#The Comfort in the Brave

[sandythereadingcafe]

COVER REVEAL!

THE COMFORT IN THE BRAVE BY Author J. A. Huss

Captive Romance Meets Ride-or-DIE.

Sacred Trinity #3 - Releasing August 22, 2024

Clover Bradley was having the worst day of her life and then she got kidnapped. In her own home. Well, her empty and currently being renovated childhood home on the edge of Disciple, West Virginia and not her former cozy cottage on the grounds of the Dixie Yonder Hotel where she was working and thriving until that very morning. But it still counts and definitely makes her very bad day much worse. But that’s not even the crazy part. The crazy part is that she’s falling for her kidnapper. A handsome man, if a little morally challenged, who is probably very dangerous and has threatened to kill her half a dozen times over the span of just one day, but what can one do? The attraction is there. Riggs is just trying his best to stay out of prison. Which seems at odds with his current actions, but need-to-know nuances make all these nonsensical pieces fit. And even though Clover isn’t a model captive—she’s a complainer of the princess variety—he finds himself getting attached. If he hadn’t been forced to kidnap her to save his own hide, he could see a future where the two of them end up together. So he figures… why not save her life by endangering her some more? And she figures… well, it’s better than being left to rot in her own basement. And that’s, of course, when things get interesting. The Comfort in the Brave is an ironic twist of fate inbred to a really bad decision. It’s a captive romance turned ride-or-die in a crazy escape from Blackberry Hill—but this time Collin Creed isn’t coming to save anyone, he’s looking for revenge. TROPES Falling for the Enemy Ride or Die Haughty Princess Redemptive Anti-Hero Morally Grey Found Family

AMAZON US: https://amzn.to/4fi4b50

WORLDWIDE: https://geni.us/ComfortAmazon

AUDIBLE PRE-ORDER LIVE JULY 31

TROPES Falling for the Enemy Ride or Die Haughty Princess Redemptive Anti-Hero Morally Grey Found Family

[nipuni]

The heart of the universe 💫

A speedpaint video of this will be available at my Patreon on december 1st!

[malacandrax]

Somebody asked where kidstarion got the teddy and I went uh. too far drawing dad content.

[hedgehog-moss]

Why is everyone in the world except me unable to figure out the optimal way to load a dishwasher, this is such a burden. I don’t want to be a dishtator but I can’t allow a variety of opinions when it just makes SENSE for wine glasses to be over here where the tray is deeper. You put a small leg-less glass there you’re going to run into problems later can’t you see that?? no long-term vision. No sense of greater strategy, but you can’t live in the moment while loading dishes. You know when fairytale princesses don’t want to marry and give would-be suitors impossible trials, well that would be a good one. I shall plight my troth to the first person who can load an entire dishwasher without doing anything preposterous

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Call that a Cave Story.

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[love4hobi]

J-HOPE & BOOGALOO KIN Hope on the Street (2024)

[steddieas-shegoes]

count on your courage

for @steddielovemonth prompt 'love is what makes you brave'

rated t | 1,508 words | cw: coming out (one goes horribly wrong offscreen, one goes perfectly right), steve gets kicked out | tags: wayne munson is the best uncle, secret relationship, steve has bad parents, hurt/comfort, wayne adopts steve

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

Steve should've gone to Robin's probably.

But when you're in a state of shock after being kicked out of your house because your dad found a handwritten love note from your boyfriend, you don't always think clearly.

He was sitting outside the trailer, on the gravel driveway, rocks digging into his ass and thighs, thinking about how uncomfortable the back seat of his car was for sleeping. He managed to grab his sandwich bag of savings, which was barely enough for a motel for a couple of weeks, but maybe he'd find a place that would be more understanding.

After Vecna, most places were open to any arrangement on payment as long as they got something.

"Steve?" Eddie's voice filtered to him from the front door of the trailer.

It wasn't until he heard Eddie's voice that he realized Wayne's truck was parked next to Eddie's van, which meant Wayne was home, which meant Wayne would be confused as hell.

Eddie's hands were on his shoulders, worried and tugging him out of his own thoughts.

"Hey," Steve said.

