#Crumpling it up and shoving it in my mouth and chewing it

[shellxrls]

— r. cameron / reader

warnings: DUBCON — rafe roofies and then rapes reader / unprotected PinV / misogyny / mention of drugs (cocaine & roofies) / mention of virginity / inspiration taken from maddy & nate (euphoria)

synopsis: rafe cameron x fem!reader… sometimes rafe needs to slip a girl a little something at a party to get some, and where’s the shame in that if he knows they want him anyway, they’re just too prudish to admit it.

After you’ve successfully been dosed, he makes you sit on his lap for lack of space on the couch so he can rock you on his knee until you’re tired, delirious, and horny enough to be lifted upstairs, legs dangling against his broad back while you hiccup and giggle next to your upside-down view of his chest.

His nose is numb from the coke and his brain heady, one could argue almost as inebriated as you. But the lines make him oversaturated, not cock-dumb like what he slipped you — eager hands already pawing at his zipper and coming to a fumbled close around the metal just before you’re tossed onto a bed, spread aloof like the crumpled sheets.

“You’re sooo nice to me Rafe.. when all the other guys were sayin’i shoulda gone home,” you end with a belligerent nod of your head, slurring throughout and biting your lip in sexless embarrassment, chewing the skin raw enough to reflect your torn consciousness instead.

Rafe simply smirks, chin protruding outwards while his eyes flit between your thighs peeking through your overridden dress and your tits falling out of the frilly décolletage.

“You a virgin?”

“Mhm” you lie, despite the reeling dizziness occupying your headspace. Besides, nobody likes a whore — especially not rafe, uninterested in ‘stretched out pussy’ as you vaguely recall from his earlier conversation crowded around friends.

He approaches closer now, knocking your trembling knees apart with one of his beefy thighs, bulge forward and creasing in his pants as your dialogue gets him hard already, imposing his physicality in all its glory: “What like— you’ve never even been fingered before?”

You shake your head, tousling curls before staring back up at him, “Only my own.”

To that he chuckles, the noise grating and stunted when he uses it as an excuse to adjust himself in his pants, drawing his chest down further until he’s now hovering above you.

“Uh y’know,” he tongues at his cheek, “I could take care of that for you, practically all spread open an’ready huh?”

Like it wasn’t his plan to get you dumb and stuffed by the end of the night, even if it meant bringing out his inner brute, he was taller, faster, stronger — he could do it if he really wanted, but he made it easy for you instead. Could feel the roofie worming its way into your consciousness, jamming rationality and flooding you with hedonistic desire that would trigger your sex endorphins and make it so that you would want this, that he could brag about it without you opening your bitch mouth the next day and claiming ‘rape’; an ugly word anyways, coming out harsh in a spit, nothing like what rafe was doing to you, especially not with the way you were looking at him.

Your mouth opens, then closes, seemingly flailing on confirmation when really your jaw is getting slack and numb, and so you feel encouraged to nod instead, the movement making your thoughts go all bubbly, refracting Rafe’s glinting eyes at your ‘consent’.

He wastes no time with prep, shoving your dress up so it’s tucked over your tits, basal temperature remaining warm and stuffy despite the exposure to cool air. A good indicator though, means rafe can tell it’s working, and just how long he has before you might start struggling.

When he pulls himself out of his shorts it’s surprising, of course, everything about him is pretty, one would expect a tangible reflection of the cruelty on his features but instead, his dick looks cutesy, if not for the intimidating size.

Spit trickles harshly down his palm when he wraps a hand around himself, tugging quickly and using both his legs to split you around his midriff, leaking and achy despite the inattention you’ve received.

“You want this dick so fuckin’ bad huh,” he laughs at the puddle of arousal leaking out underneath you, considers swiping a finger into it to stick into your mouth but he doubts you’d be able to breathe right now if he interfered with the half catatonic features on your face, and it’s not like he’s out for that type of violence anyways (or at least not right now).

When he pushes himself inside you’re silent, pupils retreating in favour of a squeal — ironically a very Rafe-esque trait — while Rafe bites down into his cheek and rolls his palm over your chest to ease the pressure of the fit.

“Thought the roofie woulda loosened you up a bit..” mumbled out while his stomach clenches, now bracing his entire heavy arm across your abdomen and pinching skin when you involuntarily quiver at the weight, “You can take it c’mon.”

He thrusts hard and uncoordinated, fucking like he knows he’s hot, or at least how many more pills he has left in his stash. Knocking against your insides and entirely focused on the way his dick feels, knowing how easily he could move onto another victim, and just how much he wants to enjoy you in particular before it’s over.

Sweat clings to both your bodies, the slick getting louder when each thrust manages to pound a squelch out of you, spattering against the sheets or catching on Rafe’s balls to stick the both of you together with messy tendrils.

You’re pliant, let him move your legs so your ankles entwine behind his back, heavy hand locking them together and giving you both little breathing room; just enough for him to spill obscenities straight into your emotionless face with hot, sticky breath — he laughs, manically and seemingly at his own joke, before deciding to share it with you, “just don’t go running ‘bout me ‘assaulting’ you right. You wanted this, not my fault my cock’s so good the slut has to go dumb hmm?” mocking you with a teasing lilt and a raised brow.

You pat at his swollen chest, it’s all you can manage to do, urgent to get him off you, give you a little space atleast. He only shoves himself in further, lips puckering to sloppily catch yours, saliva straying down your chin and jaw instead.

Your outright discomfort seems to get him going even more, thrusts increasing in increment despite becoming more careless, tip catching your clit when he slips out and hurries to stuff it back in.

When his face pinches up, brows tensed and nose furrowed, you can tell he’s going to cum, the friction between your bodies almost unbearable with the heat that suddenly envelops him.

A slew of curses are hissed out, casual vulgarity being one of Rafe’s favourite expressions of self, and then he’s pulling out and wrapping a fist around himself to paint your tummy white. Ropes shooting watery on your tummy and painting him a proud picture.

He shakes himself off on you a final time before tucking his wet dick back into his briefs, cleaning himself up entirely unbothered by the dissected mess of you laying drugged and fucked out on the bed.

“My head feels funny.”

“Yeah, that’s cause I fucked it out of whack.” He says it serious but you can imagine his upturned lips at his own sick sense of humour.

“Where are you going?” you sit up groggy, chest tight.

“Uhh, back downstairs, got some more yayo I needa lay off— you can stay here or.. wherever, doesn’t matter.”

He has the decency to shut the door fully when he leaves, yet you’re still alone and forced to lay in the waste of one of Rafe Cameron’s nights out.

[hazza-bear-care]

Friday Night Grind

Eddie and Y/N have a weekly ritual. Every Friday, they eat, drink, smoke, and watch TV. What happens when their ritual adds another aspect?

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Smut, grinding, fingering, p in v sex, protected sex, oral (f receiving) marijuana usage, swearing, pet names (princess, baby, sweetheart), dirty talk, aftercare, daddy kink, squirting. Let me know if I missed anything!

~~~~~~~~

October had blown in with a flurry of leaves, the anticipation of Halloween wrapping the town of Hawkins, Indiana in an air of excitement. The Hawkins High football team was hosting their yearly Fall Tailgate, attempting to rouse some hope of their impending victory against their rival team. The smell of hot apple cider enveloped students and staff alike, as cheers and ringing bells echoed around the guests playing games and winning prizes.

Manning her Home Economics booth, Y/N was responsible for dishing up freshly baked goods her class had work tirelessly to prepare for this tailgate.

"One cinnamon roll, please! And one for the pretty lady behind the booth." Eddie Munson stood on the other side of the table, left hand shoved into the pocket on his denim Dio vest, right extended with two crumpled up dollar bills. Y/N took his money with a smile, wrapping up a cinnamon roll in some parchment paper and passing it off to Eddie before taking one for herself.

"Thank you, Eddie. I haven't eaten very much today and these cinnamon rolls have been calling my name since they came out of the oven yesterday in class." With a shared smile, Y/N bit into her sweet confection and moaned at the flavor bursting over her tongue.

"May I steal you, or are you too busy to walk with me?" Eddie asked, tucking his own cinnamon roll into the pocket of his vest.

"Um, Elizabeth, could you take over please? I'll be back in ten minutes."

"Take your time, Y/N! The cinnamon rolls are the last of what we have, and with how busy we've been, we might close early. I can't wait, that apple cider has been beckoning since they started up!" Elizabeth quickly shooed Y/N out from behind the booth, Eddie holding out his arm for her to take as they strolled by booths overflowing with goodies, games, and friends.

"Well, that was easy. Are we still on for tonight?" Eddie mused, stealing a glance at the girl on his arm. Y/N took another bite of her cinnamon roll, returning Eddie's gaze.

"What, you don't want to cheer on this school's dumb football team to another dumb victory?" Y/N asked sarcastically, already knowing Eddie's answer.

"You know what? I really don't. It seems like you don't either." Eddie responded with a chuckle.

"No, I don't. I volunteered to run the booth for Home Ec, that's about it. So, I'd say yes, Eddie. We're still on for tonight. Anything in particular you want to do, or is it the same Friday night grind?" Yet another bite was shoved in her mouth as she and Eddie stopped to watch Mike's little sister, Holly, attempted the ring toss. Three rings later, everyone cheered as Holly was given a stuffed tiger as her prize. Eddie nodded to Nancy and patted Mike on the back as he and Y/N continued walking.

"I was thinking the same thing we usually do; weed, pizza, movie. What do you say to a horror movie marathon?" Y/N pondered the question as she chewed the last of her cinnamon roll, the smell of apple cider growing stronger as the pair approached the booth.

"Sounds like a plan, Munson. Anything I need to bring? Two, please." Y/N asked, ordering a cider for both her and Eddie. With a playful smack to her hand, Eddie silently told Y/N to put her money away as he pulled out two more crumpled bills from his pocket, paying for the cider.

"Since your booth would likely be closed by the time we get back, would you mind picking up some tapes?" Eddie asked sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sure! No worries, Eds. Just know that there will be no bitching or complaining about the movies I bring, got it?"

"Yes, ma'am." Eddie said with a mock salute and a smile. The pair sipped on the cider as they approached the haphazard hay bale maze the school had set up. They were only able to afford enough for a small maze, the walls only two bales high. With a knowing look, Eddie and Y/N entered, the way out easily seen by Eddie's tall stature. They were out in a record five minutes, escorting a few lost elementary school students along the way.

True to Elizabeth's word, the booth was closed by the time Eddie and Y/N had made their way back to it. Y/N had convinced Eddie to help tear down the table and sign, delicately balancing trays and the table as they walked towards the school to put everything away.

"Eddie, the least I can do is carry the trays. You're going to break something." Y/N offered once again, giggling to herself as Eddie shook her off.

"No. A lady should never carry anything when a gentleman is present. I will, however, allow you to open the door." Eddie argued, propping the table up against his leg for a break as Y/N opened the door.

"Wow, such responsibility you give me, Sir Munson."

"Don't get used to it, Princess. I'll be your chivalrous knight again soon."

~~~~~~~~

Eight o'clock rolled around quickly after Eddie dropped Y/N off at home after the tailgate. After a brief dinner with her family, she sped quickly to Family Video to rent some movies for her and Eddie to mock.

She grabbed as many horror movies as she could carry before plopping them on the counter in front of Steve and Robin.

"You and Eddie having another movie night, this week?" Robin asked as she began typing the titles of the movies under Y/N's account.

"Indeed, we are." Y/N replied, smiling at the questioning look Steve shot at her from over Robin's shoulder while he glanced at the throng of movies Y/N was renting.

"You're going to force Eddie to sit through 'Little Shop of Horrors'?" Steve asked.

"Yes, Steve. Do you have a problem with that?"

"He's going to hate it." Steve remarked with a shrug.

"That's the plan, Harrington." The smile on Y/N's face was bright and hopeful as Robin returned the sentiment, banging on the computer keyboard as she finished typing in the movies.

"$30 even. Have you ever, I don't know, thought about inviting Steve and me to these little get togethers you and Eddie have every week?" Robin asked, a slightly sour tone to her voice as she bagged up the movies.

"Oh. Well, Eddie and I have our traditions, of course. I'll ask him about it for next week, okay?" Y/N promised, zipping out of Family Video before her other friends could protest.

"They're never going to invite us. Eddie's been crushing on Y/N forever." Steve told Robin before turning his attention back to 'Fast Times' playing on the small TV on the counter.

"I know." Robin ceded.

The trip to Eddie's trailer was one Y/N knew like the back of her hand. She could almost drive there with her eyes closed, if it were possible.

Eddie was standing on the porch as Y/N pulled up, hurrying to open her car door and retrieve the bag of movies she had brought before escorting her inside the warmth of his trailer.

"Hey, what would you say to Steve and Robin joining us next week?" Y/N asked as she made herself comfortable on Eddie's couch, popping open a can of New Coke and taking a swig as Eddie fished through the stack of tapes.

"I'd say let me think about it. I like having these moments with you. Away from freshman and Gareth, ya know?" Eddie scoffed at the sight of "Little Shop of Horrors" before turning around and popping it into the VCR under the TV.

"I understand. Robin asked, so I figured I'd relay the question."

"She doesn't spend enough time with Harrington at work that she needs to drag him out here?" Eddie asked, making himself comfortable next to Y/N as the credits started rolling for the movie.

"I think she was asking because she's our friend and wants to be included. Your point could stand for us as well: we don't spend enough time together playing Dungeons & Dragons? We needed to start a movie night?"

"I can't believe you like that shit." Eddie said, gesturing to the can of Coke perched dangerously on the arm of the sofa. "Old Coke tastes so much better and you know it."

"I agree, but you can't find anything else in the stores anymore. New Coke is all the rage, Eds. Lucas likes it." Y/N countered, hoping the fact that Lucas liking the new formula would help prove her point.

"Sinclair likes shooting balls into laundry baskets, Y/N. He's not exactly a trustworthy source." Rick Moranis' voice flowed around them as he sang about the dreary atmosphere of living on Skid Row, the argument lost to the tone of melancholy in his voice.

"I wonder if this is where Skid Row got their name." Y/N thought out loud, almost spitting Coke out of her nose at the horrified look on Eddie's face.

