#and Robin will always wonder why her love wasn’t enough

[moonstruckme]

I remember seeing you say a little while ago you would take holiday requests so if this sparks some inspo for you…. How about best friend!Steve being reader’s secret Santa and giving a gift that is so sweet and personal and kind of a confession of his feelings (like Jim’s gift for Pam in the office)

Thank you for requesting!

best friend!Steve Harrington x fem!reader ♡ 984 words

Steve’s afraid his wrapping is a dead giveaway. 

He tried his best, but gift wrapping is a new skill for him. There’s an overabundance of tape and plastic bows covering up a hasty patch job. Nancy laughed when he gave it to her to put under the tree for the secret Santa exchange. She called him sweet for trying with a weird look in her eyes and a little smile. 

You and Steve are sitting together as always. Sometimes he wonders if it’s more habit at this point than anything else. You walk into a room and you just go to him, unthinking, like a magnet. Steve does the same thing, but, well. He knows why he does it. 

So far, Eddie’s gotten a large pack of socks without holes in them, Robin’s gotten a Bangles album, and Steve has gotten a t-shirt with the words Big Dick printed on it that he’s sure Eddie—it had to have been Eddie—thinks he won’t wear, and so he will wear solely to Corroded Coffin shows, out of spite. When it’s your turn, you find Steve’s gift with your name under the tree and your eyes move between your friends suspiciously. He’s not sure whether to be relieved that you don’t immediately guess it’s from him. 

It’s painful to watch how carefully you unwrap it. You peel back layer after layer of tape, unfolding without ripping, the paper crinkling gently. 

“Come on!” Eddie jokes. “That’s not the spirit of Christmas. You’re supposed to tear it up.” 

“No!” you laugh. “Someone put a lot of effort into this. Look at all the bows!”

“Look at all the tape,” Robin mutters. She’s got Steve dialed, for sure. 

The box underneath the wrapping is plain cardboard, found in Steve’s basement. Your lips part as you open it. 

“Oh, my god.” You lift a large ceramic mug from the box. “This is—it’s my mug. Steve?” 

Steve fights a smile as you look at him, eyes wide and happy. “Can we say?” 

Robin makes a derisive noise. “Like she doesn’t already know.” 

“Steve,” you say again, stretched out and sweet like taffy. Your face softens as you reach around him for a hug. “This is so cool. Where’d you get this?” 

“Well, they didn’t only make one,” he jokes. He’s working hard to contain the full scope of his smile. God knows Eddie would never let him hear the end of it if he saw. “I found a lookalike.” 

Behind you, Robin makes a face, widening her eyes at her girlfriend dramatically. Steve is sure Nancy’s heard all about how Robin was dragged from thrift store to thrift store, town to town, one long Saturday until they found the right mug. He’s glad when she doesn’t launch into her tale of complaint again now. 

“Harrington got you your own mug?” Eddie asks, perplexed. “Did he, like, steal it from you and give it back?”

“No,” you laugh. “No, it’s…” You turn, your eyes meeting Steve’s. 

The mug is from a coffee shop you and Steve used to go to. You went together for years, starting back in school when you wanted a place to study and Steve was willing to pay three bucks for a cup of coffee to talk at you while you worked. It had become your regular spot. You had a couch you always sat on, and the baristas recognized you, so eventually there was a mug your drink order always came in, too. It was wide and green, curved with a thick lip. Plain enough, Steve thought, but you loved it. Maybe it was more that you loved having a regular drink order at a place that felt like yours, but for some reason the mug was special to you. The coffee shop closed down last summer. Steve couldn’t get you your couch (he thought about it, but it wasn’t sure where you’d put it and it seemed like a bit much), so he got your mug. 

“It’s from this place we used to go,” you say to Eddie. Your thumb brushes across the smooth ceramic, still looking at Steve. “Thank you.” 

“Yeah, sure.” He shrugs, leaning back against Nancy’s couch and trying not to look too obviously pleased with himself. “It wasn’t a big deal.” 

Robin makes a half-suppressed guffawing sound. Steve sends her a look to tell her to zip it. 

⋆⁺₊𖠰₊⁺⋆

You lean into Steve’s side, and Nancy watches his face turn into something so tender she almost wants to grab her friend’s heart and keep it safe for him. But she thinks it’s safe with you. 

Anyway, there’s no saving Steve now. He’s been looking at you that way for years, practically since he’s known you. It’s only that now you might be starting to see it. 

You’re speaking to him quietly, holding your new mug between your hands like it’s the most precious thing you own. Your legs are nearly in Steve’s lap. He says something back to you, and you smile, bright and beatific. Your eyes stay glued to him like he's the center of your world. 

“Still can’t believe it took a whole Saturday to find a green mug,” Robin mutters, too low for anyone else to hear. She’s stolen Steve’s Big Dick shirt and put it on over her long sleeve, the large fit comical (and adorable, if you ask Nancy) as she tucks one of her knees up under it. 

“I don’t know,” Nancy says, leaning sideways so their shoulders rest together. “I think it’s sweet. It obviously means something to her. Don’t you think that’s sort of worth it?” 

Robin makes a soft sound in the back of her throat, but she softens when Nancy turns her eyes up to hers. “I guess so,” she sighs. 

On the other side of the couch, you erupt in laughter at something Steve’s said. He lights brighter than the Christmas tree.

[steddiealltheway]

(I have just hit a very nice (silly) milestone of 6969 followers, so I wrote this little ficlet to celebrate and thank you all for always being so supportive 💛 I hope you enjoy)

Everyone is shocked when Steve and Eddie announce they’re moving in together.

But, to Steve, it’s really a no-brainer. Robin is going away to college, the kids are starting to get their licenses and no longer need a babysitter, and Eddie desperately wants to get out of Hawkins.

So, Steve bought a map, measured the distance between Hawkins and Robin’s college, and marked a spot right in the middle.

Okay, so maybe it ended up being in the middle of a river, but there was a town near there that was perfectly not too far from Hawkins while being far away enough for Eddie to feel safe. As well as being far enough from Robin to give her space at her new school while being close enough that she could easily spend the night at their place whenever she wanted.

But distance wasn’t a problem for anyone, they were mainly concerned about how Steve and Eddie would live with each other and not kill each other.

But after a few weeks, Steve can confidently say that living with Eddie is… nice actually.

Really really nice.

Of course, he had been a little concerned about all their differences and adjusting to having someone always around, but Steve enjoys the company.

Actually, he specifically enjoys Eddie’s company.

Sure, he can be loud and a bit messy, but Steve loves that their small apartment actually feels like a home.

Whenever Robin stops by, she comments about how domestic they’re getting. Especially whenever Eddie randomly appears with a cup of water not even seconds after Steve mentions he was getting thirsty.

But what Steve fails to mention to Robin are all the little other things Eddie does, like when it’s late at night and Eddie brushes the hair off of Steve’s forehead and says, “It’s a little late for me to see those beautiful eyes still open."

Sometimes when they're watching a movie, Steve will fall asleep and wake up to Eddie carrying him to bed as if it's an easy thing to do.

And yeah, maybe Steve finds it overwhelmingly hot, and maybe he clings a little tighter whenever Eddie tries to put him down so they're stuck in a tight embrace that Steve can wave off as a result of being half asleep.

But sometimes Eddie's eyes linger on Steve a little longer than they should or Eddie will throw his arm over the back of the couch and let his fingertips lightly trace over Steve's shoulder or run through his hair gently as if he doesn't even notice himself doing it. And it makes Steve think that maybe, just maybe, Eddie might have feelings for him too.

But just when things are going great, and Steve is thinking about testing the boundaries of their friendship to push more into romantic territory, Eddie starts fucking with him.

The problem is, it's not anything big or obvious that Steve can just laugh off. Instead, Eddie starts messing with the thermostat. The thermostat Steve likes to keep strictly at 71.

But Eddie has decided to set it to 69.

At first, Steve just adjusts it, wondering why Eddie is bumping it down when he's always cold and wraps himself in a blanket, complaining that 71 is too cold.

After two days of back and forth, Steve wonders if the thing is just broken because he hasn't actually seen Eddie mess with it. So, he wanders to Eddie's room and knocks on the door lightly before opening it.

Eddie lays back on his bed with a smirk on his face that instantly alerts Steve that Eddie has in fact been messing with him.

He crosses his arms and leans against the doorway. "Have you been messing with the thermostat?"

Eddie shrugs and comments, "Maybe."

Steve frowns, not sure what the hell kind of game Eddie's playing at. "Well, can you maybe leave it at seventy-one?"

"And if I don't?" Eddie challenges, cocking his head to the side, "What are you going to do about it?"

"Change it back to seventy-one," Steve replies easily. He feels like he's missing something when Eddie's face falters a bit, but he hopes it's just him getting the message to not mess with it. And just in case he doesn't get it, he shuts the door a little more firmly than usual.

Only, two days later, Steve happens to notice that the thermostat is set to 69 again. He scowls and presses the button twice before going off to Eddie's room and knocking on the door again a little harder than usual, wondering why Eddie is trying to mess with him after they had been having such a nice day.

"Come in!" Eddie chirps.

Steve swings the door open and rests his hands on his hips. "You changed it again."

Eddie shrugs and leans back on his bed looking overly comfortable. "Just setting the mood."

"Yeah, you've set the mood, and you set it to annoyed. Stop changing it," Steve says as he starts to close the door. He stops as it's about to close and peaks his head back in. "Please."

With that, he thinks he's done with the whole thing. And after a few days pass, he's pretty much forgotten about the whole incident.

That is, until Robin comes to visit and suddenly asks, "Does it feel slightly colder in here to you?"

Steve groans and walks over to the thermostat, seeing the number 69 staring back at him. He's not sure when Eddie changed it, but he's not even currently there so Steve can yell at him. Instead, he just complains to Robin, "Eddie's been fucking with me and changing the thermostat."

Robin snorts. "Isn't he like perpetually cold all the time?"

"Yes! Which is why I'm so confused about him keeping it at sixty-nine all the time."

Robin pauses and glances over at Steve. "What is he keeping it at?"

"Sixty-nine."

Robin just cackles in response, and Steve glares at her asking, "What?"

"Sixty-nine!" Robin laughs again.

"Real mature, Robin," Steve says, rolling his eyes before the realization hits him. "Oh, Christ."

Robin only laughs harder, but Steve is stuck on the other conversations he had with Eddie which were... definitely miscommunications. Oh god, was Eddie trying to... proposition him?

Robin's laughter dies down enough for her to ask, "What's wrong?"

Steve gives her a look and sits down on the couch next to her, further realizing the thermostat incidents happened after days when the two of them got a little more... friendly than usual.

Steve sighs and explains the entire situation including the things he's left out before including his feelings for Eddie. He's glad that Robin holds in her laughter until after he's done.

"Stop laughing, it's not funny."

Robin manages to say through her laughter, "You both are disasters. But you're both so gone on each other that it's almost a little disgusting." She then stands up and grabs her bag, walking toward the front door.

"Where are you going?" Steve asks, following her.

Robin turns around and gives Steve a look. "I'm leaving before Eddie gets back and you two..." she gestures toward the thermostat.

Steve groans, "Get out, Buckley." He can't help but smile before he pulls her into a hug and digs some money out of his wallet.

"What's this?" Robin asks.

"Gas money for sending you away early."

Robin smiles and salutes him. "I guess this means I'll be coming back tomorrow."

"I'll call in case we're still-"

"Gross, dingus," Robin says with a laugh before she hugs him one more time and whispers, "Thank you for telling me."

Steve just squeezes her a little tighter.

After she leaves, Steve takes a minute to form a plan before Eddie gets back from whatever store he went to. He looks at the thermostat and sets it back to 71 degrees while he tries to think.

Unfortunately, he doesn't get far in his thinking before the front door unlocks and Eddie walks in with a few grocery bags in hand.

Steve just turns around and tries not to look too startled by Eddie's sudden appearance.

Eddie gives him a confused look and gestures outside. "Did I just see Robin leave?"

Steve nods but gives no further explanation, stuck on how the hell he's supposed to approach this subject with Eddie. God, now he understands the thermostat method.

"You okay?" Eddie asks before his eyes settle on the thermostat. "Oh, shit. Sorry, I did that late last night. Can we just forget that that happened? It was... dumb really."

Instead of forgetting it, Steve dramatically reaches up and hits the down button twice. "I think I finally get it." Eddie's eyes widen as Steve crosses his arms and continues, "Setting the mood, right? Or, tell me, what are you going to do about it?"

Eddie looks at him for a second then suddenly drops all the bags in his hands, practically racing down the hallway to Steve and cupping his face in his hands. "Am I reading this right?"

Steve slowly glances at the thermostat. "Well, it does say sixty-nine."

Eddie huffs out a laugh but quickly clarifies, "I don't just want that. I mean... I like you. And I just couldn't think of a good way to bring that up without it being some type of joke. Not that liking you is a joke, but oh god-"

"Eddie," Steve says firmly, stopping his rambling. "I like you, too."

Eddie's face lights up. "Yeah?"

Steve nods as his hands come up to Eddie's waist and pull him in a little closer.

"You like me enough to sixty-"

"Oh, shut up," Steve says with a big smile.

"Make me," Eddie replies, giving Steve an exaggerated wink.

Steve shakes his head and sighs before pulling Eddie into a sweet kiss, both of them smiling too much to make it anything more than a peck. When they pull away, Steve thinks he might murder Eddie when he whispers, "Nice."

But he wouldn't have it any other way.

[munsonsmixtapes]

Could i request a silly little friends to lovers where eddie and reader are kind of stepping around each other but one day reader gets a boyfriend and after steve and robin point out he looks like eddie, she doesnt want eddie to meet him but eddie walks into family video while reader and her boyfriend are there, it was just a casual thing that fades out and eddie n reader eventually get together when eddies all flirty about reader being into dudes that look like him n they admit their feelings

Um, yes, absolutely!! Thanks so much for the request, lovely!! Also, unpopular opinion, but I will always pick friends to lovers over enemies to lovers!

cw: hurt/comfort

Ever since you and Eddie had become friends, everyone seemed to think that the two of you were together, even your own friends. As much as you both tried to deny it, there was definitely something between you and Robin and Steve had been waiting for the two or you to realize just how in love with each other you were.

You seemed pretty close until you suddenly got a boyfriend. A boyfriend that suspiciously looked a little too similar to Eddie. You had brought him into Family Video a few days after you had made it official and Robin and Steve just shared a look after you had told them the news.

Why you were dating an Eddie doppelgänger when the real thing had been in front of you the entire time, they didn't know. But they did think it was a little funny. That you were in such denial of your feelings that you were willing to date someone who looked like your crush instead of going after him.

You didn't know why you felt the need to hide your relationship from Eddie, but you did it anyway. Perhaps it was because you knew that Adam looked exactly like him and knew that he would think it was weird. Or perhaps you had only been dating Adam because you were afraid to start something with Eddie and this was the closest you could get without officially pulling the trigger on starting something with your best friend.

Family Video wasn’t very crowded when you came in and you pulled Adam inside as both Robin and Steve avoided your gaze. They weren’t exactly sold on the guy because one, he looked like an off brand Eddie and two, for lack of a better word, the guy was just an ass. He was rude to them anytime they came into contact and even worse to you and they wondered why he was even with you in the first place since he seemed to dislike you.

“Do you want to get a romance this time?” You asked, pulling him over to the section and Adam just rolled his eyes.

“Sure," he nodded pressing his lips to yours just as Eddie walked into the building. He caught sight of the two of you and felt a pit form in his stomach as he turned and left.

He couldn't believe it. He couldn't fucking believe it. Since when had you been dating someone? And why hadn't you told him? That was usually something you told your best friend and there you were, keeping it a secret.

Eddie marched back into the building just as you and the man broke apart and when they turned to face Eddie, everything became clear. Looking at Adam was like looking in a mirror. Well, not exactly, but close enough.

"Eddie," your eyes widened and you tried to stand in front of Adam as a way to hide him, but the man slightly moved you to the side so he could get a look at the man.

"Adam, nice to meet you," your boyfriend out his hand out to shake and Eddie took it, plastering on a smile as he did so, not wanting to cause a scene even though he wanted nothing more than to yell at you for keeping such a huge secret from him.

"Likewise," Eddie nodded and pulled his hand away before grabbing a random movie and taking it to the register because he thought it would look weird leaving a second time without a making a purchase.

The tension between you and Eddie wasn't lost on Adam and he thought that it would only be right to break things off with you so you could tell Eddie how you really felt. You felt like it was a very mature thing of his to do, but that didn't stop you from being a little sad about it even though your relationship had been nothing but casual.

So, with a lot of hype from Steve and Robin, you went over to Eddie's to set the record straight, but he wouldn't let you in. You continued to bang on the door, pleading for him to answer until it finally opened, Wayne on the other side.

