#2: Link just needs a break and it’s more angsty and he just loves to hear the peaceful quiet of the music

[webhead3345]

Me and my sister were talking about Kass in BotW and realized that we both would sneak up on him (close enough to hear him play but far enough that he wouldn’t notice Link and stop) just to listen to his music for a while.

Made me think of what that would look like to Kass if he ever actually noticed it was happening. 😂

[gurugirl]

Gurugirl's Wattpad & Tumblr Fic Recs

Anything you read in these masterlists won’t disappoint but I’ve picked my absolute favorites from each blog and listed below.

NOTE: I did my best to include all my faves here but I've probably forgotten a few. I intend to add to this list (may need to make a part 2 once I hit my mentions and link limits) because I'm always reading new fics so come back often!

Angst recs (all taken from list below but specific to the more angsty ones)

Daddy kink

Enemies to lovers

Summer vibes & party fics

Personal faves from my own writings

Other blogs I love

Tumblr

@1d1195

One Shot: Right Here: one bed, nightmares, enemies to lovers, hurt/comfort, childhood "friendship," coworker Harry, grumpy/sunshine (I'll let you guess who's who), etc. etc. etc.

@a-strange-familiar

Series: His Memories (3 parts): you and Harry broke up few months back but still love each other. And after all these months you see him again in a party. All memories you tried to push back in your head came back with a powerful speed.

@adorebeaa

One shot: Undo Me: YN reveals a kink in front of best friend!Harry, who is curious…

@awideworldoffanfics

Series: Milking the Grip (5 parts): Harry Styles is a single dad who golfs every Tuesday. Y/N is his babysitter who also happens to work at the golf course he goes to. They’ve never run into each other there. Until they do.

@be-with-me-so-happily

Series: My Way Back Home: YN is left to figure out what to do when the love of her life, Harry, does not remember loving her. (AU)

Series: Don't Worry Darling: Y/N has her first big break as an actress as she lands the leading role in 'Don't Worry Darling'. The only problem is that her co-star is Harry Styles, who she feels has a very big ego. Tensions rise the more they film. All kinds of tension...

One Shot: Friendly Favor: When YN's best friend Harry asks for a favor, she knows it'll be difficult, but she loves him too much to say no. However, it's a dumb plan, and those usually don't end how you think they will.

Series: Laceleaf: Gemma is definitely Cassidy James' favourite Styles family member, considering they are best friends and all. And especially considering that Harry Styles is Gemma's smug and self-centered younger brother. Her life isn't perfect, and neither is she, but she knows for a fact that anything involving Harry gets messy.

@bopbopstyles

Masterlist (anything you pick here will be a pleasure - seriously)

@fkinavocado

Series: Daddy Issues: in which you’ve got textbook daddy issues and when your tool of a younger brother brings a sweet doe eyed girlfriend home for Thanksgiving and you end up offering her a ride home, you meet just the man to fix them. (daddy!harry, dilf!harry)

Series: Hard Candy: in which Harry owns a candy store and he just loves giving good girls special treats… especially after closing time (candyman!Harry)

One Shots & Blurbs: Long Hair Harry One Shots & Blurbs

@freedomfireflies

Series: Playboy: Welcome to 1965, where the women are loose, and the morals are looser. Here you'll meet Michelle and Harry. You don't need to know too much about them. Just that they're both incredibly bold...and incredibly jealous. The summer of June 1965 was a rather wild one for the Playboy Bunnies but even more wild for our two dear friends. Stick around and I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you all about it. You just have to promise one little thing... Don't tell Hefner.

Series: Teach Me: 5 parts - Harry needs a little practice in the art of Eating Pussy, and who better to ask for help than his best friend?

Series: Mafia!harry: 2 parts so far - more to come - Your mafia boss boyfriend, Harry, has been a little neglectful of his most prized possession. But he's found the perfect way to make it right. Exhibition kink!!

@goldenbuckyyy

Series: Illicit Affairs: A series of events between your affair with Harry. (Cheating together)

@harryistheonlyoneforme

One Shot: Little Freak: pairing: dbf harry x reader (so hot - so many kinks all in one little shot - must read)

@harrywritingsbyme

Sneaking Around (a series of shorts): Best friends dad - FUCKING HOT

@helladirections

Series: Brother's Best Friend: Harry is YN’s brother’s best friend, and YN isn’t a little kid anymore. Ft. dom/sub, rough sex, and soft words. 

One Shot: Under Summer Skies: Harry and YN are longtime best friends back for another summer as the Dream Team on staff. Featuring getting called out by 12 year olds, two dumb best friends who can’t see what’s right in front of them, and lots of stargazing.

One Shot: Moka Pot: Do you think you can maybe do y/n and Harry having a slow morning routine? Like drinking tea together, doing skin together, basically just doing everything together? 

@itslottiehere

One Shot: I Don't Want to Hear About Him (angsty): bff!harry writes a song about bff!reader.. and her boyfriend.

@jawllines

Harry is Y/n's Criminology Instructor (2 parts)

Harry is a single dad and y/n is surprisingly good at babysitting (2 parts)

Harry & y/n are witches, they hate eachother, and something's coming (3 parts)

Y/n knows something she shouldn't and Harry does what on Fridays? (4 parts) - Boxer!harry

Harry is a grumpy mechanic and y/n just can't stop talking (4 parts)

@jarofstyles

King of the Jungle (multi part series): Y/N’s family works for a wildlife preservation society and Harry is king of the jungle or tarzan!harry

Lone Wolf (multi part series): Harry is a grumpy alpha who has given up on finding his mate or werewolf!harry

Beauty & the Beast (multi part series): Harry is a moody, withdrawn but successful creature who needs a companion who can tend to his… needs.

@lemoncrushh

Series: The Entertainer: Set in the 70s, Sky Jones meets Harry Styles, an up and coming musician and soon-to-be rockstar. The Entertainer Part II

One Shot: Dressing For Revenge: Still heartbroken from finding your ex cheating on you, you go to a nightclub with your friend Kelsie, where not only do you run into your ex, but also a handsome gentleman who’s willing to help you get over him. Part II

@lukesaprince

Series: Intruder: You were an outside hire for a promotion Harry wanted, and he despises you for it. The hatred is mutual since Harry is a bit of an asshole, until the day of an important presentation where the tension is finally dealt with - A very steamy enemies to lovers romance (domrry)

Series: The Roommate Series: After Y/N’s best friend and roommate Alex decides to move out, she’s desperate for someone to take her place. Alex seems to have found the solution in a British fresh-to-New-York musician who ticks all the boxes. He just happens to be insanely attractive and charismatic… what could go wrong? (friends to lovers)

Series: Fratboy!harry You Can Pretend All You Want: You hate fratboys and everything they stand for, so you decide to prove one wrong by sleeping with him… safe to say it backfires (fratboy!harry, enemies to lovers).

Series: Rich: Neighbour/Older!Harry. A Summer dogsitting job for Mr. Styles is a dream come true for any broke uni student. He's rich, gorgeous and finally fucks you after your weekly dinner together. A series that follows two neighbours who end up in a sexual relationship.

@moonchildstyles

Series: Aster: Harry is a tattoo artist and y/n just wants to know if he's like this all the time or if he just doesn't like her. tattoo artist!harry / lhh!harry

Series: Citrine: Harry's a witch and it's been along time since since he's been around anyone new, but there's no way he was getting y/n out of his head. witch!harry

Series: Chiaroscuro: y/n needed a job but this place is strange and the owner is even stranger. vampire!harry

Series: Prosecco: Harry is just on the edge of 30 and y/n is someone he's sure he shouldn't get involved with. until she seeks him out anyway, and he realizes no one has ever really shown her how she should be treated. older!harry

@0oolookitsme

One Shot: Dazzled: In which Harry has an uneasy feeling about Y/n’s new mission but the devil ignores his guts’ screams. But the vampire as well as his fiancé, Y/n, isn’t dumb and is quick to listen and take some weight off of his shoulders. They both soon find out, why, he was feeling uneasy. 

One Shot: Anything For You... And I: SMUTTY!!!! Dwd!Harry x Dwd-Character!Y/n

@0nlythrowharrybeaux

Friends Share (2 parts):Harry & Y/N have been practically perfect roommates for several years but the appearance of a hot new neighbor creates an unexpected shift in their relationship.

Unavailable (2 parts): Y/N has a very specific preference for unavailable/inappropriate people and Harry is her therapist who is supposed to help her work through this.

@pleasingforharry

Moans & Elevator Music (2 parts): Y/N is in a rush for an interview at her new job, but her luck gives out when the elevators shut down due to a sudden power outage. At least she isn’t alone.

@purplekiwis

Breaking the Ice (2 parts): Hockey!Harry x Skater!Y/N It’s no secret that as a figure skater, you’re fed up with the local hockey team being treated like royalty… and your ex’s status as a player isn’t helping much either.

In the Witching Hours (will be 3 parts): Wizard!Harry x Witch!Y/N; Soulmates AU An emergency admission to the hospital gives rise to a series of strange events but luckily, there’s a cute, shy wizard around…

One shot: Tentmate: Friends With Benefits Y/N has always hated camping… until her and Harry got stuck together in the same tent. (This one is smutty AF)

@s-brant

Series: The Getaway Car: In a drug deal gone wrong, Y/N, daughter to a famous racecar driver, finds herself behind the wheel of a car with a gun to her head. A masked man named Harry demands she helps him evade the authorities, so she does the only thing she knows how to. She drives.

One Shot: Midas Touch: The night before they leave to spend Christmas with his family, a conversation with their friends makes Harry and Y/N confront the future of their marriage.

@stylesloveclub

Series: Pleasing: In which y/n is a broke waitress, and Harry is a Michelin star chef who thinks she’s cuter than a puppy. 

@swiftmendeshoran

Series: Curvy Secret/No More Secrets Daddy: Dad's best friend (dbf!) Harry x plus size reader

@watchmegetobsessed

Series: The Sun Will Rise: You’re glad to be back at college and away from your family. Everything is back to its normal, but you have a little issue: you told your family you’d bring a date to your sister’s wedding, but you have no actual partner. An unexpected deal is made with the person you couldn’t even consider to be your friend: Harry can take the spare room in your apartment for the semester if he’ll be your date for the wedding. But can you actually live together with a guy who obviously dislikes you and you have no idea why? Can you fool your parents into thinking you’re dating Harry? And what will they think about him? Nothing is ever good enough to them, nothing that’s not as perfect as your sister, Alice.

Series: Wildest Fantasies: You’ve been struggling to finish your assignment for Professor Styles’ Creative Writing class. Inspiration is seem to be avoiding you, so to relieve some stress, you mess around with your roommates and write a rather dirty fiction of the hot professor everyone is into on campus. Due to a fatal mistake however, you end up uploading the wrong file as your attachment to your assignment and your wildest fantasies end up in the hands of the person they are about.

Good Girl (Part 2): sugardaddy!Harry / CEO!Harry x Reader

@writerpetals (writes optional male lead smut but you can easily imagine any male *coughharrycough* as the males are described as tall, well-built, with a nice head of hair - read anything this author writes - it's good, you will find almost any trope - ENJOY)

One Shot: Lakeside: werewolf!au, werewolf x reader

@zayndrivesmeinvain

Series (wip): The One That Got Away: In which Harry and Alena were college sweethearts, however, all of that has changed and the only thing keeping in contact is the fact that they have a child together. Is it possible for them to even get to a normal standing friendship or is that long gone? dadrry x oc | single dad!harry

i hit my link limits so was unable to insert link to part one of their series. check out their masterlist and you'll find it!

Wattpad

1-800-TITS = @1800titz (added May 21)

Series: The Devil is a Gentleman: "My name is Eros," the masked male cocks his head a smidge at her, and, if only slightly through the shadow casts between the parted zipper, Isla catches sight of a smile tugging at his lips on the latter fragment of his statement, "But you already know that. I'd hope, anyways. We've had a chat. Or two." His lips - his mouth. Isla ogles the latex through the peepholes of her own and wonders what shape the rest of his features take, what carves and forges his face, how his nose slopes, the assemblage of it all. "I think I recall, vaguely," she teases. "Mm. Vaguely. I'll take note of that. Well, although we are acquainted," Eros smooths his fingertips over the arm of the chair, a lavish facade of plastic masquerading. The latter fragment of his statement prompts the steady bump of her heart to spur behind her ribcage. "You will address me as Master." Isla swallows. Despite her prior train of thought looping so intently on the tracks to decipher what she believes he'd look like beneath his mask, it's entirely derailed by the serious note in his previously light cadence. She wonders how a mere introduction manages to send such a thrilling rush rolling down her spine. Eros leans forward, forearms braced to his splayed thighs, almost as if to bend to her level. "Or Sir. Master, Sir, it's all the same to me. Your preference." OR the one in which there's a sex club, Greek stage names, the exploration of boundaries, an open house, a pair of dress shoes, and two sides of the same coin.

_miiki

Series: Artwork & Aquarelle: "Sierra, you go with Harry Styles." I raised up my head at the words, giving my teacher an incredulous glance. "Do I really have to?" Was the only thing I managed to say. The teacher gave me an annoyed look. "Did you not understand? You go with Harry Styles." I turned my head to look at him. At the mention of his name he glanced up, and if his green eyes hadn't frozen me in place already, the unimpressed look he gave me would've done it right away.

Aggressivelyfriendly = @aggresivelyfriendly

Series: Who Names the Colors: In the last year, Joanne Smith Giles, has once again become Jo Smith. In another heartbreaking turn of events, she's also the single mother of an infant, again. She knows she can do this on her own, and better at 40 than 19, but it seems weird to be launching a son into manhood, a new career as an art professor, and changing nappies all in one day. She is so thankful when Ethan, her boy, comes home from Uni. Jo could use the help. His best friend, Harry, comes round too. And his launch into manhood may be another heartbreaking turn, for all of them

ErinAlterEgo = @yourwattpadmom

Series: Late night Talking: Alex is craving something at night, and it's not ice cream. Encouraged by her husband to explore a polyamory relationship to meet some of her more....eclectic tastes, she finds herself on a dating app for the first time in her life. She expected maybe some interesting experiences, possibly her first one-night stand ever. She didn't expect to meet a man who made her question everything about herself. Harry is on a new path in his life that is exciting and different than he ever could have imagined. He's looking for excitement, experiences, but definitely not love and attachment. When he meets Alex, he sees a whole new path that he's unsure he wants to go down, but finds it hard to resist.

Hitterj (love all of her stuff!)

Series: All This Time: The coming-of-age story of Harry and Riley who have known each other for years, but never actually knew each other. They've spent countless nights at the same parties, shared a few drinks and glances, they're even on track to graduate top of their class. What happens when out of nowhere they start to connect? Like an invisible string pulls them together, so they can experience life and love and heartbreak. Riley and Harry learn a lot about themselves, and ultimately have to choose what's best for their future no matter how difficult that can be. But does love find a way? After all this time?

Series: Kiwi: If you don't know about this one by now... go read it - super duper smutty and sweet and angsty

Series: Sweet Little Lies: All her life, Ivy Malone has known what her family was. She grew up in the deep, unforgiving world of the mob. Ivy hates her position in life, knowing that her life was never fully hers. Harry Styles was cold. He trusted almost no one, especially his family. He had learned quickly that everyone was waiting for him to fail... to fall. An empire built by his father from the blood and bones of those who stepped in his way was all he had, no matter how much he hated it. He had no choice but to carry on the legacy. And marrying Malone's daughter was the next step in fortifying their defense. With new rivals making a move for power and a mysterious figure haunting the crime families of Queenstown, Ivy and Harry have to learn to live together. A bad start leads them down a tumultuous, passionate, and downright dangerous path, but maybe they were exactly what the other needed to live the life they always craved.

MysteryMixtapes (Just go read all their stuff)

Series: Stall & Stall 2: Violence/gangs/dark

Series: Perspective: Have you ever met someone that made falling feel like flying?

Series: Unforgettable: "If it feels so right, how can it be wrong?"

Peanutboyfriend (read all of Birdie's stuff - you won't regret it)

Series: Aerial: In Malibu, California in 1965, a surfer and world-famous aerialist undergoes a chain of comedic and not-so-comedic mishaps that force him to re-evaluate who he is.

Petit_cerise

Series: Devil's Due & Devil's Desire: Harry Styles, the brooding and intolerable tattoo parlour owner, meets River, a stubborn and somewhat oblivious girl, who just doesn't understand the reasoning behind his nefarious ways but is determined to find out. River comes to realize that Harry's hiding something much deeper than expected... only once those secrets come to the surface, it's too late to turn back.

Sunflowersnstuff

Series: One Word & Wonderland: We're all mad here, it's Wonderland.

ThousandYearsOfHope

Series: Lonely Nights: Willow Mackey is a quiet girl, but she is fiercely loyal and will never lie to you. Harry Styles is her brother's best friend, and someone she'll always have a soft spot for. Grown up and no longer shielded by their ages, lines start to blur, and mistakes keep being made. For the first time in her life, Willow realises that sometimes, the truth is too painful to hear. But how could she ever say no to the one person that's always understood her better than she understands herself?

Series: Pretty Boy: One night of impulse shouldn't lead to much for Joni Lewis, but when she meets the alluring Harry Styles, an opportunity arises that she can't ignore. A Harry Styles short story inspired by Pretty Woman.

Writhali (I really like everything I've read by Thali)

Series: Ambit: Gangs/violence/action/SMUT - "Hell's boring, Birdie." He claims, that cold, dead stare back to his eyes. "And this, this is what I call a Monday night."

[halcyone-of-the-sea]

Hi!

I just wanted to say that I absolutely love all of your COD fics! Your Price fics made me fall in love with him (I saw a recommendation for See No Evil on TikTok and just went down the rabbit hole from there (it’s also my comfort fic)) and Laughing Poets made me buy Ghosts for Keegan. Your writing is so beautiful and poetic and has inspired me to start writing again after a really bad writing’s block!

I also did want to put in a request for Ghost (because I love him so much) but given his hype, I understand if you don’t want to write for him or if it may be hard. But I was hoping that this hasn’t been done before (much) and that I could read it in your words since you are so amazing!

I was thinking of the reader being a CIA agent that was working undercover to get classified information and 141 was sent in to extract her after she was compromised. And her and Ghost don’t really get along at first, like they don’t hate each other but they could just care less about one another. But then they get separated and one of them is injured and the other fights tooth and nail to get to them, realizing how much they care. I was thinking that her callsign could be ‘Reaper’ but it can be anything else if it fits better. It can be angsty (because that’s the absolute best genre), fluffy, nsfw, whatever you want to do with it.

I know this is asking a bit much and I’m sorry for that. Feel free to change it as you see fit and do whatever you want with it, if you want to do it. I really appreciate and love your work!! Thank you!!

'Til it Hurts

Pairing: Simon 'Ghost' Riley x F!Reader

Synopsis: You thought that it would be easy - moving on and blazing your own trail, but at every step, memories seem to come back and haunt you. And the biggest memory takes the shape of a man with a skull mask. Can you still deny what you had always felt when he stands at your side once more?

Word Count: 12.5k

Warnings: This duology will be 18+ and contain the following: intense gore, blood, violence, vulgar language, angst, fluff, suggestive content, (smut, p in v sex, virgin!reader (relevant to plot) all in part 2), abuse of power in the past, toxic working environment in the past, copious flashbacks, soft!simon because I love him like that (I guess considered ooc), banter, etc...

A/N: Part 2 will be posted tomorrow after I edit it and the link will be added to this part as well for ease of access. But, anna, that's wild that people post about my work on tiktok, lmfao. I'm so glad I helped you out of that writer's block, though! Enjoy part 1, Love (I did change it around a bit)!

*I do not give others permission to translate and/or re-publish my works on this or any other platform*

You often think of the friends you had when you were six. The neighborhood you grew up in was full of other kids your age, and there was practically a horde of young boys and girls outside at any given moment. Early mornings were ripe for adventures – ears perking up from your pillows at the sound of bird songs and lawnmowers like an instinctual call to cause mischief. Days would run long and nights would end late with games of tag. 

It was inevitable, at this point in your life, to not think about where your friends would be now. Were they happy? Starting families and getting married on island resorts; white sand underfoot and a gentle lapping of ocean water? You’d lost contact a long, long, time ago – never bothered to get back in touch, though you know things might be better if you had. 

God, you’d never have friends like that again. 

Selfless. Genuine. Without competition or a need to stab each other in the back. Friendships built on a childlike innocence that was never meant to stay or grow with the brutal stretch of years. People mature. They harden, sharpen. 

They break themselves to fit a mold of what they want to be without even realizing…Or maybe that was just how you grew up. 

Your feet pound against the cobblestone streets of Bergamo, Italy, as you make your way through the packed road of the Upper Old District. Under your chin, your fingers go up to grasp the scarf around your neck and pull the thick navy fabric up farther. Fast eyes flicker over faces as a fake plastered smile splays over your lips, and your jaw holds a tension that seeps into your shoulders.

Keep the act up, you have to remind yourself, fingers heavy at your hips, don’t let the facade slip, or else it’s over before it begins.

At your sides, past the unending sea of loudly speaking humans and loyal animals alike, the broad expanse of ancient architecture calls to the history of this city; red-terracotta roofing, extravagant greenery, and pillars as tall as the buildings themselves. A picturesque land filled with mysteries lost to time, stories never told beyond the scratch of a pen and moth-eaten parchment. 

A city now filled with killers. 

“Sitrep,” you grunt into the open channel, the earpiece fizzling as it sits in the clutch of your canal. No one answers and, slipping past a family of tourists, you glare at the ground; heart going so fast you feel like it could jump-start a car. “Damnit!”

