#THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN DUDE and thanks for everyone's continued patience

[poly-alt-partner]

Hide and Seek - Sam Golbach X Fem!Reader - Part 2

Okay. Finally. After weeks of waiting, here it is! I am really sorry for how long this took for me to finish, everyone. Thank you all for your patience and understanding. I know I made you wait waaaay too long for the ending.

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

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“I am not kidding, there was a little girl - a little girl laugh - like ‘ahahaha’ over in the corner. There’s no other girls in the building, (Y/n) is right beside me.”

“Dude, we were just talking quietly. That was creepy as hell!” You looked around and sat quietly for a moment. “I kind of hope we get found soon so we don’t have to deal with any entity alone.”

“Hey, you’ve got me right here,” Sam teased.

“Cool, so I can just push you forward and book it, yeah?” You joked back. Luckily it was common for you two to interact like this in front of the cameras so it wouldn’t seem weird to Sam and Colby’s fans.

“Why are you so mean to me?”

“Who was it that planned this challenge without telling anyone?” You pointed out, crossing your arms and giving him a fake glare.

“Okay, fair. But it shouldn’t be too much longer. Colby’s at least found some of the guys.”

Sam and you both sit in silence for a few minutes, waiting to see if anything else happens. Eventually Sam turns the camera off again and turns to you. “We can probably get a bit more time together before they find us.”

“Oh? Are you that eager, Golbach?” Now it was your turn to tease him a little.

“Now that I know I can kiss you, I don’t want to pass up the opportunity.” With his infectious smile he leans in closer. You smile and chuckle a little before quickly giving in. I can’t fault him for being honest, but I can at least give him shit about it. While kissing Sam you grab onto his jumper again, but this time pull him closer just to be mischievous. Apparently it flipped a switch because Sam suddenly had his hands on your waist and was pulling you onto him. You held in a shriek of surprise as not to give yourselves away. Without pause the kiss was becoming more heated as you snaked your arms around his neck, losing all sense of your surroundings. You wanted so badly to just melt into Sam and enjoy this moment forever.

Pulling away slowly, Sam stares into your eyes with his own baby blues and smiles at you. Suddenly you feel a little self conscious and your stomach is full of butterflies.

“What?” You ask softly, wanting to hide your face.

“You’re breathtaking, (Y/n).” Sam rubs little circles on your lower back before continuing. “And not just because we made out.”

You scoff and roll your eyes at him despite the smile on your face. The two of you are brought back to the present as you hear the whole group (Colby and The Boys) calling for you and Sam. With a small pout you leave Sam’s lap and pick up your camera. He stands up and dusts himself off before picking up his.

“I guess we won.”

“I’d say,” Sam jokes as he nudges you, earning a small shove to his shoulder. He laughs and leaves the Gymnasium with you following behind. As you both near the railing of the upper floors Sam whistles to draw their attention.

“Sam, whistle!” Colby yells out. He whistles again. “No fucking way!” The guys start looking around confused since the whistle is bouncing around the building.

“It’s coming from everywhere, guys,” You hear Josh say.

Juicy pipes up. “I swear to god if Sam walks outta that door and is like ‘Hey guys, I was just going to the bathroom,’ I’m gonna fucking lose it.” No one knew that you two were hiding together and you wondered if you should try to split off to seem less suspicious.

Sam whistled again and everyone immediately looked up at the two of you. So much for not being suspicious.

“He’s right upstairs!” Mully shouts out.

“We didn’t check the other side,” Colby says, a little disappointed. Honestly they probably would have found the two of you sooner if they did. You weren’t sure if you would have preferred that or not considering the shenanigans the two of you got into.

As the two of you walked down the stairs, Narrator turned to Colby. “I told you I saw them running around together!” He turned to you and Sam. “Why didn’t you two split up?”

“I didn’t want to leave (Y/n) alone in case something happened.”

“You’re just saying that because you wanted to steal her away!” Colby countered. He wasn’t wrong since he knew better than anyone how you and Sam interact with one another.

“I’m the only girl here, so I didn’t want to be alone in case the male ghosts felt like getting handsy,” you pointed out. This was a men’s prison after all and many of the inmates probably went decades without a woman’s presence.

“Yo I didn’t even think about that. They totally would target (Y/n) if she were alone.”

“Yeah (Y/n), this is a boys only investigation.” Mully said, obviously joking. You made a face at him and flipped him off when the camera wasn’t pointed at you. They were all pretty nice and always teased one another so you didn’t mind being included. If anything it was just like spending time with Sam and Colby, only twice as chaotic.

Since you and Sam won you both chose Mully to go solo in solitary confinement, especially since he decided to pick on you. The investigation only got more interesting and creepy from there, especially with the entity known as Mr. Nasty. You were happy when it was time to wrap up and head to the hotel for the rest of the night.

“I think running around to hide took more energy than I thought,” you sighed as you climbed into the back of the rental car.

“You sure that’s the only thing you were doing when you and Sam ran off?”

“Other than getting scared by that little girl, yes.”

“Suuuuure,” Colby said as he started up the car. You were pretty sure Sam would tell him about you two later, if he hadn’t already.

Later, you thought to yourself. Did he mean tomorrow? It’s already kind of late and we’re all pretty exhausted. Once again your heart was fluttering and your cheeks felt warm as you remembered what happened in the gymnasium. You were glad Colby had to focus on driving so he couldn’t see your face in the rearview.

After arriving at the hotel and lugging the equipment up to the boy’s room you stretched and yawned. “I think I’m gonna head to my room for the night. See you guys tomorrow?”

“I’ll go ahead and walk you to your room, (Y/n),” Sam volunteers as he sets down the last bag of equipment.

“Don’t have too much fun, you two,” Colby calls out, busy unpacking some stuff.

“Yeah, yeah.” Sam follows you out the bedroom door and walks with you down the hall. It’s super quiet in the building as the other guests sleep the night away. You feel awkward again and fidget as you walk beside Sam, glancing at him. He catches your eye and smiles before taking your hand in his. Your heart lurches and you smile back.

You reach your room and unlock it before turning to say good night. Sam suddenly pulls you closer to him and leans in close, glancing between your eyes and your lips. “Can I come in?”

“S-sure,” you manage to stutter. You open the door and wait for Sam to step in first before entering. The interior is pretty much the same as the room Sam and Colby are sharing for the trip, except less bags scattered around. They have more equipment and cameras to keep track of for their investigations. Since you aren’t much of a content creator you only have a few items of your own for trips like these.

Sam turns to you and gently takes your hand in his, seeming a little nervous. “I wanted to make sure things were good between us before doing much else,” he explains. “I really do like you and I want to take things slow, make sure we’re both comfortable.”

“I don’t make out with just anyone at a haunted jail, Sam.” You tease with a soft smile. He chuckles and shakes his head.

“I’m glad I’m not just anyone, then.”

“Obviously.” You step closer and look up at Sam, squeezing his hand a little. “I’ve liked you for a long time, Sam. I’m definitely comfortable with being close to you and kissing and stuff.”

“And stuff?” Sam raises his eyebrows at you, curious but also intrigued. “Hey, what happened to going slow?”

“I’m comfortable with whatever you are, (Y/n). And you are the one that said ‘stuff’ which is extremely vague.”

You scoff and roll your eyes at him. “Yeah, yeah. I didn’t mean right now.”

“I know. But I’m happy to do whatever with you.” He squeezes your hand and smiles at you.

“Now who’s being vague?” You tease. Now Sam rolled his eyes before putting his free hand on your waist and gently pulling you against him. Even though you two had already made out, your ears felt hot and you felt shy under his gaze. There wasn’t any time to think about it before Sam’s lips were on yours; that familiar warmth you experienced hours ago. You had all but forgotten how long you yearned for this, how long you waited to be held by Sam like this. It almost felt like a vivid dream that would disappear if you weren’t careful.

The feeling of his tongue grazing your bottom lip brought you back to the present. Sam’s movements seemed hesitant as he waited for your reaction, testing the waters of what was acceptable. You let go of Sam’s hand to hold the back of his neck and pull him further into you, opening your mouth for full exploration. Suddenly it was as if floodgates had opened as he gingerly moved his hand up to cup the side of your face, tilting your head to deepen the kiss. Although his tongue lounged forward to caress yours he was still gentle and attentive.

It felt like the kiss lasted forever and not long enough at the same time when you both pulled away. Sam’s hair was messed up, his lips red and a little swollen from you nibbling on them here and there. He gave a lopsided grin as he planted a kiss on your forehead.

“I think that’s enough for tonight, as much as I would like to stay here with you.”

“Do you think we should wait until we get back to the states to make things, y’know, official?” You ask, absentmindedly messing with the sleeve of his shirt.

“We can tell Colby and The Boys if you want to,” Sam offers. “I’ve missed out on being with you long enough.”

A smile crosses your lips as you match his warm gaze. “Yeah, we can do that. Worry about the social stuff after the trip.”

“Works for me, cutie.”

“Cutie?” You chuckle and shake your head.

“It’s less forward than babe or baby,” Sam counters before feigning a pout. “You don’t like it?”

“It’s alright,” You tease as you kiss his cheek. “We can always worry about semantics later.”

Sam heaves a sigh dramatically before glancing at the door to your hotel room. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”

“Of course. Now get back to your room before Colbs decides to make you sleep in the hallway.”

“You wouldn’t let me stay here with you?”

“Sam, if you stay in my room I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep. And not because we’d be doing ‘stuff’, mind you.”

“Yeah, alright. Goodnight, (Y/N). I’m glad we are together now.”

Your heart swells and warms up at his words. “Me too. Goodnight, Sam.” He begrudgingly walks to the door and looks back at you as he opens the door. With a final wink Sam walks out and closes the door behind him. You sigh and plop down onto your hotel bed to process everything that had happened throughout the day. It was hard to suppress the squeal that was threatening to escape your lips as you recounted your moment with Sam in the gaol. If it weren’t for my big mouth, who knows how much longer it would have been before you confessed.

Despite the giddiness and the constant replay of the kisses you exchanged with Sam, you managed to get ready for bed and settled in to sleep. Eventually the exhaustion of the investigation began to set in, allowing you to drift off and dream of your adorable boyfriend.

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Was I rushing to end this? Maybe. Did I take too long to even finish the second part? YES.

However, I really really hope to do better with posting these in the future. And that you like this, of course. Thank you again!

[jays-bonnie-on-the-side]

𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐀 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 - 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖

PAIRING : dean winchester x original female character

STORY SUMMARY : in series masterlist

CHAPTER WARNINGS : age-gap. semi-jealous dean. angel possessed sam. torture. murder. cas death. angel manipulation.

A/N : once again, thank you to all who follow along with this story, your patience and support means so much. hope you enjoy 💛

Dean's POV

"Look, for the billionth time, we're just looking for some information, okay? We're not cops. I mean, do we look like cops?" The individuals look at each other, nodding and whispering 'yeses.' "Well, we're not cops. We just need to find a friend who's in it deep."

I glanced away from the group before us, trying to calm my rising frustration.

"Look, he might have been here the night that guy was killed. Were any of you here then?" asks Sam.

A man lurks out from behind the graffiti-littered concrete pillar and speaks up. "Maybe."

"Oh, okay." I glance at Sam before giving a physical description of Cas. "Uh, he's—he's got dark hair, blue eyes, a little out of it."

"He maybe called himself Clarence?" He asks, hoping it'll ring a bell.

"Clarence, yeah." The stranger confirms with a smile.

"You two talk?"

"Not much."

"And...?" I trail off, leaving him space to fill in the blanks.

"I think he was on the run." He answers shortly.

"You see him with the Vic?" Sam inquiries before clarifying. "Uh, victim?"

"No."

"Okay." My hands impatiently gesture for him to continue.

"He went off to sleep in another part of the resort." The man says before walking away.

We turn and follow him. "Where?"

"He's not there now." He answers, on his way towards the rusty pickup truck. 

He tosses the plastic bag he held in his hand onto the bed as Sam asks, "Where'd he go?"

"I saw him running from under the bridge to the highway."

Long pause.

"You gonna pay us for all this teeth pulling? Where was he headed?" I ask, referring to the long and excruciating pain caused by his brief answers.

"He flagged a truck heading north. Detroit, probably."

Sam questions, "Why Detroit?"

"Truck was marked 'Motor City Meats.'"

Sam and I look at one another before thanking the 'man of few words.' As we head towards Baby, a cab pulls in before stopping near the underpass. The rear door opens, and Mari gets out. She reaches back into the cab and pulls out five boxes of pizza. I laugh, watching her struggle to carry the heavy boxes in her arms.

"I hope everyone likes pizza!" She calls to the men and women.

Like mosquitos to a flame, they swarm around her, taking the food from her hands. Returning to the taxi, she picks up several bags before shutting the door. She walks back to the group and reaches into one of the bags, passing out plates and napkins. She sets the other bag on the cooler nearby and opens the pack of disposable cups, asking everyone what beverage they wanted so she could pour them. We lean against the trunk of the Impala and watch as she talks, bringing smiles to their faces.

"She's something, isn't she?"

Sam chuckles. "She sure is."

"She, uh, she told me a bit about her childhood. I've gotta say, somehow, I respect her more," I admit, my eyes glued to the young hunter.

"Yeah, I felt the same when she told me."

My head sharply turns towards my brother, a blend of surprise and resentment in my expression. "You knew?"

Sam looks back at me, shrugging his shoulders. "'Course. We're best friends."

"And what? Y-you just decided not to tell me?"

"It wasn't my story to tell, Dean," He defends.

I tore my gaze away, knowing he was right. The cab had taken off, and Maricela began strolling toward us. "When did she tell you?"

"Remember when you found out Mari was hunting a nest of vampires in Illinois, and you insisted on taking over since "she couldn't do it alone"?"

My eyes wandered to the left, trying to remember the hunt he was referring to. Then it hit me. "Dude, that was a year ago!" 

"Yeah," He answered.

"So, she just waited to tell you when I was...was...What was I doing?"

"The waitress from the diner."

"Oh, right," I had forgotten about the one-night stand the night before the hunt. Before Maricela neared any closer, I hurried my last question. "Does she tell you more when I'm not around?"

"I think you're not around long enough to listen."

"So, did you boys find anything out?" She asks, halting before us.

I clear my throat, then answer, "Yeah, looks like he's headed for Detroit."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get Cas back!"

Without waiting for a response, she jumps into the back seat of Baby.

Maricela's POV

The sun had set on the way to Detroit. Since no one had eaten since this morning, Dean stopped at a local corner store a state away from our destination. Getting the usual snacks and, of course, his pie.

Sam examines the sticker on the dessert as we walk out. "Look at these chemicals. Do you even read the label?"

Dean takes the pie from his brother's hand and replies, "No. I read 'Pie.' The rest is just 'blah, blah, blah.'" He grabs the plastic bag and stuffs his favorite junk food inside. "Listen, when we hit Detroit, we start with the homeless shelters."

We round the corner, past an occupied payphone, then cross the street toward the alleyway.

"Right, then go to the encampments, soup kitchens," I add.

"Check out places that he might have gone looking for work."

Sam agrees and then suggests, "Yeah, and I can—I can check for vagrancy arrests."

"Yeah, and, you know..." Dean mimics an explosion, referencing angel kills, with sound and a hand gesture near his head. "Odd deaths."

Sam snorts as we turn into the alley, luring our stalker before quickly hiding. The stranger followed as planned, standing in the middle of the alley, trying to locate where we had disappeared. Suddenly, the larger Winchester grabs him by the arm and slams him into a chain fence. Dean holds his hand against the man's chest as both brothers reach for their knives. Their weapons threaten the stalker's neck, his apprehension breaking down the man's tough facade. I stand behind the hunters, letting the boys handle this one.

"Who are you?!" Sam demands, pushing the stranger further into the fence as Dean asks, "Why are you trailing us?"

The man remained silent, eyes glued to the knives near his throat. Already anticipating the Winchester's next move, I swiftly scout the build closest to us. With no sign of life or lights turned on within, I whip the gun out of my jeans and shoot the lock on the door. The gunshot echoes throughout the alleyway, and the brothers quickly lead our hostage inside. After closing the heavy door behind us, we walk further into the abandoned warehouse.

Conveniently, there was a hook already hanging from the ceiling. Sam nods, giving me the go-ahead to shed the stalker of his jacket and the gold chain he sported as they held him in place. Then, Dean cuffs the stranger's hands before he and Sam lift him onto the hook, leaving his body to dangle from the chain between the handcuffs. The man's feet hovered over the cement floor, lightly grazing it with the tips of his shoes. While the stalker struggles against the cuffs, attempting to break loose, Dean trades his previous weapon for an angel blade. Sam and I stand aside, allowing the oldest Winchester to begin the interrogation.

"Let's start with your name." The defenseless man keeps quiet, staring angrily. Dean turns to me and politely orders, "Sweetheart, cut his shirt open."

"Yes, sir." I reach into my boot and pull out my knife.

As I move toward the uncooperative man, he blurts out, "Maurice."

"That's great. Now, what are you?" I inquire with one hand on his collar and the other on the blade.

He stares at me, hesitating to answer. With one quick motion, I slash his shirt in two, exposing his upper body. I walk away as Dean nears the stranger. He uses the edge of the blade and slices the man's face, eliciting a painful groan from the hostage. The eldest Winchester steps away as the youngest repeats my question.

"I'm a bounty hunter."

"Who's on your list?"

"Castiel."

We looked at one other, not understanding why they'd send a rouge reaper after the angel. The man became restless; The weight of his body made his arms lose their sensation. He jolts against the cuffs, using his last efforts to escape but giving up when he realizes there's no use. Dean lacerates the stranger's skin, from collarbone to chest. His vessel heals faster than he’s able to look at his captives.

"So, Maurice," Dean begins. "You bounty hunters are like Delta Force Reapers. Why would they sic you on Cas?"

"He warded himself."

"Naomi hire you?"

The hostage lightly chuckles, almost inaudibly. "You really are out of the loop. Naomi's dead. Resting in pieces."

"So then who's running things now?" asks Sam.

When Maurice remains silent, Dean shouts, "Answer!"

"Her protégé, Bartholomew. He's an up-and-comer."

"So he figured we'd lead you to Cas." The younger Winchester uses his pointer finger for emphasis as he walks around Dean, closer to the reaper.

"This Bartholomew, he organizing the angels?" I inquire, but when he doesn't respond, Dean slices his body once more, coercing him to speak.

Maurice screams in misery, pulling himself together enough to admit, "That's all I know." The eldest brother brings the angel blade to Maurice's chin, lifting his head so he would look him in the eyes. "You can kill me. It won't matter. If I don't find Castiel, there are others that will. But do what you want."

"Sure," Dean utters before impaling Maurice's neck with the blade.

An angelic light emits from the reaper's vessel as he lets out a pained cry. Dean stares into the bright glow, his countenance completely expressionless.

The Impala's RPMs decrease, and the hum of the engine quiets as Dean turns the wheel toward the curb, pulling over. He throws the gear stick into Park before shutting the car off entirely.

Sam looks around, confused. "What's up?"

"We been chasing our tails all night. No Cas. "What's up?" I'm fried." Dean replies, annoyance obvious in his husky voice. "I think it's time for Plan 'B.'"

Sammy ceased to glance around at the area where we were parked and looked back at his brother. "I'm not following."

"I'm letting you know." Dean not-so-subtly tries to communicate with the angel wearing his brother.

"O-okay." Sam straightens in his seat uncomfortably. "Um, letting me know what?"

I couldn't help but giggle after Dean tried again, this time slower. "I'm letting you know."

The younger Winchester's face scrunches with perplexity before Ezekiel takes possession. "What is it, Dean?"

"I need your help."

"That is flattering. We've been through this. I cannot be making public appearances." The angel reminds.

"Oh, I understand that. I'm not asking you to walk the red carpet, Zeke, okay? We need your help finding Cas."

"It cannot be done. He is warded."

"I know that, but maybe you can use your intergalactic, hyperspace, X-ray eyeballs to find someone else."

Zeke wore the same stupefied expression his roommate wore. Clarifying, I say, "There might be a reaper for rent on his ass. Could you find them?"

"I could try."

And so, Ezekiel shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and began searching the city. Dean and I glance at each other, quietly waiting for the angel to finish. After a few minutes, Zeke opens his eyes. I sit up, hoping he's going to deliver good news. Luckily, he gives an address.

Before Dean makes a U-turn and rushes to the apartment building where Castiel is being held hostage, Sam returns. He resumes where he left off, but Dean informs Sam of Cas's whereabouts. Once we arrived at the apartment complex, we raced to number 22. Dean kicks the door open and calls our friend's name, seeing him tied to a chair. The red-headed reaper doesn't waste a second and plunges the angel blade into Cas's abdomen.

The former angel exclaims as the weapon punctures his organs. Dean grabs his blade and lunges toward the reaper, but she flings him across the kitchen island, knocking it out of his hand. Sam and I run towards her simultaneously, and with a flick of her wrists, she sends him into the closet while I get tossed toward the window near the door. The coat rack falls on top of Sam as my body slams into the blinds, destroying the plants lined against the window sill before falling onto the table. She kicks Dean's angel blade away, then turns toward Sam.

Slightly disoriented, I slide off the black table and stagger to my feet as the reaper advances toward Sammy. He watches her stalk confidently before pulling himself out of the closet. Running, I grab Dean's blade off the wood floor as her fist connects with Sam's cheek, knocking him out cold. She turns around just as I shove the silver blade into the same spot she impaled Castiel. She screams with her dying breath before her lifeless body collapses.

"Cas. Cas." I follow Dean's voice. He pulled the weapon out of the man's abdomen, dropping it on the ground. He shook his best friend's shoulders before cupping his face gently. "Cas! Cas!"

But Castiel didn't respond.

"No," I gasp.

Dean stands tall as Sam wakes and rises from the floor. Yet, something about his composure didn't look like himself.

"He's gone," Dean announces sadly.

Sam inches closer, examining our dearly departed. It was clear Castiel was tortured before we arrived. He had slash marks along his chest and abdomen, near the tattoo he got to ward himself. Sam kneels beside Cas, hovering a hand over the wounds. Then, a white light began to glow.

Ezekiel began to heal Castiel. He struggled but powered through, mending the ex-angel's injuries. Dean and I whisper silent prayers, hoping it would do more than heal his wounds and bring him back. Ezekiel stood and began stumbling backward. He steadied himself against the wall before collapsing into unconsciousness. The older Winchester and I move toward Sam, but the rasp of Castiel's voice calling for his best friend stops us.

"Hey," Dean murmured, stepping closer to his buddy. "Hey!"

Cas's ocean-blue eyes shift from Dean over to moi. "Mari."

"Yeah," I answer, choking back a sob.

His head wanders toward Sam, now conscious again. "And Sam."

"Cas. You okay?" Sammy asks the question we all wondered.

Castiel glances at the mess around us and doesn't answer.

Dean straightens, a wave of relief flooding his face. "Never do that again!" He demands.

"All right," Cas agrees without much thought. "But I'm confused. I know she stabbed me, but I'm—well, I don't appear to be dead."

Dean looks to Sam, "Well, you got dinged. And, uh, you." He turns back to Cas, explaining, "I made a deal with her. ‘Said she wouldn't get kabobed if she brought you back. She brought you back."

If I hadn't known the truth, his smile alone would have convinced me otherwise.

"You lied," Castiel notes.

"I did. I do that." He admits.

The two dazed men stare at the eldest Winchester, drinking in his lie.

We made it back to the bunker with Castiel and take-out burritos. I sat at the Map Table, occasionally taking a bite of food, while I read one of the many open books sprawled out on the table.

"You know, you never answered my question. How did you know where to find Cas?" Sam asks his brother as they enter the Command Room.

With his mouth full, Dean explains, "I told you. I went through Maurice's pockets. I found an address and took a shot."

"I never saw you go through Maurice's pockets."

"What are you talking about? I don't see half the nerdy stuff that you do. It doesn't mean that you don't do nerdy stuff." Dean defends before slurping his beverage.

"Lay off him, would you?" I interject. "Sam may be a nerd, but you're a geek. So shut it."

"Ha!" Sam childishly exclaims.

"I am really enjoying this place. Plentiful food. Good water pressure. Things I never even considered before." Castiel beams as Dean sits on the war table beside me. "There really is a lot to being human, isn't there?"

"It ain't all just burritos and strippers, my friend," Dean replies before biting into his burrito.

Cue eye roll.

"Yeah. I understand what you're saying."

"You do?" asks Sam.

"Yes, there's more to humanity than survival. You...look for purpose, and you must not be defeated by anger or despair. Or hedonism, for that matter."

We stare at Castiel; Sam amused, Dean taken aback, and I a mixture of both.

"Where does hedonism come into it?" Dean dares to ask.

"Well, my time with April was very educational." He emphasizes.

"Yeah. I mean, I would think that getting killed is something." Sam chuckles.

"And having sex."

My eyes widen, Sam struggles to speak, and Dean chokes.

"You had sex with April?" The sex-addicted Winchester questions, standing up and giving his undivided attention.

"Yeah, that would be where the hedonism comes in," Sam whispers, hands on his hips.

Dean shushes him and waits for Castiel's response. Shy yet modestly proud, the former angel nods. The younger brother nods, impressed, while the other chuckles as I shake my head in disbelief.

"So...did you have protection?" Dean asks slyly, a smirk plastered on his face.

After cringing at his forward question, I bring the straw to my lips and sip my soda.

Confused, Cas answers, "I had my angel blade."

"Oh—Oh, he had the angel blade." Dean mocks.

Laughter takes control of my body and forces me to gag on the Coca-Cola I had not yet swallowed before expelling the soda onto the floor, just missing Cas. I hear the men, minus the one who hadn't taken sex-ed, snicker at my mishap. The sticky liquid drips from my chin as I grab napkins to wipe it off. Castiel stands there, oblivious to what caused my spit-take.

"Are you alright, Maricela?" He asks with concern.

"Mhm," I hum, elbowing Dean in his ribs.

"In any event, I—I do now see how difficult life can be and how well you all have led it. And I think you'll be great teachers."

"Thanks. Cas." Says Dean.

"Are there any more burritos?"

"Uh, yes." The eldest Winchester points to the library. The new human walks toward the food, and we watch after him. "Our little Cas. He gave it up to a reaper. That is—"

Unexpectedly, Zeke makes an appearance. "Castiel cannot stay here. He will bring the angels down on all of us."

"No, no, he's got the Enochian tattoo. He's warded." I remind the angel.

"He was warded when April found him, and she killed him."

"Yes, and you brought him back, and I thank you for that, but this is Cas, okay, who vouched for you when I didn't know you from Jack. The bunker is safe." Dean pleads his case.

"Bartholomew is massing a force. We cannot stand an incursion. Castiel is in danger, and if he is here, I am in danger." Ezekiel argues.