"He's in his room," he told you and opened the door wider so you could step inside. No one had been rooting for the two of you to get together more than Wayne he was hoping that that was finally the night where things finally became official.

but unfortunately for him, his nephew was a stubborn idiot that would rather be angry at you for something silly than just admit that he was really upset because you were in a relationship and not because you had kept it from him.

You stepped into his room and Eddie just turned his chair away from the door so that his back was to you. He had his arms crossed over his chest like a toddler who hadn't gotten their way and you just wanted to laugh because of how ridiculous he was acting.

"Eddie," you said his name and he only turned father away from you. "Eddie," you repeated and marched over to him, turning his chair so that he'd finally face you. "If it makes you feel any better, Adam broke up with me." That did make him feel better, but he wasn't going to tell you that.

He just turned his head away as you got on your knees in front of him, resting your hands on his thighs that he had to pretend that he didn't absolutely love.

"Eddie would you please look at me?" He only glared so you reached up and gently took his face in you hand, forcing him to look you in the eye. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for lying to you and I'm a terrible friend and-"

"You're not a terrible friend, y/n."

"Well, you're treating me like I'm one."

"I'm not mad that you lied to me, okay?" He stood up from the chair and you just backed away to give him some room, watching him pace back and forth.

"Then what is this about?"

"This is about you, about me, about us!" His voice was getting louder with each word and you were trying to figure out why he was so angry.

"What about us, Eddie?" You were still unsure of what he was talking about and wished he would just get to the fucking point so you could be in on the secret too.

"God, do I have to spell it out for you?" He marched over to you and pulled you to your feet before pulling you into his arms and pressing his lips to yours roughly. You gasped into his mouth then eventually melted into him, your arms wrapping around his waist as you responded to his kiss. Just when you were getting into it, he pulled away and pressed his forehead to yours, all smiles.

"I love you, okay? I've loved you for a long time and now I'm not afraid to say it."

"Good, because I love you too," you replied before slotting your lips between his as you licked into his mouth, pulling him over to the bed, both of you eager to make up for all the time you lost.

[ladykailitha]

A Love Connection Part 2

Hey guys! Did you miss me? LOL!

Just a heads up this chapter is a little angsty because we have get Steve desperate enough to try going on a game show. But have no fear, it doesn't last long.

Also in this Susan Mayfield never marries Neil Hargrove, but she moves to Hawkins because her job moved her there. So Billy and Max aren't step-siblings.

Part 1

~

Steve nearly had a panic attack right there in the car when Chrissy screamed. There wasn’t a crisis. Or at least not one that needed immediate attention. What it was, was their little drunk text about #needsmoregays at A Love Connection went viral. There were actual fucking news articles. Yeah, the first was from Pink News, but the rest? Actual fucking trades. Variety, Dateline, even The Hollywood Reporter, for fuck’s sake.

Steve was going to pass out, but he managed to get them to the school safely. Thankfully there was nothing on Chrissy profile that was her real name or where she worked. She had a work Twitter for that. And that one was only on her computer at work. She was very careful not to cross the two. So there weren’t any news people out front of the school. But her DMs were filled with requests for comments or even actual interviews.

He decided she could do whatever the hell she wanted, he wasn’t going to get involved in this. She’s the one that drunk tweeted. Yeah, it was because of something he said when he was also drunk. But still!

He also decided ignore Chrissy and Robin at lunch, choosing instead to have it in his classroom to avoid them. Because, yes, he was avoiding them thank you. He just wanted to see gay people have love, too. Last Saturday was a disaster and he wanted proof that gays like he could find love.

Luckily, it was only a nine day wonder and Chrissy’s inbox went back to normal. Or as about as normal as one can get after have a tweet go viral.

They were cruising through the school year, same as always. There were always the super smart kids and the ones that didn’t care about history. So Steve always tried to make it as fun as possible.

Gladiator days where they wrestled stuff animals. Letting the kids stab him in March. Building their own mini pyramids. His hallpass was a gladius for extra fun.

They were gearing up the for Olympic games just before Christmas when Mrs. Byers, the principal pulled him out of his class.

“Hey, Steve,” she said warmly, “you’re not in trouble.”

Steve looked over his shoulder at his class before looking back at her. “Okay...”

She smiled up at him sweetly. “I was wondering if you’d be willing to watch the AV club today after school? Mr. Jenner went home because he’s puking his guts out. Normally I would just cancel, but a couple of the kids are in the club because their parents can’t pick them up until after seven.”

He let out a long sigh. He was going to go home and get ready to go try a new bar Chrissy had found. But now, by the time he got home, showered, and ate it would be too late to go out.

“Yeah, sure, Mrs. Byers,” he said.

“Thank you so much, Steve,” Mrs. Byers said. “Mr. Jenner will be so grateful too.”

Steve nodded and then waited until she walked away to roll his eyes. Nate Jenner’s alcohol problem was the worst kept secret in the school. Even students were aware that there were times he taught drunk. Most kids didn’t know why he would be slurring his words or conked out on his desk; only that they were his ‘bad days’. But the kids who did know? They tended to shield the other kids from the worst of it.

The problem was that Mr. Jenner was two years from retirement and they didn’t want to make him lose his pension. Which Steve thought that he absolutely should. That old coot had no business teaching students like that.

He went back to teaching his class, wondering who they got to cover Mr. Jenner’s classes. He finally got through to the last class and went to the science ‘wing’ of the school. He walked up to Mr. Jenner’s class room and there was Robin coming out of it.

“Now that’s just unfair,” he moaned. “If you were watching his classes, why couldn’t you watch the AV club?”

Robin patted him on the shoulder. “Because I played the dumb blonde routine until Mrs. Byers gave up.” She waved at him as she walked away.

With a sigh, Steve went into the room and began getting out the equipment that they would need. He didn’t know much about radios and shit, but he did know what they did and didn’t need.

He had just gotten set up when the first of the kids arrived.

He wasn’t surprised to see Will come in first. With his mom as principal, all of the teachers tended to tiptoe around him as to not have any ‘misdeeds’ taken back to her, so his last class never went over. Ever.

The next couple of kids to file in were Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair. They both had Robin’s Spanish class last period, so it was no surprise to see them together.

“Sinclair!” Steve said, fist bumping the kid. “What are you doing with these nerds?” He was only joking and they all knew that. Lucas had been friends with Will, Dustin, and their other friend Mike since Dustin moved in in the second grade. Lucas loved history and was one of Steve’s brightest students so he liked to pick on him for his choice of friends.

“Sorry, Coach,” Lucas said with a grin, “if I wasn’t around they’d fall into an uncovered manhole or something.”

Steve gave Dustin their secret handshake, complete with death and everything to make up for the nerd comment. But Dustin and Will took it all in stride. They were used to the teasing.

A couple other kids came in. One spotted Steve and immediately walked back out.

“Some people just aren’t made for fun,” he lamented to the kid’s retreating back. “I’m just too cool for some people’s children. It’s not my fault.”

They all chuckled and then finally the last member of the AV club arrived. Mike Wheeler.

He sighed when he saw Steve, but didn’t turn around. He threw his backpack on the nearest desk and slumped into the chair with a heavy sigh. “Why can’t we get a teaching advisor who isn’t such a flake!”

Steve wiped his brow internally. Mike didn’t like him all the time, so the fact that he was complaining about Mr. Jenner not being there rather than Steve taking his place was a relief, honestly. It meant he wouldn’t be grumpy the whole time.

“All right everyone,” Steve said, clapping his hands together. “Dustin is in charge, Will will take notes for next time. Let’s go!”

The club went as well as could be expected considering Steve really didn’t have any idea of how all this stuff worked.

After class while Steve was waiting on the curb with the ‘Party’ as they called themselves, waiting for their parents to pick them up texting Robin and Chrissy.

“Coach...” Lucas asked, “did we ruin your plans?”

Steve felt a stab in his chest as his head shot up to look the kid in the eye. He looked down at his phone where there were dozens of messages bitching Robin out for leaving him with the AV club because she had a girlfriend and Steve didn’t even have that. Or boyfriend, which was his preference. He had dated women in the past but he liked men more. Or rather liked men full stop. That was certainly a revelation and a half.

He put his phone away with a sigh. “No, Lucas you didn’t. It was due to the irresponsible behavior of Mr. Jenner. He’s the one to blame. I was just a little annoyed at Miss Buckley because she knows this stuff better than I do, but got out of it under false pretenses.” His eyes cut to Will. “Don’t tell your mom I just said that. I don’t want Miss Buckley in trouble.”

Will held up his hands in surrender. Steve nodded.

“I love history and sports and swimming,” he began, he held up his hand to stall whatever words were going to come out that kid’s mouth. “For fun, Dustin. I like swimming for fun, which is why I didn’t include it in sports.”

Dustin huffed and crossed his arms over his chest with a pout.

“I like going out with friends and meeting new people,” Steve finished, “and of course I love teaching you kids. But I look around me and I just see someone who’s stagnated before he’s even thirty.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know why I’m telling a bunch of teenagers this. Sorry.”

Will put his hand in Steve’s. “You’ll find someone. If my mom can find someone at her age, you can find someone, too.”

Steve gave his hand a squeeze and didn’t point out that Mrs. Byers, Joyce had already had two kids and had been divorced by the time she was thirty so it really didn’t count.

Mike’s mom Karen arrived first. Mike just waved goodbye and slipped into the passenger side of her car.

Steve shook his head. Mike was trying to learn how to balance friends and liking girls and after school activities. He’d get there.

Dustin’s mom and Will’s older brother Jonathan arrived at the same time. Jonathan was Steve’s age, but Will have been born over a decade after him as a last ditch attempt to save his parents’ marriage.

Steve waved goodbye to them and then it was just Steve and Lucas.

“My mom always told me,” Lucas said softly, “that there might not be one person out there for everyone, but there is the right person out there for what you need right now. I think she was trying to explain why Mrs. Byers had two husbands, but I think it works for you, too. You’ll find you right person at the right time.”

Steve blinked down at this boy, barely thirteen. He rubbed the top of Lucas’s head. “Thanks, kid.”

Just then his dad pulled up. “Go on,” Steve murmured. “I’ll see you after the break.”

Lucas re-shouldered his backpack to just the one shoulder. He paused as if he wanted to say something else, he just shook his head.

“See you later, Coach!”

He got into his into dad’s car and immediately started talking to him about school excitedly.

Steve pulled his coat tighter around him. He wanted to be that dad, but as time wore on it was looking less and less likely. He went back inside to clean up and grab his stuff. He had a pile of assignments he had to grade. He never gave homework and never did tests. Both were pointless in his opinion, plus it meant that he less stuff to mark and grade. He based his grades off participation and being able to stay on task.

He walked through the darkened halls and felt the weight of it on his shoulders. His best friend and her girlfriend were out having the time of their lives, while he was alone in more ways than one.

He didn’t even Garfield to keep him company anymore. Yeah, he was just a stupid goldfish, but he was Steve’s.

The cold seeped into his bones and buried into his heart. He was even going to be alone for Christmas. Chrissy was taking Robin to her brother’s for the holiday. They felt bad because they both knew Steve’s parents had cut him off long ago and didn’t have anywhere else to go.

But he had encouraged Robin going. Meeting her girlfriend’s family was important. And with Chrissy and her brother, Peter both being estranged from their parents it was even more important than usual. They promised they would be back for New Year’s and Steve promised he would be fine.

He stepped onto the curb and stopped, tilting his head back, eyes closed as he fought back tears. When the first snowflake landed it made him flinch at the sudden extra coldness to his cheek. That one was followed by another and another. It was hell.

He opened his eyes and let the snow melt on his lashes, the cold mingling with his hot tears.

~

Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

Tag List: SEVEN SLOTS OPEN

1-@mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @cryptid-system

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @justforthedead89 @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji

5- @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss

9- 9- @dreamercec @wheneverfeasible @garden-of-gay

[katsu28]

to be alone together

pairing: Steve Harrington x reader

summary: steve has to work on valentine’s day, but maybe it’s not as bad as he thought it would be

warnings: none, 1.8k

a/n: u know i had to do a lil something for my steve girlies too <3 went for a more steve centric pov bc he is the definition of pining simp 

navigation

(gif credits to @harringtondaily)

“Kinda sucks that you gotta work tonight.” Robin’s voice through the phone pressed to Steve’s ear was staticky, but still provided a good distraction from the empty video store around him.

It was Valentine’s Day and Steve had been at Family Video since opening, watching couple after couple come in to pretty much clear the romcom shelves, and yeah, he was a little bummed about it, but there was no point moping around about it any longer than he already had been. 

“It’s whatever, honestly. Not like I had any plans to begin with.” He sighed, shifting the receiver so it was wedged between his cheek and shoulder as his fingers drifted down to fiddle with the pen on the counter absentmindedly. 

“Steve, that’s sad.” Robin replied. Steve wrinkled his nose, a slightly offended noise escaping the back of his throat. “No! I didn’t mean it like that, I just meant that you should be out and about, having a good time.” 

“You know what’s actually sad? You talking to me instead of paying attention to your date.” He shot back, only half serious. “Where’s Nance?” 

“Oh she’s right here. Say hi, Nance.” 

Steve heard a faint ‘hi Steve’ in the background and he returned the greeting. “What are you guys doing tonight?” 

“She made this really fancy pasta thing for dinner, we’re just waiting on the chicken to finish in the oven and I thought I’d see what was going on with you.” Robin sounded casual, but he knew this was her way of checking up on him since he was the only one on shift all day and she knew how he felt about today. 

“Rob, I don’t know how many times I gotta tell you, but I’m fine. It’s really not a big deal.” 

“Why don’t you just close up early, come join us for dinner? We have more than enough food.” 

“You’re seriously inviting me to crash your romantic dinner date with your girlfriend?” He snorted, rolling his eyes playfully. “What does Nancy think of that?” 

There was some shuffling on the other end, a bout of silence, then Robin was back on the line. “She’s giving me a weird look, nevermind. Now that I think about it, it wasn’t my best idea.” 

“I love you both, but you know I can’t.” 

The bell above the door jingled softly, drawing Steve’s attention away from his phone call and to whoever just walked in. 

Shit. It was you. 

You were dressed like you were supposed to be on your date, not here, hair and makeup done up all pretty, floaty dress in his favorite color swishing around your knees as you made your way into the store. It made him wonder if you chose that color on purpose, but he knew that you didn’t. You couldn’t have known you’d be seeing him tonight. Wishful thinking on his end though. 

“Rob, I gotta go,” He blurted, straightening up behind the counter. 

“Wait, what—” 

“I gotta go, she’s—someone’s here, I gotta help her.” 

“She? Oh my god, wait! Is it—” 

“Have a nice date, tell Nance I said bye!” With that, Steve hung up, slamming the receiver onto the base with enough force to send it skittering a few inches. “Hey, Y/N.” 

“Steve!” Your previously downturned lips lifted into a smile, one that had Steve’s heart thudding a little faster in his chest. It always did. “I didn’t know you were working tonight.” 

See, you were also part of the reason he decided to take the extra shift today, but through no fault of your own. You’d mentioned earlier in the week while you were hanging out with him and Robin that someone had asked you out for tonight, and Steve didn’t really know how to feel about it. 

You were friends, but had Steve been harboring a crush on you since pretty much the first day you met? Yes. 

Did he feel an itching sense of jealousy that you were going on a date with someone that wasn’t him? Also yes. 

Would he do anything about it? Probably not. 

Okay, so maybe he knew exactly how he felt about it. Hell, he’d picked up an extra shift to distract himself from it. 

“Yeah, I got called in last minute." A lie. "Aren’t you supposed to be on a date right now?” A casual, not at all hoping that it crashed and burned question. That would be mean. (But also a little gratifying for him.)

You chuckled, a tad bitter as you leaned forward, propping your elbows on the counter, the action sending a whiff of your perfume his way. Steve’s knees almost gave out. “Supposed to, yeah. But the guy never showed up.” 

Steve had to fight a noise of surprise. What kind of dumbass would skip out on a date with you? “Really? That’s—that sucks, I’m sorry.” 

“S’okay. Wasn’t really looking forward to it anyways.” 

“Oh?” 

“I didn’t really know him that well, honestly. He was a friend of a friend, asked me out in front of a bunch of people, and I didn’t really wanna turn him down and make it awkward.” 

“You’re way too nice, Y/N. And he’s an idiot for standing you up.” 

“Thanks, Steve.” You smiled warmly at him, patting his hand. Steve had to pretend his pulse wasn’t racing right now. “What about you? Why’re you here and not out with anyone?” 

“I, uh—I didn’t really feel like going out tonight. Don’t think I’d be a very good date anyways.”

“Oh, you’re just being modest. What girl wouldn’t wanna spend Valentine’s Day with Steve Harrington?” 

The one girl he wanted to spend this day with, he thought. You. 

