#86 fanfic

[poki-art]

their situation

first chapter of 86 fanfic collaboration with my beloved @herstrayskies - you can read it here. enjoy 🥰

[akariamai]

Welcome to Spearhead

Shinei Nouzen x OC

Word Count: 2321

Like an infestation, war trickled into every aspect of the lives of those the Republic of San Magnolia deemed to be less than. Those who do not possess fair skin and light hair were sent to internment camps, located in the wasteland beyond the walls of the city. The conditions of the internment camps were despicable — almost uninhabitable. Memories of sharing a horse stall with her family of four were engraved in her mind. Her family was shove into the stall — still full of shit — were left to tidy what was now there new home. Old forgotten hay laid bare on the floor as her mother and father shared the same feeling of helplessness. Her twin sister scrunched her nose in disgust as the vile stench of shit infiltrated her nostrils. Her mother put on a courageous facade before attempting to imbue the stall with a sense of home. She invested a considerable amount of time and effort in her endeavors but ultimately failed.

The family of four was given a month of peace before their mother and father received recruitment letters, promising citizenship and freedom for five years of service. Their father, cursed with his sense of pride, mindlessly accepted. The thought of dying and never seeing his family again hadn’t crossed his mind once. It was his family that kept him alive through the dark horrors of war but captivating notions were not enough to stop the autonomous AI-controlled drones known as the Legion. He perished believing in a lie.

Her mother struggled with her father’s absence. He was her pillar of strength; as long as he stayed by her side, she would always prevail. He was gone now, participating in a war for false promises. She stressed for his safety and health, as well as the survival of her children. She proceeded to smile though it was far less bright. Her children needed her to be in the present; to survive the harsh realities of the internment camp. It wasn’t long before her mother was taken from the sisters, a rebellion against their suppressors turned deadly, and her mother became an unforeseen casualty. Her body buried in an unmarked grave.

“Promise me.” Warm gentle hands held onto hers, “Promise we’ll stay together. That we’ll always have each other.”

“I promise.” Reva whispered.

Once the two sisters realized their father wasn’t coming back from the battlefield, they decided to join. The people, now referred to as the Eighty-six, grasped onto the realization no one was ever coming back. There was no freedom after five years of service. It was a mere lie to get the Eighty-six to enlist.

Reva saw her comrades die at the hands of the Legion. Friends she once smiled and laughed with. Their forms left bruised and battered, while their spirits departed, leaving their bodies cold. She heard the pain-filled cries of her twin sister before she perished with the rest of their comrades.

“Wraith!”

Reva, during the heat of battle, fought her way towards her sister’s irreparably destroyed Juggernaut. Her emblem splattered in blood — her blood — and a lifeless corpse surrounded decimated bricks from the ruins of a nameless city. She fired at the Legion, who stood above her sister’s body, relentlessly. Her finger pulled on the trigger countless of times to ensure her sister’s murderer could no longer move.

“Fuck you!” She screeched, unleashing a rage she didn’t know she had. “Just die!” She didn’t know how long she persistently battered the once mobile machine but once her madness subsided, it was nothing more than scrap metal.

The handler, an older man with an unpleasantly croaky voice, declared, “The Legion are retreating, the other Juggernauts are unresponsive, you’ll be transferred immediately.” The transmission ended with no condolences or congratulations. The Eighty-six’s were nothing but lambs to the slaughter, destined to die for the Alba. An unfamiliar ache etched into her beating heart would unknowingly become a reminder of her loneliness.

She heavily climbed out of her own Juggernaut, the corpse of her deceased sister lying motionless a few meters away of her iron coffin. The reality of the situation seemed to seep in as the sky above began to weep.

Her sister’s name lingered in the back of her throat as she stumbled closer. Breathing almost became too difficult as hiccups threatened to erupted from her lips. Her salty tears camouflaged with the raindrops trailing down her rosy cheeks. Her sister’s lifeless body laid above a growing pool of deep crimson blood, her clothing drenched in red. Once vibrant sapphire eyes faded into a dull emptiness. Reva wanted to roar into the darkness in despair. Embracing her sister tightly against her chest, she instinctively sought to shield her sister from the rain, a futile gesture.

“I’m sorry.” Reva barely choked out. She laid a gentle farewell kiss on her forehead, praying to one day see her again, and used her bare hands as tools to lay her sister to rest in the Earth. The downpour made it utterly frustrating but she persevered. Her sister deserved a burial. Mud soiled her pants as she crouched down onto the muddied floor, her hands shoveling away the filthy water and grime.