"You're in danger? From who, the angels?"

Ezekiel glances at Cas. "If he stays, I am afraid I will have no choice but to leave."

"Oh, no, you can't do that. Sam's not well enough. If you leave his body..." I trail off, and the angel finishes, understanding the outcome.

"I am sorry."

Leaving Dean with no choice, he walks into the corridor towards Sam's room. I glance at Dean, completely torn. He hesitates but sets his beverage and burrito on the table. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Just when we got Cas back...

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[dannystheone]

Guys okay, I know I have a lot of requests to fulfill but this has been in my brain for the past WEEK. It’s just so cute and fluffy to me I hold Craig and Tweek very dear to my heart lel 

Don’t Leave Me Behind, Dude! (Lee Pastor!Craig/ Ler Imp!Tweek) 

WARNINGS: Kids swearing, (they’re nine in this) gecko (?) tickling, religious references, underage jokes

Pastor Craig is about to give his first sermon by himself for Sunday service. It’s a big day, but Imp Tweek can’t be alone for extended periods of time without his comfort person. What can they do? 

I hope you like this :) 

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 Craig smoothed his hands over his black shirt for what felt like the millionth time, and straightened his clerical collar. His hands balled into fists and straightened out, just to ball up again in the material of his pants. 

 His eyes kept glancing from his watch, to the clock at the far wall. Was his watch two minutes behind, or was the clock two minutes ahead? There was no way to tell, and it was eating him. 

 Craig took a shaky breath and shut his eyes.

 It’s okay, you’re just nervous. You know everyone that’s going to be in the crowd, and they know it’s your first time. You know what to say. 

 Craig did know what to say, but what if he choked out there? What if his first sermon wasn’t as powerful as he wanted it to be? 

 What if, what if, what if. You just have to go out there and do it. 

 Craig soothed himself and ran his fingers over his hat to ground himself. He knew he was ready. He knew this. He forced down his nerves and took a deep breath. 

 “Hello everyone, my name is Craig Tucker, welcome to today’s Sunday service, these are the words of Christ-” Craig ran through the beginning of his sermon quickly in his head before convincing himself that he knew the whole speech backwards and forwards at this point. He just didn’t know how else to prepare. 

 “-everyone give thanks to-” Craig continued to prepare, before a loud screech was heard behind him. The practicing priest jumped as he whirled around and watched a boy with red horns and curly blonde hair run through the door of Father Maxi’s office. 

 The imp known as Tweek slammed the door shut behind him as he ran up to Craig and gripped his shoulders with an inhumane strength. Craig stood there and watched as Tweek screamed in his face. 

 “GAAH! CRAIG! THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE COMING TO THE CHURCH!! JUST NOW! AHACK!! WHAT IF THEY’RE COMING FOR ME?! I DON’T KNOW THEM!!” Tweek curled his fingers into Craig’s black shirt, positively wrinkling it. Craig inwardly sighed. He was hoping a situation like this could have been avoided today. 

 “Tweek, it’s okay. Those people are not coming to get you. They’re coming for Sunday service, remember? They’re the people I’m delivering my sermon to, without Father Maxi’s help?” Craig added a bit of a drawl at the end there, to infer that they had discussed this before. Which they have. Craig figured Tweek’s anxiety got to him again. 

 Tweek winked as he pulled on his shirt and tried to calm down. “But what if they try to steal me away?! I can’t go back to Hell man, I just can’t! GAH! It’s dark down there!” Tweek exclaimed. Craig held Tweek’s wrists to try to show as much patience as possible. 

 “Tweek, no one is going to steal you. I swear. They’re only here for the service. You can stay back here in the office and I can lock the door behind me, and you can lock the windows. Huh? No one will steal you then, okay?” Craig had a smile on his face and a lighter voice like a dealer trying to sell a car. But this idea only seemed to make Tweek’s shivering worse. 

 “No no no no Craig! I need to stay with you at all times! Anything could happen in this office and you wouldn’t be able to help me!! Please, I have to stay by your side!” Tweek begged, his red tail swishing behind him expectedly. Craig let out a worried breath as he checked his watch again. He could hear people filling up the pews in the church while they stood in the office. He was supposed to deliver his first big sermon in a matter of minutes. 

 “Tweek, how the hell am I supposed to have you by my side while you have a red tail and red horns coming out of your head? At church, no less. Not to mention the kid’s body you’re inhabiting is still a missing kid in the town!” Craig called out. Tweek pulled on his hair with his eyes screwed shut as he desperately thought of something.

 “URGH! Okay...okay, okay. Um... I- OH! I- I can...” Tweek calmed down enough to look Craig square in the eyes. “...I can shapeshift. Into a serpent. I’ve never showed you, but I can. And I- I can be hidden and be close to you so you can do your thing, Craig!” Tweek explained. His red tail waved behind him as he waited for an answer. 

 Craig checked his watch again. He was supposed to be before that crowd in about five minutes. His heart pounded as he looked to Tweek. 

 “Oh hey Stephen, Laura! Great day for church, huh?” 

 “GREAT day, Randy! I’ll see you in there!” 

 Craig heard more and more people filling up the pews. He had big shoes to fill in Father Maxi’s place, and he had to care for his other-worldly friend. Craig shook off the nervousness in his hands. He didn’t have much time or many options left.

 “Okay, okay. Go ahead.” Craig nodded. Tweek nodded resolutely as he stood by Father Maxi’s desk, and closed his eyes. Craig watched his blonde haired friend breath and concentrate, his chest expanding with every movement. 

 After a moment of silence, a puff of red smoke surrounded Tweek. Craig sputtered and coughed as the smoke surrounded him. 

 “Augh- Tweek? Tweek, are you okay-” Craig waved the smoke away, the vapor clearing around the desk. Pastor Craig looked down to see Tweek, expecting to see a biblical creature only told of in stories passed down by those who have had close dealings with devils and demons. Craig held his breath as he saw that Tweek was replaced with...

 A common house gecko. A yellow spotted gecko. 

 Craig craned his neck to inspect Tweek the gecko further. His little gecko toes bubbled out from his feet as he stood on his two back legs. He seemed to have full autonomy on his own, and slightly bigger than a house gecko. 

 “You see? I did it! Now I can stay with you!” Tweek exclaimed. His voice was tinier due to the smaller body he inhabited. Craig furrowed his eyebrows as he scratched his eyebrow. 

 “Yeah, you did uh...you did it alright.” Definitely not the ancient biblical creature the pastor was anticipating. Craig cleared his throat as he stood back up and extended a hand to Tweek to step onto from the desktop. 

 “What’s wrong? GAH! Not what you expected?” Tweek the gecko asked. Craig stole a glance at his watch. Crap! He had to be out there! 

 “No time! Where can I put you?” Craig questioned. Tweek stepped onto Craig’s hand and spotted an opening in the sleeve of his long-sleeved shirt. Tweek snuck under the opening and scuttled up Craig’s extended arm. 

 Craig cringed and fought the urge to pull his arm into his chest as he felt pattering feet ripple up his forearm and climb up his bicep. Tweek the gecko appeared in a small opening by Craig’s collar of his shirt. 

 “I can just stay under here! I’m totally hidden! It’s perfect!” Tweek celebrated. Craig let out a breath. He already knew this was going to lead to a rather big ordeal. How could he concentrate knowing there was a creature under his clothing? The pastor looked down to the small yellow gecko on his chest. 

 “Okay look dude. I have some boundaries really quick. You see that blue waistband you see by my pants? Do NOT pass under there. AT ALL. I don’t care if I get set on fire, don’t fucking do it.” Craig explained. Tweek’s face formed into one of worry as he looked around himself. 

 “WHAT?! You think you could be set on fire?! WHEN?! OH GOD!!” Tweek shouted. Craig shook his head with a sigh as his watch started to beep. 

 “Oh crap! I’m late! Come on! Just whatever you do, don’t speak, don’t do anything!” Craig announced. Tweek nodded and scuttled down deep into Craig’s clothing. Craig grunted as he felt the gecko��s feet paddle down his skin. Just please don’t move for the love of God-

 Craig opened the door to Father Maxi’s office and shut it behind him. He was immediately overwhelmed with the amount of people that came to service today as he looked over the crowd. It was nearly the whole town! Every seat of the pews was filled up. 

 As Craig climbed the steps, he picked out familiar faces of the crowd. Stan, Kenny and Eric and their families were here. Pretty much all of the fourth grade class as Wendy and Bebe were here as well. Butters, Clyde, Timmy, Jimmy- they were ALL here. 

 Craig swallowed the nervousness that balled in his throat as he took his post behind the pulpit. Steps were added behind the pulpit so he was able to reach the top of it and look out over the crowd. Chattering in the church silenced as all eyes in the church were on him now. 

 “Ahem- Thank you for joining me today. My name is Craig Tucker, and I would like to welcome you to Sunday service. Father Maxi couldn’t join us today, so I will be delivering you the sermon in his place.” Craig announced with as steady of a voice as he could manage. He could feel Tweek’s small body pressed against his arm. His tiny heart was beating against his skin. 

 “What, too many drinks down at the skin bar last night? I heard it was ‘altar boys get in free night’ last night!” A woman called out from the pews. The adults of the church began to laugh heartily at the joke. Craig was always unamused at the humor displayed during service, but he knew better than to speak against it. He kept his mouth shut. 

 “Today’s service, I would like to talk about the matter of sacrifice. What it means to give yourself- all of yourself- to Christ.” Craig delivered. He could feel his confidence growing. He was just talking, that’s all it was. He could do that. 

 “As humans, we tend to be arrogant and prideful. It’s how we keep our dignity close to us, it’s how we earn respect. It’s how we-” Craig stopped as he felt movement underneath his clothing. Craig could feel legs moving from his arm and scurrying onto his chest and down to his tummy. The practicing pastor wriggled a bit to adjust himself. That was incredibly distracting. 

 “It’s- ahem- Ihit’s how we get ahead. And thahat’s perfectly normal, rihight? In a society suhuhuch as ohohours-” Little giggles slipped from Craig’s mouth as well as a forced smile stretched on his face. The small feet pattered across his tummy, pressing in his skin lightly. Confused looks from the crowd watched Craig closely. He tried to smooth out his mouth with his hand and continued. 

 “However- You must surrender yourself completely to God, submit yourself entirely to have the best possible relationship with him.” Craig forced out. Tweek’s small feet paused on his belly. Craig could feel him clinging onto his skin with his sucker-cup hands. He figured Tweek the gecko appreciated the warmness of the area. 

 “Yeah, I’m sure the altar boys know all about submitting themselves entirely!” Laura Stotch called out. The congregation laughed out at Laura’s joke, Randy especially. 

 “Oh! Oh good one Laura! Submit themselves entirely- Oh I’m posting that!” Randy called out and started typing on his phone. Stan groaned and crossed his arms in embarrassment. Craig held the sides of the pulpit as he pressed on. 

 “Um- Mark 10:45 reads, ‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ From this, we can see God was telling us that man was put on Earth to- pfft-” Craig snorted unexpectedly as he felt pattering underneath his shirt; his microphone sounding off feedback. Small feet trailed up his tummy and scuttled back down the way it came from. The hell was he doing under there?

 “-Gohod tehells us thahat we are here to seherve him! We ahare not hehere to be suhuperior, but to be faithful! Hah- We are here for the purpose of serving Christ at all costs. Which brings us to the matter of- sahacrifice!” Craig giggled and narrowed his eyes as he stepped from behind the pulpit; twitching lightly as light touches rolled down his belly.

 Stan looked to Eric sitting in the pews. Eric turned to Stan in a hushed tone. 

 “S’up with Craig?” Eric asked. Stan shrugged, his suit crinkling with the motion. 

 “Not sure. Maybe he’s nervous ‘cause it’s his first time? Some people laugh when they’re nervous.” Stan wondered. They both looked to Craig at the same time. Stan could have sworn he saw something move under Craig’s shirt just then. 

 Eric yawned and pulled out his phone to start playing a mobile game. “Oh well. Maybe it’s his queer demons fighting the holiness of the church.” Eric suggested. Stan scoffed at his response as he crossed his arms once more. 

 Craig’s heart was beating as the crowd looked at him expectedly. There was no way that on his very first day of preaching without his mentor’s guidance, he was being humiliated in front of the whole town by something as childish as tickling. He just hoped his small giggles weren’t too noticeable. 

 “Jesus has performed the ultimate sacrifice to gift us the ultimate reward. Eternal life.” Craig walked down in front of the pulpit to try and see if movement stilled Tweek underneath his clothes. It seemed to be working. 

 “Isaiah 53:5 reads, ‘He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.’” Craig continued. Tweek seemed to relax against his skin, which was much preferred by Craig rather than his rampant scurrying. “Jesus underwent hours of torture, deep, penetrating instruments in his skin were plunged in his holy body for days on end-” 

 “Sounds like an average Saturday night between Catholic priests and the altar boys!” Stuart McCormick called out. The crowd in the pews laughed raucously at this, with Randy being the loudest. They laughed out while Craig watched with lidded unamused eyes. 

 Suddenly, Craig’s eyes widened. His eye squinted as his lips twitched into a growing smile. 

 “PFFT- AHAHAHAHA!! Ahahahaha- Gahahahaha!” Craig laughed out to everyone’s surprise, and caught the attention of the congregation. Their own laughter seemed to peter out and were replaced with hesitant chuckles at Craig’s erratic behavior. Craig’s eyes were screwed shut as he was doubled over in laughter, his sweet sounding squeaky laughs lightly amplified by the microphone in his hand. 

 “Oh heh, I guess he liked that one.” Randy said. The congregation assumed that Craig was laughing at the joke that was told by Stuart, but it was something entirely different. Tweek had gone from going still on his tummy, to zipping up his side and shooting right into his armpit. The ticklish sensations caused Craig to clamp his arm to his side, but that just trapped the small creature in the hollow of his armpit. Craig could feel Tweek’s panicked body twisting and squirming in his armpit like a finger. 

 Finally, Craig forced himself to remove his arm from his side so Tweek had enough room to exit. Tweek scuttled out of the hollow and crawled onto his shoulder blade. The flustered pastor held a hand to his chest, the congregation eyeing him. 

 “Aha- ahehehe- Thahat uh- That- That was a good one. Anyway- I um-” Craig tried playing off what just happened cooly as he fished in his pocket for his index cards. Tweek, being so very distracting, was causing Craig’s preach to become jumbled in his head. He found what he was looking for; the crowd waiting still. 

 “As um- As I was saying. Horrible torture Jesus endured just so he could bestow mankind with the gift of redemption through the eyes of Christ. If you’ll open your Bibles to Corinthians 12:3, I’d like you all to close your eyes and bow your heads in one on one praying time. Just a moment of silence with your eyes completely shut and just...have a discussion with Christ and thank him for his enormous sacrifice and even bigger gift he’s given us.” Craig announced hurriedly. 

 The crowd bowed their heads in prayer as was requested by Pastor Craig. Craig scanned the crowd quickly to ensure that every person in the congregation had their eyes closed and were at least pretended to pray. That was good enough for him. 

 Craig reached into his clothing to scoop out Tweek the gecko. He pointed a big finger in Tweek’s face as he held him in a tight fist. 

 “Alright, you listen to me! You need to stop fucking moving around under my clothes! You’re screwing up my preaching! What the fuck?!” Craig whisper-shouted in Tweek’s face. Tweek splayed his gecko arms to try and defend himself. 

 “I’m sorry, I can’t help it! I have to move around a lot to regulate my body temperature! My body is different as a serpent! GAH! I-It’s not my fault!” Tweek whisper-shouted back. Craig pinched the bridge of his nose to wave away an oncoming headache. He was sure this whole thing was a bust anyway. 

 “I don’t know if you don’t understand the gravity of the situation Tweek-” 

 “Oh I understand, you just don’t care that my body has different requirements in this form and you’re being selfish! GAH! You suck!” 

 “I’m being selfish?! You’re ruining this entire sermon on the day that I told you was the most important to me, and I’m being selfish?!” 

 Harsh whispering and spouting was heard between Pastor Craig and an unknown figure. In the crowd, Butters let an eye open to locate Pastor Craig as he saw him shouting to his fist. Butters grew puzzled as he kept his eyes narrowed. 

 “Uh, Pastor?” Butters asked. Craig whipped his head to the congregation and pointed at Butters. 

 “Keep your head down and keep praying please! Uh, the Lord says no peeking during prayer time!” Craig called. Butters grew worried as he fidgeted with his hands. 

 “Oh Christmas- yes Pastor!” Butters squeezed his eyes extra tight and mumbled a few prayers he knew to himself. 

 Craig turned back to Tweek as he pointed his finger in his face again. 

 “Alright listen, you have one more chance to stay with me in my clothes. But I’m putting you in a pocket to keep you contained. If you start moving around again, I have no problem with chucking you as far as I can throw and have you fend for yourself.” Craig threatened in a low tone. Tweek growled at his threat, well, as well as a gecko could growl, anyway. 

 “Grr! Craig, if you put me in a pocket I am going to CHEW my way out! That is WAY too claustrophobic! GAHAH!” Tweek’s body shivered at the idea. Even in a different form, his tics stayed the same. Craig rolled his eyes at his dramatic friend and stuck him on the inside of his shirt. 

 “Fine, have it your way. But stay COMPLETELY still. You got it?” Tweek grumbled as he ambled down into the depths of Craig’s shirt. He settled on Craig’s bare tummy and stayed there. 

 Craig took a breath to collect himself and took his place behind the pulpit once more. 

 “Okay everyone, I’d like to welcome you back from prayer time. Does anyone want to share what they talked to Christ about?” Craig asked. Amused faces came on the adults in the crowd. 

 “Yes, I wanted to know what sacrifice Christ had to endure to give priests the gift of underage boys?” A woman called out from the crowd. The congregation laughed out as Randy was once again the hardest laugher out of all of them. 

 “AHA! AAAHAHAHA! OH- OH THE GIFT OF- OH I’M DEFINITELY POSTING THAT!! WHO SAID THAT?! WAS THAT YOU LINDA?! AAAAHAHAHA!” Randy pounded his fist on the wooden pew in his laughter as his children and wife hid their faces in embarrassment. 

 Craig rolled his eyes silently as he pointed to another hand that went up in the crowd. 

 “Yes sir, what did you speak with Christ about during prayer time?” Craig asked politely. The crowd’s laughter died down to have the man speak, expecting him to make another joke. 

 “Oh yes, I asked God how he felt when he saw his one begotten son tortured by the Romans. He knew it was a worthy sacrifice to make, but how could he have gone through the emotional aspect of it while seemingly being all-knowing?” A man asked genuinely. The crowd groaned slightly as no joke was made at the church’s expense. Craig gave a delighted smile as he was given a real question to answer. 

 “Yes, that’s a great question. So when we look at Jesus’ torture by the Romans, Jesus forbade his army of angels and his father to intervene in his treatment, for the Romans know not what they do. However, we can infer that Jesus was actually thinking- OMPFFT- STOHOHOP!! NOHOHOHOHO!! G-GEHEHET OHOHOUT OF THEHEHERE!!” Craig’s ears burned as an incredibly ticklish sensation centralized in his tummy. 

 Tweek the gecko was fulfilling his duties in keeping completely still. Well, the parts of himself that he could control. He was subconsciously moving his tail as he thought of things to calm him down and stay centered in this situation. However, his tail was sweeping right over Craig’s belly button, the tip of his tail dipping in and out of his shallow navel. Craig held onto the sides of the pew as his fingers dug into the wood. 

 The crowd watched as their young pastor sputtered and fought a smile on his face as he slapped his stomach. The sweeping stopped immediately, but a small whipping sensation was felt in retaliation. Craig figured Tweek angrily swatted him with his tail for the hit Craig threw. 

 “Um, Pastor? I couldn’t find “stohohop, nohoho, get out of there,” in any of the passages. Can we infer that this could have been Jesus’ inner dialogue as he was getting tortured?” The man asked from the crowd. Craig’s heart slowed from its wild rhythm as he tried to calm himself down. 

 “No um, I don’t- actually. Actually uh- actually, yes!” Craig was surprised to see that his outburst actually aided in his discussion. “We can infer that Jesus knew and prepared for this day to come as this was the reason why he was born a human to begin with. But that doesn’t mean that he was completely powerful, or else he didn’t truly suffer.” Craig grew more confident as he held his microphone closer to his mouth. 

 “All of the angels and the Father cried along with Jesus as he was killed by the Romans in true sacrifice. Jesus was born human to interact with humans and be one of them, feel their emotions and feel their mortal pain. It is with his heavenly blood that he washed away our sins, but he felt this blood being shed with all the nerves of a human being. God sacrificed his only son to wash away our sins, Jesus sacrificed himself and allowed himself to be nailed to shed his heavenly blood for the corrupt mortals.” Craig announced. 

 “Jesus wasn’t the only person to make ‘being nailed’ a sacrifice! Altar boys make that sacrifice every time they step into a church!” Steve Black, Tolkien’s dad, called out. The church roared in their laughter as Craig waited impatiently for it to be over. He could feel Tweek’s small heart against his tummy, but he was totally still this time. He felt a little bad for smacking him like that. 

 “Jesus and God made the ultimate sacrifice to give mankind redemption, and a second chance. They were not haughty, arrogant, or prideful. They were giving, loving, and cherishing. So we should be the same. It is a sacrifice to be kind when we want to be rude. It is a sacrifice to pray and be thankful when we just want more and more. It’s a- YEEK!” Craig twitched violently as he felt Tweek cross over his hip and zip up his spine. He guessed he deserved that, but still. He fought back giggles as he felt small hands walk over his back. 

 Craig pretended to cough into his mouth and continued, the crowd growing more suspicious from his behavior. 

 “Ihihit’s um...it’s a sacrifice to be a good Christian, mostly. Jesus struggled to uphold his faith in the desert when the Devil tempted him. We need to sacrifice all temptation to uphold our good will in the eyes of God. An afterlife of eternity and goodness is better than one moment of mortal pleasure.” Craig finished. 

 ...

 “Thank you, thanks for coming to church. See you next Sunday.” Craig waved the families of the congregation goodbye as they all waved and got into their vehicles. Craig sighed as he closed the doors to the church and reached into his clothing. 

 “Okay, you can turn back now.” Craig told Tweek. Craig put Tweek the gecko on the ground, allowing him the space to turn back into an imp. 

 With a red puff of smoke, Tweek the imp returned, with his red horns and red tail and curly blonde hair. 

 The two didn’t say anything for a moment, before Craig broke the silence. 

 “Tweek, I...I want to apologize.” Craig said. Tweek looked up at him with hurt blue eyes. 

 “How come?” Tweek asked meekly. Craig scratched the back of his neck as he let out a breath. 

 “Well...I was short with you and demanding, and I yelled at you. I smacked you, I threatened you, but the truth is, your presence comforted me while I was giving my sermon.” Craig said honestly. Tweek looked up at him more clearly as Craig continued to speak. 

 “I felt your heart against my skin a few times, and it was good to know I had a friend up there for my first time. I was okay with being vulnerable up there knowing you were there with me, despite everything that happened.” Craig offered a smile to Tweek. Tweek returned a small one. 

 “I’m sorry I was moving around so much. I should have known better to run across your body like that. But dude seriously- you’re too tickl-” Craig put a finger up to Tweek’s mouth to shush him. Tweek gave a knowing smile behind Craig’s finger as Craig blushed lightly.  

 “Shush, we don’t need to talk about that. What we do need to talk about, is getting Father Maxi back next Sunday so he can give the sermon. ‘Cause I’m never doing that again without him.”

[all-for-geek]

The Cal Who Kinda Liked Musicals Chapters 3: Ma'am I Need You Take A Step Back...

Chapter 2

Fandom: The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals/Starkid/Hatchetfield

Summary: Cal's patience is tested as the singing threat spreads and hits a little too close to home for one of their allies.

Word Count: 1,956

Warnings: Violence/Slight Gore

Cal wasn’t quite sure how long they were in the trash cans for. The cramped, dark space warped their perception of time as each minute seemed to drag on longer and longer. Bill certainly wasn’t helping matters.

“If I had known it was going to smell this bad, I would have grabbed the air freshener out of my car,” he complained.

Cal rolled their eyes. “Bill, it’s a trash can, what did you expect it to smell like?

“Well, I didn’t expect it to be this bad!”

“Will you two keep it down!” Ted hissed. “The whole point of hiding is not to get fucking caught. Which means sucking it up and being fucking quiet!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, is your brilliant plan of hiding in the fucking trash can not completely foolproof!” Cal fired back, whisper shouting.

“Listen here you little shit-”

“Oh god, someone’s coming,” Charlotte interrupted as she curled into more of a ball.

The three became dead silent as what sounded like two people ran near them. The two were talking, thank god, and seemingly panicked. Or at least the woman did as she screamed something about implications. As the man reassured her, the four who were hidden realized they recognized his voice. Whether it was because of that realization or the smell finally getting to him, Bill took the opportunity to jump out.

“No! It’s not alright Paul!” he shouted.

Paul and the woman that he was attempting to comfort nearly jumped out of their skin.

“Bill! You scared the shit out of us,” Paul chastised.

“Well how am I supposed to jump out of a trash can and not scare the shit out of you?”

“I don’t know a warning or something…”

Cal’s ears perked up, a shit eating grin on their face. They bang on the trash can before popping out themself. Paul, Bill and the woman all jump again.

“Jesus Christ, Cal!” Paul criticized, a hand over his heart.

“Hey don’t look at me, I warned you.” Cal could hear Ted stifling laughter a trash can over.

“What are you guys doing here?” Paul finally asked.

“We had to go somewhere,” Bill explained, “Davidson kept calling people in his office and they kept coming out singing.”

“It wasn’t just there,” Cal continued, “Everywhere we went everyone was fucking singing.”

“It’s all of downtown, we were just at Beanies,” Paul added.

Ted jumped out of his trash can. “You didn’t invite me!”

“Jesus Christ, Ted!”

“Okay how many of you are fucking in there?” the woman asked.

Charlotte slowly pokes her head out her trash can, waving awkwardly. “Hi…”

“Alright everyone shut it! We got our sweet hiding spot, and we don’t want any of those freaks finding it,” Ted declared as if he wasn’t also making noise. “So, Paul, get in a trash can. You-” He points to the woman. “-beat it.”

“Uh…fuck you?” The woman rightly said.

“Yeah, dude, seriously?!” Cal asked, turning to Ted.

“I don’t know her!”

“Yes you do!” Paul corrected. “It’s Emma.”

…

“The barista from Beanies?”

…

“The…” Paul sighed. He does Ted’s Borat thing, cringing as he does so. “The Latte Hotte…”

Ted stares at him for a minute before leaning down by him. “...Paul, that is not the Latte Hotte. That’s the crabby one, who won’t sing when I tip her! You grabbed the wrong one, ya noodle!”

