#Experiment Steve my beloved

[yikesharringrove]

Twigs snapped under bare feet. Mud splashed against the dark trunks of thick trees. Branches caught pumping arms, leaving scrapes on pale skin.

He didn't care.

Could hardly feel the cuts on his feet as he ran. Sprinted as fast as he could.

He could still faintly hear the alarms in the distance, the lab sirens going off. The automated voice announcing a lockdown. A security breech.

There was blood underneath his fingernails.

Blood that wasn't his own.

He didn't know where he was going.

His only thought was to keep moving. Don't let them find me.

He ran, his lungs burning, his vision going bright.

The driver of the truck barely managed to stop before hitting the boy, the headlights washing over him.

Scared brown eyes, close shaved head. Dirty hospital gown.

Hopper could hardly breathe.

It was another one. Another fucked up experiment kid.

Escaped from the lab. Just like El.

He slowly got out of the truck.

The kid seemed to be frozen to the spot, a scrape on his cheek slowly oozing blood, his breaths ragged and heaving.

Hopper had his hands up, approaching as slowly as he could.

"It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you."

The boy shivered, and it was as though the air folded around him, and he was gone.

Disappeared. Right on the spot.

Hopper held his breath. No footsteps.

"You're okay. I can help you. I know you came from the lab. I know you've escaped." He swallowed hard, eyes darting about, trying to see any sign of the boy. "I know about Papa. How he hurts you. I can keep you safe."

A twig splintered somewhere to his left.

The boy had started inching away.

"Sorry, probably shouldn't mention him. But, I know it all. I know about Eleven. You know her? She escaped about a year ago. Just like you. I'm keeping her safe. She has a home with me."

A shaky breath.

"Eleven?"

The boy's voice was tiny.

"Yes! Eleven. I could take you to her. You could speak with her."

It was silent, and Hopper tried to stay still. Tried to stay non-threatening.

The air seemed to tense, and relax around the small boy, finally visible again in the forest.

"Eleven."

-

Hopper didn't make the boy wear a seat belt in the truck. The idea of being strapped to something would most likely be a bad one.

His hands were shaking, and he twisted his fingers in the hem of his hospital gown.

Hopper had given him his coat, too-big on the boy's thin shoulders.

Too thin.

The boy's gotta be high school aged. Sixteen, maybe seventeen.

But he was small in the way that malnutrition brings. Hopper's seen it in a few domestic violence cases.

The boy followed anxiously behind Hopper as they walked to the cabin.

He probably should've radioed El in the car, let her know he has someone with him, but the sound of the engine had obviously been freaking the boy out a little too much already.

He knocked on the door, and the locks clicked one by one.

The boy gingerly followed Hopper into the cabin, looking around with huge eyes.

Hopper went straight to El's room, knocking softly.

She smiled at him from the bed, James and the Giant Peach resting on her lap.

"Hi, Jim."

"I need you to come out here. I, uh, I found something. Someone."

She looked at him questioningly, her brow furrowed.

"Who?"

"Another one. Another kid. Like you."

She was out of bed in a flash, pushing past him into the living room.

The boy was still standing near the door, eyes darting around the cabin.

Until he saw El.

his jaw trembled.

"Eleven," he all but whispered.

"Eight."

She nearly pounced on the boy, hugging him as tight as she could.

"You did it!" She pulled back to smile at him, and Hopper was pleased to see the boy return it with a tiny one of his own. "Brave."

"Scared," he said in that same tiny, whispery voice.

"Safe, now." She pointed to Hopper. "Jim. Safe."

The boy nodded.

"Safe."

[nothingtoseehere00-00]

Just imagine Steve figuring out he's bisexual and realizing that when he dates a girl, at a certain point into dating them, he's gonna have to tell them that he's also into men. Of course since it's the 80s, the chances of them being okay with that is probably slim. They might think he's disgusting or that he's just gay playing straight.

So he tries dating guys instead, thinking that's safer. And he ends up meeting a great guy named John at a gay bar who he really likes. Things are going strong until they started talking about past crushes and first loves. Steve casually mentions celebrity crushes on women and having loved Nancy. And thus Steve gets his first ever experience of the rampant biphobia in queer spaces. John accuses Steve of being confused and trying to hold onto his "straightness". Steve tries to explain himself by saying that, no, he really does like women, but that only makes things worse. John now believes that Steve is just going to eventually leave him for a woman, if he hasn't already been cheating on him. John ends up storming out leaving Steve devastated.

He goes crying to Robin and explains what happened. He's horrified to realize that no matter who he dates, there's always going to be the risk of them not accepting him, guy or girl. But he can't hide that part of himself, it's too big. It's who he is. Robin is there to reassure him that if someone can't accept him being bi than they don't deserve him. It's able to cheer him up a little, but the damage has been done.

Steve is now very reluctant to date anyone. And if he does manage to bring himself to go on one, he gets complaints of being very emotionally distant or having a fear of commitment.

When Steve inevitably falls for Eddie, he's scared out of his mind. It's clear that Eddie is gay based on his hanky, but, again, that doesn't mean he'll accept Steve's bisexuality. One night, while the two get so high in Eddie's trailer that Steve has to stay over, they argue about sleeping arrangements. Eddie keeps insisting that Steve would probably be more comfortable with Eddie sleeping in another room for some cryptic reason and Steve, who gets incredibly clingy while high, keeps shooting back with them sharing a bed being fine. When Steve keeps asking why they can't over and over again, Eddie blurts out that it's because he's gay. Without hesitation, Steve's says he knows and points at the hanky on the dresser by the bed. Staring at Steve for a moment, Eddie then asks how he knows about the hanky code. This time Steve hesitates. For awhile. It honestly scares Eddie for a moment, thinking he's been vecnad. If Steve hadn't been high, he maybe would have been able to think of an excuse, some way to get out of this conversation, but he can't. So he admits that he likes guys.

Eddie very excitedly starts asking a bunch of questions and talking about how they finally found something they have in common, who knew? When he notices the tears in Steve's eyes, he stops, confused, and asks what's wrong. So Steve tells him. He's not like Eddie. He's bisexual. And he braces himself for the backlash. For loosing his best friend and crush.

But then he feels a hand grab his. Eddie tells him that they still have something in common because he's also bi. Steve points out that he said he was gay, though. Eddie asks if he has ever told anyone that he was bi before, specifically gay men. Steve nods. Then he asks if it went well. Steve shakes his head. Eddie tells him that's why he said that. He's explains how tiring it is to have to explain his existence to people who won't get it and/or react badly to it. So he just tells guys that he's also gay. It just makes things easier. And Steve gets it. By God, does he get it. They spend the whole night exchanging stories and experiences, for the first time able to talk freely about their love life.

And by the end of the night, they stumble over each other trying to ask the other out. They laugh and both say yes.

[infinite-orangepeel]

regularly consuming steddie fanfiction will teach you 3 things:

how to miscommunicate

how to date a single mother of six

how to make out with your gay bff/arch-nemesis and come to terms with becoming a former-jock-bisexual-icon

[queenofthekings]

@quinnigallagherjones and I hopping onto VC for three hours to only talk about Robert and our characters

[will-or-wontxx]

okay but ,,, aroace Steve? (probably has been done before)

Steve, who was told what young men should like. Pretty girls, kissing them, having sex with them.

Steve, who has never felt content after taking a girl out.

Steve, who still craved love and positive attention.

Steve, who always feels awful and uncomfortable even if the girls he went out with were so pretty and nice.

Steve, who felt pressured to do things he didn’t like because otherwise he wouldn’t be normal.

And then he met Nancy.

Nancy, who was not like other girls.

Nancy, who just accepted that sometimes he had to pull back when their relationship got too intense or else he would spiral.

Nancy, who deserved better, in his eyes at least.

So he decided to just ignore his comfort and be “normal”.

He took her out, he kissed her, had sex with her.

And felt absolutely miserable about it.

He didn’t know why he just couldn’t be like the other guys on his team. Like Tommy H, who has talked about how great sex with Carol was.

But it didn’t matter, because in the end it was just bullshit.

He was bullshit.

So he went on like before. Trying to score dates. Going out. Feeling absolutely awful. Rinse and repeat.

And then he met Eddie.

Eddie, who for the first time ever made him realize that being not normal is okay.

Eddie, who understood so much more about queer things.

Eddie, who made him think that maybe he was just gay the whole time.

Eddie, who’s entire being made it easier to ignore that pit in his stomach when the flirting was too real.

But when they first kissed and it was immediately followed by this dreadful feeling, his biggest enemy, he broke down.

And Eddie, sweet Eddie, comforted him through it. Made him talk about it. Was the first person who asked what he was comfortable with. Told him about friends of his that are just like him. Reassured him that they do not need to follow what others expect. That they can just be whatever they want. No labels. No expectations. Just being together.

What they had wasn’t just quite like what he and Robin had. But at the same time it was so similar.

And it was beautiful.

[tending-the-hearth]

s3 steve is my favorite steve officially ever bc i have experienced The Power of sailor steve and was turned into a blush giggly mess the second he looked at me and started saying he would give me unlimited cookie dough

[formosusiniquis]

This one goes out to that old guy I saw at walmart yesterday loading up his pioneer woman cookware onto his motorcycle while enter sandman played

steddie | G | WC: 1154

---

“Hey baby, can you?”