"The town, I would imagine, not this cheesy ass song."

~~~~~~~~~~

Hours later, almost every movie Y/N had brought over had been watched, the pair rounding off their night with "Ghostbusters" and a few joints.

"Seriously, Y/N how many times have you watched this movie? You know everything Bill Murray is going to say before he says it!" Eddie whined, puffing on the roach of his joint before putting it out in the ashtray on the coffee table.

"What can I say, Munson, I know a good movie when I see one." Y/N coughed on her roach, the smoke burning her throat as she inhaled before passing it off to Eddie to finish. He took the joint with a chuckled as he finished the joint with one final hint, once again reaching for the ashtray in front of him.

As Peter Venkman ran away from the slime ghost chasing him through the hallway of a hotel, Eddie's attention was only on Y/N, memorizing her face as if he'd never see her again. Her face lit up as she laughed at Ray's reaction to Venkman getting slimed, the creases in her eyes prominent. The dimple on her cheek sunk deep into her face, and Eddie couldn't resist poking it.

Y/N shot Eddie a look, which caused him to lean back in surrender. Once more he snuck a look at Y/N, trailing his hand across her shoulders and down her arm, smirking at the goosebumps that popped up on her skin. A suddenly evil idea popped into Eddie's head as he jabbed a finger into Y/N's ribs, a squeal leaving her as she jumped in surprise. In a flash, Eddie had pinned Y/N to the couch, tickling her with no mercy as she screamed for him to stop.

"How can I stop when your laugh is so pretty?" Eddie asked, puppy dog eyes staring deeply into hers. While he was distracted by her beauty, Y/N took advantage and pushed Eddie up, straddling his lap and tickling his sides in return. Eddie released a high-pitched squeal of his own as Y/N poked him in a particularly ticklish spot, the girl on his lap laughing hard at the noise.

"What was that? Is the big, bad, Eddie Munson ticklish?" Y/N teased, pushing her fingers into the same spot, once more emitting a girlish scream from Eddie. She continued her assault for another minute, laughing along with Eddie at his reactions before her hands were abruptly ripped away and locked against Eddie's chest.

"Yes, the big, bad, Eddie is ticklish. That was a low blow, Princess." Eddie argued, still holding Y/N's hands in his against his chest.

"You started it!" Y/N countered, eyes hazy with the weed coursing through her veins.

"Yeah, well I'm finishing it." Eddie finalized, taking a better look at the girl perched in his lap. His brown eyes traced her features, and Y/N started to feel self-conscious under Eddie's scrutinizing gaze. A beat passed of them just staring at each other, before Eddie once again took advantage of Y/N and started tickling her again, ignoring her pleas to stop.

The position Y/N was sitting in made it hard for Eddie to keep his cool as she squirmed in his lap, his fingers continuing to jab into her ribs to keep the peals of laughter coming from her chest. One particular poke made Y/N jump, the sudden feeling of Eddie's erection digging into her clothed core. The pair paused, both breathless due to how much they were laughing just a few seconds earlier.

"Eddie.... Is that a lighter in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" Y/N ground down onto his dick once more, watching as Eddie threw his head back under her.

"I'm just happy to see you, Princess. Fuck if you keep doing that, I'll pin you to this couch and make you squeal for a different reason." Eddie moaned again as Y/N continued to grind on him, his erection growing harder under her.

"Is that a threat, or a promise?" Y/N asked as she ground once more, having full control of the situation since her hands were still being pressed to Eddie's chest.

"If you wanted to fuck, all you had to do was ask, Princess." Eddie groaned, inching his face closer to Y/N's as her hips continued to rock against his. She whimpered as Eddie purposely thrusted to give her more friction, throwing caution to the wind as he leaned up and planted a heated kiss to her mouth. Y/N wrenched her hands out of Eddie's grasp and placed them on his cheeks. pulling him ever closer.

Eddie slid his tongue past Y/N's teeth, groaning in the back of his throat as she allowed his tongue to battle with hers. She took it one step further by biting his bottom lip and sucking it into her mouth. Eddie's eyes rolled in the back of his head, the combination of her sucking on his lip and grinding onto his dick almost overwhelming him. He took the situation into his own hands as he cupped her ass, lifting her into his arms and carrying her to his room, his lips never leaving hers in the process. He threw Y/N onto the bed, chasing her lips with his once more as he kissed her ferociously. His lips left hers as he trailed across her jawline and down her neck, smirking as she squealed once he reached her sweet spot. He sucked a hickey onto her neck, his tongue soothing the pain he had left as he descended further.

Eddie's hands snuck up under her shirt, breaking away from her only to rip it and her bra off before attacking one of her nipples with his mouth, rolling the other between two of his fingers. Her hands wrapped themselves in Eddie's wild curls, arching her back to get Eddie closer to her body. His tongue lashed wildly against her pebbled peak, groaning against it as Y/N tugged at his hair. Eddie released her nipple with a pop before moving to the other, pinching once again and smirking at her moan.

"Fuck, Eddie. More, please!" Y/N whined, desperately bucking her hips in a futile attempt for attention.

"You want more, sweetheart? I can give you more, especially since you asked so nicely." Eddie continued to kiss down her body, skin feeling soft under his plush lips. He unbuttoned her jeans with ease, shoving them down to her ankles where she hurriedly kicked them to the floor. Eddie sunk in between her legs, marveling at the wet patch currently growing across the blue cotton of her panties. Eddie smirked, placing a kiss to her folds before moving her panties aside and using two of his fingers to spread her open.

"You're already so wet for me, baby. All this for me?" Y/N nodded, covering her blushing face with her hands as Eddie chuckled, pulling away for a moment to remove the rings on his hands before settling back between Y/N's thighs. He spread her puffy lips open once more and licked a broad stripe over her pussy, relishing in the way she moaned above him, dropping her hands to his hair instantly.

Eddie's tongue flicked her clit as he shook his head from side to side, causing Y/N to moan loudly as she threw her head back into Eddie's pillows. He slid one of his fingers deep inside her slick core, moaning against her as she clenched at the intrusion. His lips wrapped around her clit, sucking hard as he pumped his finger in and out of her at a brisk pace, adding another and curling them up, hitting the sweet spot inside her that made her toes curl.

"Fuck, Eddie! Oh my God, it feels so good!" Y/N yelled, pulling Eddie's hair to get him closer as she felt her orgasm begin to bubble up inside her. He added a third finger, continuing his assault on her slick pussy as he relentlessly pounded into her. Y/N clenched around his fingers once more as her orgasm quickly took over, soaking Eddie's face in her juices as she came hard around his fingers. He coaxed her through her first orgasm, not leaving her core until she weakly pushed his head away from her fluttering pussy. He crawled up and kissed her deeply, holding his soaked fingers against her lips, shoving them into her mouth as she sucked her arousal off his digits. Once he pulled away, Eddie removed his pants and boxers as he waltzed over to his nightstand and tore it open. He snatched a foil pack before turning back towards Y/N as he rolled the condom over his throbbing cock and pumping a few times.

Y/N felt her mouth water as she watched Eddie, licking her lips in anticipation. Eddie chuckled as he stalked back over to the bed.

"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Eddie asked, genuinely caring for her well-being while he positioned himself over her.

"I want you to fuck me, Eddie. Please, I need you." Y/N's pussy clenched in anticipation as Eddie smiled, placing another kiss on her lips.

"Yeah, baby? You need me to fill you up with my cock, is that it?" Eddie's words made Y/N moan, throwing her head back and giving Eddie full access to her neck. He peppered kisses over the expanse of skin, once more sucking another bruise onto her neck before pulling her into a kiss, tongue slipping easily into her waiting mouth. While Y/N sucked on his tongue, Eddie positioned his tip at her entrance, gathering some of her slick onto the condom before penetrating her core.

Y/N threw her head back as she moaned at the intrusion, her pussy clenching around Eddie's dick as he continued to stretch her open inch by inch. He bottomed out, staring at the blissful look stretching across Y/N's face as she adjusted to Eddie's length inside her. Y/N tapped Eddie on the shoulder in a silent bid to get him to move, fingernails digging into his biceps as he thrusted deep inside her.

"Fuck, Princess. Look at you, taking my big cock so well. Can you feel how deep I am, sweetheart?" Eddie asked, taking one of Y/N's hands from his arms and pressing it to the bottom of her belly, moaning in unison with her as he thrusted hard into her.

"Oh my God, harder, please." Y/N begged, wrapping her legs around Eddie's waist as he buried himself deeper into her sopping wet core. Eddie picked up his pace, the sound of slapping skin echoing in the room around them. His fingers brushed against her clit and she clenched around him. He could tell he wouldn't last long if she continued squeezing around him, but he was adamant to make her finish before he did.

"Feel good, baby?" Eddie asked, pressing a kiss to Y/N's cheek as she nodded, jaw dropped to her chest as her sweet noises wrapped around him.

"Fuck, Daddy, don't stop!" Y/N screamed, the name slipping past her lips before she could stop it. Eddie paused above her, his chocolate eyes boring deeply into hers as she blushed. In a flash Eddie had pulled out of Y/N and flipped her over onto her belly, wrenching her hips up so her ass was in the air. A smack rippled against her skin as Eddie spanked her and a loud moan escaped her lips. He lined himself up to her entrance before thrusting in hard, a deeper angle overwhelming the pair tangled in the bed sheets.

"Oh shit, baby. You feel so good wrapped around Daddy's cock. You're doing so weel for me, sweetheart. Fuck, I'm addicted to you." Eddie moaned, another smack meeting Y/N's ass. Her toes curled as Eddie continued burying stroke after stroke deep insider her pussy, the head of his cock brushing her g-spot in a delicious rhythm.

Y/N was babbling, a mindless string of moans and "Daddy's" falling past her lips as her face was buried deeper into Eddie's pillows. She leaned back, meeting Eddie's thrusts, causing her ass to jiggle and shake due to the impact.

"Look at my cock-drunk little Princess. Fuck, you're close, huh? I can feel it, your pussy feels so good." Eddie spanked Y/N once again, a bright red hand print gazing back at him as he pulled away, wrapping his arm around her waist and coming in contact with her clit and rubbing furiously. Y/N's back arched as she shattered around Eddie's cock, her orgasm settling deep in her bones as she squirted, her arousal splashing against Eddie's thighs and dripping to the bed sheets below.

Eddie growled deep in his throat as one more powerful thrust led him to his own orgasm, pumping his cum into the condom. When he pulled out, Eddie chuckled at how Y/N whined at the loss of contact keeping her tethered to him, her posture sagging against the mattress. Eddie kissed her shoulder before pulling himself away completely, going to the bathroom and disposing of the condom while dampening a rag to clean Y/N.

Y/N had rolled onto her side, still panting after her mind-blowing orgasm rocked her to her core. Eddie approached the bed, gently spreading her legs as he dragged the cool cloth down her sweat soaked skin, sopping up every drop of her arousal. She winced as Eddie swiped the rag against her puffy pussy, cleaning her as gently as he could.

"Are you okay?" Eddie whispered as he threw the rag somewhere behind him, wrapping Y/N in his arms and pulling her into his chest. Y/N pressed a kiss to Eddie's chest before trailing up his neck and pecking his lips.

"I'm amazing, Eddie. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Princess. I didn't know you could squirt, did you?" Eddie commented, laughing softly as Y/N buried her face in his neck out of embarrassment.

"No, I didn't. I guess you bring that out of me, same with the Daddy thing." Eddie wrapped his arms tighter around Y/N's body as she nuzzled deeper into his skin, willing herself to absorb into him to escape this moment.

"It was hot. Both of it, all of it, sweetheart. Fuck, that was amazing. I'm never gonna stop thinking about you, Y/N." Eddie's admission made her heart skip a beat as she pulled away to look at him, love and adoration present in his lust-blown pupils. His eyes flickered to her lips for a second before he connected them once more, but this kiss was different. This kiss sent fireworks through their bodies, the sparks sizzling under their skin. Eddie poured everything he was feeling into her mouth, his fingers gently wrapping in her hair as he pulled her impossibly closer.

When they separated, breathless and desperate for air, the silence around them was comfortable, but thick.

"I think we have a new tradition, Munson." Y/N spoke first, breaking the silence and playing with the damp curls that had fallen over Eddie's shoulder.

"That we do, Princess. I thought about it; Steve and Robin are never invited to movie night as long as that keeps happening." Y/N giggled, pushing her lips to his again, rolling Eddie onto his back as she straddled his hips once more, continuing to make out with the boy under her.

"Eddie, I think I'm in love with you." Y/N whispered as she pulled away from the kiss.

"Yeah? Well I know I'm in love with you, sweetheart." Eddie's face broke out into a toothy grin, as did Y/N's. Eddie reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, poking her dimple as he pulled Y/N into a hug. They remained tangled in each other's embrace for the rest of the night, their movie night thrown to the wind. As they laid in bed, another blunt being passed between them, they both couldn't wait until next Friday.

[em-prentiss]

I love all your soft Sundays fics! I am currently re-reading all of them. I am in need of some fluff rn. Just them being soft and domestic is everything and really my go to fics aha. Are you planning another one hehe? Can you write a secret relationship reveal where they didn’t realize it, but they started doing some soft thing that they usually do when it’s just the two of them and they forget everyone else around them?

Aw yay, I'm so happy you love them! They're some of my absolute faves too <3 this prompt was short enough to be a blurb, so I added it to this series🫶🏼

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intertwined, sewn together

Chapter 3

A series of unconnected fluff blurbs <3

Word count: 0.9k

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The case files have been shoved to the edges of the conference room table, bags of takeout and carton drink holders taking their place in the middle instead. Though crime scene pictures are still hung up on the whiteboard directly in view of the hungry agents, they hardly seem to dull their appetites.

It has been six hours since they’ve eaten, after all. Six hours of pouring their brains out into a case that doesn’t want to make sense. The clock has barely hit twelve, and Emily’s sure they’re all hanging by a rapidly thinning thread.

Morgan balls up his wrapper and tosses it into the trashcan with a smooth arc just as she’s uncovering her first burger. The crinkle of paper wrappers is a welcome change from their confounded, frustrated silence, however when Reid pipes up again Emily stifles her groan into her food. 

“We said that he could be disorganized, but what if there’s more than one unsub? There were at least three different weapons and the MO was—”

“There was only one set of prints at the scene.” Rossi says tiredly. 

Emily doesn’t blame either of them; not Reid’s resilience or Rossi’s palpable exhaustion. She tries to chase away her own frustration by pressing her knee against Aaron’s thigh, methodically chewing her burger and focusing on the flavor that blooms on her tongue rather than the persistent call of the crime scene photos.

It almost works. Reid falls silent again, Aaron’s thumb rubs a quick circle on her slacks, but that’s just when the tart sourness of pickles evades her senses. Emily frowns and stops chewing, tentatively opening up her burger and stifling another groan when she finds the telltale cucumbers nestled between the buns.

Her brow pinches in annoyance. She told Morgan no pickles.

The half-chewed mouthful on her tongue grows heavy, but she bites back a shudder and swallows it down. Emily opens up her burger, her nose scrunching as she grabs a slimy pickle with the tips of her nails. In an easy, practiced move, she holds out her offering and tosses it onto Aaron’s wrapper on the table, amongst his few fries. From the corner of her eye, she sees him take it—uncaring that it’s half bitten by her teeth—lifting the edge of his bun and stuffing it inside as she drops two more on his wrapper.

Just when her burger is free of pickles, Emily notices the unusually thick silence that has fallen.

She looks up, bristling when she finds Morgan staring at her. At her and Aaron—and so is everyone else, Emily notices, the fog in her brain clearing when she realizes what she’s done. What they both have. Aaron goes still next to her, and she forces her eyes away from him and onto Morgan instead.

“I told you no pickles,” she snaps. Her voice echoes in the silence of the conference room.

Morgan raises a slow brow, making her skin itch as she crumples a tissue in her fist to soak up the pickle juice on her fingertips. “You seem to manage just fine with them.” He notes, with no apology. His eyes not so subtly fall to the rest of the pickles on Aaron’s wrapper.

Her knee slams almost violently against his. Aaron clears his throat, his tone purposely flat. “Prentiss knows I like pickles. She doesn’t, so she gives me hers,” he elaborates, unnecessarily.

Dave smiles, the stretch of his lips too smug. “And, ah, how did Prentiss come to know that about you?”

Emily huffs as an irrational heat rises to her cheeks. “Well I don’t know, it’s not like we’ve known each other for five years,” she snarks, her knee now bouncing into Aaron’s. It doesn’t help that his hand dips below the table, his fingers gently gripping her leg until it stills. “I don’t know why you’re making it a big deal—”

“Aw,” JJ drawls as she rests her chin on her fist, a new light shining in her eyes as she follows the line of Aaron’s arm, “it’s like the olive theory. Only with pickles.”

“The olive theory?” Aaron and Emily echo. Reid’s brows furrow as well.

