "-what's the thing after sex?"

"First off, we didn't have sex. Secondly-" Eddie chimed back -sharply, which was in direct contrast of the way Eddie was looking at him (like he loved him so much he might die, in Richie's opinion), "-it's pillow talk, dumbass. You just said it."

"So, we can't ramble about the end of times?" Richie continued, midway yawning, "-Or the meaning of life? Or how, miraculously, Jennifer Aniston doesn't seem to actually age-"

"Maybe next time, Rich," Eddie hummed -gently, and brushed back some of his hair, "-I think you need to sleep."

"Yeah, okay," Richie breathed out, pulling Eddie impossibly closer to him -nose just above the rich smell of strawberries (he thinks he might be addicted), "-In the morning maybe?"

"Yeah," Eddie spoke, softer than Richie could comprehend then (all twinkly eyes and small little smiles), "-we can talk about it in the morning."

"Love ya, Eds," Richie hummed -low and barely there.

Eddie paused for a second, but Richie did eventually hear him say (in the loose caverns of his tired mind), "I love you too, Rich."

It didn't need to be said that Richie slept really fucking... good that night.

Now, they were stopped at a diner -eating lunch. It was actually pretty classy to be pit-stopping on a road trip, with the whole shiny floor, red accent aesthetic. Richie was crazy into it honestly, and Eddie was okay about it.

Until Richie bought him a milkshake.

Eddie was actually forcing himself to eat his chicken sandwich first. His brown eyes side-eyeing the shake sat to his right, pretty consistently. So much so that it started making Richie laugh a little.

"Eds," Richie interrupted the silence, smiling as he popped a fry into his mouth, "-just drink the milkshake."

Eddie puffed up his cheeks, flustered, "I need to fucking eat my meal first."

"Eddie baby," Richie leveled, grabbing his wrist, "-you can eat them both at the same time. No one's stopping you."

"I am," Eddie snapped back.

"Why?" Richie laughed, "-As a form of personal torture?"

"Well," Eddie paused, maybe realizing that his idea wasn't exactly... founded.

He pressed his lips together, before huffing out a breath -big brown eyes hitching on the milkshake (in a sort of wonder that made Richie just love him more), "Fine, whatever."

Eddie carefully pulled it in front of him and took a sip. His eyes widened like he was a kid trying candy for the first time. As a proper person with a sweet tooth, it was the sweetest option possible: birthday cake.

He took a breath and pushed the shake toward the middle of the table -excitedly, "Rich, try this."

Richie was insanely in love with him. So, he did.

It was almost too sweet for him, actually. Richie, despite the appearance, was really more for savory shit. Or sugar that wasn't really... sweet, if that made any sense. But otherwise, it was pretty good.

"Wow," Richie started nodding, pushing it gently back to Eddie, "-it's good, Eds."

"I know, right?" Eddie grinned, still so excited like a little kid (eyes twinkling with wonder). Richie wanted to scoop him up and never let him go, ever. Die with Eddie in his arms-

"I love you," Richie hummed, warmly.

Eddie blinked, a smile pulling onto his lips, "I love you too."

Richie blew a kiss to him -the obnoxious loud kind. Eddie rolled his eyes, but he was smiling -the affectionate kind that Richie really only saw for him. It was a special one, for him. He kept it right next to his fucking heart-

Bzzt, bzzt.

Richie paused, shooting to his phone -quickly picking it up to check the notification.

reddy.bevvy ✔️

Tozier

you've had 3 days with him

if we don't get pictures soon you're a dead man

Richie laughed.

Eddie peeked up then, asking curiously, "Whose that?"

"Bevvy," Richie answered, "-she wants update pictures."

"Shit," Eddie responded, "-we did say we'd do that, didn't we?"

"Yup," Richie hummed, before switching to his camera and aiming it at Eddie, "-Smile, Eds!"

"What the fuck?" Eddie hissed, frown strong on his face, and motioning aggressively with his hands, "-Give me more of a fucking warning, that's not-"

Richie snapped the picture -hand motions, puffed up cheeks and all.

He grinned, and opened up the groupchat, "Perfect."

The picture was in the middle of him talking, eyebrows furrowed with his puffed-up cheeks (which were blooming a pretty pink). Hair slightly messy, and a t-shirt (that was decidedly not his) that had some sort of comic book cover on the front, Richie thought for a second that he might be the love of his life-

trashmouth.tozier ✔️

attached image

Eddie frowned, opening the picture on Instagram, "Asshole."

"What?" Richie asked, smiling, "-You looked cute, Eddie baby."

"Fuck you."

And when he moved to look up at him, Eddie's phone was held up with the perfect angle of Richie (or what he assumed to be).

"You sly motherfucker," Richie laughed out -a shit eating grin swallowing his face.

Eddie smirked, putting down his phone and repeating, "Perfect."

Richie smiled, shaking his head and opening up the chat.

e.kaspbrak

attached image

He eyed it for a second.

It was him, obviously, with, surprisingly less-than-normal, messy hair and a peek of his white button-up shirt (which had tiny ketchup bottles scattered in a kind of pattern). But what he was kinda stuck on was the way he was staring. The way he was looking at Eddie.

There was just something in his eyes that he'd never quite seen before. Something fucking... twinkly. Happy. And god, he was so fucking happy. But Eddie? God, Eddie made him so fucking happy-

reddy.bevvy ✔️

AHHHHHH

you twoooo

benny.boy.official ✔️

so cute ☺️

mike.me.up ✔️

so glad to see you guys !!!

how far along are you on your trip?

big.bill ✔️

Trashmouth on a date?

Unexpected, but not unwelcome.

Get me a good souvenir.

stan.the.man ✔️

You guys have really been off the radar for like 3 days.

Glad to see it's with good purpose though.

e.kaspbrak

Thanks everyone!

And we're about halfway through, Mike.

Richie flashed a grin up at him, and Eddie caught his eye too. They smiled at each other for a few seconds, and if Richie had any less dignity he'd kiss the shit out of him right then and there. But he did have dignity, tragically, so-

"Here's your check," the waiter smiled, "-Hope you guys enjoyed your meal. Any to-go boxes today?"

"Yes, yeah," Richie quickly answered, "-and can I get a to-go cup for his milkshake?"

Eddie interrupted, motioning to his cup, "There's not enough for that, Rich."

Richie eyed it for a second, before deciding, "Can I get a to-go milkshake then? It can be on a separate check if it needs to be-"

"Richie, you don't-"

"Yeah, no, of course," the waiter (he feels like he should've known their name) grabbed the check, "-and I can just update this for you. Everything will be just a second."

"Thank you," Richie chimed, and he turned to Eddie -who was frowning at him.

"You didn't have to do that," Eddie spoke, briskly, "-I already had one."

"Well, I love you and you liked it," Richie shrugged, accepting the to-go boxes handed to him (handing one to Eddie), "-Just accept it, Eds, for me. Because I want you to have it."

Eddie's lips pursed for a moment before he smiled a little, "Okay. Just this once, asshole."

"Agree to disagree, but-" Richie hummed, putting his fries and some of the appetizer into his box, "-thank you for accepting my love, Spaghetti-"

Eddie rolled his eyes, frowning at him in a way that Richie could tell was hiding a smile, "I hate you."

"Do you?" Richie raised an eyebrow, sipping from his cup and grinning.

Eddie pressed his lips into a thin line, and letting out a frustrated sigh, "No."

Richie laughed -head tilted back and eyes squeezed shut. Racking through his lungs, he felt happy tears in his eyes because fuck, he loves Eddie Kaspbrak. So, so much.

Eddie started laughing too, "You're such a dickhead-"

And in a separate groupchat, a conversation went entirely unnoticed.

big.bill ✔️

Where did they go?

reddy.bevvy ✔️

probably making out

stan.the.man ✔️

Ew.

reddy.bevvy ✔️

you're literally married ???

stan.the.man ✔️

Yeah, but they're in public.

benny.boy.official ✔️

I don't think Eddie would let Richie kiss him in public

mike.me.up ✔️

I dunno they're batshit crazy for each other

stan.the.man ✔️

We all know Eddie's all talk.

He probably actually kisses Richie more than the other way around.

reddy.bevvy ✔️

can confirm

I talk to Eddie regularly and he wanted to jump him before even meeting up

and now he can so

it is entirely possible

mike.me.up ✔️

they could have some class and be like in the bathroom or something

stan.the.man ✔️

Do you know Eddie at all?

big.bill ✔️

Yeah, you've known him way longer than me, and even I know that he wouldn't use it if he had to.

And to kiss in there? Yeah, no way.

benny.boy.official ✔️

where else though ?

reddy.bevvy ✔️

probably the car

stan.the.man ✔️

Ew. Again.

big.bill ✔️

Not all of us can be classy, Stan.

Sometimes making out in the car is just the cards you're dealt.

reddy.bevvy ✔️

exactly Bill

it's very them, and I think that's all that matters

benny.boy.official ✔️

I'm happy for them 😊

big.bill ✔️

Ditto.

They're like the only two people in the world for each other. So, I'm glad they got that.

stan.the.man ✔️

Rich is the happiest he's ever been.

I know I joke, but I'm really fucking happy for them.

mike.me.up ✔️

yeah they deserve that happiness

reddy.bevvy ✔️

I love them both so much ❤️

so glad they're together and happy

benny.boy.official ✔️

their future is so bright

so excited for them :)

mike.me.up ✔️

speaking of their future

bets on when they get engaged ?

big.bill ✔️

Isn't that a little too soon?

They're just moving in together.

stan.the.man ✔️

50 bucks for a year.

[bbangsoonie]

backdoor

member: jaehyun (hyunjae) genre: fluff (requested) word count: 3,120 synopsis: jaehyun has always been your rival. so when he bets that he could make you fall for him, you can’t back down and say no. but when you’re too confident, you let your guard done.

backdoor: a term used in league of legends; when you secretly attack the enemy’s nexus while they’re focused elsewhere. this is done by sneaking into the enemy base and taking them by surprise

Lee Jaehyun was the cockiest and most annoying person you had ever met. You would think that growing up as childhood “friends” would make you two close. After all, your parents were best friends with his parents.

But no, you and Jaehyun had been rivals ever since you were both enrolled into a tennis club as young children. You always had the upper hand until he suddenly hit puberty and became a lot more physically fit than you. Once he started beating you in nearly every match, he became your #1 enemy.

He had always been super competitive and made everything into a contest. Who could run to the car faster? Who could receive a higher score on the exam? Who could make the other lose their temper first?

With high school came his sudden increase in popularity. It inflamed his ego to the max, which irked you to no end.

Every Valentine’s Day, he would brag about all the gifts and confessions he received. And every White Day, he would compare the numbers to yours.

He was loved by the girls for being a casanova and admired by the guys for his athleticism and gaming skills.

You, on the other hand, could not comprehend why the entire school was infatuated with him. You had your eyes on someone else. Kim Sunwoo. He had caught your attention since the first day of freshman year. Now, as a senior, you were about to graduate without ever making a move.

You were too shy to approach him. You couldn’t even find a common interest to naturally bring up and talk about. All he ever did was make music and play League of Legends.

So you found Jacob during lunch and practically begged him to teach you how to play the game.

“Please please please?” you whined.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s that I can’t,” Jacob said apologetically. “I have basketball practice every day. Besides, I haven’t played in almost half a year. I’m rusty.”

“I just need you to teach me the basics!”

“I’m sorry, Y/n.”

Sighing, you gave up and slumped in your seat. You poked at the food in front of you with a pout.

“Did I just hear the Y/n ask Jacob to teach her how to play League?” Jaehyun suddenly popped out of nowhere.

“Fuck off,” you rolled your eyes at him as you set your chopsticks down.

“You know, I’m the highest ranked player in our school,” he said smugly. You wanted nothing but to wipe that look off his face.

You ignored him and took a sip of your water. Jacob awkwardly glanced between you and Jaehyun as he tightly held onto his spoon. He could sense another argument coming.

“I can teach you if you want,” Jaehyun offered.

“I don’t want,” you coldly rejected.

“Of course you don’t,” he scoffed. “You’re too afraid to spend time with me because you might realize that you actually like me.”

“Oh please. There are a few things in this world that will never change. The sun rising from the east, the sun setting in the west, and my hatred for you,” you said.

“Well if you hate me that much, then let’s make a bet out of it. The first one to fall for the other’s seducing loses,” he smirked.

Still stuck in the middle, Jacob shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“You don’t have to accept the challenge if you’re not confident,” Jaehyun shrugged, making you narrow your eyes at him.

A list of pros and cons was being made in your head as you contemplated the crazy suggestion. The logical part of your mind wanted nothing to do with him. You knew that stooping down to his level was childish. You had much better things to do than go along with his bet.

The competitive part of you, however, couldn’t bear to back down. You would have to deal with him flaunting over you and calling you a coward if you didn’t agree to this.

So you disregarded all rationale and crossed your arms with a curt “deal”.

The walk to school the next day was full of complaints as you whined about falling for Jaehyun’s trick and Kevin chided you for it.

“I don’t know why you thought it would be a good idea,” Kevin tsk-ed. “He makes your blood boil within seconds. How are you going to hold back from tearing him apart? Never mind flirt with him.”

“I’m already regretting it,” you groaned.

“Speaking of the devil,” Jacob coughed, nudging you.

You looked up to see Jaehyun waiting by the school gates. He was holding a bouquet of flowers and every girl who passed by whispered to their friend about it. To everyone’s shock, he walked up to you and handed you the flowers.

“So it starts now?” you stared at the roses. “You call this seducing?”

“I call this romantic,” he grinned.

Rolling your eyes, you handed Kevin the bouquet and walked away. He awkwardly chased after you as Jacob offered Jaehyun a pat on the shoulder.

“She doesn’t like roses. She thinks they’re cliché,” he said before leaving.

When the dismissal bell rang, Jaehyun was waiting for you outside of your classroom. Hushed whispers erupted again as your classmates tried to figure out why he was being so affectionate to you. It was no secret that you two never got along.

After gathering your belongings, you grabbed your backpack and left without sparing him another glance. Unfazed, he easily caught up to you and slung his arm around your shoulder.

“What? Are you wavering already?” he teased.

“Not a chance,” you scoffed.

“As a part of the bet, I can teach you how to play League. That’s what you wanted anyway. Think of it as killing two birds with one stone.”

You ignored all the incredulous looks you received with Jaehyun by your side as you left the school grounds. You didn’t realize that you weren’t headed home until you stopped in front of a PC Room. Puzzled, you stared at the building in front of you.

“I promised that I’d teach you. Our first lesson starts today,” he said as he dragged you inside.

Your brain was bombarded with a whole new world. You struggled to keep up as he rambled on about bots and gold. He was showing you a demonstration by playing a round but your inability to multitask made it difficult to understand what was going on on the screen.

“My main is Jace and I usually go jungle,” he explained and you pretended to understand by nodding. At your silence, he eyed your expression and chuckled.

“So is Sunwoo the reason why you’re suddenly interested in League?” he asked, catching you off guard.

“How did you know?” you gaped.

“You thought I wouldn’t notice your little crush on him?” he raised a brow.

You were taken aback to say the least. You didn’t think he paid much attention to you other than when he was bored and wanted to mess around.

“Anyway, he usually goes mid as Zed,” he shrugged. “To be honest, the best way for you to bond with him through the game is for him to play ADC and for you to be support.”

“As if I know what all that means,” you frowned.

At that moment, his character died and the screen went gray. You snickered, earning a light flick on your forehead.

“ADC stands for attack damage carry. It’s the champion who usually does the most attacking. They go in the bottom lane with whoever’s playing support. Supports are supposed to aid and heal the ADC. So you would follow and communicate with them.”

“Sounds complicated,” your nose wrinkled in distaste.

“Sounds fun,” he corrected before turning back to the computer.

The next day, Jaehyun surprised you with a small potted plant in front of the gates.

“Since you don’t like roses, I got you a succulent instead,” he said proudly.

Next to you, Kevin giggled and Jacob let out a soft “aww”. Slightly touched yet also slightly embarrassed, you took it from him in a hurry and stormed off.

“You’re slowly getting there,” Jacob laughed as Kevin shot him a thumbs up.

Smiling, Jaehyun watched as they ran to catch up with you. He heard you yell at them after what was probably a teasing remark. You then began to chase Kevin, who ran away shrieking.

After two weeks of spending hours at the PC Room after school, you were starting to get a hang of the game. You found Teemo, who you insisted was a dog (he’s actually a rodent), and gushed over how cute he is.

Jaehyun made fun of your champion choice and shook his head as he explained that Teemo was the most hated character.

“Why? He’s adorable!” you defended. “And I love the little eggs he plants.”

“For the nth time, those are mushrooms! Not eggs,” he exclaimed. “And that’s exactly why everyone hates him. He’s so annoying.”

“You’re annoying,” you shot back.

“Well, Teemo’s not an option right now,” he pointed out.

He was teaching you how to play Howling Abyss that day. And playing ARAM meant your champion would be randomly given.

“Oh! The cute cat is available,” you excitedly clicked.

“That’s Yuumi and that’s actually not a bad choice,” he nodded in approval. “You just have to attach onto me and heal me.”

You hated to admit that you had grown closer with Jaehyun. Only a couple of weeks had passed by since the bet and you didn’t completely despise him anymore.

He gifted you something small each morning, whether it was a plant or piece of bread. He was always waiting for you at the gates. Dating rumors were already circulating the school but you hadn’t forgotten about the bet. You were determined to win it.

Which was why you began to wake up earlier to put on makeup and even complimented him during games. It was easy to make him smile. All you needed to do was throw a lame joke in here and there and he would burst out in laughter.

It was almost suspiciously easy. He was too willing to respond to your advances and never put up a wall.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t get on your nerves. His antics still bothered you to no end.

On the way home, he insisted on feeding you ice cream instead of having you hold it yourself. Except he kept pulling the spoon back when you opened your mouth to eat it.

The first time, you gave him a dirty look. The second time, you punched his arm. The third time, you gave him the finger and walked off after a “fuck you”.

“Is that a threat or a promise?” he laughed.

Once again, you were reminded of how immature he was.

“So has there been any progress?” Kevin asked.