Hours must have passed as the daybreak glimmered through the dark clouds. The heavens wept no more, it’s tears all gone. It was the start of a new day without the constant presence she was familiar to; a sunrise her sister would never get to see. She solemnly limped back to her Juggernaut and returned to the deteriorating building she once shared with her squadron. Instead of dirtying the sanitize floors, she waited in her sullied clothing for her transportation.

~~~

The Alba men assigned to transport her to her new squadron showered her with dirty looks. Their light eyes acted as daggers; deadly if their glares could inflict pain. “Filthy pig,” They muttered under their breath, “Change!”

Reva didn’t bother to move. She had spent hours pondering over the loss of her sister. What gave these men, who were complacent when their neighbors were stripped of their human rights, the right to order her around. They were nobodies forced to work in close proximity to the Eighty-six, acting as mere errand runners with no true purpose or nobility.

“What are you waiting for?” They viewed her as nothing more than livestock; in need of control. They tenaciously held onto the perceived sense of superiority, ingrained by the institution that unlawfully detained the Eighty-six, over her being. Undisturbed by the objections from the men, she confidently moved towards her four-wheeled prison, closing her eyes once she found a spot that would be untouched by the machinery.

Once the men noticed she was not responding to their demands, the older man reached out his arm to drag her out without a care of her well-being. Despite her striking resemblance to a human, the “unnatural” color of her being prevented her from being perceived as such. His hand refrained from making contact with her form as she skillfully twisted his arm and forcefully directed his body to the ground. The Alba men before her have never seen the battlefield; they have never bared the hardships that came with war. They willfully lived ignorant of the truth behind “the war with no casualties.”

The younger man hurried to the aid of his comrade, assisting his higher-up, all the while casting wary glances at the girl, apprehensive that she might persist in her assault. “Are you okay?” The two men refused to take their eyes off of her as if she were a barbaric animal, ready to pounce at any given moment. Realization washed over them as they unwillingly accepted her decision and carried on with their assigned duties.

She remained unaware of the men successfully loading up her Juggernaut or her transport advancing to another battlefield — a battlefield she may very well perish. Her back kissed the metal plating, as the tenderness of her body hit her with the momentum of a speeding train.

Time slipped by before the entrance opened and the light flowed in like a never ending stream of welcoming ambiance. “Get out.” The men left her unattended, apprehensive of her being, standing by for her to step out and allow them to work. She ignored them, absorbing what would be her new home for the foreseeable future. There were two buildings in range of her sight. The first was a weather worn barracks’ hangar where the Juggernauts and other military equipment would be stored away, although the Eighty-six were not supplied with adequate gear or materials. The second was a rundown building; the place where she and the other Eighty-six would occupy themselves in. There was nothing glamorous about the building; there were noticeable cracks on the exterior and foliage sprouting to one day overtake the structure.

“So you’re the new recruit,” A man with an unkempt field uniform roamed closer to her. “Welcome to Spearhead.” He noticed the dried mud, flaking due to the movement of her clothing, and assumed the two Alba men must’ve tussled her around before transporting her. It wasn’t uncommon for the transport team to harass, even assault, the Eighty-six.

She nodded her head and gave him a pathetic smile. He was pleasant, she noted, by his subtle attempts to respect her personal space. By the condition of her clothing, it would be a rather fair assumption the Alba men physically attacked her; however, she would not get too familiar with him or the others in this squadron. Death awaited them, even herself. She will soldier on without the support of her sister, without a purpose to continue living. She will die on the battlefield; her existence disregarded while the life is scuffed from her body, countless of miles away from her sister’s resting place.

“The name’s Raiden Shuga; personal name: Wehrwolf.” To bear a personal name was a minimal act of respect Processors could offer veterans of the war, who returned from death’s door countless times.

Returning the sentiment, she offered him her true and personal name, “I’m Reva Nakamura; personal name: Hellfire.”

Where Wraith goes, Hellfire follows, a phrase old comrades used to comment. Two veterans whose coordination—without a single word uttered—reigns supreme among the other Processors. He was told, “They were two halves of a whole, you would never see one without the other.” Yet, here Hellfire stood without her other half; presumably dead and Raiden knew better than to mention it.

Instead he acknowledged her, masking the recognition of her personal name, “I’ll show you around, introduce you to the others. Some are busy with chores but you’ll see them afterwards.”

The Spearhead squadron had plenty of members, each a veteran in their own right, each with a story to tell. No matter how often she was transferred, seeing new young faces left a horrendous taste in her mouth. They were all going to succumb to the Legion; it was not a matter of if, but a matter of when. Death cradled them, awaiting for their gut wrenching cries of anguish and grief; to carry them away from the suffering of this bleak existence.

Forever wasn’t meant for them. It was more for the last person standing to uphold the memories of the deceased, although those memories will only persevere if they manage to stay alive. Living, however, does not guarantee memories will stay intact — memories fade through age or vanish in death. They were not meant to linger for eternity. Their sacrifices will not be remembered by the generations to come, only lost in the sea of nameless corpses.

“Reva, given a new change of clothing by Anju, a comrade who bore some resemblance to the Alba with only her eyes countering those thoughts, stepped into the dining room. After being given a bowl of soup, she sought to sit alone but instead was ambushed by her comrades surrounding her with probing questions. The one who lead the charge was Kurena, a rather young girl with chestnut-colored hair and catlike Topaz eyes. Once she heard the infamous Hellfire was sent to their squadron, she couldn’t contain her curiosity. Reva was nothing like the image she had conjured up in her mind. She’d imagined an unyielding woman harden by the numerous battles she’d face, instead the person before her was a girl like her.

“How did you get the name Hellfire?”

“Where were you from?”

“What do you like to do in your free time?”

Reva swallowed another spoonful of soup, made from overgrown fresh vegetables the group scavenged from the ruins of the nameless city. It was better than the horrendous rations the Alba sent the Eighty-six.

“My family comes from the United Kingdom of Roa Gracia, but I was born in the Republic.” Certain questions were ignored; they carried memories she’d wish to forget. Instead of being offended for the unanswered questions, they assumed unpleasant memories were tied to them, and moved on. They were strangers to her, after all, she didn’t need to speak to them but she did.

The group spoke about themselves as well, giving her the opportunity to enjoy her meal uninterrupted without pausing to answer questions. They collectively mentioned their captain would always be found with his nose in a book, Theo pencil in hand would sketch away in his notebook, Kurena bears the role of the group’s cherished little sister, to which she whined was not true, and so many more.

Shin, one of the many nicknames he’s been given, sat away from the group. He listened to them giving the newbie insight on each member of the squadron; an attempt to get her familiar to them. Another name he may have to carry before his death; another burden to shoulder in the battlefield. At the moment, he was content that his friends were cheerful. Moments like these were scarce. Each day could be someone’s last.

Masterlist

[k9effect]

I thought about Mav passed out at his work desk with headphones on and it spiralled into this whole thing

Mav always felt a little lonely.

Even when he had people around him who loved him, he always ended up on his own one way or another and felt that loneliness seeping in. Goose was the first to notice. Before Goose's trips back to Tennessee to see Carole included Mav, he would come back to base to hear about how his pilot had lost a bit of his shine while he was away.

That's when Goose started making the recordings.

It was a small gift, but it meant the world to Mav. A brand new walkman, headphones and all, and a single cassette tape. This tape didn't have music on it, no, it contained a three hour recording of Goose reading though the F-14 Tomcat Flight Manual and adding in his own comedic commentary.

He wasn't sure what Mav would think of it, but when he returned home from another trip and found his pilot curled up asleep on the lounge, headphones on, walkman clutched in his hands, the tape run through, he realised he had made the right decision. Once Mav stirred, realising Goose had returned, he pulled the RIO onto the couch and thanked him for how thoughtful and considerate of a gift it was. That it made him feel less alone.

Goose continued the recordings. They were simple things he could make while completing other work. An hour recording here of Goose rambling while he completed chores, half an hour recording there of Goose muttering while he completes some paperwork. Even after Mav started joining him on his trips to Carole and they inevitably became attached at the hip, Goose continued making recordings. They grew more sincere over time, telling Mav that he was loved and he was strong and could get through anything.

Maverick was very glad he continued making them. It was a piece of Goose he could always carry with him.

Because one day, Goose wasn't there anymore.

Ice was never quite certain why his wingman was always listening to music on a busted walkman, but he never questioned it.

That was until he was packing Mav an overnight bag after an accident and Mav had specifically requested the walkman. Ice had taken a closer look at it and seen the writing on the cassette.

‘GOOSE - 12’

Curiosity got the better of him and he pulled on the headphones and pressed play.

“Y'know, Mav-” It was Goose's voice, Ice realised with a pang deep in his chest, “- I'm pretty sure, by like, most, if not all, the laws of aviation, you should have broken our Tomcat's airframe several times over. I honestly don't know how she's still together-” There was the clinking of dishes and sloshing of water along with the distinct sound of a bristly, sudsy brush scrubbing metal. “- What sort of demon did you make a deal with to manage this? I'm not arguing, I'd rather not face a board of inquiry again, but I'm curious.”

Ice paused it.

He realised very quickly what the cassette was and that, judging on the number, there were more of these.

Mav was always listening to Goose talk.

He packed the walkman into the overnight bag with much more care than he offered possibly anything.

Mav stared.

He blinked once, then twice. But it changed nothing.

There was a cassette sitting on his bed. On it, was scribbled a name and a number.

‘ICE - 1’

Beneath it was a small, simple note.

‘Listen to me.’

Mav pushed the cassette into his walkman and, sitting down, let it play.

“Hey, Mav. Sorry if this is weird for you, it sure feels weird for me. I- uh- I realised what the walkman is for. I'm sorry I teased you for it, it's not dumb and old. I know Slider thought you were pretty cool for having one. He's got one too. But anyways, I found a recording of Goose and I realised why you have this so I thought, y'know, maybe I could make you some new ones? To make up for the teasing at least. I mightn't be as good as Goose but I'll give it my best shot. I've got a book here, I'm just gonna read it out loud for a while, okay? Okay. Here we go…”

Mav listened to the whole thing in one sitting. It was long and sweet and Mav felt something aching inside him, something that hadn't ached in a long time.

Every week or so, Mav would find another cassette in his room with an increased number on it. It was just Ice for a while, but then he found one labelled ‘SLIDER - 1’. Then another a few months later labelled ‘HOLLYWOOD - 1’, then ‘WOLFMAN - 1’. His collection grew as more people helped continue Goose's legacy.

The day he found ‘VIPER - 1’ he felt like he was five again. Viper's recording was two hours worth of him recounting childhood stories of Mav, stories of him with his parents, of just his parents, and deployment tales of his dad.

Once Mav buys his first proper home, an old hangar out in the Mojave Desert, he builds a small shelf to hold all of his cassettes instead of keeping them in a bag or a box. It's then, when they're all neatly organised together, that he realises just how many he has.

The original thirty-one from Goose.

Three from Carole.

One short one from Bradley.

Seventeen from Iceman.

Ten from Slider.

Seven each from Hollywood and Wolfman.

Four from Chipper.

Three from Sunny.

And, so far, Two from Viper.

He doesn't feel so lonely anymore. Everyone he loves has put time and effort into making sure he doesn't feel alone. That instead, he feel loved.

And he sure does.

Even now, years down the track, Ice will stumble upon Maverick passed out at his work desk late at night ontop of a half finished project, with his old walkman next to him, headphones on, listening to Goose laugh his way through the Tomcat manual.

[madelynraemunson]

CALL ME WHAT YOU WANT 𓆩♡𓆪

(Book #1 of the Hellfire Gentlemen's Club series)

strip club owner!eddie x fem!exotic dancer!hargrove!reader

𝐌𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐀𝐔 18+ MDNI

Chapter 016: 86 It, Baby

When they find out about you and Eddie, his cult following of jealous dancers team up to make your life a living hell. How much of it will you be able to tolerate? And how much of it will Eddie actually allow?

↳ chapters: 001, 002*, 003** , 004**, 005 , 006 , 007* , 008**, 009, 010, 011, 012* , 013**, 014** , 015, 016**, 017, 018, 019, 020*

* = somewhat smutty chapters ** = smut chapters

word count: 8.1k words

disclaimers — fluff, smut, angst, oral (fem-receiving), pussy worship, office roleplay, fingering, boyfriend!eddie 😍 • bullying, body dysmorphia, body shaming, humiliation, sabotage, profanities, spreading rumors, billy being a narcissistic fuck again