“You’d be surprised.” He muttered. 

“Well then they’re idiots too.” 

A small smile quirked his lips. “Thanks.” 

“Hey, I just came to pick up some movies and spend the rest of my night shoveling down ice cream, but since we’re both here now and alone, d’you wanna…be alone together? Grab a bite to eat or do something?” 

Steve’s shoulders slumped defeatedly. “I’d love to, but I—I can’t. I gotta stay here til the end of my shift, Keith’s been on my ass about taking off early and as much as I hate the guy, I don’t wanna get fired.” 

“Oh, okay. Don’t worry about it, I’m, uh—it’s cool.” Was he hallucinating, or did you look disappointed? 

“Would you maybe wanna, I dunno, stay here? We can watch whatever you want and I know where Robin keeps her work snack stash. That way we can be alone together and I don’t get chewed out again?” Steve blurted hopefully. He was honestly expecting you to say no. Why would you wanna spend the rest of your already shitty night with him in a dingy video store? But then your face split into the biggest smile and you nodded, rocking forward on the balls of your feet earnestly. “Go pick something out, I’ll grab the snacks.” 

You scurried off to browse the near bare shelves, leaving Steve shaking his head amusedly in your wake as he watched you skim the tapes with a look of utmost concentration. He slipped into the back room to grab Robin’s last unopened bag of chips, making a mental note to buy more before tomorrow’s shift before returning to the video area.

He skimmed the store, spotting you in the romcom section, and when he made his way over, you were contemplating the last two tapes on the shelf. 

You beamed at him upon spotting him. “Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles?” 

“Am I allowed to say neither?” 

“You said whatever I want, Steve.” You said pointedly, propping your hands on your hips. 

“I did, didn’t I?” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers. You let out a hum of pleasure, sliding your chosen movie off the shelf and wandering towards the TV in the corner. Steve hurried after you quickly, plucking the tape from between your fingertips and running away, not unlike a child would. 

“Steve!” You huffed, whirling on your heel. He grinned mischievously at you, waving it in the air like a taunt. You caught up with him within seconds, lunging for the tape that he held up above his head and away from your outstretched hand. Your body was pressed against his as you reached for it, as you leaned against him in a fruitless attempt to overpower him. “Steve, gimme the tape!” 

“No!” He laughed, but that laughter very soon trickled off as soon as he realized your proximity. You were so close, he could see the color of your eyes clear as day, looking right back at him. You’d fallen quiet too, as if you’d come to the same realization. 

You were nose to nose, faces a hair’s breadth away from each other, the stolen tape in Steve’s hands long forgotten. Every fiber in his body was telling him to pull away, because the longer he stayed here the weirder it would be when he finally did manage to retreat, but no matter how hard he willed himself to move, he couldn’t. Instead, his eyes flicked down to your lips. Your breath hitched almost imperceptibly. 

“Steve?” You whispered, gaze darting around his own face. 

“Yeah?” 

“Kiss me.” 

You didn’t have to tell him twice.

Steve dropped the tape immediately, closing the gap between you and pressing his lips against yours. His hands came up to cup your face, holding you firm but kissing you soft, like he was preparing himself to pull away if you did. But from the way you were returning his kiss, how your hands clutched at the front of his vest to keep him this close, it didn’t feel like you’d be pulling away anytime soon, and that spurred him on even more. 

One hand slid down to settle at your waist, the other curling around the back of your neck as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss just a little bit. 

Steve’s lips felt tingly when he pulled away, tasted of your cherry lip gloss when his tongue darted out to lick them. He was sure to have a little bit on his mouth now, but it wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Not by a long shot. Cherry might’ve just become his new favorite flavor. 

“I really like you.” He breathed, chest heaving against yours. Your lips curved into a soft smile—the same smile that nearly sent Steve’s brain short circuiting every time it was aimed his way. 

“After that kiss, I’d sure hope so,” You replied, smoothing out his wrinkled shirt as best you could. “I like you too, just so you know. Part of the reason I was so okay with my date ditching me. He wasn’t you.” 

Steve could only beam at you, going in for another kiss. In his excitement, he missed his mark, hitting the corner of your mouth instead, but he didn’t care. The girl he wanted all along actually liked him back, and it only took one failed date and an extra shift to find out. 

Maybe working on Valentine’s Day wasn’t so bad after all. 

[hellfireloserclub]

It was almost 10 pm, and Steve was at the point where if one more, sappy, loved-up couple came wandering through the door of family video looking for a tape for their valentines date night, (that would promptly get forgotten about as they fucked on the sofa in the sea of rose petals or whatever…), he was going to pull out the nail bat and start swinging.

Old him? He had loved all that flashy paper heart and sugar-sweet fakeness, but the new improved Steve? He was looking forward to the six-pack in the fridge and his hot date with Harrison Ford. Alone, locked away from the whole whatever of the situation. 

Steve tried not to feel betrayed because Robin had abandoned him for Nancy. He couldn't ever hate her for that, not after how long it took them to get together. 

But his late shift would have been a lot better if he had his co-workers by his side, yet Eddie and Robbin had abandoned him.

It was just depressing that even Eddie, the one person who said yes to almost everything, had left him to wallow in his own self-pity.

But adventure awaited, and no matter how much Steve had begged him to help cover Robin's dropped shift, Eddie had been firm about it. ' Wednesday night is Campaign night. Do you want to disappoint the gremlins?' 

No amount of Steve pointing out that the gaggle of seventeen-year-olds probably had other plans on Valentine's night that he really didn't want to think about could convince him to change his mind. (Steve had thought about it, and he had made sure they were always safe. He was, after all, always the babysitter, but they were his kids… they DIDN'T do that sort of stuff! He was half a step from Hopper’s general reaction these days, sticking his fingers in his ears when they made inappropriate jokes; they were just toddlers for Christ's sake) 

Not that he wanted to spend valentine's day with Eddie (he did) or that he was secretly wondering if Eddie had a date, (he was) because he had seen Max and Lucas drive past not an hour ago and they were very much not in the basement of Munson’s house playing with dice right now. (Had Eddie lied to him? Had he forgotten the number one rule of the party? Friends don’t lie? What if Eddie had a date? Why did that thought make Steve’s stomach feel as if he had just eaten some of Robin’s more questionable cooking?) 

The end of the shift couldn’t come soon enough and when he finally flipped the sign to closed at 10.30 pm, it tempted him to just leave the tidying for Robin or Eddie to do in the morning. 

It would serve them right for making him witness the absolute horror of other people's public displays of affection.

However, as he brushed the floors and chewed on the leftover promotional chocolates, he couldn’t help but let his mind wander again. Where was Eddie? Did he have some secret other-half that he was hiding from them all? If so, it wasn’t like Eddie to not be open about things like that, at least around the party he was unapologetically himself. Was it another man? Was that why he was being so secretive about it? Steve doubted it was that either, Eddie didn’t hide that part of himself either.

 ‘Were both Bisexual disasters? That’s why we couldn’t be friends in high school, Harrington. We would have seduced the entirety of Hawkins high, it wouldn’t have helped the devil worship allegations, but man, it would have been fun.’

And sure, maybe Steve had been funny with the last few people that Eddie had backed into corners after gigs, but it was just because they weren’t good enough for his Eddie. He was just being a good wingman. Eddie would, and had, done the same for him frequently. It was nothing. They were just protective of each other, that was all… (keep telling yourself that, king Steve). It just made no sense that Eddie would hide things like this from him. 

Steve was just putting the broom back in the closet when he heard the bell over the door go. 

“We’re closed.” Of course, someone would come in now. The people of Hawkins really needed to learn to read, but if you could ignore a multidimensional rift for several years, a closed sign might be a little advanced.

Nobody answered, but he thought he heard the bell go again. He really should start locking the door, especially when his hearing was as bad as it was.

Walking back into the front shop Steve almost jumped a mile.

“Jesus, Eddie! You know better than to sneak up!” Eddie stood in the open hatchway of the service counter, shifting uneasily from foot to foot, but at least looking apologetic. 

“I shouted, but you know” he gestured vaguely toward his ears with one hand, his other holding something behind his back “I'm guessing you were facing away…”

“I was in the closet,” Eddie's eyebrows raised. “Do not make the low-hanging joke, Munson. You're better than that.” 

“Oh come on Steve, it’s just there. Give me the win.” he chuckled nervously.

“Why? Did you strike out on your date?” Steve aimed for joking and missed, hoping that Eddie hadn’t picked up on the bitterness in his voice, he went about pulling the last of the novelty candy off the counter into a box behind it for Robin to graze on in the morning.

Eddie looked at him curiously. “I’m hoping I don’t.”

“Oh? So you did have a date then? I knew it was suspicious Lucas and Max drove past before. You know you didn’t have to lie, right? I would have given you the night off.” that feeling in his chest grabbed and tugged, it was almost painful.

“I need to kick both of their asses, but no Steve, I said I’m hoping I don’t…” Eddie stepped closer to him. “You know, like, future tense, you see I haven’t had the date yet? So I guess what I’m saying is no, I didn’t strike out, not yet at least.” his voice lacked its usual confidence, so unlike Eddie that it made Steve pause.

“So, why are you here, if you have a hot date?” Steve knew that this time he hadn’t kept his voice steady. He was jealous, and he knew it. And by the expression on Eddie’s face, he really hadn’t hidden it at all. 

“Well, I missed an important bit of my master plan. I forgot to do something.”

“Oh, yeah?” suddenly the scuff marks on the floor left by Robin’s Converse were the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.

“Steve, look at me.” Eddie prompted. He had moved closer again, thrusting something into Steve’s line of vision. Gesturing for him to take it.

“Is this broccoli?” Steve was holding what, clearly, was a bushel of broccoli. Eddie was rocking from one foot to the other again at his side, hiding behind his hair in that adorable way that made Steve’s heart speed up of its own accord. His entire face was bright red and, for once, it looked like Eddie was lost for words.

“Eddie, why have you just handed me broccoli?” His confusion outweighed Steve’s jealous embarrassment. What the hell was happening?

“Be my Valentine? Or whatever? I’m not good at this, I am so not good at this…” 

“Are you serious?”  

“See, I told Rob’s I said you wouldn’t think I was serious if I asked you out on a date on valentines, but she was all ‘who’s his platonic soulmate Ed’s? It’s me, and he loves all this grand romantic bullshit.’ and then I listened to her like an idiot.” Steve watched him pace, hands flying everywhere. “this was a stupid idea. Can we just pretend it never happened?”

Eddie had come to a halt in front of Steve and was making grabbing hands at the Broccoli as if to take it back. 

It just made Steve hold it tighter to his chest. God, he loved this mess of a man. Without thinking, he used his free hand to pull Eddie towards him. 

It just made him hold it tighter to his chest. God, he loved this mess of a man. Without thinking, he used his free hand to pull Eddie towards him. 

“Eddie… shut up.”

Eddie didn’t kiss back at first. Steve had caught him off guard, but soon enough, he was pressing in with gusto, and yeah, that sensation in Steve’s stomach was nothing to do with Robin's cooking. Eddie hadn’t shaved, and his stubble was rough, just as Steve always thought it would be, and he kissed in the same way he did everything else in life, full of energy and over the top. Eddie twisted his hands up into Steve’s hair, and Steve traced his hands up Eddie's neck, making for the mop of hair he had wanted to tangle his hands in since the upside down, even if he hadn’t been sure of the reason back then. 

However, the vegetable in his hand hindered his progress.

“Drop the broccoli Stevie,” Eddie muttered against his lips.

“No, It's my broccoli,” He pulled it back from the kiss, cradling the greenery to his chest. “The broccoli is important, I mean, I don’t understand it, but …”

“It was all they had left in shop, I had planned on this big romantic bunch of flowers, a teddy… the full works, but then Buckley had an emergency… you know what her cooking is like… and then well by the time I escaped it was almost ten on Valentine night and I had to get you something, cause my plan obviously needed it to work, so it was the broccoli or a two-by-four with a smiley face on it courtesy of Joyce, so out of the two I think-”

“Eddie, shut up.” 

“Shutting up.” he mimed zipping his mouth shut as Steve carefully placed the vegetable on the counter. 

“I think a bunch of Broccoli is the most YOU thing ever, you weirdo.” he grabbed Eddie again wrapping his arms around him and pulling him close, placing a small kiss on the end of his nose, Eddie went cross-eyed trying to look at him but grinned none the less. 

“So do I get a win?”

“You get a win.”

And if every year the kids ask Steve why he’s got a bushel of broccoli in a vase on the fireplace on his and Eddie’s anniversary, well, it’s just another win for the man he loves.

(inspired by the old man behind me at the bus stop holding a bushel of broccoli like a bunch of roses because he was too cheap to buy a carrier bag but his wife had demanded he buys broccoli so god damn it he bought the broccoli You go you, stubborn old man. Also, I've written the word broccoli now so many times it no longer looks like a real word.)

( also give me prompts!)

[bingbongsupremacy]

My Baby

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x reader

Warning: Reader can get pregnant, use of Y/N, mentions of addict Billy

Summary: Billy has a substance abuse problem. He's unpredictable. After a bad fight, he moves away to California without letting you know. Little did he know you were pregnant. It's been five years since he moved away. He's suddenly thrust back into your life when your daughter runs into him. Do you trust he's really changed? Will you allow him into your baby's life?

*Not Proof Read*

Pt. 2

□□□□□□□□

The birth of my daughter was the best thing that ever happened to me. The moment her bright little eyes met mine, I fell in love. I knew I would work tirelessly to keep her healthy and safe. I also knew I’d never tell Billy about her. Besides, he wasn’t in town anymore. How would he ever find out?

Billy was a party boy. He loved drinking and staying out until three in the morning. At first, I did too. Things were fine—until drugs entered the picture. When Billy got into coke, everything fell apart. He needed to be high all the time. I couldn’t have a serious conversation with him without it ending in him raging and running off. He couldn’t handle confrontation.

I understood why he used. Living in his house sounded like a nightmare. There were countless nights when he’d show up at my place, his body marked with fresh bruises. His dad was an abusive asshole, and his mom had left. All he had at home were bad memories and anger.

I found out I was pregnant a week after he took off for California. He never told me he was leaving. We had a fight, and like always, he chose to run away instead of working things out.

I thought about telling him about the baby. I wondered if he’d come back, if he missed me, or if he somehow sensed there was a baby and missed it too. On nights I wasn’t working, I’d imagine our life together. The image of our little family wasn’t perfect, but if I closed my eyes hard enough, it felt almost real. Maybe the baby would change him the way it had changed me. Maybe he could grow up.

But I never called him. I didn’t even know how to reach him. And even if I did, there was no guarantee Billy would sober up and become the parent our baby needed. I couldn’t subject my child to instability and trauma just to satisfy my own wishes.

When my parents found out about the baby, they threw me out. A child out of wedlock didn’t fit the perfect pastor’s family image they desperately clung to. Dating Billy and going to parties had already strained our relationship. The baby was the final straw.

My coworkers—now my closest friends—let me move into their apartment. I slept on the couch until I could save enough for a deposit. Robin and Steve saved my life. They’ve been there for me through everything. I wouldn’t have made it without them.

“Y/N! I’m ending your break early,” my manager barked, striding toward me. He threw my bright red apron at me. “A fleet of cars just pulled up. We need all hands on deck.”

Shit. I was supposed to have another ten minutes. Rosie might not finish eating if I leave. She gets distracted easily. “I’ll be right there,” I said, wiping ketchup off her soft cheek.

“Now, Y/N!”

Rosie looked up from her coloring book as I caught one of her crayons before it rolled off the table. Her big, beautiful eyes—Billy’s eyes—peered up at me. She was the perfect blend of the two of us. “Mommy, are you leaving?” she asked with a slight pout.

“I’ll be right back, okay? Just finish your dinner. You promise?” I stood up.

Her frown deepened. “I want you to sit with me, Mama.”

“Y/N!” my manager shouted again.

“I promise I’ll be back soon. Just finish your chicken tenders, and I’ll buy you dessert. Alright, baby?”

Rosie sighed. “Fine.”

I kissed the top of her head before turning to face the rush of customers streaming into the restaurant. They must have come from the local game.

The next hour was a whirlwind of taking orders and running between tables and the kitchen. By the time I checked, Rosie’s booth was empty.

“Did Robin come to pick up Rosie already?” Steve asked as I cleared a table.

My eyes widened. “What? No. She’s not coming until six. She’s not in the booth?”

Steve’s brows furrowed in concern. “No. All that’s left is a half-eaten plate of food and her coloring stuff.”

My heart dropped. I spun toward the booth I’d left Rosie in, near the back of the restaurant. It was empty.

Dropping the wet rag in my hands, I rushed over. I checked underneath the table, praying she was just hiding. Nothing.

“Rosie?”

Panic clawed at my chest.