It was gym period and all the students were running around in the field. Jacob was playing volleyball with Jaehyun while you and Kevin were sitting on the sidelines.

“I don’t know,” you shrugged.

“It would be the best enemies-to-lovers trope if you two actually end up dating like this,” he commented.

“Never,” you snorted in disbelief.

You had seen Jaehyun ever since he was a snotty little kid. Even back then, he was a mischievous brat. There was no way you could ever see him as anything but that.

The teacher blew his whistle, signaling the end of gym class. You got up, dusted your pants, and skipped down the steps. Unfortunately, you landed wrong and felt a sharp pain in your ankle as you fell down.

After Kevin shouted your name, Jaehyun turned his head to see you on the ground. Without thinking twice, he ran towards you and asked if you were okay. When you couldn’t reply, he put you on his back with Kevin’s help and sprinted to the nurse’s office.

Your heart was beating fast but you couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason why. Was it because of the pain? Or all the attention you were receiving from your classmates?

By the time you reached the office, your ankle was throbbing and swelling up. The nurse was nowhere to be seen so Jaehyun retrieved an ice pack himself and wrapped a towel around it before applying it.

You were sitting on a cot while he was bent down to tend to your wound. His forehead was wrinkled with worry and you stared at him. This was the first time he had ever treated you with such gentleness.

“I don’t think you broke anything but it’s definitely gonna hurt for at least a week,” he winced in vicarious pain.

You suddenly didn’t know how to act around him. You weren’t used to receiving sympathy from him.

“Uh that’s okay,” you coughed to cover up the awkwardness. You’d rather have him make fun of you for being clumsy. But instead, he seemed genuinely concerned for you.

“You should’ve been more careful,” he scolded.

There was something about the way he looked at you. His eyes were no longer playful but you couldn’t figure out what emotions hid behind those eyes.

Those eyes. His eyes clouded your mind. For some reason, you couldn’t get it out of your head.

You found yourself avoiding him as you struggled to organize your thoughts. Or rather, your feelings.

Wanting to distract yourself, you decided to finally talk to Sunwoo. Surely, spending time with him would help you forget about Jaehyun.

So you mustered up the courage to ask him out on a date. To your surprise, he happily agreed and suggested that you watch a movie together. There was a new romcom film that came out and that he had been wanting to watch.

The date wasn’t as awkward as you thought it would be. Sunwoo’s goofiness offset any nervousness and it was fun to be around him. But yet, it also wasn’t as heart fluttering as you thought it would be.

Perhaps you had idealized him too much in your imagination. Your romantic feelings for him dissipated and you saw him as a good friend. Luckily, he felt the same.

However, word about your date had already spread by the time you got to school on Monday. It had reached Jaehyun’s ears and his expression hardened when he saw you laughing with Sunwoo at lunch.

He knew what the ugly feeling in his stomach was. And he wasn’t happy about it. So he reacted in the only way he knew. By clinging to your side and pestering you.

He spent the whole day messing up your hair and being sarcastic. Eventually, you finally snapped and told him to piss off.

“I’ll consider it if you can beat me in tennis today,” he said.

You crossed your arms, wondering what was going on in his head. You hadn’t been able to defeat him since middle school.

“If you can get a single ball past me, I’ll leave you alone,” he proposed. With a huff, you reluctantly agreed. It would be faster to just get it over with.

That was how you two ended up at a tennis court after school. He never went easy on you but he was going especially hard that day. He gave you no breaks and flung the ball back at you with what felt like all his strength. Ball after ball flew past you as he grabbed another one to start again.

“What the hell, Lee Jaehyun?” you yelled across the court. “Why the fuck are you so aggressive today?”

“Are you giving up?” he taunted while bouncing the ball.

“Oh hell no,” you grumbled as you got in position.

Another half an hour passed by with him beating you again and again. You were drenched in sweat and starting to feel sore. But you refused to give him the pleasure of watching you admit defeat.

So you kept going until the ball accidentally hit your shoulder. The amount of force he put into that backhand made you yelp in pain as you dropped the racket.

Startled, Jaehyun ran over to make sure you were okay.

“You just can’t bear to see me win once, can you?” you glared as you shoved his hand away. “You turn everything into a competition and act like you’re superior over me.”

“I-I didn’t mean to do that,” his brows furrowed in guilt.

“Didn’t mean to do what? Make my childhood a living hell by ruining my favorite sport? Use my crush on Sunwoo to trick me into another stupid bet? Confuse me into thinking that you might actually not hate me?”

“I don’t hate you.”

“Then why are you so clingy?”

“Because I like you!”

His words brought upon silence. The tension in the air was thick as you both stared at each other.

“You’re so dense,” he sighed. “I wanted your attention, okay? But back then, I was a kid and didn’t know how to stay by your side without annoying the hell out of you. And then I didn’t know how to transition out of that.”

He fidgeted with a loose string on his shirt and took a deep breath before continuing.

“This stupid bet was supposed to change our relationship. I was supposed to show you that I’m not as bad as you think I am. That I’m a guy too. That I’ve been in love with you for a whole decade now.”

To say you were surprised would be a massive understatement. All your life, you had been sure that Jaehyun’s purpose in life was to irritate you. So when your heart began to skip around him, you cursed yourself for giving into the hormones that made you see him in a different light. You never thought that the feelings would be reciprocated.

“You don’t feel the same way? At all?” he carefully asked.

Your mouth opened but no words came out. You couldn’t find the right words to answer his question.

“You’re not saying no,” the corners of his lips curved up.

He took a step closer to you and held your cheeks. You felt your heart race at the proximity and froze.

“For confirmation?” his lips ghosted over yours. You barely managed to nod slightly before he closed the gap between you two.

As cheesy as it sounded, you felt sparks fly the moment you had your first kiss. By the time he pulled away, you felt your cheeks heat up.

“So I guess that means I won the bet before it even began,” you joked, making him laugh.

“Yes, yes you did,” he smiled as he hugged you.

[lifeofkaze]

Afterglow

Summer Break Challenge, Day 6: Fireworks

Lizzie Jameson x Orion Amari, Rockstar AU

Artemis Hexley - of course - belongs to the co-creator of this AU, @the-al-chemist. Katriona Cassiopeia is the lovely brainchild of @kc-and-co. Find all the stories of this challenge here. This challenge was created by the lovely person that is @usernoneexistent

Warning: Mentions of alcohol and smoking (cigarettes, weed). Rockstar typical allusions to NSFW activities, because, of course.

Oh, I won't be silent and I won't let go

I will hold on tighter 'til the afterglow

And we'll burn so bright 'til the darkness softly clears

~ Ed Sheeran - Afterglow ~

The sun had long gone down when Lizzie stepped out of the hut - or lodge, as Charlie was calling it - by the shore of Lake Michigan. She stretched languidly, tilting her head from side to side and wincing at the sharp crack in her neck as she did so. 

The other members of Equinox had laid down their instruments over two hours ago, but Lizzie had hung back in the rehearsal room to practice and get a little energy out of her system. Judging by the numbness of her arms, she might have overdone it a little this time.

She tried to walk as if not every muscle in her body was already hurting, lured to the lakeshore by the soft sound of an acoustic guitar she would have known under a thousand. On the small wooden pier looking out over the lake, Orion and KC, their friend and tour manager, were sitting. Orion had his back to her, one leg tucked underneath him and the other dangling above the water. He was playing a soft melody Lizzie recognised immediately. KC was lying on the warm wood next to him, looking at the starry sky overhead. 

As Lizzie approached, KC blew a cloud of unmistakably smelling smoke into the air and sighed contentiously. Lizzie dramatically waved her hand in front of her face as she knelt down and closed her arms around Orion from behind.

"I could smell the two of you from a mile away," she grinned, giving Orion a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Not us, him," KC sighed, tapping the ash from the glowing ash of her joint before she passed it back to Orion. Even though the sun had gone down, she was still wearing her sunglasses, pushing them up and down her nose as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. "He's the dirty hippie. I smell divine."

"Of course you do, my sweet sister in the stars," Orion mused, a detached quality to his voice. "Considering all the money you spent on overpriced perfumes, everything else would have been a surprise."

"What do you know of perfume," KC wrinkled her nose. "At least I don't smell like kitchen herbs."

Orion laughed softly, Lizzie joining in. "I like the smell of kitchen herbs," she told KC. "It usually means that I don't have to cook. Do you know what else I like? This," she added, tugging at the hood of Orion's black sweater. "I wanted to wear this tonight."

A smirk played around Orion's lips. "You are more than welcome to take it off me."

Next to them, KC made a retching sound. "Can you just not?"

"Don't worry, my mood has been spoiled," Lizzie replied, laughing out loud as she saw the look on Orion's face.

"Why's that?"

Now it was Lizzie's turn to make a face. "I got kicked out of the rehearsal room."

KC propped herself up on her elbows, putting down her sunglasses for good. "That sounds like tea. Spill it."

"I was just about done with the last practice I was doing when Skye and Erika decided the mixing room was a stellar place to get busy."

"You were literally hitting metal plates against each other. They didn't hear you?"

Lizzie shrugged helplessly. "Apparently not."

"Ugh," KC said wholeheartedly. "I'll never get the two of them. I wouldn't say no to Erika, but Parkin?" She snorted. "No fucking thanks."

"Love doesn't seek, it finds. When, where, or with whom is not for us to decide," Orion mused, leaning against Lizzie for support. Lizzie had to stifle another laugh as she saw KC rolling her eyes. When she was done scoffing, the red-headed tour manager nudged Orion with her foot.

"Where are your manners, hippie? Why haven't you invited Liz to join us?" 

Orion let his head fall against Lizzie's shoulder, looking up at her from beneath his dark lashes. "Your company would brighten our evening like the stars in the sky, drummer girl."

Lizzie heard KC mumble, "I'm having second thoughts," and shook her head.

"I've been practising all day, I'm starving. I'll check what Charlie is doing at the barbecue and maybe come back later." 

"We'll be wherever the universe takes us," Orion sighed, falling slightly backwards as Lizzie stood up and robbed him of her support. 

"Sure you do."

Leaving KC and Orion to their devices, Lizzie made her way over to the campfire, where Charlie had been tasked with preparing the food. The others had already eaten and scattered, but knowing her since childhood, Charlie had faithfully waited for Lizzie before he put the food away. As was to be expected whenever there was an open fire in sight, he was joined by Artemis Hexley, their band's pyrotechnician with a talent as fiery as her temper. 

Artemis was sitting on a log surrounding the fire, a lit cigarette between her fingers and staring into the flames as Charlie fiddled with the food. She nodded her head as Lizzie slumped onto the log next to her. 

"Thought you'd gone missing, rockstar," Charlie laughed as he tossed Lizzie a beer. "Though with the racket you've been making, finding you would be a breeze."

"It's called music, Charlie. Look it up," Lizzie shot back, leaning forward and inspecting what he had put over the fire. "What do you have for me?"

"I can offer veggie skewers, tofu burgers or marinated eggplant."

Lizzie raised her eyebrows. "That sounds awfully healthy. I believe you still owe me some chicken nuggets. Any chance for those?"

"Sorry," Charlie shrugged. "You told Orion to get whatever for you. In for a penny, in for a pound, right?"

"Whatever," Lizzie sighed. "I'm about to eat anything."

"I brought some hot dogs if you want them," Artemis suddenly piped up. "And these, too." She reached for something standing next to her feet, holding a bag of marshmallows in red, white and blue under Lizzie's nose. 

"Celebrating Independence Day in style, I see," Lizzie grinned, reached for a red one and speared it on one of the sticks Artemis handed her. 

"Some sugar to go with the healthy shit. You know, balance," Artemis said wryly, making Lizzie snort into her beer.

Lizzie stayed with Charlie and Artemis for a bit longer after she had eaten, enjoying the warmth of the fire and their easy banter. As the evening drew on, Artemis repeatedly checked her watch. It was beautiful, a dark blue face with moons and stars on it. Lizzie thought it looked too big for Artemis, but most things did.

"The fireworks won't start by you looking at the time every five seconds," Charlie sighed.

"You said they'd start as soon as it's dark."

"I said I think they'll start as soon as it's dark. Not like I know. Maybe they're having some difficulties."

"Probably amateurs."

"They do this every year, Artemis, and it's a big display. It's Independence Day. Not like they're hiring some renegade pyro techs who aren't even signed off for the job."

Artemis pulled a face while Lizzie pressed her lips together not to laugh. After another fifteen minutes of waiting, a high-pitched, wailing sound could be heard from afar. A moment later, the black sky over the water was lit by a bright red explosion, the sparks spreading in a gigantic sphere reflected in the water. It was followed by a blue and a white one shortly after.

"How gorgeous," Lizzie sighed, mesmerised by the display. Next to her, Charlie made a vague noise.

"Red, white and blue, huh?"

"What? I think it's pretty."

"Of course you do, rockstar."

"It's the 101 of fireworks," Artemis said. "It's not a big deal."

"There's so much they could have done," Charlie nodded. "Smaller explosions going in between."

"Big sparkly ones that look like stars."

"Look at your professional vocabulary. But yeah, that would work. Or space them out to form an arc. Play with the glow effects a little more." 

Lizzie sighed in exasperation. "Can't you two just enjoy the fireworks for once? You're off duty."

"We're never off duty when it comes to fireworks."

A smile formed on Lizzie's face. "That's good because I got something for you. Wait a second."

She jumped to her feet and bounded back towards the huts, leaving a bewildered-looking Artemis and Charlie behind. When she returned, she pulled a small packet from behind her back, holding it out to them. Charlie raised his eyebrows.

"Sparklers? Really?"

Artemis wasn't as sceptical. She had already taken the packet from Lizzie, drawn two sparklers out and lit them with the fire from her lighter. She held one of them out to Charlie. 

"If you don't want them, I'm burning all of them alone."

"As if," Charlie shook his head and took the sparkler from Artemis' outstretched hand.

Lizzie left them to it, watching from the distance how the sparklers Artemis was waving were leaving glowing traces in the dark. She didn't have to turn her head to see who had joined her when she felt someone stepping close to her side. Instead, she smiled and rested her head against Orion's shoulder as he draped his arm around her.

"Do you remember the last fireworks we shared beneath a summer sky?" he asked quietly, his fingers brushing over the exposed skin of Lizzie's shoulders. She couldn't help but chuckle.

"Literally or figuratively? Because the latter I remember perfectly well."

"You're impossible."

"Look who's talking."

Orion laughed softly, a deep and melodious sound that made Lizzie's heart flutter whenever she heard it. "I mean the fireworks at Glastonbury. Can you believe how much has changed in less than a year?"

"Is it almost a year already?" Lizzie asked, genuinely surprised. It felt like their kiss on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury had been both yesterday and a lifetime ago.

"It is," Orion nodded, letting go of Lizzie's shoulder. "I got something for you."

He reached into the back pocket of his trousers, and Lizzie's eyebrows shot up. "If that's a ring, you can go jump in the lake with it."

"Your charm never fails to astound me," Orion replied wryly, but Lizzie could hear the laughter in his voice. "It's less exciting, I'm afraid. And yet," he added as he pulled another two sparklers from his pocket, "isn't the fleetingness of a perfect moment the most exhilarating thing we could ever hope to experience?"

"In any case, I prefer those to a ring any time."

Orion lit one sparkler with the flame from his lighter and handed it to Lizzie before igniting the second on the tip of hers. Lizzie took Orion's hand and pulled him back towards their friends around the campfire with a carefree laugh. She broke into a run, shrieking as Orion chased after her, the light from their sparklers leaving a glowing shadow in the night. 

[mintmatcha]

working on communication - kyotani kentarou

tw: relationship issues, mentions of yelling,

unbeta-ed- we die like alphas.

part 2

Kyotani silently slumps against the door frame. His arms are crossed over his stomach, squeezing tight enough that you can see the way his fingers dig into the skin through his shirt, even from across the room. He takes a deep breath, bracing himself from some unknowable force, then looks at you. There's an unfamiliar softness in his eyes as he studies the ceiling. The way he’s backlight from the hallway catches his jaw, highlighting each grind of his teeth.

"Hey." the thump of his head coming to rest against the wood is louder than his voice.

"Hey, Ken." you reply, equally softly. The nickname earns you a flicker of a smile, but it doesn't break the tension in the air. You wait for him to join you, to strip down and join you in bed just like every other night, but he’s glued to the threshold, silently watching you. Feigning a bit of normalcy, you pull the blankets over your body and try to settle into bed, but your brain is buzzing a little too loudly to even consider sleep. You turn away from him, nestling deeper into the pillow, as if that'll silence your worries.

"I just." he starts. You wait for the rest of the sentence, but it doesn't come. The thump of your heart rings through your body, drowning out the silence.

"Ken?"

"I- this- fuck." there's the hint of a crack in his voice. "I don't know how to do this."

You sit up a bit too quick, head spinning from the inertia and the ambiguity. Your boyfriend is still hunched at the door, frozen in place, mouth half open as he struggles to pick his words. "Kyotani," the formality makes him flinch, the corner of his mouth sliding into a sneer. "Are you trying to break up with me?"

"No!" the word rips out of him too quickly, too harshly. Both of you recoil before he can correct himself. His fingers dig harder into his sides, curling until his nails catch his shirt.

"I'm trying." he's back to the frail tone. "I'm trying to- I'm trying to say I'm sorry."

Ah. There it is. An acknowledgement of the elephant in the room.

You adjust uncomfortably, laying back down on your elbows. Even hours later, it still rings through you: the way his voice deepened, hissed out suddenly between clenched teeth suddenly as if you had flipped some unknown switch.No one had even acknowledged it. They had given a quirk of the brow and the roll of the eyes, almost like this kind of outburst was …...expected.

It wasn’t expected. Not to you. Kyotani had always treated you well, saving his anger for the outside world.

But you were left wondering if maybe this was the canary in the coalmine.

"I shouldn't have snapped at you. Especially in front of my friends." he shifts his weight from foot to foot, over and over again. It’s almost like a dance, like moving will ease the internal discomfort. "It wasn't okay."

"It's fine-"

"No, it's not." he states. He swallows hard, followed by a soft gasp for air. He’s been holding his breath this whole time. "You deserve better and I'm, I'm trying, so … don't."

