#I am terrified that everything will fall apart any second

[lithification]

Wowowow I feel like I cried myself to sleep one night this last January and I’ve woken up this Fall to find that I’ve gotten everything good I had dreamt of while I was sleeping

[yorsgirl]

In His Arms

Levi Ackerman x Reader

Synopsis: Why should you look for another place to die when you have his arms around you?

Tropes: Angst, major character death

Warnings: Canon Timeline, gn!reader, angst, unhappy ending, non-explicit violence.

Word count: 2.03k

You never liked the sun all that much.

It was always too bright, too warm…always just too much. Even then, the scorching heat did nothing but increase your irritation as you laid sprawled out on the open grass field. Your body felt abnormally paralyzed, heart beating right in your ear; drowning out all the noises of the disaster happening around you.

You don’t remember how you got there.

Honestly, you couldn’t remember anything that happened in the past hour. But you laid there - on the lush green field while the sun burnt your skin, lungs constricting with every breath you took.

You were tired. Exhausted even. Wishing nothing but to fall into a deep slumber. But you can’t. Not in this filthy field (what if some insect crawls up your ear), not when the sun burns so hot (ugh, so annoying), not when your thumping, loud heartbeat almost scared you.

The wish was thrown out of the window when you felt something trickle down the side of your eye. Warm. Assuming it's sweat, you groggily moved your hand to wipe it away. Your eyes drift off to your palm – thick, warm liquid stained it red.

Blood.

For a second, you gazed at it with curiosity.

The next, everything hits you like a bullet to the gut.

The expedition, the unfruitful sighting of two abnormals near your flank, comrades that were trampled or ripped apart by the titans and at last…when it held you in its grasp; ready to chew onto your flesh.

You still didn’t remember, what happened to the accused titan that dared to make you its snack. You groaned but it came out as blood spitting coughs, as you tried to roll over – failed. Everything was still a blur.

Your solitude was cut short when you heard a thud. A figure dropped beside you.

Tufts of Jet black hair and a pair of steel blue eyes hovered through your hazy vision.

“Levi...” Voice strained yet you were able to say his name, without coughing up blood.

The said man kneeled, picking you up in his arms, your head laid on the crook of his elbow and forearm. He gently wiped away the blood aside your eyes and forehead, his touch – like a petal falling on water; almost soothing your aching body.

“I am here,” He assured you, his eyes focused on your face. He didn’t dare look down your body. The sight, even too terrifying for him.

Your right leg was missing from the knee down, the gash running through your abdomen – too deep. The blood loss was significant; staining the grass around red.

In any normal circumstance, he could carry you effortlessly. But this very day, his arms felt weak while supporting just your upper body weight, fingers trembling as he brushed off your hair.

It was minutes ago when Levi reached near the vicinity of your flank (or what once was) after being informed by a fellow soldiers that two aberrants were sighted there. He remembered the moment, the titan’s hand wrapped around your abdomen, as it held one of your limbs in its mouth, the shrieks of horror combined with pain that escaped your lips; enough to break the barriers of his rage.

For a moment, he was pushed back into the utter depths of his memory. A similar expedition, like this one… with a similar scenario where an aberrant took away the lives of his then, only family.

It couldn’t happen again. He couldn’t lose you too…

He just couldn’t.

Seconds, in literal seconds did he disintegrate those titans, their remains were nothing but blobs of flesh accompanied by the blood. The titan- or rather titans, which dared to grasp you; their corpses no- more like what was left of their corpses were left around the bloodied field, steaming into air.

It was painful.

For both of you.

He couldn’t conjure the courage to look down on your injured body, the realization that you wouldn’t make it – too difficult to be accepted. Instead he just stayed silent, as you tried to breathe, all while your chest burned.

“Levi… wh-” You were caught in a coughing fit, spitting blood out of your mouth.

“Easy, don’t talk.” His voice reaches your ears, he gingerly wipes away the blood from your chin. “I am here…” He repeats. You are going to be okay, he wants to tell you that you’d be alright. But he knows the inevitable and he knows you do too.

So the words died down.

Weakly raising your hand to cup his cheek, feeling his skin on yours; one last time. As your trembling fingertips trailed over his cheekbone, his rough hand held yours atop, running the pad of his thumb across the creases of your palm.

Oh… how much you wished for time to stop now.

To let you be like this. In his arms. Just where you were meant to be.

“I am going to die, aren’t I?”

The cursed words lolls off your lips so easily. And Levi just wishes, why does he have to bear this torment?

It’s a question you’ve asked him previously too. A lot of times to say the least. It was annoying, he had thought those times. Shushing you down with the usual - you still have time.

That time is up.

“I told you to not speak.” He rebuked harshly.

But why does this harsh attitude seems to arise from a place of tenderness?

“No,” You state with conviction even though your tone quivered. “You know it too.” You noticed the tighter grip on your hand as well as the stiffening of his body. You were right, he knows it too.

Levi knows he’s in amidst titan territory, he knows letting down his guard is the worst option but… he can’t leave you there. The regret of not staying with you now, would be greater than any regret that he might feel later.

So, he sat down properly, cradling your head on his lap. He stared right into your eyes, memorizing the colour and how the sunlight reflects on them. He gazed down at your lips, memorizing the way it curled as you speak.

 The fluttering of your eyelids does not go unnoticed. He tracd his finger down to the pulse point on your wrist. The rhythm eerily slow.

You held his gaze, focusing on his features through the blur. And even if you don’t like the sun, you can’t help but love how the periphery of his face glowed under its light. You etched the feeling of his touch to your mind.

There are so many words you wanted to say to him, so many sentiments whirling inside you which you wished to let him know.

But you don’t. The declarations too long and time too short.

Even then, in that moment you know he has his tongue tied too. The words left on the tip of his lips, never voiced out.

A silence befell you both, as if pushing you into a trance of your own. A place where these titans don’t exist, the complexities of this ongoing war vanished. Leaving you both at each other’s mercy.

The pain that surged through both of you, for a second stops. Converting into something warm…

You lived in that intimate moment with him. When words fell short, but the thread tying his soul to yours remained strong.

After a short while, a noise erupted from you. Instead of cries of pain or anguish, you let out a chuckle. Causing Levi to give you a look, questioning himself if you had gone insane.

“Ah- looks like I will be leaving before y-you,” You chuckled again, as it was followed by a painful cough.

His eyes narrowed, lips twisting into a frown, “And you are laughing?”

“Would be able to re-rest finally.” Your lips stretch in a grin. “It’s tiring to tr-train under you… every day.”

There’s a reason he found you annoying.

The corners of his lip twitched as he wondered would it be the right time to smack your head and talk some sense into you. But he refrained, just glaring at you. The glare isn’t filled with rage, rather undertones of despair.

“It’s tiring… to train under me?”

“uh huh,” You would have nodded but movement seemed challenging too. He almost wants to flick your forehead for making a joke out of this situation. But that’s just who you were. One of the many reasons he fell for you.

He understood your playfulness. A way to divert his mind. He had sworn to not regret anything but there are times. Times when he can’t help but do so. It were one of the rare times. And you just happened to be the antidote in this predicament.

Humorous, it was. You were standing on the edge of life, still it were you comforting him.

He pondered on what he did to deserve you.

The grin stayed on your lips quickly followed by another coughing fit.

Levi gently rubbed your back and shoulders – his touch again easing the pain that coursing through your ripped abdomen.

“Levi…” You call his name again, the word falling off your lips so sweetly.

Oh, how much, he wished that he’d get to hear it again and again.

His eyes flicker to your face again, even though that blood dripped down the side of your face and your eyes half-lidded; he can’t help but still find you beautiful.

As beautiful as always.

“I’m listening.”

You smile, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping down as you force them to stay open. “O-oh nothing... just wanted to say your name.”

He gulps down the lump forming in his throat, wondering how easily you had always understood him. Through the silent nights you spent on the rooftops or when he completed his paperworks as you prepared him tea.

“But if I had to ask for something… hey… Levi,” You whined with a frown. You assumed he wasn’t listening. But he was listening.

Always listening.

“What?” The heaviness in his voice was evident, he was holding back from crumbling down. His eyes drooped down, the grimace on his lips; an expression you knew all too well.

You breathed in sharply as the smile remained, “Watch it… till the end, for me.”

His eyes flickered with something for a second, before he blinked. Once. Twice. The pad of his thumb running circles on your cheek.

With the tightness in his chest, he nodded, “I will.” The same grin from earlier gets plastered on your face again. That assurance was enough for you.

For, if you can’t see the outside world, to taste freedom in its true form. You at least want him to watch it for you, to live in it for you.

Your chest burned again, the blood loss taking a toll on you as your head felt awfully light. Levi noticed it too along with the coldness of your body, as the pulse rate has almost diminished.

“I am sleepy,” Your voice being a mere whisper.

He knew and you did too.

The time has come.

“Sleep,” He replied, “You’ve fought for long, rest easy now. I’ll be here.”

He gingerly caressed your face once again, his steel grey eyes fixated on yours as if there’s no tomorrow, thumb tracing the outline of your lips.

“And when you wake up…” He gazed at you with so much longing and affection. “I will find you again.”

Your lips cracked into one of the most beautiful smiles he had ever seen. A smile he locked into his memory. With a slight nod of your head, your eyelids closed.

You breathed out once. Then never.

Levi stayed there, holding you tight for as long as he could remember.

As the despicable sun shone on the unlucky lovers, a little too brightly and the noises from the catastrophe elsewhere started to sync in. The grassfield was still as bloody and filthy.

You passed away, in the place you loathed. But didn’t, in your last moments.

Through unsaid words and silent promises, you took your last breath. But it was alright. Cause you were where you were meant to be.

You were in his arms.

[favefandomimagines]

Baby on Board (e.b)

Summary: you find out your pregnant with Buck’s baby and have no idea how to tell him or how he will react.

AN: IM BAAAAACK (one time thing) you can thank 911 for that because we all know i have a soft spot for Evan Buckley

It felt like the world became one big blur. Everything around you seemingly fell out of focus as you stared down at the positive pregnancy test in your hand. A mixture of fear, nerves and excitement settled into your stomach.

In any other instant, you’d be ecstatic. If you were following your life plan correctly, you’d be married and have a steady job before getting pregnant.

But you weren’t following your life plan at all. You were in a steady relationship for a few years but you didn’t know if marriage was in the cards yet. You didn’t know how Buck felt about marriage. You definitely didn’t know how he was going to feel about a baby. How were you supposed to tell him?

You thought a baby would for sure ruin whatever plans Buck had. You were terrified of his reaction. You loved Buck more than anything and of course you wanted a family with him. But was it too soon?

In a wave of panic, you grabbed your purse and your keys and left the apartment. You had no idea where to go at first, all of your friends were Buck’s friends.

Eddie was always nice to you and you were closer to him than anyone else. You had hoped he wouldn’t be angry or upset that you were putting him in this situation but you needed advice.

The only reason you knew Eddie was home was because him and Buck were on alternating schedules. Eddie worked overnight and Buck worked during the day.

When Eddie opened the door, he was surprised to see you standing on his porch with tears in your eyes. “Y/N? Are you okay?” Eddie asked, grabbing hold of your hand entry and brought you inside.

“I need your help, actually. Well, more like advice.” You spoke. “What’s going on?” Eddie questioned. “I’m pregnant. Obviously it’s Buck’s but how am I supposed to tell him? We haven’t talked about kids yet, hell we haven’t even talked about marriage that much. I just, I don’t know what to do.” You explained, the tears falling.

Eddie took you in his arms and hugged you tightly, mainly just to calm you down. “First, take some breaths. You’re going to be okay. Second, I think Buck is going to be ecstatic.” He said. “But what if-“ you started before Eddie cut you off. “No buts. Sure it’s not the most conventional way to have a baby, but I hear how Buck talks about you. He talks about like you’re the center of the universe. Technically, you are, at least to him,” Eddie started.

“Buck loves you. There is nothing that would make him not love you. And he was born to be a dad and you’re going to give him that.” He finished. You sniffled and wiped the tears from your face.

“What if you’re wrong?” You whispered. “Hey, you came here for a reason. You know I’m not wrong.” He said. “How did Shannon tell you? If you don’t mind me asking.” You asked. “She knew I was enlisting. So she just said it, didn’t want to wait any longer. Especially if I didn’t make it home.” He answered.

You nodded your head slightly and let out a sigh of relief. “I’m scared.” You said. “You are one of the strongest people I know. You can do this.” Eddie said.

You thanked him again, very grateful you went to him other than someone else. Now all you had to do was wait.

—

Buck was due to be home any minute and you just finished making him his favorite breakfast; waffles, bacon, eggs sunny side up. He’d know something was up because the last time you made him that breakfast was when you told him you loved him for the first time.

“Honey, I’m home.” He teased, entering the home. “Hey, how was your shift?” You asked. “Good, just run of the mill stuff. What’s with the breakfast?” Buck asked.

You were quiet for a moment, that being enough for Buck to see something was up. “Hey, hey, what’s going on?” He asked, approaching you. “I need to tell you something. Something really important.” You said.

“Okay. You’re kind of freaking me out though.” Buck replied with a small laugh.

“I’m pregnant, Buck.” You finally said. At first, the room was quiet and you feared the worst. 

The voice in the back of your head said he was going to run out the door and you’ll never see him again. 

“You’re pregnant?” He questioned. “I’m sorry.” You said. “No, no, why are you sorry? Don’t be sorry, not for this.” Buck said. You looked up at him and saw the way his eyes lit up and the smile on his face. “You aren’t mad?” You questioned. 

“Of course I’m not mad. I could never be mad at you.” Buck said, taking your hand. “I-I know this isn’t the best way for us to start a family but-“ You started. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.” He interrupted, pulling you into an embrace.

Buck held you for a moment, feeling like everything was falling into place for him. For so long he felt like he was at a standstill. That there was no real progress happening in his life.

But now, he was going to be a dad.

“I love you so much, you know that?” He said sweetly to you. “I love you too.” You replied. Buck leaned in and kissed you sweetly before pulling you into his arms.

“Does anyone else know?” Buck asked. “I-I panicked when I found out and I didn’t know how you’d react so I went to Eddie. So only him.” You said.

Buck smiled widely at you, holding you close. “We’re having a baby.” He said. “Yeah, we’re having a baby.” You replied.

The rest of the night, all Buck could talk about was baby names, if it was going to be a boy or a girl, buying a house. Everything was all falling into place for the both of you.

[huntfeld]

For You

Pairing: Tara Carpenter X Reader

Summary: In New York City, Tara Carpenter faces the aftermath of the Ghostface killings while grappling with her intense feelings for her possessive friend. As their bond deepens, they must navigate the chaos around them, ready to protect each other at all costs.

The streets of New York were alive with vibrant energy, but for Tara Carpenter, the noise faded into a distant hum. She stood by her apartment window, staring out at the city skyline. The chaos below felt worlds away from her life, which had been turned upside down by Ghostface's return. Even with the weight of the fear pressing on her, the only thought that consumed her mind was you—her closest confidant and the one person she couldn’t seem to shake off.

You had always been there, a constant in the whirlwind of her life, but recently, your presence felt charged with something more—something deeper. It was a warmth that both comforted and unsettled her.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, snapping her from her thoughts. A message from you glowed on the screen: I’m outside. Can we talk?

Her heart raced. Yeah, just a sec, she replied, quickly moving to let you in. You had a way of making her feel safe, even when the world around her was falling apart.

The door swung open, and you stepped inside, the cool evening air rushing in with you. “Hey,” you said softly, your gaze searching her face. “You okay?”

Tara nodded, forcing a smile despite the gnawing anxiety in her chest. “Yeah, just… a lot going on.”

You moved closer, your eyes darkening with concern. “I hate this for you. You don’t deserve any of it.”

“I know, but I’ll be fine,” she reassured, though your intensity made her heart race in a different way. The way you looked at her felt possessive, as if you were silently claiming her, and a shiver ran down her spine.

“Fine isn’t enough,” you murmured, stepping even closer. “I’d do anything to protect you, Tara. You mean everything to me.”

A flutter of something warm blossomed in her chest. “You don’t have to protect me,” she said, but even as she spoke, she felt the weight of your gaze on her, steady and unwavering.

“Maybe I want to,” you replied, your voice dropping to a low, husky whisper. “I’d die for you, Tara. You know that, right?”

Those words sent a rush of adrenaline through her. There was something intoxicating about the way you spoke, a raw honesty that both thrilled and terrified her. You took another step closer, and she could feel the heat radiating from your body.

“I don’t want anyone else to have you,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper, your breath warm against her skin. “Not even for a second.”

Tara’s heart raced, caught in the tension between desire and fear. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“I mean,” you said, reaching out to cup her face with your hand, “I can’t bear the thought of someone taking you from me. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, even if it means keeping you close—really close.”

You leaned in, your lips brushing against hers, and Tara’s breath hitched. The world outside melted away, and all that existed was the two of you, standing on the precipice of something beautiful and dangerous.

“Tara,” you murmured against her lips, “I need you to understand how serious I am. I’d do anything for you.”

“I believe you,” she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. “But this feels different…”

“It is different,” you said, stepping back slightly to search her eyes. “I’m not just your friend anymore. I want more. I need you to be mine, fully.”

Your intensity made her head spin, and in that moment, she realized how much she craved you—your affection, your protection, your everything. It was a hunger that ignited a fire within her, burning away the fear that had consumed her.

“I want that too,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But what if—”

You cut her off, your fingers gently tilting her chin up so she could meet your gaze. “There are no ‘what ifs’ with us. It’s just you and me, against the world.”

With that, you closed the distance between you, capturing her lips with yours in a heated kiss. It was soft at first, but the passion quickly escalated, the kind of kiss that made the world outside fade away. Tara melted against you, surrendering to the warmth and intensity that radiated between you.

As you pulled away, your foreheads resting against each other, Tara felt the weight of your promise. “I’ll always be here,” you said, your voice low and steady. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”

Tara smiled, a mix of happiness and uncertainty swirling in her chest. “I trust you.”

“I’m not just saying this,” you continued, your tone serious. “I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to protect what’s ours. No one gets to touch you. Not now, not ever.”

The possessiveness in your voice sent a thrill through her, mixing fear with desire. She loved the way you cared for her, the lengths you were willing to go, but it also made her acutely aware of the darkness lurking beneath the surface.

“Promise me,” you said, “that you’ll stay with me. No matter what happens, don’t let them take you from me.”

“I promise,” she whispered, feeling the truth of her words. In that moment, Tara knew there was no turning back. She wanted you just as fiercely, ready to face whatever came next.

Together, you stepped into the night, hand in hand, ready to embrace the chaos of the world outside. But with you by her side, Tara felt like she could conquer anything, and she knew that she would do the same for you—because, in the end, you would both die for each other.

———

[bethelighthalazia]

Terrifying - Part 2

Summary:  Yunho feels horrible for scaring and hurting you, so he apologizes and promises to do everything to show you how important you are to him and how much he loves you.

Genre:  angst, fluff

Pairing: bf!Yunho X fem!reader

Word Count:  1753

Warnings: mentions of wounds/scratches, mentions of hurting, sad Yuyu, mentions of crying, insecure reader

networks: @mirohs-aurora-society

[note: thank you, @ja3hwa for helping me with finding a good ending paragraph <3]

© by bethelighthalazia. Do not repost, copy or translate. Unless stated otherwise, those works are mine and born from my own ideas. I don't have any claim on the mentioned real existing Idols whatsoever.

At the dorms, the others were around you the moment Mingi stepped through the main entrance. San took you out of Mingi´s arms, who then left again to check on Yunho while you were placed on the big sofa. Wooyoung had already grabbed blankets to cuddle up in the living room with you to watch any movie you want. It seems that Yunho had called the others, the second you and Mingi had left the apartment, to tell them what happened. 

“Y/n, could I check on your wounds please?” Seonghwa asked with a gentle voice, a first aid kit in his hand while he sat down on the sofa next to you. You nodded, wiping your face with one hand while holding your other arm out towards him. “Oh, you´re wearing the bracelet we got you!” A smile on Seonghwa´s face, he gently dabbed some disinfectant ointment on the scratches, causing you to wince ever so slightly every time. “Do- do you think he's mad at me now? I- I think I hurt his feelings…” You sniffled quietly, some new tears appearing in your eyes, but before Seonghwa could answer, you´re pulled into a tight hug by Wooyoung who shakes his head no. 

“He's more worried about you being mad at him, y/n.” Jongho said, carrying a bowl with your favorite snacks over to you. “Don´t worry, he loves you, that I am absolutely sure of.” 

When he put down the bowl, the maknae gave you a soft squeeze to the shoulder before then leaving the room, he didn't want you to possibly get overwhelmed with too many people around for now. Hongjoong also came over to the sofa and placed a kiss on top of your head, something he had done almost ever since you met the boys, because he sees you as his sister, and then whispered something to Seonghwa before leaving to go check on Yunho as well, knowing you're in the best hands.

Yeosang just stayed quiet, sitting on the other sofa and turning on the TV for you, knowing well which ones are your favorites to watch. Your head was now resting on Wooyoung´s shoulder, you felt your eyes getting heavy, but you didn't want to fall asleep yet, too scared that nightmares could haunt your dreams. “Woo? Why- why do you all seem so calm?” You asked after a few moments, frowning a bit when you realized that they are too calm for what happened. When Wooyoung exchanges looks with San, Seonghwa and Yeosang, you swallow hard. Is there something they don't want to tell you? A secret that they hide from you?

“Y/n, I think-” “That's something Yunho should tell you himself, y/nnie.” Mingi, who just entered the dorms again, cut off Seonghwa who was trying to answer you, but then the others just nod at Mingi´s words. When you heard his voice, your head perked up, accidentally hitting Wooyoung's chin slightly, your eyes wide. “Mingi, how-” “He is okay, Hongjoong hyung is with him now to help clean up your apartment. He sent me here to see how you feel and if you need anything.” Mingi hummed, coming over to sit on the floor right in front of the sofa. 

“I'm…okay?” With a raised eyebrow, Mingi looked at you, he could always tell if you´re telling the truth or not and often, he even knows better how you feel than you do yourself. With a little sigh, you shrugged, not even sure how exactly you feel. But you weren't in pain anymore, that is something you can say for sure.

“Really Mingi…I am not in pain or anything, I just-” “You´re confused, right?” Nodding, you fully focused on your best friend, Wooyoung laid an arm around you again to calm you down a bit. No one spoke for a while, just letting you relax and hopefully doze off a bit. It indeed almost worked, your eyes heavy while your head rested against Wooyoung´s shoulder and Mingi caressed your hands in a soothing manner, you almost fell asleep.

That is, until a jingle of keys, quiet voices and the sound of a door unlocking is heard. your head jerked up, again hitting Wooyoung´s chin, when you heard your boyfriend´s voice answering to Hongjoong. Mingi got to his feet almost instantly, staring at the entryway, where soon Hongjoong and Yunho appeared. “Hyung, are you-” “Everyone out, except for y/n, Mingi and Yunho.” Hongjoong said and, to everyone's surprise, the room actually cleared. The captain just patted Yunho ́s back gently before leaving as well, but you knew that he’d be just one room further, so he could intervene if needed.

While Mingi just stared at them, Yunho had only eyes for you, an expression like a beaten puppy on his face. You know that he's feeling horrible, knowing that Yunho is not the type of person to hurt others purposefully. Yet, your body flinched slightly when he took a step closer to the sofa, your movement causing him to freeze on the spot. Mingi sat down on the armchair nearby, just in case, but he didn't intervene at all. 

“Y/n, love I-” Yunho started, but then got quiet, not sure what he could say to undo his actions. “I know that nothing I say would make you forget that I hurt you…and I-” He took a deep breath, just standing in the middle of the room, not coming closer to you for now. “I would understand if you'd hate me and never want to see me anymore.” His voice got quieter with every word he spoke, you could see how hard it is to talk while knowing that you probably are scared of him now. “But please…could I try to explain? I won't try to make any excuses, because I know my behavior was absolutely unacceptable and no excuse or apology could undo it.”

With a short glance over to Mingi who gave a reassuring nod, you then nod as well, patting the free space on the sofa next to you. “O- okay…I have a question though…are you still mad at me?” You asked quietly, to which Yunho quickly took a few steps over to you to take your hand, just to then freeze when you flinch. “S- sorry, I didn't mean to scare you again-” He whispered, slowly kneeling down in front of you, taking your hand in his. “But please, y/nnie, my love, my heart, I could never be mad at you. I wasn't even upset with you earlier, but with myself and all the stress I had the last weeks…I tend to bottle it all up and sometimes it just bursts out of me. Usually I would come here and tell Mingi, then we would go to the gym or something, but this time, I didn't…and let it out on you.”