“No.”

Steve's sweet tone sours immediately returning to the much more familiar gently bitchy tone Eddie knows and loves. “You don't even know what I was gonna ask.”

“Twenty-five years of marriage, lawful and not, Sunshine. I know when you're about to ask me for some shit we don't need.”

“Why would I be calling you if we didn't need it?”

“Because if you needed it you would have told me about it when I said, ‘Stevie, sweetie, light of my life, sun to my dawn,’” he looks around trying to figure out where the hell they moved the oranges and why the produce section is never in the same configuration anytime he comes here. He makes eye contact with a kid wearing an artificially faded printing of his own tour merch looking at him with a starry eyed look of recognition not of the celebrity but of family.

“Did you forget where you were going with that old man?”

He decides he might as well put on a show, both halves of this conversation already know he's going to do what he's told. “‘Stevie, my one truth north, my muse, my reason to continue living, my dearest husband, I'm going to Walmart,’ I told you not but thirty minutes ago and asked if you needed me to get you anything and you said no.”

“Oh, you aren't going to monologue for your adoring public all the sweet names I called you?” Steve is amused, he can tell, he's always been able to tell. He's accepting this as his penance for not giving Eddie an actual grocery list when he left.

“Well dear heart I am in public, but if you think we can find another grocery store to go to after getting banned from this one. I guess there is the Kroger on the other side of town.” The kid laughs, tries to hide it behind their hand, but if Eddie has had anything in this life it's experience with teens eavesdropping on conversations they shouldn't be.

“Oh you're really hamming it up, huh, Teddy. Can I tell you what you're getting me yet or do you still have a couple minutes in your set?”

He's given up on oranges, moves on to the onion he actually came here for, the lone ingredient for dinner that he'd forgotten from his clicklist. If they want to actually have the roast tonight it needs to start soon. “What is it that you remembered we needed, oh song of my heart.”

“I already sent you the link so you get exactly what I want.”

It's just ominous enough of a non-answer that he pulls his phone out of his pocket, juggling it and the five things he'd already grabbed that weren't on his one item list. He doesn't have the time to regret not grabbing the cart he was sure he hadn't needed when he sees what he's been sent.

“I'm on my bike! Where am I going to put that?”

“I'm sorry, am I hearing you correctly? Was I right when I said, ‘Teddy bear, my stars, my bard-’”

“You aren't on speaker.”

“My beloved damsel in distress, maybe the motorcycle isn't the most efficient of midlife crisis vehicles. Aren't you going to want something with more trunk space, why don't you get a Caddy or a Bimmer for old times sake. And what did you say?”

“I don't recall.”

“Probably for the best wouldn't want you banned from Walmart, what would the tabloids say?”

“Nothing that would match your wit, Sweetheart. Does it have to be this one?”

“Yes, the plaid matches the kitchen remodel, so be a good boy and strap it to your bike. And remember we've still got one kid to put through school if she decides to go, don't bring home any strays with you. Do you need to do your encore now, baby?”

“I accept your quest, my dashing prince. I shall return home with my bounty posthaste.” Encore complete, audience still enraptured, Eddie dips into the sincere. It's been nearly thirty years together and he's not once ended a call without saying, “I love you.”

“Love you too, my knight in denim battle vest. I'll see you when you get home.”

The call ends with the usual dull toned beep beep, the playlist the call interrupted starts to filter back into his earbud. He realizes he's going to have to walk right past the kid to get to the side of the store with Steve's Instant Pot.

“Hear they're about to have a reunion tour,” he says gesturing down at the reprint of their Came Back Wrong Tour shirt. The faux-fading has left a crack through his own face at the bottom making him unrecognizable, not that he looks the same now as he did at 25. “Those old bands just don't know how to retire.”

“I think it's smart that they're playing up the recent tik tok fame.” The kid says, “No one's even seen their lead singer since the 90s and after their first national tour he'd started wearing that mask.”

It hurts a little bit the way the kid says 90s like it's some bygone era lost to time. Tries to appreciate instead how good the mask idea had been, he'd really been an innovator. “That was a pretty sweet gimmick, you think he'll bring it back? It's kind of Orville Peck's thing now isn't it.”

The kid slumps, managing the impressive feat of looking desolate while standing over the tomatoes. “Probably, not that I'll see it. I couldn't manage to get a ticket.”

That is something he can fix, “Here,” he manages to grab ahold of his wallet, “as luck would have it, I've got a couple spares.”

The kid looks torn between fear and elation, it's likely at least the second strangest thing to ever happen to them in a Walmart. “Oh I can't-”

“No strings, I got it through work for my sister-in-law to go with my husband. She asked why none of the good bands ever have reunion tours so… not going obviously. And my husband insists he's too old to be that close to the stage. You'd be doing me a favor really.”

“If you're sure,” they say, the hesitance more a mannered necessity than real.

“Sure as shooting. Seriously, here give me your name so my husband knows who to make the thank you note out to.”

“Aspen, thank you really!”

Twenty minutes later when he’s got a kitchen appliance bungied to the back of his bike he’ll appreciate that something good came out of this. Three weeks later when he’s standing at the front of a sold out arena he’ll mostly appreciate another chance to be dramatic, “This next one is for Aspen who didn’t laugh when an old man tried to flirt with his husband in the produce aisle. Gareth, count me in.”

[yourmidnightlover]

the story

pairing: mob!bucky barnes x reader

w/c: 3.5k+

summary: the weeks following bucky ordering that steve be your bodyguard, followed by an insightful night at a gala with your beloved husband.

warnings: mention of the incident with john (groping), slight threats of violence, mention of fear, lip on lip action (the upstairs ones), if i've missed anything please let me know!!

a/n: hiii! the third installment of my forever? series! i didn't even intend for this to be more than one part, but you guys have inspired me to write more for it! my writing schedule is a bit off since i recently started a new job, but i'll try to be a bit consistent with it. i hope you guys enjoy this next part, more to come!

part 2 -> control

the first few weeks with steve as a bodyguard wasn’t too bad. he was actually kinda funny in a grandpa kinda way, and he was an amazing listener. you had bounced a few ideas for your book off of him and he seemed to be very intrigued by some of the plot points you had planned. he even promised to be one of the first customers, right behind bucky (which you may have rolled your eyes at), of course, as long as he was promised a signed copy.

but, at the two month mark you began to miss your independence. of course, the chef bucky had hired was amazing and had years of experience in italian cuisine, but sometimes a girl just wanted some greasy smash burger to chow down on. most nights you ate alone with steve until bucky walked through the front door. 

he always seemed beaten down and tired, as though work was more straining than usual. he would shrug his jacket off, place it on the hook by the door, then his shoes on the rack, and walk upstairs to shower before coming downstairs to eat as you and steve were finishing your plates. you tried your best to start conversation, to be the best company you could but eventually the silence always grew awkward and steve would usher you to go upstairs to your room with a pressed smile. 

after two months of not really needing to show you off i any way, there was an important gala for him to attend. of course, that means that you were to be his beloved arm candy for the night. 

“buck sent me the address for a local boutique that he thinks would be right up your alley,” steve read from his phone as you took a stroll in the garden that was full of beautiful colors. “the appointment is at 3:45, so we have plenty of time to get ready and head there too. oh and he says you should get something in that one shade of green… i’m assuming you know what that is?” his brows raise in confusion, as your mirror his in a stunned expression. 

“surprisingly, i do know what he means for once.” about six weeks before the wedding, you had spent an all nighter with him amidst all of the chaotic planning. 

“accent colors are super important! right now, all we have is an off white color, and while it’s a good color, i don’t want my wedding to wash everyone out that much,” you shoved his side as you sprawled your binders out on the coffee table. 

“i say… green,” he says after pondering for a minute. 

“green… like tree green?” you chuckled at the notion. 

“i mean the green that’s light yet earthy, not too dark but not scream-in-your-face bright. it’s beautiful. plus, i think you’d look stunning in it,” he shrugs casually as if he hadn’t described a mundane color in such an alluring way.

“so a sage green?” 

“maybe more on the jade green side,” he tried to hide a smile as his thumb began to mindly trace nonsense on your thigh. 

there was such elegance in the way he described the simple color, as if saying light green wouldn’t have sufficed. clearly, there was a significance to the mundane shade that he felt the need to recommend it. 

but you knew not to ask anything further to pry, doubting his readiness to comply so easily so early in your relationship. while it was during the happiest days of your relationship, you still knew he held you at arms length. 

at the appointment, you had found several dresses in the perfect color, but only one stood out to you after trying them on. steve was also a good guide in ensuring you were choosing the right one, although you’re sure he would just say every dress looked good regardless. 

growing up, you’d read about a love that was so encapsulating that one would rather face death than be without their lover. you’d yearned for that kind of love. the kind of love that was consuming and irreversible. the kind of love where your partner wouldn’t love you in spite of your flaws, but because of them. 

and now you were married to a man who didn’t seem to feel an ounce of that towards you. sure, the months leading up to your wedding made it seem otherwise. it made you hopeful that he could maybe grow to love you, as you could grow to love him. 

because truthfully, it was hard to see many flaws in the man, other than those that were rumored in the tabloids. you’d read or heard of his anger issues and his lack of patience but abundance of irritability. yet all you’d observed is his laughter, his diligence and compassion. 

it was definitely confusing to want to believe these two contradicting tales of composure, but ultimately seeing is believing. you’d decided to believe whatever he showed you, what was right in front of his face rather than believe whatever was whispered in your ear. besides, if something was worth believing it should be said with their full chest rather than in such a low tone. 