"What're you doin' here, Stevie? You said you weren't comin' over because you have an early shift tomorrow," Eddie's eyes were wide, and Steve realized he must assume there's an emergency.

"Oh. I did say that." Steve sighed. "I actually don't know why I came here."

"Shit, Steve. Did you hit your head? Is it...you know?"

"No. To both. Just-" Steve didn't want to alarm him, but he did have to say what was going on. "My parents kicked me out. Well, my dad did. My mom just kinda...let him?"

"What? Jesus Christ, Stevie. Come inside, you're shivering," Eddie pulled him up so he was standing awkwardly in front of him. "How long have you been out here?"

"Dunno," he shrugged. Which was true. He knew his parents got home around five, and his dad had stormed out of his office around six, yelling about Steve's belongings being where they shouldn't be. It didn't take long after that for all hell to break loose. "What time is it now?"

Eddie looked down at his watch. "A little after nine."

"Huh. I guess close to two hours."

Eddie cussed under his breath, then wrapped an arm around Steve's waist.

It's not like they had to worry about being seen; What used to be a full trailer park now mostly consisted of the Munson's new trailer and Max's trailer that was only inhabited for a few hours a night, if that.

"Ed? Everthin' okay?" Wayne called from the porch.

Steve looked up, panicked.

It's not that he hadn't been around Wayne plenty of times, especially while Eddie was in the hospital. He'd run into him a few times at the trailer as he passed through the kitchen to pack his lunch for work or when he was heading to bed when Steve was picking Eddie up for work.

It was more like he felt like everything was written clear across his face, and if Wayne found out about him, he'd find out about Eddie, and what if he kicked Eddie out?

They couldn't both be homeless.

Eddie didn't verbally respond, but he must have done something to let Wayne know everything wasn't okay.

"C'mon in then," he gestured, opening the front door for them both to walk through. "Get that blanket off my chair for him."

Steve didn't know why he needed a blanket, it's not like it was even cold.

But as he was gently pushed down onto the couch, he noticed how much he actually was shivering, and realized he must've forgotten his jacket in his haste to leave his house. It wasn't winter, but the chill in at night was too much to be outside without a jacket.

The blanket was soft, and smelled a lot like Wayne's cologne, the one he insisted he didn't wear, but Steve could always smell just a hint of it lingering in the air after he left the room. It was a comforting smell, one he'd gotten used to in the background. One he'd come to associate with Eddie, and calm, and home.

He could hear Wayne and Eddie whispering by the kitchen counter, but couldn't quite focus on the words they were saying.

Wayne sat down across from him, right on the coffee table, like it wasn't a piece of furniture specifically designed for holding things that were never touched. Eddie sat down next to him, leaving no space, and no way to mistake how close they were.

He tried to scoot away, just leave a few inches of space so Wayne wouldn't question it. Eddie's hand on his knee stopped him.

"You wanna tell me about what's going on?" Wayne asked softly.

"I'm fine-"

"I didn't ask if you were fine. I asked if you wanted to tell me what was goin' on." Wayne's voice was gruff, but his face was open, his body leaning in closer to them so he could listen to what Steve had to say. "You ain't gotta tell me everythin', but if you're gonna be stayin', I'd like to know why you look scared outta your mind."

Eddie's hand moved to his back, rubbing in circles, comforting. "It's okay, sweetheart."

Wayne didn't even flinch at the pet name.

Maybe he was just used to Eddie being a bit too loose with his words, or maybe he actually knew.

"My parents um," Steve silently asked Eddie for permission to say more. Eddie nodded. "They found a note from Eddie to me. And they figured out some stuff about um..."

"It's alright. He knows about me," Eddie said softly.

"Go on, kid," Wayne said.

"They found out that he's my boyfriend from the note, and they didn't want their letdown of a son in their house anymore. I had to grab what I could in just a couple minutes and get out."

Wayne's hand rested on his knee now. "Thanks for tellin' me, son."

Steve broke.

The tears came so quickly, so viciously, he couldn't breathe. Eddie's arms wrapped around him, pulled him tight to his chest.

Wayne's hand was on his back, an extra comforting weight as he let the events of the evening sink in.

