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duhragonball · 2 years ago

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Dragon Ball GT 24

✨GT Stands for Giru-eating Trout✨

This is the one where Pan tries to pet a baby space-deer, and it sticks its nose up her shirt for no good reason. The deer kind of pokes her in the butt a little later, but that’s easier to write off. What the hell was this for? Like, how did this happen? They’re storyboarding this episode at Toei headquarters or whatever, and one guy is like “Say, I have an idea... Now hear me out...”

Let’s back up. Last time, the GT crew found a fourth Dragon Ball on a derelict ship. They also found a single survivor, and took him to a hospital on Planet Pital. Oh, they named the planet after the last five letters in hospital. I just got that. Everybody just sort of chills out after they hear the boy will recover, but then there’s an explosion in his room, and Goku charges in to rescue the kid and a nurse who was in the room when it happened.

What caused the explosion? Well, the boy is possessed by Baby, and this was all a scheme to get close to the GT gang. But he used a little too much of his power at the end of the last episode, and he accidentally blew up some equipment in the room. But since no one suspects anything, he figures he can still proceed with his plan.

So what’s Baby’s plan this time? I mean, he’s had so many of them already, so it’s hard to keep them all straight. Well, it seems like he’s abandoned all of his old plans, and now he just wants “Saiyan power”. We’ve seen him enter people’s bodies and control them. This boy is just the latest example. Apparently this makes Baby stronger, and he seems to think parisitizing the bodies of Goku, Trunks, and Pan is the next step.

So what are the GT gang up to while all this is going on? Jack shit, that’s what. Goku’s hungry, but he refuses to eat in the hospital cafeteria because he’s afraid someone will poke him with a needle when he’s not looking. According to Trunks, the hospital is the only place on the entire planet that even has a cafeteria. Wait, did I misread that? That can’t be right.

No, that’s exactly how Trunks puts it. This is followed by a gag where Goku, Giru, and Trunks all go wading in a nearby stream to catch fish. Seriously? Those are your choices? If you’re hungry on Planet Pital, you either go to the hospital or you go fishing. There’s no grocery stores? No vending machines? No agriculture?

Oh, also the fish are easy to catch, but they taste terrible. So it’s literally the hospital or starvation on this planet.

Anyway, that’s why Pan is out here getting sexually harassed by a deer. I guess she didn’t want to go fishing. While she’s away from the others, Baby approaches her, hoping to make her his next victim. When her back is turned, he reaches out and...

Wh-what? What is wrong with this kid’s hand? I took a screenshot of this because I could not believe what I was seeing. He’s supposed to be reaching out to grab Pan, but the fingers are pointed in the wrong direction, like he’s bringing his hand in towards us. But the thumb is pointed like... argh this is driving me nuts.

Before Baby can make his move, the doctor finds him and tells him he should be resting, and he escorts him back to the hospital. So Baby waits until they’re alone and possesses the doctor instead.

Goku’s still worried about eating in the cafeteria, and I just noticed that his anxiety about needles kind of rhymes with the threat of this episode. Baby is literally lurking around this place, sneaking up on unsuspecting victims and “snoick!” injecting them with nasty goop, i.e. himself. So as dumb as Goku sounds right now, he’s like the guy nobody listens to in a horror movie.

This is really weird, because normally GT episodes are so thin on plot and weak on continuity that I never would have expected scenes like this to actually tie into anything else.

Luckily for Goku’s tummy, the doctor (actually Baby) assures Goku that no one will stick him with a needle, and this convinces Goku to try the cafeteria, and it turns out he loves it. They’ve got shrimp curry in there and everything. Also, the doctor (actually Baby) invites Trunks on a tour of the hospital, because he mentioned being so interested in the advanced technology here. He never actually said that, as far as I’m aware, but whatever.

So he takes Trunks to look at... some machine, and lets Trunks play with the buttons and dials. Trunks is like “Oh, cool! This is amazing! And if I switch this then... yes, wow! This is incredible!” What is going on?

Then the doctor makes his move, and... strangles Trunks? What? Every other time Baby’s done this bit, he just forces himself down the victim’s throat. This time, he tells Trunks exactly how he survived their last encounter and infiltrated Pital using that sick boy they found.

But Trunks has outsmarted Baby because Goku and Pan arrive to back him up. Turns out they’ve been onto Baby since the start of this episode. Remember when Baby blew up that hospital room? Well he used his ki to do it, and Goku sensed it and recognized Baby’s unique energy immediately. They couldn’t sense him while he was inside someone’s body, but all they had to do was play dumb and wait for Baby to make a move, like how Trunks did when he agreed to go on this “tour”. As soon as Baby revealed himself, Pan and Goku could come a’runnin’.

So it looks like now they finally have Baby dead to rights, and this time they know he can survive getting blown up with ki blasts, so they’ll do a more thorough job of it. But first, Pan asks Baby about how he found the One-Star Dragon Ball that he used as bait in the previous episode. Baby is... surprisingly accommodating about this. He explains that Dr. Mu just happened to discover it one day, and he “digitized it” and stored it inside his own head, which is why the GT Crew never detected it before. So basically I was right when I speculated that Dr. Mu just happened across a Dragon Ball the same way Bulma way back in the beginning. We still don’t know how Mu learned what it was or that there were six more, or how to make them grant wishes, or how to track them down. But honestly, I’m surprised Baby was willing to explain as much as he did.

Pan asks if Baby has any other Dragon Balls, and he says they only had the one. He wants the whole set, but he knew he could just wait for the GT crew to gather the others. Wait...

Okay, so he either wants the GT crew for their Saiyan power, or he wants them to locate all the Dragon Balls. Right now they only have four, but he’s trying to ambush them in this hospital anyway.

I mean, this will work out for him eventually, but you see what I’m saying, right? This whole scheme in Episodes 23 and 24 is pretty clever, but shouldn’t he have held off until they found the other three Dragon Balls? Or is he content to eliminate the GT crew today and finish tracking the Dragon Balls himself? I mean, that sounds sensible, but it’s not what he’s saying he wanted to do.

On the other hand, maybe I should give this episode a little more credit. The good guys looked clueless for most of this story, but now we see that they were just waiting for Baby to overplay his hand. And Baby has a bigger agenda than he’s letting on, so maybe he’s just playing the part of a mustache twirling rival in the hunt for the Dragon Balls.

So they fight, and Baby gets kicked around a lot until he pulls a Kid Buu and powers up. I know I keep harping on this, but it is impossible to tell how strong anyone is in this show. If Baby could actually take on three Saiyans and win, then why is he bothering with all this sneaking around? And if he’s not strong enough to take on three Saiyans, then what the hell is this? And if he’s capable of big ki stunts like this, then why aren’t Goku and Trunks turning Super Saiyan to finish him off quickly?

Here’s a cool shot of Trunks getting blown away in the blast Baby is throwing off.

Trunks sustains a nasty cut on his arm...

And Baby liquefies and dives right into the wound. Okay, so up to now, Baby’s had to enter people’s bodies more forcefully than this, because none of his victims had open cuts on their bodies. Apparently it’s simpler for him when he can just go straight into their bloodstream. Also, this shot implies that Goku and Pan are just standing around watching this happen. Way to be, guys. Way to be.

So now Baby has control of Trunks’ body, and while Pan and Goku argue over how to defeat Baby without hurting Trunks, Baby gets the drop on Goku and aims a ki blast at his face at pointblank range. Baby thinks Goku can’t dodge, but consider: Even though GT Goku can’t teleport properly with his dumb kid body, he can teleport about six feet above his current position, as seen in Episode 4. So he could use that in a fight, if only to buy a little breathing room. He probably couldn’t get away with using it more than once before the opponent figures out his limitations, but it’s a thought.

But it doesn’t matter, because Trunks suddenly begins to resist Baby’s control, and he turns Super Saiyan, which overwhelms Baby in some way. Apparently he didn’t know about this? Even though Goku and Trunks used Super Saiyan to fight Luud and Rildo? Did Baby not know about those battles? What was the point of him controlling all those idiots if he didn’t stay up to date on their activities?

So this is a total shut out for the good guys, right? Baby’s only chance was to control their bodies, but now he can’t even do that anymore, so this is it, right? Wrong, Baby uses a bootleg Solar Flare trick and runs away while the gang are blinded. Seriously, this is just Imperfect Cell all over again. The difference is that Giru has a filter for his optical sensor, so he can follow Baby’s movements. Except it doesn’t matter because no one actually follows Baby or tries to stop him. Giru just watches him go and reports that he’s getting away.

And Baby makes it all the way to a spaceport, where he possesses a woman and feeds on all the other passengers. Things didn’t go as he hoped today, but he’s confident that he’ll win the next time, once he’s gotten stronger.

And the good guys... don’t seem to care? They can’t find Baby after he’s out of sight, because there’s no ki to sense and the trail has gone cold, but they also don’t bother to warn anyone on Pital about this alien parasite that controls people’s bodies. Goku says some boilerplate crap about how they’ll defeat him by working together, and then they just get back on their ship and leave.

This is really weak. I don’t know what I expect them to do in this situation. I mean, they kind of have to move on because they’re still in a hurry to find the rest of the Dragon Balls before the Earth explodes. But they don’t even bring that up when they leave Pital. You could do some interesting character work with that premise. Goku and Pan don’t like leaving the Baby problem unresolved, but Trunks has to keep them focused on their mission.

And that’s what bugs me about GT. So much of this show is just stuff sort of happening. Fights just sort of end, not because one side was stronger or more skillful, but because the writers wanted the fight to be over. Baby doesn’t mind losing this skirmish, because he knows he can just try again whenever he’s ready, but that just underscores the fact that he never needed to pull this stunt in the first place. He just did it because the writers wanted him to. And then when it didn’t work, he just ran away and no one stopped him because the writers weren’t ready to kill him off yet.

✨ “Good” “Ideas”, Poorly Executed✨

So yeah, Baby is just a remix of Buu and Cell at this point. He drains energy from his victims, leaving spaceships full of corpses. Well, that ship from the last episode didn’t have any corpses, so I don’t know what the rule is with Baby. Maybe he plans to eat these passengers later and the episode ended before he could finish.

Cell, of course, always left the clothes behind, because it’s creepier and more awesome. It’s the little details that the copycats never pick up on, which is why they’ll never surpass the original.

As for Buu, Baby basically stole his absorption technique, except that Baby enters his victims’ bodies instead of enveloping them the way Buu would do. Also, Baby’s method of entering his victims is a lot like that trick Super Buu would do to blow people up from the inside.

There’s some other tricks Baby has up his sleeve, but those are just stolen from other villains, so I’ll address those when the time comes. Basically, this little shit is the crown jewel of Dragon Ball GT, perhaps the most memorable character introduced in the show, and he’s just a shallow retread of ideas we’ve seen before.

To be clear: I don’t object to the Dragon Ball franchise recycling old ideas, or borrowing ideas from old stories to make new ones. The recent Dragon Ball Super movies have shamelessly brought back Broly, Gogeta, and the Red Ribbon Army, and they’re still excellent films. GT is allowed to do the same. My favorite Dragon Ball character is Cell, who is literally just a mashup of several other characters combined with a cicada. When it comes to originality, the bar is actually pretty low for me.

The point I’m trying to make here is that GT is a terrible show, and people will try to defend it by saying is had “some good ideas”. But it doesn’t. Baby is perhaps the best thing to come out of GT, and it’s not a “good idea”. It’s a mish-mash of a bunch of other ideas we’ve seen before. And that would still be serviceable, except the show is poorly written, glacially paced, and oftentimes just unappealing to look at. Also, it gets really saccharine in places.

Maybe a truly “good idea” could have overcome those flaws, but GT doesn’t have one of those. What is has are a bunch of obsolete storytelling formulas and elements borrowed from more successful shows. The only reason it lasted as long as it did was because it’s chock full of characters from the hit manga Dragon Ball. If GT were a wholly original story without any connection to Dragon Ball, it would have died on the vine a lot sooner.

✨Positivity Page✨

Having said all that, it’s refreshing to see how much more focused the show has become now that it’s ditched all the other villains in favor of Baby. It’s just one bad guy, operating alone, and he’s actually a genuine threat, instead of a dance trio or that stupid catfish man-child thing that could predict earthquakes.

