#and then my other brother broke our trampoline

[raceweek]

being from a family of athletes is to never know peace because how has my brother just accidentally torn the door off of our fridge trying to get a glass of apple juice. it’s a monday

[gripes-withthesun]

Childhood nostalgia

Childhood Nostalgia

Suzy-hang-around - ABBA// Puff the Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul, and Mary// Lose Myself - k?d// Community - Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism// The Prelude (Book 2) - William Wordsworth// The Lumber Room - H.H. Munro// Kung Fu Hustle (2004) - Dir. Stephen Chow// Alone - Edgar Allan Poe// Slowtown - twenty one pilots

[ID/

1. Suzy was nine and I was ten/ Right at the time when boys like to think they're men/ She used to follow us at school/ We really thought that she was a little fool/ And one day we said to her/ We don't want to hurt you girl/ But you'd better/ Look for a friend of your own, Suzy-hang-around/ Better come back when you're grown, Suzy-hang-around

2. Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea/ And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee/ Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff/ And brought him strings, and sealing wax, and other fancy stuff .... A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys/ Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys/ One gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more/ And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

3. We got a little older, you left home/ I stayed behind, got high, then hit the road/ I've been just fine without you/ But I can't find no one like you/ Every now and then I think of when we broke

4. Screencaps from Community showing Jeff(Joel McHale) and Shirley(Yvette Nicole Brown) linking their arms and smiling. As they walk away the image transforms to the characters as children walking with linked arms.

5. A grey Stone/ Of native rock, left midway in the Square/ Of our small market Village, was the home/ And centre of these joys, and when, return'd/ After long absence, thither I repair'd,/ I found that it was split, and gone to build/ A smart Assembly-room that perk'd and flar'd/ With wash and rough-cast elbowing the ground/ Which had been ours. But let the fiddle scream,/ And be ye happy! yet, my Friends! I know/ That more than one of you will think with me/ Of those soft starry nights, and that old Dame/ From whom the stone was nam'd who there had sate/ And watch'd her Table with its huckster's wares/ Assiduous, thro' the length of sixty years.

6. "You are not to go into the gooseberry garden," said the aunt, changing the subject. "Why not?" demanded Nicholas. "Because you are in disgrace," said the aunt loftily. Nicholas did not admit the flawlessness of the reasoning; he felt perfectly capable of being in disgrace and in a gooseberry garden at the same moment. His face took on an expression of considerable obstinacy. It was clear to his aunt that he was determined to get into the gooseberry garden, "only," as she remarked to herself, "because I have told him he is not to."

7. Screencaps from Kung Fu Hustle showing a young girl and boy and in a flashback where the girl consoles the injured boy by offering a lollipop but he runs off. The scene transforms to show the two of them grown up now as the woman offers a similar lollipop to the man.

8. From childhood’s hour I have not been/ As others were—I have not seen/ As others saw—I could not bring/ My passions from a common spring—

9. I remember when my brother and other kids from neighboring houses/ Would get together, I'd ride my bike and my brother would ride his/ Put cards in our spokes and make our engines sound like traffic/ When using Pokemon cards, please do not use the holographics/ So bold and fearless in the risks we'd take, laugh in the face/ Of gravity as its laws we'd break/ On trampolines so high we reach for the sky/ But I do not look up anymore and I don't why]

[anonymousrobinhoodqueer]

I’m so mad. And dad. My baby bro has a younger brother who is still in FC and in a different home. He went to someone who was a friend of my moms so that they could more easily facilitate visits and family connections. The baby is almost 2 now and we have not seen him in almost a year. My mom reaches out weekly to try and get visits, they went to the circus last year and then a trampoline park. But his FM is unwilling to bring him to our house, or have my brother come over or even meet at a third location. I’ve been telling my mom for months to reach out to the department to have them manage the visits but she didn’t want to hurt the relationship with the FM. They have older siblings in different homes and the FM has not even reached out to the sisters family.

She says that she’s not comfortable with him at our house because we had a friend who went through a mental health crisis and his wife and daughter stayed with us until he was safe, and they are doing great not and have moved so she can go to grad school. While he was having trouble, we increased our home security and we’re very careful until he was admitted. They have not been here for almost 6 months.

The one time the FM reached out to have us watch the baby was right when one of my siblings was in town right before another had brain surgery. So my parents were not able to handle the added disregulation of the baby coming.

That was almost a year ago. They were supposed to have a visit last week but my mom was out of town and my dad overbooked the kids therapies. So my dad tried to reschedule, move it to the next day or to later in the day. We literally would have taken anything.

Now the FM has acted like my mom is prying into her life and overbearing.

My mother finally broke down and said she would reach out to the department to help with visitation because it’s been so long and the FM said that she’s been reporting to them monthly. What?? I don’t think she is because if she was reporting the visit trouble they would have reached out to my mom.

My mom considered this woman one of her closest friends. And this has been making me angry for months.

I just want my brother to have family connections that my other siblings have and that my mother never got.

I have a bunch of aunts and uncles out in the world I’ve never met because my mom was a closed infant adoption. And didn’t get to meet her biological family until she was an adult and I was born.

[gravitycoil]

Dream of 12/20/22

gore /

Had a family. I was the youngest out of my 3 brothers my name was Elias or something. My older brother Palacé(*) looked after me and cared for me most out of the family. When I was young I could speak and move around but some incident happened where I became paralyzed in my back and face I had to use a wheelchair mostly to get around. I could walk somehow it was just very wobbly and hard. Palacé showed me I could enjoy life still without mobility and limited speaking. We went through a lot of adventures together he had his full trust in me as I did with him. I was reluctant to try some things because I wasn't confident in my ability to execute them but he showed me I could do it. I don't quite remember what the incident was other than when it happened, I was rushed to the ER. They put metal rods in my spine and I think Palacé was the reason the incident happened? Like I think he accidentally did something to make it occur but he was very guilty or atleast he was as emotional as I was when I couldn't speak well. Palacé was always by my side at school showing me we could still do the same dumb shit even if this happened to me. I remember going to the gym room and for some reason we were both releasing very deadly scorpions under the bleachers and everyone was screaming which caused everyone to be sent home early and we were like fuck yea. I also remember one point we were moving or something like getting plane tickets and shit and Palacé looked at me to see how I felt about it and he could see I was really sad cause my mom was describing a lot of physical activities we were gonna do at the new place. I felt left out because I couldn't... do that stuff. Palacé just looks at me and gets this determined look on his face he says something like "We're going to have so much fun. Don't you worry about it" I also remember a really fucked up part where ... I don't remember how it happened but my stomach was ripped open as well as my back and one of Palacé's friends took me to the ER where, they did not take it seriously at all they were just like... well... we can't really help you because your verification isn't working. which... verification was stepping on this giant panel that recorded your shoe print (???) and I specifically remember my shoe being white and glowing green and the bottom of it had keyboard keys as a design. It was like sonic soap shoes but with elevation. lol. I then remember getting to our new house and being really shocked cause it was huge it was perfect. Palacé said I was gonna walk to it and I was like !!!?? he said he would keep a hold of me and we walked. It was like... using jello as legs and walking on a trampoline it was hard. We eventually make it and I just remember being really happy and feeling accomplished palacé just smiled at me. Last few things I remember was just random scenes before I broke my back. Hanging out with palacé. I miss that freak

dream shift

Had moved into a new house it was like. summer time or something my family were all in a pool and having fun or whatever my cats had ran out of the house and we're somewhere outside and it was stressing me out. I told everyone that I wanted to look for them and they all were pricks and rolled their eyes ignoring me. I remember I went back inside for a short break and for some fucking reason a tiger came in I was trying to scare him off and it worked eventually but I was like... wrestling with this giant ass tiger and it stressed me out even more cause I was like oh fuck what if they got eaten or killed or whatever and I was a mess. I go back outside and I just see wolves, tigers, and random stray cats that weren't mine. I try calling my cats' names but they wouldn't come. I'm like, crying at this point cause I just wanted to find them and get them back in the house. There was a large ass ladder to the pool that one of my cats had climbed and accidentally fallen off. It was a long drop like... he shouldn't have lived but he did and I'm just freaking out cause I see him fall and I just SOB cause I'm like he's dead there's no way he isn't. eventually I climb back down and see the impact on the ground he made and. somehow he went through the ground and is just chilling there. I try digging him out and my family is making fun of me? like being villains and freaks they're like "oh stop worrying Abt that cat I wish he died" LIKE??????? I got filled with so much rage but I eventually dig him out and bring him inside. I try finding my other cat and I eventually find her I don't remember details but I get her and bring her inside and im like so relieved at that point I like start crying again cause I was glad they were ok. But also I was so hot from the heat, being stressed, rage filled, and shit that I was really hot like. dangerously hot. and it kept getting hotter outside and I started to lose consciousness in and out I'm like wtf is happening I tried putting ice on me and everything but nothing really helped. Nor did my family help because they were just like it's not that hot. Go fuck yourself this is all I remember. Really messed up

[wanderlustmagician]

Honestly. Same.

I once ran a golf cart up a tree. My youngest brother dove out of a boat into CONCRETE. I dumped my other brother out the back of a six wheeler with the firewood. My middle sister used to sleepwalk, she sleep walked into the living room and bowed to my other brother like she was going to karate fight him (freaked him out so bad, still funny to this day).

When I was a kid we used to put Dawn on our trampoline, wet it down with a hose, and jump on it. Found out later that is a dangerous activity apparently.

Nerf gun WARS. It was an entire house is game, all day, no hold bars affair. Surprisingly, we never broke anything… we did however break a ceiling light playing hide and seek.

I’ll have to ask my sister for some antics she and the others have gotten up to since I moved out that I may have missed.

Hello hello ! Question ! Because now I needta to know

Which of the boys would do the usual sibling pranks on which of the others? 👀

ohohoho this is great

i think time & wind gang up on wars all the time like they did during the war of eras! also legend gets in on this occasionally bc it must be done XD

warriors and twilight don't really prank each other, but they have the 'oh i guess i have to End you' moments and wrestle a lot (cain instinct lmao). wild and twi also fall into this category, however wild loves to steadily put more and more weird shit into twi's food until he notices

hyrule is the most Notorious prankster bc he's just baby, so how could he ever?? him & sky team up and pull off the craziest shit because no one suspects them ever. four is their accomplice and distraction man

everyone knows to never mess with four pranks-wise, because whatever you did he'll quadruple (hehe) right back at you & you will regret your existence

legend just likes to haze them in the "oh you didn't know?" way bc he knows what his reputation is and they don't know enough to discount it XD

wild sneak attacks all of them without remorse. only time ever seems to catch him doing it, and they never let twilight live down the way he screamed when wild landed on him from a tree once. twi plots his revenge to this day

so fun to think about!!

[noladyme]

La Cuervo - Chapter 14

She is used to the biker-life, having grown into a woman in the familiar embrace of SAMCRO. A bad decision and a gun-shot later, she gets whisked off to Santo Padre, and put under the protection of another club. What is supposed to be a short stint in the Mayan headquarters just north of the border to Mexico, turns into something more; when la quervo begins to develop feelings for el angel - and he seems to return them in kind...

TW: violence, blood, drug use, alcohol, smut, fluff, angst

In the spirit of "The Crown Princess of Charming", this is a story about O.C. Nina and Angel Reyes. It is obviously non-canon, as characters who have passed on on Mayans M.C. are present in it, and others have been excluded completely. Nina is written as a cis-female, but I have tried to keep her race and looks as ambigous as possible. Should you find any of this story offensive, please let me know.

It wasn’t until Nina was alone, that realization struck her. She’d just agreed to leave Angel. Her Angel. The man who had brought her back to life. The thought struck her like a freight train, and she froze in place, almost literally. Her whole body went cold, and she felt like she couldn’t move for the longest time. The light in the room told her she must have sat like that for at least an hour. Finally able to move her head to look down, she looked at the crescent shaped cuts in her palms from her nails. Something wet began dripping onto them, and she found tears had begun running down her cheeks, without her even noticing it. Forcing her arm to reach for the pillow next to her, she took a deep breath, and held it to her face; before a wail like no other left her mouth. She screamed out her agony, not having felt anything like it since she’d been told that Jackson had gone through with his plan to kill himself. It was as if an actual death had occurred again; but this time it felt like her own.

After a while she put down the pillow again, and got to her feet. She opened the cabinets, and began pulling out he few belongings she’d brought to Santo Padre, and stuffed them in her backpack. Then she made the bed, and went into the small bathroom for her toothbrush. It looked so alone there, as if it missed standing next to Angel’s. She tore herself from the thought, and went to put that into her bag as well. Only the gun and her inhaler were left, and she went to pick them up, when she noticed the phone Bishop had given her laying on the counter by the sink. She picked it up, and sat down on the cot again.

She wasn’t sure who to call. No one could change her situation as it was; but she needed something – anything – to help her through. Just a voice to remind her that it wasn’t all for nothing. Looking at Jackson’s journal and the photo of his boys – which she’d saved for last – the answer came to her. She dialed up the number, praying to god that it was still the same as last time she’d used it. The call was picked up at the second ring.

“Hello?”. “Wendy? It’s Nina”, she said. “Hey, Nina. How is everything?”, Wendy replied. Nina heard a ruckus in the background. “Thomas, no more cookies…! Sorry. Someone decided sugar was a good replacement for lunch... Chibs told me you were going to Mexico”. Nina swallowed thickly. “Yeah… No, not really. I’m somewhere else”. “Well, I hope you’re enjoying yourself. What I’d give for a vacation…”, Wendy said. Nina knew she was just kidding. Wendy had never been happier than since she moved to the farm with the boys and Nero. “Yeah, well; vacation is over”, Nina muttered. “I was wondering if I could talk to the kids for a minute”. “Of course! They miss you”, Wendy said. There was another sound of something crashing in the background. “Sorry, I need to give Tommy a bath. No! We don’t wipe peanut butter on our faces…!”. Another crash. “Goddammit. Abel! Come to talk to aunt Nina while I help your brother… Take care, Nina”. Nina couldn’t help but smile a little, as she heard Wendy chase Tommy around the room. There was a short scrambling noise, before someone spoke again. “Hi, aunt Nina!”, a bright, young voice said on the other end. “Abel… Hi, buddy”, Nina said, instantly falling back into tears; but trying to stifle her sniveling. “How are you doing?”. “I’m ok… But Tommy broke my supersoaker…”. “Aw, that sucks. I’m sure he’s sorry”, Nina said. “Yeah, mommy Wendy made him apologize… You sound sad…”, Abel said. Nina wiped her eyes, as if the boy was right there in front of her. “No, I’m not sad. I just smelled your feet through the phone, and it made me cry”, she replied. “No, you didn’t!”, Abel laughed. “When are you gonna come visit? There’s a mule here, and we named him after you, even though he’s a boy; because daddy always said you were stubborn as a mule. And we have a trampoline, which is really cool, ‘cuz you can jump high. When I stretch up my arms when I jump, I’m almost as tall as Nero! And…”. “That’s great Abel. I’d love to see that…”. Nina sighed and closed her eyes, trying to picture the boy in front of her. He’d probably grown quite a bit, even after the picture Wendy had sent her was taken. “Are you being good for mommy Wendy?”. “Yeah, I eat my broccoli and everything. And I help Nero clean the horse-stalls”, Abel said. “That’s good. And you’re doing good in school?”, she asked, having to wipe her nose a bit. “Yeah… Do you have a cold? Your voice is funny”, Abel replied. “No, it’s still your feet, stinky!”, Nina chuckled. She heard bikes arriving on the lot, and felt another crying fit threatening to attack. “Look, buddy; I gotta run. I just wanted to make sure you were ok”. “I’m ok. Come visit us soon!”. “I promise, Abel. I love you!”. “Love you too. Bye!”. Abel hung up the call before Nina could say anything more. She quickly slipped the photo into the journal, and put it in her bag, before getting to her feet to face Angel.

---

The Mayans all looked to be in a good mood, when Nina opened the trailer door to step outside. EZ, Gilly and Coco went to gather the loaded sleep rolls, while Angel turned to look at her; a bright smile on his face.

Daniella came out of the clubhouse, and stood on the porch. She smiled shortly at Nina, before Angel noticed the blonde, and began approaching her. “Dani, we gotta talk”, he said. “Angel!”, Nina called out. He turned around, and looked at her confusedly. “Give me a minute”, he replied. “No. Now”, Nina declared, and stepped back inside the trailer. The Mayans all looked confused at this point, but didn’t intervene. Angel frowned, and gave Daniella a short look. She shrugged, before looking at Nina; palming her phone. Don’t try anything, she seemed to be saying. “Don’t go anywhere”, Angel said to her, and walked towards the trailer. “I’ll be right here, baby”, Daniella said.

Once inside the trailer, Angel closed the door. “Nina, what the fuck? I was just about to…”. “Daniella’s not the snitch. I talked to her”, Nina cut him off. “You what?”, Angel growled. “Girl talk”, Nina said. “She’s just here for you. Not to sell out your club”. She made herself keep an indifferent face while she spoke. “You should give her a chance”. “I’m not… What are you talking about?”.

Nina sighed deeply, and took a step back. “You and me… That was never gonna work out”. He tried to reach for her hand, but she turned around to throw her inhaler and gun into the bag. “Nina… What are you doing?”, Angel asked. “I’m leaving… Going home”, she replied. “Or somewhere else. I haven’t decided yet”. “You’re not going anywhere!”, Angel exclaimed, and yanked her bag out of her hands. “What the fuck is going on?”. Nina clenched her fists to hide the fact that her hands were shaking. Angel wouldn’t let her go unless she did something drastic. She swallowed thickly, and met his eyes with an indifferent gaze. “You people can’t protect me. I’m safer with SOA; what happened to Camille is proof of that”, she said. The furrow between Angel’s brows was deeper than ever. “I wasn’t gonna tell you this, but I talked to SAMDINO. I’m gonna take up Packer’s offer”. Angel looked like he’d been punched in the gut with a sledgehammer. “Packer… You wanna go be with Packer…”, he croaked. “Yeah… He’s… We’ve got history”, Nina lied. Angel’s expression was growing pained, but in spite of wanting to take him in her arms, and comfort him, Nina had to continue her ruse. “You said I was too good for this life. I’m not. I just want more than what you can give me. Queen of SAMDINO is the right step for me”.

She tried taking her bag back from Angel, but he threw it behind him; and grabbed a hold of her shoulders. “This is bullshit. What happened?”, he said. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to stay here”, Nina replied. “I’m sorry about that year I owe the club, but I’ll try to get some money, and have Chibs pay you whatever Bishop thinks I owe”. “This isn’t about money. You said you love me!”, Angel said, his voice breaking. Nina couldn’t say she didn’t; the words simply would not form in her mouth. She closed her eyes to avoid meeting Angel’s gaze, and let out a deep breath. “This isn’t about whatever I said or… felt”, she finally said. “We should have ended this the night we first slept together. It shouldn’t have gone further”. “Cuervo…”, Angel tried. “We’re done”, Nina declared, and forced his hands off her shoulders, before pushing past him, and grabbing her bag. “I’m sorry”. She almost ran out of the trailer, knowing Angel would physically try to stop her if she didn’t. “Nina!”, he called after her. She looked towards the porch; and through a haze of unshed tears, she saw Daniella smiling as she went.