“You hate pickles and Hotch likes them, which makes you a compatible couple. Perfectly balanced.” The corners of her lips tip up in a small smirk.

“That’s absolutely ridiculous—”

“We are not dating—”

“Give it up, kids,” Rossi interrupts, wiping his mouth with a napkin and neatly balling it up along with his empty wrapper. “I saw you,” he raises his brows at Aaron, “swapping your fries with hers.”

“He didn’t do that.” Emily says. She turns to Aaron, frowning a little. He didn’t, did he? She never saw anything. “You didn’t.”

If they were alone, the subtle pink to his cheeks would’ve made her kiss them. The tips of Aaron’s ears turn a deeper red as he sighs, quietly, the brown of his eyes meeting the brown of hers.

“Mine had more.” 

He says it more like a confession; his voice soft, his shoulders raising in a small shrug like it’s no big deal.

“Oh.” Emily replies. Softly, too, as if she’s surprised. She turns her eyes to the small pile of fries lying on his spread out wrapper, and then to her own fries still in their container. Her heart skips, her cheeks warm, and though she tries to stifle it, a smile starts tugging at her lips. 

Emily knocks her knee into his thigh again, gently. Thank you.

Aaron’s hand finds her own thigh. He squeezes quickly—you’re welcome.

She doesn’t look at him as she grabs the corner of his wrapper, dragging it—and the pickles—in front of her. Ignoring the silence and the eyes on her, Emily picks up her fries and tips half of them next to Aaron’s burger, evening their load. His intake of breath alerts her to his protest before he even speaks.

“Em—” 

“Still not dating?” Dave asks.

Emily pops a fry into her mouth. “Fuck off.”

taglist: @kllingdaddy @luhwithah @cheetobreath07 @dontemilyyyyme

[blooms-in-april]

The front door slams open, the wreath swinging and everyone looks up. A man steps in.

“Jaskier!” Ciri cries. The little girl tears herself free from her father’s arms, making grabby hands at the newcomer’s blue coat. Geralt looks as if he’s taken too large a bite out of a pie and gotten it lodged in his throat.

“Your highness!” Jaskier says, doffing his hat and swinging his lute off his shoulder. He sweeps past both Geralt and Lambert without a glance, crouching to his knees at Ciri’s level. His calloused fingers strum a jaunty tune to the rhyme of Ciri’s excited bouncing.

“Princess Cirilla! An honor to be at your service.” He makes a dramatic bow, letting her paw at his feathered hat, his hair, his beard.

“I’m a lion, Jaskier!” she says, pointing a grubby finger at her drawn on whiskers and nose.

“And so you are,” he says, as if the ridiculous declarations of children were the most obvious and sensible things in the world. “Princess Ciri, the Lion Cub of Cintra! I’ll have to write a song about that.”

“A song!” Ciri’s eyes grow wide. Jaskier smiles.

“At least! Perhaps I can get a whole song cycle out of it, how does that sound?”

“Can I have my sword in it?”

“You can have two swords in it, if you want. Three swords. As many swords as you like!”

Ciri squeals and leaps into his arms, his arms circling her gently, careful not to crush her princess dress. Lambert watches something in Geralt’s face crumple quietly.

“Jaskier.” Geralt says, and Jaskier looks at him from over Ciri’s shoulder.

“Geralt.” he responds cautiously, in a tone Lambert has never heard from him before. In all the years he’s watched the bard trail in his brother's wake, singing praises, never once has he heard a cautious word from him. And yet, here it is. “How are you, lately?”

“I-” and Lambert would laugh, watching Geralt chew and swallow his words rather than spit them out, if it didn’t make something hard lodge in his own throat. “I’m- glad you could make it.”

Jaskier waits, for a beat, two, as if expecting something more. Geralt says nothing.

Jaskier smiles, a thin wan little thing. “Well, I could hardly miss it, could I? Being properly invited after some many years of simply crashing the thing,” he says lightly, looking around at the blinking lights, the molting tree, the tinsel worn after being reused year after year. “You’d think it’d be different, after it all, but it seems everything is just the same as always.” There is a quick sharp glance, like broken glass.

Geralt opens his mouth, pauses, shuts it. Opens, and shuts again.

Jaskier turns back to Ciri and her excited song suggestions as if they are the only two people in the world, letting her lead him off into the corner to inspect the presents under the tree. Geralt sits stupidly on the carpet, as if he’s been shoved through a portal and left nauseous on the other side, with no idea of where he is and how to get back.

Now Lambert does laugh, a short sharp bark of a thing.“What the fuck was that?”

Geralt says nothing, only heaves himself up and stalks into the kitchen without a word.

Excerpt from my angsty modern AU Geraskier Lambden Lamskier fic. Link below 👇

[busy-bee23]

The demons of Saint Cathedral

You wake up to feeling a cold, wet sucking feeling on your toes. You gasp quietly, pulling back your foot and looking to see who the culprit is. “Frollo!” You gasp, seeing your beloved husband gently suckling on your toes. “Toes are not for sucking on!” You scold him.

Frollo’s face crumples. “But I want the BIDDY!” He shrieks.

You look at him sternly. Where are his manners?! “You want the biddy what?” You coax.

“Want biddy please.” Frollo says, pouting innocently.

“Okay. You can have biddy.” You say, taking off your shirt exposing your pillowy breasts. He stares at your nipples with wide eyes and suddenly howls in excitement.

“AWooooooO!OOOO” He howls, leaping forwards and greedily beginning to suckle on your teat like he has been starved for years. You gasp as his teeth dig in, he can’t get enough of the biddy! “MORE MOMMY, MORE.” He growls, ferociously draining your breast of its sweet nectar. Before switching sides he throws his head back and howls again. “AWOOOOoowoooooOOWWO!!!” And then he sucks your other boob dry.

When he realises he has drank all of the delicious substance his eyes darken. “Me want more biddy.” “T-There’s no more Frollo.” You say fearfully as he starts to convulse and foam at the mouth.

“BIDDY.” “No there’s no-” Before you can finish your sentence Frollo pounces, biting down hard on your nipple. Then… he bites your nipple OFF!! You scream in fear and shove him off the bed, your nipple spurting blood everywhere. Frollo chews on it violently like a piece of pepperoni. “That is very naughty Frollo! GO IN TIME OUT!!!” You yell at him. 

He starts whimpering, knowing he has been a bad Frollo. He starts to go into timeout when you get an idea…

“Actually, I have a better punishment in mind…” You smirk deviously, pulling a box out from behind you. Frollo starts cowering and whimpering like a puppy who has been caught pissing on the floor. (Which he has done before.) You open the box… There’s…. A HOLE…. You then command and shout and scream and yell and whip “Get your dick in that hole NOW!”

You then spank his soft and supple asscheeks, staining them red. Frollo obediently puts his dick inside the box, feeling excruciating pain. “WHAT IS IN THIS GOD FORSAKEN BOX?” He asks.

A dark cloud forms over your face…. “Thorns and crabs…”

“You wouldn’t..” Frollo says. You open the box revealing….

The crabs nibbling at his dick, which is red and bleeding, looking like a pepperami from how much flesh the crabs have consumed. They are performing a blood ritual with his penis blood and the thorns, and they are chanting the lyrics to “Butter” by BTS. Then Frollo realises they are calling to Cthulu….

And then Frollo starts panicking and breathing heavily. “What have you done to me? I thought you loved me?!” He cries.

You then shed your skinsuit and reveal your true form…

Satan.

You attach a collar to his neck and his feet. “You’re my crab now…”

“NOOOO WHY!!!” Frollo screams, but his screams get cut off as he begins to transform into a crab. He then scuttles away into the box. “You were always my favourite, dear Frollo,” You say, and then you look down at your bloodied nipple hole. “But that nipple was my most favourite.” You take a dump into the box and shove it away.

But then Frollo grabs the poo with his claw, beginning to write ‘i love you’ with the rancid turd. You notice and start to cry and cut yourself. You squeeze the blood onto the crabs which transforms Frollo into a human again.. But he is a half crab mutation. He still has his claws.

“I have an idea of where you can put those claws..” You say seductively, spreading your legs.

Frollo winks and polishes his claw with his nearby cumsock. He salivates on it to make sure it is nice and wet, then he shoves it up your pussyhole. He opens and closes his massive girthy claw.

“Pwahhhh, FISHY!” You say through a moan.

“Yum yum yum in my tum!” Frollo says as he takes out his claw and sucks off all your liquids. Then.. Frollo grimaces at a sudden irony taste. “Babe.. I think you are on your period.. You look down and see that he is RIGHT. “Oh dear.” You say. “I have no pads left Frollo, you will have to keep me clean throughout my week of bleeding.”

“This will be the week of your life..” Frollo says, before swirling his tongue in your hole to get ALL of the blood and juicy yummy clots.

[miryum]

Valentines Day themed Johnny x Reader where he makes a whole plan on how he’s going to confess and asks Pony to help him write us a love letter please and thank you SM!?!:’l 💗💗💗 stay safe!

Wow! Puff actually wrote something? We're gonna slowly make our way through the requests.... I also combined this request with this one: Could you do a Johnny Cade x Reader where they’re at like a restaurant together, & the reader gets something on their face and he jokes about it before using his finger to wipe it off and gets close to their face while we’re freaking out internally (but they’re not dating yet)? tysmtysmtysm please stay safe

Warning: not proof read -_- sorry

Darry was tired. All he wanted to do was go home, eat a hearty dinner, and go to sleep. It was a nice end to a long day. But what he found inside the Curtis house made his perfect evening fly out the window. Soda was lounged on the couch, chewing some bubblegum and watching TV. Nothing out of the ordinary. It was what Pony and Johnny we’re doing that struck Darry as odd. They were laying on the ground, surrounded by crumpled sheets of paper and muttering to themselves.

“Whatcha doing?” Darry asked cautiously.

“Writing a love letter to Y/n.” Soda said bluntly, his bubble popping loudly.

“Soda!” Pony cried out. Soda shrugged. Pony sighed and looked up at Darry. “Johnny wants to write a love letter to Y/n before they go out on Saturday.”

“We’re not going out,” Johnny corrected. “We both got A’s on our report cards and we’re celebrating.”

“They’re going out,” Soda said. Pony agreed with Soda. He thought that Johnny and Y/n were being stupid for not realising their feelings for each other. That’s why he was helping Johnny compose this letter. Maybe it would clear things up for them.

“Read me what you have so far.” Darry sat down. 

“Dear Y/n,” Pony started, “I know this may seem cowardice-”

“No.” Both Darry and Soda spoke at the same time.

“What’s wrong with it?!” Johnny asked. 

“It makes you seem weak. Don’t tell her about being a coward,” Darry explained.

“Okay,” Pony crossed it out. He then went on, “If you haven’t noticed by now, I like you a lot. I like you in more than a friend way. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you because I didn’t want to lose our friendship. I also wasn’t sure how to tell you. You deserve so much more than simple words and I didn’t know how to convey that. I’ve liked you for a long time- maybe longer than I should’ve but I would love it if you would give me a chance. I promise that I’d always look out for you and always stick with you, no matter what.  I would be your shoulder to cry on and your friend to laugh with. I would stick with you through thick and thin; I already do. Being around you always was easy for me and I would love to have the option of doing it more often. It was easy for me to realise I liked you. You’re always so kind, thoughtful, and can always make me laugh. If nothing comes out of this, the most I will say is ‘thank you.’ You mean the world to me. From, Johnny Cake.”

“Oh my god,” Soda’s mouth had dropped open. “Call me when I need to write my vows.”

“Johnny, that was great,” Darry encouraged him.

“Thanks,” Johnny blushed. “But Pony helped me polish it up.” 

“Whoever wrote it, it was obvious that it was from the heart,” Darry said. “Y/n’ll love it.”

“I’ll love what?” The door opened and you walked in. You had just finished a shift at work and we’re happy to return to your friends.

“Nothing!” Johnny quickly crumpled the paper and shoved it in Pony’s hands. Pony panicked and stuffed it in his mouth. Soda looked at his younger brother with disgust. “Are you ready to go?” Johnny asked. You nodded in excitement. “But… uh, Pony?” Johnny whispered to the boy. “Could I have the letter back?”

**

You were laughing at a story Johnny was telling you when he said, “Oh! You have a little… uh, food on your face.”

“I do?” You licked your lips. “Did I get it?”

“Um,” Johnny swallowed. He felt his cheeks heat up. “Here. I got it.” He leaned across the table, making sure he wasn’t crossing any boundaries. When you didn’t reject him, his thumb softly swiped over your cheek, brushing the food away. 

Your stomach filled with butterflies, not knowing that the same butterflies were fluttering in Johnny’s. It felt like such a normal, couple-y thing to do that the simple idea of being with Johnny was enough to make you freeze. And when his fingers brushed your face- oh! It felt like the sun was shining warmly on you. What you wanted was just a seat away, yet he never seemed so far. 

“So,” you cleared your throat. “What were you talking with Pony about earlier?” 

Johnny coughed loudly. It was as best of time as ever. “He was helping me write a letter.”

“To who?”

“To you…” Johnny spoke quietly.

“Really? About what?”

Johnny didn’t want to give you Pony’s spit-ridden paper, but he also couldn’t bring himself to read it aloud in a restaurant full of strangers. So he fished it out of his back pocket, unwrinkled it the best he could, and slid it over to you. “I wouldn’t touch it if I were you.”

Johnny was silent as you read the letter, not sure what else to do. Whenever you glanced up at him to make sure it wasn’t a prank or your smile got a tiny bit sweeter, he felt himself wanting to simultaneously melt with his love for you and fall into a hole never to be seen again. 

“What do you think?” He asked softly. 

“Johnny, I love it.”

“But?” He waited for the blow of rejection.

“But nothing.” You shrugged. “I like you too! A lot! And I would love to go on a date with you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. All those things you said about me, that’s the sweetest anyone’s ever been. Why wouldn’t I wanna be with someone who’s as considerate and sweet as you?” 

“So… could we count this as a date?”

“I would love to.”

[entomolog-t]

INSTAЯ (2)

Prompt 2 Discovery for Promptober!! The speed at which I pumped this out is uncanny.

Dawn investigates - Honey ... does her own thing.

General warning, this chapter is still fairly horror oriented, and a few scenes can best be described as "Yucky." The content warnings are not extreme, but be wary of you're sensitive to any of the topics.

- - - -

Previous Chapter: Chapter 1

Next Chapter: Chapter 3

Word count: 1685

CW: Gore/Gross out (Blood/viscera, mild body horror, vomit) Mentions of firearms, Adult language.

The silence persisted, yet I sat still- back pressed firmly against the dresser. Time seemed to slip by me. I sat in wait, certain that if I moved an inch- if I made even the slightest sound- the creature would come crashing against the door. I stayed motionless, my every nerve firing with adrenaline. Anticipation weakened my grasp on time, minutes slipping by like sand through my fingers. Minutes turned to hours, and the night turned to dawn. 

As the first rays of soft orange light drifted through the window, my room was cast in a paradoxically comforting glow- a subtle shift in atmosphere occurring. The morning sun breathed life into the world outside; Birds chirped- swooping and diving to catch insects in the early morning mist. It was calm- comforting even. A beautiful and serene atmosphere bent on putting me at ease- which was exactly what I feared. 

Eyelids heavy, my head dipped for a split second, nearly lulled to sleep by the surrounding tranquility- only for me to jerk awake with a gasp- a jolt of fear snapping me back to consciousness. Despite the fear, despite knowing that thing could be right outside, I couldn’t help but nod off in the quiet serenity of the early morning after the toll of last night's events. 

I shook my head. No. Stay awake. 

It was quiet- it had been for hours now. I chewed at my thumb, nervously picking at the skin as I considered my options. I had to get out of here, and there was no way I was getting far without my keys. As if in protest, my mind conjures up memories of the creature catching the bat- crumpling it like tinfoil. Though… that thing had also crumpled… I thought back to its staggered steps, the way it had begun to fall apart right in front of me…  The agonized wails…

The way it had seemed almost scared…

I tasted blood on my tongue as I chewed the skin of my thumb raw. 

Was it dying? Maybe it’s already dead… 

I clenched my teeth, tension growing as I considered what to do. It had been quiet- and I needed those keys. My heart pounded in my chest, anticipation pushing away the exhaustion. 

As quietly as I could manage, I nudged the dresser back, teetering it side to side to walk it back quietly. I paused- met with nothing but silence. A part of me hated that. A cowardly part of me longed for the excuse of needing to stay put- clinging to temporary shelter at the cost of the long term. 

Carefully, I eased the door open- praying that the hinges were good and oiled. Once again, I was met with silence. My hands shook, bracing for whatever sight would great me on the opposite side of the door. My heart thundered in my chest so aggressively I was worried it would summon the creature straight back to me and- 

Honey shoved past me, pushing herself through the door and into the hall as if the events of last night had been wiped clean from her brain. 

No. No. No.

“Honey!” I hissed, whisper yelling through gritted teeth “Get back here.” She turned her head to me briefly in acknowledgement, tongue lolling out to the side before completely disregarding me- instead choosing to sniff a trail down the hallway and out of sight into the living room. 

That fearless fucking idiot. 

After a moment's hesitation I follow after her, steps hasty but light as I power forward. Honey comes trotting back before I can make it down the hall, tail wagging as she carries something in her mouth. 

What does she- 

As she gets closer realization dawns on me- I watch in disgust as she shakes a thick chunk of the creature's shell back and forth as if it were one of her numerous toys. A thick liquid is flung to either side of her as she shakes it, and I can only hope that it's drool and not whatever vile ooze had been seeping from the creature. 