(x)

Chapter 015 recap

"You sure you want to sign up for all of this?"

• • •

From here on out, it's going to be Shy Girl and Eddie... and nothing... NOTHING will ever change your mind or get in the way of that.

“Sugarcoated lies unfolded…”

Chapter 016

♡

“OUT OF THE FUCKING WAY!” Dustin shrieks.

“CORNER!” Mike hollers. “Hot plates coming through!”

“Shit shit shit shit!” This is the third order Lucas has messed up. “Argyle’s gonna kill me. Where the fuck is Eddie?!”

It’s Hellfire’s busiest Tuesday and the owner is nowhere in sight. And neither are you — Hellfire’s number one dancer.

Surely that has to be a coincidence. Because the last thing on your mind while everyone is going crazy looking for Eddie is going crazy in his office, your legs spread out on his desk while riding his tongue, his mouth and fingers penetrating your sensitive clit with calculated strokes and thirst-quenched laps, Eddie’s eyes rolling to the back of his head as he prowls for your release, the remnants of it trickling down the wooden table and soaking all of his nearby paperwork.

…Right?

“Have you seen Eddie?” Nancy demands as she waves her dead curling iron in the air.

“No!”

“Will…have you seen Eddie?” Jonathan asks.

“No!”

Argyle isn’t having any better of a day.

“Ayo, who THE FUCK keeps ringing in the Eddie Special?! We 86’d it an hour ago cuz we’re out of thousand island!”

The frazzled cook shifts his focus back to the grill, wiping sweat away from his forehead in exhaustion. He then bolts to the fryer, ignoring the mountain of tickets piling up on the line.

A few muffled curse words escape his mouth. Goddammit Eddie. Where is that fucker?!

“Eddie?!” Dustin calls out as he’s directed to voicemail.

“Eddie!” Chrissy attempts.

“Eddie?!”

“Eddie!”

“EDDIE!” you moan. “Oh, fuck. Eddie…”

“Thought I told you to call me sir.”

Eddie’s lips hum against the ones between your legs as he devours you, tip of his tongue flicking across your folds before circling inwards, licking…sucking…moaning and spitting as he reels you in for a delicious rotation of all possible combinations.

“My sweet, sweet secretary,” Eddie playfully swoons. “They’re gonna have to wait baby, you taste so good.”

It should come as no surprise that a Dungeon Master like Eddie is obsessed with role-play. Yet it stuns you like it’s the first time, watching him devour you like a starved man in the wild, the heels of his palms anchoring you to his desk by how they hook your thighs in place.

“Love the skirt you wore just for me,” Eddie blubbers. The easy access just does something to him. And the way it hugs your body... Eddie is practically scraping his knees on the floor trying to make you feel good. “Love your sweet pussy. Love everything about you…”

“Ohhh…fuck…” you mewl as the echos of your wet cunt filter the air around you. “Yes, Eddie…”

“You my naughty little secretary?”

“Yes, sir…”

Eddie hums again while you toss your head back, bliss-filled and fucked out, squirming underneath him as your ankles dangle limply at his shoulders. Your pornographic moans that bleed into desperate squeals cause Eddie to subconsciously buck his hips and thrust, eagerly sinking his mouth further into you as he sucks harder on your clit. And just before he can pull down his pants to pound you senseless around his office, another type of pounding awaits for you two at the door.

“EDDIE OPEN THE FUCK UP!” Henderson screeches as he knocks. “Our ass is grass out there, what are you doing?!”

Eddie sighs in anguish, irritibably looking over at the ruckus waiting for him on the other side of that door. "I'll be right back, babe.”

You use this time away from Eddie to gather yourself and your belongings. Since you had been folded up for a while, your legs wobble like jelly when they meet the floor.

You’re a little bummed that you two didn’t meet your goal of Orgasm #5 of the day, but you’re content in knowing that there is always an opportunity to later in the night.

The door swings open abruptly causing you to jolt. Eddie’s back.

“Shy Girl,” he huffs.

“Eds,” you respond.

“I never thought these words would ever come out of my mouth,” Eddie warns you. “But please put your clothes on.”

“Huh?!”

Eddie fills you in on the shitshow that is taking place outside. Hellfire is in desperate need of an extra server, and you are the only one with qualifications that can do it. But as much as you want to help, you are reluctant. It is a huge pay cut on your end if you took that deal.

“I make way more stripping than serving, Eddie,” you frown. “I need to pay the bills.”

“I can give you a cash advance,” Eddie bargains. “A-and even all my tips from the tip-out tonight. We just really need someone, baby. Just this one time, please. Only for today.”

Your man starts towards you with a flirtatious demeanor now, swooping in to grab your hips that he adores oh so much. You bite your lips, trying your best not to cave.

“And…” he lowers his voice huskily. “I’ll be sure to have another kind of tip waiting for you at home…”

You giggle into his chest, laughing at the clever pun that he had up his sleeve. And because he’s so charismatic and convincing, you take him up on the offer.

“Okay, fine,” you agree. “Just this one day.”

When you’re fully clothed again, Eddie hands you a Hellfire baseball tee and apron for you to wear as you switch from dancer to waitress. And after one final look at yourself, you reach to turn the knob of Eddie’s office door to go outside. Someone is already waiting by the foot of it when you pull it open.

Henderson.

Confused, Dustin looks at you. You look at Dustin. Dustin’s eyes wander over to Eddie whose got the most devious smirk on his face. Finally Henderson looks back over at you and sighs, issuing you a “do I even want to know?” type stare.

You clear your throat, attempting to brush off the awkwardness that just took over.

“Well…we going out there or not?”

“Hey. Look over there.”

Your ability to take up space in more forms than one inevitably catches the attention of the other dancers. Justice and Emmy in particular. The two watch as you strut around Hellfire with the club t-shirt on instead of the Nothing that they’re used to, ordering the younger gentlemen of Hellfire around like you were the shift lead.

“Lucas stay back here and help Argyle cook the food,” you instruct. “I will run it out. Mike, you start bussing and sweeping so the area looks nice. Dustin, I need you to make set-ups. Will, I need you up front as host and cashier. Someone needs to be at the front at all times. When everything is less crazy, we can all assume our usual positions. Right now it’s just DAMAGE CONTROL.”

Hellfire is not like a standard sit-down restaurant... for obvious reasons. However, the foundation remains the same. Everyone has a lane. They need to stay in it.

The boys are more than receptive to your instructions and follow through almost immediately. Eddie observes as it all goes down. He beams at you in awe, fantasizing about the situation because it's all his mind knows when it comes down to you.

“It’s like she’s leading them into battle…" he sighs breathlessly. "She’s so hot.”

“HOT!” Argyle screams as he dishes an appetizer onto the line. “Someone throw some chives on there for me, yeah?”

Just when you're about to crash, Steve and Max make their way inside the club, clearly worn out from their shift at Newby's, and stunned by the turnout for Hellfire at the beginning of the week.

“Holy shit, why are men so horny on a Tuesday?” Max exclaims.

She hands you your coffee that she made for you herself.

“This drink’s called The Pollywog. Dark and earthy, should do the trick.”

“Coffee does for me what crack cocaine would do for others,” you remark. “Thanks sis, I owe you.”

You pan your gaze over to Steve, because you know that he and Max usually like to order food and sit around for a bit before he drives her home.

“Uh, just two waters,” Steve mutters. “Max and I will order when you guys are less slammed.”

You smile at him, resting a grateful hand atop his shoulder. “‘ppreciate it, Stevie.”

The strippers eye you. Again, intently. You’re close with his roommate too? Little do they know you were also fucking his roommate for a short period of time.

This goes deeper than any of them thought. You and Eddie must be exclusive. And to them, it seems like you’re getting special treatment, fucking your way up to the top like a certain woman once did.

“Looks like we might have another Isabelle on our hands.”

“Look at her walking around like she owns the place.”

“She thinks she can take over Hellfire because she’s fucking Eddie huh?”

“I mean why wouldn’t she? She’s also friends with Chrissy. Birds of a feather.”

𓆩♡𓆪

It feels like you’re submerged underwater judging by the increase of pressure in the room.

The dressing room is eerily quiet. Everyone is whispering instead of the usual singing and shouting. Your intuition senses that people are staring... almost in a way that makes you feel like an art display, or that you have food in your teeth. The only ones who are still acting normal are Chrissy and Nina, while the girls you usually joke around with at their respective vanities have gone radio silent.

Just then, there's a knock on the door.

“Hi my beautiful girls,” Eddie coos as he makes his way into the dressing room.

He keeps his eyes covered until everyone says it’s okay.

“Quite the lunch shift huh?”

“You have no idea, Eds,” Nina sighs. "But it sure as hell paid off."

"Yeah, Eddie," Chrissy agrees. "We all got tipped so well, your tip-out is probably astounding too!"

Speaking of which...

"Just what I came here for," Eddie points a finger gun at you before unveiling to you a huge wad of cash. “Here are my lunch tips, like I promised.” You reluctantly take it from Eddie as he ruffles your hair endearingly.

Eddie's first mistake was not only making you the center of attention, but giving his tips to you — on top of the tips you already had from serving — in front of the other girls. In a way, those were their tips. They only became his, well, yours now, because of the tip-out policy.

Now they're really annoyed. The girls who have you on their radar wait until Eddie leaves to approach you. And when they do you're almost taken aback.

“You’re starting to do a lot of the positions,” Emmy observes.

"Uh, yeah from time to time," you respond gently. "Today Eddie really needed an extra server on the floor so I jumped ship to help the boys."

“Must be a natural at taking charge.”

"Oh…I'm hardly ever a dom," you try to laugh it off. "If I am it's usually just for show. I'm more of a soft dom and sub if you ask me."

"Just for show, I see," that's all Emmy seems to get from what you said.

"I'm sorry... did I step on some toes here?" you question her. She's almost shocked at how ballsy you are. But then again, she doesn't know you. "Because you seem pretty fed up with me today, Emmy."

“We’re just really protective of our Eddie,” she replies dryly. "That's all."

“Girl, trust I don’t want any trouble,” you try to sound confident but your voice fails you. Why would you say that? You shouldn't say that, you're his girlfriend. They should be the ones treading lightly.

“Oh we would hope so too,” Emmy glares. “Cause we’re watching.”

And just like that, the girls you thought you were on good terms with strut back outside in a single file line, their icy stares fixed on you until they are out of sight.

The atmosphere feels arctic now. Eerie. Unwelcome. It's like the remnants of Isabelle Munson still linger after all.

“The hell what that all about?” Nina questions when she walks over to you.

“It’s a looong story,” you huff.

STRIKE ONE

"And then Emmy says to me, wE'rE jUsT rEaLlY pRoTeCtIvE oF eDdIe AnD wE'rE wAtChInG yOu da-da-da."

You stop your frantic pacing to plop onto Eddie's bed in exhaustion.

"Nina and I were just standing there like... the fuck?" you continue. "WHAT is this bitch's deal?"

Eddie chuckles at your recap of the events from the day before, lazily strumming along to a Metallica song he's learning on the guitar. You're displeased with your man's lack of concern for the issue at hand.

You shoot back up quickly.

"Matter of fact, what’s everyone's deal?" you demand. "They were all chill and nice to me when I started Hellfire but the SECOND they found out we're seeing each other it's like I'm their mortal enemy. And for what? It’s not like any of them stood a chance with you anyway. Thirsty ass bitches.”

"OH!" Steve hollers from the living room, causing you and Eddie to flinch. "TOUCHDOWN TAYLOR! Wooo hooo! That's what I'm talkin' bout baby."

Eddie puts his guitar down and starts towards you, realizing now how much this has taken a toll on your mental. He also closes his bedroom door all the way, allowing for privacy between you and him, and Steve with his precious Colts game.

"I'm really sorry the girls made you feel that way," he sighs. "It's just been a while since I have been exclusive with somebody. They know how badly Isabelle broke my heart. And well, ruined my life.”

You scoff, looking away. Eddie is there to ground you once more, placing his index and middle finger on your chin, using them to redirect you back to his reassuring gaze.

“They're just looking out for me,” he assures you. “Promise."

"They thought I was gonna be another Isabelle," you pout. "That's really offensive, you know."

"They said that with Chrissy too when she was new," Eddie recalls. "I mean…You should've SEEN the amount of drama that unfolded whenever she and I would even breathe the same air. You would've thought at one point, they were gonna chop her head off and parade it on a wooden stake like in Lord of the Flies."

You fold your arms irritably.

"This isn't Lord of the Flies, Eddie. This is real life."

"Lord of the Flies is also real life. In a way."

“Not sure which side of the battle you're on here, babe.”

Eddie then goes onto explain that Chrissy also faced the wrath of Eddie's OG dancers. But after the Hellfire Girls realized that Chrissy was not going to be a threat, they backed down.

Every explanation earns him an eye roll. Eddie needs to realize that being seen as a threat should never be an excuse to be mean to someone. Especially since those girls have been buddy-buddy with you before.

"Strip clubs can be... very catty," Eddie concludes. "The longer you work in the industry the more you'll realize. Take it with a grain of salt, okay baby? All that matters is us."

You don't budge. A part of you still feels discredited, despite kind of seeing where Eddie is coming from. Unless this worsens, he can’t 100% take your side. Eddie needs to be mediator for now.

He scratches his head.

“I also…need… my dancers,” Eddie points out. “So from a manager-slash-owner standpoint, there isn’t much I can do about Mean Girl shit other than keep it under my radar. But you’re a Hargrove, honey. You hold your ground, get your check, fight some chicks outside the club if you have to…”

