#This is a very specific not-yet-dead-inside tone and I can't decide if I like the result or not so lmk what you think

[fountainpenguin]

"And I can't get any worse... So I'll change my life or I'll lose my mind- Whatever happens first..." (x)

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New Fairly OddParents 'fic update today

Prerequisite: "50 Words of Dale and Vicky"

🚂 130 Reasons Why I'm Fairy Trash

Prompt #96 - “You Deserve It”

Rated T - 17k words - Arc 3 start!

“Do you know what that means?” Without waiting for an answer, Dale grabbed Timmy’s shoulder with one hand and pumped his fist with the other. “I’m still her bestie! She didn’t replace me!” “She locked you in a cellar for 7 years,” Timmy started, but Dale cut him off by slamming the bathroom door. And he laughed at nothing, clutching fingers in his hair, because… He really had to talk to her. They could clear this whole mess up!

Read on FFN | Read on AO3

City Lights AU | Cloudlands AU

Story Arc Navigation | 130 Summaries

More Fairly OddParents 'fics

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Dale Dimmadome - freshly pried away from Vicky's Lemonade Factory - takes a bath at Timmy's house, attends a fancy dinner party, and reunites with a fellow rich kid from his childhood.

... Maybe he misses her. Why wouldn't he? They've been best friends for 10 years...

(First 1,000 words under the cut)

#96. You Deserve It (End of "Nectar of the Odds") Friday April 19th - Sunday April 21st, 2002 Year of Leaves; Spring of the Last Berry

Air conditioning. Dale hadn't expected that to be the thing that made him weak in the knees - especially given how his stomach acid clawed its way up his throat - but sinking down on that suburban kitchen floor, pressing his cheek up against the cold… It sort of nicked the sharpest edge off the last however-many years of his life. Does that make sense? He had so little. He made it enough. Maybe that's why the caged songbird sings. Did people even say that anymore?

Cold floor feels nice… He could feel his heart beating through it to his head. Every tick uncurled a new memory of a much-younger Dale, maybe 7 or 8 years old… Bouncing up and down in his desk chair at school so its uneven metal legs scritched against the tile. Loud. Clank. Brrrrr. Or bundled in the dollar-green sheets of his old bed - Will his kid bedroom still have his bed? - and feeling the way every heartbeat coursed through his entire body, pressed so close to the mattress, he could almost smell the springs.

"You okay?" Timmy asked, stepping over him. That was his name- Timmy Turner. 10 years old, Vicky-adjacent, and that was something to worry about. He smelled like lemonade, sweat, and grass stains. And fresh air. And soap. He smelled like mud, cotton, and almonds, and cherries somehow rolled into one. Dale cracked open his eyes again. Timmy stared down, brows pinched up. He looked like the littlest pizza delivery boy you've ever seen, except not in uniform… and he didn't have any pizza. A fly buzzed in from the open door behind him.

Am I okay? That question had no answer, like a yarn without beginning. Well… His story did have two ends like any yarn did, but they were so muddled and tangled up in the bundle, unraveling that thing would be an ordeal. And he didn't mind. No one needed to know the nitty-gritty in-betweens. There were - and had always been - only two things the public knew about Daedalus Peddler "Dale" Dimmadome:

He was the only child of Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome (unless that had changed in the past 7 years he'd been trapped underground).

One day, all his fiddling with metal and wires (and taking apart doorknobs and wagon wheels) would turn into something useful. It had to, because he was a Dimmadome.

And that's it. There was nothing more to say. These are the only two things you need to know.

But am I okay? … Did HE even know that one? Dale pushed himself to his knees again on arms that shook like monkey cymbals. "I… could really use some food and water. Clean. Clean…" That sip of lemonade Timmy had handed him outside had wet his tongue, but the aftertaste stung his guts, and there wasn't any more to go around. Timmy, just shy of his goal of a ticket to Crash Nebula On Ice, had offered Dale his last drink without charging him a cent. All that hard work, thrown away, just for me?

… No one had ever sacrificed so much work and time or anything that big for him before. Not his mom, not his dad, and not even Vicky (BFFs though they were). And Dale… hadn't yet decided how he felt about it.

What's his angle? Did Vicky put him up to this? He wants something…

"'Food and water?'" the boy repeated, and even smiled. "I can do that."

Dale turned to look at him again. Twisting hurt his stomach, but you got used to that after a few months underground. Timmy's scruffy brown hair fell over his face like a squirrel's tail. He had huge buck teeth to match… or at least to leave him looking like a beaver. Dale opted to slide away from animal metaphors after that. Way too dangerous when I'm starving so bad…

Timmy opened the door to the refrigerator, though Dale couldn't see inside from his sprawled position on the floor. "What are you hungry for? We've got a lot of leftovers."

"Uh…"

Crisp, juicy apples or mangoes. Fresh strawberries. Or cold grapes. Sticky cranberries, hot nacho cheese, gooey mashed potatoes that clung to his teeth… And with that thought, Dale brought his hand to his jaw. The fireworks in his aching gums had grown so familiar, sometimes he forgot they were even there. Or forgot most his teeth weren't.