Honey bows down in front of me, butt in there air and tail wagging so aggressively her whole body shakes as she gnaws on it. I suppress a gag. 

“Fuck- ew. No. Honey. Drop it.”  

Honey drops the thick chunk to the ground with a clatter and I flinch at the sound. Even still, the silence persists. I reach down and pick up the chunk. It's thick and heavy- though I don’t take the time to inspect it any further as I toss back into the bedroom, landing it softly onto the bed. 

Honey chases after it. I press on forward. Somehow, despite all the fear and anticipation, I feel a growing sense of annoyance. An emotion that only grows in potency as I hear the clack of her claws against the hardwood as she follows after me, placing the slab of shed exoskeleton in my hand. 

Oh, for Fuck’s sake. 

I open the bathroom door and stick the shed armor on the counter- promptly shutting the door before Honey could retrieve her new found toy. Not in the least bit dissuaded, Honey trots off ahead again, much to my frustration. Though, the silence and the carefree demeanor of my fearless idiot seemed to ease some of the tension. Had it left? 

Was it dead? 

A crunching sound breaks through the silence, my heart lurching into my throat. My pace quickened. 

Fuck. Was it still here?

I rounded the corner and was greeted with a grisly sight. A mixture of relief and unease filled me as the creature itself was nowhere to be seen- well… At least not all of it. 

Honey rolled in a pile of gooey exoskeleton, disturbing the horrific stench of stale rot with her every move. Her warm yellow fur coated in a sickly ooze, a putrid combination of a pussy looking substance and the bloody viscera it had thrown up the night before.  She joyfully wriggled on the floor, its shell crunching beneath her as she chewed at whatever was nearest to her mouth. 

I threw up.

A small heave was all the warning I had before I doubled over, bile and the acidic remains of last night's dinner spilling past my lips- hot and wet. Through teary eyes, I glared at Honey. She stared back happily, moving to chew on a chunk of what seemed to be a part of its arm as if it were a bone. I gagged. 

Fuck it. Let her occupy herself. 

Shooting my dog one last disappointed glare, I passed through the livingroom and into the kitchen. The floor was littered with more chunks of the creature, yet nowhere near the volume of that of the livingroom. Blood and ooze was slick against the linoleum and I carefully watched my step as I tiptoed around the carnage.  

I flinch at the clicking of Honey’s nails on the floor. She struts over, tail wagging as if this is the best day of her life, another gruesome chunk in her mouth- stringy bits of flesh hanging off the piece. I feel bile rise in my throat and forcefully swallow it back down. 

“Get,” I hiss, shooing her away as I peek my head in the dining room.

Nothing. 

Behind me I can hear as she tosses the chunk around, clamoring after it with a yip. 

So much for staying quiet. 

I surveyed the room. Not a single thing was out of place. I shiver- something felt off.  

Just where the fuck was the rest of it?

A clatter in the livingroom nearly sends my heart skyrocketing out of my mouth, as Honey continues to play with the carnage. I shudder at the very idea of how I was supposed to clean up the aftermath of whatever had occurred last night.

No… not aftermath.

Something was still very off. Where could that thing have crawled off to…

I feel a chill creep up my spine. Scenes from various horror movies of monsters crawling on the ceiling forcing themselves into my head. Slowly, I look up, heart thundering in my ears- 

Nothing. 

I force a laugh. Guess it's not that much of a horror movie. Though even as I chuckle, the unease doesn’t subside- a voice at the back of my mind urging me to go get the gun from the garage. 

As I go to slip out the side door I freeze. The handle doesn’t budge. Dread settles in my gut. I never lock the side door- why was it locked? Realization dawns on me- that persistent off feeling coming to a climax… Hastily, I double back through the kitchen toward the entryway. Honey joins me, her whole body wagging as she carries another chunk of the creature in her mouth. 

My eyes fall on the door and my mouth goes dry. 

The front door is closed- locked from the inside. 

It was still here. 

Another, much more unnerving thought followed. It had known to lock the doors. 

I found myself biting my thumb- regretting the nervous habit after realizing I’d touched that thing’s oozing shed body parts. Where the fuck had it gone? Did it just evaporate under its shell? Some crash landed alien rapidly expiring under earth’s atmosphere? My spiraling thoughts are interrupted by Honey leaning up against me, oblivious to anything other than wanting to play with her new “toy.” 

I exhale. 

That fearless idiot. As I patted her flank I felt as logic eased away some of the tension. Honey would have alerted me if it was in the house, right? I was barely able to call her off that monstrosity last night.

I look down at her, her sweet puppy dog eyes staring back up at me as she wags her tail hopefully. 

Fuck it. 

I place my hand in front of her, signaling her to drop it. 

Excited by the prospect of fetch, Honey eagerly acquiesces. 

The moment the weight hits my hands, I immediately feel something is off- Movement. Whatever the fuck she had grabbed was moving. 

I scream.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

Moooooore

🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸 🩸

DAYUM 84 for Vamp!Eddie (getting REAL close to the end of the chapter)

---

Buck watches as Eddie processes this, chewing on a bite of eggs. It takes him a moment to reach the unfortunate conclusion.

“I can’t be alive, then,” Eddie says. “If I’m alive, or a vampire, it changes the ruling for Christopher.”

“Right,” Sophia says. “Buck loses custody. It may default back to you, or…”

“Mom and Dad say he’s not safe here because of what I am,” Eddie realizes. “What I’ve done.”

“It’s an infection,” Buck says. “It’s what you have, not what you are.” 

“I appreciate the distinction, but I don’t think my parents will see semantics as reason not to go after what they want,” Eddie grumbles. “What they have always wanted.”

“I tend to agree,” Sophia mutters. 

“They check Christopher’s phone,” Buck says. “We never text about you. And we never bring you up over calls. He will, if he’s sure he’s alone. But that’s it. Calling is an unnecessary risk.”

Eddie’s eyes look a little wet.

“I get it,” he relents. “I hate it, but I get it.”

Buck knows there’s no point saying the wait is almost over. He knows that every minute is painful. He knows that it’s even harder to wait, sometimes, when you can see the end. 

“Adriana is flying with him,” Sophia says. “Their flight gets in around noon on Thursday. I think you should stay home while we pick him up, and we’ll tell him in the car.”

Eddie nods. 

“Sure. Yeah. Whatever you say.”

Buck feels horrid. 

“We’re just trying to make sure this goes over without a hitch,” Buck says. “Once he’s here, he’s obviously your son.”

“As long as no one finds out I’m here and parenting him,” Eddie whispers. “I have to be a ghost, or I lose him again.”

Buck wants to weep for him.

“We can tell some people,” Buck offers. “Hen, Chim, Maddie, Ravi. They’re all for sure safe. Bobby, too, I bet, just…”

“Just what?” Eddie asks. 

“I don’t know how strictly Athena takes the law when it comes to Hemodhampirosis.” Buck says. “Or, you know, how forgiving she’d be of some things that happened…”

“You don’t know?” Eddie frowns.

“Bobby and I…” Buck doesn’t want to get into it. “It’s sort of complicated right now.”

Eddie’s expression crumples. “You aren’t talking to Bobby?”

“We’re not not talking,” Buck says. “Just… It’s tense. He has some misconceptions about me. About Soph and I. What we do.”

“You aren’t talking to Bobby,” Eddie repeats. Then he looks at Sophia. “And you aren’t talking to Adriana? What the fuck is going on?”

“It’s a long story, Ed,” Sophia says grimly. “I’m sure you’ve got one, too.”

Buck knows he does. 

“I don’t know what to do about Adri without risking Chris, but we have to fix shit with Bobby, Buck.” Eddie insists. “We have to. He’s… He’s like your dad.” 

Buck’s eyes sting. His throat feels tight. He shoves a bite of pancakes in his mouth to avoid answering. Because he knows. He knows. He knows which father-son bond he chose to prioritize in the aftermath of a fucking vampire pandemic ripping the throat out of his city. He knows he’s hurt Bobby. He knows Bobby grieved Eddie terribly, and Buck should have been the person to grieve with him. He is fully fucking aware.  

“Chris first,” Sophia says, seeing the hurt plain on Buck’s face. “We can tackle everything else after.”

“Yeah,” Eddie wipes at his eyes. “Yeah, okay.”

[airplanned]

WIP Wednesday

My motivation has been in the gutter for a long while now. So I have made the decision that for the rest of the year, I'm only going to work on what I want to work on, when I feel motivated to do so.

With that in mind, here's the start of a One Piece one shot!

1.

Luffy has taken jumping onto people. 

Nami and Usopp can't take his weight (which honestly isn't that much, and some push ups wouldn't hurt either of them), and they tend to squawk on impact, their knees nearly buckling as they stumble to right themselves. Nami will shove him off until he's just hugging around her neck, and then she leaves him to rub his head against hers like a cat while she continues with whatever she was doing. Usopp will laugh when he recovers from his surprise and hook his arms under Luffy's legs and try to shift the weight with several hopping hefts until it's more comfortable. It never gets comfortable, and it never lasts long before Usopp sets him down.

Luffy will shout Zoro's name and leap from the rigging and land on Zoro's back, and (unlike Usopp) Zoro won't shriek and crumple to his knees.  Instead, he'll carry his captain around like a backpack until Luffy finds something better to do.  Again, Luffy's not heavy, and Zoro can still go about his business without any problems unless one of the arms wrapped around his head slips down to cover his eyes.  

Zoro's strong.  He isn't gonna complain and make people think his injuries are bothering him.  Because they aren't. (Fuck off.)

He's not going to tell Luffy he can't do something that's not hurting anybody and not bothering him.

Also Zoro's kind of curious how long Luffy will stay there.  How long he can carry him.  He kinda makes a game of it, seeing if Luffy can beat his previous record.  One day he carries Luffy around the whole afternoon, then when it's dinner time, the waiter snipes them like he's somebody's mom that they can't sit down to a meal like that.

"We can do what we want," Zoro says, kicking his chair around to sit in it backwards at the table.

"Yeah, we're pirates!" Luffy says, stretching out an arm to grab his plate from the table and hold it over Zoro's shoulder.  "I bet we can do this all day!  A whole twenty-four hours!  Right, Zoro?"

Zoro raises that bet to "Thirty-six," and holds up a fist.  Luffy knocks his own fist against it in agreement.

The waiter's face does that thing.  That twitchy thing where it looks like behind his eyes, he's gotten so confused that something's short circuited and he's reset back to his base state of stupid bemusement.  "He's...going to get crumbs in your hair?"

Luffy's wet and noisy chewing very close to Zoro's ear goes suspiciously silent.  A hand brushes at the back of his head.

So, okay, yeah, that's a good point.  But it's a point the waiter has made.  So Zoro glares at him and snaps, "My hair's none of your business."

Before the waiter can reply, Nami lets out a disgusted, "Ugh."

That's the most he and Nami have spoken to each other today.  Zoro's aware enough to know that things between him and Nami have been strained ever since she'd left and then came back and everyone else was acting like it's all water under the bridge.  Zoro's not.  A mistrust has settled in.  Under his skin.  Something that he can see turning into a grudge if he lets it fester long enough, but also he doesn't see himself doing anything to stop it from festering.

It's annoying.  Because he...well, he doesn't miss her, because she's right there and also he's low level ticked at her.  It's annoying.  Because she left.

Across the table, Usopp leans forward and narrows his eyes down to slits.  Slowly, he asks.  "How will you take a piss?"

The rest of the table goes very still.

Except for Luffy who answers with his mouth full, "Don't worry about it."

Everyone remains very still.

Yeah.  No. 

Zoro stands up and shrugs his captain off his back. 

"Awww!"

Turning his chair back around, he reclaims his seat.

"Thank you, Usopp, for that bit of rationality," the waiter says, passing around drinks (which are water of all fucking things) and sitting down himself, flipping his napkin across his lap with a flair. 

Pointing a finger at Usopp, Luffy informs him, "You're a bad pirate."  Then he swivels in his seat to turn the accusation onto Zoro.  "You too."  He pokes Zoro twice in the cheek.

"Yeah, yeah," Zoro says, piling food onto his plate.

[damedechance]

WIP WEDNESDAY

I'm going to start sharing WIP Wednesdays because it's FUN and because I cannot help but tease the lil project I've been working on (and doing so might motivate me to finish it faster)

Today I'm going to share a song and a snippet:

With a middle finger cast over her shoulder at him, Gwyn turned back to the cashier, and handed her the slightly crumpled box she’d been holding. She scanned the barcode, setting the box back down on the counter, and then tapped the screen with a black acrylic fingernail. Gwyn read the total: $18.09.

Only slightly annoyed that the cashier wasn’t even going to read the price aloud to her, Gwyn reached in her pockets. And then her tote bag, in search of her credit card.

And came up empty.

Dread dripped cold down her spine, as Gwyn widened her eyes, patting her pockets. The cashier was starting to grow impatient, not that anyone could tell from the way she kept smacking her gum, but Gwyn had nothing. She must have left her card in her purse at home, or by her desk at the university. Wherever it was, it wasn’t here, and her phone… she had just gotten a new phone. Hadn’t even set up Apple Pay, yet.

“Um,” Gwyn said.

Slowly, she turned to find the man right where she left him, leaning back against one of the display racks. He had his arms crossed, biceps straining in such a maddening way against his shirt. He tipped his chin up, slightly. Waiting.

She finished, “Do you think you could…?”

He pushed away from the shelf, arms dropping to his sides. “You’re kidding.”

Gwyn only offered him a shaky smile, her gaze sliding away from his. Humiliated didn’t even begin to describe it.

“I forgot my card,” she muttered.

A muscle worked in his jaw as he strode up to the counter. When he dug his wallet out of his pocket, his arm brushed against hers, and then he pulled out a sleek black card and smacked it onto the counter along with his own box of condoms.

He grit out through his teeth, “You are the single most–”

“That’s $31.72,” the cashier said. Of course now she would suddenly seem interested, her eyes lighting in amusement as they flicked between Gwyn and this stranger.

Gwyn glared at her, even as the man tucked his card back into his wallet and accepted the plastic bag with their purchases. Nosy, Gwyn mouthed at the cashier before turning to follow the man out of the store. The cashier simply returned to her phone.

The bell gently sounded again, as the man held the door open for Gwyn. Together, they stepped out onto the sidewalk, and he immediately turned to face her, his expression very much resembling a thunderstorm barely concealed beneath clear glass.

In an attempt to ameliorate the situation, Gwyn smiled up at him, but he only held that hard look. The one that pulled the corner of his jaw so incredibly sharp, as he chewed on the inside of his cheek and assessed her.

Then, he shoved his hand in the bag, and pulled out one of the boxes, holding it out to her.

“Whoever these are for,” he said, and she felt the waves of his voice rolling down the column of her spine in a shiver. “I hope it’s worth it.”

[desires-of-sin]

Sloth deserves to get in on the fun too. Have a cheesecake truffle, a cat shaped butter toffee, a cherry cordial, and three peanut butter chocolates. We are going to make the ultimate twink!

Magic chocolates!

Cheesecake Truffle: My muse’s body gets an hourglass figure!

Butter Toffee Chocolate: My muse gets animal ears and a tail (up to the sender)!

Cherry Cordial Chocolate: My muse’s lips plump up!

Peanut Butter Chocolate: My muse gains a cock, or add an inch to their cock length!

"Wait a second, I'm not a twi-" Sloth is interrupted as the chocolates are shoved into his mouth. He chews and swallows, before his lips pop outward. Touching his face, he yelped as his ears suddenly shifted to cat ears and a cat tail ripped out of his thickening ass. His waist shrunk down, and when he turned, the anon can see his bulge had increased in size by 3 inches.

"H-hey! I'm not gay! I like women! You start trying to shove things up my ass, and I'm going to hurt someone!" he huffed, before hissing at the anon, blushing, and then crumpling in embarrassment.

[senor-plume]

Spine

My spine is Crumpled and old As I sit in the broken chair Smoking a cheap cigar And wondering Where it all went

Age slaps me Around my face And the marks are a Bright color of Red Mixed with facial grease And something that Kinda passes As a beard

I do not dance Hell, I can barely walk But I smile still As I am ripped off and raped Under the sweltering sunlight Of America

Rising I straighten my back And move one foot Ahead of me And then the other And it is good to be Alive Despite the Colossal wrongdoings And pickpockets

So, I shove some sweet candy Into my black tooth mouth And chew with care As they come to my door Looking for me

Quickly out of the bath I bolt the door quietly And hightail it back to the water To soak my dying hip And corroding bones

All of this And still I love my spine Standing up Defeated behind me Waving white flags And whistling hymns From long ago

Out of money Out of luck Out of time Out of pills

This will end sooner Then you know And I pat myself down… Make it to the bed Where I slowly climb in To call it a night As my spine will dream of glorious things Like fifty dollars And reefer Knowing full well That I'll never see either again

Life can be a difficult 24 hours At times And today simply sucked ass

Goodnight sweet spine Goodnight to you With eyes shut tight I slide into sleep On a lead pillow and concrete sheets

Yes, a horrible day For me and my bones And tomorrow promises to be A bit more of the same

Good times are not here again As I smile to myself With the knowledge that I'll make it to Tomorrow

Alive

[two-crabs]

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord—?

The ship’s  surgeon told them of the myth two weeks after the first whale was caught and strung up. 