"Don't what?" you realize you haven’t been breathing either.

"Don't give up on me." he finally steps forward, eyes darting around the room without focus. His hands unfurl from his core and you think he's reaching for you, but he stops midway. There’s a heavy pause as his hand hovers over your ankle, waiting for you to pull away or protest. When you don’t he still pulls away to grasp the bottom of the bed frame. "I'll be better.”

It's hard to see him like this- knotted over himself with worry. He's usually so unreadable- brows usually locked in a stoney glare- but now his face is relaxed, eyes downturned and gentle as he avoids your gaze. It's the weight of remorse, dragging him down.

"I'm still upset." you admit, dropping your hand to your side above the duvet. "But I love you."

“Good.” he taps his fists against the frame softly. “Good.”

“Are you… are you coming to bed?”

He gestures to the door, “I can sleep on the couch if you… if you need me gone.”

You pat the space next to you. A silent invitation.

Carefully, he stretches forward and places his palms near your legs. Then, he presses his weight into the mattress before slowly crawling forward. It’s not unlike a cat, crawling where he knows he doesn’t belong. His broad shoulders shadow over you, blocking out the overhead light, before he crumbles. He carefully caves around you, hands tangling in your hair face resting against the curse of your ribs. There's still the angles and prodding of tension in his body, when he's unable to fully relax in your arms.

Usually, his love is restrained, measured. Something about his upbringing, an unspoken topic between you, has always made affection hard for him- you know this. To have him curled against you, the soft fuzz of his shaved head tickling your skin, is a gesture. An effort.

Carefully, as not to break the spell of this moment, you wrap your hand around his shoulder and drag your nails in circles across his scalp. He hums, nuzzling further into you, eyes fluttering with relaxation.

For a second, you think it's past you, that this incident is done; he’s done acknowledging his wrong doings.

“This is hard for me. This feelings shit.” he breaks the silence. “But we’ll talk about it. In-in the morning. Over breakfast. I’ll make those blueberry things you like.”

You press a kiss into the crown of his head. “That… that means a lot.”

[amethystpath-writes]

A Girl on the Battlefield

Heed the tags. This one is very dark, but so were the medieval days, so here we are.

******

“Captain, this one’s still alive.” Aldis grabbed the breathing body by the sword strap on their back. Lifting them up, his brows rose. “I was going to offer to finish them, but you might want to keep this one.”

The captain walked over, dodging other fallen soldiers with his feet. “Why? If it is not the prince, I am not interested.” He examined a dagger on the ground, picked it up. “Ornate,” he muttered. “Whoever fought with this fell two steps into the fight. Ornate daggers are not meant for battle. Curious who it belonged to- probably a common thief caught in the mix, the poor wretch.”

Aldis took the small weapon from the captain- otherwise known as his father, the king. “The jewels are green. Female.” Aldis noted and slid the dagger into the body he was holding’s scabbard. It fit perfectly. With the dagger hand now free, Aldis put a hand in the injured soldier’s hair, pulling their head back. And so, it was confirmed, even with blood staining the ‘soldier’s’ forehead and dribbling from their lip, they were a girl- a girl on the battlefield.

“Kill her,” the king said. “No girl belongs on a battlefield- make her a thief and it’s even worse. Kill her.”

Both the king and Aldis were taken back when the girl groaned, or whimpered, or made some kind of noise. A sigh passed through her lips, and Aldis didn’t doubt it was an attempt at a plea.

“You’re looking at it socially, Captain. Take on a more political outlook and way of analysis.” His father waited for Aldis to explain himself. “You assume the dagger was stolen but look at how decorative it is. A common thief could not have achieved stealing a dagger like this. A smith’s weapon, maybe. Not a lady or queen’s. That means this girl is more than a common thief. Assume she’s used to stealing from nobles, she’d be smarter than to interfere with battle, so she is also more than a skilled thief.” Aldis jostled the nearly unconscious girl before grabbing her right hand and crossing it over her chest for his father to see. “Royal seal. She’s the princess.” He dropped the girl’s hand.

The king smiled. “Turn her back to me. We take her.”

Aldis obeyed, turning the girl in his arms so that his father could tie a thin rope around her wrists and behind her back.

She whispered, almost silently, “No. I just wanted to…save…my brother.” Her head was against Aldis’ chest, heavy with exhaustion and likely a concussion.

Having a brother himself, Aldis almost tried comforting her, but she was the enemy. This princess belonged to the kingdom in which Aldis, his father, and his army, just partially slaughtered. Of course, there were more battles to come, but either way, this princess didn’t deserve Aldis’s sympathy.

“Are you walking on your own or should I carry you?” He made his voice as dull and bored as possible. He didn’t want the princess thinking he felt sorry for her for even the slightest moment. He didn’t. She was the enemy. And now she was his prisoner.

“Please. Let me- let me find him.”

“Carrying you, then.”

She thrashed. The little rat actually thrashed in Aldis’ grip. Battered, and bruised, and bleeding, with barely any breath at all, and she was fighting his hold on her. “I didn’t even know he was leaving!” she cried, and pulled against Aldis even more.

He hummed, and his brows shot up with an idea. As she tugged forward, Aldis let go, let her fall flat on her face, arms stuck behind her back, useless- just like she was.

The princess rolled onto her back, sitting up with an expression Aldis couldn’t identify. “Y-yer cruel.”

Aldis rolled his eyes. She was out of breath again. “And you are pathetic, but then again you are a girl on a battlefield.”

“That doesn’t…mean…anything.”

“Doesn’t it? I am not the one with hands tied behind my back and sitting in a puddle of blood.”

Her eyes widened like she didn’t even realize her borrowed trousers were soaked with red. Aldis laughed, thinking maybe she wet herself with fear of being in enemy hands, of being thrown to the ground by one of her men, and that was why she hadn’t noticed. Not a rat, he thought now of the princess, but a terrified little mouse.

Now looking at the body behind her, a sob rattled the princess’ body. She let herself settle down before speaking again. “I suspect you have never loved anyone. I suspect no one has cared enough to stand up for you. I suspect you are callous because it was the only way you could fit in, and now it is your life. And I suspect that you will burn in whatever Hell exists.”

“Stand up.”

“I will if you let me say goodbye to him.”

“You just said it. Stand up. Next time I won’t be so nice.” Aldis knelt down beside the mouse, grabbing the dagger and pulling it away even as she tried to roll away from his reach.

She threw a shoulder at him but ultimately fell onto a soldier who was no longer breathing as she was. The princess squeezed her eyes shut and sucked her lips in. Her chest bounced and Aldis saw her swallow. Vomit.

“If you puke on me, we will have even greater issues.” He smiled, looking at the body the princess had fallen on for a moment. Gaging the enemy soldier’s wounds, Aldis guessed they simply bled out. “If you think that is a sore sight,” he whispered, “just wait until we find your brother’s body and bring him home. Did you know my kingdom stakes noble opponents? I hope he is found alive, so that we can nurse him to health, give him hope, then stick him through his rear with a blunt stick.” Aldis hummed with his content, but he faltered for the slightest second, imagining his own brother staked like that in front of a palace he’d never seen himself. “With nobles, we drive the stake along the spine, allows them to live for a couple days, allows them to writhe in pain until they are nothing but a sputtering mess. Maybe I will let you say your goodbyes, then- when his toes are giving out and he’s finally been penetrated all the way through.”

The princess couldn’t speak. She couldn’t think either. She only stared blankly at the world in front of her, breaths oddly controlled. It was as if she completely shut off.

Aldis tsked and tucked the princess’ green-jeweled dagger between his pants and belt. He demanded the girl stand, but when she only continued to stare off into space, he picked her up himself. The commander would probably want to stake her, too, but Aldis was rather fond of keeping her.

Maybe as an added horror to the enemy kingdom, he would have a wedding conducted, and he’d marry the princess. Not because he loved her- he despised the little mouse- but because it would guarantee Aldis and his father obtained more land without having to fight in more battles. They were annoying- the constant battles- and Aldis was growing bored of killing. After the prince was dead, of course, because impaling a prince was always a sight to see. And now he had a princess to provide him a show when it happened, too.

******

Part 2 here

( @whatwhumpcomments )

[hermankopusortizorsumshite]

Big, Ugly SOB

Warning: typical Walking Dead themes, smut, probably other stuff, be advised.

SHANE BABIES! THIS ONE”S FOR YOU! Slow burn, angsty, love, smut, it’s all here gals! Please like, reblog, and comment! I’d love to hear from all of you! 

Part One!

She grabs her pistol and heads out the door of the small shed and does a perimeter sweep before shutting the door. With a deep breath, she starts towards the high ridge. Heaving a sigh, she turns around and writes a note for anyone who may find her.

‘Headed to the ridge. Higher vantage point. Curious about Atlanta but not sure I’ll go.

If you need supplies there’s a day’s worth of jerky and some supplies in here.

Best of Luck’

She truly hoped that she’d find someone she knew. As a patrol officer of King County, she hadn’t run into a single other officer that she knew. Though, she didn’t take the main roads, as she knew the cost.

Hiking up the ridge through the woods, she hears soft talking and the voice strikes her deep in her soul. She knows that voice. The deep southern voice talking low just out of eyesight.

“Excuse me? I don’t mean to alarm you but I’m just looking to join a group--You are one big, ugly, dumb son-of-a-bitch.” There was the owner of the voice. Snorting, she quickly covers her mouth as she sinks to the ground cackling under her hands. Shane’s eyes glance to the old man next to him and back to her as she sits on the ground staring at him with a look of wonder as tears roll down her face.

“Officer Duke?” He hushes as a grin sweeps across his face. Pushing passed the old man, he grabs her hands and pulls her to her feet.

“It’s Lottie. C’mon Walsh.” She chuckles, reaching out and pulling him into a warm embrace.

“It’s Shane, silly gal. I can’t believe it. Look at you. Ugly and big, yes baby girl that’s me.” He croons, holding her arms out wide to look her over. Shaking his head with a chuckle, he turns to the old man and waves him over. “This is Lottie. She was one of the Sheriff’s Deputies like me. Lottie, this is Dale. Dale, Charlotte. C’mon Duke, this way.” He crows, hooking arms with her and dragging her along. As they break into a small clearing, she finds aa small group of people, including Lori and Carl.

“Hey, where’s Rick?” She asks, looking to Shane. His face sombers and he waves her to him.

“He’s gone.” He whispers, looking at Lori with a longing she could only describe as a silent plea of a lover. With a single blink the look is vanished from his face and he pats Lottie on the head. “Come say hi.”

“Lori, Carl, you two look so tired.” She coos as Lori’s face lights up. A blonde across the way eyes her with a disapproving look, but a younger blonde bounds up to Lottie with a grin and a hand shoved out to greet her.

“Hi, I’m Amy. The crabby one is my sister Andrea. That’s Carol and Sophia, Ed’s away in the tent. He’s not much fun. That one is Daryl, he’s a loner. And that’s T-Dog.” In order, Lottie’s eyes meet every face she’s introduced to, and most stick out a hand. Except for the crossbow weilding man, Daryl, she nods confidently to herself.

“I’m Lottie.” She waves, ducking over to Shane and hides behind him.

“Darlin’ I’m gonna head over here and get some water. Find yerself somethin’ to eat and get comfy. You can share my tent. Go get situated. Lori’ll get you acquainted around.” He waves Lori over and Lottie watches the exchange with wide eyes as Shane’s drink in Rick’s wife.

“Thanks Walsh.” She smiles awkwardly before disappearing into Shane’s tent. Spending her first day in the tent with Walsh, she puts her bags in the corner and rolls out her makeshift blanket, made of a couple sweatshirts and tee shirts she had found. Shane steps into the tent and sees her sitting in the corner and his eyes drift to the less than adequate bedding and he frowns.

“Hey, tell you what. I’ll take first shift on watch tonight and you can sleep in my sleeping bag, on the foam pad. It’s better than the rocky ground, Duke.” He holds up a hand to silence her and she feels her face heat up.

“Jesus Christ, I can’t do that--”

“I wasn’t asking. I’m telling you. I’m on watch first tonight, so you have to keep my sleeping bag warm. If not, I’ll--”

“Have Lori do it?” She whispers, and sees it strike a nerve on Shane’s face.

“You shut your mouth about that. Okay? Ain’t nothin’ goin’ on.” He barks, jamming a sturdy finger into her chest plate.

“Sure. I’d be that mad if there was nothing going on too. Rick’s dead, Walsh. Ain’t no shame in keepin’ his wife and son safe. You done good so far.” She assures, laying on her blanket and curling up against her bag.

“Hey baby girl. I said-” he leans down and hoists her up, putting her on his sleeping bag. “-to use this damn thing.” He croons, giving her head a soft pat before taking his gun and stepping out of the tent.

 Morning comes and she slips from Shane’s tent and out into the daylight. For only a second, it almost felt like the summer you went camping with the boys on the lake three years ago. Carl was too little so Lori had stayed home and it had just been Lottie, Rick, Shane, and Leon Basset, another man she hadn’t seen since the world ended.

“Mornin’ babygirl.” He croons, patting her shoulder as she walks up to the group of people sitting in chairs in a circle, finding a seat next to her and Lori.

“Mornin’ ugly.” She groans, pushing his hand up her shoulder to her neck where the kink is. Softly, he rubs the knot from her neck without a word.

“Darlin’ get you somethin’ to eat. Lori, can you grab her a plate?” He croons, patting Lori’s knee. She gives Lottie a half-assed mad look before rising and grabbing a plate with eggs and toast. Placing it into Lottie’s lap, cshe huffs under her breath, mumbling something.

“I’m sorry, what?” Lottie asks, looking at Lori.

“Not a damn thing.” She barks, giving Shane a dark look before heading into her own tent a little ways away.

“Yo, Duke. Over here. You take watch up top, I’ll be out and about. You see walkers, more than two, you give me or Daryl a heads up. Okay? And if you see more than that, give us more than a heads up. Okay?” He briefs her like they’re back on the force before leading her up to the look out atop the RV.

“Okay, I’ll holler if I see a bunch. Is someone supposed to take over for me later?” She asks as Shane hands over the binoculars.

“Yeah, couple hours Daryl will be up. Glenn and a few others went on a raid this morning, so when they get back they’ll do a round of watch. When your watch is over come find me.” He disappears down the ladder and she watches through Shane’s binoculars as Shane himself and Lori slip away into the woods out of the line of sight.

Once they reappear, Lori’s clothes are disheveled and Shane’s licking his lips with a prideful smirk on his full lips. Sucking in a breath, Lottie watches a moment longer as Shane takes a moment to tuck his shirt back in and lick his lips once more. Reaching up, his fingers sift through his jet black, fluffy curls and gives Lori--what he thought was-- a sneaky wink. Lottie watches the horizon and sees a white refrigerator truck barreling towards their camp and a red Charger wailing through the quarry, echoing off the walls. First the car comes to a stop and Shane charges them, yanking the relay out that belongs to the horn. Glenn steps out, jittery with excitement.

“You guys, this new guy absolutely saved our asses.”

“Glenn this group is big enough. Quit taking in strays.” Shane hushes.

“But your girlfriend isn’t one? Sorry, listen man. This guy was awesome, some kind of police uniform, not sure. One second,” the small Asian man sprints to the truck and when the binoculars land on the driver, she nearly falls off the RV.

“Holy shit.” She whispers, losing her footing a second time and tumbling over the edge. As she lands on the ground next to Dale, Shane’s eyes drop to her and he lands in the dirt next to her.

“Damn darlin’. New guy that hot?” He chuckles, helping her to her feet and dusting her off. With a quick once over, he finds nothing broken or busted, so he proceeds out to greet the new guy but stops dead in his tracks. Rick. Holy shit.

“Lori? Carl!” He shouts, falling to his knees as he hugs his family. Her eyes land on Shane in utter shock and he just releases the breath he’d been holding. “Duke. Shane.” He drags the two officers into a warm hug and she and Shane reciprocate.

  As night falls, she steps into the tent with Shane’s sleeping form and carefully steps over him. Laying down on her blanket, she hears some rustling around behind them, but she goes to sleep. Rolling over, she finds an empty space where Shane was. More rustling. A groan. In her groggy sleep, she ignores the sounds outside and grabs Shane’s pillow.

“Shane?” She asks, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Standing and stepping out the tent, she stretches backwards and is grabbed from behind. “Walsh, knock it off-oh shit.” She gives a whine and tries to run away. The walker tries to bite at her ankles, grabbing her pant legs. “Shane! Shane!” She screams , grabbing for anything on the ground to stab the ugly monster, but she grabs for the only thing near her. A stick. Kicking with her foot and knocking the diseased thing off her, she stabs a stick through his leg. Skittering to her feet she backs into something behind her. Another walker grabs her and she shrieks, this time Shane twists around and fires a rifle into her shoulder, killing the walker. He grabs her up and hoists her over a shoulder.

“Did it bite you? Baby girl?” His shouts become foggy and distant as she floats into unconsciousness. “No! C’mon darlin’. Rick! Rick come over here! Someone please!” His desperate cries echo through the camp as Carol grabs Lottie and carries her to the RV.

“Check for bites first.” Dale barks, jabbing at Lottie with the barrel of his gun.

 Early morning rises and she whispers to Shane, who’s sitting next to her, his hand on her arm and head on his arms.

“Shane, Walsh.” He jerks awake and stands erect.

“Mornin’.” He whispers, starting for the door.

“Where you going?” She asks, giving him a soft smile.

“I was just checking on you. I gotta tell the others you’re awake.” He gruffs, heading back to the door.

“Shane.” He stops again, searching her face for something. He walks back to her and leans down, taking her hand into his. “I saw you sleeping.” She whispers, gripping his hand.

“Ya, so I fell asleep there. What of it?” He barks, shifting from foot to foot.

“You were worried, weren’t you?” She coos, smirking at him.

“No. I knew you’d be fine.” He assures, patting her hand.

“Really? That doesn’t really seem accurate, Walsh.”

“Leave it alone.” He grumbles, thumping lightly down the stairs and out the door.