The seconds draw on and as you pick up the pace, now shoving your way through the crowd, you feel eyes on you. Slithering over your skin like oil. 

Not good. 

Shit. Karver, where did you go!? 

Karver ‘Rigs’ Massarini was an informant – someone who’d been giving you everything that you needed to know about the cell in this area; along with a grouping of eyewitnesses to a stash of ICBMs. A stash that could do some serious damage if they stayed here with the wrong people. Intel suggests that those very missiles were going to be shipped off to Mexico in only a few days, smuggled across the border into United States territory with the intent of doing some pretty awful stuff and framing the US. 

If you and Rigs weren’t quick with this, so many innocents would suffer.

You’d already gotten into contact with Mexican Special Forces yourself, warning Alejandro Vargas and Rodolfo Parra of a possible breach and to watch for any unregistered shipments on the docks or coming in from the air. 

But now Rigs was missing, and you had a funny feeling you were being trailed. 

Back alley. You take a quick right, boots slamming to the ground and heart hammering. Get away from the civvies in case someone decides to go trigger-happy. 

This cell was known for being deadly, Mr. Massarini had sent the file over to CIA headquarters before you were shipped out; Laswell had set you on it right away without even taking the time to read it entirely.

“Extremely high Kinetic; I’m giving you full Execute Authority on this, Reaper. We’re running out of time. Find those missiles.” 

Torture, kidnappings, mutilations, the list went on for this group and how far they would go to keep secrets. No one had gotten any clear insight as to what their motives were – just that they needed to be put down in exactly the ways they had been doing to others. Ruthlessly, before they grew bigger or spread their influence beyond borders, and created a group that could rival what Al-Qatala had been. 

So that was where you came in. 

God, you wished Farah and Alex were here with you – at the very least you could rely on them to help, even if you sectioned yourself off from others more than a dying cat. There was a reason you preferred being sent in alone with only your wits.  

Mostly because of situations like this.

“Rigs, sitrep. Where are you,” you try again, the close walls shrouding in your shadows. Throwing looks over your shoulders, you take down deep breaths, a growl gradually digging itself a hole in your esophagus. Desperately, you say, “I’m heading back to the safe house ASAP. Wait for me there.” 

Your right hand gravitates to your pocket, slipping through the fabric and pushing aside the ripped seam at the bottom. The sheath at your thigh pinches you with every step, but you’ve endured it for years, calluses breeding where the leather had chaffed the flesh to toughness. To an ingrained perfection. Flinching when your fingers bump against the handle, the metal adornments feel cool to the touch despite the sweat dripping down your spine; temperature and nerves leaving your palms sweaty. 

None of this was going to plan.

You caress the small Dirk blade strapped to you, and when the first footsteps enter the alleyway behind you, your hand clenched into a loose fist around it. Your eyebrows pull tight with annoyance.

Taking a slow breath as the trailing stranger begins to move faster, you take a corner, halting the second you were out of sight. You nonchalantly turn on your heel and lean into the wall, feeling your body conform to the building and the stone dig into your back. 

The material is cold, and as you raise your Dirk up, you flip the blade parallel to your forearm, wrist lax, and fingers still. A slow breath flows from your barely-parted lips. 

3 seconds. You don’t blink, only gazing out across the space and noticing the dark shadow gaining ground. 2…1…

Your body jerks forward, free hand snapping out and grasping the fabric of a shirt. Twisting your hips, you plant your feet and wrench the stranger around the corner, breath coming out in a loud snarl. Without a shout, you have the person’s back shoved to the building in an instant, blade held above an Adam’s Apple. 

A man, then.

“I’m going to give you one full minute.” Your Italian was only surface level – far better at understanding others than speaking full sentences. But you think whoever this man is comes to a conclusion well enough. “Before I cut you open and watch the life spill from your eyes.”

You don’t recognize this person, his sharp face or dark, sly, eyes, and with a quick assessment of his large stature you figure out he’s the basic definition of a man sent to complete a job. One that would have left you dead if you were anything less than a contracted CIA Agent on a job. You had been trained among the best from your time in the Marines – years on Special Ops forces; taking point. Even if they were the worst times of your life, you still learned a great deal from them, particularly, how to know when to cut your losses. 

With one look into his smug face, you know that this stranger would tell you nothing. 

Your lips formed a grimace, teeth flashing under flesh at the rod-straight form of the man under you. He was smirking with eyes seeming to be laughing at you. Arrogant. Self-assured. 

“You’ll get nothing out of me, Reaper. We are already on your trail.” Your head tilts, a numb huff escaping your throat and pushing the individual's hair back as a breeze would. There was a small pause; tiny shiftings of your feet as your blade digs ever deeper. 

A thin trail of blood falls from the placement, and your muscles writhe under the epidermis. There’s no thought behind the laugh that enters the air, that cold, dark, thing that’s more of a bark from a hellhound. It was just a realization that no matter where you went, there could never be anything unique anymore. Everyone was always the same. 

“You’ll never get it out of me-”

“Break my bones; rip my flesh, you will never make me talk-”

“If you want to see me beg, you’ll be disappointed-”

There were countless memories you could bring to the precipice of your mind and re-live; moments ingrained into your psyche like a tattoo is to skin. So you can only smile and nod, scarf swishing around your neck. The man looks confused now, if not slightly nervous. That self-assured attitude leaking to the ground. Eyes as dark as obsidian beginning to snap back and forth – looking for a saving grace in the make-up of ancient stone that wasn’t going to come. 

You wondered how many people had died in this city throughout history. The stories lost to time. Have these alleys seen war? Famine?

Have they seen murder? 

But you are a woman of your word. A minute passes in tense silence, your eyes never leaving his own and ears carefully in tune, twitching like an antenna, to the joyous shouts and laughter just a street over. Here you wait like a rat in a trap, though you like to believe yourself more of the metal Hammer than the unknowing participant in a dance of death and wits.

You tighten your grip on your Dirk, shrugging up at the man. Your face is nonchalant as an understanding smile grows. As simple as a server at a restaurant.

“I believe you.” And you run the knife’s edge across his flesh like a match to a striker before he can scream.

Stepping back, you’re suddenly thankful for the scarf over your sweat-slick neck because as the spray of blood splatters over your nose bridge and forehead, you swipe it away with one of the ends of the thick fabric. You let the body drop, watching large hands snap to the gushing wound like that alone would stop the cold grip of death. 

Your mark has been met. 

The External Carotid Artery was easy enough to cut, though you had to dig deep for it, and it seemed the man had moved mid-slice. Frowning while the man gasps and gurgles; flails as a fish would, you study your work as you flick the blade clear of blood. Your brows furrow. 

“Nicked the Thyroid Cartilage, hm.” Sighing and shaking your head, you sheathe the Dirk and twist on your feet, still intent on making your way back to the hotel safe house and trying to find a lead on Rigs. The slumping of a body reverberates a moment later, a grandiose death rattle, and still, only a street over you hear animated conversations – the bustle of traveling feet, and the sound of the breeze. 

You often think about the friends you had when you were six. But, now, instead of being the one who fought off the monsters at the ends of the beds, you had become it. The monster. The boogeyman. 

The Reaper. 

Oh, what would they think of you now? 

You swipe at the blood along your fingertips, seeing the red bleed under your nails with such a numb feeling that it scares you more than anything. Taking down a gathering of saliva that feels more like a slug in your throat, you wonder when you lost the ability to value human life. Of course, the answer was slated in those early years in Special Ops, but you don’t dwell on those times. 

In fact, it was better if you never thought of them at all. 

Taking a left, you hum a tune under your breath and listen to the birds sing as the blood dries. 

—

The meeting room wasn’t even a room, just a vacant air-craft hangar that had been fitted out with two rows of metal fold-out chairs and a projector. Shadows danced over the floor, long streaks of darkness over concrete. 

“...I’ll be giving you full Execute Authority – but this mission is completely Black. Host weapons only. No Evac team.” Laswell’s voice echoes off the ceiling, and Ghost’s eyes flow over the projected intel, memorizing the faces and locations with nothing more than a blink of his blue eyes. Fluttering eyelashes caress the hard material of his mask before settling. 

Task Force 141 was being sent off on another deployment again, deep into Belarus and near the Russian border.

“Time frame?” The Captain asks, standing a small distance away and leaning against a crate of ammunition. His arms are crossed; jaw is loosely set. 

Kate looks at him, above the heads of Gaz and Soap, and nods her head before she comments, “one week.”

Gaz huffs from ahead of the hulking form of Ghost, and the silent man shifts his attention back to the group. 

“One week, Kate? No offense, but we don’t even know if the bastard’s in Belarus.”

“‘fraid to get dirty there, Garrick? Ah, we’re good enough for it.” Soap elbows the male at his side, and the masked man releases a puff of breath one row back. The Scot twists in his seat, mohawk tendrils falling over his forehead, and smirks. “C’mon Lt. back me up here. We’ve got this in the bag already.”

“Bit confident, Johnny?” Ghost grunts out, accented voice low and muffled from under the black fabric over his lips. His hips shift over the chair, legs splayed and arms crossed as he reclines back; letting the bulk of his gear weigh heavy. “Just wait until you’ve got us sitting on a pile of dry leads and rotting corpses.”

“Eh, nothin’ we haven’t dealt with before.”

“Focus, you three.” Kate interrupts as Gaz rolls his eyes to himself, fixing his ball cap over his head with a fast flick of his wrist at the antics of the other two. “You’re going to be shipped out at 2000–”

An easily recognizable ringtone starts to play. 

Blinking in surprise, Laswell takes a glance at the table that had been long forgotten and spies her phone buzzing over the metal. Her light brown hair, kept securely tied back, swished at the nape of her neck. She wastes no time.

Briskly walking over, the rest of the men in the room watched intently, heads perked up. Ghost couldn’t stop the pique of interest at the strange behavior, though his form remains still, only making a noise under his breath in contemplation. In the hold of his crossed arms, his fingers tighten.

“Not the person I’d imagine keeps her phone on for just anyone…” Gaz makes a slow comment, and John slides up beside him, hands hooking onto the sides of his combat vest. Watching. 

“Hm,” their command affirms.  

 Kate picks up her phone and immediately answers, brows furrowed. She shifts her weight as an inhalation reverberates. The conversation on the other side was too muffled, a small droaning the only signal that someone was on the opposite.

Unconsciously, Ghost straightens in his chair as the rolled-back sleeves of his undershirt leave his black ink tattoos on display. A deep intrigue spilled in his chest but otherwise, he was still focused on the previous instructions for the next Op. This was just another cog in the wheel, perhaps a location change for their safe house, or an accelerated timeline. No matter, they would get it done regardless–

“Reaper?” Laswell speaks, and blue eyes slide to stare at the Captain, whose legs had tensed. “What’s happened–” 

The Lieutenant knows something was wrong just by the simple fact that he’d never seen their Station Chief talk on her personal phone with that look on her face before – he’d seen it mirrored on the Captain and he’d clocked it from her just as simply. The wrinkled skin at the side of her eyes, and stiff-set lips peeled back in a frown. She’d always been serious, but the air was different. 

Reaper? He runs through the database of his mind and ignores Gaz’s and Johnny’s muttered words and glances. 

“Now who do you think that is, then?” Soap grunts out. Ghost doesn’t answer.

Brows furrow. 

Sounds familiar, the man can’t help but admit. 

“Patch me through. Now.” Kate slips to the computer a few steps away and opens a fresh tab, sorting through files and months of intel as if it mattered just as much as a bug under her heel.

“Kate?” Price prompts. The woman only holds up a finger and keeps the phone in between her shoulder and cheek, hands fast across the keys. 

Soon enough, a feed pops up on the projector, and the three previously sitting all rise to their feet in an instant. 

An open wound is in the process of being stitched and displays itself over the entire available space, violent red internal flesh puckering over the edges of…Ghost narrows his eyes, unphased.

Was that a fabric needle and thread being used for sutures? Resourceful, he admits.

“Bloody fuckin’ hell.” The manchester man levels thought the blandness of the tone contradicts itself. “Where’s this feed from, Laswell?”

“What the fuck…?” Soap growls out, and the Scot blinks at the screen in shock as the Brit beside him lets off a sound of disgust akin to a sick cat. 

“Reaper, sitrep.” Kate doesn’t flinch, rushing off into procedure as steady hands delve back into flesh, blood falling from their fingers like water to splatter to a rundown wooden table. The world-away computer was most likely getting a rain of crimson all over the keys at this rate. 

Price grunts under his breath. 

“Shit,” a distinctly feminine voice wafts out, a harsh sigh held back, though the annoyed tone was noticed immediately, “can’t a girl stitch herself up in peace? Besides, Watcher-1 answer me this, huh?” The computer is jerked, its screen going staticky as Ghost watches with roving eyes to take in the background when the visibility returns. A bed, nightstand, and sitting by the floor of the front door, copious amounts of weapons. The man takes stock – an M13 assault rifle, X12 handgun, and Arctic .50 sniper rifle. Ammunition lines the floor in a way that leaves Ghost’s lips thinning under the mask. 

Someone’s in a hurry. But from what?

“…what goddamn hotel doesn’t have mirrors in it?” Kate’s sigh can be heard a mile away. “No, I’m being serious here, Watcher – how the hell does that happen?” 

Watching you take a step back, Ghost as well as the other three all blink in surprise when you come into view. Your top was off, only a sports bra covering your flesh, as your focus stays on the digging needle you send into yourself over and over. 

Yet again a feeling of intense familiarity strikes the Brit in the chest. Your soft face, your hair, your voice. It was infuriating.

Who are you? The inability to call forth a memory leaves the fists at his sides gradually clenching under his gloves. 

“Reaper.” Seriousness grows in the Agent’s voice, and Price lets out a slow chuckle that leaves Gaz turning to him in confusion. 

“Sir?” But the inquiry is ignored.

“Still as stubborn as ever, then, Reap?” Everyone sees your hurried stitches stop, head snapping up as they clock a veiled panic behind the iris’. 

Your eyes tell all the story they need, and Ghost’s body freezes as the color evokes a physical twitching of his hand. 

“Holy hell,” he utters under his breath so silently no one even realizes he spoke; eyelids pulling back before settling like nothing had even happened.

“You know, you're the first person who’s been nice to me out here.”

“...Then I’d tell you to get better friends, Sergeant. I’m not sticking around.”

“I never said they were my friends, Ghost, and I never expected you to stay, anyways. That’s not how this works.”

“You’re right. It’s not.”

“Bravo-06?” You ask, voice sometimes cutting out over the line. A laugh breaks out, and a small smirk twitches the corners of your lips, “Hey, Old Man, how’s it going over there? Been a while.”

“What have you got yourself into now?” Price asks, chuckling under his breath with a groaned continuation, “and how do you need me to get you out of it?”

The spectral man now watches with a newfound fervency, blue eyes boiling so violently that if anyone had seen, they would have thought he was about to attack. Like a split second of eye contact with a wolf before it rushes. The build of his shoulders was still loose, however, and the only indication of shock was his optics; the mask shrouded all. 

But there was a subtle movement of his hips, feet transferring over the floor to stand shoulder-length apart.

“Oh, this,” you point to your injury with a free finger, tying off a knot on the last line of sutures. “Nah, it’s nothing. A couple of assholes tried to get the jump on me a block back, one had a knife on ‘em.” Your hand tosses the needle and thread to the table, a muttered, thunk, sounding off. Looking down at your work with a raised brow, everyone watches. “Took care of it – they gave me a name, too, but with the trail of bodies I left today, I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t pan out.” 

A pause before you turn your head back up, face now completely serious as you focus on Laswell. 

“But we have a bigger problem, Watcher. Rigs is gone; I think my position’s compromised. I’m going black.” Your form leans to the side, and a wrinkled t-shirt is thrown over your head. From your mouth, a stifled groan releases. Ghost blinks in surprise.

The Captain’s lips thin, and he looks at a tight-wound Kate. 

“I have a contact in the lower levels, Reaper, meet up with her and she can have you out of the city by tonight. I’ll send over her info.”

“No can do, Watcher.” You sigh, and Ghost simply stares, following your figure as you back up, heading to the X12 and shimmying it into the back of your pants before looking over your shoulder. Kate hums under her breath. “If they’ve got Rigs,” Walking quickly back over to the computer, one of your hands grasps the top of the frame, thumb poking out from the corner. You tilt your head. “I ain't leaving without him right behind me. I’ll be in contact in a month – if I’m not, then I’m dead already.” 

Your chuckle strikes a cord through the room and Soap snorts in answer. 

“Glass-half-empty kind of person, then?” 

“I’d say,” Gaz mutters.

Continuing, you’re about to say something else – lips already partially parted and breath sucked in  – before your eyes lock onto Ghost. The atmosphere of the room flips like the page of a book. 

You stare at him with what seems to be a million emotions flying past the glossiness of your optics; lids already peeled back and whites showing in a display that showed more than told. The man could only begin to imagine what you were thinking – how long had it been since he’d seen you last? You’d obviously gotten out of your Marines Special Ops unit. 

Not quite how I remember you. It wasn’t hard to recall that small branch of the MRR – Marine Raider Regiment – and how they treated you. But that wasn’t any of his business. He’d been there to do a job, and he’d accomplished it. Quite thoroughly, if anyone would have checked the file after it was all over. 

Ghost’s life was counted in the sands of an hourglass, small, molecular, bits hitting the bottom one after the other; rarely was that time wasted on pointless squabbles and words but at that moment, he was conflicted. 

The Brit had never expected to see you again, and the sand briefly halted when you spoke. Hm. 

Yes, he remembered that voice… he’d just never heard you this confident before. 

“Ghost.” He watches the emotions on your face settle, and he was thankful for the mask covering his visage because he knows he would have left at least a small twitch of his lips slip. “Long time no see.”

“Mutt.” The Lieutenant nods in a monotone greeting but notices a slight jerk of your shoulders at the name. His eyebrows furrow, but mentions nothing as his pulse slows. 

Your neck moves as you swallow, looking to the side as a dark curiosity fills the space in Ghost’s lungs; head nanoscopically tilting to the side like a vulture. 

“Nice seeing you, Bravo-06,” You tilt your head toward the Captain before clearing your throat and addressing Laswell. “I’ll be around.” 

It wasn’t hard to tell that the title had made you freak, a kind of bad cloud suddenly springing to life above your head. 

Seems to bother her more than being in a Hot Zone, Ghost tells himself, the deep well of dark water in his gut still. That didn’t make any sense. He watches your hand slaps over the computer and the feed goes dark in an instant. 

The room is more silent than Ghost is. 

“Kate, she’ll need our help.” Price shakes his head from side to side; body moving to the front of the room. “I’m not asking.” 

The two talk it over as Ghost’s mind trails, head tilting down more towards his chest as his eyelids narrow. 

“Hm,” He grunts, arms tensing as his grip shifts. Soap turns around as Gaz goes to join the conversation between the Captain and the agent.

“What? Know ‘er or something, Lt?” The Scot asks, slapping a hand on the taller man’s arm. Ghost eyes lock on the grip before he blinks, looking back up and leveling the Sergeant with a dead stare. Johnny laughs awkwardly and moves his limb back to his side. “Just…didn’t peg you for the type to start relationships.”

The Lieutenant turns down the aisle of chairs and lets out a bland, “negative. Leave it, Sergeant.” 

Why did you react badly to the namesake you’d gone by for the entire time you’d been in Special Ops? Mutt was when everyone had called you when he had been around for that short time. 

He felt no great concern for you – no hatred or care – you were just another Agent that would probably end up dead like everyone else. Another time, maybe, he’d have gone in a heartbeat, and if the team decided to go after you, he’d follow. A mission was a mission, it wasn’t like it largely mattered. 

But there was something in the back of his mind. Intrigue? Yes, perhaps. The blue-eyed Lieutenant wasn’t one to dwell on these types of things, but a colleague was still a colleague. 

Whatever the outcome, he’d do his job with all the ruthlessness and tact he always did.

Ghost’s hand goes up to fix the position of his mask and glances at the blank projector stream, eyes boring into it as they darken. A moment later, he was leaning against the ammunition crate that Price had previously been on, arms crossed and ears twitching at the ongoing battle of wills; isolated to himself as his intimidating form towers ever upwards. Spine straight. Bones stiff. Eyes grim. 

You’d been nice to him – a person that, for the limited time he’d interacted with, had left an impression that was only just starting to come back full force. Smart and resourceful; not too bad on the eyes. 

He takes down a sigh. Stubborn…but undoubtedly loyal. 

His thumb brushes your cheek, and you look up at him as if he wasn’t the one in a mask – as if his entire being was laid bare before you. He swipes away the trail of blood with one firm press. The gentleness of your skin is known even through his glove.

“You’ll live, Sergeant.” He utters, teasing in his monotone voice, “now, where the hell are we goin’? Gun’s itchin’ to lay a few out.” 

Ghost would have smirked at the way your eyes dilated if he had the ability, but in the end, he brushes past. Because if he hadn’t, you would have seen his own do the same.

‘Reaper,’ he frowns, feeling the ammunition crate dig further into his hip, they never called you that one.

Perhaps the real battle of wills was happening inside of him – not five feet away between his Captain and his Station Chief.

—

You remember every interaction like it was yesterday, and although he might not, you can’t help the memories from flooding as you gather your gear. Stuffing guns into duffel bags and intel into crossbody sacks that weigh you down like boulders. 

Fuck, you open the back window and shimmy out into the back streets, knowing that your position is compromised and not waiting any longer to test your luck. Your side burns something awful; horrible stitches peeling back skin as you groan in pain. What the fuck was Ghost doing with Price? I didn’t know they knew each other. And the two other men in the room…eh. Not the problem right now! 

