#I’m in a really bad place right now again actually so it’s crazy that she’s coming out with speak now

[inthemusicandhelpless]

You know what I just realised about the Speak Now TV announcement date, that it’s the anniversary of when I got released from staying 2 years in hospital and 10 years since I was admitted and I wanted something special to happen that day.

And speak now is my favourite album. Taylor always comes through for me. It’s ridiculous how the universe aligns it and I’m so happy it does. Thank you.

[steddiealltheway]

The upside down is colder than Steve remembers.

To be fair, he only wearing a vest, pants, and no shoes at the moment, and he may be actively bleeding out even with the bandages because of the damn bats but… he just doesn’t remember it being this cold.

He probably didn’t spend long enough in the tunnels to truly get a feel for things. But now that he’s fully here, he can’t imagine what it must’ve been like for Will.

The place is dark enough to even give Steve nightmares although he has Robin, Nancy, and Eddie at this side. How did Will survive with no one?

Steve looks down and carefully steps over a vine as he makes his way through the woods. Did Will ever step on-

“Is this a bad time to mention that I haven’t kissed anyone?”

Steve and the girls turn to Eddie, giving him looks of confusion at the random outburst.

Eddie keeps walking, staring at the ground as he tries not to activate the hive mind. “I’m just saying, it kind of feels like the end of the world here, and it makes you think. Like, do I really want to die a virgin? Not really, but dying without kissing anyone… I feel like that’s a bigger problem in my book.”

Robin and Nancy share the same look of confusion mixed with an air of why are you talking to us about this? But Steve thinks he gets the nervous rambling. He wouldn’t want to die unkissed either.

Eddie slowly stops and turns around, finally noticing that the three of them stopped when he made his first comment. He just stares at them for a moment before sighing, “Forget I said anything. I just hate walking in silence with all these thoughts of impending doom.”

With that, the girls start walking again, quickly catching up to Eddie, but Steve struggles as he thinks a little too hard about what Eddie said instead of thinking about not stepping on a vine. So he compromises speed for a very important thought.

Eddie wants to kiss someone. Probably. Definitely.

He can’t kiss Nancy because she’s with Jonathan, and Steve’s pretty sure Nancy would not be the greatest choice of a first kiss - since she would be unenthusiastic.

And Robin… well. She would be equally as unenthusiastic, probably even more so.

And really, everyone must be thinking the same thing. Because there’s one obvious solution.

“I’ll kiss you,” Steve announces as he steps over a vine. He watches as the three of them freeze in front of them, and Eddie almost even trips on a vine.

Once he catches up to them, Steve says, “It’s the clear solution to the problem.”

Robin shoots him a look of bewilderment and mouthes what??

Steve just looks away from her. It’s not a crazy thought really. Eddie wants to kiss someone before the world maybe ends, and Steve is just a really generous person who would like- enjoy- no, volunteer very very generously to help the good cause.

“You’re kidding, right?” Eddie asks.

And oh. Steve hadn’t really thought about how Eddie might not want to kiss him. Shit. He shakes his head. “I’m not kidding, but I wouldn’t do it unless you wanted to. And it’s okay that you don’t. Let’s just keep going.”

Eddie reaches out and grabs his arm. “I never said that I didn’t want to,” he says quickly.

Steve’s pretty sure he hears Robin snort at the comment, and he can sees Nancy trying to hide an amused smile behind her hand. He ignores them and puts his hands on his hips. “Alright.”

“Okay,” Eddie says.

They both stare at each other not moving.

“We’re going to give you some space,” Robin says, grabbing Nancy’s hand and pulling her deeper into the woods.

Steve doesn’t pay much attention to them as they walk away, he’s too busy staring at Eddie. And yeah, he’s a good looking guy. He knew that from high school whenever he would go on his rants, and Steve had an excuse to stare. And really the thought of kissing him is definitely not the worse and actually… he’s kind of looking forward to it, if the fast beating of his heart is any indication.

Eddie though, he looks… scared. Maybe just nervous. But his expression definitely isn’t in any way happy.

Steve takes a step toward him and softly says, “We don’t have to do this, okay? And it’s okay if you don’t want to.”

Eddie shakes his head and laughs humorlessly. “It’s not that I don’t want to it’s just… you’re Steve Harrington.”

“And?”

“And that name means something. And it shouldn’t be tangled up with my name.”

Steve raises his eyebrows at him. “I’m pretty sure we already crossed that line a while ago.”

“But you know what I mean,” Eddie sighs, looking at the ground.

Yeah, he does know what he means. But… “The world might end. I think there are stranger things than you and me kissing.”

Eddie shakes his head. “I think that would be the most shocking thing out of all of this.”

“Then get ready for me to rock your world, Munson,” Steve says with a smirk, stepping closer and brushing a curly strand of hair out of his face.

Eddie takes a deep breath and settles his hands on Steve’s waist above the wounds he’s forgotten about. “Is this… okay?”

Steve nods and wraps his arms around Eddie’s shoulders. “Yeah. Is this?”

Eddie just hums mhm, his eyes get a little wider and his cheeks flush a deeper pink.

Steve can’t help but look over Eddie’s face, taking in what he looks like at the closer proximity when he’s allowed to look. His eyes wander down to where Eddie’s full lips are slightly parted as if they’re just waiting for him to kiss them. But Steve looks back into Eddie’s dark eyes, searching for hesitation but only sending nerves and anticipation.

“I like that you’re the same height as me,” Steve randomly blurts out.

“Why’s that?”

Steve feels a blush creep up his neck. “Because my neck won’t strain when I kiss you.” Eddie laughs, and Steve decides that if the world really is coming to an end, he should be fully honest. “Plus, it’s easier to look at your eyes when they’re at my level.”

Eddie’s grin turns into a soft smile. His eyes glance down at Steve’s lips.

He knows the moment has come. “I’m going to kiss you now, if that’s okay.”

“It’s more than okay,” Eddie says, leaning in closer.

Steve smiles before closing the distance between them and kissing Eddie slowly as if they have all the time in the world. He breaks the kiss and pulls back enough to take in Eddie's expression - eyebrow raised in astonishment, lips slightly parted, and eyes still closed.

And yeah, they might not make it to tomorrow, plus Eddie looks hot. So, Steve doesn’t pull away. Instead, he kisses him again, this time with much more fervor and… yes, tongue. Sue him. He just wants to make Eddie’s first (and second) kiss memorable.

Eddie’s hands press into Steve’s back, pulling him closer as Steve slows the kiss, needing air. He pulls back and breathes in deep, staring at Eddie’s kiss swollen lips and feeling… many things.

But instead of giving into those feelings, Steve just pats Eddie on the arm and says, “See, you’re a natural.” As soon as he walks away, Steve wants one of the vines to drag him far far away so he doesn’t have to think about what he just said. Christ. He’s not smooth.

As soon as he catches up to Robin, she practically yanks him back so Eddie and Nancy can wander off out of earshot.

Steve crosses his arms and stares at her. “What?”

“Don’t ‘what’ me. You know exactly what this is about,” Robin says, jabbing a finger into his chest.

Steve winces. “Okay. Yes. I kissed Eddie. But what else was I supposed to do? Make you or Nance kiss him? No way.”

“You realize that he was just thinking out loud, right? You turned his thought into an invitation.”

Steve shrugs and walks toward the other two, trying to make sure they don’t go too far. “It sounded like an invitation to me,” he says with a shrug.

“I’m sure it did,” Robin mutters.

Steve turns to glare at her.

Robin sighs and lays a hand on his arm. “You can talk to me, you know? Even if you’re in the process of figuring things out and can’t get a true read of things.”

Steve turns and looks back at Eddie, noting how his heart beats a little faster and his body wants more than anything to get closer to him. He looks back and Robin and asks, “How obvious am I being?”

The tension in Robin’s shoulder goes away slightly at the question, and she smiles. “With the ‘you’re a natural’ comment? Totally fooled. No one would guess a thing.”

Steve’s jaw drops. “You were watching that?”

“How could I not? And do I regret it?” Robin pauses before answering her question, “A little when you started using tongue.”

“Jesus, Robin,” Steve says, trying to sound annoyed, but he can’t help but laugh.

Robin smiles and nudges him. “It seems like you have a type.”

Steve raises an eyebrow before he looks to where Robin is staring. He watches as Nancy and Eddie talk quietly about something, both sharing a small smile, amusement evident in their big round eyes, and dark, curly hair framing their faces. Maybe Robin has a point.

“Maybe I do,” Steve says as Eddie glances back at him and smiles. When he turns back, Steve asks Robin, “Do you think we could talk more about it when we’re not in an alternate dimension, and I have time to think about things?”

“Of course,” Robin says and squeezes his arm. “But for now, I’m going to give you things to think about!” she announces before running ahead to Nancy and quickly starting some type of hushed conversation.

Steve looks at where Eddie lingers behind the girls and quickly runs up to him, deciding maybe he can figure things out now. And maybe he can verbally thank him for saving his ass instead of just kissing him and hoping he gets the message.

Gosh, he doesn’t know if he can get through this without getting distracted by his lips. But he’s going to try.

(And he’s going to fail)

[jedi-luca]

Avenger Lane Chapter 15: Creature Fear

Summary: You and your wife Quinn move your family outside of New York City to Avenger Lane; a small private suburbia. There you face your toughest obstacle of your marriage. Will your marriage with Quinn be strong enough when a certain redheaded beauty captures your attention? 

Parings: Natasha x Reader

Warnings: Reader has a Penis

Previous Chapter

Natasha opened the door with a look of surprise. Someone was holding a bouquet of flowers, a present, and balloons. She couldn’t even see who it was. Until you popped your head through the balloons.

“Y/N?” She beamed laughing.

“Happy birthday Nat.” You smiled widely.

Natasha couldn’t wait for you to even step inside she jumped in your arms. Presents falling to the floor with petals falling around you. You chuckled holding her up as her legs wrapped around you. Stepping inside you shut the door, kicking the presents aside.

“I wasn’t sure you’d make it.” She mumbled against your neck.

“I promised you, and I didn’t want to break another promise with you. I’m not going anywhere unless you want me too of course.” 

Natasha kissed you softly letting her fingers run through your hair before pulling away. “I missed you like crazy.”

“I missed you too. You wanna-“

“Yes.” She nodded, kissing you again only for you to break the kiss.

“I was gonna say open your presents, but that sounds amazing.” You chuckled walking over to the sofa, setting her down.

She blushed, nodding as she cleared her throat crossing her legs. You handed her a bouquet of carefully picked out flowers.

“Y/N, these are so beautiful. I love them, thank you.” She bites her lip, blushing a little as she studies the flowers. 

You bring the present to the coffee table sitting next to her as she smells her flowers. 

“You didn’t have to do all this, I just needed you.” She mumbles against your shoulder.

“It’s your birthday, Natalia, it should be celebrated.” You say softly placing a lock of her hair behind her ear.

“You’re the sweetest.” She sighs, pecking your lips.

“So why don’t you open your first couple gifts of the day.”

“First couple gifts?” She smiles, biting her lip. “Y/N you really-“

“Stopppp come on.” You say as Leho leaps on the table to see what chaos you brought.

She smirked seeing you look nervous as she opens the first gift only to find a large envelope. Natasha furrows her brows at you before opening it. She gasps as she reads the title of legal documents, and the notary of the republic’s stamp.

“You’re…. Divorced… She actually signed them?”

“She didn’t really have a choice.”

“Oh my God. Y/N how? I thought it was going to take months!?”

“Well I finally listened to you spoke to my parents. With their help and Tony’s I counter sued for everything she did to me. The couples therapist Agatha turned in her notes to the judge which also helped immensely. The Fabrays hate a bad image and caved immediately especially when they knew I could squash them like a bug.”

Natasha tackled you in a hug.

“I promised you it would happen. I promised you, Nat.”

“I know you did.” She nodded, wiping her tears as you brought her in a kiss.

“I wanna be with you.” You say softly.

“You’ve had me Y/N.” She cried, wrapping her arms around you snuggling into your side. “How… How are the kids taking this?”

“Finley doesn’t really understand but she loves you so, I know she won’t be too put off. Beth on the other hand is upset. She doesn’t understand. She probably won’t until she’s older, and that’s okay. She refuses to speak to me right now. The moment we sat her down to discuss the divorce she pushed me out, and said she never wants to see me again.”

“Baby.” Natasha cried holding your hand. “Baby she doesn’t mean it.”

“I know.” You sniffled feeling Natasha wipe your tears. “She loves her mom very much. I can't be the one to tarnish that image. When she cools down I’ll talk to her again.”

“Beth loves you Y/N so much. I know she does, you know she does. You’re right she just needs some time divorce is not easy on a 12 year old. Are they home?”

“Beth is at school and I think Quinn is at her sisters with Fin. She said she didn’t want to see me here.”

“So she knows?”

“Ohhhh yeah she knows I’m with you.” You nod.

“Is she mad? Like burn down my house mad?”

“No actually, just like she’s finally let me go. I think her seeing our old friends really helped knock some sense into her as well. Plus as much as I hate to say it Rachel is kind of helping her move on.”

“So she’s more so upset with herself and her actions?”

“That’s what I got from it in court, but I thought maybe it was a ruse. Anyway, enough about my ex wife and open your next present.”

You handed Natasha a wrapped gift. She looked up, raising her brow looking down at the Christmas themed paper and bow. “You wrapped this?” 

“Of course! I’m a black belt at gift wrapping.” You grinned.

She giggled while opening the gift only to see a Fisherman’s sweater. “Ohhh I love it.” She says holding it up seeing something fall out of the sweater she frowns grabbing it before Leho can get it.

The scenic view of the East coast of Maine

“I thought since you’re taking a break right now maybe you and I can take a road trip all the way to Maine? Or we can just-“

Natasha tackles you in a hug “I love it.” 

“Are you sure? Cause it’s cold and if you’d rather just go somewhere more tropical I can still change it.”

“Nope, I’ve never been upstate. I think that’s a great idea.”

“Alright I guess pack for a week and then get dressed for brunch cause Wanda is currently making you a fabulous brunch for your birthday right about now.”

“Oh my gosh!” Natasha stood up running up the stairs packing for the winter vacation.

You chuckled looking down at Leho “Don’t worry I won’t make you join us in the car ride Yelena is going to stay here and take care of you.” The black cat purred and hopped up on your lap. “Yeah I figured you weren’t the car riding type.”

You stood up making your way up the staircase leaning against Natasha’s doorway when you notice something you thought you lost.

“Is that my hoodie?” You gasped “and my jacket!? I thought I lost them!”

“No, don't look!” Natasha groaned.

“You little thief!” You chuckled.

“They smelled like you.” She smiled, holding them up to her nose. 

You brought her in your arms pecking her lips. “I’ll be sure to rotate them so you always have something that smells like me then.” You lifted it to your nose, closing your eyes and smiled. “Now it smells like you.”

“So sweet.” She muttered before kissing you once more. She turned in your arms as she continued her packing.

You moved her hair to the side and left small kisses from her shoulder to her neck.

“Hmm, I missed you.” She sighed.

“You have no idea how much I missed you.” You held her from behind burying your nose in her hair.

“I think I have an idea.” Natasha’s fingers ran through your hair, her body arching into you. 

Nat lifted her phone showing you a video that Mike sent her.

“Dude what are you doing?” Mike giggled using his video to see what you were looking at. “Is that Natasha?”

“Maybe.” You purse your lips coyly slightly drunk. 

“Why are you looking at her picture? You weirdo.” Santana cackled.

“I miss her.” You shrugged.

“Aww!” Kurt frowns, hugging your head. “Me too!”

“Oh my God! You’re such a simp. This is your boo Natasha. Out here cryin’ in da club.” 

You all started cackling before the video came to an end.

“I’m gonna kill him.” You shook your head.

“I thought it was sweet.” She smiled, turning in your arms. You widen your stance so you can be at eye level. “Don’t be embarrassed baby, I'm your woman.”

“My woman, I love the sound of that.” You grin, smooching her lip feeling her hands massage your shoulders.

“Anything else you need to show me or tell me about?” You chuckled.

“No.” She smirked looking away.

“You sure?” 

“I may have also seen you guys sing Don’t Stop Believing and some of your friends dm’ed me that they’re happy for us. That’s all. Again! I thought it was sweet.” The redhead beauty smiled, pecking your lips before smacking your ass and making her way to the bathroom. 

“Hm.” You grunted.

She began grabbing her toiletries in a bag she looked over seeing you laying down feet off the bed. Your arms wrapped around her pillow, eyes closed for a brief moment while she packs. She smiles looking at you she’s wanted you for so long now, and it’s finally happening.

You mentally went through the checklist again. The cooler is packed with snacks and drinks. You have the snow chains on already extra in the back just in case. Your suitcase is packed, the rest of the presents are in the back, blankets, pillows, some extra wood, alcohol and mixers, champagne, some groceries in an extra cooler, and Tony’s keys to his cabin.

You could hear her walking around quietly as she packs up her suitcase when you felt some weight on your legs.

“Okay! I’m ready!” She sang she lifted up on her knees as you flipped over.

“Hmmm okay baby.” You yawned while stretching.

Natasha straddled you and you let your hand lightly rub her thick thighs. She leaned down kissing you softly inhaling you as she broke the kiss.

“We… don’t have any extra time… do we?”

“We…” you looked at your watch. “Do not.” You sigh.

“But it’s my birthday.” She sticks her bottom lip out with a frown dry humping you. “I can be a little late.”

You groan feeling her lips suck on your sweet spot and rub against your other sweet spot.

“You and I both know we’re not gonna wanna go just one round. Besides, I don't really want our first time as a couple to be a quickie.” You chuckle, slapping her ass. “Come on birthday girl. 

She whines getting off of you and you grin standing up taking her bags. 

“What about Leho?” She said sadly while picking up her baby.

“Yelena is going to take care of her and the house.” You muttered the last part.

“Oh God okay just let me write out something real quick, and put the flowers in a vase.”

“Alright I’ll put these in the truck.”

Natasha wrote out a quick message asking her sister to water the plants, the new flowers you just gave her, and what times to feed Leho. She even gave her some money for food just in case.

Natasha walked out seeing a cover over your truck bed. “Since when have you had that?”

“Oh it came with it, I just never had a chance to use it.” You chuckled. “Are those your balloons?” You chuckled.

“I just got them, it's bad enough I have to leave my flowers.”

You grinned walking over taking them from her and walking over to Wanda’s. You knocked and she told you both to come in from the Stark bell. You open the door letting her through first hearing all her friends say “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

“Oh my gosh you guys!” Natasha smiled seeing all of her friends.

Wanda ran over bringing her in a big hug. “Ohhh I love you, happy birthday!” She cooed.

“Happy birthday!” Pietro smiled, giving her a hug as well. “Just so you know my gift is me getting up early to help Wanda.” His older sister smacked him and Natasha laughed. “Hey what’s up Y/N.” He smiled, giving you a hug.

Wanda led you both towards the end of the table giving Natasha a tiara, her breakfast plate and a mimosa.

Breakfast went on and then the gifts began.

“This is from me and Buck. Happy birthday Nat we love you.” Steve smiled with Bucky's arm around him.

“Oh wow thank you guys!” Natasha looks down at the brand new Glock and set of bullets. 

“That’s the new G29 it’s beautiful.” Steve explains.

“Oh my God.” Vis gasps lowly he hates guns. Wanda takes his hand. Natasha closes the case and thanks Steve and Bucky before you take it and safely set it aside.

“Jeez.” You hear Tony mutter as he drinks his mimosa.

“Happy birthday love.” Laura smiles with Clint grinning behind her.

It was a framed photo of Natasha and you with all the kids at the fair. Along with a little Hawaiian statue.

“Thank you Laura.” Natasha smiled showing you the picture. You smiled looking at her. “It’s sweet, I'll make sure to put it up before we leave.”

“Just make sure to keep the statue with you.” Clint cackled.

“Oh Clint.” Laura smacked him.

“What is this?”

“We got it during our trip to Hawaii. It’s a fertility statue.”

“It fucking works.” Clint raised his brows looking at the two of you.

You and Natasha chuckle a bit.

“I’m serious we were having some trouble with Nate and well that little fucker helped. So when you’re ready just make sure he’s around for the action.”

You chuckled turning red scratching the back of your neck.

“Those Hawaiians, dude they know they’re shit.” Clint punched your arm. “I know you’ve got a couple so be sure to wrap it before you tap it from now on it’s like magic.”

“Clint for the love of God.” Laura whined.

Natasha placed the frame and statue in her purse before the next guest came over. You took her hand rubbing circles on her palm.

“You okay?” You ask near her ear.

“I just need to go to the bathroom right quick.” She nods and pecks your hand.

You look at her slightly worried before looking towards Wanda. “I should-“

“Go.” She nods.

You stand and rush upstairs.

“Damn it Clint I told you not to put that in there.” Laura groaned covering her face.

“What? What’s wrong-“

“Nat, can’t have children.” She said in his ear.

“Fuck.” 

You reach the master bath and knock softly. “Baby?”

The door swings open and she pulls you in a kiss.

“Whoa.” You manage to say as she hums in your mouth. “Honey?”

“I need you Y/N.” She husks. “I need you so bad and we don’t have much time.” 

“Nat, I think you might not be dealing with this the right way. Just take a breather-“

“Y/N please.” She whines against your lips, her hands on your belt. “Please baby I need you so badly right now. It won’t take much. I know this isn’t what you had in mind for our first time as a couple to be in Wanda’s bathroom, but please! I need you inside of me.” 

“Talia, my love please just take a second.”

“Love?” Natasha freezes.

“This wasn’t how I was going to tell you.” You squeezed your eyes shut. 

“You love me?” She asks in surprise.

“So much. I’ve been wanting to say those words for a while now.” You chuckle, bringing her against you.

“I’ve longed to hear those words from you.” She whispered.

“I just wanted to wait until it was finally over. Until I had it in writing for you.”

“I know my love.” She whispers, kissing you softly. 

“I hope I was worth the wait.”

“You are always worth it. I love you so much.” She smiles, laying her forehead against yours.

You pull her into a hug just as she begins to cry.

“I’m sorry I don’t know what came over me. I felt so sad and then you came up to take care of me and I’ve just never had that before-“ she started to tear up.

“It’s okay you’re allowed to feels things. Clint hit a sore spot.”

“I missed you so much Y/N.” She sniffled as you wiped away her tears.

“I missed you too, baby. I missed all of you. I missed your laugh, your smile, the way your voice gets gravely when you're sleepy or just woke up, your cooking, your kisses. Your beautiful body. The way I feel when I’m inside of you and the noises I bring out of you. I’m so in love with you. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you either. Yelena tried making me watch a ton of other shows. Wanda included. I would find myself thinking of you or if you’d call me. Or even text. I was always checking my phone.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t reach out enough.”

“You did better after I told you. We just have to communicate better.”

“We will.” You nod.

“We should go back out there.” She says softly caressing your cheek. 

“Okay.” You stand up from your crouched position and help her off the toilet seat. She fixes your hair and takes the lipstick off your face.

“Lovely.” She nods.

“Stop, you're making me blush.”

⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗ ⧗

You both come back down and no one makes a comment, they just continue on like nothing happened.

“You okay?” Wanda asks in Russian.

Natasha nods happily. “Oni skazali mne, chto lyubyat menya.” (They told me that they love me.)

“Finally!” Wanda sighed in relief.

Natasha rolled her eyes playfully.

You lean over to Tony when you notice everyone giving you the wink. “So I take it, everyone knows my plan for the cabin?”

“Yup.” Tony nods.

“Got it. So who told?”

“Who do you think?”

You scanned the table. “Scott told Louis?”

“Of course he did.” Tony huffed.

“As long as Nat doesn’t hear about it.”

“She won’t, don’t worry. You got the papers?”

“Yup showed Nat before coming over here.”

“Pepper, give you the keys?”

“Yes sir.”

“Alright.” Tony chuckled. “Don’t be nervous. You got this kid.”

You nodded with a grin before looking over at Natasha who looked down at her gift. It was an ant farm that Scott gave her. 

“I said grab an Aunty Anne’s gift card because she loves they’re pretzels. Why would she want an ant farm Scott?”

“I don’t know why would she want a gift card to Aunty Anne’s?” He huffed. “Besides, ants are way cooler!”

“It’s okay, this is pretty cool, thank you.” Natasha smiled nodding she’ll just give it to Finley.

“Hey Scott.” You smiled right before nut punching him.

“Oh fuck.” Scott gasped nearly toppling to the floor.

“Y/N?!” Natasha scolded you.

“It’s just this game we play at work. Right Scotty? This game about not telling Louis certain things.”

“Yup.” He smiled through the pain waving Natasha off. Steve and Bucky cringed.

“Kind of what he gets; what a big mouth.” Bucky muttered.

“I fucking told you not to tell Louis.” Hope whispered harshly.

“I know.” He gasped as she helped him over to his chair.

“I’ll get you some ice.” Vis nods standing up.

“Thank you.” Scott groaned.

Natasha glared at you once more and you shrugged it off. “He lost the game. I don't know what to tell ya.”

“That was hilarious.” Clint chuckled while getting another mimosa as Thor fell out of his chair laughing. 

“You know you deserved that shit right?.” Val snickered looking at Scott.

“Come on babe get up.” Jane said to Thor who had tears in his eyes from laughter.

“Happy birthday Natasha!” They said together, handing her a tiny gift bag. Thor was still snickering to himself.

“Oh thank you so much!” It was a gift card to Lululemon. 

Soon Val and Carol were up.

“I would say happy birthday but I think this one is a little more for my mate Y/N over here.” Val snickered, winking at you and Carol rolled her eyes.

Natasha ripped open the paper and the white box to find a set of sexy lingerie. The redhead opted out of showing everyone and kept it in the box she didn’t even show you instead she thanked them with a hint of blush on her cheeks. Carol leaned down and whispered in her ear. You wondered what it was because her eyes widened and Carol giggled before taking Val’s hand and taking their seats.

“You alright?” You asked.

“Hmhm.” She nodded, taking a gulp of her drink.

“For Pepper and Tony’s gift they’re letting us stay in their Cabin.” 

“Oh thank you.” Natasha said towards Pepper and Tony.

“Of course but we also got you this.” Pepper handed Natasha a bottle of wine. “It’s one of my all time favorites. I think you’ll like it.”

“It also gets her going if you know what I mean.” Tony mutters lowly toward you.

You chuckled while taking a sip of your drink. 

Soon it’s nearly 2 pm and now you’re way off schedule.

“I’m sorry Y/N.” Wanda says softly as you help her clean up.

“Do not apologize Wands. It’s okay, seriously we can make a pit stop at a hotel. It's not that bad plus I wanted us to take our time getting up to Maine.”

“Still you had the whole day planned.” She said sadly.

“The plan can still go on tomorrow.” You smile.

“Okay I am ready.” Natasha smiled lazily, still a bit buzzed from all the mimosas.

“Go on. I’ve got it from here.”

You grab the presents and Natasha insists on giving the ant farm to Finley so you leave it on the front door with a note and leave the framed photo of the fair in Nat’s home before she says farewell to Yelena.

“Happy birthday Cestra.” She smiles at her drunk sister then at you before handing her a little gift.

“What’s this?” Natasha frowns seeing a check.

“I wanna help pay you back for the clock tower.”

“Lena-“

“No buts plus I figured maybe it’ll help bring our parents back from Russian? I know you had to use that money to send me to school and bring me here and fix the tower so… yeah.”

“Aww.” Natasha cried, bringing Yelena in a hug. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Now go.” Yelena wipes her eyes smiling at you. “Take care of my sister. She’s precious cargo.”

“With my life.” You smile helping Natasha walk to the truck. “You wanna lay down in the back? I can make a bed.”

“Not unless you’re gonna lay down with me.” Natasha mumbles hopping in the truck.

You chuckle before shutting the door and getting in the driver's seat. You both wave to Yelena before driving away.

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When you’re finally out of New York Natasha notices how beautiful the mountains look.

“It’s so beautiful.”

“It is really cold, but smell the air.” You slow down a bit and roll down the window.

She breathes the air in smiling as she closes her eyes. “Wow, it smells so good!” . 

You slow down pulling over seeing a maple candy stand.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a maple candy stand. I’m gonna get you some wanna stay in the truck?”

“No!” She hops out and watches you buy some candy as she picks up a red leaf and breathes in the mountain air.

Along the road she asks if you can stop at certain places and of course you oblige by getting her little trinkets and taking random photos.

You both eat snacks from the cooler and sing along to every song she wants to hear occasionally listening to a podcast. You finally stop when it gets too dark somewhere in Vermont. You stop by a diner.

“This place is so cute.” Natasha smiles seeing how retro everything looks.

“Well hello sweethearts my name is Eve what can I getcha?” An older woman walks up with a big smile.

“We will take the lovers lane.” Natasha orders off the menu.

“Okay! I haven’t seen yall out here before where ya from?” 

“New York, it’s her birthday we figured we make a road trip out of it and go up state.”

“Oh well that’s fun, welcome to town! I’ll tell ya what I’ll bring you a slice of pie on the house!”

“Thank you Eve!” Natasha smiled.

You dug into your pockets looking for change.

“What are you doing?” Natasha smirked.

“I’m looking for quarters.” You grinned nodding towards the mini jukebox.

The redhead grabbed her purse taking out .50cents. “Here.”

“You pick it’s the fun part.” You grinned, pushing her hand away.

Natasha smiled and put the change in before choosing an oldie.

“Great choice.” You grinned hearing the doo-wop in the beginning.

“My love must be a kind of blind love. I can’t see anyone but you.” She smiled lovingly at you as you blushed.

‘(Sha bop sha bop)

(Sha bop sha bop)’

“Dance with me?”

‘(Sha bop sha bop)

(Sha bop sha bop)’

“Here?” 

‘(Sha bop sha bop)’

“Right here.” You stand up offering your hand which she happily accepts.

‘Are the stars out tonight (sha bop sha bop)’

You bring her close swaying in the diner.

‘I don't know if it's cloudy or bright (sha bop sha bop)

I only have eyes for you dear’

“I love you.” Natasha says softly caressing your cheek.

(Sha bop sha bop)

“I love you too.” You say looking down into her eyes.

‘The moon may be high

(Sha bop sha bop)’

There’s only one other patron in the diner and they can’t help but smile seeing the two of you dancing.

‘But I can't see (sha bop sha bop) a thing in the sky

I only have eyes for you’

“Eve, put their dinner on my tab.” The patron smiled.

‘I don't know if we're in a garden

Or on a crowded avenue

(Sha bop sha bop)’

“They do look so in love don’t they?” Eve smiled watching you and Natasha sway to the music.

‘You are here

(Sha bop sha bop)’

“I don’t ever wanna stop this train with you.” She whispers.

‘And so am I

(Sha bop sha bop)’

“I don’t ever plan on stoppin’.” You lean down pecking her lips gently.

‘Maybe millions of people (sha bop sha bop) go by

But they all disappear from view

And I only have eyes for you’

You both take your seats just as the food came out.

“This looks amazing.” You grin.

“Here baby you pick the next song while we eat.” Natasha hands you a couple quarters.

“Welllllllll…You know you make me wanna shout! Kick my heels up and shout!”

“So good.” You both said as you ate your burgers. “Might have to come back just for this.”

“I know!” She chuckled.

You both ate and laughed as you spoke about your days apart. 

“What made you wanna do this?” She asked, drinking her milk shake.

“Well we were hungry-“

“I meant this trip. Smartass.” Natasha smirked.

“I just felt like we’ve been apart for a long time and wanted to make up for it.” You explain with a light shrug.

Just as Eve promised, a slice of Pie arrived and you both somehow managed to eat every piece of it.

“Thank you so much Eve, this dinner was so good we might just have to make the trek back out just for your food.” Natasha smiled.

“Please do!” Eve laughed.

“Where do I pay Ms. Eve.”

“Actually the gentleman that was in here paid for your meal. He just said he was heartwarmed to see how in love you both are. Made him remember his wife.”

“Oh well now I feel terrible for not being able to thank him.” You pout.

“Don’t be he just wanted to do something nice for you both.”

“Well please tell him we said thank you.” Natasha smiled warmly.

