#Whoops not a lot about doctor things in here

[charkyzombicorn]

More hospital au because Reasons:

Everyone assumes Luffy and Zoro were friends in highschool, in reality Luffy and Zoro met on Zoro's first day of residency, one day before Luffy met Nami.

Ms. Charlotte owns the daycare, mostly the business side. She doesn't care to change with the times and she runs more daycare than just the one, so she leaves most of the responsibilities to her staff, and the manager, Katakuri. Katakuri will not explain himself when asked why he hired Luffy when Luffy was 17, or why he won't fire him (no Luffy is Not that good at his job)

The daycare has Bake Sale Fridays because Katakuri loves baking, the sweets are always cheap because it's not a fundraiser or anything and the net profit is usually something like $30 but he won't stop Bake Sale Fridays if the world ended. The Entire hospital staff visits for Bake Sale Fridays at 5pm when all the kids are gone, there's never a sweet left

Luffy's known Usopp since he was 7 but they hadn't seen eachother in over a decade by the story timeline

Zoro and Sanji have been bickering since they met eachother in med school, they will continue to bicker after they're retired

Jimbe met Luffy in therapy after the accident that took Ace's life. About a year before he met Zoro.

Ace had been training to be an EMT since med school was expensive and he was never bright enough for scholarships, it didn't help that the moment he turned 18 since he refused to enlist in the military, Garp had kicked him out

Sabo was a missing person case gone cold, technically he was a missing person case while he was living with Ace and Luffy, but then he got found and lost again and wasn't lucky enough to find his brothers again. He's been presumed dead for close to 20 years, Luffy's already mourned

[danielnelsen]

there’s so much i wanna do this week/month/etc but i’m just too sick, i have no energy, i can’t sleep, i’m constantly nauseous and headachey and on the verge of a migraine, i’m stressed and irritable and impatient and panicky…….how tf did i survive nearly 5 years of high school untreated if i can’t even manage this when i don’t have any major obligations rn

[s0ulryo]

König with a Medic S/O Scenario *:･ﾟ

[König x Reader] Synopsis: König getting patched up by his favorite medic —you. Tags: Soft, konig lovers we rise, established relationship (i forget to put this tag on a ton of things whoops), mentions of distress (?) Notes: Prolly ooc, not proofread, his voice is so mmmmm, also my brain blanked so many times while writing this so im vv sorry for the wonky formatting

Thank you @uselsshuman for letting me write about this!

(Reader is always gn unless specified otherwise.)

König dislikes a lot of things. He wouldn’t say he hates anything but the list of dislikes has grown over the years. For example, König dislikes crowded places, the smell of cigarettes, getting injured, having to go to a medic to treat his injury, having to see you — who is a medic to treat his injury, having to get chewed out by you for obtaining an injury — you get the point.

So here he sits, listening to you freak out about the injury he obtained while being deployed. He knows you don’t mean any harm by it; you’re just concerned for his safety — König appreciates it, he really does — but he’s also a little stressed out by your current commentary.

“Oh my God — König, how the hell did you manage to do this?”

He honestly doesn’t think it’s that bad; sure, the wound looks terrible — but it doesn’t feel too horrible, so it can’t be too bad, right?

Wrong.

“König, are you listening to me? König, are you alright?”

König’s very thankful for you. He thinks you’re awfully nice and very understanding about his feelings, and in all honesty, he’s not sure how he managed to get with someone like you, but he’s not going to question it — he’s just going to enjoy it.

“Sorry, could you repeat what you just said?” König mumbles out sheepishly.

He can’t help it. You’re exceptionally attractive, and König now realizes his arm is in an exceptional amount of pain — and bleeding tremendously. ‘Things like attractive S/O and immense amounts of pain due to physical injury usually make it difficult to focus,’ he reasons to himself.

Sighing, you shake your head. “König, please try to avoid getting injured — this is the second time this week….”

Nodding softly in acknowledgment, König continues to watch you gather the supplies you need to patch his arm up; his eyes flicker around in discomfort, bouncing his leg up and down to keep his mind occupied. Sure he’s sustained worse injuries than this, but getting patched up has always made him anxious.

Swallowing thickly, König tries to place himself out of this situation – somewhere nicer than your medical workspace that smells like antiseptic – anywhere else than here.

He watches you set to work, his eyes closely following the movement of your hands on his arm, cleaning the wound gently, trying to make the process quicker and easier on him.

He’s vaguely aware that his breathing got heavier or how he’s feeling light headed, heart in his throat – vaguely aware that you’re calling his name.

“…ig” “…önig”

He can see you talking, but he can’t hear you very well; bouncing his leg more rapidly, he tries to say anything to tell you how he feels, but he can’t get any words out.

“..ey…hey big guy – look, I’m here, you’re alright – okay?” You try to get him to focus on you, not necessarily your words but just on you.

"Try to take a big breath, big guy – yeah, just like that – breathe in, breathe out…You're doing great König.”

Following your instructions König (tries) to take a deep breath in and out, focusing on what you smell like and your voice. König feels a little stupid, he’s gotten shot – almost killed before, but he can’t take a little doctor's visit? So yeah, it's definitely a critical hit on his ego; he’s just glad it’s you with him.

After calming down a bit König bites the inside of his cheek, diverting his eyes to the door to the far left of the room. He considers bolting out of your office – he won’t have to get patched up, and he won't have to face you, so it’s a win-win situation—

“König dear, don’t try to run out of the room,” you tell him firmly, more so for you than for him – if he decides to make a hasty exit, you conclude that you would not be able to catch the injured man.

“…Am I that obvious [Name]?”

“Yes, dear…You are pretty obvious.”

The silence in the room was deafening, not super awkward – just a bit tense.

König sighs, visibly deflating in his chair; he mutters an apology, watching your figure look in the bottom drawer of your desk. He feels like he’s back in primary school when kids would make fun of him, leaving him all embarrassed.

Well, in this situation, he feels more ashamed than embarrassed.

He continues to watch you shuffle through the drawer until you find what you were looking for – suddenly, you turn to him, smiling triumphantly, motioning for him to stick out his hand to take what you were holding.

“What is it [Name]?” König asks, reaching out for the unknown object in your hand.

Upon further examination, König realizes the object is made of solid metal and cylindrical – resembling a car transmission.

“It’s a fidget toy! I like that one personally because I like the feeling of the transmission shifting gears – but I have some other ones if you would like.”

König stares at you dumbfounded. Diverting his eyes to the small toy in his hand, he starts to mess with it.

“König, I’m going to continue patching you up, alright? Please let me know if you need anything….”

Nodding, he continues to mess with the toy in his hand, gnawing at his bottom lip to suppress a smile.

König, a man that stands at six foot ten inches, just received a fidget toy from his medic S/O – how could he not smile?

“König, I’m done cleaning the wound, but you’ll need some stitches, alright? I’ll try to make this as quick as possible.”

König continues to watch you work while shifting the fidget toy from first gear to sixth gear, grateful for the newfound distraction from the distressing environment he’s currently in. He’s also immensely thankful that you are walking him through everything you do – even though he’s not entirely listening.

“Finished! All patched up, big guy – how are you feeling?” You say, tying off the final stitch on König’s arm.

“Better – I feel better,” König says, fumbling with his words, speaking with such haste, appearing as if you caught him off guard.

“Great, I’ll write down the care instructions for your stitches, so you don’t forget – come back here in two-ish weeks to remove the stitches, alright?

Standing up, he shyly extends his hand out to you, offering to return the toy you graciously lent him.

“Oh, you can keep that big guy – you seem to like it…So you can have it.”

König stares at you dumbfounded again, shifting his gaze from you to the small toy in his hand, back to you.

“…You sure?” König asks you quietly.

“Positive.” You respond, pushing his extended hand back towards him. “I want you to have it.”

König thinks he’s going to combust.

His awfully nice, exceptionally attractive S/O just watched him break down, patched him up, and gave him a gift. He’s not sure what he has ever done to be treated with such care, but if he thinks about it any longer, he might start to cry.

Bending down, he mutters a ‘thank you’ into your neck, tightly wrapping his arms around your shoulders.

“König..?” He hears you say softly, “Can we stay like this for a while..?”

Humming in approval, he pulls you closer to him, slightly swaying side to side, putting more of his weight on your body to keep you in place.

You don’t know what injuries König will acquire the next time he’s deployed, but for now, your mind is here – at this moment, with König holding you in his embrace and the steady beating of his heart proving that he’s alive and that he loves you.

[1moreff-creator]

DRDT is back!!! Here’s my live reaction to everything that happened this week! Obviously take everything I say with massive piles of salt, these are in the moment reactions and aren’t supposed to be fully coherent thoughts.

DRDT CH2 EP12 SPOILERS (Oh that feels good to write)

We’re back!!! Teruko we fucked up!!!

The theory that Charles was going to bring up the possibility of a wrong time of death was true! There weren’t really any other theories about what he was going to say from what I saw, but it’s still cool we got that right. You have no idea how giddy I am to finally hear him talk about it, after waiting so long for him to finish the sentence lol.

Also Teruko’s face lmao.

Oh, poor Teruko, she looks so sad. She’s gonna bring up the marks on the wrist, right?

Or, yeah, the swinging.

(Does this screw up any theories? No, her body was still likely strung up at 7:30 AM, which is what most people thought I’m pretty sure)

Ah, Whit. I missed how shady he always is even when he has, like, an airtight alibi for the time the fish were taken (which is still around 7:30 PM to nightime btw, don’t forget Nico’s account).

They’re not gonna bring up the time the fish were taken, are they? That furthers my belief that the person who took the fish and the murderer are different. Nothing concrete obviously, just kinda narratively works better that way.

“Or did you do it on purpose?” Veronika how I’ve missed you :D

David’s face lmao xD

“I’ll fix that mistake” (Paraphrased) Hell yeah! Go Teruko! :D

I missed you too, Literature Boy Insane. That “pathetic” voice line was cool. Also, thank you Hu.

J: “The body would have been cold if it was drenched at some point.” (Paraphrased). Interesting point about the water, I wonder if it’s important or not. We know she wasn’t drowned because the relax room wasn’t open at 7:30 AM, right? So I don’t know how she could have gotten drenched.

Ace no genuinely how do you not know how water works what.

“The range of human stupidity is larger than I thought.” Charles, you’re great.

[Levi and Nico complain about Arturo’s medicine skills] Okay, but like, Arturo has repeatedly told you he’s not that kind of doctor. Like you can blame the guy for a lot of shit but this one ain’t it chief.

(Also don’t think I don’t see how Levi throws suspicion on Arturo. Small point towards Levi!Culprit and Levi!Accomplice)

“You shut your whore mouth!” Okay maybe I don’t need to defend Arturo actually, he seems like he has it handled. You good my guy?

Oh shit we actually brought up that Arturo is ridiculously young for someone in the medical field. I did not have that in my (hypothetical) bingo card.

Twelve?! Dude my guy wanted out of that house yesterday damn.

Dude he’s kinda going off! I was not expecting Arturo fans of all people to eat this good this episode, but this is interesting!

Oh right the crazy lady- “Adorable”? Verturo shippers eating!

“Feel free to add to the number of dents in the computer lab” (Paraphrased) PFFFT Charles!

Wait wasn’t there actually a dent there? Wasn’t that a thing I saw on people’s theories? Holy shit is that actually going to get addressed?

[Whit explains] AHAHAHAHAHA HOLY-!

“I let it slide because it was funny” I missed MonoTV too actually.

And no fish! Nico’s account of the fish still being there last time they checked goes unmentioned, meaning it’s likely going to be used for a twist later!

New alibis? Could be possible.

Whit: “I don’t have an alibi. Neither does Charles” (Paraphrased) Which you know because…?

Oh so that’s not addressed. I repeat the statement of Whit being unnecessarily shady all the time.

????? DAVID AND J ALIBI???? This could be kinda huge actually.

David: “Oh. Shit.” This is the reaction of a man being cleared of murder. That’s so funny.

Didn’t David usually wake up late? Inconsistent sleep schedule ig.

J: “Oh yeah, and Veronika.” Girl you gotta say this shit earlier.

Yeah, look, J, you went and made Veronika sad! >:( /j

David: “Whoops” Holy shit every line this man says is gold actually what?

David? Lying? Noooo, how could you say that? I forgot how funny post magical girl transformation this man was.

David I am going to need you to give an actual answer. I spent hours looking at That Video and I still don’t know what your deal is please-

“And she’s Teruko” J’s also really funny actually. Hold a knife to someone’s throat once and they hate you forever, smh.

“Oh and don’t say something like “I wanna kill myself” that’s boring” (paraphrased). Holy shit I missed Veronika- that’s my second fave right there! (Min you will always be N1 don’t worry).

David-Veronika duo is great actually.

By the way David said “the truth is…” I am not expecting a serious answer.

You know, for a moment I actually did think he genuinely thought he was the blackened. But my first instinct was right.

“I would have actually tried looking at the crime scene” Bro what the fuck is he actually cooking.

“A good person” drop!!!! If you know, you know!

Also, I wanted to point this out here, I might have accidentally misinformed a part of the fandom a bit? One point that I brought up was that several important people to this chapter have been called “a good person”, and one of the examples I gave was Hu calling David a good person. Which… I don’t think happened? I evidently misremembered a line where Hu called David a “good friend”, which is a different phrase with different connotations in DRDT, and I genuinely apologize for that. Especially because I have seen people repeating that David had been called a good person in the past.

But now David has called himself “a good person”, if in a roundabout way, so the point actually stands lol.

Oh shit the Xander name drop.

… He was trying to kill Teruko wasn’t he. Because Xander tried it, and because David has Teruko’s “the killing game is all your fault” motive. Oh shit.

Speaking of the “good person” point, that argument might actually be dead lmao. Given that Xander got called that and he’s, well. Not particularly important to chapter 2, let’s say.

[Hindsight Post-Video: Actually, the argument could now be “anyone referred to as a good person is deeply important up to chapter 2”. Or, alternatively, argue that Xander is somewhat important to the Chapter 2 trial because he inadvertently caused David to magical girl transform. The “good person” list in case you don’t recall is Teruko, Levi, Eden, Arei, and as of this episode, David and Xander. We’ll see what we make of it once the chapter ends ig]

Oh Teruko is pissed I am loving this.

Holy shit the voice acting is amazing holy shit Teruko is going off she said Xander didn’t treat David like a human (“No Longer Human” reference??? I might just be insane though) oh this is incredible!!!

Oh he knows something deep. This motherfucker knows what was written in Xander’s “kill Teruko” note I bet.

WAIT HE KNEW XANDER BEFORE HOPE’S PEAK?! HE KNOWS WHY HE’S THE ULTIMATE REBEL?!

Motherfucker you are going to tell us what Xander did before Hope’s Peak and why you know his work or I swear to God-!

Okay actually, David, I am going to need you to give… a straight answer at some point? Like I get you’re canonically bisexual (and it’s showing) but a single straight answer isn’t going to kill you.

Also, the music?! Is peak?!

David: “If the answer is no…” Neat sprite! Just thought it looked nice, and the line’s cool too :>

The return of the Teruko Baffled Sprite, long awaited.

Secret reveal? The killing game’s her fault?

Okay not the angle I was expecting in the slightest. Obviously gonna have to analyze how truthful he’s being at the moment, but he’s basically pulling a DRV3 ending logic thing. Cool!

So… Xander is absolutely Opening Guy, right? Like, I know that was the most common theory, but c’mon.

YEAH HU GO OFF!!!!

Voice acting going crazy too!

I adored Hu’s screaming section. How long till it’s revealed she has the “hopeless child” secret?

Hu’s a queen, hell yeah.

Pffft J’s high horse voice line-

Thank you Charles for being the only competent one (affectionate). Btw what does Veronika think of David’s reasoning? I was kinda hoping we’d see that.

[Red herring joke] Whit. Whit /disappointed/silly

Oh shit I was not expecting that line to actually cause a reaction damn.

You know, I’ll be honest and admit Eden’s really not acting that much like a culprit. I still think she is, I’m just surprised I’m not able to confirmation bias my way into suspecting her through her voice lines :v

Aaaand we’re back to Ace v Nico! Woo!

Okay wow the new alibis are like, laser focused on going against the most popular theories, huh? I’m not going to say anything’s deconfirmed yet obviously, but Hu!Culprit, J!Culprit, even Veronika!Culprit and theories surrounding David being involved have some questions to answer damn.

[To the question of if anyone else had alibis] “Nope” Whit how do you know this.

Levi!Accomplice also takes a hit because Eden and Levi aren’t trying to alibi for each other, but it can be explained. If they never prepared to give each other alibis, it’s safer to just… not, since they can’t actually say what they were doing during that time. And yes, possible explanations like this is why I’m not calling anything outright deconfirmed yet.

I wrote that before Levi three dotted directly after Eden, looking like he was thinking of trying to give her an alibi. Now that’s confirmation bias that can’t be safely used for theories!

Oh right J still hates Arturo xD

[The whole thing about excluding suspects who had an alibi at night and not in the morning] Oh God, Levi really wants me to think he’s the culprit huh? The method’s still too crazy for me to really believe that, but still.

This is also bad for Levi!Accomplice. Not a dealbreaker, but still weird that he’d say something that could point in Eden’s direction. I am not even going to try to defend that yet.

Cool. Can we finally talk murder method?

Levi: “That’s my secret.”

Oh okay, we’re not talking method yet.

���

Wait, WHAT?!?!?!!?!!!?!

THAT’S-! That’s not-! What the hell?!

Okay, so. Cool, Levi’s the remorseless murderer, we got that one right. But, the reveal is so insanely out of left field holy shit…

I am not lying when I tell you I had to get up and start PACING like I was not ready for this. I am vibrating. He just- He just said that shit! What the hell?!

I have genuinely no idea how the hell this is gonna play out. Holy shit I cannot wait for the next episode. It’s just… so peak!!! We are so back!!!

—-

General Closing Thoughts: This episode was awesome! I was lowkey a little worried that the first episode back wasn’t going to be as insane as it ended up being, but wow it blew me away. And it was only twenty minutes? When the episodes go up to possibly an hour??? It’s just… holy shit.

It was awesome to finally start getting some insight into why David Did That, and I’m genuinely super excited to see where this goes. I’m still trying to figure out the exact angle on things like hiding Teruko’s secret, if he even is doing that because I now believe there is a non-zero chance he isn’t actually lying. Like, it’s low, but not zero. I do find it strange Veronika didn’t react to it, though, but at least we got that one line before David started talking.

But that’s only the cusp of the iceberg. I genuinely adore the details we got on Arturo’s backstory, and Hu’s blowup, and Teruko’s remorse- it’s all so awesome.

(The fucking dent in the wall of the goddamn computer room got an explanation I still cannot believe that. Wow)

Props to the voice acting and the music btw, absolutely incredible all throughout.

Btw, correct me if I’m wrong, but there weren’t any “minigames” this episode, right? Nothing wrong with that, just found it interesting.

Theory-Related Initial Thoughts: This episode is… possibly one of the biggest theory slaughters I’ve ever seen?

Like, obviously, again, it’s still too early in the trial to fully rule out anything, so I’m going to leave it to the other DRDT scholars to revise their own theories to fit the new evidence, but wow those new alibis are something. Between Hu, J and David having alibis for 7:30 AM, that’s three of the top suspects who weren’t there at that exact time to either kill Arei or mess with the body. Again, maybe there’s explanations for it, I’m not calling anything unconfirmed yet, just that many theories were inconvenienced.

As for my theory, Eden!Culprit Levi!Accomplice… ups and downs. The more Eden speaks, the less I’m convinced she’s the actual culprit, even if I’m a decent 80% sure she took the tape; the more Levi speaks, the less I’m convinced he’s an accomplice. I’m not going to deny that their dialogue isn’t 100% what I would expect. I don’t think it’s disqualifying, I still believe it to be the theory with the best evidence, it’s just that some things strike me as odd.