My guess is that Toei had to struggle to change the series when they decided to ditch the ��Grand Tour” concept in favor of a more “Dragon Ball Z”-style plot structure. Before, there was a clear sense of GT having these mini-arcs with a different villain in each one. They didn’t have to be good villains because they weren’t going to be around long enough to matter. Goku would beat them up in a few minutes and then they’d head out to the next planet.

Maybe Baby was always going to be the secret mastermind at the end of the Dragon Ball hunt, but I get the sense that they already had plots for the Luud Cult and Giru’s homeworld, and quickly adapted them to set up Baby as the secret boss of both of those things. Then, once Baby was introduced, they jettisoned all that other stuff and focused squarely on him. Episodes 8 through 22 really felt like they were making it up as they went, and now that Baby is here, we’re not seeing that haphazard storytelling anymore. Which tells me that they only used it in Episodes 8-22 because they had to, not because they wanted to.

I’d like to say that GT has finally found its footing, and can now tell the story its creators set out to tell, except that isn’t actually true. The story they wanted to tell was the Grand Tour, but then they realized it wouldn’t work, and everything after Episode 3 has been a hasty course correction. With Baby, things have settled into a comfortable path forward, but this is just Toei doing the practical thing to keep the show on the air.

✨Is this episode worse than “The Roaming Lake”?✨

Yes, it’s worse. To give this episode credit, it spends a lot of its run time looking like every episode before it. Characters just sort of tool around waiting for the next plot point to happen, and it gets pretty dull in places. This is something GT 22 and “The Roaming Lake” have in common. We spend a lot of time in this episode fretting about Goku’s dinner plans.

But it turns out it’s all a shocking SWERVE~!, and the GT crew was only pretending to while away an afternoon. In fact, they were just waiting for Baby to ambush them so that they could spring their clever trap. The problem is that when you do an episode about the characters pretending to do nothing, it’s still just as boring as when they’re sincerely doing nothing.

Like, I’m just spitballing here, but they’re on an alien planet, where they could literally do anything the writers could imagine. Why not have them go to an arcade, where they could play-duel with lightsabers? Maybe they go scuba diving. I don’t know.

Instead they stay at the hospital, because there is literally nowhere else for them to go. They can’t even eat anywhere else. Okay, fine, but instead of having Goku fishing in their backyard, why not have him hunt for wild game in the Pital wilderness? I know they want to keep close to Baby, but they also know Baby will come after them.

Hell, let’s say they don’t want to leave the hospital grounds. Fine. Then have them check out some cool shit in the hospital. They could go look at the new babies. Just think of all the adorable baby aliens they could have put in this episode. Maybe there’s a sick bird in the hospital, and Goku uses his Movie 5 Super Saiyan bird-healing powers to fix it. That’d be fucking awesome.

I think the thing that I keep circling around with these “Roaming Lake” comparisons is this: With GT, these dull episodes are the A-plot. “The Roaming Lake” was just trying to fill time until the show could resume adapting the manga. GT doesn’t have that logistical issue, and yet it still churns out dull filler anyway. It’s like GT is waiting for a secret chapter of the Dragon Ball manga, and then they can do a kickass 65th episode, but until then we’re just sort of limping along with this side-story.

✨The Blade Braxton Memorial Haiku*✨

Come visit Pital!

See our nipple-biting deer

And poop-flavored fish.

#dragon ball #dragon ball gt #really sucks #2023dbapocryphaliveblog #goku #trunks #pan #giru #baby #*haiku does not come with crown as illustrated

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rosemarygrayson · 2 years ago

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Stepping back inside Lawrence’s apartment filled Rosie with a clashing mixture of both anxiety and peace. Anxiety, of course, because she was once again in the home of a man she knew had the capacity to kill her. But there was also peace, because with Lawrence came reminders of the river, of the blissful nothingness that awaited her on the other side. This particular version of Lawrence seemed to be really trying this time, the scale tilted more towards ‘friend’, rather than ‘enemy’. Rosie slipped off her shoes near the front entrance and began putting away groceries while Lawrence got to work sliding and turning his eight locks into place. For the most part, she’d gotten him non-perishable items, though, since discovering that his fridge did actually work, she’d brought a few fruits and vegetables, some microwavable meals, and a little cake as well~

She heard Lawrence approach the doorway of the kitchen and was keenly aware that he was watching her. She kept him in her peripheral vision while she worked and was pleased when he offered to help her. His cabinets were a bit out of her reach, so she put him to work putting away anything he wanted to store there. To her slight surprise, he had a question for her about the audition, which she answered with a hopeful tone of voice. Top fifteen was pretty dang good, especially for a dead woman! Actually, she’d never had a conversation about her passions with Lawrence before. He was an artsy guy, maybe she could invite him to watch?

“Do you like ballet, Lawrence?” His answer was ‘no’, or rather, ‘not really’, and she couldn’t quite keep the disappointment from showing on her face and in her body language. Fortunately, he seemed to have misspoken, and took a moment to collect his thoughts. Rosie left him alone while he did so, setting up her burger and fries on a plate, and pouring her soda into a glass in the meantime. Eventually, he tried again.

“I've…never really seen one before. I never really had an interest because…I've only been to the theater once, for a play. A-and it wasn't a great experience. Too many people.” She had to concede that that definitely made sense. She smiled at him in a sympathetic way, but he continued. “But if it was… you dancing…I'd like to see it.”

“!” What the heck? That was adorable?? Rosie couldn’t help but be a little charmed by the offer to try, to make an exception for her. Her expression quickly melted into a sweet one of gratitude. “The stage at the Austen Theatre has those balcony seats where you can sit by yourself or with a friend~” She suggested, carrying her food over to his desk and setting it down. On the way past him, she let her fingers graze gently over his arm. Gentle affection~ “I’m glad you feel that way because I’d love to dance for you~” Popping a fry into her mouth, she had a thought. “What sort of stories do you like?”

"Stories?" He paused a moment, thinking. "I like small stories. Not in length, exactly but...focused ones, I guess. Ones you can sit with and get to know a few characters. I like stories about death that focus on those dying, but not in a tragic way. Soft...quiet decay." He moved to sit down on the bed, still looking pensive. "I like stories with that aren't just about good versus evil. I like stories that don't rush, that aren't afraid to let you sit and experience them. Maybe that's why I like dance...I've never seen one live."

Thinking of some movies or books to recommend him, she munches and listens. Gloomy, but poetic! "Do you prefer tragic endings?"

"No. But there are some stories I think are supposed to be tragic that I don't...really think are. I don't like when the hero dies for someone else. It feels..." He trails off, trying to find the word, but coming up short. "....well. It takes more courage to live, anyway."

She's enjoying this conversation. Asking Lawrence about art was the right idea. "Hm~ Have you seen Phantom of the Opera? What do you think? Aesthetic gold or overhyped~?"

"I've heard of it. But I've never seen it since I didn't want to go to a theater...I guess there is a movie though, right? What do you think of it?" She adored it. Pleased as punch, Rosie launched right into telling the story.

"It's about a woman who works at a famous opera house. She gets a chance for a lead role when the ghost haunting the theatre scares away the prima donna. She wows everyone with her voice because she's been getting singing lessons from an angel sent to her by her deceased father. As it turns out, however, her angel and the Opera ghost are the same man." She's been telling the story with all the tonal mystique and intrigue it deserves and is clearly having fun doing so. She’s only egged on when Lawrence starts to look genuinely interested.

"The Phantom of the Opera is a disfigured musical genius, living in the catacombs beneath the Opera house. He fell in love with Christine, and he uses whatever means necessary to make her a star. A childhood friend of Christine's comes back into her life, Viscount Raoul, and he immediately falls for her, wanting to rekindle their old connection and charm her. The Phantom becomes jealous." Likewise, her tone becomes sinister. "While Christine and Raoul become engaged in secret, the Phantom shows his hand and kills one of the cast members, hanging him from the rafters."

"Now that they know he isn't fooling around, he uses his influence to force them to perform an opera that he wrote, where he sneaks onto the stage to dance and sing with Christine. She realizes it's him and unmasks him. He flies into a rage! He grabs Christine and forces her into the catacombs with him, determined to never let her go again. Raoul follows and the two of them sword fight. The Phantom wins, and he's about to kill Raoul, but Christine declares that she will marry him, and live with him, and love him, if he lets Raoul live. She kisses him, to seal her choice, and the fact that she's giving up everything for him shakes him to his core."

"Despite it breaking his own heart, he lets them both go, vanishing into the darkness, the only hint of him being a single rose left on Christine's grave decades later." Finished, she looks at Lawrence with a big grin. "What ’cha think?"

".....wow." He's silent for a moment or two, taking it all in. "I'd....go with you....to a theater to see that. In balcony seats." Rosie beams at him, feeling for the first time that maybe there was a chance of a real connection between them, beyond the River, and certainly being killer and victim.

"I'll see if there are any showings coming up~"

Vincent Metzger was already hard at work when Lawrence was due to clock in. There were two big orders to fill, followed by three more small ones that he'd tackle after lunch. He was holding a conversation as he lifted a two-hundred-pound sofa by himself and carried it into the eighteen-wheeler. He paused, his nose picking up a familiar scent.

"Whoop~ There he is." His co-worker, Dan, peeked out the window.

"Sure is. How do you do that?"

"It's my superpower~" said Vince with a grin. He left Lawrence alone to clock in an get settled before heading over to him. "Hey~ We're in for an easy night."

Rosemary's expresion made it difficult to regret the decision he just made. Even after she left, those bright and gentle smiles stayed with him like a warm glow of sunshine lingering on his skin after going indoors. But such a warmth was always ephemeral, and soon enough, he was left with the cold realization that he let her walk out the door.

He let her go.

Lawrence sat on his bed and stared at the new number in his phone for a while. It was his last connection with her, and likely the only way he'd be able to reach her again. He switched to Vince's number, staring at on of their recent chats and wondering if he should ask for help with the situation sooner than later. This was, after all, much more difficult than just burying a body. Once she went to the cops, it was going to be a whole mess of things that stressed him out even just think about. He switched back to Rosemary's number.

"....."

What if she did come back? The very idea of getting his hopes up was a frightening one, and yet he couldn't fully shake the feeling that it really was a possibility. With a sigh, he decided to wait and see for now.

Lawrence got up off his bed and busied himself tending to the rest of his plants for a bit. Once that was done, he made sure he had everything ready for work later, then went on the computer to listen to some music. He kept his headphones slightly askew so he could hear the sound of the phone if and when he got a text. He ended up checking the screen every so often too, just to be safe. When the text finally came, he picked up the phone instantly to read it.

[08/27/18 09:30 PM] Rosemary: (Lawrence! It's Rosie. Please let me in~)

Since Vince was the main person who visited him (and he had a spare key), it took Lawrence a moment to realize she was asking him to come downstairs to let her in.

[08/27/18 09:31 PM] Lawrence: (Ok)

He got up to and headed down to the front door, opening it slowly just in case. Something about this still seemed far too good to be true. When he actually laid eyes on her, standing there with a grocery bag in each arm, he blinked in surprise.

"The audition went really well," she said cheerfully. "Oh, I went to the store on my way back, it's a little heavy, will you help me please?" Rosemary held up one of the bags toward him.

"Oh. Yeah."

He moved closer to take one of the bags, then held out his other arm. She handed Lawrence the second bag to him, thanked him, and followed him back upstairs. He had to set the bags down to undo all the locks, but once it was open, he gestured for her to go in while he gathered things back until into his arms. Once inside, he set the bags on the counter and returned to the door, redoing each lock.

When he turned back to the kitchen, Rosemary was already putting things away. A lot of what she bought seemed to be non-perishables, which he supposed was for his benefit. There were still a few things that went in the freezer though, so he made a mental note to eat that first.

"I got Five Guys, is that okay?"

"Oh. Yeah, I like Five Guys." After a pause, he added, "Thanks."

Lawrence stood and watched her put things away one by one, visibly caught between trying not to stare and desperately wanting to look at her. Whenever their eyes met, he immediately looked away. It wasn't until she'd put away well over half of the groceries that it finally occured to him he should offer assistance.

"Do you want help?"

Rosemary looked over at him with light, pleasant surprise. "Sure~ Please help me with the tall people items."

He nodded, walking over and stealing another glance at her before starting to place containers up on the high shelf. He wanted to say something to her, something more meaningful than just offering to help with groceries, but he wasn't sure where to start. Maybe...asking her more about the audition?