Suddenly, police sirens sounded off, rapidly getting closer. Everyone tensed except for Charlotte who seemed to relax slightly. “Oh thank god, I called Sam. He’ll get us out of here.”

Ted and Cal both rolled their eyes as Sam and two other cops arrived on the scene. Charlotte rushed over to her husband. Before she could get much of a word out, music started blasting in their ears. 

Ma'am, I need you to take a step back

You're facing the law, not the clerk at The Gap

Yeah, we're cops

Yeah, we're cops

You'd better shape on up

Cal freezes when they hear Sam start singing. Fuck fuck fuck fuck no. Charlotte wasn’t doing too much better either. She was in denial, still trying to approach her husband with a confused look on her face. Paul tried to reason with her, but that just led to him being cornered by the cops.

You better empty out all of them pockets

But don't empty out all of them pockets

Yeah, we're cops

Yeah, we're cops

And we make sense

They kicked him to the ground as they continued to sing. As the cops bopped along to the choreography, Charlotte managed to race over and help Paul back over to the group. Cal nudged Ted as the two came to the same conclusion. If they were so distracted dancing, maybe it wouldn’t be too hard to get out of there.

Show me your hands!

Show me those jazz hands

Get 'em up or you'll end up in cuffs

Show me those hands

Show me those jazz hands

Or I might

Be inclined

To shoot you up

They didn’t get far unfortunately. As the two rounded to the other side of the cops, it seemed all they did was steer their attention in their direction. As Sam continued singing, the two cops that had come with him danced up behind them.

You go forty in a thirty-five

Check your mirror, you'll find hell has arrived

The cop grabbed Cal’s wrist, puppeting their arm around to mimic a steering wheel. The hand was cold. It sent a shiver up Cal’s spine that vibrated in rhythm with the song.

'Cause we're cops

Yeah, we're cops

We're up in your shi-et

The cold hands grabbed Cal’s shoulder, pushing them to the ground.

Kathy lost her cat in a tree

Contact fire, not the HFPD

'Cause we're cops

Yeah, we're cops

Her cat is dead!

Cal flinched when they felt another hand on their shoulder. It took a moment for them to register that the hand was warm. That it didn’t cause their skeleton to want to dance out of their skin. They turned to see Ted, eyeing them with a look that anyone but him would’ve called concern.

Show me your hands

Show me those jazz hands

Get 'em up or you'll end up in cuffs

Show me your hands

Show me those jazz hands

Or I might

Be inclined to shoot you

Cal nodded, trying to show him that they were fine. They had never been a good liar though. The music around them seemed to grow louder. It pounded on their skull, demanding to be let in.

Step away from the vehicle

Step away from the vehicle

Get back in the vehicle

Get back in the vehicle

Slowly get out of the vehicle

Slowly get out of the vehicle

Do the things I say, I'm a cop

The siren noises weren’t helping either. The two threw their hands over their ears as the cop blared over them. Cal could feel their body threatening to shut down. The warm hand returns to their shoulder. Ted winces from the noise as he gives it a gentle squeeze.

9-1-1, emergency call

Got a 4-1-1, at a shopping mall

Better pack your heat and utility belt

Any mall rats comin' in hot, they'll melt

Sarge, that's your wife on the 9-1-1

What that bitch want, Sarge?

She wants to snug

Grab your nine millimeter and a doughnut bucket

Want my badge number?

Put in your mouth and suck it!

They point in unison as Charlotte approaches Sam once again. Cal was tempted to groan. Sam wasn’t there anymore. Why couldn’t Charlotte get that? They would be more upset if it didn’t give them a reprieve from all the noise.

“Sam…,” Charlotte begged, tears welling in their eyes. “Sam please I’m your wife! Please baby just…talk to me.”

For a moment, it was quiet. Cal couldn’t see Sam’s face as he took his sunglasses off, but they could hear how he softly whispered Charlotte’s name. They could see the hope light up in Charlotte’s eyes.

Just as quickly as it left, the noise returned. Sam put the glasses back on. He raised his gun to Charlotte’s face, and the hope was replaced with fear as Charlotte screamed.

Show me your hands (ba-pa-ra-ba-ra)

Show me those jazz hands (ba-pa-ra-ba-ra)

Get 'em up or you'll end up in cuffs

Show me those hands

Show me those jazz hands

Ted bursted up as Sam started chasing Charlotte through the alley, grabbing a trash can lid on the way. He narrowly missed the other two cops who started closing in on the others. As the music crescendoed again, Cal felt the song vibrating in their bones. They put their hand in their pocket, reaching out for something that could help.

Or I might

Be inclined

To shoot you

The music stops abruptly. Cal lets out a shaky breath, unsure of how long they had been holding it. Out of the corner of their eye, they could see Sam lying unconscious on the ground. Ted stood over him, garbage lid in hand. 

The cops stood frozen in front of them. There was a look of uncertainty on their faces. Almost like they weren’t sure how to continue with the lead vocals knocked out. That confusion wouldn’t last long. They would recover eventually. Cal pulled a gun out of their pocket, firing a shot into the air before pointing the gun at the cops.

“Alright, the next goes through someone’s fucking head!” Cal warned the cops. They stared at the gun for a moment before running off, flailing their arms in the air.

“Oh Sam!” Charlotte cried, kneeling down beside her “husband”.

“Cal, how long have you had a gun just stored in your pocket?” Bill asked as if it was a cellphone Cal had snuck into class.

Cal paused for a moment. “Uh…the whole time?”

“Wha…do you have any idea how dangerous those things are young-”

“I’ve got a better question, Billy Boy,” Ted interrupted, “Why the FUCK are this scumbag’s brains blue?!”

The group turned their attention back to Sam. Ted had whacked him good. Good enough that his brain matter lay pouring out of a hole in his skull. His blue brain matter.

Cal’s eyes widened. “What the fuck…?”

“He needs to get to a doctor…” Charlotte muttered over and over again.

“Charlotte,” Ted knelt down next to her, “this is beyond a fucking doctor. His brains are fucking blue!”

“We have to do something! We can’t just leave him here!”

“Uh, yeah we can,” Cal muttered.

Charlotte’s head whipped around. There was an anger there that gave Cal pause. “Don’t you talk like that. I’m not leaving here without Sam!”

“Charlotte, he tried to nab us. He put a gun to your fucking head!”

“I SAID I’M NOT LEAVING HIM!” 

Cal flinched, shrinking inward. Ted stayed knelt down beside the body, unsure of what to do. It seemed like no matter what he did, it would hurt one of them. So, he did nothing. It ended up being Emma that stepped between the two, her arms raised.

“Hey, woah, okay, let’s just…all take a breath. I’ve got this like, cooky biology professor. He’s got a doctorate! His house is like, a fucking survival bunker. We can go there, and be safe, and maybe he can figure out what’s going on with Sam, yeah?”

The group nods. Cal, once again, feels like they're being dragged along and outvoted at every turn. This was a horrible idea. It made the trash cans feel like a stroke of genius. But the other option was to face these singing fucks alone.

They huff. “Fine, but when he ends up killing us all, don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

[geminiamethyst]

Skyline Gang: Fears (Candi)

1shot stories list: click HERE

Fears Summary: click HERE

WARNING! This one shot does contain minor spoilers from “Trial of Darkness”. If you haven’t read the chapters 18 and 19 yet, please do so now. Thank you and enjoy.

Candi honestly felt very ill. It wasn’t like a normal cold or flu. It was very different from a normal bug that she would pick up from anywhere.

There was to be a photoshoot of her and the others today on the high ropes course. They had been doing various shoots like this for the past couple of months throughout the Skyline. It was mainly to help promote the different facilities a little bit. So far everything went well. The photographer that they hired was lovely to get along with and always listened when there were any concerns. Like when the weather suddenly took a bad turn that one time and they all decided to do an indoor location instead of one outside like originally planned. Or when Mimi had that bad stomach ache and couldn’t be part of a shoot (much to her extreme disappointment). There was nothing but patience and understanding. They really liked the photographer and couldn’t be grateful enough to have her services.

However, today was different.

Candi knew the location for the shoot today. But what changed was the photographer. Their usual one suddenly called in sick the day before and there was going to be a replacement for her. That’s fine. It’s just if he or she knew that Candi had a certain…problem so to speak. Dude reassured her countless times that the new photographer should know since their boss and the usual photographer notified them. Everything should be fine, right?

“You okay, Candi?” Sprout suddenly asks. Candi snapped out of her dizzying state at that second. The others had gone on far ahead, while both siblings stayed at the back. Sprout more for support while Candi suffered from her stomach ache.

“Um…” Candi whimpered, looking at the structure up ahead. They were a few feet away, making it look smaller than it really was. She was trembling again, her chest feeling tight. Sprout recognised the signs instantly. Brother instincts kicked in. He hurriedly took over, turning Candi around gently as he looped an arm around her shoulders.

“Candi, it’s okay. We know that you won’t go up there.” He smiled brightly. It was enough to help Candi to calm down. “We’ll just have some pictures on solid ground, then the rest of us will go up around the course. You can wander around the Skyline or something like that, you don’t have to watch us.”

“Thanks Sproutie.” Candi returned a shaky smile. Yeah. While the others continue the photoshoot, she can go occupy herself. Maybe she’ll assist the Redcoats. Or play with the children. Or walk Rainbow somewhere. Anything to shake off this awful feeling.

“Anything for my sister! Now let’s go!” Sprout grinned. He’d honestly be lying if he said that he didn’t feel better himself. He hated it when Candi got like that. She was always bright and cheerful. Seeing her looking that dizzy was abnormal, maybe even close to criminal. Maybe Sprout will get her a pink plushie to make her feel better. Who cares is she’s got dozens more? She might as well be earning one for being this close to the high ropes course.

Thankfully, Candi didn’t have to wait too long. Once the others were harnessed up and give the safety briefing (and Dude preventing Misty from getting started halfway through said briefing), the photographer arrived. Honestly, Candi got a bad feeling the second she saw him. He just gave off this flare of arrogance and pompous attitude. He was a little rude too. Instead of a polite hello, as soon as he saw everyone else in harnesses and done with the safety briefing, he said “perfect! We can get started!”

He made everyone else think that he was some form of paparazzi or something until Dude asked him who he was. Once there was a confirmation, the photoshoot went underway. Things were starting out fine. They were all under the structure, taking different photos. This is fine. They’re on solid ground. It was when the ground shots were over that the problems started. As everyone started to go up, Candi took that as a sign to evacuate herself to safety. Maybe she’ll watch for a little bit. If she feels queasy, she’ll do something else like she had planned.

“Hold on! Where are you going?” The photographer asked, clamping a hand on Candi’s shoulder. When he forced her to face him, he looked at her up and down. “And where are your harness and helmet?”

“Oh…um…” Candi started shaking again. Calm down. Candi’s on solid ground. She’s safe. She’s fine. Just explain what was wrong and why she wasn’t going on the course with everyone. However, she couldn’t get a word out as the photographer glared down at her. Did she do something wrong? Why was he angry at her?

“She doesn’t want to go up.” Sprout started speaking up. He was the last one to follow the others. He was confused by this too. “She’s…”

“I don’t feel comfortable going up there.” Candi finished off, wringing her fingers so much that they might be flexible.

“Nonsense! You’ll be fine!” The photographer waved off. Sprout and Candi stared at him in disbelief. Was he not listening to them on purpose? “All the safety checks were done right?”

“It’s not safety that’s the issue here. Candi doesn’t-” Sprout protested.

“She’ll be fine!” The photographer sighed heavily, cutting Sprout off completely. He turned back to Candi, almost challenging her to argue back. “Now get a harness on! Time’s being wasted here!”

“What’s going on?” Dude suddenly asked. He noticed the commotion after realising that Sprout wasn’t following him. He immediately came back down to see what was wrong.

“You’re the leader, right? Order her to go and get a harness on!” The photographer barked, pointing at Candi as if she had offended him. Thankfully he didn’t enforce it any further as he stomped off. “I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

Dude and Sprout exchanged appalled glances. Order Candi? Sure, Dude was the leader but he doesn’t bark orders like a drill sergeant. He does give them out, but only when absolutely necessary. This isn’t one of those few times. Especially while Candi was terrified. She was contemplating what was said to her. Should she go up? Maybe he’ll stop harassing her? However, the thought of being high up with only a harness to support her was enough to nearly make her throw up.

“You okay?” Dude asked, as he noticed how much Candi was shaking.

“Please don’t make me go up there! I can’t-” Candi started wailing, tears springing from her eyes. She knows that Dude wouldn’t do that, but panic kicked into overdrive.

“Candi, calm down. I won’t force you up there. I know how you are with heights.” Dude gently said, offering an understanding smile. He knew from first hand experience that Candi wouldn’t go around the course, even if her life depended on it. He then gestured for Rainbow to come over as he waited by the gate. Seems that the photographer neglected to let him out as he left. “Tell you what? I think Rainbow would be quite happy if you take him for a walk by the beach. You could maybe go for a short swim too if you’d like.”

“A walk will do me some good. It sounds lovely.” Candi smiled as Rainbow took his spot beside her. She was still pale but at least the distraction was working. Before she left, she gave Dude and Sprout a hug as thanks. Both boys stayed on the ground as Candi left with Rainbow, making sure that the photographer didn’t catch her again. That was the last thing they needed right now. Either the photographer was going to the bathroom or he was getting something from his car because he was raking his time. By time he got back, the Gang had arranged what order they would go in around the course; from then most confident going first and the least confident going last. When the photographer looked around, his expectant smile dropped.

“Where’s the pink girl?” He asked. In all honesty, Dude can’t say that he was surprised to hear that. He really needs to clear up the misunderstanding here. “I told you to bring her up here!”

“She’s not comfortable being up here.” Dude spoke up, crossing his arms defensively. The others equally looked annoyed by this man. Sprout and Dude had filled them in on what’s going on. Needless to say that it was a mistake for Candi to be messed around like this. The photographer should know the reason why Candi won’t partake in the photoshoot. Even the instructors were wondering why he was so ignorant to the facts here. They were aware about why Candi won’t be part of the shoot too.

“I’ll go find her.” The photographer sighed heavily. What?!

“Oh no, you won’t.” Dude declared, immediately blocking the man from going anywhere. What is wrong with this guy?! Rainbow wasn’t being on the course either, and yet he wasn’t complaining about that. He was only targeting Candi. “Look you’ve already taken a few photos of her with us on the ground. That’s more than enough right?”

“I’m meant to take photos of all of you on the course. That includes Pinkie.” The photographer argued arrogantly. This idiot…

“First of all, her name is Candi. And second, I don’t like how you’re talking about and treating her.” Dude fought back. He had a small urge to march this guy out of the Skyline. He was usually tolerable with a lot of things, but someone being close to harm his friends is something that he won’t take lightly. Why can’t the photographer accept that and move on already?!

“Just get her here.” The photographer ordered.

“No, I won’t do that!” Dude continued to stand his ground. Don’t let him win. Get to the main point of the argument. Now! “Even if I did, she’d still refuse to come up here. She’s-”

“Enough!” The photographer shouted, ready to push Dude out of the way.

“How about this?” Mimi suddenly asked, taking her place beside Dude. She was awfully calm about the situation. For now. “We go around the course and you take your pictures. No need to kick up a fuss.”

“But I need-” the photographer started his dumb argument again. Mimi was quick to cut him off.

“No, you don’t.” Her voice rose a little in tension. A subtle warning. “We’ve wasted time here because you’re refusing to listen. Make do with what you have right now, or we can arrange a different photographer to come here.”

“Fine! But if I see Pinkie, she’s coming up here!” The photographer grumbled, finally giving up. As he started setting up, no one could believe his attitude towards Candi. Again, what was wrong with him?! Did he not get the notice about Candi? Honestly, Dude felt terrible. He had told Candi more than once that this new guy should be fine with her not going around the course. Now that this has happened, he felt like a traitor to her trust.

“I’ve just messaged Candi.” Mimi suddenly whispered to him, showing her phone. For once, Dude was glad to see the device on her person. “Hopefully she’ll get the warning I’ve sent and stay away.”

“Good call.” “And once this is done, he’ll be gone.”

Just one hour. And one hour was enough.

The Skyline Gang tried to have fun while going around the course. But the photographer wasn’t allowing that. Throughout the shoot, this idiot barked orders and told different members of the Gang to just stay still. Even when clinging onto a net despite the burn in their muscles, he wouldn’t let them move until he had the “perfect shot”. He also forced them to move around the course more than twice to be satisfied. He didn’t have any patience or understanding with them at all. Bud’s glasses nearly fell off at one point because he was so surprised by the sudden shouting. Nearly everyone felt like they would fall off if this guy wasn’t careful, even while they were safely harnessed in. Not to mention he didn’t listen to anyone, including the instructors that were supervising the Gang. He didn’t refer anybody by their names, despite them literally being plastered in front of him. It was always “you”, “blondie”, “four eyes”, “Sportacus” and so on. He even tired to go against safety by ordering Sprout, Dude and Bud to swap their helmets for their usual headwear. To make them “more recognisable”. It was only when the instructors and the Gang were combining forces that he listened for about five minutes. It didn’t stop his nonsense though.

During that entire time, the photographer looked around and got distracted as he kept an eye out for Candi. Thankfully, she got Mimi’s warning, and stayed at the beach. Not that it made the photographer any better to get along with. Let’s just say that even Mimi had enough with the photoshoot, and she usually loves looking good for the camera. When that long, excruciating hour was done, they were more than happy. Those pictures had better be good enough. And they have their usual, friendly photographer back for the next shoot.

After another hour of taking a well deserved break and catch up with Candi (with Candi showing all the shells that she and Rainbow had collected), the Gang went back to their usual routine. Show and then meet and greet the guests. They even played a few games for a short time. This was so much better. It almost made everyone forget the rotten morning that they all had.

However, as the old saying goes, there’s always a calm before the storm.

“Dude! Sprout!”

The blue and green ones jumped at the sudden wailing. They were speaking to a couple of young guests when they were interrupted. Two kids, probably siblings judging by their resemblances, came running up to them. It wasn’t that unusual. Kids run up to them all the time. What was unusual was the tears streaking down their faces.

“Whoa! What’s going on, kids?” Dude asked as the kids skidded to a stop in front of him. Were they lost? Did a parent get hurt? Bullying? Parents being “unfair” by not buying something that they wanted?

“Some mean man is kidnapping Candi!” The bother wailed.

“What?!” Sprout exclaimed, standing right behind Dude. He couldn’t stop shaking. It wasn’t from fear. Was this anger?

“He’s dragging her away!” The sister cried, her body shuddering from her tears. There’s no way either of them can speak now. Even the other kids that didn’t see what happened started to cry from fear.

“Where did they go?” Dude asked the mother as she caught up to her children.

“To the high ropes course. He scared my children as the poor girl was talking to them.” She explained, equally as distraught as her children. The high ropes course? Did that mean…? Sprout didn’t think for a second. He immediately started running. Each step was filled with determination. No one’s taking his sister without his say so.

“Sprout! Wait!” Dude shouted after him. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to help. It’s that it wasn’t a good idea for Sprout to go alone. He spotted Bud who had witnessed the commotion, looking just as aghast. “Bud! Call security! Get them to meet us at the high ropes course!” He didn’t wait for a response. He ran off after Sprout. He easily caught up with him as they dashed out of the pavilion. Some people pointed out where Candi and the kidnapper went. Still towards the course. As soon as he spotted them, Dude couldn’t hold in a frustrated groan. Does that jerk ever give up?! That photographer really hung around just to catch Candi off guard. How could this guy be that ignorant and spiteful?! All for some stupid pictures!

Sprinting with all he could muster, Dude outran Sprout. People cleared the way as he ran. He caught up instantly. He didn’t hesitate. As he got closer, he saw how hard Candi was being jerked by the arm. The force was so hard that it looked like her arm was going to break. She was crying and screaming so much that the earth would shatter. This needs to stop! Now!

“What are you doing?!” Dude yelled as he caught up. He grabbed Candi while simultaneously pushing the photographer away from her. Candi let out a huge wail, clinging onto Dude like a limpet to a rock. He held onto her just as tightly, turning his body to act like a shield. He heard Sprout coming up to them. Good, he’s going to have a little help.

“I was just-” the photographer started.

“We’re done with the photoshoot!” Dude shouted. It was his turn to interrupt this idiot. Once Sprout stepped behind him, Candi latched onto him too. Despite the comfort he was giving, he still looked angry. At least Candi wasn’t seeing it. And now Dude can focus all of his attention on the idiot. “There’s no need to drag her to the course like that!

“She needs-” the photographer started again, holding up his camera.

“No she doesn’t! If you’d bothered to listen to us, you’d get the picture already!” Dude argued back. He can’t believe this. Why can’t this guy get the hint already?! Priorities. Get Candi out of this area. Now! “Sprout, get her back to the house.”

“Just let me get one in!” Sprout started growling, trying to take a step forward despite Candi still clutching onto him.

“No! House, now!” Dude hissed, getting between Sprout and the photographer. He flinched a little at how dark Sprout’s face had gotten. It was like he was a completely different person right now. Get him to calm down. Sprout choosing to swing fists was the last thing that Candi needed to witness. “Sprout, believe me, I know how angry you are. But Candi needs her brother right now.” Sprout blinked at this, his rage diminishing. He looked down at Candi. Did he forget that she was there for a moment? How blind was he? Taking a deep breath, he went back to hugging Candi, her sobs muffled by his shirt. Dude’s right. Candi needs her brother, not the boy he was seconds ago. He was still mad but not as blind as he was before.

“Just get him to leave.” Sprout muttered. He didn’t say anymore. He didn’t need to. Carefully, he started walking, taking Candi with him. Some people who witnessed the abduction walked with them, almost like a living shield for the siblings. Dude sighed in relief. He was worried that he needed to restrain Sprout from doing any damage. Honestly, Sprout had never been that angry before, not even at Misty. Protective brother instincts must have kicked into overdrive. Truth be told, it was quite terrifying.

“You’re ruining my job!” The photographer shouted, shoving Dude harshly. Dude stumbled forward, just able to stay standing. Now he was starting to get more angry.

“No, you are!” He fired back, maintaining his distance. Don’t make it more physical than it already has. He really has had enough. Bring the main point up now! “Do you know why Candi won’t go up there? She’s afraid of heights!” The photographer buckled at those words, his camera almost falling from his hand. He seriously didn’t know?!

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He exclaimed as he started to drop thinking straight again.

“We tried to! But you wouldn’t let us explain!” Dude sighed in frustration. How could this idiot not know an important detail like this?! “Come to think of it, I’ve told your boss and coworker about her phobia. A couple of times actually. Didn’t you get a memo about it?”

“I was sent one…but I didn’t read it.” The photographer said so quietly that Dude was lucky to hear that.

“You got a notification about one of your clients and her mental health, and you didn’t read it?!” Dude exclaimed, his fists clenching. There was so much wrong with this that he couldn’t write a whole book.

“That’s not my fault!” The photographer shouted back. “You’re just a dumb teenager that needs to get that Gang in line! If you took your responsibilities seriously, this wouldn’t be happening.”

Seriously?! Okay. Dude had to admit that he should’ve been more upfront about Candi’s phobia earlier. Would the photographer have listened then? Or would he still pull this stunt? And he’s deflecting the blame onto Dude too. Had he been caught doing this before? Did his employer know about his behaviour? Just get him out! Now!

“And you’re a bully! One without common sense no less!” Dude spat back. How he hasn’t punched this guy already is a miracle in itself. “Don’t think that your employer won’t be hearing about this.”

“What?! You can’t! I will lose my job!” The photographer whimpered, growing pale. Dude couldn’t help but roll his eyes. If this idiot was worried about his job, he should’ve read this memo he got or listened to everyone when they tried to explain to him what was wrong. He not only put Candi’s life in danger, he put others in danger too. Turned out there were some guests going around the course right now. If he had forced her up there, who knows what could have happened! He has made one too many mistakes today. And was messing with Candi in the first place.

Some familiar faces and uniforms came into Dude’s peripheral vision. Better late than never.

“You have about ten seconds to start leaving.” Dude warned, pointing to Bud and the members of security that he had with him. The photographer became even paler at the sight of them. “Or I’ll have security drag you out just like how you were dragging my friend.” The photographer slumped. He had no more fight in him. He sauntered away, security staying with him. People gave a small cheer for him leaving, accompanied by some boos and people scolding him.

“He’s not going to get away with this, is he?” Bud asked, stepping up to Dude.

“No. I’ll call his boss.” Dude sighed, trying to calm down. The idiot is gone. He can’t be that angry anymore. “I don’t know if Candi’s the first victim of his abuse, but she won’t be the last unless we do something about it.”

“I’ll gather any security footage of this. I’ve got a feeling they we’ll need it.” Bud agreed, already linking his smartwatch with the security system. He improved the old one himself, so it was easy for him to have remote access. He just wished that this wasn’t for this situation. Dude felt the same likewise. As Bud was working, he went back to the house. Mimi was there, brewing the kettle. Sprout and Candi were more than likely upstairs. No doubt it was the safest place for Candi right now. Dude highly doubts that she’ll come out any time soon. He tried not to lose his cool as he held onto his promise about phoning the idiot’s boss. He told him what had happened from start to finish. He honestly felt bad for this employer. He apologised so many times that it was pitiful. As Dude brought up a possible chance of suing, the boss cooperated with full force. Over the phone he started sending evidence of the notice that the photographer never read and said that the photographer’s employment was over, effective immediately. He even offered a refund for today’s photoshoot. He also said that he’ll contact previous clients. If there were other incidences that were never brought to his attention, it’ll add extra fuel to Dude’s fire.

At the end of the call, Dude couldn’t have felt better. He was worried that the boss would defend his employee. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. However there was still some work to be done.

“How is Candi?” Dude asked as Mimi came back downstairs from her tea run.

“She’s really shaken up. Sprout and Rainbow are with her right now.” She sighed, caught between sad and angry. Rainbow was here too? That’s good. He always made himself the Gang’s support dog, and he was darn good at it. “How did the call go?”

“Better than I hoped for.” Dude smiled a little. However, his smile faded almost instantly. “But I still need to speak to Candi real quick.”

Mimi’s silent nod was all he needed. He didn’t wait for any other response. As he went up the stairs, he heard Misty enter the house. She was complaining to Mimi about her arm hurting and demanding to know what happened. Dude didn’t enlighten her. That can be Mimi’s job. Maintains his composure, Dude knocked on Candi’s pink door as gently as he could. He heard some shuffling, and a muffled voice. After a few seconds of waiting, Sprout opened the door. He still looked upset, but thankfully wasn’t in beast mode.