That was what I thought… until the end. Because I have no idea what’s about to happen with Levi revealing the secret like this, but… there is a very possible Levi!Accomplice turn here? Like, it’s the “Levi’s holding the glove” idea; the moment Eden loses her alibi, Levi does something that immediately puts a target on his back, potentially trying to get himself voted off before people catch on to Eden as a possible culprit. First he tries to argue that he shouldn’t be a suspect because of the alibi thing, which could make him more suspicious in some people’s eyes (maybe that’s too much 4D chess but it could work), then revealing the secret. I don’t know how likely this is, but it’s a genuine possibility.

Otherwise, I’m… not entirely sure what the angle is? I need to rewatch the trial to figure out why Levi’s talking about “detailing the trial” then immediately revealing his secret. I didn’t rewatch any DRDT before the episode, hence the confusion. But… at this moment, I don’t know what Levi’s cooking, other than possibly accomplice behavior. And even that feels more confirmation bias-y than anything.

There’s also the really weird line where Whit just… knows, Charles had no alibi at 7:30 AM? Unless they discussed it or I’m forgetting something, I don’t actually remember how he’d know that? Was he stalking Charles? Was he just wandering the halls? What kinda-?

(I don’t think that’s likely, but I don’t have a really good read on what’s happening there)

Other than that, here’s a crackpot one to lighten the mood. Mastermind business. I’ve never brought this up before, but I’ve always believed that were Veronika to be the mastermind, she would get revealed early. As in, possibly at the end of this trial, given Teruko had some idea to end the killing game after her chat with Veronika in the movie room.

I’m bringing this up only because Veronika didn’t react to David’s explanation of what he was trying to do by claiming to be the blackened. She was set up for a reaction with the whole “please tell me it’s not boring” thing, and then she… didn’t. It’s possible, in a conspiratorial sense, that she didn’t react because David hit the nail in the head, and Veronika was genuinely upset at the idea. If that’s the case, her reaction could be postponed to the end of the trial, maybe the end of Trial 3, for the early mm reveal there. It’s a very half-baked idea I’m failing to communicate properly ‘cuz I’m eepy, but it’s there.

I rank it in the same level of mastermind evidence as “Nico is unafraid of grabbing MonoTV by the tail.” Immensely silly and should not be considered solid evidence by any means, and yet it’s still probably gonna get mentioned if I ever make a mm probability ranking lol.

Anyways, absolutely incredible episode all throughout. Holy shit were so back, this was amazing. See you next week for more peeks into peak!

[pale-opal]

Hear Me Out:

I know that image and what I'm about to say has a chance of being incredibly niche, because I have no idea how much overlap there is between the Homestuck and Mega Man fandoms. But if there's anything I've learned from the internet, it's that no matter what fandom you're in, it's almost guaranteed that someone in said fandom has read Homestuck before. So I think someone out there will understand the rant I'm about to go on. But for everyone who hasn't read Homestuck before, here's a quick explanation: Homestuck is a webcomic that was written and published by a man named Andrew Hussie. It ran from 2009-2016. It follows the misadventures of four kids as they play a game called Sburb with the help of twelve other kids known as "trolls." Together, they go on a quest to complete the game, as the initiation of it has caused the world to end (so even if they wanted to quit, they couldn't. Whoops). It is currently available to read on mspaintadventures.com, however I do NOT recommend reading it if you are a minor, or if you have sensitivity to content that contains violence, strong language, etc. - There were also two (technically one?) epilogues produced afterward, as well as a sequel called "Homestuck^2". - The disclaimer above applies to those works as well.

Okay. Now that I've explained what Homestuck is, let's get into why I put these four Doctors in the squares that I did.

Dr. Cossack: Has read Homestuck, Knows What Homestuck Is - He just seems like the kind of man who casually knows a lot about a lot of things. - A "nerd," if you will. - I can see him reading this in college and subsequently getting totally invested. - He relates to John Egbert (one of the four kids I mentioned earlier) on a personal level. - He did not like the epilogues. - He likes Homestuck^2, though. Dr. Light: Has Read Homestuck, Doesn't Know What Homestuck Is - I imagine that Light was introduced to Homestuck through Cossack while they were in college. - Like, what if Light got sick at some point, and Cossack came over and showed him this random webcomic he found in an attempt to make him feel better, only for Light to wake up the next day, convinced the whole thing was a fever dream? - Cut to many years later, after the birth of Proto Man. - Light and Cossack are having a conversation on the phone: - Cossack: "Hey, Thomas. Do you remember Homestuck?" - Light: "...Homestuck?" - Cossack: "You know, that webcomic I showed you when you got the flu back in college?" - Light: "I'm not sure I-" - Cossack: "The one with the little gray people?" - Light: "Little gray- wait. Wait, that was real?!" - He has not read the epilogues or Homestuck^2. Dr. LaLinde: Has Not Read Homestuck, Knows What Homestuck Is - I think that Dr. Cossack would go on many coffee-fueled 2 a.m. rants to her during last-minute attempts to finish projects on time when the two of them were in college. - LaLinde would always listen respectfully, and as a result knows the entire lore behind Homestuck despite never reading it. - One day, she decided to give it a go. Here's how that went: - LaLinde: "Okay, let's see here- what? Eight thousand (8000) pages? Where am I going to find the time to read all of that?" - And so, she has to this day never read the darn thing. Dr. Wily: Has Not Read Homestuck, Does Not Know What Homestuck Is - The reasoning behind this is simple: he just couldn't get into it. - Dr. Cossack tried several times while they were in college to convince him to read it, but it sounded really convoluted to him. - Dr. Light tried to get him to read it before the whole "Dr. Wily becomes evil and takes over the world" thing after he remembered what it was. - That didn't work either. - Plus, the whole thing just seemed too long. - He eventually just forgot it existed once Light stopped trying to get him to read it. But here's something else about the Doctors: they all had kids. Kids who all grew up with different levels of parental involvement. Kids who would've probably heard their parents talk about this strange little webcomic at one time or another. Which brings me to my next point:

Blues: Has Read Homestuck, Knows What Homestuck Is - I imagine that he heard the aforementioned phone call between Light and Cossack, and asked Dr. Light about what they were talking about. - Light straight up tells him that he's not allowed to read it. - Blues accepts this. - Cut to Blues' life after he runs away from home. He's at the library. - He's also in the midst of his "I hate my dad" arc, and as a result is more than willing to go and read this comic Dr. Light told him was off-limits. - He spends a whole day reading the webcomic, its epilogues, and its sequel. - He is there from the time the library opens to the time it closes. - And once everything is said and done, he is a changed man. - His favorite character is Dave Strider. - He also used to like Dirk Strider and Jane Crocker, but then he read the epilogues. Bass: Has Read Homestuck, Doesn't Know What Homestuck is - Bass was just minding his business, until he finds Proto Man broke into his house... again. - I like to think Blues breaks into Wily Fortress sometimes, just because he can. As a treat. - And to visit any Wilybots he's friends with. - He goes to confront Blues, only to find him in the midst of his third reread of Homestuck. - He asks what he's doing. - Blues tells him to pull up a chair. - He starts the reread over so that Bass can understand what's going on. - Bass, too, ends up a changed man. Even if he has no idea what he just read. - His favorite character is Karkat Vantas. - He made a trollsona (basically a troll OC), but has never told a living soul about it. - Also, he will never admit it, but "[S] Game Over" messed him up on an emotional level (if you don't know what "[S] Game Over" is, don't worry about it. Don't look it up. It's okay. Just forget I said anything). Tempo: Has Not Read Homestuck, Knows What Homestuck Is - Quake Woman has not read Homestuck for the same reason her mother hasn't read it: She's simply too busy. - Blues tries to convince her to read it, though. - But here's the thing: Vesper Woman HAS read it... but she just thought it was just alright. This leads to conversation like this happening: - Vesper: "Don't listen to him, Tempo. It's okay at best." - Blues: "..." - Blues: "...would you like to elaborate on that?" - They get into arguments about different aspects of the plot a LOT. - Tempo just listens quietly while she works. - Out of curiosity, she ended up looking it up one day when she had free time, and ended up stumbling across Hiveswap instead. - Hiveswap is a spin-off game that takes place in Homestuck's universe. The first Act was released in 2017, and the second was released in 2020. - I will admit that I haven't played Hiveswap, so I'm not sure if the disclaimer I provided for Homestuck applies here. Kalinka Cossack: Has Never Read Homestuck, Does Not Know What Homestuck Is - My reasoning behind this is even more simple than Dr. Wily's: - Dr. Cossack does not let her know that Homestuck exists in an effort to keep her innocence in tact. - That's it. That's the reasoning. You can all go home n-. - ...wait. Is that ANOTHER image down there?

You see, there's one more set of characters that I want to discuss in this long, long post. Characters that wouldn't be influenced by their parents, meaning that whether or not they've read Homestuck would be more up to happenstance:

...I can explain.

Zero: Has Read Homestuck, Knows What Homestuck Is - Part of the reason I put him here is because he ended up being the opposite of what Wily wanted him to be. He wanted a ruthless killing machine, and instead he got someone who helps save the world on multiple occasions. So why not have him be the opposite of his creator in Homestuck knowledge as well? - (Although if you think about it, Zero is technically a ruthless killing machine, but that's not what we're here to talk about). - Another other part of the reasoning is that I thought it was funny. - Zero had trouble getting invested until Act 5. - After he reached that point, he was locked in. - He sees a little bit of himself in Rose Lalonde and Dirk Strider. - He has never read the epilogues, or the sequel. Once he saw the Snapchat bonus content, he thought that was it. - Zero successfully got Iris into the comic as well. - Her favorite character was also Rose. - I like to think he and Layer also became friends after realizing they were both Homestuck fans.

Axl: Has Read Homestuck, Doesn't Know What Homestuck Is - He found a dub of the series on YouTube on day while watching random videos. - He was invested almost immediately. - Axl would talk about it with the other Red Alert members a lot - especially to Red and Tornado. - But there was one problem: He didn't know the name of it. It just completely slipped his mind at one point, and he wasn't able to get it back. This led to stuff like this: - Axl: "And THEN John and his friends are losing to the Condescence, but-" - Red: "That's nice and all, but what's this webcomic you read called?" - Axl: "Uh... I dunno. I can't remember." - Red: "Are you sure you didn't just make it up?" - Axl: "Wha- Yes! Yes, I'm sure!" - Red: "...sure thing, little buddy." - After joining the Maverick Hunters, Axl casually brings up the plot of this comic he can't remember the name of. Zero soon says this: - Zero: "...are you talking about Homestuck?" - Axl: "That's what it's called?!" - He made a trollsona like Bass did, but is a lot less shy about sharing it. - His favorite character is Roxy Lalonde. - Axl got Palette into it as well. X: Has Not Read Homestuck, Knows What Homestuck Is - He heard Zero talk about it with Iris a lot, but it sounded a bit too violent for his tastes. - He did play the Pesterquest visual novel, though. - Yes, the disclaimer does apply for this visual novel. - I like to think that at some point in X7, X complains about Zero and Axl's interest in "overly violent media" and asks if Zero has started "corrupting the youth." - He is promptly told to shut up. - X is more open to the idea of reading Homestuck by the time X8 comes around though. But it isn't until Axl is recovering from the game's ending that he actually starts considering it, since he knows it'll make Axl happy. - Speaking of which: will Capcom ever give us X9? - I just want to know if Axl is really okay, or if Lumine messed him up somehow. - It's been almost 20 years since the game released. 20 years is a long time to leave part of a video game franchise on a cliffhanger (but then again, Mega Man Legends fans have been waiting for 24 years...) Sigma: Has Not Read Homestuck, Does Not Know What Homestuck Is - The reason Sigma is in this category is very easy to explain: - He deserves nothing that could give him any semblance of happiness. - Also, I hate him.

Alright, rant over.

The inspiration for this post, as well as the original template, can be found here.

...now you can all go home.

[windvexer]

a case against fucking around and finding out: sometimes the finding out is not worth it.

Not to hit the coffee and immediately say something melodramatic, but here we go:

In the context of learning witchcraft or similar occultish pursuits, the quip fuck around and find out seems to put a lot of emphasis on the fuck around

and I think a lot less focus on the finding out.

I think that the finding out is assumed to be something that can be swept up and tidied under the rug, like:

Whoops, time to learn counterspells!

Well thank goodness I saved that bookmark for protection amulets.

What a relief! I saw a fairy doctor talking about how to correct offenses to the fae, that's really going to come in handy.

But I don't know if people consider that the finding out is sometimes, like:

I've had intermittent recurring pain in my heart for over a decade where a demon implanted energy tentacles into me, and energy healers have warned me to leave it alone. This is something I live with now.

I did a spell in the forest - I didn't know I needed to ask for permission - and now the trees are haunting me; I can't close my eyes without seeing a corpse-like dryad attacking me. I consulted with a spirit doctor and now I have to make offerings in the forest eight times a year just to appease those spirits, and my green magic has stopped working. It's time to rebuild my path.

I accepted the first spirit that appeared to me as my spirit guide. Six years of chronic fatigue later, after losing most of my friends and being able to move nowhere with my life, someone in a Discord told me that spirit is an energy vampire.

I learned to speak with ghosts and the first thing that happened was one of them implanting an energetic cord in me. It told me it was a symbol of honor, but since then I haven't been able to shut the ghosts out. It's affecting my relationships and my ability to work, and I need help.

I feel like I swing on the pendulum between "yeehaww, get in the back of the pickup truck y'all, let's go wrassle that magic!" and "last week Earl got his ankle run over by the truck and he needs seven surgeries to keep his foot."

I don't think either side is more correct than the other. Magic is a big landscape, and it's filled with mountains and valleys.

Just, like. Be careful out there, y'all. Sometimes the finding out really isn't worth it.

[squarebracketsmileyface]

how did you decide Birdie would call Tim papa, not daddy (assuming it's the single dad au Tim)?

Honestly it's mostly a left over from the version of PGPau where Jay lives and he and Tim raise Birdie together (there's now also a very rough version of that Au where Jay lives but vanished Brian style and shows back up in Tim's life years later with a bunch of stuff figured out. This fic has too many au's. So much for me trying to give 'the' au a name so I could keep it straight in my head, now PGPau has like three aus behind it, it's just anything post canon now, whoops. Oh well 💀)

Anyway, Jay just seemed like the dad/daddy parent, and that made sense to me with the whole trans Jay thing, Jay going from dad/daddy to mum/mummy was just too perfect y'know? So Tim became papa because of that, and then I decided Birdie would be 'canon' to Sorry It's Locked and went "well Jay's still gonna die because I love angst too much to give that up" and just ended up keeping papa for Tim even in the more 'canon' single dad Tim au because I just feel like it suits him. Y'know?

He just seems like a papa to me. He's a big loving mamabear to his very tiny very weird daughter, y'know? Ridiculously protective of her, if you hurt his baby he will rip your arms off, but also incredibly soft with her because she's his kid and she survived so fucking much with him even before she was born and he wants desperately to give her the childhood and family he never had. Even if that family is just him and her.

He's a mamabear protecting and loving his cub, except he's a guy, so he's a papabear but you know what i mean 💀

I just love it. Papa suits him, y'know?

Jay's dad/daddy and then mum/mummy, Tim's papa the whole way through, and Brian is Mr. Thomas then Brian, then quickly becomes bubba.

I love it. They're just all so cute.

Okay, I went off on a tangent about Alex here for some reason so I'm putting it under a thingybobber 💀

And with the whole "everyone lives" thing even Alex would probably end up with like, not a family title like the others, but he'd be part of their family in a friend way, y'know? Like, in everyone lives, everyone lives, y'know? And that includes Alex. And obviously he's not just walking around free, but I see him being in like hospital prison y'know? I can't remember what that's called, but anyway. He's in hospital prison and he can't leave because of what he did, but he's not in normal prison because he really wasn't in control of his actions when he killed people, not really.

At first only Tim goes to visit him, and even then he doesn't go super often because it's hard on both him and Alex (though mostly Alex). And he mostly goes because he understands what Alex was going through the best. He understands that if he hadn't had his medication he could easily have been the one in Alex's place. He wasn't "better" than Alex or more resistant to the Operators influence, he simply had people around him who could help (that being his doctors).

Then after a little while it's both Tim and Jay who go to visit Alex, still only very occasionally because, yeah it's a lot, none of them can really cope with seeing each other more than a couple times a year at first, but over time it gets easier and eventually Tim and Jay end up visiting him once every one to two months or something, once Alex's doctors or whatever are like "yeah I think that'll be okay, he's starting to cope better and relapse less when you come to visit him now. We genuinely think it's helping him."

They tell Alex about their life together and eventually Birdie comes up. So Alex knows about Birdie.

And Birdie knows about Alex because obviously she asks about how her parents met, and she asks where they went when they've had a day out, and they don't wanna lie to her, so they tell her about MH in the most kid friendly way they can, and tell her they're visiting this friend who's in hospital and can't leave because he tried to hurt people when he was younger. And like, obviously they are like, "we don't blame him for it, he was really, really sick and didn't realise that what he was doing wasn't 'saving' people like he thought it was" or whatever. They talk to her about the good sides of Alex, as well as very carefully addressing the bad sides, and eventually Birdie starts asking to go with them to see him. And like, at first it's a flat out no, because Jay and Tim have no damn clue how either Birdie or Alex will react to meeting each other, and even just seeing Tim and Jay used to fuck Alex up pretty bad and it took ages to get to the point they're at now. Like, they don't wanna undo that progress.

Anyway, eventually Brian comes back into their lives too, still the same way, with him starting out as a new teacher at Birdies school and then meeting Tim and Jay (well, Lark at that point but y'know) and eventually ending up dating the two of them and Birdie just kinda naturally migrated to calling him bubba, because it's not quite a parent name, but it's that same sort of sound, y'know?

Then like, Tim and Lark have been talking to the people in charge of looking after Alex and trying to figure out if there's a way he can meet Birdie. And like, with Brian back in the picture that's another thing for Alex to deal with so the whole "meet Birdie" thing gets pushed back again because finding out Brian is also alive is just, a lot for Alex, hugely conflicting and all that. Like, he's both glad Tim didn't kill Brian (or Brian didn't die running away from Tim whatever) and also very upset because he failed to "save" him. But eventually, ages and ages later, Birdie and Brian both end up going to see Alex too (after like, much therapy for them both to help them get ready for that, especially Brian) but like, yeah. Idk Birdie's probably like 15 by the time she meets Alex and it's all mostly fine honestly.

Idk I just like the idea of Birdie getting to meet Alex and it just kinda being fine? He's just a guy who got very sick when he was younger, and that changed the way his brain worked so that he couldn't fully comprehend the fact that killing people wasn't necessarily the best way to save them, that they could live with the Operator's presence like Tim had and still be okay. Like, it wasn't his fault. The Operator was literally changing the way his brain worked and without any medical intervention like Tim had, Alex was pretty much doomed from the start. He couldn't fight that. The operator was like a malicious, sentient, intangible tumor pressing on his brain and changing his personality, except it was taken to the extreme, because supernatural monster, y'know?

[violetswritingg]

Thunderstruck

Tyler Owens x OFC!

Description: When cowgirl meets cowboy after a year of no-contact and chaos ensues during storm season!

Rating: M (Mentions of blood and death in Tornadoes and storms alike, angst and loss of loved ones, car accidents, Tornado aftermath, and injury to characters)

Want to read the other chapters?

click here

5

May, 2024

Oklahoma

"Well, at least we got data from inside the vortex, that's always fun." Sarah chirped from her curled up position inside the Warlock, the wing doors open as Riley was elbow deep in the engine. Oil and grime on her face as her hair started to fall from its ponytail. Bare fingers going through components and wires, yanking, pulling, and throwing over her shoulder. Grabbing the extra parts she needed from the paper plate set up on the corner of the open hood. "The doctors also said you need to take it easy!"