Yunho's voice broke, the thought of hurting you already let him get teary and his heart dropped. “B- before I asked you to be my girlfriend, I swore to myself to never have such an outburst near you…and now I even scarred you because of it-” Pulling his hands away, he sat on the back of his feet, still kneeling in front of you, his head dropped against his chest. He truly looked like a sad puppy and you would love to pull him into a soothing embrace, yet you cannot bring yourself to do so. Even though you knew that he meant every word, and that he would never purposefully hurt you, you cannot shake off the fear and the broken trust between the two of you.

“Yunho-” You whispered, his frame getting smaller as he curled into himself , almost slumping in front of you when you didn't use your usual nickname for him. This was what Yunho always had feared; to hurt you and to push you away from him. “I- I just…I still love you, but…but I also am scared. I trusted you with my life…but now? I don't- I don't know if I can trust you. So-” With another deep breath, you tried to steady your voice, tears again stinging in your eyes. “So please…give me time, okay? I love you…and I still want to be with you, but- but a trust that's broken like this…I don't know how long it might take to rebuild, but…but you will have to show me that I can trust you again…”

Yunho nodded silently, his mind racing. You still wanted to be with him, even though you knew that he would be capable of hurting you? His heart beat faster, with a quick movement, he wiped away his tears before looking up, he had no right to cry when he was the one who had hurt you. “I will do anything, jagiya. Everything to show you that you mean more to me than anything else.” He then said after a few moments of silence, his voice quiet but hopeful. “You are my everything, y/nnie, and I am so…so thankful that you give me this chance.”

You already knew that your heart forgave him the moment he called Mingi to get you out of the danger he might have gotten for you back then, proving already that he never wanted to hurt you in the first place. But, forgiving does not mean to immediately trust him again, both of you knew this. And both of you were ready to be patient. After a short glance around to reassure yourself that Mingi is still in the room with you two, you slowly moved, getting down from the sofa to hug Yunho, who's still kneeling in front of you. The hug felt awkward and you didn't keep this closeness for long, but when you whispered an “I love you, Yuyu” before leaning back, you could feel his heartbeat accelerate and a hopeful expression appeared on Yunho's face. 

“I love you, y/nnie. Thank you for letting me prove myself to you, even if I don't deserve your kindness after I hurt you like this…” You sat there in silence for a moment letting him say sorry over and over again, glancing at Mingi every now and then to make sure everything was okay. You knew this situation wasn't going to go away. And you knew he would stop at nothing to show you that you can trust him again. 

It was going to be a long road and Yunho was willing to travel down it. For you.

taglist: @mingis-mizu, @tinyelfperson, @hotteokkay, @minkilicious, @bunnliix,

@gong-fourz, @yeosangiess, @jayshoneybee, @dinossaurz, @scuzmunkie,

@en-happiness, @kibs-and-bits

(if you want to be added to a taglist, follow the taglist-link in my pinned post)

[jareaul0ver]

Come With Me

Summary: Nika gets drafted to a team all the way across the country, and you're terrified of what's coming next, but she has everything planned out.

inspired by this request

wc: 917 warnings: angst if you squint, nothing else really pairings: nika muhl x fem!reader

After being with Nika for the last three years of your life, spending almost every single day with her, sleeping in her bed every night, you couldn't imagine how life would be if she got drafted to somewhere far from you.

You were hoping she'd be drafted to the Connecticut Sun, so you two could stay together after graduation. If that didn't happen, you at least hoped for a team on the east coast.

Of course, your hopes and dreams were shattered, but momentarily put on pause, when you heard her name called as the Seattle Storm's first draft pick.

Pushing down any emotion but happiness for Nika, you jump up and hug her tightly. "I'm so proud of you." You whisper against her ear. She pecks your cheek before hugging a few others and heading up to the stage.

You can't help but let a few tears fall down your face as you watch her. You're overwhelmed with pride, excitement, sadness - pretty much every emotion ever.

Your girlfriend is going to be a professional basketball player. How many people get to say that?

When she comes back over to you, your arms wrap around her neck and you pull her body close to yours. The two of you have never been much for PDA in the past, but in the moment, neither of you cared.

"I am so incredibly proud of you, my love." You mumble before pressing a sweet kiss on her lips. She can't help the smile forming on her face, and she kisses you back before pulling away.

Her hands settled on your waist and she spoke softly. "I love you."

"I love you, Nika."

The next few days felt like a blur. Nika was packing her things to head to Kelsey Plum's Dawg Class training camp. As you watched her from the doorway of the bedroom, a small frown etched itself on your face.

Nika glanced over at you and saw your expression. She stopped what she was doing and immediately walked over to you. "What's wrong, bebo?"

You shook your head. "You're leaving."

Her hands settled on your waist and pulled you towards her. "Only for a week. Then I'll be back and-"

"And then you have to go to Seattle. Not just for a week or two, but for good." The tone of your voice was sad, and Nika found herself frowning.

"That's only if I make the team." Her thumbs gently stroked the fabric of your shorts her shorts that you stole.

You laughed in a bit of disbelief. "You're making the team, don't be ridiculous." You stared at her and felt your eyes beginning to water. "I really don't want you to go. To leave me." Your voice was low and shaky.

She placed a kiss on your forehead and pulled you into a tight hug. "I don't want to leave you, either. If I could stay, I would."

You sniffled and nodded. "I know. You're just-" You took a deep breath. "You're gonna be so far."

Nika pulled away and looked at you, her soft brown eyes not leaving yours for a second. A brief light lit up in her gaze, and you noticed it. "Then come with me." She spoke quickly, like she was ripping off some sort of metaphorical band-aid.

"What?" You looked up at her.

"Come to Seattle with me. After graduation, we can move out there, and- We won't have to be apart." Her words came out so delicately and you found yourself mentally falling apart.

Uprooting your life and moving to the other side of the country? It sounded insane, almost. "Nika.." But you would do anything for her.

"I'm serious, we can get an apartment- or even a house- and it'll be perfect!" You had never seen her so genuine about something in her life. Your heart was pounding against your chest, you felt like at any moment it would leap out and expose to Nika how she was making you melt.

You stared at her for what felt like forever as you contemplated your choices. You could either go with her after graduation, and live the life you've always wanted with her, even though you'd be throwing everything in Connecticut behind. Or, you could stay here, losing the best thing that's ever happened to you.

You'd lose the one person that kept you grounded, that knew your coffee order without having to ask, knew what temperature you liked the bedroom to be at night. She was the only person in your life that had ever given you so much security to where you felt like, maybe, you just could give up everything else for her.

"Okay." You nodded, tears spilling from your eyes. "Yeah, okay."

Nika could’ve screamed at your answer. "Really?" Her eyes widened and she brought a hand up to wipe your tears. "You really want to?"

“I do.” You sniffled, angling your head to lean into her hand.

Her smile was wide as she leaned in and pressed your lips together, only for a split second before pulling back and pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“I love you, bebo.” She mumbled.

You tucked your head under her jaw and took a deep breath. “I love you.”

[halucynator]

Hi Lucy hope you’re days going well! I had a fic ide for Mattheo x best friend fem! Reader where it’s been a stressful week but it’s Friday night, raining in Hogwarts and they’re hanging out watching IT (Mattheo convinced her) after class and she’s a gryffindor and acts like she’s not scared but when it’s night time she’s afraid to fall asleep because of the movie and she ends up going to his dorm and he confesses he likes her and she sleeps with him?(maybe a longer FIC?)

I love your work so much!

Big mistake.

Decided to combine these two x

Pairing: Mattheo Riddle x fem!reader (they are bff's BC bff to lovers is the second best trope to ever exist. Nothing beats e2l imo but that's beside the point.)

Warnings: mentions of violent imagery ig?, cuddling, mentions of intercourse, kissing, not proof read lmk if I missed any.

Summary: you and your friends decide to watch a horror movie. Unfortunately for you, you still wonder what lingers under your bed.

Sorry this took me so long! I was preparing for my Uni which starts in a couple days so I'm super sorry for the wait! Hope you like it x

I watched IT when I was 6 because my parents were watching it on the big TV in the same room as me and I thought it'd be a cute movie but it was... Bad to say the least. I have been traumatised ever since 🥰

reblogs (with tags) are always appreciated!! It is so much help!!

You hated horror movies. But somehow you let your best friend, Mattheo, convince you to watch "IT" with your friends.

Big Mistake.

The violent imagery flashed your mind. The cannibalism, the blood, the balloon, the- the everything.

You didn't get scared by horror movies easily. You'd watched Annabelle, the Conjuring and whatnot without being terrified but IT, oh god, IT.

"You okay, princess?"Mattheo asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost." He chuckled.

You had. You'd seen a ghost. Or a clown. But it was more terrifying than any other ghosts you'd ever witnessed in your life.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I- I'm alright!" You exclaimed too caught up in terrifying thoughts than to pay attention to your boyfriend.

He knew. Of course he did. He was your best friend. But he didn't hold it over your head. He didn't even mention it.

"Do you want me to walk you to your dorm?" He asked.

"Yes but I don't know if they allow it." You replied.

"Eh they probably don't allow a couple of 16 year olds to watch IT during night either but we did it anyway." He joked.

"Wouldn't you be afraid of being seen with a Gryffindor?" You asked knowing he had quite a high status and hoped him being seen with a Gryffindor wouldn't lower it in anyway.

"Not as much as you're afraid of Pennywise." He winked.

"I so am not!" You said offended, crossing your arms and pretending to be mad at him.

"Ok princess, keep telling yourself that." He chuckled as you elbowed him.

As you neared your dorm, the scenes obscured your mind again. You took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Bye princess" Mattheo waved.

"Bye Mattheo. Thank you." You replied as you waved back.

And there it was. Your facade fell apart and petrifying thoughts clouded your mind. You pulled the sheets over your head as you laid in bed. You were fine for the first few minutes until... giggles and lines clouded your mind.

Lines such as "You'll float too!"

You were caught in an endless loop of a nightmare and the only way to stop it was... was to admit you were afraid so you'd be okay. So he'd take care of you. No, not Pennywise!

You made your way to his dorm and knocked.

"Come in!" A voice shouted from inside.

You entered Mattheo's dorm.

"Princess? What are you doing here?" He asked bewildered.

You took a deep breath and dreadfully opened your mouth to tell Mattheo the reason for your presence.

"I'm scared." You said.

He chuckled slightly.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY." You whisper-shouted.

He giggles before he pats next to him. You walk over to his side and sit down next to him.

"I don't think I resonate well with the idea of you sleeping with me." He said as he realised what you were there for.

"Huh, why?" You asked deeply hurt.

"I wouldn't be able to control myself" he smirked as he winked.

You elbowed him yet again.

"Ow! That hurt!" He stated.

"It's about to hurt a lot more if you don't shut up!" You threatened half joking.

"Alright alright. You can sleep here." He replied.

"Thank you." You said.

"I meant it, you know." He said.

"Huh?" You asked confused.

"I wouldn't be able to control myself if you slept with me." He stated.

"Huh and why's that?" You questioned.

"Because I- I like you princess." He replied.

"Oh." You simply said.

"Oh?" He repeated looking hurt. "I probably shouldn't have, I'm sorry I made it weird. I-"

Without thinking you kissed him. It felt good. You felt better. You could feel Mattheo smirk into the kiss.

You both pulled away when you started getting breathless.

"I like you too." You replied.

"Yeah I figured." He smirked.

"Get over yourself!" You exclaimed.

You placed yourself next to Mattheo on the bed. He placed one of his hands in your hair and the other one on your waist to pull you closer. His hand moved down from your hair to your cheek as he caressed it.

Butterflies exploded in your stomach as he did so. You closed your eyes and melted into his touch.

And with that you slept.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡*:☆

The next morning you woke up. At first you were confused as to what you were doing in Mattheo's room but soon enough you remembered.

"Good morning Princess." He smiled at you.

"hey. I mean- good morning." You replied.

He chuckled at your flustered state.

After the atmosphere in the room became thick, Mattheo spoke.

"I didn't know you had a fear of clowns, princess." He teased.

"I didn't! I used to like clowns!"

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡*:☆

A/n: I hope you liked it! Hope this is long enough for you anon. Sorry for the unnecessarily long wait xx

[lover-of-mine]

Okay, so, I saw this still and went crazy, so stay with me for thoughts. Or don't, I can't really tell you what to do.

Okay, so Chris is in yellow, which is a bad sign. Chris being a kid, his color palette has bright colors, but it is mostly greens, blues, and reds, mixed in with shades of grey, he kinda mirrors Eddie but in brighter shades. (I think that's cute with the way Shannon was a very bright-colored character, so he has the hue of Shannon with Eddie's colors)

But he's in yellow in very specific moments, and yellow being the color Shannon died in is very interesting. When is he wearing yellow? Tsunami, skateboard incident, May's graduation party, the eddiana breakup, Eddie's breakdown, and his date in 701, he actually seems to be wearing the same jacket he's wearing on that still.

So he's in yellow in not so great situations for Eddie's mental state, that end up being parenting problems, I'm adding the graduation to the mix with how stressed Eddie is about Chris going to camp, I have a point, I promise.

But funnily enough, the resolution of these conflicts tends to involve red, Chris is wrapped in a red hoodie when Eddie finds him, Buck is wearing pink before the tsunami and both Chris and Buck are wearing red after, Carla is wearing red and Buck is wearing pink during the skateboard incident while Eddie discuss that with the adults, and Chris is wearing red when Eddie talks about it with him, Eddie is wearing maroon when Chris is on the bus leaving for camp, the eddiana breakup is muddier, but Ana is wearing red during the first panic attack, and it is what kickstarts the whole situation, Buck is wearing red when he breaks down the door during the breakdown,.

So, like, the thing that snaps Eddie out of it is red, and all of these end up being about Eddie and what's best for Christopher, the tsunami ends up being about establishing Buck as a second parental figure, and everything else could be described as parenting problems Eddie discussed with someone else, mostly Buck, to solve, the skateboard adaptation, the way he talks to the whole firefam about how he feels about Chris leaving, the breakup with Ana being tied back to the way Eddie thinks that if he does what's best for Chris, his heart will follow, and the way he leaves the job because of a comment Chris made and how that leads to the chain of events that triggers Eddie's breakdown.

And the thing with Chris in 701 hasn't really been solved, but it is all coming out with red involved in the whole situation, Chris' jacket has red in it and Eddie himself is wearing red, and that's interesting because it could be that Chris himself is gonna snap Eddie out of it, but Eddie is already halfway there by himself. BUT these are all situations that include some serious emotional distress and/or physical injures, the tsunami, Chris falling off the skateboard, the panic attacks, Eddie completely falling apart, and considering Buck being around in the other stills, this could be a bad sign for all three of them because these are all situation were one of them have gotten hurt in some way. I personally think Chris will ask to go with his grandparents, but the thing is, we saw the Diaz parents with Chris in the hospital in other behind the scene stuff, and considering the s4 parallels, and the way they like to mirror Eddie and Bobby, there's a chance they are going to be in the hospital for Eddie, Buck, Chris or any combination of the three and I am TERRIFIED. (Trapped dads is coming lol).

That's all for today, if you read this I love you 💜

[actual-changeling]

I might just have had one too many daiquiris but am I tearing up thinking about how for aziraphale and Crowley both, those four years of freedom were more than likely the happiest years of their time on earth, and that Aziraphale left that all and neither of them believe that they will get any more?? That that was all??? I need to go to the seaside for my health ngl

I think about that CONSTANTLY.

Also the fact that Crowley was hoping things between them would finally change, that they'd finally get somewhere, just to be disappointed day after day after day when everything stayed exactly the same.

Sure, they could hang out more, sure, they were both more relaxed, more open with each other—but six thousand years and one apocalypse later, and he still hadn't gotten so much as a hug from Aziraphale.

Crowley was living in his car, depressed, still hypervigilant because you cannot just stop, no matter how badly you want to, but the bookshop was safe.

Aziraphale was safe.

Then Gabriel showed up and the second Aziraphale had to choose between Crowley or his horrible ex-boss that tried to burn him alive, he chose heaven over him. Again. Destroying any semblance of safety Crowley had.

Because four years of not-really-pretending mean absolutely nothing when you are still the second choice. When it takes one week of chaos to reveal that not only will the person you love choose heaven over you, they don't even love you but the person that died so you could be free.

The person that no longer exists and can never exist again.

One week—and everything you thought you knew is torn apart.

Aziraphale took his safety, the bookshop, his car, did not listen to a single word he said, never took his fears seriously, called him silly for being afraid of the person that was probably directly involved in his fall, and THEN revealed that he STILL thinks he is evil and needs to become an angel again to be loved and return to the people that broke him.

Four years of something a little better than before, something that turned out to have been completely different from what he thought it was.

That was his reward—a hopeful, terrified lie that fell apart in the face of honesty.

...I will join you in the seaside. We're all deeply unwell.

[mxlti-fand0m-imaginess]

Love Is Blind // Amber Freeman

request: hi!! could you do an angsty x reader for amber freeman from scream, where reader is dating amber and gets roped into her ghostface plan only for her to turn on them at the last second (kinda similar to what jill did to charlie) <3

prompt: none

summary: you helped your girlfriend, amber, with her idea to massacre your friends to inspire a new stab movie. but amber hasn't been entirely honest with you about her plan. what happens when the truth is revealed?

warnings: blood, a knife being held to a throat, guns/being shot, language, not proofread, murder, violence

word count: 701

“This isn’t a fucking movie!” Sam yelled at you while you pointed a knife at her throat.

You smiled psychotically, pushing the tip of the knife into her skin. “No. But it will be. That’s the point, right Amber?”

Your girlfriend, Amber, grinned back at you as she held Gale at gunpoint. “Right, hun! Third act bloodbath, check! Killers revealed, check! Time for the big finale!”

She turned around to face you, the smile on her face utterly terrifying. “But first…” 

Amber moved her gun and pointed it at you. Gale tried to creep away once Amber’s attention was off of her, but Amber turned around and shot her in the head. Gale fell to the ground, dead. You kept your knife pointed at Sam, but your hand began to shake when you realized your girlfriend had her gun trained on you. Your eyes widened, confusion and shock overtaking your face.

“Babe? What are you doing?”

Amber didn’t respond right away. She pulled the trigger, sending a bullet straight into your gut. You groaned in pain, crumpling to the ground and clutching your wound. Sam pried the knife out of your hand, starting to run off while you and Amber were distracted. Amber looked back up at Sam, eyes full of rage.

“Don’t fucking move!” she yelled, making Sam stop in her tracks.

 You looked up at your girlfriend, heartbroken and confused. “Amber…” you said, coughing slightly as blood dripped out of your mouth.

“Sorry, darling. But this is the way it has to be. You really shouldn’t have gone and killed all those people. But it means a lot that you did it for me,” she smiled, but it didn’t meet her eyes.

“What are you talking about? Y-you made me do this. You wanted me to do this with you,” you struggled getting your words out as you felt dizzier and dizzier.

“She’s framing you. All of this, she’s going to pin it on you. That was her plan all along, wasn’t it?” Sam said, tightening her grip in the knife.

“Am?” you asked, voice quivering and eyes blurring with tears. 

Amber grinned, stepping closer to you. “How am I supposed to watch the new Stab movie if I’m in jail? There’s no point in any of this if I don’t get everything I wanted out of it. And you, well you were just oh so eager to help me. It was sweet really. It’s not like framing you is gonna be hard either. I’m gonna be the only survivor, and all the calls were made from your phone. You bought the costumes. It’s all traceable back to you. It’s foolproof.”

Your heart shattered as you felt everything you loved begin to fall apart. Your girlfriend had been planning to turn against you this whole time. And you just blindly followed her, so caught up in your feelings to realize what was really happening. Love really is blind. It had been right in front of you the whole time, but you were too infatuated to notice. And now you had to face the consequences of your naïvety. 

“I loved you, Amber,” you said, voice growing quieter as you bled out.

“I know you did. And I loved that you loved me.”

“Did you really never feel anything? This whole time, everything you said to me, everything I did for you, was it really all just a lie?”

Amber shrugged, a half-smile on her face. “It wasn’t really a lie. You believed what you wanted to, and I just went along with it. I’m sorry it had to be this way. Who knows? Maybe I actually would’ve loved you if things were different. See you in the next life, darling.”

You tried to respond, but you couldn’t seem to get words out. Your head began to spin and the world around you grew dimmer. Your eyes fluttered closed and your hands went limp as you laid there on the floor. You could still hear, but barely. Amber’s screams, a gunshot, sirens. Footsteps sounded beside you and you felt your body being lifted up onto a stretcher. And then nothing. Silence. You were still. Everything was still. And you were gone.

tags: @Hocksetters @cheyp420

if your name is crossed out, it means I can't tag you!

[sweethischier]

"You like them...more? Is that it? Am I the second choice?" "That's not true..." "Then choose me. Choose us." With Ratthew

ratthew lowkey being a pick me is my fav

When you first met Matthew, you didn't expect anything more than a one-night stand that you wouldn't care about in a few months. You assumed that someone like him, someone who likely had a line up of women waiting for a phone call, wouldn't even bother to remember your name, but he did. He remembered everything about you, and when he saw you again in the same club, he knew he never wanted to forget.

For months, you found yourself tangled beneath Matthew's overly expensive sheets more often than not. It started off simple with the two of you exhausting yourselves for the night before going back home. Then it turned into the two of you staying the night with the other, you waking up wrapped in his arms as he kissed down your neck. It was bordering on a relationship, and that terrified you, especially because he'd always been extremely clear on what he wanted.

The first night you met Matthew, he made sure to let you know that he wasn't looking for anything but a hookup, and you were okay with that at first. You never thought you would keep seeing him. You never thought that you'd be in this weird limbo with him. You definitely never thought that you would fall for him in the one way you knew he wouldn't fall for you.

You tried putting distance between the two of you, declining his invitations when he asked you to come over and coming up with some random excuse as to why. You could tell it upset him in the way that he responded, but you never thought anything of it. You just assumed that he was annoyed he had to find someone less accessible than you had been.

Matthew had heard from a few of his friends that you'd been on a few dates with the same guy he saw you with the first night you met, and to say it got to him would be an understatement. He tried texting you, calling you, asking you to see him any chance that you could, but you always brushed him off and told him you were busy. It wasn't until he had a rough game and found himself subconsciously driving to your apartment that he saw you again.

"Matty," You mumbled, rubbing at your tired eyes as he stood in the hall, "What are you doing here?"

"You've been ignoring me," He plainly states, though he has a storm of emotions swirling in his eyes, "Too busy with your boyfriend?"

"I- Listen, we can't do this right now," You sigh, avoiding his gaze as he steps towards you, "It's late, and you just had a tough game. You need to rest."

"You like him more than me? Is that it," He scoffed, ignoring the implication that you had watched his game, "Am I just the second choice? Just the one you call when he's busy?"

"No," You rush out, your vision quickly blurring with tears and voice cracking, "That's not true."

"Then choose me! Choose us," He pleads as tears of his own line his eyes.

You were visibly thrown off by his words, slightly stumbling backward as you blink up at him. Matthew had never seemed like the type of guy to so openly show this kind of vulnerability to anyone, but he had proven you wrong in many other ways before; This time was no different. He was the embodiment of surprise, of why you should never judge a book by its cover.

"I want you," He whispers your name as he draws you in, holding your jaw in his calloused palms, "I didn't know how to say it before, but I do."

"I'll always choose you."

[igotanidea]

Afterlife :Jason Todd x plus-size!fem!reader

credit for the graphic goes to @3-minnnn (amazing work, I love it, hope you don't mind me using it here)

This is part 2 of Retaliation i.e. what happened after.

@jasontoddsthickbabe - special dedication goes for you :)

Warning : a bit of smut, so MINORS DNI!

***

Regardless of what people say, death is not the end.

Jason Todd had experienced that well enough. After all, his end was rudely interrupted by some crazy people who couldn’t just leave him be.

Anyhow, every culture has their own belief of what is waiting on the other side.

Angels, demons, jackal-headed gods to judge your actions and your soul, virgin, feasts etc.

Heaven or Hell.

Eternal pain or eternal happiness.

So many people try to believe there is something bigger than them in this world, some higher instance.

But death is also not what they claim to be a new beginning, a new story.

In some cultures, afterlife is pretty much the reflection of the life on earth with all the familiar places and people. Maybe without so much pain and hurt, but still. Surprisingly similar.

But the place she found herself in was neither of those.

First of all, it was so dark, she could barely see her own hand in front of her face.

Secondly, it was empty and cold and impossible to judge how big this place was.