“Is he gone?” He forced out, his voice not his own. He was far from the joker that he always is. Who knew that he could change that easily? Candi being attacked like that was more than enough for it.

“Yeah.” Dude was blunt to answer. He didn’t need to give details. Just a simple answer.

“Good. If he wasn’t, I would’ve sent Rainbow after him.” Sprout remarked, looking over where Rainbow was in the room. He barked in agreement. Dude poked his head in, scanning the room.

“Where’s Candi? I thought she was up here.” He asked curiously. Did she go to the bathroom or something without him knowing?

“She is.” Sprout grinned a little. He pointed to the mountain of pink plushies on one side of the room. Not for the first time, Dude wondered about how many plushies did one girl need. It turned out to be a lot. He still didn’t understand why Sprout was pointing at them. Nor why Rainbow was lying right next to them. It was only when he noticed a small amount of movement from within the mountain of softness that he understood. Candi had buried herself alive within the plushies.

“She does that when she’s scared or stressed.” Sprout explained upon seeing the perplexed look on Dude’s face. “I’ve seen her do it a couple of times. It makes her feel safe.”

“Well, with dozens of plushies to hide in, who wouldn’t feel safe?” Dude smiled a little as Sprout allowed him in. When the door was closed, he approached the plushies. Kneeling down in front of him, he tried to make out where Candi was, but that was impossible. He could still hear her crying though. It was truly heartbreaking. Still, he needs to do this quick task and small talk. “Candi? The scary man is gone. I just need to see your arm. Is that okay?”

There was a chorus of sniffling from inside the toys, accompanied by shuddering breaths. There was a little bit of movement again, causing one of the plushies from the top of the pile to fall off. Rainbow stood up and made a move to prod the plushies to encourage the pink girl. Sprout gently held him back. Don’t force Candi out, let her come out on her own. All three sat in front of the plushies. Just wait. After a couple of minutes, the plushies moved more. One by one, they all cascaded from the pile. A couple landed in Dude’s and Sprout’s laps, leading them to gently push them off. Candi was revealed from the centre of her hiding spot, clutching her favourite pink teddy bear tightly. Her eyes were puffy and red, tears soaking her flushed face. She was trembling from a combination of fright and her weeping. Dude held his hand out. Stay patient. Don’t force her. He needs to let her come to him. Candi glanced from Rainbow, to Sprout and then back to Dude. She looked at them back and forth, unsure what to do. After another minute, her hand unlatched from her teddy, and shakily reached over to Dude’s. As Dude held her hand, he could immediately see the handprint on her arm. The photographer had grabbed her so tight that it left a bruise that will darken by morning.

“I’m just going to take a picture, just in case we need to sue.” Dude gently explained, pulling his phone out. Candi almost pulled her hand back, but she didn’t. This needs to be done. Dude gently rubbed her knuckles with his thumb for encouragement. He didn’t linger on the issue. He just snapped as clear a picture as he could. At least it was more evidence. And hopefully help give Candi more peace of mind. As soon as the deed was done, Dude squeezed Candi’s hand gently. Sprout meanwhile had grabbed a box of tissues and passed one to Candi so that she could wipe away her tears. Rainbow helped by licking her face a little. Candi laughed a little from the dog’s attempt to help. Sprout and Dude exchanged a smile. That felt great to hear. It was impossible to describe how it felt to listen to. After wiping her face of dog drool and tears, Candi gently placed her teddy down. Without a word, she leaped forward to pull Sprout and Dude into a tight group hug. The embrace was returned instantly. Relief, security and care. That’s all that was needed for all three of them at that moment.

“Thank you both for saving me.” Candi whispered, making the hug more emotional.

“It’s okay. If anything, you should be thanking those kids that told us what happened.” Dude smiled. He made a mental note to remember those kids and their mum. They deserve to know that Candi was okay in the end.

“Yeah! They’re the real heroes!” Sprout added with a wide smile. “Dude and I were just the sidekicks.” Candi let out another small laugh before taking a deep breath. This day she started off being scared. That photographer only made her fear of heights even worse. She might never go near the high ropes course again after today. She never thought that she would be that terrified. But being here, held tightly by her brother and someone who is just as close as a friend, made her feel better. For the first time all day, she truly felt safe.

Acrophobia -fear of heights

I’m going to be very honest here, I struggled writing this. Because I had already written about Candi’s fear of heights in “Trial of Darkness”, I obviously couldn’t copy and paste the chapter here. It would be…cheating? Sure I’ll go with cheating. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this one shot.

[sidetrek]

@halfblood-fiend also nabbed a donation sketch  and the request was for a pic of Ensign Vorik from Voyager.  I had a lot of fun figuring out his face (as well as the Voyager uniforms!) though I better do more research on the look of the tech in that show lol.  THANK YOU AGAIN halfblood-fiend!!

[thesunshineriptide]

Idia, Floyd, and Riddle with a g/n s/o who’s autistic and has issues with randomly becoming mute, mostly in very social places or around people they aren’t comfortable with, so they use ASL to communicate a lot

Haha fucking mood honestly. Legiterally I learned some basic sign specifically because I go nonverbal too. I don’t go around people though so I’m pretty rusty smfbsjnfdksndka anyway thank you for the request anon sorry for the wait

No Words Left Unsaid

Characters: Idia, Floyd, Riddle

CW// PDA, Meltdowns, Overstimulation, Nonverbal, fluff, Floyd leech typical behavior

Floyd

Floyd doesn’t always do the right thing, or the best thing, or the nicest thing, but if you’re important to him then he doesn’t want you to get hurt.

First time he encounters you going mute, he assumes someone did something.

This is a trauma thing, right?

He’s seen that before.

But when you tell him it’s just because you’re overwhelmed, he…kinda gets it?

He had that experience coming on land for the first time, and he still has it every once in a while, so he can relate even if it isn’t an every day thing.

He might ask what you want him to do in that situation, and when you explain he just sits quietly before he nods and says he’ll try.

Dude learns asl in three days by reading a book once and can remember about 45% of it when the first occasion he needs it comes up.

Also asks if you’re okay with touching when that happens and. Well let’s hope you are because if not oops bad stim he did it anyway (not maliciously just forgor)

Tap tap tap

Floyd turned to look at his partner, eyebrow raised. He watched them make hand gestures.

One hand with a thumb sticking up, the other one flat, palm facing up. Fist on palm.

Floyd watched as they repeated the gesture, looking more upset.

He blinked as it clicked, and nodded. Help. He turned to the person he was talking to.

“This is boring. Me an’ Shrimpy are gonna go do better stuff.”

With that, he promptly picked you up bridal style, walking away from the crowded hall. Everyone scattered as he walked, giving him a wide berth as he carried you outside.

“You okay, Shrimpy?”

A hand made into a fist, two fingers clenched to stick up. Hand moving up and down. Yes.

He continued walking for a while, simply holding his partner close. Sure, they could walk, but that’s his Shrimpy. Eels gotta protect their shrimps, and nobody would bother them if he was right there.

You didn’t particularly seem to mind either, content to lean against him as he walked. The rhythmic motion and the sound of his heartbeat and breathing seemed to help reset your autonomic nervous system, and having him just quietly carry you around was a good stim.

In an uncharacteristically Floyd way, he didn’t say a word until you tapped him again.

“I’m okay now.” You said quietly.

He smiled at that, and sunshine seemed to ooze out of him.

“Good! What was that about?”

You waved a hand, “‘s nothing, just overstimulated. Can you put me down now?”

He pouted mockingly, squeezing you closer, “But Shrimpy~” he whined, pressing his face into your hair, “Holding you is so nice. You’re like a stuffed animal, but warm. And cute. And you snuggle back.”

You laughed and settled in, pressing a kiss to his cheek, “Fiiiiine, I suppose I don’t mind being carried too much…”

Famous. Last. Words.

Riddle

Riddle is also autistic and also has breakdowns so he knows the feel.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t know what’s going on when it happens in front of him though because he’s never seen anyone else do it.

So he ends up making it worse the first time, but after having a long talk with you about it he immediately attempts to be better.

Probably didn’t know asl before you, but you bet he’s learning it now.

He also keeps a pad of paper on hand in case you have something much faster to say to him.

When you explain you just need some patience and to leave the room, he’s immediately making plans on what that looks like.

There’s only a little bump in the road but it’s fine

Luckily, you have each other now.

Riddle felt you gently grasp at his wrist. He turned to look, and there you were, breathing a little heavy and moving to hold your hands up.

He didn’t even need to read the sign, he immediately knew what you were asking, but nonetheless, he waited for you to verbalize it just in case.

Flat, open, dominant hand, fingers all held together. motion of flicking your flat palm away from your body, as if shooing something. Away.

He nodded, “We’ll only be a moment,” he excused himself from his conversation to offer you his arm, and you two left the room silently.

He took you down a quiet hallway and stood guard, letting you collect yourself as quick or as slow as you wished.

“Are you alright, love?” He asked when it seemed like you’d collected yourself. “Would you like me to get you some water?”

“I’m okay,” you said softly, turning to hug him. He was gentle and nervous as he hugged back. “I’d love something to drink. Sorry to pull you away.”

“It’s no issue,” he assured, pressing a kiss to your check, “You’re never an issue. I’ll get you that drink. Do you want to come back to the party or do you wish to retire early?”

You shrugged, “I’m…I think I’m done for the night.”

His face was stern as always, but his eyes were just concerned. “I will retire early too, then. I’ll get you your drink and say my goodbyes, if you’ll give me a few moments. Then we can go back to the dorm, is that alright?”

“Yeah, of course,” you replied, gripping his hand tightly for a moment, “Thank you, Riddle. I love you so much.”

He flushed and smiled a little, squeezing your hand back, “I love you too, darling. I’ll only be a moment, and then we can do whatever you’d like…within reason, of course.”

“Within reason.” You agreed, smiling as his form retreated back to the party.

‘Within reason’ turned out to be drinking tisanes and infodumping about various topics for a few hours in the Heartslabyul lounge. You and Riddle talked about everything from the prefect texture of cake, to hedgehog tending, to magical history, to the nature of magestone, to your current fixation, to your home and everything you loved to do as a child. What a night.

Idia

If you’re dating Idia, you’ll probably never be in a situation like the first two.

There are no crowded hallways you’ll be trapped in with him or fancy parties you’ll have to attend because he, also, doesn’t want to go to them.

He too is autistic and hates social gatherings and would honestly rather curl up in a ball and DIE than be stuck there.

However, that isn’t to say he doesn’t help you.

Because evidently, you have to be around people (ew) and if you’re stuck around the Normies, he can’t leave you defenseless.

Idia sat at his computer, eyes flicking between the screen, a tablet, a monitor just above it, and you - you, who was currently standing in a vocal booth just ten feet away. He double checked every input and output a third time, then looked up and smiled brightly at you, giving you a thumbs up.

“We’re good to go. Start with vowel sounds, please.”

“On it!” You grinned, then began to recite every vowel sound every way possible. Accented, non accented, soft, long, short, spread, tall.

Idia gave you a thumbs up, and you began consonants in the same manner.

“Now, say words and phrases you think are most important.” he instructed.

“I’m tired. I’m nonverbal. I need to leave now. I’m hungry. Please. Thank you. No problem. Player one, come in player one. I love you.” You said, loosening up as you continued to babble.

Idia flushed behind the screen, and he thought he had done a good job of hiding it, except the tips of his hair were pink and bathed the room in a rose gold glow.

“G-good choices,” he tried to joke, flustered beyond belief.

“My boyfriend is Idia Shroud.” You added, grinning cheekily.

“I’ll make a special b-button for that.” He winked in a way that was probably supposed to be charming but mostly came off as dorkishly cute.

You cooed, pretending to swoon in the vocal booth. “Did you need anything else?”

He hummed, then shook his head, typing away furiously, “I think that’s enough. I’m almost done, just gotta plug this into the program aaaaand…”

The tablet beeped, then chirped, then booted up a loading screen that looked like a notes app.

Idia grinned and held it close, typing something into it.

“I love Idia Shroud.” The tablet said in your voice. It sounded just like you, inflection and all.

You grinned and took the tablet from him, giving him a kiss on the tip of his nose, “It’s true, the tablet doesn’t lie. Thanks, player one.”

Idia was back to making the room look like a sunset, and he swiveled in his desk chair, “I love you too, player two.”

[btnclmrttn]

Saitama x Neko reader. Who is flirty yet when he gets flirty they freeze on their spot and covers their face. Do it. 😈

How is it my first ask is discribing the literal one shot I wrote when I was 16 on Wattpad 😭

But thank you v much I'm excited that you were my first ask! I've been uploading everyone else's first cause I was worried about getting behind and I was overthinking. I hope this satisfies. Again thanks for your patience!!!!