“She has to be around here somewhere, Y/N. We’ll find her,” Steve said, trying to reassure me. “I’ll check out back.” He disappeared into the kitchen.

I frantically searched the booths and corners of the restaurant. Nothing. Where was she? I knew this would happen. I knew someday she’d get taken, or wander off, and I wouldn’t be there. I was so fucking irresponsible.

The bell above the front doors jingled as someone new entered the diner.

And then, I heard it—Rosie’s giggle, soft and familiar.

My eyes snapped toward her. Relief washed over me as I saw her being carried in by a tall man. His arms, clad in a light blue denim jacket, supported Rosie’s small frame against his chest.

I rushed to them. “Rosie!” I gasped, scooping her out of the man’s arms and holding her tightly. “Where did you go? I told you never to leave without Mama! You could’ve been hurt!”

“I saw a puppy, and I had to say hi!” Rosie beamed. “The puppy was this small!” She held her hands a few inches apart. “I got lost, but this nice man helped me find my way back.”

I gently held her arm, unwilling to let her go just yet. Finally, I looked up at the man.

And froze.

I knew him.

His face hadn’t changed much in five years. His hair was a bit shorter, but the curls were still the same. His wide eyes, a mirror of Rosie’s, took me in with surprise.

“Y/N?”

“Billy.” My voice came out quieter than I intended.

His gaze flickered to Rosie, still nestled in my arms. “Is this your…”

“My kid, yeah. This is Rosie.” I gave him a tight-lipped smile.

“I didn’t know you had a kid.”

We stepped aside to let a group of customers leave.

“How would you? You’ve been in California for the past five years,” I said, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

Billy’s expression hardened slightly, but he said nothing.

“Y/N, you need to get back to work! We need your help clearing tables,” my manager barked from behind me.

I felt overwhelmed. What if Rosie ran off again? What if next time, no one was there to help?

“Who’s her dad?” Billy asked softly.

“What’s it to you?” I snapped, narrowing my eyes. The last thing I needed was him poking around and disrupting our lives. “Look, thanks for bringing Rosie back, but you can go now. Whatever brought you back to town, get back to it.”

I turned and headed toward Rosie’s booth, setting her down. “You can’t run off like that, Rosie. You need to stay here.”

“I think we need to talk, Y/N,” Billy said, following me.

“No, Billy. We don’t.” I let out a bitter chuckle. “And in case you haven’t noticed, I have to get back to work. I don’t have time for this.”

“I’ll wait. When do you get off? Besides, it looks like you need someone to watch Rosie while you work. I’m free.”

He was so stubborn. It was something I’d always both hated and loved about him. And as much as I didn’t want to admit it, having someone watch Rosie would ease my stress.

I sighed. “Fine. Her stuff is back here.” I led him to the booth. “This is Billy. He’s going to sit with you for a while until Auntie Robin gets here. Be good, okay?”

I cast one last glance at Billy and Rosie before heading back to the kitchen. This day was turning into a nightmare.

Robin came to pick up Rosie at six. Billy stayed.

When my shift finally ended at eight, I slid into the booth across from him, utterly exhausted.

“What do you want, Billy?” I asked, untying my apron.

His gaze softened. “First, I want to say I’m sorry. I was an immature asshole when I left. I didn’t think about you or how much you cared about me. I ran from my problems. You didn’t deserve that.”

I looked down at the apron in my hands, unsure how to respond.

“You didn’t deserve to be treated the way I treated you,” he continued. “And I’m sorry.”

I didn’t expect an apology. “Thank you,” I muttered.

Billy hesitated. “When were you going to tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

“About Rosie.” His voice dropped, losing its usual confidence. “I’m not stupid, Y/N. She’s five. She has my eyes, my nose…she looks like a little version of my mom.” He let out a breathless chuckle, running a hand down his face. “I saw her outside, and I knew. When she told me her age, I was sure. She’s mine, isn’t she?”

My heart pounded. There was no way to avoid this. “She’s yours.”

Billy exhaled sharply. Relief? Frustration? I couldn’t tell. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You left me, Billy,” I said, anger rising. “A week before I found out. Your whole life revolved around drugs and alcohol. I didn’t want to expose a baby to that—or to you. You weren’t ready to be a parent.”

“I still deserved to know!” Billy’s voice cracked. “You didn’t give me the chance to change. I missed five years of her life. Five years I can never get back.”

“I didn’t know if you would change, Billy. I didn’t want her to suffer like you did growing up. I did what I thought was best.”

Billy was silent for a moment. “I’ve changed, Y/N. I cleaned up my act. No more coke, no more drinking every night. I have a job—a real one. I’m here to stay.”

I studied him. He looked healthier, steadier. Maybe he had changed.

“Rosie deserves to know her dad,” I said finally. “But if I see any sign of you slipping, you’re out of her life. We’ll take this slow. No big revelations yet.”

Billy nodded. “Thank you. I won’t let you down. I swear, I'm done with California. I'm done running away from my problems.”

For the first time in years, I felt a cautious sliver of hope.

“Well then… Rosie’s probably asleep by now, but if you want, I don’t work tomorrow. Maybe you could swing by my place, and we could go out for ice cream or something? Just so you can get to know each other,” I suggest, unsure how to navigate this.

“I’d like that,” Billy says with a small smile. “Thank you.”

Billy drives me home. His car smells faintly of cigarettes—not nearly as strong as it used to. Unlike before, the car is clean. No beer cans or liquor bottles litter the floor.

The ride to my apartment is quiet, with neither of us knowing what to say.

When we arrive, I thank Billy for the ride and head inside. Everything is dark except for the kitchen light, left on for me. Quietly, I kick off my shoes by the front door and tiptoe to my room.

Rosie is curled into a small ball on her side of the bed, a thin blanket draped over her tiny frame. Her stuffed bunny is tucked under her arm.

I’ve been trying to save up for her own bed, but it’s been hard. With rising rent and unexpected doctor visits, any money I’ve saved disappears almost as quickly as it’s set aside.

After a quick shower, I climb into bed beside Rosie. As soon as she senses me, she scoots closer, her warmth pressing against my side.

My stomach twists with uncertainty. I don’t know if letting Billy into our lives was the right decision. This could end badly. I just don’t want anything—or anyone—to hurt Rosie.

I let out a soft sigh.

Only time will tell. I just hope Billy really has changed.

[artiststarme]

Sometimes Sorry Isn't Enough

Sometimes Steve wondered how he was still alive. What made him more deserving of life than Barb? He kept putting his life on the line and yet he scraped by with only scars as evidence. He’d fought the demodogs and the mindflayer. He’d thrown Molotov cocktails at Vecna/Henry/One’s face. He’d been prepared to die every single time. So why was he still here?

He wished he’d chosen to jump off the quarry’s cliff when he found out that his parents had left him behind for good. Wished that he hadn’t been too quick for the demodogs to catch in the junkyard. He wished that he’d taken Max’s place in the face of Vecna’s curse. All he knew was that he didn’t want to be around anymore.

He loved his friends, loved Robin and Eddie in particular, but it wasn’t enough. Robin had better things to do than deal with his trauma that he’d roped her into without her consent. If it weren’t for him being so desperate and needy for attention, she would never have been involved with the Upside Down. She wouldn’t have been psychologically tortured by the Russians or exposed to the Hell that existed beneath them. She’d be better off without him.

And Eddie. Poor Eddie didn’t deserve any of this either. He was simply the town’s scapegoat that was at the wrong place at the wrong time and now his life was forever changed because of it. His body was marred in scars where the bats mauled him, eerily similar to the ones that existed in Steve’s flesh. Steve should’ve done more to protect him instead of forcing him to play decoy and then his friend afterwards.

Instead of forcing his problems on the Party once again, Steve stewed by himself in his empty crypt of a home. The house was dark, the air was cold, and his heart was heavy. He poured pain pills, originally prescribed to deal with his horrific migraines, into his hands and took a deep breath. Unlike all those other times, he wouldn’t escape death again. As he swallowed pill after pill, his heart sank deeper. It was better this way.

He was unconscious by the time Robin arrived, a feeling of proud terror driving her away from her family dinner and to Steve’s side. He was unconscious when Eddie gave him CPR and mouth to mouth, imagining their first kiss would be much different than it actually was. He was on the verge of life and death by the time Hopper speedily pulled into his driveway and threw him in the ranger before the ambulance could even arrive to take him to the hospital, begging him the entire way to open his eyes.

When he woke up to hospital smells and bright lights, he initially felt disappointed. He’d failed once again to leave the wretched world that never seemed to want him. But when he looked around, he felt a spark of hope in his chest. Hopper, Eleven, Robin, Eddie, and Dustin were in various chairs and cots scattered throughout the room. Eddie was curled into a ball by his feet on the bed while Robin was pressed against his side, her head on his chest as if she was waiting subconsciously to hear each beat of his heart. Hopper was sat in a chair by his bedside, his fingers loosely gripping the bed frame. Eleven was on the window’s ledge, her brow furrowed like the world was on her shoulders still. And Dustin. He was on a cot right beside Steve’s bed, his body facing him and his hand wrapped around his wrist.

Steve felt guilt flood him. He always felt like he was surviving on luck alone, deserving to die and never quite doing so. He didn’t realize that he was surviving off the love of his friends, his family, and that they were doing the same. It would take awhile to change his way of thinking and for him to start appreciating the life he had but he would get there eventually. Especially with his best friend, his boyfriend, his little brother and sister, and Hopper by his side.

[chieri-rose-under-blog]

“And Then, Our Paths Crossed”

(Part 2: Tell Me)

Summary: A fateful meeting at Saboady two years ago leads to a love affair with no promising future, but pirates live in the moment, and that's what you and Law plan to do.

Info: MDI/18+, Law x fem/reader, angst, light bondage, light Law/dom, rebellious behavior, ridding, oral and vaginal sex, orgasm holding, romance

Tag list: @lawsvalentine @itsnunya12 @sasukeswife3 @520love-a @augustanna @patchofblue @kiasnotforever

The breeze felt good this high up in the crow's nest, and the view was one that you would never be tired of seeing. The ocean’s winds played at your hair, and the scarf still tied around your neck.

You laugh to yourself as you remember what had happened at breakfast that morning. Really though, what was Law thinking staring at you like that? Zoro may not look it, but he is always perceptive about his surroundings.

We’re just going to have to be more cautious about our public interactions.

You had no worries about Law ending what you two had going on. If anything, he might become overly zealous about this affair between you and him.

For a man that appeared complicated, he actually wasn’t. A trauma case, certainly, but what person wasn’t one nowadays? But complex, never, at least to you, he wasn't.

Maybe that's why this ‘relationship’ worked or why you chose to speak to him first two years ago at the archipelago.

Thinking about it now, you could laugh at yourself for feeling so nervous approaching him.

At the time, you were being followed by four, no, six men (Zoro had taught you better than letting your nerves distract your senses) while walking as casually as possible through one of the populated groves.

From the information you had gathered from the locals, kidnappings and human trafficking occurred frequently in certain parts of the archipelago.

And, of course, I have to walk in one of those zones alone.

When everyone had chosen to go their separate ways at the Sunny, Nami had wanted you and Robin to join her on a shopping spree.

"Not this time Nami. I want to explore the place on my own and see what intel I can get about the New World."

"Oh, but Y/N, you can do any time. We are stuck here for a few days." Nami had pouted.

"Besides, Robin can do that for us while we're shopping!"

"I think we should let Y/N go on her own. There's a benefit to having the both of us gathering information." Robin chimed in with her option.

You nodded in agreement and promised Nami, "We can go shopping together tomorrow. Like you said, we have time, and I doubt one day will be enough for you."

"Fine," Nami moped.

Robin giggled and then said to you, "Have fun, Y/N. Just don't get kidnapped by a mysterious man."

You had wondered if Robin’s words had unintentionally brought you bad luck. Your eyes scanned around for an opportunity to lose the hunters, but instincts told you to keep walking.

The number of men had grown to ten and that seemed like overkill to you for one lone woman, but maybe they knew whose crew you were a part of.

Or maybe they're all from different gangs, lucky me.

You weren't weak, but you had to be clever. If all these men were from different gangs, they might fight each other over you or team up and backstab each other later. A messy situation either way.

Walking a tad faster, you heard fighting up ahead. A few people ran passed you, screaming about pirates going crazy.

A few names were mentioned, but none of them meant anything to you. Not that you could care. You were too busy thinking about using the chaos ahead to lose the people pursuing you.

That plan died when you noticed him sitting on a wooden crate, legs spread apart, with three of his men standing at his back. Immediately you recognized him from the newspapers and wanted posters.

The Surgeon of Death, Trafalgar Law.

You could never forget the sight, and the memory would always make you quiver with infatuation. What you did that day was crazy, but between approaching him for aid or fighting off the hunters alone, it was worth the gamble.

The trapped door slammed open, and the memory bubble popped away as you turned to see Sanji climbing through the opening.

“Hey,” he said simply with a smile while brushing the blond locks out of his right eye. “I came to serve you a light mid-morning snack.”

“Aw, thanks Sanji! You didn’t have to do that!”

Sanji looked pleased by your reaction and went over to the snack platform to take out a tray with a glass bowl on top.

He took out the tray and went over to you then bowed saying, “You know I don't mind. It's always a pleasure to serve a beautiful woman.”

You rolled your eyes but giggled at his words.

“Thank you, sir, for always being the handsome gentleman willing to serve me.”

Sanji chuckled and watched you take your first bite of the treat.

“Mm! So good!”

“I'm glad.”

He watched you take a few more bites before Sanji’s face became serious as he got to his other purpose for seeing you.

“So, Y/n, what was the real reason Traffy was staring at your neck?”

The spoon was in your mouth, and you glanced up at him with large, questioning eyes as if you didn't know what he was talking about.

“Zoro is an idiot, but he’s not stupid. Law was staring at your neck. Why?”

You licked your spoon and shrugged.

“I don't know. He did say he was admiring my scarf.”

“Your scarf,” Sanji frowned. “Really?”

You scooped up more of your delicious treat, saying, “He has a thing for feathers and furs; maybe he likes scarfs too.”

Sanji sighed and got out his cigarette pack. You watched him take one out and place it between his lips. It wasn't till he got out his lighter that you said something to stop him.

“You know Zoro hates it when you smoke in here.” You chided him.

The lighter clicked open and Sanji moved the small flame to light his cigarette. Smoke bloomed from his lips and he took the stick between his fingers and looked at you.

“I know that Luffy told us to get along, but you need to be careful. We’re pirates, and Traffy isn't part of our crew. Once this alliance is over, we go back to being enemies."

"I know." Boy, do I know it.

“Also, he’s not telling us everything about this plan of his. Luffy is not the only one taking advantage here; Traffy is using us.”

You nodded, agreeing that Law was holding back information. You felt a touch of guilt for not using your ‘relationship’ to find out what Law was hiding. A part of you didn't want to pry, fearing it would ruin what you had with him.

“I know,” you reluctantly admitted after a moment of silence.

Sanji took another puff of his cigarette, but the tobacco did little to ease his stress.

Something was going on, and you were hiding it from everyone. Sanji just hoped that you knew what you were doing and would ask for help if needed.

"Good," he breathed shakily as smoke swirled out of his mouth.

"And you know that if anything bad happens, I would be the first to come to your rescue, right? Or if you're hurting and can't talk to someone, you can come to me."

You set down the bowl and grabbed his hand to give it a comforting squeeze.

"Hey," you said tenderly, "you know that I love all of you, right? You and the rest of this crew are precious to me. My only and true family."

Sanji blushed and grinned at you, asking, "But you love me the most, right?"

"Of course," you grinned back at him, "how can a queen not love her knight?"

You both laughed at the playful banter, acting like the warnings about Law never happened.

As the two of you chatted pleasantly, Sanji suddenly wished this alliance will Law had never occurred. Or that the man had brought his ship and crew along, so he wouldn't have to be on the Sunny.

Better yet, he wished that a certain idiot had made his move when you were still interested. Not that he deserved you.

Neither of them did, in his opinion, but it was lady’s choice.

“I'll kill him if he hurts her.” Sanji calmly thought as he finished his cigarette.

Your soft cries filled the storage room where you and Law agreed to meet.

The pretty scarf that caused so much disruption at breakfast was torn in half.

Law used the pieces to bind your wrist and cover your eyes. He was paying you back for the trouble you caused this morning and last night.

That's what Law told himself, refusing to acknowledge the greedy monster taking over his reasoning.

The shorts and panties you wore were stripped away and tossed aside, along with your bra, which he had impatiently cut from your body. You didn't know why, but Law wanted you to leave on the thin cotton crop top you wore.

Law took in the sight of you lying submissively on the floor, steadily breathing. His grey eyes watch your chest rise and fall, the thin fabric stretching over your breast. Your nipples slowly harden under his gaze, making Law lick his lips.