-

“almost ready?” bucky’s low voice rang through the door as you were doing finishing touches on your hair, making sure you looked as presentable as possible. 

“i just have to put the dress on, and i’ll be ready to go!” you replied, unzipping the bag that the dress came in, even though you suggested that doing so was overkill.

“let me know if you need any help.” you heard a thud from the other side that suggested that he was leaning against the door, waiting to hear if you did happen to need any assistance. 

you replied in silence, just stepping into the dress and lifting the straps over your shoulders. it was such a beautifully made gown, truly. it hugged you in the most flattering places, accentuating just the right amount without flaunting too much. the material felt like a warm hug from a lifelong friend, you almost never wanted to take it off. 

the only downside was the damn zipper. it was a bit rough to pull over your hips alone, but once you reached your mid back it seemed to reach a snagging stop. you twisted your arms every way possible, trying to avoid the totally cliche scene of calling him in to zip you up. 

alas, the universe had other plans for you. although, how much could you complain when that would mean his rough, yet gentle hands would be against your skin…

“...bucky?” your voice meekly called out, trying to interrupt your own thoughts from spiralling down the path you wanted them to so bad. 

“yea?” his voice piped up, seeming to jump an octave or two in the process. maybe you jst startled him. 

“could you maybe help me zip this thing up?” you became quiet before the twisting of your doorknob broke the silence. “my arms can’t quite contort the way they need to in order to zip this all the way…” you refused to meet his eyes as he trailed inside the room. 

the first sign of his presence was his hands grasping your shoulders, lightly tracing down your arms. then he leaned down to press a kiss to your bare shoulder, more affectionate than he’d been the entire duration of your marriage without it being prompted. 

“you look beautiful,” he pressed another kiss to your other shoulder before letting his hands fall to a respectable place on your waist, stepping back to seemingly find where the zipper got stuck. “but what’s new, right?”

you chuckled at the compliment. 

“what’ve you been doing recently?” you asked meekly. “i haven’t seen you much at all since steve started his new gig as my babysitter.”

he sighed, stopping his antics to clarify what he felt he needed to. “he’s not a babysitter. he’s my best friend, and the only person i trust to look after the woman that i-the woman that i married, okay?” you felt his deep breathing on your neck before he continued, “i don’t know where john is yet. john is notorious for taking whatever he thinks is his and that night he made it very clear what he believed.” he turned you around to face him, the dress’ zipper be damned. “if anything happens to you… just the thought keeps me up at night. i need you to understand,” his voice was desperate, pleading almost. 

you understood what he was saying. at least, you were pretty sure you did. men in positions of power like bucky typically saw the people around them as pawns. part of you thinks that he’s saying all of this as the controlling, possessive boss man bucky. and that’s the large part of you. but the small part of you, the part of you that still believes in that fairytale love you used to read about, believes that maybe he’s saying all of this because he does feel something for you… something real. 

but that part of you is like… 15 percent. maybe 20…

“i understand,” you nodded, meeting his eyes and seeing desperation, fear. seeing fear radiating from a man that projects a version of himself that’s fearless is a scary thing. 

“good,” he nodded, his eye contact faltering to the dress that clung to your body. “you look indescribable, i’m a lucky man to call you mine.” once again, he grasped your shoulders to turn you around.

this time, he promptly found the zipper, his metal hand tracing nonsensical patterns on your shoulder as he zipped the dress with his flesh one. 

“all done,” he pressed a lingering kiss to your right shoulder. “my beautiful bride.” you wanted to believe him. 

“thank you,” you took a deep breath as you turned to face him. “so, tonight… what should i be expecting?” “well, there are a few people i’ll introduce you to, and a few i have to talk to. but i’ll be with you the whole time,” he pressed his hands into his pockets. “i scheduled a car to take us, and we have about 10 minutes before it should get here.”

“so we’ll be playing the roles of loving wife and doting husband?” you nudged his shoulder before you went to grab your shoes. 

“playing? this is all real, sweetheart,” he took the shoes from your hands, promptly dropping to his knees. 

“what are you-”

“i’m putting your shoes on, my love.” you chuckled before he guided your hand to his shoulder. “gonna want to hold on.” he picked up one of your legs by your calf, grabbing the correct shoe before slowly placing your foot inside and doing the same for your other shoe.

meanwhile, you were stuck staring down at him like a lovesick idiot. this behemoth of a man was beneath you treating you like a princess by putting your heels on for you. what the hell kind of alternate universe have you entered and how can you never leave?

“well, aren’t you a romantic?” you cleared your throat as he remained on his knees, a sight you could get used to. 

“don’t let the news spread around town,” he chuckled as he let your remaining foot hit the ground but not without pressing a kiss to your ankle. “i can’t have others knowing how enamored i am by you, can we?” “enamored?” you chuckled out. “what a word,” you shook your head as you helped him to his feet. 

“the perfect word.” he trailed his hand to a loose strand of hair, twirling it around his flesh fingers before he sighed, “the car should be here soon. we should head downstairs for it.”

it was a 45 minute ride there. you sat in a respectable silence, this time it wasn’t as awkward as it has been in the past. upon arrival, the door was swiftly opened for you, bucky getting out first and then offering his hand to help you step out. the first thirty minutes of the gala went very similarly. he would introduce you to a new face or say ‘hello’ to a familiar one, wrap his arm snugly around your waist before pressing a kiss to your cheek and move on to the next person. 

for a bunch of folks in banking and finance, everything seemed very high stakes. there seemed to be walls up all around you, from each man and woman you said a brief hello to or were meeting for the first time. everyone had decided to adorn a mask for the night, or maybe the mask was a semi-permanent fixture. maybe they’d worn the mask for so long they forgot how to function without one. you hoped you wouldn’t face the same fate.

to be doomed to fake face for so long that you no longer remember what was once real. you wanted something real, even if what you and bucky had was technically fake when you were in public. something about what happened behind closed doors when nobody was around gave you the illusion that part of it was real. 

“have i told you how ravishing you look tonight?” bucky held you close as you swayed to the soft melody. his metal hand was clutching your waist, his flesh hand holding your own.

“i think in different words, yes,” you both began to laugh at his flattery. “you don’t have to keep doing that, y’know? the compliments and everything… i think people get the idea that this is real by now.”

“you don’t get it, do you?” he shook his head before he moved his vibranium hand to your chin, nudging it up for you to meet his eyes. 

“get what?”

“buck,” steve’s voice interrupted your dance, but that didn’t stop bucky from pulling you taut to his side.

steve leaned in to whisper in his ear, but you were able to tell by his stone cold expression that whatever message that was being relayed to him wasn’t as delightful as the desserts from tonight. 

“when?” you barely registered bucky’s low voice over the music. 

steve went back to whispering in his ear and it wasn’t until he pulled back that you wanted to speak up, “what’s going on?”

bucky looked down to you, and when you looked into his eyes, what you saw was very similar to your earlier conversation with him. this time, however, there seemed to be anger buried beneath the stoic traces of fear. that’s when it clicked.

“did they find him?” his jaw clenched and unclenched.

“you told her about-”

“i told her what she deserves to know,” bucky interrupted steve’s accusatory tone. “you don’t get to question me or the decisions i make, especially not when those decisions are in regards to my wife.”

you weren’t sure if bucky was defending you or himself with the way he jumped on steve’s gears. 

“okay, got it,” steve rse his hands in defense before he nodded. 

“what steve was telling me was in regards to him, yes,” bucky clarified. “but it’s nothing important for you to need to know. you don’t have to worry about it, my love,” he let his flesh hand play with that same strand of hair as earlier as he looked down at you like his prized possession. 

oh yea, you almost forgot. that’s what you are to him. his trophy wife, as much as you hate that phrase. 

“when can we go home?” a shiver ran down your spine. what would john even do if he did get his hands on you? was he actually as bad as bucky made him seem, or was he worse? you gripped bucky’s arm tighter as thoughts raced through your brain. 

“hey,” he turned to face you again, his eyes no longer reflecting anger or fear but tenderness. “if you want to leave, we’ll leave. steve can get the car,” he turned briefly to steve who nodded before walking off, “we can talk on the way home. i can tell how many questions are running through that pretty head of yours right now. but i can assure you,” he cupped your face in his hands, and the contrast between the cold metal and the warm flesh was oddly grounding, “as long as your with me, or steve for that matter, you won’t have anything to worry about. i would do anything it takes to keep you safe.”

you nodded, pressing your lips together in a fine line, maybe a bit of doubt running in your head at the lengths he would go to in order to protect you. would he really go to the lengths necessary? would his hand be forced to do that? 

“how bad would it be if i admitted that i was scared right now?” you couldn’t meet his eyes as you admitted it. 

“it’s not bad at all. in fact, i understand. i just hope that you know that this is why steve is watching out for you now,” he dropped his hands to your shoulders, down your arms to hold your hands. 

“will you-would you be up for staying with me tonight?” you popped the question, almost scared of his answer. “like… like you did that night? i don’t really want to be alone tonight.”