 A few hours later, she hears a couple soft female voices talking about her. “…..she’s just lucky Shane’s got a raging hard on for her…”

“.….she hasn’t lifted a finger here yet…”

“.…got attacked and Walsh left the group to save her. Such bullshit…”

“Amy probably wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for that girl..-”

She steps out of the RV, groaning in pain with every step. Shane rushes her, reaching out to take her elbow, only to be shoved away weakly.

“Babygirl--”

“No Walsh. No more. I can’t deal with this. These bitches over here, whom I can hear claerly in there by the way! Won’t quit bitching about what I haven’t done. So I’ll just be over here.” She barks, pushing Shane away again. He huffs, watching from afar as she staggers over to the bench and grabs the legs of a walker. Grunting, tears running down her face, she sees Glenn grab the shoulders, but when his eyes meet hers he drops it immediately.

“Hey, maybe you should just sit down--”

“No. I’m gonna help. Grab the other goddamn end and lift. With your knees. Jesus christ.” She hoists the body up and carries it across the field. As they sit the body on the ground, her arms quaking, she drops the feet and crumbles to the dirt beneath her.

“Goddamn it.” Shane skids to her side, dust clouding around them as his hands grab her arms. “I just want you to relax. C’mon babygirl. Let me help you--”

“Get away! I can do it on my own!” She screams, shoving him away. “Just please, leave me here, Shane.” She shoves him once more and rises to his feet, heading over to Carol, Andrea, and the hispanic woman.

“You guys better keep your traps shut. She was shot and she was injured, and here you are, not doin’ a goddamn thing, bitchin’ about an injured officer who can’t lift anything. Kettle callin’ the pot black shit now, isn’t it? Leave her out of this shit.”

The next morning the group gets up and ready to leave, Shane leading her to his Jeep.

“Darlin’ get in.” He buckles her seat belt without a second thought.

“Quit treating me like your girlfriend, Walsh.” She mutters, pushing on his shoulder.

“I’m not.” He nips, grabbing her arm and throwing it away from him.

“Oh really? Were you gonna go around and buckle in every woman out there?” She barks back, raising a brow at him.

“Well no--I’m just--”

“You just suddenlt have this urge to keep me safe from harm? Like my goddamn boyfriend? You’re not Walsh, okay? So just quit. I can do for myself.” She drives, letting him head out behind everyone else.

“Okay, babygirl. I’m sorry. It’s just--when I thought Rick was dead, it hurt. Right? A-a-a-and when I saw you come through that brush like an angel, I just-hell, you almost had my ugly ass crying. I was just happy to see you.” He makes conversation while he’s driving. They get to the highway and slow to a crawl. The motorhome stops up ahead and all the others in the group get out to inspect.

As they ravage the hundreds of cars, like time stopped, they find lots of useful things.

“Bet ya’ll ain’t never wanted water so bad.” Shane chuckles, popping the cap on a waterjug and soaking himself. She watches on, laughing to herself as Shane bathes in it. His eyes land on her, grabbing her arms and pulling her to the truck, popping another cap and gently pulling the rag she’d tied up her hair with and shook her curls under the water. “Ooh! Babygirl, you look so good with those wet curly locks!” He cheers, giving her a sopping wet hug.

“Walkers!” The screech is enough to freeze her in her tracks.

“Everybody under the cars.” Rick’s gentle voice carries and Shane grabs her hand, pulling her under a box truck.

“Walsh, look. I can lead them away--”

“Ssh. Shut up. Do you remember that shoot out with me, Rick, and you? And you said that we wouldn’t make it out, and what did ol’ Shane do?” He asks, patting her arm. They lay on the hot concrete under a box truck, the various sharp stones digging into her knees and arm.

“You got us out.”

“And you didn’t think I could did ya? But I did, babygirl. So trust me again. C’mon, darlin’. You just roll your front against my back as tight as you can, okay? We’ll make it again. Trust me. Now ssh. I see a bunch a’ feet movin’. Don’t make a goddamn sound, babygirl.” He whispers, breathing out as he feels her huddle as tight as she can against his back. “I got ya baby. I got ya.” He coos almost as a breath, trying to be silent. “Lemme have your hand.” He whispers, her hand snaking over his ribs and grabs his open hand, squeezing. “Take a deep breath, let it out slow. Show time.” Her mouth bites into his shoulder, he shivers and squeezes her hand tighter. One of her legs slips over his and she’s almost melded into him as one person.

When the horde finally works through, Shane looks over his shoulder to find her asleep against him. Gently shaking her, as she awakes, and looks confused. For a moment, she looks like a glorious sunny day sitting by the lake under a shade tree after a long nap under the summer sun.

“You look like you had a good nap.” He chuckles, rolling to face her, still on the ground and their noses almost touch. “Wow, last time we were this close you remember what we were doing?”

“Yeah,” she laughs, pushing awkwardly at his shoulders. “I think it was some stupid party and we were playing seven minutes in heaven.”

“Yeah, and I got to second base with Haley Duvall that day. You were a prude though. You shut down so fast, even when I tried to score.” He chuckles, leaning dangerously close to press his dry lips gently to her cheek.

“I did, Walsh. Then we went from cops to surviving this ugly ass world now.” She crows, hearing a blood curdling scream. It draws them both from this happy cocoon they were in, and she scrambles from under the truck.

“Hey, also?” He leans so close his voice is but a whisper of hot air over her neck. “Don’t ever bite my shoulder like that again unless you plan to finish what you start.”

“Shane I--” He gives her a dark smirk and a wink, making her body tingle.

“What was that?” He asks as he gaits over to the group.

“It was Sophia. She ran off, Shane. Rick went after her.” He grumbles, grabbing Lottie’s hand and heads for the woods.

“We gotta find that kid.” He states as they slip into the woods.

[darling-i-read-it]

Resilient

Dale Cooper x reader

Word Count: 1.1k

Warnings: being shot, blood, hospitals, surgery 

Author’s Note: Oh Dale Cooper 

Summary: Dale is shot 

Genre: fluff

I don’t own these characters. They belong to author/director 

(not my gif)

You turned in your bed. It was the lodge bed actually, not even technically yours. After a few minutes you finally just let your eyes open and stay open. Something was keeping you awake. Nothing you could pinpoint but there was a pit in your stomach that refused to let you slip into unconsciousness. 

You sat up and looked over at the clock. It was only about 11. You wondered if Dale was back. He had been going undercover to try and talk to one of the people he thought killed Laura. Typically you would have come along but he thought it might be best if he, Ed and Harry went. He thought they might get more out of people if they were scouting the people as a group of men. You didn’t mind too much because it meant you had a night off. Dale could handle himself and he had two other talented men there to take care of him. 

Still, sleep seemed impossible. 

It was at that moment where the phone on your bedside table rang. You jumped in surprise. You hadn’t heard it ring before. You didn’t even know it could ring. You picked it up warily, wondering if it was Dale calling to tell you he was back.

“Y/N?” the frantic voice of Harry Truman said.

“Officer Truman?” you asked. “Is everything alright?” 

“Agent Cooper’s been shot.” 

Your eyes went wide. That should have shocked you more than it actually did. You stood up from the bed.

“I hope you’re on your way to the hospital.” 

“We are, meet us there.” He hung up after that. You stood there for a moment as you processed the panic that had slowly started to rise in your chest. If he died because you weren’t there you didn’t know what you were going to do with yourself. 

After a moment of realizing the world was still turning, you quickly threw on a random suit jacket over your nightgown and called it good as you ran out of the door. You realized you probably should have tried to look more presentable but the panic had set in. What if he was going to die? You should have asked where he was shot. You should have kissed him goodbye when he left. You should have gone with him! 

You should have, you should have, you should have.

The drive there was too long even though it took you no more than five minutes to arrive. Thank God for small towns. Part of you had the sudden urge to call Audrey Horne. You weren’t even sure where she was. 

  You saw Harry standing in the waiting room next to Ed and Hawk. You rushed up to him and Harry had to grab you with both hands so that you didn’t fall into him. 

“Where is he?” you asked.

“What are you wearing?” 

“I could ask you the same thing!” You pointed at Ed’s terrible wig. “I think I wore that on the last undercover mission.” Ed cracked a small smile.

“He’s okay. The doctors said he lost a lot of blood and it took us a second to find him. He was speaking gibberish on the way here but he asked for you. They’re in surgery right now but he should be okay,” Harry explained. You let out a sigh of relief and sat down in the nearest seat. You tugged at your nightgown and realized you really should have spent more time getting dressed but there was no point in worrying about it now.

“Any idea when we can see him?” you asked.

“No. But I don’t think they’ll be in there for too long.”

It felt like days before you were allowed in. He was still out cold. A lot of things had gone on that night which proved to be the worst night ever to take the day off. Harry, Ed and Hawk filled you in as you waited and you tried to help them piece everything together. After an agonizing amount of time one of the doctors came out and approached you.

“Surgery went without a hitch. He’s gonna be fine in no time. Are any of you family?” he asked. You all shook your head. 

“Partner,” you told him. He nodded and you realized that he probably took that as you being Dale’s girlfriend which officially you were not but you didn’t correct it. You were his work partner so you hadn’t really lied. 

“Why don’t you come on back. We’ll be back to get the two of you as soon as I check a few things,” the doctor said. You followed him back into some of the rooms. Dale laid down on one of the beds and just the sight of him made you feel relieved. He didn’t look great but he didn’t look like he was dying. That was a good thing. The doctor left you alone. 

You walked up to the bed and his eyes had just fluttered open, looking around quickly. 

“Where am I?” he asked at the sight of you. “What are you wearing?” 

“Shut up Dale,” you said with a small laugh. “You’re in the hospital. You were shot, Ed, Harry and Hawk brought you in. The doctor said you’re going to be fine.” You sat down on the bed beside him and grabbed his hand. He squeezed it gently. “You scared me Dale,” you whispered. 

“No need to worry. I’m quite resilient,” he explained weakly. You rolled your eyes and brought his hand up to your lips, kissing it gently. 

“Just don’t go around getting shot okay?” He nodded.

“I’ll give it a go.” He paused. “Now can you tell me what you’re wearing?” he asked. You rolled your eyes and leaned over the bed, kissing him gently. 

“Nightgown.”

“Yes I gathered that.”

[g0ttal0ve101]

Eddie if Zack/Someone killed Lucian :)?

.

Heh. Pain.

🤍

Eddie gazed at the water crystal blue water, smiling softly. Making graves earlier today had him in a good mood. Now that it was night, he managed to sneak out before Albert could come beat him and relaxed by the small stream that laid near his pet cemetery. Although he was supposed to be calm, something in his heart was tugging. Almost as if something was wrong, but he wasn't sure what. Something deep inside worried him.

"Ed...Eddie..."

Eddie's eyes widen as his head whips to the left of him. He heard a faint cry from further down the creek that sounded awfully like someone he knew. The feeling of dread he felt before was now coming a reality. He quickly stood up and rushed towards the voice, his eyes meeting with a sight he could have never imagined.

Lucian's bloody body laying on the luscious green grass, staining it with a crimson red. His pale skin seemed even paler underneath the moonlight. Of course, Eddie dropped to his knees and immediately helped him sit up, seeing blood pouring from his head. So much blood.

"L-LUCIAN!" Eddie cried, unwrapping his red scarf from around his neck and trying his best to stop the bleeding. His eyes swept down his entire body, seeing he was wounded practically everywhere with glass shards sticking from his limbs. Despite looking like a ghost, Lucian laughed softly with tears rolling down his cheeks. "L-Lucian! What happened?!"

"Am...Am I gonna...die, Eddie?"

Eddie's heart jumped to his throat. From the amount of blood he was losing...

"N-NO! SHUT UP, YOU'RE NOT GONNA DIE!"

Lucian laughed again, this time even weaker. "Marigold...my dear marigold..." he fell into Eddie's arms, holding him with all the strength he had left. "It's okay...I...I wanted...to come...here so that...you could bury me..." Eddie didn't know what to do. He was so shocked that he couldn't even move or think. Everything was going in slow motion. "...Y'know...I...I...always liked you...more than..."

"L-Lucian...! Please, no! Please...please, stop it! You're not gonna die! I-I-I won't l-let you!" Eddie let him go and rested him against the trunk of a tree, sobbing out of control. "N-No...no...!"

Lucian gazed deeply at the crying boy. He could feel the blood pouring from all of his wounds which made him dizzy, however, he was more concerned about those tears of his. He was sobbing even though he would be the one to bury his childhood friend. For a moment, it confused Lucian.

"Eddie...it's...it's okay..." He reaches for Eddie's cheek, stroking it with his pale fingertips. "You don't need to...cry like that...I don't wanna see you cry..." Lucian then gave him a gentle smile. It seemed different from all the ones Eddie had seen, it was so genuine without any fault or concern. Pure joy to spend his last moments with Eddie. "Because...I...love you..."

Eddie's heart began to race with excitement. A mutual love that will last forever, right? All he had to do is make him eternal and they could share that feeling together until the end of time! That's what he would've thought if it weren't for those wounds. If he didn't do it now, Lucian would be stolen from him. He would die by the hand of his mother. That's not what he wanted, not at all.

Now...

Now.

He has to do it now.

Lucian's eyes grew more hollow than ever, the life seeping out of him. Eddie stood up and lifted his shovel, panicking. The genuine grin Lucian made was turning to an unreadable expression.

He has to die now.

"Eddie..." Lucian's voice grew so weak that you could barely describe it as a whisper. Eddie's tears were continuously falling from his face into the flowerbed beneath them, staining their petals ever so slightly. "...does this mean...you love me...too...?"

"I-I do!" Eddie wept, his hands trembling more than ever before. He couldn't move from his standing position. In fact, he was so devastated that he could barely keep his balance. For some reason, he just wanted to hold Lucian close without having to do this. But he would become like that little bird if Eddie didn't kill him.

Lucian closes his eyes with a bigger smile. "I'm glad...hey, you know...you look...scared..." his breaths became shorter and shorter from the amount of blood he was losing. "My final moments...belong to you...and only you, Eddie...if you're afraid of...killing me then...you don't...have...to..."

"L-LUCIAN!" Eddie drops his shovel and launches himself into his arms. He cried into his blood stained shirt, his entire body shaking from the fear of being alone completely. Lucian kept his smile, wrapping his arms around Eddie and patting his head just as he used to do.

"...It's okay...it's okay..."

"STOP IT! NOTHING IS OKAY, PLEASE DON'T GO! I-I LOVE YOU, LUCIAN! I-I-I ALWAYS HAVE! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!"

"I-I love you t-too, Eddie..." Lucian choked, his tears mixing with Eddie's. No matter how he truly felt, he continued to smile for him.

"Lucian, please!" Eddie grabbed his shoulders and looked at him, seeing that smile. But...

He didn't see any life from him.

His body was limp as it rested on the tree trunk. No breathing, no heartbeat, nothing.

"Lucian..." Eddie's eyes were huge and his tears stopped. "Lucian...Lulu...? Hey..." his heart sunk further as Lucian's head rocked forward as Eddie shook him. No life whatsoever. The smile turned into a soft expression, looking as if he were only sleeping peacefully. Blood dripped down his forehead and onto Eddie, yet, no sign. "Hey...HEY! LUCIAN! LUCIAN, WAKE UP!”

But there was no reply.

“No…no…” Eddie held Lucian close, biting his tongue so hard that it began to bleed. He was trying to hard not to scream on the top of his lungs after all. Seeing his beaten body, he clenched his shirt into fists. “…Who did this to you…? Who…? Your mom…?” his voice fumed with anger. His chest felt tighter and tighter from being so enraged. His mind began to spin all in which had one solution.

. . .

“That’s it…” Eddie lifted Lucian into his arms, taking him to the meadow they used to play in as children. Flowers grew all around, little animals roaming, this is where he’d make Lucian happy. Then,

He’d do it better.

He’d make everything better.

Immediately getting to work, Eddie spoke to Lucian as he did before. As if he weren’t even dead. He told him every step he took to make this grave, what flowers he was going to pick, how bunnies and other small animals would roam around happily around the headstone. Overall, he overworked himself until his arms felt too heavy to even move. It needed sanded more, now it needed more detail, now it need more flowers, less flowers, the name should be fancier, the date needed to be more legible, over and over again. It had to be perfect. After all, he truly loved him. Ever since they were little kids. So…

He knew if he was gone…

“It’s done…” Eddie murmured, dropping his shovel and walking to his beloved. “…all done…” he then pulled Lucian into his arms and rested his head on his bloody chest. He still felt warm, but his blood was now drying onto his skin and clothes. Eddie didn’t want that. So, without a second thought, he stood up and walked to the stream, getting some water and rubbing the blood off of his body. He couldn’t get his clothes to be the way they were, but his pale skin was much clearer, as for his wounds as well.

Glass.

Eddie found glass in the gash on Lucian’s head, ultimately the cause of his death. Looking at the glass, he saw that it must have come from some sort of wine bottle. One huge smash to the head and poor Lucian bled out.

Eddie clenched his teeth. It must of been that rotten mother of his. Always intoxicated without a care in the world, it was her fault that Lucian died. All of her fault, all of it was!

“I’ll bury you now…” Eddie coaxed to him softly, giving him another hug. “then, you’ll be mine. I…love you, my dear Lucian.”

That being said, Eddie rested Lucian into the coffin he had hauled out from the shed, adjusting his hands to fold on his stomach and putting flowers in his white hair to cover the blood stains. He looked so elegant and beautiful, almost as if he was just sleeping. Slowly, Eddie grabbed the lid to seal him in before tearing up. This would be the last time to see him. Normally, he’d feel so overjoyed, but knowing how much pain he went through before dying just completely drowned him in sorrow. How terrible it was.

“I already miss you. I don’t think I can live without you..” Eddie whispers with a smile. “but I know I’ll see you again. I have no worries about that! I’ll see you…very soon.”

Pulling out his father’s revolver from with front pocket, Eddie puts the barrel up against his temple. “That’s right! I’ll see you right now! In our own grave, Lucian! Ours and ours alone! Isn’t it pretty?! ISN’T IT LOVELY?! HAHAHA, IT IS, ISN’T IT?! ALBERT, CARL, GEORGE, MOMMA, DAD, THEY’LL ALL FORGET ME! IT DOESN’T MATTER! AND SINCE I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH…! SINCE I COULDN’T MAKE YOUR DEATH BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL, I SHOULD DIE TOO!”