His parents didn't love him, didn't want him, didn't even care to hear about how lucky he was to finally have someone who got him.

But Wayne was here, showing him acceptance.

Eddie was here, holding him and loving him through this.

And when Robin heard, she'd be by his side, making threats that would make him laugh.

Eventually, he would tell the others, maybe even Hopper.

But for now, he held the courage Eddie gave him close to his chest, used this as a practice run.

"I'm gonna make us some hot chocolate. You got any stuff in your car to bring in?" Wayne asked.

"Just one bag."

"We'll get it in the mornin'. You can borrow some of Ed's clothes tonight. And you let me worry about gettin' your stuff. Me and Jim can handle it." Wayne stood up and started walking towards the kitchen. "And Steve?"

"Yeah?" he pulled away to wipe his eyes and look at Wayne, who was smiling at him.

"I don't expect ya to pay rent, but I do expect ya to help with chores. Your days for dishes can be Mondays and Thursdays and you'll be in charge of groceries one week a month. Sound okay to you?"

He blinked back at Wayne, confused.

"You can share a room with Eds, but remember the walls are thin."

"Wayne!" Eddie choked out.

Steve laughed, genuinely happy on a night when he was sure he'd be miserable for days to come. "We'll behave."

Wayne knocked once on the doorway and walked out of sight.

Steve turned to Eddie and kissed him once on the lips, a quick peck.

"You okay with me living here? Wayne kinda just invited me without talking to you," Steve felt himself blush.

"I want you to be safe and happy, right here with me. With us. If that's what you want."

"Yeah. I want that," Steve rested his head against Eddie's shoulder and sighed. "I'm tired."

"You were brave tonight. Takes a lot outta ya." Eddie kissed the top of his head. "I should know by now that I can always count on your courage, though."

"What do you mean?"

"Took me three years to admit to Wayne that I was gay. Took you three minutes," Eddie let out a quiet laugh. "You amaze me."

"You're being sappy," Steve said into his shirt.

"Let me be a little sappy."

Steve could hear the words he wasn't saying, had felt them plenty of times over the last couple of weeks, maybe months. The 'I love you' that was hidden under sappy words, hidden under the blanket wrapped around him being adjusted by worried hands, hidden in hands that were always touching him to remind him he wasn't alone.

They might be hidden now, but they wouldn't be for long.

[sunshinetrinket]

17 and other meaningless things

Editor's Letter, Tavi Gevinson / unknown / Lie With Me, Philippe Besson / art, @fanny-hs / Tuesday, Alex Dimitrov / unknown / simone de beauvoir, memoirs of a dutiful daughter / unknown / Norwegian Wood, Haruki Murakami / One Tree Hill / august to do list, @thegirlhoodtheory

[squishiest-wizard]

on ep 27 of my m9 rewatch and I forgot how much the exchange between nott and caleb rewired my brain

Nott: “To throw what away? I want to hear you say it. Why do you want to go after them?”

Caleb: “Their deaths would be a waste.”

Nott: “Wrong. Why?”

something about her willingness to push him. something about how she’s trying to pull him further from the pragmatic, rationalizing, planning, scheming that has helped the both of them survive but not move forward. she knows it’s in there. she wants to make him say it. holy shit i’m ill about this.

[demigods-posts]

i think it's incredible that percy's high school counselor knows that he's a demigod. after all these years of being belittled and ridiculed for learning disabilities that stem from his demigod persona. not being able to plead his case because no one would believe him anyway. then finally getting an in. a counselor who is not only armed with the tools to set him up for success. but in a way that coincides with his demigod persona. and aligns with his personal goals in the mortal world moving forward. he is no longer half a person. but a singular individual. i hope this continues to be a good thing for him.

[heavenly-iulie]

luxendarc miku

[sinistersinita]

Honestly wish their parts would emote especially Gunmax's antenna

[thebramblewood]

The dawn of the final day.

Previous / Next

Julia: [muttering shakily] Come on, Jules. Just hit the button. You have to tell someone. It’s the right thing to do.

Helena: [whoosh] [thump] Julia? Shit, how’d you even-

Julia: Helena, w-what did you just... I don’t understand what’s going on!