"When do you know...if you got the part?"

"I made it to the final fifteen. They recorded us, so the director is going to take the next three days to make a final decision on casting~"

Huh. For some reason he assumed it was a one-time thing, but if there were a lot of people trying out, maybe they needed to do multiple rounds. That meant she was going to need to go out again for the next one. But if she already came back once...she was pretty likely to come back a second time, right?

"Do you like ballet, Lawrence?"

"....!"

"Not really." As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized what was wrong. It sounded like he was saying he had no interest in her dancing, and that wasn't true! Ugh....

"I don't...I-I don't think it's..."

"......." Ugh. He had to take a second to gather his thoughts, he had to figure out how to put this to words.

"Oh." She was clearly disappointed, but said nothing more before returning to her work.

"N-no I....That's....that's not what I meant." With a soft sigh of frustration, he tried again.

"I don't think it's bad, I just..."

"I've...never really seen one before. I never really had an interest because...I've only been to the theater once, for a play. A-and it wasn't....a great experience. Too many people."

"But if it was....you dancing...I'd like to see it."

#wishfuldecay #ic #lawrenceverse #tightly woven

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pinkrelish · 2 years ago

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𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐲𝐞𝐬" 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲.

singledad!mechanic!eddie x fem!reader

✶Surely, when two friends set up their two friends on a blind date in the very small town of Hawkins, they make sure those two people don't know each other beforehand, right? And, more importantly, aren't coworkers, right?✶

NSFW — slow burn, fluff, flirting, mutual pining, angst towards the end, drug/alcohol mention/use, 18+ overall for eventual smut

chapter: 3/20 [wc: 6.1k]

↳ part 01 / 02 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 / 12

AO3

Chapter 3: The Accidental First Date

“Is this too much?” you asked, yanking down the visor and checking yourself in the small mirror.

Sitting in the back parking lot of the movie theater, you went through your purse for the finishing touches on your look. Doing your last paranoia check for anything in your teeth, turning your head this way and that to zhuzh your hair, and most importantly, preening your oxymoron of a sweater to show a decent amount of cleavage without flashing the cups of your push-up bra.

Truly a walking contradiction of a top. Cable knit and warm, but with a plunging neckline, to where the top button started at your sternum.

“No, you look hot,” Robin assured with her goofy smile. “New York modest is Hawkins slutty. He’s gonna love you.”

You shrank into your girlish giggle. “Good, I want my dating debut in this little town to be a statement. Set the stage for future escapades.. Until I run out of men, I guess. Seriously, how many bachelors live here and aren’t total hicks? Four?” Robin laughed.

“Could be worse. You could be a lesbian.”

“True,” you concurred. “Good thing you have Vickie. Sucks she couldn’t come tonight.” Robin made a sad huff of agreement, working a mascara wand through her lashes. “Hey, I know I said ‘yes’ without asking, but is this guy you set me up with even my type? Not that I care, obviously; a good story is a good story, but I’m just trying to set my expectations here.”

She furrowed her eyebrows dramatically, and paused unscrewing her lip gloss to rock her entire body into a positive affirmation–almost bumping her forehead on the steering wheel from the force of her nodding. “Oh, absolutely,” she said emphatically. “Looks scary on the outside, but is a total sweetheart on the inside. Overconfident, and obnoxious, but in that charming, swoony way.”

“Perfect!” You clasped your hands together.

Stepping out of the car, she waited for you so you could walk with your arms linked together, and she continued, “I haven’t seen him in years, but Steve was telling me over the phone that he’s been going through a tough time, and hasn’t been on a date in a while.”

“Aw, poor guy.”

There was a beat of silence where both of your faces twisted into knowing smiles.

“I know what that look means..” Robin led, canting her head to you.

Innocent, you lifted your shoulder in a coy shrug, bringing a collection of her soft hair up to your chin. “No idea what you’re talking about. I was just thinking, if he hasn’t been on a date in a while.. Why not make it memorable for him?”

You laughed together, rounding the sidewalk to the front entrance of the theater where the glamorous marquee shined gentle daylight upon the darkened street. Romantic and intimate, with a crowd of people standing in vague suggestions of lines; some broken off, gossiping, smoking.

“There they are,” Robin whispered, letting go of your upper arm to wave at Nancy–who you had met at the grocery store last week. She saw you approaching, and tapped her hand on the chest of the man beside her.

Still a considerable distance away, you peered at him, and placed his luscious hair in your memory. “Oh, that’s the guy who came to the shop today.”

“Steve?”

“Yeah, he was talking to the annoying mechanic I’m always telling you about.”

“The one you have a crush on?”

“Shush,” you bristled at the mention of your not-so-secret. “I do not have a crush on Eddie. Anyway! Did I tell you what he did this morning? He fuckin’ stood outside the window next to my desk, just out of my view for like, full on minutes, waiting for me to look at him. Like Michael Myers or some shit. Scared me half to death.”

Robin, still caught on one detail you had somehow failed to mention in the month you worked at the auto body shop, quietly asked, “..Eddie?”

“Yeah, my coworker,” you answered, not looking at her when she fell a step behind, since you were too focused on greeting Nancy, and introducing yourself to Steve to notice her sudden jog up behind you. Too fixated on complimenting Nancy’s skirt to witness the way Steve aimed his confused frown just past your shoulder. Missed his dismissive hand gestures, and Robin’s panic as she tried to wordlessly communicate something dire to him.

You were too busy listening to the cars cruise by on the street, and chatting casually, and savoring the warmth of a new friendship to scrutinize the sound of quick footsteps from the other direction, or the jangle of metal chains attached to their presence, or Robin’s damning groan.

“Sorry, I’m–” a familiar voice said. A bit nasally and on the higher side. Mirthful, awake with youth, and excited to make a good first impression.

You turned to them. Your date.

“..Late,” they trailed off.

Deer in headlights. Big, brown doe-eyes wide with surprise, framed by beautiful black lashes.

He stared at you.

His stomach sank.

You stared at him.

Your heart raced.

Eddie had stopped mid-step with his hand raised in greeting. The chains on his leather jacket tinkered until they stilled. Kind smile frozen from a better time. Chest filled with a held breath. Presenting himself with his best foot forward, and now his ears were tinted with the embarrassment of trying too hard to impress.

Oh, God.

You blinked away, and were intentional to accept the situation for what it was without showing your surprise, opting for a simple, timid, awkward, shaky, exhaled, “Hey, Eddie.”

He wasn’t so poised.

Shutting his eyes, he allowed the realization to wash over him, scrunching his face in a pained expression as the puzzle pieces slotted into place. He hung his head, and released his breath through his nose. “Your roommate is Robin,” he stated, pointing at her to punctuate his sentence. “And you call her Bobbie.”

“Yeah..” It was an apology as much as it was a confirmation.

“You still call me Bobbie?” Robin asked, tugging on your sleeve, forgetting the tense air surrounding the group for the moment. “I haven’t used that stage name in years.”

“Guess it stuck with me..”

Thankfully, someone else added to the conversation. Unfortunately, that person was Steve addressing the elephant outside the ticket booth.

“So, I take it you two know each other,” he deduced, looking from Eddie’s dejected gaze at the ground, to you wringing your purse strap over your chest.

Eddie enlightened him in a solemn tone, sparing a single glance at his friend, “She’s the receptionist at work.”

“Ah.” He turned his attention to Robin. “You set up two people who work together.”

She threw her hands up and blamed him, “Uh! No way, dunce, don’t put this on me. This whole thing was your idea, and at no point in the conversation did you tell me Eddie was a mechanic! If you had told me he was a mechanic I probably could’ve put two-and-two together myself, and avoided setting up people who see each other every day.”

Increasingly red-faced, Steve very pointedly avoided Eddie’s suspicious squint after being outed as the one who set up the date, not Nancy. “You’re the one who lives with her, how could you not–?”

“Okay!” You clapped once to end their bickering. “Then it’s not a date.”

Nancy, bless her, picked up her improv skills fast. “Yeah! Not a date. Just a casual outing between friends. Steve, get the tickets ready so we can get popcorn before the line gets too long.” There was a ripple of unanimous murmurs, followed by shuffling to the entrance.

“Silver lining,” Nancy muttered out the side of her mouth to Steve, “It’s a movie date, so it’s not like they have to talk to, or look at each other.”

Steve tempered his laugh to a hiss and held the door for Robin, who in turn kept the it ajar behind her for you, but as you went to catch it, it was opened for you.

Clack- clack- clack. You’d heard the sound every morning; his distinct rings on the metal frame of the glass door beside your desk, followed by his soft grunt when pulling it open. But whereas his whispered ‘morning’ normally echoed in the tiled lobby, it was now on the back of your neck, fanning your skin, and it wasn’t a sweet greeting, but a reserved, solemn, regretful, sad, “Sorry for.. yeah.” That’s how he started your date that wasn’t a date. With an apology. And still, as the crisp autumn air was replaced by the humid waft of buttery popcorn, your brain was stuck at the garage, filling in the drag of his heavy work boots on the way to the breakroom for coffee, and the lingering scent of cigarette smoke trailing his stride.

Except, as you were jolted back to reality, you came to know he didn’t present himself so generically outside the context of motor oil. Due to the traffic clogging around the ticket ripper, Eddie ran into you and you discovered the nuances of what he smelled like when not at work, with the added intimacy of his chest pressed to your back.

Worn leather enveloped by notes of vanilla musk cologne. Spicy deodorant carried by the sweet earthy tang of tobacco. Dove White on his heated skin, and Dawn on his hands.

A symphony you could immerse yourself in learning for hours if it wasn’t for the crime of your group moving forward.

“Did you want anything?” Eddie asked you, pointing at the concessions.

“Oh, no, I’m good.” You made a clawing gesture at your mouth. “Eating popcorn before the movie even starts because I have no self control and then being forced to sit there with kernels in my teeth drives me nuts.”

Not finding you as endearing as you intended, he slipped his hands into his pockets, and motioned for both of you to stand off to the side, out of the way while you waited for the others to get their snacks. And he just stood there. Not saying anything. You were turned to him as if to carry a conversation, but his gaze was set ahead; not on anything in particular, just away from you.

Rarely had his face been this slack, this devoid of emotion. Even when doing menial work like filling out invoices for parts you would need to order, there was activity. Liveliness in the tic of his eyes reading lines on the paper. Movement of his tongue sliding across his top lip. A subtle crease between his brows. Something. Anything.

You spoke above the giggly teenagers sneaking into the film next door, “For a stick in the mud, you look nice.” He really did, in his well-loved jacket draping his frame after years of being broken in to perfection. Tight black jeans. Sensible boots. More accessories than just his rings.

Try as he might to cut you an unamused look, his freshly washed hair bounced in immaculate waves around his face, catching the low mood lighting like a messy halo.

“Thanks,” he said, not meaning it.

“I can see why you don’t get many dates if you always look this miserable.”

“I’m not miserable.”

“Glum, then? Woebegone? Hapless? Crestfallen?” When he seemed hellbent on wishing he were anywhere else, you eased up on your act. Harboring the pit of rejection eating away at your stomach, you pried, “Disappointed?”

The glimpse of vulnerability in your words was not lost on him.

He snapped to, shaking himself out of his funk to reassure you in his gentle timbre amongst the chaos of someone beating the top score on the pinball machine, “I’m not disappointed to be here with you.”

“Then what are you?”

“Sorry,” he guessed, shrugging. He was the type to speak with his hands, moving them despite being confined to his pockets. “I’m sorry our friends suck at communicating and this is how your night turned out; you being here with me when you were clearly expecting someone else.” His gaze didn’t dare dip lower than your nose, but the effort you put into your appearance did not go unnoticed. It wasn't the first time he stared a little too directly into your eyes after you decided to stop covering yourself up.

“I don’t go on dates intending to find my one true love or anything lame like that,” you said, honestly. “I go on them to have fun, and I think we can still have fun, even if we have to share the same tiny lunch table come Monday, and we side-eye Carl for bringing tuna again.” He almost smiled at that.

Sensing he needed another boost of confidence, you kept going, “Before I knew it was you, Robin was talking you up in the car. Going on about how my date was some sweet guy, super handsome, and with a heart of gold. You know, the Prince Charming type. Oh, and totally obnoxious too. Real loudmouth who never shuts up.”