And with that, Eddie pulled the trigger.

[occasionaloneshots]

You Belong With Me (Reddie’s Version)

Warnings: toxic relationship, swearing 

Closeted bi Richie x closeted gay Eddie

Words: 1.7k 

“You’re on the phone with your girlfriend, she’s upset.. She’s going off about something that you said, ‘Cause she doesn’t get your humor like I do.” 

     Eddie was bitter. Quite frankly the boy wondered if bitter was even a strong enough word. But he stuck with it, down right lemon sour, bitter. Richie was supposed to sleep over, just the two of them, like old times. But of course his girlfriend had to go and throw herself in their plans, it seemed like she always did. Eddie swore that the girl had it out for him, hell she had called his house to talk to Richie. So now, while Eddie sits across from a paused movie that he was never really interested in to begin with, he gets to listen to Richie trying to explain himself over nothing. At least Eddie thought it was nothing, nothing for Richie at least. 

      “No, baby, come on please don’t be like that,” Richie’s vice floats in desperately from kitchen. Eddie didn’t have to be in the room to see the exhaustion on the boy’s face. “It was just a joke, you know I love you more than anything.” If Eddie was right, Richie was scrunching the phone cord in his hand, he always seemed to do that if he was getting yelled at over the phone. Maybe that was an exclusive thing for phone calls from his father though, as he got chewed out for being late to leave or forgetting to call and say he would be staying for dinner. “I’m sorry okay? I’m so sorry I’ll never joke about that again, I swear.” Eddie scoffed, it’s not like she was involved in the joke, it was a joke about the losers. As far as he was concerned, Richie’s bitchy girlfriend would never be a loser, no matter how many times she invited herself along. If she doesn’t want to hear Richie’s crude jokes about Eddie’s mom, she shouldn’t invite herself to hang out with him and Eddie. Everyone knows that’s his thing. Why even get with a trashmouth if you just want to change him? Sure the joke wasn’t funny, but that was Richie. (If Eddie was honest, he slowly began to find Richie’s mom jokes funny, but maybe that was a cheap stab at his mother.)

    The dark haired boy wonders back into the room, falling back on the couch beside Eddie, “I’m sorry about that. Do you wanna finish the movie?” Eddie looks back at it for a moment, a random frame of Wayne’s World (Richie’s choice) staring back at him. “Not if you don’t want to, we could just go do something else,” Eddie plays with his fingers as he talks, looking up at the taller boy nervously. He wasn’t sure what made him so nervous about it though, maybe it was just knowing that Richie was upset. “Yeah, let’s just go to your room or something?” Eddie nods, turning off the tv as they stand up. Richie collects the blankets they were using off the couch, throwing them over his shoulder as Eddie grabs the popcorn bowl. It’s pretty quiet as they make it to Eddie’s room, both throwing themselves on his bed seemingly exhausted despite the fact that it was only nine-thirty. Suddenly Eddie jumps up, walking over to his bookshelf. “What ya doin’, Eddie Spaghetti?” Richie’s head lolls to the side, watching as the smaller boy scans the shelves. A red CD case resting in his hand as he opens the CD player on the shelf. “Don’t call me that, Rich. You’ll see.”

“I'm in my room, it's a typical Tuesday night, I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like”

      Meer seconds after Eddie closed the player, a familiar song began to boom out of the speakers. The opening cord of Ramones “Censorshit” making Richie’s face light up, “Is that my copy of Mondo Bizarro?” “It’s mine now, you gave it over, remember?” The dark haired boy rolls his eyes, getting up off the bed. “I didn’t give it to you, I let you hold on to it. Heidi hates this type music, she kept complaining about it so I wanted someone who would take care of it to watch it.” Eddie shrugs, “Gave it to me, told me to take care of it, same difference.” Richie didn’t respond though, instead, putting his arms out in front of him, pointer finger up on each hand like he was trying to silence a room, before breaking out into a dance. His curls flying around his head in a way that made his face hard to see as he moved. It was not a good dance, but one that had Eddie smiling and jumping around with him nonetheless. They were on the twelfth before they were exhausted enough that they had to sit back down. Both boys sitting with their legs crossed on opposite sides of the old bed, laughing.

      “God,” Richie pants, “I forgot how good that album was.” “Yeah, because all you’ve been listening to is Madonna,” the words ended with a scoff as Eddie shook his head, “You hated Madonna until you got with Heidi.” Richie stops mouthing the lyrics of “Heidi Is a Headcase” to scoff, “I still hate Madonna.” Eddie shakes his head, “Why are you even with her anyway?” He was mentally cursing himself the moment e said it. Eddie you fool, you absolute fool.

“'Cause she wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts, she's Cheer Captain and I'm on the bleachers”

      Richie simply shrugs in response, “I don’t know.” This leaves the other boy stunned for a minute. “You don’t know?” Richie had options, so many options, there was no reason for him to be with someone who makes him miserable, at least not one his friend could see. Richie got hot in high school, everyone knew that as much as they hated to admit it (especially Bill, who was a little too used to being the hot one of the group). He basically sprung up a whole foot the summer between eight and ninth grade, his face thinning out to reveal a sharp jawline and prominent cheekbones. He had that whole pretty boy thing going on which earned him more than a fair share of female attention, and even his fair share of attention from other guys, though they weren’t as open about it. 

     “I don’t know, I mean, she’s the cheer captain and I guess that part of me just wants what comes with that? But I want her too you know, even though it stresses me out. What would happen to me if I left her you know? We’re not really true losers anymore, I don’t want to drag the rest of you back down with me.” That was another thing, Richie started going to games just for the half time show to watch her cheer, dragging Eddie with him, and any other loser if he got the chance. Eddie sighs, shaking his head, “You wouldn’t become a total loser again, Rich. You’d just have every girl in the school throwing herself at you.” 

“And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town, I haven't seen it in a while since she brought you down”

   Richie laughs, a dry laugh that was no where near his normal one, “Yeah right, maybe I’ll go for Greta Keene next time. Fuck myself up in a different way.” Eddie scrunches up his nose, “Yuck, why would you say that? Greta?” “What?” Richie smirks, leaning over to shove his shoulder, “Is she your girl or something?” Eddie lets out a whiney groan, “That was the seventh grade will you please let it go?” In a game of truth or dare Eddie admitted to  lied about having a crush on Greta and Richie hadn’t let it go since. Eddie never talked about things like that, it wasn’t his thing. So of course the scrap Richie had, he would use. The taller boy burst out laughing, a genuine smile flashing across his face in a way that made Eddie smile too. “Dude you’re the one who did it.” 

    When the boy finally calmed down, Eddie gave him a soft smile, ”Seriously though, why don’t you break up with her, Richie? Cheer captain is not a valid reason to stay with someone.” “The rumors she would spread are a valid reason to stay. I don’t know if I would be able to handle that.” Eddie scoffs, leaning back against his headboard, “Who cares about rumors? Bev survived them, you could too.” Richie shakes his head, “I believed the rumors about Bev back then, the whole school did.” “That’s because you’re a fool, Rich. Seriously, you think anyone would care about the rumors she’d spread? What’s she gonna say? You have a small dick? Stan says that all the time,” Eddie shakes his head, “She’s not good for you Richie.” I could be though, the thought clouds his mind, though he’d never admit it out loud, Eddie was crushing on Richie so hard it was embarrassing. Some of the losers saw it though, just like how they saw his crush on Bill back when they were younger. At least, Bev and Stan did, though they’d never admit it, outside of the two of them, but Eddie was paranoid that Mike knew it too. If Mike asked him why he looked so upset while Heidi was on RIchie’s lap one more time, the boy thinks he might combust.       “Come on Eds, even if I wasn’t scared about rumors, who else would be willing to deal with me anyway? I’m lucky she even puts up with me.” And that made Eddie frown, “Rich,” he reached out, grabbing Richie’s hand, “The right person loves you, they don’t just put up with you because you’re hot.” Richie lets out another dry laugh, “Yeah, like someone out there is like that for me. Girls like that exist for Mikes and Stans, not me Eds.” Eddie shakes his head, watching as Richie pulls away, getting up to look in the mirror. “ think there’s someone out there like that for everyone. I mean, my dad loved my mom, at least as much as I remembered, and she’s my mom.” Richie shakes his head, “I guess you’ve got me there. Hey, maybe mine is also your mom.” And despite the fact that it was cheap, Eddie laughed at it. Mind barely holding in the words “what if it’s me?” Because, Eddie knew he wasn’t ready to open that can of worms yet, and Richie was no where near the right place for that. 

‘All this time how could you not know, baby? You belong with me, you belong with me”

[hopinglimelight]

Afterglow (C.B)

A/N: There are many definitions for the word “Afterglow” but the one I used was “good feelings remaining after a pleasurable or successful experience.” Yes this is based on the Ed Sheeran Song. Bold sentences are song lyrics and italics are flashbacks/ memories. Please enjoy :D

A/N 2: just an fyi this is my first time writing in third person like this so tell me what you think about it please and thank you (:

Allison looked herself over in the mirror multiple times, checking to see if you could still see the tear tracts from when she broke down earlier. Corbyn was out, and wouldn’t be returning for a few hours so now was her chance. Her chance to pack all of her belongings and leave. She felt bad that it had to happen this way, but she needed to do it.

She opened the door, took a few steps, and went into the kitchen. The happy kitchen where most of her favorite memories were made.

“Stop the clocks, it's amazing.”

“What are you talking about Corbyn?”

“You should see the way the light dances off your head.”

She ran her fingers through her hair as Corbyn walked closer to her, the biggest smile on his face. She quickly set down her coffee as he brought her into a hug.

“A million colors of hazel, golden, and red.”

We stood in the kitchen for a few minutes, foreheads pressed together as we silently basked in each other’s company.

Alli separated their heads, looking at the time as she grabbed her cup of coffee. “Saturday morning is fading.”

“The sun's reflected by the coffee in your hand.” He countered, trying to prove they still had time to laze off and enjoy their time alone with each other.

She looked back over at him and slowly let out a sigh, looking at his eyes, “My eyes are caught in your gaze all over again.”

She smiled softly at that day last fall. They didn’t expect to be locked up together during the winter and spring for a pandemic. It put so much strain on their relationship, being with each other all day, every day, for 5 months. She began to feel another memory coming into her mind as she walked over to where she kept her suitcase.

“The weather outside's changing” He smiled, trying to make my day better.

“How so?” I sarcastically asked.

“The leaves are buried under six inches of white” He loved the snow, and couldn’t even enjoy it this year.

“Can we listen to music or something?”

“Yeah how about… oh wow. The radio is playing Iron & Wine.”

“I don't even know who that is,” She laughed. “Oh well it’s better than nothing.”

“This is a new dimension.”

“Yeah you could say that about the year so far.” She shrugged.

“This is a level where we're losing track of time.” He smiled as she scoffed.

“Yeah… where we are both going insane.”

He shyly looked back at me. “I'm holding nothing against it, except you and I.”

He walked back over to the couch where he dove and began tickling Alli.

And by that time she was already halfway done packing her clothes. She laughed at the tears that she could see on the shirt she was holding. She shook her head and continued to put stuff into the suitcase.

She was done packing within the hour. She went and laid down on the couch, just one last time. She was about to get up and leave… but then the door opened.

“Allie? I’m home early.”

She quickly sat up, watching as his eyes immediately cast their way over to the packed suitcase and travel bag when he turned around from shutting the door.

“Where are you off too?”

“Corbyn… I didn't know how to tell you. I’m sorry.”

“You didn't… cheat on me, did you?” He nervously asked.

“No!” She shouted. “You know I'd never do that to you. 

“Then where are you-”

“I’m leaving, Corbyn.”

“Where are you going?”

“Back to my mom’s house. I’m sorry I was gonna write you a note or, or text you or something but I just had to get out of here.”

“So this is your way of telling me we’re breaking up?”

“Yeah,” She breathed out. “I’m really sorry I didn't want you to find out this way.”

“Oh.”

He tried to smile, but then a tear started rolling down his cheek.

“No, please. You can’t leave.”

“I have to, Corbyn. We both weren’t ready for this relationship and you know it. We were love drunk, waiting on a miracle. When it didn’t come we both gave up and you know it!” She snapped.

“I’m sorry Alli! Maybe it could have been different if we wouldn’t have been quarantined together?”

“No, we were tryna find ourselves in the winter snow. We did, Corbs. We found our true selves and we don’t work together. You’re so alone in love like the world had disappeared.”

“No, please Alli.”

“I’m sorry.” Allison cried, standing up to give him a quick hug before she gathered her bags and left.

Corbyn’s loud sobs rang through the small apartment.

“Corbyn, shh it will be alright. Just let me go, please.”

“Oh, I won't be silent and I won't let go. I will hold on tighter 'til the afterglow.”

The small word made her falter a bit.

“I will hold on to the afterglow.”

“Hm? What did you say, babe?”

“I will hold on to the afterglow.” He softly mumbled into her neck, making her giggle slightly.

“What does that mean?”

OC turned around and faced him, smiling at his sleepy face.

“It’s the good feelings remaining after a pleasurable or successful experience. Being your boyfriend is exactly an amazing experience. Whether we get married, breakup or tragically die-”

“You better not be dying and this is your way of telling me, Corbyn Matthew” She cut him off sharply, but he smiled at her good intentions.

“No, I’m not dying, I promise.” He gave her a reassuring kiss as he continued on. “I guess what I’m trying to say is no matter what happens with us and our relationship, I’ll always be there for you.

“But what if we do ever break up or get separated?” She asked, looking into his eyes. Alli could spend days looking at his eyes.

“We’ll probably never forget each other-”

“I’d never be able to forget you, Corbyn.” She cut him off. He continued what he was saying with a smile.

“And we'll burn so bright 'til the darkness softly clears,” Corbyn mumbled to himself, remembering the same night she did. With one last look at each other, Allison gathered her bags, opened the door and left without a second glance, leaving them both alone with their memories  of each other forever.

taglist: @chilling-seavey @hiya-its-amber @jocelyntheduckie @randomlimelightxxx @stuffofseaveyy @the-girl-who-cried-wolf

[babytortie]

so pretty

so pretty ❘ eddie kaspbrak x reader.

a/n: so this was already in the works but then it was requested by an anon - omg can u do eddie smut bae, like i just read ur eddie imagine.

* i hope this lives up to what they wanted. also !! i loved writing this so thanks for pushing me to finish it. :)

summary: in which eddie changes his look and overcomes his anxiety which causes him to gain the confidence he needed to finally make a bold move on his best friend(reader).

warnings: some fluff, mainly s m u t. <3

contains: blonde!!dom!eddie, teasing, begging, hair tugging, fingering, degradation, rough, and unprotected sex.

* all characters ( including reader ) of the loser's club are seniors and 18 in this one-shot.

~ 2.8k words.

in january, the day after winter break of your senior year was when everything started to change for you. it was when eddie decided to move out of sonia's home and into richie's. he'd had enough of his mom and her crazy theories of how he was gaining new sicknesses. though, it was also when he blossomed into the person he was meant to be. 

eddie walked into derry high early that morning with his brunette curls now dyed blonde, a dark shirt resting over a pair of ripped jeans, and with his fingernails painted black. every girl turned and glanced, and only realized it was eddie kaspbrak after a double take. he didn't care about those glances or the glares from the boyfriends of the girls who stared at him. all he was worried about was how you would think of him and his new look. 

the other six members of the club knew of his crush on you for years. even richie was jealous when you joined the group but that evaporated when the three of you became the inseparable trio. you had a teasing sibling bond with richie, who always made you laugh at his new jokes. though with eddie, it was anything but platonic.

you and eddie weren't exactly just friends but it wasn't labeled as any kind of relationship either. when you hung out at the houses of the other members for movie nights, he always sat next to you and cuddled. or at parties, he stood behind you the whole time with his arms wrapped around your waist and chin resting on the top of your head.

what the losers really questioned was when you all hung out and why two friends held hands in public. they didn’t even know that you also kissed his cheek when he walked you home. though a couple of times, eddie’s cheek accidentally turned and you ended up kissing him on the lips instead. neither you or eddie broke wanted to break the kisses at first and almost always continued it for a good moment or two. 

unfortunately for either of you, the kisses were never talked about. this because of the constant anxiety over potentially ruining the friendship. then again it was eddie. you were comfortable with him and knew he wouldn't hurt you or go behind your back.

some days you subtly watched him (or so you thought) when he was talking, smiling, or laughing, and you wondered if he was your soulmate. richie and beverly would catch you staring and see how much your eyes shined while gazing at him. it was a weird limbo that you've constantly tangoed with him for the past year and a half. neither wanting to overstep but constantly doing it anyway without realizing. 

it was almost like the two of you were meant to be and everything was easy. eddie knew you like the back of his hand. his very attractive hands that were covered with rings now. holyshit.

when he found you, you were going through the books in your locker. he walked up to you and slipped his arm around your waist. you smelled his cologne and leaned back into his chest, smiling that he was in your presence. eddie leaned around your side to peck a quick kiss on your cheek and that's when you noticed the blonde from the corner of your eye.

you turned around so quickly that eddie thought it gave you whiplash. you didn’t let the quick dizziness bother you and instead put your fingers through his hair. he let out a small groan at how good the small massage was and bent his knees so he could come down to your level. eddie was face to face with you and he could easily make out how memorized you were by his curls. "oh my god eds!" when you finally let go, he frowned. “is that good or bad?” he laughed nervously.

eddie grabbed your hand back from when you placed it at your side and interlocked your fingers with his. you looked down at your joined hands and curled your fingers around his tightly to give a good squeeze of reassurance and he calmed instantly. “definitely good eds, definitely.” eddie smiled sheepishly and blushed in return from your acknowledgement.

the other six members of the loser’s club stood down the hall and could see how red his cheeks were by the close proximity. "he’s lapping it up." stan rolled his eyes and spoke up to break the silence from the group watching you and eddie converse. “o-oh shu-ut it,” bill instantly knew stan was jealous that he wasn’t getting any attention from his boyfriend. the stuttering eighteen-year-old put his arm around the curly blonde-haired that he loved and it hushed him. bill smirked and watched him blush when he kissed stan’s cheek.

