#Because Of You

[crappymixtape]

because of you • part two

PART I • PART III • PART VI • PART V • EPILOGUE // REQ -> @sattlersquarry ❝ an enemies to lovers fic with Steve? 💙 maybe they have to put aside their differences to fight upside down stuff and realize they actually have a lot in common 👀 • 18+  | ( 3.3k – little bit of king!steve, mostly angst with a dash of fluff, enemies to idiots in love, steve x reader )

B E C A U S E O F Y O U • P A R T T W O 🎶 theatre, etta marcus

❝ IS IT EASIER WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TO START AGAIN? WHEN YOU DON’T WANNA MAKE AMENDS? ❞

‘Stealing a Winnebago’ had been easier than you’d assumed, but the getaway execution went exactly like you thought it would. Absolute disorganized chaos and the way Steve peeled out of the trailer park dumped you into Robin’s lap for the first mile. Made you even more skeptical of whatever half-assed plan these people had frankensteined together and now? You found yourself browsing the clothing section of The War Zone.

What in the hell were they thinking coming here anyway? From Eddie’s retelling of what happened under Lover’s Lake it sounded like not one of them knew anything about hand-to-hand combat, let alone guns. Couldn’t even land a punch, but thought they could handle this? Walls of rifles on display, rounders full of bulletproof gear and cases upon cases of bullets and god, you wanted to leave.

“Hey,” Nancy’s voice pulled your attention away from the tactical vests you were staring at, her eyes wide and earnest as she looked over at you. “If I go over to the counter, you gonna be okay?”

“Oh, totally,” you lied. “Yeah, was gonna go look over here anyway,” and you thumbed over your shoulder at more vests.

“Okay, good.”

She gave you a small Nancy-Wheeler-smile and left you there alone in a sea of camouflage. In the middle of a store you’d never have set foot in before all this and making you second guess yourself. Second guess what was seemingly more and more a stupid decision to go along with all of this and you huffed a sigh in frustration.

“Should’ve stayed in the trailer,” you grumbled under your breath, fighting the urge to just walk out, but apparently you weren’t the only one wandering around all the puke green clothing.

“Huh, didn’t know you had good ideas.”

The sound of Steve’s voice made your hands ball into fists, nails pressing half moons into your palms.

“Do you ever have anything nice to say?” you sneered and he had the audacity to be so causal. Didn’t even look up from the tactical vests he was flipping through and tossed one into his cart.

“Not to you I don’t.”

Anger rose in your chest like a pot boiling over, so hot it made your cheeks burn as you glowered over at him.

“What’s your problem?”

“Don’t have one.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yep,” and still he didn’t look at you. Picked a bomber jacket off the rack and piled it on top of his vest and it was the last straw.

Stalking over to his side of the rounder you got right up in his face, dug a finger into his chest and said, “Liar.”

His eyes flickered at your accusation, sardonic smile pulling at the corners of his mouth as he looked down at you and warned, “Don’t say things you can’t prove, Princess.” And he leaned into your finger. Waited for you to fold. Tsked at your attitude and the sound of it triggered a memory so strong you felt like you’d been sucker punched.

Your second ever interaction with Steve Harrington happened the week before summer break.

You heard it while you were walking back to school from grabbing lunch at the diner. A high, sharp whistle followed by car horn and then—

“Owwww, damn baby!”

And you recognized the voice right away.

Tommy Hagan. Leaning out the passenger window of Steve’s BMW. Wolf-whistling at you and being a dick and you tried to ignore them, but then they were pulling up next to you and slowing way down.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Tommy purred at your back, your mouth twisting into a scowl at the sound of Eddie’s nickname on his tongue. “You need a rid–” he started to ask, but his question cut short when you turned around.

Mouth dropped open in shock for a split second as he realized who you were, Tommy quickly recovered and started to laugh. That obnoxious, hyena-like laugh that made you want to punch him and he smiled and whistled again.

“Shit, Stevie! Who knew the freak had an ass on her!”

“You kiss Carol with that mouth, Tommy?” you shot back, Steve stifling a snicker from the driver’s seat.

“Bet you could do for a kiss, baby,” Tommy tsked, pouted his lips at you and grinned, “Always so damn sour.”

“Yeah? Wanna find out why?” you threatened and it made Tommy grin even wider. Shark-like. Predatory.

“Park it, Stevie,” Tommy didn’t bother looking at his friend, eyes locked on you as he opened the passenger door and jumped out of the car while it was still moving. Walked right up and crowded over you, eyes narrowing as he leaned in, “And what if I do?”

Your stomach lurched, heart leaping into your throat as you stood your ground. You didn’t think he’d take the bait, but you also didn’t shy away. God, you wished Eddie was there. Tilting your chin up in defiance you glared him down.

“Tommy, c’mon man. Just leave it,” you heard Steve’s voice from over Tommy’s shoulder, tinged at the edges with desperation as he ran up on the two of you, but Tommy couldn’t have cared less.

“Well? What’re you gonna do about it, toots?” Tommy pushed again, toes of his shoes knocking against yours as he stepped even closer, towering over you and it hit you like a ton of bricks how in over your head you were.

“Tommy, just leave–”

“I didn’t ask you, Harrington!” Tommy snapped and you took the opportunity.

Grabbing a fistful of his shirt in your hands, you yanked Tommy down into you and drove your knee into his crotch as hard as you could.

“Oh, fuuuuck,” he choked out, folded in half and hands covering his junk as he dry heaved and you took a big step back.

“Coward,” you turned and hurled the word at Steve and watched it land heavy as his face shifted. Brows pinching together and mouth dropped open, but nothing came out as he struggled to say those two little words. I’m sorry. To tell you he wasn’t like his friend, but his silence betrayed him.

“You bitch,” Tommy grunted at you as he tried to straighten up, one hand still over his crotch.

“Don’t move! I’ll–I’ll get you expelled!” you threatened and it made him laugh. A mean, mirthless thing.

“No fuckin’ way. My mom’s on the school board, who’s gonna take your side?”

And you looked back at Steve for a split second, silently asking him to step in and do something, but he stood frozen in place. Still unable to go against his ‘best friend’ and what little belief you had left in him was shattered.

You were done with Steve Harrington.

Shaking your head, you fought back the tears burning at the corners of your eyes and ran up the path to the cafeteria doors. Disappeared behind them with a loud, metallic slam! and left Steve alone to drown in the deafening silence.

Don’t say things you can’t prove, Princess.