Before anyone had a chance to stop her, Nina slipped into the front office, and dug out the small cashbox Chucky kept there. She felt bad for taking money from it, but she needed cash for wherever she was going. A few notes in hand, she ran off the lot, and down the road. Avoiding getting found in Santo Padre was difficult, as Nina had spent very little time away from the scrap yard. She knew she had to work fast to get as far away as possible, as soon as possible. There was no doubt in her mind that Angel would try to come after her – he was probably already on his way – and if he didn’t, Bishop might, to get her to fulfill her one-year promise.

Once out on the main road, she flagged down a car, and convinced the driver that she needed to get to a bus station; because her brother was sick, and she had to go see him. She was only half lying, she realized, as there was really only one place in the world she wanted to go in that moment. She had to go see her brother.

---

It took a little over a day to make the trip back to north California. The cash Nina had taken from the scrapyard could only get her so far by bus, and she had to hitch rides the rest of the way. Each time she heard the sound of a motorbike, or saw anyone wearing leather, she had the instinct to duck her head. She wasn’t sure what she was afraid of. Clearly, her cover wasn’t blown yet. Daniella wanted her alive, and if there was another snitch, they didn’t seem to be focused on her. It might have been the shame of how she’d run; how she’d been too weak to fight Daniella for what she wanted. Then again, that shame would have been greater and even more devastating, if fighting back had meant it would hurt her nephews. Ultimately, she was just distraught; and only wanted to speak with one person – even if he couldn’t reply.

It was just past midnight, when Nina finally made it to Redwood Memorial Cemetery, just outside of Charming. She’d gotten used to the heat in Santo Padre, and it was a cold night. With nothing more than a light jacket to cover herself, she was shivering as she walked down the rows of gravestones. She halted for a moment by a white stone, engraved with the name John Thomas Teller. Taking a moment to brush some stray leaves from the top of it, Nina sent a thought to the man who’d sired one of the most important people in her life; before moving on. Someone had left a bouquet of lilies on Tara’s grave. Her coworkers at St. Thomas, Nina figured. She chided herself for not having visited the grave more often, but coming to the cemetery had been painful the last couple of years. A fresh grave nearby sported multiple flower arrangements, and as no one was around, Nina nabbed a few roses from it, and left them next to the lilies. “Abel and Thomas are loved and safe. Sleep tight”, she whispered to the stone.

The last ten yards she had to walk towards her end goal felt like miles. A cold gush of wind made Nina shudder, and she threw her arms around herself; trying to rub some heat into them.

Jackson’s stone looked lonely, in spite of all the other’s surrounding it. It was like he had been in the last year of his life; surrounded by people, but alone in his pain. At the same time, it was incredibly peaceful; like it should be. He’d found rest from his torment and sorrow. Nina imagined him riding his bike down an ethereal highway; his father next to him, and Tara riding pivot. “Fucking soppy”, Nina chuckled to herself.

She sat down on the ground next to the stone, and ran her fingertips over the lettering. Jackson Nathaniel Teller. “I miss you…”, she began. She chewed her lips, and wiped away a stray tear. After a moment searching for the right words, she finally sighed. “I am so angry with you, Jackson. You left me… And I love you as well. I love you for everything you taught me about being a good person; which just makes me even more angry, because I’ll never be able to live up to the example you set… I fucked up. I took so many wrong turns after you died; even though I promised… I know you expected more from me, and I’m so sorry; but I’m not strong enough to…”. The stray tears had become two steady streams falling from her eyes. “You said, be happy… And I was really happy for the first time in what felt like forever. But I can’t be happy, and also live up to your example of protecting your family… My family”. She pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes, as if trying to force herself to stop crying. “Your boys are safe, and I’m gonna keep them that way. That means breaking my promise of being happy to you, but I also know it’s what you would do… So, I guess in some way, I’m still doing what you taught me…”. She took a deep breath, and finally the tears stilled.

Nina moved behind the stone, and leaned her back against it; as she had sat back-to-back with Jackson on the roof of the old clubhouse in Charming, before the explosion. She remembered how her whole body would rumble along with Jax’s; as he laughed at whatever ridiculous thing she would tell him about her day – or the time she’d told him she was planning to drop out of high school, and sign up with CaraCara once she turned 18. Yeah, that’s not happening, darlin’. I’ll tie your ass to the seat, until you’re wearing that cap and gown. I don’t wanna see my little sister’s naked ass on camera. It was that conversation, and his response, that made her keep the fact that she’d quit community college hidden for a full week; before Chucky sold her out. A pang of pain struck her heart as she remembered that she hadn’t even said goodbye to the good-humored little man.

After a long moment, Nina began speaking again “I know I can’t live in memories, but it’s the closest thing to happiness that I have now… And I want to tell you about him”. She took a deep breath, almost as nervous as if Jackson would have been able to respond. “His name is Angel… and you would hate him”, she chuckled. “He’s a biker… surprise! Bet you didn’t see that coming… He’s smug, and a smartass; and a horny little shit… He’s also a Mayan… I know! But he’s also… so kind and full of life… and sofucking hot… which is something I guess you didn’t need to know”. She chewed her lower lip, and closed her eyes, seeing Angel in front of her. “He’s got this dimple between his eyebrows when he gets frustrated or confused – which is quite often, if I’m gonna be honest… And he’s so much smarter and warm and lovable than he gives himself credit for. I’ve never felt more loved and cared for, than when I was with him… I mean, I felt that from you, and from Filip and the rest; but… This was different, because I wasn’t just a sister or a friend. I love him. Like love him…”. She frowned. “But it’s over. I had to end it”.

The cold was getting to her, so the shivers from her pain mixed with ones of freezing. She hadn’t eaten or drank anything for more than a day, and she was exhausted. She looked around her, not ready to leave; and not really knowing where to go anyway. Opening her backpack, Nina got out the journal, and opened a random page; running her fingers over the handwritten words. “Know that the decisions that you make effect everyone and everything, along with yourself. It has taken me a long time to realize that, and I wish I would have sooner. And as much as I want to help you, tell you what to do; I can't. Those choices will be yours, and yours alone. The only advice I can give you, is to examine who you are as a person and what you choose as your path in your life. Find your own truth. It will lead you to the things you love”. “I wish you could help me too”, she whispered. “I don’t know what my path is, and I can’t promise to get over this. I can’t promise that I will be happy; and we both know me well enough to know, that I’m not gonna handle this well… So, I’m just not gonna make any of those promises; it wouldn’t be honest of me if I did…”. She clutched the journal against her chest, and fished the .38 out of the bag; holding it in her hand. Nina sat for a long time, just looking at it. “I’m gonna sleep now. And then I’m gonna drink, and smoke, and try to get laid… and do everything else unhealthy, until I can finally become numb enough to… not chose your path”.

She had nothing else to say; simply couldn’t find the words. Instead, she curled up on the cold ground, closed her eyes; and let sleep take her over.

---

“Nina?”. She heard footsteps heading her way. Filip looked down at her disheveled state, and then at the gravestone and the gun in her hand; and his face dropped. “She’s here”, he said. Tig and Happy came up behind him. “Shit, muffin. What happened?”, Tig asked. Happy frowned. “Chibs, why is she here?”. “Not now, Hap’”, Filip said. “Let’s just get her out of here. Get the gun”. One of them scooped her into their arms; she was too exhausted to notice who…

---

The radio was turned all the way up, and she was swaying her hips to the music.

“Nina, get off the counter!”, Filip called out from across the room. He looked almost angry. Nina took a sip of her beer, and stretched her arms into the air. “Why? I thought the party was about to start…”, she laughed. Filip walked over to her, and wrapped his arms around her legs, making her fall over his shoulder. “Yes. A children’s birthday party. This is an ice cream shop, you lush”, he growled, and carried her out the back door; setting her down at the foot of the stairs going up to the actual SAMCRO clubhouse. She noticed Rat smiling apologetically at the arriving guests; which consisted of a group of 7-yearolds, and the flabbergasted mother of the birthday-boy. “Tell them I’m sorry”, Nina whispered very loudly to Filip, before looking towards the mother. “I’m sorry!”, she yelled.

Filip dragged her up the stairs, and more or less threw her on one of the leather couches. “Jesus Christ, Nina…”, he sighed exasperatedly. “We do actually need the front of this operation functioning”. “Pfft”, Nina sputtered. “Everyone in town knows what this place is. You’re leather clad bikers who sell guns, for fucks sake! I need a drink”. She went to get off the couch, but Filip pushed her back down, and took the beer bottle from her hand. “You’ve had enough”, he said. “Get some sleep”. “No sleep ‘til Charming!”, Nina sang. “You’re in Charming", Tig said, having come over from the bar area. He snatched her pack of smokes from her, before she could get them from the coffee table, and held out a glass of water. Nina scrunched up her nose. “Fish pee in that”, she said. Tig sat down, and lifted the glass to her lips. “Don’t make me hold your nose”, he said. The water looked a little murky, but Nina accepted the glass, and drank it all, before throwing it into the air. Filip caught it mid-air, and rolled his eyes. “Buzz-kill”, Nina sneered.

She leaned back in her seat, before suddenly, her stomach began rumbling violently. Tig sprang for a trashcan, and held it in front of her; just in time for Nina to hurl a week's worth of alcohol and Happy’s scrambled eggs into it. “What was in that?”, Filip grunted. “Bit of charcoal”, Tig said. “Better than taking her to get her stomach pumped at St. Thomas’”. “I hate you…”, Nina heaved between two streams of vomit leaving her mouth. “I know, muffin. I love you too”, Tig smiled, and stroked her back.

After what seemed like hours, Nina finally had nothing left inside her to throw up, and she curled up on the couch. “Now I’m sober… thanks”, she said sarcastically. “Give me my cigarettes”. Filip went to get her bag, and dug out her toothbrush; handing it to her. “This is all you’re putting in your mouth for now”, he said. “Add toothpaste. You smell like death”. Nina disgruntledly took the toothbrush from him, and got on her feet to go to the bathroom; grabbing the toothpaste from her bag on the way.

Once she’d finished brushing her teeth, and splashed some cold water in her face, she went back into the bar area. “You’ve kept me here for days. I wanna go back to my apartment”, she said. “You can’t. Lyla’s using it as a set today”, Tig said. Nina groaned. “They’re gonna get porn-cum on my sheets”, she said. “Wouldn’t be the first time. What was that fella’s name again…? Kirk?”, Filip laughed, and went behind the bar to pour himself a scotch, and fill a mug of coffee. Happy and T.O. came up the stairs as they spoke. “I just remember him as; Please-god-no-I-swear-I’ll-never-talk-to-her-again-guy”, Tig said indifferently. “I think Opie took care of that one”. “Nah, that was Jax himself”, Happy said. “He’s teaching history in Milwaukee now”. “The history of his once functioning penis, I gather”, Filip muttered and looked at Nina, who’d sat down by a table. “Did he know you were 17?”. “I was 19!”, Nina sneered. “And his name was… Fuck, I can’t remember… Look, call Lyla, and then take me home!”.

Filip sat down across from her, and slid the coffee over the table. Nina took a welcome sip of it. “I don’t trust you on your own”, he said softly. “Is that why you won’t give me back my gun?”, she muttered. “You remind me too much of your brother at the moment”, he replied. Rage and sadness streamed through her body, and Nina got up; kicking her chair hard, making it fall to the floor. “Then give me a goddamn bike, and I’ll hit the road. There are trucks enough out there!”. She speed across the room, trying to reach the stairs; but T.O. got in her way, and grabbed her shoulders. He pushed her backwards into Happy’s arms. He picked her up like she weighed nothing more than a small child, and deposited her on the couch. He looked down at her with enraged eyes, tears forming in the corners of them. “Don’t ever say that again! Ever!”, he growled. Nina was shook, and suddenly her body began quaking. She sobbed quietly, and covered her eyes with her hands. Happy sat down next to her, and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry”, she whimpered. “I know, princess”. He rocked her back and forth, and kissed the top of her head.

Nina looked up, and was struck by each of the Sons’ expressions; ranging from sad, to angry, to pained. “I can’t stop fucking up… All I do is hurt people…”, she sobbed. Filip reached his hands out, and Happy released her to take them, and be pulled into the president’s embrace. “You are pure light, my love”, he said, before cupping her tear-streaked face in his hands. “Stop trying to snuff it out… I’m not talking about threatening to off yourself; we both know that will never happen, because we won’t allow it”. He pressed his forehead to hers. “You have to stop thinking of yourself like a failure not worthy of happiness. Stop killing that flame inside you”. “But I can’t be happy…”, Nina croaked. “If I try to be…”. She halted herself. She hadn’t told anyone of her deal with Danielle. “Tell me…”, Filip said. “I can’t”, Nina replied resolutely. “It’s… life or death”.

She pulled herself out of his grasp, and went for her cigarettes; which Tig had put on the top shelf behind the bar. He didn’t try to stop her. “Everything we do is life or death”, T.O. said. It was the first words he’d spoken since he’d arrived, but they were poignant. Nina lit her cigarette, and hesitantly met his eyes. “This is different”, she said. “If it was just… No”. She took a draw of her cigarette, picked up the chair from the floor, and sat down by the table again. “This is how it is now. I’m home, and I’ll try to… be better”.

They were interrupted by Quinn coming up the stairs. He looked around at the emotional faces in the room, and frowned. “Did you guys watch the Notebook again?”, he asked with a smirk. “Whatever; wrap it up. We got the in-laws incoming”. Nina frowned in confusion. “What’s going on?”, she asked. Filip gave her a half smile. “You wanted to go home; didn’t you…?”.

A roar of motorcycles sounded from outside, and Nina looked out of the window. A group of bikes came down the street, led by a brusque looking man on a roadking – handlebars high as the sky.

---

tag: @cole-winchester @doloreschanal

[crimsonbubble]

tw// body image issues, weight, vague body shaming, mention of wall sex at the beginning

as much as my brain loves the idea of wall sex, my body says otherwise

im more on the bigger and thicker size, so the chance of someone actually being able to hold me is low

ive been on the heavier weight side of things for basically my entire life, so I've always been the one carrying

that also reminds me of the time a couple years ago (around 2015-2017 I think) when I was in my friends backyard watching him and a few of our other friends jump on the trampoline

they had their fun and then a few days later, when we were in his backyard again, what he said to me actually tore me apart

he said and i quote, "you can't go on the trampoline because you broke it last time."

mind you the first time that we were in his backyard, I didn't even go on the trampoline and here he is blaming me for breaking his trampoline when I didn't even set foot on it

and i tried to make it seem that what he said didn't affect me, but I ended up going home like not even 5 minutes later

I've told no one about this until now, not even my brother who I share almost everything with

if you're reading this, I want you to know that your body is beautiful, no one can tell you otherwise

the size and shape of your body doesn't define how beautiful you are, it'll only enhance the beauty you already have

[gojifan97]

Dads For Deku-Family Bonding

“Alright Izuku, are you ready to come out?” said Gentle, knocking on Izuku’s door. La Brava was standing a little behind Gentle, staring expectedly at the door.

“Y-yeah! I’m ready!”

“Excellent, then show us what the newest member of our show will look like!” said Gentle, dramatically flourishing his arms. After all a showman must always be practicing, he never knew when the camera would turn on.

“Behold…” Izuku said. The door slammed open and Izuku leapt out, “KILLER RABBIT!” He landed on the floor and struck what seemed intended to be an intimidating pose. Seemed to being the operative term.

This wasn’t helped by his costume. It looked like a giant bunny costume. It consisted of a black jumpsuit, with elbow and knee pads, a dark green waistcoat with gray geometric highlights (how did he even get that?), a utility belt partially hidden by the coat, white gardener’s gloves, his red sneakers (throwing off the color scheme), a dark mouthpiece with a fanged grin painted on the front, and a cowl that covered his head topped by massive bunny ears. All in all, he looked ridiculous.

Gentle struggled to hold in his laughter. Beside him, he saw La Brava doing the same. He began to frantically fake-cough to get it out of his system.

“Gentle are you alright?” Izuku asked running up to him. The failed attempt at being intimidating now replaced with his regular sweet and harmless demeanor.

“Yes, yes. Just had something in my throat,” Gentle said. An idea began to form.

“Oh good. You were just coughing so hard, and it sounded so weird…”

“Hey, Izuku,” said La Brava, shuffling awkwardly, “About your name…”

“Huh? Is it bad?” Izuku said, his eyes looking like a sad puppy under his mask. La Brava stumbled slightly, so Gentle took this opportunity to jump in.

“Not at all! However I think you should drop the “Killer” part from your name. It creates a negative image for our viewers!” he said. La Brava sent him a confused look.

“Oh ok, that makes sense,” said Izuku. “Then I shall be Rabbit! And while they may have once underestimated me, seen me as something weak and helpless, the evils of this world will soon learn I am a threat to all those who harm the innocents!”

“Oh, so that’s why you went with that motif. That makes sense,” La Brava said. But when Izuku looked away she still eyed his costume skeptically.

“Now, I believe we have other things to do now. The sun is down, it is time.”

“Wait now? Tonight?! I thought I was just trying on my costume today!”

“Not to worry Izuku, you said you’ve been training in that on your own right?” said Gentle.

“…Yeah…”

“You have me and La Brava to handle the lion’s share of the work and protect you if needed right?”

“Yeah.”

“And you need to start eventually right?”

“Yeah! Ok. I’m ready to have my first outing tonight!”

“That’s the spirit!” said Gentle, who began walking to grab his disguise.

“Come on! La Brava said to Izuku as she went for her own. “You’ll do great!”

The three ran across the rooftops. Whenever they came to the edge of one, Gentle would take the lead and use his quirk to make the edge of the roof a trampoline for them. They stopped on the edge of a roof overlooking a street in a more run-down neighborhood. Gentle looked and listened for any sign of wrongdoing. He heard the sound of crying. He looked and saw a little girl sobbing in front of a tree, her cat near the top loudly meowing, stuck.

“Follow me!” He said, leaping down. After a few light bounces he and La Brava were securely on the ground. Izuku stood on the edge, staring down.

“Come on Izuku! You can do it!” said Gentle.

“We made it! Gentle made the ground soft!” said La Brava.

Izuku snapped to look at them as if he’d forgotten about them.

“Trust me,” Gentle said, “You’ll be fi-“

Izuku raised his hand in a “wait” gesture, then began scrambling down the building, using any handholds available and even dropping himself once or twice, using the parkour skills he’d shown Gentle so happily last week. Gentle felt proud. Until Izuku slipped and fell onto an awning. He rolled down and Gentle softened the ground just before Izuku landed into a roll. That did not terrify Gentle at all. Only slightly concern him.

“S-sorry, I guess I have to work on that a little more…” Izuku said. “I wanted to try getting down myself so if you’re ever not there I’ll be able to do it on my own…”

Gentle smiled, “Excellent forward thinking. And don’t be afraid to try again. As long as I’m here I’ll be ready to help catch you.”