“Not bad,” he said huskily.

His eye travel further down over your belly and to the valley of your core, surrounded by your thighs. Yes, this was a treat he would enjoy devouring.

“Remember, Y/N, I don't want to hear a word from you.”

Your throat moved as you swallowed, remaining obediently still.

You could hear him moving, and then something light dropped to the floor, perhaps a shirt. It sounded like he was moving closer, and you shifted your head to figure out where Law had gone.

You then gasped when his hands grabbed your legs and dragged you down towards him, you guessed. You felt him spread your legs wide, and you waited anxiously for Law to enter you roughly.

It would hurt like a bitch since you were barely wet enough to take him, but you swore not to say a word.

“What a good girl you're being for me,” he purred over your lower belly, then gave your skin a long lick.

You shivered, trying to relax your body before he penetrated you.

Law chuckled and kissed your inner thigh, following it with another teasing lick. His eyes darted up when you made a sound that nearly became a word, but you drew your bottom lip between your teeth to stop your voice.

Fuck, you were beautiful.

Watching you struggle like this pumped the blood straight to his cock, and Law wanted to do what you expected and dive right into you.

But tomorrow, they will be in Dressrosa, and Doflamingo will have stepped down from the Warlords. One way or another, his life's goal would be accomplished, and he had only now to be frivolous.

He didn't want to die, but if that's what it took, he'll have something interesting to reflect on in the afterlife.

"I'm going to take my time with you," he grinned, "so don't say a fucking word." He pressed his tongue to your heat and ran it up, fast, wet, and hot.

You let out a sharp cry of surprise, turning your head to the side. Your breath became a mix of panted cries and whines as Law's mouth tasted more of you.

His strong inked hands kept your legs open to him, and you would feel a digit enter you. You could also feel his goatee rubbing against you as he ate at you.

Being unable to see made all of this too intense and startling since you didn't know what would happen next.

What you would give to look at him! To see his expression! To have him glance up at you, grey eyes locking with yours as he dipped his tongue into you!

"Aah, ah, nah. Ah!"  

Law enjoyed the sounds of your pathetic voice as he tasted you. With every reaction you made, he wanted to see if he could get more out of you. He flicked his tongue, then swirled it, playing with you, then used his lips to suck at the sweet honey dripping from your pussy.

Every touch was sweet torment from the lack of sight, nearly bringing you to your end, but Law would only bring you to the edge and then retreat at the last second.

It made you want to scream!

Law chuckled at your frustrated cries and went back to torturing you.

Having enough, your hands reached out to touch him back and get him to give you what you wanted. His dark hair brushed along your fingers, and they curled into the short locks to hold him to you as your hips gyrate in slow waves.

Law growled into you, but he didn't stop and suck in your clit. The scream you let out stroked his pride, making his dick throb painfully. He wanted to drag this out more, but he had to get inside you.

“Damn you,” he mentally swore.

Even when you promise to behave, you always find a way to rebel. It drove him insane, but he loved it. Still, Law was determined to remain in charge.

He moved away from your hands, making you cry desperately, and gazed down at his work.

Your tasty pussy, now moist and pulsing, looked ready to take him in. Law gripped your tied hands and pushed them back over your head while moving over you.

"Keep them there," he order.

You frowned, annoyed that you couldn't argue back, but you didn't move your hands.

You then gasped, almost saying his name, when Law pinched one of your nipples. His mouth then came over your other mound. The fabric became wet, and you cursed the man for making you leave the top on!

The curses grew louder in your head as you felt Law pushed into you without warning.

"FUCK!" Law voiced as you screamed it in your head.

The connection was like a hot wire coming to life as he reached further into you. God, he just had you last night, and Law felt ready to burst into you without needing to move.

And, of course, being the blasted woman you were, you just had to squeeze the muscles holding him.

"F-Fuck! Y/n! Don't!"

You released him and moved your hips. Law gritted his teeth, focusing on not losing to you so soon. You were tired of orders the arrogant bastard kept making. You had something thick and hard in you and wanted to feel the pleasure it could bring you.

"You bitch!" Law groaned when you grind and squeezed against him.

He tried to pull away, but you quickly trapped him with your legs. You squeezed him again, and Law collapsed against your body. A low chuckle vibrated against your neck, then he kissed one of the love bites he had marked you with.

"Fine!"

Law rolled the two of you over so you sat on top of him with you still impaled on his length.

You tossed back your head with a hiss at the new position. Law brought his arms under his head and smirked up at you.

"Since you're so eager, you can do the work. Maybe this will teach you a lesson for disobedience."

You huffed, now really having enough. You used your bonded hands to remove the blindfold and glared down at him.

"I'm going to make you regret those words," you mentally told him.

Law just stared back with that annoying smirk and taunted, "Bring it."

"Mother Fu-"

You lifted yourself up and slammed back down, your hands on his firm abs for support. Law groaned, then chuckled. It would take more than that for him to cave to you, and you knew it as well.

And you knew him.

Law's brow quirked when you smirked back at him. How could he forget that he was in your territory? Literally.

You moved, but you also used your hands to touch your breast. Law swallowed hard, watching you grope yourself as you moved on his cock. You didn't utter his name but he could see you thinking it in your eyes.

You were calling to him, begging him to move with you. To reach that final place. Law was almost moved enough to be seduced by you. Almost, be he stubbornly held back.

He wouldn't give in! Not this time! Not when it could be his last!

Law tried closing his eyes to fake boredom, but then the sounds you made had him want to thrust his hips up into you, but he held back. He didn't care if you brought yourself to your own end at this point. He refused to budge. 

Law would hold on till you begged him to take you or till you tuckered yourself out.

Just like you knew him, Law knew you.

You were starting to slow down, and Law opened an eye to peer at you. He smirked at how frustrated you looked, trying to hold back your orgasm.

"Keep going, baby. I'm not getting tired of this view anytime soon."

You whined, not wanting to cum without him. Only you did. You couldn't help it. All that thrusting you did with his gaze lazily watching you was too much. Damn him.

Law caught you as you slumped forward. He had to breathe through the spasms he felt as your pussy tried to milk him of his seed. His mouth covered yours, and you kissed deliriously at him, taking in his tongue.

He rolled you back over and drew out of you.

"No," you nearly whispered, but Law kissed your mouth to stop you.

"Shh." Law hushed as he undid the piece of fabric at your wrist.

Immediately you ran your hands over his tattooed chest, then up his neck, where they cradled his face. You kissed his lips again as a frightening feeling crept into your chest.

You loved this frustrating, stubborn, ruthless, scheming, yet kind man. Law promised to tell you a small part of what he was hiding from your crew, but only if you didn't speak until he permitted and you nearly lost the game.

Law pressed his forehead to yours and adjusted himself over you.

“Be a good girl for me, Y/n or I’ll punish you again. Understand.”

You weakly nodded, then sighed.

Law then surprised you by tenderly kissing your lips and sighing a smile. Not a smirk or grin, but a genuine smile.

No, you thought mournfully, don't do that to me.

“Let me take care of the rest,” he breathed as he pressed the head of his cock back at your entrance.

Law heatedly kissed you as he plunged back into you. Now that he had you exhaust the defiance out of yourself, you were his to enjoy at his leisure. You held him as he pounded into you, not caring anymore about retaliating.

Not wanting to think what that smile could have meant!

Use me! Just use me and don't give me false hope. Don't show me a dream that can never be!

You didn't care if he gave you another order. If he wanted you to bark like a needy bitch, you would have. You should have just been a ‘good girl’ and let him fuck you till he had enough.

It would have been easier to pretend that nothing deeper was happening between the two of you besides sex.

You still could have if the energy behind his thrust hadn't changed. Still, fast and hard, something felt different. His breathing changed, and the way he suddenly held onto you changed. Law was doing something he wasn’t supposed to do, and it felt amazing.

Damn him! Damn him! You cursed as you closed your eyes to hold back tears.

The heat in your lower belly started to coil again, making you move with him. There was no choice; you had to move with him to respond to his hidden confession.

Law didn't tell you to stop and groaned into your ear, "Go ahead, say it."

You moaned, then breathed out his name.

"Louder," he commanded, then bit down at an empty space at your shoulder.

"Law!" You gasped, his pounding coming harder, growing more desperate.

"Again!"

You were both racing toward that end, ready to fall into oblivion.

"LAW!" You cried louder.

It wasn't enough! He needed more from you!

"Tell me your mine!"

"I'm yours!!” You cried out earnestly, wishing you could somehow get closer to him while holding on to your sanity.

“All yours! I'm all yours, Law!"

Law closed his eyes, feeling himself losing his mind! He knew this was wrong to do. That he was being selfish and cruel to you but he wanted it! This might be his last chance to hear it!

"Tell me-" he started to say, but you change the movement of your hips, throwing his body and mine into chaos.

“Tell-"

"Me-"

Law groaned and grunted as he came inside you as his head came down to your shoulder. You held him, head thrown back with a breathless cry as you orgasmed again.

Tears pricked at your eyes at the blissful rapture you were bathed in and at the selfish request Law had nearly made.

You knew what he wanted you to tell him, but they were words that shouldn't be said out loud.

The two of you were sharing a fantasy that was meant to be short lived.

Saying those words would shatter the fantasy and invite cruel reality.

The reality where the two of you were from different pirate crews and attempting to take down a Warlord and an Emperor. There was no room for fantasy if you wanted to survive.

You stared at the ceiling as you held a panting Law, his length still buried inside you. Tears trickle down from your eyes as you gave him a protective squeeze. 

Law was a logical man and his sudden act of recklessness told you more than you wanted to know about his plan.

Sanji was right.

Law was using Luffy and all of you, but it was something he was willing to die for, and you didn't want to know what it was anymore.

Nothing would come out of this relationship, but Law was an idiot to think you would let him die. Or that Luffy would allow it.

You smiled and wiped away your tears.

“You’re about to find out what all of us are made of,” you whispered to Law as he dozed off in your arms.

(Part 1)

[rebouks]

Previous // Next

Oscar: Do you think you can keep the baby a secret for now? It’ll only be for a little while… Robin: In case something bad happens? Oscar: Erh-.. yeah. Robin: Will it? Oscar: Probably not, but you never know. Robin: Will mama be okay though? Oscar: She’ll be fine-.. I’ll keep an eye on her, don’t worry. If Robin knew what a hypocrite was, he might’ve called his father out for telling him not to fret; but he didn’t, so he couldn’t. He stared out of the window listlessly instead, slightly anxious to leave his mother’s presence behind, much like his father. Robin: I don’t like being far away from people either, especially you and mama. Oscar: Is that why you don’t like going to school? Robin paused, that was part of the problem, but it was more painful than anything else. Everyone’s “head-voices” melded together until his brain hurt and he was no longer able to hear himself above the clamour. It was like being surrounded by fifty Jude’s or Juniper’s, all talking at once. Unfortunately, he’d learnt by now that no one else heard those voices, no one else was plagued by thoughts that weren’t theirs to think. You weren’t supposed to feel other people’s emotions as though they were your own, experience their pain or their happiness as strongly as they did, hear their internal monologue, see their memories; it wasn’t normal. You were supposed to be you, and that was it. Maybe he was weird after all. Oscar: We’ll always be there when you get home, you don’t have to worry about us when you’re at school. Robin: But you can’t tell what people are feeling when you’re not there… [Oscar nodded slowly, though Robin could tell his father didn’t quite see where he was coming from. How could he?] Oscar: It’s normal to wonder if people are okay when we’re not around, especially if you love them. Robin: Is it? Oscar: ‘Course! Robin: Oh. Oscar: When you’re used to being around someone a lot, sometimes it’s hard to spend time apart, but you’ll get used to it soon enough. You just have to hope they’ll be okay n’ do your thing without them, y’know? [Robin somewhat understood his father, though it was easier said than done-.. but maybe he was right, maybe it’d get easier over time. Oscar: Next time you’re at school, try and think about home now n’ then, rather than all the time] Oscar: Okay? Robin: I’ll try my bestest. Oscar: That’s all I’ll ever ask of you. Robin returned Oscar’s smile, warmed by the familiar rush of affection that swelled within his father’s heart. His love never wavered, was never tinged with guilt-.. an emotion that emanated strongly from his mother, but that Robin didn’t yet understand, so mistook as something negative. Maybe he’d figure her out over time too, but for now, he much preferred being with his papa.

[lonesome-witching]

I Think I Know You

I'm back!! The anonymous prompt was the upside down Spider-man kiss with Robin as Spiderman so I gave it my best whirl. This is heavily based on the original but I was partly influenced by the beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful art work by @maggierosestudio. (I really hope it's okay I tagged you in this because we've never actually interacted before but your work is wonderful).

I will try to write the prompts that are still waiting for me very soon. But if you got a prompt for me you can send it here. If you just want to read and enjoy my past prompts, you can do that here.

“Nance! Nance!” 

Nancy turned to see Robin Buckley run towards her. The corners of her mouth curled up into a smile. Robin had always been a weird runner.

“Hi, Robin.” 

“How was the interview?” Robin breathed out. 

“How did you know?” Nancy’s eyes widened at the question. She hadn’t told Robin. 

“You know. You told Steve, Steve told me.” 

“So… You just came by?” 

“I was in the neighborhood. Needed to see a friendly face.” Robin toyed with one of her rings, looking at her own hands instead of Nancy’s face. “I took two buses and a cab to get in the neighborhood, but… So, how did it go?” 

“They told me I needed to learn how to write facts instead of fiction.” Nancy sighed, the smile falling off her face and landing somewhere on the sidewalk in between them. 

“Oh, well, let me buy you a cheeseburger. The sky's the limit. Up to 7 dollars and 84 cents.” 

Nancy giggled, her smile back in place. As if Robin had just picked it up, dusted it off and pressed it back onto her face. 

“I’d like a cheeseburger.” She nodded. A cheeseburger sounded lovely. Especially if Robin was sitting in front of her with her stupid jokes and her never ending rambles and that gorgeous smile. It might actually erase the bitter taste the interview left in her mouth. 

But she couldn’t. She’d promised Mike she wouldn’t bail on him this time. “Oh but I can’t. I’m going over to Mike’s. You can come with though. I’m sure he’d love to see you again.” 

The smile on Robin’s face had already evaporated and Nancy wished she could put it back where it belonged. She missed it already. 

Robin shook her head. “No, thanks. How’s it going with him and-? Nevermind, it’s none of my business.” 

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with?” Nancy already took a step back. Somehow she hoped it would lure Robin in, pull her along so she wouldn’t leave her alone. 

It didn’t. “I’m sure. Go have fun.” 

A raindrop fell on her nose and Nancy scrunched up her face. It was a small reminder that she really had to get going. She’d already have to endure a lecture about how she was always late. The only reason she ever was late was because of work but Mike didn’t seem to care much about that. His mantra had become ‘stop working unpaid overtime’ and frankly, he had a point. 

“Okay. I should get going though.” Nancy pointed over her shoulder to the alley she’d have to walk through. Robin nodded in reply.

“Have fun.” 

Nancy turned around, trying not to turn back, trying not to notice Robin’s eyes staring at her. If Robin was looking at her she might never leave. 

She rounded the corner just as two men crossed her. She could hear them whistle and catcall. It wasn’t anything new. It’s why she kept a taser in her purse. Not that she’d ever had to use it before. 

She quickened her pace. All she had to do was make it through the alley and onto the main road and she’d be able to slip into the masses. 

But the two men turned into four and she was only halfway through the alley. 

She couldn’t turn back. There was no way she could rush forward fast enough. She was essentially trapped. Her hand started reaching for her purse when the first man called out. 

“Hey, baby. Got somewhere to be?” 

She bit her lip as a second man grabbed at her purse and threw it to the side. 

“I think she can make some time for us.”

There was a hand on her leg, another on her arm. Tears pricked in her eyes. She had no way to get out and nothing to defend herself with. She closed her eyes, hoping for a miracle. And then… 

The hands were gone. 

She opened her eyes just to see Spiderman kick one of the men in the face. Fighting and punching and throwing the men around as if they weighed nothing. When all the men were groaning and licking their wounds and rushing out of there Nancy took a step forward. She noticed the superhero wore no mask but in the dark from this distance she couldn’t make out who it was. 

They took a step back, rushing away as quickly as they had appeared. 

“Wait.” Nancy called out, running towards where the figure had stood. But Spiderman was nowhere to be seen. 

“You have a knack for getting in trouble.” A voice called from behind her and Nancy jumped in surprise. It was a female voice. She felt like she knew that voice. But the mask was back in place and she just couldn’t be sure. 

Spiderman was hanging upside down from one of their webs. Their face level with Nancy’s and so close. They were so close. 

“You have a knack for saving my life.” She replied with a soft smile. “I’d almost think I have a superhero stalker.” 