It was like no time had passed, like you were still there in that parking lot with Tommy towering over you and tsking at you just like Steve was doing now, but this time you didn't run away.

“Don’t call me that!” you shoved at his chest and he stumbled back a step.

“Don’t call me a liar!”

“All you do is lie, Harrington! Your entire life was built on lies,” you could see his pulse fluttering against his neck. Watched his jaw tick as he clenched down on the words he wanted so badly to throw at you, but you didn’t give him a chance. “Why are you even here? You don’t give a shit about Eddie. You don’t give a shit about anyone, you’re–”

“Enough!” you flinched as his shout drew the attention of a couple older guys looking at the hunting gear. “You don’t know anything about me, okay? Not a god damn thing,” and the second part was quieter, but they way he held your gaze after punctuated it heavy.

He turned away from you, hastily pushing his cart back toward the cashier counter and walked out the double doors, but you weren’t about to let him have the last word.

“Hey, I’m not done!” you shouted after him across the parking lot. Sharp and biting and it made him spin back around, arms flung out at his sides in exasperation.

“Oh, yeah? Fine. What else you got?”

“Well, for one, I’m not going to sit here while you lord around like King Steve. This isn’t high school. No one here gives a shit about any of that.”

He squeezed his eyes shut at his old nickname. Sucked in a breath and let it out slow to try and steady himself.

“I’m not like that anymore.”

“Seriously? Do you hear yourself? You’ve been a dick to me since I set foot in Max’s trailer! And honestly? I’m not surprised! You think I don’t remember all the shit you put me through, put us through in school?” you shot back and he opened his eyes to glare over at you.

“Like I said, Princess–”

“I said don’t call me that!”

“–you don’t have any idea what this is. What we’re up against. None. You’re in over your head.”

“Okay? And what, I’m supposed to sit here on my hands and say, ‘It’s fine! Steve Harrington and all his little friends will fix this’?? You’re out of your mind!”

“And you think you can?” he shot back and your heart rate thrummed heavy in your ears.

“You know, Eddie says he trusts you now, but hell if I will. No fucking way,” and as you turned and cut past him back to the Winnebago he had to jog to keep up.

“Hey! Eddie almost killed me! With a fucking beer bottle!”

You huffed a laugh and kept walking, shaking your head at the accusation and incredulous at the lengths he was going to prove his point.

“Why should I believe you?” you called over your shoulder, “You’re probably just gunning for a headline: Steve Harrington, Hero of Hawkins!”

“Headline?? I–are you kidding me? You think I’d do all this for a headline??”

And finally you stopped at the bottom step of the Winnebago and Steve seized his chance.

“You really think I’m that superficial?” he shot at your back, but you didn’t turn around. Didn’t even acknowledge him and he spent what little patience he had left. “Hey! I’m talking to you!”

But you were already gone. Frozen in place with the world growing dark. Tree line ahead of you blurring. Unfocused and liquid like water and the ground swam under you as a voice echoed in your mind.

I see you.

The sound of Steve still talking behind you turned to fuzz, crackled like radio static and faded away into ear-splitting silence. Deafening and swallowing you whole and then you felt it. The ground falling out from underneath you and you were drowning in the dark and the voice that echoed in your mind pulled you even deeper.

Resisting will only make it worse.

❝ AND I NEVER HAD A TASTE FOR LIARS OR THE UNIQUELY UNINSPIRED ‘CAUSE I DON’T NEED TO BE DESIRED ❞

Steve glared daggers at your back. Anger hot and fuming and fueled by the fact that you had the nerve to ignore him and god, he wanted to prove you wrong.

“Are you trying to piss me off? Cos its work–” but the words died in his throat as he came around to face you. “Oh. Oh, shit,” with a quick glance over your shoulder he saw everyone else finally coming out of the store and he didn’t wait to call for help.

“Munson!! Eddie!” Steve yelled over your shoulder at your best friend before grabbing your shoulders in his hands and squeezed at them. Leaned down to try and meet your unfocused, far away gaze and when none of it worked he felt his chest grow tight.

Not again.

“Hey, hey! Look at me!" panic clawed its way up his throat as he shook your shoulders, "Stay with me! Munson–hurry up!”

Your eyes were glazed over, tears gathering at the corners as your whole body started to tremble. Breathing stuttered and caught in your throat. Lips parted and trying to pull air in, but it wasn’t enough and Steve felt his hand twitch. Wanted to press it to your cheek to try and ground you, reach you and bring you back, but then Eddie was finally at your side and shoving Steve out of the way.

“Sweetheart! Can you hear me? Shit, shit, shit. What happened?? Honey? Look at me!” Eddie cradled your face in his hands. Did what Steve couldn’t. Voice ratcheted up, his usual low timbre a high pitched thing driven by fear and hearing it doused any remaining anger that had settled into Steve’s chest and replaced it with something else.

With helplessness. Regret. Remorse.

With the slow realization that everything he’d just said to you wasn’t worth it. Remembered how Nancy had yelled at him, just like you, outside of the gym. You’re bullshit! And his throat squeezed with guilt for messing it all up again because he was bullshit. He was a liar and you were right. Had he learned nothing?

He looked at you, your face contorted with fear, and he felt something new flicker within him. A feeling blooming at the pit of his stomach. One he was so certain couldn’t possibly exist when it came to you, but as he stood there watching Eddie try to shake you back from the dark he wasn’t so sure anymore.

“Steve, help me!” tears cut down Eddie’s cheeks as he called to him and pulled him hurtling back to Earth. Desperate. Pleading. Begging him to do something and it shook Steve back into action.

Heart pounding in his chest, adrenaline coursed through Steve's body and fought off the fear that had threatened to trap him in choke hold.

“Max, gimme your Walkman!” he shouted over your shoulder.

The rest of the group had started running back to the Winnebago as soon as they’d heard yelling and when Steve asked for the cassette player, Max knew time was running out.

“Shit,” she hissed under her breath and broke into a sprint, scrambling to untangle the headphones from around her neck as she hurried to get to you. “Here! It’s still Kate Bush, is that–”

“Doesn’t matter–Munson get these on, hurry!” Steve, snatched the Walkman from Max and crammed it into Eddie’s outstretched hands.

“Please, please, please,” fell from Eddie’s lips, desperate, praying that this would work as he fitted the headphones on and pressed them against your ears, “Please.”

Blinking heavy, you strained your eyes against the black. Against the suffocating dark you suddenly found yourself in. The stand of vivid, green ash trees lining the parking lot replaced by gnarled branches, dark and leafless. Bright yellow buttercups snuffed out by thick, wet vines that snaked their way across the ground under your feet.