“you don’t have to explain,” he smiled. “of course i’ll stay with you.”

the ride home was similar to the ride there, but this time with your head rested on his chest, his arms wrapped snugly around you. you’re sure he thought you were asleep when he pressed a kiss to your forehead. it also wasn’t beneath you to say you liked when he did it…

so much so that you apparently did fall sleep. when you woke up, it was wrapped in strong arms. you strained your neck to look at the clock beside your bed, the one that read 2:35 am. turning in bed to look at bucky, you realized you’d never seen him so peaceful. his hair had grown out a bit long, evident by the way it laid across his forehead. 

when you moved the few locks of hair from his forehead, he began to stir awake. 

“shhh,” you hummed softly. “it’s just me. sorry i woke you.”

“don’t be sorry,” his raspy voice was alluring this early in the morning, or was it late? “i don’t think i’ve slept this good since… well, since that night.”

“are you a secret cuddler, mr. barnes?” you smiled as he pulled you in a smidge tighter as he replied. 

“and what if i am?” “there are no complaints coming from me,” he pressed yet another kiss to yourforehead, then your cheek, your other cheek, and then you pulled back to look in his eyes again. 

the only light that was peaking through was from the hallway underneath the door, but that didn’t stop you from being able to see the bright smile decorating his face, a rare sight to see. 

“how bad would it be if i admitted that i really wanted to kiss you right now?” his thumb trailed across your bottom lip, gently pulling it down and watching it bounce back into place.

“it’s not bad at all,” you let your eyes find his lips before looking into his eyes once more. 

he made the first move, taking his flesh hand and cupping your face before he softly met your lips with his. every other kiss you’d had with him had been for show, cameras or people around to witness and aww at the romantic antics of the newlyweds. this one wasn’t for show. this was purely authentic. gentle, soft, delicate. for a man like bucky, you figured he wasn’t like this very often. this was a side of him not many other people got the privilege of witnessing. 

he was precise in his movements, every swipe of his tongue and every placement his hand made was deliberate, yet he was so tender. the soft grasp of your hair, the easy glide of his hand that began to hold your waist. it was all so consuming, in the best way possible. in the way that you wanted to drown in his presence. 

when you sweeped one of your legs over his, now perched on his lap, you felt him smile against your lips. 

“you’re astounding,” he breathed into you. “breathtaking,” he rearranged his hips, accidentally brushing his hardon against your center. “shit.”

“sorry,” you smiled against him as you pulled back, resting your forehead against his. 

“nothin’ to apologize for,” he shook his head with a laugh. “i mean, you are my wife an’ all.”

“i know, but,” taking a deep breath, you tried to figure out how to word what you wanted to say to him. you came up with nothing. “i don’ know. it’s different. we haven’t necessarily been the most affectionate since our wedding.”

“i didn’t think you wanted anything more,” his face shone with disbelief. “i didn’t want you to think you were forced to be ‘affectionate’ with me. you didn’t really want to marry me in the first place. i realize that.”

were you not this puppet in his master show? some play thing for him to own and display whenever he pleased? had every story you’d heard about him been nothing but that… just stories? could this story of you and him have a happy ending?

tags:

@blackbirdwitch22

@onceithough

@learisa

@mrsnikstan

@cjand10

@mrs-bucky-barnes-73

@armystay89

@adesum

@greatenthusiasttidalwave

@loki-laufeyson68

if you'd like to be added to the tag list, please just leave a comment or message me!

[otteranha]

Like many couples Steve and Eddie jokingly have their respective Free Pass lists, you know the ones where it’s like “if you ever have the opportunity to sleep with this Unattainable Hot Celebrity you can do so with my blessing and it’s not cheating” list. Trouble is, they made them back when they were young, dumb and full of… stupid ideas. And real fame was still a pipe dream for Eddie.

Fast forward 10 years and suddenly he’s at an awards show watching the love of his life flirt with Bruce Springsteen, who is, depending on the day, either #2 or #3 (Rob Lowe is always #1) on Steve’s List. The list Eddie agreed to. And. And…. They’re getting along really well. Which is great. Fantastic, Steve gets to meet one of his favorite artists, love that for him. And Steve’s super cool and chill about it, he’s had enough experience in the industry not to get embarrassingly gushy, just charmingly star-struck. They’re posing for a photo together now. Wonderful. Fantastic. Arms across each other’s shoulders. And ok, Eddie may be internally experiencing what will come to be known as Kill Bill Sirens.

“What’s wrong?” Steve asks.

Eddie scrambles. “Nothing! Not a thing, not a single solitary thing, why would anything be wrong?” 

“Then why do you look like someone just secretly fed you your beloved pet?”

“If they secretly fed me, I wouldn’t know about it so I would look normal so there. You proved my point.” Steve gives him an unimpressed look. 

“I am a man of my word,” Eddie sighs, “So if you want to shoot your shot with Free Pass #3, just you know... be safe, vaya con dios and all that.”

Steve bursts out laughing, “No way! You really think I have a shot with Bruce Springsteen? He’s not even single!” “He’s famous! And you’re, like, stupidly hot.” “You’re famous, would you hook up with some random fan?” “No but...” “I should hope not!”

“He’s on your list!” Eddie protests.

“Eddie, baby. It’s a game, a fantasy. I’m not really looking to hook up with any of those people. You wouldn’t really hook up with James Hetfield would you?”

“No but, you have people on your list who might actually be attracted to you. And...”

“And?” Steve asks. “Well, you deserve it. You deserve the best.”

“Aw baby, I already have the best,” Steve smiles, “But the fact that you thought I had a shot with the Boss might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

[maxislvt]

Halloween Town

pairing(s): milf!wanda maximoff x reader

summary: your relationship with Wanda was starting to get serious. that meant your relationship with her boys had to get equally serious. what brings a family together better than good ol fashioned trick-or-treating?

warnings: non-sexual pet play, milf typical flirtiness

a/n: um someone have my babies please and thank you

Event Masterlist

Your role in the Maximoff family was getting bigger every day. Billy and Tommy had started to accept you as their guardian. 

Well, less of accepting you and more of dragging you by your ankles into that role. Wanda was happy to see you three getting along but often had to remind them to slow down just a little bit. You didn't have much experience with children and Wanda was afraid the boys would overwhelm you. So she spent hours meticulously planning every outing to make sure you were comfortable but also got to explore things with the twins. She found it easier for the three of you to bond over new things. Even if it meant having three of the people she loved most get in the car and spend fifteen minutes telling her that kayaking during peak mosquito season was a bad idea.  

Fortunately, mosquito season was long gone and fall had begun. 

Fall activities were Wanda's specialty. Whether it was putting up the decorations or finding the perfect costumes for the year. Billy and Tommy always had an amazing Halloween. The only way to make it truly amazing this year was to weave you into their celebration. 

"Can you call off work next week?" She asked suddenly. You were such a busy person that Wanda often had to coerce you into taking time off. Wanda would get you all small and cozy and use that voice you couldn't say no. If you were hesitant, a couple of kisses would always do the trick. "I was thinking you could come trick or treating with me and the boys. They're really into Halloween and I know you're into scary stuff too."

In a more aware state of mind, you'd argue about how there's nothing inherently scary about your music taste but you were much too comfortable to even raise your head. "That sounds fun," You mumbled with your face still buried in Wanda's chest. She had you wrapped around her fingers when you were conscious, there was no telling what you'd agree to in that state. "I'll call off…tomorrow...yeah." 

Wanda smiled down at you. "Why don't you just let me do it for you right now?" She didn't bother waiting for you to respond and simply took your phone. Your phone already recognized her face so making the call was easy. Your boss had already started to recognize her voice so scheduling your day off was even easier. That budding friendship between her and Steve would easily be the death of your stress, you just didn't know it yet. 

"Can…can I get my costume?" 

Wanda hummed for a second. She already had a couple of ideas for what to dress you up as, but you already had an idea she wasn't going to stomp on it. "If you want to." Her hand rubbed down your back when you became too antsy. "Shush, you can be whatever you want to be, baby. What matters is that you're there." She placed a kiss on your forehead. 

She could buy a backup just in case. 

🕸 ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩🕸

The downside to your sleepy agreements is that you would forget them unless Wanda reminded you. Considering her ulterior motives, she chose not to. 

You went weeks without properly thinking about it. There was a nagging feeling that something was missing but you didn't know what. None of your assignments were missing, you remembered to clock in, and you brought all your props for the photoshoot you were booked for. When you tried to think about it harder, you only felt guilty. 

A heavy sigh fell from your lips as you pulled into the driveway. Guilt was so heavy in your stomach you considered sleeping in your house for the first time in weeks. The thought of washing your sheets before bed was enough to deter you from avoiding your beloved girlfriend. 

"Babe, I-"

Halloween costume. You needed to buy a Halloween costume. 

Billy and Tommy sprinted downstairs the second they heard your voice.

 "Look," Billy shouted, "Mom made us the costumes from that movie we watched!" He stood back and turned around to show off the details of his outfit. 

"Mine has my soccer number on it!" Tommy said excitedly while posing for you. 

You were initially appreciative of the costumes, but immediately became nervous when you realized that Wanda had found out you let them watch that movie. Warriors wasn't the most violent film, but Wanda had explicitly told you not to let the boys watch it. Of course, you were easily swayed by the cuteness of them and had let them watch it with you one night past their bedtime. You made them promise not to tell, but it appears the excitement of Halloween overpowers sworn secrecy. 