And last, but not least, it was cold to the point where she started believing it could not be hell, unless someone made a stupid bet, ending starting from "the hell my freeze, but..."

For what she knew, she could have been standing on the edge of some cliff and nothing more than a step would make her fall and crash on whatever was down there.

How the hell did she got here?

And where exactly was here?

Slowly, the memories started coming back.

The capturing, the torture, the fight ….

The fight. Oh no. Last thing she could remember was Jason's pale, terrified face and desperate grip on her body as she started drifting off in his arms.

Wait, was she dead?

Instinctively she reached towards her neck where, as she recalled, Marseille dragged his knife, almost expecting to find a scar, or even still bleeding injury. But there was nothing. Maybe a bit of roughness, barely palpable.    

 Poor Jason.

Her heart clenched when his name came onto her mind, picking up the pace, hands started trembling. Atop of previous layers of trauma he’s been through, now she added to it.  Fuck, she died in his arms! He literally had her blood on his hands!

If she wasn’t already dead, she would probably hurt herself for bringing that on him. A single though that it was not her fault and she was the victim, not a perpetrator did not cross her mind for even a second.

Come on, Y/N, think. You are familiar with the bats. They have come back to life more times than any average person should be allowed to. How did they do that? Apart from the Lazarus Pit, of course. Think, think.

"Hello?" she called, not really expecting an answer and her voice echoed through the empty place.

"Hello, Y/N." the response got her by surpise and she jumped, startled. "Don't be afraid. You called and I came."

"Yeah, I.... um..... well" she stuttered. so many questions creeping in, all of them so cliche.

"It's ok." the newly arrived person assured, their face covered by the hood of the coat they were wearing "It's ok to ask."

"Am I .... dead?"

"It depends."

"What?" she scoffed "how can it depend? It's either yes or no. I mean I can't be half-dead, right?"

"Technically....."

"Oh, please" the girl rolled her eyes, now rather annoyed than scared "if you have to start a sentence from technically we are all doomed. I just... "

"Come with me. I'have to show you something. "

"And who are you exactly?"

"Think of me as your guide. You people have an inexplicable tendency to give name to everything and if that's the case with you, you can call me Shadow." they grabbed her hand and dragged her straight forward into something she so righteously believed to be the abyss.

***

"Where the hell did you take me?"

"Just be quiet and observe."

“Jason. You need to rest. You’ve been sitting by her bed for 48 hours straight.”

“Fuck off.”

“Be reasonable.”

“I said fuck off, Grayson.”

"Come on, bro. You won't help her in any way by beating yourself up." Dick put his hand on Jason's arm making the younger boy shudder and sigh deeply.

"I need to be with her, Dick. Just... a little more."

"Fine. But I will take over soon, is that all right? You know you should have some rest in a bed and maybe have a shower.

"I know."

Jason was the perfect example of misery and despair. Ever since what happened in that barracks he could not focus on anything else than her. He wasn’t eating, he wasn’t sleeping, spending all the time by his love’s bedside in a hospital room. Of course, Wayne money provided her with the best medical care that could have been bought, but he still did not trust any of those doctors. He was in his full alert mode, refusing to leave even for a second, observing each of the actions with cold, threatening gaze which made some of the doctors tremble. If it wasn’t for Dick, with his lighter attitude, most of them would probably run away.

It was a miracle, Y/N was still breathing and Jason was not taking any chances on that. If he had protected her better, she would be now laughing with him, holding hands and just spending time together in the best health. Instead, she was lying in the hospital bed, plugged to all those crazy medical equipment that were supposed to keep her alive. The cut on her neck was capably stitched, but the risk of it leaving scars was extremely high. She looked so small, fragile, pale and vulnerable.

And it was all his fault.

And he could not think of any way to recover from this, except for begging for her forgivness, if when she wakes up.

"Oh, Jay....." she whispered, few tears rolling down her cheeks. "Oh, my love" she took a few step forward, in desperate attempt to touch him and hold him, but she was a ghost without any material form "I am so sorry...."

"I am so sorry, baby." Jason spoke at the same time, almost as if he could hear her. "Please come back to me...." he sobbed, grabbing her limp, cold hand carressing it gently "I need you."

"I'm right here, baby."

"You do realise he cannot hear you, right?"

"I don't give a single...."

"LANGUAGE!"

"fuck" she smirked and finished the sentence despite Shadow's warning "I don't give a single fuck."

"For someone who's on the verge of saying goodbye to mortal life you have quite the humor. How about you take a look at yourself, instead of focusing on your lover boy, huh? Go ahead" they motioned towards the bed. "Sneak a peek at your broken mortal body."

As much as she did not want to, it was like his verbal nudge made her leg move without her thinking. She came closer towards, well, herself and froze at the spot. It was like looking in the mirror, just a tad more creepy. Bruises on her face, stiches on her neck and barely moving chest made Y/N shiver. And all that blinding white, underlying any lack of color on her. Seriously, why all the medical establishments insisted on using this color.

"How does it feel looking at yourself like that? Freaked out already?" Shadow asked, but much to his suprise Y/N turned her back towards the bed, facing Jason instead, muttering something under her nose, still reaching for him. "Ekhem, I'm sorry what are you doing?"

"I couldn't care less about myself. I've been with all the bats for so long that no injury can really scare me. But he ....." she shook her head "I can feel his pain.... so much of it."

"It's normal" shadow shrugged "you two had a connection."

"connection?!" she yelled standing up abruptly "I love him!! And you...." suddenly she felt taller and stronger "you better tell me how to get back to him."

"I don't .... you don't ...."

"I am not joking right now!" her eyes were so full of fire it made her guide tremble a bit. "Talk or I swear I will tear this whole place down and burn it to the ground. And if you are not willing to cooperate, I will be more than happy to talk to your supervisor or whoever the fuck .... what is that?" sudden warmth spreading on her forehead took her by surprise and she turned around only to notice Jay, leaning over her body and kissing her gently.

"Just hold on there, baby. I know it's tempting to stay on the other side and leave this fuckign city behind, but I can't help being selfish. I am here and I'm waiting for you. Please, find your way back."

"NOW!' she yelled at the Shadow again. She would rather tear her heart out than watch any more minute of Jason like this.

"I...... Fine, there's one way, but you are not going to like it."

***

“I just need to cross the bridge? That’s all?”

“Huh, good luck with that. We call it “the aisle of memories” for a reason. You must be truly desperate to refer to this.”

“Maybe. Or I am just deeply in love. And so it happens the recipient of it is currently losing his mind over my unconscious body. Fuck, he is almost praying! Jason! almost praying. And fuck me if I am going to let him plunge into despair.”

“Good luck then. You’re gonna need it.”

“How hard can it possibly be?” she shrugged and took the first step.

***

Time in the afterlife passes differently than in corporeal world. What seemed like hours for Y/n, was days and weeks for Jason. Extremely long days and weeks when he was spending days in her hospital room, napping on the armchair, refusing to let go of her hand and nights at patrolling in his Red Hood attire, much more violent and unpredictable than ever before. Even Dick and Bruce could no nothing to stop him, but honestly, as long he was not killing people again and avoided increasing his body count they were fine with it. If they even think of trying to stop him he would turn into a rabid animal, probably tearing down the manor. It was better to let him use all that rage, despair and fury on the field.

However, no one missed, how every night for the past two weeks after a patrol, he could not sleep. Instead of laying in his own bed, he was walking around like a ghost, constantly spotting her favorite things at the manor. The books she loved reading most, her chipped cup, she forbid Alfred to throw away, her cherished blanket…. The same blanket they used to cover themselves with while cuddling during watching the movies. Fuck, he missed all those little things, they were doing together. He missed her hugs, the way she was snuggling into him, making him feel like someone important. Like someone worth love.

And he just had to fuck it up.

***

Shadow was right.

Passing the bridge turned out to be slightly more difficult then she thought it would.

Just as she took the first step the anthropomorphic personifications of her past mistakes and fears materialized and of course, they took the form of Dick, Jason, Tim and Damian.

“Hello, Y/N” fake Dick smiled at her, his smile being lick-alike of this of the real Grayson

“Where are you going?” Tim pouted

“Leaving us so soon, baby?” Jason added

“don’t you think you’ve done enough damage, Y/L/N? Damian eyed her warningly

“do you remember the time you could not fight those guys in the alley and Jay had to come to rescue, getting badly hurt in the process?”

“Shut up, Dick!” she hissed taking a step forward, even though the guilt made her leg lead-like.

“Is that a way to talk to your friend? Almost brother?”

“You are not my brother.”

“You’re right. I am your pride. The one you never show and yet everyone around you see. Aren’t you just the most conceited?”

“I am not conceited!”

“Sure, sure, you keep telling yourself that.”

“It’s not true….” She focused on walking forward, turning deaf ear to Dick’s words.

“Competitive. Always trying to prove your point. Getting your own way. Individualistic. That is just painful, sweetheart. You want to cause me pain? Just like that one time when you were supposed to navigate me during patrol? Just like you did Tim?” he spat and disappeared into thin air.

“Tim?” she made a mistake of hesitating and felt the bricks slip from her feet making her fall to the ground. So that is how this was working. Heavy legs and  mind traps. “I never hurt any of you!” it took a lot of strength to stand up and yet she managed to resume her walking.

“Really?” Tim asked “Little Miss Smarty Pants? Little Miss Expert on Technology? You always though yourself better than me, didn’t you?”

“I admired your work, Tim.”

“And yet you destroyed it.”

“How….” she tripped again, this time cutting her leg that started bleeding heavily “fuck….” Tim just laughed at her.

“I am your greed….” He flashed a predatory smile “such big ambitions and definitely too high treshold for your little feet. Poor, sweet girl, never fulfilling your aspirations. Remember that one time you lose to me in a competition. How did that feel?”

“Please, stop….” She gasped, feeling sudden pain in the chest, bending her to the ground “It’s not true….”

“Hm” Tim vanished and the youngest Wayne came into the scene. She was almost crawling forward now, and it was ironic how this little fella was towering over her, mocking poor girl with his gaze ��Aren’t you just pathetic?

“Let me guess….” She hissed “you are vengeance, aren’t you?”

“Not even close.” He smirked “ I am fear.”

“Fe… fear?”

“What else? I am to remind you of all those time you acted like a coward. Burying your head in the sand, to put it lightly. Waiting for someone to take action instead of  doing it yourself. Such a shame….” He cluck

“I never….”

“Let me think….” Damian tapped his chin and stepped on her back, stopping her from moving. Now this was embarrassing. “Oh, I know. The shooting. You had all the resources and skills to stop those attackers. And what did you do? You run. And yet, you still think we would need you back there. You are an useless menace. A liability.”

“I run to save two girls from dying because of the bullets!” she squirmed and crawled some more, now seeing little square of light at the end of the bridge. Probably the exit “You cannot… stop me….”

“Maybe. But I know someone who can. I’ll leave you two alone.” He laughed and followed his brothers out of sight.

“Oh, no…”

“Y/N.” Jason stood in her way blocking it. Of course they left him at the end. His brothers waited and weakened her enough so that a single word coming from him would break her.

He’s not real, he’s not real. The real Jason is waiting for you on the other side, weeping and ….

“You think I am not real?” his initial smile turned upside down “How about I show you?” with one move of his hands, he grabbed her waist pulling her close to his chest and connecting their lips, kissing her so gently, but with so much fire. How could this be fake if it felt so good? “My baby…” he cooed pulling back and cupping her cheek “how about you stay with me? Here. We would be together, forever” his lips moved to her cheek and neck, sending goosebumps all over her skin. Involuntarily, she arched her back towards him, wanting more, remembering how good it felt to have him so close and how long it was since she had his hands on lips on all her curves.

“Jay…..” she whined, losing all her focus, hands tangling in his hair.

“I’m here baby…. Let me make you feel good….”

“Ah….” She whined when he reached under her shirt, grabbing her breast and massaging it gently through the thin material of the bra “Please….”

“Tell me what you want, princess….”

“Take it off….” She tugged on his shirt and he quickly exposed himself to her, letting her hands roam his body freely. His abs, his pecs, his chest, his neck. All of him. “I need you….”

“I know baby… “ he muttered, kissing her again, grabbing her ass and wrapping her legs around his waist “always so desperate for me. Tell me” he unhooked her bra and tossed it away, licking her sensitive skin “does that feel good?”

“Jason….”

“It can always be like this. You just have to stay. Let go of what was. Stay with me. Here. You don’t need anything else. I was made especially for you….”

Those words were like a bucket of cold water on her hot skin and she pulled away instantly. Not without mentally cursing herself for that action.

Come back to me.

I need you.

Don’t leave me.

Those words started echoing through her head like a mantra.

“You are not my Jay.” She jumped away from him, covering her bare chest, now feeling embarrassed

“I am, baby, look at me. I told you, I’m yours…”

“Get away from me! Who are you?!”

“I am regret.” He smirked “don’t tell me you don’t feel guilty for falling for that little trap? For being so desperate for touch that you were just ready to let me take you right here right now.”

“But I did not.”

“How does that make anything better, princess? You still want me.”

“What I want” she hissed, forcing her legs forward and ducking under his arms, almost reaching that light. “is to get to my Jason back. You did not use me or turn me bad. If anything you showed me how much love I hold for the version of you that’s sitting my bed. And guess what?” she flashed him a smile “I won.”

***

Sharp exhale and beeping of the medical machine keeping Y/N alive made him jump on his feet instantly and turn around in search for a potential threat. Instead he met with shocked and terrified gaze of his beloved girl. Fully conscious.

“Y/N?” he asked carefully, mindful of the fact that she just woke up from two and a half week of coma and he was far from good looking. Fuck. He could have at least wore a clean T-shirt.

“Jason!” she cried, reaching her arms towards him and he could not care less about the look or the clothes as he rushed to her side, bringing her into his embrace, caressing her back, smelling her soft her, kissing her cheek and temple and forehead, over and over and over.

“My love.” He whisper “my princess. My baby. God, I was so scared for you.”

“I know. I’m sorry. But I’m back now. I’m back to you.” she hid face in that smelly shirt of his, not caring either “I’m back.” Her grip grew a bit tighter.

“And I won’t ever let you go anywhere far from me again. consider yourself being put under a house arrest.”

“As long as you stay with me.”

“Always.” He assured “right after I take my revenge. No one would ever hurt you again, I’ll make sure of that.”

“Jason?”

“Yes, princess?”

“Can you do something for me?”

“Anything.”

“I need you to teach me how to fight.”

To be continued <?>  

[florserence]

Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Dagger

It was freshman year, first or second day of school, and we were in art class. We were doing the dreaded “introduce yourself and your art” and it had gotten to him. There was just. . . Something.

About him, I mean. He was timid presenting his work, forced by systemic school social pressure, and I was intrigued. His work glittered in my eyes and wrapped me within his world immediately. When we had become friends shortly after my persisting, his energy was addicting. I wanted to see what was behind his wall, his wall that was created to survive living in this world.

Later on, it was during the period of world-wide social isolation that I thought of him as my solution. I could feel myself falling further, whether it was love is something I’ll never be sure of. It was like the sculpture, where Psyche is revived by Cupid’s kiss. His timid person and art were my limerent obsession that lasted even long after we broke away from each other.

Loving him- or rather perhaps a better phrase- loving the idea of him had consumed me. It was disastrous, because once I had broken the wall it was a never ending black hole. He was a supernova. Who knows when he exploded though, because I only existed through his emptiness. Existing in a black hole is terrifying to say the least. You lose sense of yourself, time, reality, everything. He himself was even losing touch with that.

I do think that I loved him. Through his struggle of reality, there were moments when he would try to be kind and understanding, despite everything begging him not to be. I’m not always sure if he loved me, however, maybe I reflected his own instability. “And me, I am her dagger, too numb to feel her pain,” Slowdive sang and he repeated. He saw me as his angel, his sunshine girl.

He communicated through art instead of language. It was the only way I could ever see the light on his true self, a reflective surface. The problem he experienced was of his making, a reflection of others’ and never knowing what was behind it. But when art’s light shined upon him, he glittered beautifully. It didn’t matter his words, because he didn’t have to speak for me to understand. When he painted us together, it’s what kept me addicted to the pain. It was light of what we wished we could be. The light reflected his love back to me. But unfortunately, the light also reflected his pain.

Humans are not built for black holes. My guts were ripped out of me and I felt even my exterior stripping away. I had lost my insides by trying to morph myself into what would help his pain. All I ever wanted was to be able to help him in these moments, but losing your organs slowly decays your flesh. I was numb to the pain by this point, but my skin was decaying enough for my animatronic-like bones to give away hidden masochistic desperation. It was truly painful to be with him and I tried to just survive.

But there was one day where my attempts at bandaging with toy doll PVC material couldn’t sustain us any longer. It wasn’t until I was caught being broken to my last bits of bones in my car, when my curated malleable playtoy persona had been destroyed. He saw what had become of myself.

It was humiliating. To be so ripped apart by a black hole and then to see my limbs strewn about by string. He saw what had become of me. The greenery outside had turned to white when he called me, saying he saw me in the car and asked if I was okay. I don’t even remember what I said, but I knew it was too late. Our conversation blurred together, the only parts I remember being the feeling of my bones rattling through the crushing sobs erupting out of my broken voice box that was so used to playing scratched records.

He was comforting me for once! It was embarrassing, to finally be seen for how I truly was. Having concealed myself with gentle-spoken phrases when pulling my toy string attached to my spine for so long, I was mortified. There was nothing prepared for this moment from the voice box. I realized what had become but didn’t want to leave. I knew, funnily enough, that he would be the one to end it. It was painful because, now, after all this time of trying to love his pain, he couldn’t handle my own. He and I knew he couldn’t, not when it was this far, which is why he ended it.

I was crazy obsessed. I was a masochist in love with a masochist. They may attract for their shared love for pain, but there is only so much pain that one can endure before suicide. I think that’s why it was so wrong to me that he thought he was my dagger. For it was the opposite, I the Knife and him the Drug. He did teach me, however, that through all of the pain, I would rather be used for cooking than for stabbing.

[dinomang0]

Peculiar Drinks

Ayato offers Thoma another one of his odd drinks, making Thoma sick; however, what awaits Thoma outside the restroom door is another drink, one that Thoma, for his sanity and neediness, can't decline. Basically a smut fic.

(I posted this on AO3 but edited several parts[minimal edits, mainly word changes] I'll probably update AO3 with this version instead.)

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

“These drinks are atrocious,” Thoma exclaims as he hovers over the toilet. “I don’t know how much more I can take.” 

Thoma hears Ayato sigh from the other side of the door. “Thoma, you shouldn't be so dainty with food.”

Thoma can only groan at this reply. He’s an avid food enthusiast, but this is pushing his limits. Having grown suspicious of every item his lord comes home to has Thoma cringing every second, knowing that consuming it will lead to him taking a dreaded trip to the restroom, hunched over the toilet, with his hands gripping onto the sides. It was a common occurrence that Thoma couldn’t avoid, and no matter how much his mind told him to object to the offer made by his lord, Thoma always found himself accepting it. 

However, dwelling on his misery won't excuse him from his duties of the day, so Thoma decides to clean himself up. He looks into the mirror, puts his hair back into a neat ponytail, and flattens his clothes. He’s embarrassed at having such a weak stomach and bolting out of the room after devouring the drink, but he has to come out of the restroom at some point because hiding here won’t do him any good. 

Checking himself in the mirror once more, he exits the restroom and meets a concerned Ayato, who has his finger on his chin sucked into some deep thought as he leans against the wall in the hallway. They immediately lock eyes, and Thoma can already sense the different demeanor in his lord's character. 

“I offer my sincere apologies, Thoma.” 

“Oh no, my lord. You shouldn’t be so concerned, ” Thoma waves his hands. Thoma didn’t want Ayato to mellow over a minor situation like this because this was purely for fun, and there were no ill intentions with Ayato’s actions. 

“I see, but I should have more caution with my source of… entertainment. My intentions do not fall within malicious ones, especially not having you regurgitate the items I offer .” 

“To be fair, I am the one who chooses to consume them,” Thoma chimes. “I’d say the fault is partially mine as well. This isn’t to say the drinks aren’t awful because, my lord, they are horrendous.” 

Ayato chuckles, and Thoma sighs in relief, glad his lord wasn’t wallowing in his culpability even though Thoma never held any grudge over any incident involving his lord handing him revolting drinks. Maybe he should, considering it was purely entertainment, but Thoma never did. Somehow, knowing it was for entertainment, made Thoma all the more willing to accept future offers. 

“Thoma, that reminds me, I have a question I’ve wanted to ask you regarding this topic.” Ayato suddenly breaks the silence that filled the air between them both, and he steps away from the wall, repositioning himself in front of Thoma, whose back is near the wall. “If the drinks I offer are as horrendous as you say, why not decline them?” 

The question catches Thoma off guard. Why does he always eat or drink everything Ayato gives him? It’s not like he’s terrified of saying no to Ayato; instead, he’s afraid of letting him down. But there’s no actual reason he does it apart from satisfying Ayato. 

Or perhaps it has something to do with the way Thoma marvels at the look Ayato has when he innocently hands him a suspicious item. Ayato’s eyes seem delicate and angelic when he’s talking to Thoma about a new drink he wants him to try. But most of all, Thoma likes how Ayato looks at him after suffering through the agony of drinking the odd beverage. Ayato’s expression changes to one of concern and satisfaction, a mixture of two opposite emotions that make Ayato appear so enchanting. That is the sight Thoma seeks and a sight that makes Thoma’s knees feel weak, but he can’t just say this to Ayato, not without ruining the relationship they have. 

“Well, you see, I—”

Ayato gets closer to Thoma, closing the space between them, and Thoma’s back meets the wall. “My lord?”

“You’re always rambling about these foods, yet your mouth still chews them,” Ayato looks into his eyes. “You argue about these distasteful drinks, yet your throat still swallows them whole.”

When Thoma doesn’t respond, Ayato quickly questions him. “Have you never wondered why I offer you such distasteful drinks?” 

“Isn’t it for your amusement?” Thoma asks, knowing his question carries some truth to Ayato’s actual reasoning for offering him such condiments. 

Ayato cunningly smiles, and it’s a smile that tells Thoma his assumptions aren’t far from the truth. “I offer them because, in return, I get a delectable reward,” Ayato smiles, caressing Thoma’s cheek. “I get to see you squirm in disgust, and let me tell you, Thoma, it’s almost like it’s an amorous sight to drink up.” 

Ayato gently caresses Thoma’s cheek as he continues to explain his twisted reasoning behind offering him such repulsive drinks. “I love seeing your body tremble as you struggle to swallow the drink, the way your eyes squeeze shut with tears threatening at the corners, and the low groan of disgust you let out… it makes me hot all over.” 

Thoma gulps, unsure how to respond because this was a predicament he hadn’t anticipated. He had just been in the bathroom, and now he stands here: his body in between Ayato’s arms, completely enveloping him whole as they cross the boundaries of their professional relationship, while Ayato confesses what he somewhat knew this whole time. 

Ayato is closer to him than usual, and Thoma feels his face flush with embarrassment. But when Thoma looks directly at Ayato, he sees that his lord's face is calm, and his lip is up in a soft smile, looking as innocent as ever. 

Trying to regain his relaxed composure, Thoma tries to sound as calm as possible and goes back to responding to Ayato’s first statement. “I swallow the drinks for you. That is why I never decline your offers.”

“Why is that? Why do you put yourself through so much agony for me?” Ayato puts a finger on Thoma’s chin and lifts Thoma’s face to meet his. Thoma remains quiet, not knowing what to say, but to his relief, Ayato covers the silence. 

“You haven’t answered my questions,” Ayato laughs, “then again, I’m not allowing you to answer my questions because, quite frankly, I don’t need one.” 

“All I need is you right now,” Ayato leans in and whispers into Thoma’s ear. “I’ve been needing you for so long, Thoma.”

The heat against his ear tightens his stomach and sends a shiver of desire through him. This action alone prompts him to grab Ayato by the collar and pull his face directly toward him. Thoma doesn’t let go of Ayato’s collar, and they maintain eye contact, both of their gazes conveying the immense lust they feel for the other. Ayato looks so full of intense sexual desire; his mouth is slightly open, making the mole below his lip appear so seductive, and the way his tongue licks his top teeth from the inside is enough to make Thoma’s desire reach an all-time high. Thoma gets the sudden craving to mess up his Lord, the man who always maintains his elegant composure no matter what situation he is in and walks with a great sense of dignity. Thoma wants that wall to break, and hell would it be beautiful if he were the one to break it. 

Thoma doesn’t contemplate the consequences of his actions or the possibility of rejection. Nor does he bother relocating them somewhere more private when he decides to press his lips against Ayato's because all he wants at this moment is for Ayato’s mischievous eyes to be swept away with vulnerability and pleasure. 