You weren’t in the parking lot of the War Zone anymore, not really, and as you breathed in the sickly, ashen air your heart stopped in your chest.

The Upside Down.

“Eddie? Eddie!” you shouted into the dark, red lightening cracking the sky in two, and when no one answered you knew you were utterly alone.

Panic gripped you like a vice as you thought of Chrissy. Of Fred and Patrick and dread filled your stomach. Utter hopelessness and grief and when you whipped around to run you felt something tangle around your leg. Wrapping up, up, up and pulling you down, down, down.

You braced for it, ready to break your fall with your hands, but you never hit and instead found yourself lifting into the air. Unhinged laughter filling your ears as more vines snaked around your arms and legs and you swore you were going to be sick.

It was

Him.

“Why isn’t it working?? God dammit, work!” Eddie was yelling at the Walkman, his composure unravelling as Chrissy’s last moments flooded his mind. “Is she gonna die? She can’t die!” he pleaded and his voice cracked, a sob caught in his throat, “Please don’t let her die!”

“Hey hey, hey! Get a hold of yourself. That’s not gonna happen, okay? It’s gonna work,” Steve gripped Eddie’s shoulders, looked him in the eye and tried to reassure him, but when he glanced over at you he knew he couldn’t make that promise. “Please work,” he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Where are you going? You can’t leave. Not yet.

Vecna’s voice was everywhere. Flooding every part of you and you feared you would never feel joy again. Would never escape this. Would be stuck here forever screaming into the void, hanging on Vecna’s every whim.

I would like very much to show you where I’m going. Please, take a seat.

And the vines yanked you down, squeezed tight around your wrists and legs and held you fast against the ground, rocks digging painfully into your back.

“Please, let me go!” you pleaded into the dark. “Please, I–” but your mouth went dry as a shadowy figure appeared through the ash. Coming closer and closer in the dark with each heavy step and when it finally stopped, feet at your head, your blood ran cold.

Wet, sinewy skin. Muscles exposed and stretched taut. Eyes that pierced your mind and knew every single one your thoughts. Knew all the dark things spiraling there and made them worse. Clawed at you with spindly, protruding hands and long, dagger-like claws and suffocated you with the smell of something rotten.

Of decay.

Of death.

Reaching a hand down, Vecna held it over your face, inches away from touching you as you struggled against your restraints, but they constricted tighter with your every move.

“Please,” you were crying openly now, tears cutting paths through the ash that had settled on your cheeks, but he ignored you.

I want you to tell your friends, I want you to tell them everything you see. Everything I show you.

“No, please!”

Tell them!

“No, I can’t–”

Tell them everything!

And then your head felt like was being cleaved in two. White hot light fracturing the black sky into thick shards and your screams were the only thing you could hear as Vecna pried open your mind and poured into you his vision for the future...

Hawkins in ruin.

Four gashes in the earth. Cavernous. Hot and angry and full of fire.

Your family. Lying scattered across your lawn. Motionless and still and limbs bent wrong.

Tell them!

Your friends hanging in the air just like Chrissy, Fred, Patrick.

Eyes empty, slack-jawed and lifeless, bones snapped like twigs.

Tell them!

Eddie and Robin and Nancy and Steve and–

“NO!” you screamed, the sound pulled painfully from your lungs as you felt your legs give way and collapsed into yourself.

“Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa–”

Steve scrambled to grab hold of your shoulder and barely caught you before your bare knees hit the pavement.

You heard birds chirping. Sunlight filtering through the backs of your eyelids as you kept them squeezed shut, but the air was clean. Smelled fresh and as you slowly opened your eyes you realized you weren’t choking on ash anymore.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Steve was still holding onto you, your hands pressed into his thighs as you braced yourself, the feeling of nausea overwhelming.

“I saw him,” you whispered, only Steve could hear you and you started to cry.

“Him?” Steve asked unnecessarily, glancing up at Eddie. Hoping, no praying, if he asked maybe you’d give a different answer. One that wouldn’t involve death and the end of the world and everything hinging on this stupid fucking plan, but he knew.

Everyone knew.

Eyes glued on their feet. Arms folded over their chests and uneasy with the weight that had settled over the group.

“Vecna.”

[ NOTE: THIS IS PART TWO OF A – POSSIBLY – FIVE PART SERIES, PART FOUR AND FIVE TO COME SOON ]

crappymixtape™ • steve harrington masterlist // stranger things masterlist ♥️ reblogs and comments keep me going, friends! ily! ♥️

[absolutebl]

Out of curiosity (and because I just saw you’re going through Pit Babe), what do you consider the most cursed/batshit BLs out there? I doubt very much anything in the world will top an honest to fuck omegaverse show. But, still curious.

10 Most Batshit BLs!

Fun fun fun. I'm going with shows that I enjoyed but were just truly BONKERS. In no particular order. Also remember I have different expectations of the different countries, i.e. Chinese and Taiwanese BLs are just generally more unhinged than say, Korea.

1 Advance Bravely

WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHY SO HOT?

2 My Esports Genius Brother

What is going on and why so cute?

3 The Takumi-Kun series

No one knows what's going on - them, us, production, but it started everything, anyway.

4 My Day The Series

What is going on, why so hot and so cute?

5 Because of You

So much all at once, how many pairs and how many languages? Is it hot? Is it cute? Who knows?

6 HIStory 4: Close to You

Cheesy cute v problematic hot = whiplash.

7 My Lascivious Boss

Okay but what, fine but what, but.... what? Cuuuteeeee

8 Gen Y 1 & 2

There is an interpretive dance love offering of sponsored products to the female queen bee of campus. I am not making a joke, that is an actual scene in this show.

Gen Y the series the original trash watch & Gen Y 2 - The Glorious Trash Watch Reborn

9 KinnPorsche (yes I said it)

Yes but think about this show. Three different storylines and couples, the contrast between harsh, cheesy, camp, cute, and hot. It's ALL OVER THE PLACE.

10 To Sir With Love

DEATH GLITTER

Need I say more?

MOAR?

Laws of Attraction

My Dear Gangster Oppa

My Engineer

Manner of Death - This one was kind of hilarious since I spent most of the show trying to figure out what it wanted to be and if is was actually BL, but to be fair, so did it. Actual title? MurderY 

Oh My Sunshine Night

Secret Crush On You

TharnType - TharnType 2: 7 Years of I Can’t Even - serious trash watch

Why R U?