“I am too! Even if I’m not strong. I will even use my quirk to help you if needed.” La Brava said. Love of surrogate little brothers was still love after all.

Izuku began tearing up, “Thank-OH MY GOSH THE CIVILIAN!” He leapt to his feet and began racing to the little girl with the cat in the tree. La Brava got out the camera.

Gentle tried to introduce himself, but he didn’t even make it past “I AM” before Izuku was kneeling next to the girl.

“Hi there, I’m Rabbit. Do you need some help?” said Izuku.

The girl stopped crying, turned to Izuku, and pointed, “My kitty Cupcake is in that tree and can’t get down. Are you a hero? Can you help him down? Be careful, he scratches.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get him right down!” said Izuku. He quickly climbed the tree until he made it to the wailing cat. He carefully lifted the cat into his shoulders and climbed down. “There you go!” he said, “The cat wasn’t any trouble after all.”

“Oh good! I guess he was too scared by being up in the tree!” said the girl. Izuku smiled, until her words seemed to sink in. The rest of them picked up on it too, just as the cat began growling.

After Izuku escaped that ferocious little cretin, the girl gave him a hug, calling him her hero, thanked the rest of them. She picked up her pet monster and walked inside. The three of them ran off to their next adventure.

“I didn’t get any footage of you Gentle, but I got plenty of Izuku. It makes for a great debut!”

“Excellent work La Brava!”

“I’ve got a question though,” she glanced at Izuku, who was running ahead and upwind of them, then she continued in a tone too low for him to hear, “Why’d you let him keep that ridiculous name and costume anyway? It doesn’t even match our theme!”

“Well La Brava, that’s because I realized Izuku has a different appeal. His attempts at intimidation are so horrendous to regular people that they will endear them to him. That, his soft demeanor, and how obviously bad he is at looking “cool” will make them all love him causing our videos to, what were your words, ‘go viral for sheer dorky adorable?’”

“I guess. He will have cuteness appeal with a lot of viewers, especially younger ones” she said, “but why not tell him?”

Gentle smirked. “Because he’d never believe me. So, I’ll let his unexpected popularity be a pleasant surprise.”

They soon came across a group of muggers harassing a trio of teenagers.

“Greetings! I am the GENTLE VIGILANTE, here to make my vigilante debut!” said Gentle.

“I am his faithful butler and partner in ending your ungentlemanly behavior, La Brava!”

“And I am here to protect the innocent, underestimate me at your own risk, for I am Rabbit!”

The last one caused the criminals to break into a fit of laughter. It lasted until Rabbit punched one in the face.

After a brief fight the muggers were all subdued. Izuku seemed to be gleeful about defeating two of them quirkless, Gentle was happy to have tried out Izuku’s suggestion of carrying and rubberfying a rapier (quite good for slapping those hooligans), while La Brava struggled working the camera.

“It won’t turn on!” she said, pushing the button for the fifth time.

“That leader guy said that his quirk disables all communication and recording devices that get too close and keeps them that way for twelve hours,” said one of the teens.

“W-what?” she said, looking like she’d just been told Christmas was cancelled.  

“Yeah, sorry. My phone got the same. Hope I don’t lose anything already on there.”

“But that means…” she groaned, “never mind. You guys ok?”

“Yeah! Did they hurt you? Or take anything? You know, before we showed up?” said Izuku.

“Aside from some incredibly crass comments? No.” said one of the teenagers.

“Ungentlemanly filth,” said Gentle, “No matter. You all run along, find help, and call the police. Tell them where to find these ruffians. In the meantime my associates and I will be off.” He, La Brava, and Izuku bounced away.

“That was, a fine experience. Worthy of some fine tea,” said Gentle.

“Yeah, even though we won’t have any footage aside from maybe Izuku helping the girl. Still, it was nice to do all that,” La Brava said.

“I got to be a hero. I got to save people,” Izuku said, taking off his hood and mouthpiece, “I know I’ve said it before but, thank you for taking me in Gentle. You’ve given me so much I never thought I could have.” His eyes glistened with tears.

“You’ve repaid it in full with all you’ve given us Rabbit, from your smarts and strategies, to your moral compass that lead us to becoming the vigilantes we are today. It is an honor to have you with us,” said Gentle.

“He’s right you know. You’ve helped us as much as we’ve helped you,” said La Brava.

They shared a group hug. They eventually broke off and La Brava said “With the camera shot, what are we gonna-“

They heard another scream. Izuku was already running toward it. As they neared the alley they heard it from, La Brava said to Gentle, “About your plan. With Izuku?”

“Yes?”

Izuku got into the alley just ahead of them and shouted, “Stop dirtbags! I am the terror that hops in the night! RABBIT!”

She smirked, “It’s totally gonna work.”

[cocastyle]

Change - Ch. 2 | T W O

Pairing - Bill Denbrough x reader

Word Count - 5,383

A/N - another chapter because I felt really inspired to write! it’s finally time for the reunion and ahh the feels 🥺 also, please let me know what you all think so far and what your thoughts are about Greyson. I honestly love him and his character throughout this half of the series is just so cute in my opinion. this chapter will have tons of feels with the reunion, but fair warning that the next chapter is going to pull at the heart strings even more and I think you all know why.

if you would like to be added to the tag list for this series let me know!

C H A N G E

Change Series Masterlist

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T W O - Jade of the Orient

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - *

Y/N was silent as she stared up at the restaurant before her, her fingers drumming against the wheel of her car nervously as her eyes flickered over the letters that spelled out Jade of the Orient.

She wasn't sure what to expect when she walked inside, but the thought of seeing her friends after all of this time was enough to make her feel clammy. She hadn't been this nervous since Greyson was six years old and broke his arm falling off of a trampoline.

"Mom," Greyson's soft voice spoke out, snapping the woman's attention away from the restaurant and to her son who was still sitting in his seat with a confused look on his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," Y/N replied a little too quickly, her voice coming out rushed and making herself wince. "I'm fine. I've never been more fine in my life."

Greyson raised an eyebrow and Y/N sighed before leaning her head against the wheel in defeat. "Okay, so I'm a little nervous," Y/N admitted, her shoulders slouching slightly as she tried to collect her thoughts.

A look of amusement appeared on Greyson's face and he couldn't help but chuckle, the sound making Y/N look to her son before looking away with a groan. "Fuck you. You don't laugh at your mother's nervousness," Y/N jokingly scolded while Greyson sent her one of his smiles that Y/N liked to say could solve all of her problems.

Greyson was always able to do that, make her relax with just a smile. He had been doing it ever since the day he was born and Stan had told her on numerous occasions that he got his smile from her, but Y/N didn't see it. Her son's smile was unlike any other and she adored him for it.

Greyson and Y/N had the strongest mother/son bond than anyone had ever seen. They were comfortable enough around each other to make fun of each other and curse as if they had been best friends for years now. They understood each other better than anyone and were the person they leaned on when times got tough. Although Y/N made sure to keep most of her problems to herself in order to keep Greyson happy, but she knew that he knew more than he let up.

Y/N knew some people might scold her for the relationship that she had with her son, but he was her best friend along with Stan of course. Her and Greyson had been by each other's side for sixteen years now and Greyson didn't seem to have a problem with being close friends with his mother so who was she to stop him?

"You're telling me that we've been sitting in this car for twenty minutes now because you're fucking nervous?" Greyson questioned, a hand going to his mouth as he tried to muffle his laughter.

Y/N sat back up and gave her son a small glare before leaning back with a huff. Greyson's laughter quieted down as he watched his mother before he smiled softly and reached out to place a hand on her arm.

"There's nothing to be nervous about," Greyson assured her. "I mean from what you've told me these people used to be your best friends. That bond can't be easily forgotten."

Y/N wanted to correct him and tell him how she actually had forgotten about them and that alone was enough to make her nervous, but she held that information back. After all, she would have to go into each of the friendships she had with her friends in order to explain to Greyson why she was so nervous and she wasn't quite ready for that yet, especially Bill who she had yet to mention to her son.

"It'll be just like the old days," Greyson smiled as he shook her arm gently. "Besides, you said Uncle Stan should be coming as well, right? I'm sure he'll be here soon and everything will be just fine."

Y/N knew her son was right, but for some reason she still couldn't shake off her nerves. "You're right," she sighed, thinking momentarily about how once Stan got here everything would be okay. "I just need to walk right in there and-"

The woman fell short and before Greyson could even comprehend what was happening Y/N was quickly turning off her car and getting out, throwing open the door as her eyes locked on a man who she would've recognized anywhere. Although the last time she had seen him he was thirteen years old with a cast on his arm and a fanny pack around his waist.

"Holy shit!" Y/N exclaimed, her voice so loud that it made the man who was walking across the parking lot jump in surprise before looking around. It took only a moment for his eyes to lock on her and the biggest grin broke out on his face as he recognized who she was. "Edward Kaspbrak, is that you?"

"Fucking hell," Eddie laughed as he broke out into a small jog over to the car. Y/N slammed her car door shut behind her and was running over to the man in seconds and the moment she fell into the warm embrace of the boy who used to be like a brother to her, all of her nerves were gone. "There's no way you're Y/N Uris. There's no fucking way!"

Y/N chuckled and pulled away momentarily to look at the man that stood before her, a grin on her face that reminded Eddie of the ones she used to send his direction when they were younger. "You best believe it, Eddie. Look at you! You've grown up on me, Eds," Y/N said, her voice going soft as she looked at the boy.

A flicker of sadness flashed through both of their eyes and Eddie gave her a small smile of understanding before he put his hands on her arms and gave them a small squeeze. "Me? Look at yourself. Just as beautiful as ever," Eddie said before he was pulling the girl in for another welcoming hug, this one lasting longer than the first as the two got caught up in the feeling of having one of their best friends back by their side.

Someone clearing their throat was what had the two pulling away, the two friends turning their heads in the direction of the sound to where Greyson was currently leaning against the car with the beginnings of a smile on his face. He couldn't help but let his eyes flicker between his mother and the man, taking notice that his mother had never greeted someone like that in his whole life nor looked so happy.

Eddie inhaled sharply, his eyes wide as a hand reached out to grab Y/N's arm in surprise and he whispered, "Is he-?"

Y/N smiled softly and glanced at Eddie before walking over to wrap an arm around Greyson. "Eddie, this is my son Greyson. Greyson, this is Eddie Kaspbrak," Y/N said as she gently guided her son over to the man who was staring at the teen in disbelief.

"Hi, Mr. Kaspbrak," Greyson greeted, a smile appearing on his face that made Eddie inhale sharply once again for it was like he was seeing a younger version of Y/N smiling up at him.

"Please, call me Eddie," he insisted before putting a hand to his mouth and bringing it down his chin as he continued to stare at Greyson. He finally let out a small laugh of disbelief before looking to Y/N. "Holy shit. He's like a boy version of you. He even has the same smile."

Y/N smiled at that and Eddie watched as Greyson looked to his mother in what had to be adoration and pride before his gaze fell back on Eddie. "You used to be friends with my mother when she was younger, right?" Greyson questioned, his grin widening when Eddie nodded his head. "What's the craziest thing she's ever done? Mom won't tell me shit about her past and I'm guessing it's because there's some deep dark secret she wants to hide."

Y/N rolled her eyes playfully at her son while Eddie chuckled softly and stuffed his hands into his pocket. "Actually, your mother was a total badass. She once chucked a rock at the school bully's face and made him bleed because he was picking on a friend of ours," Eddie instantly said, his eyes widening in surprise slightly at the memory that fell from his lips. He hadn't even thought he remembered that.

"Woah, really?" Greyson asked before looking up at his mother who had a hand to her face in embarrassment. Greyson only smiled and nudged his mother playfully before looking back at Eddie.

"Really," Eddie nodded as he sent a teasing smile in Y/N's direction. "I can tell you more later, but we should probably be heading inside. Will your husband be joining us?”

Y/N stilled at that and Eddie couldn't help but notice Greyson's face hardening almost instantly, anger and hatred obviously written in his demeanor. Y/N seemed to notice as well and gently placed a loving hand on her son's shoulder before giving Eddie a forced smile.

"No. It's just the two of us," she explained and Eddie's smile faltered.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he began to say, but Y/N waved him off.

"It's no big deal. He left the picture years ago. It's just me and Grey," Y/N admitted as she looked down at her son, the boy instantly relaxing under her loving gaze and smiling up at her.

"That's all we need," Greyson nodded his head in agreement before they looked back at Eddie with small smiles on their faces. "Let's head on in, shall we?"

Eddie and Y/N locked eyes for but a second and both were able to read the nervousness that was still hidden in their eyes. Greyson began to walk on ahead to open the door for the two adults and Y/N took that moment to go to Eddie's side, gently grabbing ahold of his arm with both hands as they walked forward and rubbing it soothingly in an attempt to calm both of their nerves.

For a moment the two each had a flashback to when they were younger and how Y/N would always calm Eddie down when he was nervous or panicked. It seemed each other's presence was still able to do that for the two were able to walk into the restaurant without another beat of hesitation as long as they were by each other's side.

Y/N only let go of Eddie's arm once Greyson had returned to her side and Eddie watched as she looked to her son with a smile before brushing some hair from his face. Greyson sent her a small smile in return before the three were then shown to the room that Mike had apparently reserved for them.

It wasn't long before Eddie began listing off to the waitress all of his allergies and concerns and Y/N couldn't help but chuckle softly as she watched the man who was just like the thirteen year old boy she remembered. Greyson raised an eyebrow as he looked to his mother and all Y/N could do was shrug with a smile on her face that was so contagious Greyson ended up smiling as well.

"And I'm allergic to soy and anything that has egg in it. Uh. . .gluten and if I eat a cashew I could. . ." Eddie fell short and Y/N furrowed her eyebrows before following his gaze and noticing that they had reached the room. "-realistically die."

Y/N's mouth fell open in shock and she was sure both her and Eddie had the same expression of surprise on their face as they looked at the two people who stood in the room already.

However nothing could beat the dumbfounded look on Greyson's face once he noticed that his favorite author was standing in front of him.

"Holy shit," Eddie and Y/N both whispered out, their eyes locking with the gazes of Mike Hanlon and Bill Denbrough before all four of them began to smile.

Eddie and Y/N both moved forward to greet the two, but the woman was quickly stopped by someone grabbing onto her wrist. Y/N turned only to find Greyson staring at her with wide eyes as he squeaked out, "That-That's Bill Denbrough. You. . .you know Bill Denbrough?"

"Yes?" Y/N whispered as she gave the boy a nervous smile. "I'm sorry. I know I should've told you, but I didn't know how."

"You're kidding me. I was-" Greyson glanced over at the three adults who were currently hugging each other and laughing before he looked back at his mother. "I was not prepared for this. Fuck! What if I mess up? What if I make a fool of myself? Mom!"

Y/N couldn't help but chuckle softly at her son's nervous state and was quick to place her hands in his arms in an attempt to call him down. "Woah, kiddo. Just breath, okay? Everything's going to be just fine. Just be yourself and you'll be okay," she assured him.

"Just be myself," Greyson muttered softly as he looked back over at the author who had yet to look their way. He nodded his head and looked back at his mother with a much calmer look on his face. "I can do that."

Y/N smiled and squeezed the boy's arms once before gesturing towards the men behind her. "Great. Now let me introduce you to my friends," she said before she turned and began to walk away. Greyson was behind her in almost an instance and walked practically on her heels until they reached the men who had just finished hugging Eddie.

Mike Hanlon was the first one to turn and the smile he gave Y/N was one that made her heart ache with guilt for having not spoken to him in so long. Mike didn't seem to think anything of it and let out a cheerful laugh as he embraced the girl.

"Y/N!" Mike exclaimed happily as he held onto her tight, the girl doing the same. "I knew you'd come. I just knew it."

"Mike," Y/N greeted as the two pulled away to look at each other. "Of course I came. You know I'll always be there when you need me."

A flicker of emotion flashed through Mike's eyes, but his smile didn't falter as he just smiled at her as if he couldn't believe she was standing there in front of him. But then a voice was filling the air and Y/N swore her heart stopped at the sound.

"Y/N?"

Mike took a small step back and Y/N moved her head to see Bill Denbrough standing there, a look of disbelief on his face as he shamelessly let his eyes flicker over her. Y/N couldn't say anything since she was doing the same to him.

"Bill," Y/N whispered and the name had barely even left her mouth before the two were in each other's arms, neither of them remembering having crossed the room to reach each other but both of them remembering almost instantly what it felt like to be held by the other.

Y/N felt the urge to cry in relief as she held onto Bill, but she held it back as she merely gripped onto his shirt and hugged him so close that her nose was practically resting atop of his shoulder. Bill held onto her just as tight and she could hear him let out a shaky breath as he leaned his head against her own, relishing in the feeling of getting to hold the girl once again while also trying to calm his rapidly beating heart.

The two could've stood there hugging each other forever, but Eddie cleared his throat and gave the two a look that told them they should probably stop hugging before it got too weird. Y/N and Bill both pulled away with a blush, but kept their close distance as they looked at each other.

For a moment Bill felt like he was back in the summer to 1989 when he had first seen Y/N come out of the Uris house. The beating of his heart was the same and his breath was once again knocked from his lungs. And boy when she gave him that Y/N Uris smile that he hadn't seen for years, he knew he was a goner.

He hadn't seen her in years and she still gave him that giddy feeling that not even Audra had been able to make him feel. And for a moment he found himself hoping that was single. He didn't know what he would do if she was married.

"H-H-Hi," Bill finally managed to whisper out and he winced slightly at his stuttering which he knew was merely because of how nervous the girl seemed to be making him. Both of them suddenly got flashbacks to the first time they had met and to when they had reunited that one summer she had spent at Stan's.

"Hi," Y/N replied softly, tilting her head ever so slightly as she looked at the man before her in disbelief and awe. She couldn't believe it was him and her frantically beating heart was only proof of that.

Both of them were shamelessly admiring the other and the fact was enough to make them both blush and look down bashfully as awkward laughs left their lips.

"You look good," Y/N finally said and Bill swore his cheeks grew even more red. He was an adult now and she still somehow made him feel like his thirteen year old self who became a blushing mess whenever Y/N so much as looked in his direction.

"I could say the same for you," Bill smiled, his eyes flickering back up to lock with Y/N's, the girl blushing slightly as neither seemed to remember just where they were or who was in the room.

"Uh, Y/N?" Mike's voice rang out causing the two to look away from each other and over to Mike who was warily staring at Greyson who was standing where his mother had left him like a deer caught in headlights.

It was then that Y/N seemed to remember that she wasn't still a thirteen year old with a crush but a forty year old who had a son and her eyes widened before she quickly made her way across the room and back to Greyson's side. Her arm wrapped around the boy's shoulders almost instantly and she began to walk the nervous boy forward as she smiled to her friends.

"Guys, this is Greyson. He's my son," Y/N smiled proudly. Eddie and Mike were already grinning at her, but she couldn't help but notice Bill's smile falter ever so slightly before he acted as if nothing had happened. "Grey, this is Mike Hanlon and Bill Denbrough."

