#JUMP IN THE CADILLAC JUST CAME ON HOLD YOUR SHIT A MOMENT

[ask-evo-grian]

She. The moon. The sea. The moth. Pearlescentmoon.

He. Mars. The actor and lore keeper. The human. Martyn in the little woods.

It. A demon. A robot. As old as time yet as young as a sapling. The machine and its "brother"

They. Time travlers. Friends and family. The evolutionists.

Fates predicted. It has happened, and it will happen.

- 🟣🪽

Neither RG nor NPG are "its," they are just as human as the rest of us, mechanical or not.

And what did you do to Pearl? To Martyn? To the rest of my family?

[babybluebex]

desperados [arvin russell x reader smut]

➽ pairing: arvin russell x fem!reader ➽ word count: 4.0k ➽ summary: arvin gets revenge against the man who wronged the girls he loves.  ➽ warnings: NSFW/MDNI. smut, explicit language, fingering (f!receiving), graphic violence, is getting to third base in a church parkling lot a warning? probably, excessive mentions of tom’s abs ➽ a/n: make sure to check out the sequel to this on my blog!! thanks for reading!

I saw Arvin’s hands shaking fiercely. The sun was nearly lowered over the distant mountains and people in this town were sure to talk about how the orphan Russell boy had come and picked me up this close to night, but I knew Arvin. He wasn’t very talkative, so his affection (and I use that term lightly) came in other ways. He always let me have his last cigarette, even though I barely smoked. He had saved a seat on the school bus for me, back before we graduated. He was kind, just not in the ways that Coal Creek knew. I knew, when I heard Arvin’s old ‘51 Chevy in front of my house, that he needed me; I jumped in his car before my mom had time to tell me to get dressed decently. 

“Arv,” I whispered. “What’s going on? Where’re we going?” 

Arvin took a deep breath, but he didn’t answer. He looked out his window before returning his gaze to the front windshield, and his fingers began to tap on his steering wheel. “He killed my Lenora,” he mumbled finally. “Light me a smoke, would ya?” 

It took a moment for his words to register. Ever since Lenora died, Arvin had become distant, nearly a whole different man. He went to work and went back to his grandmother’s house. He barely made time for me anymore. That was alright, though; he had lost the only person he had ever really loved. I couldn’t blame him. I wasn’t much to him, other than someone who tolerated him. 

“I thought Lenora…” I began and swallowed my words. He had requested a cigarette. I reached into the backseat where his jacket was slung and tugged out his crushed box of cigarettes and a matchbox, and I lit him a cigarette. I passed it to him, and he carefully took it between his fingers. 

“Ain’t you gonna take the first gasp?” Arvin asked, managing a weak chuckle. His eyes were dark and focused, and there was nothing behind his smile. Levity, I assumed, to make me feel better about whatever was happening. 

“My mama would skin me if I came home smelling like smoke,” I said, wrapping my arms around myself. “Go ‘head, Arv.”

Arvin lifted his hand to his mouth, his thin lips wrapping around the end, and he took a deep pull at it. He blew the smoke out of his nose, and he said, “Lenora did it to herself, yeah, but he made her do it. He drove her to it.” 

“Who’s he?” I asked. 

“Did that Teagardin son ova bitch ever lay his hands on you?” Arvin asked quickly. His gaze flicked to me, curled up next to him, still wearing my house shoes and pajamas. No makeup, no cover-up; I would be the talk of the town the next morning, I knew it. 

“Pastor Teagardin?” I clarified, and Arvin nodded. “No. He tried, though, I think. Once.” 

“Ya think?” Arvin repeated. “God damn it, Y/N, what he’d do to you?” 

“He didn’t do nothing,” I said quickly. “He’s old enough to be my daddy, ya know how sick that is?” 

“You said he tried,” Arvin rebutted. “Tried to do what?” 

I huffed out a breath. “I stayed after a service on Wednesday night a few months ago to help Mrs. Teagardin gather up hymns and stuff. She went off to do something, and Brother Preston approached me. Said he… Said he saw me hanging out with you… Saw us drinking and smoking… And he said I gotta repent for my sins. Jesus, the man thought we fucked. He made me get down on my knees to pray, but I heard his belt ‘fore anything happened. Told him I’d call the sheriff on him if he tried anything like that again.” 

Arvin breathed deeply, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “That’s three,” he said. “You, the Reaster girl… and Lenora.” 

My heart sank into my stomach. As much as I loved Lenora, she was naive. From the day that she was born, she trusted everybody. If she had ever been with someone, they took advantage of her. Maybe not with violence, but advantage nonetheless. “No,” I mumbled. “He didn’t… Not her.” 

“Coroner said Lenora was pregnant,” Arvin told me. He situated his cigarette in his mouth, and his hand floated down to rest on my knee. “I just know it was him. Who the fuck else would it be?”

“Arvin, what’re you doing?” I asked. “Where’re we going?”

“I’m going down to that church,” Arvin began. “And I’m killing that son of a bitch Pastor Teagardin.” 

“Arvin!” I yelped. “You’re not! You can’t-- How--?”

The car rolled to a stop in front of the small church, the gravel crunching under the tires. Arvin squeezed my knee, shutting me up, and he leaned forward and dug around behind him for a moment. Slowly, from the back of his pants, Arvin pulled out a small revolver gun. My breath caught in my throat; Arvin was rough around the edges, sure, but never did I think I would see him with a gun in his hands. My Arvin looked so unsure of the weapon, but his thumb clicked the hammer back, readying it to shoot, and I saw something behind his eyes change. He wasn’t vindictive, but revenge was a choice that had to be made. Arvin made his choice. 

“A German luger,” Arvin mumbled, his cigarette still in his mouth. “My daddy told my uncle Earvell that it’s the gun Hitler killed himself with.” 

I couldn’t manage any words. My lips fell open in shock, my brain struggling to make any coherent thought out of what was happening. “Arvin,” I finally choked out. “You ain’t really gonna kill Pastor Teagardin, are you?” 

“He killed my sister,” Arvin said, his voice low in his chest. “He tried to hurt you. Who says he won’t try that shit again?” 

“Arvin, you don’t need to avenge me,” I said quickly. My hands grasped his, and I fumbled with his fingers to release the gun. “Lenora wouldn’t want this.” 

“How do you know?” Arvin asked. His eyes, the color of dark West Virginian molasses, locked on mine, and his hands came up to capture my face. He was shaking violently, and I wasn’t sure that he would even be able to hold his gun. “None of us will ever know what Lenora would want. I knew her better than goddamn anyone else on this earth, and I think I know. I know, Y/N. And even if he didn’t manage to hurt you, it’s the thought that he would try that-- I don’t know how many other girls he’s got to. I’m doing this whole damn town a service by getting rid of him.” 

I gulped in a breath, trying to stop myself from crying. “What’re ya gonna do once you’re done?” I asked. “You can’t stay here.” 

“I’m not,” Arvin said. “I don’t know where I’m gonna go, but far away from fuckin’ Coal Creek. I want you to come with me.” 

“Arv, I got my family here,” I said quickly. “My momma and my daddy, I can’t just leave them.” 

“Y/N,” Arvin sighed heavily. His eyes softened and his thumb pressed into my cheek kindly, and he said, “I can’t leave you here. I love you too damn much.” 

“Arvin Russell, I love you too, but I--” I began. “I can’t.”

“Y/N,” Arvin said firmly. “I love you. And I want you to come with me.” 

This was different. Arvin had told me that he loved me before, but I always thought he had meant “as a friend” or “as a sister”. Had I been mistaken this whole time? Did Arvin care for me differently than he could ever care for Lenora? “You…” I started. “You love me?” 

“I’ve loved you since the day I laid my eyes on you,” Arvin told me. “Fucking seventh grade, your hair was in these little braids, you offered me a seat on the school bus. I thought it was… A crush. But Lenora showed me real love, and I know that I love you. I have always loved you, Y/N. Please, wherever I go, I can’t go without you. I need you, love.” 

Tears were welled up in Arvin’s eyes, and he sniffled back his emotions. I hated that. Arvin always tried to hide his emotions and, ever since I had known him, he had only cried in front of me once: the night Lenora died, he came to my house, eyes puffy, and he buried his head in my chest and heaved sobs into me. The strangled sounds of anguish had stayed with me and haunted me in the night, and I never wanted to see Arvin hurting like that again. “Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll come with you.” 

Arvin nodded slowly. The tip of his tongue wet his bottom lip as he looked behind me to the small church, Pastor Teagardin’s fancy Cadillac parked in front. “Now, I don’t know what’s gonna happen in there,” he began. “Gimme an hour. If I ain’t back by then, leave. Get outta here, you never knew me. Alright?” 

“You don’t think you’d…” I started, and the ache in my heart forced me to stop talking. “Don’t die, Arv. My heart couldn’t take it.” A moment passed where the both of us were still and silent, and finally Arvin’s hand carefully moved to the back of my neck. Quietly, he pulled me close to him and pressed his lips to mine, and my stomach flipped around inside of my body. I had never kissed anyone before, but his kiss felt right. Arvin broke the kiss first, his lips lingering just before mine, and I thought about how my momma had told me that boys didn’t like when girls made the first move. Arvin had kissed me first, though, so, if I kissed back, that wasn’t making the first move. My momma was forever concerned with how people saw me, but, if I was going to run away with a man about to murder, I felt like maybe those societal pleasantries could be pushed aside. 

I took Arvin’s coat collar in my hands and tugged him closer, and I reconnected our lips. Arvin was on the same page as me, his hands falling to my waist as easily as if he had done it a hundred times before. His kiss was hungry, like a man depraved, and he guided me to lean against the car door. He moved on top of me, one hand moving above my head to brace against the car door, his other hand pushing my shirt up to expose my stomach. I knew he wanted to see more but was waiting for my permission, and I broke the kiss with a laugh. “This ain’t like ya, Arv,” I giggled. 

Arvin seemed to almost wake up, and he moved away from me. “Sorry,” he said, his voice rumbling. “Don’t know what got into me--”

“I didn’t tell you to stop,” I told him. “I was saying that you don’t normally ask for permission to do things, you just… Do.” 

“When it comes to pretty girls, I always ask,” Arvin told me. He hovered over me again, his eyes drinking in the sight of me, and I pushed the rugged ball cap off of his head to expose his chestnut hair. 

“Got a lotta experience with pretty girls, huh?” I asked, and the corner of Arvin’s mouth quirked into a devilish smile. 

“Well, we doin’ this now, ain’t we?” Arvin asked. “I’m thinking this is all the experience I need.” 

“Shut your fucking mouth and kiss me, Arv,” I scoffed, and Arvin dove back in. His palm rested on my jaw, his thumb on my cheek, and he kissed me like nobody has ever kissed me. His warm tongue was inside my mouth, drawing quiet moans from the depths of my chest, and his free hand pulled my shirt up, up, up, until I was forced to pull away from his mouth to tug it over my head. My mouth felt chapped from his dark stubble, but my breasts welcomed the roughness. He kissed my mouth, then my neck, then situated himself to bury his face between my breasts. He kissed them, then took one in his hand and squeezed until I whimpered, and I felt him smirk against my tender skin. 

“Ya like that, darlin’?” Arvin rasped, and I nodded quickly. “I thought so. You’re making such damn pretty noises, I could listen forever.” 

Arvin’s kisses trailed down the middle of my chest, then his mouth refocused on my nipple, stiffened with excitement. His tongue circled it and he gave it a hard suck, hard enough for me to yelp and pull at his hair. This seemed to urge him on, because he started to kiss and gently nip all over my breasts. My skin tingled with each kiss, and his knee found its way between my legs. His thigh pressed lightly into my already-soaked core, and I suddenly felt like I was suffocating with the heat inside of the car. “Arv, shit, hold on,” I mumbled and lifted my hips to take my pants off. His free hand came down and helped me, and his warm palm replaced his thigh once I was bare. 

Not once had I ever been touched there. The feeling was foreign but not unwelcome, especially since it was Arvin. I panted, trying to sort myself out, and Arvin pressed a soft kiss to the shell of my ear. “You alright there, darlin’?” he asked, his hand melting away from my body. “Need me to stop?” 

“No,” I said. “Keep going, Arv. Please. I’ll die if you don’t keep on.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Arvin chuckled, and his hand went back to my cunt. The pad of his middle finger massaged my wetness, and he pushed his finger past my folds and carefully pressed just the tip of his finger into me. I moaned at the sweet goodness of it all, and I opened my eyes to see Arvin watching me. He didn’t seem to be studying me-- his eyebrows weren’t drawn together in consideration-- but he seemed to be admiring me. I tugged him down to my lips by his hair and kissed him, and his finger pressed further into me. Arvin’s kiss moved to my neck, and he slowly began to pump his finger inside of me. I never knew anything could feel so good. “More,” I whispered, my head falling back to expose my throat to him, and he nipped at my throat before he pushed his ring finger in to meet his middle finger. “Fuck, Arv, this ain’t fair at all,” I gasped. 

“What d’ya mean, darlin’?” Arvin asked, his fingers moving with increasing quickness inside me, massaging something in me that I didn’t know existed. It made my legs shake. 

“Arvin,” I whimpered. “Take-- Oh, fuck!” His fingers had pressed right into that sweet spot in my body, and the pleasure made my middle seize up. “T-Take off those goddamn pants, please.” 

“Always so polite,” Arvin smirked. His fingers retreated from me and, in the fading sunlight coming through the sweating windows, I saw my wetness glistening on his fingers as he undid his belt. He whipped his belt off and tossed it into the backseat before he started to take off his ripped and dirty work pants. Arvin worked on the roads and I knew that the hard labor had gotten him fit, but, as I pulled his shirt off while he removed his pants, I was faced with his body. His chest and stomach were as hard as a rock, his muscles taut under his skin, and his arms bulged with a tight but lithe strength. His middle came down in a sharp V to his cock, half-hard, the tip flushed, resting on one of his built thighs. I had never really paid attention to how attractive Arvin was-- he had a nice face and gave me tight hugs, but that was about as far as I thought of his body or attractiveness. Arvin was so much more than attractive, though. The sight of his body, tanned and scarred and built like an Italian statue, made me face a truth that might have been hard to swallow twenty minutes ago. 

“Arvin,” I whispered, pressing my hand to his face. His cheek was warm under my fingers, and his jaw clenched as he awaited my words. “Fuck me, Arvin. I want you.” 

“That’s what I was planning on doin’, darlin’,” Arvin drawled, and his hand went to his cock. He stroked himself a few times until he was fully hard, and, by then, he had a thin sheen on sweat on his upper lip. Maybe it wasn’t our clothes that made me sweat and suffocate; it was hot as the devil in this car. The windows were fogged up against the cool West Virginia night, and I reached up and pushed Arvin’s sweaty curls from his forehead. The moment of tenderness seemed to stop Arvin in his tracks, because his eyes lifted from himself to mine, and he gave me an uncharacteristically-sheepish smile. “Everything alright there?” 

“Oh, I’m more than alright, Arv,” I whispered. “Just lookin’ at you.” The sunset, nearly done, cast orange light into the car, right onto Arvin’s face, and it caught the flush in his cheeks. 

“I…” he started. “I ain’t ever done this before. Never got this far with a girl before.” 

“Me neither,” I said. “I haven’t even been kissed before tonight.” 

“You still want to…” Arvin began. His cockiness was gone, replaced with a tender intimacy that I was surprised to see existed inside of Arvin Russell. 

“I do,” I said. “If it means I get a few extra minutes with you ‘fore you go confront Pastor Teagardin.” 

“That’s not the only reason, is it?” Arvin asked. 

“Of course not,” I told him. “I just don’t…” I paused and struggled for the right words. “Don’t want you to get hurt.” 

“I won’t,” Arvin said. “Son of a bitch ain’t even got a gun.”

The reminder of what Arvin had yet to do made me feel sick to my stomach. My Arvin wasn’t a murderer; was he? I felt the sick rise in my throat, and I struggled to open the car door and contort myself to vomit out into the gravel and grass. I felt Arvin take a handful of my loose hair and hold it away from my face, and I gasped as I felt the burning in my nose. “I shouldn’t’ve said that shit,” Arvin whispered in my ear. “I’m sorry, love.” 

“So!” A man’s voice called, and I lifted my head to see Pastor Preston Teagardin standing a few yards away from the car, but certainly close enough to know what Arvin and I had been doing. “Couldn’t handle him, could ya, girly? Y’all got a little trigger in the back of y’all’s throats, ya know. Might do you good to remember that.” 