Dale's stomach gurgled anyway. Eating wouldn't be easy, but he could break off pieces. He could slip them little by little into his mouth. "Steak?" he asked first, then, "Wait, wait- A hamburger." He hadn't had one of those since the 3rd grade. Cafeteria food. Delicious.

Timmy muttered for a moment, shifting a couple things around the fridge. Then he stepped back… and he didn't just step, but staggered with a plate topped by the tall, colorful burger in question. Real, actual burger… The scent wafted across the room like campfire smoke, and that alone tasted like something hot off the grill. Drool swelled in his mouth like a mini flood. For a fleeting instant, Dale wondered why something so perfectly made was just sitting there inside the fridge, and if any bugs had crawled over it- Maybe it was part of a buffet at a party or something in a picnic basket. Made in advance, didn't get eaten, and had been plopped in the fridge for later. But the next second, he was on the burger with his shaky gums and single tooth, and he didn't care. He didn't care.

Soft, flaky bread buttered to slick perfection melted in his mouth. His tongue found crinkles in the ruffled tears. Oh, technology had gotten so advanced… Why didn't his fridge come with a warming drawer when he was growing up?

I should've tried getting house food a long time ago…

He tore with fast fingers. He pressed pieces up against his burning gums. Three bites in, he remembered the cheese-slathered meat… and that he'd been lactose intolerant as a kid. Am I still? Or did I grow out of that? He wasn't sure. He'd been underground a long, long time.

He should stop. He should stop or he'd be paying for it later, his stomach thrashing. If his body really threw a fit, he could explode at both ends. Ihhh… He'd had enough days of runniness and retching down in The Pit to last him a lifetime.

I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. He'd never had a fleshier, warmer burger in his life. He could've eaten 14 burgers. And if this was a dream, it was the tastiest one he'd ever had.

Dale inhaled his first breath of air (instead of burger) as he scooted back his chair. He shook every crumb off his plate and devoured those too, then licked his sauce-smeared fingers one by one. I'm gonna be SO sick tonight. So good. So good…

Cnt'd on FFN & AO3

[hello-there-world]

hi thought about Charlie again. in the Rewrite. specifically in the games. no we're not getting into my Very Sad version of the Novel Trilogy. trust me, i found a way to make it sadder.

so!! my girl <3

like her dad and brother, she is incredibly southern. this includes her using southern sayings (mostly picked up from her dad). her favorite one is "Well, bless their heart" because it can technically be used genuinely (which is how most people use it i think) or as a thinly veiled insult (how my mom says it's Technically used). it just depends on the context of how Charlie says it. if she says it in either a mocking, sarcastic, or deadpan tone, she's basically saying "Ah, so their stupidity caught up to them, then? Is that what I'm hearing?"

yeah...Charlie's not exactly a 100% perfect angel, but she's not a Bad Kid either. she's a sweetheart, but she's rough and rugged. she lends a helping hand, but that doesn't mean she won't cuss you out if you're a dumbass. she fights dirty if she has to, verbally and physically.

Charlie dealt with bullying in school, mostly from another girl named Brittany and her clique. Charlie honestly could've given less of a shit (and usually did) but Brittany would drag her friends into it. which she was Not fine with.

Charlie's not even sure what Brittany's problem with her is. the long story short of it all is that while most people think Charlie is Weird /pos, Brittany and (most of) her small clique think that Charlie is Weird /neg.

so...probably the weirdest way to view the scene but like. when Brittany and a few of her friends locked Charlie outside, Charlie's reaction was less "Oh no!! :( Let me back inside, it's raining out here!! :((" it was more "BRITTANY YOU BITCHASS MOTHERFUCKER, LET ME BACK IN RIGHT THE FUCK NOW! I SWEAR TO GOD, I'LL KICK YOUR ASS WHEN I GET BACK IN THERE-"

so yeah, had William decided to be Normal and Actually helped her get back inside, we probably would've gotten a scene of either someone needing to hold Charlie back before she started a fight, or Charlie getting into a fight with Brittany.

the reason Charlie likes the song "My Grandfather's Clock" was because Henry used to sing it to her. Henry also made the music box for her.

Charlie is technically transmasc and bigender, but uh. she kinda died before she realized that.

a lot of Charlie's friends and family would also call her Charles as a nickname.

so...you're probably wondering: if Charlie's meant to be the most "pacifistic" of the souls, why does she try to kill the nightguards in Fnaf 2? well...the short answer is that she kinda had a Moral OCD-Induced Mental Breakdown (she failed to save five whole children and practically had to watch them die, and in her incredibly traumatized mind, killing a few nightguards is how she makes up for her "failure." (because, technically, someone should've been working there to keep them safe, and no one was, but the SAVE THEM minigame takes place at like 11:15 at night, so no one was there yet))

William didn't think that Charlie was responsible for like. the three dead nightguards (in the span of two weeks post-SAVE THEM) until Alex pulled up the security footage. which showed her killing the guards. William put the music box in place to keep her from. y'know. Continuing To Do That. it's the only time he's really been Scared of her as a spirit.

Charlie might technically be the "leader" of the spirits, but that doesn't mean she Entirely knows what she's doing.

Charlie, despite everything, doesn't hate William. she can't bring herself to. that doesn't mean she forgives him, nor that she isn't fucking furious with him, but...those don't necessarily equal hatred. i'd say this UCN quote sums up Charlie's feelings towards William pretty well: "I don't hate you, but you need to stay out of my way."