Greyson stared at the two men for a moment before finally letting his gaze stay on Bill. "Hi," he managed to squeak out, his cheeks growing red out of embarrassment.

Y/N chuckled softly and rubbed her son's arm reassuringly before looking to Bill. "He's a kind of a fan of yours, so he's a tad bit nervous," she explained, her words making Bill soften as he looked to the young teen who was staring at him with a star struck expression.

"He looks just like you," Mike commented as he looked to Y/N with a warm smile. Bill couldn't help but agree with Mike on that one, but his heart still felt as if it were going to shatter right there and he wasn't sure why.

Greyson would've stood there frozen for the rest of the night if it weren't for Y/N nudging the boy forward so that he was now standing in front of Bill with his mother right behind him. Greyson's eyes widened a little more and he gulped before shakily holding out a hand.

"Uh. . .Mr. Denbrough, I-I'm a huge fan, sir. Your work is-is amazing and I just. . .wow, I can't believe I'm standing in the same room as you to be completely honest," Greyson admitted and he couldn't help but let out a small noise of surprise when Bill reached out to shake his hand.

"Please, call me Bill. It's lovely to meet you, Greyson. You look a lot like your mother," Bill said and Greyson couldn't help but smile at that as he glanced back at his mother before looking to Bill once again.

"I've been told," Greyson said with a hint of admiration in his tone. "I think it's because of the smile."

Greyson sure wasn't wrong. He had definitely inherited the Y/N Uris smile. However, his smile in no way had the same effect on Bill as Y/N's did which was definitely a good thing.

Greyson had relaxed by now and Bill smiled softly at the young boy before biting his lip nervously. "Will your-" Bill hesitated and his eyes momentarily flickered to Y/N before he looked back at Greyson, "-father be joining us tonight?"

Bill noticed Eddie wince from beside him and wondered why, but then he noticed Y/N's hurt filled eyes and the way Greyson instantly hardened. "No," she said as she sent the man a small smile. "There's no father in the picture."

"I'm so sorry," Bill muttered despite the relieved expression on his face. After all, he wouldn't lie and say he wasn't absolutely thrilled to hear the news.

"He was a son of a bitch anyways," Greyson admitted and that was enough to have everyone looking to the boy in surprise. However, he was too busy staring between Y/N and Bill with an almost calculating expression to notice.

Greyson's eyes then widened and he sent a look in his mother's direction that made her blush slightly before she quickly looked away from her son. "So where are the others?" Y/N asked, hoping to change the subject before her son could say anything to embarrass her.

The only answer she got was the sound of someone hitting the gong behind them, the noise being enough to startle the whole group who quickly turned to see Richie Tozier standing near the gong with Beverly Marsh and Ben Hanscom behind him.

"This meeting of the Losers' Club has officially begun," Richie announced and Y/N couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at the man all while Greyson watched the newcomers warily.

"Look at these guys," Eddie said before letting out an awkward laugh that was followed by an awkward silence. Richie locked eyes with Y/N and he pointed at Ben from behind before mouthing the boy's name and moving his arms out to pretend like he had a big stomach. Y/N rolled her eyes at the man who gave her a small smile in return before tilting his head as he looked at her, obviously trying to picture how the woman standing on the other side of the room was the same Y/N Uris he knew.

The silence drug on for longer than any of them expected. It was obvious no one quite knew what to say especially since they hadn't seen each other in so long. However, it was no surprise when Y/N broke the silence to move across the room, her arms already out as a big grin dawned her face.

Beverly practically shoved Ben and Richie out of the way to hug the girl, earning glares from the boys which she ignored. "Y/N Uris," Beverly breathed out in disbelief as she hugged the woman tightly.

"Beverly Marsh," Y/N greeted as she pulled away to look at the red head in front of her. "Look at you! You've turned into a real stunner."

"Me? Look at yourself!" Beverly exclaimed before a hand was placed on her shoulder.

The two girls looked to see Ben gently pushing Beverly back as he gave her a small grin. "Okay, Bev, my turn," Ben said before he turned to the woman standing before him. He grinned and Y/N quickly returned it as he swooped her up in his arms to give her a bear hug. "It's been far too long, Y/N."

"It has," Y/N agreed as Ben set her back down. She took a step back to look at the man and shook her head in disbelief before smacking his chest playfully. "Holy shit, Ben. You're like a whole new person."

Ben chuckled at that, his cheeks turning a bit pink while Beverly nudged Ben's arm and said, "If anything, he's the stunner. You're making me feel self conscious, Ben."

Ben's face reddened even more at that and he glanced at Beverly with a small shake of his head. "You look beautiful, Beverly. Don't sell yourself short," he said instantly making the red head's face almost as red as her hair.

Y/N raised an eyebrow at the two and was about to say something when two arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind before picking her up and spinning her around. "Richie!" Y/N yelled out in between laughter, already knowing who had grabbed ahold of her.

There was a loud laugh from behind her before her feet touched the ground and she was quick to turn to the culprit who was giving her a sheepish grin. "Wow," Richie said as he looked at the girl in front of him and slung an arm around her shoulders. "You look amazing, sweetheart. What the fuck happened to me?"

Y/N rolled her eyes at the man's flirtatious attitude and shoved his arm off before playfully pushing him away. "Shut the fuck up, Tozier. You've grown into your looks and you know it," she teased while Richie just laughed.

While Y/N had been reuniting with the other Losers she had failed to notice that Bill, Eddie, and Mike were doing the same. Before long Richie had left her to go hug the others and Y/N couldn't help but watch as Eddie and Richie stared at each other before smiling and pulling the other in for a hug that lasted almost as long as Y/N and Bill's had.

As if realizing this, Richie pulled away from Eddie with a smile and patted his shoulder before turning to the last person in the line he had been going down. However he instantly froze as he looked down at the young face of what looked to be like a male version of Y/N.

Richie scrunched up his nose and let his arms fall back down to his side as he gave the teen a perplexed look, "Who the fuck are you?"

Greyson narrowed his eyes slightly and was quick to stand up straighter as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Who the fuck are you?" Greyson questioned in return making Richie blink in surprise.

Richie and Greyson stared at each other for a moment before a small grin broke out on Richie's face as he pointed at the teen. "I like you," he said before looking back at the Losers. "Which one of you fuckers does this one belong to?"

The group all paused in their conversations to turn and look at Richie who had a hand on Greyson's shoulder and was looking between the adults with his eyebrows raised.

"This one is mine," Y/N laughed as she walked across the room to stand by her son's side. She looked to Richie in amusement before saying, "So guess I'm the fucker you're referring to."

Greyson turned his head to look at Richie who let out a shaky breath as he looked between Greyson and Y/N who had the same expression on their faces. "Well, shit," Richie muttered as he chuckled. "Y/N Uris had a son? What's your name, kid?"

"Greyson," the young boy replied, his eyes flickering over Richie's face hesitantly. "And you are?"

"Grey, this is Richie Tozier," Y/N introduced, the man giving Greyson a short nod in response. She then gestured towards Beverly and Ben who were looking between the boy and Y/N in disbelief much like the others had done. "And this is Beverly Marsh and Ben Hanscom."

Ben gave the boy a small wave while Beverly smiled softly and Y/N couldn't help but notice that Greyson had taken a small step closer to her. She knew this was a sign that he was becoming a bit overwhelmed and a tad nervous, so she gently gave his shoulder a small squeeze to tell him that it was okay and she was there.

Greyson relaxed a little and put a small smile on his face as he waved at the adults. "Uh. . .hi," he greeted softly as he leaned into his mother's touch.

"Oh my gosh, Y/N. He looks so much like you," Beverly whispered, a smile on her face as she looked to the girl who used to be her best friend. For a moment she felt a sense of guilt wash over her. After all, she hadn't even known Y/N had a son and by the looks of it, he had to have been alive for sixteen or so years now.

"It's nice to meet you, Greyson. If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" Ben asked curiously, a small smile creeping onto his face as he looked at Greyson in fascination. To think that one of his childhood friends is a mother was mind blowing to him. Then again, if anyone were to be the best at parenting it would be Y/N.

"Sixteen," Greyson replied before looking down at his shoes, obviously not used to having this much attention.

Y/N noticed and opened her mouth to say something when Bill spoke up. "Come on, guys. Don't pester the kid. Drinks on me, okay?" Bill said and that was enough to pull the Losers' attention away from Greyson and back to the fact that they were all reuniting.

Greyson instantly relaxed once the eyes were off of him and Y/N momentarily locked eyes with Bill before mouthing, "Thank you." Bill just gave her a small smile in response and then the group began to take their seat.

Greyson surprisingly was quick to go and sit beside Bill, the action making Bill blink in surprise before looking over at Y/N who smiled softly and sat on the other side of her son. Bill felt his heart deflate a little at the fact that he wasn't getting to sit next to the girl, but he couldn't complain because something about her son choosing to sit next to him made his heart swell with joy.

Eddie sat down on the other side of Y/N with a small smile in her direction and before long the whole table was full except for one chair. It was in that moment that Y/N found herself pausing, her gaze flickering over to the empty chair beside Eddie while the soft sound of Greyson's voice echoed in her ear as he rambled to Bill about how he was inspired to be a writer because of him.

She knew who the seat was for and a small frown began to take over her features. Y/N went to reach for her phone in her pocket only to be reminded once again that she had left her phone at home. Sighing, the girl looked away from the chair and began to talk with her friends, but the reunion was still not enough to keep her distracted from the nagging feeling in her stomach that told her something was wrong and the one question that kept circling through her head.

Where was Stan?

* * *

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[justsomeoneunordinary]

Le cirque des mirages

T, 3.7k, IronHawk, Fluff & Angst, Underage Drinking, Druge Use, Implied Child Abuse & Self-Harm, H/C - it’s all not that intense, there’s fluff too | AO3

―

The first time Tony fell in love he was eight years old.

His father was abroad for a week on a business trip and his mother and Jarvis took the opportunity to watch with him a circus performance. From the very second the director entered the arena Tony was completely entranced.

With awe in his eyes he watched the trainer tame a real lion, which almost took his breath away throughout the whole show. The horse spectacle put a smile on his face bright enough to reach from one ear to the other. Even the clowns made him laugh, although it took him only seconds to see through their tricks.

But his personal highlight were the acrobats; Those men and women bending the laws of physics according to their own visions through sheer muscle strength and concentration with grace and beauty. How they performed stunts in breathtaking elegance and finesse Tony never even could have dreamed of.

Throughout the whole show his mother failed to make him sit still ― because Tony, Tony felt like he was flying.

Even months later, his eyes still reflected the sparkle of the cheery-colorful costumes. He told everyone who wanted to hear ― and those who didn’t ― about his mathematical calculations, which he puzzled over for days. At what angle someone had to hold their pose in order to balance on a rope in the middle of the air, despite the high air resistance. How much strength it needed in the arms to swing from ring to ring without falling on the floor with a loud thump. Or how strong one had to push their legs so that another person could position themselves onto the feet.

Years passed and Tony never wished for anything other than watching a circus performance for his birthday. In every second that he didn’t convulsively try making his father proud, he dreamed of big tents, the interior filled with multicolored lights, and the feeling of warmth in his chest.

His illusions stopped all of a sudden when he was fourteen years old and his much older classmates all thought of him as boring. Instead, he began to devote himself to the art of seduction and became friendly with the taste of whiskey on his tongue.

But buried deep inside, the circus always remained his personal sanctuary.

―

The second time Tony fell in love he was seventeen years old.

Dead drunk and with no memory of the last three hours, he found himself right in front of a circus tent, the loud shouts from the inside announcing the beginning of a show. He didn’t know how his feet carried him to somewhere in the middle of nowhere, but instead of ordering a cab back to the MIT campus, he bought a ticket and before he knew it, he was in the middle of that turmoil that only tormented his drunken head even more.

Though the majority of the performance flew past him in a shimmer of colors and roars, he grasped enough to see that this was not a conventional circus. The acrobats sometimes lacked some limbs, knife throwers threw at each other and not at targets, fire-eaters jumped simultaneously on trampolines, clowns juggled with swords… if Tony hadn’t been so sure that he hadn’t touched a single joint that day, he would have been convinced he was high.

Just when he thought the performance was over and he was ready to go back―

“And now a big round of applause for the star of our show, The World’s Greatest Marksman! Or as you know him: Hawkeye!”

―the wind was taken out of his sails.

A boy, not possibly older than fifteen, entered the arena in a purple suit, bow in one hand and arrow case in the other over his shoulder swinging. His blond hair looked like he had just gotten out of bed, a scar ran across his right cheek and a devil-may-care grin graced his lips.

Tony was immediately captivated in its spell. As if hypnotized, he watched this boy shoot his arrows at the moving targets in a matter of seconds without looking at them once, and each time hitting bull’s eye. Watched the muscles of the upper arms illuminated by the spotlight move as the bow was pulled. Watched him roll in midair as he was light as a feather.

Tony couldn’t help but return the next day. And the day after that. And as often as possible until more than a month had passed and his fascination with Hawkeye still didn’t find an end at all. He no longer even looked the other attractions anymore, but only had eyes for the mysterious and mesmerizing archer.

Then, the circus did what all circuses do ― they moved.

And Tony followed.

But Tony was first and foremost an MIT student, and there was only so much he could do. If he hadn’t been a billionaire’s son with unlimited access to his fortune since hacking into Howard’s bank account years ago, he would never have been able to follow them across the states whenever he had a day off.

Before he knew it, two years had passed and Tony had graduated from the university with two doctorates. The circus had once again temporarily taken root in New York, where he also planned to complete his third doctorate.

Since his third visit, he could’ve sworn that Hawkeye winked at him at the end of each of his shows ― this assumption was confirmed when, once again, he was the last one left in the tent, sweetly dazed from the marijuana mixed with the bitter taste of the whiskey, before carefully stumbling outside.

“Y’know,” greeted him a chirpy-cheerful voice to his left, “they call me Hawkeye because I observe a lot and see things better from a distance. Not just see, but see, know what I mean?”

“Ah, and here I thought it’s because you’ve got a bat’s sense of hearing,” Tony couldn’t help but say. At least this earned him an amused snort.

“Nah, ‘m hard of hearing and if I weren’t so good at lip reading, I wouldn’t have understood a word of what you just babbled,” came the witty answer Tony admittedly hadn’t expected. “I must’ve left quite an impression that you watch my shows regularly over two years, huh?”

Oh, haughty. Tony liked that a lot. “Who says I’m here for you? Maybe I’m just here because of the incredible Swordsman, ever thought about that, huh?”

Another snort. “Two words: Hawk. Eye.”

Technically, this was still just one word, but okay, he won that round, Tony didn’t know how to counter that.

Then, with a jerk, he pushed himself off the pole he had been leaning against and came so close to Tony that they breathed the same air. “Name’s Clint,” he introduced himself with a mischievous grin on his face.

Which Tony already knew. Clinton Barton, seventeen, joined together with his older brother Barney the circus when he was only nine years old. Tony did not stalk him; those are the only information he had dug up ― he just really had wanted to know who that amazing archer was.

“Tony Carbonell”, he said, like the professional liar that he was, and grinned right back.

Clint nodded once, licked his lips and asked uninhibited, “Wanna fuck?”

Hell yes, he almost shouted, if… if he hadn’t seen something in Clint’s sky-blue eyes that he couldn’t quite identify. A mixture of insecurity, fear and caution ― once bitten, twice shy, he thought. Tony understood that there depended more from his answer than just its semblance.

“Thanks, but not today. Perhaps some other time, if the offer still stands then.”

As if on command, Clint’s whole posture visibly relaxed, as if an invisible weight had fallen from his shoulders. Jackpot.

“Do you want to share a joint with me instead?” Tony seamlessly changed the subject, like he had learned from child on as the center of the media to let a conversation dance according to his pipe.

Clint shrugged. “Sure, why not?” Which is how minutes later Tony learned that Clint had never smoked a joint before. He also learned that Clint was a terrific storyteller. In particular, however, he learned that Clint’s laugh could even lighten a cathedral.

In less than two hours, the two of them became best friends. And less than three weeks of those regular meetings, they became lovers.

When one night under the starry sky Clint kissed him on the mouth without even a warning ― in the middle of the sentence ― it was as if the world had stood still. Chaotic and moisty and interrupted by their drunken laughter, it was the worst and best kiss of his life.

Two days later, Tony rented a shabby little flat in Manhattan that was about to collapse. Strictly speaking, he bought the whole building, but he twisted the truth there a little bit. That was the only way how he could bring Clint home without Howard knowing about it and without Clint getting wind of his wealth.

“I like your place. Nice view,” mocked Clint. After that there was not much left to say, because Tony wanted to inaugurate this apartment. Years ago, Tony had already lost all interest in virgins, but Clint’s inexperience was a delight that surprised even him. Every single touch left his skin tingling and made his heart flutter in an irregular rhythm. Clint tasted like honey and smoke, like nutmeg and vodka, like strawberries and chili ― he tasted like love.

Even in the dim light of the apartment, Tony took every opportunity to trace the contours of Clint’s muscles crafted by his archery training, and to memorize Clint’s facial expression forever at his climax. Not even Michelangelo could have captured the subtleties of such beauty.

Being in a relationship with Clint was nothing Tony had ever experienced before. But not everything thereof was positive. There were hardly any days when Clint wasn’t covered in bandages and plasters or grazes. Most of them Tony knew that they were the result of Clint’s clumsiness, who stumbled over his own feet even on flat ground and then broke his nose masterfully. But some of them were too deep, too clean, too precise. Tony knew what it looked like trying to make a wound look like an accident.

Once, Tony didn’t have enough whiskey left, so he brushed his teeth with gin and tonic. When he tried to kiss Clint afterwards, he was pushed so strongly that his butt landed on the floor. Clint threw up in the toilet and collapsed there, trembling and bathing in sweat.

Howard may have been an absent father who never showed a shred of interest in Tony, but at least he’d never raised his hand against his own family. Tony swore to never even look from the canthus at a gin again.

Ultimately, however, the shady sides were covered by the sunny ones. Because that was how it felt like to be with Clint ― like a warm sunny day, the rays of which finding their way into his deepest parts.

After the circus moved again, Tony continued to visit as often as he could. They then spent the nights in Clint’s bed, where Barney could catch them at any moment. It was absolutely worth the risk. And Tony didn’t have the slightest clue how, but Clint managed to convince the circus director to stay in New York more often and longer. For completely selfless reasons, he claimed.

Often it was impossible for Tony to hide his true intellect, simply because he didn’t want to. Only two months into their relationship, he learned to use ASL fluently. If Clint had had more TV access or at least a little interest in magazines, he would have quickly known who Tony really was.

“You are really good with those computers, aren’t you?”

An understatement for Tony, especially considering that Clint had already met DUM-E. But he just hummed simply while he continued to work on his next AI and enjoyed Clint’s feather-light kisses on his neck.

“Can you also hack and stuff?”