It was a joke. Perhaps a stupid one. But what else was she really supposed to say? It wasn’t the first time Spiderman was in the right place at the right time to save Nancy’s ass. Maybe they really were following her around. 

“I was in the neighborhood.” 

The words echoed through her mind. What were the chances that Spiderman would repeat Robin’s words moments after she had uttered them? Could it be? 

“Do I get to say thank you this time?” 

Nancy was already raising her hands towards the mask, ready to pull it off. She needed to know. 

“Wait.” 

She pulled her hands back slightly. Her eyes scanning the mask as if she’d be able to see Robin’s facial expressions. Her shy smile or the doubt in her eyes whenever Nancy so much as tried to touch her arm or grab her hand. 

Slowly she raised her hands further and further until her fingertips were able to grab the edge of the mask, right there where it connected to the bodysuit. She pulled slowly, not wanting to startle the hero, not wanting them to run away. Right over the chin and further. She was almost certain those were Robin’s pink lips. 

“Can I?” Nancy asked as she pulled the mask over Spiderman’s nose. 

She could almost hear their breathing quicken but then there was a soft nod against Nancy’s hands and Nancy kept pulling away at the layer. Pulled it right over her eyes and forehead, revealing bright blue that Nancy knew so well. “Robin.” She sighed. 

“Hi.” Robin tried to smile but the doubt was there. 

“Hi.” Nancy replied with a much brighter smile on her own face. She always smiled when she was near Robin. “I still have to thank you.” 

“Oh no, it’s alright. You don’t have to do anything. It’s perfectly alright.” 

Nancy connected her lips with Robin’s. Robin who was still hanging upside down and how was this comfortable? But Robin kissed back, slowly and softly. Their lips slotted together. Nancy’s hands rested on Robin’s uncovered cheeks. Cheeks that were a bright red, whether it was from her blood seeping into her head or the mindblowing kiss, Nancy wasn’t sure. 

“Thank you.” Nancy sighed against Robin’s lips. “For saving my life, again.” 

“Anytime, Nance.” 

In the distance a siren blared, disrupting their perfect little moment. “I think that’s your cue?” Nancy slowly pulled the mask back over Robin’s face, covering up the blush on her cheeks and her kiss swollen lips. 

“I’ll come over tonight.” Robin shouted as she pulled herself up and away from Nancy.

[elizabeth-mitchells]

(for the unrequited/requited prompts) 4 with ronance

omg thank you for asking!! it's been a while since i wrote ronance, i hope i did them justice! send me (not)unrequited love prompts!

Temporary (or not)

Robin Buckley/Nancy Wheeler, 912 words, Not Actually Unrequited Love

According to Nancy, there were many wonderful things about falling in love with Robin Buckley. For starters, the way that Robin’s presence, or just the thought of her, immediately makes everything better. Hawkins was better because Robin was there. The world was more exciting because Robin wanted to explore it all someday. Nancy herself felt like a better, happier person because of Robin’s involvement in her life. 

Unfortunately, though, there were a few terrible, terrible things about liking Robin. Starting with the fact that Robin knew Nancy liked her.

It hadn’t happened on purpose. It was just that Nancy had never quite learned how to behave during a high school party, even though the world seemed like it had gone back to normal. She was too drunk, Robin was too kind, too close, and too much of a reminder of the months they grew closer and closer. 

“You know? I realized I really like you, Robin. Not like a friend, I mean, more than a friend,” Nancy slurred, happy, even though she was seeing Robin double. Afterward, she wasn’t very sure of what she said. Probably something along the lines of, “It’s weird, isn’t it?” or “I don’t know what to do about it,” or “Oh… I think I’m going to throw up now…”

It was safe to say it didn’t go very well. But she knew it happened. She knew Robin had heard her and that Robin wasn’t drunk enough to forget it. What she also knew was that in the weeks since then, Robin hadn’t changed the way she acted around Nancy at all. They didn’t talk about it, they didn’t drift apart from each other, they didn’t grow closer. Nothing. It was driving Nancy mad. Robin was still a bright light in her life, always striving to make her laugh, soft with her like she wasn’t anyone else, and physically affectionate enough to make Nancy feel like she was going to die because, actually, it wasn’t enough.

Nancy was wise enough not to attempt another high school party that had never ended well for her. Somehow, she was more at home, surrounded by her younger brother and his small crowd of friends, and, of course, with Robin’s arm wrapped around her shoulders. Nancy was trying to be strong but, after some everyday biting retort at Mike, she earned not only Robin’s expected warm laughter, but a proud kiss on the side of her head. Nancy felt herself blush in equal parts affection and frustration.

“Why are you doing this?” Nancy whispered with thinly concealed distress.

“Hm? What?” Robin mumbled.

Instantly, Nancy flinched away from her and stormed out of the basement, up the stairs, all the way up to her bedroom. She knew that Robin would follow, and that was both a comfort and a new source of pain.

“Nancy? What happened?” Robin asked her as soon as she carefully stepped into Nancy’s room behind her, softly closing the door.

Nancy had already told Robin once how she felt about her, she thought she could get through it again, even if sober. She took a deep breath and although her voice broke, she said, “You’re the sweetest person I know, Robin. You’re incapable of being this cruel. So I just need to know why…”

“Nancy, what are you talking about? I would never hurt you, Nancy, I…” Robin gulped, looked desperately around her, and finally said, “What did I do?”

“You know how I feel about you,” Nancy blurted out. Not exactly saying the full truth out loud but, judging by the change in Robin’s expression, it was enough. “You know. I told you. And you didn’t even react! And I just… I don’t expect you to feel the same, okay? I get it. But you didn’t have to… Completely disregard my feelings! Act like it was nothing, like it didn’t matter! I’ll get over you, Robin. I promise. I have to do it, because I can’t… I can’t lose you, even as a friend. This is temporary but… Shit, Robin, you could’ve said something.”

At the end of her speech, Nancy was breathless and lightheaded, leaning one leg against her bed for stability. Robin looked pale and thoroughly shocked.

“I was scared…” Robin whispered.

“How’d you think I felt?”

Robin winced, but pushed through. “I’m sorry,” she said, a little more confidently after clearing her throat. “I was scared you didn’t mean it.” Those words cracked Nancy’s heart open, but she tried to reign in her hope. “I was scared to tell you I felt the same way and then you’d tell me that you were just drunk and it didn’t mean anything,” Robin said with a shaky smile. “I’m sorry I was a coward, you deserved better,” Robin said, her blue eyes opened wide and earnest, stealing Nancy’s breath away. “But… Uh, just in case, let me say I hope those feelings aren’t temporary. I know that mine aren’t. I like you too, I’m crazy about you, Wheeler.”

In the time it took Robin to finish talking, Nancy had closed the distance between them. “Was that so difficult to say?” she asked, with a small smile. She reached out and cradled Robin’s face in her palms. She felt the taller girl instantly sigh and relax.

“Yeah, actually it was terrifying,” Robin chuckled, but she looked too happy to show her usual anxiety. “You could’ve said something earlier too, you know…”

Instead, Nancy interrupted her with a kiss.

[ladykailitha]

Sweet Home Indiana Part 6

@anne-bennett-cosplayer I hope this is enough time to recover from that last line. It's technically been 3 business days.

That last line was mean, and I'm sorry. So for being so mean, here's Claudia Henderson with some very tough love for Eddie.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

****

Eddie had done some serious groveling that night. He didn’t know how he could make up for all the hell he’d put Steve through. How does one even begin to make up for a decade worth of shitty behavior?

Especially since it was clear that the one thing that would make it all worth it was if Eddie came back to Steve and he couldn’t do that. Not to Chrissy. Not when she needed him the most.

He did the only thing he could think of and talk to the people who still cared about Steve. He started with Claudia Henderson. Even though she wasn’t Steve’s birth mother, she was more his mom then that shrew ever was.

She gathered him into a hug when he showed up on her doorstep.

“I was wondering when your shadow would darken my doorway,” Claudia said, as she lead the way to the kitchen.

Eddie winced at the harsh words even if they gently given. He looked around the small house, Dustin’s mark stamped on every corner even though he had moved out long ago. But more surprisingly was Steve’s touch had found its way into the decor. And not just his photos on the wall either.

It was in the Pacers blanket on the loveseat, the baseball bat by the front door, the bright yellow pillows on the sofa. Steve was loved here and god did that make Eddie’s heart ache.

He sat down at his usual spot at the counter and watched as she bustled around the kitchen getting him cookies and glass of milk.

“Why are you even here, Eddie?” she asked in that tough but loving way she always had. “You broke his heart and then threw it away.”

Eddie took bite of the cookie to give him time to formulate an answer. “Because I know I fucked up, okay? But the only way I can see to fix it is to come back to him and I can’t do that. I can’t tell you why, just know she’s in trouble and this is the only option we have.”

Claudia let out a long sigh and leaned on the counter. “You always did know the right things to say.”

“Not when it comes to him,” he scoffed, staring down at his milk like it would give him the answers. “I keep making it worse.”

She hummed her agreement. “That’s certainly true. But I think that was more about you trying to protect your heart from getting hurt, only you ended up hurting his instead.”

Eddie just dunked his cookie without comment, because he knew she was right. It was never about Steve. It was about all the people who hated him, who strung him along until they had their fun, about his mom dying and his dad leaving, about the band deciding they just didn’t want to do it anymore.

He loved being a tattoo artist, but that wasn’t the dream.

“What would you do or tell Dusty if it was him you’d come to see after a decade apart?” Claudia asked, looking up at him.

Eddie sat back in the stool and sighed. “How much I missed him and then I would try to spend as much time with him as possible.”

“There you have it,” she said. She straightened up and knocked on the counter twice. “The bakery is closed Fridays and the carnival is in town. Why don’t you take him and get to know who he is now, all right?”

He rubbed his face and sighed again. “Yeah, if he’ll even go with me. He probably already has a hot date lined up, though.”

Claudia shook her head. “At least not that he’s told me, anyway. In fact he was lamenting that he was thinking about not going because Robin had a date, but he didn’t and he didn’t want to third wheel it.”

That was so like Steve. Instead of finding someone to go with him, like a friend or something, he would just not go. Tell them to have fun without him.

“I guess the worse that could happen is have him curse me out and hang up,” Eddie said with wry smile. “And considering I’ve already had the pleasure once, a second time isn’t going to change much.”

She lifted her chin. “Well go on, then. If you think he’s going to cuss you out, call him. I want to see this.”

Eddie stuck his tongue out at her like a petulant child. But did as he was told.

“Hey, Eds,” Steve greeted, picking up the phone almost immediately.

His heart stuttered in his chest at the old nickname. “Hey, Stevie. I hear the carnival was in town this week and wanted to see if you want to go.”

“With you? Or with a group or whatever?” Steve asked, his voice pitching a little higher than normal.

“Just me,” Eddie confirmed. “When would be good for you?” He looked up at Claudia who had the smuggest grin on her face. He stuck his tongue out at her again.

“Oh, I–um...” he stammered. “Well, I was thinking of opening the shop on Friday even though I don’t usually because I was closed on Sunday.”

Eddie winced. He had a pretty good idea why Steve’s shop was closed on Sunday. Steve had called to bitch him out on Saturday evening when the special courier delivered the annulment papers. Something the law firm had paid for so they wouldn’t lose their best legal assistant.

“But sure, I could use a proper day off for a change,” Steve was saying when Eddie’s brain finally came back on. “How about two o’clock?”

“That’d be great,” he said a small, fond smile on his face. “I can’t wait. I haven’t been to a proper carnival in years.”

“Perks of living in a small town, I guess,” Steve replied.

Eddie started playing with his hair. “One of the few. Can’t say I’m a fan of the homophobia.”

Steve laughed, bright and sweet. “Yeah, okay. You got me there. Look I’ve got to go, Robin’s giving me the stink eye and I really should get back to work.”

“Yeah,” Eddie said. “I talk to you later.” He hung up and refused to look Claudia in the eye. He knew what he was going to see anyway. Her arms crossed over her chest and a triumphant smile on her face.

“I don’t believe I heard any cursing on that call,” she said dryly. He looked up at her and he as right about everything about how she was looking at him, only with the addition of a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah well,” Eddie said, rolling his eyes. “He always was a stubborn bastard and having to prove me wrong.”

Claudia’s face crumpled a bit. Because yes, Eddie had done a lot of harm to their relationship, Steve wasn’t exactly blameless in the whole ordeal. Because Max’s situation aside, Eddie was right that ‘the kids’ had families and parents of their own. That they had people who would look out for them. And if Steve hadn’t stepped up in Max’s case, she sure as hell would have. The awkwardness between Max and Dustin be damned.

If Steve had loved Eddie as much as he claimed, he wouldn’t have tried to force the metalhead to chose between his friends and his husband.

“He is that,” she admitted gently. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out between you two. You were always a better person when you were together, than when you were apart. And yes, he’s struggled a lot since you left, but looking at you now, I can see that the years haven’t been kind to you either.”

Eddie huffed. “That’s what Uncle Wayne said. That I lost my sparkle or whatever.”

Claudia came around the corner and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her back tight.

“Your uncle is right, sweetie,” she murmured into his hair. “We only want you to be happy and it doesn’t feel like you are. You say you’re getting married, but where’s the bounce in your step and the smile that won’t stop? Like when you and Steve had come back from a week vacation married if only in the state of Massachusetts.”

He let out a shuddering breath and then another. Soon he was just sobbing. Crying like he couldn’t stop.

Eddie had never wanted to hurt Steve and he was sure Steve felt the same about him.

She soothed him with whispered assurances and stroking his hair. Soon enough he had slowed to a hiccuping sniffle and Claudia stepped back so she could look him in the eyes.

“I have a pretty good idea what’s really going on,” she said firmly. “And you’re being really sweet, but before you do something you regret, spend time in town. Take a look at the things that have changed and all the ones that haven’t. Then decide if it’s still the right thing to do.”

He gulped. He had no doubt that she had figured it out. She was Claudia Fucking Henderson, of course she did.

“You won’t tell anyone,” Eddie asked, tears threatening to spill again, “will you?”

She shook her head. “No, your secret is safe with me. I won’t make things harder on you then they need to be.”

She hugged him again and Eddie felt like he was home for the first time in over five years.

****

“Just where are you taking me, old man?” Eddie teased. He had met his uncle for lunch after being emotionally rung out at the Henderson place.

“You need a pick me up,” Wayne said, “and I need my afternoon brownie. Come along.”

Eddie came to an abrupt stop. “Um...I’ll wait out here, then.”

Wayne looked up at the shop’s sign and then back at him. “Look, son, you’re going to have to face him eventually. Especially with you going to carnival together and all.”

Eddie dug his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket and followed Wayne dutifully into the bakery.

“Hey Mr. Munson!” Steve greeted cheerfully. “You here for your usual?”

“How many times do I have to tell you to call me ‘Wayne’?” he asked with a chuckle, walking up the to counter.

Steve blushed and hung his head. “I guess I’m just old fashioned.” He cleared his throat and straightened up. “So what can I get you and your shadow today?”

Wayne reared his head back and then looked over his shoulder to see Eddie hanging back, but sticking as close to him as possible.

“That’ll be two monsters, one of your apple fritters, and a half dozen of your snickerdoodles,” he said shaking his head. Then he turned to Eddie. “And what do you want?”

Eddie’s eyes nearly burst out of his head. Steve and Wayne laughed.

“I suppose I should have said ‘what else do you want?’” Wayne clarified.

Eddie blushed and peered around Wayne’s shoulder to look into the case. “A peanut butter madness, please.”

Steve’s face lit up with delight. “These are the ones Jeff’s mom was slandering with having them stale. They are so much better warm out of the oven. In fact, here!” He grabbed it out of the case and wandered to the back.

He came out a few moments later. Eddie nearly melted from the tantalizing scent of warm brownie filled the air.

“What did you do?” Eddie cried as he reached out with grabby hands.

Steve handed it to him. “Careful, it’s hot. I microwaved it for thirty seconds. Should be perfect now.”

Eddie cautious bite and moaned as soon as the peanut butter hit his mouth. He savored every bit of that first bite. “Fuck, Stevie. These should be a sin.”

Steve smiled and then got to work on the rest of Wayne’s order as Eddie devoured every inch of that brownie.

“How long are you in town for, Eds?” he asked as he handed over the boxes to Wayne.

Eddie grabbed a paper napkin from the dispenser by the register and wiped off his hands and mouth of the gooey remains.

“I’ve got to back by Monday,” he said, a tad mournfully. He never thought he’d miss this place after spending so long running from it. The town. Not the bakery. Though he had spent a lot of his time running from its owner, too.

Steve’s own smile faltered a bit too. “Not even a whole week, huh? I guess there really is no rest for the wicked.”