Cheater (Neko!Reader)

~~~~

A little thump of a controller bounces beside you for about the third time now.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?"

A laughter erupts out of your chest targeting your god awful teammate rage quitting beside you, "Yeah, seriously? I gotta revive you again? You're awful!"

"Be quiet."

"Nah," you say, swatting your tail at his side, "If I gotta carry the round I can say what I want."

He grumbles as you try to make your way past the enemies to revive him before he kicks the bucket. Granted you could likely survive without him, it wouldn't teach him how to do shit.

It was a decent way to pass the time on a hot day, playing a game you rented to try out. It isnt dry heat either it's fucking moist heat. Where you're constantly sticky with sweat and itchy and nothing helps unless you're locked inside with an ac.

Somehow your friend survived without it through his training. Probably sweated all his hair out that way.

"I'm thinking you suck on purpose so you can get me to come after you," you jest.

Saitama picks his controller back up once he's been revived by a nearby player, "Why would I do that?"

"You just really like my attention, huh?"

A scoff returns your teasing remark, "Oh, yeah, totally."

"It's either that or you're just a hopeless case."

"I'd shoot you if we weren't on the same team."

Another gunshot echos the speakers. Saitama is once again out for the count. Your laughter bubbles out of your chest as the man let's out an array of profanities.

A finger jabs your shoulder in the middle of your giggle fit, Saitama demanding, "You knock that off! I don't laugh at you when you die!"

"Aw, you're so cute when you're mad!" you coo as you run back to revive him.

"Don't-!" Saitama stops himself momentarily in a bit of a fluster, "-just shut up!"

"Make me!" You say as you stick your tongue out to him before turning back to the game.

"Make you?" He asks, "Fine. Turn the game off and come here."

That statement sends a little surprise through you. He's gotta be joking. Dude hasn't ever had the balls to say something like that.

Ignoring him, you continue to play the game, carrying the round as usual. A pair of eyes are burning against your neck, you can feel. He's now staring.

"I know you heard me," his says, as he scoots closer, "Turn it off. I'll make you."

"Yeah, right!" you reply, only half certain with your confidence,"Rounds almost over, anyway. We can play a new game after."

"Come on," he presses, leaning in closer to your ear, "Turn it off, ____. I'll give you what you want."

Your shoulders hike up as a hand starts to run up your spine slowly, stopping just behind your twitching ears. Fingers trace just along the base, starting a petting motion.

Your breath begins to struggle to exhale from your chest, flaring with a heat that engulfs your face.

All your attention now set on the tingling sensation of Saitama's teasing touch.

Till an echo rings in the room once more.

"AHA! SEE THAT? YOU DIED!" Saitama cries out, laughing the loudest you've ever heard from him. Rather forced to emphasize his triumph.

Ruining the moment.

"I-It don't count if you were distracting me-!"

"Aht!" He interrupts pulling away completely, "Excuses! You lose!"

"Ugh...asshole."

"You. lose." he repeats as he enters in a new round, "and if I had known it was that easy to "distract" you, I would have started doing this a while ago."

"Now that's just cheating!" You cry out while following him into the game.

"Can't take it, don't dish it out," Saitama says nonchalantly with a shrug.

"I'm not reviving you this round," you grumble.

[miraculouscontent]

“Sentibubbler” summary? “Sentibubbler” salt?

Why not both at the same time?

Something a little experimental, though also somewhat reminiscent of some of my past videos. Calling it “summasalt” for now, based on the word “somersault” because this episode was an exercise of my patience.

It’s basically just me going through the episode with my usual episode summary, but salting along the way instead of making you guys read a wall of text without any images or clips or me making snarky comments.

(By the way, yes, I did in fact have caffeine before recording.)

script below for anyone who wants/needs it:

"Sentibubbler" begins with Marinette having food with the Cesaires and I already know this isn't real because Marinette is actually getting to interact with her best friend's family. That's only happened, like--when, two episodes of Season 2? [”Sapotis” and “Anansi”]

Marinette sees Trixx and points out how they're supposed to be a secret, and Alya asks why while calling Marinette "Ladybug." Marinette plays dumb but is told by Nino that everyone already knows her secret. Chloe is also there, chiding Marinette for her identity rule - it's not Marinette's rule but after "Reflekdoll" I've just gotten used to Marinette being blamed for things she didn't do - and Marinette goes to question Chloe's apperance when there's a knock on the balcony door. Alya invites Shadow Moth in and--[Shadow Moth has to duck to come inside]--huh, I thought Sole Crusher was seven episodes ago.

Anyway, now obviously, Marinette is just being ridiculous and overemotional as usual, because why would Marinette ever think that Alya would reveal any information to--["Feast"]--oh yeah, that's right.

Tikki doesn't transform Marinette and says that Marinette shouldn't have trusted Alya with her secret. Enter Chat Blanc, who says that they can be together now without any secrets. Not really sure what this episode is aiming for with the mixed message of "your identity rule sucks" but also "your fault for trusting someone instead of having a mental breakdown," but a’ight. Trixx also gets another dig in on Marinette for giving Alya the fox miraculous.

Marinette wakes up from her nightmare and panics, but Tikki reassures her that Alya is loyal. [”Chameleon”] Mm. Also, that kind of support might've been nice from Tikki literal seasons ago when Marinette could've used a confidant.

Wayzz - I swear, they've had eyelashes more often than not in this season - points out that Trixx is mischievous and Xuppu talks about Trixx being the cause of the Loch Ness monster rumors, which worries Marinette further. Marinette runs out in her pajamas and I can already predict that neither Tom nor Sabine are going to check on her later or care.

Marinette finds the Cesaires looking for something, their words vague enough for Marinette to think that they're talking about Trixx. Alya brushes Marinette off and tells her to help with looking instead of lecturing her.

Marlena makes a comment that reminds Marinette of her nightmare, only increasing Marinette's stress. A tarantula crawls up a ladle and Marinette freaks out when she sees it, which Marlena has a laugh at because Marinette's anxiety, fear, and panic is hilarious, guys!

This is my laughing face. [not a laughing face]

Nino exits, having been too afraid of the spider to leave the room, so Nora compares Marinette to him. Nino tries to play it cool, then changes the subject to point out Marinette's pajamas. Alya wonders aloud why Marinette showed up and Marinette tries to act casual, but Alya sees through it and states that she doesn't usually lose things when someone lends them to her.

I presume the exception is Marinette's trust. OH-HOOOOHHH, we'll get there.

Nora takes a jab at Alya for losing the spider and Marinette drags Alya away to talk. Nino tries to join but Alya states that it's between her and Marinette, which makes Nino sad.

Nino, does the phrase "guys' time" ring a bell by any chance?

Marinette is explaining her nightmare and is simply told to calm down by Alya, though Marinette is briefly startled by a phone ringing. Marinette puts together what she knows that Shadow Moth knows, including that Alya is Rena Rouge, adding on that Shadow Moth could steal the fox necklace if he figured out that Alya has it permanently. Alya reassures her that no one will ever know and Marinette states that this must include Chat Noir. Alya agrees and brings attention to the fanny pack around her waist, which Trixx has been hiding in, and Marinette has Trixx promise not to show up at the dining table like in her nightmare. Tikki tells Marinette that everything will be fine and Marinette admits that it was silly of her to worry, which it was! ...If you ignore all the anxiety, mental scarring, and constant pressure to be perfect or risk Paris lighting itself on fire, much like I presume they accidentally did with their original script for this episode.

Alya tells Marinette to trust her and also herself - I'll be sure to keep that in mind, Alya, thank you - then Alya loses her temper at the phone continuing to ring. She leaves to find an empty living room, then answers the phone only to hear Shadow Moth on the other line. Alya turns upon hearing Marinette scream to see that Marinette has been trapped in a bubble. Cue the reveal/return of the Bubbler, who is definitely Nino akumatized and not--like--a sentimonster, because the episode didn't spoil it at all with the title of Sentibub--

show, this is freaking embarrassing. Why even bother akumatizing someone when you can mold a sentimonster with the exact power you want?

At least they reveal it quickly, though that also means I have to live with the knowledge that Shadow Moth wINKED AT ALYA, NO.

Anyway, Shadow Moth tells Alya that he wants her to betray Ladybug. Marinette, meanwhile, is panicking over being unable to transform while in public, whereas Tikki remains calm and reassures her that Alya will figure something out and it's why Marinette gave Alya the fox miraculous in the first place.

Weird, I thought it was for the show to continuously validate Alya as a worthy choice for a confidant despite repeatedly covering up her sINS and so the show can push for more anxiety on Marinette's part while simultaneously not having to make a new hero model for Alya, which they would have to do if the realistic decision had been made to give Alya a different miraculous due to Shadow Moth knowing her identity as Rena Rouge.

Marinette texts Alya to inform her that the Bubbler is a sentimonster and so Rena can tell Chat not to use Cataclysm on him or the bubbles will burst due to the sentimonster's lack of control.

Hate to burst the show's bubble but Alya could literally see Nino up in the sky and they could see her; the bubbles are in viewing range. Did this even go through a quality check?

Alya goes to look at Marinette's text, but the phone is bubbled away by Sentibubbler. Marinette sees the phone floating by and panics, only to be reassured again to trust Alya and at this point I vaguely wondered if I was watching this episode on repeat. Tikki also adds that Alya has never let her down - [”Ladybug”] MMMM - and Marinette agrees, also certain that Chat Noir will show up soon.

Oh yeah, he exists. Oh no.

Cut to the Agreste mansion where Adrien is watching the news - dude, how is there never anything better on when you need to be told that there's an akuma? here, look, I'll show you [”Silencer” Lukabug clip] there, much better, see? - and it's pointed out that the bubbles are identical to the ones Bubbler had, yet Nino is in one of the bubbles. Adrien readies himself while Plagg is - for once - okay with leaving since his cheese isn't "edible" yet.

I feel like he should be a little more concerned about Marinette being in a bubble.

Meanwhile, Shadow Moth is explaining to Alya that Ladybug will come to give her the fox miraculous due to the bubbled people in the sky - plenty of other choices that aren't within breathing range of the obvious danger zone, but a'ight - and SentiBubbler will catch Ladybug. Alya brings up Chat Noir saving her but Shadow Moth states that she'll create an illusion of Ladybug and Rena to lure Chat Noir, who won't see Sentibubbler coming, at which point Rena will hand Shadow Moth her miraculous. He adds that her loved ones will only be returned once all three miraculouses are in his possession, though if she tries to warn the heroes then Sentibubbler will send the bubbles into space, too far for any hero to save them.

[clip of space power-ups] Hm.

Also, I would've just let her keep the miraculous as an extra bribe since he doesn't need the fox and she wouldn't have time to recharge anyway - at least to his knowledge - but that's just me.

Marinette is relieved that Alya still hasn't been captured--TIKKI, I KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN PARROTING THIS ALL EPISODE, I KNOW--but Marinette changes her tune when she sees Alya blindly calling out for Ladybug's help, unaware that Alya is buying time. Marinette laments the idea of transforming there and having using the rabbit to go back in time to reverse, as that's never a good thing (seconded), but gets the idea for Tikki to take her miraculous to someone else. Tikki rejects the idea, as the earrings won't go through the bubble, and Marinette realizes that Chat Noir is their only hope.

I mean, it was nice knowing them. Sure is interesting how Marinette has only been getting herself into these situations where she requires saving when the show needed to present Alya as a valid choice for a confidant.

Meanwhile, Chat Noir is leaving a message for Ladybug about the bubbles in the sky, saying that he'll wait for her; I already see where this is going and I don't like it.

Alya mutters to Trixx about how they need a plan to release Marinette. Through Alya Vision, we're shown Sentibubbler, a bowl of fruit, and the bathroom door. Alya tells Sentibubbler that she needs to go to the bathroom and - wow, we're really doing this, aren't we? - which Shadow Moth rejects. Shadow Moth is also on top of a building holding a coffee cup which honestly makes about as much sense as the rest of the episode, so whatever. Alya claims that she can't wait and that it'll be awkward for Ladybug to find her like that, which gets Shadow Moth to relent but also remind her of what's at stake if she tries anything. Alya states that she can't do anything without a miraculous anyway, then purposefully falls onto the table, concealing her long enough for her to transform and allowing an illusion of herself to go to the bathroom while she escapes. She detransforms in the twins' room and feeds Trixx with some grapes that she'd picked up.

Alya explains her plan to trick Shadow Moth and Sentibubbler since they don't know that she has a miraculous, though she also has to make sure that Chat won't ruin things. Rena then proceeds to call Chat Noir and claim that Ladybug wanted her to call him with her plan, but adds that it's a two-person plan and Chat himself isn't needed, so he needs to wait for further instructions. Chat demands that Ladybug call him to tell him herself, but Rena insists that she can't, as Ladybug is very busy. She warns him not to use Cataclysm if he sees the Bubbler, as he's a sentimonster, then promises to talk to him later before hanging up.

She uses Mirage again, making the Alya illusion reappear as well as creating a Ladybug. Chat Noir, infuriated at being left out, destroys part of a building with his baton. He then dismisses the action because Miraculous Ladybug will fix it.

Spoiler alert, it will, which is a very fascinating detail! I mean, I can't imagine another situation where a hero did something while there was an akuma going around and Miraculous Ladybug decided to help 'em out, but it just goes to show what happens when you're the writers' pet. Just look a little pitiful and they'll give you all the sympathy in the world.

By the way, didn't expect them to actually confirm my theory that Chat Noir does Chat Noir things because he knows that Miraculous Ladybug will fix it anyway, essentially allowing him to earn brownie points from Ladybug via sacrificing himself regardless of how it affects her mentally, yet here we are and I don't know whether to be sad, angry, disappointed, or a mixture of all three.

Chat Noir sees the Ladybug illusion jumping off and gives chase, refuses to stay where he is. Marinette, seeing that Rena Rouge's illusions are active, panics at the sight of Chat Noir, as the illusion will vanish if Chat touches it.

I like to imagine the immediate concern is the idea that Chat Noir will try to take Ladybug's hand while trying to flirt.

Anyway, Marinette flails inside the bubble in an attempt to reach Chat Noir, while illusion Alya and SentiBubbler get into position. Chat Noir watches what he perceives as Ladybug heading into the Cesaire house with Alya, but Marinette gets to him in order to tell him not to go anywhere. Chat complains about everyone telling him to stay put, but Marinette explains Rena's plan to him. Chat is skeptical of how she knows that, to which Marinette insists that she saw it from where she was. Chat Noir relents with a sigh and stays where he is.

SentiBubbler watches as the illusion of Alya and Ladybug talk to each other, Rena making it look like Ladybug is piecing together what happened and refusing to give Alya a miraculous ever again due to Shadow Moth knowing her identity. She claims that she'll find another holder and give them an even more powerful miraculous, which interests Shadow Moth and gets him to follow after the Ladybug illusion. Once Sentibubbler leaves as well, Chat sees this as his chance to stop the sentimonster, as the Ladybug illusion will vanish if it's touched. Marinette strokes his ego for the token love square moment of the episode, and Chat Noir fights SentiBubbler while Shadow Moth goes after the Ladybug illusion.

I'm noticing a real lack of tension in this episode. Once Alya has her plan, it's kind of a clean sweep from start to finish with no interference or unexpected roadblocks in the way. Even Shadow Moth following the Ladybug illusion goes fine, with Shadow Moth even punching a building thinking that Ladybug actually got away from him.

Dude, it's fine, Miraculous Ladybug will fix it, just put on your best sad face. Maybe Chat Noir gets it from you actually, is treatment from the writers a hereditary thing?

Sentibubbler and Chat Noir are still fighting. Shadow Moth shows up and Marinette tries to warn Chat, but Chat gets caught in a bubble and Marinette apologizes; she doesn't have anything to apologize for but after "Reflekdoll" I--wait I already did this.

Chat Noir uses Cataclysm to escape, only to get caught in another bubble. I'd just like to throw out there that this guy's a hero three seasons going and the love interest for the main character, yet his role in the episode has amounted to complaining about the authority of a hero Ladybug chose, throwing a property-destroying tantrum over being excluded, and wasting his power without a single thought which just got him captured again.

Chat, does the name "Syren" ring any bells by any chance? I'm just sayin', you could always quit. In fact, wasn't it you literally one episode ago saying that you understood if Ladybug couldn't always come get you? Then, after seeing the jump from "Glaciator" to "Frozer," I'm about as shocked as rubber.

Back with the competent one, Alya notes to Trixx that Rena Rouge can no longer be seen by Shadow Moth or else the jig is up. She transforms and texts Marinette to be ready, creating an illusion of Marinette that simultaneously hides the real version, allowing her to transform into Ladybug.

Chat Noir's bubble gets dragged down and Shadow Moth gets SentiBubbler to mute Chat Noir's bubble.

[clip from “Silencer” where Ladybug takes amusement in Chat being muted]

Ladybug uses Lucky Charm and receives a pot, her Lucky Vision spotting Shadow Moth's coffee cup, then SentiBubbler, then the tarantula trapped in a bubble. Ladybug deduces that the cup is the sentimonster's object, then pulls the horse miraculous out of her yoyo and unifies it with the ladybug--oh.

Oh my.

You know, it's times like this where I'm reminded that the show knows nothing about fashion... or girls... or good writing actually--there's just a lot of stuff they don't know.

Sentibubbler does a countdown, then starts sending the civilian bubbles up into the sky. Chat Noir is about to de-transform while PegaBug notices of Shadow Moth's two miraculous, up for grabbin'. She notes that she won't be able to catch everyone, so she forms a portal behind Shadow Moth and goes for the coffee cup first, thus putting her in control of SentiBubbler, who happily brings the bubbles back down at her command.

Shadow Moth erases SentiBubbler from existence though, causing everyone to fall, but Chat and PegaBug manage to catch them. PegaBug de-transforms and presents the Cesaires with the tarantula, which had been trapped inside the lucky charm. Ladybug and Chat Noir watch Shadow Moth escape and Ladybug laments that it could've been the end of Shadow Moth once and for all because it's not a Miraculous episode without Marinette being at fault or feeling guilty in some way! Chat Noir reassures her [*by “reassure,” I mean he might as well have said, “Well, you saved ME, so you did great!”] - wow, that's two token love square moments for the price of one episode, don't I feel spoiled - and Ladybug leaves to retrieve the tarantula's tank.

Rena Rouge is waiting for her and they hug, with Rena repeating that she doesn't lose something that someone gives her. Ladybug states that she never should've doubted the idea of giving Alya a miraculous and Imma just give you guys a counter real quick. [counter that shows that Tikki has complimented Alya four times, Alya has complimented herself/told Marinette to trust her thrice, and Marinette has said that she was wrong thrice]. Miraculous Ladybug is cast and everything returns to normal, with Alya explaining what she did and Marinette being relieved that Shadow Moth won't be going after her anymore. Alya confidently asks if she was smart and Marinette is happy to praise her, confirming it and stating that Alya is a real superhero and honestly? If the narrative wanted to marry Alya this badly, they should've just used some of the budget to buy a ring instead of projecting onto the other characters.

Then again, the apparent budget can't even afford a new hero model nor new akuma to a very noticeable degree, so I guess they're taking what they can get.

Alya praises Marinette as well for her work as PegaBug and they do a fistbump, thus ending the episode. There's also this ever-so-lovely post-episode scene with Gabriel and Nathalie where Gabriel laments the fact that Ladybug never makes mistakes which--I... has he even watched the series at all? Gabe, babe, Babriel Agreste, it's literally part of the show's formula that Marinette makes a mistake in every episode and she felt guilty like a minute ago over not yoinking your miraculouses when she had the chance, where have you been?

But, yeah, anyway, the episode.

Needless to say, not a fan. Like I said, the show seems so intent on immediately validating the choices they make with Alya in order to make her look like a better character. "Gang of Secrets" basically replaced her with someone different at the end of the episode, and the episode immediately afterwards in chronological order, "Mr. Pigeon 72," did everything it could to push Marinette out of her guardian position long enough for Alya to figure out the grimoire despite having zero onscreen experience with it, the episode even trapping Ladybug in a situation that forced Rena Rouge to come into play to validate that decision as well.

And now we have "SentiBubbler" here following immediately after "Optigami," desperate to reassure its audience that Alya is cool, smart, truthworthy, and that not needing to make a new model--sorry, I mean Alya continuing to have the fox--was a good decision. All the while, they continue pushing Alya's flaws under the rug [Note that it’s not even considered that Alya is even remotely at fault for Shadow Moth going after her specifically after her stunt in “Optigami” when no one else but Ladybug and Chat have ever given out a miraculous], hiding them instead of Alya actually acknowledging them, the only reason she did so in "Optigami" being the same as in "Gang of Secrets"; to make her look good while Marinette makes a big decision in their relationship.

The episode tries so hard to drill in this idea that Alya is a good friend who can be trusted, and I'm just not here for how much they try to hammer it in. Marinette's very real anxiety over Shadow Moth's power and ability to plan things is played off as her being silly instead of something to be concerned about, and instead of giving her a hug and trying to help her calm down - [clip from “Heart Hunter” of Luka hugging Marinette] I miss Luka - she's just told to trust and believe and hAVE fAiTh in Alya.

Shadow Moth is an adult; he has abilities that the teenage heroes don't. I'm not even saying that Marinette isn't overreacting [Basically, her concern about Shadow Moth is valid, especially after “Optigami” where her identity was almost found out], but she has anxiety and some obvious trauma over "Chat Blanc." I was already upset that Alya got a free pass to Marinette's identity, but the constant stressing over how much Marinette should trust her just doesn't affect me when I know Alya and I know the kind of stuff she's done that the show blatantly ignored in favor of pushing for her.

But okay, show, I'll give Alya the benefit of the doubt that she doesn't deserve. Let's say that she's turned a new leaf, and has become the reliable, trustworthy, and loyal partner that Marinette deserves. I'm sure that Alya has Marinette's back, and will never go behind said back in order to do something completely unsurprising and wholly indicative of the character I actually know her to be.

Especially not a mere three episodes later...

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Looking for a Place to Happen

Warnings: non-consent sex and rape (series), age gap, general stupidity.

This is dark!biker!Sam Wilson x reader and explicit. 18+ only.  Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Series Synopsis: There’s lots happening in Birch and you find it all too amusing.

Sister series to Smalltown Bringdown, When the Weight Comes Down, Little Bones, and Fully Completely

Note: We’re starting Sam’s installment but this weekend I’ll probably only be catching up on my headcanons and drabbles because I’ve been a lazy bitch and I’m sorry to those who have been waiting.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

Chapter 1: I've got a job, I explore

💀💀💀

The sleepy town of Birch was awake. 

In those last weeks, the arrival of outsiders had roused the attention of many once passive residents of the timeless territory. Those brick buildings unchanged by the tick of the clock inlaid into the old tower above the library that chimed every hour on the hour. They still stood with only chips in the mortar but the air tasted different. The frost was more bitter and the sky more grim. An omen of something no one could predict.

It was the perfect setting for a screenplay. The isolated town with its unsavoury secrets and the visitors who threatened to bring them to the surface. It was inspiring to you, to imagine what was hidden behind the stern wrinkled faces of the town elders and under the jackets of those men who wore the cut of the local club. The bikers ruled the town covertly but everyone knew that Bucky Barnes’ palm was lined with the map of Birch.

As a bystander, an unnoticed observer, just another ant in the hill, you watched from the side and amused yourself with the drama of others. It was like a soap opera or another HBO hype machine. Those things you aspired to when you could be free of this ho-hum town.

The snows added to the natural gloom of the place. The deep heaps smothered the noise and harkened back to those days of colonial settlement. Forgotten, desolate, fearful. 

You ventured down in your heavy boots that stretched to your knees and pushed your chin down into your scarf. As a child, you ran and jumped in those piles, now you were out of breath just trying to walk past them.

You stopped in the bakery that doubled as the only café, a place where the owner, Babs, tried to to intimidate the last caffeinated trends. She was always a few seasons behind but you didn’t mind so much. 

You ordered the salted caramel mocha and waited patiently as the quiet woman fought with the steaming machines. She was older than you but you’d work with her for one summer during high school, only five years ago. She had the eyes of a child still, but there was something worn in her. As if she’d been exposed to far too much in her three or so decades in that place. She was a harbinger of what you didn’t want to become.

You thanked her for your drink and set out once more into the billowing winds. Birch winters were never kind but this one was crueler than most. Your teeth chattered as you blew the steam away from the lid and hugged it with your mittened hands.

You stopped short as you heard the familiar ding of the diner door across the street. You recognised the mechanic who kept to herself and once growled at you in the grocery store. She stormed across the street, followed closely and quickly by a black-haired man you’d only seen once before. He was one of those outsiders who came to deal with the club men.

You sped up as you sensed chaos brewing and pulled out your phone as you balanced your paper cup in your other hand. You flicked your camera on just as you got to the front of the shop and the man grabbed the mechanic. You let out an ‘oop’ as she turned on him and you aimed the lens at the couple as they fell into the snow, the man’s shoes giving little traction to his steps. 

You moved closer, stunned by the scene, and kept your cell phone rolling as you found a better angle around the snowy walks. As she choked him on the ground he elbowed her and she coughed as she rolled away. She snarled as he clamoured to his feet, slipping and sliding as he marched away.

You killed the recording and watched the man cross the street again, nearly wiping out as he did and when you looked back to the mechanic, she was gone behind the clattering door. You chuckled to yourself and tucked away your cell. It was prime footage for TikTok; with a bit of editing, it would be comedy gold.

💀

You stomped up the steps of your grandmother’s house, this time through the front door as you heard her chair rocking in the front room. You usually took the stairs in the back as you paid her to live on the upper floor of the duplex. You checked in with her daily, she didn’t get out much more than the occasional trip to the grocery store when you couldn’t or you dragged her out to join you for a tea at Babs’.

“You’re late,” she grumbled as you set your cup down and unzipped your coat.

“For what?” you scoffed.

“It’s after noon and you don’t even come down to say hello? A ‘good morning, nan’,” she harrumphed.

You chuckled and hung your coat before shoving your boots over on the mat. You grabbed your mocha and leaned on the doorway as you watched her crocheting in her chair, reruns of some court show playing from the boxy television.

“I was working,” you said, “sent in some stuff for review. Hopefully not much work to be done.”

“I don’t know how you make money on that interweb,” she bemoaned, “I don’t trust it.”

“Maybe you’d trust it more if you used the Netflix subscription I got you,” you crossed your arms, “then you wouldn’t have to watch trash daytime TV.”

She shrugged and muttered under her breath. She could be crotchety but you liked her sense of humour. Your aunts and uncles never came around because they just took it as spite. You were the only one who knew how to handle the jaded old lady.

“Maybe you coulda looked out the window,” you snickered, “quite a show going on in town.”

“Hmm, what’s that?” she stilled her needles and reached for her tea stained cup.

“Just a fight. You wouldn’t believe it, that lady mechanic beat the shit--”

“Language,” she huffed.

“Anyway, she had this guy in a chokehold. It was awesome.”

“What guy?” she squinted at you over her glasses.

“I dunno. Some out of towner. Remember I told you about that burly dude hanging around the library?”

“There’s more?” she sucked on her teeth, “those bikers have never been good news and now they’re bringing in more.”

“Yeah, well, what’re you gonna do?” you sniffed as you took out your phone and rewatched the scuffle with the volume down. You shook your head and opened up your TikTok. 

“I don’t understand why you’re always on your dang phone,” your grandmother pestered.

“I’m not always on my phone,” you smiled at her smugly, “there are those time when I’m listening to you prattle on or you know, making you tea, oh, and cooking you dinner. What was it I did last week? Oh that’s right, I got Pippin out of the crawlspace.”

“I’m too old to be chasin’ that cat all around,” she huffed, “where is he anyway?”

“He’s your cat, I don’t know? Last time I saw him, I sent him back out the window for shredding my charger.”

“He knows you need to give it a rest,” she laughed to herself, “got your nose to that screen too much.”

“And what do you do, old lady? Crocheting doilies to put where exactly?”

She gave you that dry smile, the one that said watch it but carried a hint of humour still. You hit post and put your phone away as you waved off her irritation.

“Well, you know what, I sit all day at my computer, doing who knows what and you know what it got me?” you taunted, “a large mocha!” you sipped as you sat on the sofa and grabbed the remote, “and it’s paying my rent and putting bullet points on my resume.”

“Mhmm,” she scowled, “just remember, real life ain’t online. Those videos you’re always laughing at like hyena, that’s not reality. You forget it and it’ll come back and bit you. ‘Specially with those bikers.”

“Oh, nan, you know too well, don’t you? Didn’t you have a fling with one back in your hippie phase?”

“Two, actually,” she raised her brows, “I was young and stupid. Not like you, but still.”

“I love you too,” you chirped and sipped from your cup, flicking the station to Jerry Springer, “that’s more like it.”

💀

Your usual TikToks were sarcastic and dull complaints about your small town life. The response was less than pleasing but it gave you an outlet to vent. You liked to goof around and document the very specific type of weirdos that resided in Birch. But the video of the fight in the snow blew up your phone and made it difficult to ignore the buzzing as you went back up to your room to eke out the last of your captions for the ad agency.

When at last you could call your day hard-earned, you logged off and sent in your hours to the agency. Social media promotion was easy enough but the working gigs for a thousand different companies was tedious. You hoped you could build your portfolio enough to manage a single corporate page as you continued to chip away at your creative outlets.

You picked up your phone as you waited for Netflix to load on your tiny smart tv and flopped onto your bed, not two feet from your desk. You hit the icon in the upper panel of your phone and scrolled through the notifications, pausing to turn on another episode of the cable sitcom from ten years before. You snorted as you read each comment but the number under the video made your eyes round. The thing was bound to go viral.

As usual, you went down to help with supper. Pippin, the orange tabby, returned to cry at his dish and you fed him too. Your nan peered through her glasses at a crossword as she tasted the tangy pasta sauce. 

“More basil,” she snipped.

“Well, I asked if you wanted to help,” you muttered, “I think it’s good.”

“Hmmp, I need milk,” she jutted her chin out, “for my after-dinner tea.”

“You couldn’t say something like three hours ago?” you blinked.

“I could have but I didn’t,” she snickered. You rolled your eyes and she took another forkful of penne and filled in another line on her puzzle, “ah, no hurry, girlie, you know I’m patient.”

“Patient? You?” you chuckled as you took your plate and shoved it in the microwave to keep it warm. The ancient thing had a dial and the door stuck, “I’ll just go get it over with.”

“Don’t forget your mitts,” she called after you as you tramped into the front room, “it’s cold.”

You pulled on your knitted cap and matching mitts. You zipped up your parka and shoved your feet into the deep boots. You grabbed your wallet and buried it in the spacious pocket. You bounced out the front door and down the steps as the sky sent down another coat of powder for the night.