“Shut the fuck up,” Arvin barked. His pants rustled as he pulled them back on, and he gave me his shirt to pull on quickly. My hands were shaking nearly too hard for me to dress myself, but I managed to put his shirt on my body. I shut the car door behind me as Arvin opened his, and I shoved the gun into the back of his pants quickly. I hoped that Pastor Teagardin hadn’t seen that. ��Don’t you talk ‘bout my Y/N like that.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Pastor Teagardin drawled, his voice dripping sarcasm like honey. ”I thought y’all were the ones fucking at the church!”

“You gotta lotta nerve talkin’ to me like that,” Arvin shouted. His voice bounced around the empty space, sending a chill up my spine. I grabbed my panties and pulled them on as I listened to the confrontation, and, even though I didn’t care too much for God, I made a quick prayer to protect my Arvin. “After what you did to my sister and my wife.” 

Wife. Was he saying that to give himself humility? To add credence to his argument? No matter the reason, even if it was a slip of the tongue, it warmed my stomach and cemented in my mind that Arvin really did love me. 

“What I did--!” Teagardin scoffed. “Your sister got in that state with some boy! She was delusional, got it in her head that I was the daddy and that I would provide! I had nothing to do with that bastard child! And your wife! Your wife? Who, the whore of Coal Creek, tryna fuck you on top of your sister’s grave?” 

Arvin moved as quick as lightning, drawing his gun and focusing it on Teagardin. I saw the pastor flinch away and he shouted, “God damn it, boy! Put the gun down and we can talk ‘bout this like real men!”

Arvin’s thumb pulled back the hammer and I heard the solid click of a bullet entering the chamber. “I’m more of a man than you’ll ever be,” Arvin said, scarily calm. 

“What makes you say that?” Teagardin asked. “‘Cause you’ve got a gun?” 

“Any man can have a gun,” Arvin said. “It’s ‘cause I got the balls to use it.”

The gun went off, and the air froze. The second felt like a vacuum, forever expanding. I saw Arvin jolt away from the gunshot, I saw his arm kick up at the force of the gun, and I saw the back of Pastor Teagardin’s head explode like it had been detonated from inside.

I didn’t even realize that I was screaming. It hurt my throat and rang in my ears but I didn’t register it. It wasn’t until Arvin threw the car door open and kneeled down next to me that I became aware of what I was doing, but I couldn’t stop. Arvin’s face screwed up in anger and he slammed his hand down on the roof of the car hard enough to leave a dent. “God damn it, woman, shut your fucking mouth!” Arvin growled. “Someone’s gonna hear you!”

“Arvin,” I gasped. My entire body was shaking and the sick feeling returned. “Arvin, you--” 

“I know what I did,” Arvin whispered firmly. “I know… Did you see where the bullet shell went?” 

I shook my head quickly, my knees crawling up to press against my chest protectively. “No,” I sniffled. I was crying. “Arvin, we gotta leave here.” 

“I know, love,” Arvin whispered. He sat in front of me for a second more before putting a shaking hand on my knee in a meek act of comfort. “You can go home. You can pretend like none of this ever happened.” 

“How do I…” I began. “I’m never gonna be able to forget that… Looked like pie filling… And I can’t lose you, Arvin. Not-Not after I just got you the way I want you.” 

“You really wanna come with me?” Arvin asked. “Ya sure?” 

“Yes,” I told him. “I’m sure, Arvin. Please, fuck, get in the car, we need to go.” 

Arvin returned to the car and we quietly put all of our clothes back on. Arvin gave me a bundle of floral fabric to wear instead of my pajamas, and I unraveled it to find a young woman’s dress. My heart sank and I looked at Arvin for an explanation, and he mumbled, “S’not Lenora’s. Found it in a box of my momma’s stuff, looked like your size.” 

“You brought a dress along before you knew I’d agree to come with you?” I asked. I slipped off Arvin’s shirt and put the dress on and, when my head emerged, I found Arvin giving me that same tender look from before. “Unless you always knew I’d come with.” 

“That’s the thing ‘bout you, love,” Arvin chuckled lightly. “You’re usually so predictable.” 

As we left, I gave one last look to Pastor Teagardin’s body, laying in the grass and gravel, never knowing what happened to him. He heard the gunshot; maybe he felt the pain of the back of his skull exploding outward. As I watched his body disappear with the distance, I felt like I knew him well. He was a man-- a wicked man, yes-- but he preached it best. It wasn’t worth much to put up a fight against the sins of the flesh. 

I wrapped my hands around Arvin’s free arm as he drove, and I pressed myself into him. Night fell as we drove, leaving our headlights to be the sole light, and it was once I saw a broke-down sign saying that we had entered Ohio that I thought to ask, “Where’re we going?” 

“Knockemstiff, Ohio. I wanna go bury my dog and this gun and start over… With you.”

[strawberrylemonz]

A Lovely Encounter

Part 5

Part 6 [CURRENT]

Part 7

(DT: @applepie1000 @petrichormeraki @jump-in-the-cadillac )

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

“I’ll be okay, they’re already waiting for me in the Hub.”

“What if I just walk you to-”

“Grian, I’ll be okay!”

Tommy huffed for the fifth time in a row as Grian tried to follow him around. Chat was fawning over Grian’s protectiveness over Tommy, something that annoyed the younger boy big time. Kristin, happily settle in her new house, laughed as Tommy griped at his brother. Finally feeling tired from all the laughing, put a hand on Grian’s arm as she messed with Tommy’s hair.

“Let Tommy be on his way. You don’t want him to deal with angry ladies, trust me.”

Grateful, Tommy ducked under Grian’s hand and thanked Kristin. Before Grian could utter another word, he ran towards the Hub portal. Opening his inventory, he made sure that he had everything he needed. Letting out a sigh of relief, he climbed into the portal without a single thought. Stepping out into the portal station, Tommy couldn’t help but smile as the chattering of other people filled the air. Humming a familiar tune, the made his way to the center. He felt a light, cold hand grab his shoulder, squeezing it slightly. Peering over, he saw one of the individual spirits, swaggerrsouls_, peering down to him while floating above everyone else. Giving a blank smile, the spirit pointed behind Tommy.

“The girls are approaching from behind” 

Nodding a thanks to the spirit, he turned around, smiling. He let out a laugh as Drista groaned, playfully stomping her foot. Lani just laughed as she pushed Drista and waved at Tommy. Drista pulled the girl back and ran up to Tommy, giving him a nudge.

“How dare you catch us before we could jumpscare you.”

“You can’t scare me, I’m fucking badass. Now, let’s go see Tubbo.”

Lani happily interjected as soon as those words left Tommy’s mouth. 

“Oh! About my brother, he kinda, maybe, doesn’t know you’re coming.”

“What?!”

Panic settled into Tommy’s stomach. Tubbo didn’t know he was coming? What was going to happen? Would Tubbo turn him away? Yell at him? Did he not want to see him?

“Don’t worry! You’re a surprise! He’s been doing well, but he’s been missing you very much! Drista and I figured that you would surprise him with a visit?”

Huffing, Tommy crossed his arms with annoyance. Sighing, he nodded his head at the girls, who shared a high five.

“Just let me know this shit beforehand. Nearly panicked while working myself up to greeting him upon entering. Now I’ve gotta quickly work myself up to surprising him.”

As the girls apologized, waving off the boy, the pulled him over to a portal. Rolling his eyes, he peered up at the sign of the portal.

Stampy’s Lovely World

Lovely? Tommy couldn’t help but smile at that. Out of everyone he knew, Tubbo was one of the few that deserved to thrive in a peaceful place. Nearly toppling over as he was pulled forward by the eager girls, Tommy entered the portal to the new world.

--------

It truly was lovely. After exchanging a nervously polite greeting to the admin, Stampy, who was getting ready to board his hot air balloon, he set off with the girls as they walked through the magnificent world. He was honestly blown away with the creativity, love, care and dedication put in it all. Going through the amazing, colorful builds, the girls slowed down as they approached a cozy section, one that was easy on the eyes after all the color they walked through. Three cottages with different designs sat peacefully by each other. Bees were buzzing around in peace, pollinating the random flowers strewn around the ground. A small pond full of fish sat in between the center of the three cottages, each fish swimming in peace. Lani nodded before turning to the other two.

“Okay, here’s the plan, so listen up. I’ll go and get Tubbo and blindfold him, telling him that Drista and I got him a gift. Meanwhile, Drista, you hide Tommy in the present box we got-”

“Wait, I’m gonna be in a fucking box-”

“-and wait until I bring him over. Then, most likely confused by the size of the box, my brother will open it cautiously. Then, BAM!!! TOMMY’S HERE!!!”

“Sounds good to me!”

“Use a knife to get him to move faster.”

Lani laughed before bidding adieu, heading towards one of the houses. Once she was out of sight, Drista pulled a nervous Tommy over towards the back of the houses.

“Alright, get in the box, nerd.”

--------

The box was tiring to stand in for Tommy. Why couldn’t the girls pick a wider box? At least, then, he could lay down while he waited. Doing his best not to make a single noise or move that could give him away, Tommy tried to entertain himself as he stood there, ignoring the way his knees began to buckle. Just as he was about to groan, a familiar voice caused him to freeze.

“Where are you taking me? If you push me into the pond, Lani, I will pull you in with me.”

“I’m not pushing you in the pond! Stop being so paranoid!”

Tommy sucked in a nervous breath as he heard the footsteps stop. After a few seconds, the speaking began.

“A box?”

“Open it! Your present is inside!”

“It’s the best gift you’ll ever receive, guaranteed. Lani and I really popped off this time.”

“Really? Even better than the-”

“Absolutely, even better than the bees.”

Tommy prepared himself as he heard the wrapping paper being torn away. He heard nervous laughing as the box was being opened. A beam of sunlight caused him to shield his face from being blinded. Once he adjusted, he put down his hand, coming face to face with Tubbo, who looked as if he was seeing a ghost. Giving a nervous chuckle, Tommy opened his arms with hesitation.

“Hey, Tub- OOF”

Tommy didn’t even get to finish as he fell back, falling to the ground. Propping himself up with one arm, he peered down at the sobbing mess in his arms. His sobbing mess of a best friend. His Tubbo. Feeling the tears well up in his own eyes, Tommy engulfed Tubbo in a firm, desperate hug. Together, the two boys embraced each other in relieved tears as Drista and Lani shared a fist bump, smiling brightly at the scene before them.

“We’re awesome”

“Oh, absolutely, no questioning it”

--------

“So the same portal we both fell in took us to different servers? That’s strange”

“Totally. Need some help with that honey?”

The girls had left to play mini games much earlier, leaving the two boys to catch up in peace. They filled each other in with that they had been up to prior to that day. Tubbo was quite shocked to see that Tommy was much calmer than he remembered, more mellow. He was even more shocked to find out about his family. 

“What? You have another brother? And a mother?”

“I know, right? Nearly had a breakdown about Grian. Finding Kristin was hilarious, though.”

The two boys exchanged stories and adventures with each other, not wanted to leave anything out from their time spent apart. They didn’t even notice when the girls came back, announcing that it was time for Tommy to head back.

“I swear, he’s overreacting! I mean, I know why he’s adding a curfew, but I’m an adult now!”

The girls teased Tommy about his brother, who, according to him, was reading too much into Tommy spending too much time outside of the server. As annoyed as he was at it, Tommy understood his reasonings. Kristin hasn’t been told the whole story, but he just knew that she’d be the same way once she found out about what he’s gone through. Holding onto Tubbo’s hand, the four of them headed towards the portal to Hub. Once they arrived, Tommy let out a shaky breath as he squeezed his best friend’s hand.

“I’ll be back, okay? Not only do I need to bless you lot with my presence, I’ve gotta take proper measurements to make you guys your outfits for the gala. VIP and shit, that’s what you guys are! Custom made, just for you. Be safe, I’ll see you guys soon.”

Drista was the first to throw herself in for a hug. But, as predicted, she was also the first to pull away after Tommy hugged back for more than two seconds. Giving him a soft punch, she reminded him to pick a good color for her. Lani was next to embrace him, thanking him for taking the time to come to the server. Letting him know that she trusted his choices regarding her outfit, she let go with a smile. Tubbo didn’t even get the chance to move in for a hug, mainly due to Tommy wordlessly pulling him into one. The two stayed like that for a while, holding each other, scared to let go. As he pulled away, however, Tommy pulled something out of his inventory. Smiling at Tubbo, he gently placed it into his hand. 

“I’ll see you soon, Tubbo. Be safe.”

The three watched, waved, as Tommy disappeared through the portal. Peering down, Tubbo examined the gift. It was a replica of the green bandana from the Dream SMP. The only difference, however, was the little bees sewn on the end of it. Holding it close, Tubbo smiled as he walked back home, his sister and sister figure following behind, laughing amongst themselves.

Everything would be okay.

--------

Too much in a good mood to be bothered, Tommy paid no mind to the people who pushed past him in the Hub. Humming to himself, he almost missed the sound of soft whimpering. Stopping in his tracks, he listened closely, hearing it again. Frowning, he followed the noise to the source.

It was a small child, a little girl. She was a bit scuffled and was crying in front of a dark colored portal. Frowning, he looked up to see the name of the portal that she appeared to have come out of.  

2b2t

He had heard tales of the server from Phil, who spoke of the terrors that the anarchist server held. Blood running cold, he carefully bent down in front of the girl, carefully watching his tone. 

“Are you alright?”

She seemed frightened and hurt, reeling back from him and into the solid blocks of the portal. Doing his best not to scare her off, he offered a kind smile and a flower, to which she accepted after a moments hesitation. Seeing this as a promising sign, he tried again.

“Are you alright?”

The girl, who appeared to be no older than two, shook her head. Ignoring her own small injuries, she held up a torn stuffed bear. The sound of her small, soft, raspy voice caught him off guard.

“Broken...”

Humming, he looked around the crowd, searching for anyone who may have been looking for a child. Frowning, he bent back down to the child, who was looking at him with newfound hope. 

“Where’s your parent’s? Maybe they can fix up your bear for you. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

The young girl looked down at her scraped hands. Shaking her head, she Tommy’s pointed gaze to the 2b2t portal beside her. Her small voice spoke up, breaking the young adult’s heart.

“Broken”

[gerrymike]

OK. commentary on my satg playlist. For reasons

lol it wont let me hyperlink but. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0w9pMZtOvP0plqdxT665q7?si=wEFnvdh3Rjaa0p2UX251mQ&dl_branch=1 Plug

1. PIEDMONT (DESTROY BOYS)

Looks like I'm late for the party Everyone knows the attire but me Glass walls separate us Catch a glimpse into different books On different shelves

i.e. teen crisis where u want desperately to live the same life as ppl on the street but also can’t imagine anything worse

2. SWEET ADELINE (ELLIOTT SMITH)

It's a picture-perfect evening and I'm staring down the sun Fully loaded, deaf and dumb and done Waiting for sedation to disconnect my head Or any situation where I'm better off than dead

i.e. she’s alive! is that worse or better. also jfc, you fucking hate hospitals

3. ALAMEDA (ELLIOTT SMITH)

You walk down Alameda  Shuffling your deck of trick cards over everyone Like some precious only son Face down, bow to the champion

also

Walk down Alameda  Brushing off the nightmares you wish Could plague me when I'm awake And now you see your first mistake  Was thinking that you could relate For one or two minutes she liked you But the fix is in

i.e. oops it’s two elliotts in a row, sorry. just. about the connection you can form with someone given just a short period of time, and how sometimes it gets ruined by, like, a werewolf. pretty similar to sweet adeline. mx weisglass gets two songs. plus “precious only son” 😬 “shuffling your deck of trick cards” 😬

4. CAN I PLAY WITH MADNESS (IRON MAIDEN)

Give me the sense to wonder To wonder if I'm free Give me a sense of wonder To know I can be me Give me the strength to hold my head up Spit back in their face

i.e. for Me mostly because i think the whiplash from elliott to maiden is kinda funny. also the gerry VS twisty animosity, in over-the-top wizardy terms. sometimes you are full of hate and that’s OK 😬 

5. ICU (PHOEBE BRIDGERS)

If you're a work of art I'm standing too close I can see the brush strokes I hate your mom I hate it when she opens her mouth It's amazing to me How much you can say When you don't know  What you're talking about

and

I'll climb through the window again But right now it feels good not to stand Then I'll leave it wide open Let the dystopian morning light pour in

i.e. we’re back in london…and, well, yeah. also, song title! we’re still in sacramento, actually, spiritually, at this point in the story

6. CRY FOR JUDAS (THE MOUNTAIN GOATS)

Feel the storm every night Hope it passes by Hallucinate a shady grove where Judas went to die Unfurl the black velvet altar cloth Draw a white chalk Baphomet Mistreat your altar boys long enough and this is what you get

i.e. crew. i think about him

7. IRIS (THE GOO GOO DOLLS)

And all I can taste is this moment And all I can breathe is your life And sooner or later, it's over I just don't wanna miss you tonight

plus

And I don't want the world to see me 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken I just want you to know who I am

i.e. OK. OK. OK. yeah, OK. damn right all you can taste is this moment…yeah OK. SONGS5

8. KILL ALL YOUR FRIENDS (MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE)

It's been 8 bitter years since I've been seeing your face And you're walking away And I will die in this place

to

It's been 10 fucking years since I've been seeing your face round here And you're walking away And I will drown in the fear

i.e. ah…the lyrical differences in the chorus…yes…also i love how raucous this song is despite what it’s about. it’s got satg energy!!! “seeing your face”, of course, is not literal 😬

9. ENCHANTING GHOST (SUFJAN STEVENS)

Don't carry on carrying efforts, oh no, oh oh oh oh Somewhere there's a room for each of us to grow And if it pleases you to leave me, just go, oh oh oh oh Stopping you would stifle your enchanting ghost

and

Did you cut your hands on me? Are my edges sharp? Am I a pest to feed?

i.e. 😬😬😬

10. PAUL (BIG THIEF)

In the blossom of the months I was sure that I'd get driven off with thought So I swallowed all of it As I realized there was no one  Who could kiss away my shit

and PARTICULARLY

Well Paul, I know you said That you'd take me any way I came or went But I'll push you from my brain See, you're gentle baby I couldn't stay, I'd only bring you pain

i.e. HARROWING TERRITORY!!!