They chatted for a bit before more customers came in and Steve had to get back to work. Eddie and Wayne walked out of the shop laden with goodies. Steve had divided them up for Eddie and Wayne separately. Wayne handed Eddie his box.

“Now was that so terrible?” he asked with big grin.

“No.”

Because it really wasn’t. In fact it was kinda nice just chatting with Steve.

Leaving was looking more and more bleak with each passing moment.

****

Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Tag List:

1- @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @ravenfrog @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @goodolefashionedloverboi

3- @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog @vecnuthy @irregular-child

4- @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1

5- @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt

6- @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95

7- @blackpanzy @amazing-spiderkeys @oldpinghai @raisedbylibrarians @kultiras

8- @swimmingbirdrunningrock @steddie-as-they-go @captain--low @micheledawn1975 @thespaceantwhowrites

9- @mac-attack19 @blondie1006

[dragonflylady77]

Mr Steve and the Monster Hunter

Hope you're ready for this chapter... @bigbangharringrove

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

On Ao3

Steve has questions and Billy has feelings

Chapter 3 - It's a code red

“Whose car is this, Daddy?” Livi asks, pulling him towards the front door.

“I have no idea, princess,” Billy replies. He wonders for a moment if it may be Steve but dismisses the idea. There is little chance he’ll hear from Steve, too much bad blood, even if it was a long time ago. Some things don’t change, no matter how much you might want them to.

They walk in and Livi drops her bag in the foyer before following the noise from the TV in the lounge. Billy follows at a slower pace, stopping in his tracks when he hears Livi’s voice.

“Mommy, where is Mama? And why is Mr Steve at our house?”

He’s here…

Robin’s reply is lost as Billy’s blood is suddenly rushing in his ears and the tips of his fingers tingle. He feels his power rise like a slow wave and he makes himself focus on taking deep breaths but it’s too late. He hears El’s voice in his head, checking in, because she felt it too.

Billy

Hey, El

Are you in danger

No, I'm okay, I’m with the girls

Then why… Oh

Billy feels her pause and he knows she knows.

Yeah… Steve’s here

Good luck

Yeah, thanks

Billy breaks the mental connection a few seconds before Livi comes running up to him. He picks her up, grateful for her little arms wrapping around his neck, providing him with a few extra minutes before he has to face Steve again. He can see Robin’s smirk from here but since he’s the one who decided to tell her and Heather about his long lasting unrequited crush, on a drunken night many moons ago, he needs to get over himself. 

“Daddy! It was Mr Steve’s car. He’s on the couch with Mommy. Mama is having a nap. Mommy said I could go and tell her about our day.”

“Great idea, princess. You go cuddle up with Mama.”

“I love you, Daddy,” Olivia says, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for taking me to the zoo today. I had the best day.”

Billy grins. “Did Mommy tell you to say that?”

Olivia rolls her eyes and, boy, does she look like Heather when she does. “No.”

“Okay. I had a lot of fun too. I love you.”

He lets her down after one more kiss and cuddle and watches her run towards her moms’ room, calling out to her and putting a finger across his mouth to remind her to be quiet when she puts her hand on the door.

He turns towards the living room to find Steve in the doorway staring at him. Suddenly he’s back at Tina’s house, the night of her Halloween party, after winning the dumb keg stand, Tommy Hagan dragging him into the house to show him off to King Steve, who clearly didn’t give a fuck about any of it. 

He stares back at Steve because he can’t help himself, the big brown eyes fixed on him calling to him like a siren in the fog. There’s something in them that wasn’t there before and Billy fleetingly wonders if he will ever get a chance to find out. 

He’s always been gone for Steve, since the first time he saw him in the parking lot of Hawkins High on his first day, and he’s tired of pretending he’s not. But at the same time, nothing good will come of this, Steve is not interested anyway. He’s just curious because Billy came back from the dead.

Billy dispels the memories gripping him with a shake of his head and walks over to Steve. He stops far enough that he won’t be tempted to touch Steve, but close enough to smell Steve’s aftershave.

“Hey there, pretty boy. Twice in two days. A guy might start to get ideas,” he says, with a trace of his old bravado. There’s always been something about Steve that keeps him on edge. To his relief, Steve smiles. It’s small and tentative, a lifting of the corner of his kissable lips, but it’s there and Billy takes comfort in that.

“Maybe he should,” comes Steve’s reply and Billy feels it like a punch in the gut.

He’s trying to figure out what to reply—his brain trying to process this new development and his dick yelling at him to drag Steve to his room and shove his tongue down the other man’s throat—when Robin comes out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel.

“Hey, B. How did today go?”

Billy smiles and reaches into his pocket. “Great. You know how much she loves the zoo. Thanks for the use of your car, as always. Here’s your keys.” 

She takes the keys off him with a knowing grin. “She really does. What did she con you into buying her this time?”

Billy chuckles, aware of Steve’s gaze on him still. “Another stuffed otter for her collection, since apparently someone suggested she name them following the letters of the alphabet and she’s up to J…”

“Yeah, that wasn’t me, my friend. What did she call this one? Jasper? Juniper? Jeremiah?”

“Jehoshaphat?” Steve throws in with a grin, and Robin and Billy turn to look at him.

“Nice one, dingus.”

“Nah,” Billy replies, “Jane, after her auntie Janie.” His eyes linger on Steve and his fingers start to tingle again. He forces himself to take deep breaths to push back. This is not the time.

“Awww. You should bring her next time.” Robin walks back into the kitchen and Billy follows her. The keys jingle when she dumps them in a bowl by the toaster and he gets himself a glass of water, before leaning against the counter. Steve lingers in the doorway again, leaning on it with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Rob, you know very well that bringing her means bringing the other two, they’re pretty much joined at the hip.”

“Yeah, at the hip…” Robin snickers and Billy smirks. 

“What, um, who are you talking about?” Steve asks, stepping into the kitchen and Billy shares a glance with Robin, who shrugs before putting the dish towel down by the sink.

“Up to you what you are willing to share, B. I trust him. On this note, I’ll leave you guys to it, I need to go put my kid to bed.” She pets Billy on the shoulder as she walks past him then gives Steve a quick hug before she leaves the room.

Then it’s just the two of them and Billy peels off the counter to sit at the table with his glass. He takes a sip of water and waits for Steve to say something. Mostly because he isn’t sure where to start, or how much Steve wants to hear. 

“So…” Steve says, grabbing a chair and sitting across from Billy at the square Formica table.

“So,” Billy repeats, sure Steve will have questions because how could he not. He keeps his eyes on the glass in front of him, the power humming quietly in the back of his mind and in the tip of his fingers.

“I saw you die, Billy,” Steve whispers, and Billy looks up at him then. His brown eyes look haunted and Billy hurts from it. He feels the water in his glass starting to heat up and he forces himself to tamp the surge down. He doesn’t need El reaching out again.

“You saw me fall,” he says softly, like it explains anything. “Doc Owens said I would have died if they hadn’t reached me when they did. I spent six months in hospital, had to learn to walk again because I was in a coma for weeks.”

“The website says you were in the Marines?”

Billy lets out a short laugh. “Yeah, that’s part of the cover story they came up with. I mean, I tried but… let’s just say that I have issues with authority figures that want me to call them Sir while I follow their orders blindly.”

“Oh. What about the rest of your bio?”

“I did some intensive training once I left the hospital, then Owens recruited me and we set up HellGrove. I’m sure Robin filled you in on the details.”

“A little, yes but I was wond—”

Billy

El’s voice in his head masks whatever Steve was saying and Billy focuses on her.

What’s up?

Code Red

“Fuck.” Bill stands up immediately, rubbing both hands over his face. Not now! 

“Billy, what? Were you even listening to me?”

Billy looks down at Steve. He sighs. “I am very, very sorry about this, pretty boy, but I have to go.”

“Go? Go where? Robin said you’re staying in the guest room?”

El? Gimme five

Okay, Will and Lucas on standby

Thanks

“Billy? What the fuck is going on? You said you’d answer my questions and now you’re leaving?”

“I know, and I am sorry.” Billy leaves the kitchen and walks to the guest room, a pissed-off Steve hot on his heels. 

“Hargrove!” 

Billy grabs his duffle bag and puts it on the bed. Fuck, fuck, fuck! The universe is really taking the piss. The one time he finally gets to sit down with Steve to have that talk he’s been dreaming about…

“Rob!” he calls out as he pulls out his go bag. Steve is pacing between the door and the window and Billy doesn’t have time to deal with it. Not when El called a code red. FUCK!

“Yeah?” Robin appears in the doorway, and Livi comes up beside her in her unicorn pajamas.

“Are you okay, Daddy?” she asks and Billy smiles before walking over to them. He crouches down to Livi’s level and kisses his daughter on the cheek. The timing fucking sucks. 

“I’m sorry, princess, Daddy has to go fight the monsters. Auntie Janie called and she needs help. I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay? I promise.”

“She called? How did she call? Hello?” Steve says from somewhere behind him but Billy ignores him. There is no time.

“It’s okay, Daddy. I understand. I love you. Be careful, okay?”

“I will. And I love you too.” Billy gets up and walks back to the bed where he unzips his go bag.

“How bad?” Robin asks as Billy sheds his jacket and the button-down shirt he was wearing to change into the mission-sanctioned black tee with the HellGrove logo on the chest. He hears a gasp in the corner and figures it’s Steve, probably reacting to the scars covering his body. 

“Code red.”

“Oh. Yeah, okay. Olivia, come on, sweetie, time for bed. We’ll let Daddy get ready.” Robin picks up the little girl and turns to Billy. “B, no portals inside the house. I’m serious. You singed the carpet last time, and this is a rental!”

Billy turns around and rolls his eyes. “Oh my god, that was one time, Robin!” 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Steve, lock the front door behind you when you leave. Good night.” She waves at them before retreating down the hallway with Livi.

“Portals?” Steve asks, standing in front of Billy. 

His hair is a mess and he looks more confused than pissed off now, so fucking kissable it hurts.

Billy sits on the bed to swap his Chuck Taylors for steel-capped boots that match his all black outfit, then he puts on his leather jacket and zips it up before looking at Steve. “I wish I had time to sit down and explain, pretty boy, but I have to go.”

“Yeah, no, I get that. You and Robin have made that pretty fucking clear. What I don’t get is how you found out about this code red bullshit and how exactly this Auntie Janie called you. I’m assuming you mean Eleven?”

“Come on, pretty boy, surely you’re able to add two and two together and get to four. Yes, of course I mean El. She and I have… a connection. It started that night at Starcourt, when she pulled me out of his control. I also ended up with some extra abilities, leftover perks, I guess.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry too much about it. I’ll be out of your hair in a minute and you can go back to your life.” Billy knows he’s out of time and out of luck. He wanted a sign from the universe and he got one. He doubts he’ll get this chance with Steve again. With a sigh, he picks up his backpack and hoists it on his back. “And apparently I have to go outside to preserve the fucking carpet.”

“Fuck this, I’m coming with you.” Steve moves in front of the door, and Billy is of half a mind to open the portal in the bedroom just to see the look on his face.

“Steve, I’m not taking you into the Upside Down. It’s way too dangerous. You're… you’re my kid’s teacher, for fuck’s sake!” He can’t risk it, can’t risk Steve, even if he never has a chance with him. He won’t be able to deal if something bad happens to Steve. Also he’ll never hear the end of it if Max finds out.

“I killed demogorgons with a baseball bat full of nails before you even knew what the fucking Upside Down was, Hargrove.” The steel in Steve’s voice hits something inside Billy’s chest. There’s that fire everyone was talking about that he’d missed. It makes his power hum in approval.

"Okay, fine.” He looks Steve up and down. “But you can’t go dressed like that, you’ll get us killed.”

Chapter 4

[chenziee]

Of Murder bunnies and stray marimos

Second of my @zosanauzine fics! This one is a part of the digital NSFW add-on~ (Even though they only kiss and say fuck a lot, sorry xD)

The aftersales are still going and B/C grade books are in stock now too so check it out if you haven't!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

[ READ ON AO3 | KO-FI ]

—————

The sun was setting.

The sun was really fucking setting.

They were supposed to have met up hours ago; even Luffy had made it back to the Sunny on time—if only because Nami had told him to be back an hour earlier than everyone else—yet, the stupid swordsman was nowhere to be found.

Not that anyone was surprised but hunting for his… directionally-challenged ass all over the island was always such a waste of time. Not for the first time, Sanji wondered whether they shouldn’t just get a leash for him and tie him to the Sunny’s main mast. Limit his area of unsupervised operations.

Sadly, knowing the Marimo and his track record of making Chopper cry by removing his bandages, he’d just end up chewing through the leash and getting lost anyway.

“Nami~! Let me go explore more,” Luffy whined, drooping over the railing with a pout.

“No,” Nami refused without even looking up from her cartographic notes. “We don’t need two lost children to worry about.”

At that, Luffy stuck his bottom lip out even more. “But I’m so bored!”

“Let’s just leave Zoro here,” Usopp sighed from where he was laying sprawled on the lawn.

“I second that,” Sanji joined in without missing a beat.

More and more voices of agreement started joining in, including the Heart Pirates who had accompanied them on the journey between Wano and the next island, and Nami groaned, “I wish.” She paused to rub the bridge of her nose. “Anyone wanna go look for the idiot?”

“Sanji,” Usopp decided immediately.

Sanji froze in the middle of serving coffee to Robin before he turned to stare at the sniper. “Why the fuck should I go? Do it yourself,” he hissed, then turned back to the most important matter at hand. “Here you go, Robin-chan.”

Robin smiled, accepting the cup. “Thank you. But Usopp is right. You do have the uncanny ability to somehow find Zoro every time.”

"It's not like I—"

"Please, Sanji," Nami said then, giving Sanji an adorable pleading look.

Sanji knew it was on purpose.

He knew she knew he couldn't say no to a lady's request.

But somehow, Sanji couldn’t bring himself to care. He was a proud slave to love, after all. "Of course, Nami-san."

Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Usopp quickly covering his mouth to stifle his snort; Sanji simply clicked his tongue and threw his serving tray at his head. He was only slightly disappointed when Usopp barely managed to avoid the projectile before finally bursting out in uncontrollable laughter.

Bastard.

—————

Sanji grumbled to himself as he made his way through the jungle. It wasn’t that hard to follow the trail of cut off branches and dead or unconscious animals but he couldn’t help but wonder; why him?

Why did he always have to be the one to go look for Zoro?

“Man, this is so fucking annoying!” he snapped, throwing a kick at the next animal to attack him. As if the stupid wandering mosshead wasn’t enough, why did he have to deal with the aggressive wildlife on top of that?

He was really quite done with this island; it had offered a nice variety of cooking ingredients but the bloodthirsty, man-eating bunnies got really old, really fast.

“Oi, Marimo! I know you’re around here! We need to set sail already!” 

Silence. Sanji couldn’t say he was surprised.

He lit himself a cigarette, taking a few drags before he tried again, “Hey, Number 32!”

“What did you just call me, shitty Cook?!”

There we go, Sanji thought to himself, quickly wiping the smile that pulled on his lips off his face. He did not just think Zoro was cute for immediately raising up to the challenge. 

Absolutely not.

So, instead he put on an annoyed expression before making his way through the bushes in the direction the voice had come from.

“There you are, stray Marimo,” he sighed when he made it to the other side and the Marimo in question came to view.

He was standing there, a few of the murder bunnies lying at his feet, a defiant look on his face as he asked, "What do you want, Curly?"

Sanji raised an eyebrow. "Do you realise what time it is? We were supposed to be long gone by now."

"It's not my fault you moved the ship," Zoro snapped.

He obviously tried to sound angry, but at the same time, his eyes veered off to the side, the man refusing to look at Sanji as his ears turned red—although that might have just been the setting sun playing tricks, Sanji chose to believe otherwise. Zoro crossed his arms over his chest before he grumbled something about hopeless crewmates who always got lost the second Zoro took his eyes off them.

Sanji rolled his eyes, biting back the laugh that threatened to bubble out of his chest. Always the same story, always the same excuse.

"The ship hasn't moved since this morning," Sanji said matter-of-factly. "Can't you just admit you're completely fucking lost?"

"No." He sounded so much like a petulant child that this time…

This time Sanji couldn't hold the laughter back. Shaking his head, he sighed, amusement still clear in his voice, “You’re hopeless.”

“Shut up! I’m gonna cut you,” Zoro growled, obviously not happy with Sanji’s teasing—or his glee—while his hand reached for Enma.

Sanji snorted before taking a slow drag of his cigarette, his lips twisting into a challenging smirk as he stepped forward, coming to stand right in front of the swordsman. “As if you could even find me, with your sense of direction.”

“As if I need to look for your ass when you’re right next to me!” Zoro shot back just before the tell-tale metallic sound of a katana leaving its scabbard reached Sanji’s ears.