Okay, maybe some of that was ad libbed, but you wanted to know how much of it was true.

Eddie shifted from foot to foot, subduing his grin by biting his tongue, literally. “That’s a pretty apt way to describe me back in high school, yeah, especially with how I’m dressed.”

“What changed?”

“Uh, I had a kid,” he laughed. “She stole all my charm. I swear Adrie can talk me into anything.”

“I think you’re just a pushover.”

“Probably,” he surrendered. Raising his brows, he mused aloud one of the many things on his mind, “Do you not agree that she described me accurately? Sweet Prince Charming guy, all that?”

There was no way in hell you were going to speak your truth. Instead, you smirked. “I don’t think you want to know what adjectives I’d use to describe you.” They were far too vulgar to utter in a crowded room. Hot in the most annoying way. Absolute pain in my ass. Just the worst, especially when I don’t hear you sneak up behind me in the kitchen, and you think it’s funny to scare me right as I open my drink from the Coke machine, and you laugh your stupid laugh when I drop it. An absolute eye-sore when you look up at me while you're on your hands and knees cleaning up the mess you created. Irritatingly handsome when you grin and buy me another one.

Ignorant to your private thoughts, he swung his elbow out to push you, and smiled.

Relaxing into the natural lull in conversation, you both watched your friends make it to the front of the line and order their food. They waited at the counter, starting the clock on when they would inevitably make it back to the two of you, and cease your alone time with Eddie. (Although, first, they’d have to traverse an entire bucket of dropped popcorn, and navigate around more than one group of children reenacting a fight scene they just watched on the big screen.)

“Were you disappointed I was your date?” you asked.

Robin was right. Eddie was a sweetheart. As soon as he detected an inkling of insecurity–whether it be in your strained voice, or etched into your face, or imbued in the question itself–he was quick to absolve your worry.

“No, no,” he said. “Relieved, if I’m being honest.”

“Relieved?” You weren’t expecting that.

“There’s a reason I haven’t dated since having Adrie. It didn’t sound like Steve made it clear to.. you, well, my anonymous date which happened to be you. Jesus, this is confusing. Whatever, you know what I mean, he didn’t say if he told my would-be date that I’m a dad, and I was afraid of coming here and having to tell them myself. Even if we hit it off, it’s a deal breaker for some people, y’know? Not that I blame them. I would’ve said the same thing five years ago.”

You nodded as you listened to him. “Never thought about it from that perspective. All my dates have been one-and-dones. Super casual. Kids were never really brought up.”

“Yeah, the dating world isn’t always so gracious. I’m kinda glad I’m here with you–someone who knows me, at least.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you spied Steve raising his sodas above his head as two boys ran past him, pretending they were in a shootout.

Knowing he wouldn’t have time to respond, you informed Eddie, “You’re worrying about the wrong thing. Adrie’s an angel. You should be more concerned about your curmudgeonly attitude being a deal breaker.” His narrowed-eye glare had never felt so sweet.

Robin’s giddy presence became known. She dropped her chin to your shoulder with a satisfied hum, and wrapped her arm around your waist to hug you snug to her body. You laid your head on top of hers, swaying with her.

She must’ve made a face at Eddie, because a different emotion flinched across his features, and he was back to avoiding making eye contact.

You, however, were more enticed by the drink in her hand than analyzing his change in demeanor. “Shit, now I want an Icee.”

“Yeah, I got cherry,” she said, angling the straw towards you. “They have Coke too–Okay, bye, dork,” she giggled after you.

“Go ahead and sit without me! I want an Icee.” Nancy clutched the largest size of popcorn to her chest to avoid spilling it as you stumbled out of Robin’s hold and darted for the concession stand.

Eddie raised his voice, “You couldn’t have decided that five minutes ago when I asked?”

“Nope!”

————

The theater for the low budget horror flick reflected the town’s perception of it. As soon as the heavy door closed behind you, your footsteps on the dense carpet echoed around the empty room. Your group was sitting in the back row, and their murmurs could be heard from the bottom.

You climbed up to them and flumped into the seat next to Eddie. “We can share,” you said excitedly, shaking the drink at him before placing it in the cupholder at the end of the single armrest.

When the subtle pinch of concern around his eyes remained, you promised him you didn’t have cooties.

He played with his rings, pulling them down the length of his fingers and spinning them while he worked through his confusion. “You don’t have to sit next to me.. You can sit next to Robin.” He motioned beside him, to Steve munching on his popcorn while Nancy held it, and Robin whispering on the end, rolling her eyes at something Nancy said.

“Why wouldn’t I sit next to you?”

Eddie’s mouth opened and closed, struggling to settle on what he wanted to say, and finishing with a submissive shrug, leather jacket groaning at the act. He bounced his foot quicker, shaking the aglets on his laces against his boot in a chaotic rhythm. “Dunno..”

“You’re silly. I’d pinch your cheek if I didn’t think you’d bite me.” He reeled at that, and you giggled. You didn’t mind making him balk at your weird quirks; whatever put him at ease. Rather, whatever made him stop rubbing his knee against yours, because you were certain the friction was about to cause a fire.

Digging through your purse, you took out a rectangular box and slid your finger under the flap, popping it open and dumping a handful of candy into your palm. You threw it back into your mouth. “Want sh-ome?” you chewed, offering the box to him.

“Who the hell eats Mike and Ikes?”

“Uh, me, jerk.” Right as the lights dimmed to pitch black, and the curtains drew back from the screen, you hit him with the most exaggerated pout. “I only eat them at the movies. They’re a ritual, and you’re rude.” The shadows lining his face twisted into a deeper grin. “Are you more of a chocolate guy?”

“Maybe,” he answered like he was suspicious of your motives.

And maybe he should be. Afterall, you committed the number one sin when it came to cinemas.

“Looks like I chose right,” you said, reaching into your purse and pulling out a Kit Kat. “I was hoping my date would be a chocolate sorta guy–” You went quiet seeing his eyes widen a touch. “I mean, not date. Begrudging coworker? Tentative acquaintance?”

