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mushr90 · 2 months ago

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mush's ultimate fic rec guide!

𓍊𓋼 a masterlist of all my favourite works made by various creators here on tumblr. most of these are series', but i've categorised them by 'series' and 'oneshots' just incase. i've made sure to tag them, link the posts, and add a brief summary for each, so y'all can digest and enjoy too! i'll also be updating this regularly (*ᵕᴗᵕ)⁾⁾

𓍊𓋼 please read through all of the tags listed for each fic carefully as i am not going to be listing them here! you control the media you consume.

𓍊𓋼 updated: 26/04/25 🔔

𓍊𓋼 key: ✩ = ongoing / ✮ = completed

Red Dead Redemption II

⟢ coming soon!!

⟢

Baldur's Gate 3

⟢ coming soon!!

⟢

The Last of Us

series

⟢ 'daddy next door' by @cavillscurls (dom! joel miller x sub! fem! reader) ✩

summary: "its summer in texas, and when the dashing joel miller moves in next door, your less than favorable life gets completely turned around."

⟢ 'of rage and ruin' by @corazondebeskar-reads (werewolf! joel miller x omega! fem! reader) ✩

summary: "joel miller made it twelve years into the apocalypse without getting bit. he turns into a much different kind of monster than he expected, though."

⟢ 'Waiting Game' by @gutsby (dbf! joel miller x fem! reader) ✩

summary: "joel miller has mastered the art of self-control in all areas except one: not fucking his friend’s daughter. a cross-country road trip home from college takes a hard turn when he’s forced to share a motel room with you."

Resident Evil

⟢ coming soon!!

⟢

Call of Duty

series

⟢ 'Cherry Red, Crimson Blood' by @soaps-mohawk (tf141 x omega! fem! reader) ✩

summary: "task force 141 operates successfully without an omega, at least that’s what price has been saying since its formation. two alphas and two betas balance the pack just fine, and they have the numbers to prove it. it works for a while, until the omega initiative is born and the 141 find themselves having to adjust to the sudden addition of an omega to their pack. fresh out of an institute, you’re hardly fit for their secretive, dangerous world, or so price thinks."

⟢ '𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝙳𝚘𝚐 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚗𝚢' by @void-my-warranty (simon riley x fem! reader x johnny mactavish) ✩

summary: you and simon have been together for years, but, unable to give you what you truly want in the bedroom, what you need, he decides to bring in the only other man he trusts to do the job -- johhny. as feelings grow and troubles arise, will this arrangement come to a crumbling head, or will there be an alternative solution?

⟢ 'AS NEEDED' by @novemberheart (tf141 x omega! fem! reader) ✩

summary: after having previously been rejected by task force 141, their decision to finally accept an omega into their pack comes with many troubles and uncertainty, and your new place here might not be as permanent as you think.

⟢ 'Jaws' by @alkalineapparition (simon riley x hybrid! fem! reader) (this one is on ao3) ✩

summary: "alone and half feral in a dirty cell, ghost finds you during a raid beneath a military research lab. it quickly becomes clear that something isn't right with you, your behaviour more beast than human. a result of horrific human experiments, you're a failed attempt at making genetically modified soldiers with killer instincts and keen senses. instead they produced you - a mutt. ghost is assigned to be your handler, to help you heal and shape you in to the 141's very own attack dog. but the bond between a handler and their beast eventually turns into something more..."

⟢ 'In Limbo' by @ilium-ilia (mafia! simon riley x fem! reader) ✩

summary: "joining the mafia is no different than selling a soul to the devil, and it's something simon riley is all too willing to do if it means keeping his family safe. it isn't until he meets you–the girl who runs from everything–that he realises there are much worse things to be caught up in."

⟢ 'Daughters with Soft Underbellies' by @ilium-ilia (outlaw! john price x fem! reader) ✩

summary: "all your life you have known nothing but the word of god and your father's short temper. every day, you are forced to turn the other cheek for minor mistakes you make within your father's gaze. yet, as a devout follower to god and your father, you have no one else to turn to. when the owner of the saloon tells you about some strangers lurking around town, you decide to take your chances with these wayward men in the hopes that they'll save you. but they are dangerous, conniving bandits; a fact you learn a little too late. you should have known that sheep who stray too far from the flock are at the mercy of the wolves. better sharpen those teeth of yours, little lamb."

⟢ 'anatomy of us' by @bi-writes (alpha! simon riley x omega! fem! reader) ✩

summary: "in an attempt to tame an unruly alpha, you are given. he did not come with warning labels. but neither did you."

⟢ 'Breaking Bread' by @softaestluv (simon riley x fem! reader) ✮

summary: "simon riley who is quite the anomaly of a man, or human, rather. your lieutenant who has only spoken a handful of words to you. simon riley who happens to be sat at the only open table in the mess hall."