Taking that as his cue, Sanji moved quickly. He bent his knees slightly, lowering his centre of gravity before shooting forward. Quickly taking his cigarette out of his mouth, he stepped far into Zoro’s personal space, then straightened up, pressing his lips to Zoro’s in a quick kiss.

Zoro froze, his reaction making a smirk pull on Sanji’s lips. “I win.”

Finally, Zoro woke up; resheathing Enma in the most unhappy fashion that he possibly could, the Marimo clicked his tongue in annoyance before he hissed, “That was dirty.”

“I don’t remember there being any rules against it,” Sanji said with a shrug. “Now come on, the others are waiting.”

Turning around, Sanji started heading back the way he came but before he could so much as reach the nearest tree, a hand on his wrist stopped him. He paused, his eyes dropping to where Zoro's fingers held onto his hand before slowly looking up at Zoro questioningly.

He was looking straight at Sanji, an unreadable expression on his face as his grip only tightened. Sanji wanted to ask what was wrong but as soon as he opened his mouth, he closed it again. Seconds passed while the two of them simply stared at each other, neither saying anything, unspoken tension rising until Zoro finally moved.

Or more accurately, pulled on Sanji's hand until he stumbled forward, nearly tripping over his own feet and tumbling to the ground.

Catching himself at the last second, Sanji glared at Zoro. "Oi, Marimo, what the fuck are you—"

Before he could finish the sentence, all words were stolen straight from his mouth when warm lips pressed against his own. Sanji's eyes widened in surprise; for a moment, he couldn't even process what was happening, much less react in any way. He simply stood there, letting Zoro kiss him, the hand that had been gripping his wrist releasing its grip to instead slide down Sanji's palm to lace their fingers together.

It was only when Zoro’s tongue ran over his lips that Sanji’s mind caught up. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice deceivingly level considering the speed at which his heart was racing.

“What do you think?” Zoro said while rolling his good eye. He didn’t move away the slightest bit either and Sanji could feel every word, every breath on his skin, sending shivers down his spine. “If you were going to do it, you should have done it right.” As soon as Zoro finished talking, he leaned forward, closing the distance again.

This time, Sanji didn’t protest.

He returned the kiss easily, a small laugh escaping him as their lips moved against each other with practised ease, his cigarette slipping through his fingers and falling to the ground when Sanji’s hands automatically wrapped around Zoro’s shoulders. He’d have to remember to pick it up later… but right now, all thought escaped him.

The shitty swordsman was the only thing on his mind; the taste, the smell, the feeling of Zoro against him was familiar, warm and comforting, and it was something Sanji would honestly never get tired of. Just like he would never get tired of the butterflies that fluttered in his stomach every time Zoro touched him like this—not that he'd ever admit to there being any butterflies.

Sanji welcomed the hand that soon found its way on his hip, pushing him back and guiding him until his back hit a tree. Sanji gasped at the impact, a curse on his lips that got swallowed by the tongue that slipped past them. Sanji couldn’t say he was complaining.

Not breaking their kiss, Zoro let go of Sanji’s hand to instead reach upward. Seconds later, warm fingers brushed Sanji's cheek; he had to stop himself from moaning when Zoro buried his fingers in his hair, scratching the scalp slightly. 

Zoro was absolutely doing it on purpose, Sanji knew.

When he cracked his eyes open a little to glare at his partner only to see the cheeky glint in Zoro's gaze, Sanji decided it was high time to push back.

He pulled away slightly, just enough for Zoro to let him go, before going straight for Zoro's neck. Weak point for weak point, right?

Sanji relished in the gasp that Zoro couldn't bite back as soon as Sanji started sucking and licking at the skin just below the swordsman's ear.

But that wasn't enough for Sanji.

He let his hands trace the hems of Zoro's coat before finally slipping them inside, running them over the warm skin of his stomach, then his sides, pushing Zoro's coat open more and more.

Every sharp breath Zoro took, every slight tug on his hair… it was all just making him feel hotter, his skin tingling all over.

If they didn't stop soon…

Suddenly, something rustled behind them.

“Fucking seriously?!” Zoro groaned and Sanji could do nothing but agree with the sentiment.

Moving in tandem, both Zoro and Sanji pulled away from each other, Enma leaving its scabbard at an impossible speed while Sanji’s leg shot out, scalding blue flames licking at his foot. It took only a second for all the fucking bunnies who had attacked all at once to fall to the ground, whimpering after the pirates’ joint attack.

A single second… yet even that was enough to completely murder the mood.

Sanji sighed deeply, pulling out a new cigarette and lighting it, taking a long, long drag. Then another and another. Finally, after most of it was gone, he felt the frustration subside. He turned to look at Zoro, who was still standing there with his katana in hand, looking like he was about to slaughter the entire bunny population on this goddamned island.

Sighing again, Sanji took the few steps that separated them now. Closing his hand into a fist, he sharply knocked Zoro over the head. “Let’s go, Marimo. Or the ship will leave without us.”

It took Zoro a moment to move, but then he slowly put Enma away, his face twisted in annoyance as he looked back at Sanji. “You’re making this up to me later.”

“For what, the fucking bunnies? Forget it,” Sanji hissed before he turned around to lead the way back.

“For getting me all worked up for nothing, you ass,” Zoro grumbled and Sanji could only roll his eyes. "You're worse than the damn bunnies—" 

“Not my fault you’re such a horny Marimo. Also—where are you going?” 

Zoro froze at his words, slowly turning around, obviously searching for where the hell Sanji was talking from. Only when their eyes met, did he open his mouth to reply. “To the ship.” He sounded so confident when he said it, too.

Sanji wanted to rip his hair out.

“I’m literally leading the way! What are you, a toddler?!”

“What did you just say?!”

—————

It was almost dark already by the time two animal noses twitched on the decks of the allied pirate ships.

“Captain, Black Leg and Roronoa are back!” Bepo called from the Tang.

At the same time, Chopper rushed off from where he was playing with Usopp and Penguin, jumping onto the Sunny’s railing to look out towards the island, waving one of his hoofed hands at the two. “Sanji! Zoro! You’re late!” He sounded entirely too cute considering the scolding tone in his voice.

“Fucking finally,” Law muttered to himself, prompting Straw Hat and Nico Robin—who were the closest to him—to snicker at his suffering. As if it was his fault that he had been forced to sit there doing nothing for hours.

“Chopper, can you throw us the ladder?” Black Leg called toward the little reindeer who immediately tapped his forehead with his hoof and ran off.

“What, not gonna show off with your Sky Walk?” Zoro asked.

As expected, Black Leg immediately snapped back, “Are you asking me to carry you up there, princess Marimo?”

Law couldn’t help but roll his eyes. These two really couldn’t go five minutes without fighting—or flirting?—awkwardly, could they?

Before the exchange could escalate, Chopper interrupted the starting fight. “Sorry, here you go!” he called as he dropped down the ladder. “By the way, are you holding hands so Zoro doesn’t get lost again?”

Immediately, complete and utter silence settled over the two ships. It was almost as if even the ocean froze in its tracks, the crashing of the waves fading away while eyes went wide and mouths fell open. Holding hands? Those two?

The same two idiots who had been dancing around each other for as long as Law had known them, the same two idiots who kept making their fighting look like foreplay, the same two idiots who had been filling the Thousand Sunny with unbearable sexual tension constantly? Without ever doing anything about it?

Were the innocent, uninvolved people like Law, the people who were forced to watch them… finally free?

The rope ladder creaked, and the sound echoed around the deck like thunder. No one moved, just waiting quietly in a trance until finally, Black Leg’s head poked out from behind the railing. First his hair, then his face.

His red, burning face.

He looked like a tomato with blond hair and if he wasn’t so stunned, Law would have laughed in his face at the sight he made. As it was, he could only follow the Straw Hats’ lead and stare blankly as the man reached the deck, his eyes glued to the floor; he still refused to look at anyone when he muttered something about dinner and all but ran to the kitchen.

“Impossible,” Nami whispered and suddenly, the spell broke.

“Oh my, I can barely believe my eyes! Although I don’t have eyes!” Brook said.

“We’re getting drunk tonight, oh my god! The tension will finally be gone!” Usopp shouted, his fists shooting high into the air with a relieved laugh and everyone else cheered in agreement.

Just then, Zoro hauled himself over the railing. “Oh, shut up,” he snapped, a highly annoyed expression on his face as he glowered at his crewmates one after the other.

“Hey, man. It’s your own fault we’re super happy about it!” Franky shot back, pointing an accusing finger at Zoro, then at the kitchen to indicate Sanji. “It was high time you two got together.”

Zoro rolled his eyes, opening his mouth to growl something back, but Chopper interrupted him.

“What happened? Why is everyone acting so weird?” he asked innocently.

A few glances were exchanged before Penguin oh-so-helpfully explained, “Because someone finally kissed and made up.”

“Eh?” Chopper let out, his face scrunching up in an adorable, confused frown. “But Zoro and Sanji have kissed before…?”

And the heavy silence was back as this time, everyone stared at Chopper in shock.

“What? What?!” the poor reindeer cried, completely panicked, looking around as if begging for answers.

“You’re fucking kidding me,” Usopp groaned, burying his face in his hands in despair. “Are you telling me we’ve been dealing with all this sexual tension even while it was being resolved? Is there no hope for us?!”

Nami, on the other hand, strode over to Zoro, poking at his chest angrily. “Why didn’t you tell us? When did this start? Do you know how much money I have riding on you idiots?!”

“It’s not my fault you bet on stupid shit!” Zoro hissed back, slapping Nami’s hand away. “And it’s not like we were hiding it when none of you asked!”

“Are you listening to this asshole?” Penguin said, strangely frustrated for a man from a completely different pirate crew.

Law raised his eyebrow while shooting Penguin a look. “You bet on this, didn’t you?”

Penguin only shrugged, not even having the decency to look ashamed. “What can I say, I can never resist drama that doesn’t involve me in any way.”

Law sighed. He was surrounded by idiots.

At that, Straw Hat started laughing. The sound was loud and carefree, reverberating around the entire ship and through Law’s chest from where Luffy was leaning against him, sounding like a happy chime that slowly made everyone relax.

Nami threw her arms into the air and huffed before leaving Zoro alone. Usopp let go of a deep breath and shot Zoro one last glare. Nico Robin only chuckled at the crew’s reactions, looking so relaxed the entire time that Law wondered whether she had had an inkling about Zoro and Black Leg’s relationship.

Even Law felt a tug on the corners of his mouth, a smile trying to force its way on his lips.

But then, something else dawned on him.

“Oh my god,” he groaned, his head falling forward until his face was buried in the crook of Luffy’s neck. “I’m never setting foot in the crow’s nest ever again.”

“Why?” Luffy asked.

Law marvelled at his innocence. “Why? Because they definitely fucked in there!”

“Torao, don’t be a baby,” Nami said, and Law could basically hear her eyes rolling.

“Well, excuse me for not wanting to touch anything that anyone might have fucked on,” Law snapped back, not even bothering to look up and simply hoping his voice would convey the disgust he felt.

A beat of silence passed.

“Torao…” Franky started slowly. “Luffy’s literally sitting on your lap right now.”

“I don’t see your point,” Law muttered back.

Law felt Luffy nod in agreement. “Yeah, we’re not fucking anywhe—mmmfff!”

“Not one more word in front of Chopper,” Nico Robin said firmly, a clear threat in her voice.

“Nico-ya, he’s a doctor. I’m pretty sure he knows how this—” Suddenly, a bodiless hand slapped over his mouth, probably in the same fashion as it did over Luffy’s.

“I don’t care. Not. One. Word.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake…

When Law finally looked up to give her an unimpressed stare, he startled at the glare she was giving him. Suddenly, he remembered who she was—Nico Robin, the Demon Child; someone who had been on the run from the entire world all alone for twenty years. This was a woman who had definitely killed before… and who certainly didn’t look like she was above murder now.

Law was ashamed to admit he was too scared to protest her demands right then.

Thankfully, before anyone else could notice how he froze in fear, a loud yawn attracted everyone’s attention. “If we’re done here, I’m going to take a nap.” Zoro announced, then took a step forward.

Immediately, Nami, Usopp, and Penguin turned to him, identical sharp, positively greedy looks in their eyes.

“Not before we find out who won that bet, you don’t!”

[delicatesmilesys]

*:ꔫ:* Mistletoe Kiss (Willford)

author's note: Willow is my best friend Robin's oc. They have given me permission to use their character for this oneshot. This is a Christmas present for them. I love and care about them so much.

tags: romance, christmas, mistletoe, established relationship, married couple, Stanford x oc, flirting, sfw.

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

It happened to be Christmas Eve at the mystery shack. Stanford and Stanley Pines were both Jewish so why would they be celebrating this holiday? Well because Stanely thought it would be an nice holiday for them to spend time with each other however it seems certain two individuals were thrilled about the holidays.

Willow has already decorated for the holiday season. Catalina was helping arrange the Christmas tree set in the mystery shack; everything was decked.

Stanley noticed Stanford appeared dumbfounded, he knew that this was probably a hard time for him to adjust after it had only been a year now that Stanford had been out of the portal and of course he was going to help his brother.

Stanley started walking towards Stanford. “What is wrong? Cat got your tongue?” Stanley made the comment to his brother, not considering how it would affect him.

“I’m not very used to celebrating holidays like this plus we are Jewish, we never celebrate Christmas.” Stanford exclaimed, although he wasn't sure if he remembered doing something Christmas-related, primarily because of his wife's love of the holidays.

“Well…do you see that right there?” Stanley was referring to their wives being happy about Christmas.

“Uh yes, I do, Stanley.” Stanford began to adjust his glasses, staring at Willow and Catalina.

“It doesn’t matter whether or not we are Jewish or not, you sure know better about our wives.” Stanley wrapped his arm over Stanford, teasing him slightly much to Stanford’s embarrassment.

Stanford gives a gentle sigh and walks over to his wife Willow. When Willow saw Stanford approaching her while she was busy decorating, she instantly pushed herself into him. “Ford! do you like the decorations I helped set up with Catalina?”

Stanford smiled shyly and glanced at his wife, who was wrapping her arms around him, knowing she couldn't be away from him for a moment. “I think they are just fine.” Stanford replied nonchalantly with his arms around his wife.

Catalina took this as notice and smiled smugly. “Ahem, I’ll see what Stan is up to, have fun you two!” She said before giving the two of them a wink. “Okay! I know we have a lot of catching up to do.” Willow said still holding onto Stanford's gratefully.

Soon enough Stanford started to walk with Willow attached to his chest holding her like a koala.

Catalina appeared with Stan in the far distance. Those two appear to be conversing about something. “I think I know a good way to get Ford in the spirits of Christmas~” Stanley raised his eyebrows in amusement and pondering what his wife was thinking. “What’s gotcha you thinkin’, Doll?~”

Catalina began to speak in Stanley's ear. “Hang up the mistletoe in the doorway~” Oh this got Stan riled up. “I’ll get to it right away~” Stanley Pines went towards the box of “Christmas” Stuff and finally he spotted the mistletoe.

“You’re still as strong as I remember, dear. Makes me wonder how long you’ve been keeping this up~” Willow began to tease him as she traced her finger on his chest while Stanford held her up wrapped around him.

Stanford turned red again before clearing his throat as they were almost close to walking towards the doorway. “For you, I’m always top in shape.” He smiled confidently before repositioning her on her feet, as his arms were a little fatigued. But that wasn’t stopping Willow from touching him anytime soon.

Stanley attaches the mistletoe and walks towards Catalina while they both watch; Willow and Stanford are now underneath the mistletoe.

They stood there together. After a slow blink, Willow recognized that they were beneath the mistletoe. Willow thought of another idea when she saw Stanford standing there. “Well, are you going to stand there or are you going to kiss me?”

Stanford’s body was frozen before taking a huge leap pulling Willow into a huge deep passionate but loving kiss. Willow was taken by surprise at how quick he was to do this. Their bodies tightened around each other for a brief period and they kissed each other's lips passionately.

Willow had to draw away from the kiss to retain her composure. Stanford’s hands resting on her hips. “What can I do to get you to kiss like that again?” Willow responded, peering up into Stanford's eyes. “We should save this for the bedroom~” Stanford immediately pulled Willow into a bridal position. Willow was caught by surprise holding onto him, “Well then, lead the way, starlight~” --------------------------------------------------

Bonus

Willow and Stanford were looking at Stanley and Catalina, who were not acting innocently because of what they had planned, particularly Catalina's scheme. “Who's idea was putting the mistletoe up?” Stanford inquired, crossing his arms, slightly embarrassed.

Stanley and Catalina gazed at each other. Catalina smiled broadly: “It was my idea.” “Plain and simple.” Catalina spoke with her hands underneath her chin. Willow giggled softly before leaning in to say this inside Catalina’s ear, “Thank you~ that really lifted up his Christmas spirit.”

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