Ayato hums in surprise, caught off guard by the assertive move made by his retainer, but he immediately returns the kiss. They kiss each other, their lips gently capturing each other in a passionate kiss that shows how long they’ve desired each other. They take their time, savoring each moment, until Thoma slips his tongue into Ayato’s mouth, and Ayato complies with a low moan. 

Fuck. The noise Ayato makes is so vulnerable, something Thoma isn’t used to hearing, and it sends him into a spiral of sexual longing.

Thoma grinds his hips against Ayato’s body, and both can feel the other's erect cock through the thick layers of clothing separating the two from close contact. Ayato moves his hands toward Thoma’s waist, holding him in place, and he begins to grind his pelvis into Thoma’s body. Thoma finds the length of Ayato’s hair and aggressively pulls on it, wanting to hear his moans of pain. 

To his pleasure, Ayato gives off a low moan.

“So… aggressive,” Ayato groans as he keeps dry fucking into Thoma. 

Thoma’s body is hot all over, and he swears he can cum from just this: dry fucking with no intimate touch, but Thoma needs more. He needs to feel more than just Ayato’s lips against his own. 

“Ayato,” Thoma breaks apart from the kiss, tugging at his lord's collar, realizing that the saliva from kissing won’t do anything for his libido, so Thoma makes a suggestion, one he’s lustful for. “Let me…” Thoma moves his lips towards Ayato’s neck, placing gentle pecks against his skin. “... taste more of you.” 

Ayato’s body tenses, his eyes widening, before grabbing Thoma’s chin, “ The pleasure is all mine.” 

That is all Thoma needs to hear because the next thing he does is grab Ayato by the waist and turn them around, ignoring the quiet gasp that escapes Ayato’s lips and the noise made when Ayato's back meets the wall. Thoma slips his hand underneath Ayato’s shirt, longing to feel the pale skin beneath his clothing. He trails his finger along every inch of Ayato’s skin, making sure not to miss any spot. Thoma isn’t sure when he’ll ever be able to relish the sensation of Ayato’s skin, so he makes it his pivotal goal to touch every inch he has to offer. 

Thoma unties the cord around Ayato’s waist, granting him access to remove his pants. The cords fall to the floor, making a small thud, and they both know nothing is separating them from intimacy. Thoma gets down on his knees and looks up at Ayato, curious as to what expression lies on his lord's face. 

Ayato’s looking down at him with such admiration and want. It makes Thoma desperately want him even more. 

May I?” Thoma tugs at his pants, asking for permission to remove it. 

“Yes,” Ayato breathes out. 

Thoma lowers Ayato’s pants. He’s met with his undergarment, and before he can ask for permission to remove it again, Ayato quickly replies. “Yes, Thoma.” 

Thoma nods in approval and smiles up at the blue-haired man. His attention quickly diverts to the last layer of clothing separating his mouth and hands from Ayato’s length. 

Before removing it, Thoma slowly traces his fingers along the waistband of Ayato’s undergarment. He then slips a finger in, gently moving his finger in circles slightly above Ayato’s cock, and he feels Ayato shudder.

Thoma caresses his cock through the layer of clothing, letting his palm roam up and down the unfamiliar intimacy of his lord. Thoma places a kiss on Ayato's cock, his hand still exploring him. He opens his mouth as he kisses the head of his cock and sucks on it, damping his lord's undergarments with his saliva. He knows he’s provoking Ayato, a man known for his disappointment when plans don’t go his way. Thoma’s aware that the only thing on Ayato’s mind is having his cock inside of his mouth, but Thoma doesn’t want to give Ayato anything just yet. He wants his lord to suffer, to know what it feels like when someone other than you is in control. He wants to render Ayato powerless and entirely at his mercy.  

“Enough with the teasing,” Ayato groans, impatience coursing through his body. 

Thoma’s amused by the neediness in his lord and questioningly hums, “What’s the rush? Are you that eager to get sucked?” 

Thoma slips off Ayato’s garments, and he immediately stares at the cock in front of him. It was huge, full, and hard, and Ayato’s cock, which was everything Thoma had ever wanted in his mouth. 

Before taking all of Ayato’s length into his mouth, Thoma starts with slow licks. He licks the sides of Ayato’s cock, gradually working his tongue up and down, making sure he covers every inch. Thoma wants every inch to feel the wetness of his tongue. 

Thoma wants Ayato’s cock to have his print. 

He suddenly takes Ayato’s length into his mouth and feels Ayato’s legs shudder against him. He gags at first, the length far too big for the size of his mouth, but he still accepts it in him. Having his mouth full of his lord's cock makes him wallow in shame and pride, and it’s a sensation he’ll never be able to let go of. Tears prickle at the corner of his eyes as he tries to deepthroat it, his head coming up to free his throat and back down to fill him with Ayato’s cock. 

“Good boy, you’ve got it,” Ayato praises Thoma for taking him in so well while gently caressing Thoma’s cheeks. 

The praise makes Thoma release a soft hum in satisfaction, and he takes him in whole again. He bobs his head up and down, the sound of sucking and saliva being the only thing audible in his lord's hallway. Thoma places his left hand on Ayato’s cock, slicking it with the saliva on his cock, and he begins to move it in the same rhythm as his mouth. His hand and mouth work up Ayato, feeling everything, touching everything, and reeling in the sensation of his bare cock against his skin. 

Ayato stretches his arm out, and before Thoma is aware of it, Ayato aggressively pushes his head down, making Thoma choke. Thoma’s vision blurs, and he feels himself get full of Ayato’s cock, far more than he could handle. 

Without warning, Ayato grabs onto Thoma’s head, shoves it away from his cock, and leans down. He grabs Thoma’s chin, lifting it to meet his eyes, “Would you mind if I were to face fuck you?” 

Fuck. Thoma’s dick twitches at the vulgarness of Ayato’s question. To have Ayato have his way with his mouth would be shameful yet so rewarding for the lust he feels spreading throughout his whole body. 

“I wouldn’t mind,” Thoma looks up to meet Ayato, who looks down at him with a lubricious smile. 

Ayato lets go of his chin, and Thoma watches as he places his hands on either side of his head. With no warning, Ayato shoves Thoma’s head down, letting his throat meet the end of Ayato’s cock. He gags at the sudden assertive move, not having much time to process the sudden invasion in his throat. Thoma’s hands quickly reach out toward Ayato’s waist, gripping both sides for stability. Ayato starts thrusting into Thoma’s throat, his grip on Thoma’s head remaining harsh with every thrust. Tears swell at the corner of Thoma’s eyes, but he rapidly blinks, refusing to let any slip so soon. 

Thoma feels the way Ayato’s cock hits the back of his throat, not giving him any chance to breathe before the next thrust makes its way into his throat, filling him full of Ayato’s length over and over. He’s not given any breaks to take long breaths. It’s as though the only thing breathable right now is Ayato.

Before he knows it, he feels warm tears slowly trailing down his face, the warmth making the pit in his stomach grow deeper, and it makes Thoma imagine the sensation of a warm substance in his throat. The warm pool in his stomach only gets hotter the more he feels Ayato’s cock in his throat. 

For only being in his throat, Thoma feels like Ayato is in him whole. He feels Ayato in his stomach and in his hole that’s longing to be filled with his lord's cock. It’s unbearable. Thoma wants his lord to release in his mouth so all of him can be consumed by Ayato’s fluids. 

“Do you like getting your throat mercilessly fucked by your lord?” Ayato breathlessly asks, his body succumbing to the pleasure of having his cock slicked with Thoma’s saliva. 

Thoma hums, unable to respond to his lord's question because Ayato’s cock sits still in his mouth. “I asked you a question, didn’t I, Thoma?”

Thoma looks up at Ayato with teary eyes, rapidly blinking at him to show him that he’s unable to speak with such a thing in his mouth. 

“Ah, right, it’s nearly impossible to speak when your mouth’s full with your lord's cock isn't it?” Ayato caresses Thoma’s cheeks with his finger, slowly trailing upwards. Thoma feels Ayato wipe a tear away from his eye, and he watches as Ayato brings his finger up to his mouth and licks the tear off his gloved finger. “How shameful, look at you sucking off your lord in public, while everyone else works hard and you’re here.”

“Are you not concerned about any retainers walking in on us?” Ayato questions, and Thoma hums, gently shaking his head as he looks up to his lord.  “The fear of them walking in any moment makes me even hotter, Thoma, and I’m sure you can agree.”

Ayato then quickly gets back to throat fucking into Thoma. Thoma notices the increase in pace and the clumsiness in Ayato’s thrusts. Ayato is close to his orgasm, and Thoma is ashamed to imagine how he is too. How pitiful of him if he were to cum from throat-fucking his lord. 

“Fuck Thoma,” Ayato moans. “You feel so good.” 

Thoma feels saliva trail down his chin and onto his neck with every movement of Ayato’s thrusts that restrict him from having any control over his mouth. 

Thoma continues to deepthroat his cock, paying more attention to his movements as he brings Ayato closer and closer to his orgasm. “Please, please, just like that,” Ayato begs, desperation lacing his voice, making Thoma moan at the neediness in his lord. Ayato continues to give low moans, begging his retainer to continue to please him.  

 “Thoma,” Ayato moans, his body shaking as he releases into Thoma’s mouth. The warm fluid shoots into Thoma’s mouth, and he pridefully swallows it. It’s warm and salty and something Thoma has never had the pleasure of tasting before. The taste is impeccable and mouth-watering, and the warmness of his cum makes his body jerk forward, making him moan in pleasure. Thoma makes sure not a single drop escapes his mouth because it’s Ayato’s cum, his lord's cum, which makes this even more arousing. After all, an assistant swallowing his lord's cum while the others are outside the estate, innocently carrying out their duties demanded of the commissioner while one of them gets face fucked like a whore, is a vulgar act that makes Thoma feel filthy. 

Thoma feels so dirty having swallowed Ayato’s cum. Swallowing his lord's cum, is such a degrading and pleasurable experience, and something he would have never imagined would have him so excited. 

Thoma opens his mouth to let go of Ayato’s cock, allowing Ayato's cock to hang free. He pulls his face away, a string of saliva present that attaches his mouth and Ayato’s cock. Thoma looks up at Ayato and sees his body leaning against the wall with his eyes focused on the ceiling, the back of his hand against his forehead, sweat dripping down his red face. Thoma realizes that vulnerability looks so beautiful on Ayato, and he can’t help but admire the mess he’s put Ayato in. 

Thoma wipes his face, removing the saliva covering his lips and chin, and stands up. He knows he looks a mess, with his cheeks stained with tears and his hair a mess. Thoma silently stares as Ayato fixes his clothing and ties his cords, making sure he looks presentable after such a sexual scene before heading out to fulfill his duties as commissioner for the day. 

Ayato looks up at Thoma, moving closer to the man. “You were so good, Thoma.” 

“And you tasted far better than that odd drink you gave me earlier,” Thoma says, looking into Ayato’s eyes and back down to his pink-flushed lips.

“Then maybe from now on, I should offer you myself instead of odd drinks,” Ayato suggests, tracing his fingers against Thoma’s lips and letting his thumb drag down his bottom lip. 

Thoma grabs onto Ayato's thumb, stroking the top.“That sounds far more tolerable,” Thoma replies, doing his best to appear unfazed by the venereal suggestion offered by his lord, even though his stomach clenched at the suggestion

“Great,” Ayato replies, diverting his attention from the ceiling onto Thoma. “I’ll offer you another drink tomorrow.” 

Thoma catches Ayato’s sexually suggestive smirk and offers one of his own. “I’ll look forward to it.” 

[peachiecure]

Project SFA (you can tell I am horrible at naming things)

Okay so, this is like a mario passion project to me?? That’s really the only way I can explain it, it literally involves my oldest OC and I refuse to let her die. Anyways seasoned peachiecure fans (aka my close friends) know a lot about this already because I don’t shut up. Anyways it basically involves my mareach fanchild and two princes who do silly shenanigans along with the Mario cast. Anyways—

We start off with my peakest of cringe, the mareach kid, Princess Sweetheart Toadstool.

Oh yeah you can tell she was my first OC by how much she looks like Peach. And yes she has been redesigned a lot but alas I cannot unpeach her. Ig the genetics lottery was mostly all peach or something idk how it exactly works. Anyways I love her she’s baby.

Sweetheart was born and raised in the royal setting, as decided by her parents. She is currently 10-11 years old, though she looks quite younger due to her short height… she takes after Mario in that category. She also acts very naïve, but that is because she barely left the kingdom when younger. Sweetheart is a bit shy at first, but opens up and considers you a friend quite quickly. She likes baking and eating… but mostly eating. She has a pretty big appetite. She also seems to possess a power that neither of her parents know how to address. Luckily she doesn’t really know how to use them, and for safety precautions, they have placed an enchanted brooch that helps regulate her powers. Sweetheart herself thinks her powers come from the brooch rather than herself…

Our second lovely lad is Prince Flame Cinder of the Igneous Kingdom. He is 11-12 years old and… is afraid of practically everything. But besides being terrified, he is a very kind boy who wants to make friends and smile. Instead of being blessed as a baby with the power of the Igneous Flame, a sacred flame that only the royals of the Igneous Kingdom can bare, he was cursed so that he would fall in love with the first princess he ever met forever. For the longest time his parents, King Burnard and Queen Scarlet, kept this a secret from him (he still doesn’t know) and kept him from any interaction with any princesses. Flame meeting Sweetheart was an accident on his parent’s behalf, and now they are hoping that things don’t get messy. Flame has to fight with his Igneous Scepter due to not having the Igneous Flame blessing. He is also childhood friends with Aqua.

Our final royal OC in this project is Prince Aqua Aenon of the Oceanic Kingdom. He is a 12-13 year old boy who was childhood friends with Flame. Though they drifted apart after Aqua’s personality suddenly changed to be extremely full of himself, charming and a big show off, which seemed to have attracted quite a fanclub. When he starts to target Sweetheart, who Flame likes, Flame has to step up and make sure that Aqua doesn’t steal the one he loves from him. Aqua has the power to manipulate water and use it to his aid. Besides his parent, Aqua has an older sister named Azura. But deep inside, Aqua hides something…

Now back to the mainline Mario characters, starting off with Peach since she’s very important. Not gonna repeat basic mainline stuff like her powers and whatnot. In SFA, Peach is not only a mother but also preparing for a new phase in her life, her coronation to become Queen. As a mother, Peach fears a lot that she isn’t raising Sweetheart as best as she should be and often goes to Rosalina for advice. She always has that doubt in her, but she doesn’t allow it to fully affect her duty as a mother and future queen of her people. Mario and her seem to be very happy together and do their best for Sweetheart’s sake and their future.

Mario is… still the same as he’s always been. Cheerful, caring, and a bit impulsive, he has chosen that he still want to be the Mario that he’s always been rather than adapt to the royal setting now being married to Peach. He still goes on adventures but makes sure he spends plenty of time with Sweerheart, whenever that means bringing her along (as long as it isn’t too dangerous) or simply being there for her when needed. The two seem to really enjoy eating together and adventuring around the kingdom… Mario simply wants to make sure Sweetheart is loved.

Princess Daisy is energetic as she’s always been… and being Sweetheart’s self proclaimed Aunt, she often hangs out around the castle… something about how all the interesting stuff happens in the mushroom kingdom compared to Sarasaland? She’s there to keep Sweetheart entertained especially when Peach needs dedicated time to focus on her preparations to become queen. And thus, the chaos ensures with Daisy doing things with Sweetheart that Peach would definitely never let her do…

Compared to Daisy, Luigi is as mellow as he always is. When Sweetheart is in his care, she appreciates the much more calm and relaxing atmosphere that Luigi tries to keep. Usually something goes wrong and improvises happen, but Sweetheart understands that not everything goes to plan. Sometimes she even gets to play with Polterpup, which is very fascinating to her when she knows her uncle is afraid of ghosts… yet has a ghost doggie. When with his brother, Luigi and Mario are like other siblings when they can get along or get into a bit of a small argument, but deep down both deeply still care for each other. Luigi himself seems to be continuing to branching out of his comfort zone and starting to draft designs for machines of sorts… he doesn’t really know if it’s going to work…

Rosalina is often seen in the Observatory with her Lumas. Peach tends to go to her for advice on how to raise Sweetheart, since Rosalina is a seasoned mother herself. Sometimes she comes down from space to do activities with everyone else, whenever that be go-karting or sports. Uhhh that’s it so far for her I uh kinda decided recently to get her a bit more involved whoops.

Another character who is important includes Toadsworth because I refuse to have him die. He’s like Sweetheart’s grandpa he’s so adorable towards her… making sure she learns everything about being a princess and helping others. And he worries that one day something bad will happen to her due to past experiences with Peach, but Peach isn’t too concerned about that… except Bowser did take her once.

Bowser is such a silly guy bro really did kidnap Sweetheart once when she was little to try to convince her that he is her father and that Jr. is her brother (Jr. was not in on this plan he thought it was kinda stupid especially after the events of sunshine) but that backfired miserably and hasn’t done it since. Besides that he still proceed to go-kart and do sports like nothing ever happened aha…

Other Mario characters do appear but their roles aren’t as big/important or I just don’t really got anything noteworthy to say because they still act the same if that makes sense uh anyways— time for the… ones that are… well… shouldn’t necessarily be there…

Okay now before I go in, I will say that me personally, I like to imagine that the Paper Mario games take place in a separate world from the mainline Mario stuff. That’s just my personal opinion, of course if you think everything is in the same universe that’s completely fine, but it being separate is going to be the logic that Project: SFA uses. Got it? Okay good moving on.

Lord Blumiere and Lady Timpani, two characters from Super Paper Mario, appear to… be here for some reason. It appears that “paradise” ended up just being thrown into the mainline Mario universe. And goodness, these two have been there for a while. Though for a bit they didn’t know of where they truly were. Blumiere had settled down… my friends joke around saying I turned him into a malewife whoops😭 anyways he loves his wife very much and his much more simpler life with her. Though one day, the day they found out that there were actually in an another version of a world with Mario and the others was on Peach and Mario’s wedding day… after that, Blumiere becomes anxious about things, and memories of his past start to haunt him. He is currently trying to find a way to cleanse himself from his sins, not only for himself but for Timpani. The two still haven’t decided to fully make contact with everyone else and still live alone and isolated from the rest of the world… though Timpani did find a little loophole in that.

Lady Timpani has been happily married to her beloved, and couldn’t be happier. It appears that even as a human once again, she seems to retain the ability to still shift into her Pixl form whenever she pleases. Though the day when they found out they were in another version of a world with Mario and the others, Timpani didn’t let that bother her from living happily with Blumiere, though she could definitely see the toll it was putting on him. The day Sweetheart came into the world, Timpani promised to watch over her in the honor of the Mario she knew… Sweetheart often would see a rainbow butterfly for as long as she could remember… though when she told others, no one seemed to have ever seen the butterfly she saw. Soon Sweetheart started to consider this butterfly as a guardian angel, something that seems to be watching over her. Sometimes the butterfly would join her for tea parties and other various games she plays with her plushies… Timpani enjoys that the child seems to enjoy her presence, even in just her Pixl form.

Dimentio is a jester who claims to be the master of dimensions. He is a skillful trickster and sadistic among others and has a very colorful way of speech. For some reason, fate seems to have… other plans for him. Princess Sweetheart found him injured one night, the last thing he remembered was laughing as the heroes caused his game to be over… The young princess appeared to somehow healed him, taking the jester in. He harbors a deep hatred towards Mario and co. He swears that he’ll get revenge, even if the Heroes of this world aren’t the same as the ones who ruined everything. Now he’s among the castle walls in secret, waiting for his opportunity to strike… all while playing along with the little girl.

Larissa is a girl from another world who happens to visit from time to time. She holds the ability to transform into a magical girl known as “Cure Jump”. Larissa is a very shy and awkward person. She often is seen to be either panicking, not able to put out words or trying her best to do what is asked of her. Coming from another world, her surroundings here seem to fascinate her in a way as if she has been observing from the outside for a long time. In her free time, she seems to like to draw and play video games. Her “Alter Ego”, Cure Jump on the other hand is much different in personality. She is strong willed, brave, leader-like and overall a joy to be around… she fights with the power of fire, along with a few other new tricks up her sleeve that she learns from Mario as they protect the kingdom at times. Though… there seems to be something behind those blue eyes of hers. (More info on Larissa and Cure Jump can be found on @nintendoprecure)

That’s all I will say for now, next will be the more specific character intros mainly focusing on my OCs and other familiar faces~ thank you for reading!

[eddiernunson]

Trapped | Eddie Munson | Part 10

Prev Part | Master List | Next Part

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 20.1k

Also when going to add my tag list I realized I forgot during the last part to add my tag list. I am very sorry.

Warning: Cringey writing in which this version of the reader character is now written into even more of the show. Sometimes, she has nothing to add to the conversation. Sometimes she will take a line, sometimes the reader adds a line. It took literally months to write but personally only 35-40 minutes to read. But if you forgot a lot of what happens in first 9 parts then it might take longer.

There is no smut. Sorry.

Authors note: My life fell apart, guys. I had no motivation to write this. Some scenes were so daunting. I only wrote the scenes that affected the reader in any sense. There are moments where I cut dialogue because she couldn't hear it anymore but there are also moments in which she's not even present. You'll figure it out. I really tried to tie the characters and the bonds I created in my own story with what was happening in ST4.

Example. In my own story Robin and Nancy are already friends in a sense so none of that "so are we friends" but the Platonic with a capital P is still there.

And there is a lot of affection between reader and Eddie but I really tried not to take away the fact that these characters must be terrified out of their minds.

Chapter Five: The Nina Project

It’s about 7 in the morning, all of you have found a surface to lie down on, and the faint sound of Eddie calling out for someone suddenly rings loud in what falsely appeared to be a quiet morning. “Hey, Dustin, this is Eddie the Banished. You there?”

There is not a soul who even remotely stirs at the signal.

“Dustin, can you hear me? Dustin?” Dustin is peacefully sleeping propped up on the tv, but as Eddie calls out, “earth to Dustin!” Nancy bursts awake, and her brain catches up to reality.

“Hey, it’s Nancy.” She answers, her eyes still blurry from sleep.

“Wheeler! Hey.” Eddie says, relieved in an answer. “Um, I’m gonna need a food delivery, like, really soon, unless you want me going out into the world—"

“No. No, no, no. Don’t do that.” Nancy chirps out, falling into the trap he lays out for her. “Stay where you are, and we’ll be there as soon as we can.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Listen um, can you pick me up a six pack?” Nancy shakes her head at this, annoyed she perked up for it. “I know, it’s stupid as shit, drinking right now,” as he’s speaking, Nancy starts to look around the room to everyone passed out, and she notices two things. One, Dustin is sleeping. Two, Max is not. In fact, she’s nowhere to be seen. ­“-but a cold beer would really calm my jangled nerves.”

“Hey, I’m gonna have to call you back.” Nancy hurriedly answers him, turning off the walkie as she sets it down.

“No, don’t you da- Wheeler? Wheeler?” Eddie asks, and he is met with radio silence.

“Dustin!” Nancy yells at Dustin, and it takes a moment for him to get his bearings, taking a second to look around him. “Wake up.”

“What?” Dustin manages out, still groggy.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on Max watch?” She asks, frustrated and worried.

“Yep. Yep, yep, yep. Sorry.” He answers, rubbing his eyes.

“Then where is she?” She asks, gesturing to where Dustin still hadn’t noticed her gone.

“She’s right- there. A second ago. I swear I just dozed off for,” He checks his watch, and looks up at Nancy, almost afraid to tell her. “...an hour.”

Nancy and Dustin trudge upstairs, worried sick Max took off and is already levitating somewhere. Karen Wheeler notices, and as she asks if everything’s ok, Nancy sighs in relief as she spots Max crouched down, sitting at the table.

As it turns out, Max was drawing, and from the looks of it, she was going for a while. She explains what she saw, and a hypothesis is brought out by Dustin that it might’ve been in Vecna’s mind, seeing as Vecna went into Max’s. Dustin makes fun of the drawing, calling it vague but Nancy recognizes the stained-glass door immediately.

She pieces the labyrinth-like drawings together and creates a setting, Victor Creel’s house. It sets up a piece of the puzzle Nancy feels she’s been missing and she fast-walks back down the stairs to wake the rest of you.

(Not without pissing off Mr. Wheeler one last time just for funsies from Dustin.)

-

Nancy wakes you all up, and despite the group’s collective annoyance, its an agreement that you’re burning daylight and yesterday took much longer than any of you anticipated. As Nancy explains the Creel House, Steve asks what they’re supposed to do about it.