You giggle at the last part. Eddie reels you in.

“…and then come home to me.”

And then he flashes you the Munson smile, that ever-so-charming million-dollar attribute that won your heart in the first place. It all causes you to blush.

"Okay," you say.

Before you two could swallow each other whole, Steve knocks on the door. Eddie pulls it open.

“I’m ordering pizza, any of you guys want some?” Steve questions. “Hope you don’t mind pineapple.”

Eddie grimaces. “You’re fucking disgusting. Make half of it a Meat Lovers and I’ll pay for it.”

“Fine,” Harrington huffs. His eyes travel over to you longingly. “Hargrove? You okay with pineapple?”

“I’m okay with whatever,” you mutter. “Anything’s better than a can of worms.”

Steve's eyes peer over at you then over at Eddie. He doesn't quite understand your analogy, but still seems supportive of you nonetheless.

“Okay…” Harrington mumbles before closing the door. “Pineapple and Meat Lovers it is.”

𓆩♡𓆪

It all makes sense why you ate most of Steve's pizza instead of him a couple days ago. You were clearly PMS-ing, and today you started your period.

At least now you know the Plan B you took was effective.

As grateful as you were, you're still having an awful time 'surfing the crimson wave'. Mood swings were also at an all-time high. Anything anyone was going to say to you was surely going to make you combust.

You're also bloated, a huge insecurity of yours because what you packed for today is rather skin tight. What typically would make you look snatched today looks relatively unflattering today. You try to give yourself grace. Body changes during a cycle is normal. It's part of being a woman.

"Shy Girl!" Eddie calls out to you from the other side of the dressing room. "You gonna be out soon, baby? Got a few regulars of yours at Vecna's Lair!"

The Hellfire Girls' ears perk up when they hear "regulars". Whatever is up their sleeves today cannot be any good.

You call back out to Eddie as you make your finishing touches. "Yes, coming!"

"I don't know," Emmy says, projecting her voice slightly louder than she usually does. You look towards her general direction as she talks. "I feel like a lot of people are uneducated about dressing for their body type. Cuz when you don't dress correctly for your body, it just makes everything look so unflattering."

You look down at your body and start to feel a little sad. Although the conversation was between Emmy and Justice, you can't help but feel attacked.

You decide to make your way over to the DJ and show him your songs for the night. Your choice for the evening is Candy by Doja Cat because its slow and sexy rhythm will allow you to move in a manner that is flexible for this particular phase of your cycle.

After thanking the DJ, you confidently strut back down from the stage, channeling your inner Marilyn Monroe walk as you continue to move around.

"Oh my god," you hear Justice say. "That's kinda really embarrassing. Can you imagine?"

Suddenly, you hear Eddie's voice trail after you. Out of all people.

"Baby!" he exclaims.

Stunned, you turn around. "Yes?"

"I uh," Eddie stammers. "Let's get you back into the locker room huh?"

You're confused. What could possibly be going on to cause such panic in Eddie's eyes? Why was he so frantic, pushing and hauling you into the dressing room — and not in a way you'd like.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Eds, slow down!" you exclaim. "What is it?"

Eddie gulps as he tries to catch his breath. You wait for him to talk, but he's too busy grabbing some spare towels and even some paper ones.

"Respectfully, Hargrove," Eddie says as he strides back over to you. "You need to change outfits or something."

Like Billy, you immediately go into defensive mode.

"OH IT LOOKS THAT BAD, HUH?” you demand. Your mini-freak out earns you some laughter from those girls, but you're too aggravated to give them your attention. “Sorry that I'm a little bloated today! Sorry that I’m a normal human being whose body is different depending on the day."

"It's not that, baby," Eddie insists. "It's just that... your bleeding? It went through."

Looking in the mirror now, you see a HUGE blot behind you. Your tampon had gotten dislodged and now there is blood all over your cute baby blue set. Heat begins to simmer at your cheeks.

Those fucking Hellfire Girls. How dare they not tell you?

When you glare back over at them, the Hellfire Girls are trying to conceal their laughter. What's even more infuriating is that Eddie doesn't seem to notice. But to be fair, he's too fixated on you to pay other women any mind. You want to pop them all, see how funny it is after.

"Seems like you're having a rough day," Eddie comments as he strokes your back.

"I am," you admit. "I tried to tough it out and come to work today, but nothing is going right." The air is quiet again when the girls see Eddie touching you lovingly.

You turn your body back towards the mirror and look at your ruined set in dismay. Eddie hates seeing you upset. Resting his gentle hands on your shoulder, he begins to barter.

"How about…” Eddie says. “You take the rest of the night off? I’ll take you home right quick. To my place.”

“Really?”

“Yeah!” your man nods, causing you blush. “Harrington and I have a shit ton of ice cream so you can help yourself. Lay in my bed, watch something on Netflix... When I'm off work and done visiting Wayne, we can cuddle, and I can give you belly rubs. Sound good?"

"Sounds like heaven, actually."

You don’t know what you’ve done to deserve him. Eddie is so tender and sweet when he lets his walls down. You’re grateful that he decided to lean into the unknown when it comes down to you. Such a good boyfriend already.

The Hellfire Girls can’t help but eavesdrop on your little exchange. Suddenly, Eddie speaks again.

“Are we okay?” Eddie questions you with his beady eyes.

“Yes,” you smile. “We’re more than okay.”

Eddie kisses your cheek. He leaves his peck there for a few seconds before letting go. "I'll come scoop you in 10 once I get everything squared away. Then it’s junk food and cuddles all night long.”

Eddie makes sure that the girls hear this entire conversation. As you start to pack your stuff, Nancy drops in with a graceful smile, spoiling you with pads, tampons, and some ibuprofen. Meanwhile, Jonathan packs you a Sprite in a to-go cup with a smiley face, and Argyle spoils you with your usual — chicken wings, flats only.

The Hellfire Girls are fuming. Their attempt to embarrass you didn't go as planned. Instead, they got a lovesick Eddie with a Shy Girl on her way to his house to drink hot tea, scarf down some junk food, and relish in a heat pack of sorts and cuddles all night. And Eddie’s friends indirectly rushing to your defense.

But this humbling experience doesn’t stop their games. No no, it only just issued them a new set of information and ammunition for more intense blows.

The torment isn’t stopping here. The girls are going try harder.

---

STRIKE TWO

It didn’t stop at the subtle jabs.

If there was an opportunity to inconvenience you, the Hellfire Girls took it. Like calling Eddie on his day off — while he’s out with you — to come scope out a problem that could’ve been fixed without him. Or stealing your song choice when they heard you talking about it with Chrissy, and how you planned on using it for your set. Or “dropping” breakable items like your nail polish on accident and blaming it on their ‘complete and utter clumsiness’. Funny, because Eddie is always talking about how poised they are and a myriad of other good things…because that’s just who your boyfriend is at his core: a lover and supporter of women. Unlike some people.

It was Dustin’s turn to grocery shop one day. And while the Eddie Special is back on the menu, it was the waffle fries’ turn to be 86’d. Mike’s girlfriend, Jane keeps eating them and Wheeler of course always forgets to take inventory.

"So what does 86 mean?"

You're eating lunch with a couple Hellfire Girls in the dressing room when service industry lingo is brought up. Everyone eyes you, from Emmy to Lady to Kassidy. Justice seems to be holding her breath.

"86?" you repeat just to make sure.

Kassidy gives you a look, almost a "duh" kind of look that makes you feel slightly stupid.

"Yeah, heard you talking about it with the kitchen staff."

"Oh," you say. "Oh well 86 means to get rid of something. Maybe because it's not available anymore, or out of stock. Not needed, even."

"I see..." Kassidy responds.

"Wish we can '86' people," Lady mutters.

The comment earns her a snicker from Kassidy and Lady. It makes you feel weird inside. They couldn't have possibly been talking about you, right?

You walk away to throw away your food, and while you’re away from them their laughs intensify. Now all they could talk about is ‘86’ and their own personal spins on it.

Oh they were most definitely talking about you.

You decide to leave the dressing room and hang out at the hookah lounge before your next set. It was clear you weren’t welcome and you weren’t about to be in the company of people who were only going to drain your energy.

The audacity of it all still leaves you appalled. Plotting behind your back is one thing, but the fact they had the guts to say it and do things in front of you now is scary.

𓆩♡𓆪

“And then they said, ‘Wish we could 86 people’,” you recall angrily. “That basically implies they want to get rid of me.”

“That sucks, sis,” Billy sighs. “Yeah, that’s exactly what it sounds like.”

You’re on the phone playing catch-up with Billy on your day off. Meanwhile, Eddie is playing a video game with his online friends, allowing you to use his room to pace around in frustration.

“And one time when I was on my period, I bled through,” you continue. “And then Eddie-”

Billy interrupts you before you could positively advertise your man. You would think your brother would want to know that his twin sister is in good hands judging by the way Eddie took care of you when you were feeling like absolute shit…how instead of forcing you to perform he sent you home early and ate junk food with you and gave you a heat pack and belly rubs to help with cramps…But no.

“I don’t wanna hear about that girl stuff,” Billy gags. “It’s fucking disgusting.”

Classic Billy.

“…okay,” you huff and digress. “But you get the picture, right? These girls have it out for me.”

“Oh for sure,” Billy agrees. “It’s one-sided beef because they’re intimidated by you. I hope they get the shit pimp-slapped out of them for being dicks to you.”

“I wouldn’t go as far as to say that…” you mumble.

“But I would,” Billy laughs pridefully.

No matter how awful the girls were being to you, you wouldn’t wish anything upon them like Billy described. They were already miserable anyways, judging by how awful they were being to you for no reason. If anything you’d wish them healing and some love because they clearly needed it.

“I wish I could go over there and give ‘em a piece of my mind,” your twin brother continues, the thought of violently attacking women quite possibly giving him a hard-on via the other line. “No one can be mean to my sister BUT ME.”

The execution of his words makes your stomach turn. Because as those words are uttered, you’re back in the San Diego rental, screaming and crying, clawing at Billy to get him off of you because apparently your change in tone towards him was enough justification for you to be accosted against the wall.

“That was really uncalled for, Billy,” you scold him. “Time and place, please.”

Suddenly, the vibe changes. You can practically feel the heat through the phone.

“What, you’ve never heard of that expression before?” Billy demands. “It was a fucking joke, don’t get so butthurt.”

“Is it really a joke?” you hiss. “Because if we revisit the timeline, you haven’t been exactly nice to me either.”

“OH MY…” Billy sighs in exasperation. “I can’t say SHIT to you without you crying about it. Maybe those bitches are onto something. Maybe YOU’RE the fucking problem.”

“How can you say that?!” you shout.

The change in your tone causes Eddie to look up from his computer. Like second nature, the tears free fall from your eyes as you scream at your brother through the phone.

“After I vent to you about EVERYTHING, Billy, really?!”

“I don’t know, maybe since so many people have a problem with you…including ME,” your brother snaps. “'Think it’s time we look at the common denominator.”

“YOU KNOW WHAT FUCK YOU! I don’t know why I tell you anything anymore!”

“YEAH WELL FUCK YOU TOO BITCH!” Billy screams back. “I’m GLAD you and that scrawny red-headed BRAT moved out. My life has NEVER BEEN THIS PEACEFUL!”

“Yeah cause you were SO unbothered you had to FLY HERE and CONFRONT ME AT MY JOB, RIGHT?”

It’s a few more nasty exchanges of words and threats before you hang up and chuck your phone at the wall. Startled, and probably reminded of his own traumas, Eddie’s first instinct is to duck. You watch as he trembles slightly, like a puppy during a thunderstorm, before removing his cupped hands away from his ears.

He then makes his way over to you, demeanor shifting from alarmed to alarmed for you.

“Hey,” Eddie whispers to you in consolation. “Hey hey hey hey. Come here. Come here.”

He rocks you in place. Immediately you collapse into Eddie’s arms. You’re absolutely tired. Tired of the Hellfire girls. Tired of putting on a happy face for your little sister 24/7. Tired of Billy. Tired of feeling like a burden.

“I fucking hate him,” you wail. “I hate him, I hate him. I hate him.”

“You don’t need him.”

“I don’t need him.”

“You don’t need him.”

“I don’t,” you tell Eddie, and yourself. “Fuck him. Fuck California. Fuck everything.”

“That’s right baby,” Eddie whispers. He plants a soft kiss onto your forehead. “You’re staying here with me.”

“With you.”

𓆩♡𓆪

Eventually you do get over it and decide that Billy and the Hellfire Girls don’t deserve any of your time and energy.

Just in time for another work shift. Today you’re doing personal lap dances at VECNA’S LAIR, but it’s not too busy so you’re essentially scanning the room in search of clients for the first hour.

Your eyes light up when you pinpoint a few regulars. You skip on over to the first one.

“Hi, Barry!” you exclaim. “How are you?”

“Oh, god! Hello Shy Girl!” Barry replies. He looks happy to see you, but oddly not particularly excited. “How…have you been?”

“I’ve been well! Long time no see!” you smile. “How are your boys?”

“They’re doing well,” your regular nods. “They’re working on their college applications right now, and the younger one has been scouted for some schools on the East Coast for football.”

“You must be so proud.”

“Very!”

It seems like Barry has cut the conversation there. Strange, because he almost always requests a dance. You decide to push for more information.

“Sooo, are you in the mood for a dance today?”

“You’re a sweetheart,” Barry blushes. “But no thank you, not today. I’m trying to save money so I’m just gonna have a drink and go.”