11. PITSELEH (ELLIOTT SMITH)

I'll tell you why I Don't wanna know where you are I gotta joke I've been dying to tell you

i.e. sorry. a lot of elliott smith on this playlist. thems the breaks

12. OPHELIA (THE LUMINEERS)

Oh, Ophelia You've been on my mind girl like a drug Oh, Ophelia Heaven help a fool who falls in love

i.e. callbacks to SONGS5…! and more pain

13. CLOUDS (BORNS)

I forget all my dreams I forget everyones name I meet I forget about time and space But I can't stop thinking 'bout your face

i.e. tfw your memory’s shit and also you just threw yourself into the sky and you’re still not over it. yowch!

14. ARCADE (DUNCAN LAWRENCE)

Oh, oh-oh-oh oh Oh, oh-oh-oh, oh All I know, all I know Loving you is a losing game

i.e. sorry i heard this song first in a c#tradora edit and i have never recovered.

15. WARS (OF MONSTERS AND MEN)

Yeah, I love you on the weekends But I'm careless and I'm wicked Yeah, I love you on the weekends It's a cruel war I still have pieces of you stuck on me Pieces of you stuck on me Yeah, I love you on the weekends It's a cruel war

i.e. PIECES OF YOU STUCK ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is the only song of the new omam i’ve heard. i never got around to listening to it. but this one slaps

16. MONTERO (LIL NAS X)

Lookin' at the table, all I see is weed and white Baby, you livin' the life, but baby, you ain't livin' right Cocaine and drinkin' with your friends You live in the dark, boy, I cannot pretend

AND

A sign of the times every time that I speak A dime and a nine, it was mine every week What a time, an incline, God was shinin' on me Now I can't leave And now I'm actin' hella elite

AND ESPECIALLY

I want that jet lag from fuckin' and flyin'

i.e. God i love this song. re: avatarhood. YOU CAN’T LEAVE!!! not saying it’s like being a celebrity, but it’s like being a celebrity. dual perspectives here with G + his morality regarding the person he loves being, uh, evil? (you live in the dark / i cannot pretend) and M + debt he owes to his god, erosion of his own morals. also, SHEER F*CKING VIBES

17. GEYSER (MITSKI)

You're my number one You're the one I want And you've turned down Every hand that has beckoned me to come

i.e. love songs that serve double as to your god and to your lover

18. THAT’S WHAT I LIKE (BRUNO MARS)

Jump in the Cadillac (Girl, let's put some miles on it) Anything you want (Just to put a smile on it) You deserve it baby, you deserve it all

i.e. this song is here because i say so. a real “sorry it’s been seven years let me make it up to you” vibe

19. RUN AWAY WITH ME (SUFJAN STEVENS)

And I say, love Come run away with me Sweet, falling remedy Come run away with me

i.e. more grand ridiculous propositions. more to come. but they’re born out of a real frustration with the situation at hand! it sucks! also, “falling remedy”,

20. LET’S GET MARRIED (BLEACHERS)

I'm gonna get right for you, honey I'll take all of my medicine, spend you all my money, yeah I know it's hard enough to love me But I woke up in a safe house singing, "Honey, let's get married"

i.e. bro.

21. I WILL (MITSKI)

And while you sleep I'll be scared So by the time you wake I'll be brave

i.e. a lot of these here are self explanatory..

22. ME & MY DOG (BOYGENIUS)

I had a fever Until I met you Now you make me cool

also

I never said I'd be all right Just thought I could hold myself together But I couldn't breathe, I went outside Don't know why I thought it'd be any better I'm fine now, it doesn't matter

i.e. title is significant. and yeah. just. recovery’s tricky

23. I FOUND (AMBER RUN)

And I've moved further than I thought I could But I missed you more than I thought I would

i.e. this is like a staple song for like. basically. any pairing. but i’m pathetic and it gets me every time. there’s something about it. not sure if i’m going to leave it on this playlist but. hm. yeah

OK that’s a wrap. highly likely i’ll put more songs on this as i go

[cockasinthebird]

Ahhh I love your work. 🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍 Ok au where Steve and Billy break up so Steve gets really drunk at a party and Billy has to go pick him up and basically take care of him the rest of the night, so Steve doesn’t like choke on his own throw up or do something dumb

Dear anon,

THANK YOU, I love you too!!! Which is why it pains me to say that.... I’m so sorry. This got SO SAD and I promise I didn’t intend for it to! But it just came out this way, and I hope you can forgive me!

-

Billy's not entirely sure what the fuck Steve is doing here.

Had he even been invited? Carol sure as fuck hadn't asked him to come, maybe Tommy did just to tease Steve; dangle his lost popularity in front of the dethroned King Steve, in hopes that he would be dumb enough to show up, to then just be ridiculed for having even had the thought that he was actually welcome around here anymore.

Billy nearly dropped his jaw when he saw Steve arriving earlier, but when their eyes met, his ex-whatever had quickly looked away and run off to probably grab the first drink in reach.

Maybe he's regretting breaking up with Billy? Not that there really was anything to break up, they were just having fun, just fucking around, literally. Which only makes the entire situation even more infuriating, the more Billy thinks about it.

There wasn't supposed to be any feelings or emotions or all that girly crap, just two guys blowing off steam together!

So when Steve asked him, “Why do you keep treating me like this?” and demanded an explanation as to why Billy continued to bully and agitate him so, all he could say was,

“What the fuck are you talking about, Harrington?” and really put pressure on his name there, as if to drive home the point that they're not beyond that.

And Steve had cried, not a big sloppy mess, but tears rolled, and he shouted that they were done for, then drove off before Billy could even gather enough thoughts to be coherent.

That was three days ago, and he really hadn't heard a single sound from Harrington since then, seen no hide nor hair of him till tonight.

Now he sees him everywhere he goes; no matter which room he moves to, Steve's there, looking back, eyes hooded and dark with all the alcohol he's swimming in, some even staining his nice polo shirt. Tommy had at one point earlier gone up to Steve, grinning wide and talking shit, but Harrington seem unbothered by it all.

Steve sits in the middle of a long couch, surrounded by people all with their backs turned to him, and as he swings back another of numerous beers, Billy finds himself staring like one would at a particularly morose painting, wondering what it all means, even though it's clear on the surface level and doesn't run that deep.

He himself stands leaning over a cute, short brunette, her hair falling down over her large breasts, a manicured finger playing with the buttons of Billy's open shirt. He's got an arm resting against the wall above her head, and even as she smiles all flirtatious and talks to him about something something parents not home something, he can't look away from the way Steve stares back.

There's too many thoughts in his head that even the alcohol can't wash away; things he wants to say to Steve, things he wants to do to Steve.

And he doesn't move till Steve does.

Limbs inept as he rises up from the couch, accidentally bumping into a girl who glares daggers at him, to where Steve mumbles out a sloppy sorry, sorry, before tripping a bit over the others legs as he tries to squeeze out from between the sofa and coffee table. But even as he goes through all the obstacles of a full house, Steve never looks away from Billy as he walks in his direction.

When he gets all too close, Billy looks away- can't stand being this close to Steve anymore, a torturous thing that he came here tonight to forget; to hopefully drown himself in pussy, or find a nice big dick, but all of that is impossible to look for when fucking Harrington is present in his life this way.

After counting down from five in his mind, Billy turns to look in the direction Steve went, just to catch the front door closing, and he immediately pushes off of the wall, abandoning the busty brunette here with now a shocked expression across her face, as he gives chase for another dark haired beauty.

Outside Steve fumbles with his keys, standing by the first car he found.

The music goes low as the front door to Carol's house slams closed, and Billy stands underneath the light of the veranda, hands deep in his pockets as he braces himself for the chilly evening air sweeping in from the woods.

“That's not your car,” he calls out to Steve, who jumps a bit at the sudden voice.

Steve looks at the white Ford that he's spent nearly a minute trying to get into, muttering about why the fuck doesn't the key fit. Then he looks at where Billy has stepped down the stairs and is making his way over.

He huffs out drunkenly and moves to the next car, a dark green Honda and tries again.

“Still not your car.” Billy stands now only a few feet away, watching with a slight frown at how Steve continues to shuffle over the sidewalk to the next car in a long line.

And counting from here, there's a good seven cars more to go or so before they reach the BMW.

“What are you doing here?” he asks and finds it maybe a tad bit amusing how frustrated Steve grows.

“What's it look like?” Steve slurs back and tries a key that isn't even for any car in the world, but rather his front door. “I'm trynna get home.”

“Not at this pace you won't,” Billy mocks and shrugs a bit. “Try the next car.”

Steve doesn't argue, probably can't, and he moves on to a dark blue camaro.

But before he gets to have a chance of scratching the nice, expensive paint job, Billy interrupts with, “Here, let me try.” And fishes up his own keys from his back pocket.

Almost like magic, Billy's keys works wonders, and the passenger door opens up to allow for Steve to stumble inside.

Billy takes long strides to the other side and lands with much more stability in the drivers seat.

“This... this isn't my car,” Steve says with the purest form of confusion, as if he's just woken up from a coma thirty years later to discover all sorts of new things. He touches the leather seat, opens and closes the glove compartment, looks between the front seats into the back, yeah it's definitely not his car.

“No, it's my car,” Billy speaks all matter of fact, firmly so as to ensure that Steve understands what's happening.

He looks over at the other; almond eyes squinting through the darkness and haze of inebriation, and Billy's heart beats uncomfortably, if he were to tell the truth for once. He wants to reach out, brush away the bangs that falls down Steve's forehead, kiss those bumbling lips, caress the moles on his cheek, his chest, his legs.

“Why am I in your car?” Steve mumbles and looks out the window, away from how Billy is caught wanting.

“I'm taking you home, put on your seat-belt.”

The car roars as he sparks it alive.

“Why?” Steve asks but doesn't hesitate to do as told, although with shaky hands that could be from the alcohol or nerves.

“Because you're a drunk mess and I'm a goddamn fucking saint,” Billy grumbles as he pulls out from his spot and onto the street.

“Oh so now you decide to be nice to me?” Steve laughs without joy and thunks his heavy head against the cool window.

“I have my moments.” Billy grins, but refuses to let silence fall upon them, because that's when there's time to think, which is the last thing he wants right now. “So, why did you come tonight?”

The tense energy here palpable as Steve thinks too long on his answer, which spills out carelessly, “Because I wanted to see you,” and there's almost a sob.

“Jesus Christ, Harrington-” Billy groans and rolls his eyes, but Steve cuts him off,

“Don't call me that,” with a more apparent sob now.

“I can call you whatever I want.” The hand on the wheel tightens. “Princess. Dickhead. Amigo. Pretty boy.” And he steals a quick glance at where Steve stares out the window; street lights flashing like stars in his wet eyes.

“...Steve,” a whisper not meant to be heard, and perhaps it doesn't.

The silence between them is painful. Billy bites at his nail to hopefully keep himself from blurting out all the wrong things. Steve snivels occasionally, his breathing labored.

Driving from Carol's place to Steve's feels like it takes years through uncertain darkness with no saving grace, no light at the end of the tunnel, a vast eternity in where Billy keeps fighting his own inquisitive thoughts.

Because why is he doing this? Why is he helping out Steve, who was the one to end whatever it is they had going on? Why is he looking at Steve's lonely hand?  Wanting to reach out and hold it. His own hand aching for the touch, like a childish need to play with the flame of a lit candle. So he grips the steering wheel harder till the strained skin hurts.

Till they pull up into a driveway that isn't empty. A black, sleek, shiny Cadillac sits all prideful in front of the grand house.

And it runs freezing cold down Billy's back, eyes pinned to the slumbering windows, hands still choking the leather.

“Are... are your parents home?!” he hisses out.

Steve moves as if he was just abruptly awoken, and blinks hard to still his focus. He leans towards the dashboard to peer out the front window and sees his father's car.

“Oh, yeah, they showed up some hours ago. Took me out to some fancy restaurant for dinner, but...” Steve slumps back into his seat and moves to get comfortable. “They still don't know how to talk to me.”

Billy finds himself in the same situation now. He watches how twisted Steve's expression is; a distressed pull of the lips and an anguished brow knit together with tales of distant parents and a lonely childhood. And maybe Billy is starting to understand a few things about Steve.

Who pulls his knees up to his chest to hug himself, shrink a bit, fleeing whatever is undoubtedly coursing through his mind.

A sight that makes Billy sigh, loudly in exasperation, and then backs up the car.

“W-w-what are you doing?” Steve stumbles through his tears as he realizes they're now driving away.

“I...” Billy starts off with, eyes hard on the road and both hands on the wheel. “I don't know.”

“Where are we going?”

“Just-” Billy stops himself from raising his voice too loudly, and takes a deep inhale as to calm down, refusing to meet the way Steve is staring. “Just... don't worry, ok?”

Although he's drenched in worry himself, uncertainty dripping down the back of his neck as his own nerves heats him up unbearably so.

Neither of them talks at all as they drive through the woods, underneath the cloudy skies that threatens with rain; teases with a few drops here and there upon the windshield.

And somehow they end up by an open field - more specifically the location for the 4th of July fair that stood loud and colorful a few months back. Billy hadn't been thinking of any place in particular, rather he was spending all his mental power to not think at all, lest he'd start having doubts about... everything.

“Did you... did you bring me out here to, what, beat me up?” Steve sounds legit scared, and it hurts to hear.

Like a thousand paper cuts across Billy's heart, and he cannot keep back the anger that bubbles up at something so ludicrous. “No I'm not gonna fucking beat you up! Jesus!” he growls out through gritted teeth, which doesn't exactly help his case.

For Steve holds an unblinking stare aimed at Billy, expectant of only the worst things, which probably isn't completely unfair, because he hasn't exactly been... nice lately. Or ever. And even though Billy often refuses to apologize and feel bad for his behavior, it's a challenge to stay an asshole at times like these.

Because even if his father is all too present in his own life, he understands the lack of parental love that probably makes Steve the way he is. And he feels pity. Which is gross and unfamiliar, but it sits so strong around his bleeding heart. Which just makes him angry, and lash out, then fight the regret and... start all over again.

“Get in the back,” he demands, but as soft as he can, of course.

“What?” Steve asks with brows raised to the sky, eyes wide in... shock? Disbelief? Something that might be a sign of distrust and anxiety.

“Please?” Billy tries but it feels horrifyingly wrong on his tongue – like he was mispronouncing some foreign name.

“Why?” Steve remains in his seat, curled up like a depressed child. Which... he might just be.

And Billy groans out his irritation and rolls his eyes, but he tries to say it in a nice way, “Because, I can't take you home like this, and we can't go to my place because... yeah, and we can't exactly go to a motel anywhere this way either.” He pauses and hopes that Steve catches on, but alas he remains in confusion. “We're going to sleep in my car, so get in the back.”