“The only thing we can do. Investigate.” Nancy answers.

Now here you were, pulling up to the abandoned house with everyone in tow. Everyone shuts the station wagon doors, and it feels eerie as you walk up to it. “Yeah, that’s not creepy.” Steve comments, and the group echos the thought.

As expected, the doors were nailed shut. The rest of you watch as Nancy and Steve work together on digging out the nails with hammers one at a time and it’s hard not to feel awkward even given the circumstances. “What exactly are we supposed to be looking for in this shithole?” Steve asks, border-lining on whining.

“We’re not sure. We just know this house is important to Vecna.” Nancy answers, unsure herself but just needing something to investigate.

“Because Max saw it in Vecna’s red soup mind world?”

“Basically.”

“Great.”

“Maybe it holds a clue to where Vecna is. Why he’s back. Why he killed the Creels. And how to stop him before he comes back for Max.” Dustin interjects- ever so perceptive.

“We don’t think he’s in there, do we?” Lucas asks, sounding hesitant.

“Guess we’ll find out.” Says Max.

“Ready?” Steve asks Nancy, all the nails now out. She confirms, and the wooden panel comes down with a creek and an overly dusty thud.

“Dustin. Dustin!” You grab his attention, “Do you have any extra walkies in case he reaches out again?” You whisper to him bending down from the step above him.

“Shit. No, I don’t.” Dustin answers, apologetic.

“Fuck. Keep that thing on you, then. Someone might find him.” You say, pointing to the walkie sticking out of his bag.

“Yeah, yeah.” Dustin responds, and you let your head fall back hopelessly. You glare at him, hoping to get the message across. “I’ll do it!” Dustin yelps, and you still don’t believe him.

Steve attempts the door. “It’s locked. Should I knock, see if anybody’s home?” He asks, not helping the situation but it was funny.

“No need.” You look to face Robin, who was no longer right next to you, but standing at the bottom of the steps. She dramatically holds up a brick, looks to it, and looks back. “I found a key.”

Robin gleefully throws the brick through the window, glass going everywhere as the window shatters. Steve reaches in to open it, struggling to find the knob. Once he does, the door opens with a comically loud creek. It’s quiet, dark, and dusty.

Your flashlights are routinely turned on, each of you scanning the house as you walked in single file. You enter second to last, moving towards the bottom of the steps inquiringly.

“Looks like someone forgot to pay their electric bill.” Lucas comments, and Dustin just turns on his flashlight.

“Where’d everyone get those?” Steve asks, looking around as he realizes everyone now has one.

Dustin glances back at him, and he pauses for a moment. “Do you need to be told everything? You’re not a child.”

“Thank you.” Steve deadpans.

“We grabbed them while you were in the bathroom, I think.” You comment, looking up at the impressive spider web in the corner of the room.

Dustin takes his backpack off, handing it to Steve. “Back pocket.”

This choice would come back to bite Dustin in the ass because Steve unceremoniously drops the bag onto the creaky hardwood, not knowing the promise Dustin had made you.

Nancy is peering into what looks like a living room. “They just left everything.”

“I guess a triple homicide isn’t good for resale value.” Robin jokes as you pass them, you elbow her to let her know it was genius as she thought it was.

“Hey guys?” Max calls out, and you all flock to where she’s standing. “You all see that right?”

“Yeah”

“Yeah.”

“Is this what you saw? In your visions?”  Nancy asks her, noting her incredibly still stature.

Max nods silently, clearly scared.

“I mean. It’s… just a clock.” Robin comments, trying to make something terrifying mundane. “Right?” She weaves around Max, reaching up to wipe away the years of dust build up on the clock’s face. She looks back at the group. “Like a normal old clock.” She adds, and you’re not even sure she believes herself.

“Why is this wizard obsessed with clocks?” Steve asks, looking off. “Maybe he’s like, a clockmaker, or something?” It’s…an interesting theory to say the least.

“You’re lucky you’re pretty.” You tell him, and he accepts the compliment, until he realizes it was not a compliment.

“Hey.” He calls out, but you’ve already moved on.

“All I know is, the answers are here. Somewhere.” Nancy says ominously. “Alright everyone stay in groups of two. Robin, upstairs.”

“Hey, hey there are seven of us.” You call out, following Nancy and Robin as they go up the stairs.

As you go up the stairs Max pairs with Lucas, walking further down the hall into the main level, and Steve and Dustin once again find themselves paired up.

Steve sighs heavily, and begrudgingly heads up the stairs.

“Was that a sigh?” Dustin asks, annoyed.

“No, I did not sigh.” Steve dismisses him outright.

“Why’d you sigh?”

“I didn’t sigh. Just come on dude.” He answers, sounding tired.

“I heard you.”

“W-we’re just always partners, okay?”

“What, you have a problem with that?”

“It’d just be nice to, I don’t know, mix it up a bit.”

You and Robin are exchanging looks that say “Oh god” as they continue yet another squabble, something that could’ve been heard through the entire house.

As they continued, the entire group misses the lights up on the roof spasming, showing signs that you weren’t exactly alone in the house.

-

Eddie sits across from a can, bored out of his mind for the thousandth time in two days, he’s currently playing a game his grandfather would’ve probably gotten a kick out of. Oh joy. He misses again.

Dammit.

A car drives by on the highway, and it startles Eddie out of his balance in a half crouch. He places his hands delicately onto the wooden windows, as to take a startingly quick glance outside.

Fuck. Please let it be a trick of the goddamn light. He glances back up, dammit. It was Jason and his crew all dressed in tuxes, heading for Rick’s house.

Jason had a crowbar in his hands.

“Shit. Shit.” Eddie whispers and looks out the back window to see how their investigation would go.

Oh god please let their perception check be shit.

They see the empty pot he left on the stove. They rolled a solid 17.

Shit.

“Hey, Dustin. You there? It’s Eddie. You remember me, right?” Eddie calls out, his teeth gritted as he crouches back on the floor so they wouldn’t see him. “Sweetheart?” He calls for you, hopelessly. “Hey. If anyone’s there, I really think I might be in a bit of trouble here. Okay?” And someone would’ve answered it, had Dustin not taken his bag off. “Wheeler?” He waits, and it still takes too long for anyone to answer. He gives the walkie a tap out of frustration. “ANYBODY?”

Eddie decided it was a lost cause, and he has to do something. He’s in a boat house and there’s only one way out. Shit.

-

As you and Robin make your way through the rooms and unhelpfully make comments on their choice of decor, Nancy was wondering how she ended up with the two of you as partners. She should’ve gone with Dustin, at least his commentary would add up to something. She wanders off from you two, thinking she might have to deviate from her own rules.

She turns a corner when Steve comes running backwards out of the bathroom, sounding panicked as he moves his hands up and down his torso to get a spider that fell off a meter ago. “Whoa, whoa.” Nancy ushers out as she realizes he was about to back right into her. She settles him as he catches his breath. “What’s wrong?”

“There was a spider.” Steve manages out, still out of breath.

Robin, eavesdropping after hearing the collision in the hallway, perks up her ears and starts walking towards the two of them, you follow her when she wasn’t answering to where she was going. You start to realize she was intentionally going towards Nancy and Steve.

“What?”

“A black widow.” Steve puffs out. You hear a slamming of a door. “Don’t go in there.”

“Oh. Oh.” Nancy comments, and you had to admit your interest was also piqued at this very underwhelming field trip. “Wait just…”

“What?” Steve asks, his voice sounding panicked. “Something? Shit. Okay.”

“Wait. Stop moving.” Nancy chides him. “Stop. I just… I got it. I got it.”

“Thank you.”

You and Robin come around the corner in time to see Nancy picking a stray web out of Steve’s hair. “If there’s a spider, you’re never gonna find it till it lays eggs and the babies spill out.” Robin taunts him, you struggling to keep in laughter right behind her.

“What’s wrong with you?” Steve asks her, and it was rhetorical, but it seriously freaked him out.

Robin snorts, not taking anything too seriously as she wanders off. “Robin, seriously.” He calls out for her, and the two of you had already forgotten the conversation.

“She’s got problems” Steve explains to Nancy, checking out his hair for any loose web.

Nancy sighs, staring at a freckle on his neck she forgot about. “Tell me about it.”

“It’s cool you two are friends now. All of you. Maybe after we find Vecna, kill him, save the world and stuff, maybe we can all go out or something.” Steve says, trying to sound casual. “Me, you, Robin, Y/N, Jonathan, when he’s back.” He adds for good measure. “It’s not like we’re dating. Me and Robin. Not like we’re dating. Right? She told you? That we’re not?”

Nancy sighs at his rambling, having finally gotten any cobwebs out of his hair. “Yes. She made that very clear.”

You and Robin had made your way back into ear shot, having exchanged side-eyed glances the entire time Steve was rambling. “Platonic with a capital P.” She clarifies, giving cheeky thumbs up when Steve thanks her for making a point that is still, apparently touchy.

Huh. You thought he was over it by now. Then again, you only just found out about it yourself.

Steve lowers his voice, and suddenly you couldn’t hear his further mumblings. Something about the world being in peril always manages to convince you that Steve and Nancy weren’t exactly over. But then they barely have a conversation alone for the next eight months and all is well.

How is this the second time in a row they’re tricking you like this?

It takes a minute, but Nancy finally rejoins you both with a perplexed look on her face, and something tells you that Steve said something very like himself.

About five more minutes go by and Nancy seems like she’s about ready to give up hope, seeing as their search has only found decades old dust and spiderwebs when Lucas and Max call for everyone to come down to the main area.

Now all seven of you are staring up at the ceiling chandelier, lit up despite the lack of any electricity running through the house.

“It’s like the Christmas lights.” Nancy whispers after a moment of silence.

“The Christmas lights?” Robin asks her, wondering if she heard wrong.

“Yeah, when Will was in the Upside Down the lights… came to life.” Nancy stares at them doe eyes wide.

“Vecna’s here.” Lucas whispers. “In this house.”

“Just on the other side.” You finish for him, suddenly understanding why Nancy had trouble looking away.

As you finished, the lights continue to flicker brighter and brighter with each fade in and out until they fade altogether. “I think he just left the room.” Robin states.

“Did he hear us?” Max asks, peering around for an answer.

“Can he see us?” Steve asks.

“Headphones.” Lucas states, and Max slips her headphones on in a fluid but hurried motion.

“Wait, wait.” Nancy protests. “Everyone, turn off your flashlights and spread out.”

You all follow her orders, as Steve protests the act. “We won’t be able to see if we all turn off our...” he fades out as he watches everyone else follow orders. “Jesus Christ.”

Everyone wonders down the halls and into the rooms, watching for any sign of him. You’re on the other side of the house when Robin pipes out, “I got him! Got him!”

Your feet take you across the house ridiculously fast as she calls out a third time.

As you wonder into the room, the light fades out from her flashlight. “I…I had him.”

The light seems to jump right to yours, startling you as you peer at it. “Whoa. I... think he’s moving.” You chirp out as you move along the trajectory of where the light was going.

“Oh, he’s moving.” Steve confirms, trailing behind. “He’s moving.”

You follow the light, taking you back up the stairs and you feel like you’re on him when the light fades again. “Shit.” You mutter. “Lost him.”

“No, we didn’t.” Max calls out, seeing a shadow of a light into a room with an ajar door. At least, it looked like a room.

Max peers into the doorway and hesitantly but bravely follows to where the stairs go up. The crowd follows her up single file, and Robin is already over it. “It’s an attic. Of course it’s an attic.”

At the end of the line, Dustin peers around the corner and yells up the stairs, “Hold up, guys. What if he’s leading us into a trap?” No one answers. “Guys.” Dustin grits his teeth. “Guys!”

By the time he’s swearing repeatedly and following anyway, you are all already at in the attic.

-

Eddie was perched right by a window, peering out with wide eyes, his breath shallow and his heart racing, looking into Rick’s room as he watches Jason’s friends continue their search for him.

Eddie ducks down as he sees the realization in Jason’s eyes. As a last-minute resort, he takes out his walkie again. “Sweetheart, I really need a hand here.” He pauses, closes his eyes in frustration. “Dustin? Please. Are…are you there?” No response. “Never mind.”  

Eddie finally does the thing he’s been debating on since getting trapped into this situation and gets back into the damn boat.

Jason kicks in the door of the boathouse, but all they see is water and an empty slot where a boat would be.

One thing Eddie will admit to as he is not an athlete. Nothing more of a struggle than attempting to get away in a canoe with only one person rowing wearing a two heavy, arm restricting jackets. He’s moving slowly and tentatively, as to not make too much noise to alert them but still make a getaway.

Somehow.

Any hope he has for getting away without them seeing him is lost in a second as he hears Jason yell, “Hey Freak!”

He looks back, and for the first time since getting roughed up badly in his early high school years, Eddie fears for his life.

“Where you think you’re going?” Jason yells, and as he undresses Eddie adds the equation together.

“Shit.” Eddie lurches to the back of the boat, pulling the cord at the engine with more energy than he knew he had. “Come on!” He yells at the engine spluttering, frustrated and scared. “Just,” pull, “come,” pull, “on! You piece of shit!” Eddie gives a strong pull, and he’s sure it would work until it splutters back down. “Come on.” He pats at the engine pathetically, shaking with adrenaline and nerves. “You gotta help me out here, man.” Eddie continues to beg the engine, still attempting to start it.

When he notices a figure splashing towards him in the distance, he knows he needs to start going. Somehow. “Nope? Okay. Alright. Okay.” Eddie stumbles across the boat back to the oar to start rowing away from Jason hurling towards him at a terrifying speed. Eddie tries not to look back at him, whimpering “Shit. Shit.” As each row gets him to what feels like nowhere.

Up in the attic at the Creel house, you make your way into the attic where a singular light bulb is fading in and out. As you’re looking up at it, Dustin calls out, “Flashlights.”

You look down to yours, and it’s lit up. Every one of them are. The crowd gathers around the light bulb, flashing your torches up towards it.

“Okay, what’s happening?” Asks Steve. None of you know, but you all peer up at the light, looking around the room and waiting for an answer.

Panic is now starting to really set in Eddie’s nerves as the two jocks almost catch up to him, barley escaping them. Eddie’s freaked out, panting, and far too exhausted to keep rowing at the rate he is. At a last-minute ditch effort to get rid of them, he gets up, and uses his oar to swing at them. “Hey, stay back, man! Stay back! Stay back!” He yells, his voice getting louder as his desperation grows.

He was trapped next to someone who never had a decent opinion about him to begin with now with a vendetta and armed. The only thing around him was water and with the rate Jason caught up to him he was not going to be able to swim away. None of this was pleasant.

“Come on! We almost have him.” Jason chokes out at Patrick, who is staring off into space. “Hey Patrick. Patrick! Patrick!”

Patrick suddenly is yanked into the water, and Eddie has no idea what’s going on, staring cluelessly into the water.

He had one idea, but he hoped he was wrong.

Jason continues to call out for him and its silent except for the sounds of the water in Lover’s Lake.

A splash erupts from the water’s surface as Patrick is elevated into midair.

Upon seeing the image of a body pulled into midair by nothing again Eddie steps back from it as far as he can get in bewilderment and momentarily forgets he is in a small boat, falling backwards into the water.

Your flashlights only continue to get brighter until Robin’s light pops, and it continues all in a circle causing each one of you to jerk away from it.

Eddie scrambles to swim back up to the surface, facing something he had hoped he would never have to see again. The cracks? Worse than he remembered.

Much worse.

All the lights seem to explode as Patrick’s extend limbs are cracked, finishing in sync as his eyes are, well, pulled.

Jason lands back in the water with a splash, Jason left to grab him while Eddie gets away only to find that his walkie no longer worked.

Fuck.

Episode 6: The Dive

It takes two hours of walking for Eddie to finally find the construction site he knew was happening by Lover’s Lake. They were onsite for almost a week at that point and Eddie thanked his lucky stars his uncle knew so many construction folks nearby. He spent the entire time wondering how he was going to manage a walkie out of one of their belts.

The first time a worker is in the bathroom he is beside himself in the bushes wondering how he would grab one. It was only when the door opened did the walkie sitting in the belt on the cutting table did he realize his missed opportunity. As the same worker makes his way back to the bathroom a mere 8 minutes later does Eddie sneak up behind the porta-potty. It wasn’t the smartest of ideas due to an odor assaulting Eddie’s nose but creeping to the cutting table to preen the walkie out of the tool belt was all worth the while.

The relief that Eddie felt as he ran back into hiding was unexplainable. As he walked in further back into the woods, he realized he recognized the path, and he knew that Steve should, too.

-

You sat in the back corner of the station wagon, your eyes popping open as Steve hits you with a licorice wand. You furrow your brows at him, he points to it mouthing, eat it.

Your eyes shift downward to your lap seeing the licorice in question. “Aren’t these for Eddie?” You ask, annoyed.

“Not the licorice.” Steve responds, words garbled thanks to a half-eaten wand in his mouth.

Your brows raise, as Steve was literally snacking on the chips you know you had picked out for Ed. Steve looks at you confused, his mouth half open and his pretty eyes peering up at you. You point to the chips. “It’s fine. That’s why we got more chips.” Steve says, gesturing to the numerous Pringle tubes at your feet.

Your eyes roll into the back of your head, the licorice hanging out of your mouth as you lay your head back down. 

“Not to be a wimp, but can I sit in the car?” Robin’s voice comes out of nowhere, and you open your eyes to see you had made a lot of progress out to the Lake. “’Cause this is gonna totally and royally suck.”

“It’ll be fine.” Nancy assures her.

“I can’t stand to see those dull eyes of Eddie’s break again. I really, really can’t.” Robin mutters and you wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment.

“At least he can drink himself into feeling better.” Steve calls out, holding the case of beer he had gotten Eddie.

“That’s what my mom does.” Max says off handedly.

“Why don’t we give it a trial? ‘Hey Eddie. Uh, good news first this time. We got you some Y/N approved junk food and that six-pack you requested.”

Dustin turns to you from where he’s between Max and Lucas. “Didn’t I provide most of the suggestions?” He asks, furious.

You roll your eyes, too tired and just looking forward to seeing that he was okay. “It doesn’t matter.”

“You’re not the one whose—"

“Dustin there are bigger battles.” Steve interjects and Dustin turns around defiantly.

“Can I get back to the point? Practise?” Robin calls out, and she takes the silence as a guilty yes. “Where was I?”

“Uh, six pack.” Nancy offers.

“Right. ‘Oh yeah! We found Vecna. Bad news is that he’s in that other, darker, much scarier dimension, and the gate’s closed and so we have no way of getting to him. He’s entirely shut off to us, so basically, you’re screwed. And, no, I know you were already screwed, but now you’re liked, doubly, triply screwed.”

An audible gulp leaves your throat as the situation you have spent more time than you care to tell attempting not to think about how bad it was. Max’s concerned eyes land on you and you can barely hold back the mist that makes it into your eyes.

Not gonna cry. Not yet.

“Well. Maybe we don’t put it like that.” Lucas offers, his glance switching back to you. These looks of pity were charming yesterday. Now they’re about to get on your nerves.

“We’re one step closer to finding Vecna.” Nancy counteroffers. “That’s what we say. That’s what’s important.”

“See Robin? Positive spin can make all the difference.” Steve calls out, and you grit your teeth.

“Uh huh.” Robin calls back.

“Oh shit.” Nancy curses and you pipe up to see what she saw.

Shit.

A police cruiser, news van, and a crowd. You smile lamely at Steve as he crawls out the back area of the car and you stay, watching the mess from afar.

Despite you being unable to leave the car due to exposure Nancy leads all of them to around the van. Shit. What was going on?

Fuck it.

You got out of the back, using the police’s distraction in making civilians back up to sneak up behind the van. You round the back as Powell was describing the scene. You caught the end of his sentence, “homicide on the lake.”

“You can’t be here.” Robin whispers, you swat her off and shush her to listen to what he has to say.

“Officer Callahan here and myself arrived first on the scene. We made our way to the shore of Lover’s Lake, about ten yards from that house you see behind me. It was there that we found the victim, an 18-year-old senior from Hawkins High, Patrick McKinney.” Oh shit. That was one of Jason’s friends. Lucas played with him. “His limbs…his body, it was disfigured… There was an eyewitness on the scene. We have also identified a person of interest.”

Your heart drops into your stomach, and you pray that they’ve found another person to pin it on. Someone else. You would help prove their innocence of course but please, someone else.

You don’t realize how tense you already are, with your shoulders scrunched and teeth gritted until the chief flips up Eddie’s senior photo. The one he was so excited to take, to be a yearbook as a graduating senior.

Now used as his identifier as a suspected murderer.

All tension leaves your body in the worse way and looking back you wondered if you had the reaction because you could not have any more tension. You divert your eyes from any caring friends’ glances, you just needed to find him.

“Eddie Munson. We encourage anyone with information to please come forward.”

“Oh man.” Steve groans out. “This is not good. Really not good.”

Yeah, no shit, you shoot him an icy stare.

You barely hear what the chief finishes off his statement as the press have questions for him. What comes loud and clear, however, is the sound of Eddie’s voice on a walkie. “Sweetheart. Y-Y/N. Dustin. Can you hear me? Wheeler?”

His voice should’ve made you feel better, but a tear falls down your face as you realize he still doesn’t know the town will be on a hunt for him soon. “Answer him.” You choke out as Dustin already has the walkie in hand.

“Eddie. Holy shit. Are you okay?”

You follow closely behind the crowd around the walkie, sniffling and attempting to get yourself together.

“Nah, man. Pretty...pretty goddamn far from okay.”

At least the two of you were in the same emotional state.

“Where is he?” Robin asks.

“Where are you?” Dustin repeats.

“Skull rock. Do you know it?”

“Uh, yeah. That’s near Cornwallis and-“

“Garrett, yeah.” Steve says, interrupting him. “I know where that is.” Steve takes off into the trees and it takes a moment for your brain to catch up to the idea that he wasn’t going to the car.

“Hold tight. We’re coming. We’re coming.” You hear Dustin call out, and it felt like the end of that.

“She okay?” Eddie calls out, and its so quiet Dustin stops and asks him to repeat it. “My girlfriend. Y/N? Is she okay?”

You nod to Dustin when he looks up to you for help. Say yes. Do not be honest. You don’t need him to worry about you on top of being on the run. “Yeah. She’s ok. A little shaken up but she’s ok.”

“Good.”

You smile at Dustin in thank you when Nancy calls out. “Hurry up, we’re not waiting!”

Shit. You run to catch up.

-

Why did there have to be an uneven number? You wonder as you walk in front of Nancy and Robin, arms crossed as there wasn’t enough room for 3 to walk side by side.  

You’re walking and absentmindedly admiring some particularly tall trees while eavesdropping on Steve and Dustin’s argument ahead of you. “Dude, I’m telling you, we’re taking us the wrong way.”

“It’s north. I’m positive. I checked the map.” Dustin answers the same way yet again.

“You do realize Skull Rock, it’s a super popular make out spot?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Yeah well it wasn’t popular until I made it popular. All right? I practically invented it. We’re heading in the wrong direction.” Steve takes off in a harsh left, and Dustin calls out for him. “Stop whining. Let’s go. Trust me.”

You get used to the different terrain, walking downhill instead of slanted. As you do, Robin and Nancy catch up to you as it seems to get larger. You smile at the company.

“Okay, so apparently we’re going this way now?” Max pipes out. “I swear to God, if they get us lost…” She pauses, and you, Robin and Nancy give each other a look. “Hey. You okay?”

Robin stops you and Nancy, extending her arms out as to prevent either one of you from walking any further. “Wha-?”

“Shh” she shushed you, quick and fluid. “C’mere.” She leads you and Nancy to the side of the path that Dustin and Steve are still walking, and she clings onto a tree to get a good vantage spot.

“Uh, yeah.” He answers distractedly. “I’m fine. Just…thinking about Patrick. You know?”

“Yeah.”

“I mean, it’s… it’s like, why him? But then, I remember this one day, he…he came to practice with a black eye. He said he fell, but clearly, he was lying. It’s like everyone Vecna targets has something in their life. Something that’s—”

“Hurting them.” Max finishes for him. “Haunting them.”

“Yeah. I…I didn’t really know Patrick, so it was easy to just look the other way, I guess. But I did know you.” This rings true, and you remember observing her pulling back but not saying much. “And I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

“It’s not your fault.” She dismisses him, but Lucas wouldn’t have it.

“No.”

“I disappeared.”

“No, no, you didn’t. I just didn’t look hard enough. Okay? But I see you now. I see you.” Knowing how hard it is for Max to be vulnerable that felt mystifying to hear Lucas say it.