Helena: If you’d let me explain-

Julia: No, no, no, this can’t be happening! Vampires aren’t supposed to be real!

Helena: [narrows eyes] Who are you calling?

Julia: No one! I was just thinking about it, I swear! [flinches away] Stop! Don’t come any closer!

Helena: Julia, please, I’m not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you.

Julia: [tearfully] But you could have!

Helena: What?

Julia: It was you who hurt my friends, who hurt all those people! I hang out there with them all the time. If you’d seen me, would you have been able to resist?

Helena: Of course!

Julia: Oh, so you were in control? You knew what you were doing and you did it anyway. Who are you, Helena? What are you? Because I don’t think you’re my sister anymore. You’re a-a-a... a monster!

Helena: Please don’t say that. You have no idea how sorry I am. The way I left them... it just loops like an endless nightmare in my head. I didn’t mean to go that far. I just wanted the hunger to stop, but it never does.

Julia: They might still die. Because of you. [scoffs] Migraines. You’ve been lying all along! Helena: What could I have said? You wouldn’t have believed me.

Julia: How did this even happen? Why are you… like this?

Helena: Oh, Julia, I was so stupid! Ulrike and I had just broken up. I was in a bad place, and I trusted the wrong person. I didn’t want it! I barely remember what happened. I just woke up with this fire burning inside of me.

Julia: Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t call the cops right now.

Helena: Because you love me. Because I’m leaving.

Julia: What? Where will you go?

Helena: I don’t know. But it’s obvious I can’t stay. I’m not fit to be around people now. Maybe I never will be. I’m too dangerous — to myself, to you, to Mom and Dad, to this entire fucking town.

Julia: There must be another way. If you turn yourself in, then maybe-

Helena: What, the police will go easy on me because I’m sorry? I kill the police because they don’t? It wouldn’t end well for anyone, Julia. [sighs wearily] At least I never finished unpacking.

[averagepsychouser]

I am SO FUCKING TIRED OF PEOPLE MAKING ARCADE A PUSSY WHAT THE FUCK

STOP MAKING HIM A FUCKING TWINK YOUR COURIER HAS TO SWOOP IN AND SAVE HE’S A SIX FOOT SOMETHING 35 YEAR OLD MAN STOP ACTING LIKE ALL GAY MEN ARE PUSSIES

[motherlove]

Requested by : 🍮✨️ Anon．

Like & Reblog if used．

[tennessoui]

brain will not let me sleep until I say

same age padawans au where they’ve been in a weird wired frenemies thing for ages but now that they’re both mature adults (all of 24/25 years old) they’re more friends than enemies….

And it’s Obi-Wan that Anakin tells when he’s decided he’s going to leave the Order, not anyone else. He has a wife. There was a pregnancy scare a few weeks ago and it made her want their relationship to stop being a secret so they could really have kids. He has to leave the Order. Doesn’t Obi-Wan understand?

Obi-Wan, who has been a little in love with Anakin since they were younglings, does not understand. Not one bit. Instead of wishing him well and helping him pack, he goes to the Council and requests a mission in the Outer Rim….perhaps a month long or more…perhaps undercover? No contact with anyone on Coruscant. And maybe they could assign Anakin Skywalker as his back up? He can help with the undercover aspect.

And at first, Anakin is pissed because he was planning to resign from the Order in the next few days, but Obi-Wan convinces him to go on this mission with him….one last mission as a Jedi. To say goodbye to the Jedi life.

Obviously, Obi-Wan sort of wants to go on one last mission with Anakin because in his dreams, he wants the mission to go so perfectly that Anakin stays with him the Order. But realistically, he mostly wants to go on this mission to say goodbye to Anakin and then let him go, soaking up all his warmth and light, memorizing every casual touch bestowed on him because he knows they’re ticking down to the last handful of seconds together.

But then obviously the mission works TOO well and Anakin falls in love with Obi-Wan but doesn’t admit to it even to himself before they’re on the ship about to head back to Coruscant and Anakin realizes he doesn’t want to leave this planet because he doesn’t want to leave Obi-Wan if it could always be like this so he crashes the ship during take off so they can stay longer because he’s 24 and doesn’t know how to handle the immensity of his love except through destruction