What Zabb Man

Y- Destiny

Honorable mention to currently airing:

Pit Babe - currently trashing here

The Sign

(source)

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

Feeding the partner as the ultimate act of affection and care (Part3/?)

Love Mate

Sing My Crush

A Boss And A Babe

Ingredients

Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2

My Story

Taikan Yoho / My Personal Weatherman

Because Of You

Nitiman

Big Dragon

My favorite BL-tropes collection (as always in no particular order)

[ghostofnuggetspast]

I saw this just now and it hit me in just the right angsty feel having spent last night reading johnlock until 2am. I've watching this dozens of times over the last year and a half, and it's *still good*. Uses some clips that aren't overdone.

[lanitashiddencrackstash]

[gabrielokun]

[emichevy]

Me when Someone posts anything Spider-Man Noir angst related (I’m a hypocrite)

IM LOOKING. VERY HARD. AT A SPECIFIC PERSON.

(I mean this lovingly)

[riddles-n-games]

Because of You by Kelly Clarkson is the Hawthorne brothers' collective anthem. I think it could refer to their relation with Skye as their absent mother rather than Tobias although some lines could probably reflect both based on the issues.

Chorus:

Because of you/ I never stray too far from the sidewalk/

This set could refer to Xander.

Because of you/ I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt/

Jameson for sure on this one.

Because of you/ I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me/

Grayson, Grayson, GRAYSON.

Because of you/ I am afraid/

Nash unexpectedly seems to fit this one.

[crappymixtape]

because of you • part one

PART II • PART III • PART IV • PART V • EPILOGUE // REQ -> @sattlersquarry ❝ an enemies to lovers fic with Steve? 💙 maybe they have to put aside their differences to fight upside down stuff and realize they actually have a lot in common 👀 • 18+  | ( 2.1k – little bit of king!steve, mostly angst with a dash of fluff, enemies to idiots in love, steve x reader )

B E C A U S E O F Y O U • P A R T O N E 🎶 good girls ( john carpenter remix ), chvrches

“Why is she even here?”

“Steve!”

A loud smack cut the air in two as Robin slapped a hand against Steve’s shoulder, rendering the rest of group there in Max’s trailer silent.

Your arms were crossed tightly over your chest, cheeks burning under his gaze, lips twisted into a scowl and trying hard to hold back the daggers you wanted so badly to throw at him.

“She doesn’t know what the hell we’re up against! How’s she supposed to–“

“Steve, none of us knew either, cut her a break.”

“Cut her a break and then what? We all get eaten by a fucking melted people monster?”

“That’s not fair–“

“It’s fine! It’s fine, Nancy,” you cut the girl off, standing quickly from your spot on the couch.

They’d been talking like this since you showed up. Like you weren’t right there in the room with them and honestly you kind of wished you weren’t anymore.

“I need some air,” you grumbled before giving Steve a pointed glare and shouldering open the front door.

The air outside was crisp as you sat down on the front stoop. Not a cloud in the sky and sunlight washing everything in soft golden light, but it all still felt so dark. Like it was harboring thick shadows. Long, spindly, and pitch black. Waiting to wrap their twisted fingers around you.

Waiting to dig into you and squeeze tight.

Waiting to lift you twenty feet into the air and snap your bones like twigs.

Waiting to leave you for dead.

And here was Steve fucking Harrington asking what right you had to be there. Asking what purpose were you gonna serve amongst this “holier than thou” joke of an army. Steve, Robin, Nancy and Eddie had already gotten their asses handed to them by what they’d called demobats, Steve arguably needing serious medical attention, and they wanted to go back? It took everything you had to not leave right there on the spot.

Hell, maybe you should, you thought for a minute. You didn’t owe them anything, especially Steve, but you did owe it to your best friend. The one who basically had a hit out on him. The one who wouldn’t hurt a goddamn fly, but all of Hawkins had already decided he was guilty and you weren't about to leave him.

Eddie.

❝ SO SAVE YOUR BREATH, GIVE A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT – DO THEY KNOW SOMETHING I DON’T? ❞

You met him two years ago under the bleachers at the Homecoming football game. It seemed like the perfect place to smoke the joint you’d messily rolled in the car right before you’d come into the stadium and apparently you’d been right, but someone else had already laid claim to it...

“Hate to break it to you sweetheart, but this is kind of my spot.”

He’d been all black leather and denim. Dark curls and clove. Silver rings and chains and heavy boots and maybe you should’ve been more intimidated, but the smile lines at the corners of his mouth gave him away.

“Don’t see a sign anywhere,” you’d shot back, no hesitation. Looked over at him all skeptics and attitude and took a long drag from your joint. Blew the smoke off in his direction and it made him grin like an idiot.

“Been sellin’ weed down here for like…the last three years so–actually, yeah. What the fuck, man. Someone owes me a sign.”

...And that was it, you were a goner. Laughing mid-toke and coughing so hard you cried and it made him feel so bad he gave you a baggy for free. Eddie "the freak" Munson and you – best friends.

Skipped all the stupid dances and football games with you. Paraded around the lunch room like an idiot with you. Threw fries back at the jocks for you when they called you a loser and sat on the floor in the bathroom with you when you cried.

So fuck “King Steve” Harrington.

You had every right to be there, probably even more than he did and you were gonna tell him to his face, but—

“Can I sit?”

The sudden sound of someone else made you jump.

“Jesus, Eddie.”

“Sorry,” he chuckled and sat down next to you. Gave you a sidelong glance and a small lopsided smile. “He’s really not so bad–”

“You’re joking. Right? Tell me you’re joking.”

The boy hummed, dropped his gaze down to the rings wrapped around his fingers and twisted the one on his thumb.

“He doesn’t want me here. None of them do,” you grumbled, frustration fed further by his non-answer and it pulled his eyes back up to you.

“Hey now, that’s not true–”

“Yes it is! Even Nancy looks at me like a kicked puppy.”

That pulled a laugh from him. Made him scoot closer to you and bump his shoulder into yours. “Listen, sweetheart,” the nickname made you soften, but you tried to keep your scowl in place, “We’re all in over our fuckin’ heads, hm? And Stevie boy…he’s seen some shit. He’s just trying to–”

“Just trying to what? Be a complete dickhead about it? Mission accomplished.”

Eddie sighed and roughed a hand over his face. Rested his elbows on his knees and laced his fingers together. He knew what you felt because he’d felt it too. Knew what it was like to get laughed at and mocked in the lunch room. Knew how it was supposed to be between him and the other boy. Hell, he nearly cut Harrington’s face off with a broken bottle a few days ago, but one thing was clear.