As Lucas and Max continue down the path, Robin scrambles her way out of the tree she had made her way into, subtly starting back the path up to Skull Rock.

Your heart pitter-pattered. Eddie was at Skull Rock.

Robin scoffs. “Oh my God, they’re so adorable I just wanna squeeze ‘em, you know? If I’m permitted to see a silver lining in this end-of-the-world doom and gloom, it would be the rekindling of old flames that, frankly, never should have been snuffed out.” You and Nancy share a look before both turning your heads to face her. “I-I didn’t mean that as a hint or anything.”

“Right.”

Like a burning fire you can’t look away from. You knew that on some level Steve was still pining after Nancy but also Robin outright admitting to rooting for it.

“But if I did mean it as a hint would that be so terrible? To wish happiness for my friends?” Robin asks Nancy.

Nancy scoffs, “You think I’m not happy?”

“I…I’m sure you are.” Robin responds, assuring her. “It’s just, the other day, I mentioned Jonathan, and you flinched or winced or something like—”

“I didn’t flinch or wince.” Nancy protests, her voice annoyed.

“Ok.”

“Jonathan and I are fine.”

“Got it.”

“We’re good.”

“Right.”

It almost feels like a stand-off as you stand between the two of them.

You’re sure Nancy is about to dismiss the idea altogether…until her face shifts only for a moment. With Jonathan refusing to come up for Christmas and him procrastinating his applications repeatedly, it made sense.

“It’s just…” The three of you continue walking as she gathers her thoughts. “He was supposed to be here for the break, and then he backed out at the last minute for some vague, mumbly Jonathan reason. And to be honest, I’m not that surprised because I’ve been feeling him pulling away. And I don’t know if it’s because we’re 2,000 miles away or if he met someone new or what. And now I can’t find out why because apparently, he’s blown up his family’s house phone or something. So yeah, if… if the mention of his name caused a slight muscle spasm on my face, that’s… probably why.”

“Seems like a perfectly reasonable to flinch, wince, or something.” You comment, and Nancy turns to you, smiling softly.

“Oh, boom!” Steve calls out from the other side of some plants. “Bada Bing, Bada Boom. There she is, Henderson. Skull Rock! In your face, man. In your stupid, cocky little face.”

“It doesn’t make sense” Dustin’s voice echos.

“Yeah, yeah. Even with it staring you right in the face, you can’t admit it. Can’t admit you’re wrong, you butthead.”

You hear a loud echo of someone landing on the ground, and you nearly crumble in relief when you hear his voice. “I concur.” Dork. “You, Dustin Henderson are a… total butthead.”

“Jesus, we thought you were a goner.” Dustin tells him and you attempt to not let jealousy get a hold of you as you hear the back pats of a man hug.

“Yeah, me too, man.” You can’t hold it back anymore and run into a full sprint to him, ignoring the looks you know Robin and Nance are giving the back of your head. As you collide with him, his back towards you but you didn’t mind. “Whoa—” Your arms wrap around his stomach, squeezing him tight as you inhale the scent on the back of his jacket.

He turns around to face you, having trouble as your hold on him is so tight. “Hi, sweetheart.” He chirps out, and you can hear the smile in his voice.

“Missed you.” You mutter into his chest, and the faint smell of his odor is there, and you can’t help but feel guilty as he has been on the run for two days while you got to change your clothes.

He hums. “I missed you more than you know.”

You look up at him, chin still connected, and all tension in your body seems to leave at once.

-

As the town rushes out of town hall while ignoring Sheriff’s calls for a mandatory curfew, your mom sits nearly stunned in silence. Jason Carver, a boy that you have complained about to her repeatedly, lead a slam campaign that led to a town wide hunt for Eddie. Her heart stutters, she has no idea where you are, how Eddie could prove himself innocent, and what she is to do now.

Her head turns to face Karen along with both Dustin and Lucas’ parents and they all give her a look of strained pity. However much pity they feel for your mom, the hopelessness that Dustin’s mom felt seemed to overshadow it.

As they gathered in an inconspicuous circle Karen hushed Lucas’ mom as she attempted to talk. “They should all be back at the house, including your daughter. C’mon.” Somehow your mom doubted you were there, but the nagging hint of hope in the back of her mind made her want it anyway.

The rubber was harsh and stark against the cement as the parents’ cars pulled into the Wheeler’s driveway. All car occupants were leaving the cars as soon as they were put into park and right into the house.

Karen Wheeler entered her house in a rush, looking around anxiously around her house for any sign of any of the kids. “Guys?” She goes to the top of the stairs, opening the door to the basement. “Are you down here? Guys?” At the bottom of the stairs Karen looks around in her dark and dingey basement, and understands they are not in the house. She runs back upstairs. “They should have been back by now. They should be back.”

“What time was the movie?” Lucas’ mom asks.

“Uh, four hours ago.”

“Hate to break it to you, Mrs. Wheeler, but they lied to you.” Erica says, confident in her statement.

“Liar, liar, pants on fire.” Holly sings, being a little sister.

“Holly.” Ted chides her.

“We don’t think they’re actually involved with this Eddie guy, do we?” Dustin’s mom asks frantically.

“Eddie did not do this.” Your mom pipes up, placing her hand out to “calm” her.

“How can you be sure?” Lucas’ mom asks her.

“Because they’ve been dating for five months and he’s been over so many times I put leftovers in my fridge for him to find.”

“That doesn’t mean he didn’t—”

“He didn’t do it. Let’s just focus on finding our kids.” Your mom finishes the discussion with finality.

Karen Wheeler passes your mom to the phone on the wall.

“You’re calling the theater?” Erica asks incredulously.

“The police.”

-

Now that Eddie has been located, it was imperative that you decided on a next step. The big question was to why Eddie didn’t get a hold of anyone after Patrick got Vecna’d. “When I got to the shore, I tried calling you guys but, uh,” he takes a large swig of his water and no, you weren’t staring at his throat as he did it. (You totally were.) “My walkie was busted, man. Drenched. So uh, I did the thing that I do now, apparently. I ran.” He chuckles in his self deprecation, intentionally missing the look you give him.

“Do you know what time this was? The attack?” Nancy asks, and she has a hypothesis, you could just tell.

“Yeah, no, I…I know exactly what time it was.” Eddie moves to take off his watch. “My walkie wasn’t the only thing that got soaked.”

He tosses her the watch, nearly missing it at the lack of caution Eddie had used to throw it to her.

“9:27”

“Same time our flashlights went kablooey” Robin adds.

“Which means what, exactly?” Steve asks, still out of the loop.

“The surge of energy was Vecna attacking Patrick.” Nancy answers.

“Well, we’re one step closer. We know how Vecna attacks.” Robin adds.

“And where he attacks from.” Lucas says.

“So now we just need to sneak into his lair in the Upside Down and drive a stake through his heart.” Max concludes.

“If he has a heart.” Robin jokes.

“A stake? Is he like a vamp? Is he a vampire?” Steve asks the last part of his sentence as if he was genuinely worried about the possibility.

“It was a metaphor” Max stresses.

“A bullet should work on him, right?” Eddie offers, you shoot a look at him in surprise. What he mouths to you.

A gun? You mouth back.

He shrugs. It would work.

“I say we chop his head off” Lucas declares as you and Eddie are having your silent conversation.

“I’d say all the above, but we can’t do any of that til we find a way to the Upside Down.” Nancy points out.

You look to Dustin, realizing he hasn’t spoken much, which was unlike him. You kick down to your boyfriend’s leg right next to you to point him out when you see him pacing like a madman.

“We need El to get her powers back.” Max complains.

“We had this girl. She had superpowers.” Steve starts to explain to Eddie.

“Yeah, I met El. Hey, uh, Henderson’s not uh, cursed, is he?”

“Cursed? No, no he’s fine. Mental? Absolutely.”

“Boom!” All of you are startled by Dustin’s loud voice echoing through the forest turning to face what madness was going on his brain this time. “Bada. Bada. Boom.”

Steve’s face scrunches up in bewilderment.  

“I was right. Skull Rock was north.”

“Seriously? You’re serious?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“This is Skull Rock. Okay?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You’re totally, absolutely, 100% wrong. Right now.”

“Yes.” Dustin agrees with him. “And no.” Ok now you were lost, too.

“Oh my god.” Steve exclaims as he hides his face in his hands to rub the stress off.

Dustin holds up his compass. “This worked correctly when we left the Wheelers’. Correct when we got in the car on Kerley. But it started to slip the further east we went. Now it’s way off. When I was leading us here, I wasn’t wrong. The compass was.”

“So, you’re using faulty equipment. You’re still wrong.” Steve is still somehow arguing and missing Dustin’s point completely.

Dustin’s head tilted argumentatively, “Except it isn’t faulty. Lucas, remember what can affect a compass?”

Lucas scratches his head thoughtfully for only a fraction of a second. “An electromagnetic field.”

“Yep.”

“Electro-what?” You stutter out.

“In the presence of a stronger electromagnetic field, the needle will deflect towards that power.” You glance to your boyfriend and watch as his eyes slowly start to glaze over as he doesn’t take a single word Dustin is saying. You felt less stupid. “So, either there’s a super big magnet around here, or…”

“There’s a gate.” Lucas finishes, the only one on the same page. (The same book, for that matter.)

Dustin points to Lucas, confirming.

“But we’re nowhere near the lab.” Nancy points out.

“But what if, somehow, there’s another gate? A gate that we don’t know about. It’d have to be smaller, way less powerful.”

“Snack-size gate.” Robin quips.

“How? Why?” Steve asks.

“No idea. All I know is that something is causing this disturbance, and the last time we’ve seen anything like it, it was a gate. And I hope it is because then we’d have a way to get to Vecna. And a shot at freeing Max from this curse.” Dustin seems to miss the social ques of everyone fidgeting as they’re still unsure of what any of what he’s saying means, as he turns around the opposite direction to let the compass show him a path to the gate.

That is, if there was one to begin with.

“Where are you going? Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.” Steve calls out to him, and Dustin turns around exasperated. “Y/N’s still being sought out for questioning and Eddie’s still a wanted man. We can’t just go for a hike in the woods.”

“This little steel capsule might be the key to saving both Max and Eddie.” Dustin pauses, raising his arms out dramatically to him. ���What say you, Eddie the Banished?”

All the attention is turned towards your boyfriend, who is still perched onto his toes and crouched down. “I say you’re asking me to follow you into Mordor,” dork, “which, if I’m totally straight with you, I think is a really bad idea. But, uh, the Shire…the Shire is burning.”

Dustin starts hopping up and down excitedly, his smile bared from ear to ear.

Without warning Eddie lurches himself up onto his feet, and you have to move away from him to not get hit by his dramatics.

“So, Mordor it is.” He walks right passed anyone in the circle to start walking, and it takes a moment for the rest of the group to catch up.

“Ed!” You call out to him as they weave around him. He jerks himself back around to you. “Your stuff?” You point to your feet where a white grocery bag still sat.

“Get your stuff dude, let’s go.” Steve berates him, and you give him the stink eye as you pass. “What?” Steve asks you, and you decide to leave it be. There are bigger battles right now.

Much bigger.

-

By the time the Compass is guiding you anywhere, the sun is nearly set on another day.  Something tells you that there aren’t many days left.

The crowd half pays attention to Dustin at the very front and his numerous zig-zags but the chatter remains. You find yourself walking next to Eddie, his hands brushing against yours as your strides match each other’s. “Police hadn’t gotten a hold of you, yet, eh?”

You shake your head, biting your bottom lip. “Nope. I don’t think if they had attempted to question me now, I would be any help.”

“Nah. You would save me.”

“Would I?” You counter back. “I’m so glad to be with you in person. Not knowing if you were ok, I felt sick to my stomach since the news broke out from in front of your trailer.”

“I didn’t mean to worry you like that.” Eddie states, his voice calm and soothing. “I should’ve called you—”

“No. It’s good you didn’t.” You interrupt him.

“No instead of running I should’ve come to you.” He argues back.

Your stride stops mid step, forcing him to stop, too. “You didn’t do anything wrong by reacting how you did, Eddie.” He doesn’t believe you, his eyes avoiding yours as they twitch around the light pink sky. “Hey. Look at me.” He hesitates, then they gaze back down to you. “You couldn’t have reacted any better than to get yourself away from the situation. You didn’t know what was happening. Someone was lifted into air with all 206 bones in their body broken by seemingly nothing. That was an appropriate response. I need you to know that.” You hold your hands out to frame his face, petting his cheeks and taking in the bags that were so heavy underneath his eyes from stress and lack of sleep.

Eddie goes silent, nodding. He places a hand on top of yours, grabbing it so he can gently kiss it. You grab his hand and lead him so you continue walking. You knew he still didn’t believe you but at least you got to tell him.

“C’mon, lovebirds! We don’t have all day!” Robin calls, about ten feet ahead of you.

Your eyes roll, and you know she says it out of love.

“I just hope Wayne knows.” He mutters under his breath.

“He does.” Nancy says, and you didn’t realize you had almost caught up to her, having let Robin continue walking down.

“You figure?” Eddie asks her, placing his hands in his pockets apprehensively.

“I know.”

“Wait a minute.” Eddie drops your hand and uses his long limbs to get next to Nancy. “What do you mean?”

“I went to the trailer park when news broke out to get a story for the school newspaper.” That was a very small summary of a much more nuanced story but that was beside the point. “I had went to every neighbour on your lot for a quote but they weren’t much help. I only had one possible person to go to and I had initially avoided him out of respect.”

“Wayne.”

Nancy nods. “He was on the bench, smoking. He wouldn’t even talk to me at first, he said he already talked to reporters who all had their story already. Once I convinced him, he…surprised me.” She admitted softly.

“What…what did he say?” His voice is soft, holding back.

“He doesn’t think you did it.” Nancy states outright. Eddie stumbles back in surprise. “He truly doesn’t think you did it. He said you might be rough around the edges, but he knew you weren’t capable of doing what happened to Chrissy.”

Eddie audibly gulps, his eyes blinking rapidly as he attempts to hold back his tears. “He. He. He said that?”

“There was no doubt in his mind. He knows you’re innocent.” Nancy smiles up at him, closed mouthed with a sad disposition on her face.

“Thank you.” He tells her, and she nods before walking up to meet back up with her designated walking buddy.

Eddie waits as you catch up to where he’s standing, and his eyes are glossy. “You okay? Need a minute?” He shakes his head jerkily to deny it, as he’s only staying silent so he won’t fucking cry. “Alright. Let’s go I think they’re starting to pick up.”

-

As it got dark, the group dissipated into several different pairings of walking buddies. You somehow found yourself sandwiched walking behind Eddie and in front of Steve.

As you get used to the group’s formation, talking softly as you continue, Dustin is hyper focused on the compass as it steadily twitches more and more. Out of nowhere he starts into a full sprint, running towards where the compass takes him.

“Dustin? Can you slow down? Dustin?” Eddie calls out for him and runs when he realizes Dustin paid no attention.

As Dustin and Eddie run out of sight everyone struggles to keep up with him. “I think we’re getting close.” Dustin calls out.

Eddie catches it before you could even call out, grabbing Dustin by the backpack before he takes another step. “Watch your step, big guy.”

“Oh man. You gotta be shitting me.” Steve exclaims as all eight of you stare out into the open water of Lover’s Lake. “Yeah. I thought these woods were familiar.”

“Lover’s Lake.” Robin names the body of water you were all staring at.

“This is confounding.” Dustin mutters, rubbing his eyeballs.

“There’s a gate in Lover’s Lake?” Max asks out loud.

“Whenever the Demogorgon attacked, it always left an opening. Maybe Vecna’s the same way.” Nancy deducted.

This is how you knew you wouldn’t have survived without her. Your brain couldn’t even process it.

“Yeah, only one way to find out.” Steve stares out into the open water. “How are we supposed to find out?” He asks, pointing out the obvious problem that was already vexing Dustin.

“Well.” Eddie pipes up, a smirk on his face.

After Eddie leads the group along the edge to where he had stashed Rick’s boat, tugging the tarp off with flair. It’s small and definitely wouldn’t fit everyone, but it would do.

The boat is picked up by you, Robin, Steve, and Eddie about four footsteps back into the water into shore. Eddie and Steve takeover to put the boat into the water, Eddie being a bit rougher than necessary. You maintain that he didn’t know his own strength.

“Easy…I” The boat lands with the metal creaking against the ground loudly, “I said easy, man.”

“Sorry, dude.”

Robin lines up to get into the boat, rejecting Steve’s extended hand. “Yeah, I’m just gonna do that.” She mutters, placing her hands flatly on top of their heads. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, that works, too.” Steve mutters.

Eddie climbs in, turning around to extend a hand to help you in. You grab onto it, annoyed at the rickety balance and lack of footing a boat provides for you as you step in. “Thanks.” You mutter to him, he winks flirtatiously back.

He turns around to face Nancy, also ready to climb in. Eddie extends his hand out to her, offering the same courtesy he gave to you.

“Yeah, you got her.” Steve mutters, still holding the boat.

“Wheeler.”

“Thanks.”

Dustin gives one last goofy look to his friends before attempting to get in. Eddie reaches out to flick him back. “Hey, hey, hey, you trying to sink us? This thing holds three people tops, okay?”

Nancy bends sideways to see around Eddie. “It’s better this way, okay? You guys stay here with Max.” Eddie lets her move past him. “Keep an eye out for trouble.”

“You keep an eye out.” Dustin retorts childishly.

Nancy squints. Dustin makes an exasperated face back.

“It’s my goddamn theory. Plus, there are already four people on the boat.”

“You heard Nance.” Robin adds.

“Who put her in charge?”

“I did.”

“Compass.” Nancy states, holding her hand out for Dustin. Dustin sticks out his bottom lip, pouting as he reaches in to give Nancy the compass.

Steve pushes out the boat very slightly before saying, “Hey, there you go.”

Thwump. Dustin gets his backpack thwarted into his face. “Ow.” Steve uses the distraction to push the boat out into the water, using the momentum to get in. “You said three! That’s five!”

“Sorry.” Steve calls back, sincerely apologetic.

You and Eddie use the oars you had both grabbed and started rowing out, using Steve’s momentum to help get further.

Robin couldn’t help herself, as she was holding back her giggling with much difficulty. “Bedtime at 9, kiddos!” She calls out, to which Dustin coldly flips her off. This just egged her on. “Miss you already!” She calls out, standing up on the boat as she does.

About three minutes go by, and in all the effort rowing takes it felt like forever when Nancy finally speaks up. “Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down. Slow down guys.”

You and Eddie had taken the hint, using the oars to stop the boat from floating any further. All five of you peer into a circle with the compass centered, observing the way the arrow turned jaggedly without direction.

“Whoa.” Steve comments when he gets a good look at it.

“Guys, what’s going on?” Dustin’s voice erupts from the walkie, “Come on, talk to me. What’s going on?”

Robin picks it up. “Uh, Dustin, your compass has gone from wonky to wonky with a capital ‘aah!’.”

Steve starts to undress; you didn’t notice him take his shoes off, but it was far more obvious as he took of his socks. “Steve, what are you doing?” Nancy asks him.

“Somebody’s gotta go down and check this out.” He mutters. “Unless one of you four can top being a Hawkins High swim co-captain and a certified lifeguard for three years then…it’s gotta be me. No complaints, all right.?”

Eddie lets out a silent chuckle. “Hey, I’m not complaining.” He looks over the side of the boat, peering into what looked to be a void of darkness. Night lake blindness was real and terrifying. “I do not wanna go down there.”

You reach out across where Robin was sat next to you, tapping his arm lightly to berate him. What? He signals to you. You just ignore it. He rolls his eyes, bringing out the white plastic bag he had in his jacket to empty all its containments on the bottom of the boat. You watched him curiously, wondering what he was doing. You watch him as he wraps the plastic bag around the flashlight, completely missing Nancy ogling Steve as he took off his shirts.

Eddie finishes the bag by tying it securely in a bow with the loops. “Hey.” He calls out to Steve, handing it to him. “Good luck.”

As Steve looks back to him, you peer up at him in awe. Something about this angle just looked so good on him. “Thanks.”

Steve prepares himself to hop in the water and Eddie pulls out one of his joints to pass the time while he’s down there. As he’s just about to light it, Robin pulls the joint out of his grasp and flings it into the water. “Gross.”

Eddie grits his teeth, shaking his head in a What the hell manner.

“Steve?” Nancy asks, and Steve peers back to her. You swear they share a moment before she says, “Be careful.”

Steve doesn’t say anything in response, just gives a subtle yet jagged nod. Without anymore notice, he dives in, the water creating a jarring splash in the quiet of the nighttime.

A few moments pass in awkwardness. It was odd, considering up until last week there really wasn’t any awkwardness to speak of. “Robin?”

“Hmm?” She replies to you.

“Now that Steve is momentarily out of the boat, can you—”

“Oh, yeah sure.” Robin moves her butt over to where Steve was sat, and you’re now able to have leg room.

“So, when was the first-time you guys dealt with… the other…world?” Eddie asks, leaning forward onto his knees with one arm and holding your hand with the other.

“1983” Nancy answers him without missing a beat.

“Is that it?” He asks again, but he already knew the answer.

“Again in 1984, and last time was in the summer.” You add, and Nancy nods along.

Eddie’s eyebrows raise in surprise.

“Remember the mall burning down?” Robin prompts him. “That was us.”

Eddie turns to look at you pointedly. “You helped burn the mall down?”

“Hey, did you want to turn into a giant flesh-eating monster?” You jab back at him. Eddie slowly nods his head to indicate no, he did not want that. “Us either. So, we got rid of it with fire. We figured out in ’84 they hate fire.”

“They?” Eddie asks, and you know he doesn’t even know what a demogorgan is. Hasn’t asked.

“Irrelevant. The point is. It was the mall, or Hawkins, so we did what was necessary.”

“So,” Eddie starts, “did the chief know about this?”

Everyone goes silent, as Hopper died a hero but not for the reasons Hawkins thought. “Yeah. He’s El’s dad. In fact, without Hopper most of us would’ve died two years ago.” Nancy comments.

“Oh.” He clears his throat awkwardly. “Sorry to—”

“It’s fine, Ed.” You tell him. I love you. You mouth to him.

I love you too.  

Robin leans forward to Nancy as she looks back to her watch, having kept track of time the entire conversation. “Where we at, Nance?”

“Closing in on a minute.”

“Okay.” Robin lets out an audible huff, a way to let out pent up anxiety.

“Do you, do you hear something?” You ask, hearing a commotion come from where Lucas, Dustin, and Max were sat down.

“I see flashlights.” Robin offers. “Shit. Cops.”

“We should be good, right?” You ask anxiously.

Robin peers over the edge, watching for Steve to come back up. “As long as Steve comes back faster.”

Only two seconds pass of silence when it’s interrupted by the sound of water gushing loudly as Steve erupts out. The four of you are startled from the loud noise, Eddie letting out an involuntary, “Oh, Christ!”

Steve attempts to catch his breath his he barks out, “I found it.”

“You found it?” Nancy asks, confirming what she had heard.

“Yeah, I found it.” He pants, swimming up to the boat.

Robin grabs the walkie out. “Dustin, you are a goddamn Einstein. Steve found the gate.”

Steve maintains hold of the boat still panting. “It’s more of a snack-size gate than the mama gate, but still, it’s pretty damn big.” Abruptly Steve “falls” back into the water, his hands leaving the boat as if he had no choice. You all clamour towards him, wondering what was happening. Steve grabs back onto the boat, looking back down at the water worriedly. Just as abruptly and clearly Steve was pulled back down into the water, the four of you yelling after him.

“Steve!” Nancy yells after him, both hands on the edge of the boat with her knees almost going over the edge.

All three of you girls call his name repetitively, hoping on some sort of level it would call him back to you.

Eddie was by himself, panicking. “No! No! What the hell was that, man?” Eddie asks no one in particular.

“Nancy, really, what happened?” Robin calls out to her loudly.

“Jesus!” Eddie yelps out in a higher note than you knew he could even manage.

Your mind was panicking but you were watching her closely as to what she would do. It was obvious what was on her mind when Nancy stands up and moves to the edge. “Wait, wait, wait.” Eddie stops her. “You’re not going in there, are you?”

Nancy pauses. “Just-wait here.” She says, holding out her arms. Leaving no room to argue she dives into the water.

“No, Nancy!”

“Nancy!”

“Goddammit!” Eddie calls out, frustrated and you would be entertained by him if your cortisol levels weren’t so high.

Mere moments pass by, and you already knew it was going to happen when Steve was pulled in as Robin sits up onto the edge of the boat.

“No, no, no, no. What are you doing? She said wait.” Eddie states, his voice nearly desperate.