Maudlin, delirious with sleeplessness and hysterical with grief, stumbled down the steps into Dudko’s office in search of some relief, and found him there mending a rip in his trousers. Their hands were still raw from rope burn, and they shook as they scanned the little room for the vials they knew Dudko kept for emergencies.

“Oh,” Dudko stood, and reached out towards them. “Wh—Maudlin?”

“I need it,” they rasped, and when Maudlin turned their eyes to him, they were bloodshot and terrified. “I saw you administer it to Franklin—when his leg healed wrong, and you had to break it again.” They only ever spoke Tyvian in this room anymore, and it fell out of their mouth in a rush. “The medicine that knocks people out—please, Dudko, I won’t survive another night—” Maudlin heaved a deep breath and let it out, raw and ragged, before turning to the cabinet and throwing its doors open. 

“It won’t—” Dudko put his hand on their shoulder, and was batted violently away, as Maudlin grabbed at random jars. “I don’t have any—”

Brown beakers  and metal canisters and clear vials were shoved aside and knocked over, as Maudlin pawed through them, barely reading labels before tossing them aside. Pills were strewn across the table and floor; corks were popped and not replaced as Maudlin sniffed bottles, not sure what they were smelling for. When a slick yellowish liquid spilled down their fingers, they licked it off hoping for some effect, then gagged and retched when the turpentine hit the back of their throat 

“Maudlin, stop this!” And Dudko wrapped his thick arm around their chest, pinning Maudlin’s arms to their sides, dragging them away from the cabinet and back toward the cot. Like a sack of potatoes, he threw Maudlin down, and held them there by the shoulders. They didn’t fight, just twitched their tremorous hands in the air, failing to remove the lid from a small glass jar. “And give me that!” Dudko swiped it from their hands, and Maudlin crumpled in on themself. “I only brought so much ink with me! This isn’t part of the standard restock, you know?” And he tucked it in his breast pocket. 

When Dudko looked down, Maudlin was curled in a ball, their knees pulled  to their chin, their ribs shuddering. Their hands were pressed to their face, their hair in an untidy knot at the back of their neck.

“I can’t—I can’t sleep, Dudko, please—and when I do, he—he—I see him—“ Every breath rattled in Maudlin’s throat. “At night—the liquor—on this fucking boat—” They swallowed hard, and coughed. “It—it won’t work, it—it makes me sick—“ 

Dudko’s heart, long hardened by the tragedy every whaler knew well, cracked just a bit, and he placed his warm palm on top of Maudlin’s head, and stroked their hair. 

“It’s alright, little krill. Hush, now. Breathe, breathe.” Dudko petted them, and rubbed at their shoulder, and shushed them softly, and slowly Maudlin’s gnashing  subsided into quiet, keening cries. “I don’t have what you’re looking for. Someone stole it. Franklin, maybe. But the last supply ship had none, so you’re stuck with that Gristoli swill if you…need it.” 

Maudlin gasped and wiped at their nose. “I need something, anything. To…to quiet my mind, to…make it stop…”

Dudko sat on the corner of the cot and patted Maudlin’s hip. He chewed on the inside of his lip, and thought for a moment. “I have no drug for you,” he said, and Maudlin’s body shook under his hand. “But I know what happened. We all see it, our first time out. It will get better, I promise you this. It will fade.”

Maudlin was panting, curled so tightly around themself that, in the sickly blue light of the oil lamp, Dudko could count the nobs of their spine through their shirt. He rubbed a hand over his mustache and stared at his ruined cabinet. 

“He wears his mask, right? When he visits?” And at Dudko’s words, Maudlin froze under his hand. “But the eyes are blank? Like there’s smoke behind them?” 

Maudlin lifted their head, tears and snot dripping down their chin, stray hair plastered to their face. “How…” They rubbed their eyes with their knuckles. “How did you—”

“Listen to me when I tell you this…” Dudko offered them a hand, and helped haul them into a cross-legged seat. “Look at me,” and he grabbed them by their wet chin. “That was not your man, Maudlin.” Immediately, their eyes welled up again, and they tried to turn away, but Dudko held them, one big hand on either side of their face. “Look at me! Every whaler loses someone to the hunt, okay? All of us. And the ghost of that loss visits us, and—”

“He told me to jump…” 

“You must—”

“So we could—together—” Maudlin hiccupped. 

“Maudlin…” Dudko smoothed their hair again, then let go of their face, and let them fall back onto the cot. Maudlin stared up at the ceiling, tears streaming silently down their cheeks. “It wasn’t him. Just like it wasn’t my mate Eamon who came to me after the fever took him. It’s just…I don’t know.” He sighed, then stood and crossed the room, to a small box he kept stashed under his desk. “Pious folks say it’s the Outsider, but it’s not him either.” He turned the dial on his lamp, and the light in the room grew brighter. “My first captain said it was the ghost of the whales, trying to get back at us. But I think they’re too good for that, don’t you?” 

Maudlin was breathing slowly, their jaw slack and their eyes just barely following him around the room. “I want…” Their voice was hoarse. “I want to jump, sometimes.” They licked their lips and blinked at Dudko. “I want to follow him…off the back of the ship…”

“I think, personally…” and Dudko took his tools out of the box and unwrapped the paper he kept around them. “The first whaler who ever died in the trade…he cursed us. All of us.” Then he removed the bottle he had confiscated from Maudlin out of his pocket, and pulled the cork out with his teeth. “Good thing for you, I know how to ward you from such darkness.” 

Half-asleep and half-alive, Maudlin turned their head to watch Dudko select a long silver needle from a paper envelope. Then, smiling a little, he pulled the neck of his shirt down his chest, exposing the sparrow that rested there, just below his collarbone. And below it, in curly Morlian script: Eamon.

“It won’t work automatically. You will have to keep being strong. And I won’t promise that it will go away forever, but…it will fade.” Dudko tapped a finger to the bird. “And this never will.” 

Maudlin fell asleep that night, despite the pain, listening to Dudko humming Ode of Wynnedown as he carved two crossed anchors into their arm. 

[twomrw]

Then & Now

“What are you and Mr Angel doing this weekend?”

Shelly pops a chip into her mouth and grins at her scowling sister. She fixes a look of complete and utter innocence on her face as her sister opens her mouth to reply.

“When are you going to stop calling him that?”

“Maybe after your first child learns to speak and all the groundwork has already been set.” Shelly pops another chip into her mouth and chews it obnoxiously loud.

Angel narrows her eyes. “If my child calls their father, Mr Mommy, I will revoke all your visiting rights.”

Shelly’s eyes widen in delight, before the bag of chips is ripped from her grasp by Drew who's just joined them.

“Why…” he tips the bag of chips and practically empties it into his mouth. Crumbs fly everywhere as he continues,”...are you giving her ideas?” He raises an eyebrow at Angel and easily evades an annoyed Shelly grasping for the bag of chips. 

Angel only smiles and shakes her head as Drew places a hand on Shelly's face to push her away. She watches in amused silence as he does actually empty the bag while Shelly's view is obscured by his hand. He lets go of her face and she almost falls forward, but he catches her, steadies her and offers the now empty back of chips.

She eyes him suspiciously. It's obvious that she doesn't think it will be that easy and it's his turn to offer a fake innocent smile. She reaches out slowly and then grabs the bag from him quickly with a sound of triumph. He perches on the coffee table between his sisters with a smirk.

Angel barks a laugh at Shelly's resulting pout when she sticks a hand into the bag and comes out with a single crumb. She crumples the bag and tosses it at her brother before flopping back into her chair and crossing her arms.

“All packed?” Angel asks Drew, her mirth still evident in her tone.

“Mostly. Just waiting for the last load in the dryer.”

“I hope all your shirts shrink,” Shelly mutters.

“Well I'm sure the BLI ladies won't complain.” Drew wiggles his eyebrows at her as she tries to shove him off the table with her feet. 

To her dismay, he grabs onto her calf and yanks her towards him. She lets out a squeal at the unexpected movement before clamping her hand over her mouth. It doesn’t matter that they are all legal adults now, waking up their parents in the middle of the night due to their raucous behaviour is still an anxiety-inducing possibility.

The three siblings hold their breaths, Angel on the edge of her seat, Drew on the coffee table with his sister's legs in his lap and Shelly’s midriff dangling between the couch and the table. When no sounds of stirring come from the floor above, they let out a collective breath of relief and Shelly slides her way off the couch and onto the floor, her legs still in Drew’s lap. 

He pokes at her calf and her foot goes up to his face without her having to think about it. He slaps it away and she tries it again using her other foot, but with no success. She's about to try again when Angel sighs. Shelly moves her feet down to the ground as Drew turns to look at their sister. Though she can barely see their faces, Shelly knows her siblings well enough to guess the looks they're wearing: Drew a mix of concern and sadness and Angel a cross between wistfulness and nostalgia.

They wait.

“I'm going to miss this.”

Shelly can hear the smile in her sister's voice despite the tone of her words.

Drew huffs a weary sigh. “Me too.”

“Not me. I won't miss either of you. I can't wait to get the house to myself when you guys move out,” Shelly quips.

She smiles as her words have the desired effect and her siblings let out surprised— and disbelieving— laughter.

As their laughter fades, the end tone of the dryer cycle rings through the air and Drew stands up with a slap to his thighs.

“That's me.”

He leaves the room and his sisters in silence. The two young ladies are in different positions in the room and in life, but Shelly is sure they're thinking about the same thing. She thinks about how much life has changed since they were dumb kids who simultaneously hated and loved each other more than anyone else in the world. Angel must be thinking about how quiet beach days will be with just the two of them. They're thinking about dropping Drew off at the airport tomorrow and how every day after they'll have to wait an hour after waking up to harass him in the morning, because of the time difference.

Their somber thoughts are interrupted when Drew comes back into the room carrying three mugs. He places all three on the coffee table before picking one up and handing one to Angel, who smiles her thanks. He holds another one out as Shelly scrambles to an upright position, so that her back is resting against the couch behind her.

“Thanks,” she says as she takes the mug from him. He sits on the couch before picking up his own mug. They fall into comfortable quiet again as the three of them nurse their warm drinks, the only sound an occasional blowing or slurp.

“This is delicious, as usual.” Angel praises her brother.

“I don't get it. I follow your recipe to a tea— get it? Tea?” Her siblings groan in annoyance before she continues. “...and my cocoa tea never tastes like this,” Shelly complains.

Drew shrugs, all exaggerated nonchalance. “I guess the ancestors just chose me.”

Shelly and Angel suck their teeth in unison and grin at each other once they realize they've done it.

“Is that going to get worse while I'm gone?” Drew asks.

“What is?” They ask at the same time.

Drew shudders deliberately. “So creepy.”

They play into their joint creepiness by filling the room with maniacal laughter.

And that’s how the rest of the night goes by, the three siblings sitting in the living room, chatting and laughing and revisiting their childhood. The only time the mood dips is when Drew admits to freezing enough cocoa tea to last them the next six months and that admission has Shelly fighting to not get tears in her tea.

What feels like five minutes later, she feels a hand on her shoulder, gently shaking her awake.

She lifts her head from the seat behind her, groaning at the evident crick in her neck. Angel laughs at her grogginess and Shelly pouts in annoyance. How dare she wake her up and laugh at her?

An amused lilt to her voice, Angel explains, “I didn't know if you wanted to shower before we left for the airport.”

At this point, Shelly is finally experiencing some mental clarity and has the presence of mind to ask for the time.

“It's quarter to four,” her sister answers.

“Already?” Shelly rubs violently at her eyes. “But it was just midnight.”

“Unfortunately, that's just how the passage of time works, one minute it's midnight and about…” she pauses, “two hundred and twenty something minutes later, it's almost four.”

Shelly rolls her eyes as Angel helps her up.

“I think I’ll shower when we get back,” she mumbles as she shuffles towards the stairs.

“That's a relief, because another half hour and we'll be late.”

Shelly somehow finds the energy to turn around and stick out her tongue at her sister who only laughs and tells her to meet them at the car in ten minutes.

She heads to her room to slip on something warmer and brush her teeth. While in her room she hears the wheels of Drew's suitcase roll along the hardwood floor in the hall and a wave of sadness crashes over her. 

“This is it,” she thinks, “the beginning of the end.”

Drew goes off on this six-month research trip and Angel gets married by the end of the year. Sure, she'll only live fifteen minutes away, but it won't be the same. She won't be able to catch up in the kitchen at midnight with Drew over a cup of cocoa tea or have Angel show up to grab a handful of her popcorn when she's making some at 3 AM.

And besides, even though Drew is adamant that he might not even stay the whole six months, and that it's only a trial to see if he works well with the team, they all know better. They're going to love him over there. He’s so good at his job. They're never going to want him to leave. 

And then there's the fact that Drew loves what he does. This trip is a dream come true. There's no way he's not going to milk this opportunity for what it's worth and with his track record, there are going to be more offers. Once these six months are done, all the environmental organizations within a 50-mile radius will be calling him up.

Shelly sighs, offering herself a wry smile in the mirror. Life as she knows it changes irrevocably today. But she'll get used to it, because more than anything, she loves her siblings and wants them to be happy. 

She splashes some water onto her face before skipping out of her room and down the stairs. She meets Angel at the car—alone— who informs her that their parents already left in Drew’s vehicle. Shelly offers her sister a sheepish smile and Angel rolls her eyes before getting into the driver’s seat.

The drive to the airport is quiet most of the way until Angel rests a hand on Shelly's thigh. She startles out of her heavy thoughts and turns to look at her sister in surprise.

Angel offers her the softest, most sympathetic look, before turning back to look at the road. She pats her thigh again before sighing.

“We're not leaving you.”

Unbidden, tears well in Shelly's eyes. “I know,” she sniffles. “I know.” She swipes at a rogue tear. “It’ll just take some getting used to.” She shrugs.

Angel offers her another sweet smile before patting her leg twice and returning her hand to the steering wheel.

Shelly spends the next few minutes pulling herself together, only to burst into tears again as Drew prepares to go through the security check.

“Stay safe and I love you,” she mutters into his chest.

“Love you too.” 

They pull apart and Drew pats her on the head, somehow both an affectionate and infuriating gesture and she scowls up at him.

“I will make sure to give all the snakes a hug and a kiss from you.”

Her scowl deepens and he laughs. 

Mom can't help herself and gives him another hug, while Angel threatens him into calling every Sunday. Then he's taking the line and waving them at the door.

Angel puts an arm around her and Shelly leans into her big sister's side. 

“Do you think we'll still be us when we're so far apart?” Shelly asks, unable to keep the hope out of her voice.

“We're smart people, I'm sure we'll figure it out.”

The two sisters grin at each other.

“Yeah,” Shelly agrees with a firm nod. “Of course we will.”

More of Shelly and her siblings here: Beach Days

More Love is Round: Love is Round and Other Stories

More of my Writing: Masterlist

[transmimir]

I want to crumple him up into a ball shove him in my mouth and then chew him up before anyone can rescue him

[writing-and-wondering]

You’re a Wonder

Part 4

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Rooster x Kazansky!Reader

Warnings: Swearing, Mentions of death, Character death, Flashbacks in italics

Request: Nahh

Word Count: 10.9k

Synopsis: Training continues for the Uranium Mission, but Y/n “Wonder” Kazansky still has to face the past before truly becoming apart of the team that is being built for this so called “Miracle Mission”. 

A/n: Hello !! Wow, it's been a bit since the last one, sorry about that. But all your support and feedback has just been so awesome and so appreciated, thank you !!! You all are phenomenal <3

Your head slips off of your hand and just about slams into the table before you jerk back upright. Blinking a couple of times, you sniff as you stare at the table in front of you that is littered with the notebooks you were meant to be studying. Rubbing at your face, you groan as your fingers run across the indent your pencil had left from where it was clasped in the hand you were leaning on. 

A chuckle from across the table brings your eyes over to Comet, who is trying, and failing, to hide his laugh behind his hand. You glare at him half heartedly before rubbing at your eyes. 

“Enjoy your rest, sleeping beauty?” Comet asks once he recovers from his giggle fest. 

“I didn’t mean to do that.” You mutter as you stifle a yawn. 

Comet rolls his eyes before closing his textbook, “I think we should call it.”

“What? But-” You start but Comet is already shaking his head at you, “Dude, it’s like four in the morning. Plus, you just about gave yourself a concussion from almost slamming head first into the table because you fell asleep on your goddamn pencil.”

You lean back in your seat with a groan as he continues, “It’s bedtime, Wonder.”

“You sound like my dad.” You state, but you move to pack up your array of books and highlighters anyway. Comet shrugs as he does the same, “Someone here should.”

“You idolize him too much.”

Comet sighs, “Isn’t that the dream.”

“Shut up.” You laugh as you throw a crumpled up piece of paper at him. He just smiles and swats it off its path towards his face before adjusting his glasses. 

The two of you are just about finished shoving your things into your bags when your stomach growls, at the same time as Comet’s. You look up and share a wide eyed look with your friend before the two of you burst out laughing. 