“Reluctant friend,” he answered smoothly, taking the package from you and ripping it open with his teeth.

~~~

Trailers for other films played, bathing the room in flickers of light interrupting the darkness. The opening credits began. Your candy was half-eaten. His was devoured. You took a sip of your Icee, and from the vantage point of pressing your back into the cheap theater seat, you observed him in your periphery.

His gaze hardly left the drink. Your offer to share it gnawed at him in a visible way. Scoping out the straw, the possible trace of spit you left behind, the possible trace of spit he’d leave behind. He peered at the screen to acknowledge the intro, and then back down it was, boring holes into the Icee.

You were no better, nibbling at your lips when he finally caved and took a sip–all too quick, and clumsy, almost missing the cup holder when he put it back down with lightning speed.

The edge of your thighs touched under the arm rest; worse so, when you folded one leg under you, and leaned into him. “Do you hate it when people talk during movies?”

“Not these kind.” He meant the genre in general, which made for great fodder for ripping apart in friend groups, but another popular trope among this realm of fiction became apparent. The first set of tits flashed on screen, and you both found yourselves lacking in the commentary department.

After a moment, you tilted your head. “That actress looks familiar..”

“She’s been in other cult classics. Always acts with her eyebrows.” He turned to you and nudged your shoulder, vying for your full attention. He emphasized the end of each word with an inflection as if it were a question, and raised his eyebrows in every way possible, mocking her slowly, “She’s the one who always talks like this–!” He looked crazy contorting his face to make his point.

“That’s it!” You snapped. “Her wearing glasses really threw me off.”

“Mhm.” His hum vibrated along your upper arm pressed to his, and he asked quietly under the screams of the first gorey death, “Do you like B movies?”

“Hell yeah. Back home they would play them at this rooftop drive in place. I rarely paid to watch them, though. The next building over had a good view of the projector screen.”

His banter dropped in favor of chewing on the corner of his thumb. If it wasn’t for the wild change in scenery cast across his face, you could’ve sworn his faint smile faltered into inscrutability.

Did you say something wrong?

————

“Damn, that was a cool practical effect,” Eddie complimented the purplish fizzing ooze that once was a person.

“I know, right? That’s why I love these bad movies. There’s no budget for good CGI, so they have to do creative stuff like that.”

It was inevitable. Bound to happen. A mere act of fate. Stars aligning in the close knit group leaning forward to exchange witty quips about the hare-brained plot holes in the movie, and not minding their surroundings except to receive everyone’s laughter, making jokes at the expense of the bad acting.

Steve was asking a question that was technically answered by the movie’s lore if he’d paid attention to the dialogue during the second gratuitous stripping scene. You or Eddie could have answered, but Robin took it upon herself to explain, and you two nodded along.

Absentminded, you reached for the Icee.

Distracted, Eddie reached for the Icee.

The waxed paper cup was cold under your fingers, but your hand was blanketed by warmth.

Slow to process, you both glanced down at the reason why neither of you were achieving your goal, and the overload of sensory inputs faded away to one: touch.

Your thumb was trapped under his palm, and his fingers stretched around the cup, meeting yours on the other side and housing them beneath his in a steady amount of pressure. They were almost interlocking. Holding. Wrist on top of wrist–his with the extra harshness of his leather and chain bracelet on your skin. The heaviness of his forearm resting on yours.

Truly, the accident lasted all of two pumps of your heart, but it felt like more when he stroked his calloused fingertips over your knuckles as he let go.

“Sorry!” he blurted.

“S-Sorry,” you laughed, jittery from the encounter.

Your cheeks were hot. His were flushed red. The lewd moaning of a woman feigning to orgasm just from the male lead removing her bra alone played in the background. Neither of you could decide which plan of escape was less embarrassing: continuing to stare like idiots at each other, or watch the actress’ ginormous boobs bounce as she faked riding a guy.

You blinked. His eyebrows ticced up.

Boobs it was.

He adjusted how he sat, tugging his jeans down his legs a little, and crossing his arms. Eyes laser focused on the woman’s face. The why was obvious, and you couldn’t help but tease him for pretending to be a gentleman in your company when you held no such modesty when it came to ogling her tits.

“Thinking about how much Aquanet she uses?”

“Shut up.”

————

Later into the film, after the plot circled back to the juicy gore, you leaned into Eddie to ask him a question.

What that question was, you couldn’t remember.

As soon as you placed your elbow on the armrest and used the back of your hand to tap his shoulder, he dipped his head to hear you. It was an automatic thing starting from the moment you slouched in your seat. That’s all. A shift in your sitting position and intake of breath, and he knew you were going to speak, and he wanted to listen. He cared about what you had to say. He leaned into you as well, because listening to you took priority over the movie.

“Eddie?” You sought any words. Any words at all. Any would do. Any question, even if you knew the answer. “Uhm. The music sounds really familiar. Do you recognize it?”

“It’s the same composer as Chopping Mall and Deathstalker II.”

“Ah.”

Ah. All you could muster when you were charmed by the silhouette of his lips moving. Watching them form letters, pout on the plosives, press into a line on his thick swallow.

Ah. All you could say when his hair brushed over your fingers. Dry, in need of a deep conditioning. Curling around your forefinger. Tickling your palm.

Ah. All you could respond with when you lifted your gaze, and caught him staring at you like you stared at him.

————

As predicted, the filmmakers padded the runtime with another topless scene, and the movie ended on a witty one liner that included not one, but two puns, and no resolution to the numerous plot threads left hanging.

“That was.. certainly something!” Robin summed up, holding the doors open to the subdued hours of the night.

Once outside in the fresh air, the dynamic reverted back to its original status.

Your friends made themselves scarce in the worst way; whistling, shuffling to the side as they found asinine things to comment on, leaving you and Eddie alone. Their intentions were pure, but reality was not so kind.

Eddie cemented his gaze on the sidewalk as he picked at his callouses, and apologized for the mistake of going out with you. Again. “Sorry about all this.”

Itchy sweat broke out across your back. It sucked he was so brazen about rejecting you. You had hoped some of the tender crush you had on him extended past the armrest you shared, the looks you shared, the touches you shared; but maybe you were just tricking yourself into finding things that weren’t there.

Wanting to end on a better note, you appealed to him in a last ditch effort to smooth over the situation, “I meant it when I said you looked good tonight. It’s nice to see you outside of your work clothes.”

“Thanks.”

That’s all. Thanks. A shy glance from beneath his curtain of messy hair, and a somber tone to maximize the awkwardness of the not-date with your coworker.

You needed to get the hell out of there. “See you Monday?”

“Yeah, see you Monday.”

The group winced in unison when they saw the way you two departed.

Robin was quick to link her arm with yours and gather you closer, bringing your heads together to gossip as you walked back to her car. “That bad, huh?”

Around the corner and out of sight, you gave her half a smile, trying to appear in better spirits. “Well, I don’t think he likes me. He didn’t return any of my compliments, and he apologized for being on a date with me no less than four times over the course of the evening.”

She cringed for you. “That’s worse than Balloon Guy, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” you said, remembering what would go down in history as the shittiest date you’d been on. “Yeah, that’s more times than Balloon Guy.” Robin hugged you tighter, making your steps go clumsy. She apologized for Eddie’s weirdness, but you shrugged. Maybe you were supposed to find it weird, too. Maybe you were supposed to disapprove of the idea of romantic feelings for your coworker, too. Maybe you were supposed to have no expectations for it to lead anywhere, too.

Maybe you were supposed to reject him, too.

————

Still loitering outside the theater, Steve exchanged a look with Nancy, and jogged to catch up with Eddie before he made it too far in the opposite direction.

“Uh, hey buddy!” Steve clapped him on the shoulder to stop him. “It sounded like you two were hitting it off during the movie, what happened?”

Eddie sulked under the question. His chest fell with a surrendering sigh, and his boots scraped the concrete as he turned to him, not bothering to mask the dullness in his slack expression. Everything about him was tired, including his voice when he slipped into a lower, raspy octave. “She’s nice, but..”

“But what?” Nancy asked, searching his face.

Bottling his burdens, he clenched his teeth, and worked his jaw as he contemplated evading their insistent prying; but after ruminating on it, he explained the source of his problems, “She lives a very.. whimsy life.” He fluttered his hand like a bird flapping its wings, or a butterfly. “She does this thing where she says ‘yes’ to anything anyone asks her; it’s why she moved to Hawkins, and why she ended up on this date to begin with. Y’know, just doing whatever seems like fun. It’s cute, in a way, and obviously I.. feel a way towards her, but this place isn’t where she’s looking to lay down roots. New York is her home.”

Steve squeezed his shoulder, knowing what was about to come.

“I’ve already been left for someone better.. I can’t go through that again.” Eddie’s eyes begged them to understand. “I don’t want Adrie to get attached to someone who’s just gonna leave.”

Nancy started, “Eddie–You don’t know if she’d leave.”

He shook his head, and pulled away from Steve’s lingering grasp. Shushed his friend’s well-meaning words about him being valued, and to forget his insecurities about not being good enough.

“A girl like that doesn’t need me weighing her down,” Eddie said, imparting the wisdom he’d come to accept since you made a mark on his life weeks ago, when it became your mission to befriend him. “I’ll pick up Adrie in the morning. Thanks for watching her.”

The night got darker as he left.

Darker still, when Steve waved at his back, and Nancy played with the locket around her neck, and her goodbye went disregarded.

————

Silence.

It surrounded him. Blood pulsing in his ears, his heart beat, the refrigerator hum, the tink of glass bottles as he grabbed the full six pack and brought it to the couch, springs squeaking under his weight.

Utter emptiness welcomed him.

Not a sound in his home. Not a giggle from his daughter, or scrape of a skillet from Wayne’s makeshift breakfast-dinner before he went to work. Even the dogs around the trailer park were quiet.

Just.. nothing.

It was what he wanted, right? A night to himself; a break from the chores, the questions, the food making, the taking care of a tiny human being who made everything tougher than it needed to be.

He got his wish.

Two beers down in peace, he got his wish.

Eddie looked around his trailer lit by the single lamp beside him.

Quiet, empty, nothing.

Dark silence.

The jolt of his sob startled him. It erupted from his chest so suddenly. Ripped from the tightness of repressed emotions; the things he tried to deny, to feel and then lock away. To keep safe, buried down deep where he could manage them from progressing past the boundaries he created for his own good, and Adrie’s. He felt the agony of them all at once. The morning smiles, the afternoon laughs, the evenings of pretending you didn’t plan to bump into each other in the doorway to the lobby. The game of seeing how long he could watch you twirl the phone cord around your finger before you looked up from your desk. Your sweet way of comforting him after the hard nights of Adrie’s sleep regression by taking his tan work jacket and draping it over his shoulders while he slept at the lunch table in the break room. Your gentle method of fixing his collar when it was tucked on the inside of his coveralls.

The date was too good to be true.

In fact, the truth itself was far more painful.

The date was amazing. He couldn’t remember a time in his life when he had more fun. More thrills, sure. But not more fun. There wasn’t a day in his youth where he experienced more of the flirty thrum in his veins than when he committed himself to learning the way your lips moved when saying his name in the darkened theater.

The date was perfect. He was happy. And he couldn’t have it again. Shouldn’t have it again. Wouldn’t have these feelings again.

Eddie doubled over and put his third beer on the floor before he spilled it. Nothing was discernible beyond the water invading his ability to see, to fathom his reflection in the old TV. Sad, miserable, and lonely. An idiot for finally getting attached to someone, and it was someone he wasn’t supposed to.

Tears slipped from between his lashes. He smeared them on his cheeks, covering his sweaty face from his possessions bearing witness to his stupidity.

It was in his best interest to reject you–reject your casual stance on dating, and relationships, and people with kids–but the face you made when your advances went underappreciated churned his stomach.

He needed to be stronger. But he was weak.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” he sighed into the stale air. Opening another beer, he nursed it as he huddled into the corner of the couch, and searched for Adrie’s quilt to soothe him. But of course, he sent it with her when he dropped her off at Steve’s.

No baby blanket to hold onto. No Adrienne to sleep on his chest to ease the pain of loneliness. No reason to look forward to Monday after he royally screwed everything up.

“Goddamnit,” he groaned.

Maybe, if he apologized enough, there was a chance you wouldn’t hate him.

Maybe, if you forgave him, you’d go back to the morning smiles, and the afternoon laughs.

And maybe, if he was enough of a masochist, he’d let you gently ease past those boundaries meant to keep you, and your kindness out. If you wanted to trespass, that is. He didn’t know. He was an idiot.

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson #stranger things #eddie x reader #eddie munson smut #mechanic!eddie #eddie munson fanfic #stranger things fanfic #the yes policy

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geekfanficwriter · 2 years ago

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Caught Somewhere in Time- Eddie Munson X Fem!Reader Part 2/?

Summary: You end up in the 80s, 20 years earlier than it should be luckily a certain metalhead is about to make your time in the 80s much easier. Words: 2.7k Warnings: None

Part 1 Part 3

Masterlist

March 16th, 1984