“I shouldn’t be surprised,” you pant, swinging your legs out of the window frame and sharply inhaling when a suture tears. “I’m never in the loop.” 

In all honesty, you don’t want to be – too complicated. It’s better to just stick around and be told what to do. 

Glaring down at the ground with glazed eyes, you only take a breath of hesitation and let off a curse before dropping. 

Your knees take the brunt of the force, and the ricochets of landing on cobblestones travel up your ankles and leave your legs shaking. If you weren’t running on adrenaline, you would have come up with a dirty joke to mutter to yourself. 

The discomfort can only last so long, you tell yourself, and ignore the spreading liquid on your side, only thinking of Rigs and the mission. 

And Ghost. 

Gritting your teeth, eyes vulnerable, you turn down the backroad and stay away from others, drowning in memories more deadly than blood. It had been a while since you had thought of it – the lockbox in the back of your mind keeping all under tight watch; guard dogs with metal teeth and chained necks. 

But that title; that namesake you’d scrubbed your skin raw over. Mutt and all the others said in cruel breaths. Oh…but Mutt. 

Mutt was the worst of them.

Your hands were vibrating, the tremors traveling up your wrists and arms – past elbows and bruised flesh under skin; bloodied nose and quivering lips. Why did they always yell at you? But worse, why did they always make you do the dirty work? 

The Captain, everyone just called him Alke, was standing in front of you, berating your accuracy on the last round of target practice. Fortunately, this deep into the Unit itself, you’d found a way to let it go in one ear and out the next, eyes as blank as a starless sky. 

You could see the spittle flying from the man’s lips and some even splashes across your cheeks like acid, but there was something artful to the way you didn't react. A culmination of crafted numbness that bleeds like trauma. It was a constant, everlasting, void.  

What they were making you into was not what you wanted, but what possible other option was there? Resign? No, this was nearly an unimaginable position to be in at such an age. You deserve to be here. Should you report the blatant unprofessionalism and favoritism in the ranks? And be blacklisted by these people's friends so that you never ascend the line?

Your ears twitch. 

“...You’re not sleeping until your marks are perfect – else we’re overthinking your position in this Unit. Can’t have a Mutt in our ranks, can we?” The last sentence is punctuated with a ruffling of your hair almost like a brother would; teasing, but you know that isn’t what it symbolizes. Harsh laughs and mocking remarks from the bystanders. “Least of all one that’s gonna get us killed. Tch.” When you don’t answer, staring off in a daze at his nose in a perfect image of formation, the Captain raises an eyebrow. “Affirmative,” he smirks, “Mutt?”

“Sir!” Your mouth shouts, though the action is more instinctual as your back straightens.  He frowns at that, perhaps wanting to torment you more, but huffs and files out, ordering the rest to follow with one last call.

“I expect you to be up for morning drills an hour early. I’ll be checking your shots myself.” 

“Sir!” 

After everyone’s gone, you blink back to reality. There’s a second of confusion, creases forming in your forehead at the sound of birds and blowing glass. Head turning side to side, your lips thin at the absence of others as if only realizing how spaced out you’d actually been. 

Flashing teeth and heated eyes flash through your mind before you blink them away. Signing away the tense nature of your chest, you clear your throat and relax your legs. Your vision slides to the corners of the concrete dugout, snapping past sectioned-off areas for privacy to search if there was someone who might have stayed back. 

Not finding anyone, your hands, clenched behind your back, loosen and fall limp to your sides like bags of rock. One weakly goes to swipe at the trail of blood from your nose, wrecking your already wrinkled sleeve with crimson; but soon an identical trail drips off your chin regardless. Licking your lips and tasting copper, you take a shaky breath and nod to yourself. 

You knew what shooting all night would bring on – lesions under the firing pad covering your shoulder; deep-rooted pain leading to nerve damage later on. Blisters that leak puss and blood onto your bedsheets. Not to mention the mental strain, the bags under your eyes burn from lack of rest. 

Gritting your teeth, you walk over the tossed rifle on the floor and pick it up with shaky fingers, the tips flinching back from the cool metal before encompassing it tightly. 

Silently, you get on your stomach and set the weapon in the crook of your already pain-laced shoulder. Your blood splatters the stock.

—

It had been two weeks with no luck in finding Rigs, and you were starting to get paranoid.

Staring at the dead body tied to the wooden chair, you growl and tear your Dirk from the woman’s chest angrily. 

There had been increased police patrols from all the corpses you were leaving, so you’d compromised and limited the chance of being caught at the same time. 

Bergamo, Italy, was an ancient place, and the underground was what you were now both metaphorically, and physically, exploiting. Sewer systems. Catacombs. You’d lost track of the paths you’d taken a million times over, and had started to hate the constant darkness only kept back by the small hand lamp you’d stolen. 

But there were ups to this constant downward slope. 

It made interrogations increasingly easier to pull off with multiple feet of stone all around you. The screams don’t meet the surface.

“Catello Tullio,” you mutter, caressing your sensitive side with your free hand and placing your blade on a turned-over piece of rock. The area reeks of blood and gore, a stack of bodies chucked carelessly in the corner beginning to reek something awful; even as you have another to add to the count. It wouldn’t be long before the rats came in droves.

Another given name, another score. But this one was new. Apparently, the title of the one that took Rigs while he was out getting more rations in the market. 

You point a finger at the slumped body, “you better hope I don’t find you in hell if you gave me the wrong damn name.” 

Grabbing your light, you stalk off down one side of the tunnel back to your camp, dodging drag lines that strike your eyes with their crimson streaks. 

The raggedy blanket and gun-sack you’d been using for a pillow take form in the dark, and somewhere in the corridor a rat squeals; feet pitter-pattering until it disappears altogether. You didn’t even want to think of the spiders living down here. Files and notes are strewn along the floor, perfect hiding places for eight-legged monsters. 

You couldn’t do anything until nightfall. It was just too risky. 

Massaging your side as you bend down, you grimace at the partially healed wound and scoop up your pistol before plopping to the ground with a grunt. With the deadly object held in your lap, you take a moment to breathe and try to push away a growing headache in the back of your skull. 

“This has to be one of the worst Ops on record, huh?” your small voice speaks back to you in bouncing waves of echoes as you begin to fiddle over the gun's small grooves and dents. “How did you manage this, Reap?”

Smiling blandly, the overwhelming quiet and nothingness all around you is like a curse. And in those pockets of a void, your mind always trails to him – or at least it had been for your time on the run. Ghost. That dark and brooding mass of horribly bleak humor and…well…you couldn’t call him mean. 

Your eyebrows furrow.

He was never mean to me. 

There were soft instances where you would question yourself as to if the Brit had possibly had some affection for you. It wasn’t a long shared history of course, but you had sworn that there was something about the way he looked at you…something that you remember so vividly…

You shake your head and stand after a small while, stretching your feet. Placing your pistol in the back of your belt, the weight brings you dull comfort.

 Shining your light on the hand-held radio on the ground in passing, you rove back to it after you scan the perimeter. Its black metal mocks you.

No one’s coming to help ‘cept you. One voice says, and another grunts out, get it together, Mutt. 

You turn on your heel to go and take a breather to disperse your dark thoughts but only make it three steps before your eyes widen, lips parting in awe. Nearly falling flat over yourself, you whirl around in an instant. 

A static enters the air as if the gods above were laughing at you - toying with your fate like it was a rock tossed to the sky. The familiar British drawl causes your chest to tighten, though the sentence is broken and barely understandable.

Someone’s here for me! A smile slashes your face – fierce hope lighting your eyes. You hadn’t wanted anyone to explicitly come for you, but this was a welcome discovery. Someone to talk to!

“--eper…Copy?” Darting like a cat, you move so fast that you stumble over rocks on the way there. “Lead…cafe…red cloth…Out.”

By the time you snatch the small black object, the garbled and firm tone has already shut itself up. Your mouth parts.

“Shit!” You yell, shaking the thing in your hand with an iron grip, hissing like a snake. You look above you at the cracked ceiling of stone and a growled accusation.“I’m too deep…Fuck. Gotta get up there if I want to be able to respond.”

But it hadn’t all been fruitless. Lead. Cafe. Red cloth. You clip the radio to your belt and make sure your shirt covers your weapon; pat your thigh and tell yourself to stop forgetting your Dirk everywhere before setting off in a jog. The light flashes over dead eyes and stiff bodies.

You snatch the blade off of the stone as you pass it, slipping it into your cut pocket and hearing the satisfying clink of it sheathing.

“Let’s just hope I don’t smell too bad…” You say aloud, chuckling, and listening as the sound echoes off the stone. If no other company, you still had the sound of your own voice. 

You couldn’t decide if that was a good or a bad thing. But, you were getting side-tracked. 

A Cafe with red cloth, then. Not exactly the place you’d go for an intel swap, but if someone had been trying to contact you for more than a week, you’d imagine they were getting desperate at this point. 

If I had known…you frown. 

Thinking over the multiple blueprints and pictures of the city in your files, you go through your internal cabinet of knowledge for color schemes - not what you’d have thought you’d be using it for, but, oh well. A lead was a lead.

“Golositá!” You laugh, sudden glee on your face as you dodge a pile of large stones; lips peeling back as you take a fast corner. “Gluttony! Of course, that’s the place.” 

The bustling business on the upper side of Bergamo with red table cloths as well as red awnings extending into the street. Anyone would be a fool to miss it. 

Like blood lining the street. 

You force yourself to run faster.

—

You met him last, despite being a Sergeant. The Captain had you up late last night yet again – running the forest trail this time rather than shooting. In the back of your mind, you wondered if it surprised him when you were still up early with the others; from the looks that he was giving you, you just decided that, yes, he was. Or he was just pissed he didn’t have an excuse to get rid of you. 

Blinking away fatigue, you keep your stance relaxed as a gargantuan shadow comes to loom ahead of you. 

The man everyone had whispered about called himself ‘Ghost’ and, if nothing more, was certainly intimidating. Shoulders wider than a bench, arms as rounded and as strong as boulders; not to mention the tattoos that made him look like he took cross-country motorcycle rides in his spare time. Tan tactical gear and dark patches for the SAS, the red and white British flag. Gloves covered his large hands, straps carried knives on his biceps and thigh. Something akin to a tan cape that was loose around his hidden neck.

But the mask was what really caught your attention; your head tilting with an innocence that no longer lives in you.

Skeletal. Half a visage of a dead and gone intimidation of humanity. Sewn into a hood of black cloth from which only the eye sockets were open…But the eyes there were no different than if the holes had been empty in the first place; as if the person inside was as dead as sun-bleached bone. Was a corpse piloting this suit?

Ice blue. Freezing blue. Harsh. Colder than a grip of a phantom, you thought as you blinked up at him, colder than the nights you would stay awake working yourself to death. You watched this Ghost’s chest move in a steady inhalation and you stuck out a busted-knuckle hand. Foolish, maybe, but there were worse things to be afraid of than a mask. Then of those eyes that made your spine shiver. 

But you didn’t look away.

“Pleasure, Sir.” There was a moment of tense silence where your Captain, at Ghost’s side, was frowning at you silently. The man could say nothing as long as this SAS member was here to assist in your next Op overseas. At your sides, your colleagues on the tarmac shuffle on their feet like nervous penguins. 

Ghost glances at your hand, and you try not to show how fast your pulse is running when his eyes leave a cold trail as they grace your split knuckles and torn nails. He ends with a slow look at your name patch. 

“Sergeant.” He says and slips past without another word. His shoulder brushes against yours, and you inhale smoke and ash; gun-cleaning solvent paired with a canvas tent. Dirt and metallic blood. Snickers bounce off air particles, striking your ears as an embarrassed heat rises to your cheeks, but that scent stays in your nostrils for days. 

Your Captain scurries after. 

“Erm, forgive, Mutt. She’s a helluva strange woman, that one.” You keep your sneer hidden, a hiss lodged in your throat and a twitching finger. But your anger isn’t directed at the masked beast that stalks away. That yapping bully of a Captain would hold all of it as long as you were here.

At that point, you were sure you’d seen the last of Ghost until the Op – not really getting the feeling he’s a people person so much as a ‘give orders and follow them’ type. 

But that was fine by you, it didn’t change anything. You’d been told to go back to the firing range tonight for opening your mouth and ‘making an embarrassment of the Unit’....whatever that meant. All you did was welcome the guy with the barest hint of a good attitude. 

You supposed manners were a foreign concept around here.

The world ahead of you was blurring, red circles in your eyes that gloss over with water every minute you force yourself to stay awake. The stars were out, sky dark, and the area was only lit by large lights situated around the base. In some sort of strange way, you enjoyed the sound of crickets and the cold breeze over your bare arms as if the only sense of peace you got was when you were half-passed out, nailing shots from a rifle. 

The stock was where it always is, your cheek pressed to the side; staring down the scope at the multiple holes in the paper targets. Dots surrounded by multiple other dots like a slice of cheese. You suppose that made you the hungry mouse in that case. 

‘A mouse with a fucking day before she drops.’ You frown, blink, and pull the trigger as the trees rustle. The force lands directly on your shoulder – the kickback is usually not one to bother you, but seeing as your appendage was one bad day away from being dislocated and forever damaged – you took it with a grit of your teeth. 

And you took it because you knew you could. Just as you knew that you felt a pair of eyes on the back of your neck. Freezing, you remove your finger from the trigger and loosen your grip. Turning your head to the side, a free hand goes up and shifts the ear mufflers from your head to your neck in a single movement. 

You swear your heart jumps to your throat when you see a skeleton’s icy blues numbly watching you; arms crossed while a nice-looking SA-B 50 Marksman Rifle sits against the wall at his side. How…long had he been there? Watching?

“What’re you doing, Sergeant?” Ghost asks sternly, that Manchester accent making him sound harsh. Grating like a rock being run against concrete. “I’m sure your Captain wouldn’t be thrilled at a scene like this, eh?” 

Blinking, you remind yourself to breathe before answering – voice tough and hoarse.

“I have my orders, Sir. You’re free to join me.” 

You turn back as a grunted huff falls from behind muted cloth. Ghost walks up to your laying form, standing on your left side and picking up the binoculars from the hanging hook in your station. As you look back through your scope you don’t know why, but you hold your breath; waiting for something.

“...Not a bad shot. You’re prone to firing more to the right, judging from the grouping. I’d fix that, less you miss a moving target runnin’ the opposite.” He lowers the object - staring from the side of his eye. From your position, your neck cranes to see his fingers twitch. “Wouldn’t want that, would we?” For someone you’d expected to be quite harsh – though you had no doubt he still was – Ghost was more sarcastic in his mannerisms. 

Backhanded comments that wound sting if you got on the other end of them.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Sir.” Shifting your grip, you move the stock farther up your shoulder, feeling an immediate release of tension, though the expansive trauma still leaves needles in your tissue.

“Hm, pay attention and you just might learn something.” You feel yourself quirk a lip for the first time in months; your mouth doesn’t stop to think.

“You mentor a lot of people in the middle of the night, then?” 

“Only the ones stupid enough to be awake.” He takes a step back, going to grab his own rifle as his footsteps don’t even make a sound.

‘Quiet for a guy with thighs that could choke me out.’ 

Your brows furrow at the heated thought, taking a slow breath and flexing your hands as the shadow disappears from over you. Why were your hands sweaty?

Were you…afraid? That…that wasn’t it.

“You’re up too, you know, Sir. Bit hypocritical.” This was the first time you’d had a full conversation with someone since you’d gotten in with this Unit. A mildly pleasant one, at least…you wouldn't really call this bonding.

“I can always leave ya’ to it, Sergeant.” Deadpanning the words, you clear your throat and fall silent at the threat. 

‘No,’ you wanted to comment, ‘no, I want the company so badly it hurts.’ 

You swallow saliva and reposition your ear mufflers back over your head, heart bruising your ribs, as you bring down a calming breath of air to still your nerves. 

The two of you don’t speak again, and you don’t ask why he takes the shooting cubby right next to yours, the nose of his rifle peeking out from the concrete wall. You certainly don’t ask why he’s up, either.

And in return, he doesn’t ask you the same.

—

When you find Golositá you’ve managed to sneak through the city unseen, taking every backroad and alley you could as the heat of the day increases to near sweltering. Panting, you stick to the thin shadows of the path across the street, eyes dancing over red cloth and flicking to faces; studying visages as one would a medical report. 

Your chest hurts, and you run a hand over your side, feeling the raised skin under your shirt before digging into the aching ribs. All this running around and little food to help keep your normal strength was troublesome, and it would only get worse if this Op from hell continued. 

I need new intel. Badly.

About to retreat, not finding anyone you recognize off the bat, a black-shrouded figure kisses the side of your vision as if a phantom. 

On the outside table, the farthest removed, a man sits stiffly with an untouched teacup in front of him. Smirking, you can’t help but scoff at the thought of Ghost using the thing – you’d think his thumb and forefinger would break the delicate porcelain in an instant. Like a spine over his thigh.

Your cheeks heat. 

He looked almost identical to what you remember – minus the gear, obviously – and your stomach twisted at the thought. Was a simple look enough to bring you to the breaking point? Why were your lungs tight?

As if feeling your stuck eyes, those icy blues shift from people-watching to lock onto yours immediately. As hollow as they always were, it seemed. He blinks and the blonde eyebrows on his sliver of visible forehead move.

Shit. Your hips trade weight. Look at you.

Loose shoulders under a rugged buttoned-down and painted balaclava make your breath go thin, not able to resist sneaking a glance at those tattoos you remember so vividly. Yes, that was still Ghost.

Jesus, is this how it felt to see someone you barely even remembered suddenly appear? Was it elation or caution that was making your heart race? 

Ghost doesn’t look surprised. His eyes don’t widen; don’t soften or light up. They blankly watch you as you shake away the shock and raise a brow in return. A sarcastic finger goes to your head, and you mock salute. 

What are you doing? You seem to ask, a mischievous expression growing as you start forward when he dismissively narrows his eyes. You look ridiculous. Are you asking to be spotted? 

The man leans into the too-small chair he sits in, one hand going to hang off the back and the other resting on the tabletop. Gloved fingers tapping morse in slow measures.

Clear. Come here. He follows you with his gaze, head stationary, as you enter the flow of traffic, smiling at people at your sides and letting off polite greetings when you could. Steadily striding, you weave through groups and individuals like water, legs steady even as your ears pick up every little sound. 

A comfortable middle point of visible excitement and strict business. Why were you so…happy?

When you approach Ghost’s table, you slip up beside him with a sly chuckle, pulling out the chair to his right. You, softy, lower yourself down into it, not turning to him but instead simply making sure no one had followed you with a quick scan. His heat only adds to the warmth of the day like a walk through damnation.

“Well, well, well,” you smile, addressing the SAS member with his shadow hanging over you once more; such a heavy thing, though you don’t mind. Your expression mellows to have it above you again. There was a safety to it, you had to admit. The cold comfort of death. “Trip to Italy, Sir? Take a little vacation?”

“Came to bail out a bird from my past,” You smell that scent again – smoke and ash; gun-cleaning solvent paired with a canvas tent. Dirt and metallic blood. “And if I ever went on a vacation, I sure as hell wouldn’t pick this place. ‘Bout to burst into flames; traumatize a few kids and their mums.” 

Hadn’t he changed even a little bit? 

“Now that’s dark.” 

“Never said it wasn’t.”

Of course he hasn’t, you answer your own question, feet shifting and skin pliable, why would he? He isn’t like me – didn’t have to reinvent himself based on atoms and in the wake of silent nights. 

There was a piece of you that believed that Ghost had always been this way, though you knew it was false. Nobody in this profession was just born like this, they were led to it. Whoever it was under the mask or balaclava didn’t matter anymore. 

They had died a long time ago.

“Not a fan of the history, Brit?” You tease, bringing up a hand to itch at your undereye, finally taking a peak at the form that nearly swallows you. 

Your lids try not to peel back, but you didn’t realize how close you’d sat next to Ghost – any closer and you would be in the crook of his arm; the relaxed spread of his knee bumping into yours and arm over the back of your seat. Trying to act nonchalant, you ignore the strange swirling in your gut with a hum and a twitching of your leg.

Stop that.

“Don’t care a smidge, just not a fan of the damn heat.” The gruff man responds with his inked arm on the table flexing, as though he was tenser than he showed. Ghost clears his throat, “needs a good downpour, eh?” 

“Try living underground for two weeks. Literally. Sun’ll feel like a blessing.”

“Fuckin’ hell…That’s why the radio wasn’t working, then.” While this was all cute – re-learning each other like a shaken puzzle – there were dangers to being this open. The Brit would be fine, but if you got spotted, well, there would be worse things to worry about than an achy side and a pile of bodies in a tunnel.

“You got something for me, or are we here just to stand out like bullet holes in a forehead?” Feeling his head tilt to you, snaking down your form, your body leans forward, palms sweaty as they lock on the table. “Price with you? The other two I saw on the feed?”

“Negative. Op in Belarus. Sent me in alone.” Your knees brush, delicately; like a touch of down feathers. You refrain from taking in a shallow breath, knowing he’s analyzing every movement with a hidden mouth and gentle huffs of air that rises his sculpted chest. Through a grunted sigh, Ghost tells, “The Old Man insisted. Laswell thought you’d be alright by yourself, regardless,” and falls silent.

What was he doing? Why was he talking with that rasp in his tone? Your heart swells at the comment about Kate, but a confusing feeling settles in your lower body. Why did the air feel thick?