You quickly glanced up at Wanda and immediately noticed the mischievous glint in her eye. Your eyes didn't go any lower because you didn't trust yourself not to stare. "These look great," You crouched down to their level as if you were about to tell them some top-secret information. "You didn't hear this from me but Tony is only giving out full-sized ones this year.  Why don't you two run down the street and get some of those before he runs out of the foodstuff?"  You patted the boys on their back and sent them off on their merry way. "I swear I didn't mean-"

"Upstairs now, unless my puppy wants a third punishment tonight." Normally, she'd be kind enough to give you a warning or at least ease you into subspace, but she was on a mission today. She didn't wait long before following you up the stairs. The longer she left you unattended, the more time you had to pout your way out of trouble. "And here I thought puppies had good hearing."

You were actively fighting against slipping into subspace and trying to avoid arousal. Being a good puppy was your number one goal, but the threat of punishment made your body tingle. You were even more turned on by Wanda's costume made you feral. As beautiful as the nod to her culture was, your hands were just itching to rip it off.  "Sokovian fortune teller," You said while rubbing your hand against the fabric. It was like a succubus had invaded your mind. "You look pretty." The admiration in your eyes was nothing but genuine.

Wanda revealed in the compliments you gave her. It was nice to see you weren't scared to touch her anymore. "You can't wiggle your way out of this one." She squeezed your hand affectionately before dropping it in your lap. You had to be punished, no amount of puppy dog eyes could change that. "You're lucky I have a costume for you just in case, but I don't want to hear any complaints." 

Your eyes followed Wanda as walked to her dresser and pulled out your costume. "I'm sorry I forgot. I know they like Halloween, I just…I don't know what happened but I promise to do better." Your apologetic mood quickly turned into unease when Wanda turned around with your costume. "You want me to wear my collar in public?" 

"It's not your collar, just a collar." Wanda didn't bother arguing with you and wrapped the collar around your neck. She showed you the set of ears she bought for you. "But these you will be wearing later," She said with a smirk. The ears fit snugly on your head. "Oh, I bought you some teeth too!" 

You thought you were going to die from embarrassment.  Even though you were convinced no one would think anything of it, you still felt ashamed. "...are the fangs at least cool?" You mumbled. 

Wanda opened the box. She tripped the extra latex off the top so they'd fit in your mouth comfortably before handing them to you. "You're going to be the cutest werewolf in the whole neighborhood." She kissed your cheek only for you to fake a scowl and rub off her kiss. Wanda scoffed and gave you another kiss. "Those boys are starting to rub off on you in all the wrong ways."

You kissed Wanda back but still shrugged. "You said you wanted me to be more adventurous…they're bringing me out of my shell a bit."  Your tongue corrected the positioning of the fake teeth in your mouth before you stood up. "Well, we better go get those little rascals before they sweet talk Tony out of a whole bag of candy."

🕸 ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩🕸

The rest of the night went on pretty well. 

Wanda was too late to stop Tommy and Billy from robbing Tony blind, but she didn't exactly have time to reprimand them for being greedy. You were snatched up and dragged around the neighborhood for most of the night. She couldn't keep up with the balls of energy she was grateful to call her sons. It worried her at first. The last thing she wanted was for you to get overstimulated or push yourself too hard, but you seemed to have everything under control. 

You were the one to slow down and check in on her this time. 

You walked back to Wanda with a sack of candy. "Are you okay?  I can get them to take a break if you want." The concern on your face was so genuine that Wanda couldn't help but laugh. 

Wanda giggled. "I'm fine dear, but thank you for asking. Just go back and have fun." She leaned to the side and examined the sack of candy you had on your back. "Is this your version of a dad tax?" 

You shook your head. "Nope, I have been pressured into abetting a robbery of all the people in the town." You held up the bag to show how full it was. The sack was already halfway full and the boys had only been out for about half an hour. "I guess between all the dads liking the costumes and the seemingly empty candy buckets they're racking up a nice stash." The boys had been dumping their collections into your bag to collect more candy and you didn't mind. Especially since they promised you 15% of their candy from the end of the night. "Your kids are scarily good at business." 

Wanda let out an amused sigh. "That's all Vision," She said. Her hand held yours as you two trailed behind the twins on their candy-collecting adventures. "...Are you doing okay?"  She turned to look at your face, searching for any signs of sleepiness or stress. "We can head home if you want." 

"Baby, I promise you I'm fine. Just let Billy and Tommy run themselves tired so we'll have an easy bedtime." 

Considering the rather complex system the boys had in place, it didn't take long for them to tire out. After two hours of trick or treating, you were carrying two very sleepy baseball-playing gangsters back home. 

Just as you predicted, putting the boys down for bed was as easy as pie. They didn't even throw a fit about having to take their face paint off, but you did promise to do a proper photoshoot with them in their costumes another time. 

Once the twins were adequately tucked in, you headed upstairs to start your nightly routine. You were going to only bother with some of the fancy creams and tools Wanda had bought you since it was so late. Just a simple face wash and a shower would do just fine. Or so you thought.

"Oh puppy, don't tell me you thought mommy forgot about your other punishment."

[apomaro-mellow]

I don't know anything about Supernatural but if you want to make a Steddie fic (which is what I'm assuming you meant) where Eddie was originally Steve's car or whatever and got turned human, I'm a-ok with that! Winkwink

Basically it was a common trope in Supernatural fics for Dean's beloved car to turn into a human and stir the pot between him and Cas. So it would go a lil sum'n like this

Eddie stared at the guy Dustin had sitting in Steve's living room. He had on a black blazer jacket and a burgundy shirt underneath it and Dustin was claiming very adamantly that this man was Steve's car.

"Admit it! This isn't even the craziest thing that's ever happened in this town", Dustin said.

"All that crazy shit made sense when you put it together. Why would the Mind Flayer turn my car into a person? Explain that, Henderson!"

Eddie was also finding it difficult to believe but he had less experience with all this and he didn't want to think about other reasons a random guy might go to a young teen's house. But the guy was dressed nice and it figured Steve's ride would be as posh as him. And now that the guy was sitting right in front of them, Eddie had to stop calling him 'Steve's ride'.

"So you got a name, pal?", Eddie asked.

The guy blinked. "Steve usually just calls me baby."

Steve blushed, Dustin paled, and Eddie looked about two seconds from punching a wall.

"We can't call you that", Steve said once his voice returned.

"Does that mean I can't call you Daddy?"

"I knew you were gross!", Dustin accused, pointing a finger at Steve while Eddie was thinking it was time for this guy to go.

"I've never made anyone call me that! That's how I know he's lying", Steve said in his defense.

The guy stood up and walked over to Steve. "'Daddy's home, open up for Daddy, it's just Daddy and you tonight, Daddy's gonna wear out the tires tonight bab-"

"OKAY!" Dustin's hands went up to cover his ears. "Can we have some respect for my innocence?"

Eddie wanted to bop Dustin one for bringing this guy here but he was digging his own grave as well. That still didn't stop the ugly feeling rolling around in his belly.

"Wait, so, okay, if you're my car...", Steve took a deep breath. "Then you must know...", his eyes flitted to Eddie.

"Yeah. I know."

Human!beemer ig?

[brandycranby]

ce characters + their skill at wrapping presents (based on technique, style, and enthusiasm) 🎁✨

crocheting a last minute gift rn hehe

steve: 9.5/10. the military precision comes in clutch when it's time to measure out wrapping paper. if he's not doing the wrapping himself, he's at your elbow with tape strips and scissors when you need them. gift bags? hell no, back in his day, presents were wrapped (ok old man 🙄💕) heh expect steve to come home with half a dozen new tubes of gift wrap because he just can't resist the cuteness (target snoopy paper, beloved 🥺💕)

andy: 7/10. if he did it himself that is 😌 this is a man of experience and few close relatives. the holidays are a quiet uneventful time for him (besides the odd party) and he spends it with you, showering you in gifts and treats for the new year. most of those treats come with complimentary gift wrapping that he'll most definitely take advantage of hehe if not, he's a sparkly gift bag kinda guy

ari: 8/10. he doesn't have much skill at getting those sharp corners on a wrapped box but can he curl a ribbon or what? great color sense, he doesn't look like it but he can tell a french silver from classic silver 😌💕 whatta man whatta man. eight presents though, that's a lot of gift ideas to come up with. defaults to cash and gift cards for some nights, slaps a ribbon on top and adds mesh bag of chocolate coins and calls it a night

johnny: 6/10. look, he's a guy. still, he's a guy with a big sister. sue comes over and they make a night in of it. wrapping paper is everywhere, someone gets hit with a tube, nothing's lit on fire but reed's gift is singed and labeled "to: asshole". it's probably just fruit of the loom boxers. your gift though? he keeps adding stocking stuffers until sue makes him use a wicker basket to hold everything bc "it's chic, johnny, and a paper bag can't hold all of that."

ransom: 5/10 +3 effort points. ONCE HE TRIES?? HE TRIES!!! i mean not for his parents' gifts, he probably amazon shipped those to their house. but he'll pull out the ribbons, the glitter, the tinsel, the special wrapping paper just for you 🥹💕 ransom doesn't really Get It, not until you have a day of present prep with him. cups of hot drinks and a movie on in the back, that sort of warm nostalgia that's so familiar yet distant from what he's known 🥺surprisingly good eye for it

jake: 4/10. oh lord he tries. he tries so damn hard. the living room is a wreck, there's tape everywhere and mismatched wrapping paper. he measures a length of paper too small and worries about cutting another one because you like that paper!! you'd probably cry if he wasted it!! so he takes a discard piece and kinda... band-aids it together... oh baby ���� also how do you wrap plushies??? (put it in a box, jake, please put it in a box)

curtis: 7/10. solid score because he goes for maximum efficiency and doesn't take a break until every single present is completely hidden in gift wrap, tissue paper, ribbons, bows, and a gift tag. would be a 10 if he was a little more fancy and a little less practical about his present style. but he has the assembly line efficiency and it helps you get everything done in one day so kudos 😊 points off for getting suspicious when you take a long pee break tho

---

since i've started writing this hc list, i've redone my amigurumi THREE TIMES. why do i do this to myself. i also wrapped last minute gifts like a jake today heh

[hellfirecvnt]

Hellfirecvnt Masterlist

List Started: 5/12/24

Last updated: 11/11/24

Total Works: 26

Fandoms: Stranger Things, Vice Principals, The Righteous Gemstones, Fallout, Dinner in America

Stranger Things- (I no longer write for ST.)