Change was possible and Steve Harrington was proof, he just wasn’t great at showing it.

“Alright. He could be less of a dick,” he conceded, propping his chin in his hand and looking at you with his big brown eyes. How could you be mad at that?

You mumbled under your breath about that not being the only thing, but fine, okay, only for you, Eds.

Reaching over he flicked at your fingers and looked at you from under his curls with a stern pinch between his brows. “He’s helping me, sweetheart. They all are. Shit, without them I’d probably be in jail already. Or in Carver’s trunk,” he tried a laugh, but it fell short at the end with the weight of his words and it made you grab at his hand and squeeze it.

“Shut up,” you chided softly, no heat behind it. The anger that had been swelling in your chest all but extinguished.

Silence settled between the two of you then, heavy and tinged at the edges with worry. With everything that was at risk and it started to gnaw at the pit of your stomach. What if you couldn’t fix it? And even if you could, this Vecna asshole was about to end the world anyway so what the hell did it matter?

How were a bunch of kids going to do anything about it?

“Ahem,” the door knocked into your back and jolted you back to earth. Pulled a gasp from you and when you looked up over your shoulder you felt your anger return ten fold. “We’re leaving, geniuses,” Steve announced, pushing at you with the door.

“Least you know you’re an idiot,” you mumbled under your breath, standing up from your spot to glare at him at eye level.

“Real cute,” Steve shouldered past you on the stoop, took the last two steps in one go and turned to face you both as he landed on the grass. “For you, Munson,” he said, throwing a mask at Eddie, “Courtesy of Mayfield.”

“What’s that for?” you couldn’t help asking as Max appeared at your side and pointed so casually – too casually – at the mask.

“Gonna steal a Winnebago. Get that on, dingus. Let’s go.”

“Nice,” Eddie grinned up at the red-headed girl and yanked the mask on over his head, “Thanks, Red.”

“Let’s go,” Steve urged, waving his hands at everyone to get out of the house and you felt your heart racing.

“Steal a Winnebago? Eddie. Fuck that–”

“Honey, I’m already a wanted man–” Eddie cut you off and readjusted the ridiculous looking mask a bit. “–c’mon,” he said, tugging at your belt loop to get with it.

“I–that doesn’t mean you can just steal–”

“We’re way past that,” Dustin chimed in, shoving past you just like everyone else, “Besides, if the world’s gonna end anyway, what’s it matter?”

Shit. The kid had a point. It was probably fine. It was just a trailer. Maybe you could give it back afterward? You needed it more than they did. Right?

“Dammit,” you grumbled under your breath, now the only one still standing around. “Wait for me!”

❝ THEY TELL ME I’M HELL-BENT ON REVENGE, I CUT MY TEETH ON WEAKER MEN, I WON’T APOLOGIZE AGAIN ❞

The first time you ran into Steve Harrington was sophomore year. In the hallway before Click’s class. You were cramming everything into your bag, but struggling with your history book when you heard it coming.

Tommy Hagan’s stupid laugh.

Your stomach sank, eyes glued on your things and trying to ignore it. He was in your science class the year before along with his ditzy girlfriend Carol and they always made sure to get a spot in the back just to make out.

“Need some help?”

When you finally looked up at him he’d stopped right in front of you, the grin on his lips sharklike as Carol smirked out from under his arm. Another boy you didn’t know was standing just behind them wearing a stupid member’s only jacket, half unzipped, and had hair that sat perfectly in place. Too perfect.

“That looks heavy, hm?” Tommy said grabbing your book, voice all saccharine sweet and sharp around the edges. Flipping through the pages he pulled a face, clicked his tongue and weighed it in his hand, then made a show of dumping it on the floor. “Whoops. Sorry!” he half-laughed and your cheeks burned.

“Bite me, Hagan,” you snapped back, bending down to grab your book, and it only made his grin grow wider.

“Ooo. She’s fiesty today, Stevie. I like it.”

And then he chimed in. Stevie. The had-to-be-douchebag that everyone called 'King Steve.'

“Probably on her period,” he said scoffing a laugh, all confidence and bravado and the look on his face was so smug. Thought he was so clever and funny and when you finally turned around it was to take the two steps up to him in one.

“Really? My period? So original.”

It made him swallow hard. Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat as he blinked back the flicker of surprise glinting in his eyes. He took a quick glance at Tommy like he didn’t want to disappoint him and then hardened his expression. Crowded down over you and nodded.

“Explains you being such a bitch.”

And it took the air from your lungs. Stuck in your sides sharp like a knife and you felt your throat tighten as Tommy and Carol snickered, but you wouldn’t let him have the satisfaction. Not here.

“Yeah. Bet you wish you had an excuse for being such an asshole,” you cut at him and it pulled an Oh shit! out of Tommy as he doubled over laughing, Steve’s mouth dropped open in shock.

Your feet couldn’t carry you away fast enough as you shoved your book in your bag and turned to leave, but you refused to run. Refused to let them see weakness, and as Tommy yelled down the hallway after you about tampons you raised a middle finger high in the air to punctuate just how much you hated them all.

Eddie met you in the bathroom after that, the one nobody used on the other side of school, and you told him everything. He let you have the joint he had tucked behind his ear for emergencies, listened to you and told you they weren’t worth it. Especially not Steve. Because even though Tommy started it, Steve was the one who dug in. Could have left it alone but didn’t and that was what really got you.

How obvious it was he knew how shitty they were being, but went along with it anyway because he had to maintain his status. Had to uphold how ‘cool’ he was and keep the line in the sand drawn between him and ‘the freaks’ like you.

So he wouldn’t get a second chance.

And he wasn’t worth your time.

Not then and sure as hell not now.

[ NOTE: THIS IS PART ONE OF A THREE PART SERIES, PART TWO AND THREE TO COME SOON ]

crappymixtape™ • steve harrington masterlist // stranger things masterlist ♥️ reblogs and comments keep me going, friends! ily! ♥️

[bodyhorrorprincess]

had a face like an angel, but inside my heart was as black as a broke movie screen...

[yourlovelyspace]

I love when you make me smile 💝

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

There is something on your mouth. Here, let me help you. (Part 2/?)

My School President

Dark Blue Kiss

Love In The Air

Summerdaze: Christmas together

My Tooth Your Love

Big Dragon

Because Of You

The Eclipse

More of my favorite bl-tropes-collections.

[blackmensuited]

[olsenmyolsen]

Because Of You: Someone New

master list

dark master list

Part Three of my Because Of You Series: Part One, Part Two

No Powers AU (BlackHill)

Summary: Yelena tries and fails to help her sister get over you.