“Of course!” Eve smiled picking up the plates that you stacked at the end of the table.

You left a hefty tip before getting back in the truck and heading towards the hotel.

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“Oh no I’m so sorry I thought we had two beds when we spoke on the phone but it turns out that room is being remodeled. We only have one room left with one king bed.” The front desk girl frowned.

“Oh just the one huh?” You clear your throat, shuffling your feet. You knew if you took that room keeping your hands to yourself would seem difficult.

“You’re absolutely sure there’s only one left.” You ask once more.

The front desk girl sighed and said. “If you don’t want the room-“

“We’ll take it.” Natasha huffed, rolling her eyes at you. “Y/N, if you don’t want to share a bed with me-“ 

“I’m sorry it’s not that at all, not even a little bit you know that.” You bite your lip seeing her nod at you. Natasha took the key. “It’s just- I don’t want you to think just cause I did all this means you have to put out. That’s all. I just want you to be comfortable.”

Natasha smiles softly and pecks your lips. “You’re sweet, and I’m making you start to overthink things because of how I’ve been acting and I’m sorry.”

“Nat, no apologizing. This is new for us… I’ve never been with another woman besides Quinn, and you’ve never been with someone like me. We just need to get in the groove again… I’m gonna park the truck you go on ahead and I’ll bring up our things.”

She nodded before walking off. Natasha kept telling herself to stop over thinking as well you both fell for one another as friends. The only things that’s changed is now there’s nothing holding you both back. You’re both free to be together.

You tiredly made your way to the room. Walking in only to hear the shower running. You quickly change when you hear the water stop. She walks out right as you switch shirts.

Natasha gulped, gripping the door handle.

“Hey.” You smile trying not to blush at the fact that she’s only in a towel.

“Hi.” She smiles a tint of blush across her dewy cheeks. “I forgot you were bringing up the suitcases and got ahead of myself. Can I borrow something to sleep in?”

“I got you.” You grinned getting off the bed. You rummaged through your suitcase finding an extra set of boxers and an old football t-shirt. You walked them over handing them to her.

“Thanks.” She whispers, looking at you. 

“Oh! Sorry.” You chuckled turning around.

She smiled as you turned towards the wall. That’s not why she was staring. She was staring because all she had on was a towel and all she wanted to do was drop it. Just to have you worship her body, but she can tell you’re exhausted. Mentally and physically you just need to rest. Natasha knows damn well if she ignites that fire in you it won’t be put out until it’s time for you both to leave the hotel. She shook her thoughts before dropping the towel not missing the way it made you squirm. 

She inhaled the fresh scent of your boxers and t-shirt. 

“Don’t worry I just washed them before we left.” You chuckled, rubbing your neck. Desperately trying not to look at her through the small reflection on the lamp.

“I’d hope so.” She teased you. “You can turn around now.” She let the shirt fall on her just as you turned around. You gulped seeing the bottom of her breasts and the small freckle on her rib cage.

She climbs into bed laying next to you when she turns on her side. “Thank you for today. Best birthday ever.” She smiled dreamily before leaning over kissing your cheek softly.

“Yeah?” You goofily grin before yawning. You could already feel your exhaustion take over your body as your girl played with your hair.

“Hmhm, you got your divorce, gave me breakfast with all my friends at Wanda’s. You told me you love me. Then we spent the day driving through the mountains. It’s been amazing.” She giggled. “I’ve never had anyone do anything like this for me before, thank you Detka.”

“I didn’t even get to give you the rest of your presents.” You said sleepily trying to sit up only for her to stop you.

“You can give them to me when we’re at the cabin.”

“You sure?” You asked halfway asleep.

“Yes.” She smiles. “Don’t worry about them right now. Everything is perfect today was perfect. You’re perfect.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I love you Talia.” You closed your eyes snuggling into your pillow feeling the way her nails grazed your skin and hair as you drifted off to sleep.

“I love you too baby.”

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You wake to the sound of your phone alarm clicking on. The soft strums of Creature Fear by Bon Iver in the air. You hum out feeling warmth against your chest and feeling the sun shine on your face. Slightly upset that you forgot to close the curtain, but the view of the mountains is just too beautiful to stay cranky. You start to realize you’re spooning Natasha and your cock is rock hard as it always is first thing in the morning. Your cock was throbbing feeling the heat from Natasha’s body. 

You slowly lift your head looking down at your entwined legs. You briefly wonder how and when this happened throughout the night. Then you wonder if you can untangle yourself without waking her so you can shower. You look down at your arms. One is under her and the pillow with half her hand in yours and the other arm was wrapped around her with her arm laid over yours and fingers threaded through yours. You tangled yourselves throughout the night.

Her head turned slowly, her eyes wide open. She must have been awake for some time. It’s silent and you’re just admiring her underneath the morning sun. She was breathtaking. You felt like you forgot how to breathe just by looking into her eyes. Natasha was the first to wiggle her fingers bringing your attention to your hands. You stretched your fingers locking them in with hers before looking back into her emerald eyes. She looked down at your covered cock poking her right where she wanted it. You felt the air leave your lungs when she pushed her ass against your throbbing cock. 

The moment her hooded eyes looked from your hardened member to you. Almost in an instant you forgot about everything and all you saw and all you wanted was her. Like a silent agreement you both threw caution to the wind. Letting your lips meet in a passionate kiss. Breathing one another in deeply before your hands let go of hers. You needed to feel her everywhere. You cupped her face inhaling her before letting one hand roam down her back towards her ass and the other threaded through her soft auburn hair. 

She moaned, feeling you squeeze her ass. Her hands were hooked under your arms. Fingernails grazing your back. You stopped for a second letting her take off your shirt. You moaned, feeling her lips against your chest. Kissing somehow tenderly and with haste. You briefly stop her so you can take her shirt off her immaculate body.

“What?” she giggled seeing your jaw slack.

“You’re so incredibly beautiful, but you know I know you’re so much more than that… right?” 

She smiled softly, caressing your cheek. “I know.” She pushed you back getting off the bed before turning towards you. You moved to the edge letting your feet hit the cold carpet of the hotel. You hook your arms around her waist looking up at her as your fingers toe the edge of waistline. The Russian woman bit her lip nodding as you pushed the boxer shorts down.

You lay your head against her abdomen, softly kissing her as you inhale her sweet scent. Before your lips could kiss any further down she stopped you. 

“Your turn.” She smirked her nails scraping against your shoulders.

You were brought back to your throbbing dick you grimaced standing up.

“You’ve been hard for over an hour now. I’m assuming you’re in pain?” Her brow kinked.

“Just sensitive.” You hissed, letting it flop out of the hole of your boxers. “You’ve been up for an hour now?”

She licked her lips staring at your long thick bulging cock. She sat you down kissing you gently before getting on her knees. “Yes and you have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to do this.”

“You don’t have-“ you cleared your throat.

“I want to… don’t you want my mouth?” She husked; hand now holding your meat.

“God yes.” You whined caressing her jaw.

She smirked before focusing on your shaft. She let her lips kiss the head before letting her tongue swirl around causing you to twitch and shudder. You let one hand hold her hair, just as she brought all of you in her mouth, her tongue and mouth sucking you like it’s the last time she’ll have you. Her hands leave your cock and lay against your flexing abs; her nails grazing down. “Oh my G-“ you inhale. 

“Fuck.” You sighed watching her bobb, her head eyes fixed on yours. “Deeper.” You whispered, you could feel her tonsils on your cock as she obeyed. Her hands on your thighs before letting you go with a pop, and moving down to your balls.

“Natasha.” You husked feeling your toes curl. You gently stopped her before pulling her on your lap quickly switching positions to lay her down. You watched as she lifted her body up by her elbows as you got on your knees gently spreading her legs apart. You smirked before letting your tongue dive into her.

“Ohhh” she whimpered and moaned. 

“Fuck me, you’re drenched.” You let two of your fingers dip in before showing her the wetness. “So sexy.” You whispered before putting her wetness on your cock and pumping the throbbing shaft. As you pumped you dove back in moaning at her taste. “You taste so good, Talia.”

“Shit Y/N I’m already so close.” She whined.

You quickened your tongue's pace and let go of your throbbing member to let a couple digits enter her. Her hips bucked as you moved your fingers. You listened to her as if breaking open a safe. Listening for any indication of her spot. 

A loud guttural moan came when you did. You smirked going faster as her moans grew louder and her body unable to lay still. She gripped your hand and head before humping into your face, shaking as she came undone.

You stood wiping your mouth before sucking on your fingers. She closed her thighs at the sight needing some friction.

She sat up and gasped at the soaked edge of the bed. You smiled before lifting her up onto you kissing her with want.

“Hmm.” She moaned in the kiss before opening her eyes looking down at you. She reached below her, taking you in her hand guiding you to the place you both have been aching for.

“Oh my God.” You sighed laying your forehead against hers. Feeling the tip of your member enter her.

You both moaned as she slid down your shaft.

“Fuck.” You felt your grip loosen before lifting her back up moaning at the movement. You froze seeing her grimace.

“What’s wrong, should I stop?” You asked, worried you hurt her.

She kissed your worries away wiping your brow lines

“You’re just… really big… I’m just adjusting.” She blushed. You pulled out causing her to whimper. 

“Standing up needs some work. Okay.” You make a note of it as you gently lay her down before following suit. She spread her legs for you to lay between. She moaned at the touch of your tongue against her lips. 

“I need you inside me baby.” She husked in your ear, breaking the kiss.

You both looked down as you took your cock rubbing it between her folds. Gathering all the wetness before slowly entering her.

“Sooooo tight.” You whispered, feeling her velvet walls clamping down around you. You stayed still letting her adjust to your girth and length and enjoying the way her warmth feels. “Gah damn I will never get tired of you baby!” You smiled leaning down to kiss her.

“I’m gonna have to remember pelvic floor exercises.” She giggled as she brushed your hair back. 

“I’m madly in love with you.” You smiled Natasha brought you down kissing you as she whimpered as her hips bucked into you giving you the go ahead. You slowly pumped in and out. 

“Oh my God!” She moaned out as your lips left hers to nibble on her sweet spot.

“That’s it baby you’re doing so well.” You groaned out as you continued your rhythm as she whimpered beneath you. Your eyes fluttered closed as you paused your motions pushing in deeper. 

“Oooh that feels so good Y/N.” Natasha wiggling her pelvis against you.

“It’s been so long since I’ve been this deep inside of you like this.” You groaned, placing a hand on the headboard driving your pace faster.

“I know baby I don't even think I can hold on for much longer.” She gasps, clawing at your back bringing you down against her. “God I love you so much!”

You’re both moaning as you move together. Your teeth clashing in your kisses. You’re both breathing one another in as you cum around one another.

“Fuck baby.” She gasps. “Oh daddddy.” 

“Oh Natasha! Fuuuck!” You groan, spilling your seed deep inside of her. “Ohhh yeah look at that baby.” You say lathering your thick honey along her glistening pussy.

You both pant when the phone rings it’s time to check out and your alarm with Bon Iver starts over again after its snooze.

“How long do we have?” She asks, kissing your back.

“A couple hours.”

“Then come back to me.” She smirks.

You grin, rubbing her arm around your chest that begins to make its way to your meat.

“Hmm.” You groan feeling her pumping you as she nibbles your ear. “The faster we’re out of here the faster I can have you in that cabin, and really take my time with you.” 

“How long is the drive?” She asks, kissing your shoulders.

“About 4 more hours.” You cringed, seeing her look at you with her brows furrowed.

“Yeah no you’re making love to me one more time. Really Y/N 4 hours?!”

“I’m sorry.” You say feeling her pull you to the shower. You shove your underwear down before stepping in.

“Multitasking at its finest baby.” She smirked, kissing you as the warm water fell over you.

“Hmm, I hope you know the moment we step foot in that cabin and I’ve got all our shit inside-“

“What? The pussy monster is coming out?”

“Who?” You furrowed your brows and she giggled kissing you under the water.

“Well I hope the pussy monster does come out.” She mutters against your lips, feeling you smirk and your cock stand at attention.

You lift her up and against the wall and you slide in.

“Who says the pussy monster isn’t here right now?” You say in a voice so gravely and low that makes her drip around your thick cock. You choke her as you begin to roughly hump inside of her sliding her ups down against the cold tile wall.

“Ohhhh fuckkkkk!” She moans, hooking her hands behind your neck.

“That’s it baby girl.” You say.

“Fuuuuuckkk!” She whines feeling you hit her center.

“You like that, my naughty girl?”

“So much!” She gasps.

“You love it when the pussy monster comes out.”

“So much daddy so much.” 

“You’re my cum slut aren’t you? You like it when I cum deep inside of you.” You roughly grab her jaw.

“Oh my gosh yesss so much I love the way it feels, and the way you lather it all over my pussy when I cum on your cock daddy.”

“Me too baby.”

“I also love it when you cum on my tongue you taste so good.”

“Fuck.” You groan, feeling yourself cuming.

“Oh my gosh baby you feel so good inside me.” She cries as pivot your hips letting her walls clamp around you and juicing your cock.

“Shit Talia.” You both look down seeing you pull out and your creams landing on your cock on for you to lather it on her pussy and push inside of her once more. “Give me another baby girl. I’m still so hard for you.” You say lowly near her ear.

“Fuck.” She whimpers and nods before tapping you to let her down. You gently set her down and watch her spin around against the tile. You take hold of her hips and begin watching your cock disappear over and over again.

“Your ass is so fucking amazing. This pussy is velvet baby don’t get me wrong but when can this monster cock try that little ass hole?” You husk near her ear.

“When you let me try your little ass hole.” She smirks looking back at you before handing you the soap bar and a scrub.

“Touché.” You stroke inside of her as you sud her body up. It feels even better when you bring your bodies together. “Fuck I’m close!” You growl near her ear.

“Cum then daddy.” She bites your lip and your fucking her so hard and fast your skin is slapping against one another echoing in the shower. You wrap your arms around her, and lift her up causing her to yelp as you cum inside of her. “Fuuuuuuuuuuck!!!!” You groan emptying your load before setting her back down. You pull out and push back in letting her cum around you and gently letting her ride out her orgasm.

“Shit.” You pant feeling your cock slip out and watching your creams go down the drain.

She smiles, hooking her arm around you, kissing you languishly.

“How’d we get in here?” You asked, looking around causing her to giggle and kiss you once more.

“Shut up and wash my hair.” 

“I’ve been meaning to ask you. Yesterday, what did Carol whisper in your ear?”

Natasha turned smirking up at you as you washed her hair.

“Well first she said she and Val came over one day and heard us going at it. She also mentioned that I need to really work my hips.”

“They saw us?”

“Hmhm.”

“I really need to learn how to close the fucking blinds.” 

A/N: still cutting up chapters in parts because of how long they are.

Don’t forget to Reblog, comment, and like 🥰

[moonyor]

SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 107 SXF MANGA ₊⊹

RIGHT i know i’m delusional but hear me out 😭😭

so, chapter 107 ends off with us finding out that lunaluna selena is actually melinda,

which i kinda thought it would be her so woohoo

ALSO on an unrelated note, a lot of people are saying stuff which makes melinda look really sus and although it doesn’t make much sense, i feel like she probably had to do some last minute work or something— she did organise the whole event (with her group), but something probably didn’t work out so maybe she had to fill in for someone??? i’m not sure, she did mention her being sleep deprived too, so maybe it was her being tired from organising the event and having to fill in? idk though 💯

okay back to what i was saying!!! so, skipping a few things, what if melinda does end up reading both yor and anyas palms? i imagine her saying something along the lines of “oh i’ll read your palms since that’s what you came here for!” and then explaining how her readings arent very accurate, but saying that she’d try to make it as accurate as possible since, well, it’s yor and anya

anya would DEFINITELY say “ME FIRST ME FIRST” and both melinda and yor would just go along with it 😭 (we love anya guys)

OKAY now hear me out, what if, for anya, melinda describes damian as her partner or whatever??? and loid as yors??? i’ll explain further 🗣️🗣️

both our girls go to see how compatible they are with their “soulmate” right?? and possibly to see who their significant other is too, so melinda tries to be accurate and gives descriptions of damian for anya and loid for yor ⁉️⁉️

i imagine the description for damian to be hilarious, saying how he can be pretty honest wellllll….. foul-mouthed? you get my drift. anya would be like “yikes why the hell is my man like that i don’t want that pls 😭💔” and then melinda saying how he’s truly soft deep down and how he’s really just a sweetheart #tsunderedamian

ALSO: anya could possibly read melinda’s mind and find out she’s referring to damian, but i don’t see this happening as in my eyes, melinda herself would not be aware of who the person she’s describing is, but she would know how they may look and certain personality traits of theirs!!!! i’m not sure though 😅

as for loid and yor, yor would be COMPLETELY oblivious while melinda is stating the obvious, kinda like the panel of yuri describing loid, it was in chapter 12 i believe?? anyway, yuri says something like “sure, maybe he’s tall, good looking, blonde” etc etc, i see melinda basically stating how he looks and how he overworks himself 😭😭😭 loid is an absolute workaholic but yor is too dumb (i’m sorry yor not in a bad way i love you) to realize that melinda is actually basically just stating everything about loid 😿😿

yor, loid and anya then meet up again after they leave the place and loid asks what happened blah blah blah, yor THEN literally says everything melinda told her and how that’s her partner and how they’re perfect for each other

they’re so cute together i’m actually crazy about them

ANYWAYS loid either is just as clueless as yor, and somewhat jealous that there’s someone else out there that’s PERFECT for yor (although he doesn’t recognise his jealousy and quickly dismisses it) OR he’s like “hey.. that kinda sounds like me??”

obviously he doesn’t say this out loud and he just thinks this in his head, but he does go on to explain how he’s happy there’s someone out there like that for yor (and he thinks that someone is him)!!!! i feel like his ego would get slightly boosted by the fact that yors other half is him, and obviously, he doesn’t say this directly and recognise it properly but he still does act somewhat giddy 😭😭😭🩷🩷🩷

THATS IT FROM ME!!! this is my first post so i don’t think it’ll reach many people— i’m not really sure on how tumblr works lmao but i just needed to get my delusional thoughts out!!!!!

this would be cute but i’m expecting something a lot bigger than this and i don’t think there’s gonna be much romance at all, in fact i feel as if there’s gonna be a lot of action in the next few chapters and oh boy am i excited!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥

if this did happen it probably wouldn’t be like how i’ve explained it, and it’d probably be like the calm before the storm 💔😭

oh well i guess we’ll find out in a month

[mylifesjustacarousel]

bridget’s sister - part |||

pairing: james hook x fem!reader

summary: part three of bridget’s sister!

type: angst, angst, angst

CW: bullying

WC: 1.9K

part 1 | part 2 | part 4 | not proofread!

“YOU!”

You felt your blood run cold as you heard the mean queen herself stomp towards you, her crew following close behind. She had made it very clear that she didn’t want you anywhere near James, but could she really blame you? Hook tightened his grip on you. “I told you to leave her alone, Uli.”

“She’s bad news, Hook. You’re going to destroy your reputation. Our reputation. It’s her, a girl you just met… or us.” Uliana growled, her eyes shooting daggers at you. Hook rolled his eyes. “You’re not serious. I’m not going to choose between you, that’s crazy.”

You stayed silent while they argued, Hook’s grip on you never faltering. You wanted to just pounce and knock some sense into Uliana, but you knew that you were outnumbered. Unbeknownst to you, Hook’s heart was almost beating out of his chest. Despite his calm and collected appearance, he was furious. He loved his friends, but there was absolutely no way that he was going to actually choose.

“Uliana…” you mumbled.

“Uliana!” she mocked, rolling her eyes. “You think you’re so perfect. You think you can get whatever you want, right? Well, guess what? Life isn’t fair!” she spat. You shook your head. “You’re overreacting, it doesn’t have to be like this, Uli.”

“Shut it! Hook, her or us? The friends who took you in when you had nothing.” she asked, the rest of the group surrounding her to hear his answer. “Or the little princess who probably spelled you to get what she wants?”

“I’m not choosing, Uliana. You’re being ridiculous.”

“I guess it’s decided then. You’re pathetic. You’re weak. Once again, you’re nothing.”

“I don’t want you to lose your friends over this, James!”

You were pacing around his room, your hands nervously fidgeting with the ends of your hair. Hook sighed, watching you from his bed. “Darling, this isn’t something for you to worry about. If she’s going to be this way, then I don’t want her in my life.”

“But she’s your friend.” you huffed. “As much as I hate her, I don’t want to take your friends away from you. That’s not fair.” He got up, sauntering over to you. “I love how much you care, but it’s not worth it.” He cupped your cheeks, placing a delicate kiss on your lips. You closed your eyes, letting his touch melt your worries away. “I just don’t want you to be alone. I know how that feels…”

“I have you, so I’m not alone. I’m okay, I promise.” He pulled you over to his bed, sitting down with you. “If anyone tries to cross me, or you, I have a plank for them to walk.”

The two of you looked over at the door when you heard the handle jiggle. The door opened, Morgie walking in. You forgot that the two of them shared a room. Morgie stopped in his tracks, a surprised look on his face. “Hey, y/n! Hey, Hook. Uliana said that I’m not supposed to talk to you right now...” He went to his side of the room, setting his stuff down.

“Tell Uliana that this is insane, Morgie!” you exclaimed. Morgie sat down on his bed, avoiding Hook’s gaze. “I don’t see the problem with the two of you. I think you’re pretty cool. But, Uliana is my friend, so…”

You smiled a little bit, looking over at the serpent boy. You had a class with Morgie previously, and he was nothing but a sweetheart. It was a shame that his closest friends were so… evil. “I appreciate it, Morgie. You’re cool too.”

Hook laid back on his bed, grabbing your hand and making you lay down next to him. “I’m going to figure this out, alright?” he whispered. “I will not let her lay a single finger, or tentacle, on you.” You rolled your eyes playfully, laying your head on his chest. “I like this protective side of you. It’s sweet.”

“I’m a pirate, darling. We’re protective of our treasure.”

“Shut up, James.”

“So, they’re not friends anymore?” Ella asked. You were sat with Bridget and Ella in your room. Well, they were sat. You were pacing around the room like you were training for a marathon. “I don’t even know! I feel terrible, those are his friends! Morgie wouldn’t even talk to him the other day! Morgie! He talks to everyone!”

Ella looked up at you. “Why is it so bad? You two are together, you have Uliana off of your backs… seems like a win-win situation to me.” Huffing, you sat down next to the girls. “That’s the thing, there’s no way that she’s just letting this go. I don’t know what, but she’s planning something. She wouldn’t let him go that easily.”

“How’s he handling all of this? Hook?” Bridget asked. You sighed, looking over at her. “He says that he’s fine, but I can tell that it’s bothering him. He… has a very hard time showing how he feels. Ugh, this sucks! It’s all my fault too!” Bridget wrapped her arms around you, hugging you close. “Buttercup, it’s not your fault. You’re not at fault for loving someone, that’s crazy.”

“I just want all of this to stop, B.”

“Uliana will get over it eventually. But, it doesn’t matter what she thinks. Hook chose you, he clearly loves you.” Your eyes widened and you pulled away from Bridget. “Woah, woah. Let’s not go and throw around the ‘L’ word, I mean we’ve only been together for, like, a week.” you laughed nervously, feeling your palms get sweaty.

Love was tricky for you. You craved it more than anything, but you also tried to stay away from it out of fear of rejection. If you kept your distance, you couldn’t get your feelings hurt. But, there was something about him. He cared about you, and he made you feel like the most special girl alive. There was no way that he loved you, though. It was too soon.

“I mean, I really really like him though.” you sighed. “He’s not perfect, by any means-”

“That’s harsh.” Ella teased, gently nudging your shoulder. You rolled your eyes. “You didn’t let me finish! He’s not perfect, but he’s so… special. Even when I doubted him, he went out of his way to prove that he could be trusted. I just… I like him a lot, and I don’t want to ruin things.”

“Well he lo- likes you a lot too. I wouldn’t worry about it, alright?” Ella smiled, running a hand through your hair.

“Okay… But, I still don’t trust Uliana. She’s plotting something.”

“He’s so ugh!” Uliana huffed, kicking a rock in front of her as she made her way to the Black Lagoon. “I do so much for him, and this is how I get treated?” Hades rolled his eyes, walking behind her with Maleficent. “You’re just mad that you didn’t get a chance with him.”

“That little princess does not always get to get her way!” She turned around, glaring at Hades. “We need to do something about this. She thinks that she can act like some sort of peace monger, her and her prissy sister.”

Hades put his hands up. “I am not doing anything about this. Hook is stubborn, he gets what he wants.”

“Well, I get what I want. I don’t care who gets hurt, we’re gonna teach that princess a lesson. Let’s go.” Uliana led them into her lair, going over to the platform in the middle of the room where her cauldron was. “We need to conjure up the perfect revenge.”

“This is a bad idea, Uliana.” Hades called out. Uliana whipped her head around “I’m sorry, do you want to join him in being an outcast? I didn’t think so.”

“Uliana!” A voice called out.

Hook walked into the lair, an angry look on his face. “I don’t care what you think about me, but you need to leave her alone. She did nothing to you.” Uliana smirked, walking over to him. “Is Hook suddenly too good for a little mischief? What about those kids that you made, y’know, walk the plank?” Hook looked around, almost avoiding her gaze. “That’s different, and you know it.”

“Is it?” she questioned. “I don’t think they did anything to you, James-y. You’ve changed, she made you weak. We are supposed to be feared. Nobody is going to fear us if you have a pink ray of sunshine wrapped around your finger.” She walked back over to her cauldron. “I think it’s time for you to go back to your roots and remember who you really are. You’re a pirate, a vicious one, act like one.”

“Uli, stop it. You know you’re being ridiculous.”

“No, I don’t think I will. In fact, I think I just found the most perfect revenge.”

It was two days later, and you hadn’t seen Hook at all. Not in class, not in his room, nowhere. Hook had taken a liking to greeting you at your door every single morning to walk you to your first class, so it was a big surprise when you opened your door the morning before and he wasn’t there. Opening your door, you sighed as Hook wasn’t there… again. You shut your door behind you, begrudgingly making your way to your first class. You were worried sick, a constant pit of anxiety in your stomach. Something was off.

On your way to your class, you bumped into someone, forcing you to fall onto the ground. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!” you exclaimed as the figure walked past you. You turned your head, your eyes almost popping out of it when you saw who it was.

“James?”

He turned around, a disgusted look on his face. “Maybe keep your eyes on the sidewalk, lass. You’re not the only person on the planet.” Your heart absolutely dropped. He had never talked to you like that before. “James, what is wrong with you?” You got up, going over to him. “I didn’t see you at all yesterday, what happened? Are you upset about the whole Uliana thing?”

“I chose. Uliana is right, we just met. People fear me, I can’t be seen with someone like you.” Hook scoffed, looking offended that you were even talking to him. Tears threatened to spill out of your eyes, your throat feeling like it was about to close up. “Someone… like me? Hook, what does that even mean? What’s happening? What did Uliana do to you?”

He rolled his eyes, his hook coming up and catching under your chin so you were looking him in the eye. “Uliana didn’t do anything to me. Do I have to spell it out for you, darling? I don’t want to be with you. We’re done here. Besides, you were right. You’re inexperienced, you’re lame. We don’t work.”

“We don’t work?” you asked.

Tears rolled down your cheeks like rain as he spoke, your bottom lip quivering as a sob threatened to escape your mouth. It was like someone took your heart and beat it to death with a hammer. “James… I’m sorry if I did something, I thought we were okay. You- you said that everything was fine! I’m sorry!”

“Hook, let’s go!”

You looked over, seeing the VKs standing there. Uliana walked over to you, the fakest smile ever on her face. “Oh, darling. Dry those tears, it’s… for the best. Now, let’s go, Hook.” Hook looked at you, the look of admiration and love in his eyes now gone. It was now replaced with one of vitriol and hatred.

You quickly wiped your tears away, watching your boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend, walk away with the rest of the VKs. You couldn’t even believe what had happened. The person who you thought cared for you just stomped on your heart.

What just happened?

a/n: HAHAHA pt 4 coming soon. i love a good cliffhanger, you should’ve known that it was coming. i’m sorry that it was a little short, but this series will go out with a bang, i promise <3

taglist: @skellseerwriting @sleepyking @ljaylmaoo @lesbpotmurdocklokistan @yokolesbianism @eretsupremacy89 @descendantsramblings @thegoddessofnothingness

[strniohoeee]

Hidden In The Shadows Pt. 3

Read part 1 and part 2 here

Pairing: Matt Sturniolo X Female Reader

Synopsis: It’s been a month and all Y/N keeps hitting is dead end after dead end. Not only that but she seems to have formed a friendship with the strange boy. Will this hinder her research??

Warnings⚠️: Nothing really tbh, anxiety inducing parts, talks of cults briefly, psycho Matt, oh and one last thing SMUT, submissive-ish Matt??

Songs for imagine: Lonesome Town- Ricky Nelson and This Haunted House- Loretta Lynn

⚠️This is an 18+ imagine so minors do not interact, or do??⚠️

Taglist: @gamermattsgf @lacysturniolo @franticroads @creamoncreamoncream2 @melanch0lybby @anlqq @cindylcuwho @nicksmainbitch @riverwritez @s7urnfilms (idk I might’ve missed some people🥺)

There’s a place where lovers go

To cry their troubles

And they call it Lonesome Town

Where the broken hearts stay

The rain trickled down the window as the pen in my hand ghosted over the papers scattered all over the small desk. My eyes glued to the rain, watching the dirt become mud and the grass drown.

Vigorously tapping the pen back and forth on the paper clad desk as my leg bounced quickly. Many thoughts running through my head, but none that could be placed properly.

I was a full month into my research and for some reason I was way more confused now than before stepping foot into this town. I thought I found out a lot more, but it’s either dead ends or more weird shit going on.

I was pretty much hanging out with Matt everyday, it took a while for his parents to warm up to me; but the more he brought me around the more they got comfortable.

What royally sucked was that I was becoming so close to them that I felt weird asking any questions about the dark history of this town. I truly felt bad and like I was hiding something from them.

Professor Wayne wrote to me pretty much everyday, and all I could tell him was how nervous I was to dig further. Scared to unearth something that might actually keep me trapped here.

Letting out a long sigh I slid back from the desk letting out a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding in. Slipping my slippers on, I shuffled down to the kitchen.

Opting once again for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with some water and some leftover popcorn from the previous night.

Sitting alone in silence at the table I let my mind wander. Glancing over at the back door as the rain pattered against it. I was feeling pretty useless right about now.

It’s so crazy how you can go from feeling invincible to pretty much a useless piece of shit. I felt like I had no purpose here. Endlessly wasting my time day in and day out.

I wasn’t sure if it was the shitty weather that made me feel this way, or if I was actually wasting my time. Rolling my eyes I took another bite of my sandwich. Blinking slowly as I chewed the thick piece that was in my mouth.

I used this time to look around the kitchen. I mean this was in fact an old house with…. I’m to presume many previous owners. Smiling gently my brain painted the image of an innocent family spending their holidays in this kitchen. Laughing, feasting, talking…. It’s so crazy how things come and go, including people.

My eyes scanned in front of me, and it was only then that I saw the gold reflection of a doorknob. My eyes lit up! How did I forget about the basement? A whole month here and I never once thought to check the basement.

Washing down the last bit of my sandwich with my water I placed my dishes in the sink before walking over to the door.

Grabbing the door knob I twisted and pulled, but to my surprise I was shocked by a thud. The door was locked. Shaking my head I walked over to the kitchen light switch flicking it on and I walked back over to the door.

My eyes squinted once I saw that not only was the door locked but the whole door had been painted over. A shitty light green might I add. It’s like when you move into an old apartment and maintenance repaints but they painted over light switches, the breaker box and even bugs….

“Ughhh everytime I think I find something it’s another dead end” I say out loud banging a flat hand against the door

But then I figured I could ask Matt to somehow break this door down for me. Sighing I dragged my feet back to the kitchen table sinking into the wooden chair. I threw my head back and groaned, rubbing my hands over my face

My head shot up as I looked at the kitchen walls…. That same shitty green color. My brows immediately furrowed and my back straightened.