After all the business with the Demogorgon, the government had shown up and told everyone to keep silent. You had stayed hidden at first, worried at first you would be taken back to the facility but after some negotiations (and definitely not blackmail), you had been allowed to stay out in the world. You had managed to negotiate for help buying all the basics you needed to start up (clothes, a place to stay, etc.) as well as a new birth certificate and other IDs giving you their date of birth of 25th February 1968 and you were officially a sixteen year old in 1984 attending Hawkins High and doing all the other shit normal sixteen-year-olds who were 20 years in the past did. Joyce had offered to let you stay with her and the boys at first but you declined. You didn’t want to be a burden on them plus you felt like it was safer for you to be on your own. With everything that had happened with Will, you wanted them to live a happy life as a family without the burden of some girl with superpowers being grabbed by some shadow government or something. So now you lived in a shitty trailer and your only friends were Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan but life didn’t completely suck. Even if you weren’t living with the Byers, Joyce had taken on a sort of motherly role, every Saturday the two of you went to the grocery store then you ate dinner with them. You lived the life of a fairly normal teenager, well as close as you could be to a normal teenager when you continuously got confused about what did and didn’t currently exist. You were currently sitting in the canteen poking at the meatloaf in front of you trying to figure out what the hell it actually was. You thought canteen food in the 2000s sucked but apparently the standards were higher than they had been 20 years earlier. You were sitting alone waiting for Steve, who was currently in the lunch queue, to come to sit with you. ‘So how was class?’ Steve asked sitting down opposite you, his hair was perfectly styled as per usual. You often wondered what time he woke up to make sure his hair was styled every day. ‘Boring, I hate math.’ You replied continuing to play with the food in front of you. ‘Also, this is gross.’ You pushed the tray away giving up on attempting to eat the food. You would make yourself a sandwich when you got home. ‘Yeah, it’s not good. You were in class with Nancy right? Where is she?’ ‘Some club, study group with Jonathan I think. I was going to go but I didn’t want to.’ You shrugged. ‘You guys got plans tonight?’ ‘We’re going to check out Footloose, Nancy wants to see it.’ ‘Oh, so you guys are going to sit at the back of the theatre making out you mean?’ You joked. ‘No, definitely not.’ He picked up the bread roll which was on his tray and picked a bit off, throwing it at you. ‘You’re disgusting.’ ‘Hey! Don’t throw food at me, Harrington.’ You laughed at him. ‘Oh yeah, what are you going to do about it?’ ‘I’ll set you on fire.’ You jokingly glared at him. ‘You wouldn’t do that. I’m your best friend. Anyway, what are your plans for this evening?’ ‘Oh, I’ve got a big date, huge actually. With Jeopardy.’ ‘You need to get out more. Go on an actual date with an actual human.’ ‘With who exactly? All the boys here are gross.’ ‘I’m sure you’ll find someone.’ Just then the lunch bell went off signalling the end of the period. You grabbed your bag out from under the table and slung it over your shoulder. ‘I’ll see you later, Harrington.’ ‘See you, and remember don’t be late or I’m not taking you home.’ ‘Yeah, yeah.’ You mumbled walking off. Heading towards your next class.

You had decided not to go to your final period that day. It was only study hall which you hated plus you wanted to read your book and the study hall teacher never let you read unless it was for school. You had found a bench in the forest nearby the school, far enough that you wouldn’t be caught but close enough you could hear the bell so you weren’t late for meeting Steve. You had your copy of Rosemary’s Baby open, you had seen the movie before but had never read the book and so far you were enjoying it. ‘Hello.’ You heard a voice behind you say causing you to drop your book on the forest floor. You spun around seeing some guy you’d see around your school. You couldn’t remember his name but his long, curly hair and the fact that everyone called him a freak made him stand out. ‘Sorry didn’t mean to scare you.’ He leant down and picked up your book from the ground looking at the cover. ‘Rosemary’s Baby, nice I’ve seen the film.’ He said handing it over to you. ‘Umm, yeah, I love the movie so I decided to read the book.’ You spoke cautiously kind of freaked out as to why he was also out in the woods. You were pretty sure you’d be alone out here. ‘I’m Eddie.’ He said sitting down opposite you and holding out his hand for you to shake. ‘Y/N.’ You shook his hand looking at the rings on his fingers. ‘Cool rings.’ ‘Thanks, cool shirt.’ He said pointing at the Slayer shirt you were wearing. ‘Thanks, I saw it at a thrift shop and I just had to have it.’ You said fiddling with the hem. He was kind of cute actually. You didn’t know how you hadn’t noticed before. ‘Well, it’s good to see there are some people in this town that appreciate good music. Although I can’t imagine your boyfriend is a big fan of metal.’ ‘Boyfriend?’ You looked up at him confused. ‘Yeah, you’re Harrington’s girl right?’ ‘Steve? Eww no, he’s just my friend. Plus he’s dating Nancy.’ You made a face of disgust at the idea of dating Steve. ‘Ah, I just figured you guys were together considering you’re always flirting, like today at lunch.’ ‘That’s not flirting that’s just… being friendly.’ ‘So you’re dating Byers then?’ ‘Okay that’s even worse, he could basically be my brother.’ You loved Jonathan, you two had a lot in common, probably more than you in common with Steve, but having lived with him and Joyce being a mother to you, you could never even imagine dating him. ‘Hey is your shirt for DnD?’ You said looking at his shirt. You had no idea what Hellfire Club was aside from one of the many school clubs but it seemed cooler than basketball or math club or whatever. ‘Yeah, how did you know?’ ‘The dice.’ You said pointing to the corner of your own shirt where the dice sat on his own. ‘I used to play but I haven’t in a while.’ It was true you loved DnD. Although you would probably struggle to play now as you had only ever played 2nd edition and a bit of 3rd edition after it came out, neither of which existed currently. ‘Ah well, Hellfire is actually the DnD club I run if you want to come. It’s only guys but it’ll be nice to have a girl there.’ ‘Yeah, I’ll definitely consider it.’ You smiled. God, you’d been speaking to this guy for like two minutes and you were crushing on him. Maybe Steve was right, you needed to go on a date if you got this flustered just from talking to a guy. A very attractive guy who shared a lot of your interests but still he was just a guy. ‘Well, as lovely as it’s been talking to you, sweetheart, I am unfortunately here on business and I don’t think you want to be around for that.’ He indicated to the black metal lunchbox in front of him and you realised that it didn’t just contain his lunch. Although you were less focused on that and more focused on the fact he’d just called you sweetheart. ‘Ah sorry, I’ll head off. The school day is nearly over anyway and if I don’t get back, I won’t get home.’ You said shoving your book into your bag. You stood up getting ready to walk away when you thought. ‘Actually how much do you sell for?’ You asked him. He raised his eyebrows at you. ‘You smoke?’ He questioned you, a smirk on his face. ‘Not in a while.’ You replied. It was true, you had smoked a couple of times back in Nevada as it helped numb your powers. Now you needed a smoke because at night it hit you. The truth is that you would never get back to your family, that at some point in the future they were looking for you and that kept you up at night. Plus the nightmares that your back in the facility, waking you but in a cold sweat. You needed something to help you sleep. ‘You haven’t done a lot in a while.’ ‘Yeah. I got sent to one of those rehabilitation camps for deviant teens, you know the sort of thing I’m talking about. So yeah, can’t do anything fun at those.’ You lied. You couldn’t exactly tell him the truth. That you’d been kidnapped in 2001 and somehow time travelled back to 1982. I mean if you started telling people that you’d be committed. ‘Oh yeah, I know the sort of thing. Well, it’s $20 for a half-ounce.’ He said opening the lunchbox and pulling out a bag marked with a weight. You nodded and dug around in your bag, pulling out your wallet and grabbing a twenty, handing it over to him. ‘Pleasure doing business with you.’ He said handing over the bag before stopping. ‘I assume if you were sent away you don’t have all the other shit?’ He asked. ‘Yeah but I can go grab some.’ You couldn’t go to the general store as Joyce worked there but there were other places in town that sold rolling papers and filters, and although it wasn’t the best option you could probably use a pepper grinder. ‘Don’t bother. I’ve got it.’ He smiled grabbing papers, filters, and a grinder, before handing you the bag with all the stuff in it. ‘Thanks, how much extra do you want?’ You asked him, shoving it in the bottom of your bag. ‘Consider it on the house.’ He winked at you, causing heat to rise in your face. ‘Oh well, double thanks then.’ You zipped up your bag and picked up it off the bench. ‘You give all your customers free shit?’ You asked smiling at him. ‘Only the pretty ones.’ He said smiling back at you. ‘Well when you run out, you know where to find me.’ He indicated around him. ‘Yeah, I’ll see you around.’ You said starting to walk away. You were definitely late to meet Steve for your ride home at this point but you were too happy to care. ‘Nice to meet you, Y/N.’ He called after you. ‘Nice to meet you too, Eddie.’ You said turning around to face him before walking back towards the school.

When you reached the school you still hadn’t stopped smiling. You saw Steve leaning against his car and when he stopped you he looked pissed. ‘I told you not to be late.’ He said climbing into the driver’s seat. ‘Yeah you also said, you’d leave without me which you didn’t’ You said climbing into the passenger side. ‘Well, I felt bad abandoning you. Why are you so smiley anyway?’ He said looking over at you with a look of confusion on your face. ‘I am not smiley.’ You tried to make your face more neutral but you couldn’t get Eddie out of your head. ‘Umm, yeah, you are. You’ve got a big stupid grin on your face.’ ‘Oh so I’m not allowed to be happy is that it? Just because I’m stuck in the past with no family, I have to be miserable, huh?’ ‘No that’s not what I’m saying. You’re just all mopey most of the time.’ ‘Such a bad friend Harrington.’ You shook your head at him. ‘You’re a bitch you know that.’ He shook his head and laughed at you. He stopped pressing you and you drove the rest of the way back to your trailer in silence.

March 19th, 1984

The weekend had been fairly uneventful. You had gone round to the Byers' as you did every Saturday spending the time talking to Will about his DnD game while helping Joyce in the kitchen. The rest of your weekend was spent smoking your supply and watching whatever shit was on TV. When Monday rolled around you woke up early and got dressed, putting a bit more effort into your appearance than you normally did. You told yourself it was because you just wanted to feel nice but it was definitely because you wanted Eddie to notice you. After arriving at school, you and Steve were stood by your locker as you grabbed a couple of books. Nancy had been with the two of you but she had headed to class early to ask the teacher a couple of questions giving Steve an opportunity to ask you about gift ideas for her. ‘I don’t know, I have very different tastes from Nancy. Why are you getting her a gift anyway?’ You asked as you shut your locker. ‘Because I want to do something nice for my girlfriend. Hey, can we go grab some stuff from my locker?’ ‘Yeah sure.’ You said and two of you started walking towards his locker. As you were walking you spotted him. There was Eddie who stood talking to the other members of the Hellfire Club. You couldn’t help but stare at him. God he looked so good, his rings and long hair and the chain hanging from his jeans. You can’t believe you’d never really noticed him before. I mean he was exactly your type. ‘Ow.’ You said as you collided with a door. You had been so busy staring at Eddie that you hadn’t even noticed that one of the classroom doors directly in front of you was open. ‘Who put a door there?’ ‘What’s wrong with you? You weren’t listening to anything I said then you walk into a door.’ ‘Nothings wrong with me.’ You said glancing back at Eddie. Steve followed your eyes and gasped. ‘Munson? Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson, is what’s got you distracted?’ He laughed at you. ‘He’s not a freak, he’s nice. And I’m not distracted.’ You blushed slightly. ‘Oh my god. You have a crush on him.’ Steve said far too loudly. ‘I do not! And can you keep your voice down, I don’t think they heard you in Oregon.’ ‘All boys are gross I’m never getting in a relationship.’ Steve mocked you. ‘Now you’re here crushing on Eddie Munson.’ ‘Could you please shut up?’ ‘I’m just excited that my best friend is finally going to get a boyfriend.’ He said wrapping you in a hug and tousling your hair. ‘I am not going to get a boyfriend and you’re being annoying.’ You said escaping from his grasp. You flatten your hair back down, glancing over at Eddie hoping he hadn’t noticed Steve being an idiot. He was still talking to his friends, laughing, and joking around. ‘You guys would be perfect together. You both listen to that terrible metal music.’ ‘Hey! Don’t diss metal music.’ You lightly smacked him on the chest. ‘Besides having the same music taste doesn’t mean we should date.’ ‘No, but the fact your eyes are practically shaped like hearts right now does.’ You sighed, Steve was never going to let this go. You looked back over to Eddie realising that he was also looking at you. When the two of you made eye contact, he winked at you causing you to blush. You were far too into him.

Taglist: @michaelfuckinglangdon @taygra5shaon @eddiemunson4ever

#eddie munson #stranger things #stranger things x reader #stranger things fanfiction #eddie x reader #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x reader #joseph quinn #joseph quinn x reader

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wordsandupstead · 2 years ago

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Bodyguard AU

pairing: upstead summary: AU where Hailey is the daughter of a politician, and Jay is hired as her bodyguard, much to her dismay. word count: 2k bingo square filled: Bodyguard Au for @resanoona #resa.3kfiestabingo masterlist

Hailey swings open her front the door, and takes a step back in confusion when she’s not greeted by a delivery guy with a package. Instead, she’s faced with a man dressed in jeans and t-shirt, and he’s empty handed. He speaks before Hailey can recover from her surprise. “Hi, are you Hailey Upton?” When Hailey just nods, he continues, “I’m Jay Halstead, your dad hired me as your bodyguard.”

A frown immediately takes over Hailey’s features. Hailey knew her dad, a career politician, was worried because of the anonymous threats that had been coming in recently. When he voiced these concerns, Hailey had assured him she could take care of herself. He had insisted he send a bodyguard, at least until the threats could be further investigated. Hailey thought she had done a pretty good job of diffusing her fathers concern by the end of the conversation, but as always, he went and did what he wanted anyway.

“My dad’s just paranoid. Thanks for coming, but really I’m good. I don’t need you.” Hailey starts to close the door in his face, but Jay reaches his hand out, stopping the door.

He stares at her with piercing green eyes, studying her. “Look, I’m not trying to get in your way, but your dad’s paying me, so I’m here until he tells me not to be.” He says with a shrug.

“My dad still thinks I’m a little kid that needs protecting.”

“Let me guess, you can protect yourself.” He raises an eyebrow and Hailey swears she recognizes a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I can. You can go, really. I won’t tell my dad you left, and he’ll probably still pay you.” Hailey shrugs, this time successfully closing the door in his face. She feels a bit guilty for being so rude to him, but she consoles herself with the fact that this guy got off easy, and he’ll probably get paid for all the work he’s not gonna do anyway. About a half hour later, Hailey grabs her car keys and purse before pulling open the front door. She stops short when she realize that the guy from earlier is still there on her front porch. He’s stares at her as she steps outside and she stares back at him, frozen.

“This is ridiculous,” Hailey finally recovers, walking past him and down the front steps, he follows, just a half step behind. If he’s anything, it’s persistent.

He clicks the keys to an escalade parked on the street. “It’s really not worth fighting this, Hailey, just let me drive you where you’re going.” His voice flows from behind her and she sighs. Hailey has never liked driving, and she assumes if she turns him down, he’ll just follow her anyway.

“Fine.” She huffs, stomping over to the car and getting into the passenger seat.