“Yeah. I heard her.” Robin pipes back.

“She’s in charge.” Eddie bites, pointing sharply at the water.

Robin laughs hoarsely. “Are you kidding? I made that shit up.”

Robin plugs her nose, scooting back and falls back into the water with a splash as Eddie calls out to her. He sighs, turning his head to you, and you’re already standing at the edge. “No. No. Don’t go. Please.” He asks, much gentler to you than to either of the other girls.

You sigh to him empathetically. He didn’t sign up for this. “Sorry, Ed. It’s what we do. When someone’s in trouble…” you drift off, not finishing your sentence, jumping feet first into the lake. Before water engulfs you, you hear the last of Eddie begging you to stay in the boat.

As you start to move towards the vaguely red light at the bottom of the lake, praying you don’t run out of air, Eddie is still on the surface. “Goddammit! Lying son of a—” He picks up a snack he had from his bag and throws it to the other side. He stands up of the boat, pacing as he looks into the water. “Son of a bitch! Oh, this is so stupid, this is so stupid, this is so stupid.” Before he could procrastinate the inevitable any further, he takes the leap, “Shit, shit, shit—” his last curse is engulfed by the water as he takes the leap as well.

When you emerge on the other side of the gate back into the Upside Down, you find Robin and Nancy standing there, both looking off into distances. You land on your hands and knees coughing up the water you had managed to swallow. “Shit.” You mutter. “Where’s—” you still didn’t have your breath back yet. “Where’s Steve?”

“We don’t know yet.”

Suddenly, the sounds of creatures from the blaring sky erupt and off into the distance you can see a bat- a demo-bat that is, fly down to a specific target. Steve. Nancy looks to you and Robin, all thinking the same thing.

Nancy extends her hand to help you up with Eddie bursts out from the gate as well. “Fuck!” He yells, coughing as he wipes his face. “Jesus Christ. That was—” You hand an oar to him, interrupting his train of thought.

“C’mon.”

You start to make your way over in a half jog when the clear sounds of screaming are heard and echoing. Nancy breaks into a run, leading all four of you as you run to what you had hoped was Steve.

-

Chapter Seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab

You, Robin, Nancy, and Eddie arrive to a scene of Steve lying on the ground and attempting to fight off five demo-bats all at once. While one choked him, the others attempted to make a delicious snack out of him. Nancy goes right in, locating an oar by a nearby skeleton of a boat and swings for one of the bats biting from his chest.

“Hey there.” She grunts and follows it up with another swing against the one on the other side of his chest.

Robin stomps onto the bat, meanwhile Nancy swings at it repeatedly at his face to kill it.

You look around for more bats anxiously and you get surprised by a thunk right behind you. You look over to see Eddie, and you realize there was one coming for you. “Thanks.”

“Welcome, now watch out!” His pupils dilate as he looks right behind you, and you move out of the way as Eddie hits this one with such force it breaks his oar. “Shit!”

You turn around to face one on coming directly to you, and your years of missed baseballs all seemed to come down to this. You focus on the trajectory and swing your oar at it. “Shit.” You call out when it works. The bat comes back to you, and you hit it again downward, causing the bat to splat onto the ground.

Nancy and Robin continue to fight the bat still choking Steve, as it showed no sign of letting go yet. “Come on, please!” Robin begs to no one.

“Nancy, behind you! Watch out!” You call to her, watching a bat aim specifically for her.

Nance lurches forward as the bat lands on her back. “Robin, get it off me!”

As another bat flies by, Eddie calls out that he has it, breaking the last of his oar.

Steve’s bat finally let’s go after he bites it, causing it to attempt to fly away. Steve yanks it back to him, slamming it onto the ground repeatedly.

Meanwhile Robin gets the bat finally off Nancy’s back and slams the bat down to the ground as well. She holds it as Nancy lurches her oar into the bat’s face and tells it to go to hell.

Eddie calls out to the bat coming to him, egging it on. “Come on, you flying son of a bitch!” When it flies to make a large circle Eddie calls back out, “I said come on! Let’s go!”

Before the bat even reaches him, you swing at it, breaking your own oar in the process and the bat spins like a frisbee over the boat skeleton.

You share a moment with him, both out of breath until you pay your attention to Steve who was still manhandling the bat. He gives one last swing with it into the ground, killing it for sure but just for good measure he steps on it to rip it in half. Wasn’t necessary, but to Steve, that was personal.

He spits out the blood in his mouth, panting as he glances around him. “Steve!” Nancy calls out to him.

“Jesus Christ.” Eddie exclaimed. “Jesus H. Christ!” He yelled even louder, almost a tantrum.

Hmm. Your boyfriend sure didn’t deal with stress very quietly. “Hey.” You reach out to him, grabbing his hand to pull it to you. “I know. It’s a lot.” Eddie lets his forehead rest onto yours clumsily. “We’ll get through this.”

“Are you okay?” Nancy asks, assessing the damage gasping when she saw the wounds.

“Well, they took about a pound of flesh.” Steve starts, looking down at his chest. “But other than that, yeah, never better.”

Robin was crouched on the ground, assessing one of the corpses.

Eddie had his arm around your shoulder, you tucked into his chest. It’s been so goddamn long since you were like this, it hurt.

It was four days, but it was a long ass four days.

“Uh, do you guys think these bats have, like, rabies?” Robin asks half heartedly.

“What?” Steve asks, making sure he and everyone around heard right.

“It’s just that rabies are, like, my number one greatest fear. And I think we should get you to a doctor soon because once symptoms set in, it’s too late. You’re already dead.” She rambles on and Eddie kisses and mutters into your hair, “Jesus Christ.”

None of you are given a chance to even ponder on that thought as a group of demo-bats steal the spotlight, screeching as they got louder. You all crowd together in anticipation to fight them, but they weren’t coming to fight. They flew right to where the gate was, all hissing at your direction. “All right. There’s not that many.” Steve anticipates as he preps himself and the rest up, facing the increasingly agitated bats. “We can take ‘em.” He huffs, “Right?”

In the distance, the sound that you all just collectively heard is amplified by a thousand, and a swarm of bats catch your eye, all flying around in the shape of a deadly tornado.

“You were saying?” Nancy asks, and the hand Eddie is holding tightens around yours as his others goes up to his hair in stress.

Nancy turns away, examining for any other solution. “The woods. Come on!”

She breaks out into a run, and your reaction times all flitter one by one as you follow behind her.

“Great. More running.” Robin huffs as she starts.

The five of you make a head start in the woods to take cover, no idea of where you were headed but grateful for the cover, nonetheless.

-

Back at the Wheeler’s house Officer Callahan and Sherriff Powell had brought Max, Lucas, and Dustin in their cruiser and the three were sitting on the couch all racking their brains on how they were going to get themselves out of this one.

While your mom was anxious that she didn’t know where you were, she was glad you weren’t found by them. Something in her gut told her that it was good. She wasn’t sure how much she trusted that feeling quite yet. Not that she shared that with any of the other parents.

“What exactly were all doing at the lake?” Officer Powell asks them, his hands on his hips in a power stance.

The kids sitting on the couch’s mouths all opened, none of them sure what to say, what their lie would be.

“Uh...its comp—” Dustin starts.

“We were… We were just going for a walk.” Max interrupts him.

“A walk?” Callahan asks, not believing it at all. “At 9:00 pm?”

“To the lake.” Dustin squeaks out, a voice crack drifting through the sentence. Callahan gives an incredulous look and Dustin avoids it. “We were gonna take a little swim.” Beside him, Max and Lucas look elsewhere, taking interest in random corners of the Wheelers’ living room. “Little night swim.”

“Dusty.” Mrs. Henderson peeps out, her voice desperate. “Someone was just murdered there.”

“Yeah, we… we didn’t realize that until we got there.” It was a dumb lie, but it was by far the only thing he could come up with that wasn’t totally over the top.

“That’s why we didn’t swim.” Lucas adds.

“And Nancy, was she with you at this night swim?” Karen asks, still confused about where her daughter was in all this.

“No.” Max denies.

“Yes.” Dustin says at the same time, choking on his words when he realized what happened, ignoring Max’s glare.

“We’re not sure.” Lucas offers.

“She was there. Then she left.” Karen huffs, having no more answers. “It’s all a little confusing.” Dustin whispers, hoping on some level, the adults were buying their bullshit.

“That’s when you guys came.” Lucas adds, tying what they were doing to when the police came.

“Right. Then they dared me to say what I said.” Max explains.

“Oh, yeah.” Lucas laughs.

“About the killer.”

Dustin and Lucas turn to one another, laughing too hard about this ‘dare’.

“You’re lucky you didn’t get shot.” Ted comments.

“Have you had any contact with Eddie?” Powell asks them, turning it back on track.

“That psycho…freak killer?” Dustin asks without any true bite in his voice. Your mom winced, and she knew Dustin was covering his tracks, but it was hard to hear. “God, no.”

“Nope. Absolutely not.” Max adds.

“No. We haven’t heard from him.” Lucas says at the same time. “Barely know him.”

“Who?” Dust asks, taking a step too far.

Erica was done at this point. “Oh, that’s a bunch of bull.” Her voice is loud and effective in getting their attention.

“Erica!” Lucas and Erica’s parents chastise her at the same time.

“I mean, you realize they’re lying. The whole couch is on fire.”

“Erica.” They warn her again.

“Just the facts.”

“Are you lying to these policemen, Dusty?” His mom asks, and your mom is astounded how little she knew.

“No!” Dustin objects, his voice screeching and high pitched.

“Lying to the cops is a crime, son.” Lucas’ dad says directly to him.

“I’m not lying.” Lucas insists.

“The fire is consuming us.” Dustin glares at Erica to cut it out.

“We also seem to be having a hard time getting a hold of Miss. L/N. Was she there with you?”

Your mom’s breath hitches as she watches them hesitate again.

“Sh-she left with Nancy.” Max stutters out, and Dustin and Lucas nod along side them. It wasn’t a lie, technically.

“Threaten them with a little jail time. Maybe that’ll loosen their lips.” Ted comments, mostly annoyed at how long it had taken just get a word that made sense out of the kids.

“Okay—” Dustin starts.

“You wanna send our kids to jail?” Lucas’ mom interrupts him.

“We need to take this seriously.” Ted maintains his stance.

“He didn’t mean it like that.” Karen says at the same time, cancelled out by what Ted says.

The crowd breaks out into arguing, everyone talking at once. No one seems to make any sense of what anyone has to say to one another.

“Shut up.” Powell attempts to call out, no one hearing him. He takes a deep breath in, preparing to project his voice. “Shut up!” It works, all voices fading down reluctantly. “We’re gonna try a more civilized approach. One at a time.” He points to Max. “You first.”

Max tenses up. “Wait, what? Why me?”

“Follow me.” He responds, ignoring her.

“I’m not even in the Hellfire club.” She argues further.

“Do I need to cuff you?” Callahan threatens, and it was completely unnecessary. Max sighs, realizing she didn’t have any other choice. “Chop-chop! Let’s go.”

Max passes Callahan on the way to the makeshift interrogation room, and Callahan gives Dustin and Lucas a signal that ‘they’re next’.

Lucas and Dustin sit silently on the couch, anxiety bubbled up in their stomachs, unable to do much more.

-

It wasn’t long that taking cover in the forest was deemed ineffective as demo-bats started to swarm over, seemingly seeking out the five of you.  The desperation for shelter came to a head when Steve pointed out Skull Rock. As you hunched under the rock, it was hard to stop the fear from growing. Steve being yanked into the abyss was scary. Being surrounded by monsters was a terror you had forgotten existed.

For good reason.

Finally, the bats seem to thin out, Robin takes the first step out of the rock. “Oh…okay. That was close.”

“Yeah.” Steve agrees.

“Too close.” Eddie remarks.

Your arms are across your chest, as if would somehow make you more secure. Eddie leans down to you. “You… you ok?”

You nodded. “You?” He nods back, and there’s nothing else to say.

“Oh, sh… shit.” You hear, turning to face Steve falling against the one of the rocks.

“Steve?” Nancy calls, seeing him fading out.

“I’m fine. I’m fine.” Steve insists to her, despite the clear evidence he wasn’t.

“No, no, no. You’re not. You’re losing blood.” Nancy insists, as again, clear evidence he wasn’t okay. “Come on, sit. All right?”

Steve reluctantly sits down, grunting in pain as his ass lands harshly on the hard ground. He holds the wound at his pant line, realizing how much in pain he truly was. “All right.” Nancy said, assessing her options in treatment.

As Eddie, Robin, and you look on in concern as the reality seems to set in of how injured Steve was. Nancy asks fast, ripping the excess of her undershirt off to make a decent gauze.

Concerned for her best friend, Robin kneels next to Nancy.

You hang back with Eddie, watching the scene unfold.

“So, the good news is I’m pretty sure wooziness is not a symptom of rabies. But if you start having hallucinations or muscle spasms or you start feeling aggressive, like you wanna punch me, let me know.”

“Robin” He stops her.

“Yeah”

“I kinda wanna punch you.”

She laughs, a little relief in her voice. “Sense of humor’s still intact. That’s a good sign.”

Nancy finishes ripping off the excess of her shirt, Robin gives them the room as Nancy moves in to dress it.

Eddie turns his face away from it, watching medical ‘procedures’ tended to make him squirmy, turning you away from it as well. Robin catches up to the two of you, and as Nancy wraps him up awkward small talk ensues.

(Unfortunately, you miss one of the most erotic scenes of someone getting their wounds dressed in all of history of man kind but its ok you never found out.)

A pinch appears between Eddie’s eyebrows, and you barely have a minute to consider the expression before he’s excusing himself. “What are—” you start to ask him, but his crouched position on the broken-down tree answers for him.

He crawls on all fours up the log, timidly standing as he reaches the apex of the arch. “So, uh, this place is like Hawkins but with monsters and nasty shit?”

“Pretty much.” Nancy answers him, allowing Steve to use her as a crutch.

Eddie nods, he assumed he was right, but the confirmation made it all the bleaker. He starts to make his way back down the tree, his step staggered when Nancy interrupts him. “Wait, watch out for the vines. It’s all a hive mind.”

You didn’t even realize he was crawling onto vines as he made his way up. Was he not avoiding the vines? Fuck.

Eddie remains paused. “It’s all a what...?” he asks timidly.

“All the creepy crawlies around here. They’re, like, one or something. Step on a vine, you’re stepping on a bat, you’re stepping on Vecna.” Steve answers, and you couldn’t have put it any better than that.

“Shit.” Eddie hesitantly makes his way down the tree again, comically side stepping one foot in front of the other.

“But everything from our world is still here, right? Except people?” Robin asks.

“As far as I understand it, yeah.”

“So, theoretically, we could go to the police station and steal guns and grenades and whatever we need to blow up those bat things that are guarding the gate.”

“Does the Hawkins PD even have grenades?” You ask, and Steve shakes his head.

“Grenades, no. Probably a lot of guns, though.”

“Well, we don’t have to go all the way downtown for guns. I have guns in my bedroom.”

Eddie plops off the tree next to you. “You, Nancy Wheeler, have guns, plural, in your bedroom?” Eddie asks, his voice seeped in doubt.

Not that you blamed him. You nodded to him nonchalantly, confirming.

“Full of surprises, isn’t she?” Robin jokes.

“A Russian Makarov and a revolver.” Nancy answers.

“Yeah, you almost shot me with that one.” Steve comments.

Eddie rolls his eyes, taking his vest off.

“Well, you almost deserved it.”

As they linger too long, you nod towards them pointedly at Robin, and she shrugs.

Thwap.

“For your modesty, dude.” Eddie deadpans.

Steve clutches onto the vest Eddie threw at him, half glaring at Eddie for hitting him so hard with it.

Steve isn’t given long to think about it, the ground shaking beneath your feet as effective as an earthquake.

The ground stumbles you off your feet, your hip hitting the ground harshly as the other two are effectively grouped into two. You crawl to the nearest two, your arms buckling as you barely make the embrace of whoever’s nearest.

Turned out to be Robin, awkwardly lying against Eddie.

It’s over as quickly as it started.

None of you are given a chance to catch your breath, a looming sound coming off from the distance reminding you that you needed to get out as fast as you could.

“So, guns seem like a pretty good idea to me.” Eddie concludes.

“Yeah, me too.” Robin nods.

Robin crawls to her feet, working her way around you and you find your back against Eddie as you fall back into him. Eddie allows it, using a hand to rub his leg as it hit one of the vines when he fell.

“So, what are we waiting for?” Steve asks and starts back down the trees. As he passes you scramble to your feet to follow behind them.

-

One disadvantage of navigating the Upside Down that even though it is the very same town you were born and raised in, it still felt labyrinthian at times. Not as many landmarks are present, resulting on far too many rerouting.

You walk hand in hand with him, your brain attempting to trick itself into thinking that things might be normal again.

“I think we deserve an extra spring break.” You mutter under your breath, the memory of your mutual plans now a hazy memory. It was supposed to be the final break where you could just be 18, lying in your boyfriend’s bed for days at a time, ignoring responsibility.

“It’s not all bad.” He tells you.

You stop walking, the scrunch in your forehead signalling your doubt.

“Ok its pretty bad.” He admits, his thumb caressing your own. “Sometimes I wonder what would’ve happened if I just went to the police.”

“And?”

He chuckles humourlessly. “If I was in custody when what’s-his-name—”

“Fred”

“Fred got…Vecna’d. I would’ve had an alibi for them both. But with D&D being a-a target like it has been, I don’t think I would’ve been let go regardless.”

You gulp, your heart beating in your throat. “You think they would’ve found a way to pin it on you?”

“Yeah. I do. I just have this feeling.” His other hand finds its way to his stomach, his fingers fanned out. “I joke about it, but 60 Minutes had a documentary about it, and since then it’s just gotten worse.” He stumbles over a vine, his lanky limbs too long for himself. “I used to get a glare on the occasion but now my mere presence at the arcade is just a spectacle.”

“You think you would’ve been the scapegoat.”

He nods, confirming with enough conviction to worry you.

“I wouldn’t have allowed it.”

“Wait, what?” He asks you, his eyebrows raised.

“If they had the nerve to attempt to blame you when I knew you were innocent, I would’ve fought it tooth and nail until they let you go.”

“And if that didn’t work?” He asks, a hint of laughter in his voice.

“Prison break.”

He stops, framing your face into a kiss in which his tongue evades your mouth, and you forget where the hell are for half a second.

“Lovebirds!” Robin calls to you.

You separate, as if both electrocuted by her interruption.

“Not the place!”

Eddie steps back into place with you, your hands brushing delicately, sending shivers down your spine.

Not the place.

“It just means a lot to me that you answered that so damn fast.”

Your cheeks heat up, and he staggers across a mess of vines. You take the off chance to catch up to the murmuring of Nancy and Robin, ignoring the smug looks they’re both giving you.

“Couldn’t we have tried a road, or something just slightly less creepy?” Robin asks, peering up at the silhouettes of the creepy trees.

“I think we’re getting close. We’re almost out of here. Don’t worry.” Nancy comforts her, and you find yourself comforted by it as well.

Having ran ahead, Steve takes the opening he waited for. “Eddie.” Eddie turns to him expectantly. “Eddie. Hey, man. Uh… Listen, I just, uh… I just want to say thanks. For saving my ass back there.”

Eddie doesn’t even hesitate. “Shit. You saved your own ass, man. I mean, that was a real Ozzy move you pulled back there.”

“Ozzy?” Steve asks, unfamiliar with the world of heavy metal.

“When you took a bite out of that bat.” Steve doesn’t answer. “Ozzy Osborne? Black Sabbath?”

Crickets.

“He bit a bat’s head off onstage.”

“I don’t—”

“It’s very metal, what you did. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Thanks.”

“Henderson told me you were a badass. Insisted on the matter in fact.”

So did you, and there was only one night where he genuinely believed you. Granted he was too drunk to remember.

“Henderson said that?” Steve asks, flattered.

“Oh yeah. Shit. Kid worships you, dude. Like, you have no idea. It’s kinda annoying, to be honest. I don’t even know why I care what that little shrimp thinks, but, uh, guess I got a little jealous, Steve.”

For the first time Eddie makes eye contact with Steve as he considered what the metalhead was telling him. Dustin Henderson was worshipping him behind closed doors. Huh.

“I guess I couldn’t accept the fact that Steve Harrington was actually” he inhales, swallowing his pride, “a good dude. Rich parents, popular, chicks love him. Not a douche?” Eddie chuckles. “No way, man. No way. That, like, flies in the face of all the laws in the universe and my own personal Munson doctrine.”

There’s a pause, Eddie comes slightly too close to Steve’s face, breathing in his face. “Still super jealous as hell, by the way.” A laugh erupts out of Steve. “Which is why I would have never jumped in that lake to save your ass. Not under any, uh… normal circumstances.”

A branch snaps.

Eerie howling can be heard in the distance.

The two of them stop in their tracks, staring off on edge of their surroundings.

“Nope. Outside of D&D, I am no hero. I see danger and I just turn heel and run. Or at least that’s what I’ve learned about myself this week.”

“Give yourself a break, man.” Steve interrupts, patting his chest with the back of his hand.

“See? The only reason I came here was ‘cause those ladies came in straight after you.” Eddie tells him, pointing at your back side as you, Nancy, and Robin continue trudging your way through the freaky forest. “Now, I was too ashamed to be the one who stayed behind. My girlfriend jumping in as if there were no other options just rattled me.” Eddie pauses, pointing specifically to Nance. “But Wheeler right there she didn’t waste a second. Not one second. She just dove right in. Now, I don’t know what happened between you two, but if I were you, I would get her back. ‘Cause that was as unambiguous a sign of true love as these cynical eyes have ever seen.”

Steve considers what Eddie had to say, pausing. Steve’s eyes assess Eddie, glancing at Eddie’s two-day old stubble. He ignores the pull to Eddie’s lips, lingering far too long at them.

Wasn’t…Eddie…just steering him to Nancy?

He switches his glance back to her.

The ground doesn’t give Steve any chances to lull on any of what just happened, a rumble erupting. The ground becomes shaky again, feeling yourself unable to walk in a straight line.

“Here we go again.” Eddie bites out, his teeth gritted.

“Second on my list of favourite things, earthquakes.” Robin yells out, and you’re left wondering how she’s able to talk. “Seriously, I’m unsteady enough as it is.”

Nancy leans up against a tree, staring dead ahead, determined. She doesn’t hesitate.

She runs.

“Nancy, wha--!”

“Where are you going?” Robin calls after her. “Nancy!”

“Robin, come on!” You tell her, tugging her hand.

Before you knew it, you had all caught up to where she was standing, staring ominously at her house standing tall in a field of debris.

The five of you stare off at it, the sound of five of you catching your breath overwhelmingly loud, yet your ears remind you of the echo of thunder. Oh, God why so much sound?

“Come on.” Nancy urges, charging forward into the skeleton of her own home. You follow her, and the closer to the house you got, the louder the thunder seemed to get.

As you trekked forward, Dustin sat in the toilet of the Wheeler’s house attempting to use the left behind walkie to get a hold of the five of you. “Steve, do you copy? Nancy, Robin? This is Dustin. Where are you? We’ve been collared by the law, I repeat, we’ve been collared by the law. Do you copy?” At the radio silence, Dustin realizes how fucking hopeless it was. “Shit!”

He flushes the toilet, bursting out of the bathroom, past the parents crowded around Powell requesting if they needed lawyers. Karen is stood beside your mom, comforting her as she has started to worry about you. If Karen knew your mom hadn’t seen you in a few days she would’ve sent you home.

He nearly bumps into Holly holding onto her Lite Brite, walking it away from the commotion in the living room. He shelves the walkie, looking to Lucas’ expectant face.

“Anything?” He asks him.

“Nothing.”

They pause, a thought occurring to them at the same moment.

“You don’t think they went through…”

“Through Watergate?” Dustin asks, incredulous. “Without us? Without a plan? Without weapons?” He scoffs. “They wouldn’t be that stupid.”

“Yeah.”

“They must just be laying low ‘cause the law got us.”

“’The law?’” Erica repeats, walking into the kitchen with a juice box in hand. “What is this, Gunsmoke? The Stupid and the Ugly? Should I round up the posse? Saddle the horses?”

Lucas glares at her, not in the mood for what shenanigans Erica usually has to offer. “Erica. Please, just go away.”

“Here’s the deal. Either you tell me what’s happening, or I tell Dustin what I found under your bed.”

Lucas perks up, slightly terrified. Dustin turns to him, intrigued.

“Please, no.”

“Spill your guts, cowpuncher.”

“What’d she find?” Dustin asks, leaning onto his elbow.