richie looked around at the other couples and realized he and mike were the only single one’s left. at least he hadn’t taken a ‘vow’ of celibacy like stan suggested he should do. “you think y/n will put in a good word for me with sonia when she finally gets with eddie?” richie asked and patted mike’s back which he swatted right off of him. 

beverly retrieved the purse from her locker and unzippered it to grab her chapstick. she looked over at the other’s and mumbled in response. “define finally because that could be tomorrow, a week from now, or even years at this rate.”

and that’s how it went the next couple of weeks. you and eddie would take two steps forward and then two steps back. it was a constant annoyance and the bet between the other’s grew higher every day. richie bet all of his paycheck from the arcade that he now worked at and beverly bet a couple bucks from her work at the movie theater. even bill chimed in and bet some of money he earned from the drawings that he sold to a store down in town. it was complete chaos and yet the two of you were still oblivious.

or so the other’s thought, while the eight of you were at a party now. you and eddie were both a little tipsy from drinking earlier and he was dancing rather closely with you. your small hands were placed around his neck and fingers once again laced throughout his hair. 

he held your sides delicately and his rings glistened when they hit the light. eddie's smile was infectious and every time without fail when you looked at him, you caught yourself and looked down with flushing cheeks. what the hell is happening? why does this feel different than any other time?

finally, after the third time of you doing this, he smirked knowing the effect he had on you and took one of his hands from your waist. the blonde placed his finger on the bottom of your chin and tilted your head up slowly. your eyes widened when they reached his and you tried turning but he held your gaze firm. “what’s the matter sweetheart?” he inquired so casually as if you weren’t trying to squeeze your thighs together. 

his brown eyes stared into yours, a unique shade that he always claimed was his favorite color. as he waited for your reply he glanced down and took in your outfit. he admired the way your dress hugged your curves in just the right places. you swallowed nervously at how close in contact you were and the fact you felt like he was looking right into your soul. even though you knew it that belonged with his from the start of your friendship. 

other people in school always talked in the hallways about how they thought you were soulmates and even about lying. they thought you were actually together but in denial with telling everyone because of how much you and eddie always clung to each other. like right now, you danced with him and watched as he took in a glimpse of you while feeling like your whole body was on fire. “nothing’s wrong eds, promise.”

mike and stan stood off to a corner and waited for bill and richie to bring them back drinks. beverly and ben were in their own little bubble dancing a few feet away from you and eddie. mike watched beverly and ben dance then looked at the two of you, raising an eyebrow in stan’s direction. “what’s up with them?” the curly haired one looked away from mike to see you two dancing then back at him, rolling his eyes and taking the drink from bill’s hand. “i think the bet is ending tonight.”

richie dumped back his beer and input his own comment about the current topic. “hell yes! then i’m one step closer to being off the market.” he snickered but fell quiet when a girl walked by and left a lingering smell of peach fragrance behind. “b-beep beep richie!” bill nudged the trashmouth who only escalated his behavior and risked bumping into irritable stan’s shoulder.

thankfully bill’s boyfriend simply brushed it off but by doing that quite literally so, which caused richie to wholeheartedly laugh at the dramatics. trashmouth put his red cup in the area towards your direction, signaling for the others to look and they nodded. shit eating grins were on each of their faces and for once, everybody was in agreeance.

eddie glanced over at the four and shook his head. you followed his movement and chuckled at richie being over the top as usual. “want to get out of here?” he asked. it was common for the two of you to sneak off and be in your own little world with him. you smiled and let go of his neck and held out your hand for him to take. he grasped onto it and let you lead him out from the small crowd in the living room.

ten minutes later, you were sitting on eddie’s bed in his temporary room at richie’s house. you grabbed his hand and played around with the rings on his fingers. one of them caught your eye and he noticed, making a mental note to give it to you later. “so, what did you mean by the comment earlier?” you asked and cursed at the twinkle in the blonde’s eye. he gripped your side to pull you closer and your breath hitched when he leaned into the crook of your neck. 

eddie placed a feather-like kiss onto the sweet spot of your shoulder and instant goosebumps appeared all over your soft skin. you cleared your throat before you could let yourself talk incoherently. eddie grinned into your skin before looking up at you and you almost fainted at the dazed look. whispering hoarsely, you asked him, “are you sure?”

eddie nodded and that was all you needed to lean into his kissable lips. he put his hand on your cheek and moved in closer. you moaned when his tongue touched yours and he smirked. your teeth clunked with his when you roughly gripped the blonde strands on the nape of his neck. he broke apart from your lips and moved to push your shirt up, which you helped in doing and then greeted his lips again for another rough kiss. eddie palmed your perfectly molded chest and you let out a whine.

he chuckled and kissed your neck and then slowly made his way down. eddie started at the middle of where your breasts met and you shivered when his warm breath touched you. “you have no idea how-” kiss. “long,” kiss. “i’ve, kiss. “wanted,” kiss. “to,” kiss. “do,” kiss. “this,” kiss.

your body practically spasmed at the euphoria feeling of him worshipping your body. he unclipped your bra and kissed the top of your left and right breasts. moving down more, he also kissed the middle of your stomach and on each side of your waist as he slid down your ripped shorts. it was when you felt like you could orgasm from just that alone when he kissed the inside of your thighs.

“ok, ok eds. i think we’ve waited long enough!” you tried to hold on his hair to get him up from his position and for him to quicken the movements but, the smug bastard ducked at your attempt. eddie knew what he was doing when he slowly slid down your panties. he slipped a finger over your folds and you groaned when you knew that eddie now knew how easily he turned you on.

“this all for me sweetheart?” you rolled your eyes, a classic stan move but it was ruined when you smiled embarrassingly. “no eds. sorry it’s for richie.” he glared playfully at you and pulled his shirt up and off in a seductive way that shut you up instantly. holyshit. when did he start working out? he unbuttoned his pants and shoved them down, stepping out of them. your mouth watered at the sight of him after he took off his boxers.

he admired the sight of you all spread out for him then climbed back over on top of you. your skin tingled when his finger tip brushed inside your body. “so pretty, sweetheart.” eddie kissed you again with everything he had and you melted into him when he fingered faster. you felt how hard and ready he was for you when you pressed up into him after he angled and curled two fingers inside of you. he swallowed your gasps at the feeling of him continuously hitting your g-spot. “please.” you whined into his mouth. 

he looked at you and how pretty you were, which you could say the same about him but there wasn’t enough time to do so when you felt him lining up and pressing against you. eddie pushed inside of you slowly at first. it was almost painful but it stopped when you grabbed his hair and begged for him to go faster. he grabbed your wrists and put them above your head and quickened his pace inside you. 

you babbled and chanted his name when his hips hit yours harshly. eddie leaned down to kiss your shoulder and grinned wolfishly at the way you looked. “you look so pretty like this, y/n. vulnerable and breathless under me. such a good girl.” it was so overwhelming and attractive that you gripped him in a vice at the comment. it was still baffling at the fact that your best friend was fucking you. “i bet richie couldn’t fuck you like this.” you looked at him with widened eyes but didn’t deny the comment so he continued going. 

“you’re my dirty girl, aren’t you?” he wanted a response so he grabbed a big section of your hair and tugged. you nodded as he slammed into you repeatedly and you could feel a bundle in your belly working you up. eddie scooted closer in between while moving himself inside and out of you and kneeled in between your legs. he smirked at your helpless look and pushed your legs apart even further to spread them open for him. 

he looked down at you on display just for him and he moved his hand to position it down and on top of your clit. he flicked it once before rubbing and you gasped. seconds later after a few more pumps inside of you is when you released all over him with him closely following. he looked down at you with a blissful face and kissed your puffed lips that were smeared with red lipstick. eddie collapsed next to you on the side of the bed and turned on his side to look at you.

the sight of you still took his breath away. even with the smeared lip stick and messy hair. he desperately wanted to make you his.“i hope it wasn’t too much?” you poked eddie’s side at his question and he laughed. “no way eds, it was perfect.” you smiled. he cupped your face and looked into your eyes. “i know it’s kind of past asking but do you want to be my girlfriend y/n/n/?”

the next morning, you were in your boyfriend’s arms and holding a mug of coffee in your hands. the two of you broke apart at the sound of a door shutting and of course, richie appeared. he took in your appearance with eddie’s arm wrapped dangerously low around your waist. you looked at the trashmouth who was wearing a wrinkly shirt, along with his hair being all disheveled and poking up in different directions. “long night?” you asked. he snickered and pointed at ed’s your shirt and in a cocky attitude retorted back at you. “more like great night but it looks like you did too.” richie quickly walked by before you had the chance to reply. he wanted to call the others about the bet money while changing for school. before he shut his bedroom door though, richie smirked at the question eddie asked you.

“is that peaches i smell?” you shook your head at ed’s question and his hold on you tightened at your mocking. he smiled at you when you leaned back into his arm and angled your head upwards for another kiss. who knew he could have his best friend and girlfriend all in one?

© babytortie on tumblr + wattpad.

[shhhlikeme]

“Losty Aone” / “Losty Mountain Man🏔” Series:

Outtake Collection #18.5:

———————————

A/N: I know y’all wanna know what happens here sooo I’ll meet you down at the end with more of my authors notes!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

———————————

EARLIER THAT NIGHT - 10:36 PM - ISSA MESS AT THE MOVIES - PART 2 😭🤡

“Hey. You sure you don’t want us to go with you? I can cancel with my parents and—“

You interrupted your friend, waving her off nonchalantly as you jumped out of the back her car. “No, no, Kusa. Thank you for driving me. You guys didn’t need to! But I really appreciate it. I need this time by myself to just…. You know…. Breathe.” 

Kusa frowned at you, still look unsure as to whether she should leave you alone at the theatre or not. Going to the movies alone is a little weird in her opinion, and she knows that you have still been so heartbroken from your breakup, so the fact that Aone had been asked out by one of the girls on the Date Teko cheer team that you considered a friend really hit you hard. 

Despite it all, she and Katana have agreed to let you deal with this the way you see fit, because forcing their desires on you wasn’t the right way to go, and the last time they tried that you cut them off for a week. They had to tread very carefully, as friends. 

“Okay, babe. Call us when you want to get picked up, Okay? We don’t mind.”

You nodded, wrapping your favourite jacket around you a bit more tightly. The sweater-jacket that actually belonged to the man you were in love with. “Thank you.” 

Shutting the door, you stepped back so that Kusa could drive away. 

Katana, who was sitting in the passengers seat, pressed the button to roll up her window and You gave them one last wave, ready to see them off, but just before you could Katana—quiet and deep in thought, pressed the same button to roll the window back down. The car didn’t budge.

“Y/N.” The pretty cheer captain said in a small voice, staring at her lap. You had to lean in to hear her.  

“Hm?”

Big brown eyes looked into yours as your bestie stared at you. It was silent for a moment and the intensity in the air was palpable. Finally, the brunette spoke. 

“I’m worried about you.” She finished, looking more serious than you’ve ever seen her. 

Earlier this Saturday night, you found yourself crying in the shower after you heard that an ex teammate of yours, Sutairu, is interested and has decided to pursue Aone. 

This girl was gorgeous, sweet, and has noticed your Mountain Man from day one, unlike you. There is not one bad thing you can say about her, and you were sure that eventually—especially with Futakuchi’s help—Aone would some day let his walls down for her. One day you would see the most perfect man in the world with another girl because you let him. 

And even though it’s what he deserves: a girl that is better than you, the thought alone shatters you every time it crosses your mind. 

Aone was on this girls instagram story,—a photo of him in another hoodie standing in front of the students he teaches with a caption saying: MCM🤫💋❄️

What did that mean? Could they be dating now? 

Enough was enough. After crying in your shower, You decided you needed a change in scenery, so you got dressed, only putting on concealer and keeping the natural state of your hair when it’s wet. You threw on a huge cardigan, a tank top and some jeans and told the girls what you had planned. Kusa wouldn’t take no for answer, so they insisted on dropping to you at the theatre to see this action-thriller you found on the website. 

So here you are, heart dragging behind you on the floor. You needed to be alone and you needed a change of scenery, that’s all you knew. So now hearing your besties and seeing the absolute fear for your well-being evident on their faces, made your stomach turn even more. Mainly because you couldn’t help them help you. No one can. So that’s why all you answered was, 

“I’m worried too.” Staring into the eyes of the two beautiful females you call your best friends. You then Added, “But I need this hour, okay?. I’ll see you guys later. I have my phone.” Without waiting for a response, you spun away from the car to walk into the large building downtown, straight to the bathroom so you could cry in the stalls prior to the movie.

After you spent a good 10 minutes using toilet paper to wipe under your eyes, then reapplying some conveniently packed concealer there in the mirror, you stuffed the Fenty Beauty case in your purse and walked out of the bathroom so that you can purchase your ticket at the self-serve automated machine. You had grabbed your ticket when it slid out the slot and were began walking to your designated theatre when you heard a familiar voice call out to you. 

“Hey! Y/N?”

Turning toward the voice, you looked over to see a group of 4 boys, all of which you’ve seen before, but in volleyball practice gear. While they were all staring over at you, naturally—your eyes settled on the one in the middle that you recognized the most. And the one who called your name. 

“Takeru,” You breathed, honestly relieved that it wasnt someone from school that you had to pretend you wanted to speak to. Takeru is someone you genuinely liked, that you actually got close to at the Volleyball/Cheer Camp last summer. 

“One sec!” He called, and you stood there waiting as Nakashima handed his card to his friends that were waiting at the ticket kiosk. One of them must have said something annoying to him, because Takeru blushed and told him to shut the fuck up. Feeling scrutinized by his friends, you wrapped your arms around your torso as he stealthily limbo-ed under the rope that divided the line from from the rest of the theatre. 

***

“Ouuu dudes, look. That’s Takanobu’s super hot girlfriend that you fell in love with last summer! This is your second chance bro, don’t fuck it up!” Takeru’s friend nudged him with his elbow and teased him from where he was standing in line. The other boys chuckled when he said that. 

Takeru went red—mostly because he knew it was true. “Shut the fuck up, I’m over her!” He defended himself. He resisted the urge to hit his friend for saying that out loud. Getting out the line because he couldn’t risk his dumb friends exposing his past crush like they almost did multiple times last summer, Nakashima escaped the line to approach you, finding himself jogging over, instead of walking. 

🤨

SLOW DOWN, Takeru told himself. ARE YOU REALLY THAT EXCITED TO SEE HER?

“Hi, Y/N!” The ex-high school volleyball player greeted you with a warm smile that neither of you had any idea was reserved for only you. “It’s been a while.” 

You forced a smile back, but you could see by the way that his own smile faltered that Takeru noticed your smile didn’t reach your eyes. “You okay?” He asked, concerned. 

Lying, you nodded, looking down at your boots and Nakashima resisted the urge to reach forward and tilt your head up. To touch your beautiful skin like he’s wanted to do since the first day you approached him for help, he really thought those emotions had fled… but being around you again made him realize that obvioulsy they hadn’t. 

She’s taken, idiot. The athlete reminded himself. 

“Is Takanobu here?” Nakashima thought to ask, distinctly remembering how much just mentioning his name would bring a big smile to your face back at camp, lighting it up in its entirety. 

So imagine Takeru shock, however, when you winced at the sound of his name instead of beamed. Still staring at your boots, you shook your head. “No, I’m here alone.” 

Alone?

Ask. He told himself. ASK!

“Um-ummm—“ is all he could stutter out.

S m o o t h, idiot. he chastised himself for being so lame. 

“Please, Takeru-san,” you lifted your head to look up at the man you considered to be a pretty good friend. “Don’t.” 

Even though his mind was buzzing with a million questions, Being the smart volleyball player he is, Takeru shut his mouth because the tears welling up in your eyes was enough of an answer than any. His heart sunk seeing you look so unbelievably broken. Without missing a beat, He switched gears. “—What movie are you seeing?” He asked instead. 

You grinned weakly but gratefully at his change in topic, a smile that actually did reach your eyes. “Uh, I don’t even know,” you chuckled pathetically. “I just picked any random movie, um, because, yeah.” 

She’s so cute, thought Nakashima. “Well it’s written on your ticket. Shall we see?” 

“Oh, uh, right.” Feeling dumb, you lifted the ticket in your hand and read the movie title aloud,

 “Jet Down 2.” 

A large amused smile graced Takeru’s face. “Really—that is probably the biggest ‘guy’ movie ever made,”

You nodded, not wanting to mention that hearing the title made you remember that your ex loved the original of this movie. Your nod introduced Takeru and yourself to an awkward silence. You weren’t about to tell him that you picked a movie that you’d be the least interested in so that you can cry in peace because the sounds of shit blowing up will drown out your sobs, no ma’am. If this was any other time, you would have been so happy to see and catch up with this boy. Asking a million questions and telling him how happy you were to see him. But unfortunately, all you could think about was the “MCM” Snapchat you saw earlier. You were devastated, and Takeru caught on to it.... seeing you about to shatter, yet again. He offered his help. 

“Want some company? Uh—“

You immediately shook your head. “No, Takeru-san! You came here with your friends. Enjoy that. Don’t mind me, I....“

Nakashima stared down at you like you were a work of art. When you stopped your pathetic babbling, he nodded slowly, recognizing the same expressions he’s seen his sister’s wear when they were on the verge of crying over a boy. Right before they yelled him to leave their room, leave them alone, and shut the door. The same rule probably applied here. Like an expert, Nakashima backed off. “Okay,” he continued nodding. “I guess I’ll go then. It was really nice seeing you.” He opened his arms and you leaned in for a chaste hug, immediately wishing the male arms around you belonged to a certain white haired volleyball player instead. 

Takeru, on the other hand, didn’t realize how much he missed the feel of you in his arms again. He didn’t want to let go. He wished that the feelings you had for Aone-san were for him. Stupid.

Uncharacteristically, Nakashima turned his head to whisper something in your ear before you let go. Before he never saw you again. “But, tonight, if you need a shoulder to cry on, I’m just one theatre over… Okay? I have a pretty comfortable shoulder, so just text me.” 