Eddie Munson:

Y'know I Knew a Guy Like You. (Eddie x Y/N, but Y/N talks like Theo Von) A silly adventure. No smut.

"Your Sister is Hot." (Eddie x Fem!Harrington!Reader) You're Steve's hot sister and Eddie is down bad. Yes smut.

...Yet (Eddie x Fem!Reader) A pool hangout feat. the whole gang turns steamy after a few shots and a game of Two Truths, One Lie. Yes smut.

Second First Time (Eddie x Fem!Reader) You lost your virginity to a guy who couldn't make you cum. Eddie can fic that. Yes smut.

She's Got a Boyfriend, Anyway. (Eddie x Fem!Reader) Your friendship dynamic changes when you start dating Billy Hargrove. Yes smut.

Let Me See You (Sub!Eddie x Fem!Reader) Eddie's got a kink you didn't know about. Yes smut.

Finish What You Started (Perv!Eddie x Fem!Reader) A night of truth or dare awakens a need in Eddie that his pervy little heart will do anything to satiate. Yes smut.

Where Have You Been All My Life? (Dom!Eddie x Fem!Henderson!Reader) You're Dustin's beloved big sister who happens to be a perfect parallel of his friend, Eddie. Yes smut.

You're Mine (Eddie x Fem!Reader) Eddie goes with you to get a tattoo. He's horny. Yes smut.

Claimed (Eddie x Fem!Reader) You're new at Hawkins and Eddie has already made his claim, you just don't know it yet. Yes smut.

Innocence Lost (Eddie x Fem!Reader) Corruption kink type beat. Yes smut.

Innocence Lost Pt. 2 (Eddie x Fem!Reader) Part 2 of 2. Yes smut.

Steve Harrington and Eddie Munson:

Interruption (Steve x Fem!Reader x Eddie) Eddie barges in on your time with Steve. Yes smut.

People Pleaser (Steve x Fem!Reader x Eddie) Eddie likes to see how far you'll go for him. Yes smut.

Billy Hargrove:

It's Personal (Billy x Fem!Reader) Billy's been an ongoing bully/ nuisance in your life since you met. He's acting a little different after finding out you've been hurt. No smut. (Part 2 coming soon)

Billy Hargrove, Steve Harrington, and Eddie Munson:

What are You Thinking Drinking About? (Billy, Steve, Eddie x Fem!Reader) You and your friends hang out pretty regularly. You've known each other for a long time and have a lot of history since meeting in high school. Some of the group can't make it to the hang out one night, and there's a weird tension between you and the ones who do show up. Yes smut.

Vice Principals-

Lee Russell:

•••Series 1:

First Trip (Lee x Fem!Reader) (Pt. 1) You're the new secretary at NJH. You've caught Lee's eye, but disaster strikes before anything can be done about it. No smut.

The Foundation of Learning (Lee x Fem!Reader) (Pt. 2) A dream changes things and Lee plots Belinda's downfall by framing a teacher. No smut.

Teacher Work Day (Lee x Fem!Reader) (Pt. 3) "Is that bitch pissing on that cop car?" No smut.

Preoccupied (Lee x Fem!Reader) (Pt. 4) A plan is hatching, sure. You and Lee can't stay focused. What are you two thinking about? Yes smut.

Light my Fire (Lee x Fem!Reader) (Pt. 5) Your plan goes awry. Tensions are high. What's everyone gonna do about it? Ooh. Yes smut.

•••••

•••Series 2:

Subordinate (Lee x Fem!Reader) (Pt. 1) North Jackson High has a new principal and your coworkers are not coping well. XOXO. No smut.

The Righteous Gemstones-

Baby Billy Freeman:

Hallelujah, What a Payday (Baby Billy x Fem!Reader) Baby Billy's on the search for his next co-star. Yes smut.

Fallout-

Prewar Cooper Howard:

Hard to Get (Cooper x Fem!Reader) It's been a new experience being cast in the lead of the latest Hollywood movie. What's even more nerve-wracking is your far-more-famous-than-you co-star. After you can't seem to sell the chemistry between you to the director, you're pushed to spend more quality time with your cohort. Yes smut.

Dinner in America-

John Q. / Simon:

Don't Piss Me Off (Simon X Fem!Reader) (Pt. 1) You're back in your hometown for a few weeks to house sit for your parents. A rivalry dating back to your high school years makes an appearance, but this time, he's met his match. No smut.

Don't Piss me Off (Simon X Fem!Reader) (Pt. 2) You still can't stand sticking around your parents for too long, but you stay in town for a while longer just to see him play. Yes smut.

[thydungeongal]

Have you ever played City of Mist? It is a favorite. Somewhat tangentially, We have been looking into Troika and would love to hear if you have any experience or thoughts.

Haven't played City of Mist, but I keep hearing about it. I will probably check it out some day, but thus far the basic pitch of the game hasn't quite grabbed me. But I have been proven wrong about my first impressions of games and probably will again.

Troika is an interesting game. I have played it a couple of times while playtesting a module my friend @goblincow wrote, and honestly, I dig it! It is a very basic, stripped down fantasy RPG for the most part: a simple 2d6-based system, but what makes it feel special is that it has a lot of mechanics and setting elements that feel baroque on purpose.

Firstly, with regards to the setting elements: the game is great about worldbuilding by implication and leaving players with lots of room to fill in the gaps. And the stuff you discover is weird! There's a sword church! Dwarves are constructed, not born! There are swamp wizards!

And yeah, the mechanics definitely feel at times like they have been made kind of weird and baroque on purpose (for an example: the weird initiative system, having to convert damage rolls to actual damage on weapon specific tables, the whole list of spells and skills) to further sell the alienness of its setting. And while a lot of the mechanics are downright bizarre some of them are actually pretty effective and neat! Like how deep a character has packed a certain item into their bag being a consideration in how quickly the character can get it out!

As written I think the game would work perfectly for old-school style dungeon gaming albeit with weirder, more alien dungeons and I would very much like to try it again! My character in the game I played in was a swamp priest who taught bugs about marriage! Sadly, he died before he could take his beloved lady bug down the aisle. Poor Steve.

[livfastdieyoung69]

Guys im in my mjf era!

Mjf x reader

Mjf being his usual douchebag self but reader being his soft spot yk? And someone using reader against him to get under his skin any of his old feuds would work for this so i dont mind 👀 just LOVE a protective feral man with very little regard for himself when it comes to the people he loves 🤭

HIGH FLYING BIRD

Sting had been your idol for as long as you could remember. For decades, all you ever wanted was to be like Sting. Now here you are- on the same damn roster as him. You worked with him, by his side, every damn week. Your few years in AEW had already given you so much more experience and advice than you could’ve hoped for, especially from Steve. The only downfall of working side by side with Sting was having to work with Darby who hated, much like many others, your partner.

Speaking of Darby, he bursted into catering with a scowl on his half-painted face. Sighing into your styrofoam cup of a crisp Dr.Pepper as he plopped down into the seat between you and the beloved man himself, Sting, you turned to face him.

”Yes, Darbs?” Of course, even with his bitching over your choice of a lover, he was still a friend. Sometimes. Darby scoffed and shook his head, crossing his arms and practically pouting in his seat.

”How in the hell are you with Maxwell? What do you see in him? Or is it, like, what you don’t see? Are you legally blind, Birdy?” It was your turn to scoff- at his remarks and the nickname. It’d caught on after you showed up to AEW and started doing crazy high-flying shit no one even knew was possible on day one.

“We’re not having this conversation again, Darby.”

“Yes we are. Is this a Stockholm syndrome thing? Blink twice if you need help.” Before you’re able to do anything besides point a finger in his face, you’re interrupted.

“Alright guys, let's just calm down here, please.” Steve- Sting- tries to calm the situation. Darby gives you a smug look from getting away with his remarks while you glare at him wholeheartedly.

”Talkin’ about me again, huh?” MJF leans over you, his usual asshole smirk on as his hands slide up your shoulders and lightly grasp at your sore neck, barely massaging it. Sore from saving Darby in your last tag team match with a dive through a table, actually. (And no. He didn’t say thank you. Steve did though.)