The warmth of the sun was making your skin perspire, leaving a sheen of sweat over your arms. But the thought of heat stroke fled as you became hyper-aware of the man beside you, keeping careful not to touch you, though his gaze still bore into the side of your face like prodding fingers anyways.

He can’t quite figure you out, he admits to himself. So much of you was different – and he couldn’t tell how. 

She’s lighter, he tightens his face, not the same as when I left. 

But there had been an utter satisfaction when he’d seen you in that alleyway, even if you were different in a million ways, that would never change. Ghost’s body had loosened, his clenched jaw let go, and snappy answers to servers stopped entirely. 

Because those were still the same colored eyes that he remembered. He takes a long breath. 

Through the haze under your creased skin, a red alarm starts to sound off. Not because of the confusing way you felt the chilled form of Ghost on a near internal level, but because of the hooded individual across the street.

When your eyes lock, they back up three paces and bolt down the adjacent street, vanishing into the crowd. Your expression darkens, and Ghost shifts his attention from your face to the streets. 

His eyes blankly follow where you were looking.

“Come on,” you get to your feet, hand snatching at the SAS member's sleeve, dragging him with you as a mother would a toddler. It was ironic – if he resisted, you wouldn’t be able to force him to move, not in a million years, but he slid off his chair with fluid muscles. 

He doesn’t question you when he’s brought into an offshoot of the road, vacant of tourists or locals besides a stray cat and a few scavenger birds. Flies jump off garbage cans, buzzing through the air above your heads as you level Ghost with a serious stare. 

You nearly stumble over your words when you get to look at those long blonde eyelashes that you remember heatedly, but push through as they move to half-lid his blank eyes. Your heart skips beats as you spare looks up and down the space.

What the fuck is going on with me? Focus. This is serious. 

But, Jesus, he should really stop looking at you like that.

“You said you had a lead over the radio – anything on someone called Catello Tullio by chance?” You ask, voice like stone.

“Tullio?” Ghost hums in the back of his throat, all business, hips moving under him as he goes to glance at the street. His balaclava moves as he speaks. “Someone made a mention of it. ‘Fore I put a knife in ‘em, ‘o course.” Nodding, he huffs out, “On me.” 

Turning on long legs, he starts to walk farther down the path, and you follow at his side, peering up and eager to gain more intel. “You’ve caused quite a panic around here, Sunshine. Cell’s terrified of the ‘Reaper.’ I’m nearly impressed.”

He briefly flashes an optic to you, heart betraying him as he remains locked on your lips. Rotating his jaw, he turns back forward.

“Oh, my,” smirking slowly, you roll your eyes, “whatever will I do without your approval, great Ghost.”

“Dunno – kick the bucket probably.” Shaking your head in false annoyance, the slow, mocking, stain in the man’s tone leaks into your very DNA; coating it with honey. Like a warm sunrise, you clock a small hitch in his chest and equate it to muted chuckles when you laugh. 

“Don’t go placing bets, now. I’m not so easily broken.”

“Oh, wouldn’t think of it, Sweetheart. Wouldn’t be my handiwork if it happened,” his tone goes light, “don’t wanna take credit away from you.”

“Brit.” You spit with fake venom.

“American.” He grumbles back, but you clock the small spark in his iris, cold blue bouncing silver light like snow. 

He sounded…entertained? Snide in a sarcastic way. 

Your mouth rises in a stupid, dopey, grin as you stare from the side of your vision, chest jumping in easy comedy. What a strange pair you two were, but you find you liked his company even more, this time around. 

Or maybe he had changed slightly. Or maybe it was just you.

At the end of the day, you were relieved that it was easy to talk to him. Conversations with corpses are a bit one sided, after all.

Ghost’s lips had to be at least quirked under that dark fabric to achieve mischief like what he was spitting out, you leveled with yourself. At the minimum, the man wasn’t annoyed he’d been forced out of his own primary mission because of you. 

You remember he wasn’t averse to cracking jokes – particularly dark ones – but it had…it had never felt like his before.

Strange, you admit with a raised brow and a cocked head, cheeks burning for no apparent reason. You’d gotten him to chuckle? Holy hell, you deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for that. I’d think he would be pretty pissed about being sent here. He’s never been one to fuck around. 

You both continue in easy silence until you decide to speak once more, intent on asking where you were being led. 

Ghost’s head had perked up in what you assumed to be soldier-like attention, but then his head had whipped behind the two of you. Oblivious to his shift in mood, like a dark cloud, you open your mouth.

“Well, where are we–” 

“--Get down!” Hands slap on the back of your arm and jerk you to the opposite wall as a loud echo rings out. Whizzing over your head so close that you feel the breeze of it. 

Gasping, the air is expelled from your lungs in one fell swoop; your spine grating over the rough stone as your legs scramble to keep upright. Wiping away the shock quicker than an eraser over a whiteboard, your neck snaps to the problem; brain already hardwired to get over being shot at and the adrenaline that floods your veins immediately after. 

Across the way, Ghost’s fast hand was reaching to the back of his outfit – without a doubt going to grab a concealed weapon. Eyes fiery and arms tight. And as though you were seeing it happen in slow motion, you lock onto the hostile in the middle of the alley back the way you both came. And then onto the hooded silhouette ahead of you. 

Boxed in. 

Hyperfocused, all of it happens in only three seconds, two trained professionals protecting each other without even realizing it. 

One, you realize how this will have to play out if you don’t act immediately. You don’t know how you can trust Ghost to take the other hostile while you focus on the one ahead, but you don’t question it. Two, your gun lays heavy in your hand as your legs pivot. Three, you fire double shots with a loose finger and hear mirrored gunfire from the man beside you. 

You don’t bother watching him drop.

Snapping your head backward with a rageful expression to see Ghost’s corpse hit the floor with a cracking of a skull, shouts start to ring over the city. When you lower your weapon, you turn to notice the Birt examining your own downed hostile with a satisfied stare. If you hadn’t had his back, he would have been shot in it. 

But what you didn’t know was that he was thinking the same thing about you. 

Turning to stare at each other, your widened eyes lock; fingers twitching along the cool X12’s metal as those stormy iris’ only seem to darken further when they dart to your lips. Like staring into a wild animal’s gaze and pretending you’re not in a trance because of it – stuck in that moment of infinity and nothingness with not a single muscle moving. Waiting for either a mouthful of fangs around your supple neck or for the beast to turn away with grace and practiced steps. 

You swore Ghost’s mouth parted under that damned balaclava, but whatever he was going to say was lost when the world came back in a violent storm of screams. Panicking, you gape at the entrance – seeing multiple shadows shoving through the crowd to get to you.

“On me!” Keeping your pistol in one hand, you bolt, hearing heavy footsteps pounding behind you as your mind begins to run.

Ghost trails without a single doubt in his mind as to why he’s following you, and it makes him cautious. 

Catacombs, you decide, get under the city and backtrack to the outskirts. Survey and have Ghost tell me his intel before making a move…yeah! 

“Where are we headin'?!” Ghost shouts, keeping right your heels as you turn corners. Gunshots ring over your heads as you jump up small groupings of tile steps, blood pounding in your ears. You try to remember the maps you had stored in your files underground. Left…no, two rights. Shit! I need to be higher – see the streets like a bird would! “Reaper?!”

“Do you trust me?!” You call over your shoulder, and though it seems deranged, a smile forms over your lips. “I’ll need an answer in the next few minutes, yeah? I’m on a time crunch!” 

“What are you on, Girl?” The adrenaline speaks to you, propelling your legs faster and faster. You vault over a fallen trash bin and take the shock to your ankles as it travels to your thighs. Snickering, you feel the brooding man’s presence like you always could – just beside you like a loyal hound. His focus excites you as you put your gun away in the small of your back. “Bloody hell! Not giving me a choice?”

“Not if you don’t want to get shot in the ass!” Taking one more right, you find yourself rapidly approaching a dead end, tall walls, a balcony, and a large dumpster – the flap already closed overtop. Not answering the man as he barks out a comment, you throw yourself atop it with a puff of breath and spasming lungs. 

Laughing, your hands don’t falter. Reaching up with eager fingers, you grab at the black metal front of the balcony a small distance above and suck down a hot breath. Your arms strain, sickly sweet sweat on the top of your lip, and eyes wide with glee despite the gaining footfalls rising like a battlefield cry. Jerking your body up with only your upper-body strength, you slide your abdomen over the railing with barely a second passing. Once your feet are firmly on someone's property, you twist around and slap your hands to the metal with a twinkle in your vision; face wrinkled with all the animated amusement. 

A wide grin is stuck on you.

Ghost stares up with slightly widened eyes from the ground, arms poised on the garbage bin.

Oh, hell, when she smiles like that…

“But I can’t judge, can I?” Teasing, you extend a helping grip with a smirk. “Everyone has their fetishes, hm, Ghost? Maybe yours is just having a gun pointed at you.” 

He blinks at that, but knowing the urgency in the back of your throat, he pushes himself up with a grunt. You try not to watch his muscles strain, but spy the way the veins in his forearms grow larger as his alluring hips flex. They situate themselves under him as he crunches before straightening in an instant. 

Fuck, don’t drool, you scold, lips lightly parted like seven devils were flying in the back of your mind. Jesus, imagine the weight those things can carry…shit. Wouldn’t mind losing my virginity to that. 

A leather-coated hand slaps into your awaiting one. You snap back to a screaming reality and stare down into hypnotic sheens of ice and…wait…did Ghost have fucking green flecks near his pupils?

“You sure it isn’t yours, Sunshine?” He harshly comments, and his balaclava moves with a rising of his eyebrow. 

Clearing your throat, you murmur a weak reply as your face begins to feel like a blazing fire, squeezing his limb before pulling. He chuffs. Grunting violently, you know he does most of the work in helping himself up, though the Brit still slaps your shoulder in comradery when he’s stable. Kneeling down, he forces himself into the wall behind the two of you, fingers weaving to create a cuff over his knee. 

Tossing his head up, he motions with urgency.  

“C’mon. Be quick ‘bout it.”

Catching one foot in the basin of his clutch, you force down your illicit thoughts about Ghost and jump, pushing off with your opposite leg on his shoulder and his added boost. Scaling the wall, you arch and scramble - with a growing bite in your side – to the terracotta-shingle roof.

Following after and checking your six, the beast of a man joins just in time. 

Shadows dart around the corner far on the ground, and the both of you are speeding animals over the rooftops in the meantime. Against better judgment, boots pounding the tiles, you release loud bouts of genuine laughter. 

How long had it been since you’d had such fun? Enjoyed someone else's company like this? Running across homes, you look at your side, only to find Ghost’s eyes already digging into you. Unrelenting. Unmovable. Panting, you smile brightly, giggles making your sides hurt something awful but your pace doesn't slow for an instant. 

All it took was a glance at the streets – you know where you are now. 

“Enjoying yourself, Reaper?” He asks, arms pumping and barely winded, and you wonder for a moment how he breathes under that covering of his – it had to smell horrible by the end of the day.

“For…the first time in ages, Ghost.” He chuckles at that, and it is a betrayal of his nature. How could someone so violent, so cloaked in oceans of blood, produce such a soft sound? A genuine sound that makes your stomach flip? 

His bewitched eyes rove back in front of him, and he can’t deny the simplicity of speaking to you. It wasn’t a chore, just a conversation with a person who he wouldn’t mind having on 141 at his side. 

There were few people worthy of that.

You swallow thickly and take point, leading the shadow of death to your home underground so you can re-evaluate. 

You can only wonder why you don’t feel nervous as he watches over you, skin marked with horrors but his hand had fit so well in your own. And you also wonder how you can come to care for someone you haven’t seen in ages so quickly, as if you’d both been around each other for years. 

Had you really ever forgotten him? Or just tried to push the affection, both emotional and physical, for him out? But that was the problem, you tell yourself with a clenched jaw, that physical attraction. All of that was just…tied into a million knots. Complicated. 

You’d never had sex before.

And, Ghost questioned himself as he watched your legs move, did he forget you out of necessity? Because those eyes of yours won’t leave him alone, and he so very much enjoyed looming over you.

He sighs heavily and follows in silence.

—

When you first joined them, they all created rumors. This was long before you were permitted solo Ops, long before half of your file was filled and bleeding with black ink that would shame a warlord. When everyone just thought you were signed up because you were some unhinged kid, brimming with unchecked problems and willing to throw everything away just for the chance to prove yourself. Who got into it for kicks. 

They would say you enjoyed it, killing. Reveled in it, really. That it got you off when you were covered in blood and crimson guts as they pooled at your feet. 

You suppose that was what turned you away from sex in general – those heavy comments said with no remorse that stuck with you. It was fear almost, a genuine twisting of your mind to make it your fault. It wasn’t your fault, you knew that; you could sleep with anyone you wanted and the comments weren’t a brand on your skin.

You could forget about it. You should. 

But the words were so mean. Just cruel for the sense of being cruel. And it stuck with you.

If that was all anyone would see, why try and force them to look away? You kept to yourself, never spoke unless spoken to, and shoved all of it down like a kill switch. No sex, no relationships. Nothing to make you think about the rumors. 

Getting off on death? You were horrified at the concept, horrified that people would play around like that with you – with your life!

You just ended up telling yourself you wouldn’t feel it until it hurt too bad. In a way, you were right…but you can only force emotions down for a while until they break forward like a fist to the mouth. 

Besides Mutt, they had many names for you – titles and backhanded monikers. Rabid. Demon. Devil. Monster. Sometimes, beast.

But they all had the same meaning. Inhuman. Wrong. 

It shouldn’t have bothered you that much. It…It shouldn’t have made you stay up at night still thinking about the way they would laugh and pinch your arms as you were left shaking; drowning in gore not your own because they sent you into the heart of the Hot Zone for a few jokes. Teasing you about how you probably touched yourself because of it.

But it was just an excuse to make you too scared to leave. Your reputation…

“There’s that Devil for ya’, always ready to slit some more throats for us. You think you could do the next few, Mutt? You’ll love it, I know you will. I’ll give you a good report if you do it without alerting the guards – see there… ‘Course you will. Fucking freak.”

Your eyes stare forward blankly, Dirk leaving a dotted fluid trail over the dusty ground.

Why did they do this to you? 

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[wellcollapse]

idk if you're still writing the post-cemetry scene fic with pining eddie (idk if i'm describing it right) but i would love to hear more about it/see a snippet or too if you feel so inclined 👀

someone asking about angsty pining fic in the month of our lord april 2024? this was such a lovely surprise 😭 i'm gonna be honest with u anon i'm likely not going to publish 911 fic again BUT because you asked so nicely i'll give you a few older snippets from my draft:

Eddie sighs, breaking the stare. “You have a key, you know,” he says finally. “Feel free to come join me whenever you want.” He turns on his heel and walks back inside to finish his goddamn brownies, leaving Buck standing in the doorway.  It’s silent for a few minutes. He’s in the middle of measuring a tablespoon of espresso powder when Buck steps into the kitchen and shuts the door behind him. Eddie feels the weight of Buck’s gaze on him as he folds the powder into his brownie mixture, but he doesn’t turn to meet his eye until Buck speaks.  “Is that…” Buck falters. He clears his throat. “Is that my recipe?”  “Yeah,” Eddie says gruffly. “Chris asked me to make it. Said he wanted to share it with his friends when they come over tomorrow for their playdate.”  Buck snorts. “Man, you can’t call it that. Chris nearly bit my head off last time I tried. Kept reminding me that ‘playdates are for kids, Buck,’ and that he’s not a kid anymore.”  Buck emphasizes that last bit with air quotes, and Eddie can’t help but grin at that. But his smile fades instantly, remembering the somber look on Buck’s face when he’d opened the door. He highly doubts that Buck came over just to commiserate about the trials and tribulations of watching Christopher grow up.  Eddie bites the bullet. “Why are you here, Buck?”  Buck shifts nervously. He shrugs and looks away from Eddie. “I — I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to answer that. You’ve never asked me that before.”  Eddie scrubs at his face. “I've never had to ask you that, Buck. Things are different now. You’ve been busy.” 

+

“Wow,” Buck says acidly, all traces of heartbreak gone. “I’ve never heard that one before.”  Eddie frowns. “What?”  “Really, Eddie?” Buck’s voice cracks on the last syllable. He shakes his head. “Unbelievable. Just — unbelievable.” “Buck — what are you talking about?”  “We were just trying to protect you, Evan," Buck mocks. "You were never supposed to find out. We kept it from you because we love you. Any of that sound familiar to you?” Eddie’s breath hitches on the word love, because he doesn’t know, he can’t know, but then —  Oh.  Fuck.

+

Buck: We’ll get through this just like everything else. I promise. It’ll be okay.  Buck: Eddie, did you eat enough today? Should I come by and bring you some food? Buck: You know you’re still my best friend, right? That’s never going to change, Eddie. Never.  He reacts with a thumbs up or a tap-back heart on most of the messages, too exhausted to do anything else. He replies with a thumbs down to the message about food, certain that he wouldn’t be able to handle seeing Buck so soon. He knows he’ll have to face him in person eventually, but his tired, broken heart just wants to postpone it as much as he can.  The last one, though, is a balm that both soothes and agitates Eddie’s burning, aching heart, and he taps out a brief, Thank you, you too. Always, in response. It feels like too much and not enough all at once, and Eddie wishes once again that he was a little better at resisting Buck, that he didn’t feel that need to reply to his every message lest Buck worry even more about him. The only one he actually acknowledges is a message that comes in at 2:43 AM on Sunday. As he opens the message, Eddie absentmindedly wonders if Buck’s having a hard time falling asleep for the same reason as him. Probably.  It’s a link to a new exhibit at the Griffith Observatory, accompanied by a text that reads: Can I take Christopher here next weekend? Eddie squeezes back tears as he replies with a brief, Of course, and puts his phone down, letting the darkness swallow him again. 

+

Hen beats him to it. “What happened, Buck? I thought you really liked her. Weren’t you planning to introduce her to Maddie and Chimney next week?”  “Not anymore,” Buck mutters. “I broke up with her.”  “What?” Eddie snaps head snaps up. “Why?”  Buck doesn’t meet his gaze, his lip quivering. The rest of their team is watching them, eyes darting back and forth, and Buck blinks hesitantly before swallowing down a sip of coffee. He wipes the cream off of his upper lip and looks Eddie in the eye.  “You know why,” Buck whispers. 

[sissylittlefeather]

It's about damn time...

A Very Quiet Life: Chapter 8

A/N: I'm back! And I finished the series, so hold on to your butts, the end is coming. But not this time! For those that haven't been paying attention, this is the AU where Elvis is your smokin' hot (and married) next door neighbor. If you haven't read chapters 1-7, go back and do that now or you'll be hella confused.

Here's the links:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Warnings: 18+ minors DNI, cussing, this starts angsty and gets steamy at the end, kissing, fingering, oral sex (f receiving and receiving and receiving), overstimulation, multiple orgasms, it's a good time. Also the reader is a widow and Elvis is married.

I'm back, baby.

Song inspo (for the sake of tradition)

And gifs, in case you forgot.

Mrs. Walter is in her front window with a cup of coffee. She sighs to herself. She was right.

******

If Susan Walter opens her mouth, you don't know it. Beth doesn't say anything to Elvis and you continue for a while in the same pattern you've been in. You're cordial in public and then when his wife is away, he comes over and fucks you silly, staying the night whenever he can.

Somewhere along the line, he stops sneaking around and just stays after dinner and wakes up in the morning with you and the kids. Jane looks at you both suspiciously at times, but doesn't question you again. She's happy to have him there and doesn't want to mess it up with asking about the details.

You're playing with fire and you know it.

Sometimes you wonder if Elvis is trying to get caught, so he can go ahead and get the whole ordeal over with. You also wonder why he doesn't just tell her, so he can start the process of a divorce and you can be together properly.

One afternoon, you're laying in bed together after another marathon lovemaking session and your fear takes over you.

"Elvis, why haven't you left Beth yet?" You blurt out. He's laying on his back next to you, holding your hand and kissing your fingers. He stops and sits up to look at you.

"Do you want me to leave her?"

"Well, I don't want to keep doing this forever."

"I thought we were having fun?" You snap your head around to look at him.

"Having fun? Is that what this is to you?" He can tell he's messed up, and he tries to back pedal quickly.

"No, honey, you know I love you. That's not what I meant."

"Well, what exactly did you mean, Elvis?"

"I just meant... I didn't know if you were ready for me to tell her."

"I'm ready for this to be real, if that's what you want."

"Honey, of course that's what I want. This is real." You meet his eyes and sit in silence for a minute.

"Then you'll tell her?"

"I'll find a way. I promise." You want to believe him, but a flicker of doubt arises inside you.

When another week passes and still nothing has changed, the flicker turns to a full-on flame. The next time he comes over, the flame turns into a bonfire.

"No, Elvis, I'm not sleeping with you again until you tell her."

"Aww, honey, that's not fair."

"Not fair? What the hell?"

"You're asking me to break my wife's heart and leave her in the dust. I need to do it the right way."

"Now you're worried about her? After you promised me that you didn't love her, that you want me. After you let my kids get used to you. Are you changing your mind?" Your head is spinning and you feel the tears burning in your eyes. You thought he was your future and now he's backing out? What the fuck?

"No! Y/n, I'm not changing my mind! I'm not in love with her, but she is a person that I used to care about very much. I can't just leave her."

"You... you can't?" There's no holding your tears back now. They cut hot paths down your cheeks as they fall. You can't tell if you're more hurt or angry.

"Baby, no, that's not what I'm saying." He kneels down in front of you while you're sitting on the couch. He tries to put a hand on your cheek but you pull away from him. His eyes fill with tears, too, as he tries to convince you that he's not saying what you think he's saying.