Now THAT’S really odd. First of all, Barry is LOADED, hence being a regular. And even if being frugal was the case, what was his ass even doing at Hellfire? You didn’t want to make him uncomfortable by prying further so you just leave it at that, wishing Barry a lovely rest of his day and going about your day.

When you leave, you’re taken aback when Justice makes her way over to your client and asks him the same question.

“Hi, Barry. Would you like a dance?”

“Oh, hi! Yes, I’d love one!”

You nearly get whiplash just by how fast you crane your neck back over to them. What the actual fuck? Eyeing them curiously, you watch as Barry slips a 20 over to Justice, to which she takes from him seductively as she sinks onto his lap. Her eyes trail over to you, somewhat satisfied with herself when she sees you watching. Your blood starts to boil. She just took your regular. And in a sense, your money.

But that’s still something you don’t have time to entertain. So you strut over to your next regular, Asher.

Sweet, sweet Asher. He’s significantly younger than Barry. Finance major, freelancer, only child in his early twenties and his parents are rich. Asher has always been nice to you, and like Steve, spoils the fuck out of you when you’re his dancer.

“Hey you,” you bat your lashes at him. “Long time no see!”

“Oh my god, Shy Girl!” Asher exclaims. He doesn’t hug you like he usually does, but he’s still happy to see you. “It’s been a minute. I actually didn’t think you were coming in today.”

“I’m always on Thursdays,” you point out. “You always get a dance from me.”

“Ohhh, that’s right,” Asher recalls. “You and Eddie call today Friday Junior Junior.”

“Yeah, silly!” you giggle. “Speaking of dances, would you like one?”

Your question generates a similar reaction from Asher like Barry had given you. It was then that you knew something had to have been up. But nothing could’ve possibly prepared you for what Asher was about to say.

“Oh, no thanks!” your client gracefully declines. “I think I’ll wait until you fully recover. I hope you’re okay with that boundary of mine.”

Appalled, you try to construe what he meant by that.

“Yes, I respect your boundaries of course…” you say. “But, what do you mean by get better?”

“Aren’t you sick?” Asher questions. “And like…taking antibiotics for something serious? Cause if you are, you shouldn’t be at work.”

Asher respectfully ends your conversation right then and there. It’s like a mental door has closed on your face. Completely distraught, you walk away from your other reliable regular, just to have Lady walk up to him and be granted permission to give him a dance.

This is ridiculous. You need to get to the bottom of these rumors right away. On your way to the bar, you run into Nina. She extends her arms out to you, eyes widening as you walk towards her.

“OMG, Shy Girl!” Nina exclaims, rather panicked. “What are you doing here girl, you need to be home recovering?!”

“Recovering from what?” you snapped. “I just had TWO regulars turn me down but then say yes to dances from other dancers. Why did I have to learn through the grapevine that I’m sick?! Which I am not, by the way.”

“So… you don’t have gonorrhea?”

Your eyes nearly pop out of your head.

“WHO THE FUCK SAID I HAD GONORRHEA?!”

Nina’s face drops when she realizes. You don’t even have to pry any further now. The pained look on your friend’s face told you EXACTLY who started that rumor.

Now those girls are pushing it. Because now you’re losing out on money and clientele. Absolutely aggravated, you storm back into the dressing room to collect yourself because you’re sure as hell not going to let them see you fall apart.

When you slam the door, you allow yourself to have a good cry. Luckily, Nina and Chrissy are the only ones in there with you. The only girls you trust at this establishment besides Nancy.

You’re not sad. You’re crying because you’re angry and frustrated. Nina and Chrissy understand, swarming you with hugs and validating back pats, letting you cry until you had no tears left to do so anymore.

“Shy Girl,” Nina frowns. “I have no words.”

Your bottom lip quivers profusely as you shake your head.

“I just don’t understand,” you choke. “Why are they so horrible to me? I didn’t do anything to them.”

“I’m really sorry love,” Chrissy rubs your back as she lays her head on your shoulder. “Unfortunately, I understand that all too well. They did the same thing to me too.”

STRIKE THREE, YOU’RE OUT.

“God, you need a new car, Munson.”

You’re smoking with Eddie in his van during your ‘joint’ lunch break. It’s become a tradition now for you two to take your meals at the same time to spend time with each other because you’re both way too busy to be affectionate work.

“Babe, really?” Eddie huffs jokingly. “Put some respect on Shiela’s name. She’s been through hell and back with me.”

You giggle as you take a huge drag from your blunt, inhaling then expelling, coughing up the remainder and taking in the slight comfort of a warm chest. You pass Eddie the blunt to finish it.

“But you’re right though,” Eddie admits with a sigh. He fiddles with the blunt before putting it out on his ash tray. “The good news is I’m caught up on Wayne’s bills. Next 'big boy' purchase is a new whip.”

“That’s awesome baby,” you smile. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Or a motorcycle,” Eddie smirks. “I’d love a bike.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why not?” he quips.

Eddie leans over the center console to kiss your temple. When you hum in pleasure, he begins trailing down your neck.

“Thought you liked bad boys.”

You and Eddie proceed to have a healthy debate. It isn’t about the bad boy aesthetic like Eddie thinks it’s about, but more so the practicality of the situation. Eddie needs something to lug groceries in when he's out running errands, and with Wayne still getting active cancer treatments, the old man needs a ride to his appointments. And that poor man has aged out of the Bad-to-the-Bone 'cyclist scene, you’re afraid.

“Speaking of practicality,” Eddie says. He nods towards your red Toyota Camry that’s parked on the opposite end of the lot. “Why’d you park there? Move your car closer so I don't have to walk you too far tonight.”

You look through the rearview mirror to locate your baby. Eddie was right. It was parked further than it usually is, and if your boyfriend isn’t the one escorting you to your car tonight it’s going to be Henry or one of the other boys who are sure to complain. By the door would be convenient for everyone.

“Okay,” you say. You kiss him. “Be right back.”

You climb out of Eddie's van and make your way over to your car. After several tries, you hit a scary realization.

Your car won’t start.

You try again. And again, and again. Still, to no avail. Eddie eventually pops his head out, wondering why the ordeal is taking you so long. You exaggerate a shrug to him so he could see your sense of panic from a distance.

"What happened?!"

"It won't start!"

“Let me at her,” Eddie replies. “I was a mechanic before I started a business…”

You and Eddie switch places and you decide to wait for him by the door. Jonathan startles you a moment later when he opens it abruptly.

“Sorry, Shy Girl. The boys need Eddie for a minute can you go grab him for me?”

“He’s taking a look at my car, it won’t start,” you explain.

Jonathan’s face drops. “Oh no, that sucks. Hope you don’t have to take it in.”

“I hope so too. Either way I’ve got a ride home. It’s just inconvenient.”

Jonathan, whose knowledgeable about cars too, starts asking you some screening questions to help identify the problem. You assure him that nothing was wrong with it throughout the week, and there surely wasn’t anything wrong with it earlier.

Soon Chrissy comes out too.

“Hey!” she chimes. “Where’s Eddie? The boys are looking for him.”

“He’s looking at my car, something’s wrong with it,” you explain again. “It was fine this morning but when I went go move it, it kinda just—”

“Found the culprit,” Eddie grunts uneasily.

Your boyfriend waves you three over and you all follow suit. There's soot and grease all over your man's hands, but that is a kink to be explored much later. For now, the astonished look on his face is one of the main things to worry about.

Eddie points to your gas tank.

“There’s a shit ton of sugar there. The fuel in that tank is practically semi-solid.”

Sugar in your gas tank. THOSE BITCHES PUT SUGAR IN YOUR GAS TANK. You and Chrissy look at each other immediately, both of your suspicions about whose responsible practically ringing true.

“I know who fucking did it,” you shake your head.

“I-” Eddie’s face drops. He is utterly disappointed in the Hellfire Girls. “I just don’t even know what to say.”

He reaches into his pocket to grab his phone. Suddenly, your phone pings. It’s a Venmo notification.

“But less saying more doing, right?” Eddie tries to chuckle optimistically. “I just sent you $2K. Wayne’s cancer is acting up again, and I have to take him to his oncologist tomorrow. You let me know if they quote you for more than that.”

“Two grand?!” you shriek. “It’s bad huh?”

“Yeah…I ain’t gonna sugarcoat it, sweetheart,” Eddie frowns. “You might need a fuel tank replacement.”

Now you and Chrissy are fuming. Nina eventually comes over to check on everyone as well and is stunned by the news she hears. She starts to angrily take off her hoops, those fucking cunts, but Jonathan stops her.

“I’ll fuck ‘em up!” Nina insists. “I’m from Nocturna, baby. We don’t mess around there.”

“My ex was from Chula, and my brother is Billy,” you tsk. “We don’t play around either.”

Eddie puts his hands on his hips. “I guess we’ll call the tow company to come take it to Dave’s. I can take you home tonight, baby. It’s no issue.”

“No!” Chrissy snaps. “Nina and I are taking her home. If there’s no issue here, fix the evident ones inside!”

“Let’s go back inside Shy Girl,” Nina grumbles. “This is ridiculous.”

Your two friends are at either sides of you, linking your arms with theirs in solidarity. Those girls inside are about to get an earful. NO ONE messes with YOU and gets away with it.

“EDDIE,” Chrissy forewarns before slamming the door. “FUCKING PUT THEM IN CHECK, OR WE WILL.”

You’re too distraught to say anything. Otherwise, you would totally be ripping some cheap extensions out out some heads right now. You can’t believe these girls would go as far as to damaging your property, all because Eddie found someone who made him happy after his shitty divorce. If you did to them what they did to you, you know they definitely wouldn’t like that.

CLOSED FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT DUE TO STAFFING ISSUES. SORRY FOR EDGING YOU :/

It was Eddie’s decision to close early because there was just so much that needed to be taken care of. But hearing Eddie scold and hold the girls accountable in his office, you know — the same office he was screwing you in — was music to your ears.

But even that state of bliss is short-lived. Because like a deadly virus, when the smear campaign doesn’t work, it mutates into a much larger issue: retaliation.

“See what happens when you snitch?” a voice demands. “Eddie loses out on business.”

You turn your head around to see Justice mad-dogging you with her arms crossed. You inflate your chest and stand up to her, showing no signs of intimidation.

“You’re fucking his shit up, just like his sorry ex wife,” she says to you.

You start to walk closer to her, to which Chrissy and Nina go after you right away.

“Woah woah woah there sister!” Chrissy stops you.

“Hey hey hey,” Nina joins in, helping her pull you away.

But Justice isn’t scared. Why should she be? She’s been here longer than you. She’s known Eddie longer than you. But she still has no business butting into Eddie’s. Especially if it fuels the fire that she and her friends desperately wanted to start.

“If I were y’all… I’d back the fuck up,” you advise her. “I don’t think you realize, but you’re fucking with a Hargrove.”

“Okay… and you’re fucking with Eddie’s Day Ones,” Lady comes to Justice’s defense, sneering at you condescendingly. “Sorry, Valley Girl, we don’t know what that means here in Hawkins.”

“Oh but you will. After damaging my rep AND property.”

“Oh was that a threat? You’re threatening us now huh?”

“Eddie’s not gonna fuck you,” Nina spits at them. “You do realize that right?”

“I mean…good,” Kassidy chuckles. “Wouldn’t wanna fuck him after Miss Gonorrhea did.”

𓆩♡𓆪

Do you accept the risk? Do you accept the risk?

All this time you thought Eddie was asking you because he knew he still had some baggage to sort through. But now you’re starting to wonder if there was a double meaning.

Eddie’s OG dancers are obviously in love with him, there’s no doubt about it. It stopped becoming a matter of “protecting Eddie” when they started sabotaging your experience at Hellfire after learning of your involvement with him. Had you been just another dancer, this would never have been the case.

Eddie tries to text you. But you don’t have the strength to reply. The next few days is spent in isolation, using this time alone to contemplate about what it is you truly want.

You came to Hawkins to escape Billy’s never-ending torment. Now that torment has seemed to take on a new form, and your inner peace is something you’re never ever going to sacrifice again.

Your first Monday back, you make your way over to Eddie’s office. And it’s almost like Eddie knows. As much as you know how deep that abandonment wound sits in Eddie’s soul, you knew you still had to put yourself first.

“Hi, Eds.”

“Baby…” Eddie pleads at a whisper. “Don’t do this. I can already see it in your eyes.”

You weren’t leaving him. You want to be with him more than anything. But this extension of him? You can love it to bits but still not want anything to do with it. Especially if the environment is unbearably toxic.

“I just think…our relationship is bleeding into work,” you swallow hard. “And I probably need to go somewhere else if we want this to last.”

“Please don’t word the first part like that…”

Eddie doesn’t tell you because he knows it’s not your intention, but it starts giving him war-like flashbacks to when his marriage with Isabelle started bleeding into work. The abandonment wound with her — and everyone in his life except Wayne — cuts so deep. He NEEDS that bandaid. But for your well-being, you needed to rip it off.

“It’s what we get for shitting where we eat, I guess,” you sniff, trying to laugh the burden of it all away.

“I warned you,” Eddie chokes. “Didn’t I?”

“I know,” you sigh. “But I just couldn’t help how I feel about you.”

“Then stay!” he begs. “The good outweighs the bad, sweetheart. Our friends love you so much.”

“I love them too, but if I’m gonna get verbally accosted, harassed, laughed at, and have sugar put in my gas tank then what’s the point?”

The tears leave Eddie’s eyes easily, and he doesn’t stop them from doing so. If only the Hellfire girls saw the pain they have caused you AND this man — the man they swore up and down that they were ‘protecting’.