To the naked eye this seems normal, but I remembered something. The listing didn’t show the kitchen being this color.

Scooting back harshly I bolted up the stairs rounding the corner as I ran into my room. Breathing heavy as I opened safari on my laptop.

Opening Zillow I went to the listing for this house, my eyes scanned the page before getting to the end.

“Last updated by realtor on 05/13/2023”

Rummaging through the papers on my desk I found my phone, opening up the phone calls I went back to May. I called Beaufort on May 16th…..3 days after the pictures were updated on the house.

Two and a half weeks is more than enough time to paint evidence over…. Especially incriminating evidence. I swear the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up.

Opening a new tab I decided to search up this address and literally the only thing that came up was the Zillow page. This house is so fucking old and not a single thing pops up on it. The next best place would be the public library and lord knows if some weird shit went on in this house all those files would be burned or blocked out on the database.

Slamming my laptop screen down I ran my hands through my hair. I opted to go back downstairs. Swinging every drawer and cabinet door open in hopes I’d find the basement door key.

No surprise I didn’t find it, but I decided to take a knife and cut through the paint like that one scene in Coraline. And to make it even creepier I’m sure my fate would be ending up like poor Coraline….

Pulling and rattling at the door knob some more, I kicked the door once I realized I couldn’t get it open. And this wasn’t something I could go to Beaufort with….. I probably shouldn’t even be going to Matt with this, but whatever.

Feeling defeated, I decided to shower and relax for a bit. About two hours later my phone rang, and it was Matt calling from his bedroom phone. Can’t believe this guy still has a landline…. They really live like it’s the 80s here.

“Hello Matt” I said placing the phone to my ear

“Hi darling” he says on the other line, playfully rolling my eyes at the pet name

“You rang?” I asked as I looked at my nails

“Ahh yes, well you see I’m actually relatively bored this fine evening. Want to hang out?” He asked me

“I’m pretty bored myself. I’d love to hang out” I said as I sat up

“Alright sweetheart I’ll be over in like an hour, sounds good?” He asked me

“Yeah sounds great” I stated to him

Matt was so funny and awkward you could tell he didn’t really speak to girls because he didn’t even know how to end a call. He’d just hang up and I’d usually crack up laughing as I shook my head.

I decided to clean up my room. Hiding my paperwork and laptop under the bed. Thank god there was a skirting around it to hide everything or else I’d be royally screwed.

Sitting at my desk I saw Matt flicked his bedroom light to let me know he was coming over. I got up from my seat and headed downstairs. I held the door open as Matt made a run for it in the rain.

“FAST FAST” I yelled to him as he hopped onto the porch

“It’s raining cats and dogs out there” he said slipping his boots off at the front door

“Ew…you talk so old southern style” I said scrunching my nose up

“Well…” he said cocking his eyebrows at me while pointing down his body

“Sorry! Sometimes I forget you really are southern” I said laughing

“It’s alright darling, hope you’re hungry I brought dinner” he said holding up a huge lunch box.

“I actually am” I said nodding my head as we made our way to the kitchen table

“Okay so mama made her famous roast, with some carrots, corn and grilled potatoes” he said as he pulled the Tupperware out of the lunch box

“That sounds sooo good, tell your mom I said thank you” I told him

“Will do little lady” he said winking at me

I grabbed us some soda as he set our dishes out full of food. As we sat eating quietly he gaze often jumped over mine whenever he saw me look at him. I found it adorable…he was so nervous.

“I hope I didn’t put your mom out, you know like having her make extra food for me” I said cutting some meat

“Oh no, no worries…. You see mama thinks…. Well mama thinks we’re more than….more than just friends” he replies getting a bit shy and blushing

“Oh.. have you never brought a girl home before?” I asked, mentally smacking myself in the face for asking such a rude question

“Not since little suzie….but we were like 9. Swore we was gonna grow up, get married, have a family” he said giggling a bit

“And what happened to that?” I asked him

“Ahh her family decided to move right before high school started…never saw her again” he says swallowing thickly as he blinked rapidly

“I’m sorry Matt” I said taking a sip of my drink

“Oh it’s alright, it was just a foolish thing to think” he says laughing

“Since her…has there been no one else?” I asked him

“No. There’s no real time for that round these parts either you grow up as neighbors and end up marrying or you stay solo forever” he says shrugging his shoulders

“Seems a bit outdated” I replied back

“It is, but it's just the way it is” he says back

“But anyways, how are you liking Oklahoma so far?” He asks me as he sips his drink

“Other than missing my family and friends, I’m thoroughly enjoying it here” I said to him

“Do you plan on going back? Or having them visit?” He retorts

“I was thinking maybe for the holiday season they could come here, there’s plenty of room here for them” I said to him

“Yeah there is” he says nodding his head

“And speaking of plenty of space I remembered there’s a basement here. I can probably set a few friends up down there, except there’s one problem” I replied looking over my shoulder at the door

“What’s that?” He asks eagerly

“It seems to be locked and I can’t find the key, do you think there’d be an extra somewhere in this town?” I said looking back at him

“Oh you know the basement keys are universal, way back when they figured as a small town it would be easier to make the keys universal so if someone lost theirs then they could call their neighbors” he says as he cuts a piece of meat, as I began to have a lightbulb moment

“You don’t say” I reply sliding my tongue over my teeth

“Except only issue is as of recently due to termites and water damage the chairman’s from the towns had gone into every home, painting over the doors and locking them while also confiscating any keys. Just so that no ones tempted to use the basement…..that would be many lawsuits if something went wrong” he says looking up at me

“Ohhhh I see, wow that sucks” I said to him, mentally sighing in defeat. I literally could not stop hitting dead ends and it was killing me

After dinner Matt had helped me clean the kitchen up and helped me pack his mothers Tupperware away.

“I can’t thank you enough for dinner” I say handing him the last container

“It’s my pleasure darling” he says winking once again at me

“Wanna come up to my room?” I asked him as I dried my hands

“Yeah sure” he replied placing the lunch box down

We headed up to my room, turning the light on Matt plopped down on my bed letting out a loud sigh. Fluffing my pillow up he laid it against the headboard while leaning back

“I know I don’t have much here especially no TV, but I do have some books I bought from back home” I say to him shrugging my shoulders

“I wouldn’t mind reading” he says nodding his head

As I open my mouth to reply the power suddenly goes out

“What the fuck” I say out loud

“Anytime it rains even an ounce the power goes out. Faulty wires and old houses” Matt says laughing

“How do we fix it?” I asked him

“We don’t, it usually goes back up in like 3 hours. I’ll run to my house and grab some candles keep it bright until the power goes back on, and I’ll even keep you company too” he says smiling at me

“That sounds nice” I say to him nodding

As quickly as Matt left to get some candles, it was as quickly as he came back. He had a small duffle bag and he pulled out many candles and a box of matches.

Removing his sweater and placing it down to dry on the door knob, my eyes couldn’t peel away from how nicely that white shirt sat on his body….

Matt and I lit a shit ton of matches all over my room, it was now warm lit and very…..intimate might I add.

“I hope this is good enough for you” Matt says blowing out the last match

“Oh no this is perfect I honestly prefer candlight over artificial light” I said waving him off

He laughed and fluffed the pillow up before laying on my bed again. Propping himself up against my headboard as he crossed his legs over.

I sat next to him with my back against the headboard as well. Grabbing my copy of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson I relaxed my shoulders before opening the book to where I last left off.

“I hope you don’t mind I started the book already” I said looking over at Matt

“Doesn’t bother me” he says nodding for me to go on

“My room belongs to an alien. It is a postcard of who I was in fifth grade. I went through a demented phase when I thought that roses should cover everything and pink was a great color” I read aloud as my finger ghosted the rough paper

Stopping I looked up, taking my bottom lip into my mouth and sinking my teeth into the flesh.

“Isn’t it crazy how fast we change” I said chewing the already shredded skin on the inside of my mouth

“I’m not even sure I know what change is” Matt whispers

Looking over at him I watch the warm light reflect against his blue eyes. And for a split second I swear I can see his past in them. Sad….lonely….misunderstood…..

“I’m just following the norm here. I’m becoming what every man becomes. I’m growing, but am I changing? I’m not when I’m the exact same as the ancestors who came before me” he states swallowing thickly

“Have you ever considered leaving?” I ask him

“And go where?” He asks

“You could always come to Vegas….with me” I state in a whisper

“But all I know is Pleasant Town” he replies shaking his head

“Well now you know me, I mean we could at least visit I can show you where I’m from like you did with me” I say smiling at him

“I’d like that a lot actually” he says nodding at me

But suddenly he grows cold and immediately his attitude changes

“That’s just a fairytale though. I belong here on the farm and taking care of my parents” he says firmly

“And no one’s saying you can’t do that, but at least vacation for a little bit” I say to him

Shutting my book I place it on the night stand as I give Matt my full attention.

“You can experience so many new things! See and do things you’ve never done before” I say to him tapping him on his knee

“Like what?” He asks laughing

“You can go to the Las Vegas strip, we can go shopping and we can go see where Elvis Presley used to perform, shit we could even get you a one night stand. I mean it’s Vegas you know what they say… what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” I say to him giggling

“Ehhhh” he says sounding hesitant

“Okay what about that plan do you not want to do?” I ask him

“The one night stand…. I’m not experienced with women” he says shyly

“What? You? You’re telling me in this whole town you’ve never been with a single girl?” I asked him genuinely shocked

“No…” he says once again shyly

“That’s alright, well let’s see you’ve at least kissed a girl right?” I ask him as he shakes his head no

“Held hands?” I asked raising my eyebrow and he shakes his head no once again

“Uhhh innocent flirting?” I ask

“No” he says laughing a bit

“That’s alright! We can…we can get you practicing now and this way you’ll be a champ in Vegas” I say laughing

“Practice?” He asks looking a bit unsure

I grab his hand and interlock our fingers as I look back up at him

“Holding hands… check!” I say smiling

Turning more towards him I place my hand on his cheek as I look into his eyes

“Can I kiss you?” I ask genuinely

“Yes ma'am” he whispers out breathlessly against me

Leaning in I peck his lips quickly

“What I did you’re also going to do okay?” I say to him and he nods

Leaning in again we both press our lips together, pulling away Matt looks at me before attaching his lips to mine again.

Shuffling over I straddled his lap as we pulled away, and Matt looked at me with doe eyes as his chest rose and fell rapidly. A dazzling blush across his nose and cheeks and pupils blown wide.

“Is this okay?” I ask him and to this he nods

“Darlin I don’t know what I’m doing, but just know I’m enjoying myself” he says to me as he licks his lips

“I can teach you some things, and don’t be afraid to stop me. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to” I say to him

“Okay” he says nodding vigorously

Removing my shirt I look over to Matt

“You can touch me you know” I say to him

“I don’t know how” he replied back

Grabbing his hands I placed them on my breast and his mouth hung open. Gently caressing them I moan against his touch.

It wasn’t long before Matt’s shirt was off and I was peppering kisses along his neck and down his chest. My bare chest against his warm skin. His breathing became rapid as his hands traced along my back.

“Please don’t stop” he breathes out as I look up at him

Raking my nails up and down his body I leave open mouth kisses along his warm skin as his hips buckle up against me.

“Pretty girl I need more” Matt moans out as his brows furrowed

Letting my hand caress over his growing bulge his hips fly up as he moans. Covering his face in the crook of his elbow.

“You don’t have to cover yourself for me” I say to him as I rub my hands up his torso

“I’ve just never done anything like this before I don’t want to embarrass myself” he says to me

“Listen my love I’m taking the lead tonight so there’s no need to feel pressured or embarrassed, and if at any point you want to stop we can” I say to him kissing his cheek

“Okay” he says swallowing thickly

Ghosting my fingers over his large buckle I unhook his belt, unbuttoning his jeans and sliding the zipper down. I help him slide out of his jeans. Tossing them somewhere behind me on the floor

To my surprise he was in briefs rather than boxers which left little to the imagination. My cunt was actually clenching on nothing at the sight.

Ghosting my nails in between the waistband of his underwear. He lied against the mattress moaning and twitching. Begging to be released

Sliding out of my bottoms I straddled him once again. The only thing separating us was our underwear. Sliding up and down against him we both let out a load sigh

“Holy shit this feels so good darlin” he moans out looking up at me

Matt moves his hands up my thighs and to my breasts, lightly squeezing them as I moan and shutter against his touch.

“Kiss me please” he says desperately

Leaning down I kiss Matt, grinding down against him harder causing him to open his mouth. Which allowed me to slip my tongue in. For a moment it took him a while to get the hang of it, but soon after our tongues were fighting for dominance. The kiss was hot and messy and so so needy.

Releasing myself from him I leaned back, scooting back I slid his briefs down. His hard dick springing up as I bit my lip

“God you’re so hot” I said to him

“Oh sweetheart no one’s ever called me that” he says biting his lip

“I’ll scream it from the hilltops if I have to” I responded to him

Sliding my underwear to the side I gently rubbed the tip of his dick along my cunt. Both of our moans syncing together.

“Are you ready?” I ask him

“Yes maam” he says back grabbing onto my hips

Slowly I began to sink down on his length. The burn sent shivers up my spine. Both of our mouths hang open as my toes curl. Completely bottoming out I let out a load moan

Slowly bouncing up and down on his dick I allow him to get adjusted to the feeling.

“Holy shit Oh my god” he moans out as he watches me bounce up and down

“You feel so good” I moan out as I begin to grind down on him

“Oh my goddd” he whines out as I begin to feel his thighs shake

Bringing my hand down I rub my clit as I bounce on his dick. My thighs shake as I bring myself closer to the edge.

“Fuck Matt I’m so close to cumming” I whine out as my breathing becomes heavy

“Me too, oh godddd” he moans out as his torso begins to lift off the bed every now and then

Leaning forward I grind up and down, allowing my clit to massage against his pelvic bone. Without warning Matt opens his mouth and begins to swirl his tongue around my nipple, sucking and licking like his life depended on it

“Fuckkkk” I moan out clenching down on him

Within seconds I’m cumming all over his dick, shaking and moaning as I clench down on him. Continuing to ride out my high I feel Matt twitch

“I think I’m going to cum?” He moans out

Once again I feel his thighs shake and his lower abdomen tighten. And I hop off and just as I do Matt’s cumming all over his lower stomach. Whining and moaning as he comes down from his high

Heavy breaths and groans as he involuntarily twitches.

“Feeling okay cutie?” I ask him as I pet his hair and pull him closer

“That felt amazing, I’ve never felt that good in my life” he says looking up at me with puppy dog eyes

“And in time it only gets better” I say laying a kiss on his lips

We laid there for a little while talking and kissing and finally we decided to get up and get cleaned. Laying back down I read some more of my book. Until eventually we fell asleep and most candles had gone out by this point.

We fell asleep snuggled together, and at some point in the night we shifted opposite ways. But at around 2am I got up to use the bathroom.

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes I cracked my neck and back before standing up. Lightly walking from my side to around the bed, but before I could finish coming around I had stepped on something

Silently wincing I looked down, seeing some type of metal I assumed it was Matt’s belt buckle. Smiling and blushing to myself I bent down picking the item up, but to my surprise it was what felt like keys.

Running into the bathroom I shut the door, gently opening the shower curtain to let the moonlight come in through the window. I held the keys up. They looked pretty normal except for one.

It said “BASEMENT” on it and I blinked to make sure I wasn’t half asleep.

Peeing quickly I flushed the toilet and washed my hands. Sticking my head out of the bathroom I peaked over at Matt who was snoring peacefully.

Sighing I tip toed out of the bedroom and quietly down the stairs. I mean as quiet as I could….it was an old house. Lightly walking towards my kitchen thanking the lord for the moonlight coming in through my back door. I was able to see the basement door perfectly.

Sticking the key in lightly I turned it to the left, and heard a click. Silently cheering I turned the knob and opened the door surprisingly the door wasn’t creaky.

I figured I would go down , check it out real quick and go back upstairs. Placing the keys back where I found them.

Shutting the door behind me I felt for a light switch on the right side, and I flicked it on. In about three seconds I heard the faint buzz of a warm light turn on.

Stepping down the stairs gently I turned the corner. The basement looked really nice actually. It was pretty well kept for how old the house was. I didn’t see any water damage nor any termites, but hey who knows.

Walking in a bit more I saw large desks with papers everywhere and bulletin boards covered in papers and a lot of dust….

Walking over to the area I blew some dust around and even wiped it with my fingers. Looking to my right there was a lamp. Testing the odds it actually turned on illuminating the area for me a bit more.

My eyes squinted trying to read everything. My eyes scanned the bulletin board.

“Animal slayings”

“Cult rituals”

“Witch craft like sacrifices”

My eyes went wide. I finally was finding something… and the whole time it was in my house?

I looked to my right and that’s when I got a little bit nervous

“Suzie Buchanan, age 14, found slain in her father’s farm house”

Surely this couldn’t be thee Suzie Matt knew……

I mean that’s recent years? How would that even be in this house? I was becoming anxious with dread.

Looking down at the table I looked at the newspapers closely.

“Thomas Sturniolo released from prison”

“Thomas Sturniolo still being questioned about cult killings”

“Sturniolos back in town?” One read

These were all newspapers not from this town…. Something deeper was going on here….someone knew more than they were saying. There’s an outside source here and I haven’t known this whole time.

Flipping open the newspaper my eyes scanned the text.

“Thomas Sturniolos home 27 Field Drive has been purchased by his grandson”

27 Field Drive was this house….. my hands began to shake as I realized what was going on. This whole time I’ve been living in Thomas Sturniolos house. And there’s someone who knows about me…. My heart began to speed and I rummaged through more newspapers

“A new generation of Sturniolos” one newspaper read

Opening up the newspaper my eyes scanned the page

“Jimmy Sturniolo has now purchased 26 Field Drive, directly across the street from his estranged grandfather's home located at 27 Field Drive” it read

“What the fuck?” I whispered as a cold sweat began to take over

Scanning along the page some more

“Jimmy Sturniolo avoids questions from sources asking about his grandfather. Seen here with one of his sons Matthew Sturniolo covering his face” I read

My heart was thumping out my chest as I let the papers fall from my hands.

You know those scenes in movies where the protagonist is just standing still as the world around her moves and her hearing has gone clouded?? Yeah that’s me right now

Unbeknownst to Y/N Matt had snuck downstairs after realizing she was gone. Sinking down the stairs of the basement he watched the young woman shake in fear as she read the newspapers.

Shaking his head and mentally cursing himself out he quietly walked up behind her

I stood there in fear not really sure what to do. Pretend like nothing happened and wait till tomorrow morning to book it out of town, or book it out of town right now while Matt’s asleep??

Racking my brain for answers I stood there when suddenly I heard

“I’m so sorry” turning around slightly I was faced with Matt

“Wha-“ but before I could finish my sentence Matt charged at me

Grabbing the back of my head and holding a chloroform covered rag against my nose and mouth

And suddenly it all went

BLACK

The End

Don’t kill me for the cliffhanger😏. Had to spice it up a bit. Now I will be working the next four days, so I will try and work on Part 4 a little bit and hopefully have it up soon for you guys. I love you all so dearly 🥹🖤🖤

-J💅🏽

[lillaydee]

In Time Part 10

Rancher Joel Miller / Reader

You lost your dear Uncle. Your TV Star boyfriend dumped you. You needed a job. You got one at a ranch in Wyoming. Where you met Joel. A very grumpy man. Grumpy man has issues.

WARNINGS:

Grumpy Joel, Hurt Joel, Grieving Joel, Joel is Bad at Feelings (The Last of Us), Joel Needs a Hug (The Last of Us), Joel Has PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (The Last of Us), Mentions of Hostage Situation and Shooting, Alternate Universe - No Cordyceps Outbreak (The Last of Us), Mutual Pining, Fluff and Angst

SERIES MASTER LIST

Part 9

---

Are you fucking kidding me? Really, Cleo?

Joel pushed her off and immediately took several steps back, wiping his mouth in disgust. Tommy handed him a flask, which he gratefully took and drank from, wiping his mouth some more after.

“Oh, so dramatic…” Cleo said. “You know, you used to enjoy kissing me.”

She looked around the room. “Oh, everyone is here. Hello!” she chirped, an exaggerated British accent coming out of her mouth. No one spoke to her. Everyone sort of… stared. She rolled her eyes, “Whoa… tough crowd.” Her eyes finally caught yours. “How are you Ames? How’s slumming it down in Hicksville?”

You raised an eyebrow at her question. What the actual fuck?

“What are you doing here? Where’s David?”

“Okay, first of all, it’s Dave, not David. Second of all, why do you need to know where he is? He’s with me now, remember? He dumped your boring ass and came running to me? And I’m here because Dave asked me to come. Make peace. He’s… annoyed that I didn’t tell him about this part of my life, and then pretended I don’t remember them, okay? So, here I am!”

You had no idea how to describe what your face looked like at that moment. Disbelieving? Disgusted? Annoyed? Pitying? You honestly had no idea.

“How high are you right now?”

“Oh, miss prudish, prudy, prude, prude here wants to know if I’m high. I have to be okay, to come here. You have no idea how hard this is for me. This place almost killed me with boredom. Well… you do have some idea of how boring this place is, but then again, you’re a boring person, so…”

She stood in the middle of the room, swaying slightly.

“So, anyway, my darling fiancée won’t marry me unless I come here and make peace, so,” she took a deep frustrated breath, “Look, I’m sorry okay? This place is just not for me. I didn’t leave my hometown just to end up in another that’s just like it. What was the point? I mean, look at this place!”

She took another deep breath.

“I just had to leave okay; I was going crazy here. Everyone was just work, work, work, family, family, family. I mean, I couldn’t even get a manicure without driving for hours. I didn’t have the time to focus on myself, you know? So, I left. I’m sorry.”

The room was still quiet. Deafeningly so.

“But you know, that was ages ago. Bygones, all that, huh? So, are we okay?”

Even crickets were not in that room.

“Yeah… So… sorry about that whole thing… existential crisis, you know… But that’s all over now…” she gave a fake laugh, which, if you’re honest, was the same laugh she gave on TV.

You had no idea how she could stand there and be that merry. How thick-skinned can one get? You would rather get trampled to death than face this many angry people. No one laughed with her. No one even blinked, you don’t think. Joel’s jaw was clenched so hard you were surprised you couldn’t hear his teeth grind from across the room.

She sat down and crossed her legs.

“Soo, how’s everyone?” she asked, eyes looking around before landing on Tommy and Maria. “You two are having a baby? How wonderful! Boy or girl?”

Silence.

She looked at Jake and Anita next, seemingly unaffected by the silence. Maybe she didn’t even clock it. “How are the two of you? Jake, you look wonderful. I’ve always thought you were good looking, then again, you and Joel are basically twins! Anita, you look great, too. You know, if you want a touch up, I know a great surgeon you can visit, hush-hush, of course.”

More silence.

“Tess, Penny! You have a little girl! That’s great. It’s so great! You know, children really are a blessing!”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Cindy,” Joel’s voice boomed.

No one jumped. No one was surprised. Everyone sort of expected that. The cheek of this shameless woman.

“Children are a blessing Cin? Really? You went around the room asking about everyone after pretending we didn’t exist? Going on national TV talking about wanting to be a mother?”

“Oh, you saw that? Oh, how embarrassing. I looked horrible! The make-up artist completely botched my make up. I fired her.”

“What about Sarah, Cin? Were you going to ask about her? Were you going to ask about your daughter? The one you abandoned and pretended like she didn’t exist? Don’t you want to know about her? You would think someone who thought children are a blessing and couldn’t wait to be a mother would ask about her own daughter first, and not abandon her in the first place!”

“Oh, chill, Joel. You’re too tense! I was getting there,” she said, absolutely unaffected by his outburst, “Soo, where is dear Sandra? Where is my baby? Is she here?”

“It’s Sarah, you bitch.” Ellie said through gritted teeth.

“I knew that… sheesh, the mouth on this one, huh? Rude.” She turned to Tess and Penny, “Might want to discipline your child here.”

“She’s dead,” Joel’s face was stoic. He just looked done.

Cleo’s face looked stumped for a moment before some sort of realization dawned on her.

“Oh, that’s right. The hostage thing. I thought her name sounded familiar. So sad.”

Silence. You tensed – half expecting Joel to implode. But he didn’t. He just looked defeated.

“Leave, Cindy. If you’re just here to make everyone angry, why did you even come?” You couldn’t take it anymore. The disrespect was too much.

“Excuse me? I have more rights to be here than you. Unlike you, I am family. I gave this one a daughter,” she said, pointing to Joel.

“Yeah, one that you abandoned and forgot existed. And then talked about her death as if she didn’t matter,” Ellie said, standing up.

“You know, I’ve just about had it with you and your smart mouth. Really, teach her some manners.”

“I have more manners than you. At least I know you don’t run from your kid. Do your fans even know what a hypocrite you are? I wonder what they will think of you if they find out.”

Cleo stood up and slapped her. Hard. Ellie fell back.

Everyone reacted, but no one managed to get to her before you. The next thing you knew, you were standing in front of Ellie, Cleo legs akimbo under the table. You didn’t even know what you did. Did you push her? Slap her? Punch her? Kick her? You had no idea.

She scrambled back up. Hair all over the place.

“You touch her again, I will make sure no one can fix your face, you plastic bitch.”

“Oh, you’ve crossed a line. I’m going to sue the living shit out of you!”

“For what?” Maria asked. “I can testify that I saw you slap a little girl. I didn’t see anything else. Anyone? Did anyone see anything else?”

Shaking heads everywhere.

She glanced around, seeing no friendly faces anywhere.

“Joel? You’re just going to sit there and let your family treat me like this?”

“Cindy, if I get up, you will be torn to pieces, and I respect my parents too much to let them see that. If I get up, no one can help me avoid prison. And you are not worth my train of thought anymore. You are not worth risking going to prison for. As far as I’m concerned, you no longer matter. So, my family can treat you anyway they want.”

“Joel!” she said, her face in disbelief. “I am the love of your life. I am your daughter’s mother! How can you speak to me like that?”

“No, Cindy. You are the heartless bitch who abandoned me and my child. You are nothing more than the person who gave birth to my daughter. But now, she’s gone. So I don’t have any obligations towards you anymore. I will speak to you however I want to. Please leave, and never, ever, step foot in this place again. You wanted out? You got it. You don’t want to have anything to do with us? Well, we don’t want to have anything to do with you. And for the record, Amelia here? She is more of a family to us than you will ever be. So, please. You said your piece. Now, go.”

Cleo looked as if Joel had just stabbed her. She really did have a high opinion of herself, didn’t she? Did she really, genuinely think, that after everything she had done, people would welcome her with open arms?

Or she was just that stupid. Yeah. She’s just that stupid.

Or she’s just ridiculously self-absorbed.

You couldn’t decide which was worse. David left you for this woman. You couldn’t decide if that was good or bad. Maybe he’s just that stupid too. You shudder at the thought that you could possibly be worse than her in his eyes, to the point that he thought her the better option.

“You know, I don’t know what you guys want from me. You’re mad I left, and now you’re mad I came back. You know, there are children starving in this world and you act like me leaving Sandra was the bigger issue here. She died, it’s sad, but she had all of you. What’s the big deal?”

God, she didn’t know when to shut up, did she? Stop talking, you twat.

“You had a daughter?” David appeared in the doorway to the hall, his face in disbelief at what he had just heard.

Cleo’s face went chalk white. “David…”

“You abandoned your daughter? She died?”

“It’s ages ago now, baby, who cares? We should focus on the now. We’re getting married, remember?”

She went to hug him, but he took a step back.

“How old was she, Cleo?”

“She was two months old.”

‘How old was she when she died?”

Cleo hesitated. David looked at you, pleading for an answer.

“Fourteen. She would’ve turned sixteen this summer. And her name, was SARAH. Sheesh. Worst mother award.” Ellie answered for you. Cleo made to grab her, and you tightened your hold on her behind your back. David stood between you and Cleo, his face in disbelief.

“You told me you are 26. So, unless you had her at the age of ten, what the fuck else have you been lying to me about?”

“Baby, you know what things would be like if I told the truth about my age… I didn’t lie, I just… didn’t tell you the truth…”

David scoffed and left.

Cleo just stood there watching him leave, swaying slightly, her face completely emotionless. Botox? Lack of emotion? No idea.

“Well? Are you going to leave, or should we toss you out?” Tess barked at a stunned Cleo, making you jump as well. Shit, she’s scary. No wonder Joel listened to her. She picked up her bag off the floor and gave you a bitter look, before leaving with a huff.

The hall was silent for a few seconds.

“Well,” Mrs Adler said, standing up with a huge sigh. “I best get back to work.”

You immediately turned to Ellie, who was still stuck in your iron grip behind you.

“You okay?”

“Uh, yeah… that was… wow… didn’t know you could do that. Thanks Doc. Love you.” She hugged you tight.

Shit, leaving just became a lot harder.

Everyone sort of milled about, talking to each other, no doubt regaling the tale of drugged Cindy and her psychotic version of an apology. Joel was still sitting where he was, unmoving, the same defeated look on his face. You crossed the room to him. He didn’t move. You took that as a sign that it was okay to join him. You pulled a chair and sat beside him, not saying anything, letting him absorb what just happened.

Mrs Adler came back out, a box of pasta in her hand.

“Is pasta okay for dinner?”

“NO!” Joel responded, a bit too loudly just to say no to a box of pasta.

Everyone turned to look at him. Joel Miller didn’t want pasta? Had the world gone to shit?

“Just… no Italian food for a while, please,” he said, before looking at his feet.

Ellie laughed out loud before whispering something while everyone, save for you and Joel listened. A resounding ‘ahh….’ sounded across the room. Everyone was noticeably trying hard not to look at Joel. He looked at your confused face, looking a bit self-conscious. He had four plates of fettuccini at your place for Christmas, and pasta was your go-to quick-to-make recipes, which he had eaten plenty of. And now he didn’t want Italian food?

Weird man.

“You want something else? I can make you something for dinner. Pasta is probably easiest for Mrs Adler right now, she’s been on her feet all day. Lord knows she’s not going to let anyone help her,” you said to him, knowing how stubborn Mrs Adler could be.

He thought about it for a minute.

“Nah… you’re tired too, showing Antonio around all day. Let’s go for a drive. We eat out?”

Okay, weird Antonio comment, but sure!

You stood up and went into the kitchen to tell Mrs Adler she could go ahead with pasta. You and Joel were going out. To which, she gave you a once over, and asked you to take your mess of a bun down, and maybe smooth your hair a bit. You have lipstick? She could loan you some? Ellie suddenly came in, looked you up and down and unrolled your sleeves and smoothed the wrinkles away, telling you that you shouldn’t roll your sleeves like that, it’ll damage the shirt. You noticed her own rolled sleeves and pulled away from the both of them. You pulled back further when she tried tucking your shirt into your jeans.

“Erm, thanks, but I think I’m okay. It’s just burgers at the Bison or something, with Joel. I’m not going to some fancy place.” You gave Mrs Adler a kiss on her cheek and thanked her for offering the lipstick and pulled Ellie into a quick one-armed hug.

When you went back out to the hall, Frank was combing Joel’s hair, and Maria was fixing his flannel, Joel looking defeated, standing there with semi-patience on his face. They stopped when you came in, the comb mysteriously disappeared into thin air.

“You ready?” Joel asked, checking his pocket for his wallet and phone.

You nodded. Why was everyone being weird? You got your jacket and bag off the hook and went out the front door, almost running head on with Penny, who told you to turn around, and spritzed some perfume over your head. You almost jumped out of the way, but recognized the scent, you had one of those too, so you settled for looking at her like she’s gone mental instead. So you don’t smell like cow dung in public at dinner, she said.

Okay, good point.

You went to Joel’s truck and opened the door to the passenger side (opened on the first try! Yay!) and waited inside, while Tommy ran out of Joel’s house with a bottle in his hands, going back inside the office building. Joel came out seconds later, grumpier than he looked in the hall, but smiled when he saw you were already in the truck.

“Hey, you got the door opened yourself!” he said, slamming the door shut, before reaching across to check you had shut your door properly. “Good job!”