⟢ 'Grease & Grime Won’t Break Your Bones' by @softaestluv (mechanic! simon riley x fem! reader) ✮

summary: "you never thought you were attracted to grease and grime, sweat and exhaustion, definitely needed a shower and scrub, but no one has worn it like he is."

⟢ (1) 'RETURN TO SENDER' (original) / (2) 'IN CONTEMPT' (sequel) by @sai-int (criminal! simon riley x fem! reader) ✮

summary: (1) "it was a joke. A letter to a criminal—uk's most wanted. you told him he was hot. told him you were a virgin. left your address, because it’s not like he’d ever get out, right?" | (2) "you tried to move on, but no one quite measures up; not to the way he touched you, not to the way he ruined you. but when he reappears, you can feel him even before you see him. the past has a way of punishing disobedience, and now, it’s here to settle the score."

⟢ 'RASPBERRY GIRL' by @peachesofteal (dom! simon riley x sub! fem! reader) ✩

summary: captain! simon riley takes an interest in the sweet and docile little bakery-worker and vows to make her wholly his.

⟢ '𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤' by @cinnamonghostcrunch (simon riley x fem! reader) ✩

summary: "where in you move to manchester to start fresh, only to cross paths with a mysterious local who changes everything. what started as an unexpected encounter soon evolves into something much more, growing increasingly complicated as his secrets and your doubts cast shadows over everything."

⟢ 'INK & NEEDLE' by @gloomwitchwrites (tattoo artist! simon riley x fem! reader) ✮

summary: "a night out in london to celebrate your friend’s upcoming marriage ends with a quick hook-up in a club’s green room. you don’t expect to see your masked man ever again, and you leave it as a one-time thing. three years later, you’re back in england, and find yourself facing the man you walked away from at that club. he's running a tattoo parlor just down the street from where you’re staying. over time, your paths cross and cross again until the two of you are tangled up in a messy web. will it last? or will one of you walk away?"

⟢ 'Martyr in the Making' by @eilidh-eternal (tattoo artist! simon riley x fem! reader) ✩

summary: he's an observer. notices the way you use getting tattoos as a thinly-veiled coping mechanism. he has a better way for you to cope though, things he can teach you that don’t involve needles, but would still leave his mark on your skin.

*major credit to all the creators mentioned, and to the ones i'm yet to discover! you guys are so talented and i love you ( ๑ ˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و♡

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obwjam · 5 months ago

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a small surprise holiday chapter! (gravity falls g/t)

merry christmas and happy hanukkah everyone! i had planned on putting out a new chapter, but the flu absolutely kicked my ass, leaving me no energy or time to write what i wanted. luckily, i had been working on this holiday chapter as a fun little aside, so consider this my holiday gift to you all for being the best g/t enjoyers i could ask for. the idea was born from a hc of stan hating christmas music, and it spiraled from there. i hope you all have a wonderfully amazing day celebrating whatever holiday you celebrate! :)

you can find the beginning of this story here

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

“Gah, I can’t take it anymore!”

Stan kicked his foot back and slammed the door behind him. His arms were cradling two brown paper bags filled to the brim, the contents of which nearly fell to the floor as he ambled inside. “My brain is about to fall out of my ears! Make it stop!”

Jay looked up, surprised. Stan was back from the store sooner than she would have thought. “What?” she asked, a bit groggy. She knew by now that Stan’s tone didn’t always match the situation he found himself in. “What’s going on?”

“Christmas music. Christmas music everywhere!” Stan cried, throwing the bags onto the table with little grace. Jay scooted to the side as an apple rolled by a bit too close for comfort. “On the radio, at the grocery store, in my head. It’s an epidemic!” He flipped his hood down. He wasn’t done yet. “Oh, and this new song. It’s horrible. And the radio won’t stop playing it! What kind of idiot would give his heart away again after getting it broken the year before?! And you know, there’s too much synth in music nowadays. Can’t we go back to the good ol’ days of real men playing real instruments?”

Jay laughed, taking a long sip of tea from her thimble before setting it aside. Listening to Stan complain was free entertainment.

“You should be glad you’re tiny, kid,” Stan continued, head buried in the fridge. “You don’t have to worry about the stressors of human life. Like, how am I supposed to make Ma’s latkes with these terrible potatoes?” He held one up, presumably for her to see it in all its disgrace, but it looked like normal food to her.

“Latkes?” Jay asked, tilting her head.

She jumped when Stan slammed the fridge shut. “Don’t tell me.”

Jay raised an eyebrow. “Tell you…?”

“If you don’t know what latkes are, then that means… no. He wouldn't!”