“It’s either that or you fire 60 percent of your dancers and I WON’T let you do that,” you gulp. “It’s best to get rid of just one.”

“Just please, let’s talk it through.”

But there’s nothing left to talk about. No Eddie, you shake your head. What’s done is done, and what needs to be said has already been communicated. And as Eddie hangs his head in shame, you tug at the drawstrings of your cloak, fold it up neatly, and set it down on his desk.

“I’m quitting Hellfire.”

🏷️ tag list: @chrrymunson , @the-fairy-anon , @ali-r3n , @corrodedcoffincumslut , @bebe07011 , @mmunson86 , @eddiesguitarskills , @chelebelletx , @imonhereforareasonsadly , @eddies-trailer-babe @hideoutside , @motherfckerr , @jxpsi , @lindseyj23, @sidthedollface2 , @manda-panda-monium , @elvendria , @micheledawn1975 , @hereforshmut , @siriuslysmoking , @nymphetkoo , @m-chmcl-rmnc , @justinelittlewoodsworld , @ahoyyharrington , @keepittoyourselftellnobodyelse @kellyxo1 @emsgoodthinkin @winchester-angel @chloe-6123 , @redbarn1995 @angietherose @kiyastrf94 , @purplewitchcauldron @kellsck @joyfulfxckery @munsons-mayhem28 @dragonfire @emma77645 @drivelikenina @livosssblog @thinkingth0ts @hugdealer @ellielunamckay

[j-shel-b]

Tom "Iceman" Kazansky/86 x Reader

Breakfast

Summary : Iceman is home, breakfast with your man is always better.

Content/Warning : Fluff, implied sex.

You go downstairs attracted by the delicious smell that comes from the kitchen. Tom returned to your shared home yesterday and you couldn't be happier, you just want one thing, being close to him.

When you walk into the kitchen you can finally see him, in his pyjamas, his hair not styled, finishing up what you like best for breakfast. He turns his head towards you and give you a beautiful smile, the kind of smile that takes your breath away everytime.

"Hi love." He says as you're coming next to him, you grab his arm and pulls him in a hug that he glady gives back. You enjoy the feeling of him being close, you enjoy his smells, so conforting. Your eyes closed, head resting on him, he laugh softly when he feels that you start leaning on him, still half asleep you mumble :

"I should be the one making breakfast.

- I've been away for a long time, I wanted to do something nice for you.

- Thank you.. You slightly part from the hug to look at him. I sleep way better when you're here you know.

- I know, it's the same for me." He brings you into a kiss.

Everytime you kiss him it feels like it's the first time and yet you know his lips by heart. He gently puts his hand on the base of your neck under your still tangeld hair.

There is a lots of love, passion but also sweetness throughout this kiss. There's a feeling of lack that needs to be filled too.

But at one point you two have to stop the kiss even if you don't want to.

"Don't forget your breakfast." He says soflty, his lips really close to yours. You have other ideas in mind but you'll not spoil what he has prepared for you. You nod and go sit at the table with him. He serves you and you have to say that you're excited to taste what he made. Tom has always been a good cook, a skill that you like very much.

"Thanks honey. It seems really good. He is very happy to please you and as you start eating you are, as always, impressed. It's sooo good. You tell him immediately.

- I'm glad you like it. He holds out his hand, you take it and squeeze it gently.

- you cook so well. But I'm warning you, tonight I'm the one cooking. You just got home, take some time to rest."

You can see that he doesn't really agree. Tom never liked to let you do most of the tasks just because 'he just came home' like you've said. You have a job too, so when his home he wants to take off a weight from your shoulders and do his part. And if he can do even more, he'll do it. But, for tonight, he agrees.

"You'll do my favorite ? He asks, curious. You smile and nod.

- Yes, your favorite.

- And for dessert.. can I have my favorite too ? His voice has depeen. You look up to him and you can see that his eyes have darkened. You smile, playful.

- Yes, but you can have it earlier if you want. You answer, touching his leg under the table.

- Can't wait.

- oh me too.."

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

Lots of love ❤️

[enthyrea]

A couple of days later, while mindlessly doodling on his couch, Pete finds his hand laying out the familiar lines of swooped back blonde-gray hair, boxy eyes lined with crows feet, and sharp cheekbones. The face is smiling, something soft and tender. He didn’t even realize until he was basically done with it. Pete slams his forehead into the paper. He’s so screwed.

I WROTE ANOTHER FIC [bags pots and pans together]

it's linked here: rose period by enthyrea

this was supposed to be like 2k words max... yeah idk what happened either. anyways thanks so much to notchka for inspiring this :) a good chunk of this fic is just me writing about how pretty val kilmer is so if that sounds like ur jam then check it out <3

[multifandomworldsposts]

what about Maverick coming home after a stressful day and ordering you to ride his thigh for kinkmas? yk he's still dressed while you're just in his shirt and maybe he even calls you over with like this hand gesture.... it makes me weak every time shahahahq love ur work ❤️

Day 4 of Kinkmas: Giving Maverick Pleasure

KINKMAS ❤️🪩

A/N: thank you for the comment at the end of the submission 🥰✨❤️

pairing: pete mitchell x fem!reader

warning: age gap, dry humping, hickeys, blow jobs, riding

Y/N’s POV

I’m cooking some dinner for Pete and I, I’m wearing a new lingerie but I’m covering it with one of his t-shirts. I hear the door open and it slams shut, I already know he had a bad day, he’s done this before.

“Fuck!” Pete groans.

I flinch. I walk in the living room and I can tell he looks stressed.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Oh, I’m sorry that I yelled.” He tries to calm himself down.

“What happened?” I get closer towards him.

“Two of my students got in a fight and things went downhill.” He says taking his jacket off.

“Who were they?” I say standing in front of him.

“Hangman and Rooster.” He says.

He’s told me about Rooster a few times, he knew his dad when we was younger.

“How can I help you with your stress Mav?” I massage his shoulders.

He gives me a thinking face and he notices my lingerie.

“Is this new?” He lifts his shirt to see the lingerie.

“I bought it last week.” I say.

“It looks good on you.” He smirks.

“Do you want me to do anything?” I ask again.

Pete walks to the couch and sat down, I walk to him to be in front of him.

“How about you, dry hump my thigh.” He says relaxing on the couch.

“That’ll help your stress?” I cross my arms.

“Why not?” He smirks.

I take a deep breath and take his shirt off to show him my new lingerie.

“You love it?” I look at my set.

“I do, but I prefer it on the floor.” He smirks.

I find the zipper on the back of the set and unzip it and let it fall on the ground, Pete gets more comfortable on the couch. I walk towards him slowly and straddle him, I dry hump his thigh. He moans and guides me. I start to kiss his neck and began to give him hickeys.

“This is a new you I’ve never seen before Y/N/N.” Pete whispers in my ear.

“Just want to give daddy he wants when he’s stressed.” I whisper back.

“I don’t think I’m stressed anymore.” He says smiling at me.

“Let me do something else to you.” I pout.

“Show me baby.”

I get on my knees and unbuckle his belt and unzip his jeans. His cock looks hard already so I begin to suck it. I can hear him groan and I feel his hand tugging on my hair.

Pete makes me look at him and says, “I need you on my cock when I cum.” He says in a deep voice.

I set myself on his dick and rode it. He held me into place and I gasp, he got bigger than the last time we did this. He begins to give me hickeys all over my neck. I tug on his hair which made him moan in my neck and I giggle.

After for a while, we get on the ground and make love on the carpet. I hope this happens all the time when he’s stressed.

“Pete, are you not stressed anymore?” I question getting his hair out of his face.

“Not anymore Y/N/N.” He smiles.

“If you want, if you’re stressed out in the future, we can do this if you want?” I say.

“I’d like that.” He smirks.

“I love you Maverick.” I give him a peck.

“I love you too princess.” He gives me a peck.

[pastawithnosauce12]

Characters in Fanfiction!!

Unpopular opinion but I feel like adjusting a characters personality or how their viewed in fanfiction is alright to an extent.

Because most books, shows and movies show all the characters from the protagonist's perspective, so the character may be viewed completely differently to someone else, which works really well with Oc and reader inserts.

For example, Iceman and Maverick.

Throughout the movie Iceman is portrayed in a negative light, because Maverick sees him as competition, someone who doesn't think he is good enough.

This continues right up until the end where they see each other differently.How the qualities they hated before are actually really good and they have a shift in perspective, there we see Iceman in a positive light and this continues into Top Gun Maverick.

Thank you for coming to my little ted talk.

You're doing good authors! Love you, have a wonderful day!!

[call-sign-shark]

Or 3 and 7 with our perfect Cold Iceman… can’t choose Shark 🥹

Why choose when I could add both? Sorry for the long wait, I hope you'll like it my sweet little Fox. 💚

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

✨Take My Breath Away✨

Summary: Valentine's prompt Flowers (3) and Dancing (7) -- Iceman x Reader

Words: 1.7k

Tags: pure fluff !! Ice being super awkward with feelings. No proof reading.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

From the beginning of your training as the first female pilot to today, hiding your weakness had become a habit. Feeling sick or tired? You would double your efforts and work even more than on a normal day. Feeling depressed? You would reply to the constant teasing with a sharp and confident smile as if you were ready to eat them alive. Especially Hollywood, who you could not put up with. Even when your period cramps were tearing your uterus and the hormones would rattle your nerves, you kept working hard, your face was always hidden behind a mask of total indifference. Maverick and Goose often joked about your frozen demeanor, comparing you to Iceman when it came to expressing emotions. But contrary to Kazansky, no one had given you the choice. The slightest weakness shown could be used against you by the pack of ferocious and macho pilots, whose only wish was to see you fall.

The black tea you had let cool down on the coffee table had stopped smoking. An unpleasant chill ran down your spine, which made you snuggle a bit more in the heavy and warm blanket you wrapped yourself with when you came back to your bedroom. Your fingers reached for the cup’s handle and brought the tea to your lips. The first sip warmed your whole soul. You felt like you had just swallowed a little fragment of sun, which lit up you from the inside. A sigh of relief escaped from your mouth, soon followed by your eyelids slowly closing. Finally, you thought, you could finally rest and forget about Valentine’s. A hot tea, a blanket, and music coming from your radio were all you needed. The sights of pilots gifting flowers and chocolate to girlfriends almost made you sick. Men… They were all the same. You did not always hate Valentine’s Day though. There was a time you could not wait for your boyfriend to come home with the cliché but oh-so-romantic box of chocolates et flowers. Cheesy, but absolutely heartening. You remembered how your expression would suddenly become cheerful at the sight of the handsome soldier with gifts in his hands, waiting for you in the middle of the door’s frame. There were Valentine’s Days with John and now, those without him. You clenched your jaw at such bittersweet memories: you had loved him so much… Until you found him in bed with another woman.

Another sip of tea, another wave of warmth coating your frozen heart with its delicious aroma. It was not particularly late but you decided to go to sleep, after all, it was not like you had a date or something. You had barely got up from the couch when you heard someone knocking at your door. Your brows furrowed for you were not expecting visits. At first, you hesitated: what If you just didn’t answer? Your social battery was so empty that the last thing you wished for was to hold a conversation. Nevertheless, you still dragged your exhausted body to the door and opened it.

“Listen, I’m fucking tired and—“ You cut mid-sentence.

“And?” A calm and cold voice retorted.

You looked up and your eyes were met with freezing blue irises. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky was standing fiercely at your door, hands crossed behind his back and his whole posture screaming military discipline. You had expected anyone knocking at your door, anyone except Iceman. The corner of his mouth moved in a quick and faint smirk, betraying his emotions: he was amused by how you reacted to his presence. While you could easily make men shit themselves, Kazansky was the only one who would face you at the slightest inconvenience. He was harsh, he was scary, but he also was the only one who never made inappropriate comments about you. He was difficult to prove, consequently you never knew if he liked you or hated you — or if your presence was just insignificant to him. Coming back to your senses, you took a step back and crossed your arms on your chest.

“What do you want, Kazansky” Your tone was suddenly less impetuous now that Ice was towering over you. He remained silent for a little while, his cerulean eyes observing each trait of your face as if the answer to all his worries was hidden somewhere on your skin. He finally blinked, realizing that he was probably staring at you for too long and that it was awkward.

“Take.” Stern tone. No extra words. Ice was the kind of man who liked going straight to the point. Maybe that was why he handed you the charming bouquet of red roses he had hidden behind his back without utterly the slightest explanation. You opened your eyes wide:  he took your breath away as if he had just thrown you a punch right in the guts. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky was standing at your door, roses in his hand and they were for you. Blood rushed to your face.

“Are you gonna take them or not?” The tall blonde pilot said, raising an eyebrow. His jaws were moving for he was chewing gum — he always did since he quit smoking.

“Oh, yes!” You shook your head, his attractive voice snatching you from your thoughts, “Yes!” You repeated before taking the flowers from his hands and burying your nose in their delicate petals to sniff at their pleasant scent. It was the first time Ice saw a genuine smile flattering your juicy lips and, to be true, it made him melt. Even though he did not let it show.