Charlie is actually the one who voiced Marionn when she was little! their voice is literally just Toddler Charlie!!

Charlie is Pan, but kinda oblivious about it. she thinks that Everybody kinda likes everyone but a Lot of people are just being weird about having to like Only the opposite gender or you're Wrong. she pretty much inherited her dad's sexuality, she just doesn't know.

Charlie would've grown up to be/dress like a butch and i accept no criticism on this (/hj)

Charlie my beloved <3

She sounds so cool... I really like the UCN quote there, too, cause it just... there's a deep sense of kinda... apathetic bitterness? She doesn't hate him, but...

[hymnoire]

Walking by his side, her hands down are her suit pockets, her usual posture, straightened back yet slowly paced walk as her heels are hititng the ground, echoing. A scoff escapes from her lips. You really think we will make it to fifty - he questions. One she wondered herself countless times as the heiress often reeks of both Yves Saint Laurent and glock powder. Rebels and family traitors, they are, an unforgiving status of survive or perish with a bullet in the back of the head. "Shut up." She contests, pushing his shoulder with the hand she extends, a little tomboyish in her ways, her grin widening as he teases her about how she's barely two years older than him. "I'm gonna be hot in my 50s and we all know that. Can't die before I get to sports my middle aged woman leopard printed blouses and boy do I have many." Gaya jokes as they keep moving forward. His following words echo as they now stand in front of one of the recent deliveries to the garage. Sportsy, of a signature yellow, a beauty on tires. However, Gaya's thoughts are far from her appreciation for the vehicule like they usually are. As days are passing, her father is making moves in the direction he always wanted everything to go. It is only a matter of time before the city burns into the flames he set like the devil himself. The target on his back, on Gaya's part, does not only take birth from the chaos the city goes under do the man's manigancing. Years of iving in the his shadow has built up inside, the desire to pull the trigger for her personal, gut rooted, very own revenge against him - too. Her eyes are still fixated on the hood, pensive, processing. "If I wasn't as smart as I am, I would have already strangled the man in his damn sleep. I dream about taking his last breath every single minute I get to breathe myself. There is no chickening out. But pulling a bullet in this man's head comes with heavy consequences. He's Somebody, you know. But me? I used to be no one. Even though I have gained status as her rightful heiress, my tracks must remain covered at all costs. He is aware of the eye I keep on him, he keeps one on me, equally. And I know that even dead, his post mortum influence could come and bite me in the ass. I will strike when it's time to strike. The sooner isn't always the better." Speaks Gaya. If she usually appears a little more on the nonchalant side around Taiyang, through their exchanges and years of friendship - her tone isn't so light on this very day. "I do know being cautious isn't' your signature move - nor yours, nor the gang's, not hers." Hers, the Quinn to her Joker. Gaya awaited to be alone with Taiyang for one very specific topic to be discussed. "Which I don't hate. Like that, we are complementary. However. There are lines I don't like being crossed." The heiress speaks, now her head orientated towards him, her eyes harsher, back in her usual serious and tense. "We are friends, hence why I decide to show you this instead of taking any action. But you do know I don't fuck around. If this happens ever again, I will have no choice but to." Her arm is extended now, her fingers unlocking and handing the phone to him. Her phone. He simply has to press play for the video to start, one of the surveillance tape from her father's hotel room at the ShangriLa, a record of Quinn intruding in the said room and obviously not in her right mind, hallucinating, hearing voices, talking back to them, laughing on her own, dissociating before being joined by the Black Knight to which follows an incoherent, quite extremist dialogue from Quinn's part, still. "Don't worry, no one has seen this but me.

Tai. She's sick."

          for @velvetineblue from here

[yurtletheturtlehenderson]

COSMIC - S1:E3; Chapter Three, Holly, Jolly - [Pt. 2]

A Will Byers x Male!Reader Series

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘠/𝘯, 𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘋𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭. 𝘈 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳.

WARNINGS: Mentions of [lots of] blood, use of the 'f' word literally ONCE, uhh, I think that's it?

|| 𝟑𝐫𝐝 ��𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ||

El sits on the floor of Mike's basement, back to the couch. Candy wrappers and crumbs were scattered around a finished puzzle of a beautiful green forest. The strange plastic ship, floating in the air in front of her. It suddenly drops to the ground as her attention is brought to the Supercomm on the couch. She picks up the device and clicks it on, bored with the static that comes from the other end, she soon abandons the device and stands up.

She walks up the steps, eager to explore the house more. When she reaches the top of the steps, she cautiously peeks around the corner. When she decides no one is home and the coast is clear, she continues to explore the house.

With the house to herself, she had more time to linger, and appreciate and explore. It was fascinating to her, and yet it made her sad. Could she have had a life like this? She didn't know what to think when she admired every object, every picture on the wall. There was one in particular that caught her eye.

It was a small photograph, but you could tell it was important. It was another picture of Mike and his friends. Only, they were younger. They were playing and splashing around in the water, a lake it looked like, surrounded by beautiful green trees. Each of them had an arm wrapped around each other forming a line, and their pants were rolled up to their knees.