You went up White Forge Street and through the short path behind the diner that led to the main road. You glanced over at The Asp, the beacon of the dull town, and turned towards the grocer. Like anywhere in Birch, the store was outdated and stuffy. It felt like stepping into another time with the paper bags and chunky tills.

You went down the center aisle and stopped at the fridge to search through the frosted glass. Your nan only drank whole milk and the last time you carelessly grabbed skim, she whined that even Pippin wouldn’t drink it. She was particular but that was just her nature. You couldn’t say you were any less fussy in some instances.

You grabbed a jug and the door slapped closed against the worn rubber seal. You headed up the candy aisle and brushed your woolly thumb over your chin as you considered gummy bears or Reeses’ Pieces.

“Hard choice?” The deep voice jolted you.

You snatched the box of chocolate and looked over at the man in leather, his chin tucked down behind the collar as snow dusted his shoulders.

“Sure,” you said as you brushed past him.

The cut of the leather told you he was better not entertained. While you thought the men amusing, you weren’t stupid enough to engage with them. You rarely listened to your grandmother but she was wise in her own way. 

You knew a girl in highschool, she was fucking around with one of the club men in her junior year, she ended up with a baby and no support. You didn’t think he was into you that way but he could hardly have innocent intentions.

“How’s the old lady?” Clayton asked as he rung in your order at the end of the belt, you moved along with the groceries and pulled out your wallet.

“The usual, you know? She’s tryna quit again. Don’t know how long it’ll last.”

“Oh yeah? I’ll keep a carton aside for her,” he kidded as you felt your phone vibing in your back pocket.

“Don’t encourage her,” you swiped your card and punched in your pin, “although I don’t know what’s worse; the smoke or her sucking on those mints all the time.”

“Oh, it’s not the bitchin’?” he laughed.

“That, too,” you scooped up the paper bag and put your wallet away, “have a good one.”

As you came to the end of the first counter, you were nearly cut off by the club member as he swept around from till two. His own purchase of a car magazine and jerky was tucked under his arm.

“Ah, sorry,” he smiled, a sparkling smile, almost charming.

“No worries,” you continued on and he followed close behind.

“Those mitts look real warm. ‘Specially in this weather,” he said as you pushed open the door.

“Uh huh,” you kept on as your boots crunched out into the snow.

“You know where I can get a pair. Leather isn’t exactly thermal, you know?”

“These? My nan made ‘em. I’m sure Clayton got some hung up back there,” you looked across the street as you stepped up onto the ledge of snow between the sidewalk and the road.

“Am I bothering you?” he asked.

You looked at him dumbly and almost laughed in his face. You glanced back across the street then down towards The Asp.

“Sorta,” you answered.

“Make you a deal. Leave ya alone for your name.”

You eyed him. He was older than you like many of the Commandos. At least a decade, likely more than that. You chewed on your hesitation and cradled the bag more firmly against your side. His eyes strayed as he tried to see through the thick layer of your coat.

“Nah, I’m not s’posed to talk to strangers,” you said and hopped off onto the road.

You heard him behind you as he struggled to follow and as you came up to the other side, he came parallel with you and kept stride with you easily.

“I know you’re young but you’re not a kid,” he intoned, “what’s the harm in a name?”

“It’s a small town,” you stopped short of the end of White Forge, “I think I know enough about you to avoid you.”

“Oh ho, is that it? Well, I’m Sam, I’m not a stranger now, am I?”

“Not interested, Sam. Sure there’s women your own age over at the bar,” you nodded behind him.

“You wanna come see? Maybe have a drink?” he gave a crooked grin.

“You don’t give up, do you?” you shook your head, put off by his forwardness.

“Well?”

“Not tonight, Sam,” you turned around and headed down White Forge.

“Then what night?” he asked but you didn’t answer and he didn’t follow.

You turned down onto your street and refused to look back in case. It would be best not to mention the run-in to your nan, she was paranoid enough as it was. Besides, you’d forget about it by the end of next week.

[bartholomewillustrated]

Unlike last year I don't really know what to Say about 2022..

In 2021 my creative drive started up again (everyone say Thank You Karl) but in 2022 I.. it.. well I didn't Loose it, I can still feel it (muted perhaps but burning hot as ever) but like.. everything Around it ran out of the energy needed to keep it going.. like.. i'm exhausted. I've been burned to a crisp and the world still keeps trying to light me to roast a whole chicken over. It's tough.

Still; I'm making more than I have previously, I have enough to fill one of these up! But it's slow going. It takes weeks to months to finish everything and nothing comes out as quick or as clean as i'd hope.. (except Lazarus, while it was a Battle, i'm still beyond thrilled with his character sheets, steuggling to believe that was Also This Year)

and truly the reason i've been able to finish anything at all much of the time is dependent on just How Much of my output this year was Made For Other People. I may be in a personal down swing with my art going into 2023 but the consistent positive reaction from my followers and the patience to wait between every far-between peice has been astounding.

Especially the patience of my commissioners. Your happiness with the end result and willingness to just Wait despit the Catastrophic time frames has really kept me afloat. I am not a fast artist at the best of times and this year was Really not the best of times. But there was a month or two were i literally Could Not Have Made Rent Or Bought Groceries Without You.

So thank you.

Thank you to Everyone for finding me and sticking around all this year too, for continuing to find me and share my work and interact with my Nasty Little Guys.. and supporting me in spirit and and material, ya'll are an amazing audience, 😭

Things have started to Level Out in the meatspace, I have a steady full time real-person job that I actual enjoy quiet a bit. It covers the bills and that's a Tremendous weight off the old shoulders...

and while that does mean I don't have days and hours and weeks of time to just Draw like i did in lockdown 2021 I think I can get a good rythmn going, and at least get things out on a better timescale in 2023.

I'm hopeful anyway.

I'm also hoping I can get back to drawing Laz in 2023 I haven't been able to do Shit with him since fucking JUNE and i Miss my Boy!!!!! I miss him!!!! And I have a bunch of other Nasty Little Dudes I wanna draw now too!!!!

-ratteling the bars of my cage- Lemme introduce Bartholomews Nasty Gentleman's Club!!! Free Meeeeeee!!!!!

Anyway,

Happy New Year everyone, may 2023 treat you with kindness and gentility, as much as you deserve, and may you treat yourself in equal measure in this year and ever onwards

Much love,

Bartholomew~

[titularkilljoy]

sometimes and always

//a love story in five acts

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female Reader

Summary: It's hard to resist falling into bed with a cute neighbour, but it turns out it's even harder to resist falling for him. (alternatively- Spencer Reid and the reader struggle to resolve their feelings but make valiant attempts to do so while lying horizontally in each other's beds.)

Word Count: 7k

Warnings: Explicit sexual content, strong language, decidedly non-American spelling conventions

Author's Note: SO. This fic was originally part of a fic swap for the wickedly talented @imagining-in-the-margins, but it is now over six months too late. Thankfully, patience apparently springs eternal in her?? besides all the other amazing things?? Unfair, but good for me. So, Pom, this one is for you. Thanks for being the absolute best and putting up with my rants and not judging me for mocking everything and everyone all the time. Love, Perpetually Tardy.

(i)

This is how it happened the first time.

I was frowning at the pitiful stack of mail in my hands, wondering if the conspicuously missing letters and subscriptions would ever be returned to me. Ever since moving to my new apartment, I had been at the mercy of the Postal System and that was never a good situation to be in. I’d resigned myself to having to take an extra trip back to my old building and do some investigating, when the elevator dinged and I stepped in. Just as the doors slid closed, there was the frantic rumble of footsteps and a hand slipping into the narrowing gap.

The doors sprang apart to let in the harried owner of the appendage, who barely spared me a glance before turning to face the front, eyes briefly darting to the buttons. It took me a second to recognise him. It was the guy from the apartment opposite to mine, although so far that seemed to be only a nominal living arrangement; in my two weeks there, I’d seen him exactly once, merely in passing, and we had exchanged a sum total of zero words.

I followed his lead and stopped blatantly staring at him, though I continued studying him covertly through my peripheral vision. He looked—well, his jawline looked like it could cut glass effortlessly and he had the soft chestnut hair of a male model and I knew I was probably going to develop a very embarrassing crush on him at some point— but besides that, he looked browbeaten, his whole posture seeming to buckle under the invisible weight of the world.

There was an awkward moment when he realised we were both heading in the same direction, and I took it upon myself to break the ice.

“Hi,” I greeted, introducing myself, “I just moved in. I don’t think I’ve seen you around.” I gave him my warmest smile.

His swift assessing glance would have escaped my notice if I hadn’t been paying such close attention; his expression was still shuttered off, but he offered an endearing little quirk of his lips and an introduction. “Spencer Reid. I’ve-uh, I’ve been away on a work thing.”

“Oh? What do you do?” I asked, beginning a leisurely walk down the hallway and fishing my keys out of my bag. I immediately regretted the query when, impossibly, his eyes became even more guarded.

“I’m an FBI agent.”

Well, that clipped admission would have given anyone pause. “Oh, wow. That’s really impressive, dude.”

“Thanks.” He hesitated before adding, “I’m part of the Behavioural Analysis Unit.”

“So, you’re like a psychologist?”

“I catch serial killers.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable so much as it was brimming with my insecurities. The alcohol in my blood helped with that, though; the next words were out of my mouth before I even registered the thought.

“Do you want to come in?”

“Oh, uh—”

He was going to say no.

“It’s just that you look like you could use some company. And I think it’s absolutely criminal that we haven’t gotten to know each other yet.”

“It’s really late.”

But he was rocking forwards on his toes just the tiniest bit, leading me to believe that some part of him did want to take me up on my offer that night.

“So it is. Come on, Agent Reid. Be a good neighbour.”

“It’s Doctor, actually,” he corrected. “Doctor Reid. I have Ph.Ds. Three of them.”

My eyebrows had risen to my hairline and, sensing the change in the air, he hurried to put me at ease. “But you can just call me Spencer.”

“Huh. You don’t hear that every day.” I chuckled sheepishly. “Well, come on in, Doctor.”

There was a moment when his whole body leaned towards me and his face looked conflicted but slightly enthusiastic, and I was convinced I could turn the night into a very pleasant one for both of us. Then, with a loud clatter, my keys slipped from my hands, startling us. The moment was broken, and I sighed in resignation.

“Let me guess, you’ve decided I’m too drunk and we’re going to go our separate ways.”

At least he had the good grace to look apologetic. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea right now,” he told me slowly as he bent down to pick up my keys and pressed them securely into my outstretched hand, “It’s late and I’ve had a long day. I’ll...see you around?”

“Sure,” I managed to say with a regretful smile, “I’m holding you to that.”

*~*

That, however, turned out to be easier said than done, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the Herculean feat of unpacking and organising my new place with a mild hangover and a tinge of frustration over lost opportunities looming over me. Once that was dealt with, the bigger challenge turned out to be actually locating the man in question. I knocked on his door a few times, but when the responding silence continued to persist for over a week, I began to think he’d just been a drunken hallucination in the first place. And the longer I went without any follow-up interactions, the more intensely I started overthinking the slightly fuzzy memory of our brief conversation.

Of course I’d managed to make a fool of myself in front of a really cute guy. That was absolutely in character for me. Every time I passed by his door, I convinced myself a little more that I owed him a sincere apology for my poor, inconsiderate conduct.

Beyond the embarrassment, however, work didn’t leave me much time to think about it, and by the time I was trudging to my apartment the next Saturday, the whole encounter had been relegated firmly to the back burner. Naturally, that was when the faint glow of light under his door distracted me from the very passive-aggressive email I was composing. I hesitated.

The deep breaths I sucked in didn’t serve much more purpose than to make me somewhat lightheaded, but I forged on anyway. I knocked on the door, and waited.

There was silence, followed by the sound of reluctantly shuffling feet, and then, finally, I was face to face with Spencer Reid once again.

“Um,” I started, “hi.”

He stared at me wordlessly for a beat, during which I started to wonder if he’d actually forgotten me already.

“So, we met the other day, and I just want to apologise. I didn’t mean to come on to you so strongly, and I get that you weren’t int-”

“Do you want to come inside?”

“..What?”

“Do you want to come inside?” he repeated, enunciating clearly. That didn’t clear up my confusion, though.

“Um. Yes? Sure. I mean, no, shouldn’t we talk about this a bit?”

He let out a tired laugh. “I don’t want to talk right now.”

“Alright,” I said, biting my lip. I followed him inside, and pushed the door closed behind me; it emitted an innocuous little click as it fell shut.

There was something about the weariness behind his eyes and the careful set of his jaw that made me want to study him and understand what was going through his head, but all I could glean that night was that Spencer didn’t seem amenable to much time spent on documentation.

“So,” I began unsurely, shedding my jacket and scanning the contents of the room, the piles upon piles of books and the distinct lack of much else, “tell me about yourself.”

“Didn’t I already do that?”

“Hmm, that’s not the whole story,” I mumbled, running my fingers over a broken-spined, wrinkled copy of Paradise Lost laid open on a heavy wooden desk. A single smudge of blue ink stood out against the yellowing page, and beside it, the print read: This horror will grow mild, this darkness light. “You’re not just an FBI agent.”

“That’s all that’s important,” he asserted, taking a step towards me. He had one eye on my curiously wandering fingers and, sensing that it was making him more antsy than he needed to be, I tucked my hands into my back pockets, facing him with a grin of false bravado. I really wished I was drunk. That would have made things infinitely easier.

“Besides,” he continued, this time meeting my eyes directly, “I don’t know anything about you either.”

“Fair enough,” I conceded, stepping closer to him.

His eyes didn’t leave mine, until my own strayed to the bobbing curve of his throat and the tantalising motion of his tongue sweeping over his bottom lip. Not for the first time that week, I wondered how terrible of an idea it would be to try to kiss my attractive neighbour. I could see my own apprehensions mirrored in his stance, and I saw the exact moment when he identified the focus of my gaze.

I didn’t have to spend much time contemplating. He decided, just as I did, that any consequences of this impulsive decision could be dealt with later.. I lunged for him just as he closed the distance in one long stride, grasping my jaw in both his hands. Then we were firmly attached at the lips, and his arms wrapped around my waist and dragged me closer, seemingly intent on devouring my mouth. Gradually, our actions slowed a bit, the kiss turning softer and more exploratory, our tongues winding around each other gently, my lungs readily accepting his deep, nasal sigh.

His arms around my waist were a steadily spreading band of warmth, and I could feel the growing evidence of his arousal against my thigh. I found myself thinking I could be very happy with just kissing him like this, feeling his breaths tickle my face, letting my hands suffer minute pinpricks from the stubble littering his jaw. But then his grip shifted to my hips and tightened ever so slightly, and it was like I’d been doused with fuel and set alight. My fingers struggled to unbutton his shirt as he pressed distracting kisses along my neck, my soft whimpers breaking the relative silence of the room.

All of a sudden, the ground shifted and my stomach swooped, and it took a second or two before I realised I was now in his arms, being carried towards, presumably, his bedroom. Content, I got to work on undoing the last button and trying to slip the shirt down his arms entirely. He granted me a chuckle for my troubles before laying me down gently on our destination and taking it off himself.

He didn’t waste any time in sinking his knees into the soft mattress on either side of my legs, helping me out of my own clothes and methodically kissing every bit of newly exposed skin, until finally, I was clad only in flimsy cotton and he was nosing at my aching core. With two fingers, he deftly removed the last of my defences and pressed his mouth against me. I moaned, my hands flying to his hair and trying to keep from pulling too hard as he used his tongue to examine every inch of my arousal, evidently experimenting based on the sounds he managed to elicit from me.

“Oh, my God,” I babbled, hips bucking wildly under the iron grip holding them down.

“Tell me,” he demanded, pulling away slightly, “tell me how much you like it.”

“Spencer,” I breathed desperately, “Please. I need- I need more.”

He hummed leisurely against me, frustrating me to no end. My grip in his hair tightened at last, guiding him where I needed him most, and I swear I felt his lips stretch into a smile.

It went on for what felt like hours, but there was no earthly way I could have lasted that long. He took mercy on me eventually, plunging two long fingers deep inside me, closing his lips around the bundle of nerves that, predictably, sent me into a violent, shaking climax. He nursed me patiently through the aftershocks, waiting till my legs had stilled before rising to undo his belt and rid himself of his pants. I was already mourning the loss of his closeness, and I pulled him back on top of me the moment he was within reach.

“Come on, Doctor,” I taunted, “It’s time you made good on your promise and got to the main event.”

“I never promised anything,” he retorted, but the playful glint in his eyes excited me, and while he reached over beside us to the nightstand, I rose to the occasion.

“Oh? Well, if you don’t want to, I guess I’ll just head out, then,” I teased, going so far as to attempt to sit up from underneath him. I felt a low, threatening sound begin in his chest and make its way up his throat as his hands gripped my wrists and brought them down to my sides, pinning me in place.

It was my turn to chuckle at his eagerness, lifting my head to briefly peck him on his lips.

“Don’t worry, Spencer,” I cooed, “I’m not going anywhere. Now fuck me already.”

“With pleasure,” came the response, and while I wondered idly how a smirk could simultaneously be sinister and bashful, there was the sharp sound of crinkling foil, and then he cut off my thoughts by entering me in one fluid motion.

“Fuck!” I cried out, holding him around the shoulders, bringing him impossibly closer.

“That’s it,” he groaned in my ear, “let me hear you.”

He set a torturous rhythm, thrusting into me harshly before pulling out slowly, carefully, making me relish the sensation, anticipation building steadily in the pit of my stomach and spreading until it engulfed me. A ceaseless litany of moans and whimpers filled the air around us, the source of each barely discernible. At last, I could feel myself riding the very precipice, and his name began to fall from my lips like a prayer.

“Spencer,” I called, “Spenc-”

He swallowed the rest of my inconsequential cries, bringing his thumb to where we were joined to guide me over the edge, and as I convulsed around him soundlessly, he reached his own climax, blunt fingernails leaving crescent marks on my hips, his heavy panting breaths stuttering, once, against my clavicle, before calming and slowly evening out.

We stayed that way for a few minutes, my hand combing lightly through his hair, his closed-mouth kisses pressing against my neck like a balm. Eventually, though, we had to move, and it was he who did first. He pulled out and walked away from the bed without looking at me, tossing the tied-up condom in the trash. I sat up, cross-legged, watching him for a bit, pursing my lips when I noticed he was actively avoiding my gaze.

I cleared my throat. “Where’s your bathroom?”

He pointed in a general direction and mumbled something incoherent; sighing in disappointment, I stood up gingerly and went to clean myself up. When I returned, the room still smelled like sex, and Spencer was still evasive, but he was sitting on the edge of the bed now. He looked up when I entered, watching me pick up my clothes.

“Are you alright?” he asked quietly.

I glanced over at him. “Yeah, I’m good. You?”

Nodding, he watched me get dressed, then followed me into the living room and watched me drape my jacket over my arm. Then he watched me walk to the door, all the while not saying a word.

The cool steel of the doorknob in my hand, I looked over my shoulder one more time.

“Well, Spencer. You know where to find me, I guess,” I muttered, shaking my head slightly. Then I left his apartment, and despite the enormity of what had transpired during my visit, the click of the door closing sounded exactly the same.

.

(ii)

Of course, after that, I resolved it would never happen again. The man next door clearly had some issues with what we had done, and I couldn’t be bothered to solve them. It was, frankly, idiotic to jeopardise the prospect of good neighbours in favour of sex, however great it might have been.

It was embarrassing how quickly my resolution packed its bags and jumped out of my third-storey window.

I was awoken the next morning by three firm raps on my door. I think I knew, somehow, who was trying to get my attention, so I took my time, but the reveal of Spencer’s regretful face didn’t surprise me any less. I was wary as I stared at him wordlessly, cycling through all the possible reasons for his visit, and his eyes dropped to the way my arms tightly hugged my midsection. He winced then, meeting my eyes.

“I’m sorry for the way I acted,” he blurted, and it sounded so rehearsed that I had to stifle a guffaw. There was a flicker of something in his eyes that could have been frustration, but he powered through. “I’ve had a pretty terrible week at work and I think I was trying to get something out of my head. But I was awful to you, and it was completely my fault. I’m sorry if I offended you. I had...a great time.”

I’d been watching him carefully throughout his speech, and if he was faking the earnestness in those last couple of lines, he was an extraordinary actor. I concluded, as I studied the apologetic slump of his shoulders and the dark bags into which his eyes had sunken, that I didn’t need to worry about the veracity of his words.

“It’s okay,” I said hesitantly. “I mean, no, it’s not okay, it felt really awful, but thanks for explaining. I get it now.”

“Oh,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking off to the side, “that’s great. Thank you.” He shoved his hands deep into his pockets.

“Problem?” I was bemused.

“No!” He was looking back at me, now. “I- well, to be honest, I wasn’t expecting it to be this easy. I thought I’d have to convince you.”

“Huh. Well, you can still convince me, Doctor. Give me a second to get ready. You’re buying me breakfast.”

I quite liked the shy smile that graced his face in response.

*~*

It kept happening. There was no way I could have stopped it, and there was no reason I would have wanted to.

We quickly grew into a familiar rhythm. Each time, it started with one of us having a particularly stressful day. Each time, it started with a knock on the door and some perfunctory shuffling around. Before wasn’t the time for talking. Each time, we’d stumble into whichever surface was closest, and every time it wasn’t the bed, Spencer would make some halfhearted protests about germs and hygiene, before I shut him up very effectively with a manicured hand on his dick. Each time, in the During, I marvelled at how well we fit together, how quickly we’d learned each other’s bodies, and each time, I saw more of him than I had the last.

And I loved every bit of it.

Spencer no longer retreated into his shell in the After. He’d try sometimes, but I knew how to coax him out, now. I’d slip my hand into his, ever so gently, and wait. Or I’d sling one arm around his waist until he returned the embrace. I was getting scarily good at reading him. It was like working on an intricate puzzle, and every new achievement was rewarded with a deeper, longer look into his mind.

I carefully stored away every casual anecdote about someone from work or his godson or his mother, and I loved to watch the life burn bright in his eyes. Of course, they were all happy stories. I could sense the bittersweet aftertaste they left in his mouth, but he never let me inspect it too closely. In turn, I regaled him with tales of my own, of my sister and my parents, of my cat that was perpetually falling asleep on top of me. I told him all the easy, palatable things, holding back just as much as he did, always careful to maintain the wall of superficiality.

But things did slip through the cracks every once in a while, from both of us-- they were bound to, what with the sheer amount of time we spent together in various states of undress. Things that made me burn with curiosity that couldn’t be sated without jeopardising the very foundation of our arrangement. So I turned a blind eye to the jagged scars on his thigh and neck when he failed to maneuver to hide them; in return, he kept mum when I walked into his apartment, on the day of my worst professional disaster, with runny makeup and bloodshot eyes, shivering all over.

If he noticed that I kissed the skin over his scars a little more tenderly, lavishing attention on him the first time I saw them, he didn’t show it. If he liked the way I always nuzzled my face into the one on his neck when we were done, he didn’t show it.

For my part, I tried very hard not to read into the slow, shallow thrusts or the almost reverent way he handled me when my tears still hadn’t dried. I definitely did not read into the arm over my shoulder or the slightly baffled crease in his brow while we sat on his couch with a random episode of The Office.

And if, maybe, the frequency of his visits increased as the months went by, who could blame him? He was an FBI agent. He probably had a lot of bad days.

Sometimes, though, I’d go over when I’d had a good day and I felt like celebrating. Sometimes, I’d knock on his door just because I was bored and I wanted to see him. It wasn’t as if he would know the difference. Our bodies knew how to be around each other, and that was all that mattered.

This was just stress relief, after all.

(“Have you ever been in love?” I asked him once, abruptly, my heart still pounding as the sweat cooled on our skins.

He glanced at me warily, but he must have detected only honest curiosity on my face, not lovesickness or anything else that would have had him running for the hills.

He chewed on his lip for a moment. “Once.”

“What happened?” My finger traced an aimless pattern on his chest.

“She loves me,” he said, “but she isn’t in love with me.”)

We never articulated any feelings we may or may not have about each other or our situation. We dodged sincere conversation like it would kill us. So all the pieces we owned of each other were ones that we had been remiss in guarding diligently. That only made them all the more precious.

But on the heels of every stolen glance, there was a moment where he looked right through me, where I felt blank and insubstantial, like I was a placeholder for something or someone, and that would be enough for the wall to be between us again, rigid and unrelenting.

It was a shame that I was stupid enough to hold on to the scraps that fell through anyway.

.

(iii)

I was an immensely stupid person.

That was the only explanation for why I was leaning against the outer wall of our apartment building at three in the morning, desperately shoving my hands into my coat pockets to brace against the cold.

“You don’t have to be here.”

Can he read minds now? I wondered sullenly. Spencer was sitting on the front steps, with his head in his hands. His hair was dishevelled, and his eyes were the picture of torment. I would have loved to console him, but every attempt so far had been firmly rebuffed.

He had knocked on my door an hour ago and silenced my greeting with a bruising kiss. Of course, I knew how to do that dance, but Spencer had been off his rhythm tonight. When I’d reached for his shirt, he’d pushed my arms away. When I had kissed his jaw, he'd flinched. When I’d finally retreated in concern to ask him what was wrong, he had huffed out that he was perfectly fine, before trying to lift my shirt over my head.

I’d pushed him onto the bed and tried to distract him, and he had responded by clenching the sheets in his fists instead of grabbing my hips. I’d whispered his name in his ear the way he usually loved, and he’d climbed out from under me, sitting up on the bed with his chest heaving. At that point, I’d given up. What had followed was an exercise in patience.

(“Spencer, what’s wrong?” I’d asked again, to no avail.

“It’s nothing. I don’t want to talk about it,” he’d gritted out, glaring at me.

I’d sighed. “Okay, which is it? Nothing, or that you don’t want to talk about it?”

Silence.

“Well something is clearly bothering you. Am I just supposed to ignore that?”

“We don’t need to talk about anything.” He’d tried to kiss me again. That time, I was the one who pushed him away.

“No, Spencer, this isn’t working. I don’t think we should do this tonight.”

The glare had intensified. “Fine.” He’d gotten up and tried to put his shirt back on, but his hands were shaking.

Cursing my investment in this man, I’d helped him while he stared daggers at me. When he’d hunted down his shoes and made his way out of my apartment, I’d pulled on my coat and followed, petting my cat briefly when he tried to follow us.)

So now we were outside, experiencing the most awkward silence ever known to man. Every time I attempted to put a hand on his shoulder or sit beside him, he would tense up yet again.

“Yes, Spencer,” I replied at length, “I do. You look like you might accidentally walk into traffic. I’m not leaving.”

“It’s not your problem.” The petulance was beginning to get on my nerves. I hadn’t signed up for sleepless weeknights.

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” I told him, shrugging.

I pulled out my phone to distract myself with the cute animals in my game. Spencer was still worryingly silent. But if he didn’t want to talk to me and he wouldn’t let me near him, there was little I could do but stand there.

Every now and then, his breathing would hitch, and I would study him out of the corner of my eye. Whether he fully registered my presence or not, I was unsure, but he seemed to be calming down. He looked less on edge, his eyes less wild, and I was about to approach him and try again, when a black car pulled up just ahead of us.

Both our heads jerked to attention, but the petite blonde who exited the car only had eyes for Spencer.

“Spence!” She rushed to him, pulling him into a hug that he slowly reciprocated. “Your phone is off. After what happened, I was so worried,” she murmured into his hair, her eyes shut in relief.

And Spencer-- Spencer’s face was something to behold. His eyes were tightly closed, his lips turned down unhappily, and his face was so naked and open that I almost looked away. Almost. The pain that shone there riveted me. I felt as if I could see every wound he had ever suffered, in that instant. He’d never shown me that before. And he still hadn’t-- this wasn’t for me. The embrace broke, but his face stayed the same while the woman fussed over him.

Something came back to me, a fragment of a memory. She loves me but she isn’t in love with me. Unbidden, a sound of realisation escaped my throat, drawing two pairs of eyes to the dark corner in which I had been so far obscured.

Spencer schooled his face back to some semblance of normalcy, and ran a hand through his hair.

“Uh, JJ, this is--”

“Leaving,” I blurted out, then cleared my throat. “I was just leaving. Work in the morning. Nice to meet you.” I tried to smile at her, but it felt more like a pained grimace.

I brushed past both of them, but hesitated on the top step. “Spencer…”

His gaze was inscrutable, and I was too tired to try to decipher it.

“Feel better,” I mumbled, and then I left them there.

*~*

I was not sulking.

I told myself this as I lounged on the couch in my most comfortable pyjamas, stuffing my face with junk food and watching Michael Scott lament his foot injury.

So what if Spencer was in love with a beautiful blonde while getting him to talk to me was like pulling teeth? It wasn’t like I’d been carrying a torch for him. We were just extremely compatible sexually. And in very close proximity to each other. That put us in the ideal position to hook up whenever we needed it. That was the extent of our relationship. For all I knew, he’d been sleeping with other people this whole time. I hardly had the right to protest it if he had. We hadn’t set up rules. We just fell into bed together as and when we liked.

It was a good, uncomplicated thing.

So I needed to make sense of whatever needless jealousy I was feeling, before I ruined it. I couldn’t sit around being pathetic. I had a life.

There was a knock on the door.

Sighing, I turned off the TV and put the snacks away. Spencer was quiet as I let him in. His eyes roamed the small living room as if he didn’t know his way around my place as well as he did his own. I perched on the arm of the couch and stared at him, hoping my face didn’t betray the rollercoaster of emotions I’d experienced over the last forty-eight hours.

“So,” I started, “you okay?”

He looked a bit startled, as if he hadn’t expected me to address it at all. I tried not to roll my eyes.

“Yeah. I’m alright.”

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” I prompted, “It was pretty intense.”

“It-uh, it was a work thing. JJ helped me out.”

Of course she did. “Great,” I said aloud.

We looked at each other for a beat. “She’s the one, isn’t she?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

“What?”

“The one you’re in love with?”

There was a telltale spot of red high on his cheeks, even as he sputtered. “That’s not-- I mean, yes, but that was--”

“It’s fine,” I said cheerily. “I was just curious.”

He frowned at me. “She’s my best friend, it’s not--”

“No, I get it.” My stomach was somewhere near my feet. “So, do you wanna fuck?”