Shit, he smelled good. Was he wearing cologne when he was in the hall? You could feel yourself blush. You used the blush to your advantage and pretended to blush at his compliment of your door opening and closing success.

---

He asked if there’s somewhere you’d rather go for dinner, and you told him you didn’t really mind. He took you to the little village that the Bison was in. The two of you stopped at a small family burger joint. When your order got there, you took the pickle slices off the toothpick and put them to the side before eating your burger.

“You don’t eat pickles?” he asked.

You thought about whether or not to tell him. He might think you’re childish. Oh, fuck it.

“I do like pickles. I love them. I love them so much,” you looked away, closing your eyes in shame, “I save them to eat at the end.”

He laughed. God, he found you adorable. He took the pickles off his burgers and put them on your plate. You gawked at him as if he’d just pulled a rabbit out of a hat.

“No, Joel, you don’t have to. Really, this is plenty.”

“Nah, take them. Never liked them much. I only eat them because they come with the meal,” he said. “Take them, really. As a thank you for keeping me company tonight.”

You pulled a thankful pout at him, saying a small thank you. He just smiled happily at you as you ate the first of the four slices of pickles on your plate.

“So, tell me something.”

“Hmm.”

“What’s this sudden aversion to Italian food?”

He choked on his burger a bit, quickly taking a sip of cola to wash it down. He shook his head.

“I just don’t feel like it. That’s all.”

“So, if I make pasta and serve you some, you won’t eat them?”

He looked pained. As if this was the hardest decision he’d had to make, before conceding that he will eat anything you make for him, earning him a wide dimply smile from you.

Gosh, he could stare at you all day. If only you knew how he felt.

You told him that this was among the best burgers you had ever had in your life, thanking him for taking you there, earning you a wide dimply smile from him.

Gosh, you could stare at him all day. If only he knew how you felt.

The two of you stopped by the Bison for drinks. The live band hadn’t started, and the bar was still rather quiet. Angela, who seemed to be working here now, looked hopeful when she saw Joel come in, but rolled her eyes when she saw you with him, and went back to wiping one of the tables. You chose a corner table for the both of you while he got you drinks. You sipped your drinks quietly for a while, just watching the passers-by before he placed his drink on the table and thanked you.

“For what?”

“Defending Ellie, defending me, my family. To Cindy.”

You waved a hand, it’s no big deal. She had it coming. Is he okay? That must have been a lot.

Yeah, he is. Surprisingly okay.

“You didn’t get to ask her any of the questions you wanted to ask.”

“Didn’t need to. She answered them. All of them. I am not the reason she left. I was not a bad partner. She did not love me. She did not love Sarah. It was all her. And somehow, seeing her like that, I don’t think she got what she wanted. I think she’s living a lie. I didn’t get honesty from her. I don’t think she’s happy, and you know what? I don’t care. I feel sorry for her, but I don’t care. I don’t feel obligated to feel anything for her anymore. I actually feel… lighter. Does that make sense?”

“It does. Sometimes when you got the worse end of the stick you just wonder how happy the other person is. And knowing they may not be, can be… rewarding? I don’t know.”

He nodded. How did you do this? How did you know what to say? How was it that you always made him feel better? You didn’t force anything out of him. You didn’t ask him for details, information, nothing. He volunteered them to you. He wanted to. And he felt better for it. He should tell you. He really should. Go on, it’s now or never.

“Amelia, I…”

“Ames?”

“David.”

Joel looked up.

“Erm, David, this is Joel, he’s my boss. Joel, David,” you said awkwardly.

The two men shook hands.

“Where’s Cleo?”

“She’s back at the resort.”

David looked at Joel awkwardly. He looked nervous, and to your shock, rather sober. He assured you he was not there to cause trouble. He asked if he could speak to both of you. Joel looked at you, and you nodded slightly. David quickly got a chair from the next table, situating himself too close to you for Joel’s liking. David cleared his throat.

“She didn’t tell me about the ranch,” he began. “We were filming in the Tetons last week, for the show, and we had a break from shooting. Someone showed me this place online, and I thought I’d check it out, for the wedding. I didn’t know you were here; I swear. I didn’t come here to ambush you. Please believe me.”

He told you and Joel that he didn’t know about Cleo’s past life. He didn’t even know her real name was Cindy until about two months ago. And that was only because her mom called and asked for her by her real name. She had legally changed her name. He didn’t know about Sarah until today. He apologized to Joel, telling him that he didn’t intend to stir up bad memories by bringing Cleo there, that he was sorry for his loss. He genuinely had no idea.

Joel nodded. He hadn’t said anything at all.

David heaved a sigh of relief. He nodded and went back to join the crew he came in with.

Joel ordered some chips and water for the both of you. He was driving after all. The two of you enjoyed the live band for a bit, not wanting to leave yet, swaying and singing along, having a good time. You noticed that before the first song even got halfway, Angela had somehow found herself a seat on your ex’s lap, playing tonsil tennis with him. Oh well, whatever kept her from grabbing at Joel was fine by you, not that he was yours or anything, just, you know, out of respect for him. You were just being a good, concerned friend to your friend. A friend who made it quite clear that he didn’t want Angela touching him anymore. David was not your problem anymore; he could do whatever he wanted.

When the first set ended, Joel paid for your tab and the two of you walked to the truck. Spring was beginning to warm up, and you no longer needed your winter coat, but it still got quite chilly at night. Joel took off his jacket and put it on your shoulders just before you got in the truck. On the ride home, you told him Tess and Penny had agreed to help you pick a car the next day. You really should get one. He argued that you didn’t need one, he will drive you wherever you need to go. Well, you said, can’t count on the grump forever! What if he was on a Grump Roll and refused to be of service? He rolled his eyes and gave you a soft laugh. He really did look relaxed, despite the happenings of today.

---

He drove you straight to your cabin and walked you to your door. He gave you a small peck on your cheek and wished you good night, telling you he had a great time with you today. You flushed slightly at his words and said good night. He waited for you to go inside before closing the door behind you. He turned to leave, but his body betrayed him.

You hadn’t even taken a step away from the door when he knocked again. You opened the door before his knuckles could leave the wood on the first knock.

He was not the same man who closed the door for you before. Standing before you was a flustered man, a nervous man, a hopeful man. Hands in his pockets, shoulders straight up to his ears, feet bouncing a little, as if trying to fend off the cold. A man who tried his best to look you in the eyes but fear rejection. You looked at him, an obvious question in your eyes.

“Amelia, would you have dinner with me tomorrow? Just us two? I don’t really have a plan here, but I’ll figure something out? I just have to ask before I lose my… anyway… dinner? Tomorrow?”

He stopped bouncing, eyes hopeful, he forced himself to stand there until you answer, instead of pressing rewind and asking you to forget about it before you could reject him.

“Joel Miller, are you asking me out on a date?”

Joel kept his eyes down on his feet. His ears felt so hot. His entire body felt hot. He’s convinced all his blood had pooled just under his entire skin. He dared not look at your face, what if he said yes, and you told him you’re not interested in him like that? He took a chance and glanced at your sweet, sweet face, the one he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about since he first saw your picture on his phone all those months ago.

You were cocking your head to the side slightly, a dimply smile on your face, part of your lower lips trapped between your teeth.

He nodded bashfully. God, was he 16 again?

“Okay.”

He must have misheard you. Did you say okay? To a date? With him?

His limbs were suddenly very busy. His feet aching to do a little jig. His arms wanted to go straight up in the air in celebration. He settled for rubbing his scruff aimlessly, trying to hide the ridiculous joy that he knew was written all over his face.

“Yeah? Okay! Uhm, pick you up at 6?”

“Okay.”

“Okay. See you then,”

He waited for you to shut the door, before turning and jumping as high as he could off the deck. His knees were not going to thank him, but fuck that. You just agreed to go on a date with him.

Okay, okay, he needed to go home, talk to Sarah, tell her the good news, maybe ask her opinion. Plan the date. He kept trying to straighten his face, but the elated smile was literally frozen in place. He ran into Tommy as he got out of his car, and he actually patted his brother’s back and gave him a hug. He didn’t even hear anything Tommy said. His ears were full of the sounds of his own happy heartbeat. He went out to the balcony and looked up with glee.

“Hey BabyGirl, guess what? I have a date!”

---

As you and Joel slept with the widest smiles on your faces, a very popular Hollywood gossip blog received an email from an ‘A’, claiming to have a sizzling hot story about a very popular couple from a very popular show.

“Let’s talk numbers,” it said.

---

Part 11

[yeahtimesten]

a wedding to remember pt 1 - p.z

fake dating au, wedding guests, patrick zweig x reader

patrick zweig is desperate to prove to his parents he can make a commitment to tennis, by using you to show his parents he can commit, period.

multi parts, warnings - lots of cussing

Art Donaldson, Tashi Duncan, Patrick Zweig, and you all sat together in the Stanford dining call, the girls next to each other and the boys across. They all dug into their meals, making small talk, until:

“So, I gotta head out for practice,” Tashi said, gathering her things onto her tray and rising off of the booth. “Maybe later you two can meet us at our dorm and we can watch a movie or something.” She smiled at the two boys, as she traced her fingers down your hair.

“I actually have to head to my study group right now,” Art followed suit. “I’ll see you guys later.” The two walked out of the cafeteria together and the two of you remained seated, finishing your meals.

“What are you up to after this,” Patrick asked you, sliding his body across the bench to be face to face. “Got any plans?”

Patrick and you, within the two years you’d known each other, had never really hung out alone together. Usually, at least Tashi or Art accompanied you whenever Patrick came to visit. He wasn’t sure if he could consider you a friend, he mostly knew you as Tashi’s roommate, an acquaintance at best. You were sweet, you listened to his stories and told him your own. Whenever he came over, you had snacks that you knew he liked ready. Patrick knew your preferred choice of souvenirs were keychains and shot glasses, and he brought you some every time he came to visit from touring. But, they weren’t by any means close the way that Art and Patrick or Tashi and you were.

So, when Patrick asked you what you were doing next, you felt a bit awkward. Did he want to hang out or was he just being polite? Did he want something?

“I was just going to go back to my dorm and study,” you said plainly, taking another bite of her sandwich.

“I’ll walk you back,” he offered, with a small smile.

The two of you wrapped up your meals and headed out of the dining hall.

“So, what are your plans for this summer,” Patrick asked, biting the skin around his nails. He looked down the whole time, hoping not to catch your eyes.

“Um, well, I was going to go back home and find a full time job, I guess. Just save up money for next semester,” you shrugged. “What about you? Continuing your tour?”

“Uh, yeah, I’ve got a few trips planned for later in the season, more towards fall actually,” he sighed and put his hands in his pockets. “Actually, my sister is getting married in two weeks so after my match next week in Indian Wells, I’ll fly out there to attend.”

Your both approached your dorm and you invited in Patrick, who took a seat on your bed and you at your desk.

“Oh that sounds like fun, Patrick,” you smiled at him, before quickly clocking a face contorted and twisted with disagreement. “Or, no, not fun? I know you talk a lot of shit about your family and your parents but it can’t be that bad, can it?” He eyed the girl in front of him who was so naive and unaware of his dysfunctional family.

“You don’t understand, they’re fucking crazy,” Patrick sighed. He pulled his legs up to sit cross legged in your bed.

You started to flip through your notebook and set up to study. “Okay, well do you have a role in the wedding or something? Are you the best man or a groomsmen?”

He scoffed. “God, no.”

“Alright then, just go for the actual wedding,” you shrugged, not looking away from your notes. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be weird to bring Art along, then you could just pick up a bridesmaid and call it a day.”

“I already have a plus one,” he coughed, and started biting his nails yet again.

“Oh, who,” you inquired, still more focused on your papers.

A beat of silence. Patrick placed his hands in his lap and looked at you, with a deeper tone of seriousness. You turned his way and caught his face, still as a stone. He looked like he had just been carved from marble, he was so still.

Your eyebrows furrowed and your head cocked to the side. “Who?” You repeated, growing worried and confused.

Patrick swallowed hard, unsure how to go about his words. “You, I hope.”

Patrick had been acting weird all day, you had caught that. Someone who was normally loud, unfiltered, and extroverted was suddenly quiet, reserved, and seemingly anxious as soon as he had seen you this morning. You blinked rapidly, trying to process what he said.

“Me? What do you mean me?”

“I want to take you to my sister’s wedding,” Patrick said plainly, with newfound sturdiness. He sat back on his hands and continued to look at you, who had now turned your chair to face him.

“Okay, I get that,” you nodded. “But, why? What for?”

“Well, like you said, it sounds like fun,” Patrick lightly chuckled, eliciting a sigh from you.

“Patrick, be for real.” You leaned forward in your swivel chair. “Why me? Why not Art? Or Tashi, even?”

“I have a favor to ask of you,” Patrick regained his seriousness. “A huge favor.” You just looked at him with wide impatient eyes, your arms gesturing for him to continue. “I need you to come to this wedding with me… And pretend to date me.” He sighed as if he’d been holding his breath for a long time, the weight of the request off his shoulders at last.

But, your face just contorted in more confusion.

“What? What the fuck, Patrick?! What for?”

“It’s hard to explain-“

“Well, try!” Patrick opened his mouth again, but you cut him off. “I mean, I don’t see why you can’t ask Tashi. I’m not good at lying, and I’m not trying to say anything about Tashi, she’s my best friend, but she’d be much better at something like that than I am.”

“Tashi wouldn’t work, she wouldn’t sell it,” he muttered more to himself. “I don’t know why you, y/n. You are sweet and polite, but cutthroat when need be. You’re smart, determined, pretty. You tell all these stories about how great you are with your friend’s parents, selling them an illusion of safety for their children before taking them to parties or whatever the fuck, so you must be kind of good at lying.” What started off so sweet, turned accusatory, and you couldn’t brush past that.

“I never sold an illusion. We stayed safe and out of trouble, none of my friends ever got hurt or arrested, so I wasn’t lying,” you corrected. “Just to go to some house parties, by the way. Not like we were knocking down some liquor stores.”

“I recall a story you told us about you calling your friend’s strict mom posing as a teacher asking for consent for her son to stay late for an extra curricular event so you take him and your friends to a concert.”

“I didn’t say I was a teacher, I introduced myself as Ms. y/l/n, and that I wanted to him to participate in a concert as an extra curricular activity to enrich his knowledge in music. We were in choir together! I never lied,” she pointed at him. “But again, Tashi can lie and she’s all those other things you listed. Ask her, I’m sure Art wouldn’t mind, he loves your schemes even when he warns you against them.”

“I already said Tashi wouldn’t work,” Patrick grew exasperated. He knew there might be some pushback and didn’t think you would just say yes on a whim, even though that’s what he hoped. But he actually hadn’t planned out the conversation very well to convince you. “Listen, my parents aren’t big fans of me playing tennis. They want me to quit, or at least step back a bit for now, and give me a seat on their company board. They say I can’t take anything seriously and say I won’t amount to much and I’ll just end up a washed up athlete someday. Tashi is a tennis player and they know that and even though she is all of those things, it would just come off as biased. You could convince them that maybe tennis isn’t half bad and that I can take something seriously and commit and have children to pass on the family wealth and name. You can sell that in a way she can’t.”

Your stern look softened. You sympathized with him. No, you didn’t have the slightest clue of what it was like to have parents who didn’t support you, but you had plenty of friends who had similar experiences of wanting to go through with their dreams but were held back by unsupportive parents.

“So? Will you attend the wedding with me?” You stayed quiet, biting the inside of your cheek. “We’ll be there for a week, we’ll attend a few get togethers before the main event. We aren’t in the wedding party, we’re just guests. The food will be good, I’ll even take you into the city.” He was desperate, and he grabbed both of your arms. “Please?”

You looked up at him, deep into his pleading eyes. Your heart melted, feeling needed by him. It’s true, you’d had a crush on him for a long two years. It wasn’t painful or deep. You knew he was hot stuff, you loved the way he made you laugh, you loved the tidbits of undivided attention he’d give you when you told a story. You were looking for any excuse to say no.

“I’m not good at lying,” you reinforced.

“You don’t have to be, you can be yourself. Holding hands occasionally isn’t a lie. My parents will appreciate the lack of PDA otherwise. And they might try to get to know you, surface level stuff, but they won’t drill you. They stopped asking so many questions when they asked a girl I brought over how it was like growing up in the plains of Montana and she got offended because she thought they called her state ugly and boring.” You both shared a giggle in what was before such a serious conversation, which made Patrick feel all the more comfortable. “She got so worked up and said ‘Montana may not seem like much, but it’s far from plain. It’s my home and it’s beautiful.’” He did a poor impression of the girl, eliciting more laughter from you.

“Poor girl,” you joked. “But, honestly Patrick, I can’t afford a plane ticket. And I know it’s just a week, but I was hoping to get a summer job as soon as possible to save as much as I can. I don’t even have a dress to wear to a wedding.” You hated admitting that, even though it was true. It wasn’t an excuse, it was a valid reason. You didn’t want to say no. Even though Patrick’s parents sounded like a pain in the ass, it did sound fun to prance around a mansion for a week.

“Well, I wasn’t expecting you to pay,” Patrick laughed. “It’s my treat, the whole week. Any expense, I’ll take care of. You can even go dress shopping on my dime. I know this is a lot to ask of you, I’ll make sure that you’re compensated.”

“God, Patrick, if you insist,” you teased. “I won’t hear you beg any longer.”

He scooped you into a big hug. “Thank you, y/n, seriously.” He gave you a peck on the cheek, causing you to blush.

once i had a love - blondie

Finals were over, closing up another year of college. Tashi and you stood in the shared dorm, packing away bags for summer break.

“So, you’re going to pretend to be Patrick’s girlfriend for a week,” Tashi stated, but it was also a question.

“Yeah, I guess,” you shrugged.

Neither of you were facing each other. Both of your luggage was stacked on beds on opposite sides of the room.

“I just don’t understand why.”

“I don’t either. He said I’ll impress his parents and I guess make them more accepting of him playing tennis? I don’t know…”

“No I mean, I don’t understand why you said yes.” You continued folding clothes and cramming your suitcases.

“Because he asked, I guess? It’s not like I had anything better planned, to be honest.”

“You’re too nice, y/n,” Tashi sighed. “And Patrick is a pussy. If he really loved tennis, he’d take it more seriously and he wouldn’t care what his parents think, he’d just go for it.”

“I don’t know, Tashi,” you sighed back, with a tinge of attitude. “But, I already obliged and he already bought the ticket, so… Too late now, I guess.”

A beat of silence passed.

“Are you mad at me?” Tashi finally turned towards you. “I’m not talking shit, I’m just being honest. I’m just saying, maybe if he put in an effort and didn’t glide by on talent alone, maybe his parents would take him seriously and support him.”

You stopped mid shirt fold to meet Tashi’s face. “No, Tashi, I’m not mad. I get it. I’ve heard you and Art talk to him about getting a higher education, applying to go here and be guided by an actual coach and trainers. I don’t know anything about tennis but, I agree. And I don’t know what me being there will do to actually help. But like I said, I have nothing better to do… And honestly? I’m excited to see his house. I’ve never been inside a mansion before, or even to an actual wedding, besides when I was a little kid and I was the flower girl.”

“Ha, I bet you were such a cute flower girl,” Tashi said, shaking her head. By now, the two of you had resumed packing. “Hey, remember those photos I showed you from the party Adidas threw me after I won the junior open?”

“Yeah?” Tashi turned her head to look at you.

“Patrick’s house is bigger than that,” Tashi nodded, as you turned her head, jaw dropped.

“No fuckin’ way,” you scoffed. “That place looked huge. Even bigger than that?”

“That’s what Art told me.”

“What’s up with you and Art anyways? Like, what’s the move between you two?”

“Well, I’m not initiating the ‘what are we’ conversation. Nuh, uh. We’ve been fucking around, and I know he likes me, and I think I’ve made it apparent that I like him back. He’s just taking his sweet ass time making it official,” Tashi explained. “Like we are basically together, but I don’t run off assumptions. I like labels, sooo. I don’t wanna say I’ll drop him but I don’t want to wait around forever, you know. I deserve more than a nonchalant boyfriend thing.”

“Art is not nonchalant,” you laughed. “He’s so obsessed with you, he’s just shy. Maybe he’s trying to wait for the right time.”

“There is no time like the present,” Tashi said. “Well, I don’t think we’ll see each other all summer… So, we’ll see.”

a/n - praying to gawd that i actually keep up with this. reminder you don’t have to listen to any song i link or even canonize any outfits i may link, tbh. i do it for self indulgence

divider by @/chachachannah

[nocturnalpl4gue]

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ D’Arce as your girlfriend ⚔️

SFW -|==========>

⚜️ She’s literally the best person you could be stuck in a dungeon with. You two met once you helped her get out of the grasp of the cave-dwellers, and ever since then she has been acting as your personal bodyguard.

⚜️ She will constantly check up on you and make sure no injury is too bad, making sure you don’t get injured in the first place.

⚜️ She’s also so so sweet to you, constantly praising you for how well you manage yourself in the darkness and how thankful she is to have found you. This of course caused feelings to bloom.

⚜️ D’arce is the type of person to fall for someone very fast, and you were not exception. She likes looking at you, hearing to you talk, hell even just enjoying each other’s company.

⚜️ She also doesn’t know how to handle feelings. At all. So i think that what she’d do to catch your attention would be subtle touches like caresses on the back, looking at you in the eyes (failing miserably), praising you non-stop etc.

⚜️ Now once you two are official she will somehow manage to be even more caring. She will always ask for your well-being, accompany you to get resources and making sure you’re happy with her.

⚜️ She loves holding your hand. The warmth after wearing that heavy and cold armour feels so strong in her now slightly sweaty palm, and so intimate too, she thinks.

⚜️ Talking about hand holding, something she does is intertwine your fingers, though she also holds you by the pinky.

⚜️ I’m afraid she’s obsessed with kissing your face…specially your cheeks!! D’arce loves sitting down right next to you and shower you with tender kisses.

⚜️ Of course she loves kissing your lips too, but she’s more shy about that. She’s not one to initiate it so you’d have to do the part but she will melt in your arms and hold your face ever so gently. However if she became more confident she’d give you peck after peck.

⚜️ Her love language is specially acts of service. She’s so happy to be able to help you and make you happy, whether it is by defending you, looking for gifts, or just staying in your arms.

⚜️ Actually, she’s a sucker for physical contact. D’Arce didn’t realised how touchstarved she was until you pulled her into a hug. Sometimes she feels guilty from thinking about how she wishes you got scared more often so you cling onto her.

⚜️ One thing she likes to do and that makes her feel more connected with you is looking into your eyes, your cheeks, your lips, your face. Caressing you with her hand while praising you nonstop and giving you the occasional kiss makes her stomach to a backflip.

⚜️ If you’re away from danger she will take off her armour to feel you better in her arms, to love and touch you with her bare hands.

⚜️ With this when she takes off her armour you can notice she’s well built, with a slightly toned body.

⚜️ With all this metal she wears she has become really resistant and strong, so she can pick you up and lift you into the air. Sometimes she will do this when she gets cuteness aggression and go head over heels for you.

⚜️ Something that makes D’Arce crazy is you sitting on her lap. She adores your weight on her, she thinks it’s very relaxing and the proximity between you two is something she’s obsessed with.

⚜️ Now when it comes to sharing a bed she will cuddle you in her sleep, normally sneaking an arm around your waist and burying her head in your shoulder. I feel like she also talk in her sleep and you’ve heard her say your name a bunch of times.

⚜️ She also drools if she’s in a deep sleep so sometimes you’ll wake up with a wet shirt and she will blush profusely while apologising once and again. You find it cute.

⚜️ Once you two got out the dungeon the first thing she does is promising you to stay on your side for the rest of your lives. Just because you’re away from such danger doesn’t mean she won’t protect you forever, and show the same passion and love for you.

NSFW // MDNI -|==========>

⚜️ See when i said she’s touchstarved i meant it. If you touch her thigh or make any slight advantage she will be worked up for the rest of the day until you do something about it.

⚜️ Shes a shy kisser and it shows when you two make out. However once she grows more comfortable with the idea she will lean desperately over you, licking your lips and begging with her tongue to open your mouth.

⚜️ She will insist on taking off your clothing for you. While she takes off each piece she will kiss said body part, from the arms to your inner thighs.

⚜️ At first she’s all shy around all the sex stuff but she got quickly accustomed and now she will want to sleep with you very often, giving subliminal messages by touching your legs or whispering that she “has some trouble”.

⚜️ If she tops: she’s a service top who seeks your pleasure over anything else. She uses her hands a lot and plays with your insides until she finds your weak spot, which she’s pretty good getting.

⚜️ If she bottoms: she will basically be there for your pleasure, her words. She wants you to touch her, to please her as long as it pleases you. She loves missionary and will hug your back tightly while kissing your collarbone.

⚜️ If you have a pussy she will insist on grinding against her like there’s no tomorrow. She also loves to eat you out and look at your face while on it.

⚜️ If you have a dick she will be the death of you anyways, wanting to suck you off before anything else happens.

⚜️ Shes loud, very much so. And vocal by that matter, mining your name out loud, how beautiful you are and how good you feel.

⚜️ The aftercare is out of this world. She will help you get dressed up and will help you relax, cuddling you and preparing you drinks or food by the fireplace.

[reallydumbdannyphantomaus]

The Apocalypse Club

(ao3) (art 1) (art 2)

Valerie, Kwan, and Paulina find out Danny's biggest secret while Amity Park is invaded by a strange new ghost. Now, all four of them have to work together to save the day. ...If they can stop fighting each other first.

Hey!!! this is my @invisobang piece for 2023!!!! it hits in at about 15k words and i got to work with @minnowmarsh and @trolithfoxyflint for the amazing art that comes with it! now you crazy kids have fun reading :D

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

“How,” Valerie said when she could talk again.

Danny shrugged and looked away. His face was tinted green, though whether from nausea or the swirling portal on the wall of the lab, she couldn’t say. Kwan didn’t look much better, ashen gray, hair sticking up in all directions from how much he’d been pulling it. Paulina’s eyes hadn’t left Danny’s face since…

Well, since.

“Is that the most important question right now?” he said, rummaging in the desk.

Yes, she wanted to scream. But it wasn’t, and she knew it wasn’t, just as much as she knew that he was avoiding the question.

But she was a professional. She’d worked with… Danny… before. She could put aside her personal feelings until they were safe.

“What’s the plan?”

“We need allies,” he said, still not looking at her. “The only place left to find them is the ghost zone.”

“What?” Paulina said. “You want us to—to go in there?”

“What about our families?” Kwan said.

“Isn’t it super dangerous in there?”

“Look, your families’ best chance is if we get help. And you don’t have to come with me, but I think it’s more dangerous to sit here and wait.”

Valerie rolled her eyes. How was she ever friends with these two? Here they were, whining about danger, when they were missing the most obvious issue with this plan. “Where are we going to get allies in the ghost zone? The whole thing’s just full of ghosts!”

Maybe it was a trick of the light, but for a moment his eyes flashed acid green. Her hand snapped to the ectogun on her hip. “You’ve worked with ghosts before, Val.”

“No, I’ve worked with you before, and who the hell knows what you are.”

The words spilled out her mouth like poison, acid. She didn’t know if she meant them or not, but she did notice his full body flinch.

(She filed away the sore spot for future reference.)

“Jesus, Val,” Kwan said, running his hand through his already messed up hair.

She looked away. “Sorry.”

“Look, I have allies in the ghost zone. Even some enemies who, push comes to shove, will help me out if only so they get to kill me themselves. I’ve never seen or heard of this ghost before, okay? If it’s this powerful, and I’ve never heard of it, that’s a really, really bad sign. We need all the help we can get and we can’t afford to be picky about where it comes from.”

Valerie stared harder at the wall. Her skin crawled at the thought of making nice with ghosts. “Easy for you to say.”

“I’m working with all of you, aren’t I?”

Valerie’s eyes snap to meet Paulina’s, then Kwan’s. She’d forgotten, somehow, that Paulina and Kwan (and she, once upon a time) had always treated him and his friends like garbage. She’d forgotten that for all that Phantom was her enemy, she’d once used his cousin (or whatever that relationship actually was, who the hell knows anymore) as bait to capture and torture him.

“Fine,” she said. Deliberately, she dropped her hand from her gun. “So how are we doing this?”

--

The ghost zone was a lot… greener than Paulina expected. It made sense, in retrospect: green was the color of ectoplasm after all, but in her head she always imagined it to have more of a Sam Manson aesthetic. Black. Maybe some purple. But deep and dark and depressing.

(Last time she saw Sam Manson, Manson’s eyes were totally black and she was clawing at Paulina’s face, spittle flying from her mouth. Not a totally unexpected reaction, she had to admit, but there was no intent or reason, just pure feral violence.)

“So,” she said, “where exactly are we going?”

“The Far Frozen,” Fenton said, hands white-knuckled on the steering. “I have friends there.”

“It, uh, sounds cold,” Kwan said. “I didn’t bring my jacket.” More like a swarm of zombie-football players had tried to drag him down by his collar and he’d only escaped by letting his letterman jacket slide off.

“Frostbite’ll have coats.”

“And what is Frostbite?” That was Valerie, still glaring at Fenton like he’d pissed in her Cheerios. Paulina really didn’t understand what her issue was. Sure, Paulina was shocked to find out that Fenton was her beloved ghost boy, but she was more awkward than angry. Valerie seemed to take the whole situation personally.

“He’s a yeti.”

“A yeti? A dead yeti?” Paulina crossed her arms. “Are you telling me that yetis are real?”

“Look, not all ghosts were once alive. Sometimes, they’re the ghosts of beliefs or ideals or stories. Things we used to think about and believe in. Pandora’s here, too, along with a lot of pantheons, but they won’t tell me if they were ever alive.” Fenton’s lips curled up in a little smile and his face softened. “I’ve been trying to weasel it out of them for months.”

They lapsed into another brief silence before Fenton spoke again.

“Look, if you have any other questions… now might be the best time. It’ll be a bit before we get to the Far Frozen, and I don’t know if we’ll have any time after that.”

Paulina had a million questions, but she couldn’t think of one she wanted to ask right now. How? Why? When? That could all wait until after the day was saved. Her nerves were still twitching and she dug her fingers into her wrist to stabilize, remember the now and not two hours ago, watching Star, black-eyed and snarling with one arm bent out of shape, leap for her throat. She said nothing.

“Are we… just gonna stay in the For Frozen?” Kwan said. “Like, while you save the world?”

“Far Frozen, and yeah. That was the plan.”

“I’m not staying in some frozen wasteland so you and your ghost buddies can fuck up saving the world.”

Paulina couldn’t help staring at Valerie. What the hell was she talking about? Phantom—Fenton—Danny had saved the world plenty of times before.

“I was talking about Kwan and Paulina, Val. I know you’d never stay out of it.”

Valerie curled her lip. “Just so we’re clear. I have to keep an eye on you, anyway.”

“What is your deal, girl?” Paulina said. “If you two are our best shot at saving the world, being pissy at each other isn’t going to help.”

“Stay out of it!”

“The world is ending! We don’t have time for you to be stubborn.”

Kwan shrank back at their raised voices. “Uh, I don’t think this is a good time to fight, either.”

“Of course you don’t. Since when do you ever think for yourself?”

“Hey!”

“Shut up! Just be quiet, all of you. Jesus.” Danny turned around to glare at them, his eyes flashing green. “Valerie and I have worked together before even though she hated me. We can do it again.”

Paulina wasn’t so sure about him using “hate” in the past tense there, but Valerie was nodding.

“I can put my personal feelings aside to save the world, and fuck you for thinking anything different. But then, I guess you never thought much of me, did you?”

“What are you—”

“Seriously? You have to ask?”

Paulina bit her lip. When Valerie’s dad lost his job, Valerie lost everything. Including her friends. Like Paulina. No, she thought after a moment, I suppose I don’t.

Danny groaned from the front. “I changed my mind. No more questions. Let’s just… be quiet.”

Paulina had to agree.

--

The Far Frozen was, in fact, cold.

Kwan shivered in just his black t-shirt, but truthfully, his letterman jacket would’ve only helped so much. This was a bitter cold, a deep-winter cold that took three blankets, a hot chocolate, and fuzzy socks to banish.