Steve still doesn't move. Disbelief clear in his expression, and maybe it takes him a bit longer to process everything due to the countless drinks he's been pouring in tonight, but when Billy gives a somewhat kind nod towards the backseat of the camaro, Steve finally moves between the seats.

Billy follows right behind, and sits as far away from Steve as possible, who sits like a ball of despair against one window, and god fucking damnit it feels like watching a puppy get kicked, how pathetically Steve whimpers with his face buried in his knees.

“Fucking... come over here,” he grumbles out and spreads his legs.

The poor wounded puppy looks up, brown eyes wet and hair a complete mess, and he hesitates.

“Come on.” Billy pats the spot between his thighs. “We'll keep warm if we sit closer.”

It proves enough of a friendly invitation, as Steve moves closer, slowly, as if he's approaching a sleeping dog wearing a spiked collar and muzzle, waiting for it to try and bite.

But all he's met with is a soft hand that goes through even softer hair, as Billy gently pats him on the head and allows for Steve to settle in between open legs and against a warm chest.

They don't speak, for what is there to say that one won't remember and another will regret? The only coherent and recognizable emotion that Billy can find in the tornado of feelings is anger. A fury that isn't technically Steve's fault, and directing it at him would only be unfair, because he isn't the one struggling with his own feelings towards another guy. No he's ardently clear about it all, which spills from his lips as he falls into slumber against the beating of Billy's heart.

“Billy?” he whispers and closes his hand around the unbuttoned shirt.

“Yeah?” And Billy knows what he's about to say. He fucking knows it; won't be the first time someone has been that foolish.

“I think I'm... in love with you...”

He can feel Steve's heartbeat go rapid where their bodies are pressed rather awkwardly together. And Billy sighs through the nose. The muscles in his jaw twitch, a lump grows in his throat, and he looks out at the stars in search for a world where everything is better. Where everything could be.

“I'm sorry to hear that.”

[uzumaki-rebellion]

“Stark’s New Intern” Chp. 18

"Friends tell me I am crazy And I'm wasting time with you You'll never be mine It's not the way I see it 'Cause I feel you're already mine Whenever you're with me (oh, oh, oh)

People always talkin' 'bout Your reputation I don't care about your other girls Just be good to me…"

The S.O.S. Band—"Just Be Good To Me"

Erik laughed so hard that his stomach hurt.

Athena had the biggest lop-sided grin on her face as they both listened to Giselle go in on her project manager. Massacred plates of chicken taquitos, chimichangas, and ceviche sat piled around their table along with empty margarita glasses. The three of them spent two hours talking and cutting loose from work.

By the time they tumbled out of the restaurant, it was after nine in the evening.

"…no the Lyft will take us all home and you can pick up your car in the morning," Athena said to Giselle.

Erik called a Lyft for them all and within thirty minutes they were back at the Oakwood in front of Erik's unit. Shaking his legs out, Erik felt lightly buzzed and happy to have a full content belly. He was also happy that Athena and Giselle had squashed their past beef and were back to being cautious friends again. Erik could tell over dinner that they had a bond itching to come back together. Giselle finally conceded over a Cadillac margarita that she had been wrong about Athena, bringing both women to drunken tears and much-needed hugs. Both women had a lot of pride about getting to the top on their own merits, and Erik sensed they were both eager to mend their relationship, but too stubborn to face one another without feeling like the loser with their tail between their legs. It was good to see how they might have been back in college together. So much laughter and shared inside jokes. He felt a lot of camaraderie with the two of them and it was one of his best chill out with friends night he'd had in a long time.

Standing in front of his residence, both women were relaxed and attentive to him.

"Thanks for hearing me out and giving me suggestions on how to handle Janine and them," he said stretching his back.

"Three more weeks!" Giselle said holding out her fist.

"Three more weeks," he chimed back giving her a pound.

"See you fools later," Athena said. She reached over and gave Erik a big hug, "Keep your head up, you'll make it."

Erik kissed her cheek as he held onto her, but then the soft warm feel of her body in his arms did something to him and he rested his lips on her mouth. The kiss was gentle but promised more to come when she opened her lips and took his tongue. His hand slid down her gray blouse and gripped the meat of her ass.

He reached over and pulled Giselle in close and kissed her. The surprised look on her face didn't stop him from rubbing on her ass too. The expensive margaritas had him feeling frisky. Bold.

Neither one of the women pushed him away, and by the time he was sucking on Giselle's neck, Athena was already tugging on the erection that was poking hard against his slacks. He felt even more brazen when Giselle's hand slipped down to pull on his dick too.

He stood back from both of them and cupped his right hand over the top of his erection. He had never had a threesome before and he was eager to get down to it. But would they?

"Maria ain't here tonight. We can go up to my room…"

His eyes darted between the two of them.

"We?" Giselle asked.

"I'm not doing no eenie-meenie-minie-moe," Erik slurred, "you can both get this dick right now."

Athena regarded Giselle with questioning eyes.

"Erik, I don't do girl-on-girl," Giselle said.

"I said you both could get it, I didn't say with each other. That's up to you two."

"We're all drunk. Let's just say goodnight," Giselle said taking a step back from him.

Athena clung to him still and Erik couldn't hide the disappointment on his face.

"Night, girl," Athena said pulling Erik toward his apartment.

Giselle watched them move away from her and for a moment, her eyes looked shocked that Athena was going with him.

Erik held out his hand toward her.

"You can do what you want or just watch or whatever, but I really want you too."

He couldn't hide the loose stumbling of his words and it made Giselle smile.

"Everything consensual and full of mutual respect," he said, trying to coax her with a sexy voice, or at least what he thought sounded sexy.

"You are tipsy," Athena giggled.

Erik nodded his head toward the steps.

"You and those stupid dimples," Giselle said. She sauntered over and Erik clasped her hand.

###

It was one thing to fantasize about a threesome. It was also another thing to jerk off to threesomes while watching porn.

Everything was different in real life when two fine women climbed onto Erik's bed naked and legs open.

Kissing them both had been the ultimate in pleasure and it was easy for him to move from mouth to mouth and tongue to tongue. He thought his body would overheat when they all sat on the edge of his bed twisting necks back and forth. His fingers caressed nipples and breasts and the mixtures of their two perfumes drifting around his nose made him heady and weak. Giselle sucked on his neck as Athena took his wet tongue with hers and stroked the tip of his dick. He took off his shirt then and shucked off his pants and boxer briefs. Athena went down on him first and Erik fondled Giselle's breasts as he watched Athena's head go up and down on his lap.

"Suck that shit, Ma…" he groaned.

Giselle sucked on his tongue and his erection grew firmer in Athena's mouth.

Releasing Giselle's lips, his heart triple thumped in his chest as a rush of maddening desire came over him. Athena's tongue dragged up his length and her eyes were glued to his as she kneeled before him, her large breasts hugged up against his balls.

Sex was as natural to him as breathing and he knew Giselle's and Athena's bodies very well. But having them in front of him together made him nervous now. The weight of his dick was making him antsy. He had kissed them both into a frenzy and enjoyed the slow release of skirts, blouses, bras, stockings and sheer black pantyhose along the way.

He slowed down and replayed everything up until that moment.

Athena was more assertive than Giselle, not caring if her newly reunited friend was down for the loving or not. But it didn't take long for Giselle to ease into it, her concerns about being sexual with Athena unfounded. She had to fight for time with his lips and snatched it when Athena fondled his balls. His nuts felt so full and once Athena licked the pre-cum from his slit, Giselle was already thrusting her tongue down his throat as he fingered her wet folds. He found himself turning mechanical with his movement, focusing too much on trying to give each woman equal attention instead of just going with the flow.

"Erik?" Athena whispered.

He swallowed hard and licked his lips.

Relax, he told himself.

He eased up on overthinking everything once he fell back on the bed with Athena sitting on his face and Giselle bobbing her head all on his dick. They too found their own rhythm with him and Athena gave Giselle space to touch or be touched by her.

The sensations in Erik's body were heightened more and he had to keep track of his arousal to keep from ejaculating too soon. As much as he wanted to cum in Giselle's mouth as he ate out Athena's pussy, he wanted to save that first erection for penetrating both of them.

"Raise up," he gently whispered to Athena.

Athena rolled over and he groaned when he saw how her gorgeous skin just glowed from him licking her to the verge of an orgasm. She cradled her breasts and he nipped at her clavicle before standing up and pulling Giselle onto the bed next to her.

He grabbed a condom from inside his nightstand and opened it carefully. Both women's eyes sparkled as he rolled the rubber down his length. Both were okay with him using the same condom between them since they were all pretty much sex partners all together any other time. They were all clean and safe. Erik kept on top of that shit religiously.

His nerves kicked in again when he looked down at both open legs and two wet pussies waiting on him. Who to dick down first?

"Erik…"

Giselle whined his name and her hips rotated on the bed. Athena gave him a big smile and he felt that he was given the okay to get between Giselle's legs first. Taking a deep breath he pushed her legs back and rested his knees on the bed. Giselle raised up on her elbows as he lined up with her opening.

"Erik!"

Eyes clenched tight, Giselle lost her breath when he pushed in, the sound of her wet pussy making Athena sigh in envy.

"You feel so good," he exhaled as he shifted his weight to get down deep inside of her.

Heavy thrusts kept Giselle moaning and Erik turned his head from staring down at his sheathed dick stretching her out to watch Athena's face. The other woman moved closer to him and he reached out to squeeze her right breast that overflowed in his hand.

Legs splayed out, Erik gazed at Athena's opening and she was so juicy, clear natural lubricant just trickled out of her making her glisten down there. He pulled out from Giselle and scrambled over to get inside Athena. He sank into her and the warmth surrounding him made him gasp and crush his chest against hers.

"Damn, girl…"

Breathy grunts fell from his mouth as he put in work, but it didn't last when he jumped off of Athena to spoon around Giselle. He held Giselle's leg and pumped into her. Athena stroked his ass, her fingers clutching his glutes with firm squeezes. He almost lost control of his release when he felt her touches move to cradle his balls.

"Fuck!"

Twenty minutes in and he couldn't hold back.

Pulling out of Giselle, Erik stood up and pulled off the condom. Eyes darting between the two, he fisted himself. Giselle and Athena bent their knees and opened their legs wide on the bed, their thighs touching together.

"Open your pussies!" he shouted.

They both peeled back the slick lips of their vulvas.

"Making me nut!"

The root of his dick jumped in his hand and hot semen splashed all over the back of their thighs. Throwing his head back, he stared at the ceiling of his bedroom and let out laughter that shook his entire body. His head dropped forward and he saw his cum sliding down their wet skin.

"Damn...that shit felt amazing," he snapped.

Dropping to his knees, Erik took his time eating them both out until each of their thighs nearly suffocated him.

Any issues he had about dealing with two women at once went away once he got his second wind. He relaxed into the sex and it was good all night long.

###

Exhaustion and dehydration had him gulping down a bottle of orange juice in the kitchen without a glass. He padded into the living room naked and plopped his sated body on the couch. Athena and Giselle were piled on his bed fast asleep. He heard a buzzing sound and reached for his suit jacket that sat in a ball on the armrest.

"Fuck…"

Devika.

He totally forgot about her. There were several text messages from her and a voicemail message. He texted an apology and made up an excuse about being out with interns and getting drunk. Well, it wasn't an actual lie. He did get drunk. And he was with other interns. Just knee-deep in other pussy.

He watched TV and dozed off.

A key in the door woke him up, and he wasn't sure if he was dreaming until Maria walked in…

…with his Aunt, Uncle, and Walter.

"Shit!"

Erik jumped up and covered his lower parts with a couch pillow.

"Whoops!" Maria said turning her eyes away from him.

Erik's Uncle Bakari grinned and Walter doubled over with laughter.

"JaJa! Really?" his Aunt Shavonne said when she stepped fully into the living room.

"Surprise!" Bakari said.

"What are you doing here?" Erik muttered stepping back from his family and bestie.

"We wanted to surprise you," Bakari said.

"I just came back from Noel's place and found them outside," Maria said.

She no longer averted her eyes from him with his dick and balls covered up.

"Get dressed, we'll take you to breakfast," Bakari said.

"Um…okay-"

"Erik…"

Athena walked out wearing her bra and panties. She stopped near the bathroom when she saw the others.

"Oh…excuse me," she said.

Erik felt his face get warm and it grew warmer when Giselle walked out of his bedroom next wearing his tank t-shirt and her thong.

Bakari looked at Erik and shook his head.

"Boy, you are just like your Mama," he said.

"Excuse me for a minute," Erik said.

He backed away from everyone and both women followed him into the bedroom.

"Ohmigod, I am so…I want to disappear right now," Giselle mumbled throwing on her clothes.

Athena laughed.

"They don't know us, so I'm not going to trip," Athena said pulling up her skirt.

Erik put on jeans and a polo shirt. Slipping on a pair of Keen sandals, he wiped his hand over his face.

"Yo, Erik, we hungry," Walter called out.

"Who is that out there?" Giselle asked.

"My aunt and uncle, and my homeboy from Oakland."

"He's fine,' Athena said.

Erik glared at her.

"He is. Don't be jealous!" Athena teased.

"I can't go back out there. Maybe you all can leave first?" Giselle pleaded.

The doorbell rang.

"Erik!"

Maria's voice sang out to him.

"Let's go. Don't make a big deal and don't make eye contact," Erik instructed.

He rubbed a bit of deodorant under his arms.

"C'mon," he said.

Walter stood watching him outside his bedroom door with a lopsided grin and Erik punched his boy in the shoulder. Back in the living room, Maria had a pinched look on her face. Her eyes went to the front door.

"Devika," Erik said.

Devika had on work out gear and carried a tray of Starbucks coffee and a bag of Yum Yum donuts. Her eyes took in his surprise visitors, but they grew narrow when she saw Giselle and Athena.

"Sorry, didn't realize you had a full house," Devika said.

She turned around and left.

Erik ran after her.

"That boy is his father's child."

His Aunt's voice drifted behind him as he scampered down the steps. Devika's car was in a guest carport spot and she flung open her driver's side door.

"Devika, wait a minute."

"I waited up for you. All you had to say was that you weren't coming. I was worried…"

She stopped and looked at him.

"Here."

She handed him the coffee and donuts.

"I was drunk and I just stayed home—"

"I get it, Erik."

"My family is here visiting. Can I see you later?"

"No."

She hopped into her car and rolled down her window.

"Devika, it ain't what you think—"

"Erik. It's cool. I should've called first. Go be with your family."

"Wait—"

She backed out and drove away leaving him alone.

He turned around and came face to face with Giselle and Athena.

"You and Devika?" Giselle asked.

"I gotta get back to the Fam," he said.

Walking back up the steps to his apartment, Erik felt horrible. He let his dick make decisions based on lust, and he disappointed a woman he really liked.

"Fuck," he muttered.

He couldn't win for losing.

His cell vibrated again.

Stark.

"Yeah?"

"Good morning to you too, Stevens. I have some news for you. I'm ending your internship right this minute."

"What? Why?"

Erik stood outside his apartment. He could hear his family talking to Maria inside.

"Be in my office first thing Monday morning-"

"Why are you kicking me out?"

"Monday."

Erik held the phone to his ear.

His family was here to celebrate his internship, and he was being kicked out.

Fuck. Fuck.

Chapter 19 HERE

###

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[unfortunate-stranger-losers]

Right-Side Up AU, Part Three: It’s the End of the World {AO3} {tumblr} {Part One} {Part Two}

Chapter Thirteen → Kidnapping the Mayor

“Do you think it’s going well?” Nancy asked. 

Her and Jonathan sat in waiting room chairs, while Joyce leaned against the desk, saying something boring to the mayor’s receptionist, Candace something-or-other, who seemed very unnerved that Hopper had just barged past them and left her with three people to annoy her during the workday. 

“Um…” Jonathan guessed. “Sure.” 

Nancy sighed, and then said, “I’m gonna listen in. Make sure nobody notices.” 

“Wha- Nance!” 

Nancy stood up, going to the door, and Jonathan sighed and walked over to his Mom, joining in the conversation and standing in just such a way that the receptionist wouldn’t see Nancy. 

She reached for a sidetable, where a few drinking glasses were kept- probably for office parties- and she grabbed one and put it against the door, leaning her ear against it. She had to strain to hear, but she finally caught the end of one of Hopper’s sentences. 

“-ringing any bells?” 

“Uh…” she heard the mayor laugh, a bit awkwardly. “I don’t think so.” 

“Really?” came Hopper’s voice. “Cause he was just here two days ago. This was right before I saw you.” 