“What? He wouldn’t what?” Jay repeated, unsure as to who he even was in this situation.

“Poindexter never told you about Hanukkah?!”

Jay shrugged wildly. Something told her he wasn’t being dramatic this time. “No? Is it some kind of holiday?”

Stan looked like he wanted to cry. “Some kind of holiday?! It’s THE holiday, kid! How could Ford not have told you?”

“I don’t know! I guess he just… didn’t want to? What’s the big deal, anyway?”

“WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL!” Stan repeated in utter bewilderment. He took a deep breath as Jay gave him a side-eye. “You know about Christmas, right?”

Jay nodded. “Yeah. Fidds told me about it. Ford didn’t really seem to care, though.”

“Yeah, of course he didn’t care,” Stan said, crossing his arms. “We’re Jewish!”

Now Jay was really confused, and she didn’t have to say anything for Stan to know. His face contorted into a look nothing short of horror.

“You lived with my brother – a Pines – for years and never even knew he was Jewish!” Stan cried, putting his hand over his forehead and dramatically slinking down. “Oh, the humanity!”

Jay rolled her eyes. “I think you’re overreacting.”

“Absolutely not, kid. This is important stuff.”

“So, are you going to tell me what… han-ah-kah is? Or are you just going to faint about it?”

“You’re not saying it right,” Stan grumbled as he pulled himself back up. “Alright, alright. I’m just… surprised Poindexter never did anything for it, that’s all.”

“Is it… like Christmas?” Jay asked carefully. She didn’t want to actually offend Stan. This was clearly very important to him.

“Kinda, yeah,” Stan said, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Except better.”

“Better?”

“Better. Christmas, it’s only one day, right? Hanukkah is eight.”

Jay was intrigued. She had never heard of a human holiday that lasted more than a day.

“Yeah, I see you’re impressed. There’s presents, food, games… it’s basically a big weeklong party! And you get to light a new candle on the menorah every day until the last, that’s always my favorite part. Guess Ford never set one up, huh?”

Jay shook her head, but something else came to mind. “Fidds… he brought a tree inside one year. Is that normal?”

“Yeah, for those weird Christmas people, it is.”

“I got so mad at him.” Jay shook her head with a faint smile. “Like, who brings a tree inside like that? What if a clan used it as their home?”

“Don’t worry, kid, we won’t be having any trees inside this house as long as I’m in charge. But we should go out and get a menorah. I really would have thought Poindexter would have one here…”

Jay wracked her brain in case she was somehow forgetting about this holiday, but nothing came to mind; especially not this menorah he was talking about. “So… the... menorah, is like a candle holder.”

Stan shrugged. “A little simplistic, but sure.”

“And the latkes…”

“Potato pancakes,” Stan explained. “Basically, you shred some potatoes, add some onion, egg and flour, and fry the whole sucker up. Ma’s secret is to put a little bit of cheese and zucchini in it.” Stan’s gaze seemed to turn distant. “Heh, she knocked ‘em dead every year. Mrs. Levin never knew what hit her, that miserable old hag. Ma’s latkes are the best in all of New Jersey.”

Jay’s heart ached as Stan spoke. His entire demeanor changed any time he talked about his family or his childhood. It was like he was an entirely different person.

“You… never talk about your family much,” Jay started, preparing for blowback, but it never came. Instead, Stan shot her a look of… almost hurt. “Besides Ford, I mean. Your mom’s recipe… it sounds nice.”

Stan seemed to soften at that. “Heh, yeah, it is, kid. We can make it later.”

“We?”

“Yeah, we. Hanukkah, it’s… it’s about celebrating community, and – togetherness. And right now, we’re all we’ve got. So let’s go get us a menorah, and then you’re gonna eat so much potato your tiny little stomach will explode all over the place.”

Jay sniffed a laugh. “That’s gross.”

“Yeah, like you’d ever turn down food,” Stan smirked. Jay rolled her eyes, but smiled. “Now, come on, pipsqueak, we’ve got work to do.”

It was weird climbing into a mittened hand, but Jay understood it. She needed to bundle up even more than her human counterparts, but she had nothing from her old home. It was summertime when Ford found her, and by the time winter rolled around, it was firmly established that she was never going to leave the comfort of a heated house. She absentmindedly wondered if her stuff was still in her hiding spot as she ambled into Stan’s pocket, now lined with extra fur to keep her warm.

And warm she stayed, even as the snow pounded down on Stanley’s car like little meteors. He knew she hated being inside a moving vehicle, and he wouldn’t admit that was half the reason he parked it on the side of some random road and did the rest of the journey on foot. It wasn’t that long of a walk into town, but finding a place that sold Hanukkah things would prove difficult.