“You think we should make a stop at the mess hall?” You ask as you sling your bag over your shoulder. Comet nods quickly, “Mhm, good idea.”

Neither of you waste anytime rushing down the hall in the direction of some late night snacks. There’s a moment of silence where you both are just grabbing whatever catches your eye. 

As you settle down at a table by the window, Comet lets out a sigh, “Bless whoever’s idea it was to leave the hall open all the time.”

You nod, “Our savior, whoever it was.” Comet chuckles before digging into his selection, you doing the same. 

After a moment, you look up and notice Comet fiddling with his class ring as he chews on the twizzler hanging from his mouth. He catches you staring and bites off on the candy, “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot recently...”

“That’s dangerous.” You comment, eyebrows raised. He flicks you a glare, to which you toss a fruit snack at him, “What about, Coms?” 

Comet leans back in his seat, “About graduation, I guess.”

Nodding, you sip on the straw of your juice box, watching as he frowns and fidgets with his granola bar wrapper, “I just don’t want things to change, you know?”

You stare at him for a second, before sitting up straight and quickly saying, “They won’t.”

He smiles a little at you, “They will and you know it.”

“Well...” You start, pausing to think for a moment, “Not that much. We’ll all still be a team.”

Comet hums in agreement, “Do you think we’ll still be able to fly with Ace and Ghost?”

“Of course! We’re inseparable and everyone knows how well we work together.” You lean forward and place your hand over his to get it to stop tapping the table nervously, “Like I said, we’re a team.”

He shrugs, “Still worries me that we’ll drift apart.”

“Unlikely. This isn’t high school, Coms.” You scoff slightly, “I don’t even think we could, at this point. Not after everything we’ve done together, it’s just not possible.” 

Looking up at you, Comet grins a little, “You sound so sure.”

“That’s because I am.” You squeeze his hand reassuringly, “But seriously, It’ll be fine.”

You lean back in your seat and pop another fruit snack into your mouth, “Besides, you’ll always have me.”

You watch as his eyebrows draw together as he blinks at you, “Promise?”

“Promise. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” 

He laughs, “Yeah, and why would I want to get rid of the pilot who has made my heart fall to my ass more times than I can count because of her flying.”

You gasp at him, “Well by all means if you want a different pilot then I’m sure the admiral would happily make a switch-”

“No, no, I didn’t say that-” He starts but you’re still going, “I mean it would certainly save them a lot of trouble, considering what we put them through-”

“No! No, you’re mine.” Comet is waving his hand sporadically to get you to stop, “We fly together, it’s what we do. You and me.”

You grab his raised hand and squeeze it, “Damn right.”

Comet’s shoulder slump with relief as he squeezes your hand too before dropping it. Clearing his throat, he smiles, “I am excited, though. For what’s to come, that is.”

“Me too!” You agree, bouncing in your seat a little. 

“Like shit, it’s crazy to think that graduation is right around the corner. I still feel like we’re a bunch of first year cadets.” Comet is staring at the ceiling, his hand waving around as he speaks. 

“God, don’t I know it.” You say, shaking your head in disbelief. 

He laughs, “We really walked in here having no clue what was going to happen.”

“Nope, just a bunch of babies.” 

“And now we’re graduating! What the hell, where did the time go?” Comet asks, looking at you with wide eyes.

Chuckling, you let out a gasp as you point at his hand, “And you’re getting married!” Comet beams at the fact as he looks down at his ring. 

You hold your hand out, “Lemme see the ring.”

“You’ve seen it like fifty times already.” He says to you, twisting the band on his finger. You groan, “I don’t care, it’s gorgeous. Let me see.”

Comet rolls his eyes but still dramatically holds his hand out towards you, to which you gladly take and stare at the ring, “Wow, it’s still so pretty every time.” You gush, “Toby did such a good job.”

“He did, didn’t he? It’s made of sea glass too, like dude, I didn’t even know rings could be made out of that.” Comet says excitedly, his face quite literally glowing from just talking about his fiancé. 

You squeeze his hand before giving it back to him, “No kidding.” 

Comet admires his ring for a second longer before smiling at you, “Oh my gosh, I can’t wait for you to be my best man at my wedding.”

Your eyes go wide, “Is Toby okay with that?”

“Are you serious? The man adores you.” He says it as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world, “If I weren’t marrying him, I’d be worried about which one of us he’d pick.” Then a smug grin grows on his face as he leans back in his seat, motioning to himself, “Good think he likes this di-”

“Dude, he’s not even my type.” You interrupt him, your voice flat. 

Comet looks at you knowingly, “Oh yes, I’m quite aware of your type.” 

You give him a confused look, “I haven’t dated since before I met you, how would you even know my type?”

“Because I’ve seen it with my own eyes.” Comet says, pointing two fingers at his face. 

Leaning forward on your arms, you cock your head to the side, “Really? And what would it be then?” 

Comet mirrors you, “Oh, you know... Tan skin, curly brown hair, whiskey eyes...” He fans his fingers across his upper lip, “A mustache...”

You choke on air, “Bradshaw?” 

Nodding, Comet wags his finger at you, “Don’t act so surprised, you’re literally in love with the man!” 

“I am not-”

“Oh, have pity on my poor heart.” Comet groans as he clasps his hands over his chest dramatically, “I know what love is, and baby you are deep in it.” 

Your mouth falls open, “No. Not with Rooster, no way.” 

“Denial is bad for your health.” 

“It’s not denial! It’s the truth, I have no feelings for him.” You state, slamming your hand on the table. 

Comet stares at your hand for a second before leaning forwards, “You sit on a throne of lies.” 

“There are no lies!” You shout exasperatedly, crossing your arms. Leaning back, Comet shakes his head, “Boo, you whore.”

You point your finger at him, “Don’t you quote Mean Girls at me, I’m serious. There’s nothing going on- how could there be?”

“Uh, maybe because when you two are together it’s like you’re the only ones in the room?” Comet deadpans. 

“Well, yeah! That’s bound to happen, I’ve known him since-” You pause to think, “Since forever!”

“And you’ve been in love with him for how long?” Comet asks, eyes wide. 

“Never!” 

Rolling his eyes, Comet waves you off, “Mhm, sure. Well, I’ll be sure to put in how much I had to endure before you two finally got together in my speech at your wedding.” 

You just stare at him with your mouth hanging open in shock, “There won’t be a wedding.”

“Not yet.” He winks at you. 

“Comet, I swear.-”

“Hey!” He stops you, “They didn’t name me the best matchmaker in high school and dedicate a whole page in the year book to show all the couples I got together for nothing!” 

“I don’t- wait. You were named best matchmaker?” You ask, curiosity throwing off from your annoyed confusion at Comet’s proclamations. 

Comet nods, “Yeah, they gave me a whole cupid’s bow and everything.”

“Oh, cool.”

“It was yeah, came with heart arrows even.” He agrees, mimicking the motion of firing off a bow and arrow. 

“Aw, that’s really nice.” You hum, “Maybe they should’ve given you the callsign Cupid.” 

Comet’s head bobs up and down excitedly, “That’s what I’ve been saying!” 

“But, that doesn’t mean you’re right about me and Bradley.” You say sternly, arms crossed atop the table. 

With a sigh, Comet holds his hands up in surrender, “Alright, but I know a love match when I see one.” He points at you, “And I am never wrong.” 

“Well there’s a first for everything, my friend.” You say sweetly. 

“I’m never wrong.” He repeats quickly. 

You just shake your head, “Fine, keep your suspicions, but if you even think about mentioning this again I will throw up on you.”

Comet makes a face of disgust, “Ew, no. No, you know I can’t do vomit.”

“Neither can I, but that’s just how far I’ll go because of how revolting it is.” Your voice is quiet and firm as you speak, complete certainty drenching your words.

Blinking at you with almost a look of pity, Comet shakes his head, “You’re going to feel a whole hurting wave of shock when you realize how wrong you are.”

“Oh, I’m gonna-” 

Comet shoots backwards, his hands out in front of him, “No, no! No, I was kidding- don’t do the thing!” 

You just fall back in your chair laughing, your hands clutching your stomach. Comet’s mouth falls open, “Oh, you bitch.”

Still laughing, you lean forward and hold your hand out for him, “Okay, okay. Truce?”

He eyes it for a second before shaking it, “Truce.”

You smile before glancing out the window and gasping, the sound making Comet jump a little, “What?” There’s panic in his voice but once he follows your gaze he lets out an, “Ohhhh.”

Looking out the window, you stare at the changing colors of the sky as the sun rises. Snapping back to Comet, you tap your hands excitedly on the table, “Oh, you know what we should do?”

Looking at you with confusion, Comet shakes his head. 

“We should go to the roof and watch the sunrise.” You say simply, pointing to the sky. 

He gives you a look, “It’s freezing out!”

“Wear a coat!” You’re already standing and grabbing your bag, “C’mon, it’ll be fun!”

Comet looks out the window again before giving in, “Okay, okay- but we gotta bring the others too.”

You beam, “Yes! I’ll get Ace, you get the boys- oh, and bring your camera!”

“Already ahead of you, hurry before we miss it!” Comet yells as he takes off running towards the men’s dorms. You do the same towards the women’s. 

Mere minutes later you’re shaking Ace’s shoulder, who grumbles at being woken up. 

“Come on, come on!” You whisper-yell at her as you shrug on your coat and grab you hat. She groans, squinting at you, “Dude, it’s like 5am?”

You toss her coat to her, “I know, but you gotta come see the sunrise.” 

At her look of “Seriously?” You sigh, “The boys are coming. It’ll be fun!”

Due to your very obvious excitement and how much Ace loves you, she eventually obliges. Now the two of you are hurrying up the stairs to the roof, clad in your coats and fuzzy hats. 

You hear clattering behind you and bend over the railing to see the boys not too far below. Cupping your hand over your mouth, you yell down to them, “Hurry up or we’ll miss it!” 

You can’t help but laugh as they begin running, tripping over each other in their haste. Ace grabs your arm and pulls you away from the railing and towards the doors. 

The second you two bust through them you’re met with the icy chill of the air, the sudden coldness practically smacking you in the face. 

“Oh, shit. That’ll wake you up.” Ace says with a chuckle, her breath coming out in a little cloud. You just grin and pull your hat down over your ears. 

“We made it!” You turn towards the doors and hurry out of the way as Ghost just about falls onto the roof. Ace catches him and they both stumble off to the side a bit. 

You laugh at them trying to regain their balance but then your smile grows even wider when Rooster appears behind Comet. His curls are pressed against his forehead because of his hat and his cheeks are already pink from the cold. 

You hate how utterly adorable you find it, yet you can’t bring yourself to look away. Rooster flashes you a smile, and well... maybe now you don’t hate it so much. 

You're waving at him and then Comet is in your ear with an, “I saw thaaat.” Before he’s skipping out of your reach towards Ace and Ghost. You right yourself from trying to hit Comet and turn to find Rooster much closer than he was a moment ago. 

“Was this your idea?” He asks, a smile on his lips as he shoves his hands into his pockets. You nod, “We were already awake so we thought, why not?”

Rooster grins, “Good thinking. I mean, how many more mornings will we have like this?” He drapes his arm over your shoulders and turns you towards the sunrise. 

You just stare at it with wide eyes, not being able to get enough of all of the oranges and pinks that are dancing across the sky. Faint purples blend into the deep blues on the horizon that are still hanging on from the night. 

Leaning into Rooster, you find his warmth comforting. 

“Question.” His breath tickles your ear.

“What’s up?” You ask, turning to look at him. 

A smile tugs at his mouth, “Why were you already awake?”

You laugh a little, “Oooh. We were studying.”

His mouth falls open, “Why? You’re literally the smartest person I know.”

Brushing him off with a wave of your hand, you drop your gaze to your feet, “Psh, no I’m not.”

“You are! Don’t deny your genius, Wonder. It hurts my heart.” Rooster says, his hand slapping dramatically over his chest. You laugh at his expression, your closed eyes causing you to miss the way his smile grows at the sound. 

You pat his hand over his heart, “Oh, I don’t wanna do that.”

He only smiles more, “Good. Besides, you’re already pretty much perfect at everything.” 

“No, I’m not-” You’re saying put then Rooster stumbles back, doubling over with his hands clasped over his chest, “Ow, my heart!”

“Rooster!” You laugh as you shove at his shoulder, which only gets him to laugh as he points at you, “Admit it! You’re crazy smart.”

You just roll your eyes at him. Rooster puts his hands on his hips and shakes his head, not taking that for an answer. Instead, he rushes forward and wraps his arms around your waist. 

You yell out in surprise as your back is pressed against his front, your feet skidding across the ground as he spins you. All you can do is laugh as he yells out an, “Admit it!” 

Holding onto his arms, you give in, “Okay, okay! I’m smart!”

Rooster lets you go and in one swift movement has you turned towards him, “How smart?”

You smile up at him, a little breathless, “So smart.”

He laughs, “The smartest.” The way he’s looking at you has your heart going absolutely nuts. His curls are in his eyes and his cheeks are so red, along with his nose now, too. 

You can’t help but admit how utterly handsome he looks right now. Looking away, you try to steady your rapidly beating heart. To keep your mouth from saying something you don’t want it to, you quickly grab Rooster’s hat and pull it down over his eyes. 

He starts, his hands reaching up to push off yours, but you’re running away. You run towards Ace with a yell, who is already opening her arms to you. She catches you in a hug and the impact sends you two spinning a bit. 

“What happened?” She laughs as you both regain your footing, her expression nothing but slightly confused. 

You’re just out of breath and laughing too hard to answer. Ace looks over at Rooster with his hands on his hips and lets out a knowing, “Ah.” 

You blink at her and are about to ask her what she means when Ghost lets out an excited, “Guys, it’s snowing!” He’s leaning over the edge of the building, his head tilted towards the sky. 

You and Ace look up and find that there are snowflakes falling. Big, white, fluffy ones.

“Oh, wow.” Ace breathes out as she watches them fall, a couple landing on her face. You give Ace a squeeze before taking her hand and leading her over to the boys, who are all looking at the sky. 

Upon walking towards Rooster, you grin a little at him as he looks at you expectantly, “Sorry for blinding you.” 

He shrugs, “T’was only temporary, M’lady.”  

“Tis a relief to hear, my good sir.” You laugh. 

“Ooh, guys can we build a snowman later?” Comet’s voice pulls you away from Rooster, “Once the snow gets deeper?” As he finishes speaking he looks up and tries to catch a snowflake with his tongue. 

“And go sledding! I’ve always thought that the hill by the pond would be perfect for sledding.” Ghost puts in, his hands clapping together like an excited child. 

Ace gives him a questioning look, “And what would we sled on.”

Ghost pauses mid clap, his hands mere inches apart, “Uuh, the trays from the mess hall?” 

The three of you hum in agreement. 

“Yeah, that’ll work.” Ace says as she pats her WSO on his back. 

You feel a hand wrap around yours and look over to Rooster, who begins pulling you away from the ledge, “Come here.”

“What are we doing?” You ask as he takes hold of your other hand as well. 

He smiles, “I remember my mom and dad doing this whenever it snowed because the ground would get all slippery.” 

You squeeze his hands tighter as a familiar warm feeling fills your heart. Whenever Rooster would mention something about his parents, he would get this certain glint in his eyes that were hard to look away from. 

He squeezes your hands back, “Just do what I do.” 

You're confused at first but then Rooster begins to run in a circle. You both lean back, each others hold being the only thing keeping you upright. The snow is in fact making the ground slippery, which you find only causes you to move faster. 

You run faster but then feel one of your hands slip, sending both you and Rooster skidding in opposite directions. You fall onto your back laughing, tears in your eyes. Rooster hurries over, still wheezing as he holds his hand out to you, “You okay?” He asks. 

Your stomach hurts from laughing as you spin, the world moving around you in a blur. Through the blur you still catch glances of Ace, Ghost, and Comet doing the same thing, though their circle seems to be a bit more hectic. 

Or at least tries to ask. He’s laughing so hard it’s a bit difficult to understand if he actually spoke English or not. But you still just nod and take his hand. 

Once back on your feet, you try to catch your breath as you lean your side against him, a laugh still rattling through you. You watch as the others meet a very similar fate that you did as they all break apart and fall. 

Your knees feel weak as the laughing starts over again, leaving the five of you all just laughing hysterically on the roof at five in the morning. As everyone calms down and catches their breath, Ace suggests going inside for some hot cocoa. 

“Yes, please. I can’t feel my toes.” Ghost says as he loops his arm through Ace’s, who rolls her eyes, “That’s your fault for wearing slippers.”

As you walk to the doors with Rooster, Comet comes up next to you and squeezes your arm, “This is the kind of stuff that I don’t want to change.” He says quietly, his face pink but glowing with nothing but joy. 

You grab onto his hand and hold it tightly as you smile, “Me too.” 

☆

Your fight with Fritz had been dealt with. Against what you had previously thought, you didn’t break his nose, and he was completely fine. A part of you was annoyed at the fact but the better part of you was relieved. 

Nothing much came from it in the end, but you two were no longer paired together. There’s still a struggle amongst everyone and completing the training scenarios. 

No one had completed them successfully yet, and the mission date was ever impending. It loomed over the team like a dark cloud filled with lightning, ready to strike at any given moment. 