”Hey, baby.” You look up at him, glowering face replaced with a gentle smile that makes Darby cringe and grumble under his breath.

“Got somethin’ to say, dead boy?” Max asks from behind you, hands still working your neck as the atmosphere tenses even further. Steve tries to calm everyone again, but it doesn’t seem to be working as Darby stands from his chair, coming basically toe to toe with Max.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do. You’re the worst damn decision they’ve ever made in the almost decade I’ve known them. I don’t even want to know how you’re manipulating them into this, but I’m sick and tired of it.” Darby’s voice keeps growing, filling the silence of the now quiet catering room, everyone watching their argument. Steve stands up, placing a hand on Darbs shoulder to try and pry him back. You might’ve gotten up to stop Max, but honestly, you just didn’t feel like dealing with this anymore. “All you’re going to do is leave them behind when you get whatever you want from them, and we’ll have to pick the pieces back up.”

Once again, Steve's attempt doesn’t work, and Max steps back into Darbys space, now quite literally toe to toe, chest to chest.

“I swear to God, the next time you suggest I would ever even imagine hurting them in anyway whatsoever, I will rip your fucking head off and let Wardlow play with it.” With a sigh, you get up from your chair and try to put a little distance from the two by pushing at Max’s chest but he won’t budge, he won’t even look at you. “Only reason I haven’t done it already is ‘cause of how much they like your little daddy over there. See how that works? If I hurt you, it’d hurt my Bird and I’d rather die than dream that into existence so I try my hardest not to think about hurting you. Let's keep it that way, capisce?”

Before Darby is able to reply, Max finally gives into your pushing and turns to leave catering, you in tow.

“Max,” You softly call for him, trying to keep up. “Max, baby,” You stumble to grab his hand and he finally comes to a stop. “Do you really have to keep threatening my friends? It’s really no wonder they don’t like you.” You teased him with a small smile, grabbing his hands in yours.

“Uh, Kris likes me, thank you very much, toots.”

”That doesn’t count, Kris just gets everything. Everyone else is dumb.” You lean back and forth on the ball of your heels, his hands keeping you stable before he gets sick of it and pulls you forward into his chest. “It’d be really nice if you could just be good for a little bit, please. Just a couple days is all I’m asking for here.”

He rolls his eyes, and gives a huge, fake groan up to the ceiling. He knew it’d make you laugh, he always knew what would. You pull your hands from his grasp and bring them up to his face, bringing him to look back at you.

“Be a good boy for me, hm?” You whispered, thumbs rubbing gently across his face. Judging from the blush covering his cheeks, it seems like you’d finally found a way to tame him.

Mwah ha ha ha this isn’t really what you asked for but kinda sorta they were rivals at one point so ???

The one funky word is the word that basically means do you understand (usually pronounced like capeesh) but I’m Italian and couldn’t bare to spell it wrong anyways he def says that and he also would def call you toots idc it’s canon in my heart

Also have no clue where the whole bird thing came from but it came and the title is the Jefferson Airplane song

Anyways kinda really like this one its cute

[paperbackribs]

🪱Wiggly Worm Wednesday🪱

I was tagged by the lovely @solarmorrigan 💚 This is established steddie with wolf Steve and bat Eddie; they're at a diner with Robin who's going on a college tour away from Hawkins for a few days...

Queen softly plays from the jukebox ontop of the tiles of black and white, and the booths are overstuffed under red pleather. Spotting the back of Robin’s cropped dark blonde hair Steve hurries to the end corner, their usual spot.

Eddie sits across from her and seeing him makes something unclench inside Steve.

Mate, his wolf whispers.

Boyfriend, Steve whispers fiercely back, trying to stop his unhinged inner self from once again being tempted to take Eddie away from prying eyes, to hide him and love him, possess him so he has no chance but to stay, wrapped up in Steve’s devotion forever. Mate is some idiotic and bestial term. Boyfriend is normal. Civilised. Sane.

Yet, even scolding himself, he can’t help but trace the beloved lines of Eddie’s face. The deepness of his brown eyes, the broad button of his nose, the wide, plush lips bracketed by the winking of his dimples as he laughs at whatever Robin has just said. Loving Eddie is an out-of-body experience and before Steve knows it, he’s already sinking into the lush seat, keeping a respectable distance between him and his boyfriend in public while subtly pushing his right knee against Eddie’s.

It's not enough.

It’s never enough.

But it’s all Steve can allow himself. For fear of reprisal in small town America against two queer men afraid to love each other in the open or in fear of how far Eddie will run if Steve clings to him as much as he wants to. Steve has remade himself into an octopus with no arms, holding himself back a thousandfold.

And Steve must be getting the ratio of love against independence right because Eddie’s eyes sparkle and he playfully pushes his knee back before hooking his foot around Steve’s ankle.

It’s still not enough: Steve’s entire being feeling ready to warp and grow and grab and demand, but he takes what he can. Takes it gratefully even, beholden to any affection that Eddie is willing to give him freely, and pushes that needy, over attached demon down.

Eddie reclines against the corner of the wall and the back of the booth, stretching one lithe arm against the top and, almost as if by accident, resting the tips of his long fingers against the crest of Steve’s polo, just a sliver of fingertip against the warm skin underneath. They remain clasped under the table. “Birdie here was just telling me about the last time she went to a family do in Chicago.”

Steve knows exactly what’s coming, confirmed as he glances over at Robin’s dancing blue eyes, so he leans into it, pouting slightly, “Best friends get souvenirs. That’s the rules.” Eddie snickers as Steve turns eyes made artfully doleful towards him too.

“Not from every tourist trap we visited though!” Robin laughingly protests as if he doesn’t know just how carefully she had scoured said tourist traps for the perfect gift every time.

His Robin is all bluster, Steve knows; when it comes to her emotions, Robin feels deeply and genuinely, but often it’s too uncomfortable for her admit to it honestly. That she does with him, in the private of their own bubble of friendship, tells Steve how true their bond is, and will always be.

“I wore that tie with the L map at my father’s last party,” he reminds her of the navy and gold piece that featured the distinct lines of Chicago’s transit system. “Some client of his thought it was a computer thing.”

At their waiting expressions, Steve’s face screws up as he tries to remember what the vaguely inebriated man had said, “Chips or something? I have no idea what fries had to do with computers though, so I just nodded.”

Reflexively, his breath stops, just a small hitch while he waits for a ‘good thing you’re pretty’ comment since he clearly missed something from the computer guy, the smarter guy. But it never comes and, rather than the hurt he’d anticipated, he instead feels a film of greasy guilt slick through him for suspecting that they’d do something that they know makes him feel like an idiot.

At least he’s handsome, he can hear dad scoff to his mother, that’s one thing he can’t fuck up.

“I’ll take a tie over the souvenir from our last group trip,” Eddie says wryly, running a telling hand over the healed demo-bat scars over his torso and snapping Steve out of his maudlin thoughts.

Steve supresses a frown; he may have trouble keeping the wolf at bay at times, especially lately, but ever since he’d first shifted into the large animal, all fangs and fur, he’d understood this new reality to be an intrinsic part of himself.

Protecting Max at the junkyard, abandoned yellow bus looming over him as a demo-dog ripped into his leg was terrifying and the subsequent shifts into a massive, wild animal just as horrific in his fear of the unknown. But he’d never regret the exchange: he’s the protector, the tank as Mike often points out. His human side knew that when he pushed Max back into the bus and his wolf knows it too.

But Eddie… Steve mutes the sigh that wants to come out, instead picking up the diner menu that he’d memorised months ago. Eddie has never quite come to accept the adorable bat form that he shifts into. A small version of a Flying Fox that Steve had helped him find within himself, all while fighting the romantic feelings that had steadily built in him since sitting in a hospital room, entertaining a tired but decidedly alive Eddie while he healed from his injuries.

He uses the image of Eddie laughing at Steve juggling jello cups to once again push his thoughts away. There’s no point in dwelling. “Mmmm,” he hums instead, schooling his face into an innocent expression, “I think bloody steak and a nice pink strawberry shake.”

“Steve!” Robin shrieks, familiar in their usual routine. “Try not to be so obvious, you might as well hang a sign around your neck.”

Her tone lowers and he looks up to see her laughing smile as she curls her fingers into talons, “I am a creature of the night.” She pronounces it like a former drama kid, even though that honour belongs to Eddie, and with an accent to make even Bela Lugosi weep in embarrassment.

“Hey,” Eddie says, wagging his finger, “that’s my bit you’re stealing. And it’s children of the night,” he continues, “you should know that since you’re such a film buff.”

Robin screws up her nose, “Yeah, but I don’t think I want to go around referring to Steve as a kiddy and something about making music at night is so suggestive. Weird combo.” She ignores Eddie’s snort as she insists, “Come on, Dracula is practically dripping in inuendo whenever he hovers around Harker.”

Steve’s lost as they continue to happily argue over the nuances of the black and white he’d fallen asleep to during their movie night a month ago and he’s certainly never read it like his two beloved geeks, so he glances up to see if Sarah is nearby and she is. She sees him looking and smiles, walking over in her blue flats under a checkered, pinafore dress that is the uniform at Haven Diner.