“I wouldn’t call ex-pre-med Sam who gave me my stitches a doctor, but okay, besides I am taking it easy!” She could feel the continued stares of every chaser in the lot, new or veteran. She knew what this vehicle meant not only to her but also to the community. The Warlock had been going since before she was born. She's replaced the engine and just about every part in it before at least twice. It was a money pit. It would be cheaper to just make a new one. Their grants would pay for it easily, but she couldn't let go of this one. She wouldn't.

She grunted as she leaned over a little farther, arm almost completely swallowed by the huge piece of machinery. She knew this vehicle like the back of her hand, and it showed. She pulled back and grabbed a wrench from an undergrad, muttering a 'thanks' under breath before tightening something and then putting her flashlight in her mouth to wrap some wires in electrical tape. Ripping out old ones and putting in new ones. She kicks the bumper and bangs the wrench against a component to the side. Leaning around side and wiping her hands off on a rag.

"Try it now Sarah!" Riley called, her head bowing down as her eyes closed. "Come on, come on, come on." She muttered under her breath.

When it roars to life her head snapped up and she fist pumped with a whoop, Sarah coming out to hug her. Swaying them back and forth.

"Not finished yet." Riley looked to Sarah and smirked, the brunette let the blonde go, allowing her to carefully climb into the front seat, flipping up the switch over the trigger for the spikes. "You filming this?" She called out, a little louder than normal, so Sarah could hear it.

"You bet your cute behind I am!" Was Sarah's response. And Riley chuckled inside the vehicle, shaking her head.

"Spikes deploying on 3!" Riley called out, knowing what was about to happen. "2!" The whole lot had joined in, the chorus of voices in the night one of the best sounds Riley had ever heard. "1!" It reminded her just how many people her dad had inspired or had loved him, that his memory lived on. Through her. "Deploy! Deploy! Deploy!"

The sound of the two foot long solid spikes striking through the asphalt sent a shock through the cab and Riley laughed raucously at the sensation. Next, she swung herself out of the vehicle with a huge smile, laughing some more when she felt arms around her and the next thing she knows she was on Daniels shoulders. The college junior grinning up at her with bright eyes, Riley looked back to the lot and took in all the chasers for a second. Feeling her eyes prickle a bit, her smile going wobbly for a second before she pulled it together.

"It lives!" Riley screamed to the parking lot, throwing up her left fist in the air in celebration.

"It lives!" Her hoard of undergrads echo, jumping and screaming together. Jenny, the only other theatre major on their team, who was corrupted by Sarah on her way out following it with the evilest witch cackle Riley had ever heard.

The parking lot erupted into cheers and Riley subtly wiped around her eyes as she was lowered to the ground. Small laughs still bubbling past her lips as she shared in a few more moments of pure joy with her team. The one she put together and chose, everyone really becoming like a family over the months of prep for this storm season making this moment all that much better. Because they believed in her, they thought she could do this, they supported her and drive. They would never dream of telling her to slow down, to give up on her dreams.

"Wonderful, now will you go shower? You are literally still covered in your own blood." Sarah winced and gestured to Riley and how she was still in her bloodied, cut up tank top, and dusty cargo pants from the chase earlier.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Riley swiped at her and Sarah dodged, her still damp hair just out of reach of Riley's oil stained skin. "I'm going, I'm going."

"Good, because you smell like storm and diesel and it's giving me a migraine." Sarah smiled and gestured to the staircase down the walkway from where they were able to get the Warlock. After it decided to stop running a mile before they got back to the motel. They had to have it hooked up to the tech van while pushing it with six of the biggest guys they had that last mile with Riley in the driver's seat steering it. It was horrible. "Also there's pizza on the table, eat something."

"Yes mom." Riley dragged out and turned while taking off, feeling higher than she had in months while covered in mud, grime, and blood. She had barely taken a couple steps before she ran into another body and her hand darted to her side as she hissed and took a couple steps back to steady herself.

"I'm so sorry-"

"It's fine Kate, I shoulda been watching better." Riley's accent came out a little heavier than she meant because of the stinging radiating through her ribs. But she still grinned, even if in pain, nothing could ruin her good mood right now.

"How are you, I saw you get hit, I thought-" Kate cut herself off, looking to the ground for a second, "I'm happy you're okay, looked pretty rough out there."

"Thanks." Riley went to lay a hand on Kate's shoulder but stopped herself, Kate saw the movement and chuckled. "I would but uh- I'm kind of dirty, sorry." Riley laughed, though her grin carried an awkward stress in the corners as she tried to keep smiling, wiping her palm down her thigh as if trying to clean it against the dusty fabric would actually do anything.

"You headed up?" Kate motioned to the staircase, resituating her backpack on her shoulder.

"Yeah, thanks." Riley started walking and Kate followed, side by side in easy silence. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier, with my questions. I tend to let myself get carried away when I get curious."

"Oh, it's fine." Kate waved her off but Riley pushed on.

"No. It's not. My daddy raised me better than to go snoopin' in someone else's business. So, I apologize. Please just take it." Riley chuckled tightly, she couldn't take any more guilt, even just this one thing.

"Thank you." Kate breathed after taking a moment, meeting Riley at the bottom of the stairs before they both started up.

"There is pizza in my room if your hungry," Riley started, "Unless you already-"

"I haven't but I'm okay. Thank you though."

"Yeah, of course." Riley breathed, trying to remember when it suddenly became so hard to make friends. Turning the corner at the landing and stopping dead in her tracks when her name was called out. Well, a name she hasn't been called in a while.

"Rocky!"

"Rocket!"

Kate stopped as well, looking to Riley with eyebrows drawn tight, head tilting to the side, "Rocket?"

"Just an old nickname. Uh Hey guys." Riley waved, her smile tense but softening when her eyes met Lily's, "Hey Lils." Her eyes darted around the whole group in greeting before landing on the one pair she had hoped to avoid. "Owens."

Tyler worked his jaw when Riley's grin dropped and his last name spit from her lips.

"Go east, she said, the west will choke each other out, she said." He quipped, sarcastic grin on his handsome face. Hands pausing their work on the spinning sensor on top of his truck. His eyes cut to Kate for a split second before drilling back into Riley, "Hey Storm Par."

Kate frowned at him, her eyebrows pulling down as she rolled her shoulders back. Riley stepped a little in front of her, leaning her elbows on the siding.

"Well, I still didn't manage to throw you off the scent, did I?" Riley grinned, her eyes glinting in the dim lighting of the parking lot, anger festering under the surface. "I must be losing my touch."

"I-I wouldn't say that." A voice she hadn't heard in person before piped up from beside Tyler, his pink cheeks, big brown eyes, and warm looking skin all very inviting. His smile wide and carefree, she was a little jealous. "I mean, that was great, with the Warlock. Just awesome..." Boone trialed off, holding up a finger as his face went through a couple different emotions, Riley's anger simmering as she allowed herself to enjoy the show. Enjoying the new character. "Have you ever thought about, and hear me out here, putting rocket launchers on the Warlock?" The man punctuated the words 'rocket' and 'launchers' with his hands before gesturing to the chasing vehicle with her small army surrounding it, only the older undergrads still lingering.

Riley can't stop the laugh that bubbles from her lips, "No, I have not." She shakes her head a bit as a more bitter thought filtered in and it showed on her face as she wet her lips, "I'm not exactly trying to run around firing fireworks up into tornadoes. You know you could have caused a fire like that? The sparks could have gotten carried into the dry wheat field. People could have gotten hurt."

Boone's smile dimmed a little and he looked back to Tyler when Riley's eyes shifted from his. Locking onto the blonde, her words cutting his soul. The look of disappointment flashing in her eyes was just the twist of the knife.

"Tyler knew that wouldn't happen, that's what makes him famous." Boone defended his friend, a small frown on his face as he looked up to Riley.

"On Youtube?" Kate piped up for the first time, head tilting to the side as she also stared down the blonde now. Stepping up to Riley's side, mimicking her position.

"Yeah!" Boone got excited again, missing Kate's sarcasm and other members of the crew confirmed over 1 million now. Riley was impressed, last season they were no where near that. That was a far far away dream. A tinge of pride streaked through her chest and she shared a more genuine smile with Lily.

"Riley St. James correct? Just in case I include you in my article." Riley looked down into the spectacle covered eyes of the British reporter that was following Tyler around. Riley grinned, genuinely, not like he had ever done anything to her. Tyler huffed, biting down on the inside of his cheek to temp the green eyed monster.

"That's correct. At your service, if you need anything or these chuckles are giving you a hard time let me know, I'll straighten them out for ya okay?" Riley chuckled when Ben smiled up at her, nodding at her before looking to Kate.

"And your name? For the same reason, if you don't mind." Ben was so polite. So different than the rough and tumble rag tag team Tyler had created for himself.

"Just Kate is fine. Not Storm Par." Some low whistles come from the group when Kate bared her claws. Riley looked to her with raised eyebrows, her grin easy.

"Don't be fooled Ben, Riley is a tricky one. I'd bet Kate here is too." Tyler comments and Riley does her best to ignore him.

"You made a good call, you know, earlier. The other storm looked stronger, but the cap never broke." Boone complimented and Riley nodded.

"I'm sorry, what's a 'cap'?" Ben asked, looking like a confused puppy and Riley took a breath. Her mouth opening at the same time Dexter went to answer.

"It's a temperature inversion-" They both started at the same time, Riley's voice much more enthusiastic and Dexter zipped his mouth shut grinning up at her before gesturing up to her. Riley grinned bashfully, tucking some stray strands of hair behind her ear.

"It's a temperature inversion inside the mid-part of the lower atmosphere. Inversion meaning that the temperature of the air get's hotter as it rises instead of cooling like normal. It creates a stable environment that can and will keep a storm from forming or from getting severe. Sometimes when it's really strong looking, you can't always trust what's there." Riley explained, "That make sense?" She checked and Ben thought about it for a second, Riley glanced at Kate and rolled her shoulders back before continuing, "If not I have some videos on my channel that go over it in better detail, they're pretty short and sweet, and explain it in a more non-meteorology way." The Brit sent her an appreciative grin before nodding and thanking her.

Lily taking a sneaky picture of Tyler and how he was smiling a bit, catching him perfectly as he glanced up at the dirty blonde on the landing.

"So where did you all meet?" Kate gestured to Riley and the others, "Did you all study Meteorology at the U of A?" It was quiet for a second before the majority of the group was laughing. Riley doing her best to keep her amusement at bay. Kate looking to Riley confused, while Riley could only give the woman a kind grin.

"Yeah. No. None of us did. But Tyler did. He's a cowboy scientist. Got a natural feel for this kind of stuff." Boone threw an arm over Tyler's shoulders from his spot next to the blonde in the cab of the red truck.

"Him?" Kate asked immediately, her filter obviously failing in that moment. Riley barked out a laugh before clapping her hand over her mouth. Feeling her cheeks gone bright red. Kate looked to her with raised eyebrows.

"Nothin' uh, I'm in the PhD program right now. But uh, their crew isn't like yours, or even mine really." Riley started to explain before Tyler cut her off. She wanted to kill him.

"We don't need fancy PhD's and gadgets to do what we do." Tyler looked up from where he had previously been looking, in his head about something. His words struck a particularly soft spot and when his eyes cut to her, he could tell the effect his words had on Riley and he wanted to kick himself. But he pushed on, being the asshole she though he was, "I bet these guys have seen more tornadoes than anyone in this lot combined. Minus Riley, she's been doing this since she was 12, she doesn't count."

"Nice Tyler. Still the same I see."

"No need to fix what ain't broken." He grinned caustically and Riley frowned. Her mood officially ruined.

"We apparently have different definitions of broken." Riley grinned right back, eyes squinted in fury.

"Do you think we'll see another one tomorrow?" Ben asked, putting himself right in the firing line, poor guy. He couldn't tell they were all walking on the mine field created by Tyler and Riley issues.

"Oh absolutely!" Riley nodded a little too enthusiastically.

"It's an outbreak baby." Tyler answered over the top of her and Riley took a deep breath.

"Where are you chasing tomorrow?" Lily asked, "It'd be cool to see you out there again, it's been so long, almost felt like the good old days."

Riley softened again and was about to answer honestly before Tyler was kicking up dust again, "Oh no, we're not falling for that again. I mean, it may feel like she's back but she's not part of the crew anymore, we don't need her to navigate for us."

That was her limit.

"Fuck you, Tyler." Riley spit and stormed up the stairs, ignoring the calls of her name.

"Well, you know what they say, you can always trust a guy who puts his face on a t-shirt." Kate rolled her eyes and went up after Riley. The reaction of the chasing group below them dulled in Riley's ears, "Hey, you okay?" Kate called, getting to Riley's door just before she closed it.

Riley was obviously just putting on a brave face when she waved Kate off, and the slightly older blonde frowning but taking it. It's not like she had a right to dig. What was it Riley said earlier about not getting into other people's business?

But she had so many questions, specifically about the trailer of empty barrels and Dorothy on the back of them.

But that wasn't her business.

~~*~~

Riley's shower had been quick, used to hurrying through everything just in case a storm warning rolled through. It was something that Tyler always complained about, that she never allowed herself time to breathe, to rest. A workaholic who had no sense of self-preservation. Is how she believed he phrased it.

She did feel better though, now that her skin was clean, and her clothes weren't stiff with dried blood. Having changed into another tank top, this one a medium toned brown with a white embroidered cloud and a couple yellow stars on the chest, a pair of blue jeans, and her work boots. Which were just heavy-duty hiking boots really.

Padding to the table after she tied her shoes, pawing at the open pizza box, pulling out a slice of pepperoni, and taking a bite. Building her courage to head back down to the parking lot, there was still work to be done tonight. She had to prep the mixture all over again, as she was the only one who knew the measurements besides Sarah, and Sarah was already working on crunching the numbers for tomorrow's storm cells and the data they needed to get out asap. There were some data sets from inside a vortex, due to her, her dad, and her current team. There was no one else doing this kind of research right now and that's why grants kept coming their way.

And then she had to make sure the undergrads with responsibilities didn't shuck them off till the morning when they were planning an early start.

Making a checklist, she finished her pizza, tossing the rock-hard crust back into the box for Sarah who liked to knaw on it like a fucking dog to a bone. Riley was honestly too scared to ask about it, psycho behavior, truly.

Her hand hovered over the door nob and slowly opened it, locking it behind her and taking a breath as she approached the stairs. Ignoring Tyler's looks as she walked past the first landing without even a glance in his direction.

"You look better, than before. Less tired, less bloody." His voice stopped her in its tracks, the genuine concern she could hear. Picturing the way that he used to look at her. After she had gone down another research rabbit hole and hadn't slept in 48 hours, probably also hadn't eaten in that time either. Soft concern and gooey warmth dripping over her every frayed nerve as he would drag her to bed and make her comfortable before pulling up the covers around them and holding her so tight she thought there was never going to be a time it wouldn't be like that.

"Thanks." She whispered over her shoulder and darted down the rest of the way.

~~*~~

[kenny-the-ken]

But You're Both So Young!

Helloooo my lovely people!!! So a lot of you wanted me to write a fic about the reader and Kenny finding out that they're expecting a baby!! So,,, if you didn't know already, I myself am a young mother, I turned 19 when my son was 13 days old, so I know a thing or two about being pregnant, especially as a teen!! Thus should go without saying guys but ALL CHARACTERS ARE AGED UP IN THIS FIC!!! READER 18, KENNY 19!! This is written almost how it went for me!! So please bare that in mind and if you guys want any more added to this, like a series, then let me know!!! I have almost finished the Stan smut and another for Kyle!! Any requests I've received I'll be working through over the next few days!! Lots of love guys and I hope you enjoy!!

Your hand shook, staring down at the test in your hands, two lines, it was positive, and one hand cupped your lower belly, a small smile on your face as a few tears escaped.

"Kenny! Come here!! Quickly!" You shouted through your shared apartment, you had a funny feeling that you were pregnant, and as it so happens, you weren't just imagining things, you and Kenny were going to be parents, a perfect blend of half his genetics and half of yours, your baby would be the most perfect child, and your mind was beginning to slowly wonder, when Kenny came clambering into the bathroom, panting for breath, his hand still on the door handle.

"What's wrong?" He asked, and you turned the strip test to show him, his eyebrow quirking.

"What's two lines supposed to mean? I don't know how these things work!" He exclaimed, hands in the air as you let a small laugh escape you.

"It's positive, Ken! We're gonna be parents!" You exclaimed, hands wrapping around his neck as he picked you up, spinning you round in circles, a smile so big on his face that you were certain his cheeks must've hurt.

"Our own little baby! I'm gonna be a dad!" Kenny shouted happily, gently putting you back on your feet as he jumped about, cheering and whooping, and you stood laughing, a smile on both of your faces that you were sure no one could wipe from it.

"So what now?" Kenny asked, taking your hand and leading you into the living room, sitting down on the couch beside you.

"I have to let my doctor know, the date of my last period is their rough estimation on how far along I am, I reckon I'm about five weeks." You spoke and Kenny listened to your every word attentively, nodding occasionally.

"Then at twelve weeks, we have our first scan, they'll take bloods and make sure I'm all good and healthy and that the baby is too, and then at the twenty week scan they'll measure everything inside and outside the baby to make sure it's organs and bones are growing properly and they'll tell us the sex of the baby too!" You said excitedly clapping your hands together as Kenny pulled you to his chest, placing gentle kisses all over your face.

"I'm so lucky to have you, I mean, not only do you love me, but you're giving me the best gift a guy could ask for, a baby! Our baby! God, I love you!" Kenny gushed, your cheeks heating up, Kenny's words making you blush, your head resting on his chest, as Kenny's hands played with your h/c hair.

"I love you too, Ken. We're going to be the best parents we can possibly be." Your voice was gentle, your tone soft and Kenny nodded in agreement.

"I'm gonna do all the things my parents never did, and all they did do, I swear I never will." He promised, not just to you but to himself and your unborn baby too.

The weeks went on, each day following a similar pattern. You would both wake up, cuddle together for a while in bed, Kenny usually making things sexual, not that you were complaining. Then you would both make breakfast together, pancakes, French toast, a fry up, you name it, you guys made it together. This morning you had both made sausage rolls together, the entire thing riddled with innuendos from Kenny about how he'd like you to touch his sausage, and you both sat together at the table, waiting for them to cool down so you could both finally tuck in. So far, you hadn't had many symptoms of pregnancy, but things change very quickly, the smell of the food sat in front of you turned from smelling utterly delicious to completely putrid, and you started to feel sick, and that was the beginning of your 'morning sickness', although what you'd began to find out was that morning sickness wasn't always exclusive to the mornings, sometimes it was before bed, after dinner, late afternoon, during the night, and every time you were over the toilet bowl, Kenny held your hair, rubbing circles on your back and whispering words of encouragement in your ear, helping you to clean up afterwards.

Weeks seemed to pass by quickly, and you were starting to bloat slightly in your lower tummy, your jeans starting to become a little too snug to be comfortable anymore. But no matter what Kenny always showered you with compliments, about how beautiful you were, how you were completely glowing, and you knew deep down how excited he truly was.

And that became clear when finally the day of your twelve week ultrasound had arrived, and Kenny was ready before you were, already out the door and waiting for you in his car. He couldn't wait to see your baby for the first time, and his smile didn't falter once the entire way to the hospital.

You got checked in and were handed a green maternity file, and while you were excited, you couldn't help but have that feeling outweighed by your nerves. What if something was wrong? What if the baby wasn't growing like it was supposed to, or there was no heartbeat on the monitor, and fuck you felt sick again. Your mind was spinning, full of worry before Kenny spoke, pulling you from your thoughts.

"Babe, everything will be fine, okay? I promise." Kenny said, his hand resting on your thigh, delivering a soft squeeze to it as he smiled gently at you, as you simply nodded your head in response.

Your name was called after waiting for a while and you both rose from your seats, making your way down the corridor and into one of the room adjacent.