“Where are we going?” He questions after walking around and getting into the driver’s seat.

“I’m going grocery shopping. Literally grocery shopping. You really think someones gonna try to kidnap me in the parking lot of trader joes?” He just shrugs and turns the car on, completely ignoring Hailey’s little outburst as he starts driving toward the store.

He drives in silence for a little while, and finally, Hailey decides that if she’s going to have to spend any length of time with this guy, she should at least try to make conversation. “How’d you get this job anyway? You don’t really…look like a bodyguard.” He’s tall, but thin. He has well-defined muscles peeking out from behind his green t-shirt, but he’s not really the 6’5” giant, wide, muscular type she’d expect as a bodyguard.

“Your dad knows someone in my unit, told him he was looking for a bodyguard, and I got recommended.”

“Unit? Like in the army?” She questions, unsure of what that means.

“No, I work for the intelligence unit for the CPD, I’m a detective.”

“Don’t detectives just like interview people and shit, are you sure you’re even qualified for this?”

One side of his mouth raises in a grin, and Hailey counts that as a little victory, getting him to crack a smile. At least he finds this a little bit amusing, it might not be so miserable after all. “I do a little more than just interview people, and I thought you didn’t even need a bodyguard, so what’s there to be qualified for?”

He’s got a point there. “Right, right.”

“This is bullshit and he knows it.” Hailey plops down on the hotel bed, rubbing her hands over her wonderfully makeup free face, although not for long. She’s so tired of getting made up just to stand behind her father with a fake smile on her face. She’s thirty years old. She has a job and a life to get back to that doesn’t involve fake smiling behind her dad to win over a bunch of rich people who don’t really give a shit about anything or anyone but themselves.

Jay chuckles from the chair across the room, and it has quickly become one of Hailey’s favorite sounds.

She sits up, unable to stop the pout on her face. “It’s not funny!” She glares at him, but he only smiles wider.

“It’s just a couple hours. We’ll get ice cream on the way home.” He bribes her, knowing her well enough now to know that having something to look forward to will make the night that much more bearable.

“Soft serve?”

“You mean shitty fast food drive thru ice cream.” He answers back.

“Yes,” She respond, a big smile crossing her face.

Jay shakes his head, but he smiles too, “Fine.”

Jay answers midway through the first ring, “Hailey, is everything okay?” His voice is urgent, worried, and it makes her pause before formulating an answer.

“Yeah, I uh, where are you?” She questions, suddenly feeling silly for calling in the first place.

“I’m at work.”

“Work?”

“Yeah, I’m a detective, remember?”

“Oh, right. Sorry for bothering you.”

Hailey almost says goodbye, but Jay interrupts her before she can. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, sorry, go back to detecting.”

He laughs on the other end of the phone, actually laughs and a warmth spreads through Hailey’s chest at the sound.

“But you’re okay?” He asks, genuine concern in his voice.

“Yes.” She insists. “I just…” She pauses trailing off, she what? Missed him? She can’t say that. “There’s that event tonight.”

After the first couple of weeks, the anonymous threats stopped, and Hailey’s dad started to relax a little. He changed the terms of Jay’s contract, so he doesn’t have to accompany Hailey everywhere, only to events. Over the past couple of months since then, they’d fallen into a pretty comfortable routine. Jay got into the habit of showing up really early on event days, and just sticking around until it was time to leave, so as the hours ticked by without him, Hailey started to wonder.

“There’s someone else coming, they should be there any minute.” He reassures her.

“Why someone else? Did my dad fire you?”

“No, Hails, I just got stuck at work, so I called someone else to cover.” He pauses and when she doesn’t respond, he says, “Anyone can do the job, remember, you don’t need protecting.” He reminds her of what she told him the first day he showed up. If he really thinks that’s what she’s worried about, he’s way off.

“Yeah, you’re right.” She halfheartedly replies. “I’ll see you later, Jay.”

“Bye Hailey.”

The new guy sucks. Hailey thought it was the worst thing ever to have Jay as her shadow at first, but she’d grown to appreciate his little comments and the way he somehow managed to stick close by without it feeling like he was invading her personal space. This new guy is acting like he’s someone special, glaring at anyone who dares to look at her, and he’s way too close all the time.

He barely responds to any attempts at communication. He basically just grunts. He doesn’t make funny comments or laugh when she tries to make light of a situation. Every time he shows up, Hailey miss Jay even more.

Hailey knows she should tell someone, like maybe her dad or James, her new bodyguard, but she doesn’t. Her dad finally started to relax about her safety and give her a little more freedom, and Hailey doesn’t want to tell James anything because he still makes her feel uncomfortable.

First, it was emails, emails about how her dad needed to vote a certain way or how they disagreed with her fathers politics. The email address it came from was just a series of numbers. Hailey had no idea who was sending them, so she just wrote them off at first. It didn’t seem like anything too crazy.

Then, it turned into text messages and voicemails sounding angrier and angrier, but it was always centered around politics and her dad’s voting power. They weren’t exactly threats to Hailey, so she continued to ignore them.

The texts began to get more frequent and then more personal. James was still accompanying Hailey to events, but she started to make every excuse not to go to any.

Hailey didn’t mean to stay out so late tonight. She had just gone over to a friends place for a girls night, and time got away from her. Her friends apartment was only a few blocks from where she lived, so when she left her house in broad daylight earlier today, it made sense to just walk. But Hailey is about two blocks from her friends apartment and three from her own when she gets another text. She thinks about turning around to go back, but she doesn’t feel like her friend would be able to do much either. Instead, Hailey ducks into a convenience store, and dials a number she hasn’t called in a while.

“Hello?” He answers.

“Jay, I’m scared, can you please come get me.” She doesn’t have time to explain, and Jay doesn’t ask for more information.

“Where are you?” Is all he asks.

Hailey rattles off the cross streets and the name of the convenience store. “I’m just a few blocks away, I’ll be right there. Wait inside.”

He hangs up and Hailey makes her way toward the back of the store, where she’s far enough from the door, but she still has a clear view of the street.

She get another text that makes her skin crawl. It all ends tonight. The texts didn’t turn this cryptic until today, and Hailey takes a deep breath.

A van pulls up in front of the store and Hailey almost hides behind a rack of chips, but the door slides open, and it reveals Jay. Without realizing it, Hailey sprints toward the van and jumps in. Jay closes the door behind her, and Hailey launches herself into Jay’s arms. This is the closest the two of them have ever been, but Hailey can feel her heart beating erratically in her chest and she wants to be even closer. She wants to feel safe.

“What happened?” Jay questions, checking Hailey over to make sure she’s okay. Hailey opens her mouth to start explaining when the loudest sound erupts around them, and she can barely process that there are actual bullets being hurled at the van before Jay pulls her to the ground, shielding her body with his own. He pulls something off the wall of the van and holds it against her exposed back.

There’s yelling, and shouting in the crackling of a radio. Hailey can make out that Jay didn’t come alone and that whoever is on the other side of the radio is pursuing whoever it was that shot at them. Jay holds her still until they’re met with only silence, then he immediately begins checking to see if she’s injured. When he realizes they’re both unharmed, he pulls her close to his chest. Hailey doesn’t want to move from her spot in his arms, but after a few moments, he insists they have to go to the police station.

He drives them there, and when she gets out in the underground parking lot, she slips her hand into his and he doesn’t resist. He leads her up a stairwell into what looks like an office. Other people are there and he guides her past them into a back room that looks like a break room, and he motions for her to sit on the couch.

Hailey explains everything, the emails, the texts, everything. When Jay asks why she didn’t tell anyone, she admits that she didn’t feel safe with her new bodyguard and she didn’t want to tell her dad. Jay just looks stressed the entire time she’s explaining.

“And you quit and left me with James because you didn’t want to do it anymore or you don’t like me or whatever,” Hailey rants, feeling so emotionally drained and just needing to get the words off her chest because she can’t hold them in anymore. She’s been wondering about this since Jay didn’t show up that one day and then she never got to ask him about it he never showed up to another event.

Jay’s eyes lock onto Hailey’s and an expression that she can’t quite read crosses his face. “What?” She demands.

Jay breaks eye contact, looking down. Hailey waits impatiently until Jay finally says, “I didn’t give up the job because I don’t like you.”

Hailey’s eyebrows furrow in confusion. Why else would he quit unless he didn’t want to spend time with her. Unless the job was so miserable that he couldn’t do it anymore.

“Hailey, I gave up the job because I do like you.”

#Jay Halstead #Hailey Upton #Upstead #Upstead fanfic #Upstead fic #Chicago PD #resa.3kfiestabingo #Jay halstead fic #hailey upton fic

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doexoeyes · 3 years ago

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Hiiiii ! ✨

My Name's Aya, it's sooo nice to stumble upon ur blog !

I, well wanted to make a request (If u could take one ofc) cause obviously i like ur writing or else I wouldn't be here hehe...

Well, I've been thinking, How 'bout a tasm! College Peter x reader, where she owns a flower shop (she kinda stopped college bcz she dosen't have enough money to continue)

She meets peter when he came once to buy flower for his aunt and they get to y'know, joke arround and get to know each other and laugh (he's nervous, but she's cocky and funny so he gets more comfortable with her within sec) (maybe he gets interested about which flowers to pic and she helps him) (I say "she" but could also be a Gn reader no prob) and they became freind and all and she opens up to him ? Maybe he even saves her as spiderman, then she caught feeling for him, but he told her once that he have a crush on gwen so she's always here to help him pick her flowers and all (reader and gwen could be freinds or not) but basically she believes he would be happy with gwen more than he will with her because she's just stuck in her small world without money or freind.

Butt, she's also super optimistic, strong and funny so that's why he fell for her, she also is a great fan of spider-man and have theory's about his identity every time.

Anyways, so if they end up together or not that's up to you darlin' but a story like this one would be veeeeeery wholesome and cute to read ✨

Also sorry this is suuuuper long, I tried ma best to visulize the idea I have in my mind and it turns out that it's soo long sorryyy, hope you liked it though but not sure if you would like to write about it, but if u do, I would really appreciate it, have a good day/Night 💕

hello aya ! ✨ you are absolutely lovely, thank you so much for being so kind & sending a request. it’s actually my first one & I really love this idea ! the details you gave made it exciting to write so I hope I did it justice & thank u for taking the time to send this in 🤧🤍

Pairing: Tasm!Peter x Gn!reader

Warnings: None.

Aunt May has finally graduated from nursing school and Peter wants to get her something special so he decides on a nice bouquet of flowers from a local shop near his apartment.

That local shop just so happens to be yours.

When he enters, he’s nervous in typical Peter fashion, not really knowing what to do or what to ask for so he’s a rambling mess at first.

“Yeah, I’m sorry it’s just..I wanted to get a nice bouquet for someone. I didn’t want to get those pre-made ones from the grocery store though, cause they just feel like not personal, you know? And most of the time the flowers are wilted or sad looking and today’s a big day for her so I wanted to get something really special ‘cause she deserves that and you probably don’t have to know all that and I’m so sorry,” he says, avoiding your gaze as he lets out a nervous chuckle.

Thankfully you’re nice and understanding and he’s incredibly grateful that you don’t make him feel like an idiot and instead help him pick out a stunning bouquet of peach peonies, white dahlias and sprigs of baby’s breath sprinkled throughout.

He’s impressed and ecstatic and his excitement warms your heart because there’s nothing cuter than a guy being giddy over flowers.

You crack some jokes as you wrap them up and he becomes much more relaxed as the conversation progresses.

So much so that he realizes he’s actually seen you before…

“Hey. Don’t you go to Empire State? I think we had English Lit together last year?”

You purse your lips as you finish tying a white bow at the base of the bouquet.

“I used to, actually. Yeah. You’re Peter, right?”

You notice his face light up at your recognition.

“Y-yeah. Peter Parker. I haven’t seen you around campus again though. Did you transfer schools?”

“Nah. I dropped out,” you say plainly and you notice the way his eyes slightly widen before he tries to play it off.

“Turns out running a business while juggling classes and pulling all nighters for finals is an impossible task. I don’t recommend it.”

“You own this store? That’s really cool. Congrats” he says as he looks around in awe.

“Actually, it belongs to my mom. But she umm..she got really sick so she can’t work anymore. And with my dad being out of the picture and no relatives willingly to step up to the plate, I kinda had no choice but to take up the family business. It’s a good thing I like flowers,” you say with a snort.

Peter’s staring at you with a mix of pity and sympathy and although you know he means well, it makes you slightly uncomfortable because you didn’t mean to overshare so much personal information with him.

“Sorry. Can you tell that I do nothing but talk to plants all day? My social skills are literally non existent. Anyways, these are beautiful and I hope that special someone you're going to give them to likes them.”

He chuckles at this and when you respond with a raised brow, he clarifies.

“These are for my Aunt May. She just graduated from nursing school.”

You remember Peter fairly well from school. He used to sit in the row ahead of you in your Statistics class, and one day when you had overslept and showed up late, Peter handed you his notes for you to keep so you wouldn’t be completely lost.

It was a simple gesture, but it was sweet and you appreciated it till this day. So his clarification that the flowers weren’t intended for a significant other sends butterflies fluttering throughout your stomach.

Until he continues.

“There’s no special person in my life. Well, at least, not yet. There is one girl though…her name is Gwen and…I don’t know,” he says with a shrug but his love sick expression says it all and you’re ready to puke.

“That’s great. I wish you luck with her then. And maybe the next time you’re buying flowers, it’ll be for that special someone,” you say with a teasing smile.

You remember Gwen from school as well. She was great. Beautiful, smart, nice. You completely understood why Peter was head over heels.

It still didn’t change the fact that you were a little disappointed though.

After you hand him the flowers, he’s out the door for what you assume was the last time.

But you assumed wrong.

Peter comes back the following week, and then the next, and the next, and soon he visits during your lunch break with take away containers or coffees in hand and sometimes keeps you company when you're closing up the shop.