Kwan really hated the cold.

“Great One!” the yeti in front of them said, arms (one of flesh and fur, the other of ice and bone) spread wide like he was offering a hug. Was it some kind of yeti cultural thing?

Fenton jumped up and embraced the creature. Apparently, it was just an offer of a hug.

“What brings you to my domain?” the yeti said once he put Fenton down. “And with such strange company as well!”

Fenton rubbed the back of his neck. “We need your help, Frostbite.”

Kwan’s teeth started to chatter. Valerie and Paulina’s arms were dotted with gooseflesh, alongside his own. How was Fenton not fucking freezing?

“Can we have this conversation inside?” Paulina said, rubbing her arms.

“W-w-w-with jackets?” Kwan’s chattering teeth brought out a stutter. Embarrassing. “Ma-y-be a f-fire?”

“Of course!” the yeti said. “Your fragile human bodies require excess warmth to survive. Please, follow me.”

The yeti, who introduced himself as Frostbite, led them to a cave where they were each presented with a delightfully warm coat, almost thick enough to banish the cold from Kwan’s bones.

(Almost.)

Valerie spent the whole trek glaring at Frostbite like she expected him to turn around and start biting the second she took her eyes off of him. She kept one hand on her blaster the whole time. Kwan couldn’t imagine going through life with that kind of paranoia. It must be exhausting.

The cave itself was almost cozy. It was decorated, had furniture and artwork and books like it was someone’s office. With a jolt, Kwan realized that it was an office. Frostbite’s, most likely. On the wall, there was a portrait of Phantom (Fenton?) standing victorious. What the fuck.

“What’s with the whole ‘Great One’ thing, by the way?” Kwan said.

“It is demonstrative of our unending love and gratitude for the Great One, who saved us all from subjugation at the hands of the villainous Pariah Dark!”

Valerie snorted. “‘Villainous.’ Like you’re not.”

Frostbite tilted his head in confusion. Kwan hated to admit it, but it was kind of adorable. “I am unsure what your meaning is. I assure you that we denizens of the Far Frozen have no villainous aims with any friend of the Great One.”

“I’m not gullible enough to believe you.”

Frostbite opened his mouth to reply again, but Fenton cut him off.

“Just ignore her, Frostbite. You’re not going to change her mind and we don’t have time to argue. A new ghost is attacking Amity Park, and we need your help.”

--

It all happened so fast.

All four of them escaped by sheer luck. Kwan managed to dodge the football team and hide in the bleachers next to Paulina, who’d nearly been bitten by Star and Sam in the bathroom. Valerie put on the Red Huntress suit as soon as she realized what was happening, giving her some protection against the spreading infection. And Danny?

Well, Danny could fly.

Danny stumbled upon the other three by chance, checking through the school for anyone who’d managed to avoid the plague, though he didn’t have much hope. He’d found Kwan, Paulina, and Valerie—two useless people and one who absolutely hated him.

Still, he couldn’t leave them there, unprotected. He grabbed Paulina and Valerie hoisted Kwan on her hoverboard and they’d raced to FentonWorks.

He’d intended to stay in ghost form the whole time, but he hadn’t realized that the infected were still capable of reason, at least on some level. That their attacks weren’t mindless. That his mom could hit him with an ectogun that would short out his powers, however temporarily.

And now three new people know who he is.

Three new people who he can’t trust in the slightest.

(What if they tell people? His parents? The school? The Guys in White?)

But he can’t worry about that, because the world is ending.

“I see,” Frostbite said after Danny had explained the situation. “This is… worrisome. If it escaped—”

“It? Frostbite, do you know what this is?”

“Mm. It sounds like Pestilence.”

Danny frowned. “Like… pesto?”

Paulina scoffed and whacked Danny on the head. “No, idiot. Pestilence. Like disease and stuff.”

“Yes. Considered by certain branches of Christianity to be one of the four Horsemen that herald the apocalypse.”

“One of four? You mean there’s three other horse-guys?”

“Indeed. The belief in this specific end of days has largely died out in the modern day, so the Horsemen became ghosts. However, they were so dangerous, so suddenly, that we ghosts banded together three hundred years ago to seal them away. If one of them is out…”

“...then the others might be out, too.” Danny rubbed at his forehead. “This gets better and better. What are the other three?”

“War, Famine, and Death,” Paulina said, counting them off on her fingers. Valerie raised an eyebrow at her. “What? Everyone knows that.”

“You are correct, Delicate One.”

“Um, my name’s Paulina.”

“None of those sound good.” Kwan scratched his head. “Also, why is Death separate? Don’t War and Famine and Pestilence all kill people? Does Death extra kill people or something?”

Frostbite shrugged. “How should I know? I’m already dead.”

“Can you be dead if you were never alive?”

“In any event,” Frostbite said, “your best chance is to put Pestilence back before any of the others break free.”

“And how are we supposed to do that, ghost? We barely escaped in the first place!”

Valerie had a point: they knew what they were fighting, now, but it didn’t solve the problem of we can’t beat this guy. Danny rubbed his temples. Maybe if he could get Skulker to work with them, Skulker would help convince the rest of the Ghost Zone and they might actually have a shot.

“Your best chance is finding the Panacea.”

Danny scrunched his eyebrows. “The what?”

“Panacea is, like, a mythical elixir thing that can heal any disease.” Danny, Kwan, and Valerie stared at Paulina, who was tapping on her phone. She looked up at them and rolled her eyes. “What? Everyone knows that.”

“Okay, so where’s this Panaderia at?” Valerie said.

“Patience, Suspicious One. Allow me to explain.”

“What the hell did you just call me?”

“The Panacea is hidden in the far reaches of the Ghost Zone, near Pariah’s Keep.” Frostbite pulled out the Infi-Map from his desk and rolled it out on the desk. “Legend tells that Pariah wanted it for himself, but could never get through its protections.”

“Protections? Like—ghosts and shit?”

“Not quite. The story goes that there are three trials one must overcome to obtain the Panacea. The first is a trial of courage. The second is a trial of compassion. And the third is a trial of truth.”

Valerie threw her hands up in the air. “What the hell does any of that mean?”

“The legend does not specify.”

“Of course,” Paulina said, “because when the world’s at stake, you want as much ambiguity as possible.”

“Quite.”

Courage, compassion, and truth. Well, Danny was decently brave. He spent half his time fighting ghosts, at least, and protecting people. It had to count for something. Compassion… he could probably work on that part, but he did care about people. That’s why he protected them. Truth?

That was a little stickier.

He lied, all the time. It was for a good reason, but he wasn’t sure the trials would see it that way. Maybe he would just have to tell the truth in the moment? Ugh, this whole thing was so complicated.

Maybe Valerie would do better at the truth thing. Though, she also had a secret identity. Whatever. They’d figure it out.

Lost in his thoughts, Danny didn’t notice Valerie approaching him until her hand wrapped around his arm and she pulled him away.

“Woah, what are you—” Danny squeezed his eyes shut as he was yanked back into the bright light of the outside. The snow sparkled in the glow that permeated the Ghost Zone almost like sunlight, but half as warm.

“If you and I are going to do this, we should have a plan.”

“A plan for what? We don’t even know what these trials will look like.”

Valerie’s hand tightened around his bicep. “So you just want to fly in blind? Hide behind me and let me figure it out so you can swoop in and ‘save the day’ or some bullshit?”

“That is not remotely what I—”

“Save it! You’ve been lying to me this whole time. For years. And I—I actually thought that you cared about me, which is the really stupid part.”

“I do care about you, Val.” Danny reached for her arm and she flinched back. He sighed and stared at the ground.

“No, you don’t. You can’t. Ghosts don’t care about anything or anyone. You just like the attention. You like the praise. You may have everyone else fooled but I see what you are. No more tricks, Phantom.”

Danny choked out a laugh. “And you wonder why I lied to you.”

Valerie sneered. “No, actually. It all makes perfect sense, ghost.”

His eyes stung, which was stupid. They really didn’t have time for him to go cry in a corner because Valerie didn’t like him. But his feelings didn’t care about the facts, and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes.

“Whatever,” he said, and he tried to ignore how his voice cracked. “Let’s just get through this.”

“Yeah,” Valerie said. “Let’s get through this and then never talk to each other again.”

He’d really thought he could talk to her, if she ever found out. He’d really thought he could convince her. That hurt the most, he realized: he’d always known she’d be mad, but after what happened with Dani, there should’ve been room for them to be friends as Valerie and Danny and as Red Huntress and Phantom.

He was the stupid one, it turned out.

“Okay. If that’s what you want.”

Valerie turned away. “It is what I want.”

“Okay.”

They fell into awkward silence.

“So—”

Distant screaming cut Danny off.

Somewhere along the way, wires had gotten crossed in Danny’s brain. Screams of terror and pain were usually a sign that people should stay away. If some did get closer, it was usually out of curiosity and panic would take over once that curiosity was sated. Danny, of course, ran straight for the danger every time.

So he wasn’t surprised, exactly, when one of the yetis, eyes dripping black, lunged for him. He’d run into enough fights that ducking out of the way of her claws was second nature. Beside him, Valerie blasted the infected yeti away. Of course. Valerie was just like him: she ran into danger.

“We need to get out of here!” She fired again at another yeti, snarling in the snow.

Danny reached for the electric cold in his chest, but it was still weak and flickering from the gun his mom had used. He was powerless.

“Danny!” Before he could blink, something slammed into him and he was speeding away from the yetis on Valerie’s jetboard.

“Wait—Wait!” Struggling to stand on a fast, open-air vehicle, he pulled himself up using Valerie’s shoulder and she shot him a withering glare. “We can’t just leave them there!”

“Us getting infected doesn’t help anyone, and you trying to play hero to get on my good side won’t work anyway.”

“I’m not—” The jetboard tilted to avoid a leaping yeti. “Why won’t you listen—”

“I did listen to you! And you lied. So I’m done with that.”

Valerie angled down to the cave entrance where Kwan, Paulina, and Frostbite were and jerked to a stop. Danny couldn’t stop his momentum and tumbled off onto the floor of the cave, landing at Paulina’s feet.

“Um, hi?” Paulina said.

“We have a problem,” Valerie said.

--

Apparently the “problem” was a horde of zombie yetis right on Valerie and Danny’s tail. Paulina thought “problem” was underselling it a bit.

One black-eyed yeti burst through the opening, only for Frostbite to slam his flesh arm into it, knocking it into another oncoming yeti. He then hit a panel on the wall and sealed the cave shut. Panting, he lumbered over to Danny, green goo staining his pristine white fur, grabbed the map-thing off the desk, and thrust it into Danny’s arms.

“Great One and friends, you must take the Infi-Map and find the Panacea.” The yeti looked down at the goo (his blood?) and groaned in pain. “I fear I shall soon turn as well.”

“Frostbite…” Danny said, reaching out one hand like he wanted to comfort him. And wasn’t it weird, to think of a ghost needing comfort?

“Great One, you do not have time to worry about me. Help me by bringing back the Panacea and saving us all. You must go now, before I lose my rationality and attack you as well.”

Danny squeezed his eyes like he was staving off tears. “Okay. I—okay. I’m sorry.”

Paulina felt bad for the dork (hero), really, but they so didn’t have time for this. She latched onto his arm and yanked him away from Frostbite, who was starting to snarl. “Thank you, Mr. Frostbite,” she said. “Now let’s get the fuck out of here.”

“Everybody hang on,” Danny said, opening the map. Paulina tightened her grip as Valerie and Kwan grabbed on. “Take us to the Panacea.”

Frostbite jumped at them, teeth bared, and the map whisked them away in a green light. Paulina wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but this was not it. The sudden acceleration stole a scream from her throat, and the rush of air brought tears to her eyes. The last thing she saw was Frostbite’s icy arm, outstretched, and then she could see nothing but motion.

There was nothing to do but hang on for dear life, then all of a sudden they were standing again, in a cavernous hall. Paulina wobbled on her feet, then vomited.

A hand rubbed at her back, and she turned to see Kwan, awkward half-smile on his face. “You okay?”

The hall was massive and crumbling, stone pillars in pieces. A mosaic pattern tiled the floor, and she looked up to see a perfect reflection in the roof, except for a couple of holes where the swirling Ghost Zone peeked through.

“I’m fine,” she said. “Except for, you know.”

“Everything?”

“Yeah, that.” She bent over and spat a couple times, trying to get the taste out of her mouth. She’d lost her water bottle sometime in the multiple life threatening situations they’d been in in the past 4 or so hours, so saliva was her best option. “We weren’t supposed to be here. We were supposed to just sit there in that frozen wasteland and be safe. I can’t do this, Kwan.”

“But you have to, now,” Valerie said. Her voice was firm, but not unkind. “We’re all here, and there’s no half-assing this like you half-ass school, alright?”

“Excuse you?”

“We both know you could do just fine in school if you tried, Polly! You’re smart, girl. And we need smart on this mission, not smart trying to be stupid.”

Paulina stared for just a moment, then laughed. “Girl, that was the most backhanded compliment I’ve ever heard.”

Valerie rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched like she was trying not to smile. “At least it was a compliment.”

“Setting our bar real low here, huh?”

“Paulina, when my dad lost his job, you all dumped me as soon as you heard. I lost everything, and then I lost all my friends. You’re damn lucky I’m not just cussing you out.”

The words were almost humorous, but there was a bite to Valerie’s tone now. Paulina couldn’t blame her.

“Listen, I wanted to say—”

“Guys!” Danny's voice echoed through the chamber. “I found something!”

Paulina swore as Valerie and Kwan both ran over to where Danny stood in front of a massive double door.

“Is that—”

“Yeah,” Danny said. “I think it’s the entrance. The trials are probably through here.”

“So,” Kwan said, pushing on the giant stone doors, “how do we—”

As he spoke, the doors lit up and slowly, slowly, rumbled open.

“Huh,” Kwan said.

It was dark inside. The glow of the Ghost Zone seemed to come to a complete halt, swallowed by whatever was beyond the threshold.

Paulina didn’t like it.

“Let’s all go through together,” Danny said.

Paulina nodded, grabbing Danny and Kwan. She couldn’t speak, her mouth suddenly dry. Why was she here? She wasn’t ready for something like this. She couldn’t save the world! Oh god, she needed to get out of here—

As one, they stepped through the door.

--

Kwan blinked.

“What?”

It was the Casper High cafeteria, except the Casper High cafeteria should be overrun with Pestilence’s zombies right now. But there was Dash and Paulina and Star (wasn’t Paulina back—where—what—what… day was it? Tuesday? Right, right. They had an essay due in Lancer’s class. Of course. Kwan had stayed up all night writing about… writing about…)

“Dude!” Dash said, waving Kwan over. “You ready to pummel Brantford tonight?” The last part of his sentence became a shout, directed at the whole cafeteria. Students applauded. Dash stood with one leg on his seat and one on the table, a true showman. Over in the corner, Danny Fenton, Sam Manson, and Tucker Foley rolled their eyes. Dash threw his milk carton and beaned Fenton (Danny?) in the head. Milk splashed down his head.

Something twisted in Kwan’s gut.

Dash let out a roar and ripped off his shirt, tearing it in half. The cafeteria screamed in approval.

Kwan grinned up at Dash. For all his flaws, Kwan loved this guy.

(black, black blood dripping from his mouth and eyes, Dash snarling, reaching for Kwan—)

Kwan jerked back and tore his eyes away. Dash didn’t notice as his best friend looked for the exit. Kwan’s heart pounded. It wasn’t real. Not real. Just a bad dream. Or was this…?

In the background, Valerie (his friend? not his friend? no, no, they’d dropped her because she’d lost everything, right? but no, no that was cruel, too cruel even for Dash and Paulina, that couldn’t be right) was sneaking out the door just as Danny Fenton gasped and rushed in the same direction.

Something wasn’t right.

“Hey dude,” Kwan said, “I gotta run to the bathroom.”

Dash didn’t acknowledge him. He was leading the cafeteria in the Casper High fight song.

Kwan ran after Valerie and Fenton (Danny), bursting through the cafeteria doors just in time to see them turn the corner. “Wait!” he said, sprinting toward their shadows. Rounding the corner, he saw the Red Huntress and Danny Phantom (Valerie and Fenton—Danny, Danny, it’s Danny, Danny wants to be called his name, remember that he has to remember that—it was Valerie and Danny behind the heroes, he knew that, though he wasn’t sure how he knew) fighting a ghost.

It was massive and ugly, all claws and teeth and glowing fur. Kwan couldn’t see any eyes, but he’d learned after years of dealing with ghosts that that didn’t necessarily mean that it couldn’t see. It had six legs and two jaws that opened in concert to let out an earsplitting screech.

Glowing green spittle flew out of its unholy maw and landed on Kwan’s letterman jacket. Gross.

The ghost slammed Danny into a locker with one leg and used another to pin Valerie to the ground. It lowered its face to Valerie’s, ready to take a taste.

“Hey!” Kwan said, throwing the first thing he could grab—his phone—at the ghost. It bounced harmlessly off its head, but startled the ghost enough that Valerie was able to slip out of its hold and Danny was able to knock it down. A flash of light from Danny’s thermos, and the ghost was gone.

“Are you okay?” Kwan said. Valerie’s suit retracted and Danny transformed back into Fenton. Both of them were bruised, Danny cradling his ribs, but they were upright.

“We’re fine,” Valerie said with a glare.

“Hey,” Kwan said, holding up his hands in surrender. “I’m just trying to help.”

“Yeah, right.” Danny snorted and looked away. Kwan could still see milk in his hair.

Kwan frowned. “Look, I know it wasn’t much, but I’m just a guy! I did what I could!”

“Yeah, you did. Probably saved our lives with that phone.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“You only care because we’re heroes!” Valerie got in his face so he could clearly see the bruise lining her cheek. “You wouldn’t care if we were hurt because your bestie decided he wanted a punching bag. Helping the Red Huntress and Danny Phantom isn’t a risk to you. It makes you a hero! You’re so cool for helping to save the day. But you’d never help Valerie and Danny because what if someone saw ?”

“That’s not…”

“Face it, Kwan. You’re a coward. Always will be.”

Then they were gone, and Kwan was alone in the middle of a destroyed hallway.

--

“Kwan,” Dash said, “we need you to be on your a-game for this. They’ve got a real beast on their D-line, and you’re the only one with a chance of keeping him off me. I don’t wanna spend the whole game with my ass on the grass, so I’m counting on you, okay?”

Kwan blinked. They were huddled on the field, in full pads. Dash was giving the pre-game directions. It was gametime. Wasn’t it lunchtime? Or… was he… what?

“Kwan!”

“Uh, yeah! Yes. I’ve got it. Big guy, coming right at me. Yep.”

Was he going crazy? Something was wrong. Something other than what Valerie and Danny had said to him.

(And it was wrong, it had to be. He wasn’t a coward. He faced scary stuff all the time—a hazard of living in Amity Park. He couldn’t be a coward.)

The nameless d-lineman stared him down, eyes black as pitch behind the grill of his helmet. Kwan took a deep breath as he lined up against him. He could do this. This was easy. He was made for this.

A flash of green in his peripheral vision caught his attention. He turned his head just as Dash hiked the ball, and his mark blew right past him, laying Dash on the ground while Kwan stood, dumbly staring at the green he knew had to signal another ghost attack.

“Kwan!” Dash ignored the hand offered by one of the other offensive linemen. “What the hell, dude?”

Kwan jerked back. “What?” He took in the scene: Dash, with a clump of grass stuck in his helmet and dirt on his jersey. The ball, being moved backward by the referee. His teammates, glaring at him. “Oh. Oh, sorry. Just—I think there’s a ghost over there?” He pointed at the green light.

“So?” Dash said. “There’s always a ghost. Leave it for Huntress or Phantom to deal with. We’ve got a game!”

“Yeah. Yeah!” Danny and Valerie could totally handle it. They were heroes. It’s what they did. And football was what Kwan did. Division of labor and all that stuff.

And the thing is that Kwan was really good at football. He was the best left tackle in the state, easy. His coach said he could be the next Tony Boselli—though, hopefully without the injuries. With his mind on the game, no one got even close to Dash before he’d thrown the ball.

The forest glowed again. Kwan ignored it. There were eight minutes left on the clock for the second quarter.

A piercing scream floated over the field. Kwan turned to see Valerie, in her Red Huntress gear, slam into the ground head-first before being dragged back into the woods like a limp puppet.

“Oh shit.” This was bad. Valerie was hurt, bad. She wasn’t half-ghost like Danny. She was just a person. She needed medical care, and fast.

Could Kwan help?

Should Kwan help?

Kwan shook his head. Head injuries were no joke; he’d heard it from Coach often enough. Valerie needed help, and she needed it now. There was no time to wait for someone else to realize the problem.

He turned to leave the field.

“What the hell are you doing?” Dash said, catching his arm just as he reached the sideline.

“She’s hurt,” Kwan said. “She needs help.”

“We have a fucking game to play.” Dash’s fingers curled in the grill of Kwan’s helmet and jerking him around so their helmets clacked together. This close, Kwan could see the faint line of Dash’s eyelashes, the bright blue of his eyes. He thought about apologizing. He thought about kissing him.

How long had he been in love with his best friend? More importantly, how long had he let his best friend be an asshole because he loved him?

“I’m an idiot,” Kwan said.

“You don’t hear me arguing! Now get back on the damn field.”

“No.” Kwan almost continued, almost listed everything wrong with Dash, all the times he’d put everyone else around him down, all the people he’d hurt, how he’d hurt Kwan, even, but Dash would never, ever hear him. He knew that now. “I’m outta here,” he said instead, ripping off his helmet and sprinting toward where he’d last seen Valerie and Danny.

The world vanished.

Kwan blinked, and he was back in the chamber, staring at Valerie, Danny, and Paulina. “A test of courage…” he said to himself. 

It was just like the room they first came into: a little more together, more whole, but otherwise almost identical. Across the room was another massive set of double doors. He turned around and saw the door, the first chamber beyond it. He’d barely stepped inside. It couldn’t have been more than a second or two.

“Yeah,” Valerie said with an eye roll, “that’s what we’ve been say—”

Kwan cut her off by sweeping her up in a hug.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry that I never stuck up for you. I’m sorry that I hurt you. I’m sorry that I was too scared to help you even when I knew it was wrong.”

Valerie froze, stiff in his arms. “What?”

“You were right, this whole time. I was a coward and a jerk and I’m sorry.”

Kwan could feel Danny and Paulina’s eyes on him, but for right now, all his focus was on Valerie.

“What the hell are you—”

“I was a really terrible friend to you. We all were. You were hurting and we all made it worse.”

Valerie pulled back. “You’re serious. This… you mean this.”

“Yeah. I mean it more than anything I’ve ever said to you before.

“You—do you think I’ll forgive you? Just like that?”

Kwan let her go. “No. You always could hold a grudge.” He looked her in the eye. “I still needed to say it.”

Valerie nodded, a rough jerk of her head. “Okay. Just so we’re clear. Not forgiven.” She looked off-balance and confused. It figured, since Kwan had very much just dropped this on her with no warning. Whatever vision he’d received, it seemed like it was limited to him and only him.

“That’s okay. Let me know if it changes?”

Valerie stared at him for a long moment, brow furrowed, before it smoothed and one corner of her lips curled in a smile. “Whatever.”

Kwan grinned. “I’ll get there.”

Paulina coughed. “Uh, not to break up a tender moment, but can we save it for after we get the magic potion?”

“Unfortunately, Paulina’s right,” Danny said. “Not that this isn’t great, but we need to figure out the test of courage. We’re running out of time.”

Kwan was pretty sure he’d already seen it, but he didn’t even know where to begin with explaining. Instead, he said, “Danny! You, too! I was also a jerk to you, when you didn’t deserve it and I knew you didn’t deserve it. I’m so sorry about that. I wanted to be liked but I—”

“Woah woah woah,” Danny said. “I… appreciate it, but we really don’t have the time right now, dude.”

“No. No, see, this is exactly the time. I think this is my test, okay? Well, some of it. Part two, or whatever. Part one was this weird vision thing that I had to go through like some kinda fucked up dream. And I think part two is—well, bringing it into the real world.” Obviously, he couldn’t bring the ghost attack and the football game into this real world, but realizing he was wrong? Taking responsibility?

He could do that.

“How is apologizing to us a test of courage?” Danny said, head tilted in confusion.

“I was scared of… something really fucking dumb, now that I think about it. And I hurt people because of it.” Kwan glanced at Paulina, who was looking anywhere but his face. “I’m not going to let it control me anymore. And I’m sorry that I ever did.”

Silence for a moment, like the room was holding its breath, then the entire chamber began to shake. The doors at the end of the room swung open and revealed another pitch black unknown beyond them.

“Wait. That was it?” Paulina said. “You’re telling me the Ghost King couldn’t get through these trials, but Kwan did it by saying I’m sorry?”

“Woo!” Kwan said, pumping his fists in the air. Take that, Mr. Lancer’s final exam. Who was going to achieve nothing in life now? Not Kwan, he passed the Trial of Courage. Official and capitalized. Helping to save the world and all that shit.

“Well, let’s not look this particular gift horse in the mouth. Are we all ready for the next chamber?” Danny said.

Paulina coughed. “Hang on, does anyone have a breath mint? My mouth still tastes nasty.”

“Oh, yeah.” Kwan fished in his pocket and held out a stick of gum.

“Thanks.”

“Ooh, can I have some?” Danny said.

“Sure, dude!” He grabbed three more sticks of gum, handed on to Danny, who grinned, stuck one in his mouth, and held out the last one for Valerie. “Val? You want in on this?”

Valerie stared at the gum like she thought it might bite her. “Yeah,” she said after a moment. She took the gum with her thumb and forefinger, delicately. “Yeah, okay. Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “Let’s get a move on.”

As they headed for the inky blackness at the far end of the room, Kwan felt something grab his arm. He whirled around to see Danny, hand curled around Kwan’s elbow.

“Thank you,” Danny said, “for, y’know.”

“The gum?”

“No. Well, yes, but that’s not—I meant for apologizing.”

“Oh. Oh! Yeah. Honestly, should have done it forever ago. Just kept coming up with excuses, y’know?” Kwan laughed. “An apology was really the bare minimum.”

Danny let go of his arm and started walking again. “You’d be surprised. I can’t remember the last time anyone apologized for hurting me.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“Dude, that’s messed—”

They crossed the threshold.

--

Paulina was much more confident going into the next chamber. These trials were easy! If all Kwan had to do was apologize, then compassion was probably something like saving a kitten and truth was something like—well, she was less sure about that one. Maybe just telling a secret? Or something?

Except—something was different. Last time, they’d walked in and immediately the chamber had brightened. Kwan apparently had some weird vision as part of his trial, of course, but none of that happened.

Instead, it was still pitch black, and she could no longer feel Valerie’s arm where she’d latched on, or Kwan’s hand. “Guys?” she said, and her voice was swallowed by the void. “Hello?”

“—see her haircut?—”

“—the look on his—”

“—honestly thought I liked her!”

Paulina’s voice, first a whisper, then louder and louder until she couldn’t hear her own thoughts. Her laughter, shrill and piercing, reverberated through the space. She pressed her hands over her ears, but it did nothing to block out the noise. Her head started to pound and hot tears leaked out of her eyes.

“Stop it! Stop it, stop it, stop it!” She was sure she yelled the words, but she still couldn’t hear over her own laughter.

“Why? Why should I stop?”

“It hurts. It hurts!”

“Aw, but that’s never stopped you before!”

It was so loud. A sudden, sharp pain in her ear and she could feel warm liquid on the hand covering it.

“Please! Please! I’ll do anything!”

Suddenly, silence. Paulina fell to the floor with relief. She pulled her hands away from her head; the right one was wet and smelled of metal. Liquid dripped from her ear—had it started to bleed?

“Anything?”

“Yes! Yes, please!”

“Entertain me!”

“I—what?”

In front of her, stark against the black of the room, Valerie appeared, then Danny, then Mikey, then Sam Manson, then Tucker Foley, more and more and more of her classmates, standing and blinking in confusion at her.

But she was with Valerie and—or was she? But Manson was definitely not—this couldn’t be real. Was this real? She stared at her hand. Was she real?

“Paulina?” Valerie said. She sounded like she was underwater. The black of the room turned into a hallway. Casper High. It was—Friday. There was a football game she had to cheer for. She needed total focus for that. If only the stupid voice would leave her alone.

“I said entertain me!”

“What the hell does that mean?”

Valerie stared at her. “It’s your name, girl. Are you okay?”

“Make jokes! Like you always do. I gave you your material and everything!”

Material? Paulina looked at the crowd, and realized that all of them were… well, losers. The voice just wanted her to make fun of them?

Nothing she hadn’t done before.

“I’m better than you, apparently,” Paulina said, ignoring the pit in her stomach. “What were you thinking with that outfit?” It was a dumb, dumb comment. Low effort. It was just—in that moment, Paulina couldn’t think of anything to mock. Nothing about Valerie seemed worth jeering at.

Valerie looked down at her—admittedly, fine—shirt and frowned. “Jesus. What is your prob—your ear’s bleeding!”

Sure enough, pus and blood painted the palm of Paulina’s hand, and she could still feel something rolling down her neck.

(“Still”? When did this happen?)

“We need to get you to the nurse’s office,” Manson said, crouching down beside her. Why was Paulina on the floor?

“Oh,” she said. Manson offered her a hand up, and she took it. “Thank you. Sorry, Valerie. Your shirt’s fine.”

A piercing screech, metal on metal, filled the air. Paulina doubled over, hands back over her ears.

“That wasn’t funny, Polly!”

She could feel hands on her arms, but her eyes were squeezed shut and she could hear nothing but the voice and its (her) hideous laughter.

“You just want me to be mean!”

“Duh! Mean is funny, right?”

Paulina opened her eyes just enough to see Valerie, Manson, Foley, and Danny in front of her, concern in the lines of their faces. Danny’s mouth was moving.

“Look! It’s the little tech weirdo. He names all his phones. Like, unironically.” Foley stood up and directed other students away. Danny moved past her to do the same on the other side of the hallway. “Or the ghost kid. His parents were already freaks, and now he’s an extra special kind of freak. Easy money.”

“Please. Please just stop.”

“Entertain me, and I will. Tit-for-tat, babe.”

Paulina felt a sob jump out of her throat. Why wasn’t she just doing it? It hurt so bad. She’d do anything for it to stop.

So why wasn’t she doing this?

“I don’t want to!” she wailed. What she must sound like. What she must look like. Surrounded by people who had every reason to hate her, bleeding and crying and talking to nothing. “Pick something else!”

“But you do it all the time.”

“I change my mind, then!”

Was it that simple? All along? Could she just—change her mind? Be a better person?

“No you don’t.”

“I don’t want to hurt people anymore!”

The noise, somehow, got louder. Paulina vomited. Something wet trickled from her other ear. She wanted this to end. But she didn’t want to hurt people to do it. Why did she only get two options?

“So you’ll get hurt instead?”

“No!” She curled in on herself, falling back to her knees and closing her eyes again. “You’re choosing to hurt me. You could choose not to!”

“And, what? That’ll make it better? You’ll forgive me and we’ll be best friends?”

If Paulina could think clearly, if she could do anything beyond speak the first thing that sprung to her lips, she might have lied. She might have said “Of course I’ll forgive you” so the stupid voice might listen to her. This, however, was not a choice she had the brainpower to make right now.

Instead, she said: “Of course not! You’re a fucking asshole.”

“Then why should I?”

“Because I’m a person and it hurts!”

“You’re a little late to that realization, querida. Wasn’t Valerie a person when you ditched her? Do you think you can be Valerie’s friend again after this? That you can prove yourself to her or something?”

“I can’t fix it! But I can stop making it worse!”

The noise stopped. Blessed silence returned.

Paulina looked up through tear-blurred eyes and saw Valerie, Danny, and Kwan crouched over her. She couldn’t hear past the ringing in her ears

“I’m sorry,” she said. Her throat ached. She must have been yelling, before. “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

The exhaustion hit her all at once. Her ears pulsed with pain as she continued to babble apologies. The ground shook beneath her and Kwan caught her before she could topple over. A hand rubbed at her back, soothing circles, and she curled into Kwan’s chest.