"If you wanna get up on the bed there, and roll your top up and move your trousers down to your hips." The lady spoke, and you did as you were told as Kenny sat on the seat next to you, squeezing your hand as he gave you his gappy smile, and you couldn't help but smile back at him, he really was your everything.

"Okay, I'm going to put some of this of this gel on your stomach, you did as we asked and drank plenty of water before you came here so you had a full bladder?" She asked and you nodded again in response, jumping when you felt the cool gel and the head of the ultrasound machine rub circles on your stomach, and then she paused her movements, you both hearing a small, quick thumping sound coming from the machine, as she turned the monitor so you both could see.

"So baby looks very comfy in there, here's baby's head." She said, pointing it out on the monitor, and you were both just staring in amazement.

"S-So everything's okay? Baby's growing fine yeah?" You glanced at Kenny and he looked like he was welling up, the back of his hands quickly whipping away the tears of joy that dared to fall down his face.

"I'll do a few measurements just to double check, but as far as I can see so far, everything looks perfect! I'll print you some pictures of your scan." The midwife said, a smile on her face, and you and Kenny still stared in amazement, it felt so real now, you really were growing a little mini version of both of you put together, it had little hands, feet, arms and legs, you could see it's little face and it's small, still developing features. It truly was incredible what a woman's body was capable of, and Kenny was in awe of both the baby, and you.

"I'm just speechless! It's our little baby in there!" Kenny cooed, the tears appearing again in his eyes, still smiling and holding your hand tightly.

When the appointment was over and they had taken your blood samples, you and Kenny sat in his car, looking through the pictures that the midwife had gave you.

"I'm so lucky. The most amazing boyfriend in the world universe and now the most perfect little baby with you. I love you so much, Kenny." You spoke, tears of joy in your own eyes as he hugged you tightly, before placing a gentle hand on your tummy.

"I swear, I'll give you two the entire Earth, moon and stars." Kenny spoke, his hand then moving to cup your cheek and deliver a soft, kiss to your lips, starting up the engine.

"And I swear I'll give you two everything that I possibly can. I want to be the best mother that I can be, and the best girlfriend I can be too, I really would be lost without you both." You spoke, finally allowing your nerves to calm down, tears of joy in your eyes, much like Kenny before you.

The road was gonna be a long one, nine months is a long time, and birth was gonna be no walk in the park, but you wanted nothing but this, however the waiting had only just begun, because you still had eight weeks left till your twenty week scan, and finding out the sex of your baby. It was all new, exciting and equally terrifying, but you knew Kenny was with you, holding you tightly in his arms every single step of the way, and that and your unborn baby really was all that mattered. And all that ever would matter.

[nukeyyy]

finished interview with the vampire season 2 last night and wow what an amazing show 😭 i cried at least once per episode lmao. thoughts BELOW (warning: long post + major spoilers for the show -obvs-)

the actors are phenomenal and i'm always blown away by sam and jacob's chemistry on-screen. i also can't get over how eric bogosian and luke brandon field not only look so much alike but also manage to act very similarly (like the mannerisms, speech patterns etc.)??? like i know it's their jobs as actors but every time i saw young daniel i was just so impressed lol. amazing casting, amazing talent, amazing actors

i had been spoiled for so many things for s2 (i never read the books), like claudia dying, lestat being alive, armand having erased louis's memory and daniel becoming a vampire. yeah that's a lot... i didn't know how it'd be executed in the show at all but i just knew those facts because i wasn't careful enough online whoops 🥲 i was still gagged seeing all those moments on-screen though so i don't mind haha

also i relate to louis character so much it's actually ridiculous. i'm him and he's me. ME AND HIM, HIM AND ME (ok i'll stop)

i could relate to lestat a lot too (i'm somewhat of an expert at loneliness/depression/fear of abandonment and self-sabotage, rip i need help 😎).

armand was fascinating (and intimidating) to me just knowing how he's an ancient vampire who can just fuck you up if he wants to.

daniel's sarcastic comments were probably the funniest thing for me lolll and his facial expressions at certain things being told. like he's lowkey done with this gay vampire drama and it cracks me up. i still think about the "are you a schizophrenic, louis? 🤨" line because it's such a valid question lol and i always wonder why characters in shows/movies don't freak out whenever i see that trope of a character seeing a dead person qsdqs i'd be contacting a doctor asap. real talk i usually don't like that trope much (it usually feels like fanservice more than anything and like the writers are too scared to let the dead character go) but with lestat i actually liked it. probably because i knew he was actually alive. but still i'd feel so emotional when his "ghost" would be around because i knew it was louis imagining what would lestat do or say if he was here (or at least that's how i interpreted it). which... that's how you know you miss someone BAD 'cause the last/only time i felt that way about someone....... yeah.......

now, claudia... sigh. i feel bad for saying that but i really had a hard time liking her character. i WANTED to like her. i did at some points (loooved her at the beginning, in s1), and i always understood her motives and why she felt the way she did. at the same time, i'd feel annoyed with the way she'd always interject into louis and lestat's conversations/arguments, trying to sway louis in the direction she wanted whenever lestat was showing kindness or hints of remorse. she was never willing to give lestat a chance no matter what he did or said and it irked me a bit. it bothered me most at the trial actually, because lestat was apologizing to LOUIS, and claudia was in louis's ear telling him "it's too little too late" like girl pleaseee respectfully, the apology isn't for you to accept or reject. let louis make up his own mind.

louis is a grown man and it's his relationship, so i felt like claudia should've stayed out of it (at least in the moment, i don't mind if she expresses her opinion to louis later). i felt bad for louis because he made so many sacrifices for her but she never really seemed to reciprocate much (or maybe armand erased my memory). i hated how she called louis "dead weight" in her journal in 2x01. again i understand why she was angry at him, but after everything he's done for her, and considering the fact he was grieving the "death" of lestat (which was brutal), his lover of 30+ years iirc, and he basically couldn't talk about it with her (or anyone for that matter), it just felt unfair to him.

idk maybe i'm being way too harsh on her character, i know she's a character that the fandom likes, so really i feel like i'm missing something? i want to like her i really do but i don't vibe with her character. maybe i'll like her more after rewatching the show (not that it matters anymore since she's dead 😬 but still). i did feel for her though when louis didn't believe her about armand threatening her 'cause that was such bullshit lol like as if claudia would make that up... anyway i did enjoy her relationship with madeleine, too bad it ended the way it did. felt bad for madeleine but when claudia came back to her i kinda knew that madeleine would get murdered by the coven eventually 😅 i actually had a theory that the coven would use madeleine as one of their human sacrifices for the théâtre to punish claudia for having a "forbidden friend", and i wasn't too far off!

when lestat saved louis from getting the death sentence ... i remember thinking in the moment of the trial "is it armand or lestat doing that?" then when it "showed" it was armand, i accepted that but i was confused since lestat claims to love louis. then when it was revealed that it was LESTAT that saved louis but armand took credit for it all and lestat let him??? DUDE!

like i had the same reaction as present louis 'cause ... DANIEL? YOUR QUESTIONS MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE. lol. speaking of louis and daniel, i absolutely loved the way louis comforted him in 1973 after all the trauma they'd both gone through. louis has this empathetic side to him that shines through at times and i love it (kinda reminds me of will graham)

i absolutely LIVED for louis burning down the théâtre des vampires, it was absolutely badass and deserved. santiago's death made me go "now THAT'S a vampire show!!!". i enjoyed santiago as a villain, very entertaining to watch he was. also i love that those two fans of the théâtre (the guy and girl with the black and white makeup always sitting in the front row) attended EVERY show lol

something that's more of season 1, but, i love lestat's french. if you don't know, i'm french myself, but i watched the show its original language with english subtitles (as i like to do with every game/show/movie). so when lestat spoke french i loved it i mean. lestat's my favorite and i love the actor who plays him so not gonna lie it'd make me fangirl a bit everytime LMAO like ooo he's speaking MY language!!!

(i'm still a teenage girl at heart i guess sometimes lol)

that argument that lestat and louis had in french in season 1 over claudia (when claudia was in louis' coffin writing in her journal) ... will always make me laugh... just the conclusion of lestat going "putain de merde, bonne nuit" and shutting his coffin and then louis saying bonne nuit back XD it just feels so real you know. when you argue with someone but you still love them enough to say the nice little things.

speaking of arguments, i was so surprised at lestat's recollection of things during the trial, and how it differed from louis' retelling of events to daniel. many times i was like "is lestat lying? orrr" 'cause it's wild how different the versions are. particularly that massive fight in season 1 when lestat dropped him from the sky (if anyone who hasn't watched the show is reading this post, they're probably like "wtf" lmao). if lestat was saying the truth about how it went down, then damn, i feel bad for lestat :/ JUSTICE FOR LESTAT (i feel so toxic for saying that lol). like louis was NASTY in that scene, downright cruel. they both love each other so much yet they both hurt each other just as much it seems. i just want them to be happy 🥲 if that's even possible.

oh and TW: suicide for this section because i want to talk about THAT louis scene in 1973. hell that whole fight he had with armand. first of all, i felt so sad for armand that he was being called boring and dull etc. by louis, even though louis had drugs in his system and was clearly having a mental breakdown. if i'd been armand i would've cried on the spot ngl 😭 i'm surprised armand stayed with louis after that, probably to just spite lestat? but then when louis went on the roof to try to kill himself by burning under the sun ... i was sobbing and even just thinking about it now it makes me want to cry, as someone who's considered suicide many times since i'm like 19, it hit close to home. i wouldn't wish that shit on anybody and it hurts so much seeing a character i love go through that even though it's all just fictional. and when armand contacted lestat and lestat was asking louis (through armand) "why are you ill? what's happened to you?" and later "i love you, louis" and he said it so softly like ... DAMN MY FEELINGS.

i ALMOST forgot to talk about lestat and louis' reunion in new orleans in the last episode (bruh how could i). i CRIED. i loved seeing them take accountability for their past mistakes and just seeing how far the both of them have come, seeing them ACTUALLY be vulnerable and talk to each other and both of them listening to each other and be there for each other. it was such a touching scene. and lestat's voice cracking when he asked louis if he hurt himself back in 1973? it wasn't just his voice that cracked in that moment it was also my HEART wtf

and how sweet and heartfelt that hug was. i was kinda glad they didn't kiss/get back together in that moment. it made the moment more meaningful, and i think it's good for them to be on good terms yet still be apart for some time to process things (not forever of course hehe). i'm just glad they're not against each other anymore and that they seemed to have made peace.

of course at the end louis is basically ready to fight any vampire who wants to kill him over the publishing of the book. i'm not too worried. lestat will probably show up to help louis kick their asses or escape (don't spoil me). i do wonder what happened with armand and where he is now!

oh and i gotta say, about the show overall but again mainly season 1, i absolutely LOVE how they portrayed lestat and louis's relationship in general. i'm so glad they seemed like just a "normal" couple and they weren't written as a GAY couple ... idk if that makes sense. they ARE a gay couple but it's not the defining trait of their relationship, it's a part of it of course, but the writers didn't make it all about their sexuality and they didn't make it a stereotype like some shows & movies treat their gay characters/couples, and it was so refreshing. like i'm not even a dude and i felt SEEN. and then i thought to myself "shit, is this how straight people feel when they see a m/f relationship on-screen???" 'cause 99% of the time i feel nothing when watching m/f relationships, but i get really emotionally invested and i feel a connection with m/m and f/f relationships. kinda sucks to realize though 'cause it just reminds me of how little high quality gay content we get in the media but thankfully times are changing. i mean just thinking of how it was like 10 years ago? back then i always had gay ships that never ended up canon lol it was rough. i'm happy i get to have interesting gay ships that ARE canon these days. hope it keeps going that way 🥹 i don't even bother with anything that involves queerbaiting these days, i only go for stuff with CANON gay/lesbian ships & main characters or i'll pass (with some exceptions), i no longer have the patience i had as a teenager, fuck that. it's 2024 we can have more now >:)

well, that went into a tangent. i'll keep it in though 'cause it's a discussion i'd love to have if anyone wants to talk about that further!

one thing i wonder about is what was up with those feral vampires (that's what i call them) early in season 2? claudia ripped the eyes off from one in the forest. these vampires looked ... uh ... i don't even how to describe it lol. but was it because they kept drinking the blood of people traumatized by the war? or was it something else?

anyway. conclusion is i enjoyed the show so so much and i can't wait for season 3!!! i've heard lestat will be in a rock band in season 3 and i'm hyped haha

i probably missed stuff to talk about but the post is already so long. feel free to send me a message/ask if you want my thoughts on certain plot points/characters or just to discuss them! i'd love to :D as long as you're nice ('cause trust me i'm aware of how hypocritical i am by disliking claudia and yet loving louis and lestat's characters dqdsq i'm sorry for that)

now i can freely check out the fandom weee 💃

[sadhours]

simmer down - chapter one

billy hargrove x hagan!oc

read on ao3 • masterlist • requests are open!

a/n: here is the rewrite!!! hope you all like it.

warnings: slow burn, secret crush, oc x steve, angst, underage drinking

word count: 10k

Gina Hagan had things easy. She knew she was pretty, she’d been told so her entire life. And okay, so Hawkin’s was a small midwestern town, maybe the bar was pretty low but she still had smooth sailing because of her looks. Her brother being popular helped. Freshmen year at Hawkin’s High was nothing short of a breeze. It meant a guaranteed spot with the cool crowd. People flocked to her because she was Tommy’s sister and who was his best friend? None other than the King himself, Steve Harrington. Hawkin’s one and only golden boy. His parents were filthy rich, rumors always swirling about their professions but Gina had the close connection to know the truth. His dad came from old money, had a shit ton of real estate across many states but was bred and born right here in quaint little Hawkin’s. He wanted his son to have a similar upbringing so well, they stayed here. However, with Mrs. Harrington’s job, once little Stevie could take care of himself, they were never in Hawkin’s much. Two months of the year, really. July and Christmas. They didn’t like winters in Indiana, so in all honestly it was about a month and a week. Barbara Harrington was a lawyer and a damned good one. Big corporations had her on the payroll and Steve says there’s a lot of schmoozing that comes along with the job. Gina’s met them a handful of times, mostly when she was a kid but they were always kind. She has a distinct memory of clinging to Tommy’s side when the Harrington’s bought them winter jackets.

Gina remembers feeling inferior to the Harrington’s when she was kid. Steve had called them poor a number of times. He’d say his parents were doing their charity when they brought over Christmas presents to the Hagan’s. Barbara told her she’d always wanted a little girl and so each year for Christmas and Gina’s birthday, she’d bring over at least ten gifts for her. Clothes, expensive clothes and shoes. Her mom was hesitant but Gina was excited to wear them to school.

Her parents were as well off. They struggled when her and Tommy were young. However, thanks to Tommy’s insistence on Steve in grade school, James and Barbara Harrington became close with her parents and offered them jobs. Their dad managed one of James’ properties and their mom practically ran Barbara’s headquarters here in Hawkin’s. Their families were close, they celebrated Christmas together. Steve was practically a brother. Except Gina had been harboring a fat crush on him since he was twelve and she was ten. A crush that got obsessive but she’d managed to keep under wraps until she was about fourteen. Damned her and Tommy’s unexpected little sister. Bridgette Hagan was born six years after Gina, a total whoops baby. In fact, their mother was scheduled to get her tubes tied but the doctor cancelled last minute and Bridgette was conceived shortly after. So one night at dinner, Steve was staying over and the spunky eight year old had spilled Gina’s dearly kept secret.

“Gina likes Steve!” she had proclaimed before digging into her mashed potatoes.

Gina about died. Her smattering of freckles disguised behind the redness of her face. It was the most humiliating moment thus far. Tommy had seemed just as embarrassed, telling Bridgette to shut up as Gina stood up and ran to her bedroom. Only for Steve to appear minutes later and tell her everything was alright and he didn’t hate her.

Then, Gina turned fifteen. Her parents threw her a sweet little party. A nice dinner at Enzo’s, the guest list included their five piece family, Steve, a few of her friends and Tommy’s girlfriend, Carol. It was nice, she felt fancy and pretty in her formal black dress. Carol had styled her hair that night, showed her how to do makeup. Gina loved Carol. She was like a big sister. Even if Gina got grossed about her and Tommy, she still felt wonderfully close to Carol. After dinner, they went back to the Hagan’s house for cake and once their parents went to bed, Steve had swirled his keys around his fingers and told Gina and everyone he had an after party waiting at his empty house.

Gina was nervous to drink that night, she’d never really had much alcohol except for sips off beers Tommy had offered. But Steve had mixed her a couple of cocktails, simple ones; vodka and juice. And Gina had never felt more special than that moment, her and Steve Harrington alone in his kitchen as he told her she’d like the drink and then tucked her curly brown hair behind her ear and told her she had the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen. He was so wonderfully handsome, big brown eyes and floppy hair.

“Come with me,” Steve had said, “I wanna show you something.”

Gina had followed him up to his pristine room, the one with plaid wallpaper. Steve bought her a pair of earrings. He put them on for her and kissed her. It wasn’t Gina’s first kiss but it might as well have been. The first French kiss she’d had. His tongue felt magical against hers, Gina was sure she’d combust right there on his bed when it’d happened. Never in her life had she’d felt that way from a kiss. Steve ignited every nerve ending, she almost cried when he pulled away and told her how beautiful she was.

Losing your virginity to Steve Harrington was something special, even if she knew of five other girls who’d had the same fate. She didn’t even think about those girls when it happened. Steve had made her feel like she was the only woman in the world. Made her feel like a woman. It was gentle and sweet and everything Gina had wanted. Afterwards, he told her Tommy couldn’t find out and she was on board. She knew he’d be upset, wouldn’t want anything to jeopardize his long-standing friendship with Steve. But after that, Gina was addicted. Infatuated. Steve Harrington was a God that walked among men.

Gina would fill her diary with how handsome and funny Steve was. An entire page was dedicated to her practicing her signature with Steve’s last name. Gina Harrington scrawled out repeatedly in her most practiced cursive. She remembers one time Steve found it, teased her about it until he straddled her on her twin size bed and kissed her dizzy.

They continued sneaking around for almost a whole year. Whenever Steve spent the night, Gina could expect the lanky brunette to creep into her bedroom and make her feel on cloud nine. It was a blissful seven months. That was, until her classmate, Nancy Wheeler caught his attention. The worst part was that Steve never broke up with Gina. Not that they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend but things just abruptly shifted. Steve stopped sneaking into her room when he spent the night, his eyes no longer found hers in a crowded room. But Gina held on. Steve would spend the night and she would lay in bed and wait for what once was. It never came.

Steve dove head first into Nancy. The real kicker was when Gina sat with Tommy, Carol and Nancy’s friend Barb in Steve’s backyard while he added Nancy Wheeler to the notches in his bed post. It was excruciating. She was just as miserable as Barb that night. Perhaps it was a lord opportunity to make a new friend but Gina didn’t want to be friendly with Barb that night. She was a gear in the workings that ruined what was most important to Gina.

Gina withdrew. She’d broke down one night and confessed everything to Carol, who held her close and told her Steve was the biggest asshole in existence. Gina couldn’t find it in herself to agree. Steve had made her feel so special. Carol had formulated all these plans to ruin Steve’s life, break him and Nancy up and make Steve regret ever hurting Gina. It was sweet. Carol was the best big sister, even if she wasn’t really.

It was much easier when Steve had gotten into a fight with Tommy. Her brother never told her exactly happened but Gina knew it was bad because Steve started acting like they didn’t exist. And the boys fought a lot through out the years but nothing like that time. It had to do with Nancy. That much was clear, but Tommy and Carol wouldn’t talk about it. Gina thinks it was because they’d done something horrible. Perhaps because Carol knew how much Steve had hurt Gina and she had to get revenge, even if Gina insisted she didn’t.