The young boy on the very left had messy black hair, who El immediately recognized as Mike. He was smiling brightly at her from the picture. A young Lucas to his right, who wore a rather proud grin. Dustin was looking at the two, more specifically Lucas; he had been laughing when the photo was taken.

Will, she believed his name was, had one scrawny arm draped loosely around Dustin, however, he had his full attention on a very cheery looking Y/n who stood proudly showing off a very small frog to the camera. He had daisies on his head, tangled in his hair, and a gleaming smile showed off a missing tooth. He was holding the frog so delicately.

But it wasn't Y/n, or even Mike that caught her eye. It was the way Will was looking at Y/n. His eyes held a certain fondness and appreciation, his smile warm and genuine. El tilted her head ever so slightly, thinking. Something deep inside her was gnawing at her, a feeling that was foreign to her. Shaking her head, she moved on to the rest of the living room.

She went back to the funny chair Mike had shown her and took a seat. She reached over and pulled on the lever, sending her back and forth as it kicked her feet out. She looked around curiously as the chair rocked her back and forth.

El noticed the weird device on the table beside her and picked it up. It was a strange curved thing attached by a curly wire. It had many buttons, every one of them had a number on them. It let out a strange noise, barely audible from the top. She brought it up to her ear to listen to the endless monotone hum. Not knowing what else to do she mimicked the tone, just for fun before putting it back.

She stood up from the chair and sat herself down on her knees in front of the TV. Curious, she ran her fingers down the side until she felt the button and pressed it. A brief crackle of static rang out and as soon as it came on it was replaced with the voice of an older man, the screen lit up in front of her.

"...was occupying a large part of Lebanon. Today, Syria has become a home for-"

Click.

El pressed another button.

The moving picture on the screen changed, where many bright flashes of color dance across the screen. A fake man with yellow hair held a sword as he exclaimed.

"I have the power!"

Click.

"...gift that will last forever. From the Harmony Treasures' collection-"

Click.

A beautiful melody came from the TV set and El's eyes widened in surprise.

Click.

"On the beach and in the sun"

El froze. She recognized the rolling tin can that appeared on the TV. Her breathing began to quicken as she fought the memories back.

- 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 -

The all too familiar humming and beeping of the machines echoed off of the cold, isolating walls. Eleven sat at the same table, with the same camera facing the same window with the same adults who watch her and study her. Nothing was new, and she feared nothing ever would be. All she wants is to go this over with. Wanting to get the damn wires off of her head.

Yet, she sat still, compliant, unmoving. Never taking her eyes off of Papa as she watched him hand the clipboard to one of the men and give her a nod of his head. She turned her head and attention to the small Coke drink. Her eyes bore into the empty can and she concentrated.

Her head shook ever so slightly as she focused, straining. It was difficult, but she was able to do it. The can caved into itself with a loud 'crack' and it wasn't until the monitors stopped did she realize how loud they had been. She looked back to Papa, looking for his approval.

He stood unmoving, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. She felt her nose run damp, a warm liquid oozed from her nose. She blinked, confused and slowly brought her hand up to her upper lip, realizing she was bleeding. She looked to Papa, expectantly. He only smiled a cold empty grin.

- 𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 -

"Coke is it! Coke is it!"

El quickly pushed the first button, shutting the TV off. Breathing heavily, she stood up and made her way to the basement.

|| 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ||

My back was beginning to hurt from hunching over for so long, but nevertheless, I continued looking. Lucas needs ammo for his wrist rocket, so naturally, the four of us were currently scouring the schoolyard for rocks.

"How about this one?" Mike asks, walking up to Dustin.

Dustin examines the rock Mike handed to him.

"Too big for the sling." He shrugs, tossing the rock to the grass. "So, do you think Eleven was born with her powers, like the X-Men, or do you think she acquired them, like... like Green Lantern?"

"She's not a superhero. She's a weirdo." Lucas says as he searches for that.

"You don't know that," I mumble, Lucas, however, doesn't hear me.

"Why does that matter? The X-Men are weirdos." Mike adds.

Lucas turns to Mike, agitated. "If you love her so much, why don't you marry her?"

I roll my eyes, and straighten up, stretching out my back.

"What are you talking about?" Mike sighs.

"Mike, seriously?"

"What?"

"You look at her all, like... 'Hi, El! El! El! El! I love you so much!'" Lucas teases, grabbing Mike in for a hug before getting down on one knee. "'Would you marry me?' I'm telling you, man, you're just as bad as Will!" He stood back up when he said the last-

'Wait...What?'

"What?" I asked, completely thrown off.

The boys freeze, Lucas especially. Lucas excluded, the boys all look at me with awkward smiles on their faces. Dustin chuckles and gives a still frozen Lucas a few pats on the arm.

"Good job, man. Real smooth."

"Guys, what is going on?" I asked exasperated, crossing my arms.

"Shit," Lucas whispers, closing his eyes.

"Lucas..."

Mike wears a triumphant grin on his face and looks expectantly at Lucas.

"Yeah, Lucas. Tell him."

Lucas sighs, and stiffly turns around, his change of attitude dramatic. He looks around once or twice before growing stern with me.

"You, and Will?" He suggests.

"What about us? What does that have to do with- Oh come on... You can't be serious. He does not like me."

"Literally everyone knows he is totally in love with you." He scoffs.