“Think ‘m gon’ sleep, now, mkay?” she said, and then she was out.

--

“Holy shit,” Danny said, collapsing next to Paulina and Kwan and brushing the hair out of her face. “Is she—is she okay?”

Kwan held his fingers over her wrists. “I think so. Her ears are bleeding, though.”

“What happened?” Valerie said. “Your trial wasn’t anything like this!”

“I don’t know! It’s not like I’m an expert.”

“Stop yelling,” Paulina said, shifting against Kwan’s chest. “I can’t really hear you anyway.”

“Polly!” Kwan said, naked relief on his face. “Are you okay?”

Paulina pointed to her ears. “I can’t hear you, querido. My ears—it was really loud. In the trial.”

Dried blood still stained her neck. Danny had a feeling that “really loud” was an understatement.

In halting sentences, Paulina explained her trial. The voice, the laughter, the deal for making the pain stop. Danny was impressed; he wasn’t sure he would have withstood it, in her position. He could understand, now, how Pariah wouldn’t have made it through the trials.

They asked questions throughout, which Paulina couldn’t hear. It got a little better when they spoke slower and enunciated, but it would be a struggle until her ears healed, Danny feared.

“Let’s go over what we know,” Danny said, counting off on his fingers. “One, in both of the trials, only one person was picked to do the trial. Two, neither of you remembered it was a trial while it was happening, right?”

Kwan and Paulina both shook their heads, though Paulina winced as she did it. “It felt real,” Kwan said. “Like—I knew something was wrong, but whenever I tried to focus on that wrongness, it vanished.”

“I knew it was a trial at first,” Paulina said, throat scratchy, “but when it got too loud, I couldn’t really think straight. Then I was in school, and I completely forgot about the trial thing, even though the noise was still there. I forgot it wasn’t supposed to be there.”

Danny wanted to apologize to Paulina, for getting her involved in this, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t exactly appreciate it. She looked rough. Dried tear-streaks on her face that she hadn’t wiped off yet, hair a mess like she tried to rip it out, blood trails from her ears. They were pretty sure she’d burst both eardrums during her trial.

(It was a little over-the-top, Danny thought, to torture someone in a trial of compassion. Paulina had her flaws, sure, but that didn’t mean she needed to be hurt to learn a lesson. Kwan’s trial had really lulled them all into a false sense of security.)

(He could see, now, why Pariah Dark could never make it through.)

“Three, the trials seem to pick people on purpose.” His eyes slid over to Kwan and Paulina. “I think it picks based on those who… struggle the most with the thing the trial is all about.”

“Huh?” Paulina said. Right. She could only kind of hear right now.

“He said the trials picked us because I’m a coward and you’re mean.”

Danny winced. “That’s not—”

“Oh. Well, duh.”

“So, if truth’s next, it’ll be you, right?” Valerie said, looking Danny up and down.

“Hey!”

“You’re the one with the big secrets here.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, did you forget that you have a secret identity, too?” Danny felt like Valerie was probably right, all things considered. His secret was, ultimately, way bigger than hers.

Still, she was getting on his nerves. He’d known she had a grudge against ghosts, especially him, but this was getting ridiculous. For fuck’s sake, she’d worked better with him on Skulker’s island, when she thought he was a full ghost.

“No, but my dad knows all about it. And so did you, apparently, though you lied about that, too.”

“Oh, wow, two whole people. Except that I told your dad, not you. And you never told me anything! I happened to find out on my own.”

“Uh, guys?” Kwan said.

Valerie rolled her eyes. “Okay, yeah. But we broke up because I didn’t want to endanger you. And now it turns out you can take care of yourself just fine!”

“Oh, so if you knew I was half dead, we’d still be together? That’s my fault now?”

“Of course we wouldn’t. But I lied to you to protect you. You lied to me to protect yourself!”

“Yeah! I did! Now think for, like, two seconds about what I needed protection from!”

“Guys!” Kwan said. “Could you stop?”

“You know what? Maybe you’re right. Maybe it will be me. But not because I lie more than you. Maybe these tests are meant for humans only.”

Danny felt his eyes flash green. “So that’s what this is about? You hate me because I’m a freak?”

“I hate you because—”

“Okay!” Kwan said, jumping between them. “I think this conversation needs to stop immediately, before you both say… even more things you will regret. Valerie, dude, I know we’re just now trying to maybe be friends again, but as your maybe-future friend: you’ve gotta lay off.”

Danny stared and blinked at Kwan a couple times. Was Kwan… defending him?

“You’re taking his side?”

“Yeah, I am. I think you both need to cool down, but you’re wrong about this. And I think you know it, too.”

Valerie huffed. “I’m not wrong.”

Danny was so, so tired. “Okay.” He turned away and walked over to Paulina, who was still on the ground, and offered her a hand.

She stared up at him before grabbing on and pulling herself up. “She is wrong. She’s just… stubborn.”

Danny sighed. “You heard all that?”

“Bits and pieces. I got the gist. Hey, do you think the Panacea will fix my ears?” Danny opened his mouth to reply, but Paulina kept talking. “Never mind. What I mean is: sorry you had to hear that. I know you care about her, you know? It must really suck to hear this stuff from her in particular.”

“Yeah, I knew she wouldn’t take it well, but I didn’t think she’d take it this badly. I mean, she was okay with Danielle!”

“I’ll be real with you, I only caught like half of that, but, uh, who’s Danielle?”

Oh, duh. Danny smacked himself in the face. “Right, sorry. Danielle’s my half-ghost cousin. Well, we call each other cousins, but technically she’s my clone. She’s her own person, and all that but—yeah. Anyway, the guy who cloned her is also a giant asshole and he was planning to melt her down to study her remains, but Valerie helped me save her.” This time, he spoke a bit louder, and made sure to enunciate so Paulina could try to read his lips too.

“Dude. You have a clone?”

“Yeah.”

“Someone cloned you?”

“Yeah.”

“What the fuck?”

Danny laughed. “Yeah, that’s about right. He’s a real fruitloop, that Vlad.”

“Hang on—not Vlad Masters?”

Danny laughed harder. “Yep!”

“What the fuck, babe!”

“You’re telling me.”

“Why?”

Danny started to answer, then thought better of it. It was, after all, a long story, and he had a feeling that, although she was great at faking it, Paulina was still only catching parts of what he said. “I’ll tell you when your ears are better,” he said, tugging on his own then pointing at hers to make his point clearer.

Paulina rolled her eyes. “Fine. But I’m holding you to that! This is some juicy, juicy gossip”—Danny flashed her a panicked look—“that I will take to my grave and never speak of again.”

Paulina kept talking as they rejoined Kwan and Valerie. Mostly jokes about how he should change his ghostly outfit (“Seriously, querido, you’d look great in a crop-top!”) or about him out-gothing Sam (“You went and died! Manson will never be that hardcore.”).

Maybe he and Paulina could be friends after this.

--

Valerie was sure she was right.

She was sure she was right as she and Kwan waited in stony silence for Paulina and—for the others to join them. She was sure she was right as they walked in a group, the other three linking arms while she refused Kwan’s hand. She was sure she was right as they crossed into the black.

She was less sure when the room stayed dark.

“Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me,” she said. She worried at her lip for a moment, then yelled, “I’m the Red Huntress! Is that the truth this thing wants?”

“Uh, yeah,” Danny said. “I already know that, Val.”

Valerie grinned, just a little. It wasn’t like anyone could see her, and the fact that he was here, too? Vindicating. “Well, look at that. It’s both of us!”

“Yeah? It’s both of us. Together. In some strange room. In the dark.”

“Okay, well I said my big truth. You say yours.”

“What? Why?”

“We need to get through this trial, dumbass!”

“Trial?”

“Yeah, the truth trial. Obviously we’re both in it—wait. You don’t know it’s a trial! Ha, then this is totally your trial and I just got pulled in for… reasons. I knew it!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why is it so dark? Where are we?”

Valerie waved him off, though he couldn’t see it. “Oh, that’s not important. What is important is that you need to tell the truth. Probably to me, which is why I’m here.” Yeah, that made sense. He needed to tell the truth about how he’d hurt her, how he’d hurt everyone, how he’d played hero to earn his fawning fans. He needed to stop pretending to be something he wasn’t. And she was here because she deserved to hear it directly from him.

“What truth? Again, Val, what are you talking about?”

“Stop calling me Val. We’re not friends.”

“What do you—”

“Did the trial make you forget? I know you’re a ghost.”

“Oh.”

“I destroy ghosts.”

“But… But I’m also a human.”

“You’re a liar, is what you are.”

“For good reason.”

“No, I’m a liar for good reason. You’re just a coward!”

There was a long moment of silence where Valerie could only hear her own heaving breaths. Then, softly: “Wouldn’t you be?”

“No!”

“Really? You wouldn’t be the slightest bit afraid that people would try to kill you?”

“No one would kill you.”

“You said you know I’m a ghost and then immediately threatened to destroy me.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“Oh? How was I supposed to take ‘I destroy ghosts’ then? A joke?”

“Stop trying to turn this around on me. You’re the one who needs to tell the truth!”

“What truth? You already know the secret!”

“I’m talking about the rest of it! How you lie and manipulate people, how you fake being a hero, how you ruined my life!”

“Is that what you think?”

“Yes.”

“Is that really what you think?”

“I don’t think. I know.”

“Gah! It’s impossible to talk to you about this shit.” There was a rustling sound, like he was walking away.

“Hang on! You can’t walk away; you still need to complete your trial!” She ran to where she heard him moving, tripped, and then she was falling, falling, falling…

…and landing with a thud in the same black void.

“She’s a ghost! And I destroy ghosts.”

“But she’s also a human!”

Was that… her? Back when they had been talking about Danielle. Danielle, who was human and ghost and just a little girl. Valerie and—they had saved her from Vlad, who was also human and ghost.

“Was this a trick, too? Was Danielle a liar, too?” she yelled. No answer. “Where the hell did you go? We aren’t done here!”

“Valerie?”

Valerie twitched. That voice—

There, bright and glowing against the blackness of the room, was Danielle.

“Valerie!” Danielle said with a grin, flying forward and giving her a hug. Valerie returned it with stiff arms.

“Hey, you… Uh, I’m looking for your… cousin. Do you know where he is?”

“Danny? No, I haven’t seen him in ages. I’m kinda off exploring the world, y’know? Anyway, how’ve you been?”

“I’m—good. Look, I really need to find him.”

Danielle floated up and shrugged. “Well, he’s not here, but I can help you look.”

Valerie nodded. “Thanks, kid. And, uh, would you mind changing back to human?”

“Huh?” Danielle landed on whatever passed for the ground in this featureless void. “Why?”

“It’s just—uncomfortable, is all.”

Something strange passed across Danielle’s face.

“Oh. Well, I mean, I’ll be a lot faster if I can fly.”

Valerie clenched her fists. “Fine,” she said through gritted teeth.

Danielle’s answering smile was tense as she lifted herself through the air. “I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

“Wait, if you leave how will”—Danielle zoomed away with an impressive burst of speed—“we find each other. Great.” Valerie groaned and slumped to the ground. “They just keep running away, huh?”

“Yeah,” Star said, “I wonder why that is.”

Star and Valerie were on a hill, watching the stars. Star was really good at finding constellations, seeing connections where Valerie saw points, seeing a picture where Valerie saw light pollution, so stargazing was always fun with her. She’d always loved space because of her name, she said. She wanted to know all about what she was named after.

The moon was full and bright. Valerie could see Star clearly, half-swallowed by the long grass. It was a cool, pleasant night. Peaceful, in all the ways Valerie was not.

(She was looking for someone. To do… something.)

“It’s ‘cause they know I’m right,” Valerie said.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure.”

“Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe you need to be less sure.”

“What are you—”

And Valerie was falling again.

--

Detention with Lancer. Never fun, not even when he kicked his feet up and fell asleep. She and Phantom had both gotten it for skipping class to fight ghosts. The ghost himself was sitting in the back of the class, balancing his pencil on his nose and staring out the window.

After a long moment of silence, Phantom said, “You don’t have any questions for me?”

“Already know all the answers.”

“Oh yeah? Then why’d I fight Pariah Dark?”

“For attention.”

“I thought I would die.” Phantom’s tone was light, conversational. This isn’t a big deal to him, just a fact. “Like, all the way. I thought that suit was gonna kill me if Pariah didn’t kill me first.”

“You’re lying.”

The pencil fell to the desk with a clatter. “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Whenever I say anything you can’t argue against, you just claim I’m lying.”

“It’s because you’re a liar,” Valerie said without thinking.

“See! There you go again. Not addressing my actual point, just deflecting.”

Valerie opened her mouth to refute again, then paused. Calling the ghost a liar had become reflex. She didn’t have to think about anything he said if it was all a lie, after all. Then again… “But you did lie to me.”

“Yeah. I’ve been lying to everyone for years now.”

“So why should I trust you?”

Phantom shrugged. “Have I ever hurt anyone?”

“That doesn’t mean you won’t start.”

“You could say the same thing about literally anyone, though.”

“You ruined my life!”

“You told me you liked being a ghost hunter. That you like your life as it is right now. Was that a lie?”

Valerie grit her teeth. “No.”

“Then why are you so upset with me?”

“Because you lied!” Valerie yanked her hair in frustration. “Isn’t that obvious?”

“Not because I’m a ghost?”

“No!”

Valerie gasped even as the word came out of her mouth. Lancer grumbled in his sleep at the front of the classroom and shifted to the side. Phantom grinned at her, showing off the fangs in his mouth.

“Wait, no, that’s not… I’m also mad because of the ghost thing! Ghosts are evil.”

“Am I evil?”

Yes, she wanted to say, but her lips wouldn’t form the word.

“Is Danielle evil?”

Danielle, screaming, dissolving into goo, and Valerie put her there—

“No.”

“Are you angry? Or are you using anger to cover the hurt?”

“I—I’m not—”

And Valerie was falling again.

--

“One of these days, ghost,” Jack Fenton said, shaking his fist, “I’m going to catch you and rip you apart molecule by molecule!”

“She’s a ghost!” Valerie said. “And I destroy ghosts!”

“Ghosts are nothing but the imprint of a human consciousness manifesting in ectoplasm after death,” Maddie Fenton said, shocking the ghost on her table as it screamed. “They don’t actually feel anything.”

And then—

Frostbite slammed the door closed, even though he got infected. Even though he was a full ghost and shouldn’t have cared about them at all.

And Danielle flew away, young and eager to explore the world. A child, who’d never really been free before.

And Danny—

Danny laughing with her. Danny hiding with her from Dash and Nathan. Danny forgiving her for being mean in school. Danny begging her to help him save Danielle (a child, who’d done nothing wrong and Valerie had given her away to a man who would destroy her). Danny, just as invested in protecting that stupid flour sack for their grade. Danny, revealing her to her dad, smug little grin on his face. Danny, who could’ve died that day and no one would have ever known what he’d done for them.

Something ached in her heart.

“No,” she said, choking on a sob, as the scenery around her changed again. “No, I can’t be this wrong.”

She was in a lab, now. Jack and Maddie Fenton stood to her left. To her right stood two GiW agents. On the table in front of her, strapped down, was Phantom.

Was Danny.

“Ms. Gray,” one of the agents said, “we were so pleased when you brought us your capture. Such a unique specimen will fuel our research for decades.”

Valerie swallowed. Danny stared at her, uncanny green eyes boring into her own. He didn’t say anything.

“Decades?” she said.

“Of course! We’ll take it slow; we wouldn’t want to destroy it before we’ve learned everything we can. Not like some people.” He looked over at Jack and Maddie, who rubbed their heads sheepishly.

Decades. Decades as a test subject. If Danny was just a ghost, it shouldn’t matter. He couldn’t feel anything.

Right?

Valerie couldn’t look away from his face. He looked scared.

“No,” she said. Her fingers clenched into fists

“Hm?” the other agent said.

“No, I won’t let you do this. It… This isn’t right!” With every word she spoke, she became more sure.

Danny was afraid. It wasn’t a lie or an act. He was really, truly afraid.

“Valerie?” Maddie said. “Dear, you know it’s not a person, right? It can’t actually feel.”

“You’re wrong!” She stepped forward, pulled out her gun, and blasted away the restraints holding Danny down. “I’ve been wrong, too. This whole time.”

“It’s out!” one agent said, pulling his ectogun and firing. “Recapture maneuvers, now!”

“What did you do?” Jack grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. Danny flew around the room, avoiding the ectoblasts from the agents and Maddie. “What did you do?”

“The right thing,” she whispered. And she knew that, this time, she was correct, and it hit like a bullet to the chest.

Then she was soaring, ripped out of Jack’s grasp, flying through walls and agents until she was outside the building, in Danny’s arms, free.

He set her down on a rooftop across the city. “Thank you,” he said. “I couldn’t—”

Heaving sobs burst out of her. “I’m sorry! God, fuck, I’m so sorry.”

“I—Huh?”

Fat tears rolled down her cheeks. “I just didn’t want to admit it. For so long, Danny.”

“Are you okay?”

Valerie laughed. “No. I’ve been convincing myself that I was right and ghosts were all evil all the time because if they weren’t… if they weren’t, then what was I even doing?”

Danny’s face, inexplicably, softened. “Val—”

“And then I found out your secret, and all I could think was that you lied. That you didn’t trust me. And I knew why! But if I acknowledged it, then I had to acknowledge everything. All the—all the ways I hurt you. What if I hurt other ghosts that did—didn’t deserve it either?” Valerie hiccuped. “I—oh, God, I’m a monster.”

“You’re not a monster. You’re human. This is the kind of mistake that humans make. Me included.”

“I would have let Vlad destroy Danielle if you didn’t talk me out of it. I would have been fine with it!”

“But you didn’t. Don’t torture yourself over things you didn’t do. It doesn’t help anything.”

Valerie’s throat was sore, aching with each new sob, but she couldn’t stop. “I’m sorry. I made you a liar in my head so I could keep lying to myself. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Danny’s arms circled around her, and she let her head hit his shoulder.

“Okay,” he said. “Okay.”

--

Kwan didn’t expect Valerie to come back crying.

He’d kind of figured she’d get the trial. She’d been so sure it would be Danny that Kwan thought it had to be her. Like, cosmically or whatever. And after Paulina’s… whatever that was, he knew it would more than likely be intense. But ever since her dad had lost his job, Valerie had lost her softness, too. She didn’t cry when she was upset anymore. Instead, she got angry. She got even.

But when the light flashed on, Valerie was huddled on the floor, hugging herself, sobs heaving from her chest. Her face was dark and splotchy, dark stains of mascara trailing down her cheeks. Time was Kwan would have run to her, put his arms around her, rocked her back and forth. But this wasn’t that Valerie, and he wasn’t that Kwan.

He walked slowly, and knelt beside her.

“Valerie?”

“Oh God,” she said, choking through her sobs. “I—I really messed up.”

Kwan couldn’t help but turn his head and stare at Danny, holding Paulina up across the room. If she meant what he thought she meant… well, he couldn’t exactly argue.

“Yeah,” he said. She looked at him, tears still dripping from her eyes. “What are you gonna do about it?”

Valerie lifted a shaking hand and wiped at her eyes and cheeks and chin. “Ugh, nasty.” She looked tired more than anything. “Yeah. Yeah, I gotta do something, right?”

“You should probably start with walking. I don’t think he’s gonna come to you.”

Kwan stood with her, holding her elbow as her knees started to tremble. He glanced over her real quick, looking for any injuries like Paulina’s, but whatever had messed her up seemed to be more mental than anything.

That didn’t stop her from almost collapsing when she took her first step, grabbing on to Kwan’s hand at the last moment.

“Val!” Danny said, making an aborted gesture like he wanted to come over to help.

“I’m okay,” she said. “Just give me a sec.”

Kwan didn’t quite buy it, but she was determined. He kept his arm out, just in case she fell, but with each step she became steadier, almost normal by the time she reached Danny and Paulina.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I was wrong about you. About everything. And I knew it, see, but I didn’t want to face it. So I just kept lying to myself. And I hurt you because of it. And I’m sorry.”

Danny froze, staring at Valerie in disbelief. “Oh,” he said.

Kwan looked over at the door at the far end of the chamber. He awaited the tell-tale rumble, the sign that they’d finished the last trial and the door was opening, but nothing came. Confused, he stared at Valerie, who shook her head.

“I don’t think I’m done just yet,” she said, sitting down in front of Danny. “I’ve done a lot of talking since this started. Said a lot of things… things that I regret. I haven’t listened, much. I think I need to listen, now.”

“Listen to what?” Danny said. “Like, what am I supposed to say?”

“Anything you wanted to tell me.” Tears spilled over her eyes again and her voice broke. “I’ll believe you. I swear.”

Danny laughed, just a little. “Even if I said the sky was green?”

Valerie pointed at one of the holes in the ceiling that revealed the swirling Ghost Zone outside. “Isn’t it?” she said.

Kwan couldn’t help but laugh at that, too, just as Danny and Valerie fell into giggles. Paulina mostly looked confused, but Kwan didn’t really have a good way to explain it to her right now. He waved her off.

“Well, I guess—Vlad’s a half-ghost, too. I thought you should know that.”

“Oh, uh, I already did. Know that, I mean”

“You did?”

Kwan held up his hands before they could get any deeper into that discussion. “Wait, wait—the mayor?”

“Yeah. He wants to kill my dad, marry my mom, and make me his evil half-ghost apprentice. So. It’s uncomfortable at best but sometimes I egg his house.”

“You egg his house?”

“After he cloned me, I figured all bets were off.”

“He cloned you?”

“Jesus, is that where Danielle came from?”

“Who’s Danielle?”

“My cousin. Well, technically, yes, she’s my clone, but that’s weird so we just call each other cousins.”

“Yeah,” Kwan said, feeling faint, “that makes the situation much less weird.”

Danny shrugged. “It’s just my life, dude. You get used to it.”

“Hang on,” Valerie said. “I don’t think we can gloss over the fact that Vlad Masters wants to murder your father, marry your mother, forcibly adopt you, and clone you, and the proportional response is egging his house?”

Danny rolled his eyes. “It’s not proportional but I’m not rich enough to do much more than be petty. If I reveal his identity to anyone then he’ll reveal me, too. Mutually Assured Destruction, and all that. Only so much I can do outside of that.”

“Okay. Okay. Shit. This is crazy. I hate this.”

“Tell me about it. How did you know Vlad was a ghost, anyway?”

“Oh, uh, I flew back to check on him after Danielle. And he was. Monologuing.”

Danny laughed again. “Of course he was. He’s such a little loser. You know his cat?”

“Yeah, Maddie—oh shit, that’s your mother’s name.”

(What the fuck, Kwan thought. What the fuck the mayor was so creepy.)

“Yeah, heh, well, the cat was my idea.”

“What?”

“Yeah. I told him he was so lonely and pathetic that he should stop trying to get my mom to love him since she never would and instead fill that hole with a cat. I still can’t believe he listened to me.”

They broke down into laughter again. Kwan thought it sounded a little hysterical, but he figured they deserved to go a little crazy.

After they calmed down a bit, Valerie wiped at her eyes. “What else?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, is there anything else you want to say to me? Stuff to tell me?”

(Kwan actually wanted to spend a little more time on the whole the mayor is an evil ghost thing, but this wasn’t his show.)

And Danny talked.

He talked about walking into his parents’ portal, thinking it was broken. About turning it on while he was still inside. About how much he sucked with his powers to start. About Ember McClain (she’s a ghost?) and Spectra (she’s a ghost?) and the Lunch Lady. About how scared he was, fighting Pariah Dark. About how much fun it was to fly. How funny it was to mess with Vlad.

Sometime, in the middle of all this, the door opened. Kwan and Paulina both felt the rumble, both looked at the door, but Valerie and Danny were too engrossed in their conversation to notice. Paulina opened her mouth to say something, but Kwan shook his head. The fate of the world didn’t rest on them moving immediately. Thirty more seconds wouldn’t matter.

After another minute, Paulina raised her eyebrows at him, jerking her head at the door. Kwan bit back an instinctive retort. She wouldn’t hear it anyway, and she wasn’t wrong. They couldn’t wait forever.

“Uh, guys?” he said, when there was a slight lull. “Not to interrupt, but the door’s open.”

Valerie and Danny’s head whipped around. “Oh,” Valerie said. “Right.”

Kwan winced. They’d been having a good time! Getting along! He’d been hoping for that since the beginning of this mess and now that they were there, he had to break the tender moment up. Unfair.

Necessary, but unfair.

“We’re done, right?” Danny said. “I mean, this last one should be the Panacea?”

“Should be,” Valerie said. “Unless we fucked up somehow. Or that legend was wrong.”

Kwan peered beyond the opening, but just like every other time, it was pitch black. They’d only find out for sure by walking in.

“Hang on a sec,” Danny said, eyes squeezed in concentration. Before Kwan could ask what he was doing, a bright white light engulfed the room.

When Kwan could see again, there was Danny Phantom, standing in place of Danny Fenton.

“Woo! Finally!” Danny said, floating up and doing a couple flips.

“Wait,” Kwan said, “could you… not do that before?”

Danny laughed. “Of course not, dude, or I’d’ve been in ghost mode the whole time. Ghost Zone is dangerous and all. That gun really knocked the wind out of me; I only just got the connection to my ghost half back.”

Kwan had been kind of avoiding thinking about Danny’s ghost half because he wasn’t really sure what to think. He didn’t have a problem with it, not like Valerie did, but it still felt… weird. How could someone be half-dead? Wasn’t it, like, painful?

Watching now, the grin on Danny’s face as he unleashed a bright explosion of ectoplasm like a firework over their heads, he knew there was nothing to worry about. Danny was half-ghost. Danny was happy about it.

It was good enough for him, Kwan decided.

He glanced over at Valerie. A smile played around her lips. Paulina was cheering beside her, elbow resting on Valerie’s shoulder. In a moment, they’d all link arms and walk through the last door, a truly united front.

Kwan cheered with Paulina as Danny landed. Valerie’s almost-smile became a grin. Danny bowed, a huge sweeping motion.

He could get used to friends like this.

--

“If we walk through this door and there’s another trial,” Danny said, looping his hands through Kwan and Valerie’s elbows, “I’m gonna be so pissed.”

Kwan and Valerie laughed, but Paulina groaned. “I can’t wait to find this stupid Panacea so I can stop missing all the good stuff! Stop being funny while I can’t hear!”

Danny couldn’t help laughing again as they stepped over the final threshold.

Immediately, the room lit up. Danny raked his eyes over the other, making sure none of them were shaken up or hurt like they’d been before, but they all looked the same.

“No trials?” he said, just to be sure.

“No,” Valerie said. Kwan shook his head.

Paulina rolled her eyes. “I still can’t hear you.”

Danny gave her a thumbs up, then pointed at her, and shrugged.

She giggled. “Okay, yeah, I’m good. No trials or anything, if that’s what you’re asking.”

With that settled, Danny examined the room for the Panacea. At the far end, raised on a pedestal on a dais, was a white, crystalline bottle, glowing just slightly.

The Panacea.

Kwan whooped and raced toward it. “Wait!” Danny said, afraid of another trap.

Kwan made it to the dais, but stopped at Danny’s shout. “Sorry! I got excited.”

“Yeah, I get it, but we need to be careful.” Danny floated up next to Kwan, Valerie and Paulina right behind him. “Maybe… Maybe you should all step back.”

“What?”

“Danny, no!”

“What’d you say?”

“Listen! I’m faster than any of you. If something gets triggered I’m more likely to be able to get away.”

“But—” Valerie started to say.

“Am I wrong?”

“No—”

“Look, I appreciate it. Really, I do, but I think it’s best if I get the thing. Just in case.”

Danny couldn’t exactly explain why, but he was absolutely certain that he needed to be the one to grab the bottle. Everything he said was true enough, but there was something else niggling in the back of his mind that said he was the only one who could do it. He couldn’t let anyone else touch it.

“What’s going on?” Paulina said to Kwan in what she probably intended to be a whisper but was loud enough for everyone to hear. Kwan pointed to Danny, then to the rest of them, then pointed to the other side of the chamber.

“Yeah, that doesn’t really help,” she said, “but thanks, querido.”

“Are you sure?” Valerie said, steady gaze meeting his own.

Danny swallowed. “I’m sure.” He wasn’t sure why he was so sure, but he was.

She bit her lip, then nodded and stepped back, pulling Kwan and Paulina with her. That trial really had changed things; just ten minutes ago, Valerie would never have listened to him like this.

Once they were far enough away, Danny took a deep breath and grabbed the Panacea.

It came off easily, but before they could take a moment to celebrate, a bright green box formed around him.

Of course it did.

Danny reached out to touch the green wall, and a painful zap had him yanking his hand back. So no walking through. Ugh.

“Oh, come on!” Paulina said, tearing at her hair in frustration. “We passed your stupid trials! Just let us save the world!”

“Don’t worry, dude!” Kwan said. “We’ll get you out of there.”

It hit Danny all at once, a certainty that he knew exactly what needed to be done.

Valerie had already run up to the trap, Kwan and Paulina close behind, and was examining it. Probably looking for a way to get rid of it.

She couldn’t, though. Not like that.

“Val! Take the Panacea!”

Valerie, sharp as ever, narrowed her eyes at him. She’d already caught on. “We aren’t going to leave you here, Danny.”

“You have to.”

“No way!”

“What’s happening now?”

Kwan pulled out his phone, typing something before showing it to Paulina. She gasped. “Are you stupid? We’ll figure something else out. Don’t go playing martyr on us now.”

“No, listen! You have to. This is my trial, okay?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Every trial picks something that we suck at, right? Well, this one picked me.”

Kwan frowned. “I don’t—”

“It’s trust. I—look, I’ll be honest, you three are not high on my list of people to trust with my secret. Or, at least, you weren’t.”

Valerie opened her mouth, then winced. “Okay, yeah, that’s… fair.”

“But how can this be a trial? No one else’s trial took place in the real world!” Kwan stopped himself, furiously typing on his phone to show to Paulina. “This is the real world, right?”

“It’s real,” Danny said. He knew it like he knew he needed to grab the Panacea, like he knew exactly what needed to happen next. “This trap won’t go away until we put the Panacea back. But when we put it back, it’s gone forever. We’ll never find it again.”

“So, if we get you out…”

“We lose the Panacea.”

“No, no, no! We’ll figure something else out. There has to be another way.”

“Guys, guys, chill. You just have to bring it back when you’re done, okay?” Danny held out the Panacea through the force field. It passed through just fine. “I’m not offering to stay here forever. Just until you get back.”

None of them moved to grab the bottle. “But… but how are we supposed to fight the ghost without you?”

It was a fair question, and Danny wasn’t sure how he would have answered it yesterday. But the Panacea would be Pestilence’s ultimate weakness. And they’d faced plenty of stuff on their own today.

Danny wiggled the Panacea. “You’ll figure it out. I’ve got faith.”

(He was lying, just a little. But this wasn’t the truth trial, and what was faith without a little doubt?)

Valerie hugged herself. “I don’t know that we can,” she said. She straightened. “But we have to anyway, right?”

“Pretty much,” Danny said with a laugh.

“Do you have, like, snacks? For while you wait? Do you even need to eat?” He opened his mouth to respond, but Paulina shook her head. “Never mind, I can’t hear you anyway. Just… be careful?”

He couldn’t do much else, trapped as he was. He smiled and gave Paulina a thumbs up.

Kwan reached out and took the bottle. “How come you get to know it’s a trial, anyway? I didn’t know what the hell was going on.”

“How the hell should I know?”

“Fair.” Kwan started to move away, then paused. “We’ll figure it out. Promise.”

“I know,” he said. (Did he?)

“See you soon.”

Danny’s palms were sweaty under the suit. “See you soon.”

And they left.

--

Waiting sucked.

He was more bored and more anxious than he’d ever been in his life. Sure, he’d talked big about trusting the others. He even meant it. But he’d lost his phone somewhere in this whirlwind of a day, so he had no idea how much time had passed. An hour? Two hours? A day?

Okay, it definitely hadn’t been a day, but still. He worried. Valerie could hold her own, and Kwan could throw a decent punch, but was that enough against a veritable army? Even with the Panacea?