Holding back tears, you nodded, removing yourself to make your way to the bathroom again. 

***

Better late than never, you thought to yourself as you sadly sat in your seat in the theatre solo, unsure of how much time has even passed. You didn’t realize this stupid movie would be so packed, but you were thankful for assigned seating (since you specifically chose an aisle seat in case you needed to make another fast-cry escape). You just sat in your seat, curling into a ball and trying to hold it together the best you can.

You couldn’t.

Another 10-minutes later, you found yourself ugly crying in your three-quarter eaten popcorn, completely drenching the salty snack and making it soggy. 

A MESS, you called yourself. This movie was about guns and cars and shit blowing up—but all it took was one tiny little subplot romance scene to break you. LIKE I SAID: A MESS. 

One little stupid ‘be safe’ scene and you were thinking about the time you went to the movies with your ex boyfriend and current love of your life. That time, you had insisted on watching this scary movie but you were getting so unbelievably scared, refusing to leave when your boyfriend offered because you are strong af, so when you resorted to hiding yourself behind his bicep and whimpering instead. Takanobu had enough when he heard you make those sad noises, so he scooped you up from your seat so that you were sitting in his lap. That way, you felt his strong arms around you on boy sides and you were easily able to bury your face in his chest or finish the movie. You finished the movie.🥰

 You would like to say that that was one of the sweetest things that has ever happened to you, but what with being in a relationship with Aone Takanobu for the past year—that absolutely tooth rottenly sweet gesture wouldn’t even crack the Top 10. 

Your tears poured down your cheeks, and you imperceptibly wiped your tears on the sweater of his that you were wearing. Then you realized whose sweater it was and cried even harder! Your heart hurt so much. 

And to make matters worse, you ran out of tissues. 

Knowing that with your luck you’d run into someone you knew if you left now with a completely drenched face. A/N: or turned around :/desperate and sad, you decided to text your friend Takeru about your dilemma. All you asked him for were some tissues because he sort of knew what you were going through even though you didn’t spell it out for him. You hoped he could help for now and then later tonight you’d send him back the money he spent on his movie or something. You kept erasing the message but decided to send it when others in your row were possibly on to the fact that you were sniffling so much for more serious reasons. 

You sent it. Received a response within seconds saying he was on his way. 

Nakashima stumbled in to your the theatre not long after. You waved to him where you were seated in the dark, and he came over like a good friend, giving you a brand new popcorn and a set of tissues. You smiled weakly at the kind gesture and remembered that Aone is the entire reason why this boy Takeru is even here right now. Your tears re-established themselves as your date on this your solo movie night as you leaned your head on Nakashima’s shoulder, who told you that if Aone broke up with you he was an idiot. 

“I’m the idiot,” You whispered to him, because even if it was just a fleeting thought—Aone didn’t deserve any blame. Ever. He is undoubtedly the best person on this planet. “It’s me,” You whispered again, glad that your whiney voice was no match for the volume of the explosions on screen. You blew your nose in a tissue and resumed your position on Takeru’s shoulder. The gesture was platonic enough, but you realized then and there that there was only one shoulder you felt comfortable leaning on, whether it was friendly or not. You sat back up in your seat and met the gaze of a concerned volleyball player.  

“Takeru, I’m so sorry. Can you bring me home—“ the request died on your tongue as you witnessed, or at least you think you did— a dark blur of a a large body with…silver? No, white hair racing down the stairs as if he’d been pushed down them. The figure turned on its heels and fled the theatre in a faster speed than should be possible for a body so large. 

The oddness stopped you in your tracks for a second.

Why did that person-?

You were confused, until a waft of fresh mountainous breeze hit your nostrils, making you gasp. It was The best scent in the world. The scent that was vaguely imbedded in the sweater you were wearing. The scent that belonged to—oh God. You choked on your tears.

“Was that…..?” Your tear stained face scrunched together, trying to piece two-and-two together as your losty brain overworked itself. 

“What were you going to say? You want a drive home?” You could faintly hear Nakashima’s question even though he was right beside you. You were too busy thinking about how that couldn’t have been Aone who stormed out of here, would he choose this movie—oh my—

Lightbulb turning on, you whipped your entire upper body around and searched the seats for someone recognizable. While your scanning stopped momentarily on a few students from school, they ultimately swam to the person or persons you were looking for: There! Kenji-san and Koganagewa-san, two males who were looking at you and Takeru as if you two were the villains in the movie that just popped out of the screen. 

So that WAS Aone!

Why didn’t he come say hi?! 

Your heart started racing. Because you loved him. 

But if that was Aone..... 

Then why did he leave in such a hurry like that…?

And why were his friends looking at you and Nakashima like we…..?

Hold on. 

Your eyes take a mind of their own, whipping from Futakuchi, to Kanji, to Takeru, to Takeru’s shoulder that you ere just laying on, back to the vacant seat where Aone must have been sitting in the between his two friends, and then you looked down at your sweater—his sweater. You thought back to Aone’s shattered expression when you broke up with him by the Ferris wheel and then you saw your own brisk walk from that night redone in his body in the way he just left this theatre blur.

Oh no, You thought. Did this look like a…? With Takeru…?!

OH GOD NO. 

Your heart dropped like one of those rides at the amusement park: 

“Y/N. Are you okay? You look like you’re going to be sick! I can bring you home if you— Y/N? Y/N WAIT LET ME GET MY KEYS—!“ 

You were already gone, leaving your purse, wallet, phone and everything behind—not having to jump over anyones legs to run down the stairs and out of the theatre. You weren’t as fast as Aone, not by a long shot—but you’d be surprised how fast a girl can move when she’s running to the love of her life. 

Running around the empty theatre because everyone was watching a movie, you quickly checked the boys bathroom (not caring that you shouldn’t be in there) before realizing it was empty and then sprinting outside in to the cold night. 

Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone. Please don’t be gone, you chanted. 

Your head snapped left and right, eyes scanning the parking lot for Aone’s car, and when you spotted it signalling and waiting to make a right out of the theatre, you dangerously raced toward it! Heart pumping, you jumped in front of the vehicle with both hands extended in front of you as if you had the strength to stop the car from moving if you could. 

The horn of the car honked dramatically, followed by a head that was not your Mountain Man’s sticking out the window to shout profanities at you to get the fuck out of the way. 

Stepping back shakily, you automatically went back to scanning the lot again for the same 4 wheeler, because locating that car was ALL that mattered right now. 

Finding HIM was all that mattered.

You had to be more cautious now in your search. More purposeful. 

Far back, hundreds of meters from where you were standing you could make out a car that you somehow knew was his. Something, just something, told you it was, and your heart started racing even faster. The lights had turned on like the driver was about to leave, and then it shut off again as if the driver changed their mind about leaving. Without thinking about it, only listening to the pull in your heart that said your man was over there, you used your years of cheerleading experience to catapult you toward the parked vehicle.

When you got closer, your heart squeezed on its own accord as if someone was making pizza dough with it. Slowing down, you took in the sight that was your ex boyfriend sitting in the driver’s seat of his car, white hair visible only because his head was down, forehead kissing the steering wheel, his shoulders vibrating slightly because he is crying. It’s him.

Position:

Not stopping to think anymore, acting on pure love and instinct, you sped over to the driver’s side and tugged the door open. Thank God it was unlocked.

This giant mountain man didn’t move from his position crying on the steering wheel. Only muttering a broken, “Kenji-san, please leave me—“

“Not Justin Bieber look-alike!” You croaked loudly, heart pounding when this gorgeous man’s head lifted as soon as you uttered your first syllable. He looked you up and down and your breath caught in your throat. You’ve NEVER seen such a beautiful man cry before, and although it tugged at what was left of your heart—you thought he looked breathtaking. 

“Y/N…..? D-did Kenji-san send you out-t-t he-here? I apolo-pologize—“

You shook your head, unable to stop yourself from pouring your heart out. 

“Hey. Remember the other day after you helped me film my cheerleading tryout, you said that you were happy we were fr-friends?” You asked sharply, ignoring his apology for now, and forever grateful for the fact that you had major cojones when you wanted to. They came in handy at times like this. 

With red puffy eyes, Aone wiped his face and then nodded, making you melt. 

“Well,” You took a shaky breath, sliding your own tears to the side before you left your heart out on the table for this man. 

“Well, I’m not your friend, Aone.” 

Aone visibly swallowed, his eyes welling up with tears again. He hated himself so much for crying like this. 

“I-I know, not y-yet, bu-but I was hoping one day you’d-d—“ Mountain man didn’t even know what he wanted to say, he was dead.

“No. I’m not your friend.” You repeated yourself, watching a shiver run through Takanobu due to the chill in your voice and the intensity your eyes held.

You could sense that he wasnt getting where you were going with this play on words, so you cut to the chase. Hopefully he would get it after hearing what he had to say next, just like you did when he said these same words to you once in a bowling alley. 

“The reason I can’t be your friend is because I like you so much more than a friend, Aone. You have no idea how much more.” 

Aone shivered again, his beautiful lips separating because his jaw dropped slightly. He recognized his words on your lips now, you could tell. He was understanding how you felt now, so you continued anxiously:

“Everything about you drives me absolutely insane, Takanobu. Your spirit, your love, the way you are the only man I will ever love……even the way you can’t notice that your ex is still madly in love with you, and that she only came here tonight to cry over you alone but ran into someone, and even though she was dumb enough to break up with you.”

Aone’s jaw had just dropped wider as you spoke, his mind reeling. 

You stepped in closer to where he was sitting in his car, closing the distance because you just couldn’t stand being any further from him anymore. You also wanted to whisper this next part. You wanted him to know that his confession to you was etched in your brain so much so that you could recite it in a moments notice, even if that said moment was full of pure emotional madness like right now. 

“I’m not your friend, Aone.” You repeated once again. “I don’t want to be. I want to be everything else for you. Everything more. Takanobu, I have a confession to make.” You used both of your cold hands to cup his cheeks, his beautiful, red, stubble filled, wet cheeks.

“I love you. I love you, my Mountain Man. I love you more than I did yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. I loved you on the Ferris wheel, and I loved you when you filmed my tryouts. I love you Right now, and I will forever. I will explain everything, I promise. But there has never been, nor will there ever be anyone else for me other than you, Aone-san.” 

You giggled through your tears because Takanobu looked so confused but happy. It was an odd expression, but very cute. You continued, 

“I know we get called Losties a lot which used to bother me, but you know what: maybe we are, but that’s besides the point—because all I know is that I used to hate being called that…. Until I met you.” You leaned in so that your foreheads were touching. “When I met you, Aone-san....... I stopped caring about being lost….... none of it mattered to me.......insofar as we were lost together. Together with you is the only way I want to go through life, Aone, so I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry for letting my insecurities drive me and I’m sorry for possibly confessing to you when you have someone else. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m—“

Mountain Man imitated your gesture of cupping your cheeks in his large hands, wiping away your tears like you did to him. 

And then, without saying another word like he was good at—

He slid you into his lap sitting in the front seat, back in the same position he pulled you in the last time you two were at this theatre—

and then he kissed you. 

It was a kiss so passionate that you gasped into it, needing him, needing him like a hiker needed their mountain. A kiss so passionate it l lasted for the remaining duration of the movie (no word of a lie) because you refused to let each other go—but most importantly: it was a kiss that made you realize that you and Mountain Man weren’t just two losties lost together like you mentioned a bit ago—no. Absolutely not. Actually, this kiss was so passionate it made you realize that you were really two losties that were lost in every aspect in life—minus one:

Because you two could never be lost when it came to your feelings for one another. Finding true love happened to be the only aspect of life that most people on this planet remained lost in, which happened to be the exact aspect of life where you and Aone have both been….

Found. 

🐢

🐢

🐢

———————————

A/N: That’s it! I am secretly here to let y’all know that there will be one more collection post next time I write, and that post will be the end of this losty series. I will cry when that time comes lmao but for now tysm for reading this marathon - I would loooove to hear your thoughts! I literally die when you guys comment or send me private messages reacting. It makes my whole day istg. Anyways, Wishing you all the best as always. See you next time. Xoxo

Taglist: @galagcica @chaichai-the-weeb @nairobiisqueen @bisasterrr @juminly @simply-not-the-same @marvelousbakugou @qyuanon

[nooneelsecomesclose17]

No doubt in my mind where I belong

Ok, so I've been thinking about this one for a while and anyone who follows me will know just how incensed I still am at the whole 'Paddy locking Aaron in his own house' episode, so this is my attempt at trying to make it just a little more bearable. I've had to rejig the whole going on the run thing so canon as it was pretty much stops when Vic walks in to tell them that L** is dead.

I've used some of the dialogue from the ep itself, but yeah, I've tried to make it better.

(A03 link)

When he was a kid he caught the end of one of those dramas about the apocalypse and it scared him. He’d gone downstairs late one night, wanting some water and he’d peeked through to door to see his Mum and Dad watching it. For weeks after he’d had nightmares of the world ending and him being all alone. When it actually happens though, it’s not with a bang or anything so dramatic. In reality it’s two little words that bring his world crumbling down around him.

“Lee’s dead.”

The room is perfectly quiet at Vic’s words, as if none of them quite know what to do. All he can see is Robert’s panicked face. They both know what this means. It means a murder charge, at best manslaughter. It means Robert going to prison, possibly for years.

Then Robert’s talking, his voice carrying through the fog of panic that’s filling his head.

“If anyone’s going then it’s me on my own.”

He stares at him, their silent conversation telling him everything. His next words are the truth, he’s useless without him. There’s no question that he’s staying behind

From then it’s a rush, making sure Seb’s taken care of, that Vic will take him back to Rebecca and try to explain, packing enough clothes for the night, they don’t have time for anything else. When he comes out of the bathroom, hands full of stuff they might need he finds Robert sitting on the bed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Is this the right thing?”

“Yeah. There’s no other choice. Robert we don’t have time. We have to go.”

“We won’t get anywhere, you don’t think they’ll have my name everywhere as soon as they can? How will we even get out of the country?”

“Look, let’s just get out of here first and then we’ll sort it. If we stay here the police will come and then we’ll have no choice. If we leave we have a chance.”

“I should go on my own. You don’t need to be dragged into this.” He shakes his head, there’s no way, the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. “I mean it. Your family, the scrapyard, I’d be dragging you away from it all because I was stupid.”

“You’re my husband, you think that stops just because things get tough? I meant those vows you know. Now come on, get packed.”

Even in his wildest dreams he hadn’t thought it would be so hard to say goodbye to Seb. He tries to say everything he needs to while the little boy plays with his trucks. The little boy he’d once thought he could never love, who had won him over the minute he held him. Would he ever remember them, would he hate them for leaving him like this? He presses a kiss to the top of his hair and then makes his excuses about sorting the two cars because he can’t watch Robert say goodbye to his son.

By the time Robert’s done his Mum and Paddy are there and he makes the goodbyes as quick as he can but of course his Mum doesn’t want him to go, using the baby to try and stop him, demanding he doesn’t leave. He says the only thing he can.

“I choose Robert.”

—————

It was idyllic, the sun coming through the trees, the only noise the birds singing and the distant hum of traffic.. It really was idyllic. If he closed his eyes he could imagine they were on a picnic, the three of them, Seb taking a nap after wearing himself out exploring, he and Robert enjoying the quiet. Instead he’s looking around expecting the police to jump out any second. They’d driven for an hour, far enough away that they wouldn’t be found quickly, driving the cars down a track that looked like it hadn’t been used for years, deep enough that it couldn’t be seen easily, and now they were waiting, sat in the woods like they had years before.

"So we're agreed?" Robert asks breaking the silence. They’d talked this over so many times and there was no other way.

"Yeah." They needed to get out of the country and to do that they needed passports. Robert’s contacts had come up blank, leaving Aaron with no choice but to call Cain. Now it was all set. "I'll go and get the passports from Cain and more of our stuff, then meet you. Cain can pick up the car we leave later.”

"And you're really sure? Because it's asking a lot I know and I won't...if you wanted to stay."

"I'm sure." It wasn't even a question. No one got it, not his Mum, not Liv, no one. He thinks maybe Cain comes the closest. He had to be with Robert. Couldn't even contemplate letting him go. “Like I said, useless without ya, aren’t I?”

“I know but…we can never come back Aaron. Can you really handle not seeing Liv again, or your Mum or the baby?”

“I can’t handle not seeing you again. I’m not saying it’ll be easy but there isn’t a choice. Throughout our lives together remember. That wasn’t just about the easy bits.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“Stuck with me now though.” Robert grins, the first one since they’d heard the news and he smiles back. “Right, so you find somewhere near the port then text me.”

“Right.”

“I’ll find you and then we’re gone.” It sounded so so simple, he could only hope it was that easy in reality.

"Then it’ll be me, you, little chateau, by the river maybe.” It sounds like a dream.

“We could even get a little veg patch."

"Fancy yourself in a pair of wellies do you?" Robert's laughing and for a few seconds he revels in it, the normality, before he sobers. "We're really doing this aren't we?"

"Looks that way."

"And it doesn't matter that we'll have nothing?”

“Are you forgetting I’ve done this before.” There was some kind of joke in there, going on the run twice in a lifetime. “ been there done it, got the criminal record

“You had Ed then.”

“Yeah, for all the help he was. Spent most of the first month panicking every time he saw a uniform. The security guard at the local supermarket nearly gave him a heart attack. At least you’ve got a bit of sense about you.”

“Cheers.”

“Listen to me, I don’t care what I have as long as I’m with you. What about you? I mean you're leaving behind just as much as I am."

"I don't have any choice though. I can’t handle prison Aaron, I know it. Anyway, I’d rather live out my days living my best life with you with nothing than not have you at all. But you, you have a choice.” He pretends not to hear the wobble in his voice because this is where they are now, they've made the choice. No going back.

“No I don’t.” They go back to sitting in silence, waiting, thinking, until his phone lights up. He picks up his phone. "It's Cain. He's got them.”

“That was fast.”

“Amazing what you can get if you offer enough money.”

"You're sure going back to the village is safe? Why couldn’t he meet you somewhere else.”

“I don’t know, there’s something up with him. I’ll be fine, I’ll be in and out. They can't get me on anything anyway. The worst they can do is hold me up but like I said, you wait twenty four hours and if I'm not there you go, however you can.”