Stan kept glancing down. He knew Jay wasn’t going to pop out, especially in public, but it always worried him when she stopped moving in there. That anxiety compounded with his growing worry that he wasn’t going to find what he was looking for. Every storefront had colorful lights, wreaths, trees, and Christmas decorations plastered on the windows – but not a single sparkle of silver and blue.

Until he reached the edge of town.

“Jackpot!” Stanley cried. He had been wandering around so long that his face was numb, and even Jay was starting to get concerned.

The store was tiny; it was tucked at the end of a road that didn’t even have a streetlight. But glowing bright as day in the center of the store’s only window was a Star of David. Oh, sweet Sally, Stan thought, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes!

The closer Stan got to the store, though, the more skeptical he became. Maybe the window was tinted, but it looked pretty dark inside, and there were no prints in the freshly fallen snow around the store; not even from a squirrel. This town already wasn’t the most welcoming place, and now, standing alone in front of this mysterious store, Stan felt like he was on an island of his own. The blinking window sign underneath the dim streetlight reminded him too much of–

No, Stan thought, forcefully shaking his head. It’s not like that. Not anymore. Not here.

Reluctantly, Stan pushed the door open, half expecting it to be locked. But a wave of warmth washed over him, nearly shocking him out of his negative thoughts. The lights were a soft, golden yellow, illuminating the aisles with an almost homey glow, like a thousand candles lit up at once. The store seemed to be more like a bodega than anything else, with shelves stocked to the brim with food, groceries and everything in between. Stan slowly shook the snow off his hood as he whisked it off his head. He could tell he was the only one here.

Jay couldn’t take it anymore. Stan’s slowed pace was not the reaction of someone who excitedly found what he was looking for. So using all her strength, she sat up, grabbed the lip of the pocket and hoisted herself up so only her head was peeking out.

She was expecting to feel the cold, but she was instead greeted by the sweet feeling of a heated room. “Stan?” she called, but he was too distracted to hear her. Jay frowned. “Stan!” Nothing. She sucked in a deep breath. “STANLEY PINES!”

That seemed to work. Stan blinked and peered down, surprised. “What? What’s the matter, tiny?”

“What’s the matter? Aren’t you gonna tell me what’s going on? Where are we?”

Stan rubbed the back of his neck. He was too embarrassed to admit that he forgot she was there. “Oh. Right.” He peeked around a bit more, taking a few cautious steps forward. He had to make sure he wasn’t about to get kicked out. “I thought this place was golden, just what I was lookin’ for – but I’m not so sure now.”

“What? Why not?”

“Well… I dunno.” He began to wander down an aisle. “It kind of feels like home.”

Jay furrowed her brow. “Isn’t that… a good thing?”

Stan absentmindedly picked up a microwavable cup of noodles and sighed. “There’s a lot I haven’t told you, kid.”

Jay didn’t even have time to ponder what that meant. The heavy sound of footsteps was unmistakable. She dove back into the pocket just as the echo of boots stopped reverberating.

“Can I help you, son?”

Stan flinched, almost throwing the noodles back onto the shelf. “I was gonna pay for that!”

The man raised an eyebrow, but nothing more. He was tall and stately, wearing a bright red pullover with a white collared shirt and a tie underneath. His glasses were far too big for his face, and it only seemed to amplify his curious eyes. A small brown mustache sat snugly on his top lip.

“Rough weather outside, huh?”

“Yeah…” Stan took a small step back.

“Huh, it’s really comin’ down,” the man remarked, brushing past Stan to peer out the window. “Was just about to close up, in fact. You’re the only customer I’ve had in two hours.”

Stan’s face flushed red. Now he felt stupid. “Oh. Sorry for wastin’ your time, sir.”

The man waved his hand dismissively. “Come now.”

“Seriously, I should be going –”

“Nonsense. What are you looking for? An easy-to-make dinner before Christmas?”

“No, really, it’s okay, I–” Stan stopped, wondering if he should even bother explaining. Maybe he just had the star in his window because he thought it looked nice. But it smells too much like home to be a coincidence. Stan stole a glance at the man, who was eyeing him expectantly. “Well, I, uh, I celebrate Hanukkah, actually.”

To Stan’s surprise, the man just smiled. “I thought as much.”

“What – how did you–”

“Sometimes… you just know,” the man said with a smile too sweet to be phony. “You’ll understand one day when you’re my age.”

Stan chuckled. He couldn’t imagine himself being that old.

“I think I have just what you’re looking for,” the man said, beckoning Stan to follow him. He did, silently, shooting glances at the shelves as if something would jump out from them. He looked down when he felt a small movement in his pocket. He gave Jay a shrug before she slipped back in.