He wasn’t used to sitting aside and letting other people save the day.

(It was the right choice. It was the only choice. He hated it.)

He drummed his fingers on his knee. He tried a few breakdancing moves, fell, and laid on his back for ten minutes. His bladder started to ache. He thought about pissing through the barrier, but he couldn’t risk the chance that it would instead ricochet. He squeezed his legs together. He sang Billy Joel songs at the top of his lungs until his throat started to hurt.

“Jeez, you are not a singer, my guy.”

Danny’s head jerked up at Kwan’s voice. There, crossing the threshold, were Valerie, Paulina, and Kwan, hair and clothes a little messed up, but looking perfectly fine.

“You’re back!” He stood up and attempted to meet them, only to slam into the barrier, zapping himself once again. “Ow.”

“Of course we are,” Valerie said, a smirk in her voice. “Never a doubt.”

“This Panacea stuff is amazing.” Paulina pointed to her ears and wiggled the bottle. “Fixes everything. I love hearing and sound.”

Danny laughed, relief tingling down his spine. It worked. They did it. They won.

“Thank fuck,” he said. “Now get me out of here.”

“Hm, I don’t know,” Paulina said, tapping at her chin and frowning. “This stuff is pretty cool.”

Before an icy hand of fear could grip his heart, Kwan and Valerie were already yelling at Paulina.

“Polly!”

“Come on, girl.”

Paulina giggled, waving her hand. “Sorry, sorry. Wrong crowd.” She passed it through the barrier.

He snatched it out of her hand and placed it back on its pedestal. The barrier fell, and the room rumbled once again. As Danny stumbled to his friends (yeah, they were friends, weren’t they?), the chamber collapsed in on itself, leaving just the four of them, floating alone in the Ghost Zone.

“Guys,” Danny said, “I have to pee so badly.”

And they collapsed on each other, laughing. It didn’t help the burning in his bladder, but he could wait a minute or so more.

--

All four of them had split with little fanfare, exhausted from the day's events. He'd sent a quick text to Sam, Tucker, and Jazz, promising to explain everything tomorrow, and promptly fell asleep.

Jazz drove him to school and he gave her a rundown on the way. She smiled at him. Patted his shoulder. Said she was proud of him for making such a hard choice.

“Wasn't much of a choice,” he said with a shrug.

“That still doesn't mean it was easy. You did good, Danny. And now maybe you've got some more people, too.”

“Yeah,” he said. “Maybe.”

The thing was, Danny had watched The Breakfast Club once, with Sam and Tucker. At the end, Sam looked over at him and said, “Bet they go back to school the next day and never talk to each other again.”

Tucker blew a raspberry at her. “Boo!” he said. “You're no fun.”

“Yeah,” Danny had said at the time, “They're all friends now. They aren't just going to give it all up to go back to how things used to be.”

“They spent one afternoon together in detention,” Sam said. “How life changing could it be?”

Danny pointedly did not think about that conversation as he walked up to Casper High the day after Pestilence's defeat. He didn't think about it as he pushed open the front entrance. He didn't think about it as he opened his locker. He definitely didn't think about it as he saw Dash shove Mikey to the floor.

Business as usual.

“Hey.”

Danny jumped, smacked his head on the locked door, and turned to see Paulina standing behind him.

Paulina giggle. “You good, cariño?”

“Don't sneak up on me like that!” Danny rubbed the stinging at the back on his head. “You'll give me a heart attack.”

“Can you get a heart attack?” Paulina tilted her head. Danny thought for a moment: his heart didn't actually beat in ghost form so theoretically...

“...Don't ask me that.”

“Hey, Fenturd! Leave Paulina alone.”

And there was Dash, looming behind him like Skulker, but only half as scary. Danny managed not to flinch as he turned to face him.

“I started talking to him, Dashie.”

Dash blinked in surprise. “Well,” he said, “he still shouldn't bother you.”

“He isn't.”

“Oh.”

Dash stood for a moment, mouth open, like he couldn't believe any of this. Danny could hardly believe it himself. But then Paulina rolled her eyes and said, “Seriously, Dash, that's enough. You can go now.” She punctuated her sentence with a dismissive wave.

“I—what?” Dash shook his head. “No, no, this doesn't make sense. Polly, are you—are you still possessed?”

Still possessed. Did Dash think that Paulina had been under Pestilence's spell? Or did he think she was somehow under Danny's spell? What exactly did everyone else think had happened yesterday?

“Just because I want to talk to Danny and not—”

“But he's a loser—”

“Don't talk about him like that!”

Dash's mouth flapped like he wanted to speak but no words came out. “I—you—what did you do to her, you little freak?” He turned on Danny, who had pressed himself into his locker, caught in the middle of this argument. Grabbing Danny's collar, he hoisted him up, knocking his head against the locker door again. Ow.

“I didn't do anything! Maybe Paulina just grew up!” Danny had never been good at keeping his mouth shut. Even now, when the obvious answer was to just get this whole thing over as soon as possible, he still had to sass Dash.

Paulina's perfectly manicured hand wrapped around Dash's wrist. “Seriously, Dash, he didn't—”

Dash ignored her, shoving her off. Paulina stumbled back, then hit the ground with a thud.

“Get off of him!”

And there was Kwan, pulling Dash off of him, arms looped under and around his shoulders. Danny sank to the ground, rubbing at his head. To the side, he saw Valerie help Paulina up before they both turned to glare at Dash.

Despite the twinge in his scalp, despite the stares of the rest of the school, despite his own lingering exhaustion, Danny couldn't help but smile. Take that, Sam. The Breakfast Club lives.

--

“Kwan?” Dash pulled away as soon as Kwan loosened his grip. “What the hell are you doing?”

Kwan ignored him and turned to Danny and Paulina. “You guys okay?”

Before either of them could respond, Dash shoved him. “Hey!”

“What is your problem, dude?”

“You're the one who suddenly came at me!”

“Yeah, because you were hurting Danny and Paulina.”

Dash blinked, like that hadn't occurred to him. It probably hadn't. Sometimes, Kwan thought that Dash didn't realize that everyone else in the world was a person, too. That they all had thoughts and feelings of their own. To Dash, everything was all Dash all the time.

(It wasn't entirely true, Kwan knew. He remembered a different Dash, eight years old, crying over Old Yeller and pretending he wasn't. Swiping at stray tears and yelling it's just dusty it's allergies don't laugh even though Kwan was crying, too. He doesn't know when exactly the pretense became reality, but he'd lost his Dash a long, long time ago.)

“Sorry Polly,” Dash said, not even looking at her. “But she’s acting weird. Fentonio’s using his parents’ ghost stuff to control her or something!”

“He is not!” Paulina yelled.

“Do you have, like, proof, or are you just pulling this insane theory out of your ass?”

They had long since attracted a crowd. Danny had slipped over to Valerie and Paulina at the front of the mass of students, and behind them stood just about every person in the school. Even Mr. Lancer, who by all rights should have been stepping in and stopping this, was standing by and watching. Like he was curious how things would go.

Asshole.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you need to back off of Danny and everyone else!”

Dash straightened up and pushed up his sleeves. “Oh yeah?” he said. “Who’s gonna make me.”

The crowd around them went wild, frenzied kids hooting and hollering at the prospect of a fight. Kwan made eye contact with Danny, Valerie, and Paulina. Paulina pointed at Dash, rolled her eyes, and faked a gag. Valerie gave him a thumbs up. Danny mouthed sorry at him. Behind them, Lancer hid his face behind a book.

Kwan wasn’t stupid. He knew what Dash was asking for. He knew Dash thought he’d win the fight, easy. He’d always won before, after all. Except—Kwan had been stupid in love with him. And a Dash who won was way happier than a Dash who lost.

The truth: Dash was a quarterback. Decently strong, for sure, but his main job was throwing the ball around. Kwan was an offensive lineman. His main job? Throwing people around. When the playing field was level, when Kwan didn’t pull his punches, there was no competition.

If Dash had thought about it for more than a minute, he would’ve realized that there was no way he was stronger than Kwan. But he’d long since lost that kind of self-awareness.

Kwan could be sad about all the ways Dash had changed tomorrow. Today was for kicking his ass.

Dash pulled his arm back to throw a haymaker. Without pausing to think, Kwan sidestepped the attack and swung an uppercut, hitting Dash square on the jaw with a nauseating click.

Dash flopped to the floor, mouth hanging open. Blood dripped down his chin; he must have bitten his tongue. For a moment, he froze, staring at Kwan in shock.

“You’re an ass,” Kwan said, “and I’ve been an ass right next to you. But I’m sick of it. Paulina’s sick of it. Everyone else in school is sick of it. I’m not holding myself back just to make you feel better. And I’m not gonna let you keep being a dick, either. So I suggest you stay down.”

Dash opened his mouth to say something, but Kwan cut him off. “I don’t wanna hear it,” he said. “Just… grow the fuck up, dude.”

And he walked past his oldest friend, bleeding on the ground, toward the cacophony of students and his 3 new/old friends.

“Jeez,” Valerie said, giving him a playful smack on the shoulder, “you’re so dramatic.”

“That was… public,” Danny said. The students started to disperse, heralded by Mr. Lancer. Lancer looked over at Kwan, nodded in something like approval, then shepherded people into their classrooms, leaving the four of them alone in the hallway just before the bell rang.

Kwan scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, sorry about that. Sorry you got in the middle there.”

“No, no, I mean… thanks for stepping in, but are you guys gonna be okay?” Danny’s eyes flicked between Paulina and Kwan.

They looked at each other. Paulina giggled. Valerie shook her head with a smile.

“Yeah, dude,” Kwan said. “We’re gonna be just fine.”

[hqbaby]

twenty — more than

fuck ur instincts — suna x reader & atsumu x reader

you and suna are just fooling around—so why does he care so much when you start falling in love with someone else?

previous — masterlist — next

word count. 1.5k content. swearing, mentions of sex

Suna doesn’t know where the time went. One moment, he seems to have you in the palm of his hand, the next, he barely sees you at all. You’re just gone from his life, gone in the way that matters most.

It’s been two months since you and Atsumu started dating officially. He doesn’t talk to you anymore and he avoids the subject as much as he can around Atsumu, but from what he can tell, the two of you are doing great. You’re happy together, perfect even. Atsumu’s exactly what you need.

And that makes him feel terrible.

“Rin,” the girl in his bed calls, “are you okay?”

He looks up from the corner he’s decided to sit in and shrugs at her. “Dunno.”

This probably looks really bad. He’s just spent the last two hours fucking her and now he can’t even go near her. At least he’s managed to remember her name. Ayame. He never calls her that when he comes though. He just can’t.

“Do you want me to leave?” she asks.

He shakes his head. “It’s okay,” he says. “You can take the bed, I’ll stay on the couch.”

“You don’t need to do that—”

“It’s fine. I don’t really sleep in my bed anymore.”

Ayame looks at him sadly. She pities him, he knows she does. At this point, everyone knows that you and Atsumu are together. When the basketball team found out, it became a whole thing that ended with the entire campus basically getting a PSA that you are off-limits now.

She shifts a little. “Can I ask you a question?”

He nods at her weakly. “Sure.”

“Do you love her?”

Suna feels that burning in his chest again. It happens every time someone mentions you, every time he thinks about you, every time he sees your yellow Winnie the Pooh toothbrush beside his (he can’t bring himself to get rid of it).

“Yeah,” he says quietly. “If it isn’t love, I don’t know what it is.”

Ayame offers him a sad smile. “At least you know what love is,” she tells him. “Not a lot of people actually get to experience it. They think they do, but they don’t. At least you know it’s real.”

He chuckles bitterly. “What good is that?”

She sighs. “I don’t know,” she tells him. “But it’s something, right?”

“I can come with ya,” Atsumu offers, placing a bag of detergent in the cart. “Ya can tell ‘em I’m yer assistant or somethin’.”

You grab a bottle of fabric softener and tick it off your list. “My parents aren’t going to believe I have an assistant.”

“And why not? Ya can rule the whole world at this point.”

“‘Tsumu…”

“Y/N…”

You crane your neck and peck his jaw. “I would take you, I really would,” you tell him, turning back to your list. “But my whole family’s gonna be there. I don’t want the first time you meet my parents to be the same day you get harassed to death by my aunts.”

“They’d love me!” he insists.

“I’m not saying they wouldn’t,” you tell him. “I’m just saying that my family is crazy and I don’t wanna drag you down with me.”

He whines. “But how am I gonna survive without ya?”

“It’s three days!”

“That’s a lot of days!”

You groan. “If you stop complaining, I’ll take you to that new sushi place when I get back.”

He furrows his brows. “The one with the good tuna?”

“The one with the good tuna.”

Suddenly all smiles, Atsumu plants a wet kiss on your cheek as he hums the intro to that one anime he’s been obsessed with. “I have the best girlfriend in the world.”

You push the cart to the next aisle as he skips ahead of you. “You’re impossible.”

“I know! And ya still put up with me! Best girlfriend, I’m tellin’ ya.”

You roll your eyes and smile, the two of you working together to get the rest of the groceries you need.

The past two months have been the most interesting time. At first, it was a bit of an adjustment having an actual boyfriend. You went out with guys before but you never really stuck around long enough to find out what being with someone was like. It took you a while to even wrap your head around the word.

Boyfriend.

It just seemed so official. So real.

You don’t think you ever had anything real before.

But there was something about Atsumu that just made the whole thing feel natural. The two of you fell into place perfectly, finding your roles in the relationship together and figuring it out along the way.

One thing you always liked about Atsumu was his honesty. The way you always knew that what you saw was what you got. That part of him helped a lot when the two of you needed to make things clear with each other. You never felt like he was hiding what he thought or felt. What you saw was what you got.

The worst fight you had so far had to do with volleyball. You’d expected that.

Oikawa was right when he said Atsumu was extremely anal about the sport, he would stop at nothing to get things exactly right.

He had forgotten to pick you up one afternoon and, with the rain and the flooding near your residence hall, you ended up stuck in the cafeteria until late. When the two of you finally sat down to talk about it, he acted all self-righteous, saying that he was practicing and how could he have known it was going to rain?

“Ya knew I was gonna be busy!” he said, stomping around the living room. “Ya can’t just expect me to drop everythin’ for ya!”

You put your head in your hands and let out a frustrated sigh. “For fuck’s sake, Atsumu, do I not matter to you at all?”

That seemed to change something in his mind. Like it all clicked. Like he realized that he was being stupid. Of course you matter to him. He’s pretty sure you’re the only thing that does.

The two of you never had the same argument again.

He isn’t perfect, but he sees you for who you are to him. He knows your worth and he knows he never wants to lose you, nothing would be worth as much as you.

Life has worked out for the two of you. And you’ve worked out for each other. You have to admit you could get used to this feeling—this happiness, this warmth, this security—maybe you already have.

“Why don’t you throw a party?” you ask, sticking a lollipop into your mouth as he loads the groceries into his car.

Atsumu makes a face. “But why?”

“Oh, come on,” you say, “you haven’t thrown one in so long.”

“Yeah because hostin’ parties sucks ass.”

“I bet it’s not that bad.”

“Ya just say that ‘cause yer a partygoer, not a party-thrower.”

You pull the lollipop out of your mouth and jump into the passenger seat. “Alright, fine,” you say as he gets in the driver’s seat. “What about just a little night in with the team? You guys haven’t drank together in a while.”

“I don’t like drinking,” he reminds you. “Messes with my system.”

“You can party without drinking.”

“Why do ya want me to have a party so bad?”

“I don’t really want you to have a party,” you tell him. “I just think you spend a lot of time with me and… I don’t know, I kinda feel guilty that you don’t get to do that many things on your own anymore.”

He laughs at that. “I like spendin’ time with ya. Yer so much better than the team.”

“But still.”

“I get it.” He nods. “Yeah, maybe I’ll invite the boys over. It’ll be good for them. Omi especially.”

“You know, I’m always worried he’s gonna steal you away from me.”

Atsumu chokes on his own spit. “Why would ya say that?”

You shrug, a teasing smirk on your lips. “I mean, you talk about him a lot. You know what his dick looks like. Oh! And you have that weird obsession with his—”

He pulls your face to his as the car stops at a red light, kissing you to both shut you up and remind you that there’s no one else in the world that can make him feel this way. 

It’s always you. 

It’s always going to be you.

“—his vinyl collection,” you finish your sentence as soon as he pulls away.

He pecks your lips one last time, shaking his head with a smile as he starts driving again. “Yer impossible, woman.”

“Ugh, I know right? Maybe you should buy me that cake I like.”

Atsumu shakes his head, chuckling. “Impossible.”

“You love it though.”

“Do I?”

You nod, connecting your phone to the car’s speakers and putting your playlist on. “‘Course you do.”

He glances over at you and finds you grinning at him, all bright and cheery. “Guess I do,” he says, reaching over to put a hand on your thigh. “Probably love it more than I should.”

notes. soooooooooo are we ready to party or what?????

[katesmemes]

feel free to change any pronouns, etc. || may contain some nsfw!

“Hell is a teenage girl.”

“I guess I’m not exactly perfect, myself.”

“I recommend you shut the fuck up!”

“I used to be normal.”

“I hate this fucking song.”

“I promised [Name] I would hang out with him tonight.”

“Wear something cute, okay?”

“Those jeans are hella low, I can almost see your front butt.”

“Quit tamponing yourself and get down here!”

“You always do what [Name] tells you to do.”

“You’re totally jello.”

“You’re lime-green jello and you can’t even admit it to yourself.”

“Hey, [Name], you look really pretty.”

“You play your instruments really…super good.”

“Can I buy you a drink?”

“I’ll just play Hello Titty with the bartender.”

“That’s my best friend that you’re talking about.”

“I had to stay home the next day and sit on a frozen bag of peas.”

“He was skinny and twisted and evil like this tree I saw when I was a kid.”

“Maybe I’m going crazy.”

“You do have a tendency to overreact.”

“What is wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with you, aside from the obvious surface flaws?”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t die.”

“I’m crazy sorry about your profound loss.”

“You are crying about [Name], right?”

“You know when you kiss a boy for the first time, and it feels like your entire body is on vibrate?”

“She’s just staring out the window like a zombie mannequin robot statue.”

“Well, the bad luck’s gotta be over, right?”

“I mean, it can’t get any worse, right? It can’t.”

“No offense, but you look really tired.”

“Is everything okay?”

“My skin is breaking out and my hair is dull and lifeless.”

“PMS isn’t real, [Name], it was invented by the boy-run media to make us seem crazy.”

“Don’t look at me like that!”

“Um, I actually wanted to ask you something.”

“You wanna know if I’ll go out with you?”

“Well, we’ve been having a lot of fun in class, you and I, and thought maybe you’d like to go see a movie or something.”

“I’m used to boys asking me out, [Name].”

“Why don’t you just come by my place tonight?”

“It’s about this girl who’s, like, half-sushi.”

“So, are you gonna come over tonight?”

“I went to [Location] and picked up more condoms, so—”

“This isn’t really your house, is it?”

“Do you even know my last name?”

“I thought boys like you were really into vermin and death and shit.”

“But we always share your bed when we have slumber parties…”

“I’m not gonna bite you.”

“Is that my [Logo/Brand] t-shirt?”

“What the fuck is happening?!”

“I have never heard you drop the F-bomb before!”

“What do you want from me?”

“Best friends don’t keep secrets, right?”

“They’re basically like agents of Satan with really awesome haircuts.”

“I dunno if we should go through with this.”

“They did go all Benihana on my ass with that knife and it should’ve killed me, and it should’ve killed me but for some reason it didn’t.”

“Anyway, I don’t really remember what happened after that, I just know that I woke up and I found my way back to you.”

“I mean, I’m a really good friend, but I was just so hungry…”

“We’re gonna sort all this out, okay?”

“It’s like some X-Men shit, right?”

“Y’know, [Name] maybe you should talk to somebody about all these…disturbing thoughts that you’re having…”

“I think he may be having second thoughts about you.”

“We can play boyfriend-girlfriend like we used to.”

“You’re breaking up with me?”

“I just need to show you something.”

“You’re acting really fucked up.”

“[Name], I think you need help.”

“Oh my god, you don’t believe me.”

“It’s not safe for us to be together right now.”

“Didn’t you hear me calling your name?”

“I just can’t believe that she would mess with your head like this.”

“I care about you so much, [Name].”

“[Name] didn’t deserve a boy like you.”

“Oh, you’re so salty.”

“I feel so empty.”

“Why don’t you just come here and kiss me again?”

“God, do you have to undermine everything that I do?”

“You are such a player-hater.”

“Wow, nice insult Hannah Montana.”

“You were never a good friend.”

“You could have anybody that you want, [Name].”

“I go both ways.”

“I think I already died before you got here, but I woke up when I heard your voice.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“You look totally hot in that dress.”

“Oh, you’re clearly delirious.”

“You killed my fucking boyfriend, you goddamn monster!”

“You dumb bitch!”

“Do you buy all your murder weapons at Home Depot?”

“God, you’re butch.”

“I’m a different person now.”

“You just might get lucky for once in your miserable life.”

[maddy-k-reads-all-day]

There’s No Place Like Home

Previous Tape:

Aunt Kate gave her mother some old Amanda tapes to hold onto so Hameln would never destroy them… they are supposed to be super important. I’ll need to get my hands on them. Riley thought. Now here they were. Standing outside their childhood home where their grandmother was currently living with their parents. How long has it been since they last visited? The last holiday? Suddenly regret stung their chest. I should’ve come back here sooner. Time just… slipped on by I guess. They rang the doorbell and their father opened the door. 

“Riley! Oh it’s so nice to see you, it’s been so long!” their father said excitedly, giving them a big hug. 

“Hi dad!”

“What are you waiting for? Come inside!” their father beamed, as soon as the door was closed behind them, their dad’s demeanor changed. He locked the door and took Riley into the kitchen. “Okay what happened?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“What do I mean? What do I mean?! Kate’s house got burned down! What happened?!” 

“Oh that. That’s a long story.” 

“It had to do with that shady company she was looking into didn’t it? I told her to leave it be and now she’s dead and-” he freezes, “Riley… you went there didn’t you? You didn’t see anything weird in there?” 

“That’s actually why I’m here.” Riley sighs.

“Riley…” terror strikes his eyes, “You’re not intended to finish what she started are you?” their dad inquired. Riley looks away. He's not going to like my answer. But by their reaction he already knew. “You can’t! Are you crazy? Even if that company is up to some really terrible things- you know what happened to Kate and her friends right?” 

“Sophie and I are being careful.” Riley shoots back.

“Sophie… Sophie too? Oh god… why would you bring her into this?”

“Sophie’s family has been looking into that cult for generations.” Riley explains. 

“Cult? There’s a cult?!” he gasps. He rubs his forehead and shakes his head. “Honestly… that explains a lot.” he sighs. Riley thought he’d be more surprised about this. “But no- You can’t be doing this I don’t care what my sister told you to do-” 

“She actually warned me not to.”

“Then why are you doing this?” 

“Because I want to.” 

“You know what happened to Kate… don’t you? You can’t do this!” 

“Riley? You’re here…” their grandmother came down the stairs.

“Mom! Riley is-” 

“Hold on sweetheart, let’s hear them out okay?” Everyone sits down at the kitchen table. 

“I know what I am about to tell you will sound crazy. But you need to hear me out okay?” Riley says. The pair nods. Riley takes a deep breath. I can’t believe I’m doing this. They are going to think I’ve gone crazy. “Hameln is a cult that created Amanda the Adventurer in order to trap children’s souls into the show. For what reason? I don’t even think Kate knew.”

“Didn’t Kate get that show off the air years ago?” 

“Well yes. But there are a couple of issues. The company still exists. And they are planning on making a new show soon.” 

“So? That has nothing to do with you!” 

“I suppose it doesn’t. The second issue is that there are still two children trapped inside… well there could be more I don’t know… but… the voice actors of Amanda and Wooly are the only ones who are still conscious. And they are suffering in there… I just want to let them free.”

“But what does all this have to do with you?” 

“Can’t I feel sympathy for some children in serious pain and danger?” Riley questions. 

“I mean yes… but mmm… honey… Hameln is a big company. It’s been around for… forever… even if all of that is true… even if you could prove it. I doubt you can beat them…”

“I just want to let Rebecca and William find peace…” 

“Rebecca… Rebecca Colton?” Grandma inquires. 

“Yes. YES!” 

“Wait, as in Sam Colton’s daughter? Oh… oh… it all makes so much sense now.” Riley was starting to feel bad, for it looked like their father was having a mini-existential crisis. Grandma seemed sad but unaffected by the news. 

“I’m sorry I haven’t come by to visit more… I just got so busy with work and life…”

“It’s okay Riley…” 

“I… I’m sorry that I came here just to ask this… but… it’s really important. Someone who knew Kate told me that she gave some really important Amanda tapes to Grandma. I’ve been trying to collect all of them and I need them-” Grandma and Riley’s father exchange a worried look. Grandma solemnly nods. 

“Come with me.” she sighs. 

“Wha- You’re just going to give them up? You’re not even going to try and stop them?!” their father gasps. Grandma stands up and walks on right by and looks at Riley. 

“Are you coming?” she says sternly, sending shivers up their spine. 

“Okay…” they get up and follow their grandmother with uncertainty. They walk up the stairs. Everything feels like a blur. Have I angered her? Riley wonders. They continue walking up the stairs into their grandmother’s room. She kneels down and pulls out a box under the bed. There are ten tapes inside. “If I give you these tapes… will you allow me to see her? The girl Kate died for? My almost-granddaughter? At least once…” almost-granddaughter? Riley thinks in confusion. 

“I think I owe you that much.” Riley sighs, pulling out their phone. They click on the video and the show starts. Amanda and Wooly are standing in the backyard. Amanda looks on kind of nervously, fidgeting with her hands. Wooly looks nervous and confused. 

“Rebecca?” Grandma says. 

“Hi Grandma Park… it’s me… Rebecca…” Amanda introduces shyly. She recognized Riley’s grandma instantly. 

“That voice… It is you isn’t it?” Grandma says tearfully. 

“It’s nice to see you again.” Amanda replies with a gentle happiness in her voice.

“I’ve heard you’re in quite the pickle.” 

“That’s one way to put it, yes.” Amanda laughs sadly.

“I…” Grandma pauses, trying to find the words, “I hope things aren’t too terrible for you.” 

“They could be better…” 

“I’m sorry I didn’t watch the tapes she gave me sooner. I wish I had.” 

“That’s alright…” 

“Kate… she loved you very much.”

“I know… I know…” Amanda says, her voice trembles and slowly turns into soft crying, “I’m sorry Grandma…”

“What would you ever have to apologize for?” She smiles softly. Her hand reaches to gently touch her, but freezes in realization and pulls away. 

“Kate… she died trying to save me… and now Riley’s putting themselves in danger too… I told them not too…” 

“It's alright.” 

“And I couldn’t come for Thanksgiving… and I… I…” Amanda cries, choking on her words and hugging her arms. Wooly stands by her awkwardly.

“Shhh… it’s okay sweetie.” 

“I haven’t been a good girl like you told me to.” she sobs falling to the ground on her knees and hugging her arms tightly. “I haven’t… be-been a go-good girl at all…” she couldn’t get the words out anymore. Wooly awkwardly looks at her and then us. His hand carefully reaches out to try and comfort her but then pulls away with uncertainty.

“There there… it’s okay… just let it out.” Grandma says gently. Amanda just sits there and cries and cries. Wooly looks away sadly, as if her crying was breaking his heart. “You’re okay Rebecca, I’m not mad at you. I would never be mad at you…” 

“I never got to be your granddaughter…” Amanda whimpers. 

“Oh sweet child, you always will be in my heart.” she says tenderly. Amanda wails. She cries endlessly but no one stops her. No one minds. She needs this. “I just wish I could give you a nice warm hug right now… wipe your tears and make everything well again.” Tears are rolling down her eyes. Amanda sees this and slowly pulls herself together. Wiping her tears, hiccuping a little. Gathering the pieces and holding them together so she looks whole again, despite the fact those pieces would fall apart if she were ever to let them go. 

“I missed you. I missed you… and Kate… and Riley… and Uncle Park and Auntie Park… and my dad… and… everyone… I missed you guys all so so much.” Amanda cries. 

“We’ve missed you too Rebecca. Rest assured that you have always been very missed.” Grandma says gently. Amanda appears overwhelmed with joy. Riley feels confused… and guilty. It seems everyone knew about this but them. Wooly seems to react to this statement as well, squeezing his hands together tightly, slowly inching further and further away off the screen. As if trying desperately not to draw any attention to himself… to disappear…  I see you Wooly. Riley thinks.  

“Thank you Grandma Park… for everything.” Amanda smiles tearfully. 

“I assume if all goes well, we shall see each other again on the other side?”

“I’ll keep an eye out for you.” Amanda replies. “I love you Grandma Park… see you soon.” 

“See you soon, my darling Rebecca.” The episode ends. Riley is even more confused than before. What exactly was their relationship? They wonder. “I knew all along. Kate told me long ago. She’d ask me all the time… what she should do… whenever she came to be at a loss. I knew… I knew she was in there… but… I suppose I was just afraid.” 

“Grandma…” 

“Riley… you can’t save them… you have to set their souls free.” 

“I know…” 

“You can do that right? No matter how it breaks your heart?” “That’s what I intend to do.” “Then I have complete faith in you…” Grandma smiles. “For that was the one thing Kate could never do.”

“What do you mean?” 

“Let them go… she simply couldn’t let them go. As long as she believed there was a chance to bring Rebecca and Sam back into this world… she’d never let them go… And while I’m sure they would’ve wanted the same. That’s not what they need.” 

“They need to be free.” 

“Exactly. As long as you can let them go, you will succeed.” 

“And you’re not worried about me? I mean… they killed Kate. They burned her house down. They killed everyone who tried to help!” 

“Of course I’m worried… but things have changed. Hameln is not as powerful as they once were. We have Kate to thank for that. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking… or my own selfishness. But I think Kate weakened the monster so you could land the final blow. So here.” Grandma hands Riley the box of tapes. “Just promise me you won’t do anything stupid.” 

“I promise Grandma.” Riley affirms. They head back downstairs with the box of tapes.  As they walk, Riley looks at all the family photos strung up along the walls. I really should come here more often… Riley thinks to themself. Just then, one particular photo catches their eye. A photo of one of their Thanksgiving dinners. It must’ve happened a long time ago, as Riley appears to be quite young in the photo. Wow… I couldn’t have been more than four or five years old in this picture. They think. They pause and stare at the picture awhile. Isn’t that… it couldn’t be… but it has to be. Sitting right next to Aunt Kate was Sam Colton. Even more surprising, next to Riley was Rebecca. Wait… did we know each other? I mean… the names and faces seemed vaguely familiar at the time… 

“Is something wrong?” 

“Did they come for… every thanksgiving? I don’t remember them coming at all…” 

“Only once. Before Sam… disappeared.” 

“I didn’t realize they were that close. I mean… I feel like I didn’t know Aunt Kate very well… she wasn’t around much…” 

“She used to be… she used to come by all the time… before that happened. Kate was so desperate to find them…” Grandma explains sadly. “It’s such a shame… how everything turned out. But there’s no changing the past I suppose.” 

“Grandma… Do we have more photos like this.” 

“Photos of Kate?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Of course.” she smiles. Once they get down stairs Grandma pulls out a photo album and Riley looks through it. Sure enough, there were a lot of photos of Kate from when Riley was little. Not just Kate at their house, but at Kate’s house too. Rebecca… was in quite a few of them as well. The photos suggested that they used to play together quite a bit. Amanda… she spent all that time wondering if her old friends still remembered her. I thought they would. Why wouldn’t they? And yet… it was so long ago… I don’t remember it at all. I wonder when… the name Rebecca Colton became the name of a stranger? Riley flips through the photos. They never realized how close the Coltons once were with their family. Grandma remembered… Amanda remembered… heck maybe even Dad remembered… why… can’t I remember at all? 