“Oh!” a snap of fingers. “You know what?” 

“What?” 

“Could be the maintenance guy.” 

“Maintenance guy?” 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, can’t remember his name… oh, Gary or John or something. Candace’ll have his name on file. We’ve had trouble with the plumbing. Clogged toilets and…” another laugh. “Sinks with minds of their own.” 

“You meeting with a lot of plumbers, Larry?” Nancy flinched at the sound of Hopper’s voice. It sounded very dark, very cold. She hadn’t known him to speak to anyone like that. 

Mayor Kline must have noticed this too. “Excuse me?” 

“This guy, when I saw him, he was coming out of your office.” 

“Okay, well, I don’t remember that. I shake a lot of hands, you know?” 

Silence for a moment. Nancy glanced back to make sure Jonathan and Joyce were still keeping Candace busy, and then she heard Hopper say, in a very low tone, so low she had to strain her ears to hear, “Do you remember when I caught you out in the hideaway with all that powder all over your nose?” 

Another awkward laugh. “Aw, geez.” 

“Do you remember?” 

“Oh, Jim, come on, man.” 

A bit louder. “Do you remember when my boys found you and Candace going at it like a couple of bunnies in the back of your cadillac? Do you remember that? Does your wife remember that?” 

Then Kline’s voice went just as cold. “You… you really wanna play this game?” 

“Not a game, Lar.” 

“Okay. You remember those pills you used to swallow like candy? When you first got the job here- I don’t recall, did you have a prescription for those?” 

Oh, fuck. Nancy hadn’t expected that. 

“And with a little girl at home, too. What would’ve happened if she found those before you stopped?” 

Oh, fuck. 

“Don’t bring her into this.” 

“Oh, speaking of kids at home, how long was the other kid supposed to stay with you? Doesn’t she have parents somewhere?” 

Nancy shut her eyes. Fuck, fuck, fuck… 

“Oh, that’s right, they left town. Never did find out why, did we? And her… father, in California hasn’t sent for her? Now, I don’t know about you, Hopper, but I think if people realized she wasn’t supposed to stay with you so long, they might wonder why she’s at your place with no supervision.” 

FUCK, he did not just- 

“Then again, a lot of new kids been popping up recently. Real interesting, isn’t it? Where’d Byers find her kid again? Or is it kids? I’m a bit unclear on that.” 

Nancy considered, for a moment, lowering the glass, breaking it on the ground, and using the shards to rip Kline’s insides out. 

“The stories you could get from all that, wow. Could make some real headlines. One call to Tom at the Post and you’re done, buddy. You’re gone.” 

Son of a- of course Tom Holloway was buddy-buddy with the mayor. Of fucking course. 

“Oh, and please, don’t give me that dead daughter sob story, cause I just don’t care. Clearly you don’t anymore, either, cause you’ve gotten a replacement for her.” 

Oh, that’s it.

Nancy stood up, sliding the glass back on the table. She reached for the door, planning to throw it open and kick the mayor in the fucking face- she really didn’t care about how much trouble she’d be in afterwards, she just knew she wanted him dead right now, and the most holding back she could do was grievous physical injury. 

But as she attempted to turn the handle, she realized it was locked. And just as she tried the handle again, she heard a shout and a loud thud against the door. 

The others heard it too- Joyce, Jonathan and Candace jumped to attention, whipping around to stare at the door. Jonathan’s eyes darted to Nancy, and she gave him a shrug, as if to say, I didn’t do anything. 

She heard, muffled yet very close behind the door, “My nose! You broke my goddamn nose!” 

“And your friend almost killed a friend of mine last night, so I’d say we’re still not even!” 

“Larry?” Candace stood, moving to the door; Nancy considered jumping to block her, and then considered whether or not that’d be suspicious, and if it was worth trying to avoid suspicions at this point, and by the time she decided she should probably punch someone, Candace was already trying the doorknob and also finding it locked. 

They could hear more muffled shouts from behind the door, and after a moment, Candace worriedly moved to her desk, as fast as she could in heels, and reached for the phone. To Nancy’s surprise, Joyce, quick as a whip, reached forwards and ripped a wire out of the phone, knocking it dead. 

“Who you calling?” she asked incredulously, as Candace and Jonathan stared at her in shock. “The police?” 

At that, Jonathan moved to the door to the hall, hitting the lock. 

“Well, what do you expect me to do?” Candace hissed. “Obviously that brute of a man-” 

“He’s doing way less than I would’ve done had I been in there.” Nancy informed her. “So consider Mr Mayor lucky that I’m locked out here with you.” 

“What’d they say?” Jonathan asked, deciding to ignore the panicking secretary for a moment. 

“Asshole’s threatening the kids.” 

A fire lit in Joyce’s eyes. “I’m going to kill him myself.” 

“Excuse me?” Candace gasped. 

“Viva la Revolución.” Jonathan nodded. 

“Ms Byers, are the kids still at the pool?” 

“Should be.” Joyce sighed. “If they run off, I swear to God-” 

“And Dustin and Will are with Steve, so they’re fine.” Jonathan said. 

Nancy paused a second. “Hey, Jonathan, you think we’re getting fired for not showing up to work today?” 

Jonathan groaned. “God, I didn’t even think of that- we’re fucked-” 

“No, don’t be like that, I just wanna know how much I can beat the shit outta Holloway.” 

“Why-?” 

The door suddenly swung open, and Nancy leapt back as Mayor Kline was pushed out, almost hitting the wall. Hopper stepped out, a stone cold glare in his eyes as he grabbed Kline’s arms and hoised him up towards the door. 

“Larry?” Candace gaped as Jonathan quickly ran to unlock and open the door. 

“Oh, he just bumped his head.” Hopper said, dragging the man out and smiling uncaringly at the secretary. “Just a little boo-boo, right, Lar?” 

“Oh, I see we’re going.” Nancy said, following closely behind Hopper and glaring at the mayor. 

Joyce looked back at Candace, said, “Have a nice day!” and closed the door behind them. 

As they walked down the hall, Jonathan said, “I feel like the car’s gonna be crowded. And we’re gonna get arrested.” 

“Like this is the worst thing we’ve done.” Nancy sighed. 

“And look at this, Jonathan,” Nancy spread out her arms in the foyer, almost tripping on an expensive-looking rug, “We get to see the mayor’s house! Isn’t this so much better than work?” 

“Nancy, are you taking this seriously?” Hopper sighed, as he pushed the captive mayor up the stairs. 

“I am lightening the mood because I’m terrified, Hop.” Nancy said, without dropping the smile on her face. 

“What are we doing here again?” Jonathan asked, taking Nancy’s hand and leading her up the stairs. 

“The Goon who attacked you two works for Starcourt,” Joyce recapped, “Which bought up a shitton of land. Kline’s got papers here.” 

“Cool. Major conspiracy bust.” Nancy said. “And we get to piss off the guy who said- what did he say about our kids again, Hop?” 

“Nancy, please.” Hopper sighed, once they reached the upper floor. “Let’s just get these papers and then we can all forget this happened.” 

“Maybe you will.” Nancy snorted, running her hand over the polished railing. 

“Why are they here, again?” Kline asked, glaring back at the entourage. 

“We’re a package deal.” Joyce shrugged, glancing back to make sure Jonathan and Nancy were still following. 

“Yeah, there’d be more of us if they weren’t all busy saving the world and/or eating way too much ice cream.” Jonathan mentioned. 

Kline groaned, before leading them into a large bedroom that was probably bigger than the Byers’ living room and kitchen combined. He swiftly unlocked a safe on the wall, pulling out a file that he passed to Hopper, before sitting down on a chair and groaning, head in his hands. 

“Alright, so,” Hopper said, flipping open the file, “What exactly are we lookin’ at?” 

Kline sighed, as Nancy and Jonathan quickly ran to Hopper’s side and began flipping through the papers. “Land deeds, transfers of property.” 

“So your buddies at Starcourt,” Hopper said, as Joyce joined them, “Suddenly start buying up all this property. They tell you why?” 

“I told you, they don’t tell me anything.” 

“Yeah, they’re just using you, we get that.” Nancy said, as Hopper closed up the file. 

“What I’m not getting, personally,” Jonathan said, as Hopper passed the file over to Joyce, “Is why you have a bunch of land deeds in a safe in your bedroom. Seems a bit-” 

“Paranoid?” Nancy interrupted. 

“Was gonna say ‘overprotective.’” 

“Yeah, that works.” Nancy glanced over towards Joyce, who was flipping through the deeds with that look of concentration on her face. 

“You kids wouldn’t get it.” Kline said, giving them a stern look, a tinge of fear in his voice. “These people. They’re bad news.” 

“So is this blackmail?” Nancy asked. 

“Protection.” 

“Protection.” Hopper echoed. 

Joyce interrupted with a quick, “Hold on a second,” and she turned and started into the hall. Without hesitation, Nancy and Jonathan followed, watching as she flipped through the papers and walked towards a large city map, hung on the wall of the hallway. Once Hopper came out, glancing back quickly into the room to make sure the mayor wasn’t going anywhere, Joyce pointed up. 

“These places that have been bought out- Hess Farm, Henry’s Place… they’re all here.” She spread her hands around an area in the corner of town. “Look, they’re all here. They’re all in Southeast Hawkins, right near Jordan Lake.”

“I’m not following.” Nancy admitted. 

“What else is near Jordan Lake?” Joyce prompted. 

Hopper’s eyes widened. “The power plant.” 

“Four nights ago, there was that power outage.” Jonathan recalled. “They’ve been happening all the time, but the one four nights ago- the day after that-” 

“The magnets fell.” Nancy nodded. 

“Mr Clarke said a machine needed to make the magnets fall like that would take a massive amount of power.” Jonathan said. 

“This machine does exist.” Nancy realized. “And we didn’t find it at the Lab-” 

“Because it wasn’t at the Lab.” Jonathan said. 

“It was at one of these properties.” Joyce said. “They’re hiding something over here, and all we have to do is track it down.” 

“Holy shit, Mom.” Jonathan said, leaning against the wall. “How did you get that so fast?” 

Joyce shrugged, and Hopper smiled a little. “Why don’t you forget about sales and come work at the Hawkins PD?” 

Joyce laughed, closing the file again and passing it back to him. “And have to look at your face every day? I don’t think so.” 

“Also if the mayor tells anyone what just went down, you’re probably toast.” Nancy said. Then she narrowed her eyes. “Wait. Did we leave him alone?” 

They heard some kind of muffled shuffling, and a little groan. “Larry!” Hopper took off running, back towards the room. 

Nancy sighed. “Okay, it’s the kids’ turn to be smart, I guess, cause we just completely forgot we took a politician captive.” 

“We’re gonna be in a lot of shit for this.” Jonathan sighed. 

“So much shit.” Nancy nodded. 

“Eh, we’ll be fine.” Joyce waved her hand. “I mean, I think we will. We’ve got… connections.” 

“I dunno if the government guys-” 

They heard another shout from Hopper, and Nancy said, “We should help him, right?” 

“Yeah.” Joyce sighed.

[dazzlingfantasiesblogs]

Hurricane P28

Happy x Reader

Warnings/Triggers: 18+ only. If under 18, kindly un-follow me. Drowning.

Notes: Shit is going down soon.

Tags: @moodygrip @trippinjenni @jenny885

Gifs and pics are not mine!

 You woke up laying on top of Lorenzo, Kozik laying next to you guys. Looking around the hotel room didn’t look too trashed. Slowly you stood up feeling a head rush. Padding over to the shower you jumped in and washed off the smell of alcohol. Hearing a knock at the door you opened having a towel covering you. “Whats up?” Kozik looked away trying to avoid naked eye contact. You rolled you eyes. “Jax gave me a call. Said Happy is losing his shit.” “Too bad. He can get over me again.” Walking back Kozik you walked to the mirror. “He is on his way here..” you looked back at Kozik annoyed. “Did anyone try and stop him?” Kozik shrugged. “Well I am not dealing with him. I finally feel relaxed after a few months. Having you two in the same room does a great deal on my psyche.” Kozik nodded to you. Walking to the living room about an hour later you seen Lorenzo gone. You fed Kozy hearing a knock at the door. You looked threw the peephole and seen it was Lorenzo holding coffees and flowers. Opening the door he smiled to you. “Morning beautiful.” He kissed your head and set the coffees on the table. “Walked by a farmers market and brought you these.” You smiled seeing the bouquet. A slight wonder why you never stayed with Lorenzo passed your mind. The most obvious reason what you were hurricane. So busy and at times destructive. Happy was the only one who seemed to be able to harness it a bit.

After the boys got ready you all decided you would go see the statue of liberty. Getting on a ferry you all crossed to the statue. You smiled feeling the wind in your air, the boys chatting in the background. In this moment you honestly felt that this is what life is supposed to be about. Relaxing with your best friends, your family. The ferry pulled up to the docks and you all filed out. Walking to the statue you couldn’t believe how tall it was. Taking out your camera you took a bunch of photos. A few funny ones of Kozik and Lorenzo putting their hand on the statues butt. Rolling your eyes you laughed at it.

After touring the inside and reading the plaques you hurd a cry. No one around you seemed to be noticing it. “Help me!” it sounded like a little child. Running to the edge of the rocks you seen a kid had slipped off and was starting to float away. He was not far from the dock. “Kozik! Lornezo! Follow me!” they looked at you as you rushed off. Pulling off your purse and camera you set it down on the dock. “Sis what are…” splash. “Sis! Now is not the damn time for a fucking swim!” “Y/N!” Lorenzo called out. He followed where you where swimming too and seen the small child.”Kozik grab her stuff we need to get a rope from the ferry!” the boys ran on the ferry looking for a floatation device. Grabbing one they seen you swimming towards the kid. “Help!..” the kid seen you swimming fast to him. Your breath was so damn rapid your muscles giving out. The water was frigid cold, wrapping around your skin like someone wiping an icicle around your body. You where unsure how you where going to swim back. Your eyes started to flutter a bit but you knew you needed to fight it. You held on to the young kid. He held onto you for dear life. You had to get him back to family. To somebody who would be crushed without him. You felt a splash on the side of your face and seen a floatation device. Following the rope with your eyes you seen Kozik and Lorenzo. You slipped the kid through and held on. Tugging slightly, they got the message and pulled you to the Ferry. By the time they got you and the kid to the ferry your body was absolutely jello. They got the kid up and pushed the floatation device down to you. Lorenzo seen the color from your face was faded, your eyes closing slightly. “Y/N!” he threw his phone down jumping off the ferry. He swam up grabbing your waist. You laid your head on his shoulders. “So… cold…” you whispered. He pulled the rope as Kozik and few other people slowly lifted you all up. Kozik pulled you two up and you fell into his arms shaking. Your body overly exhausted from going all that way and getting the kid. “Sis you ok?!” you nodded lightly. “So…. Cold..” the captain of the ferry and a police came over with some blankets. Kozik grabbed one and wrapped it tightly around your exhausted figure. Lorenzo standing next to you both. The captain brought you three to the main cabin and put the heat on in it. Lorenzo took off his shirt, setting it on a heater and wrapped the blanket around himself. You fell asleep in the chair on the ride back to the main city. “That was such a damn long swim..  spent not even a minute in that water and I am fucking shaking… jeez…. She is invincible..” “Yeah but her kryptonite is Happy..” Kozik whispered as you slept.

Getting back to the hotel, Lorenzo peeled off your wet clothes. Kozik stayed in the living room as he did. He pulled back the blankets and got you in the bed. Pulling over the blanket to your neck, he kissed your head. “I know you think I cant handle you hurricane.. but trust me.. I can..” He smiled towards your sleeping frame. He turned to leave and you woke up “Lorenzo.. don’t leave..” He looked back at you, your eyes swelled with exhaustion. “Let me tell Kozik.”

Lorenzo came back into the room and laid behind you. Your body was still pretty cold from the water. Pulling you close to him, you lifted your head slightly to use his arm as a pillow. A sigh of content left your lips when he slug his arm around your waist. Sleep re-taking you.

Waking up you looked around and seen your bed was empty. Kozy asleep at the end of it like usual. Reaching for your phone, you ignored the 87 messages from Happy. 3:02 AM, the following day. “What the fuck!” walking out to the living room you seen Kozik and Lorenzo watching Jackass and laughing. “How did I sleep over 24 hours?!” the boys looked at you and Kozik covered his eyes. You squinted at him slightly. “As much as I love to see your naked body y/n, I think you brother doesn’t want to see you like that.” Lorenzo stood up striding to you. He slid his shirt over your body and held your hand bringing you to the couch. “ I should probably shower…” Lorenzo rolled his eyes. “No rest. You ran a fever last night so we let you sleep all day. Don’t worry we took care of Kozy.” He gave you the same smile he used to give you when you were younger.