I scoff in return. "Love? Don't you think you're being a little dramatic? Not to mention, ridiculous?"

"Am I wrong?" He turns to the boys, who hesitantly shrug.

He turns back to me, a look screaming 'There you have it.'

"That doesn't prove anything! We're best friends! So what if we're close?"

He laughs. "Yeah, just as close as Nancy and Steve! And you're no better. You just haven't realized it yet."

"W-What? W-what ar- No!" My words are caught in my throat and I felt my cheeks begin to burn.

'No, I don't!'

It takes moments for me to recover. "Okay, let's say you're right. Let's say he does love me. How can you know for sure, huh? It's not like he told you!"

"Uhh, yeah! Might as well have. He didn't deny it!"

My heart stops, and I feel butterflies erupt in my stomach.

'Will? And me?'

"Look what we have here!"

'Oh, God. Not now.'

I roll my eyes and before I can stop myself I speak. "What do you want, Troll?"

My eyes widen at my sudden boldness but I remain confident. I stare down the two boys who have been bullying us for as long as we've attended this school.

"You better watch your mouth, freak-"

"Back off!" Dustin yells, cutting him off.

Troy looks over to Dustin, looking prepared to throw more insults at my brother but something changes his mind and he cools off. A smug smile tugs at his lips.

"Or what?" Troy spits.

Dustin falls silent, and Troy continues.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. What are you losers doing back here anyway?"

"Probably looking for their missing friend." Troy's goon laughs.

Anger begins to take over and my blood starts to boil.

"That's not funny. It's serious. He's in danger." Dustin immediately cuts in.

"I hate to break it to you, Toothless, but he's not in danger. He's dead. That's what my dad says."

'Where's that damn rock?'

"He said he was probably killed by some other queer."

I feel a lurch in my chest, and I can practically feel my vision going red.

"Come on. Just ignore them." Mike soothes, not only to me but to Dustin and Lucas as well.

He's right. I need to get out of here. I storm off, ready to shove him in the shoulder as I pass but suddenly I feel something catch my foot and I fall to the ground. A sudden wave of searing pain explodes on my chin when I hit the ground.

Dazed and confused, I push myself up enough to see a large, rather bloody rock just inches from my face.

I groan, rolling over on my back, I hear laughing and frantic footsteps.

"Y/n!" Dustin and Mike run over to me, Lucas storms up to Troy.

Dustin and Mike each grab an arm and help me sit up. I hesitantly bring a hand up to my chin and I hiss in pain. I look at my fingers and they are absolutely covered in blood.

'Holy crap.'

I groan and look to Lucas worried. He stands firm and tall, right up in Troy's face.

"Leave us. The fuck. Alone." He says through clenched teeth.

My eyes triple in size, surprised by Lucas's actions.

Troy and his friend laugh and walk away. Repeating Lucas in a mocking voice.

"You okay Y/n?" He reaches out his hand.

I gladly take it. However, I get a little lightheaded as I stand. "Shit, that's a lot of blood."

I look down and I see splots of blood already sprinkling my shirt.

'Great. This will be easy to explain to mom.'

"You still have that first aid kit?"

I close my eyes, sighing.

"Crap. No. I left it at Mike's." I sigh.

"We better get you to the nurse's office then."

"No, I-I'm fine." I sigh, wincing at the pain.

"Are you sure? You're bleeding, like a lot." Mike says.

"Yeah, I'm good. As long as I stop the bleeding, I'll be fine.. My body has always been able to heal quicker than most, anyways."

"He's right. I've seen it."

I offer a small smile. "Well, I at least better go get a tissue or something. I'll be right back." I say.

The boys nod, and I head off to the bathroom. My mind wanders back to what Lucas was telling me earlier, and the weird feeling in my stomach returns...

[allegra-writes]

"Falling"

Peter Parker x SHIELD Agent! Reader; Harry Osborn x Reader.

General audiences

Warnings: None. Angst.

Part of the "Fine Line" series. Takes place after "Cherry". Harry wants some answers 💔

You saw him before he saw you. It wasn't all that surprising, considering you were dressed specifically not to draw attention to yourself: Sneakers and a hoodie, hood up, dark glasses. He was actually dressed similarly, but there was no hiding those baby blues. Especially not when his hoodie was the exact same shade, making them stand out like twin aquamarine stars in the dead of night. 

Baby blues that didn't even turn to look at you until you were sitting in front of him at the small wooden table. 

"Can I help you?" He questioned, a little rudely, still staring at his phone screen.

"Kate said you wanted to see me"

He almost dropped his phone when he heard your voice, the busy coffee shop suddenly falling silent, everything around him vanishing. That accent, god how had he missed that accent. Your hair was darker, your face different, planier without any makeup on it, and your cheap, generic clothes, so unlike the designer outfits he was used to see you in, made you almost unrecognisable. But he would have known that voice anywhere. 

"I… I didn't think you'd come" he admitted.

"Me neither" You were risking a lot by showing up to this meeting, and you didn't mean only your career at S.H.I.E.L.D, already facing a suspension after your little stunt at your last mission, but also your budding relationship with Peter, who had proven to be the jealous kind, rather spectacularly, on the very same mission.