“Now, it’s a little small,” the man started, climbing up a small ladder. “And a little old, too. But I think it should do you just fine.”

Jay was too curious for her own good. She poked her head out, gawking up at the man.

“What is he doing?” she whisper-shouted, causing Stan to jump.

“I dunno! Get back in there!” he snapped, pushing her down with his fingertip. She made a muffled noise of protest, but didn’t fight back.

“Will this do?”

Stan nearly burst into tears at the sight in front of him. It was a little small, but it was also a rich, milky gold, like it had just come out of the box. On top of the center pillar was a Star of David, and the features were ornate, but timeless.

Stan took it in his hands, turning it over carefully like it was made of glass.

“It’s perfect,” he breathed.

The man smiled as he hopped down. “Good. And don’t forget this.” He motioned for Stan to open his hand, and he dropped a dreidel into his gloved palm. “Now, you better hurry on home. Wouldn’t want you getting stuck in the snow.”

Stan blinked in shock. “Are – are you sure? I have money, I swear–” He fished around his pockets. Not much came out.

“No, no, please,” the man insisted. “This wasn’t for sale, anyway. It was actually my mother’s.”

“Your mother’s – I can’t have this, then! My ma would never–”

“But mine would,” he cut him off, putting on a serious face that made Stan pause. “Besides, she owns at least 10. She won’t miss this one.”

Despite himself, Stan laughed. “Ten? Must have one big family.”

The man shook his head. “Oh, no. Just me and my brother. She just really likes her menorahs.”

“Huh.” For once, Stan was speechless.

The man began ushering Stan forward. “Go on now. It’s getting late.”

“Okay, okay,” Stan said, hurrying to the front of the store. “I, uh… thank you, sir.”

“Think nothing of it.” He smiled that sunshine smile again. “Chag sameach, and be well, son.”

Stan could only give a solemn nod on his way out; the Hebrew he learned as a child suddenly found its way to the front of his mind, but all the words were caught in his throat. He didn’t say a single word on his journey back, and Jay didn’t know what to say. Something told her silence was for the better right now.

When they finally got home, Stan felt lighter. The first thing he did after putting his new possessions down was dig into his pocket and fish Jay out. He chuckled at her half-sleeping face of confusion at the abrupt change in altitude and scenery. He forgot how weary she got in the cold.

“You follow any of that, kid?” he asked, placing her gently on the counter.

“Not a single word,” she said with a smile.

“Hah. Well, you and me both. He just… gave me these,” he said, gesturing to the two items. “And I don’t know why.”

Jay got up and padded over to the menorah, taking it all in from her vantage point. It looked fun to climb. But she was even more intrigued by the dreidel, because, shockingly, it wasn’t taller than her. She could actually pick it up and hold it – albeit, not for long.

“Hm. Maybe he was just being nice.”

“Psh.” Stan rolled his eyes. “Doubt it. Nobody’s ever that nice without a catch. Maybe there’s a camera in here or somethin’?” Stan swiped up the menorah and began inspecting it for tiny hidden gadgets.

“Stanley,” Jay chided, groaning at how ridiculous he looked. “Not everyone’s out to get you, you know.”

“That’s rich, comin’ from you,” Stan snapped, sounding angrier than he actually was. “And the governments of at least three South American countries are definitely out to get me.”

Jay blinked a few times, caught off guard by his remark. He was right – that was funny, coming from her, the person who swore up and down that strange humans are not to be trusted. It was just so peculiar to her that Stan was just as untrusting. Humans weren’t supposed to be like that.

Stan still felt on the defensive as he took off his coat. What did she know? She wasn’t even a human. Stan knew humans better than anyone. Nobody was that nice.

Right?

“What’s this?”

Jay’s innocent question brought him back to reality. She was holding up the dreidel, clearly struggling to keep it upright. Stan smiled at the sight. “That’s a dreidel, used to play a traditional Hanukkah game. Very distinguished. A classic, really.”

“What’s the game?”

Stan grinned. “Gambling!”

It didn’t take long to teach her the rules, even throwing in a quick Hebrew lesson, but they quickly learned they didn’t have anything of value to wager. It didn’t matter, though. The real entertainment came from watching her grab the little handle with both her hands and put her entire body into spinning the top. It took her a while to get the hang of it; she threw herself to the ground on the very first attempt, causing Stan to burst into laughter and Jay to rub her head in shame.

“You didn’t tell me it was going to be hard,” she blushed, trying not to sound as embarrassed as she felt.

“You – HAH! You should have seen yourself!” Stan leaned back in his chair, wiping a genuine tear from his eye after a few more laughs. “You spun more than the dreidel! HAH!”