Today isn’t any different. Teams still go up in the air, and they still come back down unsuccessful. You offer Phoenix a reassuring smile as she, Bob, and Coyote are called to go up. 

The rest of you sit sprawled across the ready room, listening intently to the radio on the bar counter. Maybe this will be the one. 

You sit on the couch next to Rooster, completely exhausted. You had been paired with Payback and Fanboy, and while you all worked well together, the session still ended in an ultimate failure. 

You glanced over at the pair of them on the couch across from you, noting how tired they both looked. Frowning, you drop your gaze to the string you were messing with on the cuff of your sleeve. 

The radio crackles and it isn’t hard to miss when Coyote communicates that the missile didn't hit the target. It was almost expected at this point, as no one yet has had a direct hit. 

There’s a collective groan throughout the room with the thought that this team too will return unsuccessful. Their voices come through the radio and Maverick’s “That’s a kill.” allows you to know that Phoenix and Bob are out, meaning the mission is a complete failure. 

“Damn it.” Rooster mutters next to you, pinching the bridge of his nose. Maverick announces that it’s time to head back, they’ll try again. 

But that’s when you all hear it. You sit up on the couch, your head turning towards the radio as Phoenix’s panicked, “He’s going to burn in!” filters through the speakers.

Coyote was in G-Lock. 

Before you even register what's happening, you see Hangman rush towards the radio, turning up the volume nob. His hands grip the counter, his knuckles going white as uneasiness fills the room. 

You’re on your feet as Maverick yells, “I’m going after him!”

“Come on, Coyote. Come on...” Hangman mutters as he stares at the radio, his jaw clenched tightly. You feel your stomach drop as you watch the man’s face pale. It wasn’t hard to guess how close him and Coyote were, as the two were always by each others sides.

Maverick’s voice is all that’s heard in the dead silence of the room, each panicked yell for Coyote sending a chill down your spine. You hold your breath as the line goes silent. 

“Coyote? Coyote, you okay? You okay?” Maverick asks quickly. 

“Yeah, yeah I’m good. I’m okay.” Coyote’s voice finally responds, sending a resounding amount of relief throughout the room. You watch Hangman’s head drop, his grip on the counter lessening as he lets out a breath. 

“That was close.” Phoenix says, to which you can’t help yourself agreeing with. 

“Too close.” Maverick says, “Let’s head in. That’s enough for today.” 

You sigh deeply, glancing over to Rooster who shares your look of relief. The second of relief is gone as soon as it came however, as panic once again fills the line. 

“Bird strike! Bird strike-” Maverick’s voice is clear and full of surprise. The sound of a jet being hit crackles through the speakers. 

“We’re hit- left engine is out!” Bob yells, his tone unlike anything you’ve heard before. Your body goes rigid from where you stand next to Rooster, who is completely frozen as he stares wide eyed at the radio. 

“We’re on fire! We’re on fire!” Bob shouts, to which Phoenix responds, “Climbing!” 

“Oh my god.” Rooster’s voice is almost inaudible from next to you. So much so that you wouldn’t have heard it if the room wasn’t already stilled with silence. 

All you can hear is the panic from Phoenix and Bob as they try to regain control, but from what you’re hearing, they aren’t. They’re on fire, and they’re falling. 

“You can’t recover- eject! Eject!” Maverick yells to them, almost sounding as if he’s pleading. 

There’s no response from the pilots as the line falls silent. Your head whips towards the window as a distant explosion rattles through the air. All you can see is a growing tower of smoke on the horizon, and nothing more. 

Your hand covers your mouth in shock, your heart beating so fast that it feels like it’s in your throat, choking you. 

“Did they make it?” Fanboy asks, his hands on the back of his head as he stares out the window, his eyes wide. From next to him, Payback just runs his hand down his face and lets out a quiet, “Shit..” 

“What...” Hangman mutters from his spot next to the radio. His normal demeanor is dropped and all you can see is the genuine fear in his eyes. Your chest is so tight it feels as though you can’t breathe. 

Looking to Rooster, you find that he’s just staring out the window, his expression blank, “They’ve got to be okay.” He says quietly, almost to himself. 

You turn back towards the window and that’s when you see it, the sight making you jump slightly. 

“Parachutes!” You shout, louder than you meant to but you can’t find it in yourself to care. They made it out, they didn’t crash. 

“They ejected- oh thank god.” Fanboy sighs, running his hands down his face as he falls back onto the couch. 

Hangman walks towards the window, his hands clenched tightly, “But are they okay?” He asks no one in particular. 

“We won’t know until they're brought back in... but they’re alive.” Payback says, walking over to Hangman and placing his hand on the man’s shoulder. 

“They’re alive.” You repeat softly, your voice barely a whisper. 

All you can do now is wait. 

☆

You’re pacing the halls as you await the word on Phoenix and Bob’s condition. Everyone pretty much dissipated after seeing the parachutes. 

Rooster was kind of in a frozen state and had asked to be alone. You reluctantly obeyed his wishes, which is why you are now in the halls of the med wing with Hangman, Payback, and Fanboy. 

You look up as the doors open, revealing a very tired looking Maverick. You rush over to him and everyone else turns towards him expectantly. He just simply nods without any of you saying anything, “Phoenix and Bob are okay. They’re just keeping them overnight for observation... It’s alright.” 

“Oh, thank god.” Hangman sighs, leaning his head against the wall as he rubs his eyes with his palms. You drop your head as you let out a breath of relief, “That’s good.” 

Looking back up at Maverick, you nudge his arm a little, “Are you okay?” 

He waves you off, “Don’t worry about me.”

You shrug, “Old habit.” 

He smiles a little at you before looking around, “Where’s Rooster?”

Scratching your neck, you nod down the hall, “He’s still back in the lounge.” Your voice lowers, “Hearing everything kind of freaked him out, I think.”

Maverick looks to you, his eyebrows drawn together, so you continue, “I’ve never seen him like that... all distant. It was like he wasn’t all there.” 

Nodding, a sense of understanding crosses over Maverick’s face, “It’s not hard to guess what must’ve been going through his head.” You nod too, knowing exactly what he’s alluding to. 

“What about you?” He asks softly. 

You raise an eyebrow at him, “Hm?”

“Are you okay.. after hearing that?” 

Grinning, you shake your head, “Don’t worry about me, Mav.”

He shrugs, “Old habit.” 

You push at his arm slightly, to which he just shakes his head before pulling you into a hug. It’s tight and quick, and as he pulls back he says, “I’m going to go talk to him. You all should be good to see Phoenix and Bob if you want.”

“Alright. Thank you.” You tell him. What you’re thanking him for, you don’t have to tell him. He nods at you before heading towards the lounge to talk with Rooster. 

You turn back to the others, who are already heading through the doors. Following Hangman, you thank him as he holds the door open behind him for you. 

The group of you make it into Phoenix and Bob’s shared room, where you find them both sitting on their beds talking. They both look over as you all walk in. 

Phoenix smiles at the sight of everyone, “Is there a party, or something?” 

“Yeah, a glad you’re not dead party.” Hangman says as he moves forward and pulls her into a hug. Phoenix hugs him back tightly, her voice muffled a little by his shoulder as she speaks, “Sounds like a pretty good reason to party.” 

“Did anyone bring cake?” Bob asks, his eyebrows raises expectantly as a smile tugs at his mouth. You laugh as you rush over and hug him, “Sorry, the mess hall isn’t open 24 hours, unfortunately.” 

He hugs you back tightly before you part, “Ah, I’ll accept just the hugs then.” You give his shoulder a squeeze just as Fanboy comes over, “Good, because there will be plenty.” He says as he practically tackles Bob with a hug. 

You and Payback laugh at the two. Turning, you see that Phoenix is already opening her arms to you and you don’t waste a second in hugging her. 

“Scared the shit out of us, Phe.” You tell her. She chuckles, “Scared the shit out of myself.” 

You rub her back before pulling away with a smile, “It’s good to see you.” 

She grins, “Good to see you too.”

There’s a knock at the door and you turn to see Coyote leaning against the frame, “Is there a secret meeting I don’t know about?”

“Nah, we knew you’d show up fashionably late.” Hangman says as he hugs his friend. Coyote returns it and pats him on the back before pulling away. Hangman holds onto his arms, “How are you doing?” 

“Good.” Coyote responds with a reassuring smile, “A little shaken, but nothing I can’t handle.” 

“Atta boy.” Hangman says as he pats his arm before letting go. 

You sit down on the edge of Phoenix’s bed, leaving room for Hangman to plop down next to you. 

“Each day is something new, huh?” Payback asks as he sits down next to WSO, who hasn’t left Bob’s side. 

“No kidding. Rooster was right to question if this mission is even possible.” Fanboy agrees, leaning back on his hands. 

Bob nudges his arm, “We still have time... We’ve just hit a rough patch, that’s all.” 

“We’ll get it together. I mean, we are the best of the best, right?” Hangman says, looking around to everyone with a grin and raised eyebrows. 

You chuckle, “Take a shot every time someone says that to us.” 

Laughter fills the room, the tension fading the longer all of you talk. There’s a feeling that despite all that has happened, it’s going to be okay. Simply because of the people here. 

There’s a moment of silence before Bob looks up with a thinking expression, adjusting his glasses as he speaks, “You know... I’m pretty sure I peed myself a little up there.” 

“Oh my god.” Fanboy just about chokes on a snort from next to him, his hand coming up to cover his mouth at an attempt to hide his laughter.

Bob laughs too, “No, I’m serious, that was so scary.” 

“I mean, at this point in our careers, who hasn’t?” Coyote asks as he leans against the wall. Hangman raises his hand proudly, “I haven’t.”

“I’m not even going to try and hide the fact that I probably did too.” Phoenix says, backing up her WSO. That brings all of you to a point of laughter, the atmosphere in the room lightening. 

“Bullshit.” You say, smacking his hand down. Payback is shaking his head, “There’s no way, man.” 

Hangman holds his hands up, “Look, I don’t have to defend myself to you guys. I know what happens up there in my own jet.” 

“Do you? Do you really?” Coyote asks, leaning forward with his hands on his knees as he squints as his friend. Hangman gives him a shocked look, “Man c’mon, you’re supposed to be on my side!” 

“Says who?” Coyote laughs, reaching out to push at Hangman’s shoulder, “Just because I’m your friend does not mean I have to defend your lies.” 

Hangman’s mouth drops, “They’re not lies.”

“They’re so obviously lies, dude.” You tell him blankly. Hangman lets out a groan and leans back on his hands, “Ya’ll are rude.” 

His statement sends you all off again, laughter filling the room. Phoenix snaps her fingers, “You’ve at least thrown up in the air, that I know for certain.” 

Sighing in defeat, Hangman holds up his hand in a one armed shrug, “That... that is true, yes.” 

You’re laughing so hard now your stomach is starting to hurt. You lean forward, clutching it as Hangman shakes his head, “What a team we are... Just a bunch of idiots talking about who’s had an accident in the air.” 

“We’re just that comfortable with each other, buddy.” Coyote says, resting his arm on Hangman’s shoulder as he places his hand over his heart dramatically. Hangman shrugs him off, “Don’t buddy me, you betrayed me.” But the laughter in his voice throws off any hint of malice he may had intended. 

“Bunch of idiots, indeed.” Phoenix mutters in your ear. You nudge her arm with a laugh, the smile on your face wide. 

A gentle knock on the door brings you all towards it. Your smile falters a little as you see Warlock standing in the doorway, his features weighed down with a forlorn expression. 

He steps in, holding himself in a way that shows he’s struggling to find the words for whatever he came to say. It throws the room into an ominous feeling. 

Looking over the room, he clears his throat, “Excuse me...” He starts slowly, his voice hesitant. Warlock’s eyes land on you and your heart skips as he speaks, “Lieutenant Kazansky, may I speak with you?” 

You’ve had enough experiences in your life to have an idea of what the look in his eyes mean. It feels as though the air in your body has left as you slowly lift yourself to your feet. You feel a comforting hand squeeze at your shoulder before you walk towards the door. 

Warlock takes you out into the hall, gently closing the door behind him. He offers you a sad smile. 

“Sir?” You ask hesitantly, your voice filled with the dread you’re feeling on what he has to say. A part of you is praying and hoping with everything that you are that it isn’t what you think. 

But the more rational side of you knows that it is. Warlock proves it to you when he softly says your name. 

“He’s gone.” Your voice is hardly audible as you say it before he even gets the chance to. Warlock’s eyebrows draw together before be nods slowly, “I am terribly sorry, Lieutenant.” 

You feel yourself nodding, hot tears filling your eyes as your throat closes. You look at him, your hands clasped tightly together in front of you, “When?” You whisper. 

“We just received a call from your mother... he passed in his sleep.” Warlock tells you, his voice nothing but gentle. 

You take in a shaking breath as you look towards the ceiling. All you can do is nod. 

“I am truly sorry... he was a great man.” The admiral’s voice sounds so distant as he speaks. You can barely see through your tears that are pooling at your eyes. 

Refusing to fall. 

You look towards him, “Thank you... for coming to tell me.” You say quietly, your voice shaking. 

Warlock nods his head and gently rubs your arm in a comforting manner. You place your hand over his and squeeze it in response, not being able to speak. 

You know that Warlock as children, he’s a father. There’s not a doubt in your mind that he’s thinking of his own being in your place. You offer him a sad, watery smile before moving to go. 

There’s a sound of running feet halting to a stop behind you as you turn. You look to see both Maverick and Rooster, eyes wide and chests heaving. Maverick’s eyes are filled with unshed tears. You barely even look at Rooster before you’re turning around and brushing past Warlock. 

It almost feels as though you’re running the second you round the corner. You’re not sure where you’re going, but you need to be alone. You’re not even sure if you’re breathing as you rush down the hall, refusing to the let the tears fall. 

Refusing to even allow yourself to process anything at all. 

You come across a door to a random room and wrench it open. Slamming it behind you, you flinch a little as the impact rattles the frames on the wall. Breathing heavily, you look around and see nothing but a table and a couple of chairs. 

There’s a radio on the table, but not much else. 

With a shout, you grab onto the radio and rip the cord out of the wall before throwing it to the ground. It smashes against the floor, scattering across the hardwood. 

You stare at all the broken pieces for a moment, the tears finally falling. 

That’s when you break. 

Wrapping your arms around yourself, you slowly drop to the ground with a silent sob, your head throbbing. The silence grows into an agonizing cry as you hold yourself, your fingers digging into your arms. 

It hurts to breathe, knowing what you had been fearing has finally come true. 

Tom Kazansky is dead. 

Your father is gone, and you never truly said goodbye. 

There was so much you wanted to say. Now you’ll never get to. 

It feels as though you are completely alone, that your world is crashing down around you. The pain is burning in your chest, not allowing you to catch your breath. 

You feel arms wrap around you and fall back into them, holding onto the arms and not even registering who it is quite yet. But they’re here. 

They’re here, yet you feel so terribly empty. 

They shift and lean against the wall, holding you to them. Your head falls against their shoulder. 

“It’s okay... I’m so sorry...” A soft voice whispers in your ear. You close your eyes tightly, the tears falling down your face as you finally make out who it is. 

Bradley.

Who else?

You just hold onto him tighter, your breath coming out in pained gasps. He rocks you a little, his hold on you never wavering, “It’s alright... I’ve got you, you’re okay..” His voice is so quiet and gentle, it seems to wrap you up in this cloud of comfort and warmth. 

Bradley continues speaking softly to you, just sweet nothings of comforting words. You barely even hear half of them, but just having him there with you is enough to breathe the air back into your lungs. 

You father is gone. 

But you are not alone. 

☆

That night, you dream of your father. 

It’s the day of graduation, and you’re getting ready in the room you shared with Ace. She had left earlier to meet up with her family who had come for the ceremony. 

You’re mind is unfocused as you button your collar, taking a moment to stare at yourself in the mirror. You don’t quite recognize the person staring back at you. 

Unwelcome tears begin to pool at your eyes. You lean against your hands on your desk, your head falling back as you look up to the ceiling, just trying to breathe. 

“Pull it together, Wonder.” You whisper to yourself, closing your eyes. 

But it’s hard. Impossible, even. The one person who has been by your side since day one, who you thought would always be with you, isn’t here. 

He’s buried six feet under, and it’s your fault. 

Your hands ball into fists on the desk as you drop your head, your eyes remaining closed. 

God you wish he was here. 

Comet is supposed to be here. 

But he isn’t, and you are. 

Now you have to go walk across that damn stage and get your wings. Without him. All you can do is think about how excited he was. 

You sniff and shake out your hands as you hear a knock. “Come in.” Your voice shakes more than you’d like. You turn as the door creaks open, revealing Rooster clad in his dress whites. 

“Hey.” You say to him quietly. 

“Hey.” He responds, offering you a smile. 

It’s as if him just being here calms you slightly. Rooster notices your red rimmed eyes and steps closer, “You okay?” 

Your eyebrows draw together and you almost laugh, “No.”

“What can I do to help?” He asks gently. 

You shake your head but then feel yourself falter. “Just...” You’re cut off by the tightening of your throat and instead hold your arms out to him. 

Rooster wastes no time in closing the distance between you two and enveloping you in a hug. He rubs his hand along your back in the way he knows you find comforting. You just bury your face in his shoulder. 