She was a couple of years ahead of him at Hawkins High, not a cheerleader but within the same group of friends, blonde and pretty and, what he remembers most about her, kind. She’d come across him at the library once, blindly staring down at his notes, overwhelmed at the demands of a new year level and she’d silently slid a chocolate bar across to him. A smile and wink and she was gone.

He’s not ashamed to admit he’d had a small crush on her for months after. Now, he’s just glad to come to have a familiar and friendly acquaintance around town.

“Hey Steve,” her eyes charmingly crinkle, “pancakes, extra syrup?”

“And a chocolate shake,” he confirms, smiling up at her.

Eddie clears his throat behind Steve, leaning in so that he’s almost against his back and Steve near startles at having him so abruptly close. “I’ll take the breakfast stack and coffee. Black. Like my soul.”

Steve rolls his eyes fondly, almost feeling Eddie’s deranged smile over his shoulder and amends for Sarah, “Yes, as black as his soul which means as much creamer as you can fit in it and I’ll make sure the sugar container is filled to the brim.”

Sarah laughs, a delicate tinkle, before turning to Robin who gives over her order, almost drooling as she looks up at the pretty girl. Steve extends his free foot to and kicks her lightly. She snaps out of it, glancing back at him in gratitude as Sarah walks away and expressed through a snarky sound as she asks, “Think you can survive your shifts without me?”

“I think I can manage,” Steve says dryly.

She matches him tone for tone, “But however will you keep up with cleaning the counter—”

“—you’re the one obsessed with the Zone of Stickiness—”

“—or the small demons that want to consume our souls—”

“—I can handle a few toddlers—”

“—what about—”

“Rob!” Steve laughs as she falls into giggles. Eddie rolls his eyes beside them, indulgent in the face of what he often calls their wonder-twin routine. “I’ve got it. I’ll survive the week. It’ll be my last solo shift anyway. Once you’re at Purdue I’m quitting for Marjorie’s and Family Video will be a distant nightmare.”

He winks to soften the last word; Family Video, much like Scoops Ahoy, will always have a fond place in his heart, if only for the hours it’s given him with his best friend.

He feels a nudge at his side and slides out at Eddie’s gesture, letting him move to stand. “I’m going to the john,” he says amiably but with a meaningful look to Steve before he walks away. Steve watches the tightness of his jeans as he makes a bee-line to the back, feeling a stirring at the memory of his hands running over that ass only the night before.

“That was weird,” Robin observes, eyes returning thoughtfully to Steve who reluctantly turns away from fond thoughts to sigh at being caught out.

“I think he feels like he might be getting in the way of our goodbyes.”

Robin’s eyebrows slam together, “Of us? What gave him that idea?”

Eyes dropping to the fornica table, Steve scratches at an old stain. “I maybe hinted that I should be spending more time with you since you’re going away.”

“For a whole week, Steve,” says Robin sardonically and entirely unconvinced by his explanation.

“Yeah, but it won’t be just a handful of days will it? Not once you settle on Purdue.” Steve’s hope that he can hide behind the truth is punctured like a child’s balloon.

“For one week, Steve,” Robin repeats, each word punctuated by invisible full stops and Steve raises his head to find Robin’s expression wholly unimpressed.

“I just…” Steve’s jaw clenches around the bitter taste. “I needed some reason not to glomp myself all over him.”

Robin sighs, leaning back against the red seat, it gives out an artificial squeak at the movement. “Steve. Babe…” She seems to gather her thoughts for a moment. “You need to talk to him. I can’t always walk in and wave my magic lesbian wand to pull you out of your emotional constipation.”

Steve scowls, but it’s half-hearted as he protests a little too loudly, “I’m not constipated.”

“Well, that’s a happy thing to hear,” Nancy says behind him, slowly and with a hint of a smile as she suddenly appears at their elbow, a brown paper to-go bag in one hand, bottom so greasy it’s almost clear.

Robin and Steve startle, both having been so wrapped up in their conversation with each other that they’d forgotten the diner around them. Robin bites her lip as if to remind herself she shouldn’t be so openly saying the L world in public, but Nancy doesn’t show any indication of having heard it.

The reminder of the outside world brings the sudden sounds of chattering in the nearby booths and the clacking of sturdy plates being stacked as Sarah clears a table. His inattention causes something inside Steve to clench, a chastisement from his wolf for not protecting his pack better.

Not that he needs to protect anyone from Nancy, he reminds himself sternly, looking up at her waiting expression. She’s just Nance, looking as sturdily practical as ever in a floral dress over a collared shirt with wide, cream lapels, although the smartly pointed toes of her white boots hint at the risk people take in underestimating her.

“What are you doing here?” Robin demands and it’s Nancy’s turn to startle, the tone directed at her just shy of rude.

A group of workers clomp behind her, their steel-caps making a heavy tread as they pass. She leans in closer and Steve catches a good whiff of her perfume. White Linen, he recalls with a clarity so keen he can feel the press of the wrapped box in his hand, the low sound of Journey in the background as they’d celebrated her birthday in his bed.

With his wolfy nose, he’s now able to tease out the individual notes of rose, violet, and orris blossoms. The latter he’d found at Marjorie’s garden nursery in his first week working there. All of it combining to suit the coolness of white flowers that Steve thinks of as uniquely Nancy.

She rallies with a relaxed smile, “It’s the break and I was able to wrap up a few things early at Northwestern. Plus, I wanted to get here in time to give Mike his birthday present in person.” She hesitates but leans in again, cool, calm flowers in her wake. “And it doesn’t hurt to check in on Hawkins.”

Her eyes have a tinge of resignation to them, like she knows she’ll never be free of the hometown that shaped her into the justice-seeking reporter that she’s become at heart. “This will be the first year in four that something hasn’t happened yet, and I want to check around town. Make sure that’s still the case.”

Robin rolls her eyes behind Nancy’s back. Steve does the little kick of his lip and slight squint at her that she knows means shut up. Nancy doesn’t see it, even with her focus being on Steve, but she clearly senses that she no longer has his complete attention so she leans back. “Will you be there?” She shifts to include them both in her question.

“Mike’s party?” Steve continues at her nod, “I will be, but Rob’s out-of-town so she’ll miss it.”

Robin chuckles, eyes distant as she remembers Lucas’ birthday celebrations just a month ago, “I’m happy to never see a hotdog contest like that again.”

“They’re animals,” Steve agrees wryly and almost giggles as she mimes the choking face that Mike had made not three dogs in.

“Okay, well, I’ll see you then,” Nancy smiles again as she tucks a wayward curl behind her ear and departs with a small wave. He watches her leave, waiting to see if she has the Chevy nearby to get into, but she leaves his sightline beyond the wide windows of the storefront and Steve lets it drop. He cares for Nance. He always will. But she’s a big girl and the wolf doesn’t feel responsible for her like it does the party.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the dark form of Eddie approach. He’d chosen a black tee today, lapping over dark denim and stomping boots, all light sucked away in an effect that only emphasises the sleek alabaster of his skin and the contrast of sharp silver on his fingers.

Steve idly wonders if he can convince Eddie to come back to Family Video before his shift, hide out in the back and suck those rings off his slim fingers one by one.

He’s broken out of his reverie though by the slight frown on Eddie’s face as he sidles back into the booth. This time, pressing more firmly up against the side of Steve as he boxes him between him and the wall. “Was that Wheeler?”

“The one and only,” Robin says, meeting his eyes and Steve wonders at the gravity held between the two of them, feeling oddly left out. “She says that she’s here for the holidays — Mike’s party and to be the ever-vigilant gal on the beat in case the woo woo acts up again.”

“Does she know something?” Eddie asks sharply but Robin shakes her head.

“Nah, just keeping an eye on things,” she reluctantly concedes. “Which is probably not the worse idea.”

“You know Nance,” Steve interjects, reaching beyond Eddie as Sarah delivers their shakes and coffee before departing in an efficient whisk away, “she feels responsible for this stuff. She’d throw herself in harms way rather than let something like Barb happen again.”

As always, Steve feels a sad and guilty pang at the memory of Nancy’s best friend, murdered by demogorgons and dragged into the Upside Down while they had celebrated their first night together, blissfully unaware and excited in the throes of new love.

Barb had been left in the doppelganger version of his pool too, he remembers grimly; not that he has to cast back far for the memory of returning for her body, bringing it back to their world for a proper burial. He hasn’t entered his pool in years now. Sometimes he feels like the whole of Hawkins is tainted, a place overlapped by another world, seeped in blood and fouled by the unnatural spirit of a world that spits red lightning and uncanny monsters.

But it makes him ambivalent too, the thinks, resisting the urge to scratch at the puckered scarring on his lower leg where the demo-dogs had torn into him. Ever since that first turning, Steve has felt like some part of him, some element unknown that would have been forever hidden if not for that seminal event, clicked into place. He's still not sure what puzzle that piece fits into, but he knows it has to do with the wolf. With Eddie’s bat.

Unconsciously, his hand reaches out to rest on Eddie’s on the table and Eddie smiles warmly, but only briefly squeezes it before drawing his own away to cradle his coffee. The pang strikes harder and Steve curls his nails in, not letting them bite into his palm as he calmly reminds himself that needy is only going to push Eddie away.

More steddie here :)

Tag! You're it: @formosusiniquis and @wynnyfryd and @apomaro-mellow