“Thank you Ice, this is very nice.” You said, nose still hidden among the red roses.

“Well,” He cleared his throat, not really sure what to do now. Slider told him to take off his shirt and show his abs, but he was not sure about it. Bradshaw and Mitchell would have sung you a ridiculous love song, but doing so was absolutely out of question. And concerning the florist, she only told him to offer the bouquet and wait for his lover to make the first step — but you were not having any peculiar reaction. What did he do wrong?

“See you tomorrow, I guess.”

“Ice?” Raising your face from the bouquet, you offer him a shy smile with glimmering eyes. Your face was dressed in a look you had never given to a pilot since you broke up with John.

“Yes?”

“Come in.” You winked and let him come into your bedroom. Then, you put the red roses in a little flower pot you had brought from your mom’s house. As you took care of the bouquet, the blonde pilot stopped in the middle of the room and looked all around him. To be honest, He believed that a bedroom could tell a lot about someone. For example, his was neat, clean, and completely impersonal. No family pictures, no letters, no plushies, nothing. Sometimes you wondered if Tom Kazansky could be anything else than Iceman. You could not picture him being a father, nor a son, nor a casual man. He was just… Ice.

Yet, a small grin stretched the corner of his lips. He had just spotted the adorable family picture you had on your nightstand, displaying a little Y/N piggybacked by your father. Behind you was standing an impressive Biplane straight from World War I. He knew you came from a family of pilots, but he did not expect your father to own such an incredible machine.

"You look so happy." Ice stated, his voice softer than usual.

"I was. My dad would often take me with him when he flew the Fokker. I think there are my favorite memories of him. He would tell me that, one day, I'll be ready to fly it by myself." 

When Iceman noticed the tint of melancholy in your voice, he could not help but gently bring his hesitant fingers to one of your shoulders. He, who was always confident, felt like a shy kid. Even though he already had relationships, they were all one night stands. Which did not help him to understand the mysteries behind social interactions.  The unexpected physical contact sent a shiver down your spine -- You never realized how eager you were for him to touch you until today. You both remained silent for a while, Ice gently caressing your shoulder with his thumb as the first notes of Take My Breath Away by Berlin echoed in the room.  The blonde pilot took a deep breath and glanced at you, his frost eyes enjoying the sight of your delightful silhouette. 

"Hey." 

Surprised when he broke the silence, you turned to him with a questioning look on your adorable face. Ice's smile grew bigger, showcasing his perfect white teeth in a surprisingly tender grin.  His blue eyes left yours only to fall on your lips, which immediately made your whole body heat up. Why the hell were you reacting like that? Of course, you had always thought Kazansky was a handsome man but not a handsome potential boyfriend. At least, that was the case until he smiled.

"I really love this song."  He said, always uttering a sufficient amount of words.  Gathering his courage, he wrapped your waist with his strong arms with an indescribable softness. Then, he brought you closer.

"Ice--" You locked yours around his neck, not really knowing what you were doing.

"Shhhh."  The way your expression shift when you were surprised sent a jolt of arousal through his body. He let out a long exhale through his nostrils and, with small and slow steps, he pulled you in a slow dance. Your whole being faltered at his touch as well as at his freezing eyes diving into yours. The first hesitant movements were soon swept away by more confidence.

Watching, I keep waiting, still anticipating love Never hesitating to become the fated ones Turning and returning to some secret place to hide Watching in slow motion as you turn to me and sayMy love, take my breath away

You closed your eyes, your head now gently resting on his chest while you were still slowly swirling on the song's rhythm. As the soft melody of his beating heart lulled your broken soul, you finally found peace.

There had been Valentine's days with John and those without.  But the more important ones were those you spent with Iceman. Because since winter 86', he would keep bringing you red roses and still make you slow dance with him in the living room each Valentine's Day.

Even after you became Mrs. Y/N Kazansky. 

[honeytrap26]

Cookies for a Confession

Raiden Shuga x Reader

summary: you confess to Raiden Shuga that you have feelings for him by making him cookies. cw: SFW, fluffy, silly, aunote: This man doesn't get enough love, this anime doesn't get enough love. Here is my effort to try and spread the word. Enjoy and happy reading! wc: 1k+ (proofread 🙈)

“It says to mix the flour and water first then eggs then sugar.” you follow the directions mixing everything in.

“This is pretty easy, I can see why Anju likes to bake.” you turn around to throw the spoon in the sink. Kurena comes into the kitchen and looks into the cabinets, she turns around to look at you,

“Hey do you have the salt? I need to refill the salt and pepper bottles for the trip.” 

‘I have it, I’ll take a teaspoon and you can have the rest of the jar.” you place the teaspoon of salt on the countertop, handing her the jar. You grab the sugar, placing it on the countertop, with the lid off. Theo taps on the window, you walk over to the window, propping it open. 

“Hey can you come outside, I have a new design for your call sign” he smiles excitedly at you, 

“Thank you Theo you didn’t have to. I like the one you had on there already.” you say to him, walking outside. After a few minutes of talking to Theo you make your back into the kitchen.

‘Now where was I again?” you dry your hands off, reading the recipe list that Anju wrote for you.  

“Oh yes, the last step is to add sugar and then it's time to bake!” you grab the jar and add two cups of sugar to the mixture.

“Hurry up and do it.” Kurena whispers as she elbows you.

“I-I can’t.” you whisper back, and take a bite of your food.

“Didn’t you finish making them this morning?” Anju whispers, covering her mouth so the boys can’t see. You nod in agreement to her question.

“So what are you waiting for?” Anju leans forward winking at Kurena.

“Got it, I’ll distract Shin and Theo.” Kurena throws Anju a thumbs up, she stands up abruptly and starts faking a cough, the boys look at her. She mumbles, 

“I need help…” she glances over at Shin and Theo mouthing “go away”, Theo raises an eyebrow at her and looks over to Anju who’s pointing at you. It takes Theo a minute to process what’s happening but when he does he shoots a thumbs up to Anju. Shin ignores Kurenas obvious attempts to get everyone to leave.

“I said I need help,” Kurena says through gritted teeth, looking at Shin, she sighs when he doesn’t pay any attention to what's going on, still talking to Lena through the Para-RAID.

“You okay?” Raiden stands up but Kurena pushes him back down into his seat.

“Not you.” she continues to exaggerate her cough, making her way to Shin.

“I think she needs some water. Shin would you mind getting some for her.” Anju says calmly, still sitting next to you.

“She has wa-”

“It wasn’t a question.” Anju tilts her head and smiles at Shin.

“O-okay.” Shin stands up from his seat, grabbing the water on the table, he tries to pour a glass of water for Kurena but she smacks the water pitcher out of his hand. 

“Oh no, looks like we need more water from INSIDE.” she emphasizes the last word, coughing lazily a few more times.

Shin stands there blinking a few times before he says,

“I’m fine, I still have water.”

Everyone sighs in defeat, Anju walks over to Shin and pulls him out of his seat.

“H-hey!” he grabs his plate of food.

“Read the room dummy!” Kurena whisper yells at Shin, dragging him inside of the house.

You cover your face in embarrassment and Raiden just stares at the four of them very confused.

“What was that all about?” he glances at you.

“I don’t know…” you shake your head covering your face. 

Raiden and you are sitting outside underneath the stars. The warmth from the fire keeps you warm from the cool breeze. You continue eating your food. Raiden looks at you a couple of times, he purses his lips together, tapping the empty plate on his hand then he clears his throat and he gets up to sit next to you.

“So…how’s the food?” he stares at the flames dancing in the fire pit.

“It’s good, you did a good job.” you finish the last bit of food on your plate before you take a sip of your water. There’s a pause, your fiddling with the rim of your glass,

“I-” you begin to say, but he cuts you off not hearing you.

“Do you want some dessert? Anju made some earlier today.” Raiden points to the fruit tarts sitting on the picnic table.

“Actually, I made something too.” you mutter, glancing down at the bag of cookies next to you, your heart beating faster.

“That’s right, you made chocolate chip cookies earlier today. How did it go?” His body shifts facing you.

You hand him the cookies that are neatly wrapped in a bag with a letter attached to it. 

Raiden hesitates for a split second, 

“This for me?” a small smile creeps onto his face, 

“Yes it is.” you nod quickly, not breaking eye contact with the dancing flames in the fire pit.

He grabs the bag and unties the letter.

You can hear him unfolding the paper, 

“ Dear Raiden Shuga, we’ve been in this squadron for…..” he mutters the rest, chucking at the funny situations you’ve been in together.

He continues, “ We spent so many nights together, we fought on the battlefield together, I don’t know when it happened but I…” he trails off, eventually he stops reading it out loud.

You sit there closing your eyes regretting your decision to confess to him, you didn’t want to burden him with this silly idea, the idea that you could possibly fall in love before you were sent to die out on the battlefield.

Raiden stands up and kneels in front of you, taking your hand into his, his emerald eyes meet yours.

“It’s funny,” -he takes a deep breath- “because before we leave for this mission, I was going to tell you that,” he exhales and chuckles, shaking his head, he grabs a note from his back pocket and places it in the palm of your hand.

“I’ve fallen in love with you too.” he smiles at you, his eyes soften seeing the way your face lights up at his confession. You lunge into his arms, wrapping your arms around his neck,your face buried in the crook of his neck, he hugs you tightly, wishing to never let go of you, to never lose you.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you how I felt.” he takes a deep breath in, finally being able to hug you like this, something he thought he would never get to do.

“It’s okay, we never had the time to do this.” you pull away and look at him, he leans in and places a small kiss on your cheek. You blush at the kiss and place a hand over it before grabbing the bag and shoving it into his chest.

“Here’s the cookies, you should try them.” you mumble. He laughs at your sudden shyness, he grabs the bag and takes a cookie out.

“It’s really….” he pauses for a bit, you can see an array of different emotions appear on his face.

“What’s wrong? Do you not like chocolate chips?” you question him, he coughs a bit and swallows hard.

“No it’s not that,” -he clears his throat- “it’s umm…. it has an interesting flavor, maybe just a tad salty.” he coughs a bit and gulps down his water.

“Really? I swear I only put a teaspoon of salt like the recipe called for…” you grab a cookie and take a bite out of it.

“O-oh gosh! It’s soo salty!! I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened.” you spit the cookie out onto a napkin.

Raiden laughs at your disgusted expression, he takes another cookie waving it in front of your face.

“I can’t throw away the cookies my girlfriend made for me, so I have to eat it.” he smirks at you and shoves it in his mouth and runs off.

“W-what?! Girlfriend!” you get up from your seat, making the chair fall back, knocking your cup over.

“It’s sooo good” he winces as he continues to shove them into his mouth.

 “No stop!” you panic running after him, he holds the bag of cookies above his head.

 “Y-you’re going to die!!” you jump up desperately trying to grab the bag, he puts another cookie in his mouth, smirking at you. 

You wrap your arms around his waist and try to push him over but he pretends to fall over, sitting on his butt, he stops and a tint of pink appears on his cheeks, you take this opportunity to grab his face, pinching his cheeks, some of the cookie crumbs falling out of his mouth.

“I got you! Spit it out!” you let go of his face when Raiden doesn’t say anything back, he turns his face away from you, you can see the shade of pink on his cheeks now. You take a moment to assess the situation, he’s propped up on his elbows, you're straddling his lap and your boobs are in his face.

“Yay! They’re finally together! Whoa…” Kurena comes out with a sparkler but stops when she sees you on top of Raiden.

“Are we interrupting something?” Theo says with an evil grin on his face, he’s waving his sketchbook in the air, it has two faces with heart eyes on it.

Raiden chuckles and starts to tickle you, making you burst out into a laughter/crying fit, you try to crawl away from him.

Your Para-RAIDS suddenly turn on, Lenas' concerned voice echoes in your ears.

“What’s wrong, is it a Legion attack?”

Shin chuckles and shakes his head, “No, she finally confessed to Raiden.” he says into his Para-RAID. 

“The screaming…” Lena trails off.

“He’s tickling her.” Shin sighs.

“WHAT! They finally confessed!” she shouts from the other line.

This makes all of you burst into laughter.

“How do the cookies taste?” Anju grabs the cookie that you took a bite out of.

Raiden immediately stops ticking you and you both run towards Anju.

“Don’t eat it!” Raiden yells.

“Noo! Spit it out!” you yell.

“It's so SALTY!!” Anju exclaims.

Extra trimmings!!  You and the rest of the members are sitting around a fire pit. “The curry is ready.” Kurena says, putting the pot in the middle of the members. Shin and Raiden grab a portion of the curry and take a bite. They immediately spit it out onto the ground, they both look at you with a scowl on their faces. “It’s sweet” they both say in unison. “It wasn’t me!!” you run off towards Fido when Raiden approaches you. “Save me Fido!”  Fido just runs along with you. “Kurena, wasn't it your job to refill everything?” Shin asks, she nods and grabs the bottles showing it to Shin, he tastes it and hangs his head low. “This is going to be a long three days.” “Oops… guess I mixed them up when I was refilling them.” Kurena smiles, rubbing the back of her head. “Kurena!” you and Raiden shout her name in unison chasing after her. Everyone bursts into fits of laughter watching you, Raiden, and Fido chase after Kurena.