"Honey, please, I just need more time to do it right. That doesn't mean I'm not going to do it. Please." The emotion in his voice gets your attention. You pick up his hand and kiss his palm.

"Just promise me you're not playing with me. My kids are involved. I have to know you know this is not a game." He tips your chin up to look you in the eyes.

"Y/n I promise you. I love you. I want you. I will leave her. I just have to do it in the right way. Please trust me, baby." You nod slowly and plant a wet kiss on his mouth. He returns your kiss, parting your lips and letting his tongue carefully tease yours. He wraps his arms around your waist and pulls your hips to the edge of the couch against him.

"Do you love me?" He whispers in between kisses.

"Yes." More kisses

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes." You wrap your legs around his waist and he picks you up from the couch. He carries you to the bedroom and shuts the door behind him.

When he gets you to the bed, he lays you down gently and starts to undress you. He pulls your shirt over your head and then unhooks your bra, dropping it over the side of the bed. Your fingers automatically go to unbutton his shirt, but he stops you. He kisses down your chest, stopping to swirl his tongue over your nipple. Then, he kisses across to the other one and sucks on it gently. He continues kissing down your body until he gets to the spot between your belly button and the top of your pants. He unbuttons your pants and slides them down over your legs, returning to your hips to take off your panties. Again, you go to take his pants off too and he gently pushes your hands away.

"Not yet, baby. I want to show you how much I love you." When you're fully naked, he runs his hands up and down your legs, teasing your center. He gets close and then backs away several times. Finally, he pushes your thighs apart and positions himself in between them. Something about the fact that he's fully dressed makes the situation hotter. He kisses the supple skin of your inner thighs and then on either side of center, teasing you. You arch your back and moan.

"Elvis, please." You whimper with desire, begging him to put his mouth on you. After a tantalizing amount of time, he licks up your slit and settles on your sensitive bud, moving his tongue in a circle around you. The sensation almost overwhelms you and you cry out.

"Oh, fuck me." He smiles and pulls back to respond.

"Maybe in a bit."

"No, don't stop!" He goes back to licking over and around you, pushing you closer and closer to the edge. He slides two fingers inside you and finds the spot that drives you crazy. He does a "come here" motion with his fingers while he continues moving his tongue across your clit. You feel your orgasm build while he moves his fingers and his tongue faster and faster. Finally, your climax explodes through you, lighting your whole body on fire in the best way. You wrap your fingers in his hair while your body shudders and pulses around him. As you come down from your high, you expect him to stop, but he doesn't. He keeps going.

"Ah, stop stop stop." You tap on the top of his head. He shakes his head and keeps going. You've never had a man continue past your orgasm. At first, it's overwhelming, but after a bit you start to feel a second climax gathering in your abdomen. He pulls his fingers out and fucks you with his tongue for a bit and you dance right on the edge of a second release. When he goes back to your clit, you slip over the edge into a second wave of ecstasy. You ride that high for a while and eventually come back down.

But he still doesn't stop. He licks and fingers and tongue-fucks you through a grand total of four orgasms. You didn't even know you were capable of four back to back like that, but he is relentless in his pursuit of your pleasure. By the end of it, you're a soaking wet, sweating mess incapable of anything but heavy breathing and small whimpers. After the last one, he wipes his mouth and lays on his back next to you, also incapable of speaking, but for different reasons. You lay there for a good while, both of you just recovering. He's still fully dressed, but his shirt is drenched with sweat and you.

Finally, he grabs your hand and pulls it onto his chest.

"Do you trust me that I love you?"

"Yes..." you whisper breathily.

"I'll tell her after the block party this weekend." You nod and roll over onto him.

He better tell her soon. Or stop giving you reasons to keep him around.

******

Chapter 9 (the grand finale) coming soon!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Taglist:

@itlover8000 @deniseinmn @elvisalltheway101 @ccab @suxny @hernameisnoellex3 @ashtag6887 @arabellapresley @littlehoneyposts @dkayfixates @elvisxsposts @joshuntildawn13 @msamarican @returntopresley @mrsbutler99 @blog777e @cattcb

Want to be added or removed from the Taglist? Let me know!

[will-die-for-janus]

Not exactly related to the episode but I’ve been thinking about this and I need to share it with someone.

What if Janus was scared of the Orange side? Like what if he was doing his best to hide O from Thomas not because of personal motives but because Janus fears O’s power and is trying to protect Thomas? If that’s the case, what kind of powerhouse would O be to be worthy of even Janus fearing him? Logan is the last roadblock between O and Thomas. Once he breaks down (and he’s clearly very close to it), then O comes into his full power.

This is barely a theory this is just an excuse to see angsty Janus. I like watching calm and collected characters have a breakdown. I wanna read this fic so bad

Ok I love theories it’s like my favourite thing (still emotionally devastated over matpat I can’t handle change lmao)

Entertaining this idea, Janus is the representation of Thomas’ self-preservation, he had been allowed to lie to T about HIS OWN existence. The only other dark side we know is Remus and in his introduction he mentioned Janus allowing him present himself to T as he was accepting the darker sides to himself. Yet we have seen only the vaguest of hints about this Orange side, event after J has been accepted by Thomas and Patton. This means the orange side would either disrupts the tentative peace they’ve built so far OR Janus has reasons (self-preserving) for not allowing the introduction of O.

Another thing we have to keep in mind is Logan, most people have determined Logan is either the orange side, linked with the orange side, or is acting as some sort of barrier between O and Thomas. I am leaning more towards Logan might develop into the Orange side, mostly because the rainbow doesn’t have 2 blue colours 🌈. Yet Lo taking one for the team and maybe having the orange side try to come out or influence him but not allowing it to happen just to protect everyone else, this includes not showing/feeling any emotions (especially the ones that come more naturally to him like anger), it’s very heroic and something I wouldn’t mind.

Angsty any side is definitely my shit (only if there is a happy ending cuz i’m a damn baby) This fic concept is definitely something i’m intrigued by, if I end up using it as a writing exercise on my fic account i’ll give you all the credit!!

[neewtmas]

a non-exhaustive list of fic recs for lockwood & co and stranger things

Under the cut you’ll find my Lockwood & Co and Stranger Things fic recs.

These fics are in no particular order and are the ones that stood out most to me while reading. All of these authors have other writing that should be checked out! Most have their masterlist pinned at the top  of their blog, which is why I didn’t link it seperately. 

Have fun reading these excellent pieces of fanfiction❤️

Lockwood & Co

George

by @maraschinomerry

How to Stand (friends to lovers, fluff, both povs, George teaches reader how to use a rapier)

Matching Mates (friends to lovers, george has a crush, locklyle teasing him about it, Fittes Ball, bestfriend!Lucy is scheming)

Matching Mates Part 2 (established relationship, fluff)

Stay Safe (Reader and George fight a visitor together)

Important Research  (friends to lovers, both povs, george is the sweetest,  misunderstandings, fluff)

I’ve got your back (angst + fluff, hurt/comfort, cuddling)

Offerings (angst + fluff, getting possessed by a ghost)

by @givemea-dam-break

Pretty (friends to lovers, bestfriend!Lucy, locklyle, Fittes Ball, jealousy and awkward George,  he’s a little idiot tbh)

Little Notes (love confessions through letters)

Touch (Gorge is jealous of Lockwood, fluff, a little angst)

masterlist for Lockwood x reader

by @lewkwoodnco

Wildest Dreams (strangers to lovers, reader works at Fittes, very in-character George, slight angst but happy ending)

Be More (valentine's day, FLUFF, george is a little awkward, food fight!! feels like a warm hug)

by @oblivious-idiot

london calling (reader works at Fittes, friends to lovers, fluff)

midnight comforts (after the boneglass, nightmares, cuddling, fluffyyyy)

the break of dawn (fluff, pizza for breakfast, watching a movie)

late night collisions (friends to lovers, fluff, george is bad at uno, stealing shirts)

the only exception (ghost touch, fluff, george is the swe etest)

Stuck in the middle with you by @stray-kaz (18+ only!, reader contacts the ghost of Annabelle Ward, angst, fluff, smut)

Sleep Tight by @honey-lavender-latte (friends to lovers, comforting George, cuddles, his pov)

Lockwood

Just another love song by @tangledinlove (friends to lovers, fluff, mutual pining, love languages, George and Lucy have to intervene, long!!)

I take you like you do your tea, with lemon and with honey by @lewkwoodnco (first person Lockwood, Lockwood is in love, pure poetry)

Deck The Halls (and not your partner) by @bella-rose29 (long! 12 part series, enemies to lovers, fake dating!! set around christmas time (with everything that entails), fluff, angst, mildly spicy towards the end, lockwood is a little shit from time to time, fantastic couple dynamic)

escapism by @aislinrayne (18+ but no actual smut, reader is drunk, insane tension, lockwood is a simp, lot's of lockwood pov)

Little Pink Heart by @maraschinomerry (SAD, NO happy end, established relationship, reader dies on the job, it's a beautiful read tho)

Locklyle

that funny feeling by @givemea-dam-break (ANGST and only ANGST)

Untitled by @lucelockwood (the most beautiful thing you'll ever read, 100% pure love)

Borrowed Time by @waitingforthesunrise (angst, post Hollow Boy, serial killer prompt)

Policy 8 by @the-biscuit-agreement (on AO3, very long, it feels like reading another Lockwood & Co book, angst, fluff, it has everything)

The Whole World Filled With Silence by @13atoms (focus on Lucy, post canon, talents fading but it's bittersweet instead of angsty)

Just An Act by @czenzo (extremely in character, so funny, the skull is the best)

George & Lucy

5 times George missed Lucy, 1 time he admitted it by @givemea-dam-break & @ikeasupremacy

Stranger Things

Series

Dancing with myself by @ambrossart  (finished, fluff and angst, happy ending, ALL the feels and just simply amazingly written, everyone needs to read this one)

You are in love by @missscarlettangel (finished, strangers to friends to lovers, kinda slow burn, just a super sweet feel-good story and absolutely worth the read)

Eddie Munson

Dirty Dreaming by @eddiethefreakkmunson (smut! best friends to lovers, Eddie has a wet dream about the reader and deals with the repercussions)

Listen to the Trees by @ethereal27cereal (includes smut, fluff, best friends to lovers, mutual pining, plus size!reader, ‘there’s only one bed’-trope, a very handsy wet dream,  both povs)

My favourite Person by @pollenallergie (best friends to lovers, slow burn, starts out with them as little kids)

Oneshots

by @copycatkillerfics 

Head over Heels/ Code Lime Green (fluff, friends to lovers, kinda insecure but very in love Eddie, Dustin plays matchmaker)

Angel/ What’s left unspoken (angst & fluff, friends to lovers, both povs, cliche in the best way)

A spark (angst and fluff, friends to lovers, truth or dare goes a little wrong, butterflies guaranteed) 

Since the Sunflowers (angst and fluff, shitty boyfriend alert, Eddie is a sweetheart in love, happy ending)

by @marymunsonloves

Hellfire Babes (best friends to lovers, you wear Eddie’s clothes and he can’t handle it, both povs, halloween party)

All dolled up (angst & fluff, friends to lovers, slight misunderstanding, a little jealous Eddie)

More to love (best friends to lovers, implied plus size reader, Eddie helps you with body issues, accidental confession)

by @munson-blurbs

Flattery works with me (smut, a revealing bikini at the pool is all it takes to get Eddie going)

Clueless (fluff, the hellfire boys push Eddie to ask you out)

Bookworm!reader (fluff, shy reader, Eddie joins reader in detention)

by @singularattitudeofasafetypin

If you wanted me, you really should’ve shown (friends to lovers, kinda shitty boyfriend, Eddie shows you what you’re missing in the most beautiful way)

How you get the girl (friends to lovers, Eddie overhears you telling Steve how to step up his game, Eddie’s pov)

Crazy Forever (established relationship, Eddie is insecure)

by @corrodedcoffins

Different Kind of Jealous (best friends to lovers, mutual pining, jealousy, both povs, all the good stuff)

New Outfit (fluff & angst, friends to lovers, reader tries to appease Eddie by changing her looks, confession during a fight)

Man of my dreams (smut!, best friends to lovers, reader has a wet dream about Eddie, relentless teasing, the gang hangs out together, platonic steve x reader moment, jealous Eddie)

Love comes walking in (best friends to lovers, fluff & angst, jealousy, Eddie is a clueless idiot, Dustin is the sweetest little guy, Eddie makes it up to you beautifully)

by @sunflowergirl522

Teardrops on my guitar (best friends to lovers, Eddie is so in love, jealousy, mutual pining, misunderstandings)

He’s my brother (strangers to lovers, mutual pining, movie nights)

by @forever-rogue

Miscommunications (best friends to lovers, fluff & angst, jealousy, a fight, mutual pining, insecurities)

In which Eddie drives you crazy (friends to lovers, fluff, intense flirting from Eddie)

by @eddie-van-munson

Elvira’s Movie Macabre (friends to lovers, bestfriend!chrissy, fluff & angst, both povs, Eddie is an idiot, but he makes it up to you)

Peanut Butter Cookies (best friends to lovers, jealousy)

masterlist by @ghosttownwherenoonegoes (found it hard to narrow down here)

meet me at midnight by @maria-scribbles (fluff, aquaintances to lovers, new years eve party, henderson!reader)

Are you leaving? by @fluffansmut (fluff, both povs, Eddie is insecure)

The Morning after by @ashtonsbff (fluff & angst, best friends to lovers, insecure reader and insecure Eddie)

is something wrong with me? by @djarintreble (best friends to lovers, mutual pining, some insecurities, Eddie shows you that there is nothing wrong with you)

Taking Eddie’s virginity by @usedtobecooler (smut!, best friends to lovers)

One Call away by @uselessastheginlasagnaa (fluff & angst, best friends to lovers, toxic/abusive relationship but Eddie is always there for you)

I think I’ve loved you forever by @cinemaquinn (smut!, fluff, best friends to lovers, insecurities, misunderstandings, mutual pining)

hold me like i’m more than just a friend by @heartthrobinsficrecs (best friends to lovers, intense fluff, henderson!reader, mutual pining, Eddie is your first kiss, both povs)

Someone that actually likes me by @oddlykilledghosts (aquaintances to lovers, fluff, Dustin’s a matchmaker)

Angels & Demons by @galaxy-siren (friends to lovers, fluff, bestfriend!chrissy, halloween party, both povs)

Have you seen my sweatshirt by @waratah-moon (established relationship, cheerleader!reader, fluff)

On my doorstep by @softharrington (smut! friends to lovers, idiots in love, mutual pining, both povs)

[tarantula-hawk-wasp]

Do you have a Shiro playlist or songs you associate with him?

DO I, oh brother, DO I EVER

the impact my shiro playlist had on my Spotify wrapped…. Unprecedented…. I have only made 3 character playlists in my life and this is by far my favorite

Link to my YouTube version bc I cannot share Spotify links but

Little blurb about each song below the cut

It is short but pointed and since I’ve been holding back on infodumping about this since February. This draws heavily from songs on shiro playlists back in like 2017 and then also my own taste

1.Halsey- control THEE Shiro song to me. The amv in my mind when I listen to this ugh just like ALL of these lyrics give a very angsty s1/2 trying very hard to be stable but undeniable struggling vibe like. Listen I just rewatched Crystal Venom and the way you could fit the hallucination scene into this 🫨

2. Little Lion man. I mean what blorbo playlist isn’t complete without this. Lions and all that but also “Tremble for yourself, my man/You know that you have seen this all before /Tremble, little lion man / You'll never settle any of your scores”

for thee amnesia gladiator flashback man????

3. The Draw - Bastille - another angsty classic mental unwellness vibe. What gets me is both “ in your left hand there is the familiar / in your right hand there’s the great unknown” both in like space explorer man and also literally alien hand but also “When you go home everything looks different/ And you're scared of being left behind / Just listen to your friends / Trust that they're fair, look in their eyes / Just listen to your friends / They only care and hope you're alright”.

4. The Kongos - Come With Me Now - big warrior and gladiator energy to this one big Shiro’s capacity for violence and anxiety “ Afraid to lose control / And caught up in this world / I've wasted time, I've wasted breath / I think I've thought myself to death / I was born without this fear / Now only this seems clear / I need to move, I need to fight / I need to lose myself tonight”

5. April 1945 - this one is a movie soundtrack one and admittedly the weak link of this playlist but I got it from someone’s 8tracks ages ago and got attached to it as a Shiro song. Very ptsd horrors of war vibes

6. Broken Crown - Mumford and sons. Thee Shiro as champion, shiro and Haggar song to me

7. Violet Clementine - Lady Lamb - I keep trying to get people to appreciate this song as a blorbo song. To me the allegory with strings of fate and like the found family amvs I imagine to this in my mind… your family as the nest of yarn.. also obsessed with songs that refer to humans as animals… very shiro as gladiator vibes.

“ You build a nest of yellow yarn / You hope to god the yellowed yarn / Is soft enough to break your fall / Should you fall, should you fall”

“ Keep your silence golden and words important / You're only a handsome animal”

8. Berserker - Leslie Fish - another shiro and violence song bc I love when he fights like he has everything to lose and does not care about pain. Just have all the lyrics

9. I gave you all - Mumford and sons . Sorry for being a Mumford and sons girlie. This one to me is more at the universe at the galra at the black lion at the garrison even at adam. I don’t have a specific lyric just the vibe for like internal angst and bitter sweetness

10. Iron - Woodkid. Another one where literally all the lyrics vibe with Shiro as like missing from home gladiator soldier leader

[aechii]

₍⁠₍ SPEAK NO EViL ₎⁠₎

[ a kylian mbappe series ]

SYNOPSiS ! it's summer break, where, yes, academic freedom ensues, but for stellar, upcoming young football stars, an unmissable opportunity springs. bondy elite summer academy prepares its youth for the professional world, and inevitably, everybody is hungry to succeed. girl or boy. life isn't kind to 18 year old kylian mbappe, and being mute seems to be a limiting factor of his progress. but once he's accepted into the football camp, he's determined to prove that his football speaks for itself. yet, in the midst of fatal determination and apathetic competitiveness, he doesn't expect to grow intrigue for [y/n], a profound player in the camp's feminine unit, whose kindness and exquisite skill awakens a visceral feeling within kylian, showing him someone else that he could love in a world filled with hate.

PAiRiNG ! mute!kylian x fem!reader | fem!reader x oc!boyfriend

GENRE ! angst , romance , drama

CONTENT WARNiNGS ! this series is ANGSTY but ROMANTIC, kylian is selectively mute (so he cannot speak to anyone who he isn't close with), teenage brutality, swearing, insults, bullying, competitiveness, toxic relationships, [y/n]'s boyfriend is questionable, fluffy times, [y/n] is kylian's escape, it's LOVE!, more to be added [warnings will be added before individual chapters when needed]

A/N ! i have planned this series (in my head) for wayyy too long and finally succumbed to my desires, sooo now it's a series 🤩 kylian's characterisation was very interesting to study and dissect, and i've made sure that i have made it as factual and raw as possible, and haven't written anything offensive. however, if i have, please tell me and i will change it immediately. i adore [y/n] and kylian's friendship/relationship (i won't cry i promise) so i really hope you enjoy reading, all of you ❤

side note: if for any reason you cannot find chapters (prbly because i forgot to link it in the masterlist lol), just search/click the tag '#speak no evil.km 🙊' and it should all be there!

COMMENCiNG ! may 6th 2023

TAGLiST ! [ ask here , those in bold i couldn't tag] @sad1esgf @ts1mp0ne @fezlvr @ippid @kyksgirl @user6373738 @kenjekwownwjn @lalunaenamoradasworld @mywhimsyjournal @imagesthatlive @heli991113 @cinderellawithashoe @milfs4lifee

INTRO + PLAYLIST | CHAP. 1 | CHAP. 2 | CHAP. 3 | CHAP. 4 | CHAP. 5 | CHAP. 6 | CHAP. 7 | CHAP. 8 ...

[nonbinaryeddiekaspbrak]

FANFIC RECS!

here's a revamped version of my rec post - each fic will link to it's corresponding ao3 page, a summary in my words, small notes/review, and a disclaimer for more mature ratings if needed.

enjoy!

(* = new entry, last updated: Dec 3rd, 2023, still going through recent bookmarks)

(ps. let me know if you want your mention to be removed!)