For a few moments, both of you fell silent, not knowing what to say, the painfully awkward atmosphere between you only partially broken when the waitress arrived at your table to place your cups in front of you.

"I didn't order this" Harry frowned, not unkindly, just merely confused.

"I did" You informed, holding up your phone for all explanation. A Stark phone. Rugged. A far cry from the sleek golden one he knew. "Thank you, Theo"

"Anytime, gorgeous" The girl winked before turning and walking away. 

"Are you fucking her too? Is it not enough with me and Parker??" Harry spat, voice full of venom, and he could almost feel the change in you, in your whole demeanor, shoulders squaring, eyes hardening, tone glacial as you retorted.

"I never slept with you , Osborn. And the slut shaming? That's a bit rich, coming from you, when I know for a fact you got drunk and slept with Kate a week before your father's gala…"

He fell back against his chair, as if physically struck back. He wasn't shocked that you knew, after all Kate Bishop was your best friend and, in fact, had said she was going to tell you. No, the surprising part was that you seemed to still be on speaking terms with her despite the betrayal. Apparently, he meant even less to you than he had thought. 

"Is that what Peter was, payback?"

"He isn't" You declared, immediately, your tone broking no arguments. 

Of course he wasn't, Peter was a sweet guy, kind, loyal… sober. Everything Harry wasn't. Twenty years old and he was already more tainted, more jaded, than most fifty year old men. Such a cliche of alcohol and drugs and parties and rich kid angst... Peter was still pure, so inherently good , Harry couldn't resent you for choosing him. 

Harry wouldn't choose himself either.

He sighed, deflated,

"I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

"Forget it, Harry" You cut him off. His anger was justified and fair enough. Besides, that wasn't what you had come here for. 

"I really am" He insisted, "I was out of line, I know that. And I know it's not an excuse, but… things home are… bad. My mother left. She already filed for divorce…" 

"Good, go with her"

That wasn't at all the reply Harry was expecting. 

"What? Why? What do you me-"

"I mean" You elaborated, leaning closer, "go stay with her, or go live alone. Hell, even with Kate if you want to!" She could keep him safe, "Whatever you do, just leave that house immediately!"

He frowned, shaking his head,

"Sixtine, I can't do that! My father is sick, I can't just abandon him!" No matter how mean the old bastard was to him, Harry refused to do that. He wouldn't. 

You rubbed your forehead in frustration. You knew this would happen, why would he listen to the girl who had just betrayed him? You were asking him to leave his father, for goodness sake, you needed to give him a damn good reason.

And the worst part was you had them, you had so many of them, and every one of them straight out of Norman Osborn's computer. But that was classified information and you couldn't possibly disclose it. Still, you had to give him something. 

And the coffee was almost out.

You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath. This could cost you everything, but if you didn't do it, it could cost Harry his life. There was no other way, you had to tell him. 

"Listen to me very carefully, Harry Osborn" You saw his eyes go wide as you dropped the french accent, "I know I lied to you about a lot of things, but I'm not lying to you now, I'm with S.H.I.E.L.D special service, sent to investigate your father, and I am telling you that he is a very dangerous man. 

You have no idea how much I am risking by coming here, and by telling you this, but I'm asking you, no, I'm begging you: get away from him. Please Harry," You pleaded, letting your mask drop, letting him see the worry, the desperation in your eyes, "if you ever did had feelings for me, please, get away from Norman Osborn"

Harry froze, feeling the ground fall from under his feet. You were still talking, but your voice sounded muffled, distant. S.H.I.E.L.D, you were S.H.I.E.L.D. You were an agent, a spy, a hero even. 

...Fuck, and he had thought you were too good for him before. He had cheated on you, insulted you, tried and hated you. Yet here you were, risking your own ass to warn him about a man deep inside Harry had already known was evil. Telling him the truth, now, when you no longer needed him, when you could easily just disappear forever, saving yourself all the trouble. But…

"Why?" He croaked, "Why are you telling me this now?"

You forced yourself to meet his eyes,

"Because I still care about you, Harry"

He bit the inside of his cheek.

"And what about Peter? Do you care about him too? Or was he part of your mission?"

Considering his step mother's ties with the organization, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to think Peter might be involved with S.H.I.E.L.D as well. And if he was being completely honest with himself, he'd rather that possibility than… what his father told him you and Peter had done at his office.

"Peter had nothing to do with the mission" You assured him, unwavering, "He really is my boyfriend. And I more than care about him" 

And suddenly, Harry was falling, drowning again. A million needles stabbing every inch of his skin, like sinking into freezing water. He stared at his empty coffee cup, realizing it was truly over. You had told what you had come to tell him, had answered his questions, and even with the all the things still left unsaid between you, it was obvious there was nothing more to say. 

You stood up, deciding to no longer prolong this suffering. 

"For what is worth" You offered, "I really am sorry"

You turned to leave, but his voice stopped you.

"Sixtine…" Those god damn indigo eyes looked up at you, red rimmed and shining with unshed tears, "I… I miss you" he breathed out, candid and vulnerable. 

"Me too" You whispered, just enough for him to hear.

No, he couldn't get mad at you. He wanted to, he desperately wanted to. But he couldn't. Even knowing you had used him, only gotten close to him because you needed something from him, he couldn't.

Instead, he watched you walk away from him, with the sinking feeling in his stomach that you probably would never need him again.