“Come on! Lets go..!” Lorenzo pushed you out of the Jeep. Kozik flirting with his girl as you all walked to the beach. “Lorenzo.. no.. I am not pretty enough to wear this bikini…” you tried to push him to go back to the Jeep but he was not having it. Since being thicker had been a worry for you, you felt very uncomfortable. “Enough!” he grabbed you by the waist and threw you over his shoulder. He slapped your ass as he walked to the water throwing you in. Swimming to the surface you looked at him with a glare. “Your beautiful..” He pressed his lips softly against yours. “If you weren’t, would you be doing this to me?” he grabbed your hand and pushed it against his swim shorts feeling an obvious erection. “That could be for any girl here.” “I guarantee its not.”  At that point you two where still just friends that flirted all the time together. After swimming around all day, Kozik had set up a portable cabana like tent that was all open. Next to it was a fire pit with a roaring fire. Walking up you sat on your lawn chair, drying off. Kozik handing you your oversized Harley Davidson towel. Slowly falling asleep at the sound of the crackling fire and the small banter between Kozik and his girl for the next week. You felt warm hands on your shoulders. Looking up you seen Lorenzo standing behind you talking to Kozik. Laughing at something. “Arms up beautiful.” Holding your arms up he slid his oversized sweater around you. “I don’t want you getting bit up by mosquitos. Then I have to scratch them.” He smirked. Rolling your eyes you smiled at him and he gave you his million dollar smile back.

Happy tried calling you again and nothing. He tried Kozik and that guy you were with. A message popped up on his phone from Kozik. “Do not come out here. Seriously. Stay put.” Happy wanted to throw his phone and shatter it. He knew you two where close but him and Kozik took an oath. “Fuck!” Happy yelled sitting on his bike. “Who is this dude she is with?” “Don’t know… but she is done with me… I fucked up.. both so damn stubborn.. I had the best thing in my fucking hands and lost it… again..” He mumbled to Juice. “Your moms going to kill you.” Gemma spoke up walking through the garage. “Thought you left to New York already.” “She told me not to follow her.. I told that to Kozik and Jax to get a rise out of her. Nothing… even with Jax telling Kozik.” Juice shook his head sadly. Since Juice had found you when you where kidnapped for some reason Happy came and talked to him about stuff from time to time.  “Well it is 4AM in the morning.. time to head the fuck to sleep..” Gemma mumbled walking to her Cadillac. Exhausted from the SOA party.

Lorenzo heated up some pizza he ordered for Kozik and him. Eating it you smiled a bit. “Mmm..” you mumbled. “Please.. don’t moan Y/N.. I have already seen you naked today and can’t promise to keep my gentleman act for much longer…” He smirked to you. “Shut up.” You laughed teasing him. “I missed you so much hurricane…” “I missed you too Lorenzo.”

[labgrownsteaks]

Chapter 11

The sun shone onto Erin's eyes. It was beaming through the corner of a green tapestry which was crudely nailed above the window. She had an old beat up table from the local thrift store next to her bed, and behind her was a kitchenette. It was a ridiculously small apartment but it did the job. Atop the table were some printed out sheets, detailing the process of rebuilding a carburetor that had been covered with grime and dirt. Next to the sheets, the table was covered in various carburetor parts. Rings, springs, and tiny little screws. Erin had always been good at taking apart stuff and putting it back together. In the 5th grade she made a robot out of a remote controlled car, a vacuum cleaner, and some kitchen knives she called "Sucky". She entered it in the local robot war competition, and the upperclass suburban kids destroyed her, but the crowd loved the charm of her goofy robot. Everybody was laughing at it, and when the shiny metallic spikes from some rich kid and his "tutor's" robot finally impaled Sucky the crowd actually booed. One little girl even cried upon seeing Sucky all mangled and lying upside down like a dead beetle.

She had entered the competition just for fun, but among the attendants there was a man from Chisuwick Prep School, which encouraged her to apply for a scholarship, which she got. Her father was killed during a training mission, and shortly after her uncle Aaron moved to town to look after her. Her mother died in a car accident before she was even two. Erin had had a really tough life, but somehow, she didn't slip through the cracks, and the community actually propped her up. Upon graduating from Chisuwick Prep with distinction she was pushed to enroll in college. But she simply never did. She found out about this 1 bedroom apartment located in the middle of an alleyway for 200 bucks a month, and just took it. She had a considerable inheritance from her life insurance payouts, but still hadn't really touched it. Instead she worked a couple days a week at a Car Wash to make ends meet.

She had only kissed one person, Alli, when she was 16 and at a party of this rich kid whose dad owned a Cadillac dealership. The party was terrible, a bunch of bros smashing card tables, and yelling at one another. Her and Alli had been best friends for years. They snuck away from the giant Fuck Off house located right on the banks of the river and found a fallen tree in a cattail patch. It was unbelievably muddy but they giggled and finally sat down on the branch and listened to the party from afar. They hugged, and took comfort in one another's arms, and to be away from the chaos. Alli definitely knew that she liked girls, she wasn't sure if Alli felt the same. They dated for a few years, all on the sly of course, as Chisuwick wasn't the most welcoming atmosphere. Then when graduation came Alli ended up being swayed by some cult leader who was trolling for new adherents down at a local strip mall. That was Alli's ticket out, and she took it. Everyone thought Erin was stuck, but she wasn't. She just needed some time to breathe, and relax, and look at the river flow through her dumb little town.

She didn't have a food printer, or most modern modern day appliances. She preferred buttons, and gears, and things that moved. Every day she wore her father's watch, an old Timex that she had to wind every day. She didn't mind. Winding it was a way of thinking of her parents every day for a moment before she took on the day.

She threw on her hoodie and blue jeans and slapped her watch onto her wrist. Taking a second to move the tapestry to the side of the window to let the sun in. She gazed out onto the street, and looked at the 711 and crappy hotel down the way. It was sizing up to be a really beautiful day. Bright blue sky on a crispy fall day. Her phone buzzed, and it was Vitaman writing her. The message simply said "TODAY!" and she responded "YES!". Today was the day they were all going down by the river to trip. She put her water bottle and some packets of EmergenCee powder packets into her backpack. As well as her sketchbook, some markers, and a copy of "The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead" by Timothy Leary. It was written as a guide navigating the process of death and rebirth into another form. The text is a metaphor for the experience of ego death common to psychedelic journeys. She saw psychedelics as a therapeutic, and fun thing to do. It wasn't like she had to take psychedelics because she had a specific ailment necessarily. She just enjoyed them, and saw them as a recreational outlet that had also resulted in helping her get through a lot of difficult shit relating to the death of both her parents at a young age.

She kicked over her motorcycle, an 80 something Yamaha Enduro and made her way into the blazing sun. On the way to my place she stopped in the crappy hotel parking lot and got a breakfast buritto from "The Lady" . She didn't speak much English and Erin mistakenly thought her name was Abuelita since that's what all the other Spanish speakers called her. She later learned that simply meant Grandma. "Gracias!" she yelled over the sound of her motorcycle.

I had been up for a few hours already. I was meticulous with my planning for days like these. I wanted everything to be as good as it could be. I had my own backpack of delights, complete with glowsticks, a compass, my sketchbook, and a pair of walky talkies that also had built in radios. I was going to just bring one, for some tunes if we wanted, but decided why not bring both. I could hear the tell tale sound of Erin's machine a block away, and looked out the window waiting for her to pull up. The crow was on the branch opposite my front door. Just sitting there, looking. "Wassup buddy" I said, and the crow kind of looked back at me for a second before Erin came up the driveway and scared it off. I was wearing a black button up shirt, and black jeans, with black converse. I hadn't been aware of this when I was putting my clothes on, but she immediately noticed. "You doing to a funeral?" she said as she jumped off her bike. "Yep, David Hasselhoff died." I said sarcastically. "What! Who will hold everyone together without Mitch Buchannon around!" She walked straight in and immediately made herself at home at the table. "Anything else from Siri?" she asked as she unwrapped her breakfast burrito. "Nope, she's actually been pretty quiet lately" I said then continued "Siri, any tips for the day?" The little blue lights on the egg chased each other and then Siri simply responded "Stay hydrated, and don't venture too far out into the open water" Erin piped up "Siri we don't have a boat! We're hanging out on the banks today. Don't worry!" There was a bit of comfort and annoyance in Siri giving advice, as she never had a mother to tell her not to do stuff, the sound of an older woman seemingly "worried" about them caused her a bit of pain.

Guy came bounding in with a long walking stick. "What's up goobers" he said as he walked straight up to my food printer. "Hey Siri, can you print me some fries?" and the food printer sprung into action.

"So, y'all ready to go beaver hunting?" he stated as plopped down on the couch.

"Sure, you bring your bow and arrow along with your walking stick?" I said.

Guy made a motion like he was shooting an arrow from his stick and then grabbed his fries out of the printer. We all told each other the contents of our bags, and what we had planned, but we all knew that once we took that hit on our tongues, we'd be in for a trip no matter how much we planned. We decided it would be a good idea to have a lot of fruit on hand for some reason, and there was talk about a rope swing, but the water was far too cold to go into. I got some aluminum foil out of the cabinet and broke off three little tabs and placed one hit in each. Guy looked at me dubiously.

"Why are you putting them in aluminum foil? Lets eat them here. The river is just a 15 minute drive. I was a bit anxious, no matter how many times I had tripped before I still got a bit anxious each time. Acid had this strange way of actually relaxing me as soon as the actually auditory and visual hallucinations began I could go with it more. But beforehand I was always just excited, and anxious. Which are actually pretty much the same feeling.

Erin then stated "Ya, lets eat em here. I don't want to be driving around with a hit of acid in my pocket. Lets eat em go. It was 9:45, and we agreed to all take them at 10. we all wet our fingers and touched it to the little piece of paper before placing it on our tongues. At the moment we did this, there was this deep bubble sound which came through my speakers. Like a giant whale fart or something. Blooop. It said. And we all laughed about it, as we walked into the sun, and got into Guy's Chevette.

[jae-bummer]

My Idol: Part Twelve

My Idol From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My Idol is a South Korean competitive reality dating game show. It currently airs on Wednesday nights on Jae-bummer’s blog. First broadcast in 2016, the show offers the opportunity for a lucky fan to go on seven blind dates with seven idols. The idol plans the date with the show throwing in specific missions to complete during the day. At the end of the initial dates, the show opens up an audience vote to decide what three idols will move on to the second date.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12 - Part 13 - Part 14 - Part 15 - Part 16 - Part 17 - Part 18 - Part 19 - Part 20 - Part 21 - Part 22

“I don’t know who you think you’re talking to, but if I were Jay Park, I would probably be checking on your problematic ass after last week’s episode.”

You blinked slowly, looking carefully over your shoulder to make note of Sweaty and Armpit’s locations. They had followed Sehun to the concession counter, careful to record even his slightest move as he paid for the round of snacks before him. You heaved a sigh of relief, confirming to yourself that you needed to finish your exchange with Jay quickly, before they noticed. 

“Jay-” you whispered, reaching out to set your hand lightly on his arm. 

“I don’t know who the hell you think I am, lady...but you could’ve called a man if you were in the hospital...” he said quietly, taking off his sunglasses to look at you. He set his hand on top of yours, brushing your fingertips lightly. “I would’ve came...

...I mean...Jay would’ve came.

I mean...whatever man you would’ve called who wouldn’t be Jay because he doesn’t have your number because contractual obligations...would’ve came.”

Your mouth fell slightly open, completely shocked by the words flooding from Jay’s lips. Upon your first meeting, you thought it would be a cold day in hell when Jay Park had a soft spot for someone other than himself. You supposed it was time to buy the devil a sweater. 

You shook your head, clearing the fog of wonder flooding your mind as Jay began to speak again. “You okay though babygirl? Like legit okay? Not a bullshit okay just to get me to leave you alone?” 

“I’m okay,” you sighed, nodding to confirm the answer with yourself before looking up at him. “Legit okay.”

“Well alright,” Jay said, a smile evident behind his black face mask. He took his hand from on top of yours and placed it on your cheek, rubbing it gently before he pulled away. “I got some shit to attend to if you don’t mind, strange lady who I don’t know at all. John Wick 2 just came out and I got some sour patch kids with my name on them.” 

You chuckled lightly, hardly believing what had just happened. “Thanks for checking up on me, Jay.” 

“Sure you alright lady?” he laughed, lifting his eyebrows. “I mean you’re hot, but damn, no amount of gorgeous can balance out this much crazy.”

You rolled your eyes as Jay began to walk away, tugging his baseball cap further down on his forehead as he saw Sweaty and Armpit begin to approach. “See you soon sweet cheeks,” he called, giving you one last wink. “And if you were wondering, nah, I didn’t mean the cheeks on your face.”

You watched with bated breathe as Jay confidently strode past Sehun, shoulder checking him along the way. You winced, awaiting the inevitable confrontation. 

“Yah!” the younger man grumbled, nearly dropping the food in his arms. He spun, giving the still masked Jay a dirty look. 

“Sorry man,” Jay growled, his voice two octaves deeper than what it normally was. “Oh shit, wait, aren’t you a member of EXO?”

“Yeah!” Sehun gasped, his eyes lighting up immediately. He bowed, a large grin on his face. “I’m the maknae, Oh Sehun.”

“Never heard of you,” Jay nodded, without skipping a beat. He patted the EXO member on the arm before sauntering away. 

Sehun’s shoulders fell as he watched Jay retreat, turning back to you with furrowed brows. “Did you know him?”

“Nope, I think he’s some weird My Idol super fan,” you chuckled, biting your lip. Sehun nodded blankly, handing you the fountain drink.

“Sehun,” you hummed, looking up at him with a bit of concern. “Is everything alright?” 

The boy continued to nod before stuttering in a faint whisper. “...could he possibly not know who I am?” 

Sehun sniffed, patting lightly at his cheeks with the back of his hand. “That was...that was just a wonderful piece of theatre. I laughed, I cried, I thought I was going to throw up at one point. It was so powerful.” 

You sucked in your bottom lip as you walked beside Sehun, looking up at his tall frame. You were unsure if he was acting or not. “...Yeah, it was pretty good.”

“Pretty good?! Just pretty good?!” Sehun stuttered, coming to a sudden stop on the sidewalk. “Lego Batman was so much more than ‘just pretty good’!”

You couldn’t hold it in anymore as a loud laugh erupted from your mouth.  Sehun scrunched his face, attempting to feign offense, before his frown morphed into a grin. He wrapped his arm tightly around your shoulders, pulling you into his chest as you giggled together. 

“Mission,” Sweaty hissed, pushing a red envelope toward you and Sehun. You looked up, attempting to catch your breath, just as Sehun snatched the envelope from the camera man’s hand. 

“I hate to be the one to point out the obvious.” Sehun grumbled, ripping into the envelope. “But you have really bad timing.”

“They’ve heard,” you hummed, standing on your tip toes in an attempt to read over Sehun’s shoulder. He tilted away from you as he read and reread the words printed on the card. 

“Your date has been working hard for eleven episodes now. What have you done? Carry your date to the cafe location. If you stop or drop your date, suffer the penalty.” 

Sehun looked up at the camera men with wide eyes. “That’s like two more blocks.”

“We suggest you walk quickly,” Armpit cackled, readjusting his camera.

“You have wide shoulders,” you nodded, looking toward Sehun optimistically. “I’m sure they’re strong. Sehun, fighting!” 

Sehun cracked a smile, shaking his head in disbelief. He crouched down before you signaling for you to take hold of him. You nodded, giving a little jump as you wrapped your arms around Sehun’s shoulders, careful to hold your braced arm gingerly. 

“Are you comfortable?” Sehun asked, shifting a bit to get a more firm grasp under your thighs. You felt your body grow hot with the sudden and complete contact. You buried your face in the crook of his neck and squeaked out a “yes.”

“Should be,” Sehun grumbled, beginning to walk leisurely across the pavement. “Being carried by me has to be like riding in a cadillac.”

“Or a jeep,” you teased. “A bumpy, mildly uncomfortable jeep.”

“Lies and slander,” Sehun clucked. You could hear the smile in his voice even though you couldn’t see it. “I am a Cadillac and I will not minimize my self worth.”