Word Count: 3.7K

Content: Natasha being sad for a bit, Feelings, Fluff

Natasha Romanoff knew exactly when it happened.

She saw it in your face and your eyes. And then she saw the look on Wanda Maximoff. Your longtime friend and college roommate. She saw the sadness she was hiding.

That's the moment she figured out that you were in love with someone else.

Of course, the timing had to be the day that Natasha and you were set to get married, but she loved you too much. So she let you go. She told you to leave and to go after Wanda. You loved her but not enough to stay.

That was a year, three months, and twelve days ago. Not that she was counting. Plus, she hasn't seen or heard from you since then, so it's not like she should still be thinking of you.

But Natasha was. She had food days and weeks where you didn't exist to her. She was living her best life. But then she had bad days. Days where you crept into Natasha's mind.

She hated herself for it.

So now she was laid up in bed after calling out of work after stumbling across a friend of a friend's Instagram post. One thing led to another, and she ended up crying at half-past 10:30 in the morning. Unable to hear the knocking on her apartment door.

The person Natasha forgot was coming into town took it upon themselves to let themselves in.

"Sestra?" The voice called out with a bag thrown across her arm and a leash attached to a dog named Fanny in the other hand. The voice coming from the blonde figure known as Natasha's sister looked down at her dog with a sad smile before unclipping the dog from its leash and shooing it onto Natasha's leather couch.

Yelena Belova knew Natasha hated that dog on her couch, but that was a losing battle every time Fanny was over.

"Sestra?" Yelena tried again and louder, but she got nothing in return but the muffled sound of the TV playing Great British Bake Off coming from the bedroom. So that's where Yelena started walking to. She made her footsteps louder than expected, and yet Natasha didn't hear it. Too focused on the thoughts in her mind and doing her best to keep her tired eyes on whatever Paul Hollywood was saying, she couldn't be bothered to listen to Yelena and her stomping feet.

"Natasha..." Yelena quietly said as she pushed open the redhead's bedroom door. Once she poked her head inside, she saw a sight she had become familiar with since you left. Yelena internally sighed before stepping into the room. "Hi," Yelena spoke once Natasha's eyes looked away from the TV.

"What are you doing here?" Natasha asked with her throat a little rough. Natasha truly had forgotten that she invited Yelena and her dog to stay weeks ago.

"Is everything alright?" Natasha asked as she slowly got up to greet her sister, who accepted a hug like nothing was wrong. "Everything is good," Yelena said with a smile, choosing not to comment on Natasha's appearance at the moment as they both sat on the bed.

Yelena quickly scanned the room and saw how much cleaning needed to be done.

"So what's- oh!" Natasha finally caught up as she look at her sister. "I totally forgot that was this weekend!" Natasha put her head in her hands and felt awful for forgetting. "It's alright," Yelena said as she wrapped an arm around her sister. "I mean, it's not every day I come to New York for business."

"But still-" Natasha went to argue, but the blonde stopped her. "What's wrong?" Yelena asked, catching Natasha off guard. Natasha opened and closed her mouth. She was going to lie, but she didn't see the point. Yelena knew the real reason, regardless, so she pulled Natasha close and hugged her before getting up and walking to the bedroom door. "Have you eaten?"

"No." She answered honestly, earning a nod from Yelena. "Okay." Yelena turned back to face her older sister. "It's almost 11, so you go shower, and I'll make food. And then we can walk around and go to a New York City coffee shop."

Natasha used to argue and say she didn't need to be babied or that she could make her own food, but there was no reason anymore. She was tired, and someone she loved was helping out without being asked. So Natasha nodded and started to walk out of her bedroom door and to the bathroom as Yelena went to the kitchen.

As she entered the bathroom from her peripheral, she saw Fanny in the corner of the couch licking her paw. Natasha sighed. "Lena, please get Fanny off the couch."

"Not until you shower. Now go, I'm making lunch!" Yelena yelled back over the noise of pots and pans from the kitchen. Natasha glared at the unaware dog before giving up. She took a step into the bathroom and then backed out. "It's not Mac and Cheese, is it?"

Yelena stopped and slowly turned around with two boxes of Kraft Mac and Cheese in her hands. "Nooo." She yelled back to the hall, where Natasha was followed by silence. And then. Natasha sighed as she entered the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Yelena cheered at her small victory and went to work on the yellow-orangeish lunch.

But as the water boiled and she stood flinging the packet of powder against her wrist, she couldn't help but get upset at the sight of Natasha earlier. Her firm, caring, and one-of-a-kind sister was still destroyed. After all this time. Yelena set the packet down and walked towards Fanny. Giving her a kiss on the head and a scratch behind the ears. "What do you say, Fanny? Should we take Auntie Natasha out? Cheer her up a bit? Get her that coffee YOU love so much!" Fanny tilted her head, completely captivated by the baby voice Yelena was using.

Yelena just smiled and nodded at Fanny before giving her another kiss. "What's that, Fanny?" Yelena turned her head to the side and cupped her left ear. "What do you mean Natasha needs to date?!" Yelena faked surprise and cupped her ear once again. "I know how long it's been! But you can't just rush things!" Yelena wiggled her finger at her dog before putting her hands up. "Alright! Alright! I'll talk to her! Sheesh!" Yelena rolled her eyes at her dog before walking back to the kitchen to finish up lunch. "Crazy dog," Yelena muttered to no one but herself.

Kinda like the conversation she just had.

But to Yelena, Fanny did have a point. Yelena wasn't going to push or rush Natasha into it, but aside from the topic coming up once beforehand. Dating stopped existing for her sister. Hell, even the idea of sleeping with someone seemed like a non-starter. But maybe... just maybe... if Yelena gave her a little nudge, it wouldn't be so bad. Still, though, Yelena didn't know where to start. So maybe just getting food in her sister and walking to the coffee shop a few blocks away would be enough.

Remember good days and bad days. Yelena just wanted today to turn around to be a good one.

_

"Oh, come on, that's not fair!" Yelena whined as she clipped the leash back onto Fanny's collar. Natasha rolled her eyes as she put on her brown jacket. "You made Mac and Cheese, so I get to pick the coffee shop."

Yelena groaned as Natasha picked up her apartment key and opened the door. The dog quickly following along with its owner. "It's more than fair." Natasha shook her head at her little sis as she locked up behind them. "No, it's not," Yelena whined again. "Why is that?" Natasha lifted an eyebrow as they walked towards the elevator. "Because Fanny wanted to pick the place."