“He’d be proud of you, you know.” Rooster tells you quietly. The softness to his voice surprises you almost as much as his words. 

You turn your head until it’s just your cheek resting against his shoulder, “He should be here.” Your voice cracks. 

Rooster just holds you tighter, “It isn’t your fault.” 

“I wish people would stop saying that.” 

He pulls back to look at you, “Why?”

You just shake your head. 

“Wonder.” Rooster says firmly, though he keeps his voice quiet. 

You look up at him. Into his eyes that are swimming with nothing but grief and understanding. He rubs his hands along your arms, “It isn’t your fault, and I’m going to keep saying it until you believe it.” 

“You’ll probably be saying it for the rest of your life, then.” You tell him simply, sniffing as you look away. 

“I don’t care. I’ll do whatever it takes.” There’s not an ounce of hesitation in his voice. It is filled with complete certainty. 

Your eyes drift over the wall that is covered with photos. Most of which Comet took. You smile a little at all of them, “He was so excited to graduate.” Your voice comes out as a whisper. 

Rooster tightens his hold on your arms, “I know...”

You look back to him, your chest tightening, “I don’t know if I can do this.” 

“You can.” He reassures you.

You’re shaking your head as the tears fall, “No, I can’t. Not without Comet.” 

“Wonder.” Rooster tries but you keep going, “He’s been by my side through all of this... I don’t know how to do this without him.” 

“But you do.” He says softly. 

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.” Rooster’s hands come up to cup either side of your face, thumbing away the tears, “He was with you, sure, but everything you’ve accomplished is all because of what you’ve done, not anyone else.” He pauses for a moment as his eyebrows draw together, his own eyes shining. 

“You can do so much more than you think and though it hurts like hell right now, it will get better. You’ll learn how to move on, I promise.”

All you can do is look at him as he continues, “You’re not alone, Wonder. You never will be.” 

You feel yourself crumple and fall into his embrace once more. He wraps his arms around you and holds on tightly, “You’re one of the strongest people I know... and if there’s anything you can do, it’s to come out of this.” 

Rooster rubs his hand along your back, “So, you’re going to walk across that stage... get your wings... and wear them proudly.” He pulls you back, “For Comet.” 

Him saying that brings some strength back to you. It calms you and allows you to breathe again. You nod and wipe at your tears. 

Sniffing, you cup his cheek, “You’re doing it for someone too.”

Rooster gives you a questioning look, to which you smile softly, “For Goose. He’s proud of you, too. I know it.” 

You see the tears fill his eyes as he nods, holding out his hand for you, “Ready?” 

Taking his hand, you hold it tightly, "Let’s go.” 

☆

You’re fidgeting in your seat as the names are called, each one bringing you closer and closer to the stage. Soon enough, yours is called and you hesitate for a moment before taking the steps. 

Ice is waiting for you on the stage, a look of nothing but pride and love on his face. Seeing him tightens your chest. 

As you walk up to him, you salute, to which he smiles so wide. Stepping forward, he pins your wings on your uniform and as he does he leans in close and says, “I am so proud of you, my wonder.” 

He then pulls you into a tight hug. 

“The sky is lucky to have you, Lieutenant.” Ice tells you softy. 

You smile at him as you pull away. He smiles back and there’s a slight glisten to his eyes that catches the sunlight. Ice leads you off of the stage as everyone claps. 

The rest of the names are called by in a blur, and soon enough everyone is gathered around, talking excitedly. You had finished top of your class, Rooster second to you. 

Your parents are pushing you two together to take a picture, as well as ones with Ace and Ghost. Upon seeing your friends, you pull them both into the tightest hug. 

The missing spot of your fourth held in each of your hearts. As you part, Ace whispers, “I’m so proud of you.” 

“You too.” You say back, and then look over to Ghost, “And you. I’m so proud of you.” He smiles under the praise, his eyes watering, “I love you guys.” 

You three hug once more before they’re both pulled away by their families. You watch them go, knowing you’ll see them again. 

You return to your family and are met with a chorus of how proud they are of you. Glancing over, you notice Maverick standing off to the side. Excusing yourself, you hurry over into his already open arms. 

“You made it!” You exclaim as you pull back. He laughs, “Of course I made it. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He looks down to your pin and smiles, “Wow, look at that.” 

You grin. As Maverick looks at you, he notes the familiar distant look in your eyes and nods in understanding. He squeezes your arms, “I’m so proud of you, kid.” 

“Thanks, Pops.” 

“Ah, that nickname ages me.”

“You love it.”

“I do-” He laughs, “I really do.”

“Come on.” You take his hand and lead him over to your parents and the others. Upon seeing Maverick, Ice greets him with a hug. 

“How’s my wingman?” Maverick asks as they part. Ice smiles, “About to burst with pride.” 

You laugh as your mother pulls you into a side hug and squeezes you. As Maverick and Ice talk, you look over to Rooster, who is glancing at Maverick. 

You nudge his arm, “Go talk to him.” 

He seems unsure, “I don’t know.” 

“Rooster, you just graduated practically top of your class, you’ve got to know how proud he is of you.” You tell him, treading lightly but also speaking with certainty as you are fully aware of how proud Maverick is. 

Rooster looks to Maverick again, who looks back. The second their eyes meet, Maverick smiles but Rooster looks away. 

“Practically at the top...” He chuckles, staring at you, “You could just say second.” 

You scrunch your nose at him, “Eh, didn’t want to make you feel bad for having lost to me.” 

He rolls his eyes, “I don’t feel bad.” 

“Sure you don’t.” 

“Okay... maybe a little.” 

You snap your fingers, “There it is.” 

“But you deserve to be first,” Rooster says quickly, “You’re insane.”

You do a little bow, “Why, thank you.” 

He nudges your shoulder and you nudge back, “Now are you going to go talk to him or will I have to?” 

“Please don’t, oh my god, I’m going.” Rooster groans, but there’s a slight shake of laughter to his voice. You chuckle as he rushes past you. 

You watch as he stops a little ways away from Maverick. The two speak lowly to each other for a moment before Maverick pulls Rooster into a tight hug. Rooster hesitates for a second but then hugs back. 

They still have their problems to work through, you know that, but today is a day where Bradley needs someone. His parents are not longer here, but Maverick is. 

You’re pulled away from the two as Ice walks to you and says, “Come with me.” 

He leads you away from the crowd before bringing you into a tight hug. As he pulls away, he just stares at you for a moment, “I am so proud of you.” 

You smile at him, “I couldn’t have done it without you.” Ice waves you off, “No... this is your day, you deserve all the credit.” 

“I’m serious though, I owe it all to you, dad.” You say firmly. 

His eyes shine as he reaches over an straightens your pin, “I never got the chance to ask how you were doing.” 

You swallow dryly, “I’m... trying. Doing my best.” 

He nods, “Colin is proud of you. Beyond proud, I just know he is.” 

Tears fall from your eyes as you smile at his words, your heart aching, “I was so proud of him too... I still remember how nervous he was starting out.” 

Ice laughs, “He would always talk so fast... sometimes I truly had no idea what he was saying.” You laugh as well, wiping at your eyes. 

“But you two grew together and created your own team. That’s something special.” He tells you, to which you nod. 

Clearing his throat, Ice puts his hands on your shoulders, “Hang on to your team, Wonder... You were never meant to be alone.” 

You give him a questioning look, confused as to where he’s coming from. He smiles sadly at your expression, “I can see it in you. How you’re pulling away from others... but remember, those who are by your side... they are your greatest strength.” 

He squeezes your shoulders, “Having that experience, that bond you had with Comet will only help you to grow... Though I know how badly it hurts, it will get better. You’ll see.” You nod along as he speaks, your throat tight as the tears fall. 

Ice hugs you once more, “I love you so much... and I know that you have so many great things left to do.” 

“I love you too, dad.” You say, your cheek pressed against his chest. You can feel his heart beating under your touch. You pull back, “Thank you for being here.”

He smiles, “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” He wraps his arm around your shoulders as you walk back to the others, “You know what I realized?” He asks. 

“Hm?” You tilt your head towards him. 

“I’ve never flown with you.” Ice says with a smile, “I mean, I’ve flown you countless times, but you’ve never flown me.” 

You laugh at his statement, “Do you want to change that?” 

“I would love nothing more.” He says with the widest smile. 

It takes you a while after that day, but eventually Ice is the first person you fly with after Comet. 

He’s also the last. 

☆

The day of your father’s funeral you find yourself not truly feeling anything. There’s a pain in your chest and tears in your eyes that refuse to fall, but you feel nothing. 

Even while you stand beside your mother as the trumpets play, you feel as though you’re not really there. It’s as if you’re existing outside of your body, just watching everything unfold, but not actually taking part in any of it. 

Yet, you stand tall, your eyes trained forward as your mother is handed a flag. She holds it close to her chest and you can see how her shoulders shake out of the corner of your eye. 

You glance over towards Maverick, who is standing before the coffin, his eyes brimmed with tears. He looks at nothing but the casket before him, his hands shaking slightly as he places his pin on the wood. The slam of his fist pounding it in rattles through your chest. 

While the trumpet crescendos before falling silent, you bring your hand up to a salute as jets fly over the ceremony, in honor of the late admiral. 

None of this feels right to you. 

After the funeral there are words of comfort and condolences said to you and your family. It all passes by in a blur, so much so that you can’t even remember who spoke to you once everyone has said their goodbyes. 

How could it? 

You don’t leave your mother’s side throughout it all, her hand clasped tightly in yours. At the end of it all, she turns to you with a watery smile, her chin trembling as she tries to hold herself together. 

Sarah Kazansky is one of the strongest women you’ve ever met, and to see her on the brink of crumbling is enough to send you over the edge. All you can do is pull her into a tight hug, rubbing your hand along her back just like she always would for you. 

As you hold onto your mother, you feel your siblings gather around, enveloping you in one big, much needed hug. You rest your cheek against your younger brother’s hair, his face hidden in Sarah’s shoulder. 

With your family surrounding you, there is a part of you that knows all too well that your father will live on through each and every one of them. As you part, your mother cups the sides of your face, once again putting on a brave face as she smiles softly at you. 

“I love you so much, my darling.” She says, her voice no stronger than a whisper. You nod, your tears falling as you hold onto her wrists, “I love you too.” 

Wringing your hands together tightly, you slowly walk over to the newly placed headstone, the white marble perfectly pristine. As your feet slow, you find yourself reading the name engraved on it over and over again. 

Your voice is so quiet you’re not sure she even heard you, but the way her smile grows just the smallest amount tells you that she did. Holding tightly to your mother’s hands, your eyes flick towards the grave site, “I think I’m going to hang back for a bit, if that’s alright.” 

Sarah nods, thumbing away a stray tear on your cheek, “Take all the time you need, sweetheart. We’ll be at the house whenever you’re ready.” You send her a grateful smile before watching her and your siblings make their way down the hill. 

Tom Kazansky. Loving Father. Devoted Husband. Respected Admiral. 

You wipe your eyes and look towards the sky, your throat tight. Through the blur of your tears, you take a moment to watch the colors of the setting sun above you. Soft pinks and purples dance across the sky, bringing a slight smile to tug on your lips at its beauty. 

Dropping your gaze back to the headstone, you let out a deep breath as you fidget with the wings pinned onto your chest. Right over your heart, placed there by Iceman himself. 

Your mind clouds over and you have to think for a moment before you clear your throat, “I guess this is goodbye, then.” Your voice comes out scratchy, but you can’t find it in you to try and make it sound cleaner.

 “I...” You start and then pause, your hands opening and closing at your sides as you try to stay composed, “I keep thinking of everything that I wanted to tell you... but then just hoping that you knew, because I never got the chance to.” 

You let out a deep, pained breath before running your hands down your face. Your arms wrap around yourself as you stare at the headstone, “You told me that I’m strong but... but right now I feel like I could be blown over by the wind, Dad.” 

You sniff and wipe angrily at your tears with the back of your hand, “You told me you did... that you always knew, but... I still wish I could’ve said it, you know? I wish I could’ve told you myself.” Your voice cuts off as you choke on a sob, your palms digging into your eyes as your shoulders tremble. 

A dry chuckle rattles through your throat as you look to the sky once more, the colors more vibrant and louder than before. Still staring at the above, you try to keep going, “You were the stronger one, I think...” You trail off, struggling to find the right thing to say.

You drop your head in frustration. There is so much you have to tell him, but just like before, the words fail you. Hiding your eyes behind your hand, you shake your head, “God, why is it so hard to just talk.” 

Your hand falls from your face as your chest tightens, knowing that what you want to say will not be spoken today. Wiping at your eyes once more, you take a deep breath, “I love you, Dad... and I miss you.” 

That’s all your able to say before the grief takes away your voice. There is nothing in you left to keep yourself together enough to even utter another word. So instead, you reach down and pick up the bundle of flowers that you had brought with you. 

Carefully walking towards the stone, you place them at the base of his name. The bouquet is decorated with all the blue and white flowers you could find, knowing that they were Ice’s favorite. 

You kneel down and rest your forehead against the cool stone, feeling the tears slip down your cheeks as you close your eyes, “Bye, Dad.” You whisper to him. 

With nothing left to say, you brush your hands off on your pants as you stand. You take one last look at the grave before turning and walking down the hill, making you the final one to leave. 

As you walk down to the parking lot, you’re aware that close friends and family went back to your parents house, but you can’t find it in you to want to go there right now. A part of you is saying it’s selfish, but you choose to ignore it. 

Stepping off the grass and onto the pavement, you look up and find a familiar face waiting for you. He’s leaning against his bronco, fidgeting with something in his hands. 

Bradley lifts his head as your feet scuff against the concrete. At the sight of your crest fallen expression, he opens his arms to you. You gladly fall into them, thankful for the comfort of the person closest to you.  

Your hat is hanging limply in your hand as you hang onto him, your head leaning against his shoulder. Bradley presses his cheek to the top of your hair, holding you in such a way that feels as though he’ll never let go. 

You hope he doesn’t. 

The two of you stay like that for a while, you’re not sure how long. Once you pull back, the tears that fell have dried against your skin. You run your hands down your face, your eyes irritated from all the crying. 

Bradley looks at you for a moment, his hand reaching down to hold yours before his gaze drifts up towards what’s above, “The sky looks so beautiful.” 

You follow his eyes and nod, “I thought so, too.” 

He clears his throat and looks back to you, “My mom used to say that the sky was a way for those who have passed to talk with us.” 

You stare at him as he speaks, your chest aching, “That those we knew could be seen in the sunrises, the sunsets, the moon... everything.” His hand waves up towards the colors painting the sky, “If she were here she would say that this is Ice’s sky... and that he is speaking so, so beautifully.” 

Your eyes are pulled up towards the sky once more. All the colors blur together while your tears fall, but you don’t dare look away. Bradley’s hand squeezes yours as he brings you closer. You lean into him, still watching the sky. 

After a while, you slowly drop your gaze and notice the small box clasped in Bradley’s free hand. You nudge his arm with yours, “What’s that?” 

“Oh.” Bradley almost sounds surprised as he looks down at what he’s holding. A small smile tugs at his lips as he holds it towards you, “I got it for you.”

 You accept the velvet box, giving him a questioning stare before carefully opening it. Your eyes widen as you stare at the small ring placed inside, so simple and delicate. 

You gingerly take it out of the box and hold it close as you stare at it in wonder. 

“I know you already have his tags but... I thought this could be a reminder of something else.” Bradley tells you softly. As he speaks, you turn the ring over and notice the engraving on the inside. 

Never Alone it says etched into the silver. 

You slip it onto your index finger, finding that it fits perfectly. 

“I know how you feel about being on a team again... but it doesn’t make you any less to be scared or-” His words are cut off as you wrap your arms around him in a tight hug, your face buried into his neck. He’s hugging you back without a second of hesitation. 

“Thank you.” You whisper to him. He holds you impossibly tighter, “Anytime, Wonder.” 

 The two of you remain like that for a while, neither one daring to move. 

The ring on your finger serves its purpose as its mere existence proves to you that you are not alone. Especially now. 

-

A/n: In writing this I realized that I started the chapter with a sunrise and ended it with a sunset... wasn’t intention but damn, that’s poetic. I hope you all enjoyed and if you cried, so did I, it’s okay. Thank you again for all of your support, I truly can’t express how much it means to me. Take care of yourselves, until next time <3

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