“Fine, you’re a Cadillac,” you giggled, snuggling into Sehun’s broad shoulders. He smelled amazing. The dense material of his coat was covered in something that smelled expensive. There was no way you could even begin to detect the different components that made up his cologne, as you had never smelled anything like it. It burned your nostrils while simultaneously begging you to inhale again. 

“See, you’re riding in luxury,” he sighed, hitching you up further on his back to readjust. “Aish...I should’ve worn more comfortable shoes...”

Sehun had broken into a sweat by the time you reached the small cafe you had intentions of visiting. His tan skin glistened beneath the lanterns, freshly lit with the arrival of dusk. As soon as he had appeared at the location, he had swiftly dropped your thighs, bringing your feet to the ground with a thud. He shook out his shoulders before spinning and looking at you. 

“So would I be totally out of line to ask for a massage?” he grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. 

“Should’ve booked a spa date,” you laughed, biting your lip as the words escaped your mouth. 

“Spa dates are a bit played out,” Sehun growled, his voice attractively low. “I’d prefer your hands on me anyhow.”

Your eyes grew wide by the sudden boldness of Sehun’s statement. Just as the words had left his mouth, he spun back around, beginning to analyze the menu placed outside of the cafe as if the exchange never happened. 

“Such a punk,” you grumbled, smacking him lightly on the back. He crumpled, an expression of pain painting his handsome features. 

“Yah, assault!” he whined, falling to the ground. “I’m going to die!” 

“Get up,” you hissed, attempting to pull him to his feet as the people around you began to stare. “Sehun-ah!” 

“Can’t go on...any longer,” he stuttered, reaching out to you dramatically before falling backward toward the concrete again. You sighed, closing your eyes. You opened them again to see Sehun watching you, complete amusement on his face. 

“You’re awful,” you muttered, stepping over him to look at the menu. 

“But you’re into it,” he cooed, launching up and wrapping his arms round you with a back hug. Your breath caught for a moment, not prepared for the small act of affection. He set his chin on your shoulder as he began to whisper the different options for coffee. 

“Mission,” Sweaty grumbled, thrusting the last red envelope of the evening toward the two of you. 

Sehun sighed as he pulled away, his hands lingering on your hips. His fingers eventually trailed away from your belt loops and grabbed at the colored paper. 

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older? Invite yourselves to dine with a more mature couple and ask for love advice. If you are denied by a table or denied the advice, suffer the penalty.”

“Yah, why do we have to involve poor bystanders?” you grumbled, stomping your foot. Sehun didn’t even bother to acknowledge your statement as he snaked around you, eying up the tables sitting outside of the small cafe. 

“Come on,” he whispered, grabbing hold of your hand and lacing his fingers in yours. He pulled you along as he made his way to a table where a couple who appeared to be in their 60′s sat. 

“Excuse me,” Sehun smiled, putting on his most polite tone. “My date and I are filming for a reality show. Would you mind if we sat and had coffee with you?”

The older woman’s eyes immediately disappeared with her wide grin as she nodded at Sehun. With him being so handsome, it was an easy sell. She smacked her husband lightly on the knee to shift seats and allow you to sit across from them. He began to grumble, shooting Sehun an ominous glare as he plopped alongside his wife. 

“I’m Sehun,” Sehun nodded, helping you into a seat before sitting in his own. “This is Y/N.”

The older couple nodded, the woman taking her husband’s hand. “I’m Park HaeSook, this is my husband, Park Sungki. You two make a very pretty couple.”

“Not nearly as pretty as you two,” Sehun cooed, smiling back toward the elders. The simple comment tickled them both, causing HaeSook to dissolve into a fit of giggles and Sungki’s face to grow red. “How long have you two been together?”

“Married forty years this April,” Sungki sighed, his voice gravelly. “But I chased her for seven years before that.” 

“Oh, you did not!” HaeSook grinned, smacking her husband lightly on the shoulder. “You were after my sister and settled for me! You can admit it now! It’s the past!” 

“I most certainly was not!” Sungki gasped. “You’re sister was too expensive for my taste. You were a bargain my dear.”

HaeSook scoffed, smacking her husband again before she grinned. “You’re lucky you’re good looking.”

“I hope my Sehun is half as handsome as you one day, Mr. Park,” you hummed, having to stop yourself from laughing at the instant change in expression from Sehun. HaeSook giggled, her face full of pride. 

“And I hope my Y/N could someday live up to the beauty that is you, Ms. HaeSook,” he grinned, placing his hand lightly on your knee beneath the table. He gave it a gentle squeeze before continuing. “I must admit, I have a confession to make. We were hoping to receive love advice from you two.”

“Love advice?” Sungki gasped, followed up by a heartfelt laugh. “Are you sure you want to ask us?” 

“We could see your love from the entrance of the cafe,” Sehun nodded. “It was radiating. We just had to ask.”

You smiled kindly from the elderly couple back to Sehun. He spoke so warmly to his elders, it was an admirable trait. He had made them feel comfortable from the moment he had sat down. 

“Well,” Sungki sighed, nodding to HaeSook. He took her wrinkled hand into his and petted it calmly. “I think I have at least one piece of good advice, and my HaeSookie here would agree...

When you meet someone you feel is right for you, then accept that. Don’t rush into it. Give yourself time to make sure it’s right...because if it’s wrong, it won’t last.”

Apparently they had never heard of the premise for My Idol. 

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12 - Part 13 - Part 14 - Part 15 - Part 16 - Part 17 - Part 18 - Part 19 - Part 20 - Part 21 - Part 22

[anavoliselenu]

Creighton chapter 27

“I don’t know, babe. He’s your husband.” “So, what do I do now?” I don’t know if I’m asking myself, Tana, or the universe in general. Luckily for me, Tana has an answer. “Get your ass back to Nashville. Come to my place and lay low.” My phone beeps with another incoming call. I pull it away from my face, once again expecting to see Justin’s name on the screen. But it’s not. It’s Chance. “Shit. Chance is calling me too. I better take it.” “He’s gonna tell you the same thing that I am. Get your ass back to town, and your people will circle the wagons.” “Thank you for the heads-up. Now to do damage control on my life.” “You got this, babe. Love you.” I hit the button to flip over to Chance’s call. “You heard the news that you’re news?” he says without preamble. “Yep. Just now.” “Good. Get yourself back to town. You’re gonna lay low and finish your songs. Boone says he’ll put you up so you’re out of the public eye. I’ll send you Garcia to get the songs finalized, and then you and the band can practice at Boone’s. We’re going to cut that album as fast as we fucking can.” It’s so much information to take in, I’m reeling. “Slow down, Chance. This is all—” “No time to slow down, kid. As of this morning, you’re the girl everyone’s talking about. We need to ride the wave before it goes south.” I should appreciate his opportunistic business sense, but I need a second to breathe. “It’s my goddamn life, Chance. Not a fucking wave.” “I know, doll. But all you can do is hold on and enjoy the ride. Call me when you get to Boone’s.” I pause in my pacing, the phone still to my ear, and I listen to nothing but dead air for ten seconds before I snap out of it enough to hang up. Seriously? That’s it? He didn’t even stop and ask me if I wanted to stay at Boone’s. I planned to crash behind Tana’s gates. I grit my teeth, knowing I’m about to ride into the shitstorm of the century. My stomach twists and turns with guilt. Mama better be long gone, because if I track her down, there’s no telling what I’ll say or do. And Justin . . . I don’t even know what to think. The guilt that I’m the reason his past is smeared across the tabloids fights with the hurt that he didn’t tell me he bought the label and is facing serious legal issues because of it. This is supposed to be as real as it gets, and yet he said nothing. Why? And why hasn’t he called me today? I stare down at my phone and quickly search for his contact. I tap his cell number, trying to figure out what I’m going to say. But no need—the call goes straight to voice mail. I call again. And again. And again. Nothing. Finally, I call his office. Instead of the receptionist I got the last time, I get a prerecorded message thanking me for my call before offering me the number of the PR department at Karas International. I blink as I lower my phone to the counter. Seriously, Justin? What is this? The only thing I can fathom is that they’ve been overrun with calls about today’s news. For a moment I think about calling the PR department and asking them to have the boss call his wife. But I decide that’s not the best course of action. My imagination is jumping all over the place. Is he locked inside some kind of super-top-secret meeting that he can’t get away from? Was the Homegrown deal the reason he stood me up when I needed to be back in Nashville? So many secrets, and I’m not privy to a single goddamn one of them. So much for this being as real as it gets. Because real is telling your spouse that you’ve bought their record label. Real is telling your spouse that the shit is about to hit the fan because you bought their record label. And from my side of the fence, real is apologizing that I opened my goddamn mouth to my mama and gave her anything to tell the press. I want to rage at him and apologize all at the same time. Why is love so damned complicated? When he still hasn’t called by the time I’m shoving my bags in the Cadillac, rage is winning out. Where the hell is my husband? The bowling bag is the last thing I put in the backseat. I thought about leaving it, but said screw it. I have a feeling that screw it is going to be my mantra of the day. Your mama sells you out to a tabloid? Screw it. Your husband buys your record label and doesn’t mention it? Screw it. Your husband gets sued after buying said record label and doesn’t mention that either? Screw it. I slam the car into gear and tear out of the drive. I’ve got one stop to make before I leave town, so I crank the wheel in the direction of Logan’s service station. I’m pretty sure the tires on the Caddy are smoking when I squeal to a halt. Screw it. I fling the door open and hip check it shut. Screw it.

I march across the pavement and throw open the door, not slowing to ring the bell for service. The music is once again blaring, so I stalk to the stereo and slap a hand on the power button. Screw it. Logan’s head jerks up from the Mustang. “Again? What the hell is your problem with Zeppelin?” “They were all men. That’s enough.” Although I’m not too happy with womankind—or motherkind—today either. Logan leans back against the cherry-red front end of the car and crosses his arms over his chest. “Karas again?” I throw my hands up in the air. “Obviously! Well, him and my mama.” I pace the garage, stepping over air hoses and metal legs of the huge car lifts as I spill the entire sordid story. Logan’s eyes are wide when I finish. “You’ve had a rough morning, girl.” “No kidding.” “What can I do?” I recall the reasons I came here to begin with. “Two things, if you wouldn’t mind.” “Anything you need. All you have to do is ask.” I briefly consider asking him to track down my mother, but decide that’s the worst possible idea. “Can you sell my Pontiac?” “Of course. Just tell me where to send the money.” “I’ll worry about that later.” I pause in my pacing and face him. “I also need you to get a locksmith out to my gran’s and have the locks changed for me. If you get word my mama’s back in town, I want her arrested again for breaking and entering if she tries to get back inside. The house is mine, and I don’t want her in it. Last time she stole stuff, and I’m finished with that crap.” “Consider it done.” My temper cooling slightly, I cross over to him, lean up on my tiptoes, and press a kiss to his cheek. “You’re a good man, Logan Brantley. A really good man.” His cheeks flush red, but he smiles. “And don’t you forget it, Selena Wickman. You call me if you ever need anything.” He turns and grabs a slip of paper off the workbench and scribbles his number down with a fat pencil. “Nashville ain’t too far, and if you need me, I’ll be there. Just say the word.” I’m not sure how to take that, so I just say, “Thank you. I’m glad my car died at this particular gas station.” “Me too, honey. Me too.” I’m at a crossroads in my life, both literally and figuratively. I can head southwest toward Nashville and hide behind Boone or Tana’s gates. Or I can head northeast, into the shitstorm surrounding my husband. A shitstorm that I helped make worse on a personal level because of what I shared with Mama. I think about what Justin said to me just before we hung up last night. “I support you, Selena. So whatever you decide is best for you, I’m going to support that too.” As pissed as I am that he didn’t tell me about Homegrown, I owe him the same thing—my support. I ran from him twice before, but this time I’m running straight to him. I’m not saying I won’t ask him what the hell he was thinking by not telling me, but this isn’t a game. It’s the fight of my life. Selena isn’t answering my calls, and I’m about to lose my shit. If she runs again, I have a feeling I might not be able to find her so easily this time. I’ve been trying to reach her for hours, and if I don’t get a response in the next twenty minutes, I’m going to start tracking her credit cards. We were already in lockdown when the article in the Wall Street Journal went live. Some poor red-faced associate came in holding a printout of the article and the piece in Yammer. It’s safe to say that I shouldn’t be meeting Selena’s mother anytime soon, for both our sakes. I’m pacing the conference room, calling Selena again, when the door is shoved open. “Honey, you called?” I drop the phone from my ear when Selena struts in, suitcase in tow. Every head in the room swivels toward her. “Don’t you know how to answer your phone, woman?” “Oh no, he didn’t.” The words are whispered, and I think they come from an associate at the end of the long table. Rather than annoying me, his words remind me that my office is not the place for this discussion. Stalking across the room, I stop in front of my wife. She should be spitting mad, but she’s smiling. That’s almost more disconcerting. “Hey, baby. I missed you,” she says. “Everyone out,” I order, and the room clears within sixty seconds, partners and associates alike shuffling by us without making eye contact. “What are you doing here?” I ask, wondering if Selena is going to drop the act and go for the jugular the moment we’re alone. But instead, she says something completely unexpected. “I support you, Justin. Whatever decisions you made about what to tell me or not tell me, I’m assuming you made them for a reason.” “Selena—” “I’m not done.”

My lips quirk up into a smile. “Then by all means, please continue.” She straightens her posture, and I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or not. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m disappointed that you didn’t tell me about Homegrown, but I’m assuming you had a reason for not telling me. So instead of running to Nashville like I was told, I decided it was time to show you that I know how to run to you just as well as I know how to run away. So here I am. This shitstorm wouldn’t exist if you’d never met me, and my place is right beside you while we wade through the muck.” Hearing her say those words unleashes something fiercely proud and protective within me. “You’re a hell of a woman, Selena Karas.” “Because of you, I’m starting to believe that.” I lift both hands and frame her face. “Fuck, am I glad to see you. And for the record, if you’d run back to Nashville, I would’ve come after you again. Every time. Until you tell me to stop. And probably even after that.” Threading my fingers through her hair, I lower my lips to hers. “Like I’d ever tell you to stop,” she whispers before I take her mouth with mine. When Selena leans up on her toes, hands gripping my shoulders, I pull my lips away and untangle my hands from her hair. “Might as well just climb me.” I drop my hands and cup her ass, lifting her and carrying her to the conference table. Lowering her onto a section not covered in papers, I lay her back and skim my lips up her neck, my teeth scraping along the tendons. Her moans break the silence of the conference room, and all I want to do is fuck her until neither of us can walk. The conference room door swings open. “Seriously, Justin? We don’t have time for this right now.” Cannon doesn’t even bother to clear his throat to give us a polite warning or look away when we break apart. “Get the fuck out,” I growl. “You pay me too much money to let you fuck around when we need to be fixing shit.” Selena wiggles out from underneath me, and my body is not happy to have her go. “Cannon, I don’t believe we’ve formally met in person.” She rounds the table and holds out her hand, not showing the slightest concern that he walked in on us. My wife has nerves of steel, and I find that sexy as hell—just like I find everything about her. Cannon shakes her hand, a small smile on his face. “Nice to meet you, Selena.” “I’d say likewise, but I don’t really like you. Actually, I kind of think you’re a jerk. And now I know for sure you’re a total cock-blocker.” Having never been faced with a woman like Selena before, Cannon stiffens and his eyes cut to me. The look on his face says, Do something, man. I raise my eyebrows in response, clearly communicating, Not a fucking chance. “Well,” Cannon says, dropping Selena’s hand and clearing his throat, “we really need to continue our strategy session so we can get this issue handled. We’ve got less than twenty-four hours before you’ve got to stand up in front of a room full of investors, and we need a solid explanation.” “There’s nothing more to strategize at this point. The investors aren’t stupid. They deserve more than a solid explanation. They deserve the truth, and that’s exactly what I’m going to give them.” “Fuck, Justin. The truth? That you lost your fucking mind over a piece of ass, so you married her and bought her goddamn record label because you didn’t like that they were bullying her around?” Selena’s harshly drawn breath pierces the momentary silence before I surge across the room. My fist flies before I even consider what I’m doing. My knuckles crack against Cannon’s jaw, sending pain rocketing from my hand up my arm, but I don’t fucking care because all I want is for him to shut his goddamn mouth. Cannon stumbles back, reaching out to the paneled wall to keep from falling on his ass. “What the hell, man?” “You’re fired. And you’re fucking lucky I don’t kill you.” “Justin, wait.” Selena’s voice is quiet, but firm. “He’s clearly an idiot, but he’s your best friend.” “Which is why he’s not dead.” “Justin—” “Shut your fucking mouth, Cannon.” “No, Cannon, open it and apologize. And then maybe my husband will give you your job back.” “No fucking way,” I say, my tone deadly serious. The man is lucky he’s still breathing. No one talks about Selena like that. But my former best friend ignores me and shoves off the wall. Wiping the back of his hand across his face, he looks to Selena. “I’m sorry, Selena. I apologize for running my mouth like a jackass.” When he looks at me, he says, “I’m just looking out for you, Justin. I swear, I just didn’t think. And that’s how the press is going to see it too. We just need to be prepared.”