IT

and a stain on my shirt - venom crossover, vv good, also a fix-it, venom finds another eddie to latch onto, a lot of humor, reddie get together, venom saves eddie

awake my soul - pretty angsty, keep an eye on those trigger warnings, this was pretty good, i rlly couldn’t take any breaks with this one, richie and eddie get jumped but in the process of putting away the ones responsible for the hate crime richie finds that he’ll have to come out sooner than he’s ready for, added bonus of art!!, happy ending, has fan reactions and news coverage as things are slowly revealed

come over here and overwhelm me - nsfw, a VERY GOOD rec, SO tender, the fluff is so well written, richie is having a bad day nd eddie comes to the rescue being so hfwjaklhj!!!, this fic said bottom richie rights nd it opened my eyes

don’t break character - HE/THEY RICHIE RIGHTS, richie finds that maybe his journey of identity isn’t over when he hears the word “nonbinary”, very!!!!, fjkdkslahfkl, just him having he/they pronouns is so exciting and flappy hands-worthy

I killed a clown. ama! - it chapter 2 except it’s through the lens of social media from posts by richie eddie myra and background fans, very very entertaining, canon compliant until eddie’s death it’s actually a fix-it, fair amount of angst??

it’s not real - WATCH THE TRIGGER WARNINGS, a lot of angst, very intense, eddie has an amazing richie impression, almost like they share the same braincell, eddie is also vv caring and will drag any faceless internet account down with him, could def make it in celebrity PR according to richie’s manager steve, richie comes out but he gets a horrible reaction and then finds himself in the middle of a clusterfuck of things that unfortunately couldn’t stay in the past, bill apparently also gets cancelled a lot and he cannot cook, he’s also the only other loser in here, a black mirror au, AGAIN WATCH THE TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS ONE

oh, wouldn’t it be nice? - nsfw, some angst, eddie finds richie’s obituary that he got from adrien (the park scene in chap 2; at least i think it was adrien), SUPER SWEET OMG, i had to stop a few times from the sheer amount of emotion this gave me

parental interference - in 1989 some parents are coming to their senses when it comes to a certain clown, i love went he’s an awesome dad, T rating, i suggest a peek at the trigger warnings/tags just in case, canon-typical triggers, again i really love wentworth tozier in this fic he’s a 10/10 dad

predicament bondage - nsfw, richie is 100% a sweetheart, eddie is fjdsljfkslf i love this version of him, richie is cast as a dom in a movie so he decides to get information from a professional which is eddie but he finds that working with eddie might bring his heart into the mix, a lot of internalized homophobia so watch out, ur honor i love eddie here

puppets and plants - the way this was written? *muah* my number two rec, some angst, the intimacy of u nd the guy set up across from u at the farmer’s market, amazing stanpat dynamic, trans eddie and ben!, pride parade!!

the king is gone - absolutely AMAZING time travel fix-it, fairly long, some angst, some fluff, not at all a boring read

the lockbox - pushing an M rating? maybe a T?, asexual eddie finding out that he’s ace and everything that comes with realizing u aren’t straight, honestly made my ace heart so happy, bit of angst

work friends and emergency contacts - outsider pov, eddie makes a work friend, fix-it w both eddie and stan living, eddie gets a divorce pre-itch2, damon just wants the best for richie and eddie, reddie getting together, richie visits eddie at work

STRANGER THINGS

bottle it up until it overflows - ohhhh boy, i absolutely love the vecna possessing mike trope and this fic definitely lives up to high standards, rated mature, bad parent ted wheeler and internalized homophobia, basically mike gets vecna'd is the entire plot - @ghoulsanderson

i feel like i know you (but we never met) - post season 4 of stranger things, ambiguous / open ending, teen rating, oh boy this made me emotional!, without spoilers i have to say this is such an angsty fic and i love it, this fic is written beautifully, the party all forget will because of vecna suppressing their memories, spoilers: mike puts everything together to figure out who the "missing person" is - @andiwriteordie

something's made your eyes go cold - TW SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, rated mature, mike is chronically suicidal, very very angsty but relatable (sadly), oneshot - @defendingtammythompson

when everything was fiction, future and prediction - two words: time travel, mike is confronted by his younger self and figures out a few things, very much hurt/comfort, rated teen

9-1-1 TV

*all the time in the world - i literally know nothing about the dsmp but the way this was written is so beautiful, i love angst and buddie but also buck angst gets me the most, evan buckley used to be someone called karl jacobs but eddie doesn't know that and thinks buck is a war veteran, he's not entirely wrong but also don't make me fact check that beyond reading this, this fic makes me feel super autistic in a way i can't explain, time travel and secret identities are just so my jam dude, bonus chris moment that made me squeal bc chris eddie and buck are so family material - @official-impravidus

*my palms and fingers still reek of gasoline - such a good crossover, the characterization is very very good, i definitely need to read it again, a pjo au that has a twist, demigod buck and eddie are special to me now, having buck be on that side is an interesting choice and i like it, buck's mom being aphrodite makes so much sense - @trashyinfernomusic

[kazumiwrites-fanfiction]

“It Must Have Been Love”

SUMMARY: You loved Touya, sure. But fading love as well as some other stuff led to your eventual heartbreak. WORD COUNT: 900+

WARNINGS: Implied cheating, crying, more crying, basically you cry a lot (please drink some water [Y/N]) (my computer fell onto my face as I was writing this like it wanted you to not listen to my advice- rude), love dying away, Touya kinda harassing you in an alleyway (but like I don't think it's too bad), uh best friend Yuuma being amazing.

A/N: I'm scared that I won't be able to write a good angsty fic for Touya so uh yes- Let's see if I succeed (as I write this I have like... 1/4 of it done(ish)) Also this is for a collab with @okkatsudon​ for their Somebody New Collab. Also heavily inspired by ‘It Must Have Been Love’ by Roxette (link here (also yes 80s songs <33)) A/N PART 2: I was on a vibe while writing and then I wrote four words starting with h in a row- like- damn- lmao- A/N PART 3: Originally posted here.

© kazumiwrites - All rights reserved; please do not steal, edit, copy, repost (etc) my work without my express permission.

You sighed softly as you looked over the photo album that held all the photos of the past year. Tears brimmed in your eyes as you scanned over the happy images. The ones with you and Touya.

You knew exactly why you two broke up. Your love slowly died away. Touya was away just too often. You knew why, he had to try to defeat his father. But still... You just wanted him to give you attention. Maybe that was clingy of you. But hey, everyone wants their love. You were no different.

But then one day, you came home to a... Scene. Him and some other person. You didn't get a good look at either of them, just slamming the door as a soft sob escaped your lips.

That was the last straw; you stormed out of your shared apartment, driving to your friend, Yuuma's house. Thankfully, he let you in, holding you and letting you know that you could stay for as long as you needed. A relief. At least he wouldn't leave you. He rubbed your back gently, comforting you.

You had spent the night there, before going back to your shared apartment the next day. You walked through the rooms, grabbing all of your things. You sighed softly, dropping down and sitting on the bed as you closed your eyes. Your body was trembling, soft sobs escaping you. You didn't even hear the door opening, soft footfalls walking over to you.

Touya himself wasn't sure what to do as he stared at your figure, curled up in yourself. He wanted to reach out to you, wrap his arms around you and hold you close, but... He couldn't. Why? It had been so, so easy before. As easy as breathing. But what now? Where was the love for you that he had held close in his heart? Gone? He wasn't sure. After a moment, he just rested a hand on your shoulder.

You just flinched away when you felt his touch, moving your hand to hit him somewhat hard. Ouch. "...Don't touch me." Your voice was harsher than he had ever heard it. "You- I just- no. I'm leaving. And I'm breaking up with you." You got up, sighing shakily. You looked almost... Broken.

The male stepped closer to you, mouth opening to speak, but you just fixed him with a glare. "No. I'm leaving. And don't try to do anything." You let out a soft huff, glancing away before he could see the hurt in your eyes. "Go. Have fun with that- that person you were with yesterday."

His eyes widened slightly. "[Y/N], I-"

"Shut up. I don't have anything I want to hear from you, Dabi. Now be quiet, and let me get out."

The use of his villain name was what had hit him hardest. He wasn't Touya anymore to you. Just Dabi.

You shook your head with a soft sigh, holding two suitcases and a couple more bags as you lugged them outside, into your car. You got them all in before driving away, texting your friend that you were all right.

The turquoise-eyed male just froze, shaking a bit as he ran his hand through his hair. He hadn't thought that you would actually leave... But now that you had, he felt almost... Lighter.

You, however, were not. You had been a wreck for so long. Seeing the news that a certain cremation quirk user had gone into the League of Villains soon after the break up. Yuuma was there for you the whole time, which you were grateful for. Without him... You would've broken into a million pieces, probably.

You let out a soft sigh as you got up, shaking your head to get rid of the reminiscing. Yeah, you missed him... Wanted to be with him even more. The hollow in your heart could never be healed. Not really.

He seemed fine, though. Dabi seemed to almost be having fun, from what you had seen on the news. So what? It wasn't like you were hurting. Hating that this villain work made him happier than you ever could have.

And seeing him on a date with some other person on the news? That didn't make you jealous either. The twist in your heart was just because you ate something bad, and the tears in your eyes were just from pollen getting in them in the middle of winter.

You tried so hard to convince yourself that you were okay. So what was this? You stared up at Dabi, back pressed against the wall of the building in a narrow alley. The one time you had to go there, he was there.

"Fancy seeing you here, [L/N]." His voice was carefully calm, staring at you. Eyes devoid of emotion.

"Yeah, you too, Dabi. Just let me go, all right? Give me a break." Your voice was sharp, blinking back tears.

"What happened to us, [Y/N]?" Dabi's voice was soft, almost... Gentle. You didn't miss how he used your given name, either.

"Well, it must've been love. But it's over now." You let out a soft sigh.

"Really." His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yes, really. Now let me go." You grabbed his wrist tightly, pushing him away before turning around and walking away, closing your eyes and ignoring his gaze on your back. Ignoring how it made you feel. Because it really was over now. Whatever he made you feel. You could've been a perfect couple... But not anymore. It would never happen.

A/N PART 4: Kinda wanna write a Part 2 just to make this less angsty... But oh well. Because like I feel like Touya would've been sad as well (over time) so uh- yes. (But then again Yuuma was a very good "friend" (he likes [Y/N]) and the whole time I was writing this I was like "Dude go make a move??" but he was like "no <3" so uh- yes. My OC, he's a playboy, and he's like this. At least he's a good(?) friend?? What do y'all think-) A/N PART 5: Please don't go into alleyways because every time I write/roleplay something happening into alleyways, something bad happens- so yes. Please don't- A/N PART 6: Also what're the newscasters doing- they should be calling the police instead of taking pictures of the villain and his "hot date" </3 I'm crying over here please-

[honeymilkau]

Sweet Escape | Part 2

Eddie Munson x Female Reader

LINK FOR PART 1

While hanging out with your best friends —Robin Buckley and Steve Harrington — during their shift at Family Video, you’re good friend and local drug dealer, Eddie Munson calls the video store trying to get a hold of you to try and new strain he was looking to sell. Intoxicated thoughts lead you to make a move on Eddie and cause you to panic, scared it’ll ruin the friendship forever.

genre - eddie munson x reader | friends to lovers

word count - 7821

warnings - explicit language / smut smut smut / use of marijuana/ drinking /use of cocaine / Angsty eddie / high school fights / slut shaming

Part 2

-•-

You were walking up to a house party with Steve and Robin a week after what happened between you and Steve in the parking lot. As promised between the two of you, nothing changed.

After you both finished, you looked at each other and started laughing, laughing as hard as you could. You were both in awe of what the two of you did with each other and promised to never tell a soul... not even Robin.

You were nervous as fuck for this party, you knew Eddie and the rest of the Hellfire Club were going to be there. You wanted to have fun tonight but you were also worried about Mike and Dustin... this was their first ever high school party. Their freshman, and easy targets, you were going to do whatever it takes to help them out.

As soon as you all walked in, you walked toward Mike and Dustin, Steve and Robin following close behind you "Hey." you smiled at them when you found them

"Y/n! You're here!" Dustin smiled

"And you're actually talking to us." Mike added on

"I know, guys I'm sorry. The past few weeks have been absolutely-"

"Crazy? We know. It's okay." Dustin interjected "We're just glad you're okay."

You smiled at him, squishing his cheeks together and doing the same to Mike "My two little bros."

"Y/n stop!" they both groaned

"Hey," Eddie said, walking up to you.

"Hey..." you said softly, letting go of Mike and Dustin. You didn't know what to say and neither did he. It was so awkward that it made Robin ten times more uncomfortable then usual.

"So um... look after these two, alright? I'll be with Steve and Robin all night so just... let me know if you need anything." you said before walking off pulling Steve and Robin with you.

You didn't even give him a chance to say anything.

Eddie sighed as Gareth and Jeff joined the group, Jeff put his arm around Eddie's shoulders, shaking him slightly "Come on dungeon master, this is a fucking party! No sad faces! Tonight is nothing but good energy."

Eddie glared at him "No good energy from me, thank you." he looked across the room and saw that cheerleader he brought home.

"How'd it go by the way Ed's?" Gareth asked

"Yeah! You never told us!" Dustin smiled.

"First off, I'm not telling you or wheeler about my love life and what I do to chicks when we're alone, second, nothing fucking happened."

Gareth stared at him dumbfounded "What to do you mean nothing happened?"

"I brought her back home and we kept making out but I couldn't do anything with her man. I tried but I fucking couldn't. Y/n is literally all I can think about and it's driving me insane." he huffed. He looked over to the kitchen to see people pouring themselves shots. Eddie patted Gareths shoulder "Shots are fucking calling my friend, onward."

You were dancing and drinking with Steve as Robin watched the two of you, shaking her head "I love baby sitting."

Steve smiled at you as he spun you. "Hey, you're pretty good." he laughed, continuing to dance with you.

"It's not just me, I have a good partner." you smiled with him. "I'm going to go for a smoke break, force Robin to have some fun with you on the dance floor." You laughed and made your way to the backyard.

You watched as Steve pulled Robin to dance with him and her profusely declining. She wasn't one to do anything in front of strangers who could judge her at any moment but you could see her anxiety melt away when Steve started dancing and making a fool out of himself to make her laugh.

You walked outside to see a hammock in the backyard. You sat down in it while lighting a cigarette you pulled out from your pack. The sliding door opened and you look up to see Chrissy Cunningham standing at the doorway "Hey Chris." You smiled at her, waving her over to come sit with you.

"Hi Y/n.” she smiled and sat next to you.

You instantly apologized about the smoke and put out your cigarette. "What's up buttercup?" you asked sweetly "Enjoying the party?"

"No I needed a breather, that's why I'm out here."

"Oh is everything okay?" You asked, concerned if someone said or did something to her while she was partying.

"Yeah everything's great with me... It's just a girl on the cheer squad is totally crazy for this guy that goes to our school and he hasn't called her back since they went out last week... she saw him here and now she's a sobbing mess. Of course, the whole squad went to cheer her up so I had to help as well... it's not how I wanted to spend the party. No offence to her of course, I hope she feels better but I wanted to have fun."

You chuckled lowly "Yeah well, I'm glad you were able to escape. Who's the guys she's so upset over anyway?”

Chrissy hesitated to answer "Eddie Munson..."

Your heart dropped "Oh."

Chrissy stayed quiet before continuing slowly "Apparently they were going to hookup last week, he took her to his trailer and they didn't end up doing anything."

Your eyes widened and you looked at Chrissy "Wait what?"

"Yeah, apparently Eddie took her back to the trailer, kept kissing her but as soon as she went to touch him he was weird and different. He said he needed a minute, went to his room, she said she smelled weed then all the sudden he told her to get out and haven't called her since... kind of a dick move."

You felt sick to your stomach, the entire reason you slept with Steve was because you heard Eddie tell the girl he was going to bring her home in the middle of a heated makeout session and now your finding out that he was a pussy and told her to go home?

You were feeling so guilty, you had no reason to, Eddie had zero feelings for you, you were sure of it... but why are you so scared of Eddie finding out.

Chrissy noticed how quiet you were being and spoke up "I-I'm sorry, I know you guys used to be friends and I don't know what happened between you but I-"

"I kissed Eddie... that's why we're not talking. I saw him with that cheerleader last week and I got so upset that I called Steve and we..." Your voice trailed off as Chrissy's eyes went wide

"Holy shit. You and Steve Harrington?"

You nodded as your hands covered your face, you were stressed beyond belief "Chrissy you can't tell anybody please."

"Oh my gosh, Y/n obviously I wont tell a soul but- I'm so confused right now"

Once again, the sliding door opened and you slowly looked up to see Eddie looking at you. He cleared his throat awkwardly before bringing his index finger up to his nose and started to sniff.

You know what that meant.

"Bathroom?" he asked softly

You looked over at Chrissy and nodded before getting up "I'll talk to u later Chris."

“Bye, have fun." she said

Eddie held out his hand to you as you approached him, you took his hand and he intertwined your fingers. He lead you inside and walked the two of u to the bathroom.

He closed the door as you sat on the counter. He pulled out a little ziplock bag filled with crystals. "How've you been?" he asked softly, taking the crystals out of the bag and started crushing it on the counter top.

"I've been okay. How are you?"

"I'm alright." he shrugged "Been missing you, that's all."

"I've been missing you too." you admitted

He stayed silent for a second and so did you. You took a deep breath and looked at him "Look, I’m really sorry for kissing you that day." you started "I was so fucking high and I was being stupid. I've been avoiding you because I didn't want you to end our friendship over something I didn't mean."

Something you didn't mean, huh?

Eddie was hurt, he thought it meant at least SOMETHING to you because it meant a lot to him. After you left that day, he couldn't wrap his head around any of it. He fell in love with you even more. The way your lips felt on his was just so right, he's ever kissed a girl the way he kissed you that day.

He crushed up the coke and grabbed a bill from his wallet along with his drivers license to make the line "Are you sure you didn't mean it?"

"Excuse me?" you asked

He chuckled lowly as he rolled up the five dollar bill "If you're saying you didn't mean it, then why did you run away and why have you been avoiding me for weeks? Huh?" he asked

You didn't answer, how could you answer?  He scoffed and shook his head before bending over to snort the line off the counter top.

"What about you?" you asked, hopping off the counter, grabbing his license and making a line of your own.

"What about me, Y/n?"

"What about you tryna fuck a cheerleader and you pussy out. Why is that? Is it because you have feelings for me or is it because you're a dick?"

You didn't know where this attitude was coming from and neither did Eddie. Maybe it was because you were angry over him questioning you about it, or because he invited you to do coke in the bathroom with him as if everything was okay between you two.

You grabbed the bill from his hand "I don't fucking know, y/n. Have you been avoiding me because you have feelings for me? Or is it because you're a bitch?"

You snorted the white powder up your nose and looked up at him. "These past three weeks have been fucking hell without you but what was I supposed to do? I thought you hated me."

"Y/n, I could never fucking hate you! How could I hate you?"

"I don't know? I was scared I ruined the friendship by kissing you." you exclaimed

"No, you ruined the friendship by avoiding me instead of talking about it, which is why I kept coming up to you in the first place, Y/n. This is what you don't understand, I like you for you, you can't push me away forever."

"You like me?"

"Can I take another line before I admit it further to you?"

You couldn't help but laugh at him before nodding "Line up one for me too." you said softly. You both took the line at the same time after Eddie gave you another bill to use. You wiped your noses with some toilet paper.

You looked over at Eddie "So you like me?"

"Of course I do, rockstar. I do everything for you, more than i'd like to admit... Every song I write is about you, I spend every single minute of every waking day thinking about you- thinking about us," he placed his hands on your waist and pulled your body close to his "Thinking about what it'll be like to kiss you again, thinking about being able to take your fine ass out and have people on the street wonder why a freak like me is with someone as fucking perfect and attractive as you. I think about fucking you, everywhere. In my room, at your place, in the bathroom of the bar before i perform, on this very counter top." He picks you up by your thighs, sitting you on the cool counter. "I think about it when I’m awake and when I'm asleep so to answer your stupid as fuck question, yes, I like you. Do you like me?"

Your heart pounded on your chest as Eddie looked into your soul with those big beautiful chocolate brown eyes that you've come to fall in love with. You open you mouth to admit your feelings when the worst possible thing could happen.

"YOU HAD SEX WITH STEVE AND DIDN'T TELL ME?!"

Robin bursted into the bathroom as Gareth and Jeff stood behind her in shock that she opened the door and said that while Eddie was standing right there.

She stood by the door way, her face turned as white as a ghost "Eddie is in here... you didn't tell me Eddie was in here..." Robin looked back at Gareth and Jeff

"That's why we were following you and telling you not to come in here..." Jeff shook his head.

"You..." Eddie took his hands off your waist and slowly backed away from you "You fucked Steve...?" his voice cracked. Fuck. "Okay so let me get this straight... you kiss me and then you fuck steve and now you're here with me in this fucking bathroom so what the fuck is it?" his voice raised. "Are you trying to play a joke on me or something y/n cause it's not fucking funny."

"No, no, no, no," you hopped off the counter "Eddie no that's not it, Steve and I, that was nothing, that was literally a one time thing and-"

"Hey," Steve appeared at the door and saw your eyes fill up with tears "Woah woah woah Y/n what's wrong?" He pushed passed robin and the boys to go up to you "You okay?"

Eddie scoffed "Oh here he is, the man of the hour, coming to check up to see if his girlfriend is alright. Say, Y/n, didn't you tell me weeks ago that you would rather die then sleep with Steve?"

The room became tense as Steve's face dropped "You said that?"

"Yeah, she said that. She said that she thought you were vanilla and couldn't imagine you being good in bed and that she's rather die then fuck you, Harrington." Eddie patted him on the back "She also told me that kissing me meant absolutely nothing to her so I guess that's the end of that." He grabbed all of his stuff, ready to leave you in the bathroom "Have a nice life, Y/n." he said bitterly and looked over at Gareth and Jeff

"And how the fuck did you two chuckleheads know this?"

"We saw them last week... while we were leaving the movies." Jeff admitted

Eddie scoffed and looked away, laughing to himself while shaking his head "You two are fucking dead to me." he pushed pass them, leaving the party all together.

You stood there in shock, not knowing what to say or do. You looked at Steve sadly "Look Steve-"

"No, listen. I told you we shouldn't have sex because I didn't want it to ruin our friendship. Everything was fine the way it was... but I come to find out you were talking shit all this time about how shitty I was in bed but you were doing nothing but trying to beg me into fucking you just so you could get over Eddie. That's not cool." he shook his head "I'll talk to you later alright? I'm gunna go home and clear my head."

He left the bathroom as Robin, Gareth and Jeff stood at the doorframe. "Guys Im sorry." You choked out, tears streaming down your face "Im so fucking sorry."