Therefore, it’d been a whole summer without Steve. Gina’s first since she was in grade school. It wasn’t that drastically different than the summer before— parties, swimming and lazy days lounged on the couch. Except this one was empty. No brown eyes and floppy, big hair to gaze at. No empty house to relax at. The swimming she’d done had been at the community pool and not the Harrington’s. The parties lacked one exceptional guest. Lazy days were lonely without Steve’s jokes and lingering touches. The boys she’d fooled around with never gave her the same feelings Steve did. Gina didn’t get the tingling in her fingers and toes when any of them kissed her neck. Her thoughts didn’t fizzle out when they went down on her. She’s slept with a handful of them but it wasn’t nearly as exciting as it was with Steve. They didn’t make her feel special. She didn’t want to even look at them whenever it was finished. But she remembered always cuddling with Steve, joking around and the compliments Steve would give her. No one compared. She’d found love and she’d lost it just as quick.

Carol and her grew even closer, but Tommy got upset when she didn’t join in on the shit talking. Gina couldn’t even find the energy to hate Nancy, as much as Carol insisted she should. Nancy wasn’t the problem here, she had no idea what secrets went on between Steve and his best friends little sister. It was pointless to hate her.

Even if Gina was bitter. She’d compare herself to Nancy but would be at a loss. Steve had told her how beautiful she was, how smart she was, how funny she was. Gina hadn’t changed, but Steve had. Steve was the problem here and the quicker Gina accepted that, the better.

;;;

“Hurry up!” Tommy bangs on the bathroom door.

Gina huffs as she grabs the wide tooth comb and rakes it through her tangle of loose chestnut curls. She was about due for another perm but that was a problem for another day. She’d overslept and would have preferred to shower but wouldn’t have the time. She’d washed her armpits and nether regions with a washcloth at the sink, Carol referred to this lovingly as a whores bath. Gina thinks Carol’s really funny and she’s pretty sure Carol thinks so too.

When Gina swings the bathroom door open, her equally as freckled brother pushes past her and shoves her out of the room before slamming the door. Their relationship was an interesting one. They were attached at the hip most their lives, the photos decorating the hallways show a young Tommy holding an infant Gina with adoration in his eyes. Their mom says he was infatuated with her when she was a baby, doting on her and it only started to waver when he started going through puberty. It felt like rejection at first but the older they got, the better they got along. When she started high school, Tommy made sure she sat with him and his friends at lunch. He brought her along to parties and always included her. He wasn’t necessarily protective but if Gina needed, she knew he’d punch in any man’s face who hurt her. Especially Steve Harrington. But that would mean admitting she betrayed her brother by falling in love with his best friend, and she couldn’t do that.

Gina dresses in a white tennis skirt, a striped polo and slouchy socks with her pink Ked’s. She puts on minimal makeup, a bit of rouge and mascara. It’s October, a skirts not the best choice but Gina loves wearing them enough to suffer through a bit of chill. She shoves her arms through a lavender colored zip up hoodie and ties half her hair up with a matching scrunchie. Tommy’s waiting impatiently at the door when she exits her room, mumbling under his breath as he opens the door for them and locks it. He’s always complaining about her being late.

His Toyota is messy, Gina steps on paper bags and cups as she climbs in the front seat. Any comments to clean it would fall on deaf ears. A rebuttal that she could walk her ass to school would be made if she said anything. It was a hand-me-down from their uncle, Tommy’s sixteenth birthday present. She remembers how he grumbled about Steve getting a brand new BMW for his and Gina didn’t complain when she wasn’t gifted a car on her sixteenth birthday. She didn’t have her license anyways. The hundred dollars from her parents was a nice enough gift. She purchased a Walkman and cassettes with it.

They pick up Carol on the way and Gina’s sentenced to the backseat which is even messier than the front. All is well though. She feels good about today. No reason to aside for handing out fliers her and Tina made for a Halloween party. Tina’s parents are going to a party in Indianapolis so it’s the perfect opportunity. They’d planned it as soon as they found out the girls’ house would be empty for the holiday. Gina liked planning parties, though it wasn’t much planning. The kids coming would bring the booze and they didn’t exactly decorate. Gina liked to be involved though. She was kind of close to Tina. They weren’t best friends and Tina was friendly with almost everyone at Hawkin’s High. But there were many a drunk night spent between the two where they told secrets. Like how Tina had slept with Tommy during one of his and Carol’s many break-ups and she really didn’t want Carol to find out. Gina didn’t tell her about Steve, though. But she told her a secret about one of her embarrassing hookups.

When they arrive at the school, Gina and Carol find their way to Tina, Becca and Stacy. The five girls lean against Tina’s car while Tommy talks to his basketball buddies. Gina watches as Steve’s BMW pulls into the lot, Nancy in the front seat and she tries not to let her disappointment make itself known on her face. It’s been long enough. She should be used to it at this point. It still stings. Gina wishes she was in Nancy’s place.

A rumble of a loud engine grabs everyone’s attention. A pretty night blue 79’ Z28 Camaro drives by and into the spot opposite the girls. Everyone’s eyes are glued on it. No one in Hawkin’s has a car like that. It belongs to an outsider, a stranger. Gina’s in love with the car the second she sees it. It’s fucking awesome. The California plates catch her attention. PCE 235. It’s hard to read until it comes to a stop. The loud music erupting from the car cuts off and the drivers door swings open.

Worn motorcycle boots and thick denim legs emerge, Gina couldn’t look away if she wanted to. The man who emerges from the Camaro literally takes her breath away. Blonde, curly mullet and a hint of a mustache. He’s fucking gorgeous. A young redhead climbs out the passenger side with a skateboard, she’s wearing a red Adidas sweatshirt. She throws the board down and skates up to the middle school. The guy takes a pull from his cigarette, gives a little smirk to the four girls and then tosses the cigarette before strutting towards the school.

Gina’s breath catches in her throat. An immediate attraction to the boy. The Scorpions song he was blasting helps. They clearly have a similar interest and she’s floored with the possibilities that could be. She wants to talk to him so bad.

“Who is that?” Stacy asks what they’re all thinking.

“I have no idea,” Tina replies, “but would you check out that ass? Just look at it go.”

Oh, Gina is. His Levi’s are so fucking tight, they show off his thick thighs and perfect ass. She’s almost embarrassed by the physical reaction she’s having to the newcomer. Tommy’s jogging over, looking amongst the girls.

“Who the fuck is that?” he asks, face all contorted in excitement.

“We don’t know,” Carol says.

“His car is fucking bitchin’,” he gushes.

;;;

Tommy moves fast. Gina realizes as much when she’s walking up towards their house and sees that gorgeous Camaro parked on the street. Her heart flutters when she sees it. The chance to meet the stranger is exciting.

She’d just been at the music store, used her allowance to buy a record and a cassette. They were the same album. She wanted one to listen to at home and another to put in her Walkman.

Gina passes by her parents as she makes her way up the sidewalk. She smiles at them. They’re preparing for the cold months about to come. Uprooting the plants that won’t make it, unhooking the house and whatever else.

“Tommy’s got a new friend over,” her mother says.

Gina points at the Camaro, “I see that.”

“Seems like a nice kid,” her dad offers, “Very respectful.”

“Yeah?” Gina smiles.

Her mom gives her a knowing look, “You think he’s handsome?”

“Well, he is,” she gushes. “I haven’t talked to him, yet. He was nice?”

“Definitely. Complimented my roses as I ripped them out,” her dad says. “Nice car too.”

“Really nice car.”

“Why don’t you go and introduce yourself?” Gina’s mom insists, “Ask if he’d like to stay for dinner.”

Gina nods with a grin before opening the front door. She’s greeted with the sound of Metallica blaring out of Tommy’s room. It seems he’s trying to impress the new guy with the only metal album he owns. Suddenly, she’s nervous. That boy was so handsome she felt on fire when she’d seen him. And now he was in her house. Hanging out with her brother. It was almost too good to be true.

She takes a deep breath before making her descent down the hallway. Gina stops at Tommy’s room and peers inside. Carol’s laid out on the floor, checking her nails while the blonde and her brother sit on the edge of Tommy’s bed. The gorgeous boy has a cigarette perched in between his lips while he nods along with the baseline of the song. Tommy’s head banging obnoxiously. Her parents smoke in the house so that’s not an issue, they just don’t know that Tommy and Gina also smoke. She wonders what they’d think of this kid their age, smoking in their house.

The stranger notices her and pinches his cigarette between his fingers as he pulls it away. His lips curl up and he drawls, “Hi.”

Gina’s throat tightens as she matches his gaze. His voice is like honey. Thick and sweet as it sends excitement between her legs. She gives a shy wave as her brother and his girlfriend notice her. Carol beckons her inside and she steps inside.

“Oh! Billy, this is my sister, Gina,” Tommy introduces her.

“Hi, Gina,” he purrs and extends his cigarette out for her to take.

Gina accepts it, taking a drag and tries to ignore the burning feeling on her lips. Or the fact that if her parents saw her smoking, they’d kill her. The panic is quickly squashed by the handsome blondes icy eyes on her. He’s even prettier this close. He’s got a hint of a mustache, it’s mostly rough stubble but it’s clear he can grow facial hair and that rouses something in Gina.

“Hi, Billy,” she says and passes the cigarette back.

He presses two fingers to the paper bag she’s got clutched against her chest, “What’s this you got?”

“An album.”

“Which one?” he raises an eyebrow and it feels like a test. Gina hopes she passes.

She pulls the record out of the bag, displaying Ratt’s Out of the Cellar for him. Billy grins wide, standing up and taking the album from her hands.

“Atta girl,” he praises and fuck, the praise goes straight between her legs. “I love this album.”

Gina would give anything to impress him more. He slides his thumbnail against the sleeve, slicing the cellophane open with the motion and walks over to Tommy’s record player. Carol grabs onto Gina’s wrist and pulls her down, giving her these eyes and Gina doesn’t miss the intensity in Tommy’s eyes as he shakes his head at her. Billy plops back down on the bed, oblivious to the silent interaction the three of them had. He pulls a can of beer from the sixer and cracks it open before he hands it to Gina. She accepts it with a small thanks. He’s got a little dangly earring and it catches on his curls. Gina has to stop herself from leaning forward and fixing it. She’s eager to touch him.

Billy sings along with the first track, low but Gina still hears him. She loves the sound of his voice. It’s sexy. She’s so close to turning into a puddle on her brothers floor.

“Did you see Steve with the princess today? Gag me with a spoon!” Carol gossips as she gestures gagging herself.

“I know,” Tommy scoffs.

“What’s the deal with that guy?” Billy asks, eyes trained on Gina like he expects her to answer.

Tommy sighs, “He used to fucking run school. King Steve. Then, he stuck his dick in the priss and he changed. Man’s totally whipped.”

“He used to be our friend,” Carol offers.

“Everyone was telling me about him,” Billy replies, “Said I’m gunning to be the new King. Whatever the fuck that means.”

“He’s an asshole,” Carol rolls her eyes. “But you are, this town needed someone with an edge.”

Billy snorts, eyes darting between the two girls on the floor.

“Steve’s nice,” Gina says meekly, staring at her knees as she speaks. No matter what, she couldn’t really bare them talking bad about Steve. He was nice and well, she was still in love with him.

“Whatever,” Tommy huffs, “He’s different. He used to be cool.”

“So you like metal?” Billy changes the subject as he nudges the toe of his boot against Gina’s knee.

She beams up at him, “Yeah.”

“Me too,” he smirks, biting his lip.

“Cool,” Gina’s sure she’s actually the lamest person he’s ever talked to. His eyes are the prettiest color she’s ever seen. She gets lost in them while he turns his attention back to Tommy, asks him where he can find weed.

“Oh, the freak, Eddie Munson,” Tommy answers but he’s up on his feet and walks over to his dresser. The freckled boy retrieves a joint. Gina and Carol meet each other with equally annoyed expressions. They’d had plans for the joint.

Tommy extends it out to Billy, “But here, you can have this in the meantime.”

“Ha, alright! Thanks man, I really appreciate it,” he beams as he tucks the joint in his pack of Marlboros. “Think we’re best buds, now.”

Tommy beams at the prospect, sitting down with a shrug, “Ah, it’s no big deal. A welcome gift.”

“Oh,” Gina interrupts, looking at Billy, “My mom wanted me to ask if you wanted to stay for dinner.”

“Wish I could, darling but, I better get home before my old man does,” the blonde says with a slight wince.

Gina stands up so she’s out of his way, but he stands up and they’re a little closer than Gina intended, almost nose to nose. She takes a step to the side and tucks her brown hair behind her hair, awkwardly smiling up at him. He smirks, biting his lower lip as his eyes scan her face. His gaze is pretty intimidating, she wants to crawl out of her skin from it.

“It was nice to meet ya, Gina,” he purrs.

Gina has to hold in the squeal threatening to escape, “You too.”

Once the front door shuts, letting them know Billy’s left, Tommy points to his younger sister.

“Off limits,” he says seriously, “I like him, don’t fuck it up.”

Gina holds up her hands defensively, “I didn’t even do anything!”

“I saw how you looked at him,” he argues with a tilt of his head.

“Oh, stop,” she sighs, “I don’t have a crush on him.”

“Yeah, right. I have eyes, ya know? He’s a good looking guy,” Tommy quips.

“Ya going queer on me?” Carol teases, “You don’t want Gina to go after him ‘cause you want a chance first?”

Tommy shoots her this flabbergasted, borderline disgusted look, “Get over here and I’ll show you how untrue that is.”

“Ew, disgusting,” Gina snarls, “I’m leaving.”

She shuts the door behind and goes to her room, trying not to think of Billy while she gets started on her homework. It’s a moot point. His eyes, thighs and bouncy curls flood her mind while she does her algebra.

;;;

Billy’s nice. He keeps Gina company while Tommy and Carol suck face, just like Steve used to do.

“They always do this?” he asks.

Gina nods, “Yeah. You’ll get used to it.”

He’s funny, likes to people watch. Right now they’re doing it, sitting on the hood of his Camaro at lunch. They share a cigarette and Billy points at a group of boys talking about fifteen feet away. He does funny voices while he makes up what he thinks the boys are saying.

“You’re not sensitive enough, Toby,” he puts on this whiny, exaggerated voice as one of the boys talks excitedly, “That’s why you can’t get a girlfriend!”

Gina giggles, not confident enough to join in with him but Billy’s funny enough on his own.

“Shut up,” he does the other kids voice now, “I don’t get girls because I eat my boogers.”

Another eruption of giggles come from Gina, she shoves Billy’s shoulder and covers her face. He chuckles and snatches the smoke from her fingertips, bringing it to his lips.

“You know those kids?” he asks.

She nods, “I had them in all my classes in elementary school. You’re spot on. He really does eat his boogers.”

The older boy cackles, “Yeah, he looks like he does.”

They’re quiet for a beat, Billy seems to be scanning for more victims but Gina interrupts him, “Are you going to the party tonight?”

“Yeah, think so,” he finishes the smoke and flicks it away, “Does Tina throw bitchin’ parties?”

“I helped plan it,” Gina admits and then shrugs, “They’re usually pretty fun. All the parties around here kind of bleed together. There’s gonna be a keg though.”

“Yeah? You do keg stands?” he snickers, lips pulled up in the cutest smile she’d seen.

“I have not tried,” Gina admits with a giggle, “I struggle enough shotgunning.”

“I’ll teach ya,” he insists as the warning bell rings. He stands up and looks over to Gina, “So I’ll see you tonight, then.”

“Yeah, see you there.”

-

Gina huffs as she attempts to curl a stubborn chunk of her hair. She really needed to get another perm. Reaching for the mousse, she sprays a glob of it and scrunches her hair up with it until she’s satisfied. She stands up and assesses her “costume”, it’s just a short skirt, fishnets and a ripped up t-shirt. She’s not necessarily trying to get Billy’s attention but she doesn’t mind if she does.

Carol saunters into the doorway, donning a similar outfit, “And what are you supposed to be?”

Gina scrunches her hair up some more, “Hot.”

“Maybe for a particular blonde with a great ass?”

Turning to Carol, she rolls her eyes and grabs her jacket, “He’s off-limits, remember?”

“Fuck Tommy,” Carol snorts, “you deserve to have some fun and he looks like he knows how to have it.”

“He’s so out of my league, anyways,” Gina shrugs on her jacket and reaches for her purse.

Carol stops her, placing her hands on Gina’s shoulders and looking at her, “That’s so not true, Gina. You’re totally gorgeous.”

Her cheeks redden at the compliment, she can tell that Carol really means it. She smiles at her brothers girlfriend, “He kind of did like give me a look in Tommy’s room, didn’t he?”

“Totally. He was undressing you with his eyes, I say go for it,” Carol grins.

Tommy yells from the living room, “How long does it take to get ready?! I’m ready to get drunk!”

“He sounds like he already is,” Gina grumbles before following Carol out to Tommy’s car.

Tina’s house is absolutely packed. It’s a struggle for Tommy to find a spot to park on the lawn. He grumbles something about Gina taking forever and making them late.

Carol shoves his shoulder, “It’s important to be fashionably late, moron. We’ll look like losers if we’re on time. Gina’s doing us all a favor.”

Gina rolls her eyes, her stomach is a bit upset due to her brothers rather erratic driving. He was a little too tipsy already and she’s hoping Carol will drive them home. Once he parks, she climbs out of the car and stands beside Carol.

“The whole fucking school showed up,” Gina notes, eyes scanning the front yard.

Just then, Billy comes barreling toward them before jumping on Tommy’s back. Billy’s dressed like the terminator, black fingerless gloves, a leather jacket over his shirtless torso and really tight jeans. He’s pretty clearly tipsy and Gina wonders how long he’s been here. He jumps off Tommy, wrapping his arms around Carol and Gina’s shoulders and guides them towards the house with a slurred, “My favorite girls!”

Gina tries not to focus on how close his lips are to her ear, it was like he was whispering that just for her to hear. His deep voice makes her chest and stomach tighten.

“You ready to take the new Keg King title?” Tommy asks, urging the group over to the side of the house where the keg is set up.

“I was born ready,” Billy says smugly, hands on his hips as Tommy pumps the keg up.

Gina stands next to Tina and Carol to watch. She notes Tina’s Madonna costume and smiles, “I love your costume, Tina. You look so good.”

“Thanks, babe,” Tina smiles, raising her solo cup to the girls.

After a beat, Tina groans and tells the two other girls, “Billy is so fine.” She gestures fanning herself, “God, look at his abs.”

“Isn’t he, Gina?” Carol nudges the brunettes shoulder and winks.

“Oh, shit, did you call dibs?” Tina’s eyes widen and Gina has to roll her eyes.

“No, Carol just wants to live vicariously through me. I’m not into him,” Gina explains and she’s met with two pairs of confused eyes.

“What do you mean you’re not into him?” Tina asks, “Do you need glasses? He’s literally sex on legs.”

“Tommy told her he’s off-limits,” Carol snorts, “but I say fuck him.”

Gina shakes her head, watching as they lift Billy up and he downs the beer from the tap. She remembers watching Steve do it all those times before and her heart aches.

“I’m not interested,” she insists.

“Well— I’m not gonna hold back,” Tina smiles, biting her lip.

“Go for it,” Gina says and hopes she doesn’t sound as bitter as she feels, “I’m gonna get myself a drink.”

She leaves the group and wanders inside, saying hi to classmates on the way until she finds herself in the kitchen and fills herself a cup of whatever toxic concoction is filling the punch bowl. It’s red and when she brings it to her nose, it burns her nostrils. Perfect. Gina absolutely loved alcohol. Maybe a little too much. But she had a handle on it, didn’t blackout aside from parties like this. She liked the way it burned down her throat and spread a warm, numb feeling across her chest. And Gina was pretty shy overall, she was nervous to talk to people but when she drank, the nerves slipped away and she was the biggest social butterfly on the planet. That’s how most of these people got to know her, she didn’t really talk to them at school. She kept close to her few friends, Tommy and Carol.