Again, he seemed taken aback. “What?”

“Isn’t that why you’re here?” I directed my gaze at his meticulously polished shoes.

“No.” A pause. “I just wanted to say-- would you look at me for a second?”

I forced myself to comply.

“I, uh, I wanted to thank you. For staying with me the other night.” The sincerity in his eyes was a bit too much to bear at the moment.

I hadn’t done anything, and I told him as much.

“You didn’t have to. Just being there was more than enough.”

“Right,” I said hollowly. “So is that it?”

“Yeah.” He seemed very lost. “Um, are you okay?”

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’re acting kind of strange.”

“That’s because there isn’t usually this much talking,” I snapped.

I longed to smooth out the lines on his face and make him feel at ease again. This was supposed to be the good, uncomplicated thing. He was apparently making an effort. I could return the favour.

“I’m sorry,” I said, letting out a deep breath and rubbing a hand over my face. “Can I get you something to drink? We can talk about it if you want. Or just hang out.” I tried to squash down the hope that bloomed in my chest.

“Oh. Sure, if that’s okay.” He was chewing on his lip again, and it was unfairly appealing.

And so he stayed. I got two mugs of coffee, and when I came back, he was on my couch reading a well-worn paperback, as if he belonged there. I had to agree with the thought. When he heard me enter the room, he looked up with a smile.

When he left three hours later, I couldn’t remember what we’d talked about or the name of the book he’d abandoned within minutes, but I remembered the way he’d leaned close to me while gesturing wildly with his hands, and I remembered that we hadn’t touched beyond accidental brushes of our fingers the entire time.

He still hadn’t revealed the source of his despair, and I knew there was someone he loved. I knew whatever this was, it would be temporary.

But the smile on my face as I closed the door was real.

.

(v)

Spencer kept coming over. I was never given the chance to initiate contact because it seemed like he was always at my place. Whenever he was in the city, he would be with me. I started to worry about his apartment gathering cobwebs from the disuse. But I couldn’t honestly complain about this new development.

Sometimes we had sex, and sometimes we didn’t. Sometimes he came in sore and tired, other times he was brimming with excitement with a playful grin. Sometimes he was angry at the world and I was allowed to coax him down from his rage. Those nights were in turn infuriating and thrilling.

(“What happened?”

“Work.”

“That’s really helpful, Spencer, care to elucidate?”

“No.”

“Okay, caveman.”

“Shut up and take off your clothes.”

I’d rolled my eyes and complied.)

I enjoyed every bit of him. I wanted to observe and chart every one of his moods and his little quirks. I loved the small pile of his books that had found their way onto the coffee table. I loved introducing him to pop culture that he approached with the same diligence as he would a textbook of quantum physics. He was an eager student, and I attempted to return the favour whenever he launched into his obscure tirades.

Some nights I would drowsily let him in and he would crawl into bed with me, fully clothed. The following mornings, I would wake up with a silly grin on my face, seeing him utterly relaxed and at peace. We’d have breakfast in my kitchen and slowly come awake together over our steaming mugs of coffee.

It was fun, learning him.

In the dead of night, as I was drifting off to sleep, he would tell me bits and pieces of horrible things he’d had to see. All I could offer him then was a tight, protective embrace and a steady gaze as the words clawed their way out of his reluctant throat. It felt like he was giving me some sort of twisted boon, these revelations of his pain. I collected them just as carefully as I did everything else. If it was a part of him that was freely given, I knew I wanted it.

At intervals, I would have to remind myself that he wasn’t truly emotionally available. It wasn’t hard. I only had to picture JJ’s relieved smile and the raw uncloaked expression on his face that I had never seen again. He mentioned her every now and then, and I’d discovered that his godson was her child. He never seemed upset, talking about her family, but he wasn’t the kind of man who would resent another’s happiness, even if it was at the expense of his own. I knew that now. I still remembered the way he would pull away from me and flinch at my touch, and I knew I was playing a losing game. There was no way out of this where I didn’t get hurt. All I could do was try to control it.

Three months after that night outside our building, I knew I’d fallen for him.

I was in trouble and I needed to do something about it, quickly. So I stopped preemptively cancelling plans with my friends and coworkers. I joined a book club. I called in a guy to loudly fix my bathroom sink the day I knew Spencer would be getting home. I even got a gym membership. I tried to be away from home as much as I could.

Whenever Spencer texted me, I would let him know I was unavailable. His texts got progressively more frustrated. Watching the excitement on his face dim when I turned him away at my door was painful. But it was necessary. I convinced myself that when Spencer and I stopped existing in this vacuum without other people, my feelings would weaken and I would be able to get him out of my head.

It didn’t work, of course, and I spent every day missing him. I tried to distract myself with work and my suddenly-full schedule, but the feelings were still there. Try as I might, I couldn’t stop thinking of him every morning and every night, and every time I passed his door and every time I walked by a bookstore.

So when Neil from work asked me out a week later, I said yes.

I wore a nice dress and heels, and he picked me up. We went to a midscale restaurant and talked about boring first-date things, and I knew within the first fifteen minutes that I didn’t want to see him again. I went through the motions, smiled pleasantly at him, and told him I would take a cab home. When I walked dejectedly up to my apartment, it took me a second to realise what I was looking at. My heart leapt and I dropped my keys.

Spencer was sitting on the floor outside my door, and he looked tireder and older than I’d ever seen him. He had looked up at my approach. I froze.

“Spencer.” I hadn’t seen him in a month.

He looked me up and down, and there was an unhappy tilt to his mouth. I wanted to kiss it away. He reached for the keys and rose to his feet.

“Hi.” He held them out to me, and I wanted to laugh and the eerie reflection of our first meeting.

“Hi,” I echoed.

“Were you on a date?”

There was no point in lying to him. “Yes.”

He looked away, his jaw clenching.

Silently, I unlocked the door and held it open. After a moment’s hesitation, he walked in.

He paced the floor of my living room. I took off my shoes and put my keys on the table, waiting for him to speak. I felt out of sorts and unprepared for what was to come. Even when I heard him come to a halt, I didn’t lift my gaze to meet his.

“Why would you-- I thought we had something.” His tone was heavy with accusation.

I stared back at him in challenge. “Sure. We had something. But I didn’t want to fool myself into thinking it was more than it was.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Us! You. You send me all these mixed signals, and I know you’re still hung up on someone else but I let myself get in too deep anyway. I had to protect myself.”

“I’m not hung up on someone else,” he shouted, raising his hands in frustration.

“Of course you are!” I matched his volume. “You told me so yourself.”

“When did I do that?” He sounded honestly bewildered.

“A few months ago. You said you were in love with someone but she didn’t love you back. And then I saw you with JJ that day. I know it’s her. It’s okay. You didn’t promise me anything.”

Feeling drained, I wrapped my hands around my middle. The tears were threatening to fall, but I tried to hold them at bay. This would be over soon. It all would.

“JJ--” he barked out a laugh, surprising me.

“What about this situation is funny to you?” I demanded.

“No, listen--”

“You’re hot and you’re cold. You kick me out right after our first time and then you’re sweet the next day. How do you want me to feel about that?”

“I’m sorry about-”

“Trying to talk to you is impossible! I want to help you. But you clearly don’t want to talk to me!”

“That’s not--”

“And then you’re over here all the time, and I get that it’s because you want to distract yourself, but you have to know how it would con--”

“God, would you just shut up and listen to me for once?”

I glared up at him. He was undeterred, a strange glint in his eyes.

“I love you,” he informed me, striking me dumb. “It took me a while to realise it, but it’s true. I love you.”

All I could do was gape at him as he walked closer to me and took my tightly clenched fists in his hands. “I’m sorry if I made you feel like I was holding back. I’m trying to be better. And I don’t know what you thought you saw between me and JJ,” he said very slowly, stroking his thumbs gently over my palms, “but all that’s there is a lot of trauma and shared experiences. Yes, I thought I loved her once, but that was a long time ago. We’ve never-- she’s not you.”

Traitorously, that tendril of hope began to coil around my heart again as I searched his face, looking for a trace of a lie.

I found none.

I surged forward, crashing my lips to his with no finesse and too much force, but he was ready for me, releasing my hands and cradling my waist instead. I gripped his hair, letting the tears spill at last, an overjoyed laugh bubbling out of my throat and into his mouth. I let my hands roam the hard plane of his body, the delicious ripple of wiry muscle beneath his shirt, the hidden softness that only I could feel.

“I love you,” I told him when we broke apart for air. “I’m glad I can tell you, I love you, I fucking love you.” Spencer grinned down at me, and the look was so fond I had to kiss him again.

The rest was a blur of hastily discarded clothes and the steadfastly ignored pain of knocking into furniture before we finally found my bed and tumbled into it.

(“All this time, I could have had you,” I groaned into his ear while he thrust his fingers into me, mouthing along my jaw.

“You have me,” he promised into my skin an eternity later, when he was inside me and my nails were scrambling for purchase along his back, my vision going white.)

That night, there were no painful confessions or taunting insecurities. There were just the two of us, blissfully entwined together, and the deepest of dreamless sleeps. Somewhere in the middle of falling out and falling back together, we had found our new rhythm.

.fin.

[hellfireclubmember3]

Here's the first chapter of my new Eddie x Reader fic! Consider checking out the other chapters and giving me feedback and ideas as I write the rest of it! :)

The Other Wheeler

Chapter 1

"Who was that on the phone, sweetie?" My mom asked as I walked back into the kitchen.

"Nancy. She's going to spend the night at Stacy's." I lied. Nancy wasn't spending the night at Stacy's, she was spending it with Jonathan, her boyfriend who was wrapping up his visit from California. This isn't the first time I've covered for her and she knows it. After lying to my mom, my brother Mike gave me a knowing look. It sure is harder to keep secrets from your siblings than it is to keep them from your parents.

Being between Nancy and Mike in age, I've always tried to stay on good terms with both of them. They butt heads a lot, but I'm always the one they come to in order to sort out their problems, keep their secrets, and help them out when they need it. I'm hoping that when my baby sister Holly gets older, she knows she can trust me just as much.

I like being the go-to sibling because I'm definitely not the go-to person at school. I don't have many friends and I tend to keep to myself. People are often surprised when they find out Mike and Nancy have another sister because I've done such a good job at going through high school without making any waves. I'm quiet, I get my work done, and I stay out of trouble. 

After hearing about Nancy's plans, Mike scoffed. "She always does this. I have Hellfire tonight and she was supposed to give me a ride. What am I supposed to do now?"

"Y/N can give you a ride." My mom added without even consulting with me.

I exhaled a deep breath, but wasn't about to complain. I'm supposed to be the good kid, right? "Yeah, I can give you a ride Mike." I said without any enthusiasm. 

_______________

Apparently when I agreed to drive Mike to Hellfire, I also agreed to take him home. He had told me that he would be done at 9, but it was now 9:15 and I was still sitting in the car alone. Starting to lose patience, I decided to walk into the school to try and find him as he probably just lost track of time. 

As I walked into the theater room where Hellfire was held, I was met with a deep and dramatic voice followed by groans and yells. Something intense must have just happened in their game, however, not wanting to waste more of my night, I walked over to Mike. When I came into view, I heard the same voice as when I entered. "Who are you?"

I'm not surprised Eddie didn't know who I was. As I said, I keep to myself, and Nancy is usually the one who drives Mike to these things. I knew who Eddie was though, everyone did. Eddie "The Freak" Munson is what people called him. He was a drug-dealing, metalhead, super-senior who my brother worshipped every since joining Hellfire. 

Not answering Eddie's question, I addressed Mike. "Hey, you're late. Let's go!"

Removing his eyes from me, Eddie turned to Mike. "Wheeler, you're not about to leave at the climax of the campaign, are you?" Eddie seemed to have a fire in his eyes when he asked this. Mike looked at me with pleading eyes, begging for a few more minutes. Before he could say anything, Eddie continued. "Your girlfriend is going to have to wait."

At this comment, not only did I burst into laughter, but so did Dustin and Lucas, two of Mike's best friends. Mike just looked horrified. Dustin spoke up through his laughter. "Dude, that's his sister!"

Eddie looked confused. "I thought Nancy was your sister."

"Yeah, and so is Y/N." Mike explained to Eddie.

"My mistake." Eddie said defensively while holding up his hands. "Still, she's going to have to wait."

Mike turned to look at me again. He didn't have to ask, I knew what his look meant. I pulled over a chair and sat down. "Thank you" Mike mouthed quietly to me. I watched the remainder of the game. Surprisingly, it was nothing like what I thought it would be. It was interesting and deep, mainly because of Eddie. He lead the club through an intense story using actions and voices to carry it along. It was fascinating watching him. I was starting to see the appeal of dungeons and dragons.

After thirty minutes of observing, they finally finished their session. As Mike was gathering his things and getting ready to leave, Eddie approached me. "Hey, thanks for sticking around and letting us finish. And sorry about the confusion earlier, I didn't realize there was another Wheeler."

"That's me, the other Wheeler" I joked. I looked up at Eddie. "Don't worry about it, it's nothing I'm not used to". I said more seriously this time. After hearing my words, a flash of sadness seemed to cross Eddie's face, but it was quickly covered by a smile. 

"Well I'm glad I was finally able to make your acquaintance." Eddie said and then bowed dramatically.

I was not expecting that reaction at all so I let out a little laugh and told him it was nice meeting him too. He was weird, but a funny kind of weird that I liked. 

Mike was finally ready to go so the two of us made our way out to the car. "Is he always like that?" I asked Mike.

"Eddie?" I nodded. "Yeah he's a little out there, but he's not the bad guy that the school makes him out to be." Mike defended.

"Well I can see why you like him, he's a character." I said to Mike with a smile.

______________

When we got home, before Mike went up to his room, he turned around and thanked me. "Thanks for the ride, Y/N, and thanks for sitting through the rest of Hellfire. I owe you." 

I just gave him a smile and said, "Goodnight, Mike" before heading to my own bedroom. Truthfully, I was glad that the night worked out the way it did. If I hadn't gone into the school, then I wouldn't have met the guy that I couldn't stop thinking about the entire drive home. 

Eddie definitely isn't the type of guy that I typically have a crush on, and maybe I don't have a crush on him, but he intrigues me. I'm definitely attracted to him. I hadn't noticed it before tonight, but he has the deepest brown eyes I've ever looked into and a gorgeous smile. I won't tell Mike, but I hope I can be his ride to and from Hellfire again. 

[shotorozu]

relationship realizations

— ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦ 3k followers milestone

character(s) : multiple characters (bnha)

legend : [Y/N = your name] they/them pronouns used, quirk not mentioned

note(s) : happy 3k ‼️ thank you all for all the love, and most especially those that continue to send love, and indulge in my works. further context, this is what the bnha boys/men learned by being with you :))

»»————-　♡　————-««

midoriya izuku

↮ that his opinion does matter. okay— it’s not like you handed his confidence to him, no that’s different. but, you are a main contributor to the sudden increase of confidence in himself. before, he was just so used to be brushed aside, other people being told to ignore him whenever he does this, and for his rambles to be ignored like white noise— but after you showed up and spent some time with him, he realizes that it’s not the end of the world if he does ramble, and it’s not the end of the world to not be confident about your opinions 100% of the time, but what does matter is that his opinion was heard. which ultimately lead to him being more confident in expressing his own opinions, not caring if it’s apart of the vase majority, or the minority. he’ll forever love you for this.

todoroki shouto

↮ that taking your time isn’t abnormal. shouto, being someone that had little to no set example of what romance is, and being exposed to romance comedies, and tv shows— made him realize something. that people were already kissing on the first date, and he felt well,, under developed because of it. he was never the biggest fan of physical touch, it’s not to say that he never wanted to kiss you, he always does want to, but— he won’t just kiss you just because it’s the first date, or because the movies said so, even as much as he wanted to, no. that’s not what he wanted. he felt worried that he was moving too slowly, compared to the examples he’s seen online but— you say things differently. you allowed him to take his time, showing him patience as you peck him on his temples, and he couldn’t be more grateful to love someone like you.

bakugou katsuki

↮ that being vunerable isn’t a bad idea. you’re even aware of the many few boundaries katsuki has set up for himself— like no pda. which, you’re perfectly fine with, but katsuki hated the idea of being vunerable because well,, people shoved him onto this pedestal at a very young age, he’s thee bakugou katsuki, there’s no room for vulnerability (or so he thinks) besides all might and deku, you’re really the only one that has seen the vulnerable bakugou katsuki, not the loud and explosive one everyone is used to. he was repulsed by the idea, but after the first time he allowed himself to cry on your lap, shedding tears as he trembles in your caring embrace— he realized that he has someone, and that someone wouldn’t care for the world if he wasn’t this big and strong person 24/7. he won’t say it out loud, but he’s incredibly thankful

kaminari denki

↮ that people do take him seriously. nearly everyone sees this man as this.. class clown, goof ball, and that he’s ‘stupid’ or he’s ‘lacking braincells’ most of the time, and that’s all they make him out to be. denki doesn’t like drowning in self pity, but he can’t help it, why doesn’t anyone take him seriously? but wait, that’s when you come along. it was heartbreaking to say the least when you saw how shocked he was when you wanted to hear his plans and ideas. to anyone else, it might appear to be the bare minimum, but it’s everything to denki. to be taken seriously when the time says so, to be treated like the next person with ambitions. sure, he loves being a jokester, he loves making people laugh, but he can’t bite back the smile, when he sees you worry about him after every short circuit, and kiss him on the cheek whenever he comes back to his senses.

shinsou hitoshi

↮ that not everyone’s opinion is valid. okay hear me out, that might be considered a bad thing, but it’s really not. in fact, it’s a good thing. hitoshi’s just used to hearing sugar coated and backhanded compliments being thrown his way, people saying that “you’d be a good villain, at least!” but, he doesn’t want to be a villain. sometimes they’re not even backhanded, and he’s just used to accepting it as it is. because, everyone has been thinking that way, since well— he first manifested his quirk. but that’s when you come along, and blow away his expectations. you weren’t afraid to tell him the truth, that he shouldn’t have allowed all of them to insult him like that, since he deserved all of the good that was in the world. that wasn’t the part that stuck out the most, but it was the part where you told him that it’s the intent that mattered, and who cares if his quirk seems villainous, as long as he meant well? for once in his life, he stopped paying attention to the senseless comments, and focused on what really mattered— you.

kirishima eijirou

↮ that you don’t need a flashy quirk to be honorable. his quirk, while it took some time for it to be in the state that it is today, it has always been an insecurity of his, not that he’d admit that. that he can’t create big explosions or large glaciers of ice like bakugou or todoroki, or he can’t create whatever he desired like yaoyorozu, he just felt,, plain sometimes. which was something he never voiced out in such a blunt manner before, since he always presented himself as this cheery dude that’s always ready for the occasion. it might be easy, he probably curses at himself for being under your spell a little bit too easily, but he feels great whenever you praise him for his hard work, and especially his quirk. even when the insecurity slips out by accident, and when you’re questioned if you really meant that, you stay true to your statement, and that was an eye opener.

amajiki tamaki

↮ that there are other ways of being strong. look, it’s not like tamaki’s quirk is weak— in fact, it’s the very opposite, but his self esteem, and the absence of a sociable personality does take a toll on him sometimes. he feels like he can’t do anything right, especially when he mutters, messes up on what he wants to say, more importantly when he has an idea on what to say. he feels helpless, compared to the other two strong personalities of UA’s big three. and that’s why, you’ve showed him that shyness is completely normal and fine, and it’s not just him that struggles with socializing— and besides, tamaki does have other strong points, like his ability to be considerate with his actions, and his carefully selected words of affirmation whenever he sits next to you on a date. tamaki might be socially uh.. weak sometimes, but he’s come to realize that it’s fine, since he has other strong parts!

monoma neito

↮ that he won’t be forgotten, and also— that being nice to class 1-A doesn’t sound that bad. come to think of it, neito DOES have a nice side in him, but it’s just not exposed to class 1-A for several different reasons (that are layered) when he was younger, he was told that his quirk wasn’t that spectacular, people have underestimated his quirk a lot. not because it’s ‘boring’ but because it just ‘copies other quirks,’ and has no individual attributes. thus, lead neito to act out as an attempt to stand out and not be ‘boring.’ in reality, neito doesn’t realize that he’s anything close to that, and that he can be remembered in the best ways. like, when you first saw his room, and it was covered in pastels, and whenever he sees you, the first thing he says is a compliment. who would’ve guessed it from him? and most importantly, when he is nice to class 1-A, he finds himself laughing at amusement— and he thinks ‘hey! this,, isn’t bad.’ it’s a slowburn for him to finally act like how he is with his class but hey, process!

dabi todoroki touya

↮ that he needs someone. how ironic, a villain— needing someone, and all for what? just to be abandoned for someone better? no thanks. you didn’t actually shove it in his face for him to realize it but, you did contribute to it. his staples were starting to falling off again after another gruesome mission, dabi didn’t feel like plucking them out himself, but he knows that he has to— he went to go pick them off, until, you come in. a stapler in your hand, as you practically make him sit tightly as you replaced the staples. it stings, not that he’ll ever admit that, he’ll just stick to making fun at you in such dabi fashion. but ugh, there’s that warmth again everytime he looks at you. it’s not the cruel burn, similar to his quirk— but it’s,, gentle. it makes him want to disembowel himself, but he doesn’t mind it when you touch the cool metal. just,, get out of his face before he decides to flame you, all just because he learned that he needs someone (he won’t actually flame you but ugh, he’s still dealing with that kind of warmth you’re making him feel)

»»————-　♡　————-««

likes and reblogs are appreciated, thanks for reading!

i do not own bnha/mha and it’s characters. boku no hero academia/my hero academia belongs to horikoshi kohei, i only own the writing and i do not profit off of my hobby

do not plagiarize, reupload, translate, or use my works for audio readings without permission

[abbynx]

0 to 100 real quick

La Squadra reacting to a usually silent, patient teammate snapping and going off

Genre: Platonic, just the bois being bros, definitely a self-projection, comfort

Warning: Cursing, mentions of breakup and manipulation 

Your phone rang for the umpteenth time, the stubborn caller failing to realise how many times you've wordlessly made it clear you want nothing to do with him. All you ask of him was to finally leave you alone and yet he continues to persistently pest you. Your will power proved itself mighty to be tolerating his nineteenth call in five minutes.

It was your ex being a stubborn son of a bitch who has a lot of time in his hands, constantly asking you to pick up the phone and let him 'smooth out and explain' his recent relationship with his 'friends' behind your back. You were nowhere near stupid, nor gullible after joining the mob. despite your outward appearance as an innocent, average civilian you've hardened over time with the help of your career and turning your feelings off was no longer a challenge. Over time it simply became a light switch.

After his recent actions came to light, you bear to hesitation to break it off. For a moment you felt guilty when he gave his explanation to why he started seeing other people without you knowing; of course you knew what you were getting into when you signed your soul away to the devil to work in this line of career, you were constantly faced with death and lacked the time to spend time with him. He had no knowledge about what you do for a living, but you knew how to make it clear you were never going to be a simple one-call-away. But over time you've finally gained some self-worth and self-preservation to see through his guilt tripping, before you dropped his ass.

Now you were here, rejecting his calls before pocketing it back in your pants before resuming the movie night. Even putting the phone on silent it continued to bother everyone around you as you continued to nonchalantly press the reject call button.

How can you be this patient, the rest of the team questions but the answer lay before them. Risotto hired the timid assassin with potential for their unwavering patience and swift wits to wiggle them selves out of severe situations, something the time could use to be honest especially when you have a ticking time bomb with no timer and goes off at random. Perhaps the question would be simply answered with a short and simple one: "It's just Y/N being Y/N."

With the pestering phone calls bothering you for the past few days, your team can't help to be annoyed on your behalf and would like to chuck your phone into the deepest trench of the ocean and buy you a new one.

Much to everyone's chagrin, they watch you pick your phone up, however, what you did next was new and unexpected. Instead of rejecting the call, you finally picked up. Most of the time you'd politely greet, but today was certainly different. As soon as you picked up the phone, you wasted no breathe to speak and cut to the chase. All eyes turned to you, some were concerned, curious, shocked, or proud.

"Can you quit blowing up my phone, dude? Twenty FUCKING calls every second is getting tiresome. If you're calling me to 'explain' to me how you're not meeting your hookups then fuck off and get lost! what? Do you miss your personal ego booster? Well then fuck you, go try and choke on your own dick! Do you fucking think I'll believe your half-assed bullshit lies and pathetic fucking cries and bitching will win me over? You must be so fucking DELUSIONAL to be thinking you're worth the effort! What? Are you sad that I’m not a passable doll you can manipulate and mold to your liking? Is that it, you crazy son of a bitch? Can't you fucking get a clue that I'm over it? Huh? I couldn't care less about the new lies you've come up with to try and win me over, I'm done! Finished! Tapos! Ho finito! He terminado! Я задолбался! WHAT OTHER LANGUAGES DO I NEED TO SPEAK TO GET IT THROUGH THAT THICK FUCKING NOGGIN OF YOUR’S? CALL ME AGAIN AND I SWEAR TO ALL THINGS CONSIDERED MIGHTY THAT YOU WON’T HAVE ANY TEETH LEFT, DO YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND YOU FUCKING CHEATER? DO YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND? Good."

As soon as you finished the call, you calmly set it down with a sigh of relief. Peace at last. You adjusted yourself comfortably on your seat, wanting to watch the movie on display, when you felt you've made yourself quite the spectacle.

“What?”

Formaggio

- “Woooh, they went off!” His initial response was to high-five you for some reason but you accepted, nevertheless. 

- Very shocked and yet enthusiastic at how you handles yourself at the face of a situation like this. Not to mention, the build up! From you trying to tolerate the caller for the past few minutes, before picking up the call and gave them an ass whipping to remember for the rest of his life! 

- He would feel sorry for the person of the other side of the line if it weren’t for the fact he cheated on you, so good for him to be told off.

Illuso 

- “Heh, about time you told him off.”

- Silently supportive at how you handled yourself at the face of a situation like this and admires you for it. It was very entertaining while it lasted, now he just wants to go back to watching the movie. 

- Along that, he was shock that this hidden side of yours came put of nowhere and came out strong, which he thinks is pretty fucking rad. He now thinks back at the times where he gave you backhanded comments and how you managed to keep yourself cool under it... He now reminds himself not to get on your bad side, ever. 

Proscuitto 

- “.... Thank fuck you’re done, I was starting to think about throwing your phone out.”

- Extremely flabbergasted, as he has never heard you speak fluent in profanities, nor raise your voice at the duration of your stay in La Squadra. and addition to that, the fact you leaned on your seat and calmed yourself immediately as if nothing happened. 

- Nevertheless, he feels proud at you for standing up to yourself and standing your ground. You have always been the timid one entering the world of crime and he overlooked your development within this new and risky life style. Looks like his mentoring worked wonders on you and he feels proud of himself. 

Pesci 

- “......” 

- He was too shaken up to speak, he has never heard you be this angry and frustrated before as you’ve always kept calm in every situation and he admires you for that. 

- He is shaken up, sure but it doesn’t really change how he views you. You were still the patient person he has ever met-- he just happen to witness you lose your cool once but he’s sure that this won’t define you. 

Melone 

- “Good for you for getting rid of that guy.” 

- He’s just relieved that you’re finally done with the guy who has been giving Melone weird vibes the moment you told him about your then boyfriend. A few alarm bells rang in his head as you detailed how he acts around you and despite being happy for you back then, Melone was extremely vocal about his concerns. Looking back at it, he feels that his ‘paranoia’ wasn’t far off.

- He isn’t really shock, he’s just happy that you’re standing your ground and establishing yourself as a person who don’t need no one to use as a co-dependent crutch. After being around Ghiaccio, he really isn’t that phased anymore.

Ghiaccio

- “Fucking finally!”

- Similar to Melone, he’s just relieved your done with the phone calls and clingy boyfriend who is a walking-talking red flag. He hated how you didn’t have time back then to hang out with your other teammates just to spend time with your boyfriend to make up lost times, that often lasts until midnight and Ghiaccio can still hear you talking to your phone. 

- Ghiaccio cares about you despite his distant veneer, and wants the best for the people he cares about. So he was happy that you finally broke your relationship of with a guy who doesn’t deserve you. Also, he’s starting to think that your choice of vocabulary all came from him and is unsure whether he should feel proud or not. 

Risotto

- “Oh... Okay, good for you.”

- He blurted the first thing in mind, because he was just so shock at how you responded. He hired you for being so patient and calm at all times and now looking back, he doesn’t really see himself thinking that one day you’ll be going off without stopping to breathe and stutter. 

- Don’t get him wrong, he actually thinks it’s awesome that you stood up for yourself like that, but just give him time to reel back to reality. He just never thought you’d explode that hard. 

Gelato and Sorbet

- “See Sorbet? I told you they’d snap eventually!” 

- The couple was immensely entertained at your empowering speech being quite the ego breaker and worse-fate-than-death threat. They adore it whenever they see a usually timid newcomer becoming unafraid to stand their ground and tell their oppressors off, it honestly feels like a proud parent thing for them to see their baby kid all grown up and kicking people in the guts with their words. 

- If you would want a rebound, they won’t hesitate to set someone up with you who is far better than your dog-faced ex because they know that people are barely worthy for you 

[httpdabi]

Strawberry

Genre: smut, romance? Idk?

Summary: The reunion with your childhood best friend took some turns, and instead of hugs and tears all you wanted to do was kill the familiar stranger, that made your day at work worse.

(Ye, I suck at describing lmao)

Word count: 6.7k

Warnings: 18+ (MINORS DNI), unprotected sex, dom!Dabi, creampie, a bit of dacryphilia, a bit of teasing, rough sex, choking, facefucking.

,,Girl, just hop into the water’’ Mina screamed, taking all the attention you were giving to your phone. You were already regretting the decision you made to join her and Bakugo. You’ve never liked those public pools, and you never understand people who did. Like seriously, children there pee in the water, some of them even poop, who knows ? And its not that you are some hygiene freak, it’s simply a no go for you.