"Is that right?" Natasha hit the down button as she looked from the dog to a nodding Yelena. "You're real mature, you know that," Natasha asked, half joking but only earning a scoff from the blonde. "More mature than you." Natasha wasn't sure what she meant, but they sounded like fighting words; however, thankfully, before Fanny had to witness a sibling struggle, the elevator doors opened with a person already inside.

Jennifer Walters. A woman who lived three floors above Natasha. Jennifer and Natasha had barely spoken in the time since Natasha moved into the building, but that doesn't mean Jennifer didn't have her share of awkward glances and smiles whenever she rode the same elevator with Natasha. It's not her fault she liked redheads, and Natasha was effortlessly beautiful.

"Heel," Yelena said to Fanny as the three of them got onto the elevator. Natasha gave Jennifer a courtesy smile as she double-checked to see if the L button for the lobby was pushed.

"Hi, Natasha." Jennifer now stood in the corner and sent a warm smile to the woman to her left, making the two sisters look at her. "Hello, Jennifer." Natasha was polite and returned the smile, looking away just in time to miss the blush on Jennifers' cheeks. However, Yelena saw and decided this would be one of those nudge moments.

"Hi, I'm Yelena, Natasha's sister!" Yelena took a step towards Jennifer with her hand extended. Causing Fanny to get up from her sitting position and walk towards Jennifer. "And this is my dog, Fanny," Yelena said with a smile, ignoring the glare from Natasha. Her sister was reasonably certain she knew what Yelena was doing.

Jennifer responded politely and with a smile, even giving Fanny a pat on the head. "Oh wow, Fanny likes you!" Yelena said with faux excitement. "She's never this way with anyone else." Another lie.

But how would sweet Jennifer know?

Jennifer looked at Natasha and then Yelena with big, innocent eyes. "Really!?" Yelena nodded and gave Fanny some pets as well, all while Natasha couldn't believe how long this elevator ride was.

"Natasha, look!" Yelena said, like the little sister she was. "Aren't they the cutest!" They including Jennifer. Natasha bore a hole at her sister's head. "Very." Was all Natasha said to try and end this, but this only made Jennifer smile and think, "Oh my God, Natasha thinks I'm cute!"

And Yelena's plan was working. So, as the elevator hit the lobby floor and just before the doors opened, Yelena blurted out: "You know! If you ever want to hang out with Fanny, I'd be more than happy to let you take her on a walk or anything.." Natasha was already outside the elevator and a few steps away when she heard Yelena say that, forcing her to turn around and look at her smiling sister.

Jennifer goes to say no, but Yelena shakes her head as they step out of the lift. "No, it'll be fine. Besides, I know you wouldn't do anything to poor Fanny."

A vague threat never hurt.

Yelena gives her dog another set of pets before running her hands over her jeans... "Oh shoot!" Yelena looks at Natasha. "Sestra, I forgot my phone. Can you give Jennifer yours so I (aka you) have her number? For Fanny!" Yelena adds. Natasha removes her phone from her pocket and gives Jennifer another polite smile. Not bothering to ask Jennifer if she had her phone with her. She probably does, but doing it this way gets her away from her sister, not so slyly trying to play matchmaker.

"Here you go!" Jennifer says a little too excitedly as her fingertips touch Natasha's hand. "Thanks. I'll be sure to have Yelena text you." Natasha says before looking at her sister. "Ready?" Yelena looks to her dog. "Say bye, Fanny." Fanny tilts her head before barking at Jennifer.

Jennifer giggles, and for a second, it sounds like you.

Natasha whips her head to Jennifer, waving bye to Yelena before walking past Natasha, giving her an even warmer goodbye and a blushing smile. Natasha blinks as she could've sworn Jennifer had your eye color instead. But she doesn't, and before Natasha knows it, Jennifer is leaving through the lobby doors.

"You're welcome!" Yelena says as she runs up next to her sister. But instead of cheerful thanks or even a roll of the eyes, Yelena feels a pain at the base of her skull. "Ow!" Yelena yells as she flies up to rub the ache. "Don't do that again!" Natasha points her finger at her sister before walking out the lobby doors.

"Tasha!" Yelena, with Fanny in tow fast, walks up to her sister's side. "What are you talking about!?" Yelena chooses to play dumb—Hurt and dumb. Natasha looks at her sister before groaning. "You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Natasha says as they come to a stop at a crosswalk. "No, I don't!" Yelena lies and turns on the innocent younger sister's voice.

The light on the crosswalk changes to the walking figure.

"Stop it, Yelena! I don't need you wingmaning or wingwomaning me!" Yelena goes to say something but gets interrupted. "Besides! That's unfair to Jennifer! She's a nice person, and I'm not going to use her because you think I need to get laid or whatever!" Natasha shakes her head with annoyance.

Yelena makes a face of disgust. 

"Ewwwwww! I never said that!" Yelena feels like she could puke. "I just wanted you to have someone to talk to or see!" Natasha stops and turns to her sister in the middle of the sidewalk. "So you admit you were trying to get me to have Jennifers' number!!" Yelena sighs. "Fine sestra! Yes! Okay!" Yelena grabs Natasha's arm and pulls her and Fanny close to a building. "I wanted you to get her number!" Yelena pouts and rolls her eyes. "There you happy now! I just wanted you not to be alone..." Yelena huffs.

Natasha's smile of correctly calling out her sister falls when she sees the sad look Yelena is wearing. "Yelena..." Her sister looks away. "Lena." Natasha moves and pushes her sister's arm, making her stumble and look at the redhead. "I appreciate the thought." Yelena nods and looks at Fanny. "But don't do that again. Please." Yelena looks back up.

"Natasha.. every time I visit, it's like this morning or worse." Natasha looks her head down. "I just want to see you happy." Natasha sadly nods because it's not like she wants to be depressed. It's just not easy when YOU are still in Natasha's thoughts. Her memories. The good and the bad. "I know," Natasha says when she looks at her sister. "But please. Let me..." She sniffles. "Let me do that part on my own."

Yelena begrudgingly nods. "Okay." The two start walking again. "But at least don't forget that you have Jennifer's number." Yelena smiles. "Fine," Natasha says as they finally reach their destination. "This place doesn't allow dogs inside, so find us a table at the social square around the corner," Natasha says as she pulls on the door handle.