-•-

Come Monday, the entire school knew about you and Eddie kissing and about you and Steve hooking up in his car. You were the girl in school everyone was talking about... and NOT in good way.

You walked through the cafeteria doors wearing one of Eddie’s gigantic "Corroded Coffin" hoodies, making your way to the lunch table where Robin, Gareth and Jeff sat. "Hey." you said quietly, sitting down with your hood on "I've become the senior slut of Hawkins High for kissing one dude and three weeks later, fucking another dude. That's two, two fucking people and I'm a slut."

"I'm so sorry, Y/n" Poor Robin has been apologizing profusely to you about exposing you to Eddie. Were you pissed at her? Of course you were, if it weren't for her barging into the bathroom that night, none of that would've happened... but it wasn't her fault, it was yours. You couldn't accept any of her apologies because she had absolutely nothing to apologize for. You were the one that fucked up big time and now you're suffering with the consequences.

Eddie walked into the cafeteria with Dustin and Mike by his side, making their way to the hellfire table. Mike started walking toward you "Wheeler? What are you doing?" Eddie called out.

"I'm saying hi to Y/n, and the guys, can we not do that anymore?" he asked

"If you speak to any one of them again your banned from the party, understood?" He asked. Mike looked back at you, hesitating on what to do. You gave him a reassuring nod with a sad wave.

"Bye guys." You said to the two young boys as they followed Eddie to the table

Dustin sat down and sighed "Eddie, I know you're pissed off, but, is this really necessary? Look at them over there, they're going through a hard time, especially Y/n... people are calling her a slut because of what happened."

He had to admit, when he walked into school this morning to see you standing at your locker being name called by the cheerleader squad hurt him to his very core. Why are you a slut? Because you kissed him while you were friends and hooked up with steve while you were friends? Guys in this school casual fuck like that all the time but no one bats an eye but it's different for you because your a girl. Stupid fucking double standards.

"I just need time right now, Henderson. Alright?" he sighed and turned his attention back to his lunch

The first half of lunch was quiet and peaceful... That didn't last very long.

"Hey, Y/n!" Jason called from across the cafeteria "So I fuck you in the movie theatre bathroom and then Harrington fucks you in the movie theatre parking lot? Have you marked it as your territory yet?"

You didn't bother to look up to see his insufferable smirk.

"So tell me, who's better in bed? Harrington or Munson?" He asked, the rest of his basketball team laughed with him as you kept ignoring him "Or, maybe I'm the best. You have no idea how good it feels for everyone in the school to finally believe what happened between us."

You shook your head, trying not to stand up to runaway and look weak in front of all these student piranhas.

"So tell me, Y/n. Does Munson tie you up and do his stupid fucking satanic rituals on you to get a hard on? Or is Harrington constantly fixing his hair and looking at himself in order to have sex with someone like you?" the entire cafeteria laughed.

"Jason leave her alone." Chrissy said loudly

"No way are you actually defending her Chrissy."

You couldn't take all the laughing and staring anymore. You quickly got up and started walking towards the cafeteria doors, trying to walk quickly as you could past his table.

"Yeah run away you whore."

The cafeteria went silent

You stopped in your tracks and didn't even bother to turn around "What did you say..."

Eddie's jaw clenched, he saw tears building up in your eyes and he honestly couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

"I said," Jason started walking up to you "Run away, you fucking whore." he said lowly "Cause that's what you are, and that's what you always will be. A sloppy second, good for nothing, dirty fucking whore."

Eddie got up from his chair and started walking toward jason to beat his ass to a pulp but to his surprise, you had it covered.

You turned around, fists clenched and punched him right in the face. He stumbled backwards as the students gasped over what you just did "CALL ME THAT ONE  MORE FUCKING TIME!" You swung again, and again, and again, causing everyone in the cafeteria to run towards the two of you, trying to pull you off of the beloved Hawkins High basketball captain.

Gareth and Jeff pulled you away from Jason, but Jason was too caught up in the moment and you were so good at fighting, he forgot he was fighting a chick.

He got up quickly and grabbed your leg, pulling you down to the ground from the boys grasp, you hit the ground hard and jason pulled you closer to him and he was about to swing... That's where Eddie snapped.

He ran to Jason, pinning him to the ground and sat on top of him as he punched him in the face over and over "What the fuck is wrong with you?! Hitting a fucking girl?! And not just any girl... my girl!"

You were rushed to the nurses office right away that you didn't hear or see any of what was happening between Eddie and Jason, you didn't even remember what you did to jason while you were getting your bandages. You were so angry with what he was saying to you that you blacked out and hurt him.

You were called into the office and you were suspended right away. You weren't given the time of day to explain what was happening or what Jason has been saying about you ever since the party.

It wasn't fair. You had a week suspension and all Jason got was a weeks detention. You felt stupid for being shocked about his punishment... he was the high school golden boy, of course he wasn't going to get any punishment for his actions. You walked out of the principals office to see Eddie in a waiting chair with and ice pack on his cheek and bruised and bloody knuckles to match yours.

You wanted to speak to him, even just to say thank you about protecting you, but as soon as he made eye contact with you he rolled his eyes and looked the opposite direction.

You started walking down the hallway towards the school doors with tears building up in your eyes over how much you fucked up.

You went home that night, getting in shit from your parents for getting suspended because they didn't know the full story but you couldn't tell them the shit you've been up to, they would've judged you even more for fooling around like that.

You sat in your bedroom, sitting on the floor in the dark with nothing but your bedroom lamp on as you cried to yourself. You lost Eddie and Steve forever.

There were little taps on your window snapping you out of your little episode. You looked up to see Steve, tapping on your window, waving sadly at you.

You walked up to open the window to let him in "Hey..."

"Hi. I heard about the fight. You've won more fights then me." He tried to joke. You cracked a small smile and helped him in.

He sat on your bed with you, looking at your bandages "So, is this what you're doing now? Getting into fights?" He looked around your room and saw the cocaine on your dresser with half a bottle of open vodka sat beside it "And doing coke and drinking is a routine?"

"No..."

"So what's going on?"

You sighed "Steve, you hate me, Eddie hates me, the whole school thinks I’m a whore"

"Jason thinks you're a whore and who cares about what that meathead thinks."

You scoffed "The entire student body."

"And since when did you care about everyone else?" he asked you. He had a point, when did you start caring about what everyone else thought?

"For the record, I don't hate you. I just needed a couple days to figure out why you said that."

You looked at him with sad eyes, you shook your head and took a deep breath before starting to talk to Steve. "I'm sorry, about what I said. I didn't mean I would rather die then have sex with you because I thought it would be terrible... It's because I didn't know what it would do to our friendship if we ever did anything. I know that night at the movie theatre I was acting differently but I've always been scared to lose you as a friend and now look, what we did changed everything between us."

Steve sighed "It didn't change anything for me. You're still my friend, Y/n. No matter what bull shit we go through Im always going to be your friend." he shook his head and scoffed "You've always been so stubborn. If you think people feel a certain way about something you did, you overthink and decide that what you're making up is reality. Once you have your mind made up, it's hard to convince you that you're wrong. So, you're wrong about me hating you and you're wrong about Eddie."

You tensed up thinking about Eddie "Steve he told his friends they were dead to him just by knowing we hooked up... The look on his face said it all to me, Steve. He's done with me for good." you didn't want to admit it but it was true. The look that Eddie gave you that night when he found out and when Steve walked into the bathroom was enough to tell you that he was extremely hurt by what you did.

Steve stayed silent for a moment, not knowing what else to say to cheer you up. "Give it a couple days, Y/n. If he doesn't contact you in a week then talk to him and tell him how you feel, that's the only thing you can do."

You looked into Steve's eyes before engulfing him into the biggest hug you could give him "I'm so sorry, Steve."

"I'm sorry too."

-•-

You were sitting at home, days after your suspension, watching whatever you could to have the time pass by. The past couple days you could only think about Eddie. Fucking stupid, beautiful, Eddie. After Chrissy and Robin told you everything that happened, you couldn't stop thinking about Eddie beating up Jason Carver for you and called you his girl while doing it.

"and not just any girl... my girl."

He called you his, and it made your heart leap into your throat. You were shocked that Eddie was hurting anyone, he wasn't like that at all. He was sweet and compassionate and understanding, but he hurt someone just like you did.

There was a knock at your door while your parents where at work, you got up from the couch and stretched, throwing the TV remote on the other end of the couch. You started walking towards your door, pulling up your pyjama bottoms and adjusting your black spaghetti strap shirt. You opened the front door slowly, seeing Eddie standing there, shuffling side to side "Hi sweetheart." he said softly

You inhaled sharply, "Hi."

"Can I come in? Hang out with you while I’m suspended..."

"Is that the only reason why you're here?"

He looked away as he cheeks heated up in embarrassment "No... I want to talk to you, about everything."

You opened the door further and welcomed him inside. You locked the door behind you as he took off his shoes, putting on the house slippers he kept at your place because your parents hated when people worse shoes in the house, and followed you to your couch. He sat on one end and you sat on the other, a fuzzy blanket covering your legs. You looked at his fists and saw them wrapped up, and a small bruise was on his cheekbone.

"Nice hand wrap." You said softly

He looked down at his fists and over at yours. He saw your right hand bandaged up and pointed "Yeah, you too." he couldn't help but crack a smile "I hate to admit it, rockstar but I underestimated your fighting abilities... You surprised me Monday."

"You surprised me too." you chuckled "I mean I don't remember shit but I was shocked when Robin told me." it was silent for a couple minutes before he decided to speak again.

"Do you regret it? Hurting him?"

You had your arms crossed as you chuckled "No."

"His fucking dumb ass deserved be taken down a peg." Eddie laughed with you

"God, he's such a fucking asshole. He acts all top shit but he just got his ass handed to him by the high school slut and the high school freak." you laughed harder, holding your stomach

Eddie laughed harder and harder "I'm so upset you don't remember, you should've heard him. 'please stop! Munson stop! It hurts please stop hurting me!'" he moved his hair away from his face "If he was in a bad condition then I would feel guilty but after years and years of tormenting me, it was so rewarding."

"He's such a dick."

"Tell me something I don't know." he laughed lowly, playing with the rings on his fingers. It was silent between the two of you for a bit, it was a comfortable silence, you guys just didn't know where to start. Eddie broke his silence "Listen, Y/n..."

"I'm sorry." You interrupted him "I'm so fucking sorry for everything.I'm sorry for hooking up with Steve, but I need to tell you why it happened. I saw you and that cheerleader making out by the corner store and I got really upset by it so I called Steve and I suggested that we should sleep together after crying over you for weeks on end. It was stupid of me and even though Steve and I aren't together, or even like each other like that, it doesn't excuse the fact that I hurt you."

He stayed quiet and looked over at you "Why did me kissing that cheerleader upset you?"

You hesitated a bit before answering "It hurt me so much because I like you. I've always fucking liked you."

"I'm sorry too." he apologized "I tried to hookup with that girl because I was jealous. I'm always the one that drive your home, not Steve. I'm the one you hang out with all the time, not Steve, I'm supposed to be that fucks you and makes you feel good... Not Steve." He said softly "That conversation in the bathroom over the weekend could've been so different."

"How so?"

He smiled innocently at you "If you admitted your feelings to me, I would've kissed you. I really wanted to kiss you that day, you looked so good." he moved closer to you on the couch "You didn't know how bad I wanted to fuck you right then and there. The things that I were going to do to you in that fucking bathroom... I don't even know if I should say what I was thinking before Robin rudely interrupted us."

Your breathing became unsteady the closer Eddie became. "You like me, I like you. What should we do about it, sweetheart? You can call the shots on this one."

Your cheeks became crimson as he looked deeper into your eyes, his hand placed gently on your knee. You wanted to take it slow with Eddie, you liked him a lot and you wanted to do everything right. You wanted to go on a date, have him drive you home, and with time when you were both ready, then you could have sex but when the hell have you guys done anything right when it came to each other?

Your eyes flickered down to his lips then back up to his eyes. "I um..." you mumbled.

"Tell me what you want, baby." His eyes started to flutter shut as his lips made their way closer to yours "What do you want? Hm?"

You placed your lips on his gently, softly, giving him the sweetest kiss you could possibly give. You cupped his face as he grabbed onto the blanket covering you, throwing it to the ground as the kiss got more intense. Your legs spread open to her could press his body closer to yours. His hands travelled up your body to your hips, pulling up the hem of your shirt to take it off you completely. He looked down at your breasts, biting down on his lower lip slightly "Dude you're so fucking perfect..." he sat back a bit as you tried to cover yourself

"Shut up." you blushed, looking away.

"Hey don't get shy on me, Rockstar." He grabbed your hand with a goofy smile on his face, helping you up off the couch "Cmon I wanna see how pretty you are."

"You're annoying." you pouted as he sat back down on the couch "What do you want me to do?" you asked, arms still covering your breasts "Do you want me to like do a strip tease for you or some shit like that?"

"No, just let me look at you for a second." he said, a big smile still plastered on his face "I wanna admire what's mine is that too much to ask?"

You blushed again slowly uncovering your breasts while looking down shyly. You slipped out of your pyjama bottoms, leaving you wearing nothing but your underwear. He smiled sweetly at you, putting his hand over his mouth to stop himself from smiling even more. "Do you know how beautiful you are? Fuck, Y/n, you talk all this shit about yourself  for no reason. You're so fucking pretty." He gawked “Turn around for me."

You spun slowly to give him a full view of your ass, wiggling it side to side as you giggled "OKAY! THATS ENOUGH!" He got up off the couch in the blink of an eye, picking you up and throwing you over his shoulder, making you squeal

"EDDIE! PUT ME DOWN!" You laughed loudly as he carried you up the stairs

"Nope, sorry, no can do. Nope, nope, nope. You are too good for this world with tits like that and an ass that wont quit... you're mine forever, thank you." he closed your bedroom door behind him, laying you down on your bed and hovering over you. He started kissing you again, slowly starting to take his clothing off as he continued kissing you softly. His hands went in between your legs, moving your underwear to the side as he played with your clit, causing you to moan slightly against his lips. He put two fingers inside you, feeling how tight you were around his fingers and how wet you were all because of him.

"So wet," he mumbled to himself "Such a pretty girl for me." he started fingering you a bit faster, sitting himself up as he looked down at your squirming body "Does it feel good, sweetheart? Or am I hurting you?"

"So good." was all you could say in between moans, causing him to chuckle.

"That's a good girl." he bit down on his bottom lip "Such a good girl for me."

He started stroking himself slowly as he continued to give you pleasure "How bad do you want me to fuck you, Princess?"

Princess? You couldn't handle it anymore, you wanted to finish right there on his fingers. The things he was saying to you was driving you feral, everything that he was doing felt so right and so good that you were ready to just unwind all over his fingers. You could feel the cold metal that was wrapped around his fingers press into your heat, you couldn't contain yourself anymore.

"So fucking bad." you whined "Eddie please, Im so close already."

He smirked "Already, baby? That's okay, you don't have to be shy about that stuff with me. You can cum for me as many times as you want."

You let yourself go, moaning loudly as you came on his fingers. He slowly pulled them out of you, about to suck on his own fingers when you quickly got up, putting his fingers in your own mouth. You began sucking your cum off his fingers, looking up at him with those big doe eyes of yours making him groan "Fuck, such a dirty girl for me. You're so fucking hot." he laid you back down, hovering over you and kissing you sweetly as he teased your folds with his tip. He bit down on your bottom lip gently, "What do we say, Princess?"

"Please." you said softly "Fuck me, please."

He slowly pushed himself into you, both of you moaning instantly. Eddie didn't want to tell you cause he knew it would lift up your ego too much and he wouldn't hear the end of it, but he didn't know pussy could feel this good. Sure, he's slept with a number of women before but none of them felt like you. "Oh my god," he moaned lowly, starting to thrust "so wet."

You couldn't even form one single word to say back to him, let alone an entire sentence. It all just felt so good that you lost all ability to speak. The way he was fucking you was different then anything you ever felt before, it was passionate, slow yet so fucking rough. He was hitting every single spot inside you to make you arch your back and have your eyes rolling to the back of your head. Your entire body felt like it was on fire and you've never experienced this every before but you never wanted it to end.

He grabbed both of your hands, pinning them beside your head intertwining your fingers as he kissed you. You were a moaning mess against his lips, whispering to him how good it felt. "God, you fuck me so good." you whined lowly "Don't stop, please."

He had no intention of stopping, he didn't know sex felt this good. There are so many people that he knows that are addicted to sex, addicted to cumming, addicted to that feeling that they don't care who they fuck or what time of day they do it, he never understood it. The girls he was having sex with were good, they were great, but he couldn't understand why he wasn't obsessed like every other guy in the world.

It was because he didn't fuck you yet.

Now that he's on top of you, fucking you hard and deep to make your toes curl, he was sure he was going to become one of those sex obsessed boys. It was a feeling he was absolutely certain he'd never get used to. He knew that even in the future if by some miracle you guys were still together and are married with kids, it would still feel as amazing as it does right now. He already imagined fucking you in every square inch of Hawkins, but he didn't know that it might end up coming true. Hell, with you, he'd probably do you all over Hawkins three times.

He moaned deeply as he felt himself getting closer and closer the harder he fucked you. With each thrust you got louder and more vocal and he loved hearing how much you wanted to cum around his dick.

"Are you close?" He asked you, positioning your legs up so your ankles were on his shoulders.

He looked down at the beautiful sight under him; you with your legs up, tits out, hair all messy and frizzy, pussy dripping all over his cock and your face beat red with swollen lips from kissing him in missionary. You were so fucked out and he loved to see it. 

"Very close." you panted out

He lowered his body, legs still placed on his shoulders as he held his body up, his lips just inches away from yours. He started thrusting again, slowly, making sure this position wasn't hurting you in anyway,

You thought he was hitting that spot before? This position changed everything for the both of you.

You gasped lowly as he moved slowly, in and out of you. "Holy shit."

He started thrusting harder and deeper, picking up his pace the louder you got. You gripped the sheets, trying to stop yourself from screaming out how good Eddie Munson fucked you to the entire neighborhood. Your right hand flew to your mouth, covering it quickly to muffle your screams.

Eddie groaned in protest "Baby girl," he moved your hand away, fucking you harder "you don't need to be shy. Fucking scream for me."

My god, where you ever screaming. Moaning profanities loudly the deeper Eddie went and the sweatier you guys got. "I need you to cum with me. I need you to cum on my cock while I fill you up, can you do that for me, Sweetheart?"

"Yes, fuck, I want to cum around your dick, please make me cum."

That's all he needed to hear. He cursed under his breath "Fuck," as he came inside you and you came on his dick.

He stayed inside of you as you both came down from your orgasms. He shifted upward slightly, looking down at you to see you with your eyes closed, steadying your breathing.

"Y/n?"

"Eddie?"

He smiled softly "You know you're the most beautiful fucking girl I’ve ever seen?"

You scrunched your nose immediately "No. Not true."

"Yes true. I'm so fucking whipped for you, I swear to God."

Your eyes shot open, and Eddie swears he saw your eyes sparkle when he looked into them. "Eddie Munson is whipped for a chick?! And that chick just so happens to be me?! That's so rare, Im honoured!"

Eddie rolled his eyes at you before slowly pulling out, making sure he doesn't make a mess on your sheets. He grabbed some tissue, cleaning himself up "Hold on," Eddie said, quickly making his way to your bathroom. You started to get up, about to clean yourself off when naked Eddie comes back with a wet cloth in his hand. "Here." He smiled, laying you back down on the bed.

The cloth was warm and soothing, he cleaned up everything off your body, leaving gentle kisses on the spots he wiped when it was cleaned. He kissed up your body to your lips, causing you to smile "Sweet Eddie." You chuckled "I like this side of you.

"Yeah? Well no one better fucking know about it or I swear to God" he warned, pinching your cheeks. He started getting dressed, making sure he had all of his stuff "Okay Ill see you at 8." he said

"Wait, what? At 8? What's at 8?" you asked, covering yourself with a robe

He looked back at you with a sweet smile "Our first date. I'm picking you up." he started walking down the stairs, making you even more confused so you followed him.

"I can't go out tonight, I'm grounded."

He shook his head as he put his shoes back on "Ill take care of your parents when I get here, you just worry about getting all pretty... not like you even need to fucking try." He winked at you before pecking your lips quickly "See you at 8."

You watched him drive off and you rushed upstairs to shower and do what you needed to do to get ready.

At 7:52pm, there was a small knock at your door. Your dad opened it to answer "Oh, Eddie, what a surprise."

"Hello sir, nice to see you." He said politely "Um, I understand that Y/n was suspended and is grounded for her actions from earlier this week at school and while I say I get it and I understand your rules I was wondering if she could get a free card for the night."

Your father looked Eddie up and down "Oh really?" he questioned. Your mother soon accompanied him at the door "Oh hi Eddie, nice to see you sweetie. Is everything okay?"

"He wants to hang out with Y/n... while she's grounded and wants us to grant her a get out of jail free card." Your dad explained bitterly.

"Not hang out, exactly..." he found himself getting smaller and smaller in front of your parents. "I wanted to take her out on a date tonight. I've liked her for a really long time now and I know that fight was insane but, she was trying to defend herself and after everything that's been going on, I think she needs a night out, just one night."

Your parents loved Eddie, they never understood why all the other parents in the neighbourhood talked down on him and his uncle. The Munsons were a kind, sweet, and well mannered family that your family came to love.

Your mother looked over at your father "It couldn't hurt... she'd be with Eddie after all, we know she'll be safe and in good hands."

Eddie looked at your dad with hopeful eyes, praying to God he'd say yes. Your dad sighed, giving in "Alright, fine, she can go. Have her back by 12am. Not 12:05, not 12:15... 12, understood?"