[torchflies]

Chapter 3 is up! ❤️ — edited 5/1/24

“He reaches out a hand in a sudden spark of loneliness, fumbling around in the sea of fabric and buttons that span their father’s broad chest — still wearing the black ribbon that Rabbi had torn for him — before he finally finds Tomek’s, his brother’s identical little fingers raised and fluttering about too.

They had both been reaching out, but still missed each other every time they tried to meet.

It’s almost prophetic in a way: how hard they stretched, bumped, and fumbled to find one another, only to miss again and again by trying so hard.

Sometimes, as they will learn with time, life teaches that you can try so hard, hold on so tight, that the very thing you’re trying so hard to keep — doesn’t stay.”

(The life and times of The Kazansky Twins).

I wrote a new thing! Iceman gets an identical twin brother, a little sister and a history that he has to reckon with.

[saltsicklover]

OKAY I HAD A THOUGHT AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT OTHERS THINK

I'm planning out a fic, so let me set the scene for you...

It's sometime after the Layton Mission, around 1990. Maverick and Iceman are basically married, they had a ceremony and everything even though their marriage isn't technically legal. They are each other's emergency contacts. They have a house together, a place where they can always come back to when they are on leave.

Then, the class of 86 gets recalled to Top Gun. They are sent on a mission and either Mav or Ice has to eject.

This innocent results in memory loss. Every memory after the first night where they meet at the O Club is gone. Now the others have to convince the affected pilot of his life, his love, and what to do going forward.

[chouettess]

— ୨୧

𝐒𝐋𝐔𝐓!

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: ᴛᴏxɪᴄ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ

“Tom I don’t have the energy for this” you said while breathing out a sigh. Every single time you and your boyfriend Tom went out it always ended in an argument. “Oh yeah because it’s so draining to flirt with a bartender?” he said in a sarcastic tone. You were out at a bar, dancing and having a good time celebrating the victory of you and your boyfriend’s favorite hockey team, the New Jersey Devils. Drinking wasn’t much of an option in your life because your boyfriend would drink his weight every game, no matter the outcome, leaving you with a drunken boyfriend who had a knick for picking fights. This one time though, it was different. You hadn’t touched a drink all night until the bartender offered you a beer on the house. Originally you were going to say no but decided a free beer is a free beer and took it. Unfortunately for you, Tom had “caught” you and started screaming at the bartender and yourself, creating a scene that caused the both of you to get kicked out of the bar. “Tom I wasn’t flirting with anyone! I had one beer because the bartender offered a free drink gosh why is that so hard for you to understand?” You said trying to breathe but it felt more like you were forcing the air down before discarding it when you had your fix. “Fuckin Slut” Tom replied with a slur before falling face first onto your shared couch. You didn’t know what to do, hell you couldn’t even speak. Never in your 2 years of dating has he called you a slut, even when he was black out drunk. Tears threaten to spill from your eyes as you looked at the twenty something year old lying on the couch. “I can’t do this anymore” you whispered before grabbing a back pack and filling it with as many of your belonging as you could.

6 months later

“No, absolutely not.” you said to your friend Nicole. “Come on, it’s been 6 months and the most fun you’ve had was lunch with your mom” she begged. “Nicole I am not going to a bar” you said whilst shrugging. “Give me one good reason.” You sat on your bed cris crossed while thinking about it, and to be honest there wasn’t any reason why you shouldn’t be going to this bar. “Exactly, now get changed I’ll call an Uber in 20 minutes, we are getting drunk!!” She said stupidly while pulling you out of the bed.

You looked at yourself in the mirror, completely shocked. The past 6 months of your life felt like hell so you never really went out meaning there was no reason for you to dress up. Right now you were wearing a little black dress, black and sliver sparkling stilettos, a silver clutch, and your hair was curled and damnit you had to admit that you clean up nicely. “oh my” Nicole said as she walked behind you “marry me?” she said “shut up nic” you said while walking out of the door. “Whatever you say sexy” she said while giving your ass a slight smack.

As you walked into the bar the smell of liquor burned through your nose. The place was packed, people everywhere. “Nic I’m not so sure about this, it’s crazy full here” you said hesitantly hoping your brunette friend agreed and would head back to your apartment, knowing that wasn’t happening. “Nice try, let’s go get some drinks the bartenders hot” she said while grabbing your arm leading you through the crowd. As you both made it to the counter you decided to ask the bartender what all the craze was for, “Why’s it busy? The Devils won tonight and they came here for their victory of course” he said like it was obvious before handing you your drink. This intrigued you, causing your legs to move faster than your mind and begin walking around the bar completely ditching your friend. You had walked for maybe 30 seconds until you saw a group of men huddling around a game of beer pong but one caught your eye. The centre for the New Jersey Devils, Jack Hughes. His eyes were focused on the cup opposite to him and his fingers clasped around a small ping pong ball. He was very precise with his movements and as you had anticipated, he sunk the ball. “Oh come on” the man on the other side groaned before drinking the beer in the cup. Jacks eyes then flashed around the bar before landing on you looking up and down, his eyebrows raising slightly. You kept your cool before remember that it had been 6 months and you were no longer with Tom, meaning you deserved to have a little fun. You walked over to Jack, “staring is rude you know?” you said thinking it would cause him to choke up, unbeknownst to you he just stood there a smirk playing at his lips. “I’m Jack” he said “y/n” Oh you definitely deserved this.

A few months later

“He called me a slut, which is when I decided I couldn’t deal with it anymore” you said while Jack listened. You were currently laying your head in jacks lap telling him about your ex while he played with your hair. “And for six months I had no idea what to do with my life, but then I found you in that stupid bar” you said while looking up at the toothy grin splattered across his lips. “It was worth it for once, going through all of that to end up with you.” you said while sitting up and rubbing your palm against jacks cheek. Jacks gaze faltered to your lips before attaching them to his own.

──────────────────────

@ᴄʜᴏᴜᴇᴛᴛᴇꜱꜱ

[k9effect]

New identity: ETHAN HUNT

Icemav, Mission: Impossible AU

Summary:

Pronounced dead by the United States Navy back in 1986 after a supposedly fatal crash, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell assumed the identity of one, Ethan Hunt, after he was forcefully recruited by the Impossible Mission Force (IMF).

Ethan had left that life behind. He had left the Navy, the flying and "Pete Mitchell" behind. The last thing Ethan expected was for his old life to find him amidst the chaos in the line of duty as an agent and send his whole world spiralling.

[topgun-imagines]

Closed Quarters

Requested: Yes

Summary: When you and Ice are locked in a room together by your meddling friends, it gives you a chance to start over.

Word count: 0.7k

Warnings: Enemies to lovers. Not really any.

Pairings: Tom ‘Iceman’Kazansky x fem!reader

“Come on, you assholes. This isn't funny!” You called out, banging on the door harshly. Slider and Chipper had decided that it would be a good idea to lock you and Iceman in a room together. They were hoping that you would finally be able to work through whatever had the two of you arguing so often. With how much you two hated each other, what could go wrong?

Ice groaned behind you. You turned to find him with his head tipped back against the wall and arms crossed over his chest. “They're not going to let us out.” He looked down and fixed you with a glare. You rolled your eyes at him, giving up on the knocking and leaning against the opposite wall.

After glancing around the room for a few minutes, your eyes eventually landed on the blond standing across from you. His eyes were closed, head tipped back so you could see the exposed tan skin of his neck. You could see where he had been running his danger through his hair, disrupting the perfectly styled frosted tips. Shadows danced across his face from the trees outside the window. The warm, bright beams of sun shining into the room were the only light source.

Biting down on your tongue, you studied him for a few more seconds. There was a question in the back of your mind that you had been dying to ask him for the past week. With a shrug, you decided to ask. What better time than when you were trapped in a room with him to find out what he thought? “Is everything a competition to you?” He slowly tilted his head down, his eyes opening to stare at you blankly. You waited patiently for his answer.

“Yes. Isn’t it the same for you?” Ice stared at you, waiting for you to respond. When you remained silent, he allowed himself to mull over your question. You were at Top Gun, why wouldn’t it be a competition to you? It was then when he realized that maybe you were talking about something more. “Is that why you hate me so much?” He had spent every day since you arrived at Top Gun treating you as if you were less than him. Ice felt that if you were good enough to get into Top Gun as a woman, he would need to make sure that he was flying better than you were. Maybe he was too focused on the competition to realize that he was treating you even worse than he treated Maverick.

You continued to stare at him, watching as the shadows from the leaves flickered across his face. The room grew quiet again, the only sound being the rustling coming from outside and the sound of steady breathing. You shook your head softly, causing Ice to let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

There was a small smile on Ice’s face the next time he spoke. “So, how do we fix this?” You were silent for a moment, thinking over what you were going to say. The blond pilot watched as you stepped off the wall and toward him before extending your hand. He grinned slightly, grabbing your hand and shaking.

You grinned up at him. “I’m not sure,” He waited for you to continue, knowing that you most likely still had something to say. “But between the two of us I’m sure we’ll find a way.” A few seconds later than normal,Ice released your hand, allowing you to step back. With a newly formed friendship, or at least something that resembled one, the pair of you moved toward the door.

Ice knocked softly. Seconds later, you could hear Slider call out something that sounded like ‘finally’ before the lock on the door clicked. The man beside you rolled his eyes fondly at his RIO as he pulled open the door. As soon as your eyes locked on Chipper, you fixed him with the dirtiest look you could muster. His eyes widened as he began to slowly back down the hall. With a mischievous smile on your face, you ran after him, chasing him quickly down the hall. Ice chickened quietly behind you. You two would talk more later, but for now, you needed to teach your RIO a lesson.

A/n: Thank you all for reading! Requests are open.

[streetsweepershenanigans]

Welp- I over estimated myself and forgot I needed to do some laundry so instead of posting tonight on AO3 I'm gonna drop this sneak peek of what I've written tonight for chapter two of The Things We Lost in the Fire. I'm playing around with Viper's character some in this story and it's the first time I've really included him as a character and not just a concept, so I'm really excited. If you do choose to read this work of mine, I implore you to pay attention to the tags. This is one of my heavier works.

Closing the door behind him, Viper leaned against the wood and scrubbed at his eyes with the palms of his hands. He pushed himself off the door and started down the hall again before pausing when he saw a familiar figure in one of the chairs towards the end of hallway, hunched over with his head in his hands.

"Jesus wept," Viper sighed before approaching. "Kazansky."

Ice startled, blinking wildly before hurridly straightening his posture and firmly planting both hands on the arms rests besides him with a hurried "Sir". He looked a mess, Viper thought to himself as he took in Ice's appearence. His eyes were red and bruised from where he'd rubbed them raw, and his face held a haunted yet exhausted expression.

"What're you doing here son?" Viper prodded gently despite already knowing the answer. Kazansky was loyal to a fault, and his word was wrought iron. If he said something, it was true and he meant it. Wingmen was more than a concept in the air to the young man. It was almost as if the lines between wingman and battle buddy had become blurred and crossed at some point. Kazansky had been assigned Mitchell as his wingman last and had yet to be assigned a new one. Viper highly doubted that he would accept a new wingman. Not for a while at least.

"I- I can't- I'm not going to leave him again. Not now." Ice's features took on a sharper look, his eyes becoming fierce, daring Viper to say anything against it, and Viper was man enough to admit that he looked a force to be reconned with.

"When was the last time you went home?" Viper asked instead, eying the empty coffee cups and food wrappers on the small table beside Ice.

"I'm fine." Ice laced his fingers together and leaned forward, resting his arms on his thighs.

"How long have you been here." Viper tried again.

"I said I'm fine." Ice didn't break eye contact with the wall in front of him.

"Liutenant." That got Ice's attention. "I asked you a question. How long have you been here."

"Three days." Ice admitted, visibly deflating.

"Christ," Viper pinched his nose. Kazansky had been there nearly as long as Mitchell had been hospitalized. "Go home son."

"But I-" Ice tried to argue but Viper was quicker.

"Go home. Take a shower. Eat something, and get some rest. I'll be here with Mitchell, he won't be alone. I promise." Viper placed a hand on Ice's shoulder and looked at him expectantly. "You're no good to anyone half asleep and dehydrated."

"Yes sir." Ice finally relented, moving to pick up his trash.