Here he had to laugh softly. “Three years ago, Rhodey bet with me that I could never ever hack the Pentagon. Guess who won.”

“Cool.” There was a grin on the back of his neck Tony could literally feel.

Which was the only explanation for how it happened that Tony hacked into NASA’s server an hour later and, while he was already there, corrected a few of their mathematical equations. It wasn’t even in the top ten of the most dangerous things he had done with Clint. Their relationship might’ve been a lot of things, but sure as hell never boring.

Two years later Howard was driving drunk, killing not only himself but also Tony’s mother. From then on, everything went down the drain.

Tony almost drank himself into nirvana and when he suddenly woke up in the bed of his apartment with a pounding headache, he found Clint snuggled up next to him. Tears adorned his eyes, which were darker than usual and reminded him of blueberries ― Tony’s new favorite fruit, as he decided at exact that moment.

Clint said nothing, he didn’t need to. In the end, Howard Stark and Harold Barton were more alike than Tony had first thought. He tried not to think about having no excuse anymore to take over his legacy and that Uncle Obie would soon find him. Instead, he hugged Clint closely and placed a tender kiss on his temple while he could still do so. The steady heartbeat of Clint’s and his hand stroking trough his hair was the only reason he stayed sane.

Love, Tony thought, must be the power of the gods.

Twelve days later, he received a call from the hospital where Clint was taken to the ER. He had had to be resuscitated during the operation and was now lying unconscious in bed tied up on various machines.

It was only after 37 hours that he finally woke up.

Jacques, the Swordsman, had stolen money from the circus and when Clint tried to tell the director, he was downright beaten to death. Barney had just turned his head and left him on the floor. Tony didn’t show his anger even for a second while those incidents were being recited. He waited for Clint to fall asleep again and then contacted his lawyers ― after hitting the wall with his fist until it was red with blood as the rage boiling through his veins like hot lava.

Tony accepted that it was probably time to tell Clint about the things he had been hiding. It wasn’t that he had deliberately wanted to lie for two years, he was only afraid that Clint would turn away from him as soon as he knew who Tony really was. His pejorative attitude towards the rich clearly spoke for it.

But Tony had the means to help Clint, so he would take the risk. He decided to address this as soon as they were home. This wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have in the hospital.

“Yesterday,” Clint began to say out of the blue on the fourth day of his hospital stay, “one of those suit wearers came to visit me. Coulson or something’s his name. Miracle he could sit down with the giant stick in the ass.”

He interrupted himself because of a fit of giggling. The painkillers had a strong effect on Clint. “Anyway,” he continued after a few minutes, “he offered me a job. Said they could use someone with my particular skillset.”

After a long break Tony asked, “And?”

“And… I think I want to take a look at that offer.”

Tony scratched his chin where he had started to grow a goatee. He wasn’t sure what to do with this information. It sounded to him as if he’d never see Clint again, as irrational as the thought was.

“Will you… will you come back?” he just had to ask, while carefully taking Clint’s hand in his and slowly following the early rough lines crafted from archery. He would never tire of the feeling of Clint’s hand in his.

This earned him a smile, so bright that his eyes shone even more beautiful than the stars in the sky. “Of course. I will always come back to you, Tony.”

But in the end, their relationship had been nothing more than a circus of illusions. A world where Tony could just be himself. Not Tony Stark, child prodigy, son of the so-called ‘Icon of America’s Strength’, heir to a multibillion-dollar company ― just Tony. A world in which he was loved not for his money or fame, but for his heart.

A world in which Clint wasn’t the victim of child abuse. In which he wasn’t betrayed by his only brother and left behind to die. In which he didn’t hurt himself just to see if he could still feel. In which he hadn’t run away from anything all his life and wouldn’t do it again. Simply a world in which he was happy.

Because that was where they both gave in to the illusion. They had been so busy with being happy that they both forgot one important thing: Life always caught up with you.

Twenty years and almost the end of the world had to pass for their paths to finally cross again.

 ―

The third time Tony fell in love he was forty-two years old.

Rubble and ashes had made themselves comfortable in his new home. A huge crater graced the floor of his living room and the Avengers stood awkwardly in the middle, as if ordered and not picked up.

This was the first time the circus had found him, instead of the other way around.

Clint leaned against the back of the sofa and was inspecting his bow. His face was decorated with shiners and blood, though this time Tony at least knew where they came from. His posture screamed nonchalance, but his frown whispered unease.

Without thinking about it, he stood next to him, their shoulders almost touching, and continued to look at him out of the corner of his eye. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t have stayed away ― Clint has always had a magnetic attraction on him.

“So, you’d come back, huh?”

Clint didn’t seem fazed at all. But the days Tony was able to read him like an open book were over a long time ago. He wondered if Clint even realized that he built the Stark Tower on exact the same spot their apartment used to be, before he had the building torn down.

“So, Tony Carbonell, huh?” came the snarky reply.  

Okay, fair enough. “My mother’s maiden name was Carbonell, so I didn’t lie technically.”

“Well, I came back now, so technically I didn’t lie either.” And then Clint had the utter gall to grin at him. Tony almost punched him.

He thought of all those days he had been waiting in the apartment for Clint to return. Thought of all those hours he stared at the telephone in case of a call. Thought of all those times he anxiously went to hospitals and police stations, hoping to find Clint somewhere there.

After six months of unsuccessful searching, he had resigned himself to the fact that Clint no longer wanted him. That he had found out who Tony really was and that he’d just left him to twist in the wind.

Whiskey had found its way through his blood system more than ever. Cocaine had blurred his reality until he ended up in the ER which is why he stopped with it immediately. Men and women had warmed his bed, imitating what he and Clint had had. His nights have never been the same again.

Even after Tony moved to California ― trying to chase the sun’s rays, which Clint had always made shine for him ― he never quit their apartment lease. Just in case. Instead, he installed a camera there that J.A.R.V.I.S. could access. Just in case. Throughout all those years, he had looked at the death notices every day with trembling nostrils. Just in case.

It suddenly dawned on Tony why the alarm bells always rang when he saw Coulson. The new job. Special Agent Clint Barton ― codename: Hawkeye. From the circus’ star attraction to a high ranked spy. Now an Avenger. Tony had always known that Clint’s life had been nowhere near normal ever.

He took a deep breath before turning his gaze back to Clint. Tony chose his next words very carefully. “In the past twenty years I’ve done some stupid things that I can’t even begin to list. Many of them were created under the influence of alcohol,” here he looked him straight in the eye without a hint of hesitation, “but not once have I even touched a gin again.”

When Clint finally dropped his mask ― his own illusion of indifference ― Tony was able to pinpoint it the exact moment it happened. His light blue eyes, previously disinterested and dull, shone in a new light, encased by insecurity and adoration, shame and mischief, pleading for forgiveness and radiating warmth all at the same time. A mess of feelings, each of which Tony was allowed to identify and classify.

“I like your new place. Nice view,” Clint just replied. The meaning of his words made his heart skip a beat. Warmth filled him from within that Tony couldn’t help but give him a shy smile, full of trust and hope.

When suddenly Clint put his arm around Tony’s shoulders, it was as if they were both just two stupid teenagers again, bathing in each other’s attention and the weight on their shoulders not yet so heavy that it dragged them down. The bare spot on his neck, which wasn’t covered by the Iron Man armor, tingled with the touch. Blood roared in his ears and a wave of emotions hit him so hard it almost took his breath away.

Tony threatened to lose the ground under his feet. In order not to panic and kiss Clint directly on the mouth here and now, he blurted out the only thing he could do to deliberately hide the upcoming tears in his eyes: “So, shawarma?”

Clint’s loud laugh echoed through the room like a bird’s song in a cave.

And Tony fell in love again.

[cardigan-guy]

Something I need to talk about or I’ll literally evaporate

Around the time this all started I was 14. I had only recently discovered a passion for theater (and fashion) and as a result I wanted to get in good with the theater kids. Sure enough, my closest friend also did theater. We auditioned for the Fall play, and I made it. I got to know some people pretty well. They liked me too, at least, I think so. Can’t be too sure of who to trust when everyone around you is an actor. Regardless, I was feeling pretty good about myself.

One of my struggles, throughout most of my short life, has been that I am an incredibly picky romantic. Maybe it’s just my intuition, but if I don’t think something is going to work out between someone and myself, I snuff it out at the first possible opportunity. It’s a skill to be able to break up with someone, that’s for sure. However, I had a bit of an entitlement complex. I thought I deserved love just for being who I was. My 14-year-old ego was raging. It wasn’t cool. It probably wasn’t helped by the next person I met, whose influence on my life has been astronomical. 

I can’t use her real name (I like to remain semi anonymous), so we’ll call her Marie. I thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world. How we met was a complete accident.

 It was the first day of winter. I had just entered a relationship. I was walking to where my friends ate lunch at. There was an eating area, surrounded by some bushes, in between where I was coming from and where I was headed. In this bushy area, I saw an old friend of mine and 3 of her friends. While I walked past she was in the midst of saying “My dog almost died last night.” Upon hearing this, I replied “Oh no, I love your dog!” And I walked away. Behind me, I heard -- or at least thought I heard -- someone say, “I love you [my name].” To which, of course, I replied “I love you too!” Biggest mistake of my life. I thought -- and secretly, hoped -- that it was Marie that said it. 

School was let out for a two-week break. During that time, I tried connecting with my ill-fated match (truly, we were not meant to be), all the while I couldn’t shake what had transpired on that island in the middle of the parking lot. Eventually I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to know if Marie said it or not. I messaged her over social media, and asked, very bluntly, “Was it you who said ‘I love you [my name]?’” and she replied with “I don’t know. I say ‘I love you’ a lot.” After that interaction we just kept talking. I was fascinated with this beautiful girl who I had only ever met once. And she certainly loved the attention. I would text her nonstop, for weeks on end. One day, she gave me her number and asked to facetime. That only deepened my affection for her. 

My previously-mentioned girlfriend at the time broke up with me. Not because I did anything, just because we wanted very different things. This, though a little sad, was more freeing than anything. It meant that I could put everything into this new girl that I’d met. And I went crazy. I was texting or calling her every minute of every day for months. We’re talking around the middle of December towards probably the end of February. In mid-January, it became pretty obvious to her that I had feelings. 

“But I’m not allowed to date until I’m sixteen,” I said. She said she’d wait. I wasn’t going to be sixteen for another year-and-a-half, and here she was, saying she’d wait for me. She even put a little ‘two years’ after my name in her contacts. My heart was fluttering. I was so hopelessly, desperately infatuated with this girl. We kept going. I’d text her day-in, day-out, and there was never a problem.

But that was the problem. I was very, very, interested in Marie. My entire mood depended on her. Late one night, around the end of February, I called her. I told her I couldn’t talk to her anymore. That it was too painful to spend every day talking to someone I loved but could never have for myself. And what I said to her, while she cried over losing me, was,

“Eat your greens.” and I hung up. 

Thus, I entered the pit of despair that the Gregorian calendar calls “March.” It sure as hell felt like a March. Every day I was trudging through feelings of loneliness, longing, anger, self-doubt. I wasn’t doing better. It felt like it would be easier to just go back. And guess what I did?

I went back.

It took me less than a month to go back to Marie -- partially, because I was thoroughly convinced that I loved her, but partially because I knew that her presence in my life made everything a lot easier. It gave me a small sense of purpose. And it was a never-ending cycle of one of us leaving because our feelings were too much. Because I loved her or because she didn’t love me. Because of how she felt about herself. It was torment, and it was a lot of back and forth. 

This brings us up to the night before memorial day that year. Her brother was in my grade, and we had known each other because we both were in the Fall play together. He invited me to sleep over at his house the Sunday prior to Memorial day. I’d slept over at their house before. Seeing her there was a regular occurrence, but, more often than not my attention was turned to whatever her brother wanted to do out of politeness. Though, vine compilations do get boring after a time.

Somehow or other, all three of us ended up cuddling on their trampoline in the backyard. It was a little uncomfortable at first, but I got used to it. We just sat there, talking, staring at the sky. It was a beautiful May night. Her brother had fallen asleep spooning me, so it became just her and I talking. She said I was a good to cuddle. I looked at her. She looked at me. She told me she wanted to kiss me. She said she was afraid to kiss me. I said it was okay. I lied. We kissed. We kissed again. She went inside. I stayed there and watched stars fall from the sky as I felt my heart soar into heaven. 

When I woke up, I was in hell again. 

After that I don’t remember much. I know we stopped talking once the summer began. I don’t remember why. I know we went to the pool once. I remember thinking she was beautiful. I remember visiting her house a couple times during the summer. After that, it’s nothing. 

We went back to school, and it was very unlucky that we were basically apart of the same friend group. I had yet another girlfriend (at this point I’d given up on ever dating Marie) and my girlfriend’s friends, my friends, and sometimes Marie and her friends, all ate together. Time passed, my girlfriend and I broke up and my best friend and I were eating somewhere new. 

Eventually, we all got resettled and started eating with a teacher we all liked, called Mr. Johnson. He was a really great teacher and a really great, caring guy. 

It was around this time that I lost my grandfather. He was a huge influence on my life. My grandfather was so full of compassion and a lust for life. He really believed in helping other people. I can’t remember much from this period of time either. My memories start to recollect around November of that year. 

My best friend was done with me. So was Marie. So was everyone else I know. They wanted nothing to do with me. They were upset that I was upset. That’s all it really was. Marie was upset that I was upset with her and my best friend was upset that I wouldn’t talk to him about how upset I was. So I was going into the new year with a very minimal amount of close friends and tons of grief. 

It went on like that for a month or two. My best friend eventually forgave me. Marie came around too, but that took a little longer. 

I remember, one night, I was with two of my good friends when Marie called me. She said,

“[My name], I cut myself, and it’s really deep. I’m scared.”

When I got home, I snuck out the back door and ran to go see her. She was at the local park, smoking with her friend and her brother. I was a little disappointed. I ran up to her to go see her. she invited me to come smoke with them. I obliged. I hated every second of it. The fact that she was using the drugs as a way to hide from what had happened. It didn’t sit well with me. I was worried about her. I was terrified for her.

I just remembered that happened before my grandpa died and not after, sorry. 

I guess the clearest point of this all that I can think of was March of the new year. We were pretty close.

Things got intense. More intense than they had ever been before. We started exchanging photos. Sexting. At the expense, I think, of really confronting how we felt. We settled for something that bordered on reality, but was very far from it in practice. However, an almost-good thing can never really last. 

In late April, she came out to me as a lesbian. 

I don’t have anything against lesbians. This particular occurrence has happened to me numerous times, in fact. It’s a little sad but I try not to think about it too much. I actually talk to one of my lesbian exes a lot. It’s nice. Their love for women is much more akin to mine than any of my straight male friends. 

Marie and I didn’t talk to each other for three months after that, until late one night when I was traveling. According to her, my timing was excellent. While I was across the country, she was staying with a friend, and one of the people who was with her was applying great pressure to engage in some activities. Knowing that I prevented this was a small little victory for me.

I called her again the night after that. This time, she was at home. It didn’t take long for things to get intimate. At least, as intimate as you can get over the phone. Writing this right now, all I can think of is how much I hate that it happened. 

Things went on like this for some time. We were semi-intimate with each other and we were each other’s emotional punching bags when we needed one. And we were both okay like this until one day, things really took a nose dive. 

I was sitting in one of our schools many outdoor areas, leaned up against a fire hydrant, talking to my friends. I’m always looking for Marie at this point, and eventually she comes up to me and she says,

“Don’t be mad.”

“Why would I be mad?”

“My friend invited me to have a threesome with her and her boyfriend. I think I might go. Please, don’t be mad.”

“It’s okay, I’m not mad.” I was furious. 

My inability to confront people is one of my more toxic traits. I feel that this particular instance really demonstrates that.

The bell rang, and she walked away, and I walked away. I spent my next two classes with nothing on my mind but how mad I was. When I didn’t see her at lunch, it only upset me more. I felt like I was nothing to her. She was my rock, my everything, but I was always secondary to her. It’s not like we were together or anything, but it still hurt quite a bit. I thought we had some sort of understanding. 

I was walking to my locker, just trying to put all the extra energy I had somewhere. I had to get books for my French class, which Marie and I had together. As I’m walking, I’m not really looking up or around me because I’m so withdrawn from everything. So, it’s not surprising that I didn’t see her walk up to me. But I did see her try to hug me, and my immediate response was one that I will regret for some time. 

She comes up, out of nowhere, to hug me, and instead of embracing her, I catch her arm before it can come up under me, and push her away. And she goes back about two feet. And I walk away. And I’m about twenty feet away before I realize what I did and call her to apologize. And the she comes and finds me and yells at me. And then we didn’t talk for another two months. 

But come November, we’re talking again. And come November nineteenth, I’m her boyfriend. And we slept together. And we were always on top of each other wherever we were. And I think it distracted me from how much I sucked. I changed, and for the worst. I no longer tried to love her. I don’t think I wanted to. I think that everything that happened between us made me a much worse person. 

Eventually, we did break up. It’s been, I think, a year now since then. I’m sorry if this isn’t a very well-put piece of writing. I did try to make it enjoyable. The details get a little fuzzy. I just needed to get this out there. 

For whoever ends up reading this. Trust me, it gets better. There is better out there for you. If something isn’t meant to be, it really isn’t meant to be. True love waits. 

[shadowhunter250]

Avenger Preferences #3 They Ask you out

Iron-Man/Tony Stark You were at one of Tony's parties mostly against your will. You were only there to see your best friend Steve who begged you to come so you could help him out. You, of course, said yes and were now dancing around the dance floor. You laughed as Steve danced with you as you were trying to show him dance moves of today. Just then you felt a light tap on your shoulder and you turned around shocked. It was Tony and you were surprised to find that so far he wasn't drunk. He took a deep breath before yelling over to Steve, "Hey can I steal her for a while? I need to ask her something." Steve nodded slowly trying to make sure that you were okay with it or if he wanted to steal you away. Tony smirked as he turned to you and took you by the hand. You were blushing slightly at the contact. He led you to a room and you thought, "Uh oh." Tony locked the door behind him and said, "I need to ask you a question." "What is it?" You asked worriedly. "Well, I was um wondering if you would um you know. Like to um go out with me." You smiled as he stuttered to get the words out and then said, "Sure why not, but listen if you hurt me in any way-" "Steve's going to kill me right?" "Maybe," you said with a smile and then the two of you went back out to enjoy the party. For the rest of the night, you couldn't help but notice that Tony didn't even glance at another woman.

Hulk/Bruce Banner

You took a deep breath and then walked into the lab. You were a field agent and managed to get grazed with a bullet on your right arm. Bruce was fixing you up and when he was done you (rolled your sleeve down or put on your jacket, you were about to leave when he said, "Um (name)?" "Yes?" You asked as you turned around to look at him. He gave you a warm smile and said, "Um I was wondering if you would like to maybe go out with me sometime." You smiled and wanted to scream yes at the top of your lungs and pulled him into a hug. But instead, you said, "Yeah that would be great." He smiled and said "Really?" You looked at him and his surprised face. "Yeah- I mean unless you changed your mind." You said worriedly. "No, no, no not at all it's just- well it's just I thought you would say no since you were out of my league." He said with a light blush. You smiled he was cute and you said "Of course I want to go out with you Bruce you are an amazing guy. I feel honored." He laughed and you joined in as well. "Well see you on our date Dr. Banner," you said with a smirk as you left the room.