As Gina finishes her drink and pours herself another, she sees Nancy heading her way, Steve only steps behind her. Gina’s chest aches and she quickly moves away from the punch, rounds the counter in attempts to hide from them. She’s successful and from where she’s at, she can just see their torsos, the bar cabinet covers their faces. Nancy downs three cups consecutively and as she’s getting the fourth, Steve’s hands grab to stop her. They struggle for a minute but it ends up with bright red, alcoholic juice splashed on Nancy’s white cashmere sweater. Gina winces, there’s no way the stains coming out. Then Nancy storms off and of course, Steve’s chasing after her.

Seeing the brunette again brings all kinds of confusing feelings back for Gina. Steve had avoided parties once he and Tommy had their big fight. She’d only see him at school, in study hall where they sat next to each other. But these days, Steve didn’t even spare her a smile, a glance— anything. It was like Gina didn’t exist to him anymore. And feelings aren’t fun. So Gina wanders back outside, finds her group of friends. She wants to get wasted and forget about Steve like he forgot about her.

“So you still wanna teach me how to properly shotgun?” she asks Billy, the alcohol coursing through her makes her a lot less tense.

The blonde smiles wickedly at her, digging in the cooler for two cans of beer and hands one to her. He pulls out a pocket knife from his jeans and presses the blade to the aluminum, “Right here. Steady so the fucker doesn’t blow in your face and…” he trails off as he punctures the can and peels it open a bit with the blade before he hands it to Gina.

She does as he says, but she’s not as steady as he is and when she punctures the can, beer sprays out of it and all over her chin and white top. She squeals, dropping the can and looking up at Billy with her jaw hanging open.

“See?! I suck,” she whines and wipes her chin.

He cackles, “Maybe someone shook that can up. Here. Take this one.”

He hands her the can he had prepped and retrieves another, repeats his fluid motions and then slips the knife back in his pocket. “‘Kay, you’re just gonna bring it to your lips and pull the tab. I just kind of open my throat up and guzzle. Ya ready?”

Gina nods nervously, shaky hands bringing the punctured hole to her lips and pops the tab at the same time Billy does. It’s super cold going down, Gina can’t drink it nearly as fast as Billy can, he’s dropping the empty aluminum to the floor in seconds and she furrows her eyebrows as she looks at him, guzzling her beer down. When she pulls it away, he’s raising his eyebrows and grinning from ear to ear, pretty pearly whites on display. Gina melts a bit. Wants Billy to look at her like that more.

“Atta girl,” he praises and it goes straight between her legs, “You did it.”

She clears her throat, dropping the can as she wipes the sudsy liquid off her chin, “Not as fast as you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m the new keg king after all,” he winks and she giggles.

“Can I have a cigarette?” she asks, bouncing on her feet. Billy nods, pulls his pack out and grabs a smoke, brings it to his lips and lights it before handing it to Gina. He immediately lights himself one and nods his head over to a couple of outdoor chaise lounge chairs strewn across Tina’s front yard. Gina follows him to them, she sits down on one and fully expects Billy to take the other but he lounges on the one she takes, right between her legs and rests his head on her chest.

“It’s not like the parties back home but I’m having fun,” he says, looking up at Gina.

She smiles, slightly uncomfortable at his weight on her body but she doesn’t dare say anything. He’s warm, like a heater against her chest. He reeks of booze but there’s a hint of his cologne still there. She wonders if he feels as sticky as she does, with the beer splattered over both their chests. It’s kind of gross but Gina didn’t want to freak out and seem uncool.

“Me too,” she says. “thanks for teaching me how to shotgun.”

“Ahh, I have a feeling you’ve done it before,” he insists and he’s not wrong. Steve had shown her countless times but Billy doesn’t need to know that.

“Nope, I’m just good at opening my throat,” she explains and then realizes the unintended innuendo, her eyes widening.

“Oh, you are, are you?” Billy teases, wiggling his eyebrows.

“That sounded so wrong. I didn’t mean it like that,” she shakes her head frantically, cheeks flushed. “I just meant, I can— oh forget it.”

Billy just hums, she can hear the smile in it. She’s successfully mortified herself. Maybe she should cool it on the booze for a while. Though, Billy puts her right at ease, tilting his head up so he can look at her. The drunken smile on his face is very, very cute. She feels warm all over, a little floaty and genuinely happy. Until her mind gets the best of her again. Gina tries not to feel insecure, but she wonders how she looks from his angle.

“What are the parties like in California?” she tries to change the subject.

Billy takes a puff of his cigarette and she watches the smoke rise up and disappear, “Wild. People jumping off balconies, there’s usually live music but it’s never good. Just some assholes who think they're the next Motley Crue ‘cause they wear spandex and got guitars for Christmas. I used to go to punk shows a lot.”

“Punk?” Gina repeats, “You don’t seem the type.”

“Ah, I love punk music. The shows are something else. You get wasted and spend hours getting your ass beat in the mosh pit. Nothing more freeing,” he explains and sighs. “I take it there’s none here.”

“They might have some at The Hideout,” Gina offers, “Bands play there a lot.”

“Any good ones?”

“Not any I know,” Gina admits, though she’s never actually been to The Hideout on account that it’s a bar.

She’s incredibly tempted to run her fingers through Billy’s sweaty blonde curls. She wants to know if they’re as soft as they look or if they’re crunchy with mousse like hers.

“Maybe I can take you to a punk show, if they have ‘em,” Billy muses, sitting up and turning to face Gina.

“Maybe,” Gina smiles warmly, butterflies filling her stomach and her toes tingle. “It sounds like fun.”

“Yeah? Think you’d be thrashing around, knocking people out in the pit?” Billy cackles to which Gina rolls her eyes.

“Do you miss California?”

“No shit. This place sucks,” Billy snorts, “Nothing to do and trust me, this party is real fucking tame.”

Gina feels guilty, but she’s not sure why. It’s not her fault he hates Hawkins. Billy seems to notice her quick change in demeanor because he nudges his shoulder against hers and says, “You’re pretty cool, though. Even if you won’t do a keg stand.”

“It’s a boy thing,” Gina insists while blushing and Billy makes a confused face.

“What? No, it’s not a boy thing. You’re just scared,” he shrugs, smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

“Am not.”

“Are to.”

“I just don’t think I could do it for long,” Gina shrugs.

“Well, yeah, there’s no way you’re beating my record. And I could’ve gone longer too, but those assholes pulled me down when I beat King Steve’s record,” he brags with a smirk, nudging Gina with his knee.

She tries not to falter at the mention of Steve. Even through his fall of grace, everyone still talks about him all the time. Even this new guy. It’s a little annoying. She wishes Steve would just disappear sometimes.

“Oh, I’m so sure,” she rolls her eyes, tossing her smoke when it’s down to the filter. Billy follows suit.

He slaps his thighs before standing, “Well, I need a beer. Ya coming?”

Gina nods, finds herself following him back to the hoard of teens surrounding the cooler. Carol’s there, getting a beer and when she sees Gina and Billy walking up together, she wiggles her eyebrows at the younger girl. Gina quickly looks around for Tommy and luckily, he’s nowhere to be found.

“Where’d you two run off to?” Carol inquires as she opens the beer, watching Billy retrieve two cans and handing one to Gina.

“For a smoke,” Billy explains, just as Tina bounces up and snakes her arm around his waist. She whispers something in his ear and he frowns, like he’s contemplating before he nods and saunters inside the house behind Tina.

Carol watches them with a disgusted look on her face before she says to Gina in a mocking tone, “Billy! Let me show you my room so I can suck you off.”

Gina shakes her head but smiles, her heart aches a bit but she gets distracted. A familiar face with floppy hair walks passed and he looks angry. Gina eyes follow him to his BMW, where he slams the door and peels out.

“Steve seems upset,” she mumbles softly, wanting nothing more than to be there to comfort him.

Carol snorts, “The princess left with fucking Byers. I’m sure he’s pissed.”

“Really? Oh, god. Poor Steve… I thought there wasn’t anything between Nancy and Jonathon,” Gina replies, eyes finding Carol again.

“Yeah, sure. Asshole is getting what he deserved. And with Nancy and Byers, I think there is,” Carol shrugs, “Come on, let’s go dance!”

The redhead grabs onto Gina’s hand and pulls her inside. They dance for a bit and it’s nice. Gina forgets about Billy and Steve for the time being. She downs a few more drinks, her inhibitions fly through the window and she becomes like a totally different person. Gina floats among groups, talking everyone’s ear that she can get ahold of off. It’s fun. She has so much fun at parties, except she never remembers the conversations she’s had.

She’s talking to someone from her English class, a boy who’s interested in her but right now, she can’t remember his name and she’s already asked him four times. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Billy walking towards her. He’s hard to miss, leather jacket without a shirt and his blonde mullet is tousled, a few curls sticking up and laying the way they’re not supposed to. He places his hands on Gina’s hips and whispers in her ear, “Smoke?”

Gina nods graciously at the idea. A cigarette sounds really good right now.

Billy looks to the gentleman she’s been talking to and grins, “Sorry. I’ve got to steal Miss Gina away. Hope you don’t mind, big boy.”

He pats the guys shoulder before he’s dragging her out the back door. Tommy and Carol are outside which is a bummer, especially when Billy abruptly pulls his hands away from Gina’s waist and tackles Tommy to the floor. They wrestle in the grass as the two girls watch them curiously.

Carol nudges her side, “Hargrove was getting real handsy with you just then.”

Gina sighs, “I’m pretty sure he and Tina just had sex. And it doesn’t matter! I don’t like him. He is very pretty, and funny, and really really nice but I don’t like him. I’m not allowed.”

Carol giggles, “You’re drunk.”

“Am not,” Gina slurs, taking a misstep and stumbling down to her knees. “Ow!” she whines, but lays on the grass, staring up at the sky.

Billy and Tommy lay on either side of her, giggling like they can’t control themselves. And since Gina’s also in a drunken stupor, she starts giggling too. Carol peers down at the three of them, an amused smile on her face.

“Tommy, come here,” she says, “I have something important to show you.”

The freckled boy shoots up quickly, following his girlfriend back inside the house. Carol did it on purpose, Gina’s sure. She wants her to spend alone time with Billy.

“Smoke,” Billy says, hands reaching into his pocket to retrieve his pack. He lights it for her before passing it, head turned to face Gina. He looks as drunk as she feels. Perhaps it’s not a great idea to lay here next to him in such a state. Inhibitions are low and Gina’s scared she’ll slip up and say something she shouldn’t. Or even worse, touch him.

“Thank you,” she sighs happily.

There’s a group of kids in the backyard with them but it feels like they’re alone. The kids are wrapped up in a conversation, it seems intense, whatever it is. If Gina wasn’t so drunk and focused on the muscular body lying next to her, she would try to listen in.

“You having fun?” he asks softly.

“Loads. I’m getting pretty sleepy, though,” she admits, turning on her side to look at Billy. He does the same, eyes scanning her face.

“We could crash right here. Sleep on the grass,” Billy mumbles, a smile twitching at his lips.

Gina giggles, “That wouldn’t be very comfy.”

He purses his lips, “I’m pretty comfortable.”

“We’d freeze,” she points out, bringing the cigarette to her lips and tilts her head to blow the smoke up.

“That’s probably true,” he admits and chuckles, “Maybe Tina has a blanket we could use.”

“I’m sure she’d just let you sleep in her bed,” Gina says, raising an eyebrow.

Billy makes a face, frowning and furrowing his eyebrows, “You sound jealous.”

“I’m not,” Gina reflects, shaking her head.

“Hmm,” Billy hums and cracks a smile, “I’m just messing with you.”

Gina shoves his shoulder and sits up, “They better hurry.”

Billy sits up beside her and snatches the cigarette, “I can take you home, if you want.”

“No, they’ll get upset if I just left and didn’t tell them,” Gina insists. “Thanks, though.”

“Is Tommy like super protective of you?” Billy asks.

Gina sighs and shrugs, “Sometimes? I try not to let him know my business. I think it just depends on if he’s bored or not. He beat up the first boyfriend I had in grade school.”

“What? Why?” Billy laughs.

“‘Cause he kissed another girl at recess and I cried,” Gina explains with a giggle.

“I’d do the same,” Billy muses.

“As my first boyfriend or as Tommy?”

“Tommy. My step sisters an annoying brat but I’d still punch any guy that hurt her,” he explains, stubbing his cigarette out.

“How long as she’s been your step sister?” Gina wonders.

Billy tilts his head, doing the math in his head, “Like four years? My dad started seeing Susan when I was 13, they got married kind of soon after.”

Gina wonders about his mom but she doesn’t want to prod too deep. She figures if he wants to tell her, he’ll do that.

“Huh,” Gina nods, “Well that’s sweet of you. A lot of brothers don’t care. Tommy and I have always been pretty close, though.”

“Yeah, I saw the photos in your hallway,” Billy says, “That’s cool. It’d be cool to have like real siblings.”

“Oh, god, those are so embarrassing,” Gina covers her face with her hands. She turns and looks at him, finding his comment about siblings a little odd. But she doesn’t know what it’s like to have step siblings. “So it was just you before your dad met her mom?”

“Yeah, just me and dad for a couple years,” he says but he sounds far away, like he’s in his head. He stands up and flicks his cigarette. Just then, Tommy and Carol come back outside.

“I think it’s about time we head out,” Carol says, “Billy, you okay to drive?”

Billy grins wide, “Peachy.” It’s a stark contrast to the stoic look he got on his face when talking about his family. Gina wants to know more because he seemed like something from his past hurt him. She can’t help but be curious, wants to know everything about him suddenly. It was like this mask fell and he was vulnerable for a second. Gina didn’t see that from men she knew. She hadn’t talked about feelings with one before but now she wants to know exactly what Billy's feeling and thinking. All of his secrets and memories.

Carol doesn’t look like she believes him so they compromise. The three of them follow Billy to Cherry Lane to make sure he gets home safe, Carol keeps repeating how impressed she is with his intoxicated driving during the ride. Cherry Lane is quite a distance away from Loch Nora and truly out of the way from where the Hagan’s live but the three of them want to make sure Billy’s gets home safe.

Billy pulls up this his house, parks the Camaro and struts over to the passenger window of Tommy’s car, where Tommy is hanging outside of.

“Safe and sound,” he says and pats the roof of the car. “See you at school, amigo,” he pinches the brunette boys nose, making him jolt back in his seat and swat at Billy’s hand.

“Asshole,” Tommy mumbles behind a laugh, rubbing his nose.

Billy leans down and looks at Carol and then at Gina in the backseat, “Bye, ladies.”

“Bye, Billy,” they chime at the same time before watching him walk up to the front door, unlocking it before sneaking inside.

Carol pulls off down the street, turning around back towards the Hagan house.

Gina gushes, “Billy’s so cool.”

“Yeah,” Tommy beams from the front seat, “He’s fucking badass.”

“And he’s so cute,” Gina slurs dreamily and sighs.

“No,” Tommy scolds, “I said no.”

Gina pouts the whole way home.

;;;

This hangover is one for the books. Gina managed to sleep a whopping four hours. Yet, she somehow managed to shower in the morning and get ready. She wore her most comfortable pair of jeans and her forest green Hawkins High sweatshirt. Her hair was a bit unruly but she already had a major headache, so a ponytail wasn’t a smart option.

When she makes it into the kitchen, she pours a glass of orange juice and sips it slowly. Her brother and Carol are eating a quick breakfast. Their parents have already left to take Bridgette to school. Which is good. Seeing her parents after a night of partying was the last thing she wanted.

Tommy still reeked of alcohol on the ride to school. And Carol drove, insisting that Tommy was still drunk.

Crazy enough, Billy looks good as new. Tight Levi’s and a white long-sleeve button up with his denim jacket. Gina tries not to drool. He leans against his Camaro, smoking a cigarette that he offers to Gina when they walk up.

She shakes her head, “I think I’ll barf if I have some.”

“Aw,” Billy pouts and asks in a teasing tone, “Hangover?”

“You're not?” she asks, bewildered and he shrugs.

“I don’t get hangovers,” he insists, taking another drag from his smoke as he looks over to her brother, probably taking note of his disheveled hair.

“I’m still drunk,” Tommy declares with a pleased smile to which Billy cackles.

“Just wait a few hours,” Carol snorts, “You’ll be hungover before ya know it, babe.”

Tommy frowns, reaches in his pocket and shows them the two whiskey shooters he has, “Nah, I’m gonna ride this until I have the sweet pleasure of my bed.”

Carol snatches the keys from Tommy’s other pocket, “In that case.”

Tommy doesn’t argue, he just shrugs and then snatches the cigarette from Billy. The blonde makes a face when Tommy gets close.

“You smell like a goddamn distillery, Hagan,” he quips and recoils back, pinching his nose.

Gina agrees, the whole drive to school was almost unbearable. Her stomach twisted and she had to focus on her breathing so she didn’t vomit from the smell of him.

“So, you hook up with Tina?” Tommy asks, wiggling his eyebrows and obviously trying to change the subject.

Billy smirks, shaking his head and says, “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“So you didn’t see her third nipple?” Tommy asks, frowning.

Billy’s face scrunches up, “She doesn’t have a third nipple.”

The freckled boy cackles, “Ha! So you did fuck her!”

Gina rubs her eyes, trying to mask the very intense jealousy she’s feeling. Carol’s laughing at Tommy’s trick but Gina can’t bring herself to. She’s just imagining Billy and Tina in bed and it’s making her even more sick to her stomach. She doesn’t want to feel jealous, knows she doesn’t really have a right to but she can’t help it.

“Shut up,” Billy rolls his eyes but he’s blushing, just barely. It’s kind of alarming to see.

“She’ll tell everyone,” Gina finally speaks up, “So like, no point in hiding it.”

She cringes a bit, the disdain is a little too apparent in her voice and her ears go hot at hearing herself. But she’s not wrong. Tina’s probably told the entire senior class already. And Hawkins is small, by the end of the day, even the middle school kids will know.

“I’m not hiding it,” Billy scoffs, “I just think it’s lame to brag about getting laid.”

“Hm,” Gina purses her lips, “I’m gonna head to class.”

She hurries towards the building, hoping none of them follow her because her heads pounding and she’s fuming with jealousy. She just wants to get the school day over with and crawl back into bed. The first four periods drag on. Particularly fourth period, which is the study hall she shares with Steve. They literally sit next to each other. If Gina leans over just enough, she can smell his shampoo. It smells like honey. She remembers shoving her face in it when they used to cuddle. Gina loved the smell of his hair and his skin.

However, that was long ago and she’s reminded of how much their relationship has changed during class. When she looks to Steve and their eyes meet, he quickly averts them and busies himself with his homework. It makes Gina’s heart ache. She wonders if he would just look her in the eye if things would change. She’d give anything to go back to how things were before Nancy Wheeler. Nothing made her feel the way she did when she was alone with Steve. He had this way of making her feel like she was the most special person. And the problem with that was how addictive it was. Gina was obsessed with Steve after the first time he kissed her and that never went away. She didn’t go a single day without thinking about him. So it stings when he acts like it’s painful to look at her.

She’s managed to go a whole two months of this treatment though. Today shouldn’t be any different. It’s probably because of the dumb jealousy she’s been harboring over Tina and Billy. A reminder of how Steve chose another woman. And well, Billy didn’t exactly choose Tina over her but she still didn’t like the thought of Billy with another woman. All throughout the day, she reminds herself how she really needs to suffocate her attraction to Billy. Nip it in the bud before she gets lovesick for two men who don’t want her.

It’s difficult when lunch comes around. Billy’s a full fledged member of their group now. Gina stands across from him, trying not to feel the effects of her hangover while they socialize. Tommy’s rambling about something or another, Gina can’t focus and he’s clearly drank both his shots of whiskey. All his words are slurred. She thinks he mentions something about ditching his last two classes to sleep in his car.

“You’re lucky you don’t have practice today,” Carol points out.

Tommy waves her off, “I could still play better than Harrington, blackout or sober.”

“Coach wants me to join,” Billy mumbles around his cigarette.

“Fucking do it!” Tommy cheers, jumping in place.