“Not. Funny,” she grumbled, but her inability to hide her smile betrayed her.

“You’re right. It was hilarious.”

“I don’t think I like this game very much.”

“Huh. Funny. I like it more than I remember!”

“Why don’t you show me how it’s done, then,” Jay said, crossing her arms.

“Fine! I will!” Very carefully, Stan pinched the handle between his fingers and held the dreidel upright. He took a moment, marveling at how a tiny wooden top could be as tall as a living being, before snapping his fingers with all his might. Jay yelped and jumped back, surprised at the force with which the dreidel spun. She watched, mesmerized, as it went round and round and round for at least 15 seconds before it started to slow. It clattered to a stop, with a symbol that looked like a backwards C on the top.

“Aw, man! That’s nun. If we were playin’ for real, that would mean I do nothing and it’s your turn next.”

Determined not to make a fool of herself again, Jay insisted on lifting the top herself instead of having Stan put it upright for her. It took her a few tries, but she successfully got underneath and stood it back up. A few deep breaths later, and the top was spinning away.

“Woah!” Stan wasn’t expecting her to actually do it! It didn’t last long, but it definitely spun like a top, and it landed on hay. “That’s hay. You’d get half the damn pot if this was real!”

Jay beamed. “I like this game now.”

“Oh, what have I done?” Stan laughed at her tiny, smug expression. “I’m gonna turn you into a good-for-nothing gambling addict like me.”

They spun the dreidel for at least an hour, until Jay’s limbs were so tired she could barely stand. Stan remembered about the peanuts he bought at the store earlier, and that was good enough to use as a wager. When all was said and done, Jay had 13 peanuts to Stan’s seven.

“Does this mean I win?” she asked all too innocently, staring up at Stan with doe eyes.

“Don’t play dumb, kid,” Stan mumbled lightheartedly. “You know you kicked my ass.”

“Yeah I did!” She looked at the peanuts like they were made of gold. “I beat the human at his own game.”

“Watch it now. I’ll stick you on top of the fridge and forget to take you down.”

“You can’t stop me!” Jay yelled, but her teasing may have gone too far. Stan raised an eyebrow, as if to say oh, really? And before Jay could realize her mistake, she was already dangling in the air.

“Consider yourself stopped,” Stan said with a grin.

“Put me down!” she cried, thrashing her legs around.

“Hmm, let me think – nope!” He moved his hand to his shoulder and dropped her down. He had done this enough times by now to know how to be careful. “Besides, it’s latke time, and you need to watch.”

“I don’t – need to do anything,” she said, grabbing onto the fabric of his shirt as he lurched forward.

“This one’s important,” Stan said, ignoring an opportunity to be sassy. “I haven’t made Ma’s latkes in…” He trailed off. He couldn’t remember.

Jay suddenly remembered what he had said before. There’s a lot I haven’t told you. She wasn’t very good with comforting words, but she found those weren’t the best for Stan, anyway. He seemed to respond most to a gentle nudge.

“Show me how it’s done, Stanley Pines.”

Stan turned his head to his shoulder and smiled. “Alright, kiddo. Watch and learn.”

And watch and learn she did. Even if she had something to say, she would have been rendered speechless by the delicate touch Stan used to cook. Every movement had purpose; every shred of potato, every cube of butter, every shake of salt. He used a knife in ways Jay didn’t realize could be done by humans. Stan explained every step, every flick of the wrist, and he even offered to try and let Jay do something, but she refused, not warning to get in the way of his mastery. The instant those lumps of potatoes hit the pan, sizzling with a sharpness rarely heard, Jay was overwhelmed with a scent that was so otherworldly she almost began to question everything about her existence. She didn’t even know smells like this were possible. Had her whole life been this drab before?

“Like I said, Ma made these every year,” Stan said, poking the latke with a spatula. “She was a mean cook, my Ma. Always made sure to save her best for the important occasions. Like when she could show off in front of the other moms. She’d make ‘em cry if she had to.”

“She sounds… fun.”

“Fun is definitely the best way to describe her. Maybe fierce, too.” Stan let the latke settle for a few more seconds before forcing the spatula underneath it and flipping. “There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her boys.” Stan stared into the pan as if in a trance. The loud pop of food snapped him back to reality. “What about you, huh? Tiny people must have close families, right?”

“Sure, but… nothing like that.” Now it was Jay’s turn to be wistful. “I didn’t know my mom very well. Not really. Well, it’s more like I don’t really remember her.” She paused, giving Stan room to say something. He didn’t. “I’m… not sure how it is for other borrowers. Not all of them are from the forest. But we kind of… travel in packs, I guess. Clans. So I was with my family, but also ten other families. But I was – they all spent a lot of time trying to reign me in. I was kind of the problem child.”