Captain America/ Steve Rogers You sighed as your brother, Bucky was following you around like a puppy. You smiled at him and then grabbed him in a headlock. Just then the door opened and you saw Steve. (in this part he doesn't know that you two are related.) He blushed and said "Am I interrupting something?" since you two were on the floor and it was weird for Steve to see you two like that. "No not at all." you said and then pinned Bucky and said, "pinned you!" He flipped you over but you flipped him over and yelled, "Pinned you again." He laughed as the two of you got up and you looked at Steve and said, "What do you need?" "Well, I kind of wanted to ask you a question," Steve said and Bucky gave you a knowing look. You rolled your eyes at Bucky and then Bucky left the room. "So what's the question Stevie?" you asked. "Well, I was um, wondering if, um you would like to um, go out with me." He said and you smiled at him and pulled him into a hug and said "yes!" Then Bucky came out and said "I knew it! so that's why I got you guys cake and ice cream!" Bucky said and Steve smiled and sighed "You'll do anything to get cake." "I learned it from you," Bucky said stabbing his cake and he handed you yours. You smiled and said "Thanks, Bucky." "No problem," he said and patted you on the head. You laughed and then kissed Steve on the cheek and he blushed bright red. You all laughed and then ate your cake while watching your favorite show. Hawkeye/ Clint Barton You took a deep breath and aimed an arrow at your target. you then let the arrow fly off your fingertips and it hit the bulls-eyes. You smiled and then you heard clapping and you knew that it was your best friend, Bruce. You turned to see him and Clint. You wave to the two of them and they smiled. You went to retrieve my arrow. You came back and you saw that Bruce was gone but Clint was there. You looked at him and said, "Hey where's Bruce?" "Oh well he had to leave so I thought that I might as well stay here because I have been wanting to ask you a question," He said with a small smile. "What is it?" You asked as you put your bows on your shoulder. He took a deep breath and the said, "I have liked you for some time now and I was thinking, hoping that I could take you out to dinner sometime." You smiled at him and said "sure!" "Really?" He said and you nodded and you saw the relief flood on his face. The two of you ended up talking all the way back to the tower.

Thor You took a deep breath as you jumped on the trampoline and then did a flip. You landed on your back and laughed. You turned to see tony your best friend. He laughed and then the two of you felt someone come in. you turned to see Thor. He looked at you with a smile and then to Tony. "Um, Tony could I maybe ask (name) a question alone?" "Um, I guess," He said with a shrug and walked out with a smile. Thor sat down on the trampoline and you sat down to where you were face to face. He took a deep breath and you could already tell that he was nervous. He looked you in the eyes and then to the ground and then back to you. He looked you straight in your eyes and quickly yelled. "I what to take you out on a date!" You stared at him shocked and then said, "um.... sure?" But it came out as more of a question and then you said "Oh um sorry I mean yeah. I wondered when you were going to ask me." He smiles and pulled you into a hug.

Loki There was a sound and you were slightly surprised to see Loki. "Uh... what are you doing here?" You asked completely confused. "Well, I needed to ask you a question. I mean I have like you for a long time. I know that you are on the side of the Avengers and I don't want to take you away from that. I like you I really do and for that, I will try being good for you. So will you give me an change and take you out on a date?" He asked and you looked in his eyes for any signs of him lying and then you saw that there wasn't any. You smiled and the said, "Yes, but only if you really do try." "I promise," He said with a smile and knew that he really was going to try and you love it.

The Winter Soldier/ Bucky Barnes

There was a knock on your door and you walked over to the door. You opened it and then saw Bucky with a smile and you jumped on his back. He laughed and the put you down and you pouted slightly and he said "I have to ask you something. It is really important. Like life-threatening important." "What is it?" you asked worried that it was going to be something completely bad. He took a deep breath and you looked into his warm blue eyes as he said "I want to know if you will go out with me. I mean I know that you might say no and if you do I don't want to ruin our friendship. I mean you are my best friend." "Don't tell Steve that." you said with a smiled "Yes I would love to." He smiled and then kissed you on the cheek and said, "Pick you up at seven on Friday night." "Wait where on you going?" you asked as he was about to run out the door. He smiled and said, "I need to tell Steve to take out the ice cream and hide the tissues." You laughed as you watched him run down the hall and there was a smile on your lips as well.

Grant Ward

You were hanging out with Skye and she was trying to teach you how to hack. You were horrible at it and somehow ended up making the computer short circuit instead. You threw the computer at the door just before it open and Ward walked in to see you with your arms crossed and pouting and a shocked Skye. Skye looked at you and then to Ward and mouth "I'll give you a minute." As she left the room. Ward sighed as he sat on the bed. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the ground as he said "Um I have been wanting to ask you something. Um for a while now actually. I was wondering if you would like to maybe after this mission goes out on a date with me. You slowly sat up and looked at him with a smile on your face because of how nervous he was. You said "Sure Agent Grant Ward." As you messed up his hair as you added: "But you have to tell Fitz that I broke his computer." As you quickly left the room without another word. He smiled to himself as he went to go tell Fitz about his computer.

Spider-man

You were walking down the streets with Peter as the two of you went to a store with Ava (White Tiger). Ava gave Peter a shove and he sighed as he looked at you who was looking at some of the shoes in the store. Peter wasn't sure what he was going to say since he wanted to ask you out but he was afraid of rejection since he never thought that someone like you would go out with someone like him, but once he started to think that the two of you were friends he thought that he might have a chance to ask you out and a chance that you would say yes. So he took a deep breath and slowly walked towards you. You gave him a huge smile truth be told you had an even huge crush on him as well. You were just as nervous as him as he comes over to you and you remember what your Uncle told you. "Just blurt it out and wait for the reaction." You took a deep breath as at the same time the two of you said: "Do you want to go out with me." The two of you stared at each other in shock and both of you were blushing as you said: "Well I guess that means yes." Peter rubbed the back of his neck and blushed even more as he stuttered out "Ye-yeah so um wh-when do yo-you want to um go?"

Natasha

You manage to get the Black Widow nervous. She didn't know what to do. She was pacing back and forth when you walked into the room. "Fury said you wanted to see me?" You asked as you sat down waiting for her to speak. You watched as she took a deep breath and said: "Well I wanted to ask you something." "Ok shoot." You said making fake guns with your fingers. A Small smile came to her lips and she said: "Well I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me." You moved your feet from the table shocked and looked at her in the eyes. Truth be told you had a huge crush on her and the fact that she said she has a crush on you surprised you. She waited for your answer and you said "Um yeah sure." And you both saw the blush on each other's cheeks.

Skye

You sighed as you finished up training with Grant once again pinning him to the mat. You laughed and said, " I am the champion!" " Yeah, yeah," Grant said but there was a smile on his lips as you helped him up. Skye walked into the room and said: " Oh um hey (your name) what are you doing here?" "Just finishing beating up Ward." You said with a smile as he walked to the showers. "So what do you want to talk about?" "Is it that obvious?" She asked with a sigh. "I just wanted to ask um would you like to go out with me sometime?" You spit out the water you were drinking and looked at her with wide eyes. " You want to take me out?" "Yeah," Skye said as she looked at her feet. "Um yeah sure." You said as you looked at your feet. "Um okay then, I'll pick you up on Friday." "So-sounds good" You managed to stutter out.

Fitz

You were walking to the training room when you saw Steve. Steve Rogers was a close friend of yours and as the two of you got closer he said: "Fitz wanted me to give you this." You looked at the envelope in his hand and you took it wondering what it could be. You saw that it was a letter that said is what you could tell was Fitz's nervous handwriting the word "Would you, (your name) be willing to go out with me?" You smiled down at the letter and said: "Yes I would be willing to go out with you Fitz." You saw him pop out from behind Steve and said "Really?" You let out a small laugh and said "Yup!"

Logan

You were walking out of the training room when you saw Logan. You smiled and jumped onto his back.He let out a small groan and then saw that it was you. He gave you a small smile and as he pulled you down you then started to walk away when he grabbed you by the arm and said: "(your name) I have been wanting to ask you something for a while." "OK what is it?" you asked with your head tilted slightly. He took a deep breath and then said, "so would you be willing to maybe go out with me?" You looked at him shock was obviously in your eyes and as he looked at you he wasn't sure what you were going to say. He was starting to get nervous around you and you noticed right away and you came back to reality and said "Um yeah sure I guess. I just sort of zoned out sorry." You said when a light blush came to your cheeks. You saw a smile come to his cheeks and you smiled back at him as he said, "So tomorrow works for you." You nodded and then walked away not knowing what else to say.

Beast

You were walking down to the lab to see Hank. The two of you have gotten really close. As you opened the door you saw Hank standing up looking over a book. He didn't notice that you walked in so you walked in quietly and closed the door. Once you did he turned to see you. You gave him a small smile and he smiled back but then he got really nervous. You noticed but didn't point it out and decided to go and walk over to him. As you did you were shocked to see that he quickly covered the book he was readying with papers. "Um, Hank are you Ok?" You asked as you gently put a hand on his shoulder. He sighed and held your hand as he turned around and said: "Well um I um need to ask you something important." "Really? Ok go ahead, I'm always here for you Hank." You said as you sat on the stool that he always had next to him ever since you started to visit the lab. He took a deep breath as he held your hand and he slightly tightened his grip on it. "(name) I have been wanting to ask you this for a while now actually. I just have never been able to put it into words or get it at the right timing. It was always the reason that I was so quiet around you. But if I don't ask you now I don't think I ever will. So (name) with you maybe think about going out on a date with me?" Your eyes widened and then a smile came to your face as you threw your self to him and said: "Of course I will go out on a date with you!" He smiles and pulled back from your attack hug as he said "Really?!" You smiled and said "Really." as you started into his beautiful blue eyes.

Wanda

You were reading a book by the pool that Tony had when you felt someone standing over you. You looked up to see Wanda. You smiled and removed your glasses as you said: " Hey Wanda what do you need?" " Um, nothing I was just wondering if I could sit here with you?" You gave her a smile as you nodded and said "Sure." She sat down you noticed that she had a light blush on her cheeks as you said is something wrong?" She shook her head and blushed harder you got up and put a hand on her forehead and said: " Wanda you feel hot are you sure you are OK?" She nodded and you heard someone trying to hide a laugh. You turned to see Natasha standing there and you shrugged your shoulders and sat back down. The Wanda glared at Natasha and turned to you and said " Hey um I was um wondering if you would maybe like to hang out. You know like just the two of us." "Li-like a date?" You asked newly spitting out your water. She blushed even harder and looked down but nodded her head as a yes. You smiled at her shyness and lean towards her and said just so she could hear "sure." "Aw... come on (your name) I wanted to hear the answer. " Tony said with a pout. You smirked and said, " Well you're not going on our site so you shouldn't be in our conversation." You gave Wanda a smile and she smiled back.

Victor

You were hanging out with Agent Zero. You were seeing who could throw the knife the farthest since Wade broke the TV when he was on a sugar High. You were about to take your throw when you heard a voice. You turned around to see Victor standing there watching you. You noticed that he wanted to tell you something and you walked over to him. As you did you heard Agent Zero mumble something under his breath and leave the room. You shrugged and then said, "hey Victor what do you need?" "Well you me date on Friday I'll pick you up at seven." he was about to walk away when you grabbed him by the arm and said: "Should you ask a girl out instead of telling her or are you afraid she will reject you?" You tilted your head and Victor sighed and then turned around to face you as he said "Fine then will you got out on a date with me (your name)?" You gave him a smile and said "Sure." and then you walked down the hall and he just watched you as you left.

Pietro

You were trying to figure out how to beat Natasha in a fight when you felt a tap on your shoulder. You turned around to see Pietro standing there. He gave you a small smile and said:: "Hey (your name) I was wondering if you would follow me somewhere." You nodded your head as you got up from the couch. He gave you a smile and you walked down the hall to the elevator and then outside. You gave him a confused looked and then he said: "Can I um carry you?" You nodded your head again not sure what he was up to. He picked you up and you wrapped your arms around his neck and buried your face in his chest. You could hear his heart pounding and then suddenly you felt the wind stop. You looked to find yourself in (Your favorite place). You looked up at Pietro and said: "Why are we here." With a smile on your face. Pietro smiled down at you and said: "Because I wanted to ask you something." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and then cleared his throat obviously trying to buy himself more time and he said "Well... I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me sometime?" You gave Pietro a grin as you looked at your feet and then looked back at him as you said "Su- sure that would be great." You knew that your cheeks were burning up but what surprised you was when you looked up so was Pietro's.

Phil Coulson

You were smiling as you walked down the hallway you saw Phil and you ran up to him. He told you that he wanted to talk to you about the next mission. You gave him a smile as you said: " Hey Coulson long time no see." He gave you a smile and said "Hello (your name) I wanted to ask you something so I'm glad that I ran into you. I wanted to ask do you  um maybe want to go out to dinner sometime?" "you mean like as in on a date?" You asked with a light blush. Phil nodded and you could have sworn that you saw a light blush on his cheeks.  You felt a smile come to your face as you nodded not trusting your word to not yell yes into his ears.

Agent May

You and May have been getting very close lately and you had been wanting to ask her out but every time you were about to you chickened out. So this time you were going to try to just tell her but things didn't exactly go that way. You walked over to May while she was training when she saw you she stopped and turned towards your direction. You sighed and said "May um I have been wanting to ask you something for a while now. Now you don't have to give me an-" "Yeah ok." She said as she cut you off. You raised an eyebrow as you said: "I didn't even get to ask you the question!" "You were going to ask me out right?" She said with an eyebrow raised. "Well yeah, but you should have at least let me ask you." You said as you looked down at the ground. "Well go ahead." She said with her arms crossed. "It doesn't matter now! I mean you already said yes so, either way, I would already know the answer." "Well fine then I just don't know why you are making such a big deal out of asking the question." She said with a shrug.You sighed as you gave her a pout and then said "So tomorrow at eight?" You saw her give you a half smile as she nodded and continued her training.

Deadpool

He sighed as he looked around the room and saw you. You were sitting next to your brother and talking about the last mission with him. Wade walked over to you as he started to feel nervous. He stood in front of your and you looked up at him as you gave him a small smile and said: "What's up Wade?" "Well, I was wondering if I could talk to you in private." Your smile faltered but you nodded as you two stood up and walked out without another word. You sighed as you looked back at Zero and he was looking at the two of you trying to figure out if he should shot Wade or not and you rolled your eyes at your overprotective brother. The two of you were talking out in the hall when he finally sighed and said: "I brought you here because I wanted to ask you something." "What did you want to ask me?" You asked tilting your head. He rubbed the back of his neck and tried not to look you in the eyes as he said: "Well I wanted to ask you if you would go out on a date with me." "You want me to go out with you?" You asked with a raised eyebrow. "Um Yes..." He said and you could see a hint of a blush on his cheeks. "Well, I guess yeah." You said as you turned and walked into the small area you guys called the living room. You left a shocked Wade not believing that you would say yes.

Black Panther

You were walking down the hallway. Over the time T'Challa and you had gotten closer and out of everyone on the team he was closest to you. So when you noticed that he was becoming distant around you and was always trying to avoid you. You getting tired of it and it finally got on your nerves when you saw him talking to all of the Avengers EXCEPT you. You marched over to them and Tony gave him a wink as they all left. " Why have you been ignoring me?" T'Challa blushed as he looked away but then looked back to you as he said " I uh have grown feeling for you since I've been a part of this team. I understand if you don't feel the same. But I want to ask you if you would at least be willing to go on a date with me." You smiled at his embarrassment knowing that he wasn't use to this. You laughed and then said " Yes of course I'll go out with you, T'Challa." You saw relief fill his face and you smiled as you took his hand and the two of you walked out of the meeting room.

Agent Zero

You sighed you had just gone on a mission with them and you were dead tired. You were about to head to sleep when you felt someone grab onto your hand. You turned around thinking that it was Wade. You sighed and turned around but it surprised you to find out that it was Agent Zero. He sighed as he looked down but then looked up into your eyes as he said "I want to ask you out on a date." You raised an eyebrow and said "Well... I don't know..." "I understand that you are your father's daughter and that you don't want to do anything that will affect him but please?" You didn't think that he would beg for you to go out with him so you sighed and said "Sure why not?" As went into your room to sleep.

Peter (DOFP)

You two have been living together for three months and things have been going really well. The two of you have grown on each other and as the time went on you have fallen in love with each other even though neither of you dared to tell each other. You sighed as you looked at Peter who was racing across the room. You couldn't help the laugh that came out as you saw him doing funny faces. He would always wonder why you were able to do the things that you could but he wouldn't ask about it in fear of it scaring you off. He decided that now was the time since he didn't think he could hold it in any longer. He took a deep breath knowing that this was going to difficult. He had never actually told anyone that he liked them before. He slowed his run as he stopped in front of you. You looked up from the book that you were reading and he had a nervous blush on his cheeks. You gave him a warm smile as you said "Hey what's the matter? If I didn't know you better I would think that you are blushing." He gave you a soft nod and it surprised you as he said "I uh... I want you... to maybe go out with me?" Your eyes widened as you said "Really?" He blushed harder but said "Ye-yeah... I mean if you don't want too-" "No of course! I mean I would love to Peter." He smiled as he grabbed you in a hug as he kissed your cheek and said "thank you."

Mystique

She ask you out and first kiss/ I love you

If we are being honest you saw it coming. Literally, you were sleeping in your room when you saw her asking you out. But because of this you were more nervous that she was, you saw her walking down the hall and you quickly darted down another. It wasn't that you didn't want her, you wanted to date her but you weren't sure if you were truly ready for a relationship. You took a deep breath knowing that you were going to have to face this eventually. You ran a hand threw your hair as you opened your eyes to see Mystique staring at you. You jumped thinking "Oh no I'm still not ready.' "I have been needing to talk to you (name). It is really important and I don't know how much longer I can hold this in. We have been working together for five years now. I have been with you through your PTSD attacks and I know how much you are hurting. Even though you won't tell me what triggers them I understand. They are hard for you and it is hard for you to come out of those situations. I am here for you. I am here though the ups and downs. I will be with you though every break down, though every time you fall apart because I want you. I know you and I still want to be with you. You are broken and you have a dark side. You try to hide it but you don't need to hide it around me. Trust me (name) I want to be with you. I want to love you, I do love you. You mean so much to me and I want to take your pain and hurt away from you. I want to be there for you in the happy moments and the bad moments because just being with you causes me so much joy. SO please (name) will you be willing to date me? Will you be my girlfriend?" You could see the nervousness in her face. No one has ever told you something like this before. You weren't expecting this much of a confessions. No one has ever said that they loved you and your flaws. They all left when they found out about your PTSD. You were expecting the same but when she stayed, saying that she was willing to stay you found your self in tears. You loved her, you truly did. You ran into her arms as you said, "Of Course I will be with you. You mean so much to me. You have been with me thought so many panic attacks where I didn't even know who you were. I love you Mystique and I want to be with you. You are the reason that I have stayed alive this long. I want to be with you too." She smiled as she gently kissed your lips. You smiled into it hoping that this was the person that you were going to spend the rest of your life with.