Billy cackles, looking at the freckled boy with amusement. Everyone agrees with Tommy and they all look at Billy expectantly.

“Baseball’s my thing but basketball is fun. I’m thinking about it,” he explains with a shrug.

Gina kicks the toe of her Ked against his motorcycle boot and their eyes meet, “You should.”

“Okay,” he smiles, “I’ll talk to coach.”

The moment between them is quickly interrupted by Tina swaying between the group of kids and sandwiching herself between Billy and Tommy. She leans her side on Billy and whispers something in his ear. The blondes eyebrows raise and he snorts, shaking his head. Gina turns her attention away, not being able to stomach the sight of them.

[annathesillyfriend]

Hello!! I didn't even notice when February ended 😅 But now that it's over, it means that I officialy finish uni in a month (hopefully not for long because I'm planning to apply for a doctoral school, keep your fingers crossed for me, please and thank you!). I wish it meant I would have more free time to catch up with all the fics in my likes waiting to be read. Unfortunately it only means that I need to start looking for another job 😅

It seems like my life gets more hectic everyday and I would like to thank you all beautiful people for helping me unwind and keep some bits of my sanity. I hate that I don't interact with your fics as much as I used to but I think about you a lot, wish you all the best and I'm just so thankful for you all. Keep being amazing 💓

To all the writers - I love you and I appreciate you so much!

To all the readers - please, share the fics you read and love. The reblog really makes the change! It’s the least we can do to show our gratitude.

Also, please, mind the writers’ warnings!

💓ROBERT 'BOB' FLOYD💓

a sky full of glow in the dark stars by @jupitercomet

↳ one shot, absolutely stunning 🥺🥺

whoops by @roosterbruiser

↳ one shot, admiral's daughter!reader dating bob in secret. bobby with tiny little kittens might be just a bit too much for my poor heart

sky and stars by @callsignsaturn

↳ one shot, admiral's daughet! reader once again, bob takes her for a joyride. or maybe not... 👀

delicate by @laracrofted

↳ one shot, i'm not sure what's to loveliest - the song, the man or the fic

full of surprises and electric bugaloo by @withahappyrefrain

↳ two-shot, 18+, this man couldn't be more perfect if he tried. and remember - bob fucks 😌😌

love me, love me by @bussyslayer333

↳ one shot, bartender!reader, idiots in love, the more i read about bob the more i think i am an idiot in love as well

a snowed in baby bird by @mothdruid

↳ one shot, 18+, childhood friends to lovers, this story lives in my mind rent free from now on

💓JAKE 'HANGMAN' SERESIN💓

whiskey and wine by @say-al0e

↳ one shot, 18+, date night with husband!jake which is the ultimate dream

this fic by @callsignsaturn

↳ one shot, jake meets bradley's old school friends at his wedding and the rest is history 😌

hey stupid, i love you by @callsignseagull

↳ one shot, 18+, another Laura's fic, another slay. we stan a consistent queen 🙌🙌

your carriage awaits, sweet by @lazypeachsoul

↳ one shot, jake may not be an expert on marine life but we still adore him

everything by @madsnowstorm

↳ one shot, i love when a character is like 'i don't want to get married, but i want to marry you', you don't understand how much i love this fic!!

you are in love by @loveforaugust

↳ one shot, we love a tay tay swift inspired fic here

so funny story (i'm fucking your daughter) by @fandomxpreferences

↳ one shot, mitchell!reader, i think the title sums it up pretty well 😅😅

signed away by @seresinhangmanjake

↳ series, some chapters are 18+, arranged marrige, enjoyed this so very much!

💓BRADLEY 'ROOSTER' BRADSHAW💓

all of you by @lt-spork

↳ one shot, i love bradley but i love clingy bradley even more

hello, i love you by @roosterforme

↳ one shot, bradley goes speed dating and it's just so fun, i love it!!

two to tango by @//roosterforme

↳ series, 18+, pilot!reader, loved this series an unhelathy amount

airplane mode by @//roosterforme

↳ two-shot, flight attendant!reader, Emily, if you're reading this, i'm a great fan of yours!!

not a coincidence by @sehnsuchts-trunken

↳ one shot, penny's niece!reader, bradshaw's a menace but good for us!!

proposal to come by @//sehnsuchts-trunken

↳ one shot, only the best maids of honor and best men get promoted to bride and groom he he

romeo, romeo by @welcome-to-my-multiverse

↳ one shot, drunk bradley is something else but i have nothing but love for this lovesick little puppy

short stack by @spacecaravan

↳ one shot, 18+, bradley bradshow deserves all the finest things in life period

forever valentine by @bradshawsbaby

↳ one shot, fiance!reader, bradley wasn't my valentine this year and i think it's a bit mean tbh

another day, another dollar by @sunflowersteves

↳ one shot, 18+, okay listen, i am a 21st century idependent woman but i would be lying if i said that this big scary bradley wasn't doing it for me 🤤

like i can by @sometimesanalice

↳ series, daggers have a bet on who's gonna set bradley's friend (and the love of his life) on the best date and roo's not very happy about it. loved this series from the first word to the very last!

mary's song by @risriswrites

↳ one shot, best friends to lovers, this made my heart grow 10x

my reward by @susanripper

↳ one shot, this turned me into a little giggling girl and i'm just SHSHSHSHHSHSHS

heart of gold, hands of a heeler by @fandomxpreferences

↳ one shot, he deserves all the love and all the attention in the world

💓STEVE HARRINGTON💓

keep it quiet for me by @my-my-only-angel

↳ one shot, 18+, caution!! hot contents!!

this fic by @harringtonswriting

↳ one shot, steve's making a big romantic gesture™

i think we're alone now by @new-romqntics

↳ one shot, cute little enemies to loves moment

starts with a pen by @moljh

↳ one shot, reader has a mouth on her and i stan

roses and dandelions by @caxde

↳ one shot, hopper!reader, they're both teachers, it's slowburn, it's friends to lovers, it's idiots in love, it's just everything

friday by @softharrington

↳ one shot, robin's plan for valentine's day turned out to be a hot mess but it also sorta worked??? we love to see that

fix it by @lovebugism

↳ one shot, man do i love a good angsty fic that gives me heartache

whip it! and i've been dying to get you dizzy by @schoopsahoy

↳ two shot, 18+, roller-rink!reader, steve meets a girl while being on a babysitting duty

to be alone together by @katsu28

↳ one shot, steve's valentine's day is not all that bad

dress by @munsonsreputation

↳ one shot, 18+, best friends to lovers, dress is one of my top favourite tswift songs and this fic is doing it justice!! 10/10 would read again

do you think i have forgotten? by @keeryshouse

↳ one shot, 18+, idiots in love who are also exes to lovers, beautiful work!!

be mine by @underoossss

↳ one shot, would you look at that, another idiots in love fic! i am so very predictable

💓EDDIE MUNSON💓

broken beds by @lovebugism

↳ one shot, 18+, eddie's not that good at excuses and wayne's not that stupid 😅

caught me slippin' by @uglypastels

↳ one shot, 18+, esscort!eddie, modern au, a wonderful fic based on an equally amazing book 'kiss quotient'. go read them both!!!

💓PETER PARKER💓

this blurb by @webslingingslasher

↳ one shot, nothing like a good pining idiots in love confessing their feeling for each other

a drunk headcannon by @blooming-violets

↳ blurb, tasm!peter is drunk, in love and horny but so is his girl and i love that for them 😌

i spy, no spy by @t-lostinworlds

↳ BIG-SHOT, one shot, avanger!reader, friends to lovers fake dating for a mission, it's so crazy that some people are so talented and hard working, my mind is blown once again. i have nothing but love and respect for one of my favourite authors of all time. slay 💅

💓RHETT ABBOTT💓

afternoon delight by @bradshawsbaby

↳ one shot, 18+, rhett is just such a helpful boyfriend, just a gem

[ladylooch]

Let me bother you a little today.

So, Miles will call connor or connor is going to call his dad ? I need them to make up and be dumb together.

-👢

Miles calls Connor a few days later. Connor is just leaving the rink from practice and he sighs when he sees his dad's contact flash on the screen. He swipes to accept the call then mutters out a greeting.

"Hi buddy, it's dad." Connor stops his eye roll at his dad's obviousness. Like caller ID doesn't exist?

"I know."

"Look, I'm sorry about last weekend. That was not a good reaction. If we could go back, I would do something completely different."

Connor pops open the driver's side door. He tosses his wallet in the passenger seat, on top of the various baby pamphlets they took home from Lucie's last doctor's appointment. Connor scratches at his eyebrow, then sighs.

"I know. I also know you're disappointed in me and it sucks having to carry that around with everything else."

"I'm not disappointed. Do I wish it was farther down the road for you? Yeah, I do. But you are an incredible kid. You're going to be an incredible father too." Connor swallows thickly. "And I love you. I am here for you. Mom too." Connor nods then sighs.

"Thank you. I love you too. I'm sorry I yelled... and said things." He runs a hand over his face, then leans his head back against the headrest. "I feel... very protective over Lucie right now. She's emotional and feeling self-conscious about all this. So, anything that might set her off has me on edge."

"I will apologize to her too." His dad immediately offers.

"I didn't tell her about what happened. I'm not going to either, so there is no need." His dad sighs on the other end.

"We love her."

"I know." Connor says again. Because he does. He knows all these things his dad is saying are true, but it all is still falling a little flat for him. It might be because he knows this 180 is courtesy of a Kailey Wood ass whooping. "Maybe you and mom could come catch a game in the next few weeks?"

"We would love that. Gonna need some new apparel though."

"Yeah, in Ranger blue..." He trails off, still not quite used to the crest that is on his chest now.

"Buddy, this is a tough time for you. A lot of change. A lot going on. You gotta keep your head on straight, okay? Talk to someone if you need to. I'm happy to be here for you, but talk to the team if you need a professional."

"I will." He promises his dad. Against Connor's ear, his phone vibrates and a chime comes through. He pulls the phone away to see Lucie calling. "Hey, dad I gotta go. Lucie is calling."

"Okay. I'll talk to mom about our visit. Let us know if a certain week works best."

"Yeah, I'll talk to Lucie and let you know. I love you."

"I love you too, Connor. Bye."

His dad clicks off and Connor clicks over to his girlfriend.

"Babe!" Lucie squeals through the phone.

"Hm?" Connor asks, grinning widely at her excitement.

"I got an A on my contracts mid-term!!!!!" Connor laughs.

"Of course you did. You studied so hard, baby. Willed it into existence as usual." He turns the car on, waiting for his phone to connect to the bluetooth, then pulling out of his parking spot. "We should celebrate. I'm on my way to campus right now."

"I want cheese fries. Correction... the baby wants cheese fries."

"You don't have to say its for the baby, Luc. I'll get it for you anyway." Connor laughs, reminder her how obsessed he is with her.

"It's sounds better that way." She giggles. "Okay, I'll walk to the edge of campus, you can swing through and pick me up."

"Okay, be safe. I love you." I tell her.

We hang up as I turn the radio up, letting Kenny Chesney remind me with his classic tune, there goes my life, how much things will be different a year from now.

[sometimes-love-is-enough]

HiIII II min, what are you reading/watching/listening to at the moment, i need recs

QUITE A LOT. i am reading and watching and playing and listening to. A LOT. I'm kind of astounded that I'm actually doing all this at once, but here we go -

Books:

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov - y'all already know what this one is about. I'm here to tell you that it's brilliantly done with a genuinely engaging writing voice and style, and a terrifyingly good unreliable narrator. If you're up to stomaching the obvious pedophilia, I fully recommend it.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville - slightly racist biologically inaccurate whale hunting. For people who know nothing about whales. I've been on a classics kick recently, I'm trying to get my way through a lot of the big 'classic' books and this is what feels like the final boss. It's good, but it's dense as all fuck, and I'm struggling despite being very close to the end with it. I don't recommend this one quite as much, but it's good enough for me to stick with it.

Sacred and Terrible Air by Robert Kurvitz - this is the Disco Elysium novel, translated from Estonian by a variety of lovely people. It's good, but it's also pretty dense - maybe not as much as Moby Dick, but it makes it hard to read in large chunks. I'm reading it alongside my beloved @lifewithoutrainydays, and i really need to put more time into it.

S. by Doug Dorst - fucking fascinating book. It's presented as a book called 'Ship of Theseus' by an author that doesn't exist, and it looks and feels like an actual old library book, complete with scribblings in the margins (that form a whole other meta story on top of the book itself), postcards and printouts jammed in between the pages, and an old library label on the spine. Still trying to figure out how to read it, but plucking away at it in-between all my other endeavors.

Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn - a.k.a., me trying to step out of my comfort zone and read some recommendations, and not quite clicking with it. Found family pirate-siren trauma-recovery story. I like the things being done with communication difficulties, but on the whole it feels a bit too fanfiction-y, which is not something I tend to like in my original fiction. I'd recommend it if you're a fan of that sort of thing, though!

Comics:

Awful Hospital: Seriously the Worst Ever by Bogleech - the author says they've never read Homestuck. I don't know if I believe them. A glorious gruesome surreal hellish trip through a very very bad hospital, seriously the worst ever, and beyond! I'm pretty early on but enjoying the fuck out of it. I don't know where it's going and I'm scared to find out.

Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise by Tradd Moore - I read this ages ago, but finally have it in printed edition, and that rules because everything about this FUCKS SEVERELY. the art style is unhinged and brilliant, the writing is weird and beautiful, and the plot is........ the weirdest thing Doctor Strange comics have ever done since Into Shamballa, actually. i'm taking it slow this time because i want to savor every panel.

The Apothecary Diaries (manga edition) - this has been on pause for a bit, because everything else I was reading distracted me, but it's good and it's open in another tab right now, so I'll include it. Murder mysteries in an ancient Chinese court, starring the weirdest poison-obsessed apothecary girl who has ever existed. She poisons herself for fun and gets excited over particularly deadly toxins, I love her to death.

Games:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - I loved the books and the show, so I figured it was about time to actually play the games. I'm a tiny bit addicted to it at this point. It's a good fucking game. I like killing monsters and I like playing Fantasy Magic The Gathering and i really really like the battle music. I'm 100%ing this one or I'm dying in the process.

Lobotomy Corporation - has fallen a bit by the wayside because of the Witcher, whoops, but I do fully intend to get back to it at some point. I know there's some less-than-great stuff going on vis-a-vis the creators, but I'm not really engaging on that level. I'm just enjoying it as an SCP-like creature-management simulator. There's some very fun anomalies with very fun writeups in this one, and I enjoy the mental challenge of figuring out what makes them all tick.

Listening to:

Critical Role, Campaign Three - I'm not utterly obsessed with it, but it's a nice long chunk of listening for me to get my evening routine done to the sound of.

And on my podcast 'I'm all caught up, but I regularly listen when new episodes come out' list are: The Magnus Protocol, Dungeons and Daddies, The Adventure Zone, and Apocrypals.

Watching:

The X-Files - all of it, start-to-finish, because I have somehow managed to avoid all spoilers of a sci-fi cultural touchstone all this time, and I'm really looking forward to seeing where this goes. I love some fucked-up monster-of-the-week sci-fi.

[sara78]

Family don't end in blood - chapter 9

Summary: Jensen stumbles into a familiar, but not-so-loveable face and learns how far and how bad things can go for him, his friends and his family, including Y/N. Everyone is alarmed and has to work together if they want to stay as safe as possible

Word count: 5,000 and some more

Warnings: Scary situations, angst, mentioned death/murder (nothing major but SKIP IF IT TRIGGERS YOU), angst, SO MUCH DRAMA

Transcription - Y/M/N: Your mother's name ; Y/H/C: Your home country

Pairing: Jensen Ackles x foster!daughter reader

A/N: Whoops...

3rd person POV

After meeting with Jensen's and Danneel's lawyer most of the things got cleared up.

Y/N's mother must be working with Jane. Disowning a child is a felony in the US, therefore when she got disowned there would have been absolutely zero records of it here in the States, but Jane had no trouble finding Y/N and obviously scaring her and everyone else to death.

They also found out that Jane is in the dirty part of CPS. Just what they heard she did to some kids made shivers run down their spines and they definitely didn't want to see that woman ever again. But, since she is probably working with Y/N's mother, she won't be able to get a hold of warrants for forcefully taking Y/N away for a long time, maybe she never gets them in the first place. And that made everyone sleep a little easier at night.

What had all three of them a bit under the weather was the fact that pushing Jensen and Danneel into the foster care system will take much more effort and it might not be doable. There were too many things to do and some people are corrupted enough to just fuck people off for no good reason. This time, the reason was the supposed publicity Jensen and Danneel wanted that came with adopting a child. Which was of course pure bullshit. But then, how do you explain that to someone?

But as of now, Y/N's been staying with Jensen. They flew back to Vancouver to finish filming for the season, second semester of high school started for Y/N and she really didn't have a lot of time to worry about the whole disowning thing. She couldn't care less if she was being honest.

Jensen's POV

I was waiting outside a pizzeria, getting some fresh air while waiting for my order to be done. I wanted to surprise Y/N with her favorite pizza and a shake, as I knew she has a documentary to watch in her history class which she enjoys and she could use a little dinner beforehand.

I was looking around the dimly lit streets that led to where I stood. This part of Vancouver isn't always crowded, but in the evenings, just like this, a lot of teenagers and grown-ups walked around these parts, in search of some good fun or just a place to grab a bite and hang out in.

Until I saw a face that made my blood boil.

The first person my mind went to was Y/N. I had to act quick, so I dialed Jared,

"Jared, Poughkeepsie."

"Poughkeepsie? What?"

"Poughkeepsie. Now," I ordered sternly as I ended the call, seeing the face walk up to me and tug me for my sleeve,

"You and I need to have a little chat," Y/N's mother spoke as she pulled me to an alley behind the pizzeria. I followed her, not planning to make a scene in a more or less crowded street,

"You need a little visit to the mental ward but here the fuck we are," I growled back, "What the fuck do you want?"

"I want Y/N," she said, slamming me against a wall,

"I told you this weeks ago and I'll repeat now - you won't go near her ever again."

"Now, now, you can already tell how big of a waste she is, how worthless and stupid she is. How about you drop that little game of yours and we can talk the real shit. We could both benefit really well if we work together."

"I don't have to drop any games because I'm not playing," I said, getting into her face, "I'm not faking a thing when it comes to that child."

"I could give you money," she said, making me huff a smile, "She'll get her master's and doctorate in 10 years tops and I'll give you a part of her paycheck. Don't tell me you don't want some money, just to be safe if your job ever goes to shit."

"And I'd rather die than work with you, so I'll happily reject your sick offer and whatever sick game you have planned in your twisted mind."

"I don't have a problem with you dying," she laughed evilly, "Especially if I get to be the one end you. So, choose wisely."

"You're insane," Jensen breathed, "Why can't you just let her go? She's old enough to have her own life. She's done with you to the point where she won't even sue you for everything you did to her. Just go back to Y/H/C and forget about her. Let her go."

"I am either leaving here with her or I die. I do not accept failure."

"What was your point?" I asked, "In disowning her. We know you work with Jane. I know that was some poor attempt from your side to take her in with a fake name on you or something. We know many things you think we don't. We can put two and two together and we're not stupid, especially not Y/N. But then, you would know that. She's everything you never were. And now, you're nothing without her. And that hurts a whole lot, doesn't it?"

Y/M/N had no problem kicking me in the stomach, making me double over but I managed to push her away, not wanting to attack her but just to defend myself. But something shifted in the way she looked at me after that punch. Something told me that she was scared, that she didn't expect us to put things together and read her master plan as easily as we did. Hell, she probably counted on us not even thinking of it.

"Oh, how sad," she mimicked, "Poor Y/N, always being the victim. What other lies did she feed you with? How awful of a mother I am? Or how she didn't have a daddy to love her?"