Now Stan wanted to say something “You? A troublemaker?”

“Oh, yeah. I was… too curious for my own good.” The spaces between her words told Stan this wasn’t something to pry about. “‘S how your brother caught me in the first place. I was snooping around much too close. Closer than most borrowers even think of getting to a human. My parents kind of kept their distance from me. I gave them a bad reputation.”

A sharp pain surged through Stan’s chest. “We’ve got that in common, then,” he snorted, flipping the latke back over. “My old man wanted nothin’ to do with me. No matter what I did, it seemed like I couldn’t please him. Nothing I ever did was good enough. Now, Ford? In the eyes of my father, he could do no wrong. Poindexter was the only one worth anything to him.” Stan let the latke simmer as he reached to make another. “But hey, it only made me stronger, right? I don’t need anyone. Except you, to tell me how great these latkes are. Go ahead, try one.”

Stan had siphoned off a tiny piece and slid it to the side, placing her down right in front of it. Jay hopped off his hand, still a little freaked out at how casual she had gotten around Stan. But he had just cooked for her – really cooked. Not the microwave pasta Ford was accustomed to scarfing down only when Jay reminded him he hadn’t eaten all day. Jay was ready to make fun of Stan for being bad at this, but it was clear she wouldn’t be able to do that.

Carefully, she grabbed a strip of shredded potato and held it like a hoagie in her hands. She gave it a careful sniff first, then a tiny, tiny lick.

Stan couldn’t take it anymore. “Come on, kid! Just take a bite!”

“Okay, okay!” Jay took a deep breath, gave it one more good look, then closed her eyes and chomped down.

She was going to remember that bite for the rest of her life.

“I’ve… never had anything like this,” she said carefully, as if the food would evaporate from her fingertips. She bit off another piece, this time more like a wild animal. “I didn't… I didn’t even know food had flavors like this.”

“Hah, right, ‘cause you’ve been living off a diet of roots and sticks,” Stan said with a laugh, shoving his own forkful of latke into his mouth. His smile faded when she looked at him like she didn’t get the joke. He shuddered. “How do you even have functioning taste buds?”

“I might not,” she said, totally serious. “This is just… wow, Stanley. This is incredible.”

Stan ducked his head to hide his blush. “It’s nothin’.”

“You ate like this all the time growing up?”

“This? Not all the time. But Ma’s cooking… yeah. We ate this every day.”

Stan watched her eat like it was her first time trying food. Hell, it might as well have been. All the things Stan took for granted growing up and sorely missed now, he didn’t realize just how special it was until Jay got to experience it all for the first time. Ever since getting kicked out, he had no time to think about the luxuries of dreidel and holidays and homemade latkes. But he was slowly beginning to realize these were things he didn’t just cherish; he needed to cling to them desperately, as if any given day was his last one on Earth. There were creatures – people – out there who never even got to miss the taste of garlic and onions and butter.

And Jay showed him that every single day.

The two ate in silence, finishing up the potato pancakes in surprisingly quick fashion. Stan wordlessly refilled her water thimble and kept supplying her with more when he noticed she was running low. The only sound louder than their chewing was the snowfall outside. It was peaceful.

“Wow.” Stan decided to break the silence. “That was a hell of a meal.”

“So this is what it’s like to feel full,” Jay quipped, only half-joking.

“I used to wonder why my old man always fell asleep after dinner. Now I know why.”

“Yeah… I’m beat,” Jay yawned, stretching her arms up high in the air. Stan felt his heart flutter like he was looking at a sleeping puppy. “I… I can’t thank you enough for that, Stan. Really. It… means a lot, that you wanted to make that for me.”

Stan waved his hand dismissively. “It’s nothin’, really. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to sit in front of the TV for the rest of the night and do nothing. Whadda ya say?”

“Sure, I could go for that.” Again, like second nature, Jay hopped onto Stan’s palm when he offered it to her. She wasn’t even thinking twice about it anymore.

It turns out there wasn’t much TV to watch – the storm was so strong, the only thing they’d be watching was black and white static dance around on the screen. But it didn’t matter, because the moment Stan sank into the chair, he was out like a light.

Perfect.

He awoke a few hours later, a little delirious and a lot tired. He glanced at the clock – it was half past 10. He grumbled as he rubbed his eyes, ready to head to the bedroom, when a small movement on the floor caught his eye.

“What the…?” He blinked the sleep from his eyes, squinting hard at the floor. He expected to see a small animal, but instead it was… Jay?

It had been a while since Jay was on the floor like this, staring up at a human so far away they felt unattainable. She wasn’t scared of Stan, not really, but her instinct couldn’t be suppressed when his knee slammed down on the ground beside her, and he loomed like a mountain. A very confused mountain.