[let-me-love-you-loki]

Too Early, Too Late

A/N: Heavily influenced by BTE 199 Part 1. And, just so you know, 1,642 is exactly 4 years and 6 months in days. Matt’s such a softie...

“Please be careful,” I said, sitting in the shade and watching the insanity that was my husbands. Eighteen-month-old Lee napped in the playpen at my side, a sippy cup of juice still grasped in his pudgy baby fingers. I was glad he was too small for the shenanigans Matt and Nick were up to in the back yard. My hand rested on the curve of my stomach. Baby number four was just a few days away.

           Nick leaned against the ropes of the ring they’d pulled out of storage. It was on old one from a promotion that had long gone out of business, and it was better-and safer—than the one that their dad had built when they were backyard wrestling as teens. He smiled at me, tipping his baseball cap down over his eyes. “It’s gonna be fine, Y/N,” he said easily. “Trust us.”

           It was the same thing he’d said over and over during our eight years together. When Mattie wanted to be tossed into the pool by her Dada… when Nicole wanted to bounce on the trampoline with her sister and her Papa… when we went to the arcade center and the girls wanted to ride the go-karts with their fathers… every time, Nick always looked at me with those blue eyes and smiled and said trust us.

           I did. I trusted them with everything. But that didn’t stop me from having a mini panic attack every time they tried anything that wasn’t 100% safe.

           Matt sat on the top turnbuckle nearby, Nicole—now four-and-a-half—sitting on his knee. “It’s okay, Mama. If anybody’s going to get hurt, it’s us. This tag team is 1,642 and 0 against us. The Young Does whip us every time.”

           Seven-year-old Mattie looked over at her Papa and her baby sister. She was sitting on the apron, swinging her feet against the steel frame. “We need merch, Papa.”

           Nick snorted and leaned over the top rope to ruffle her dark brown hair. “You want gear too?”

           “Yep,” she looked up at Nick with eyes that matched his. “With the fringes just like yours. The ones Mama likes.”

           I grinned. “The Lisa Frank ones. Or the green lightning bolts.”

           Matt turned to stare at me, one brow raised quizzically. “Not the ones with our faces all over them?”

           I closed my eyes and dropped my chin to my chest. Then I whispered to my belly, still loud enough that they could hear. “That gear gives me nightmares, baby.”

           The thump and rumble of the boards of the ring startled me. Matt had hopped down from the turnbuckle. I glanced to my side, surprised to see that Lee was still sound asleep. The ring gave a faint rattle with every step as Matt sat Nicole on the apron next to Mattie. “Watch your sister for a second,” he said, grinning at our eldest daughter.

           Mattie turned sideways and held Nicole in her lap. Two pairs of worshipping blue eyes watched as Matt and Nick bounced on the balls of their feet. Nick took a few running steps and leaned into the ropes, propelling himself back across the ring. Halfway across, he tucked into a front roll. He got to his feet and climbed to the top rope, then flipped backwards off of it, landing lightly. The girls clapped and squealed as Nick ran to the opposite corner, leaned into the turnbuckle, and flipped himself heels over the head onto the apron.

           Surprisingly, his hat stayed on.

           “Teach me to do that, Dad,” Mattie begged. She’d dropped the -a when she was six.

           Nick pulled himself up onto the top rope and spring boarded onto Matt, who caught him and landed flat on his back. While Nick swept back up to his feet, Matt pulled his feet up, rolling up onto his shoulder and flipping backward to stand.

           “You’ve got to get taller first,” Nick said, glancing over at me. I leaned back, my feet propped up on another chair, and rubbed slow circles on my belly. I shrugged, well aware that every one of our children would be brought up in the wrestling business and that they might decide to follow in their fathers’ footsteps. “And you’ve got to learn to do a cartwheel first.”

           “But I can!”

           Matt leaned back against the ropes and waved his hand at the center of the ring. “Go ahead then,” he said teasingly. “Nikki, come here.”

           While Mattie climbed over the bottom rope, Nikki crawled underneath and scrambled over to her Papa. Mattie went to the middle of the ring, took a deep breath, and attempted a cartwheel. She planted her hands on the mat, but couldn’t get her feet over her head. Instead, she just sort of hopped from one side to the other and stood up, arms in the air.

           “That’s a good try, my love,” Nick said, climbing back into the ring. “Let’s see if we can get your feet off the ground. Watch me.”

           Nick put his arms over his head and leaned sideways. He landed one hand and kicked up his leg. The other hand came down, the other leg lifted up. For a moment, he did a handstand, then he let his momentum carry him over back onto his feet again.

           “I can’t do that,” Mattie said unhappily. “I’m not strong enough.”

           Matt looked back at her from where he stood, helping Nicole climb the turnbuckles. “You will be. You’ve got to practice. Try again. Dad will help.”

           For the next ten minutes. I watched Nick kneel in the center of the ring and help Mattie do cartwheels. He showed her how to lean over, how to make sure that her hands landed in the right way, and how to kick her legs over the top. Every time she tried, Nick held her by the waist and supported her weight, helping her flip all the way over.

           “You’re going to fall eventually, and you should try to fall safe whenever you can,” Nick instructed. He put his hand on the back of our daughter’s neck. “Always protect your neck. If you feel like you’re going to fall, tuck your chin into your chest and try to land on your back. Like this.”

           Nick got up in a handstand. “Tuck your chin.” He bent his head, pressing his chin against his chest. “Land on the back of your shoulders.” He swung his legs down behind him, the momentum dropping him onto his shoulder blades. The ring made a heavy thump when he landed.

           “Does it hurt when you and Papa fall? Or when you fight with Uncle Kenny or your friends?”

           Matt carried Nicole over to where Nick and Mattie sat in the center of the ring. “Sometimes,” he said. “Our friends know how to fight and not hurt anybody really bad. But sometimes accidents happen. Do you remember when Dad and I came home, and I couldn’t play for a few days and you had to be really careful with hugs? When Mama had to put ice on my back?”

           My chest constricted, my breath catching in my lungs. One bad fall, one wrong move, a careless drop… that’s all it would take to end their careers… or worse. It terrified me every time they had a bump or a bruise or an ache that lingered for more than a day. We tried to keep that from the girls as much as possible. They shouldn’t have to worry about their fathers like that.

           “Yeah,” Mattie replied, looking down and picking at her shoes. I could see it clear as day from where I sat—her little shoulders where straight, even as she shrank into herself. My heart broke. “It was scary.”

           Matt handed Nicole to Nick and gestured for Mattie to come sit on his lap. She perched on her Papa’s knee, twisting her fingers in her lap. Matt put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “I know, Tea. It scared me too. And Mama.”

           “And me,” Nick added, watching his brother seriously.

           “Hey,” Matt said, looking between Mattie and Nicole. “I’m going to make you a promise, okay? To you, Nikki, Lee, the new baby, and Mama. I promise that no matter what happens, Dad and I will always come home. And we’re always going to be here for you.”

           He kissed her forehead and reached out for Nicole’s hand. I watched as the men I loved sat in the center of their ring with our daughters in their laps. The tears came and I sniffed, overwhelmed again and again by how much I loved them and how much they loved us. Matt looked my way, his lips curving into a smile that showed the dimples in his round cheeks. I smiled back, bringing my fingers to my lips and blowing a kiss in his direction.

           “C’mon,” Nick said, getting to his feet. “Let’s see if you can suplex me, my love.”

           Mattie grinned as she climbed off her Papa’s lap. Very few seven-year-olds even knew what a suplex was, but our girl knew every different kind of suplex. She was particularly fond of her Uncle Kenny’s snapdragon suplex.

           Personally, I was a sucker for her Papa’s locomotion suplex.  

Tag List

@mox-made-me-do-it​ @lilred91​ @imagineall-the-fandoms​

[multiverseofimagines]

hey! could I request a jonathan byers x reader imagine where the reader is a really good friend of the byers family and Joyce absolutely loves her!! and has wanted Jonathan and the reader to get together for a while and they eventually do? thanks❤️

Authors Note; I’m so sorry if this isn’t what you wanted, but I decided to make this more of a blurb rather than an imagine! I hope you enjoy. (This is set after season two but before season three! 

-

You had known the Byers family for what seemed like forever, your parents had gone to school with Joyce and Lonnie, all of them being really good friends with one another during highschool. They brought their friendship into adulthood, even after they had children, they all stuck to each other

Even after Lonnie and Joyce had split up, your family had been there for the both of them, more Joyce than anything though. Joyce was like your second Mom, and Will, your little brother. But Jonathan… there was something different about Jonathan. I mean, no doubt were you attracted to him, you had been since you were both young. You remember fondly being teased by your parents and his for being super close with Jonathan. The four parents would be sitting in your backyard watching Jonathan and You play around on the trampoline, laughing and holding hands.

“Their gonna get married one day.” Joyce would laugh.

“Yeah, I can see it.” Your father would nod, laughing along.

But as you grew up, the barbeques started to become less and less and so did the connection between you and Jonathan. Soon enough, your parents decided to move out to the city. Living there was hell to you, all you wanted to do was move back, see Jonathan and Will again and all the other friends you had made in Hawkins. Thankfully you had visited at least once in the past year, and that was during the time Will was missing. Your Mom insisted on being there for Joyce and Jonathan, but as soon as Will came home, the sooner you and your parents went back to the city.

And now here you were, packing a duffle bag of clothes and childhood trinkets. You had decided to run away back to Hawkins, you were an age now in which you could decide your fate for yourself, and you had decided that there was too much in Hawkins that meant so much to you, you couldn’t just, not come back.

“ You’re making a mistake Y/N.”  Your Father warned as you put the last of your things into the bag. “ You can’t just abandon your family like this..” Your Mother pleaded, but you had made your decision, and that decision was to move back to Hawkins. Joyce sat outside in her car, waiting for you to say your goodbyes, she knew this would damage the relationship between her and your parents, but she could see you struggling whilst living with them.“ I love you both, but I have my own life to live.” You gave them both hugs before waving goodbye and shutting the door behind you. 

You practically ran down the steps in excitement and joy, down to Joyce’s vehicle. You opened the back door, placing your bag in the back seat. You closed the door and opened the passenger side, hopping into the car. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Joyce asked as you buckled in your seatbelt.“More than anything Aunty Joyce.” You smiled, as she sped off to Hawkins. 

-Your first week in Hawkins was unimaginable. All your old friends coming over to the house to greet you, Movie night with Jonathan and Will, and your first day of school at Hawkins High. It was exciting, being back, you felt more at home than you had in years. 

You sat in Jonathan’s room, legs crossed, reading one of his many novels, a mixtape playing softly in the background on his tape player. Will was at a sleepover and Jonathan had gone to drop him off. Jonathan had told you that you could use his stuff anytime you needed to cure your boredom, so here you were. A soft knock on Jonathan’s door, made your head shoot up, placing the book down beside you. “Come in?” You spoke, Joyce opening the door and smiling, taking a seat on the bed. “ Hey sweetie, whatcha doing?” She spoke softly, in a motherly way. “Just reading.” You shrugged smiling at her. She grabbed your hands. “ I know it’s tough, you must feel so homesick and alone without your parents, and sleeping on our couch probably won’t be ideal forever, but I really hope you are happy here.” She smiled up at you. “ I am happy Aunty Joyce, more than happy.” She embraced you in a hug, holding you close. The moment was soon enough ruined though, Jonathan yelling from the front door, “ Mom?? Y/N? You guys home?”  He walked to his room, standing by the doorway as Joyce got up to greet him, “ I’ll leave you, kids, alone.” She smiled, closing the door to his bedroom behind her. 

“ Hey!” He greeted, sitting beside you, “Got bored?” He questioned looking over to the book at the side of the bed. “ Yeah, I guess so..”  You looked down, embarrassed. “ Did you see Nancy?” You asked, looking back up at him.“ Nah,” He shrugged, “I’m pretty sure we’re over for good.” He sighed.

“ I’m so sorry Jonathan.” You put a hand on his back, sympathetically. He smiled back at you, then looking to the ground. “ it’s okay.” you removed your hand from his back. “ I broke up with her.” you furrowed your eyebrows.“Oh- why?” You asked confused.  He looked back up at you, shrugging. “ I guess- I’m in love with someone else.” He smiled at you, your heart beating out of your chest. His face moved closer your yours, you could feel his breath against your cheek. You did the same, turning your head to the right slightly, waiting for him to make the first move. With a swift movement, he pressed his soft lips against yours, one of his hands setting itself on your thigh. 

You both pulled away, smiling at one another, a voice from the door turning your attention to it, “ I knew it!!” Joyce squealed, making both you and Jonathan giggle.

[rosemaidenvixen]

Flipping the Script

Chapter 2: Enter the Trollhunter II

Ao3

Nomura had on occasion, accidentally allowed her car to drift too far to one side of the highway while driving; and as a result, had her tires go across the grooves designed to alert drivers of their precarious position.

The feeling was jarring and unpleasant, to say the least.

Amplify that sensation over a thousand times, add a neverending sharp turn, and that was approximately how it felt to be driving down the massive staircase.

Nomura rattled in her armor as the jagged crystal steps battered at the car. She was being dinged black and blue, but at least the seatbelt kept her from flying around.

Despite being on a redneck rollercoaster from hell, she wasn’t screaming, not even a peep. Nomura really wanted to say that this was because she never panicked and was always the epitome of grace under pressure.

In reality her diaphragm was paralyzed with terror.

This was in direct contrast to Strickler and Otto, who were wailing their heads off.

It was actually pretty impressive that neither of them had passed out from lack of oxygen by now.

For his part Otto had given up any attempt to control the vehicle and was now just along for the ride. Or maybe he was trying to control their wild descent, it was impossible to tell at this point.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you viewed things, they rounded a final corner and shot out of the staircase. Bouncing on the last few steps in a way that reminded her of a trampoline for all the wrong reasons.

The tires tore against the cobblestones as Otto slammed on the brakes. The car fishtailed, two out of four tires having gone flat on their way down.

But friction and physics were on their side and the car slowly, painfully, came to a stop.

Insane ride finally at an end, they all sat panting and shaking in their seats, still braced for whatever shock was sure to be coming next. So of course they all jolted when the rear bumper fell off with a loud clang.

Well Nomura and Strickler did, Otto slumped over against the steering wheel in a dead faint.

So they were alive, which was a definite plus, but now the car was totaled and Otto was unconscious. Those were things, things that she should probably deal with.

Still trembling from residual adrenaline, Nomura pried herself out of the car, clinging to the side to keep from falling over. Across the hood she could see Strickler getting out and going over to Otto’s door, checking him over no doubt.

Now that she had a moment to breathe, Nomura glanced around at her surroundings. They were in a stone city of some kind, buildings and storefronts carved directly into or out of the bedrock. All illuminated by a myriad of crystals that glowed every color of the rainbow. A glittering metropolis hidden beneath the foundation of Arcadia Oaks.

It would have been beautiful if not for the steadily increasing number of trolls gathering around the car, none of them looked happy.

“Humans? In Trollmarket?”

“Fleshbags!”

“What are they doing here?”

“Might be changelings...”

Angor was standing between them and the crowd, front and center, but the nervous expression he wore was not reassuring.

Right on queue the sword magically reappeared on Nomura’s back, she really hoped that didn’t mean she would have to use it in the next few seconds.

Before the crowd’s grumbling could escalate to shouting, a troll broke through the crowd and dashed around to join Angor in separating them from the mob. Shorter than most other trolls, green with six eyes and four arms.

Dictatious.

“Calm down everyone, no reason to panic,” his voice boomed in the stone corridor “Let’s not lose our heads…”

Nomura, ignoring the looky-loos for now, scurried around to the other side of the car to help Strickler pull Otto out. They managed to lift the bespeckled man out of his seat, only to stagger under his weight. Nomura grunted as she strained to support him, Otto wasn’t that heavy, but he wasn’t that light either, and his flopping limps and overall limpness did not help when trying to maneuver him.

As soon as all three of them were conscious and above ground, she was going to thank Strickler and Otto for all the times during college they dragged her drunk, unconscious body onto the couch and into the recovery position.

Stricker gave an uncertain glance at the troll standing off to the side "A little help...Angor?"

Looking glad at being given a way to help directly, Angor stepped over and plucked Otto out of their arms and into his as easily as a human might pick up a baby.

Meanwhile Dictatious was still trying to calm the masses “These humans are no intruders,” he struggled to make himself heard over the rising grumblings of the crowd “Please allow me to introduce our new Trollhunter and her...”

Half of his eyes swiveled over in her direction “These are your brothers,” he stage whispered “Correct?”

“I-- Yes,”

That was close enough to the truth that it might as well be. And besides, the whole truth was...complicated.

“Our new Trollhunter, and her brothers!”

His words seemed to have the opposite effect than intended, riling up the crowd even further rather than calming them.

Before Nomura could start to panic about the soon-to-be angry mob, a new voice boomed above the others.

“WHAT. IS. THIS!”

She felt, through the tremors in the ground, the new troll coming before she saw him. The crowd parted, making way for a massive, coal black troll to storm through. The newcomer was bigger than Angor and a lot bigger than Dictatious. He was nearly as big as Draal, hell maybe he was bigger. His only clothing was a kilt and scabbards holding twin swords strapped to his back. Horns curled around his face framing an ugly snarl with the fringes of the dark, matted mane running down his back peeking out. The only trace of color on him besides black was in his blazingly red eyes, which were laser focused on Dictatious.

“YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS--” he stabbed an accusatory finger in Nomura’s direction “FLESHBAG, IS OUR NEW TROLLHUNTER!?”

Dictatious folded both sets of arms “Yes Bular I do, and don’t just take my word for it, the armor and the amulet speak for themselves,”

Bular snapped his gaze in Nomura’s direction and let out a low growl, she squashed the urge to flinch.

“She can’t be the Trollhunter! She’s not a troll!”

Dictatious met Bular’s gaze without flinching “I admit it’s unconventional, but the amulet has made its choice. Now there is nothing for us to do but accept it,”

Bular seethed, hands balled into fists, shaking with barely restrained fury. His eyes raked over Nomura’s silver armor and the amulet hovering above her heart “You have no right to wear that armor, human,” he spat, stomping in her direction, she wobbled and took an involuntary step back “I am Bular the Vicious, son of Gunmar the Glorious and the amulet’s rightful heir!”

Gunmar? Who was-- Oh yeah, Dictatious had said that he was the Trollhunter before her. Back up, he had a son!?

Suddenly Bular’s arm shot forward and his fingers closed around the amulet faster than she could react to.

“AND I WILL NOT SEE HIS LEGACY SULLIED!”