 

To be continued...

[yurtletheturtlehenderson]

COSMIC - S1:E3; Chapter Three, Holly, Jolly - [Pt. 2]

A Will Byers x Gender Neutral!Reader Series

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘠/𝘯, 𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘋𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭. 𝘈 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳.

WARNINGS: Mentions of [lots of] blood, and Troy being homophobic

||𝟑𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕||

El sits on the floor of Mike's basement, back to the couch. Candy wrappers and crumbs were scattered around a finished puzzle of a beautiful green forest. The strange plastic ship, floating in the air in front of her. It suddenly drops to the ground as her attention is brought to the Supercomm on the couch. She picks up the device and clicks it on, bored with the static that comes from the other end, she soon abandons the device and stands up.

She walks up the steps, eager to explore the house more. When she reaches the top of the steps, she cautiously peeks around the corner. When she decides no one is home and the coast is clear, she continues to explore the house.

With the house to herself, she had more time to linger, and appreciate and explore. It was fascinating to her, and yet it made her sad. Could she have had a life like this? She didn't know what to think when she admired every object, every picture on the wall. There was one in particular that caught her eye.

It was a small photograph, but you could tell it was important. It was another picture of Mike and his friends. Only, they were younger. They were playing and splashing around in the water, a lake it looked like, surrounded by beautiful green trees. Each of them had an arm wrapped around each other forming a line, and their pants were rolled up to their knees.

The young boy on the very left had messy black hair, who El immediately recognized as Mike. He was smiling brightly at her from the picture. A young Lucas to his right, who wore a rather proud grin. Dustin was looking at the two, more specifically Lucas; he had been laughing when the photo was taken.

Will, she believed his name was, had one scrawny arm draped loosely around Dustin, however, he had his full attention on a very cheery looking Y/n who stood proudly showing off a very small frog to the camera. They had daisies on their head, tangled in their hair, and a gleaming smile showed off a missing tooth. They were holding the frog so delicately.

But it wasn't Y/n, or even Mike that caught her eye. It was the way Will was looking at Y/n. His eyes held a certain fondness and appreciation, his smile warm and genuine. El tilted her head ever so slightly, thinking. Something deep inside her was gnawing at her, a feeling that was foreign to her. Shaking her head, she moved on to the rest of the living room.

She went back to the funny chair Mike had shown her and took a seat. She reached over and pulled on the lever, sending her back and forth as it kicked her feet out. She looked around curiously as the chair rocked her back and forth.

El noticed the weird device on the table beside her and picked it up. It was a strange curved thing attached by a curly wire. It had many buttons, every one of them had a number on them. It let out a strange noise, barely audible from the top. She brought it up to her ear to listen to the endless monotone hum. Not knowing what else to do she mimicked the tone, just for fun before putting it back.

She stood up from the chair and sat herself down on her knees in front of the TV. Curious, she ran her fingers down the side until she felt the button and pressed it. A brief crackle of static rang out and as soon as it came on it was replaced with the voice of an older man, the screen lit up in front of her.

"...was occupying a large part of Lebanon. Today, Syria has become a home for-"

Click.

El pressed another button.

The moving picture on the screen changed, where many bright flashes of color dance across the screen. A fake man with yellow hair held a sword as he exclaimed.

"I have the power!"

Click.

"...gift that will last forever. From the Harmony Treasures' collection-"

Click.

A beautiful melody came from the TV set and El's eyes widened in surprise.

Click.

"On the beach and in the sun"

El froze. She recognized the rolling tin can that appeared on the TV. Her breathing began to quicken as she fought the memories back.

- 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 -

The all too familiar humming and beeping of the machines echoed off of the cold, isolating walls. Eleven sat at the same table, with the same camera facing the same window with the same adults who watch her and study her. Nothing was new, and she feared nothing ever would be. All she wants is to get this over with. Wanting to get these damn wires off of her head.

Yet, she sat still, compliant, unmoving. Never taking her eyes off of Papa as she watched him hand the clipboard to one of the men and give her a nod of his head. She turned her head and attention to the small Coke drink. Her eyes bore into the empty can and she concentrated.

Her head shook ever so slightly as she focused, straining. It was difficult, but she was able to do it. The can caved into itself with a loud 'crack' and it wasn't until the monitors stopped did she realize how loud they had been. She looked back to Papa, looking for his approval.

He stood unmoving, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. She felt her nose run damp, a warm liquid oozed from her nose. She blinked, confused and slowly brought her hand up to her upper lip, realizing she was bleeding. She looked to Papa, expectantly. He only smiled a cold empty grin.

- 𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 -

"Coke is it! Coke is it!"

El quickly pushed the first button, shutting the TV off. Breathing heavily, she stood up and made her way to the basement.

||𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕||

My back was beginning to hurt from hunching over for so long, but nevertheless, I continued looking. Lucas needs ammo for his wrist rocket, so naturally, the four of us were currently scouring the schoolyard for rocks.

"How about this one?" Mike asks, walking up to Dustin.

Dustin examines the rock Mike handed to him.

"Too big for the sling." He shrugs, tossing the rock to the grass. "So, do you think Eleven was born with her powers, like the X-Men, or do you think she acquired them, like... like Green Lantern?"