“Kate came to me one day… seeking advice… begging for an answer… what she should do.” Grandma sighs, “Sam was gone. Rebecca couldn’t be saved. But she couldn’t just give up right? I told her to let them go… she couldn’t accept that answer. She gave me these tapes and told me that if anything were to happen to her… I should keep them safe… keep them company… don’t let anything bad happen to them… that was the last time I saw her.” 

“So you’re really doing this?” their father asked, leaning on the doorway. Riley nods. He looks conflicted, but says nothing more on the matter. “Want to stay for dinner? Or do you have somewhere you need to be?” Riley thinks about it. They look at the photos and the box of tapes. 

“I think I’ll stay for dinner.” they say. I don’t want to have regrets. I don’t need all the answers… I don’t need to save the day… or get a perfect happy ending… I need to follow my heart. I’m going to end this.

Authors Note: A Riley-centric episode! Time can fly by so fast when you don't realize it huh?

[idontplaytrack]

Every tattoo’s so intoxicating

Janis ‘Imi’ike x fem reader

Warnings: fluff, some coarse language, smutty ending

Little tattoo tour for Janis & her reaction to reader’s first tattoo

Read the main series here

Janis got her first tattoo in college, after a long time of considering, she finally decided to get one on her chest. She’s really proud of that one, and felt way more intensely rooted to her culture with that. Your jaw fell to the floor when you saw the finished result. It was beautiful. Some time after that, she got your birthday tattooed along her left shoulder bone— right before the wedding. Both times, you went along with her for moral support. And as cool as you found tattoos to be, you were too scared of the pain to get even one.

One day, while Janis was out helping Carl and Grace at work, you were tidying up yours and Janis’ room. With Kalia down for a nap, you had some quiet time. You sat down on the edge of the bed, grabbing Janis’ notebook off the nightstand. There was a pencil tucked in between two pages. Curious, you opened the book up to that page. And there it was…an adorable little doodle of the frog Squishmallow she had won for you at the carnival years ago, just…staring at you. Then, you got an idea. You were going to get this tatted, you were finally going to get it done, check that item of your bucket list.

You set the book down and proceeded to finish sweeping the floor. “Mama, will you play with me?” Kalia appeared in the doorway. “I’m bored.” She chuckled.

“Hey, tell you what— how about you and I go for a little drive. Mama wants to get a surprise for mommy.” You picked up the notebook again, gesturing for her to come over. You picked Kalia up and slid her onto your lap, “I…am going to get a tattoo of this lil guy.”

Kalia gasped, “Oooooh.”

“Will you keep it a secret?” You laughed, kissing her cheek.

“Yeah, mama.” The kid agreed, “Mommy will love it.”

“She so will, right?” You hummed, “Alrighty, come on, let’s go get changed and get going.”

“Can we get shave ice please?” Kalia asked excitedly.

You gasped dramatically, “Are we discussing dessert already, my love?”

“Yes?” She giggled as she led you into her room, “I’m gonna wear my shirt with the froggie on it.”

“Nice one.” You smiled, retrieving that said shirt from her chest of drawers, “Okay, jean shorts or jeans?”

“The shorts.” Kalia decided.

“Here you go. Want me to help?”

“It’s okay. I can do it.” She beamed proudly.

“I’ll wait for you right outside, yeah? Want a snack before we hit the road?”

“Pretzels?” She suggested.

“Good choice.” You shut the door and went to the kitchen to grab the snacks for both of you, and a drink each. Couple minutes later, Kalia emerged from her room. “There you are!” You exclaimed cheerily, “Sit down here, baby. I’m gonna do your hair real quick while you snack?”

“Okay, mama.”

————

After making a copy of the doodle, you took the picture and put it in your purse, leaving the original safe and sound. You found a place that accepted walk-ins, and thankfully it didn’t take long to. You were quickly settled in and talked to the artist about what you wanted. As nervous as you were, the man was really understanding and kind. Having Kalia there with you for moral support was also helpful. The girl held onto your hand before the tattoo artist even started. But, it did calm your nerves very quickly. Well, that and you didn’t want to go batshit crazy in front of Kalia and scare her. Either way…you kept it together. Then…it was finally done. There was an adhesive plastic wrap to leave on for about five days, but now that the actual tattooing was done, it wasn’t as bad as you thought it’d be. You paid, tipped and left after expressing your thanks.

You and Kalia stopped somewhere for lunch before driving the rest of the way home. After helping her take a shower, you sat in the backyard while she decided to read. Sipping on your favourite tea, you glanced up at her occasionally to see how she was doing. Roughly a half hour later, she asked if you could colour with her. You agreed, of course. That was always fun. By then, Janis was almost home. And when she was, Kalia immediately giggled and ran up to her. “Mama has a surprise for you~” Janis took her hand, squinting confused, “What is it, baby?”

“Come with meeee.” Kalia pulled Janis into the backyard, stopping next to you. Janis spots the new tattoo on your forearm. “Oh, that is the cutest thing ever.” Janis gasped softly. “Is that my drawing?”

You looked at your wife with a grin, nodding your head. “Yep.”

“I love it.” Janis pecked you on the lips.

“Me too.” Kalia chimed in, you and Janis chuckled.

“Did you have fun today, my love?” Janis asked, sitting down on the chair next to yours. Kalia nodded, “Mhm. Lunch was really yummy too.”

“Ooh, I bet. Mama sent me some pictures.” Janis smooched her on the cheek. The three of you hung out in the backyard until the sunset, then made dinner together. Carl and Grace were a little surprised, but happy to come home to the laughter and aroma of food cooking on the stove. “We’re home~” Grace walked into the kitchen first, “Thanks for making dinner.”

“Of course.” You smiled, “Go wash up, it’ll be ready in a couple minutes.”

————

“How was it?” Janis asked, shutting the bedroom door behind herself. “The tattoo? It hurt, it did.” You admitted with a raised brow, “My tolerance for pain really plummeted after that incident when I had Kalia. But, I got through it. Wasn’t the worst.”

Janis smiled softly, cupping your cheek then stroking it with her thumb. “It looks beautiful, I’ll say. I actually really want to get another one done.”

“Not gonna stop you, because you know I love it.” You snickered cheekily.

“Oh, I do know.” She mirrored your grin, pressing a kiss to your lips. Janis laughed into the kiss right before she kissed you deeply. Which…ignited a little something in you. And god you wished you weren’t this tired. (Not that it really mattered, Janis loved doing all the work sometimes)

“Fuck.” You cursed, biting back a laugh. Janis kept kissing you, and eventually, you were laid on your back with Janis straddling you. “Yes?” She asked innocently.

“Please.” You uttered, for good measure.

The smile doesn’t leave her face as she slid downwards. You feel her breath fanning against you while she pushed your shirt out of the way. “I love you.” She murmured, peppering kisses all over your core which went lower and lower. You started to squirm, she went back up and attacked your neck instead. Janis of course knew exactly where to work over in order to make you tick, it didn’t take long at all for you to feel incredibly aroused. But your sleepiness was also apparent. At the same time, she’d palmed your breast. What finally made your head spin was the feeling of her lips wrapped around your nipple. You gulped, exhaling harshly. “Fuck.” You laughed breathily when you feel her tug on the sensitive flesh. Janis kept at it, going on and on minute after minute of giving your tits the attention. She knew you like the back of her own hand…this always riled you the hell up. Her eagerness time after time always drove you crazy, but it was more so the fact that she was always gentle with you until…well, you didn’t want gentle. Pretty soon, every inch of your exposed skin was marked by her kisses. Each touch of her lips against your skin sent a rush of heat that pooled between your thighs. Janis sat on your core, knees on either side of you hips as she cupped your face in her hands. “You wanna do it?” She asked, like always. Looking at your flushing cheeks and pouted lips, she couldn’t help but grin.

“Yeah.” You told her, voice barely above a whisper as your mouth went dry. You also nodded, so she definitely got it. Janis nodded as well humming in approval as she leaned down to meet your lips, making out with you. Each kiss got deeper and hungrier, with the heavy breathing and the slight struggle to breathe you writhed beneath her. You were getting just a tad impatient. Janis laughed, her breath fanning against your face as she tilted your chin and pulled away from the kiss. Cooing softly, her gaze then fell onto your bicep. Her thumb brushes over the plastic-protected area on your skin, “This is crazy.”

“Really?” You asked sweetly, “I would say crazy is you doing this while knowing exactly what I want.”

“I’m always a little crazy, what do you mean?” Janis smirked, fingers tracing your arm mindlessly. “Is it uncomfortable to lay it like that?”

You squinted at her, this sudden sweetness when she was being smug annoyed you. Obviously. You needed her. “I mean— yeah, but how else do I leave it? Fold my arm and rest it on my chest?”

She snorted, “No, I want to give your boobs some love.”

You laughed, “What? You’re—”

“Hey. You said so yourself. I’m a tit head.”

You rolled your eyes at her playfully. She leaned closer to your face again, palm slowly going from your chin and wrapping around your neck ever so gently. “Keep this up and we’re using the strap.” Her voice was husky and slightly intimidating. Another rush if heat pooled in between your thighs. You whined, “I don’t want the strap.”

“Oh, you don’t?” She teased. “So what do you want?”

“You. Fuck me.” You smiled back as sweetly as you could, she loved it. And she slid back down, settling herself in between your legs, sliding your shorts and underwear off as she moved. You lifted your hips and let her slide those articles of clothing off.

“Glady.” Janis looked at you in anticipation of your taste, “Open up, baby. You don’t need me to tell you what to do…”

🏷️Tag list:

@ashecampos @auliisflower @cheesysoup-arlo @frogs00 @ludoesartandstuff @pda128

💭A/N:

Another bonus chapter for the series. Took me a damn long time but I want to stay consistent regardless. Here it is.

[angelst4re]

Hi angel 💕 Could you write a counterfeit jamie smut where the reader used to be friends with benefits with him and he comes back to her town on tour and she ends up in his hotel room if you know what I mean 🤭I love you’re writing <3

hi lovely!! thank you so much!! im sooo sorry for making you wait so long THIS REQUEST IS LITERALLY FROM FEBRUARY??? i hope it's worth the wait :)

Addiction- Counterfeit!Jamie x Reader

warnings: NSFW!!! this contains smut so if that makes you feel uncomfortable then please don't read!! <3

notes: it's been a while... for the last month i've been so busy and when i haven't been busy i've been thinking about noah sebastian and/or cillian murphy (jamie i am sorry i'm in a hoe phase rn!!) but i also have a henry creel drabble to post tomorrow as well so keep an eye out for that :) ALSO I WANNA SAY A BIG THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME!!!! (p.s. this isn't proof read and i wrote this over the span of three weeks so i apologise for any mistakes!!)

When you received the message from Jamie telling you he’s playing a show in your city, you couldn’t contain your excitement. You were out for lunch with two of your friends, who were questioning the wide grin on your face. 

“Oh, I just know she’s texting Matt again,” one of your friends smirked, eyeing you up, “are you ever going to meet up with him? You’ve been talking for almost 3 months?!”

“Oh, no, it’s Jamie. He’s playing here with his band next month, he wants me to come and see them. He’s sent two tickets, I could ask for an extra one if you wanted to come with me-”

“That’s perfect! You can ask Matt to come with you!” Your other friend suggested, although it came off as more of a demand. 

“But what if he asks about how I know Jamie? I couldn’t really explain that on a first date.” 

“Well, just tell him he’s a friend, maybe leave out the ‘with benefits’ part.”

“We stopped that a while ago, actually. I haven’t seen him for almost a year, we’re kinda just friends now.” 

“Then that’s your story sorted then,” your friend grinned, picking your phone up from the table and placing it in your hand, “now tell Matt he’s got a concert to go to.” 

You were surprised when Matt texted back, telling you he’s never heard of counterfeit before, but he’ll happily listen to them and come with you. You felt a little bad for lying to him, telling him you had no one else to come with you as your friends were working that weekend. 

On the evening of the show, Matt came to pick you up. You would’ve usually dressed quite casual for a concert, specifically one of Jamie’s, but this was also a date. You stepped out of your house wearing a black dress, comfortable shoes and a cute handbag to match the outfit. 

“You look amazing,” Matt said, unable to wipe the smile from his face, “let’s get going!” 

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

“That guy right there,” Matt shouted through the noise, pointing at Jamie, “is your friend?” His mouth was open in disbelief as you nodded your head. He had already had four beers, and you had only been here just over an hour. 

“Yeah, I met him at one of the restaurants I used to work at. It’s a funny story actually, some crazy fangirls were waiting outside for him to leave so I kinda helped him ‘escape’ through the back…” You trailed off as you noticed he wasn’t paying attention to anything you were saying, his attention was elsewhere. 

“Cool, I’m gonna get another drink, do you want one?” 

You shook your head and watched as he disappeared off into the crowd. 

Your eyes were drawn to Jamie, reminiscing on the times you had spent together. The times your bodies were intertwined beneath the covers and the times you spent laughing together in the car. You missed him, it was truly like it was a ‘right person, wring time’ kind of situation. 

Time passed and passed and you realised Matt hadn’t come back yet. Surely the line wasn’t that long? You just assumed he had gone to the bathroom, especially after drinking that much. But another 15 minutes passed and he still hadn’t returned, so you went to search for him. You assumed he wouldn’t have wandered far from the bar, so you were heading in that direction. 

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

You were pushed up against the hotel door, slamming it shut as his lips met yours. One of your hands found his hair whilst the other was grasping at his shirt, as if you were hanging on to him for your life. The familiar smell of his aftershave, mixed with cigarettes gave you a feeling of nostalgia, and it was as if you were experiencing deja vu. 

His hands were on your thighs, pushing your dress up higher and higher, until his cold hands met your bare hips. 

“Jamie,” you gasped, pulling back for air. As if he couldn’t take his mouth off you, his lips were now on your neck, kissing and nibbling the spot he knew would make your knees buckle. 

The last thing you expected tonight was to leave the show with the singer. With Jamie. But after you went to look for Matt, you caught him with his tongue down another girl's throat. A part of you felt sick, betrayed, but another part of you felt relieved. However, you would never admit that’s how you felt, especially not to your friends. 

Jamie had given you a backstage pass, and cleared it with security before the show. You knew how the night was going to end as soon as you received the text from him. 

“Why does this always happen,” Jamie asked rhetorically, against the skin of your shoulder as he continued to pepper kisses, “always end up coming back to you.” 

You smile at his words, it was true. The two of you just couldn’t seem to keep your hands off each other when you were together. 

Before you could process what had happened, you were pushed against the table, and Jamie took your thighs, lifting you to sit on the edge of it as he got down to his knees. 

His kisses began at your ankle, and he looked up at you as they got closer and closer. Your calves, your knees and eventually your upper thigh. 

“I’ve missed you.” He confessed as he held your thighs open, one finger pushing your underwear to the side. 

He dragged a finger through your slick folds, earning a sigh from you as he grazed your clit. You looked down to see a smirk plastered on his face. His eyes briefly met yours before he placed a kiss over your clit, the tip of his tongue nudging it as you dug your nails into the underneath of the wooden table you were sitting on. Jamie quickly noticed this, and the hand that was holding your legs open for him guided your hands back to his hair. 

“Shit.” You gasped as you felt a finger gently press into your entrance, his lips now wrapped around your clit, sucking and nipping at it. “M-more…” You managed to whisper. 

“That’s not how we ask for something, is it, darling?” Jamie teased, a devilish glint in his eyes as two of his fingers pressed into you, agonisingly slow. 

“Please,” you whimpered, “I need… I want more, please, Jamie.” 

Jamie chuckled, his thumb now replacing his mouth on your clit as his fingers pumped in and out of you. He stood back up, towering over you before leaning down to kiss you, giving you a taste of yourself as he did so. 

“I’ve missed hearing you beg,” he whispered, “come on, sweetheart, let go for me. I know you're close.” 

He was right. You swore he knew your body better than you did. 

You could feel the knot in your belly tightening, getting ready to snap at any moment. 

“You’re making such a mess, y’know that? My messy girl, can feel you dripping down my hand,” you could tell what he was doing, he was trying to push you to the edge, he knew what effect his words had on you, and he was taking advantage of that, “that’s it, angel. You can do it, cum for me.” 

And that did it. 

Your head was thrown back, your thighs trying to close around him as he continued to work you through your orgasm. The moans falling from your lips were muffled by his as he slipped his tongue into your mouth. 

His fingers slipped out of you and he reached for your thighs, his slick coated fingers leaving your skin sticky as he pressed his body against yours, causing you to wrap your legs around his waist as he carried you towards the bed. 

As your back hit the mattress, he began to undress. You took off your ruined underwear before you reached for your dress, to slip it off, but he called out to stop you. 

“Hey, leave it on. It looks so fucking sexy.” He growled, unbuckling his belt to let his trousers fall to the ground. 

He kneeled on the bed and shuffled his way between your legs, holding them open for him as he leaned down to kiss you once again. 

“Jamie, please.” You whined, lifting your hips to try and get him to do something. 

“Fuck, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to hold back, darling. It’s been a while since I’ve…” He doesn’t finish his sentence as you reach your hand between your bodies, palming his hard cock through his boxers. 

He grabs your wrists, his fingers digging into the skin sure to leave bruises for you to look back on in the days to come. 

“I didn’t tell you that you could touch, now, did I?” His eyes had darkened with need and lust, and the way his face twisted into a devilish smile made a whimper slip from your lips. “So desperate for me, aren’t you baby. I knew all those years ago I had ruined you for any other man, this just proves it, hm?” 

With one hand pinning your arms above your head, the other one comes down to drag his thumb over your bottom lip, before you welcome him into your mouth, gently sucking on the tip of his thumb. 

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath, “keep your hands here, okay? I know you will, you’re my good girl, right?” 

You nod your head and manage to say a muffled ‘yes’ as his thumb presses down on your tongue as he uses his now spare hand to push his boxers down, letting his cock free from its restraints. 

He wastes no time, swiping his fingers over your slick, spreading it over his dick before pumping himself a couple times. His breathing is heavy as he lines himself up with you, your hips squirming as you wait for him to finally push in, but he takes his time teasing you beforehand. When the tip finally slips into you, you both let out a moan and his head falls forwards, buried where your neck meets your shoulder. 

It’s clear that neither of you have had any action lately, as you both need to take a moment before Jamie begins to move. You dig your nails into the pillow as he begins to slowly move his hips. 

His hand that was once over your mouth trails down and rests on your neck, applying a little pressure as your eyes fall shut. You feel how his cock slides into you, nudging spots inside you that made you shiver. He would pull back out until only the tip was left inside, before fucking back into you, getting progressively rougher. 

“You look so pretty like this, baby.” He said before leaning down to capture your lips with his. 

You wrapped your legs around his waist, keeping your hands planted above your head as you melted into the kiss. You took advantage of the use of your legs, if you couldn’t touch him with your hands. 

One of Jamie’s hands slid between your bodies to find your clit again, using his thumb to try and bring you the edge, knowing he wouldn’t last much longer. In the past, you and Jamie went maybe 2 or 3 rounds sometimes in one night. However, it was different tonight. You hadn't seen each other in a long time, let alone had sex. 

His pace began to quicken, his thrusts getting rougher and rougher. He buried his face in your neck once more and you couldn’t help but tangle your fingers into his hair, gently tugging on the blonde locks. 

“Shit,” he gasped, masked by a dark chuckle as he kissed your neck. 

“J-Jamie…” Your mind was too clouded by everything to even think about forming a proper sentence, but Jamie knew you and your body better than you knew yourself, and vice versa. 

You knew he was getting close by the way his cock twitched inside you. Your grasp on his hair tightened as you felt your high getting closer and closer. 

“Inside.” Was the final word you managed to mutter into his ear before you came undone, your legs locking around him, making sure he wouldn’t pull out before you came down from your high. 

As you were beginning to catch your breath, your muscles relaxing as you lay there blissed out, felt him twitch in you once more, cumming inside you with a moan, followed by your name. You rocked your hips as he stilled inside of you, milking his cock of every last drop. 

“Fuck,” he groaned, follow by a chuckle as he smiled lazily down at you, “you don’t understand how much I’ve missed you.”

[skydrain]

Sick Day

I had a dream the other night and realized I have been so terribly inactive on Tumblr and figured I could just put this out there. Completely take a turn in my account. So, I do realize this is so incredible niche. Do I care? No. Do I hope people like it? Obviously. Anyway, I hope this finds people who at least respect the vision lmao.

Summary: Y/N Swift-Styles (adoptive if you would please, bc shes like 16) spends the day in the Reynolds' house because Harry is across the world and Taylor has places to be and people to see (not in a bad way, she's a very good mom).

Disclaimers: nothing really, sicky stuff like sneezing and a puke bucket, no actual throwing up though. Other than that it's just cute family stuff and maybe a smidge of going crazy in emotional haze. Also, I totally made stuff up and did very little research. I am by no means pretending I know anything about these peoples lives.

Pay no mind to any spelling mistakes, sorry <3

Feel free to leave any constructive criticism, love that stuff truly

Sick Day

Y/N woke up with a very very stuffy nose. Not out of the norm if she’s completely honest, especially this time of year. Goddamn seasonal allergies amiright? However, the headache and full body chills is what allerted her that she could most certainly not go with her mom to the studio today and hang out doing online school like planned. 

Y/N walked into the living room where Taylor was collecting her sheet music and trying to put her many many sets of lyrics into order. 

“Moooommmm, *sniffle* I don’t feel good,” Y/N said as she plucked a tissue from the end table. 

Taylor whipped her head around when she heard her daughter's groggy voice. Quickly standing from the couch, she hurried towards her daughter and held her shoulder as she blew her nose. 

“Oh you poor thing, let me check your temperature,” rushing off to the bathroom, Taylor quickly returned with a thermometer and had Y/N put it under her tongue. Guiding her daughter to the couch, she grabbed the thermometer back and saw 100*f showing back. Grabbing Y/N’s shoulder and tugging her under her arm into a hug, Taylor began to think through her options. 

“Oh sweetheart, I feel terrible leaving you here alone like this, do you feel comfortable being alone, or I could maybe call Blake and see if you could go over to theirs?” Taylor made sure Y/N’s eyes were actually focussed on her as she asked. 

“No, I don’t want the kiddos to get sick *sniffle*,” was her response as she shoved her face into her mom’s side.

Little did she know Taylor was already ringing Blake to make sure her baby wasn’t left alone while she went to the studio. 

“Hey, hey, hey! What’s up?” Blake exclaimed as she answered the phone. Taylor was disappointed to hear that she was obviously calling from a car.

“Y/N is sick but I need to go to the studio and Travis is obviously not here, and Harry is pointless to contact because he’s even more so not here. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking her for a bit just so I know she's eating and not going to pass out, but I can hear your driving– “ Taylor was cut off by Blake. 

“Oh my poor fifth child. I wish I could, but me and the kiddos are on our way to my sister's house at the moment. BUT! Ryan is home right now and I’m sure he’d be more than happy to take her. He’s just doing some last minute line stuff and making sure he’s got his shit together before his meeting with the Marvel people Thursday. Hanging out with Y/N won’t bother him at all.”

“Oh, no no. That’s not necessary. I wouldn't want to bother him with this, I got it handled– “ again Taylor was cut off. 

“Hang on girl, we’re your village right now. A village that's happy to help I assure you. I'll call Ryan and have him call you. Don’t you sweat,” Blake hung up before Taylor got the chance to argue again.

All Taylor could do was sit and wait for Ryan to call and hopefully convince him it wasn’t necessary and she could have her personal assistant stay with Y/N for a few hours then cut her studio day short. 

Taylor glanced down at Y/N, it seems she had fallen back to sleep against her mothers side. That was okay, as long as she was comfortable Taylor was happy. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone ringing with Ryan’s contact popping up on the screen. She quickly answered and was prepared to start her speech but Ryan had begun before she could. She swore, the more she talked to him, the more it seemed like Deadpool was him and he was Deadpool.

“Hello Ms. Swift-Kelce, you've reached Ryans Daycare services, at what time will you be dropping off my fifth-favorite child (not that any of the other four are in any particular order mind you)?” He cheerfully greeted. 

“Ryan, seriously, as I told Blake, I don't want to disrupt you guys. She said you were busy, I don’t want to step on your toes,” Taylor responded exasperatedly, not taking the effort to comment on the Kelce name. She did however think to herself that she was happy she only had cats in addition to her one human child. 

“Um, no, sorry. The words ‘disrupt’ and ‘busy’ are not in my vernacular when pertaining to family and friends. Seriously, drop her off when you need to. I’ll get her set up in front of the tv with a bucket and pack of tissues and we can watch my entire filmography and it’ll make her good as new,” Ryan responded. Taylor swore she could feel his eye roll.

Heaving a sigh in response, Taylor finally conceded, “Okay, we’ll be by in a little over half an hour, I’ll have my driver take us by yours on the way to the studio. Thank you Ryan, I’ll make it up to you.”

“No thanks necessary, I will however accept a voucher that I can redeem on the day one of my kiddos graduates for a One Direction reunion at her grad party as payment,” he said cheekily, “see you in a half hour,” and hung up.

Once again heaving a sigh, Taylor resumed packing her papers into her bag while trying to keep Y/N asleep. Once ready, she began gently rubbing Y/N’s back to rouse her awake.

“C’mon hun, Ryans gonna take you for the day, okay?” Taylor put on her own shoes after handing Y/N’s to her. 

“Ooo! Okay *sniffle*, let me grab my phone and blow my nose one more time,” Y/N said as she headed back to her room. 

Once she came back, this time with her shoes on and phone in hand, the two made their way down to the lobby and were assisted into the back of Taylor's car.

Getting to the Reynolds house was quick work, though Y/N assumed that was mainly due to her hazy bouts of consciousness. God, she couldn’t wait to sink into their nice plush couch. 

There was something amazing about being taken care of like family by people who have no real obligation to you. Taylor and Harry were amazing parents. And Travis is iconic for sure. And Y/N was so so sure Kylie and Jason and their girls were gonna be phenomenal, but there was something so incredible about the Reynolds that has had her completely besotted since she met them. 

Maybe it was Ryans crack-head energy, or Blakes ever coolness, but they were definitely great people that Y/N was so happy her mom had in their lives. 

Speaking of, they were quietly pulling into their driveway now. Y/N could see Ryan opening the front door and standing there like a dork holding out a box of tissues like an offering. 

Taylor opened the door and made sure Y/N didn’t fall as she got out of the SUV. The two made their way to Ryan and Y/N happily took the offered box. 

“Sorry Blake and the munchkins aren't here kiddo, but you and I are gonna have the best movie marathon ever!” Ryan informed Y/N.

“You'll have more fun here than you would alone at home I’m sure, I’ll call the two of you when I’m on my way out of the studio alright?” Taylor got two nods in return. She made sure to thank Ryan a few more times, and kiss Y/N on the head, before making her departure back to the car. 

“Alright Y/N, let's get you set up on the couch,” Ryan helped Y/N through the door and lifted the fuzziest blanket she’s ever seen from the couch to make room for her to lay. 

After getting her situated, Ryan grabbed the TV remote and asked Y/N to pick what they’d be watching. After a few seconds of silence, Ryan turned to her and expected her to be asleep, that however, was not the case, and she was sitting there with tears brimming her water line. 

“Oh goodness sweetheart, what's wrong?! I’ve only had you five minutes and I’ve already caused tears,” Ryan sounded so in distress it was only causing Y/N to actually start crying. 

“I want to watch the gay boys,” she admitted very quietly after a few seconds of sniffling and one blowing of her nose into a tissue. 

“Okay, ….I’m going to need a tad more information than that darling,” Ryan responded, feeling very confused, “Are we talking actually gay like Red White and Royal Blue, or Heartstopper, or something more underlying homoerotic like the Newsies, or Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes?” 

Ryan patiently sat and waited for a response, even if he felt quite out of his depth. I mean, who is he to judge what her comfort movie or show is, really. 

“I don’t know,” Y/N responded with a stronger burst of tears this time. 

“Okay, okay,” Ryan took a deep breath and tried to think. He’s a girl dad, he can do this. If he can’t even do this now then what does that say for his future with his own kids. He can do this, “alright! How about I make a wheel? A nice little one from google. We can put all the movies or shows you want to watch in there and neither of us have to choose, how’s that sound?” 

Ryan was feeling quite proud of himself with this idea, and Y/N seemed to be pretty on board, but then her face pinched up, and he didn’t know what he’d do if she started crying again. 

Y/N quickly grabbed another tissue and sneezed. God she hated being sick. It made her so emotional with all the overstimulation of feeling hot then cold, and the tissues becoming rougher and rougher on her nose, and her ears keep popping. Ryans idea sounded glorious. A wheel of her favorite things so she’d be happy no matter the outcome AND she didn’t even have to choose herself. Yes please. 

Finding her phone in the cushions, Y/N searched through her imessages to find the list of movies she had sent her mom to be downloaded to her plane's video software. Handing it to Ryan, Y/N watched as his form instantly relaxed and he began typing the titles into the wheel as he said. Once finished, he handed her phone back and also gave her his own so Y/N could spin the wheel. 

Clicking the button, Y/N watched the movies go around and around. Ryan even tapping a drum roll out on his thighs to make Y/N giggle. Y/N was quite happy when the wheel stopped on X-Men: First Class. Nothing better than some Cherik and Jennifer Lawrence for when you’re sick. 

Taking his phone back, Ryan quickly got Disney+ up and running to play the movie. If he was feeling a little jealous that she preferred x-men over his own Deadpool that he snuck onto the wheel, well, that was for him and nobody else to know about. He personally loved watching Deadpool when feeling under the weather. 

Hopefully his new project will make it onto the list of her favorite underlying homoerotic movies. 

Once the movie was playing, the two settled down to watch with rapt attention. Ryan would sometimes be disrupted by Y/N sneezing beside him, but it was pretty smooth sailing through the beginning. Ryan could see Y/N’s head turning into the pillow before jerking up to the screen again, but didn’t pay it too much mind. She’d sleep in no time.

Only, he probably should’ve kept a closer eye. The next time her head jerked up was when the youngins were all giving each other nicknames. It was quite a cute moment really. Only, Ryan turned to Y/N and saw more tears welling up. 

“Oh gosh, what’s up honey?” Ryan asked, trying to sound as upbeat as he could through his panic.

“I missed when Logan told them to fuck off,” Y/N responded with a wavering voice. 

Ryan again felt incredible relief, “oh thats an easy fix, we can rewind no problem sweetheart,” Ryan leaned forward for the remote and began to rewind back to when Charles and Erik began selecting mutants, all the while listening to Y/N’s cries lessen into sniffles. This also assured Ryan that maybe he would make it onto the favorites list…  everyone loves Hugh Jackman. 

Playing the movie from that point went fine. Y/N actually settled down to actually fall asleep after the Cherick gun-to-head bonding. 

Once she was asleep, Ryan felt comfortable running up to his office to bring his project outlines down to the dining table.  

This is how they spent the next few hours. Ryan woke Y/N to eat some soup he made, and then did end up putting on Red White and Royal Blue because he hadn't seen it. Y/N ended up falling asleep again around the group's Texas trip. 

Near the end of the film, Taylor called Ryan and informed him she’d be by in twenty minutes, along with another string of unnecessary apologies. 

Ryan decided to let Y/N sleep and welcomed Taylor in to wake her. The last thing he needed today was another bout of tears. 

After Taylor and Y/N hugged Ryan bye (with another round of thanks and sorrys) the two got back in the car and made their way to their apartment. 

“Did you have a good day sweetheart?” Taylor asked.

“Yeah, I had a good couple sleeps and food,” was all she responded with. Taylor figured that was good. Usually when at the Reynolds' she comes home with stories of the mischievous activities they got up to. Taylor can imagine that the lack of details means it was pretty tame, she’ll have to call Ryan for more details, but that could wait. 

Arriving at their building, Taylor and Y/N made their way into the lobby, both thanking the doorman of course, and up the elevator to their apartment. 

“Go take another nap sweetie, you look like you need it,” Taylor got Y/N laid out in her bed and got her shoes off her before tucking her in. Meredith even joined her in Y/N’s room and hopped up on the bed to begin her healing purrs. 

Kissing Y/N on the head, Taylor left the room to start making a light dinner. She’ll have to look into what it’d take the 1D boys to perform at James’ graduation party. She had like nine years, she’ll make it work. 

The End