Just as he started to pull at the silver disk, the amulet hummed with energy and erupted with a concussive blast, throwing Nomura back to be caught by Strickler, and hurtling Bular into the crowd, who scattered away from the flying troll with gasps of shock and stunned looks on their faces.

If Bular had been mad before now he was profoundly pissed off. Roaring, he hurtled to his feet and charged back towards her.

Nomura snarled, shaking off Strickler’s attempts to hold her back, and stalked forward to meet the dark troll head on.

She knew in some part of her mind how stupid this was, going up against an eight foot tall stone monster that could snap her spine like a twig. But after everything she’d just been through today Nomura was done.

She had absolutely no fucks left to give.

The two squared off, mere feet apart.

“Listen well human--”

“No, you listen!” Nomura cut him off with a growl “I found this amulet nine hours ago and in that time I’ve been chased, punched, thrown, tossed, and threatened with death more times than in the rest of my life combined!”

She leaned in until their faces were mere inches apart, close enough to smell his halitosis, closer than she ever would have dared if she were less tired and pissed overall “This amulet has been nothing but trouble, and apparently giving it back isn’t an option. Believe me I tried,”

Their noses were almost touching now as Nomura pressed even closer, she could see Bular’s eyes widening “So if you want it so bad, how about I shove it straight up your--”

Strickler grabbed Nomura by the arm and yanked her back, probably trying to get her out of biting range “Let’s save the more colorful threats for another day, shall we?” he said, panic thinly veiled with a brittle smile.

But rather than bellowing or threatening her with limb shearing, Bular looked like he had been stunned into silence by her outburst. This lasted for a few seconds before he snorted and turned away “We’ll see what Usurna has to say about this,” he grumbled while walking off.

Nomura pulled herself free from Strickler and watched Bular leave through narrowed eyes. Picking fights on her first day as Trollhunter was probably a bad idea, especially since she already had one troll gunning for her, but Gunmar’s son or not, that guy was an ass. The crowd was dispersing now, trolls losing interest now that violence was no longer imminent and heading off in different directions. Taking advantage of the lull, Dictatious swooped in and grabbed each of them by the arm “Let’s move along, shall we,”

They hustled through the market, following Dictatious’s lead. Angor trailed after them, bridal carrying the unconscious Otto. Strickler kept gawking at all the sights and sounds of the troll city, Nomura was more concerned with the trolls constantly milling about, occasionally giving them the stink eye.

“So are we...safe here?”

“Oh yes,” Dictatious said animatedly “Trollmarket’s wards are impenetrable, no Gumm Gumm could ever set foot here,”

“No, I mean is it safe for us,” Nomura gestured to herself and the two men “Humans?”

All six of Dictatious’s eyes blinked “Oh, that is...less certain,”

Strickler narrowed in on that “What exactly does that mean, ‘less certain’?”

“Humans have never before set foot in Trollmarket, the fact that you are here is a tremendous upheaval to our way of life. And rapid change is not something trolls are accustomed to, and some may react...poorly,”

Despite the uneasy mood, Dictatious suddenly brightened and hurried ahead while gesturing for them to follow.

“Enough talk of such dire things. Master Nomura, it is time for you to see precisely what you’re fighting for as our Trollhunter,”

Hustling after Dictatious, Nomura turned and reached a clear area of the street that bordered a massive chasm. Looking up and following the troll’s line of sight, Nomura let out a gasp.

On the other side of the chasm was a crystal the size of a skyscraper. But even in spite of its size, this was no ordinary piece of quartz. The crystal glowed with soft, orange-yellow light. Something about it just felt warm, like coming face to face with the sun.

Nomura heard a soft gasp from behind her as Strickler experienced his own reaction to the crystal. Angor appeared bemused by their reactions, even as he shut his eyes and let out a pleased hum as the light of the crystal hit him.

“The Hearthstone,” Dictatious said with no small amount of pride “Source of strength and vitality for all Trollkind. As our Trollhunter, your sworn duty is to protect it and all the trolls who share in its warmth,”

Looking up at the hearthstone, Nomura felt an uncomfortable stirring in her chest. Magical amulets were a terrible way to choose public servants, she was standing by that, but it was obvious that this whole Hearthstone-Trollhunter gig was very important. And she wasn’t sure that she could be what they needed.

Luckily she was saved from her emotions by Otto starting to wake up. Golden eyes widening in alarm at the squirming human in his arms, Angor hastily set Otto down on the cobblestones as gently as he could and took a few steps back.

Nomura and Strickler hurried up to him as Otto groaned and twitched back into consciousness.

“I just had the strangest dream…” Otto sat up and straightened his crooked glasses “Nomura found a magic amulet and then trolls were-- Gott in himmel!?”

Strickler flashed him a sympathetic look while helping him to his feet “Unfortunately we are all very much awake, are you injured at all?”

Otto groaned and stretched “Nein...but I am going to need a stiff drink at the end of today,”

Nomura patted him on the shoulder “You and me both,”

Otto blinked and looked around “Where are we exactly?”

“Trollmarket,” Strickler replied, cutting off Dictatious who had opened his mouth in preparation to explain. He shut it and scowled, but allowed Strickler to continue.

“Apparently an entire Trollish metropolis exists beneath Arcadia, with no one the wiser, and Nomura has most recently been appointed as their protector,”

Otto snorted “Now that I find hard to believe,”

Nomura punched him on the shoulder “Asshole,”

Angor and Dictatious shared a puzzled look, the shorter troll raising a brow ridge in confusion “Is that a human term of endearment?”

“Dictatious Galaridgal!”

They all turned at the new voice booming through the stone streets.

A new troll strode towards them. She was about as tall as Angor, but broader. She carried a large glowing, crystal staff. Bioluminescent lines traced and curled across her stone skin, and her mouth was firmly fixed in a scowl.

“Dictatious Galaridgal. What in the name of Gorgus is going on? I had to hear from Bular of all people that our new Trollhunter--” she narrowed her eyes in Nomura’s direction “Is apparently a human,”

“Well, Usurna, you see--”

Apparently Usurna decided to skip over Dictatious and go straight to the source. Frowning deeply, the new troll strode over to Nomura “So, you are Trollmarket’s new protector?”

Nomura glanced down at the silver armor, not even bothering to conceal her eye roll “Looks like it,”

Usurna’s gaze narrowed “There is only one test for a true Trollhunter,” she turned and gestured with her staff “Come,”

An alarmed look flashed between Angor and Dictatious, but they said nothing as they fell into step behind Usurna; Nomura, Otto, and Strickler following.

Usurna led them to a stone alley off to the side, so narrow that even the three humans had to go single file. The alley widened and Nomura stepped out of the corridor after Angor only to freeze in her tracks and let out a small gasp, actions mirrored a few seconds later by Strickler and Otto.

They were heading down a narrow stone path that led to an arena circled by massive walls. On either side of the entrance a massive statue of a troll stood, expressions somber and weapons held at the ready.

Nomura gazed around in wonderment, adrenaline from her fight with Draal and the subsequent encounter with Bular melting away, as she followed the trolls into the arena. Even remembering how awestruck she’d been when she saw the golden gate bridge at age ten couldn’t compare.

The six of them reached the center of the arena, if anything the view was even more impressive from here. From this vantage point Nomura could see that statues of trolls standing atop massive pillars ringed the entire space.

“Trollhunter,”

It took Nomura a second to realize Usurna was talking to her “Yeah?”

She gestured with her staff to to troll sized footprints in the floor “Step forth,”

Before Nomura could walk over, Dictatious stepped between them “I understand that this whole situation is...unexpected, but could we not do this after Master Nomura has at least been trained in the basics?”

Usurna was unmoved “No, these are serious matters, and I do not wish to waste any time,”

Slumping in defeat, Dictatious stepped over to stand beside an anxious looking Angor.

“Now Trollhunter, step forth,”

Slightly more nervous now, Nomura walked over and placed her feet into the corresponding prints. Something shifted in the stone beneath her feet. With a rattle several large stone panels moved aside and a large, multi armed mannequin of sorts rose up from the floor.

“Behold the soothscryer!” Usurna pointed at the thing’s mouth “Insert your right hand Trollhunter,”

Nomura looked up, the dummy’s mouth was full of rings of sharps spikes “Yeah, no,”

“That was not a request,”

“Have you seen the teeth on that thing? I’m not putting my hand anywhere near it,”

A thin, painful looking smile carved itself into Usurna’s face “I am losing my patience Trollhunter, either you offer the soothscryer your hand, or I will,”

So apparently this was a non-option, fucking wonderful.

Nomura eyed the sharp looking apparatus uneasily “Strickler, Otto, can you guys give me a boost,”

Exchanging an apprehensive glance, the two of them came over and each grabbed a leg, lifting her to reaching distance of the hole. Eyeing the jagged interior, and once again cursing the events that had brought her here, Nomura slowly inserted her hand.

The machine clamped down on it.

Nomura screamed, she tried to jerk her hand out of the hole, kicking at Strickler and Otto in her mad flailing. They dropped her but the machine’s grip on her arm kept Nomura suspended.

Then the mechanism released.

Nomura dropped to the floor. Ignoring Strickler and Otto squawking as they broke her fall, she scrambled at her freed hand.

Four fingers and a thumb, all intact and moving properly.

Nomura went limp with relief, only to have Strickler elbow her in the side “Get off of me,” he groused. Angor and Dictatious scurried over to help them up

Meanwhile Usurna was still examining the mannequin that had almost made Nomura an amputee. She sniffed at it “Inconclusive,”

“Inconclusive!?” Nomura struggled to her feet, supported by “What the hell does that mean?!”

Usurna turned and started striding away “It means that the soothscryer needs more time to render its judgement,”

Nomura narrowed her eyes at the dismissive troll “So what, we just try again next week?”

Ursurna let out a chuckle “Next week? I doubt you will last that long human,” she paused “Oh forgive me, I doubt you will last that long Trollhunter,”

[celawrites]

Day 37

It’s 12am and my phone is buzzing and I cannot sleep. What the fuck is going on.

You have 20 new notifications

I click open our class chat first, and to my surprise, it’s all birthday messages.

Clown: Did you guys actually have to type me a whole essay? Thank you tho <3

Pebble: A well written essay!

Sam: Time well spent

My phone vibrates and I’m invited to a call from a handful of friends.

Joining Your Neighborhood Pizza delivery service’s call…

“It’s 12am let me sleep”

“Are you not happy that we’re wishing you happy birthday at 12am?”

“I am, it’s just I’m also exhausted for no reason”

“You’re going out for a McDonalds run right?”

“Yeah. You guys woke me up halfway through”

“Sorry”

“I’m sorry it’s 12am and I really wanna know who’s in this call right now”

“Ah! It would be Estelle, Beanie, Min, “

“Your son”

“Mint”

“Sun”

“What the fuck are you guys doing awake?”

“Admiring the stars”

“Sure. Totally believe you”

“Cressie it’s your birthday.”

“One year closer to my demise I guess”

“You’re insane”

“So I’ve been told”

“Ah. Check your mailbox in the morning! There should be a couple things in there”

I yawn. 6 hours of sleep isn’t enough to run on.

“Alright get to bed. Sleep your last 3 hours and I’ll be waiting for you at 3am”

“Mint you’re the most punctual out of all of us why are you picking me up?”

“I’ve never had a McDonalds run with you. Besides, It’s Friday.”

“Alright I’m sleeping now good night”

“Good night birthday girl!”

“That’s so cheesy ksjdfalfa”

Sure enough, at 3am, I wake up and find Mint outside my door, vibing in his car. I shake my head and lock the door.

“Good morning Mint”

“Morning”

“You’re mean you know that?”

“Happy birthday Mint”

“Right back at you”

“HEY REMEMBER WHEN YOU JUST STRAIGHT UP LEFT ME ON READ WHEN I WISHED YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY-”

“I THOUGHT WE WERE OVER THAT ALREAY”

“My salty ass could never”

“Alright what do you want for your birthday?”

“Neither of us give anything-”

“Our Asian ass could never”

“HOnestly”

“Ah. I do have a present for you though”

My hand reaches into my backpack and I pull out a scrapbook.

“In true Crescent fashion, I present to you our scrapbook”

“What?”

“A collection of all the photos we have together with little commentary along the way. This is now yours” I beam.

“You’re joking”

“Nope”

“I didn’t even get you anything like his I-”

“You don’t need to”

He snickers and hands me a small box.

“I found it while shopping online, and it reminded me of that one time A gave you a rainbow rose so I figured I would give you an eternal one”

I stare at the rose. It’s rainbow, and I was surprised he even remembered that his brother had given me one.  I tear up slightly, maybe its because I wasn’t used to getting gifts from him, or the sudden change of heart but I mean-

“I’m crying”

“You’re always crying”

“SHUT UP KDFSKFSHDJF”

My hands clink at the glass softly, and Mint hums in appreciation as he flips through the scrapbook.

“Where’s this photo from?”

“Hm?”  He points at a photo where both he and his brother are jumping on the trampoline while I’m sitting.

“Your mom sent it to my mom a few years back”

“Ah”

There’s a comfortable silence that passes over us, and I decide to answer all the texts that I had received about my birthday while he flipped through the book.

After about a dozen thank you!’s and 4 conversations, I finish. Mint snickers when he flips to the last page.

“You just had to put that one last huh?”

On the last page lies Mint and I at Junior prom last year. It was a tradition to go with eachother, and my friend had taken a photo where we were pretending to make out.

”Why? Don’t want your future wife seeing it?”

“No. It’s just you saved the best for last” he snorts.

“Of course” I hum.

“Alright what do you want from McDonalds?”

“Ice cream”

“You’re literally bleeding this week no”

“Uhhh. Fries?”

“Sure”

Mint starts his car and we head off. The sky is a calm blue. A dark shade that leaves you wondering if there’s more out there. It was ironic that I had met him so long ago. It was even more surprising when he moved here for junior and senior year. I was horribly confused, and the only explanation he could muster out was a job change for his parents. But I was pretty sure they just wanted to have A mature in a different environment.

“Lost in thought again?”

“Mhm. You never told me how and why you moved here in detail”

“Nothing really. It was a job change on my parents part, and a new path for A”

“What about you?”

“I wanted to chase the only person who never gave up on me”

“You’re disgusting”

“Better than confessing to my crush every day for a whole year”

“LEAVE ME ALONE”

“You’re the one who brought up how I chased you all the way to California”

“I still wonder how you can pin after someone like me”

“At some point I realized you saw me as a brother”

“I wish I could do that.”

“You’re a hopeless romantic. Have some fun every once in a while”

“Are you implying I should have a one night stand?”

“Once you’re a legal adult sure”

“Bad decision making except it’s Mint giving me bad advice as a joke”

“I hate you”

“Love you too~”

“You’re disgusting”

“Bleh”

HE pulls up at the McDonalds drive-through and I scream.

“dEAR ARE YOU ALIVE?”

“OMG HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING! EVERYTHING’S ON ME TODAY”

“WTF DEAR NO”

“NO OBJECTIONS. IS MINT WITH YOU?”

“I’m here”

“Happy birthday Mint darling anyways what do you guys want?”

“The usual”

“Nothing new?”

“Nope”

“Alright! See you at the second window!”

“Cressie darling I got you a gift!”

“I- what?”

“Gift.” He tosses something through the car window and it lands in my hands.

“What is it?”

“Check”

I click open the box and I find a small pendant with a moon.

“I thought you were a broke high school student?”

“But the boss gave me a raise and told me to get something nice for my lover and like I don’t have one so I mean-”

“I don’t deserve you” I sniff.

“Stop crying darling you’re scaring me”

I really hope you find yourself a lover this year or I will fight everyone around me I SWEAR”

“You’re being too loud again Cress”

“Sorry”

He hands us our food and waves us goodbye. It was funny to me. I had so many friends around me now that I had grown.

“Are you gonna make a birthday post?”

“Oh for Serenity!” I gasp.

I type away and Mint steals a couple fries from me. I hiss at him while typing.

“Too bad” he shrugs.

School rolls around and I ‘m met with 20 happy birthdays and a couple gifts fro my other friends. Surprise surprise I have other friends. Z and Sun’s gift surprises me the most.

“Cress” Sun calls for me after school.

“Hm?”

“Happy birthday” He hands a medium-sized box to me.

“You always make us scrapbooks for our birthdays so I thought I’d try to make one for you”

“Have I ever told you how much I love you-”

“You remind me pretty often but yeah”

I open the box and a seat little scrapbook sits inside. There’s a white pen, a silver one, and a gold pen rolling around next to it, and there’s a small letter. Z tackles me from behind and I crash into Sun’s chest.

“Z what the f-”

“Language” Sun glares.

“Your gift!” Z hands me a small photo sized box.

“Photos?”

“You made a whole batch with notes on the back for me so I decided to print a bunch for you!”

“Thank you Z” I sniff slightly.

“What’s wrong! Do you not like it?”

“No no! I’m emotional haha” I muster up a smile. My cursed birthday luck was gonna catch up with me soon. I just felt it.

“No worries! It was the least I could do” Z smiles.

I nod in response. The rest of the day carries out like normal, and I find myself tired by the end of the day. My classmates threw me a party, and at the end of the day, my friends threw me another one. I enjoyed it, but I was waiting for my cursed birthday luck to catch up to me, I could never be happy until it occurred.

“If you’re thinking about that birthday curse of yours again, I’d advise you to know that with me, there’s no chance of having bad birthday luck” Mint hums. His birthdays had no bad things. It was like the universe favored him.

“I know. But I can’t truly calm down until I get to bed”

There’s a comfortable silence that settles down before Mint speaks up again.

“I’m sorry”

“Why so?”

“You had always wished me happy birthday so consistently, and I never replied and I just feel really bad and all-”

“Don’t worry about it.” I tap at the red solo cup in my hand. “I probably deserved all that”

“You don’t and that’s why I kind of. Um”

“Mint you’re my editor what did you do-”

“Bought tickets back home?” I gape at him. My jaw is dropped, and he seems to panic. “My home’s open and all! I know your house is rented out and the renters for my place just moved out and we have thanksgiving in a month so I figured I would take you back for the break and I’m sorry! I probably should’ve asked first and all but-”

A choked sob escapes my lips. I’m shocked, I hadn’t gone home in so long. How did he know? A stream of incoherent words escapes my lips and Mint tries to soothe me.

“You know.” I managed to force it out. “Some days I question why I stopped crushing on you. You spoil me rotten, and I don’t even deserve someone who cares for me and knows me like you and you always seem to know how I’m feeling and-”

Mint rubs soft circles on my back, and I let out my emotions. My birthday curse wasn’t a curse. It was a tradition. A tradition to cry at least once on my birthday, and for the first time, I was crying tears of joy. A couple minutes pass, and I feel my emotions slowly draw back.

“Thank you” I mumbled weakly.

Serenity made a new post!

It’s my birthday! Thank you to all of you who sent in birthday wishes (and death threats)! Another year has passed and I truly wish that I could thank you all face to face for the support!

Once again, my lovely editor Leaf shares a birthday with me so go ahead and send in some birthday wishes to him as well. For today’s gift from me, you all get a blast of joy! Much love!

-Serenity

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