,, Nah, I’m good over here’’ You screamed back, hoping she heard you, as you hid under the shadow of the tree. Sun was also a big minus for you, since 10 minutes were enough for you to get sunburnt and end up with Yoghurt all over your body trying to pamper the burning stings. Plus your pierced nipples didn’t help in this case either, heating up too fast in the sun, since the only peace of clothing that covered them was your swimming suit.

,, You are no fun’’ she pouted, hoping her puppy face will work on you.

Usually on your days off, you liked to enjoy your time at home, reading a nice book or simply lazing around watching a movie, cooking for yourself, and doing simply anything that didn’t include contact with others. Yeah, you had enough contact with people since you were working at the famous café in the city.

People who saw you working there thought that you loved your job. Always smiling, always having so much patience. Truth to be told, you were exactly the opposite. You hate it wholeheartedly. You couldn’t deal with children screaming around all the time, while their parents ignored them, you couldn’t deal with drunk dudes, cat calling you all the time, and you couldn’t deal with rude costumers always complaining about something. Fuck it, you couldn’t deal with anyone.

You felt more than happy once the day came to an end and once you waved goodbye to your co-workers. Nothing against them of course, you loved Mina and Bakugo, but sun, water and loud crowd of people drained your energy out. At that point you found yourself appreciating your apartment and your bed more then ever before.

The next day you woke up pretty late, since you had late shift. Not that you were complaining, you liked sleeping longer, but the fact that you will be working till fucking 10 PM, if not even longer since it was summer, was driving you insane.

Sure waking up early isn’t amazing, but in the morning there wasn’t that much work, and it was much more quiet then in late shift. And sure, some people would consider calling sick, but you didn’t want to be such an asshole toward your co-workers.

Since you will be the one getting the orders on the counter and maybe, only maybe work with ice cream, you decided to wear your favorite comfy skirt, not too long, but also covering everything up. Once you found your fav comfy shirt, you tucked it inside of your skirt and did your casual make up before you left your apartment.

You didn’t like your work, but you were thankful that you could at least get a free meal there, since it saved a lot of time for you. It wasn’t anything special, but at least you didn’t have to prepare anything or stop to buy something before work.

,, DROP THE BEAT’’ Bakugo yelled once he saw you coming, making some weird noises as you gave your best to give them a Top Model walk.

,, TC, TC, TC’’ you repeated, waving your hips from side to side in the beat with the weird sound you and Bakugo made. You hopped beside them, as you took the small pack of cigarettes out of your bag.

Usually after the end of the morning shift, you and your co-workers sit together, enjoying the last minute of the shift exchange together. Of course if there’s a new costumer, one of you would go to work immediately. But most of the time, the café was almost empty at that time, giving you a chance to catch up a bit.

,, Today was pain in the ass, I swear’’ Shiggy said, taking one cigarette out of your package, while Bakugo told you everything you needed to know, if there was something to do and so on. Nodding your head, you lit a cigarette for yourself, preparing yourself for one hell of annoying day that was waiting for you.

Once Bakugo and Shiggy went home, you made your way toward the small counter, preparing everything you needed for the late shift, as you waited for Mina to arrive. You were glad that there weren’t any new costumers, since it gave you lots of time to prepare everything, from ice cream, to sandwiches and drinks.

,, Hiii girl, sorry for being late’’ Mina greeted you happily, while you placed the new drinks into the fridge. It wasn’t anything new for you, she was always late, but you never minded it at all. Your team had some up’s and down’s, but after all, all of you worked great together.

Around 7PM you wished you never got that fucking job. The café was getting fuller and fuller, and people were getting more and more annoying.

,, Can you please serve that table ?’’ Mina asked, pointing on the table where some boys were sitting down. Nodding your head, you took the small notebook and pen, before you made your way towards the table you had to serve.

,, Heyy, what can I do for you?’’ you asked, acting all happy as you prepared the small notebook to write the order.

,, Well, you can blow me off if you are asking that nicely’’ one of them said, making the rest of the boys laugh loudly. Taking one deep breath, you almost rolled your eyes in annoyance.

,, Can I take your order ?’’ you repeated yourself, ignoring the rude comments they gave you, talking about your skirt and how you looked, like you weren’t standing right in front of them.

,, Five beers. Sorry, they really don’t know how to behave’’ one of them, mature enough, said. Giving you one small and apologetic smile. Nodding your head, you just hurried back, wanting to finish their order fast enough, before you did something you would regret later.

Once you bought them their beer, and once they gave you the money, you almost smacked the bottle against the blondies head, when he started checking you out shamelessly. What pissed you even more was the fact that the line waiting for fucking ice cream was already waiting for you.

The whole day was a complete disaster and you wished more then ever to finish your shift and leave the fucking café. At least you had Mina by your side, as the two of you gave each other encouraging words.

,, What can I get for you?’’ you asked, faking a smile at the woman with a child. You were so done with that fucking job, but you couldn’t let the costumers figure that out.

,, Honey, what do you want?’’ she asked her child, as she prepared her wallet. The fact that she was waiting for you to come, and than ask her child what she wants was lowkey pissing you off. They could literally decide before you arrived, but whatever.

,, I want vanilla… Hmmmm, I want mint and strawberry!’’ the little girl screamed excitedly, as you prepared the cone, already putting the vanilla ice cream in it.

,, I’m sorry, we are out of Strawberry ice cream’’ you said, giving her a small smile, as the child started screaming and crying around how she wants strawberry. You had to give your best and stop yourself from throwing the cone against the child’s face. That little girl was old enough to understand what a no means.

,, Sorry sweetie, do you want anything else?’’ you asked, hoping she’ll stop with the whole theater.

,, Noooo I want strawberry’’ she screamed, crying loudly.

,, Just give her raspberry’’ the woman said, rolling her eyes in annoyance like it was your fault that you were out of the strawberry ice cream. Mina noticed that your blood was already boiling, as she asked you if you need some help. Once she heard you saying how everything’s fine, she continued with her work.

NOTHING WAS FINE FOR FUCKS SAKE, NOTHING.

,, What can I get you?’’ you repeated the same question, as a guy approached, holding his phone in his right hand. You looked at him, giving him one fake smile, as you analyzed his face. Black hair, scarred face, few tattoos and lots of piercings. His appearance was pretty much freaking you out, but you had to stay professional and just wait for his order.

,, Hey, strawberry and chocolate’’ he said, casually scrolling the screen of his phone with his thumb. The moment you heard him say strawberry you wanted to quit that fucking job and just move to Poland or whichever country.

,, We are out of strawberry, sorry’’ you breathed out, hoping that the last cell in your brain didn’t die at that moment.

,,Oh ok, then only strawberry is fine’’ he said, giving you a small smile. At that moment you were more then sure that he was making fun of you, even a deaf person was able to catch up that strawberry wasn’t an option anymore after that stupid child made a scene. And that’s when you finally snapped, having enough of everyone’s shit.

,, Which part of we are out of strawberry you didn’t understand?’’ you asked, slamming the cone onto the counter, almost regretting your actions. But once you noticed the way he was trying not to laugh made you snap even more.

,, Are you making fun of me ? Is this funny to you ?’’ your voice was raising with every word you spoke. Once Mina realized that you were having your half mental breakdown, screaming at costumer, she hurried toward you, repeating your name all over again as she tired to catch your attention.

Hearing your name, his eyes widened in surprise, now totally focused on you instead of his cellphone and if Mina wasn’t there, you would probably start a bitch fight with him for even looking at you that way.

,, Woah, what’s going on? ‘’ she asked confused, as you gave the dude death glares.

,,This guy here is going on. He’ll be my 13th reason why’’ you screamed waving your hands in air, not even trying to calm down anymore.

,, Chill out, we only have 30 minutes more till we close’’ she said, patting your back slowly, as she mouthed small sorry to the guy.

,, Oh, 30 minutes ? We’re out of the ice cream’’ you hissed, slamming the glass down, giving him a clear sign that he won’t lick shit tonight. If your boss heard and saw you at that moment, you would be fired in just a second.

After 20 minutes, the two of you happily told the costumers that they have to leave. Before you could leave, you took two corona tests, already working on your own test as Mina went to the toilet to change.

,, OH MY GOD, YOU’RE PREGNANT’’ she screamed, placing one hand over her mouth.

,, Bitch, this is corona test’’ you hissed, loud laugh following your words. ,, And it’s only one line, which means that I’m negative. What the fuck’’ you laughed, placing one test in front of her, thinking about where the fuck did she get all her informations from, since she thought that one line means pregnant. Ignoring the fact that she thought that corona test is fucking pregnancy test.

,, You really overacted today, maybe he didn’t hear’’ she said, as you puffed onto your cigarette.

,, Girl, even my grandma from nursing home could hear that we were out of strawberry, and trust me her hearing aids ain’t worth shit’’ you rolled your eyes, making Mina giggle quietly.

,, But still, he might tell to boss, you don’t know that guy’’ she whispered, as you watched the guy sitting on the bench with his friends. She had a point sadly, he did look like someone who would cause trouble just for fun.

,, You’re right, I’ll go and apologize’’ you said once you saw him wave goodbye to his friends. Taking one deep breath you hugged Mina, before you forced yourself to walk fast enough to catch up with him.

,, Hey’’ you screamed, almost running behind him, hoping he actually heard you. Once he turned around, giving you one hella confusing look, you sighed in relief, placing both of your hands on your knees as you tried to catch your breath.

,, Wow, such a sporty spirit’’ he joked as he watched you fight for air.

,, Yeah, oh my god. I just wanted to apologize for what happened earlier’’ you managed to say somehow, ignoring his comments.

,, Yeah, that wasn’t very nice of you’’ he pointed, taking one cigarette and placing it between his lips. ,,I was ready to write a review on google about the way you treated me’’ he joked once again, but you completely misunderstood it.

,,I KNEW IT, I FUCKING KNEW IT’’ you screamed, pointing your finger in his direction. ,, Look man, I already hate my job, don’t make it any worse’’ you whined loudly, not getting the irony in his voice.

,, Well, let me treat you with dinner, what do you think? And then I’ll think about the review’’ he smiled, using the way you misunderstood his words in his advantage. Once you heard him say that, you definitely regretted the way you acted one hour ago.

,, That won’t work, I have a cat waiting for me home and trust me, he ain’t capable feeding himself on his own’’ you spat, hoping he’ll understand and simply leave you alone, but once you saw him raise his eyebrow at you and giving you one questioning look, you almost rolled your eyes on him.

,, but you can come with me and we can order fucking tacos or whatever’’ you added, surprised that you went that far and disappointed once he accepted your invite.

,,Taquitoooo, I’m home babyyyy’’ you screamed, kicking your shoes as you got inside your apartment. Turning around you found the tall man looking around, analyzing every corner of your apartment.

,, Taquito? You’ve gotta be kidding me’’ he laughed at you. Even tho you just met the guy, it felt like you knew him for ages for some weird reason.

He sat outside on the balcony, as you prepared the two glasses and drinks for the two of you, while he ordered some food.

,, Anyway, what’s your name ?’’ you asked, remembering that you don’t know shit about the man sitting in your apartment.

,,Ah yes, I totally forget that, the name is Dabi’’ he grinned, taking the glass away from you, as he made himself at home.

,, Why the fuck did you call your cat Taquito?’’ he asked, as your cat jumped onto his lap, purring softly, making you just stare at them surprisingly. Taquito didn’t even like your family and friends, yet he was all cuddly with some fucking stranger.

,, Yeah long story short, I was drunk as fuck, found him on the street while I watched the stupid Tiktok about a girl that bought a turtle and called it Taquito’’ you said fast, as you sat there waiting for the food. Once you had a good look of him, something felt off. Nothing weird or scary, but you only felt like you already knew him. Sure, you definitely wouldn’t forget a face like his, but something about his eyes was telling you that you met him somewhere.

,, Anyway, enough about my cat. Did we meet somewhere?’’ you asked, staring at him shamelessly as he played with Taquito.

,, Maybe ?’’ he said, wiggling his eyebrows at you.

,, Cut it. Your eyes are familiar. I swear, I feel like I know you from somewhere ‘’ you confessed, placing a finger on your lip, as you tried to figure out from where you know him.

,, Yeah, I have such a pretty eyes, don’t I’’ he said, blinking fast as he tried to give some weird effect with it.

,, You can’t be that stupid doll’’ he added, when he realized that you still can’t remember him. Sure he changed, sure he went thru some shit and ended up with scars, and sureee he colored his hair black, but still he felt a bit disappointed when he realized that you have no idea who he is.

,, Does a name Touya tell you anything ?’’ he asked, raising his eyebrow at you playfully, laughing loudly at your confused face.

,, Nah, go fuck with someone else, that can’t be true’’ you hissed, crossing your arms on your chest. If you saw Touya, you would remember him, your childhood best friend.

,, Monday, 2PM, old tree house?’’ he said, almost asked about something only the two of you knew, trying not to laugh at your shocked expression.

,, It can’t be’’ you gasped, eyes wide enough, almost popping out of your skull. ,, YOU PIECE OF SHIT WHY DIDN’T YOU CONTACT ME?’’ you screamed jumping suddenly, making Taquito run form his lap, scared from your sudden reaction.

,, Honestly, I forgot what your last name was, so I couldn’t find you anywhere’’ he admitted, happy you finally remembered him. Sure he didn’t recognize you at first either, but once he heard your co worker calling you by your name, he immediately figured everything out, and understood why you seemed so familiar.

,, Are you serious ? And what kind of reunion was that ? I was ready to choke you with a fucking ice cream cone’’ you laughed, still not believing that the stranger sitting in front of you was no one else than fucking Touya Todoroki, the best friend you once had that left you behind and went overseas.

,, Yeah that was one iconic reunion if you ask me’’ he laughed out, thinking about the way you acted few hours ago.

The two of you talked about everything possible, about his life overseas, about the past, your shitty job, your cat and his dislike on every living being. Once it was too late, he wanted to leave, but you simply couldn’t let him go home at such a late hour, since people at the city were pretty weird and the city isn’t the quiet and safe one and after a long time of your insisting he finally agreed.

When you woke up, Touya was nowhere to be found, but he did leave a small piece of paper, with a number and apology written on it. You grinned to yourself, as you hurried to get ready for your work, since you stood up too late.

The day was much better than the last one, only instead of Mina who always managed to calm you down, you had Bakugo who was even more aggressive then you are by your side. You had the same task as last night, but once you saw Touya and his group of friends making themselves comfortable at one of the tables in the corner, you told Bakugo that you’ll take their order.

,, hayyy, alredy know your order ?’’ you asked excitedly placing your hands on Touya’s shoulders from behind, the smile on your face being honest for a change.

,, My girllll, why didn’t you text me ?’’ he whined, as he grabbed your hands and pulled you down, forcing you to hug him.

,, Didn’t the two of you have a huge fight last night because of strawberry ice cream?’’ one of his friends asked, totally confused.

,, We talked it out’’ you laughed, as he placed a small kiss on your cheek, before you finally took their order, almost forgetting you are at work.

If you were being honest, the whole shift was better with him and Bakugo who was cursing every second costumer around. Almost every 15 minutes Touya would end up at the counter, asking for a strawberry ice cream. Every time you would tell him that you are out of it, he would simply ask for the Book of complaints, making you roll your eyes playfully at him.

You were surprised when you noticed that he was actually waiting for you, laughing loudly when Bakugo commented how this whole romantic shit is making him sick.

The next few days the two of you spend way too much together, and first time in forever you actually liked having someone around. Every day he would drop by at your work, and wait till you are done and then the two of you would go home and have a late dinner, while he had cuddle season with Taquito.

On Saturday, you were looking for excuses to call sick, and once Mina told you that the only person who would be forced to jump in was no one else than Rumi, you immediately called them, acting all sick and everything.

After you called, you gave yourself one good deserved nap, not feeling bad anymore since Rumi was the co-worker no one liked.

The loud knocks at your door woke you up, grabbing your phone your eyes widened in shock once you realized that you slept almost the whole day. Rubbing your eyes, you rushed to open the damn door.

,, What the fuck?’’ Touya hissed, once he saw you healthy and alive standing there in nothing but oversized shirt.

,, what? I overslept a bit’’ you gave him a weak smile, as you let him in. You were surprised yourself that you slept that long, but you totally deserved it.

,, I swear, once your co worker told me you’re sick, I thought you died or something’’ he added, following you inside.

,, Yeah, I just needed some rest’’ you laughed, hoping he’ll chill the fuck out. Thankfully he calmed down real fast, almost forgetting about all the worry he had once he saw you all healthy, and once he saw Taquito running happily to him.

There was something comforting in having Touya around again. Somehow it made you feel like a child again, and the fact that he’s staying this time, for real, made your heart skip a beat for some weird reason. He was all the time around, at your work waiting for you, giving you a ride back home or walking you back home, dropping by on your days off with your favorite snacks and so on. Usually you wouldn’t like it, but since it was him, you embraced the affection he was giving you wholeheartedly.

You even became a laughing stick at your work, as your co-workers always made jokes about your new lover boy. Especially Mina and Bakugo, turning every conversation into Touya related one.

Making the drinks some costumers ordered, a yawn escaped your lips. Still sleepy as fuck, you somehow managed to put your attention on your work instead of the lack of sleep.

,, So, how was the date last night ? What did you two do ?’’ you asked, remembering that Bakugo met some girl he liked so much last night.

,, See when two people come together, they perform an intimate act called getting fucking railed’’ Bakugo said, trying to sound as romantic as possible.

,, You’re disgusting’’ you gasped, throwing the small sponge at him, as he laughed loudly, making his way to the costumer that just got in.

You were completely focused on your work, until Bakugo told you that your lover boy is there, and he’ll be the one to get his order. Rolling your eyes, you just let him do it, as you continued with the work you already did.

Bakugo was much louder than usually, probably because his little date went good, singing around you and joking around every now and then. Not that it bothered you, in fact, you were so glad that he showed his unusual side that day, since he’s grumpy and mad almost all the time.

,, I swear the headache is killing me today’’ you whined loudly, hopping beside Touya once you got the chance. You took one cigarette from him, and lit it up, enjoying the peace with almost no costumers around.

,, You seem pretty close with that guy’’ Touya said, also taking one cigarette.

,, Huh? You mean Bakugo?’’ you asked and he simply nodded his head, not taking his eyes from the spiky haired guy. ,, Yeah, we are pretty close’’ you added, puffing onto your cigarette.

,, You like him ?’’ Touya’s eyes met yours, making you feel a bit uneasy with his sudden behavior.

,, No, we are literally only friends and he’s much younger, wait, why ?’’ you were too confused, finding it hard to proceed the whole situation. Changing the topic, he simply asked what you wanna do after work, acting as nothing happened at all.

,, So, that Bakugo guy, he has a girlfriend ?’’ Touya asked, as the two of you made your way to the nearest store.

,, At this point I’m not sure if you are interested in me or Bakugo’’ you joked, dragging your feet lazily.

,, In you, obviously’’

After that day Touya was giving his best to show you how he felt, he was giving his best to show everyone to who you belong. Being a little too touchy in front of his friends and your co workers, in a way that seemed innocent to you, yet clear to everyone else. Small kisses he usually placed on your cheeks, were getting closer and closer to your lips. The hand he usually places around your shoulders, was getting lower and lower.

Even when he comes over, he was using every little chance he had to touch you, using everything you liked into his advantage. He knew how much you loved when someone caressed you, and he did it more than gladly for you. Tracing his fingers against your soft skin, starting with your arms, only to end up with his hand under your shirt, caressing your back slowly, until you would end up falling asleep in his arms.

,, What do you want to watch ?’’ you asked, placing the bowl of popcorn onto the table, while Touya waited for you patiently on you couch. The weather was perfect for nothing else than a lazy movie evening.

Hopping next to him, you made yourself comfortable as you listened to the storm outside. The sound of strong wind and thunder was more then relaxing to you, and for some reason you enjoyed weather like that.

Gasping loudly, you jumped a little once your cat tried to climb onto you, destroying your small enjoyable moment.

,,Taquito get the fuck off her, she has a boyfriend’’ Touya pushed the cat away gently, joking around, as you just sat there and watched him, eyes wide in shock.

,, Do I?’’ you asked, not moving at all.

,, Fuck yes, you do’’ he added, wrapping his right arm around you, pulling you closer to him, as he looked for a perfect movie to watch. He took his time searching for anything interesting, mumbling some words of disappointments as he couldn’t find anything on Netlfix. At the end he played Oh, Ramona! , since none of you watched it and it was it was simply in Netflix recommendation list.

Pulling you closer to him, he started tracing his fingers along your arm, both of you concentrated on the weird movie that was playing on the screen of your Television. You always begged your friends to caress your arm, since you loved the ticklish feeling that always made you sleepy, yet they would always refuse it, giving you some lame excuses how they’re tired and so on.

Now that Touya was doing it without you having to ask him, you tried to enjoy every second of it. If you only knew, how much Touya enjoyed it, almost as much as you did. The feeling of your soft skin under his fingertips was driving him crazy, as he traced them down your tattoos, mesmerizing every inch of them.

The air got steamier in one moment, and you weren’t sure if it was because of the overly erotic scenes that were showed in the movie, or because his hand was now under your shirt, slowly moving from your back, to the side of your hips.

Trying to calm yourself down a little, you grabbed your phone, checking out all of the unread messages in the group chat. The way he moved hiss hands from side to side made you almost way to shaky. It took you some time to write a reply to your friends, and you almost dropped your phone once he put a little bit pressure into his touch, making your skin burn under his palm.

,, You should concentrate on the movie doll’’ Touya said, not stopping his movements.

,, Yeah, sorry’’ you mumbled, dropping your phone beside you, as you tried not to close your eyes in pleasure.

Once the movie got too erotic fro your taste, you found yourself with your phone in your hands again, trying to hide the blush that was spreading across your cheeks. Of course, that didn’t go unnoticed by Touya. Annoyed groan left his lips, as he snatched the phone away from you.

,, You really don’t listen’’ he pointed, hiding the phone away from you, as you complained quietly. The hand that was under your shirt was suddenly wrapped around your neck, pushing you slowly into the couch, there was no pressure in it, but the sudden turn of the whole situation made your eyes widen in shock.

,, Are you bored doll? ‘’ he asked, his face only inches away from yours as he locked your body under his own.

,, No, it’s just.. the movie is too much’’ you whispered, gulping on your saliva as he slowly tapped his fingers around your neck. This time you didn’t have to ask yourself, you knew that he was the one turning you on, and not the fucking scenes from the movie.

,, too erotic’’ you mumbled, making him laugh loudly.

,, You should have kept your eyes on me, instead of your phone, if it was getting to much for you’’ he gave you a smile, a dangerous one.

,, That won’t help’’ you confessed, making him smirk widely as you spoke those words. How could it help, when he was laying beside you handsome without even trying, as his hand was caressing your body gently.

,, Oh, am I turning you on?’’ he asked, mocking you shamelessly, as you tried to avoid his eyes.

Touya didn’t need your reply, the way you acted in the moment was enough for him, and God did he want to fuck you senseless in that moment. His hand moved a bit up from your neck, holding your jaw in one place, as he connected his lips with yours.

His hold on your jaw grew stronger, forcing you to open your mouth just enough so he could slip his tongue inside. Not breaking the kiss, he parted your tights apart, as he hovered on top of you, his hips between your legs, slowly grinding against your clothed core.

You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him closer into the kiss, not giving a shit about the movie or your phone anymore. The way he was grinding against you, the way you could feel his hard dick rubbing against you, made you insane in that moment and you found yourself wanting more and more.

,, On your knees’’ Toyua commanded, breaking the kiss as he sat onto the couch, spreading his legs enough to give you some space between them. Without thinking twice, you obeyed, positioning yourself down, between his legs, as he pushed his hips just a bit to pull his sweatpants and boxers down.

Touya looked down on you, not hiding the smirk on his face, as he slowly caressed your hair. Kissing the tip gently, you looked up through your long lashes, satisfied with the fact that he was going crazy as much as you do. He cursed something under his breath, as you gave him one lick, taking your time and making sure you licked every inch of it.

,, Don’t tease me doll, you’re not in position for it’’ he hissed, as you placed your lips on the tip of his cock. His hand found its way to your hair, gripping onto it, as he brought your mouth farther down him. You wanted to take your time, to play at your own pace, but Touya didn’t let you, he waited too long for this to happened and teasing wasn’t something he needed in the moment.

,, Open your mouth a bit more’’ he growled, gripping your hair tighter then before. He wanted you to obey him, he wanted you to do everything he wanted in that moment and you did, you gladly did.

It was the first time you had someone’s dick deep down your throat, and the feeling you weren’t used to made your eyes glossy so fast as his tip hit the back of your throat, making you gag a little.

Without giving you any time to get used to it, he started moving his hips, as he held your head in place. You could feel his hardness more then clear now, as his hips thrust into your mouth at some lazy, yet strong pace. Focused on his dick, you didn’t even realize that tears were rolling down your cheeks, vision getting blurry as his moves got much faster, not giving you a chance to breath properly.

,, You look so pretty when you cry’’ Touya groaned, getting even more turned on as he watched you get ruined because of his dick. The small amount of mascara you had, was all gone, turning your tears into blurry shade of black. You started gagging, and without even knowing you tried to move away a bit, giving your best to breath through your nose.

Looking up on him, you saw him squeeze his eyes shut, head swung back into the edge of your couch. You could feel your saliva dripping down your chin, and if you weren’t in that position at the moment, you would probably end up blushing. But none of that was possible, since all you could focus on was his dick hitting the same spot of your throat.

Touya stopped his movements, slowly petting your head, as you fought for your breath, coughing loudly, while tears rolled down your cheeks. If it was someone else, you would probably told them to go to hell and throw them out of your apartment, but it was Touya, and all you wanted was to do was make him feel good.

,, My good girl’’ he praised, pulling you up into his lap. You wanted to stay in his lap a bit longer, you wanted to snuggle into his neck and enjoy the moment, but just after he gave you one sloppy kiss, you found yourself under him again.

Touya took your shorts and panties off, throwing them across the living room together with his shirt. In less then a minute, the two of you were all naked, enjoying the feeling of each others skin.

,, Touya, please’’ you begged, feeling his hard erection between your legs, as he sucked onto your neck, leaving wet love bites all over it. Taking one deep breath, he started rubbing the tip of his dick up and down your clit, making you beg for him even more.

,, Needy baby’’ he mocked, placing his tip only a bit into your core, as he continued to tease you, loving every second of the way you were almost breaking down for him.

A loud scream escaped your lips as he entered his full length into you, kissing your jaw and giving you some time to adjust his size. The moment he looked down your body, to see his dick buried deep inside your core, something else grabbed his attention. Cursing loudly, his eyes focused on two shiny pieces of metal, pierced thru both of your nipples.

,, How didn’t I notice this earlier’’ he hissed, lowering his head just enough as he sucked onto your nipple, the contrast of the warm feeling of your skin and the cold metal against his tongue made his curse all over again. His hand found it’s way to your left boob, slowly pinching and twisting your nipple, making you throw your head back, and making it hard for you to concentrate on anything else than his dick that stood still inside you, while his tongue was working wonders on you.

Playing with the small piercing, Touya started moving his hips at a lazy and sloppy pace, making you feel every single inch of him. Touya groaned against your nipple, deciding to waste no time, bringing his cock out and then slamming it back inside almost urgently.

Your hand reached up to his hair, tugging it roughly, as your other hand went up to his back, scratching red lines down helping release some of the pleasure you felt in the moment. Touya rocked his hips quickly, gaining depth with each thrust he made, as you were pulling at his hair lightly, eyes shut strongly as you moaned his name loudly.

He loved how you felt around him, he loved the way you were scratching his back and tugging his hair, yet he wanted more. Placing his hand around your throat, he gave it a small squeeze. It looked like he was asking for a permission, but he wasn’t. In fact it was more like a sign, a little sign for you to prepare yourself for what’s coming.

You didn’t get the little hint he gave you, totally unprepared once his grip around your throat grew stronger, making your breathing stop, as he slammed his hips at ruthless speed. He enjoyed playing with you, giving you only a second to fight for air, before he puts the pressure around your neck again, wrapping his fingers firmly around it.

In one moment you weren’t sure if he forgot about the fact that you couldn’t breath, hand wrapped around your throat for too long making your eyes roll back. You clenched his hair, yanking it tightly, giving him a sign that you need air, only for him to smirk in response as he held it even tighter, thrusting into you with much more force then he did before.

You were more then grateful when he gave you a whole minute to breath properly. But even without his hand around your neck, you had trouble catching your breath since he was hitting your sweet spot all over and over again. Of course, that was your problem and not his.

Feeling your walls getting tighter around his dick, he once again put the not so small pressure onto your throat, forcing the tears out of you as he continued to reach your g spot each time he slammed back inside. Scratching his back, your grabbed his hand that was wrapped around your throat with your own, closing your eyes shut as you found yourself coming undone. You weren’t sure if it was because of the lack of air, or because he didn’t stop his movements, but the orgasm that hit you was the best one you ever had.

In that moment, Touya left your neck alone, smirking to himself as he noticed the marks of his fingertips buried deep in the skin of your neck. Placing his hands onto your hips, he sped up, rocking his hips against your at animalistic speed as he reached his own high.

Groaning loudly he came inside, body collapsing on your own as he slowly fucked his seed into you, as he repeated how much he loves you all over again.

Once the two of you finally calmed down, Touya helped you clean yourself, being extra careful like you were a small piece of glass that was about to break any moment.

Hopping back onto the couch, you rolled your eyes at the view of the ending of the stupid movie Touya found. He wrapped his arm around you, snatching the cigarette that was hanging between your lips and placing it between his own.

,,Oh God’’ you gasped loudly, as your cat jumped on top of you, making you jump a bit in surprise. ,, Fuck off Taquito, I have a boyfriend’’ you pushed your cat lightly away, repeating the words Touya said few hours ago, making him grin widely as he placed a kiss on your cheek.