"Yeah, she told me all about that," I huffed as I leaned against the wall again, "She told me how he never loved you. And you punished her for it even though it wasn't her fault. She never cared about the man. She, a ten-year-old child, went over a stupid, worthless man. But you never did. I think that should tell you a thing or two about maturity and all. I know heartbreaks are hard, but there was no reason to punish Y/N. She didn't do anything wrong in the whole situation."

"She existed!" Y/M/N exclaimed, "She ruined me!"

"You could have ended her existence," I spoke, gulping, "You could have aborted. But you didn't. Instead, you made this master plan where you make her into a robot and try to get revenge or whatever you thought you were gonna get. But you ran into a little problem, a little flaw. Me. And, well, you didn't expect Y/N to act the way she did. That's definitely why you're chasing her now. You didn't see it coming and it's killing you and you can't explain yourself to all those people you brag to about how amazing your daughter is."

"As I said, I have no problem with killing you. Her too. So, are we going to work together or are you going to die? Or is it gonna be her who's gonna die? You pick."

"I'll take the rain check," I smirked, knowing she was bluffing. She didn't have a weapon on her. I couldn't spot one, with how light she was dressed, "Maybe some other time."

"You have a family," she spoke up as I walked away. I froze, turning around, anger flailing,

"You don't want to do that."

"Ooh, how scary you are. Who is it going to be, Y/N or your family? I saw how cute your boy is. Shame to shoot that little smile."

"You can't cross the border," I smiled at her, "You can't hurt them. You're a wanted fugitive. No fake names can rub out how ugly you are."

"Well, as much as I'd like to hurt them with my own hands, you're right about that. But then, I have my ways."

"If you try to come at them, there's going to be one big difference in who's chasing you down."

"Oh really? And what is that, sweetie?"

"Y/N," I said, "She doesn't want to have anything with you. But, see, there's something very important about her that you never seemed to notice about her - she loves. She has a big heart that loves with all it has."

"What the fuck are you talking about!?" she exclaimed, making me smile,

"Nothing. Just pointing out something obvious about your daughter that you should have known by now. Now, if you excuse me, I have to get dinner and go back to the set," I said, walking away. As soon as I made it to the street, I hid behind the first object I found, seeing Y/M/N walking away furiously in the opposite direction, where the set was located. I gulped, taking a deep breath before going to the pizzeria.

As I walked out of the pizzeria I could finally answer my phone which went crazy as soon as I ended the call with Jared.

"Dude, for fucks sake! What the hell is going on?!" Jared's worried voice rang on the other end,

"Are you at my place?"

"No, but Misha was there already. I asked him to stay until you come back. What is going on?"

"Y/M/N found me."

"She-are you hurt?!"

"No," I breathed, "I'll be at your place in a few."

I'm greeted with a big moose hug as soon as the door to Jared's apartment flew open. I returned it before entering the apartment, looking around for a second before slamming the door shut and locking them fully,

"Dude, you're white as a sheet," Jared said, guiding me to the couch, "Sit down, breathe. Here," he made a few long steps to his kitchen and gave me a bottle of cold water, "Drink."

"Thanks," I breathed, gulping down the content of it,

"Are you sure you're not hurt?" Jared asked and I nod,

"She hit me in the stomach but nothing bad."

"Fuck, she's been here this whole time," Jared gulped, "What did she want?"

"To persuade me into working with her to get Y/N. Probably bring Y/N back to Y/H/C. I didn't even let her spit out the entire thing. I got sick by just looking at her."

"She's really a stubborn bitch."

"Yeah," I breathed, looking up to Jared, "She threatened."

"She what?"

"Murder," I whispered, "Murder me, Y/N, take your pick."

"What?!" Jared exclaimed, "Is she out of her fucking mind?! Jensen, you have to get security for Danneel and the kids. Cliff will have you and Y/N covered here. And we have to report her too."

"I'll fly Danneel and the kids here," I whispered, "I can't sleep without them all here."

"But the kids are in school," Jared frowned, "And if Y/M/N sees them-"

"I'll think of something. Dee will think of something," I gulped, grabbing my phone, noticing how shaky my hands are, "Fuck. They gotta pack and leave as soon as possible. They might be able to make it by tomorrow morning if they can catch a plane tonight. When I have them within arms reach we will discuss further into their safety."

"Yours too," Jared added, "I'll call Cliff and have him send someone he trusts over to follow Dee and the kids to the airport and Gen to help. Jensen, look at me," Jared tried, making me look up at him, "Everything will be okay."

"Yeah. Yeah," I nod, "Just, be fast. I... I gotta get back to Y/N. She must be worried by now."

"Did Y/M/N follow you here?" Jared asked and I shook my head,

"I told her I'm going back to set."

"Okay. Misha is with Y/N, don't worry. I'll tell him to let her know you'll be late and he'll keep her safe until we make it there."

Not 10 minutes later, Jared and I set everything up. Danneel will fly with the kids over tonight and Cliff and me will pick them up tomorrow morning.

I had to take a quick shower and gather my shit together before going back to Y/N. When I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror I now understood why Jared told me I look white like a sheet.

I shook my head, turning on the faucet. She can't see me scared. She can't know any of what happened tonight. I washed my face, taking deep breaths to calm myself down.

She's gonna be so scared and she might run away again and this isn't downtown Austin and Y/M/N is here too. I can't risk her knowing what went down tonight.

"Hey, Dee and the kids are on the way to the airport. Cliff's friend and Gen are following them. Dee's gonna let us know when they board it and what their arrival time is," Jared informed me as I left the bathroom,

"Okay, yeah, sounds good," I nod, taking a deep breath,

"We should go to Y/N now. Misha is worried too probably."

"Y/N can't know," I spoke up, Jared frowning,

"What? What do you mean, Y/N can't know? Jensen, her mother-"

"I know what she did and that's the exact reason why she can't know," I said, "I'll tell Dee to lie to her, to tell her that there was a problem with the house in Austin and they had to leave here until it's fixed. She simply can't know, brother."

"Jensen, I don't think it's smart to hide this from her."

"I don't want her to run away again!" I yelled out, tears welling in my eyes,

"Jens, hey," Jared walked up to me, giving me a hug, "Brother, she's not going to run away again. She promised me."

"She-she promised me too," I whispered, Jared breaking the hug,

"See? She's not gonna do it again. I know you trust her."

"But I-I don't know what would happen if she found out. What if-what if she tries to find her and turns herself in? Jared, she'd rather suffer than have any of us in danger. I know the lengths she's ready to go to protect the ones she loves. Especially if she heard... "

"Heard what?"

"Her mother said I have a cute little boy," I breathed, "She threatened to kill Zeppelin. If she were to hear that she'd go rampage and hunt her down. She loves that kid more than she loves herself."

"Brother, first of all, she loves you too more than she loves yourself and second of all, no matter who she threatened to kill, Y/N would go rampage. Now, I get what you're saying, but we must be honest with her. Whatever went down, she has to know. She trusts us, more importantly, she trusts you. You have to be honest with her. In this moment you're everything she has. And I am sure she won't try and do anything stupid again. She learned some things that night back in Austin. We gotta trust her to make the right calls and I trust her. I know you trust her too and this is just your fears taking over, which is totally fine, but lying won't solve anything. Come on brother. You're not alone. We'll win this together. Let's go now."

"She can't see I'm scared," I whispered,

"That's bullshit," Jared spoke up, "She's already seen you scared and there's nothing, absolutely nothing you should be ashamed of. She's your kid."

"Exactly. She's my kid. I'm supposed to be strong for her."

"I'd very gladly kick your ass right now," Jared sighed, "She's not gonna think any less of you if she sees you scared, Jens. Showing her this version of yourself, you're sending her a quiet 'I trust you'. She's not a little kid either. There's no reason to lie to her. In any way."

Your POV

You didn't expect to see Misha in your doorway but you surely didn't mind his company. He's a crackhead but also a teddy bear.

You saw him frown at the phone a few times but he didn't mention anything, so you let it be, knowing that if it was something important he'd tell you.

At some point he told you that Jensen will probably run a bit late because he had to do a few things on top of filming. You shrugged your shoulders, knowing that happened sometimes, and you were in his shoes quite a few times.

So, here he is, sitting next to you on the couch as you both watched the documentary in your history class.

As the class ended, the door to the apartment unlocked and you smiled as you turned around and saw Jensen and Jared enter the apartment. Jared carried some pizza, and Misha immediately jumped from the couch, helping him, but you couldn't miss Jensen's pale, scared face.

Jensen couldn't miss the frown you made and he's fast to make a few long steps and give you a bone-crushing hug. You returned it, letting him hug you for as long as he needed to.

When he let go, Jared was the next one to give you a hug and you now found this behavior rather suspicious. The three sat down on the couch and you came up to them and found a spot right next to Jensen,

"Guys. What's going on here?" you asked, looking at everyone for a few seconds before locking your eyes on Jensen, "First, Mish just comes in and makes weird faces at his phone, then you're late from filming and then Jare shows up with you. Is something wrong?" Jensen gulped, looking down.

Chills ran down your spine.

"Did she hurt you?" you asked but Jensen kept quiet, "Did she hurt Dee or the kids?" he didn't respond, "ANSWER ME!" you yelled out, abruptly standing up.

"No," Jensen's voice was quieter than a whisper and you could have missed it if you weren't looking at him. The way he hunched over himself and made himself as small as possible didn't give you any good feelings. You slapped Jared's hand off as he was biting his nails and he smiled sadly at you. You kept looking him in the eye, waiting for some sort of words to come out, to tell you something, anything that Jensen hid so well, but Jared shook his head. He didn't want to tell you. He wanted Jensen to be the one to tell you.

So, you sat down on the ground, facing Jensen as you crossed your legs and made yourself as small as possible, finally being able to see his face. He gulped, just looking at you and you nudged his leg gently,

"Jense. What happened?"

"She found me."

You froze, but took a deep breath,

"She hurt you, didn't she?" you asked, standing up and pushing Jensen to sit straight, "Where?" you asked but Jensen shook his head. You grabbed the collar of his hoodie, "Jense. Where?"

"She didn't hurt me," he whispered. You looked to Jared who didn't say anything, again.

"Then what did she say? What did she want?" you asked, letting go of Jensen's collar,

"You don't want to know," he whispered,

"I very much want to know," you responded, "Come on. Talk to me. You're upset and scared. Did she threaten to kill me?"

"Amongst other things," he whispered,

"What other things?" you asked,

"Uh, can we go back for a second to the part where she said she's going to kill you?" Misha pointed out but you shook your head,

"No. I don't care about that right now. At least not until I hear the rest."

"She said I have a pretty son," he whispered, finally looking up to your eyes,

"She..." you gulped, grabbing your phone, "I gotta call Dee. Jare, ask someone Cliff trusts to guard their home. I-"

"They're flying here," Jared spoke up, "Dee and the kids. They boarded the plane half an hour ago."

"Fuck," you breathed, "Fucking fuck. I told you," you said as you began to pace around the room, "I told you that you'll be in danger if you kept me. See, now she's threatening Zeppelin! If she just thinks about threatening you too I'm going to find her and kill her and I don't care about the sentence I get."

"Jensen," Jared warned, making you look to him and see Jensen shake his head in a negative answer, a tear rolling off the bridge of his nose, his head still bowed down. It took you a moment before you realized why Jared had that reaction,

"She threatened you too, didn't she?" you whispered, "She threatened to hurt you."

"Kiddo, please," Jensen breathed as he stood up and came up to you, getting a hold of your shoulders, "Please, don't..."

"She didn't say she was gonna kill you, did she?"

"It doesn't matter what she said."

"She said she's gonna kill you," you whispered.

You didn't know what to do.

Your mind kept going to running away, but you promised. You promised Jensen and Jared not to do that again. You can't break their hearts, the trust they have in you.

But then the face Jensen sported hit you like a train and the only thing you thought of in that given moment was to slam your body into his, squeezing him into a tight hug.

You felt his arms wrap around you and you shook your head as tears began to fall and the threats kept repeating in your head. You could hear her say it, you could hear her say it in every language she knew, in every expressive way she had up her dirty sleeve. You could see her, clear as day, as she spoke those words, as she threatened to kill two people you loved more than yourself.

"She-she can't kill you. She-she can't hurt Zepp or-or anyone else," you began, not even knowing how long did the silence last, "I-I have to give her what she wants."

Jensen's arms only wrapped tighter around you and you could feel his head shake in a negative answer by the way he leaned his chin on the top of your head,

"Not in hell you're doing that," Misha spoke up, "She's gonna have to go through all of us if she wants to get you."

"That's the exact problem I have!" you yelled out, breaking Jensen's hold, "I don't care about what she's got planned for me. What I have nightmares about all the fucking time is her hurting all of you! Because she knows I hurt the most when people I love hurt. She knows me, Misha! And she has no problem with killing anyone if it meant that she's gonna get her hands on me. I'm not willing to sacrifice any of you or the kids. If she wants me that bad then she will get me."

"No!" Jared exclaimed, "We never thought about the fact that she might be bluffing, or something else."

"She's not bluffing," you breathed, "You don't know her. She's insane. Insane enough to kill. She's killed before. And I don't want you to die."

"She killed before?" Jensen breathed and you gulped,

"I can't say for sure but I think she could have saved my grandpa when he was dying," you turned to look at Jensen whose eyes were glued on you, "And that little fact, that's why we can't keep this up anymore."

"We can," he whispered, "We can and we will. Just don't leave."

"Jensen, I have to."

"No you don't," he breathed, "Maybe Jared's right. Maybe she's bluffing. To scare us, to scare you. To make you come to her. She's a master manipulator."

"I... I don't know what to believe anymore," you whispered, running your hands through your hair, "It's the safest option we have right now."

"Do you trust us?" Misha spoke up and you moved your look to him, "Trust Jared, me?" you nod, "Trust your dad?" you nod again, "Then trust us when we tell you that everything will be okay. It might hurt a whole lot and it might take a while to get to that point, but we're gonna get to the point where everything is okay. You just have to trust us."

"Do you think it's worth it?" you asked, looking down, "All this? For me? For a stupid human?"

"You're my kiddo. Not a stupid human," Jensen whispered, giving you a warm hug, "No matter how old you get, no matter what it says on a stupid piece of paper, no matter what tomorrow brings. You're worth everything."

"Your real family is in danger because of me."

"You didn't tell your mother to kill them, did you?" Misha asked and you violently shook your head when Jensen let you go, "Then how is it your responsibility?"

You were about to respond but Jensen's phone rang. He looked at it, seeing Rich's phone number,

"Take it," you whispered, looking at Misha who nod, walking away to another room with Jensen. You stayed behind with Jared.

"She took it too far," you whispered, "I don't care if she were to kill me. But she threatened my dad and my baby brother. What do I do?" you asked Jared, tears quietly rolling down your cheeks, "He's so scared. Mom too, for sure. You and Mish too. Fuck me, I'm scared. How do I make this right? How do I fix this?"

"Stay here with us and keep up with your promise," he reminded you and you nod, gulping, "Mish and I will stay the night here. Cliff's on his way, he'll stay alert and we can all get some sleep. Stay with Jensen for me. Please."

Misha walked out of the room and towards you, giving you a warm hug for a few moments before nodding you to Jensen's room. You nod, walking away quietly,

"There's some of Jensen's shirts in the dryer. Help yourself."

"Don't worry about us," Jared smiled, "Night, munchkin."

"Night, angel," Misha added,

"Night guys. And thanks."

You walked into Jensen's room, to where he was sitting, at the side of the bed, his head leaning against his palms, his elbows digging into his knees. You moved his arms away and hugged him tightly, Jensen returning it immediately. Your heart shattered at the sob he let out, taking you back to that night in Austin from a few months back and the aftermaths you faced.

"Don't run away," Jensen whispered as he clutched the back of your shirt and you shook your head, "I'll do everything. Just don't run away."

"I promised not to do that again. I want to leave, but only if you know and agree, which doesn't seem to be the case right now."

"Please, don't," he choked out, "Please."

"I won't. I'm staying here, with you."

"We-we just have to stick together," he murmured, "Just stay close to each other and we'll be safe. No way she's getting her hands on any of us - hey, shhh," he shushed you as you sobbed.

You knew the stunt with running away you pulled a few months back hurt Jensen, but you didn't know he was this scared of you running away again. And that, as a cherry on top of this shitshow of a cake, just made you lose it altogether,

"She's not going to hurt us. Y/N, look at me. Please, look at me," he begged and you had to do as told, meeting his swollen, red eyes, "I know how much you love us. You might not say it with words but knowing that you're ready to sacrifice your life to protect us tells me more than you think. I know how much you love us and I assure you, she's not gonna hurt me or Zeppelin."

"He's just an innocent kid," you whispered, "And you didn't ask to be a part in any of this."

"Hey, you said it yourself," Jensen sniffled, tugging at the sleeve of his hoodie and wiping your tears, "You said it yourself, she knows how to get to you. She didn't have a weapon. She dragged me into an alley but all she did was hit me in the stomach once. She threatened to kill me right there but she didn't have a weapon."

"She has one back in Y/H/C. What if she brought it in?"

"There's no way she could have," Jensen shook his head, "Only weapon she could get is a kitchen knife."

"That's more than enough to harm people."

"That's not the point I'm trying to make," he said, "I'm trying to tell you that she's not going to hurt us because she's bluffing. She didn't have balls to hit me again. She retracted as soon as I pushed her away. She was scared. I told her we're not as stupid as she takes us for and something in her expression changed and she became more reserved."

"She's not scared, just waiting to bait you. If you were to make a move, she'd report you to the police. And that would throw all of your work to get into the foster care system down the drain and she'd win."

"Well, she's got nothing to report me for because I just gently pushed her away in self-defense. She's not going to hurt us and she's not going to win. Dee and the kids will be here until this all is sorted out and until you become an Ackles."

"You know that might not happen."

"It will happen one way or another. Besides, I don't care what a stupid paper says. You're an Ackles and that's a done deal," Jensen said, finally breaking a soft smile, "We're gonna win. We're scared and that's okay. And what we feel is okay too and there's no shame in that. But we'll win. Just like Mish said. It might take a while, it might hurt, but we will win."

"I love you," you whispered, going to hug him again, "I love you so much."

"I love you too, kiddo," he said, squeezing you tight to his chest, "She's not gonna get us. She doesn't have one important thing."

"What?"

"Love," he smiled, kissing your temple. "She isn't driven by love. She might as well stick her money, fame, and insults where the Sun shines. Love will win. Always."

"Thank you," you said, burrowing your head into his shoulder, "For everything you do."

"There's nothing to thank me for, kiddo. It's my job to protect you."

A/N: HAPPY BIRTHDAY @crasmuna ONCE AGAIN, HERE'S A BELATED BDAY PRESENT FROM ME TO YOU (don't kill me pls (but then if you do you won't find out what happens hehe)) SINCE YOU LIVE SO FUCKING FAR AWAY AND I CAN'T GIFT YOU AN ACTUAL PRESENT AND GIVE YOU A HUG. Thanks for being there for me and keep being the amazing human being you are!!! Oh, also, we're in our 20s, when are we talking about options for nursery homes?

[bajuuuu]

you're stuck in an elevator with a fictional character. no matter their powers/skillset you are stuck in that elevator for 3 hours.

who would be your dream choice and who would be your worst nightmare

Wow I am bad at answering my asks in a timely manner, my sincerest apologies!

My dream choice would definitely be someone I have a lot of questions for or could strike up a conversation with, because three hours is a lot of time and i get more waaaay to easily. So either it would be Spock because in my selfish view of the world I believe I could hold a conversation with him that he’s find interesting XD Or Tendi because I think she’d have so much interest stuff to talk about.

My word nightmare? Here I’d have to go with whichever character I wouldn’t feel comfortable about, so think Horror movie antagonists, to be more specific: that horrible terrible child with a gas mask on his face from Doctor Who, that thing’s terrifying!!

Is this a straightforward enough answer? Did I actually answer the question? XD I tend to just ramble in these asks… whoops