I open my mouth to tell him to go fuck himself again, but Selena comes toward me and lays a hand on my arm. “You can’t fire him over this, Justin. Hit him again, maybe. But then go take him out for a beer and get back to solid ground. He’s just looking out for you, and he’s been important to you for a lot longer than I have. I won’t be the reason that breaks. So, figure your shit out.” Then she looks to Cannon. “But if you ever call me a piece of ass again, I’ll immortalize you in a song, and I promise, you will not like how it ends. And that’ll be after I take my best shot at knocking your perfect freaking teeth out.” Turning back to me, she adds, “I’m going to go back to the penthouse now to try to finish up these songs and do damage control with Chance. I’ll be waiting when you’ve finished up your meetings. I actually feel like blowing off my diet and cooking tonight. So make sure you bring your appetite.” She leans up on her tiptoes once more, and I decide that it’s one of my favorite moves. Her lips press lightly against mine. My hand curves around her hip, anchoring her to me. When she lowers back down to her heels, I release my hold on her. “I’m glad you’re here, Selena. Really fucking glad.” “Nowhere else I’d rather be.” Her lips curl into a smile, but it’s still not quite as wide as the one I saw on her face on Country Dreams. Once this is all over, I’ll make sure she has even more to smile about. “Is your kitchen stocked?” I nod. “Yes, but I’ll have a car take you home.” She doesn’t argue. “Okay, Justin. I’ll make something that’ll keep, no matter how late you get home.” Warm contentment settles in my chest. This is an entirely new feeling for me. Working as a team, supporting each other. “I’ll be home as soon as I can, baby.” Her smile as she leaves the room only ratchets up that contented feeling, lacing it with determination to put this behind us as quickly as I can so we can move forward. When the door shuts behind her, Cannon grips his jaw with his hand and cracks it. “One more meeting with the lawyers. You lay out whatever plan you’ve got. They’ll tell you it’s inadvisable. You’ll decide, fuck it, I’m CEO and therefore I can do whatever the fuck I want, and you’ll do it anyway.” He stills his movements and pins me with the blue eyes I’ve known since boarding school. “Is that about how this is going to go?” I grin. “Yes.” “Then let’s get it over with quickly so you can get home to the wife.” I hold out my hand, and he shakes it. “Sounds good.” I’m going all out tonight. Fried chicken, cornbread, baked beans, steamed broccoli, and cherry cobbler. I know, the broccoli is the odd man out, but it’s my nod at attempting to stick to my nutrition plan. I’ve got Elle King cranked up, and I’m bobbing along to “America’s Sweetheart” when I feel him behind me. I have no explanation for it. Justin just has a presence, and apparently it’s one that my body is absolutely and completely attuned to. “Hey, baby. Hope you’re hungry.” I lift the chicken out of the boiling oil and set it aside to drain before I turn to face him. “Goddamn, I don’t know what smells better—you or the chicken.” I snort. “I’m going to assume that’s a compliment and just roll with it.” He leans down to press a kiss to my lips. “It is. And I’ll be having you for dessert.” I haven’t had an orgasm since the one that I had during our phone sex last night. And damn—has it really only been one night? My body is wound so tight that you couldn’t prove it by me. “That sounds fabulous.” Justin turns and sets his briefcase on the bar stool, and I can’t help but smile at the fact that he didn’t set it down before he came to me. He removes his coat, lays it over the briefcase, and comes to stand beside me at the stove. “What are you feeding me, woman?” “Are you in caveman mode now? See woman, she cook. She must feed man,” I say in my best caveman voice. “If you want to play that game later, I’ll drag you back to my cave.” I shake my head, a laugh spilling from my lips. Even in the midst of this shitstorm, we’re laughing and joking. That means something, right? How you limp along during the bad times means so much more than how you glide along during the good ones, right? “You’re crazy, Justin. And I love that about you.” He leans down and this time, sweeps my hair aside and brushes kisses along my neck. I try to swallow back the moan, but it escapes anyway. Even so, reality intrudes. “Baby, I’ve got hot oil on the stove. You need to let me finish frying the chicken, and then we can pick this up.” He growls—growls—before backing away. “You already open a bottle of wine?” “Nope. Left that to you. I’d probably pick something that clashed horribly with the masterpiece we’re about to eat.”

“You realize I don’t give a shit if you picked the wrong wine, don’t you?” “I know, but still. I didn’t want to start drinking without you. Your wine is the good stuff, so I probably would’ve had one glass, and it would’ve been so delicious that I would’ve needed another glass. And maybe another. Especially after this disaster of a day. And then you would’ve come home to burned-to-crap fried chicken, hard-as-a-brick cornbread, sloppy baked beans, squishy broccoli, and flambéed cherry cobbler.” Justin pauses in his reach into the wine fridge. “You made all that?” “Uh-huh. And it’s going to be fabulous.” “Well, damn. I don’t even know what to say to that.” “You don’t have to say anything. Just eat it. And then me. After.” I snap my mouth shut. I can’t believe I just said that. Wait—yes, I can. Justin lifts the bottle of wine from its rack and closes the door. “Oh, baby, you feeling neglected? Because I’ll eat that sweet pussy of yours for days.” A shiver of awareness shoots through me. “Days aren’t really necessary. I’d settle for a really vigorous hour.” Justin’s grin should qualify him as the sexiest man alive. Those sharp cheekbones, dark eyes, and his square jaw, every feature is beautifully accentuated by his smile. “Damn. You are one sexy son of a bitch. You know that, right?” If possible, his grin widens. “Well, if I didn’t, I do now.” “I’m suddenly not very hungry.” The grin morphs into a lazy smile. “Patience, baby. Patience. Besides, a man only gets to eat like this once in a while, and I’m not missing out on my shot. But I think dessert can wait until after.” “Deal. Let’s eat. Fast.” There are so many things we need to talk about, but I decide they can wait until morning. Tonight, I just want to revel in the good, and pretend none of the bad exists. It’ll all be waiting for us in the morning. But tonight . . . tonight we only get once. I’m not going to waste it. At noon the following day, I stand on a podium, the Karas International Inc. logo emblazoned on nearly every surface in the huge auditorium. The room is filled to capacity; it’s standing room only. There’s nothing like gossip to bring every interested body out in droves. But today, they’re not going to get gossip. Today, they’re going to get the truth. “Welcome to Karas International’s Annual Investor Day. As chairman of the board and chief executive officer, it’s my pleasure to welcome you. I’d like to open with a statement that will address what I’m sure is a matter many of you have come seeking answers about—the purchase of Homegrown Records by an independent entity owned by me personally, which prompted a lawsuit filed by a shareholder on behalf of Karas International. The suit alleges that as a company executive and member of its board, this purchase breaches my duty of loyalty both to the company and to you, its shareholders.” A few whispers start in the audience, and I can tell it’s because no one expected me to confront this issue head-on. Which amuses me, because I’m Justin fucking Karas. Head-on is what I do. “I’d like to be the first to tell you that the allegations contained in that suit are complete and utter bullshit. The purchase of Homegrown was not in any way made to usurp an opportunity that would have been appropriate to our company’s current or contemplated business portfolio, nor would it have been beneficial to Karas International. For the record, Homegrown has already cost me over thirty million dollars of capital infusion just to keep the damn thing running.” The whispers in the audience begin to grow in volume, which annoys me. “If you’ll hold your comments until the end, I’ll take your questions until you don’t have any more. But I’d appreciate your courtesy so I can finish my statement.” A hush instantly falls over the room, and I continue. “However, I will agree that the proper procedure to avoid any hint of impropriety and to forestall any grounds for the allegations supporting the suit would have been to have the independent members of the board of directors vote on the transaction. I’m sure you’re wondering why I didn’t go that route, and I only have one answer for you. Have you ever been so absolutely in love that you’ve stopped thinking about practicalities entirely?” A titter rolls through the room, and I pause for a moment to let them absorb my comment before I continue.

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[strawberrylemonz]

Introductions

Part 11

Part 12 [CURRENT]

Part 13

DT: @petrichormeraki @applepie1000 @jump-in-the-cadillac @ivorylin and @sydneys-sketches

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Uncertainty filled the group as they walked through the open gates, allowing the guests to freely venture in. As the crowd began to pass them, venturing off to different parts of the park, the lovely trio tried to get the group’s minds off of their worries. Lani was the first to pipe up. 

“So, what’s the first area of the park?”

That seemed to be the right thing to say, because Tommy immediately beamed with pride. Pulling up the pamphlet, he pointed to the first section before pointing at the crossroads sign by the group. 

“Tavern Town! Oh, you guys are going to love the cavern, you all have your own sections to represent each of you! Except Grian, he has two. I also added Kristin, Theo and Clementine! It’s all cool and shit.”

“A section? For me? Oh, Tommy! I knew I was your best friend! I’m smiling behind my mask! Let’s get going, then!”

“You’re still short as hell, Drista”

“I am not! At least my posture isn’t crap”

“My posture is perfectly fine!”

“Tell me that when you don’t need to fix it once it’s brought up”

“Shut up”

Adjusting the wiggly child in his arms, Tommy stuck his tongue out at Drista before leading the group through the archway for Tavern Town. There, they encountered their first member of Dream’s server.

“Tommy, Tubbo, thank god you two are alright! And Fundy, I’m glad you’re safe with them!”

Tommy didn’t tense up at the voice, why would he? As Grian plucked Clementine from Tommy’s arms, Tommy turned and smiled. Walking up with joy, he opened his arms in a welcoming manner.

“Sam! Holy shit, I didn’t think you’d be here! Guys, this is Sam! He’s great, you guys. Holy shit, Sam, I still have the creeper head you gave me.”

Taking notice of the genuine relief in Sam’s face and tone, Tommy allowed him to give him a hug. Tubbo joined in, Fundy following in suit. After everyone pulled away, Sam got a good look at them all. Giving a genuine smile, he let out a laugh as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Man, look at you all. You’ve all grown, I can hardly recognize you guys. I was so nervous that you were all gone for good. I’m sorry that I wasn’t enough to keep you from the terrible things you faced up until your disappearance. I-”

“It’s not your fault, man. No one could have seen that coming.”

“That’s not an excuse, Tommy. You were a child who didn’t get to be a child. You shouldn’t have had to deal with what you dealt with.”

“Tommy! Tubbo! Fundy! There you guys are! Sam, you found them!”

Tubbo smiled as he bolted in for a hug, Tommy and Fundy laughing as they waved to the new addition to the conversation.

“Puffy!”

The rest of the group watched with smiles at the reunions, Lani and Drista waving hellos when they were acknowledged. After being handed off to other members of the group, Theo and Clem were eventually put down on the ground. Huffing around with how much attention they were not receiving, they decided to do something about it. Shifting into a pig, Clem gave her cousin a nod, which Theo returned. Inhaling, the two opened their mouths and let their presences known. Clem began squealing like a pig as Theo stood beside her, head in the air as he let out a monotone scream. They didn’t stop, completely disregarding the pleas from the group. Finally, they were lifted into the arms of Fundy and Tommy. Theo immediately closed his mouth into a smile, smiling blankly at an amused Sam and Puffy. Clem squealed once more, before poofing back into her usual self, a gremlin grin being thrown at Sam and Puffy. 

“Sorry about that. This is Theo, my son. That, over there, is Clementine, but we call her Clem. She’s Tommy’s.”

After hearing her name, Clem perked up in Tommy’s arms. Giving a determined smile, she clenched her fists and glared at Sam, who was standing there in utter confusion. As he opened his mouth to nervously ask about her actions, Sam was left speechless as Clem poofed once more. She was inexperienced, that much was certain, but she was also determined. This was obvious based on her current form. As she beamed up at him, Sam could only stare as creeper-like features covered the small child. As she shifted back to her usual form, she and Theo clapped at her achievement. Laughing at the interaction, Tommy held Clementine towards Sam. After looking back at Tommy for a final nod of approval, Sam carefully pulled an excited Clem into his arms. His nervousness from holding the child increased the moment she put her small hands on his face, curious. He held his breath as he stared down at her curious, blue eyes. His concern, however, melted away the moment she giggle and papped his cheeks over and over again with her tiny hands, squealing happily as she did so.

“Holy shit, Sam, she seems to have warmed up to you quickly. Aside from Theo, you’re the only one. Even Fundy took a while.”

“My heart is wounded, she's chosen Sam over me”

“You’re my number one, Papa”

“Thank you, Theo. You’re mine, too”

Sam beamed with pride and happiness at the confirmation that Clem liked him. As she turned to face Puffy, she squeaked and shrunk into Sam’s embrace, her face flushing. As she mumbled incoherent words, she waved at the woman, who gave a friendly wave back. Tommy let out a laugh as he shook his head.

“Don’t worry, Puffy, she likes you. She’s just shy because you’re pretty, she does that to a lot of the people she meets.”

“I LIKE YOUR HAIR!”

Puffy blinked a few times before peering down. There, tugging her coat whilst pointing at her hair with starry eyes, stood a small Theo. Fundy made confused noises as he glanced between his arms and his son, not sure how he didn’t realize that he had escaped his embrace. As Fundy stood there, questioning the small boy, Puffy just smiled. Kneeling down, she plucked the entranced child off the ground and into her arms.

“Thank you! Isn’t it nice? You wanna touch it?”

A joyful laugh left her mouth as the small child nodded his head ferociously. Once he had her approval, he climbed up her, laying on her shoulder for support. Letting out a laugh, he plunged his tiny paws into her hair. Gasping in delight, he kicked his feet, which were hanging off Puffy, with excitement, whilst being sure to not hit her. With a giddy laugh, he caught the attention of his younger cousin, who was playing with Sam’s fingers.

“Clem! ClemClemClemClemClemClem! Look! Her hair is soft!”

Puffy could only laugh as Theo propelled himself up, throwing himself backwards. As she caught the child in her arms, he smiled at his dad, who was rubbing his temples. 

“Papa! Her hair is so colorful and soft and pretty!!!!”

“Puffy, I am so sorry-”

“Don’t be! He’s adorable! Cute little duckling”

“Duckling? But? Wait, Papa, I thought I was a fox. Am I really a duckling? Clem, am I a duckling?”

Theo peered over to his cousin, who was ignoring him. Frowning, he crossed his arms and sunk into Puffy’s hold as he watched his cousin as she put her hand against Sam’s, their palms touching. Eye’s widening at the size difference, she glanced up at the amused man.

“Hand! Big! Big hand! Hand is big! Big! Big! Big! Big! Big! Big!”

“Heh, yeah! I have a bigger hand.”

Laughter came from the group as the small girl nodded, incoherent words leaving her mouth. Realizing that they wouldn’t be getting their children back any time soon, Fundy shook his head as Tommy smiled at the sight. After a few more words were exchanged, Tommy led their group into the cavern. Sucking in a breath, he watched as Sam and Puffy walked over to their sections, taking in every detail Tommy put in. As Theo and Clem pointed out their favorite bits, Tommy joined Tubbo’s side, who was looking at his own, Drista and Lani standing next to him, comparing their own sections to each other. 

“You added so much. Is that a copy of my compass?”

“Yeah, it points to my own compass”

“Awwwwww”

“Don’t aw me, Tubbo”

“Okay, Tommy”

“Hey, Tommy! Is it alright if we move to the next rows of sections? Clemmy and Theo want to show us their favorite parts”

“Yeah, Sam, sure. Let’s get going”

Grian ruffled Tommy’s hair, who griped and complained about his hair. Kristin playfully bopped Grian’s head before she peered behind her at Sam and Puffy, who were both entranced with the children in their arms. Tommy only stopped when a hand stopped him in his place. Peering to the owner of the arm, he quirked an eyebrow at Drista. Slightly lifting her mask, she frowned and pointed a finger in front of the group. There, standing in front of the large section for the royal family of the Antarctic Empire, was the remaining members of the Dream SMP. Although he couldn’t mentally construct the sentences he found names slipping from his mouth as he spotted them, standing directly in front of the family portrait.

“Phil? Techno? Wi-Wilbur?”