"She's not a superhero. She's a weirdo." Lucas says as he searches for that.

"You don't know that," I mumble, Lucas, however, doesn't hear me.

"Why does that matter? The X-Men are weirdos." Mike adds.

Lucas turns to Mike, agitated. "If you love her so much, why don't you marry her?"

I roll my eyes, and straighten up, stretching out my back.

"What are you talking about?" Mike sighs.

"Mike, seriously?"

"What?"

"You look at her all, like... 'Hi, El! El! El! El! I love you so much!'" Lucas teases, grabbing Mike in for a hug before getting down on one knee. "'Would you marry me?' I'm telling you, man, you're just as bad as Will!" He stood back up when he said the last—

'Wait...What?'

"What?" I asked, completely thrown off.

The boys freeze, Lucas especially. Lucas excluded, the boys all look at me with awkward smiles on their faces. Dustin chuckles and gives a still frozen Lucas a few pats on the arm.

"Good job, man. Real smooth."

"Guys, what is going on?" I asked exasperated, crossing my arms.

"Shit," Lucas whispers, closing his eyes.

"Lucas..."

Mike wears a triumphant grin on his face and looks expectantly at Lucas.

"Yeah, Lucas. Tell him."

Lucas sighs, and stiffly turns around, his change of attitude dramatic. He looks around once or twice before growing stern with me.

"You, and Will?" He suggests.

"What about us? What does that have to do with— Oh come on... You can't be serious. He does not like me."

"Literally everyone knows he is totally in love with you." He scoffs.

I scoff in return. "Love? Don't you think you're being a little dramatic? Not to mention, ridiculous?"

"Am I wrong?" He turns to the boys, who hesitantly shrug.

He turns back to me, a look screaming 'There you have it.'

"That doesn't prove anything! We're best friends! So what if we're close?"

He laughs. "Yeah, just as close as Nancy and Steve! And you're no better. You just haven't realized it yet."

"W-What? W-what ar- No!" My words are caught in my throat and I felt my cheeks begin to burn.

'No, I don't!'

It takes moments for me to recover. "Okay, let's say you're right. Let's say he does love me. How can you know for sure, huh? It's not like he told you!"

"Uhh, yeah! Might as well have. He didn't deny it!"

My heart stops, and I feel butterflies erupt in my stomach.

'Will? And me?'

"Look what we have here!"

'Oh, God. Not now.'

I roll my eyes and before I can stop myself I speak. "What do you want, Troll?"

My eyes widen at my sudden boldness but I remain confident. I stare down the two boys who have been bullying us for as long as we've attended this school.

"You better watch your mouth, freak-"

"Back off!" Dustin yells, cutting him off.

Troy looks over to Dustin, looking prepared to throw more insults at my brother but something changes his mind and he cools off. A smug smile tugs at his lips.

"Or what?" Troy spits.

Dustin falls silent, and Troy continues.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. What are you losers doing back here anyway?"

"Probably looking for their missing friend." Troy's goon laughs.

Anger begins to take over and my blood starts to boil.

"That's not funny. It's serious. He's in danger." Dustin immediately cuts in.

"I hate to break it to you, Toothless, but he's not in danger. He's dead. That's what my dad says."

'Where's that damn rock?'

"He said he was probably killed by some other queer."

I feel a lurch in my chest, and I can practically feel my vision going red.

"Come on. Just ignore them." Mike soothes, not only to me but to Dustin and Lucas as well.

He's right. I need to get out of here. I storm off, ready to shove him in the shoulder as I pass but suddenly I feel something catch my foot and I fall to the ground. A sudden wave of searing pain explodes on my chin when I hit the ground.

Dazed and confused, I push myself up enough to see a large, rather bloody rock just inches from my face.

I groan, rolling over on my back, I hear laughing and frantic footsteps.

"Y/n!" Dustin and Mike run over to me, Lucas storms up to Troy.

Dustin and Mike each grab an arm and help me sit up. I hesitantly bring a hand up to my chin and I hiss in pain. I look at my fingers and they are absolutely covered in blood.

'Holy crap.'

I groan and look to Lucas worried. He stands firm and tall, right up in Troy's face.

"Leave us. The fuck. Alone." He says through clenched teeth.

My eyes triple in size, surprised by Lucas's actions.

Troy and his friend laugh and walk away. Repeating Lucas in a mocking voice.

"You okay Y/n?" He reaches out his hand.

I gladly take it. However, I get a little lightheaded as I stand. "Shit, that's a lot of blood."

I look down and I see splots of blood already sprinkling my shirt.

'Great. This will be easy to explain to mom.'

"You still have that first aid kit?"

I close my eyes, sighing.

"Crap. No. I left it at Mike's."

"We better get you to the nurse's office then."

"No, I-I'm fine." I sigh, wincing at the pain.

"Are you sure? You're bleeding, like a lot." Mike says.

"Yeah, I'm good. As long as I stop the bleeding, I'll be fine... My body has always been able to heal quicker than most, anyways."

"They've got a point. I've seen it."

I offer a small smile. "Well, I at least better go get a tissue or something. I'll be right back." I say.

The boys nod, and I head off to the bathroom. My mind wanders back to what Lucas was telling me earlier, and the weird feeling in my stomach returns...