"Yes sir, thank you. Ill have her home on time."

You heard Eddie's voice from upstairs. Your heart jumped into your throat as you grabbed your purse and walked down the stairs, meeting Eddie and your parents at the front door "Hey." You smiled

"Hi." he smiled back, pulling out a small bouquet of flowers "For you."

You carefully took them from his hands "These are handpicked... did you-"

"No, no, no, no. Even though I'm sweet when it comes to you, I’m not THAT sweet. Still got that reputation to uphold." He joked "But uh, Gareth and Jeff went out to pick them... They like making flower arrangements for the girls I fall for I guess. It's like their hobby."

"Woooow, full of jokes tonight." you deadpanned. Your mom grabbed your flowers from you, putting them in a vase right away. "So Gareth and Jeff... You guys are..?"

"We're okay." He smiled "We're more than okay."

You smiled back, nodding in understanding "Good, glad to hear that." You put on your shoes, getting ready to leave "Bye guys, thank you." You thanked your parents for letting you leave as you close the door.

Eddie takes your hand and leads you to his van, opening the passenger door for you. "Thanks" you blushed, getting in. "Sooo, where are we going?" you asked when he got into the car.

"It’s a surprise." he winked

"Fuck you, you know I hate surprises."

"Get used to them, Rockstar. If we're going to be together, I feel like the surprises will never end."

-•-

END

Thank you for all the love and support on this little story <3 love you guyssss

taglist: @gabrielsgoldengrace @harrys-tittie @tlclick73

[ourlonelymoon]

I just want you to know that I think this is the nicest offer! Obviously, you don’t need to give us anything beyond what you have already written. However, I will say I absolutely adore that you do analysis of your own writing in the end notes! It makes me super happy to see why you do stuff and I get giggly when I notice things that you did on purpose and I’m like, “I SAW THAT!”

If you want to talk about your fic as a way of engaging with us, maybe you could answer one or more of these random questions? Literally no pressure, I’m just trying to make sure you know I’m obsessed with your story.

1. Do you have a favorite line or section so far? Why?

2. Do you have a section you wish more people commented on? If so, maybe we just missed it. What makes it something you want to discuss?

3. Do you have any questions for us, as readers?

4. If you (as yourself, just like a part of the adventure family) were on the skiff with all our faves, what would you be up to? What would you think about what’s going on with Kit?

5. Why do you write (or read) whump? (Seriously, can you break down why this stuff makes me feral. I love whump but I don’t understand it psychologically. Is it the catharsis?)

6. What do you think Kenneth thinks about all of Kits screaming? Does he care, or is he just a good boy?

Bonus Question: Can you tell I typed this without my glasses because they fell under my bed and I can’t find my glasses without my glasses? I have literally no idea if there are a million typos because I can’t edit my writing without glasses because everything is tripled and fading in and out of my left eye’s one focus spot.

I’m glad you enjoy the analysis of each chapter - I keep a list of things I want to say as I write so it’s nice to know you appreciate it! Also thank you for the questions, I’m going to answer them all while I’m bored in the car.

1. I really enjoyed the hallucination chapter from a creative perspective because there was literally no limits. It was so fun to write anything and everything that came to mind and find ways to weave reality with Kit’s experience. My favourite scenes are yet to come, both involving Kit. One is with Jade in the next chapter and the other is with another character in the penultimate chapter - I’m not going to tell you who! The fake escape attempt right at the beginning is also a favourite!

2. People have been so nice with comments and generally pick up on the main points of each chapter. Usually I’d say if something goes under the radar it’s because there’s a bigger plot point happening so I don’t mind if it doesn’t get picked up on.

3. This is a really interesting question. I guess it would be interesting to know if you have any theories on where the story is going? Or if you think that there was a smaller plot point that could have been expanded on?

4. I think I’d be pretty useless here I’ll be honest. I’m a chronic worrier, very clumsy and have not exercised properly in ages so I think I’d probably be the weak link. I reckon I could read a map? Is that helpful?

5. I think the appeal of whump for me is the comfort aspect of it, especially as a reader. Maybe that’s surprising given how many chapters I spent beating the shit out of Kit. In terms of writing it, I’ve always found it somewhat easier to write very angsty things. This fic was born because I wanted to read a Kit torture fic and there wasn’t any out there when I started it.

6. I think Kenneth remains unbothered. He’s lived with Zeb, who has been tortured by the Crone for an unspecified number of years, so I reckon he’s used to the dramatics. Besides, water is pretty good at blocking out noise.

[jaegckerman]

Never Fades With The Days

Description: The first time Koko broke Inupi's heart, they were both still children and Koko chose to love his sister Akane over him. It seemed like Koko had formed a habit of breaking Inupi's heart over and over again ever since then.

The last time he did it was 10 years ago.

They hadn't seen each other since then. But even at 29, as a successful musician, surrounded by friends and adored by the masses, Inui can't seem to get over the man who captured his heart when they were both a mere 10 years old. And when an old acquaintance knocks on his door and asks him for help with Koko, he's not sure he can refuse.

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: around 20k by the end of it!

CW: Quite a few, actually. Underage drinking for the paragraph below. Heed the tags on AO3. It gets angsty. Also, not spoiler-free!

Link to AO3 Chapter 1.

Chapter 2.

Chapter 3.

Excerpt under "read more"

Late Autumn 2006 Inui was drunk. Mitsuya was invited to some rich asshole’s party, and Inui decided to crash, alongside Kazutora and Draken. The rum alone was worth the risk, and the masses of people he’d probably subject himself to needed him to not be sober. It went down without any disgusting aftertaste – it really was some good stuff – so he had overindulged just slightly, and now he was drunk. Under no circumstances would anyone have found him on the dance floor otherwise, abandoning all inhibitions and swaying his hips to music that made him feel like he was high, except he wasn’t; he was just at that particular stage of intoxication that made him feel like he could actually be carefree. And yet, despite his inebriated state, he felt his neck prickle with the weight of someone’s stare. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he found it within himself to actually be proud of his fantastic instincts. When he twirled to look surreptitiously, he noticed the guy in the corner had his eyes fixed on him.

[metalbuckaroo]

The Bet

SUMMARY// After finding out about a bet Bucky made on you, he tries to fix what he messed up

WARNINGS// cursing, angsty, tinge of smut, sad boy bucky

AU// roommate!bucky x f!reader

AN// This is part 2 for the drabble I did, which I will link here

Requests and asks always open

Masterlist

The guilt had been eating away at Bucky for the last 2 weeks. You hadn't answered his calls, when he went to your work; you refused to serve him and had someone else take the table, and Natasha wouldn't let him in to talk to you.

"Nat, just let me in so I can fix this. Please." He begged, the red head's face solemn as she stared him down. "No, you fucked up. Go home, Bucky."

She went to shut the door and Bucky shoved his foot out to stop it with his boot. "Not until you let me talk to her." He snapped.

Natasha sighed and looked over her shoulder. "Hun, do you wanna talk to him?" She asked, a softer tone to her voice. "Go fuck yourself, James."

His stomach lurched at the harsh tone you had, jaw clenching. "Please, baby. Five minutes and I'll leave you alone, if that's what you want." He sighed, leaning his forehead against the doorframe.

Natasha opened the door fully and you stepped into the hallway, glaring at Bucky as you shut the door behind you. "Thank you, so much."

He went to grab your cheeks in his hands and you dodged him, shaking your head. "Just because I'm giving you, your five minutes doesn't mean you can just go back to kissing on me." You snapped, Bucky's heart breaking a little more.

"I shouldn't have done it, dollface. I thought of it as an excuse to act on things." Bucky said softly, metal fingers wrapping around your index finger. "Never needed a bet for all the girls you brought home. Was anything you said real?" You retorted, folding your arms across your chest.

"That was different, I never loved them. Everything I said to you was the truth."

You scoffed and went to open the door to walk back in. "I'm going-"

"No, wait." Bucky's hands on your sides stopped you, pleading eyes looking down at you. "Please, come home. It's so fucking boring without you there."

"Boring? That's what it is?" You said, narrowing your eyes at him. "Boring, miserable, cold. I just want you to come home with me. I hate not having you there." His hands lifted to your cheeks, cool metal of his left creating goosebumps. "I can't sleep without you there."

"Yeah, well, that makes two of us." You quipped, grabbing onto his wrists to move his hands away. "I never meant for this to happen, babygirl. You have to believe me."

You gritted your teeth together at the pet name. "Maybe if I wasn't just a bet to you, it wouldn't have happened. Was any of it even real? Anything you've ever said to me?" You snapped.

Bucky ran his hands down his face, exhaling deeply and clenching his jaw. "What do you want me to do? Lie and say I don't fucking love you?!" He sucked in a sharp breath to calm his nerves.

He knew he had screwed everything up, but finding the words for you to forgive him weren't coming very easily.

Pinching the bridge of your nose, you let out a heavy sigh before looking to Bucky's desperate eyes. "I'll come home. But, that doesn't change anything. Nat's couch is just really uncomfortable."

Bucky's body relaxed for the first time in days, going to wrap his arms around you before your hands stopped him again. "I said, it doesn't change anything. We're not together anymore, James."

He his tongue jutted across his bottom lip before it disappeared behind his top teeth, giving a soft nod in agreement despite the stinging in his heart that wanted to argue until you forgave him.

"I'll help get your stuff together."

A week passed, you still told Bucky you weren't getting back together; but never denied the chaste kisses before one of you were on the way out of the door or heading to bed in separate rooms.

"Please, dollface." Bucky whispered, nudging your nose with his. "One kiss. A real one." He mumbled, lifting his hands to your waist.

You pressed your lips into a thin line and laid your hands against the warm skin of his chest, moving away as you shook your head. "I'll try again tomorrow." He promised with a soft smile, leaving the kitchen to go to his own room.

A gentle nudge to your hip made you peak an eye open at Bucky's shadowed form standing at the side of your bed. "Go to your own room, James." You grumbled, turning over so your back was to him. "I know things aren't back to what they were, but- can you please just let me hold you? I can't sleep."

The shakiness in his voice made you feel behind you to lift the covers for him to slip under them behind you.

Placing a pillow on his left arm to cushion the metal for your head to lay on, his right arm wrapped around you to pull you back to his chest; a satisfied sigh leaving his lips.

Bucky's hand slipped just under the hem of your shirt, calloused fingers pressing circles into the spot under your navel as you laid in silence, besides the mechanical whirring of his arm.

"I love you..." Bucky's words fell into the silent air, eyes burning with tears and face burying in the crook of your neck when you didn't answer.

His arm tightened around your waist to hold you closer as he took a deep inhale of your sweet scent in attempt to fight back the tears that pooled in his eyes.

Your teeth dug into your bottom lip, squeezing your eyes shut at the soft sniffs and stuttered breaths coming from Bucky; willing yourself not to respond to his words.

A tear dripping onto the skin of your neck made you pry his arm from around you; panic surging Bucky's veins. "Wait-" he hiccupped, thinking you were getting out of bed. "I'm not leaving, Buck." You said quietly, turning to face him.

He gave you a sad smile, leaning into your touch when your hands held his scratchy cheeks. "Why're you crying?" You asked, brushing your thumb over the tip of his reddened nose.

More tears welled in his eyes, chin wobbly as he choked back the lump in his throat. "Because I love you... But, I ruined it." You shook your head at him, his warm hand slipping to the spot between your shoulder blades. "It's ok. You didn't."

"Just one real kiss, please." He huffed, eyebrows knitted together.

Nodding, you closed the space between you. Bucky's lips molding to yours as his hand traveled back down and over the swell of your backside; massaging it gently as his tongue slipped between your lips to press against yours.

Urging you on your back so he could settle himself between your legs, he kept the kiss slow and deep; full of pent up emotions being poured into each other.

Shifting around to let him guide your underwear down your legs, your fingers carded through the back of his short hair. "You're still in trouble." You assured.

Bucky laughed against your lips, hand slipping between your bodies to guide himself into you; swallowing the moan that passed your lips with his own.

"I missed you. I missed you so much." Bucky panted between deep, hard thrusts, bunching your shirt up to above your breasts. Wanting to feel as much of your bare skin against his that he could.

"Missed you too, Buck."

He nuzzled his face into your neck, nipping and kissing at the skin between huffed out moans and pants as he worked you closer to your high and his own; your fingers curling into the taut muscles of his back.

Nothing was said. It wasn't needed; just the pleasured sounds from the both of you and feel of each others bodies was enough communication.

The way your walls fluttered around him made Bucky's hips stutter, a choked grunt muffled by his face being against your neck when he pushed deeper; warm arm slipping under your back to hold you closer when it arched off of the mattress. His hips flush to yours as spurts of release painted your walls, a wet kiss pressed to your neck as he lifted his head.

"You gonna stay in my room again?" He asked, pecking a kiss to the corner of your mouth as you blinked your eyes open again. "Yeah, Buck."

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

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[zoeykallus]

Echo – There For You 13 – Everybody Needs Somebody

Echo X Female!Reader

Warnings: Slightly Angsty/Physical Hurt

Vulnerable Echo/Injury/ Pain/FLUFF/Caring Echo/ Soft Echo/ Brotherly Echo

________________

Echo doesn't want to let you out of his sight and will take care of you around the clock. He is very loving and caring, but you know that he actually needs a break, because since you were injured, the man has not slept a wink.

Tech has taken care of you professionally and conscientiously. In a conversation with Echo, it turns out that Tech is pursuing quite unusual lines of thought.

_________________

What Happened Before:

There For You 1 - I’ll Stay With you

2. Just You And Me

3. Under Cherry Blossoms

4. I Can’t Lose Her

5. The Scent Of Memories

6. A Little More Time

7. Heat In A Cold Night

8. Traditions

9. Revelations

10. Sweet And Painful

11. Tears In The Dark

12. Guilt

13 - Everybody Needs Somebody

A gentle shake on the shoulder of your uninjured arm woke you from your sleep. When you opened your eyes, blinking, you saw Echo and Tech standing next to your bed. Tech was standing closer to you, next to you on the bed he had spread out some utensils that probably served for your treatment and examination.

"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly in his typical matter-of-fact tone.

You needed a few seconds before you could answer: "Quite okay I think, just a bit tired. The wrist doesn't hurt right now," you answered truthfully.

Tech nodded and Echo smiled cautiously, seemingly still unsettled by the overall situation. You saw that he had put on his old Scomp Link arm instead of his prosthetic hand. You smiled bravely at him, encouragingly.

"It's going to be okay, Echo," you said softly.

He smiled wryly back and said, "Of course it will, you'll be as good as new soon."

You knew he was still silently blaming himself, you could see it in his face, you could feel the heaviness still on his shoulders. You were sorry he felt so guilty.

"We need to pull the stitches and take a closer look at your hand. You'll probably need a support bandage for another day or two and to take it easy on the wrist. The baccta we have available is not pure baccta, with our funds we can usually only acquire stretched meds. It is effective, but nowhere near as good as we would like it to be," Tech noted and began to carefully remove the temporary from your hand.

You felt a slight tugging, but no real pain, apparently the painkiller was still working or the healing process was more advanced than you had assumed.

When Tech began to pull the stitches of your surgical wound, the feeling was unpleasant, it burned a little bit, but you endured it wordlessly. Tech was careful, very attentive and thorough. You knew he was doing his best to treat you, you trusted him.

Echo watched everything Tech did with an anxious expression, looking over his shoulder, but Tech didn't let it bother him. He explained to his brother what he was doing in a calm matter-of-fact voice, almost gently. Tech could be very empathetic when he needed to be, even if it often didn't seem that way to outsiders. He involved Echo a bit, asking him to hand him things and talking to him, you could see that Echo gradually relaxed a bit and you were grateful for Tech's perceptiveness, you were still too groggy at the moment to think clearly and comfort Echo, even if you wanted to.

After a scan that appeared to be to Tech's satisfaction, he placed the aforementioned support bandage on you and finally gave you a relieved smile.

"The scan shows that your nerves are intact and your bone is almost completely healed. You don't have to worry, just another day or two of rest for the hand with the support bandage and everything will be back to normal. You should only feel pain to a small degree, if at all"

"Thanks Tech" you said honestly relieved "You are the best".

You could see Tech's ears turning red and with a sheepish smile he said "Well AZI helped".

With a smile you said: "I have to thank AZI too".

When Tech had left the room and you were alone with Echo, you wanted to lie down more comfortably, but as soon as you started moving, he put his hand on your shoulder and asked seriously, "What are you going to do? I want you to rest!"

You laughed softly and told him, "My hand must rest, I myself may certainly move as long as I spare the affected wrist. Besides, I just wanted to turn on my side, get a little more comfortable, at least for a moment.

Echo hurried around the bed as you turned over, careful not to strain the wrist. He pulled up a pillow which he very carefully slid under your injured arm, as carefully as if your arm were made of the finest, most delicate, most fragile material in the universe.

He let out a tired sigh when he had done it.

Echo saw your gaze fall on the scomp link arm again and said quietly, "Sorry, I know right now I look more like a droid than a man."

Instead of responding to his statement, you looked into his amber eyes and said softly, "I love you, Echo."

He blinked, obviously surprised to hear those words from you right here and now. He finally smiled, but you could sense he was hovering between tears and heart delighted laughter.

"I love you too, Cyare," he replied with a brave smirk and carefully lay down beside you, also on his side to look at you.

You looked at each other silently, both with loving, gentle expressions. It did you both so incredibly good to be close to each other. It felt so right, so warm and beautiful, full of honest affection.

A knock on the door, however, snapped you out of your silent thoughts.

Omega entered the room after your invitation. The blonde girl sat down on a stool next to your bed and smiled at you, she radiated warmth, a friendly, good-natured energy and also curiosity.

"You're a pretty girl" you said smiling "And from what I hear a bright one at that, clever and explorative".

Omega grinned at you.

"Thank you very much" she said happily, then her eyes wandered to Echo who had gotten up from the bed and her face took on a slightly worried expression. "Echo, you should get some sleep, you look tired".

"I'm fine," he waved it off.

Omega smiled at him and said knowingly, "I know you're fine, but you're still tired".

"I have to keep an eye on Y/N, I don't have time to sleep right now," Echo returned quietly but firmly.

You laughed softly and said, "Echo, I can manage on my own for a while, please rest a bit, do it for me."

"But..." he interrupted himself when he saw your soft expression and sighed "Okay, but just for a little while" he finally relented.

"The best thing for you to do is to lie down in your bunk on the Marauder, you'll have your peace there for the moment," you suggested.

He sighed and said meekly, "But I'm so far away from you there."

"The Marauder is practically on your doorstep, Echo. Besides, it's only for a little while, but if you stay near me you'll never sleep until you pass out from exhaustion" you reprimanded him lovingly.

"I will stay with Y/N and take care of her. You know I was a medical assistant for a long time, I know what to do," Omega interjected helpfully.

Echo sighed heavily, but finally nodded.

"Okay, but you don't let her out of your sight okay?"

Omega smiled broadly, "You have my word, Echo."

Echo did what you asked him to do, he retreated to the Marauder and made himself comfortable in his bunk. He was about to close his eyes when he heard a clang from the cockpit. With a sigh, he swung himself back out of the bunk and headed over there.

Tech was sitting on the floor, a disassembled piece of equipment on his lap with various cables hanging out of it, various tools spread out on the floor around him. Echo smiled.

"You always have something to do, don't you?"

Tech looked up in surprise, "Oh hello Echo, I didn't think they'd get you to leave Y/N's side all that soon."

Echo chuckled.

"She insisted that I rest. If I'm going to be honest, she was right, I am tired. You could also use someone to remind you to take a break every now and then"

Tech raised a brow and said matter-of-factly, "That's what I have you for, even if you're a little distracted right now, you usually do now and then."

Echo nodded and said, "Sorry, I was fully focused on Y/N"

Tech looked back at the device on his lap and connected two cables together as he said "I guess that's natural in your situation. Maybe I will have that experience someday too"

"You mean with a partner?"

Tech nodded.

"Is that what you wish for?", Echo wanted to know curiously and sat down on the floor with Tech.

Tech put the device back in his lap, looked up and scratched the back of his head a little uncertainly.

"Well, yes. I see how happy you two are, the way you look at each other, full of affection, adoration, and respect. I see how you care and look after each other. It would be nice to have someone to experience that with," he said thoughtfully.

Echo didn't expect anything like this, not from Tech, his focused, no-nonsense manner sometimes made you forget that he too was just a human being with wants and needs.

"I understand, well I can tell you anyway, no matter how much you worry sometimes, it's wonderful, there's nothing like it," Echo said honestly.

Tech nodded.

"I thought so" he said "It's just human to crave a mate I guess, for evolutionary reasons alone, a primitive part of us craves procreation, but after seeing how you and Y/N are with each other, there's a lot more to crave"

Echo smiled and said, "Indeed."

"Aside from all the things I've come to know theoretically, the soundscape coming from your bedroom when you two are intimate tells me that the physical aspect of a relationship obviously seems very.... satisfying."

Echo felt heat rising in his cheeks and ears and laughed nervously.

"Are we really that loud?"

Tech nodded impassively: "Sometimes"

"Sorry," Echo muttered.

After Echo had regained his composure and forgotten the shame, he said to his brother, "I bet you there is someone out there somewhere who can be all that for you."

Tech looked up from his work again and looked questioningly at Echo.

"Really?"

"Of course!", Echo was sure "You're intelligent, your heart is in the right place, you're a brave adventurer, an upstanding soldier, people like that, you just have to let someone approach you and not be afraid of it"

Tech sighed softly and said, "I will try."

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