“Nothing.” He claims, switching his glance between the two of them.

“Is it gross?” Dustin asks her. Erica nods. “Scale of one to ten.”

“A hundred.” Erica answers, not skipping a beat.

“A hundred?” Dustin asks, turning back to face Lucas.

Lucas gives up. “The serial killer is a dark wizard from the Upside Down. And we’ve been looking for him, but he’s in the Upside Down, which we can’t reach. At least we thought we couldn’t, until we found a gate at Lover’s Lake. That was reason we were there, but those stupid cops grabbed us.” He’s starting to get loud, as Dustin mentions for him to lower his voice. “And if you tell anyone about this, that’s including Mom, and Dad, and Tina…”

Erica continues slurping her juice, unbothered.

Lucas shakes his head, getting Erica to understand the seriousness of it. “…Especially Tina, I…will smother you…in your sleep. Do you understand?”

“Hmm…” Erica leans on one hand, pretending to think about it.

“Erica?” He leans forward on his elbows to her. “Do. You. Copy?”

Erica pushes off her elbows. “The smothering in my sleep part, but not much else. Why would they open a gate at Lover’s Lake?” She asks mostly to Dustin.

“What?” Lucas asks.

“The commies.”

“The commies didn’t do it—”

“Then who did?”

“Nobody.”

“So, it just opened up for fun?”

“Erica, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“No, she doesn’t, yet she raises an essential question.” Dustin interjects, noting Erica’s surprisingly good point. “How did Watergate open up? Only two gates have opened, so as far as we know. One by El, one by the commies. But it’s not the commies or El this time, so it…” He drifts off, something clicking. “Holy shit. Wait, wait, wait, wait.”

“’Wait, wait, wait,’ what?” Lucas asks him, wondering what the hell was going on in his brain.

“There’s one thing we’ve never understood.” Dustin starts pacing around the kitchen. “Which is why Vecna’s killing people. What’s his motive? Killing teens? It always just seemed too random. Too prosaic. On top of that, how does the Mind Flayer figure into all this? Maybe this is it. This is the answer.”

“What is the answer?” Lucas asks, completely missing the point.

“Are you sure you just want water?” Karen asks one of the police officers, making her way to the fridge. “We have Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper.”

They signal one another they need to get out of the kitchen to avoid eavesdropping, following Dustin into the hall by the dinging room. “Okay, just hear me out. How did El open the Mothergate?”

“She contacted the Demogorgon.”

“With psychic contact. Just like…”

“Vecna when he casts his spells.”

“Exactly.”

“So, what if, with each kill, he’s not simply killing them, he’s making a powerful psychic connection with his victims? A connection powerful enough to rip a hole in the fabric of time and space.”

“He’s opening up more gates.”

“Bingo.”

A few steps come from the living room. “Copy. We’re still at the Wheeler House.”

Damn cops. They turn the corner to where the basement goes down.

“Why would he be opening gates?” Dustin asks, voicing his thoughts out loud.

“To take over the world.” Lucas answers.

“Who do we know that wants to take over the world?” Dustin leads him.

“The Mind Flayer.”

“So if the Demogorgon was just his foot soldier, Vecna’s his five-star general. A five-star general with the power to open gates.”

“Holy shit.” Lucas curses, his mind blown.

“Holy shit!” Dustin answers in agreement.

“Holy shit.” Erica speaks up for the first time in a minute. “That was incomprehensible. You lost me at ‘Mothergate’. Please be kind. Rewind.”

“Ok, so remember the gate?” Dustin starts to explain to her, patient as his newfound breakthrough would allow him to be.

“Oh, no. I blocked that out.” Erica quips.

As Dustin answers, you’re catching your breath as you finally reach the door to the Wheelers.

The lights flare up as you pass by, a detail missed by Dustin, Lucas, and Erica.

Nancy bursts through the door, looking around a version of her own home she barely recognizes. You look around the house, the vines decorating the walls. “Might be time to get a maid, Wheeler.” Robin deadpans.

Nancy dampens whatever emotional reaction she was feeling, gritting her teeth. “Come on. I don’t want to stay here longer than we have to.” She starts her way up the stairs, Robin, you, and Eddie following closely behind.

Nancy goes straight to her closet, bursting through for the shoebox in the top left-hand side.

As she brings the box to open it up, you glance around, and something felt off to you about the room.

She opens the box to find tissue paper and a pair of heels.

“Those aren’t guns.” Eddie comments.

“These heels are pointy, but I was hoping for something along the lines of a deadly projectile.” Robin adds, and Nancy ignores them, trying to figure out where the hell her guns were.

“I don’t understand.”

“Maybe you left them somewhere else.” Eddie offers a solution, granted a weak one.

“There’s a six-year-old in the house. I know where I keep my guns.” She answers, defensive. “Also, I threw these away years ago.”

Nancy ends up doing a double take to some homework she doesn’t remember placing on her dresser.

“Uh Nancy?” You ask her, glancing her around the room. “Didn’t you get this wallpaper replaced a while ago?”

“Y-yeah, I did, actually.” She says, scanning the notes.

“I get that grades are important, but perhaps studying can wait till we get out?”

“She’s right.” Nancy says softly. She looks up to her wall. “I got this wallpaper replaced years ago.” She holds her flashcards up. “These notes are from sophomore chemistry. As Nancy gets more of a look around her room, she finds herself in a personal time warp. “This mirror was sold in a yard sale years ago. And you.” She rushes forward to where a stuffed bunny sits perched. “you’re not supposed to be here. No, I gave you to Cousin Joanna two years ago.”

Nancy pauses, and Eddie glances to you, nodding at Nancy in concern. You gesture toward her. When Nancy acted off or manic it usually ended in results.

She sits there, staring blankly at her diary. “What is it?” Eddie asks, and you can hear the vague annoyance in his voice.

“Nancy? You’re freaking me out.” Robin asks her.

“I think the reason that my guns aren’t here is because they don’t exist yet.”

“They don’t… exist?”

“Nancy, what’s going on—” you ask, walking up behind her. “Uh Nancy, why are you reading that specific date, also didn’t you al--”

“I did.” She interrupts you, walking back to Robin and Eddie. “This diary should be filled with entries. It’s not. The last entry is November 6—”

“1983.” You finish with her. “The day Will went missing.”

“The day the gate opened. We’re in the past.”

The four of you glance at one another, the looming idea odd.

“Dustin! Dustin!” Steve’s voice erupts from the downstairs.

Robin jumps into action, running down to see what the commotion was about as Steve repeats it, turning his flashlight around.

“Dust- Hello! Hello!” He calls, turning in circles with his voice a register higher than normal.

As you all watch in concern, Robin leans in. “Maybe he really does have rabies.”

“Steve, what are you doing?” Nancy asks him, a bit of a bite in her voice.

“Hello!” Steve calls out one last time, flashing the light right into your eyes. You hold a hand to shield them, a collective choice.

“He’s here. Henderson.” Steve claims, out of breath with a smile plastered on his face. “That little shit, he’s here. He’s like… He’s in the walls or something. Just listen. Dustin.” Steve starts screaming again, despite the bewildered looks he’s receiving from four people. “Dustin! Dustin!”

 Just when Steve seems to be going legitimately crazy, Dustin’s voice comes from seemingly nowhere, loud and clear. “That brings us to the question you first raised.”

Shit.

“Dustin!” The four of you join him, looking around the area you could hear him most, the dining room.

Eddie flips up one of the curtains, “Dustin?”

“Good spot, there, Ed.” You comment.

“Shut up.”

“Dustin?”

“All right, either this kid can’t hear us or he’s being a total douchebag.” Steve concludes, finally giving up after searching for an unfortunately long time.

“Will found a way.” Nancy mutters.

“What?”

“Will. He found a way to speak to Joyce through the lights.” Nancy scurries to the lamp on an accent table by the stairs.

“Lights?”

“Yeah.” Nancy attempts to turn on one of the lights manually, but to no avail.

“The switch, try the switch.” Steve says, pointing to it.

“Okay.” Nancy moves it do it, still unsuccessful. “It’s not working.”

“Hey. Guys? You seeing this?” Steve asks, his flashlight aimed at the large overhead light, a particular ambiance eroding from it.

As you peer around the corner next to Robin and Eddie, you catch a glimpse of Nancy with her hand raised by the lights, the mere proximity causing it to flare.

“Whoa.” Eddie murmurs a smile reaching his lips as you gather around the light.

As you reach the light Steve’s hand is raised in the light, rotating, his fingers experimenting with the feel. You follow as Robin and Eddie reach out, hesitant yourself into the feeling it would provide. As you reached out standing between Nancy and Ed, your fingertip reaches the light and it’s nothing like you expected.

You feel a sense of energy in your hand, it’s almost as if you sat on it for too long, but it tickles rather than hurt. The heat wasn’t too much to bear, just like touching a light bulb that was on.  

It was cool, you played with it, watching as your hand moved the light particles around.

“It…tickles.” Steve comments.

A laugh is stifled in your throat, in agreement.

“It kinda feels good.” Robin says, Eddie chuckling at it.

Somehow, tickles and good both felt like understatements.  

“Does anyone know Morse code?” Nancy asks.

“No.” You all answer her.

“Wait, does SOS count?” Eddie asks, his voice giving no hint of humour. You, Robin, and Nancy all deadpan to him. “Is that good?” He asks, unsure what the looks he was receiving were about.

“What?” He asks you, giving you a smile that you don’t think you’ve seen on his face since before this shitshow.

“You’re lucky you’re so pretty.” You smile up at him, grinning when he looks at you confused. “Yes, Ed. SOS works.”

“Shit, say that, then.”

He’s lucky he’s so pretty.

Eddie puts his fingers in, using his four fingers rapidly, against the light in three motions. S. O. S.

On the otherside Dustin continues to pace the dining room, asking some big questions, Erica barely paying any attention since the lights started noticeably flaring. “You said you followed Vecna through lights, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I think he’s here.” Erica is on edge, of course, thinking she’s only a dimension away from being in the same room as a mass murderer.

Dustin and Lucas make their way next to Erica, watching the lights flicker.

Finally, the voices on the other side fade out, signalling they were paying attention. “It’s working.” Robin comments, a hint of rare conviction in her voice.

Dustin creeps up to the light, finally witnessing the pattern. Dot dot dot. “S.” Dash dash dah. “O.” Dot dot dot. “S. Hey, uh, remember when I said they wouldn’t be stupid enough to through Watergate?”

“Yeah?” Lucas asks, apprehensive about what he was about to say.

“I overestimated them.”

-

Holly Wheeler lies down on her dining room floor, ignoring the sounds of the parents in the other room discussing what they must think is quietly, but she could hear every word.

She didn’t quite understand what it all meant, she just knew her sister and her brother’s friends were in deep shit. As suggested by her mom, she grabbed her Lite Brite to keep her company, but she wasn’t even allowed to go up to her room. She had to stay downstairs. That was dumb but her dad didn’t give her much of an option to argue against it either way.

In the middle of a bunny, footsteps passed her which she didn’t pay any attention to until her Lite Brite lost power. “Hey!” She protested.

Behind her Dustin runs to collect the brite lite, rushing out a sorry to Holly’s confused little face. Lucas repeats it, collecting the multicolored beads sitting in the Tupperware containers, dashing right behind Lucas.

Before Holly has any chance to even process what just happened Erica quickly kneels before her, giving her a pack of Skittles, saying, “For your understanding.” Well, a bribe is a bribe.

What, they couldn’t find something bigger?

-

Dustin bursts through the door of Nancy’s room, maneuvering the many wires cascading over such a small toy.

All gathered around Nancy’s bed seemingly three years ago in an alternate dimension you’re waiting around the Lite Brite as Dustin, Erica and Lucas all scramble to place the tiny little beads onto the board, camouflaging the bunny Holly had been working so hard on. It was a slow and painful process to wait for, Eddie gritting his teeth impatiently while Steve hurried them. “Come on, come on.”

As the final colored bead was placed, Dustin urging “Okay that’s it. Go, go, go.”

Lucas confirms, snatching the socket and lurching on the floor to where the wall socket lived, lighting up the brite lite.

“Okay you guys—”

“..seeing this?”

The space on the bed suddenly lights up with the same orange particles that had surrounded the overhead lights earlier. Nancy reaches in, creating the familiar shimmer affect as before. As she does a cackle of laughter echoing from Dustin as confirmation that it worked.

As Nancy’s hand floats around, you find yourself hypnotized by the dazzling shimmers around her fingers, your eyes glazing over. You catch a glimpse of Eddie and Steve sharing a look of holy shit behind Nance, you stick your tongue out at Steve when Eddie leans back forward.

Dustin’s voice echo’s, “We’re not moving it, but we’re gonna unplug it. Stand by.” The orange sparkles disappear as soon as the light is unplugged. “Okay, try it now.”

The five of you wait on edge as Nancy hesitates to reach out again. Eddie’s grip on your shoulder tightened, his other hand landing on his head, his fingers fidgeting.

If this didn’t work, you weren’t sure what other options you had.

Nancy reaches in, spelling out Hi as a test run. It feels eerily silent, waiting for the confirmation.

“That worked!”

The celebration is unanimous, the relief overwhelming to a tee.

Eddie is particularly satisfied, yelling out ‘yeses’ in his joy in between gritted teeth. “Hi!” He shouts in excitement to, no one in particular.

Robin lets out a full giggle.

Your nails end up digging into the heel of your hand, the hint of pain signalling just how tense you were in your own excitement.

Nancy thinks fast, leaning back into writing once again. STU…CK

“Oh ok, they’re stuck.”

“Yes.”

“We are.”

You nod rapidly.

“They’re stuck in the Upside Down.”

“Uh, you can’t get back through Watergate?”

“What the hell’s Watergate?” Steve asks.

“Oh, cause it’s in water, and it’s a gate.” Robin concludes.

“Oh, right.”

“That’s cute.” Eddie comments.

“Precious even.” You add.

“Um, no. It’s…” Nancy leans in again. GUAR…DED

It was humouring, to say the least to hear Dustin sound out the first syllable of it without realizing the rest.

“Okay. Uh, Watergate’s guarded.”

“Perfect. Yes. Yes. Yes.” Steve chants.

You hop on your two knees, a mini dance party in-between Eddie and Robin, celebrating with you.                                                                                                                        

“We think we have a theory that can help with that.” Dustin starts.

“Yes.”

“Genius child.” Robin whispers, and you had to admit, without his genius you wouldn’t be nearly as lucky as you have been.

“We think Watergate isn’t the only gate. That there’s a gate at every murder site.”

Confusion, all around. Wind through your ears. “Does anybody understand what he’s talking about?” Nancy asks, making sure you were all on the same page.

“No”

“No idea.”

“You heard words?” You ask, clueless.

Nancy leans in, drawing a large question mark.

“Okay. Seriously? How many times do I have to be right on the money before you guys just trust me?” Dustin’s voice barks back.

You blink, Dustin temporarily stunning you.

“Jesus Christ, this kid’s got to get his ego in check.” Steve remarks, his face scrunched up.

“It’s his tone. Right?” Eddie perks up, peering around Nancy to agree with him.

“I know.”

“I keep telling him.” You mutter. Eddie wraps his arm around you, his thumb caressing your shoulder.

“Okay. So…So how far is your trailer?” Nancy asks to Eddie.

“Seven miles.” Eddie answers.

“You just know that?” You whisper, Eddie shrugs casually.

“Nancy?” Robin asks, peering around you and Eddie. “Uh, I know your house here is like, weirdly, creepily, frozen in time and shit, but haven’t you always had bikes?”

Eddie turns back for her reply, a question he genuinely didn’t know the answer to.

You did, and so did Steve. “Robin, you genius.”

Nancy takes a few tries to communicate the idea formed in her head, it takes the words ED…DIE, TRA…ILER, Dustin immediately understands from the sound of it.

“H-how are we going to get there?”

Nancy was already writing BIK…ES by the end of his sentence. “Oh… that’s-that’s not bad.”

The sound of thumps down the stairs invades the deafening silence of the Wheeler’s house, Steve holding the door as he ushers you all outside.

The garage is opened abruptly, Steve resting one hand on the elevated garage door as his flashlight cascades over the bikes. “Hey, we uh, we only got 4 bikes.” He observes, looking over his shoulder.

“Well then, two are going to have to partner up. We don’t have time for this.” Nancy huffs, already marching towards one.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Eddie says, grabbing your hand to one of them.

“Use Mike’s, El used to ride on the pegs.” Nancy passes you, already walking a bike to the beginning of her driveway.

He does, you half jog to the end as Robin and Steve get themselves situated.

On the other side, Max is let go from the makeshift interrogation room, immediately ushered away by Dustin as Powell mistakenly distracts the parents.

“Don’t worry, we’ll find those girls.” Powell explains, emphasizing with the worried bunch.

“One of these little brats is gonna squeal. I just know it.” Callahan claims, assuring the parents with much less sympathy. “Where are they?”

“Upstairs.” The officer ‘observing’ them said. “Moping.”

Callahan sighs and turns to run up the stairs. “Oh, little pigs.” He calls out mockingly when he reaches the top. “Oh, little pigs.” He taps the door rapidly to tease them. “Let Officer Callahan in.” When he pushes his way through the door in attempt to scare them, the sight of an empty room with an open window greets him.

By the time Callahan peers through, he sees the kids on their bikes already starting to ride. “Hey! Excuse me! No, get back here!”

“I guess it’s just a minor misdemeanor.” Erica mutters, stabbing one of the wheels to the cop car.

Callahan continues to call out, it grabs the attention of parents as they start to understand what was happening. They run out to the front lawn but most of them are panting through each stride.

You sit yourself onto the back of the bike, ignoring your boyfriend’s smirk over his shoulder as he starts riding.

The wind hits your face as Eddie gets his momentum, your hand clutching onto his shoulder.

The parents stare after their kids making their getaway, worry stricken in their faces as they all wonder what they were up to at the lake, and why they had to get away.

Your mom had a feeling you had something to do with it, and any little hint of doubt you did had disappeared.

Dustin, Lucas, Erica, and Max rode on the street to get to the trailer park as fast as they could, matching in tandem with you, Eddie, Robin, Steve, and Robin.

Headlights on, wind in your ears, bats in the distance.

Nothing was gonna stop you now.

-

This was probably the most daunting bike ride of your entire life.

The idea of riding with Eddie lost its novelty at the fourth mile, your back sore from hunching over his back. At one point his hair, flowing wildly in the wind, made its way into your mouth. Normally, it wouldn’t be all that terrible, but it took an unreasonably long time to able spit it back out.

The red lightning didn’t seem as bad, and you almost catch yourself getting used to the distant screeches of the demo-bats.

That was until the haunting image of the Creel House, the place you knew Vecna attacked and resided, came into your peripherals.

Right. Vecna was a real… and was actively killing people.

No. Correction you thought. It was the most daunting bike ride of your entire life.

Nancy and Steve sped up and you squeezed Eddie’s shoulder to indicate to do the same.

Finally, Eddie turned the corner into the trailer park, and you felt a sigh of relief as Eddie’s trailer came into sight. “Right here.” Eddie said, gesturing to his little lot on the side.

Eddie stopped, letting you get off before unceremoniously letting his bike drop.

“That’s gotta be a Guinness World Record. Most miles traveled interdimentionally.” Robin exclaims.

You wonder for a moment how you would get someone to record it.

“Just inhaled a bunch of that crap.” Steve coughs, clearing this throat. “It’s stuck in my throat.”

Eddie led the way up the stairs into his trailer, the place unrecognizable. His eyes shoot straight up onto the ceiling, knowing exactly where to look. “Goddamn.” He breathes out. Not that he needed to inform you, the red glowing doing the work for him. It was downright terrifying. “This is where Chrissy died.” Eddie gulps out. “Like, right where she died.”

That is also downright terrifying.

“I think there’s something in there.” Robin observes, and by the shadowy figure exuding squirmy noises she might be right.

You peered in, watching an object slowly move out from the snack sized gate. “What the hell is that?” Steve asks, the exact appropriate amount of bafflement in his voice. 

A beat in silence passes before something seems to ‘pop’, startling the five of you to back the fuck off from it.

The object repeatedly smacks its way, a few drips of whatever was on the ceiling falling onto the floor. You glance around you, wondering what the hell anyone was supposed to do.

Steve volunteers, creeping up slowly, to peer up to it. You follow his example, the portal slowly coming into view. “No way.” Steve breathes out, the sight breathtaking.

It comes into view, and it’s somehow the weirdest thing you have ever experienced.

Dustin’s laughter is loud and clear as you see Lucas, Max, him, and Erica all looking up, appearing to be upside down in the way bats are in a cave.

“Hi there.” Dustin waves, glee radiating from him.

“Hi” You all wave back, smiles of relief on your faces as the escape is finally right in front of you.

“Holy shit this is trippy.” Robin comments.

“Holy fuck.” Eddie whispers, his hands resting on his knees. You bump into him endearingly, causing him to hike up and wrap his arms around you tightly. “We’re finally getting the fuck out of here.”

You look back up, watching Dustin’s overzealous jumps. “Bada-bada-boom!”

-

It took about seven minutes of struggle watching the four of them struggle around and ask Eddie where to find random things in his trailer until the mattress was plopped onto the floor. “Those stains are, uh…” he pauses, looking at his audience and second guessing himself at Robin’s side-eye. “I dunno what those stains are.”

“Mmm.” Robin grunts back to him, thrown off.

You sit next to him, wondering if you had noticed any of the stains before. He leans over to you, “Pretty sure those are from you.” He whispers to you under his breath.

Your face heats up, oh yeah, that was a good one.

 “I heard that.” Robin clears her throat, her face now scrunched up half in between disgusted and amused. Well, she knew your stories weren’t exaggerated at least.

Dustin comes into view clutching the tied-up sheets. “Not quite sure how these physics work.” He admitted, winding the makeshift rope to toss it, “but uh, here goes nothing.” The rope is launched out of his hand and lands roughly on the floor in front of you. You glance back up to Dustin, clutching the rope anxiously. “There we go. And if my theory is correct…” He lets go of the rope, and somehow, miraculously, it stays in place.

Seemingly it just, floats in suspension, nothing to yank onto, but working either way.

“Huh. Abracadabra.”

“Holy shit.” Lucas swears.

“All right, pull on it! See if it holds!” Dustin calls.

Robin steps up to it, placing each hand high on the rope and attempts to pull as hard as she can. When it stays in place the tension in the room seems to dissipate all at once. You have a way home.

“This is the craziest shit I’ve ever seen in my life. And I’ve seen some crazy shit.” Erica comments, sounding joyful, almost.

“Guess I’m the guinea pig.” Robin jokes, her hands already in place on the rope. She starts climbing, grunting slowly as she makes her way up.

Nancy holds her hand out for a safety net while they clear the landing pad on the other side. Robin reaches the hole in the ceiling, and once her head crosses the threshold she is yanked by gravity onto the other side, letting out a yelp of surprise.

She sits up the relief on her face clear as daylight. “Oh, thank God. That was fun.” she says, grabbing the closest hand offered to sit up from Eddie’s mattress.

You look back down to face your boyfriend already looking at you. “What?” You ask, startled.

He puts his hand lightly on the small of your back. “Go.” He says, giving you no options.

“But—”

His brows raise, daring you to protest him.

“Ok, then.” This might’ve been the only moment your gym teacher could’ve told you when you would need to use a rope climbing skill in real life to your disgruntled question. You reach forward and pull up to start climbing. It’s a bit more of a struggle than Robin’s but you only needed to get your head through to the other side. As you did, you felt the pull of gravity force you onto the mattress, sucking the air out of your lungs. “Shit.”

You recollect your breath, staring back up at him, a stupid glint in his eye. You don’t have too long of a moment, ripped out of it by Dustin exasperatingly pulling you off the mattress.

“Not your first time there eh.” Robin mutters.

You hit her shoulder, gathering around the mat waiting for the next climber.

You didn’t have to wait long, Eddie’s climb took half the time yours did. You and Robin both eased yourselves into the gravity, while Eddie lurched himself, basically cannonballing himself back into the right dimension.

No one saw it coming, all startled by his rough landing. He sits up instantly, “That, was fun.” He agrees with Robin. “Shit.” He grabs the hand extended to him and is helped up, but he does most of the work.

“That was fun to you?” You ask him, the only fun thing about it is being out from the dust particles.

“Woah. Ok something’s happening. Steve?” Dustin yells out

“Nancy!” You peer into the hole, seeing Steve clutch onto Nancy’s shoulders, calling her name repeatedly. “Stay with me. Nancy! Hey!” He grabs the attention of all of you, wondering what was wrong. “Nancy!”

Max gulps. “Vecna.”

Oh for fucks sake.

-

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