Yelena makes a face. "Ugh! No fair! You chose a place knowing Fanny couldn't come inside! That's rude, Natasha!" Natasha just smiles with a shit-eating grin. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Yelena groans loudly. Even earning a few looks from some people walking by. "Fine. I'll go find a table." Fanny tilts her head at Natasha before she follows her owner around. "Text me your order!"

Yelena flips her off.

Natasha turns back while laughing and enters the coffee shop.

Thankfully, today isn't busy like most days. Natasha doesn't only go home or to work. It's still packed, but not in an overbearing way. The line moves relatively quick, and as Natasha is the next person in line to order, her phone buzzes.

"Get me one of those frozen drinks. Whip cream."

Natasha looks up from her phone and at the menu before she revived another message.

"Don't forget a water cup for Fanny."

Natasha responds with a thumbs up. "Hello!" The cashier calls Natasha's attention and smiles when the stunning redhead walks up. The nerves overtake the cashier's body as they ring up Yelena's annoying order and Natasha's Hot Cinnamon Oat Latte.

Before she knows it, Natasha is waiting at the pickup area with other patrons. Natasha stands by with her arms folded and a curious look on her face as she scans the shop. It's lively and fun—a good atmosphere.

A place you would've loved.

Natasha furrows her brows and gets you off her mind. She hates how you can enter her mind within a second.

"Cinnamon Oat Latte!"

The person working the espresso bar calls out the drink. Natasha turns around, grabbing one of the drink carries from the stack behind her before going to pick up her latte.

Except. Just as she is about to reach it, someone else picks it up—another woman.

Natasha follows the hand of the woman up her stylized coat and to her soft but stern face. She's beautiful in the eyes of Natasha Romanoff. Her jaw and neckline is sharp and perfect. Nose is cute. Her eyes speak to Natasha. And she's willing to listen. On top of that, she has an air of confidence around her. Making her more attractive.

However, the woman doesn't see Natasha. She turns to her right as Natasha stands on her left. Natasha is losing time to speak up, but what would she say?

Hi, you're beautiful! Let's be girlfriends! Or. Hey, you wouldn't believe the morning I had!

What?? Natasha thinks. No! She's taking my drink!

"Excuse me!" Natasha softly speaks up and follows the woman. "Excuse me! Hi." She tries again, making the woman with the curls turn around. "Yes?" She says, causing Natasha to bite her lip. The voice is more profound than Natasha was expecting.

Natasha quickly composes herself and her thoughts. "Sorry, but I think you have my drink." Immediately, the woman looks apologetic and takes the drink out of her hands to put into Natasha's. "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry! I thought they called out a Cinnamon Oat Latte."

That makes Natasha look at the cup now in her hand. Maria is written on the side.

Natasha opens her mouth to correct the situation but gets interrupted by another: "Cinnamon Oat Latte!" The woman whom Natasha now knows is named Maria, looks at the pick-up area and smiles. "That must be mine!"

This time, Maria looks at the name on the cup as she picks up the drink, only to see someone else's name. She looks from her cup to Natasha, and instead of getting upset or annoyed, she smiles. Her smile only grows wider as she walks back to the redhead. "Natasha?"

She nods and laughs nervously.

"Maria?" Natasha says, holding her cup out to switch back. But Maria shakes her head and takes a sip from the cup marked Natasha. "You keep that one. I'll keep this one. It'll be fun." Natasha smiles and takes a sip from what is now her cup, and... somehow, it tastes better than any other time she's gotten this drink.

"A water cup!"

Natasha looks past Maria, and the other woman notices. "Is that yours?" Natasha nods and moves to get it, but instead, Maria takes the carrier from Natasha's hand, picks up her drink, and the following frozen drink that gets placed with the redhead's name on it. "Three drinks, huh? Addicted to caffeine, or are you like an intern or something?" Maria smiles and chuckles at her own joke.

Natasha laughs, too. "Umm, no. The latte's mine. The other two are for my sister and her dog." Natasha rolls her eyes when she says dog. That piques Marias' interest. "Not a dog person?" Maria asks as they move away from the pickup area after a glaring look from another customer.

"I don't know. I wanted a cat a while ago. They seem easier." It's true. Natasha did want a cat even when she was with you. But for some reason, it was never the right time. "Don't get me wrong, I love Fanny, but I'm glad she's not my dog." Maria smiles. "Fanny? That's the dog's name?"

Natasha laughs. "Fanny Longbottom." That earns a deep laugh from Maria, making Natasha smile and look over the features of her face again. Her eyes landing on the pink lips. "That's amazing," Maria says. Natasha agrees and looks out the window of the shop. "Look." She points out to Yelena and Fanny as they stare judgementally at a family with a crying baby.

"Wow, she's cute!" Maria says, and immediately Natasha thinks Maria is talking about Yelena. "She's kind of annoying a lot of the time. Plus, we're adopted, so that's why-"

"I was talking about Fanny." Natasha looks at Maria, embarrassed. But Maria doesn't say anything; instead, she looks over Natasha's face and smiles.

Maria loves the green of her eyes.

"Natasha?" She nods. "This might be too forward, but could I get your number?" Natasha nods again and clears her throat. "Sure." She sets the drinks down and pulls out her phone, giving it to Maria with a fluttering heart.

"There." Maria hands the phone back. "Just text me whenever, and I'll plan something for the two of us," Maria says so casually and with determination that Natasha doesn't even realize that dating is never this easy. "I'd love that," Natasha responds, seemingly ending the conversation, but neither person moves. They're enjoying the presence of the other too much.

"Animal shelter," Maria says. "What?" Natasha responds while laughing. "That's where we'll go before dinner. You can see and play with all the cats they have available. It'll be fun." Natasha nods, picking up her drink carrier again. "That sounds great."

"Text me later. Bye, Natasha." Maria says with a smile after she glances out the window, seeing how bored Yelena looked. "Bye, Maria," Natasha says and keeps her eyes on Maria's backside until she leaves through the shop doors.

Natasha let's out a breath she didn't know she was holding onto. Suddenly, the warmth nervousness throughout her body can be felt, and she does her best to keep herself grounded and smiles when she thinks about Maria and her eyes.

_

"What took you so long!" Yelena complains after dealing with the crying baby family beside her until they left. She grabs the water cup from the carrier to put in front of Fanny.

"It was busy," Natasha answers with a hidden look.

"Ugh, whatever." Yelena picks up the latte to move the tray. "Natasha! You took someone else drink!" Yelena places the latte down and looks at her sister with disappointment. "Now someone's going to get your gross drink and hate it."

Natasha just shrugs. "I'm sure she'll love it."

dividers by @/benkeibear