“Kid, what are you doing on the floor?” Stan draped his arm over his knee as he bent down, heart aching at her unwittingly flinching at the movement. She was tiny. “Actually, how did you even get on the floor?”

“I – I climbed down,” she stammered with a shrug. “Not important. Um…” She was suddenly overcome with embarrassment. Should she even be doing this? Would he even appreciate it? He’s probably going to think it’s so stupid!

“Spit it out, tiny,” Stan prompted. It was only then he noticed the square piece of paper she had behind her. “What is that?”

“It’s – um – you said Hanukkah was all about giving, right?”

Stan raised an eyebrow. “Yeah…” Where was she going with this?

“Well, um, I – I couldn’t stop thinking about how… how much kindness you’ve shown me. Since day one, really, after you took me out of that jar. You could have – you were well within your rights to throw me outside and tell me to scram. But you… allowed me to be warm, and fed. And I–”

“Just get to the point, kid!” At this point, Stan’s face was redder than a beet. He wasn’t used to this feeling.

“I… got you something,” she said finally, like the words had been forced out of her. “It’s not much, really, and I – I didn’t make it or anything, but it’s–”

“Gimme that,” Stan said, reaching for the paper behind her. She gawked at his arm towering so far above her and shuffled to the side as his fingers pinched the paper.

Stan instantly began to cry.

“It’s this... photo, of Ford, see? And I’m in there too, but you can’t really tell,” Jay began, wringing her hands together and actively avoiding eye contact. “He was trying to take a… picture? Of us? He said he wanted it for his collection – which I thought was a science thing, but it turns out, it was a personal thing. He gave it to me as a gift, just something for me to have, I guess, and… I thought you’d want to see it. Keep it. I dunno, it’s stupid, I’m sorry–”

“Don’t,” Stan choked out, surprised to hear his own voice crack. “It’s –” he couldn’t even get the words out. He didn’t know when this was taken, and he suspected she didn’t quite know either, but Ford was beaming, happier than Stan remembered he could get, wearing a brown sweater vest over a bright blue shirt. On the table, barely a speck in the polaroid, was Jay, looking confused. Stan laughed a wet, sobbing laugh. It was stupid. It was perfect.

“I’m glad you like it,” Jay ventured to say, taking a step closer. “Just something to remind you of… what we’re working for, here, I guess. Together.”

“Together,” Stan repeated. He sniffed a few times, scrubbing the tears from his cheeks. “Where did you even – you went all the way downstairs to get this?”

“Oh, no, it was just… I used to sleep in Ford’s room, too,” she explained timidly. She knew she was going to have to reveal this eventually. “A lot of my stuff is still in there, actually. I just got it from there.”

That seemed to get his attention. He narrowed his eyes at her, suddenly uncomfortable with the way he towered over her tiny frame. “This whole time? You’ve had all your stuff there this whole time and never told me about it?”

“I didn’t–!” She took a breath. “I didn’t… know if I could trust you.” Then she took a bold step forward. “But I know now.”

Stan didn’t know what to say, but she didn’t need him to say anything. He was surprised at how well he was able to read her movements and facial expressions from all the way down there. He was going to have a hard time admitting the person he felt closest and most connected to in over 10 years was so small that a kernel of popcorn was a three-course meal. But she had made it beyond clear that trusting a human was the hardest thing anyone could do, and Stan tended to agree. People were mean and nasty. Unforgiving. Unrelenting. Never satisfied, no matter how hard he worked. But Jay was different. The smallest actions were enough to her. She just needed to be warm. To eat, to drink, to feel safe. It had taken this long for both of them to realize that safety was confined to these four walls and the people inside them.

For the final time that night, Stan gently lowered his hand to the floor, and she climbed right on. Wordlessly, he went back to the kitchen to get the menorah, taking it into Ford’s room – his room – their room – and softly closing the door. He flicked his lighter on and reveled in the soft crackle of the flame burning the wick. He sat down on the bed, watching the fire dance lightly atop the candle, its faint glow barely illuminating the room. But it was enough.

The two fell asleep that night, watching the candle together, sitting in silence. In one hand, Jay was curled up, so snug she didn’t even care it was a human’s plan. In the other, the photo of Ford, his smile rivaling the afternoon sun, happy to be in someone’s company.

And they still had seven more days of this to cherish.

#this was very fun to write actually #a good excuse to throw some fluff in ahead of schedule #this also doesnt really fall anywhere in the timeline that barely even exists for this story #i just wanted to write a little holiday something!#a gift for you all... really #yall are the best #gravity falls g/t #g/t #giant/tiny #gravity falls #obwrites

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