"But..."

"No. You go. I mean it Robert you get away. I'll find you. Don't you dare do anything stupid like giving yourself up."

"Yes boss.” He takes a minute, just in case, to drink him in and then he’s getting up, kissing him, lingering as long as he dares before he leaves.

—————

He's halfway home when Cain calls telling him he's held up and to wait, that he's sending them over with Billy. Aaron rolls his eyes at that, him of all people. Whatever is going on with his uncle better be worth it.

He's sat at the edge of the village not daring to go any further until he has to, for all his bravado in front of Robert, he doesn't much fancy being hauled in by the police, even if they couldn't actually prove he'd helped Robert in any way. It would just waste time. Time they didn't have.

After he’s met Billy and got the passports and the cash Cain has managed to get together, he goes to the house, wanting to grab enough to tide them over for a few days. Sentimental it might be but he threw a few pictures of Seb in too alongside their wedding album. At least they’d have the memories wherever they ended up. As he’s zipping up the bag he hears the door slam downstairs.

"Hello?" Instantly on edge he grabs the bag making his way to the top of the stairs, half expecting find a police firearm in his face. Instead he finds Paddy standing between the stairs and the door. "Paddy, what is it? I don't have a lot of time."

"I saw Billy.” Fucking Billy, he should’ve known he'd mess it up.

"I don't need this." He goes to walk past him, cursing Cain, but Paddy stops him, and that's when he sees Liv sat at the table. "Paddy get out of the way,"

"Listen to him Aaron."

"I know what he wants to say and I gave you my answer this morning. I choose Robert. Now move, I need to go."

“No. I can’t let you do this to your mother. Not when she’s in the state she is.” There it was the tone he was so used to, like he was a naughty child. He wasn’t that person any more.

“She’s pregnant Paddy, and everything is fine so there’s no need for the dramatics. Did she send you?”

“No, but she’ll probably know by now. I told Marlon.”

“Terrific. Why not just send an email to Hotten nick. So, what are you going to do about it? And what's your part in all this?" He switches his attention to his sister, suddenly mute in the corner.

“I’m trying to help you see sense.”

“Liv, don’t do this. You told us this morning, you said we should go.” All he gets is a shrug.

“I changed my mind, I don’t want you to go. At least let us talk. You didn’t even give us a proper chance to say goodbye.”

"You understand that the police could’ve turned up any minute night? Did you want me to throw a party?"

"Aaron."

"What!" He turns back to Paddy. "You know what. I don't have time for this. Robert's waiting."

"You're really going to throw your life away. for him?" The sneering tone whenever he talks about Robert is back. Had it ever gone away or had he just ignored it. “You won’t be able to come back. Can you really do that, give up everything? Everything you’ve managed to build up here, the life you have?”

“That’s what you don’t understand.He is my life! Nothing else matters except for him.”

“You’re about to do the most stupid thing imaginable. For him. He killed someone Aaron."

"A rapist. Don't you ever try and tell me I should feel sorry for someone like him. Robert did the world a favour and if you didn't hate him you'd admit it."

"He broke the law and just like always he thinks he can just get away with it,”

"You call this getting away with it? He wishes he was surprised that Paddy was behaving like this but he wasn't. "He's giving up everything, his business, his home, his family, his son. You think that's easy?"

"Maybe he should've thought about that before he killed someone. Maybe Seb will be better off." Aaron can't help himself, steps up in Paddy's face ignoring Liv's protests and it takes everything he’s got not to push him out of the way. Only because it’s him does he not give into the urge.

“Whatever you think about Robert even you can’t deny he’s a good Dad. The best Dad, so don’t even go there.” He bends to pick up the bag again. “I’m done. I need to go, so are you going to let me pass?”

"No. You're staying here until you see sense.” Paddy nods at Liv and she finally moves. He frowns as all she does is go to the kitchen window. It takes a few seconds to realise she’s locking them.

"You're not serious?"

“Every door and every window is locked. I love you Aaron, you’re not going to get your own way. I'm not letting you ruin you life over him.”

"So you're keeping me prisoner?” He’s going to wake up in a minute and find this is some kind of drug induced nightmare he’s sure of it.

"If necessary."

"For how long?” They can’t be serious. Any minute now they’re going to laugh and send him on his way because he’s having a hard time believing that people he loves would do this to him.

"As long as it takes.”

"Best get comfy forever then because the second your back is turned I'm gone.” He’s not quick enough to stop Paddy moving past him and he can only watch as he throws the keys into the waste disposal.

“Oh that was clever. So tell me, how are you going to get out?”

“I’ll think about that when you’re not being so stupid.” He sits in the chair he’s moved to in front of the door, the one he picked out, the one they argued over because it didn’t match the sofa and Robert hated, the one he insisted on because it was big enough for both of them to sit in if they were really close.

“I’m being stupid? You’ve just locked three adults in a house and thrown the keys away. Real mature that. Now you’ve had your fun, but I’m done. You either let me leave or I’m callin’ the police.”

“Go ahead. I doubt they’ll let you go any more than I will.” He just stares at him, wondering where the Paddy he used to know had gone. The one who had seen him through one of the toughest times in his life, who had sat by his hospital bed when he’d thought there was no point in carrying on. The person in front of him wasn’t that man, he didn’t know who this was.

“I’ll have to take my chance won’t I?”

”Aaron. Don't be ridiculous. You’ll go to prison!”

“Fine. Not like I’m going to have a life here is it? If you’re willing to stand by and let me go back there then so be it.” He’s bluffing, it’d kill him he knows it would, but maybe just maybe it’ll bring them to their senses.

“He’s not worth ruining your life over!”

“See that's what you don't get. He is my life. Without him…without him I don’t have anything.” He ignores the cry coming from Liv. He didn’t mean to hurt her but he’s only speaking the truth. Without Robert he’d merely be existing.

He knows exactly how it would go, a repeat of the months after they broke up. The sympathetic looks would last for so long and then their tactics would change, the odd mentions of cute guys, of how he should get out more, how Robert wouldn’t want him wasting his life. He wouldn’t be able to cope with it, not again.

He has to come up with something, he was wasting time here, and they weren’t going to budge he knew that, but he had to get out. He’s frantically trying to think where there might be a spare key hidden. Robert was obsessive about them losing their keys so he had them stashed everywhere but right now his brain is so muddled he can’t remember where he put them.

“Seeing sense are you?”

“No, just trying to work out how to get out without hurting you.”

“You can’t. And besides we can’t let you. You’ll see we’re right in the end. You know the police, they’d think he masterminded this. All you’re doing is adding time to his sentence when they catch you, which they will.”

“We’ll be long gone by then.”

“You and Robert against the world? Do you think that’s going to last forever, that you’re not going to resent each other for everything you’ve had to give up.” They’re wrong and he wants to shout it from the rooftops. He doesn’t have anything to give up that’s worth more than Robert and if they’re together then nothing else would matter.

“This is our only option you know, I’m not choosing this.”

“But Robert did. Robert chose the day he ignored you and Victoria, the day he went out and attacked Lee, just like I did the day I went to Pierce’s office and smacked him one for what he did to Rhona.”

“There you go. He was just protecting his sister.”

“But she didn’t want that Aaron. Can’t you see, this is what he does! He always has to get his own way! It was all about him, and what he wanted. I was the same, it was about my need to do something. Ended up nearly ruining the court case for Rhona in the end.”

“Yeah, well Vic didn’t even get a court case did she?”

“That’s not the point and you know it. He still killed someone, someone’s son, someone’s brother.”

“Paddy you really are mental if you think I’m going to feel one ounce of sympathy for a rapist.”

“Aaron, he’s not a hero. He’s selfish, and he’s reckless and I know you don’t want to hear this but if he valued your marriage even half as much as you do…”

“Oh Paddy will you just be quiet. You know nothing about our marriage. The only time you bother with us is to tell us what we’re doing wrong or when Mum drags you. I get it, you don’t like him.

“And why is that? He’s turned you against us, me and your Mum.”

“No, no. You’ve done that yourself. Do you think he didn’t tell me what you said before our first wedding? When we broke up? Always in his ear like an annoying little flea aren’t you, whispering your poison. Whatever you say isn’t going to change anything, you might as well save your breath.”

“This is the man who tried to kill me. Twice. He cheated on you. He had a child with someone else and then forced you to take him on. He’s not yours Aaron and he never will be, not really.” That hurt, even now after all this time, because it’s true, in reality he’ll never have any claim on Seb. He knows that if this goes wrong, if Robert ends up in prison he’ll lose the both of them.

“No. You stop right there. I love Seb. You know you’re so obsessed with biology and yet you reckon I’m your son.” He shrugs, biting his thumb nail. “When was the last time you saw Leo?”

“What?” Finally he thinks he’s managed to wrong foot him, sitting there with his head tilted to one side, a habit that Aaron hadn’t realised was so annoying until today.

“When did you last see Leo. You do remember him don’t you? Nearly nine years old, blonde, you used to call him your son.”

“That’s not fair.”

“What’s not fair is you lecturing me on all of Robert’s wrongs when you're not so squeaky clean yourself are you. Now you’re with Mum you barely want to know Leo. I suppose I should be thankful you still speak to me, although right now I’d rather you weren’t.”

“Aaron, why are you being so horrible? Paddy’s always looked out for you.”

“Has he Liv? Really? Where was he when I was going through the worst thing a person can go through? When I had to take my own father to court, to stand up in front of strangers and tell them what he did to me? Where was he?”

“Wait a minute…”

“No. He’s so keen to talk about Robert’s failings, but Robert was there. He listened to me, he let me talk, he didn’t lecture or tell me what was best for me. He stood by me the whole way through, he was there in court by my side every day.” He stands up and leans over Paddy, hands clutching the leather of the chair. “You, you turned up what twice and then as soon as it was over you upped and left me to it because you’d been found out after having an affair. That’s not what a Dad does.”

“You didn’t want me near you if you remember.”

“Because you’d had an affair! Something you keep crucifying Robert over. Face it Paddy, you’re a hypocrite. You hold everyone to such a high standard and yet you can’t even meet it yourself. If you truly loved me like you say you do you’d have been there anyway. I told Robert to do one numerous times and yet he was still there.”

“Oh Robert’s so perfect isn’t he?”

“I’ve never said that, no one is perfect, but he doesn’t stand on the moral high ground like you do lording it over everyone.”

“And yet he’s got you going on the run, away from your family. You can face the truth or not Aaron but he’s the one who’s put you here, all because he couldn’t control his temper."

“Whatever. I don’t need to hear this, just move.”

“No!” He’s shouting now, getting up out of the chair grabbing at his arm.

“Don’t be stupid Paddy.”

“Why, what you going to do? You gonna hit me?”

“No.” He’s so close all those old feelings of being trapped flooding back and doesn’t know if he can stop it. For all he’s better now, it’s still there.

“Well that’s the only way you’re going to get past me isn’t it?” It’s the hand on the shoulder that shakes him out of it, swings round so fast only to see Liv’s shocked face looking back at him.

“This is what he does you see Liv, lashes out, so he doesn’t have to listen, so he can turn it into a fight”

“You’re the one pushing me to it, and you know it.”

“Cos you know we’re right, like the last time you decided to beat me up.”

“Paddy stop it, that’s not fair.” He actually can’t believe he’s brought that up. He’s changed, surely he knows that. He’s not that petrified kid anymore.

“Tell me I’m wrong Aaron. Me, Jackson, James, Kasim, even Robert. Any time you’re in a temper or things aren’t going your way you lash out.” He can’t speak, just nods, fighting back tears, refusing to let them see him upset.

“Fine. If that’s what you think.” He sniffs, stands up straight. “If I’m so bad, if I’m such a violent person then you won’t need me around anymore.”

“Now hold on, that’s not what I’m saying.”

“No. Clearly I’m not someone you think very much of so there’s no point me staying any longer.” He wishes he was more surprised, but when he thinks back there’s always been an air of disappointment, like he’s never quite been good enough. He’d never be able to thank Paddy enough for taking him in, helping him, but it’s almost as if he’s expected to pay for that by conforming to his, and his Mum’s, idea of what his life should be like, and when he doesn’t they bring out the emotional blackmail, and bring up all his past mistakes.

He knows he’s done that himself, with Robert, can remember sitting on that sofa and calling Seb a mistake, seeing the light go out in Robert’s eyes as if he’d realised that he’d never be able to forget that one moment of stupidity. He should never have done that, especially as he hadn’t even meant it, had just been lashing out in his helplessness over Liv. He knows how that feels, how could he have made Robert feel like that.

“You’re going to break your Mum’s heart.” He barely manages to stop from rolling his eyes. Maybe she’d be upset, no he knew she would, but deep down he knew she understood even if she’d never admit it.

“She’ll get over it. She managed before when I went to France.”

“And you came home then, what makes you think you’ll be able to do it this time?”

“I’ll be with Robert.” They could do anything as long as they were together, as sappy as that sounded. They’d already got through so much, this wouldn’t be the thing to break them. “He’s all I need, and you can argue all you like but it’s the truth. I’ll never forgive you if you do this Paddy, I swear."

“I’ll take the risk. I’m still not letting you out. Your Mum would never forgive me and you might not think so now but you’ll thank me one day.”

“It doesn’t matter, because like I told you, as soon as you leave I’m gone. You can’t keep me here the rest of my life.”

“I don’t need to, the police will catch up with him eventually.” He can’t believe he’d actually wish someone to go to prison like this, it’s such a world away from the Paddy he’d lived with, the one who’d taken him in.

“You know, I used to think you were the best, I wished you’d been my Dad, that I’d always had you. But that person, he would support me, he would understand. I’m twenty seven years old Paddy, I’m not that messed up kid you took in, not any more. You can’t force me into doing what you want any longer.”

“Someone has to. I’m not standing by while you mess up, again and ruin not just your life but ours too. You say you’re not a kid anymore, well start acting like it.”

He just shakes his head, there’s no point talking anymore, he was getting nowhere. He checks his watch, it’s been hours and he’s running out of time. It’s dark outside, surely someone will have noticed Paddy is missing by now but he can’t rely on that. He’d never be able to call Cain, they’d probably break his phone. No, he has to sort this himself, has to stop relying on other people.

All he can think about is Robert sitting somewhere alone, waiting, wondering. Maybe he thinks Aaron’s had second thoughts, has decided he’s not worth it, hates that he knows it’s the first thing Robert will think and that he can’t do anything to take that away.

He can’t bear the thought of him out there alone, knowing no one, having to hide, not being able to contact anyone. At least if he’s with them then they have each other.

He needs a plan, because there is no way he’s letting Robert believe that Aaron doesn’t love him enough to do this.

“Have you ever been in love Paddy?” He asks quietly. Liv’s asleep and he doesn’t want to wake her.

“What?”

“I said have you ever been in love?”

“I’ve been married four times.”

“We both know that means nothing. I mean real, intense, passionate love. The kind where if you’re away from them too long it actually aches. The kind where you’d willingly die just so they could live. Have you ever felt like that?” He’s silent, like he knew he would be. “Because that’s me and Robert. That day, in the car, I told him to go, to save himself, to leave me so he could save himself.”

“So?”

“So...if you’ve never felt that then you can’t even imagine how much you’re hurting me right now.” For a minute he thinks maybe he’s got through to him, Paddy’s staring at him and maybe he’s finally seeing it.

“See, if that’s true, then Robert would willingly let you stay so that you could have your life when he can’t have his. He wouldn’t make you do this.”

“For God’s sake Paddy, he’s not making me. The only one making me do anything is you.” He doesn’t answer and Aaron sighs, sitting back in the chair.

They sit in silence for hours. His eyes are permanently fixed on the clock over the mantelpiece, the minutes and hours ticking by. He’s seriously short of time now, and if he doesn’t get out soon there’ll be no point. He looks around, Liv’s still curled up asleep on the sofa worn out from the constant arguing. Paddy’s still in the chair, he looks asleep but Aaron’s not going to take it for granted.

He’s about to give up hope when it comes to him, can only hope they haven’t realised, that they’ve forgotten it. He wishes it didn’t have to be this way, wishes he could’ve made them see that this was what he wanted, that without Robert there was no point. They’d never change though, so convinced that what they believe is true, and he had to do what was best for him.

Once upon a time he would’ve caved, would’ve given in just to keep them happy, that it would be the only way they’d love him, if he did what they wanted. He knows better now, Robert has taught him that love is unconditional, or it should be.

He gets up, checks they’re still sleeping. As quiet as he can he picks up the bag, eyes fixed on Paddy silently begging him not to wake up. As soon as he’s in the bathroom with the door locked he springs into action, nearly cheering when he finds the window unlocked.

“Not so clever after all eh?” He whispers, pushing it as wide as it’ll go, throwing the bag out onto the ground.

He studies the window, hoping he can fit. Then again, Robert did. If nothing else it’ll give them a laugh later on.

Before he knows it he’s out, the night air cool around him. For a second he thinks he should break back in, let them out, but he reasons with himself that the two of them got into the mess, they would have to get out of it. He drags his phone from his pocket dialling the familiar number.

“Robert? It’s me.” His voice is shaking from the adrenaline and he wants to laugh at the fact he’s just escaped from his own house. He would if it wasn’t so ridiculous and he wasn’t so angry.

“Aaron, what’s taking so long?”

“I’ll explain later. Where are you?” He gives him the name of a place and then he’s quiet and Aaron knows he’s waiting for him to tell him he’s not coming, that he’s changed his mind. “Rob?”

“I’m here.”

“I’m on my way. I promise.” He tells him, jumping into the car. He wishes they’d had time to find another car but as it is he’ll just have to be careful and as much as it would slow him down he’d have to keep to the speed limit to avoid any unwanted attention.

“I’ll wait.” He smiles. That’s all he needs to know.

He doesn’t want to leave Liv like this, he knows she’d only done it because she cares. Maybe Paddy did too, but there was a part of him that knew if it had been anyone but Robert, they wouldn’t have stopped him. It has to be this way. Maybe one day they’ll see each other again, somehow. Maybe one day he’ll forgive them, but right now that’s not important. What’s important is his future and he knew exactly what that meant.

His future was with Robert now.