You bond over your shared love for the same music and movies and sense of humor, but one thing that surprisingly brings you together is your love for Spider-Man.

“He’s the absolute coolest person on the planet. I mean, come on! Spider powers? Swinging around the city, web slinging the bad guys out of the way? A total badass!”

Your praise for the masked vigilante feeds Peter’s ego of course, but he just thinks it’s really cute how your eyes light up in excitement whenever you talk about your favorite ‘superhero’. Especially when your favorite topic comes to play.

“These are my prime suspects for Spidey’s true identity. I’ve been working on this for a while now, and if you make fun of me or make a smart ass comment about it, I will ban you from the store. Like with a picture on the wall and everything.”

Peter’s staring at the opened up folder you plopped in front of him on the register counter. He snorts, eyes taking in the pictures of your ‘suspects’ along with the lengthy notes you have paper clipped to them. Your ‘extra-ness’ was something he genuinely adored.

“Wait, Flash Thompson? Really? You think he’s Spider-Man?” he asks after coming across the sheet, appalled.

“Oh totally, he’s like my number one guess honestly. I mean, he’s fit, he’s tall, and he has an obsession with the guy even more than I do. That seems to me like the perfect way to get people off his trail; pretending to be Spidey’s number one fan. Well I see straight through that bullshit,” you say matter of factly.

Peter looks at you silently for a moment, clearly amused, before shaking his head. “Well, looks like you have your work cut out for you detective.”

“Look, you can tease me all you want, but one day I’m going to figure out who he is and when I do, I won’t even tell you.”

He raises a brow at you, playfully. “Oh yeah? And how do you know I don’t already know?”

“Pfft, oh please Parker. You wish,” you say with a roll of your eyes, turning around to go tend to the work that had to be done.

Peter watches you disappear into the back room with a small, affectionate smile before looking back down at the file.

His picture isn’t in it.

The first time you hang outside of work is at Peter’s suggestion, when he enters the shop one day and slides two tickets over the counter to you.

“So I know you’re busy saving the world one bouquet at a time, but they’re having a special screening at the theatre around the block and they’re playing ‘Little Shop of Horrors’,” he says, leaning on the register counter, brows wiggling as a small smirk places itself on his lips.

“Are you assuming that I like ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ because I own a flower shop?”

He looks at you with a squint, silently daring you to deny it, but the smirk is still intact because he knows that he is, indeed, absolutely right.

You head to the movies after you close the shop early and once you get there you’re both a little too excited about being the only ones at the showing because that means you get to sing along with the songs at the top of your lungs.

You have the best time shouting the lyrics together, especially when it comes to ‘Suddenly Seymour’, thanks to Peter’s dramatic hand gestures towards you. It’s all perfect until his hand bumps into yours when you reach for the popcorn at the same time.

Your stomach does a stupid little flip and you’re now hyper aware of your closeness and the way he turns to look at you throughout the movie.

Oh no….

You like Peter Parker.

You are so screwed.

Peter’s crush on Gwen is still prominent, him coming to you with updates and questions due to your new ‘best friend’ status.

You’re not even sure when it happens but you end up going over to Peter’s house most nights where May makes you her famous lasagna and shows you baby pictures of Peter despite his protest. You also hangout at the park where you watch him skate and the local record shop and the movies and eventually he even gifts you a friendship bracelet when you joke about getting matching ones due to how attached at the hip you two have become.

You’ve never had a friend like this and you’re grateful that it’s with Peter.

But of course, talking about crushes comes with the package, and Peter spills his feelings to you about lovely lovely Gwen Stacy.

And you’re supportive, of course, because at the end of the day you know that Gwen is the best possible person for Peter.

Having Gwen by his side would make him feel like a million bucks.

You on the other hand barely even had a dollar to spare on most days.

You’ll never be anything more than the owner of the little flower shop at Queens that hangs by a thread every single day.

Yet, you can feel it fester inside of you, the pain and envy that came with knowing that Peter would never be yours the way you wished he would be.

Truth was, you loved him, and you were happy to have him in your life any way you could.

But you’d be lying if you said you didn’t wish you were the Gwen Stacy in his life.

“You wouldn’t want to go back?” Peter asks one day, sitting on your work station table, peering over you as you worked on a floral arrangement for a wedding.

“Hmm..I mean, yeah, I guess. But that’s never going to happen.”

“Why not?” he asks, and you look up at him, noticing how focused he is on you and your work.

“Because it’s not like I have anyone else to run this shop. Come on, you know that.”

“Yeah, but..I just think that you really want to go back, and I’m sure there’s a way to do that while also having enough time to run the shop without over exerting yourself.”

You don’t know why, but his response irritates you the slightest bit, so you roll your eyes and look at him with a frown.

“Oh really, is there? Do enlighten me with this fabulous solution of yours, Pete. Given that you know everything, of course.”

You see a flicker of annoyance in his own eyes, and though part of you really wants to wave the white flag before anything begins to escalate, a larger part of you craves to push his buttons some more.

The same part that internally yells at him for never realizing how much it hurts to hear him talk about Gwen.

“Funny. I’m just trying to help you.”

“Even funnier because I don’t remember asking for your help. Ha. Guess we’re starring in a comedy today.”

“You do understand that you have your own life right? That you should do something with it? You know, like something you actually want to do?”

His tone is getting lower and the usual light in his eyes has completely disappeared, but this does nothing to stop you from continuing on.

“I’m sorry, are you seriously lecturing me right now? Oh hey dad, I’m so glad you came back after 10 years. That cigarette break sure took forever.”

“Can you not make a joke out of something for once?”

“No, because this is a joke. A huge one. The fact that you think you know what I want is hilarious to me, because clearly you’re the most ignorant one here.”

“What? Where is this even coming from?”

“It’s coming from the fact that you don’t know a damn thing about me, Peter. And-and I’m getting really tired of you acting like you do. You have no idea what I want. Trust me.”

The argument escalates, and though it hurts to speak to Peter the way you did, your unrequited feelings hurt you way more. It ends with him storming out, the jingle of the bell above the door taunting you as he slips out.

You feel a mixture of anger and sadness and you wish you could scream in frustration, but a man immediately comes in through the door right after, asking for roses for his anniversary dinner.

It’s closing time when the guilt starts to eat at you. You’re so used to having Peter around most nights when you close, especially on Saturday’s when the streets are the busiest.

You’re counting the register when you hear the bell over the door ring, making you to realize that you forgot to lock it.

When you look up, you realize there’s a man with a hood in front of you, and before you can react, he lifts up a pistol and directs it towards you.

“Give me the money or I’ll shoot.”

You feel like everything’s moving in slow motion, a ringing beginning to sound off in your ears, suffocatingly terrified.

You follow the instructions given, handing him all the cash in your register, but despite this, the man doesn’t flee.

“Please. I gave you the money, now please just-“

“Shut the fuck up! I‘ll leave when I want to leave. Now walk over here and get on your knees.”

You're a trembling mess but you do as you're told, tears sliding down your cheeks despite trying your best to keep your composure.

Just as your knees hit the floor, you hear the jingle of the door once more and the man is suddenly pulled away from you.

With wide eyes you realize Spider-Man has webbed the man from behind, pulling him away from you before tossing him out the door. You watch through the window as he quickly shoots webs at his ankles and wrists, immobilizing him, and can hear the man scream before Spider-Man webs his mouth closed, the screams now muffled.

After ensuring the man was dealt with and not running away anytime soon, Spider-Man walks back in, standing awkwardly in the middle of your shop.

“Are you ok ma’m?” he asks, and your eyes are wide, staring at him with a dropped jaw, only managing a little nod.

“You..you used my front door?” you say after a moment, because you’re still in shock and that’s the first thing you could think of to say.

He looks behind him at the door, the muffled screams of the thief still playing in the background from the outside. “Well yeah. You’re a small business, right? I don’t know if you have insurance that can cover the damages of a shattered door,” he responds simply, as if all super heroes thought about the capabilities of a small shop before jumping into action.

“I..I don’t have insurance,”

“You see? That would have really sucked then if I just crashed in.”

The entire situation has you completely dazed. Not only were you almost robbed, but Spider-Man came to your rescue and is standing right in front of you.

You’re pretty sure you’re gonna pass out.

“Hey, it’s ok. You’re safe, I promise. The cops should be on the way and they’ll get this asshole off the streets and you’ll have nothing to worry about. I’m sorry this happened to you,” he states, keeping his distance from you.

As much as Peter is trying his hardest to keep his cool for the sake of his identity, all he really wants to do is wrap his arms around you and apologize.

Because, if it wasn’t for him storming out, he would have kept you company during closing like he did most nights, and that dick head most likely wouldn’t have stepped into the store.

He’s just thankful he had enough mind to pass by the shop as he was doing his rounds around the city.

Even more thankful that he got there in time.

He leaves after making sure you’re okay and trying to keep you from hyper ventalating (you’re starstruck, of course, and Peter has to use all of his self restraint not to laugh or call you cute because god you’re so adorable when your face flushes and your eyes look at him like he’s the greatest person to ever walk the earth).

His mind starts to wonder if you’d still look at him that way if you found out he was actually Spider-Man.

Then he thinks about the way you looked at him when he was just plain old Peter, and he feels his heart speed up when he realizes that it’s not that different actually…

And that’s when he it finally clicks for him.

“You have no idea what I want. Trust me.”

….

How can he be so stupid??

Seriously, a scientific genius that can figure out a cure for lizard people and he couldn’t realize that you liked him?

He’s embarrassed and irritated with himself to say the least.

Especially given all the times he would talk to you about Gwen.

He’s on his way home, swinging, and he actually groans at the thought.

He’s totally kicking himself right now.

Thinking about it now, Peter realizes that, despite the times he would talk to you about her, he didn’t ever seriously think about Gwen that way after he met you.

Every day his crush on Gwen got less serious. He wouldn’t ask her to hang out anymore. He always much rather preferred spending time with you.

He guesses he was too distracted to realize that he was starting to feel the way he felt for Gwen, for you.

‘Good job Parker. Now you totally messed this up for the both of us.’

The next day, Peter comes bursting into your shop, apology at the ready as he fires out every word that’s on his mind.

“I’m sorry. You’re right, I don’t know what you want and I shouldn’t act like I do. I didn’t mean to make you upset, I just care for you so much and you’ve become someone so important to me and all I want is for you to be happy. You deserve to be inexplicably happy and if the flower shop makes you happy, then do it. But if school makes you happy, then I can help you with that. I thought about it and you can take classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on my off days, and I can totally cover your shift and run the shop and trust me, I’ve watched you enough so I know I can do it, and if anything I can watch you some more and I can tutor you if you need help in math cause I know that’s not your strong suit cause you told me but you’re so smart and you can do it and you can totally graduate and I’ll help you and you can come over for dinner every night if you’re too exhausted to cook and-are you crying?”

Peter’s staring at you in horror as tears flow freely down your cheeks. He’s starting to think he messed up again but you begin to shake your head as a smile breaks out on your face and he sees in your eyes that you’re looking at him in that way and he feels a fluttering in his chest.

“It’s just that….you’re absolutely amazing Peter, and I’m so thankful that you’re in my life. Thank you for that, really. And I’m sorry, too. I wasn’t actually mad at you because of what you said, I know you’re just trying to help. I’m just stupid and frustrated and I took that out on you. But…just…thank you for being so…” and you let out a light, watery laugh and shrug because the words aren’t enough.

And he understands, completely, because words could never properly explain how much he loves you.

“Oh, and I’m actually not just here to loiter today. I would like to buy some flowers,” he states proudly.

At this, your eyes widen.“Really? For who?”

“You remember the first time I came in here? You said that the next time I buy flowers it would be for my special someone?”

“Y-yeah,” you say, the slight confusion and wariness evident in your tone.

“Well, today’s the day.”

Your stomach drops at this but you make sure your face shows no sign of it. You love Peter and you’re beyond happy for him that he’s finally taking that step with Gwen. So when he requests you to make a bouquet that’s full of your personal favorites, you do so with a smile.

You hand them to him and Peter thanks you with a grateful smile and you watch the door jingle close as he walks out, taking a small shaky breath in before letting it out.

Acceptance.

…..

….

…

A few seconds later, you see Peter make his way back to the store and you watch him with furrowed brows as he enters and approaches you at the counter once again.

He hands you the flowers silently and your eyes flicker back and forth to them and him, genuinely confused.

“W-what happened? Is there something wrong with them?” you ask, concern laced in your tone.

“No, they’re perfect. It’s just that they’re for you.”

You look at him silently for a moment, stunned.

“W-what…?” and it finally hits you.

When he sees the realization in your eyes, he smiles adoringly at you, warm eyes softening.

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner. I don’t know if you noticed, but i’m not as sharp as I seem. I get really distracted and miss out on what’s in front of me, even when it’s undeniably perfect. But, I really, really like you and I promise, my feelings for you are genuine. It just took me a bit to realize what they were, but..I would love it if you could be my special someone.”

You watch him in complete disbelief.

Did Peter just confess his feelings for you?

“I…” your mouth keeps opening and closing and Peter’s sure you’re short circuiting.

“Hey, it’s ok, I get it. This is sudden and unexpected and I understand completely. I just wanted to let you know before I went off on patrol right now. But if you find yourself free with nothing to do tonight, send me a text and I’ll swing by because I would really like to take you out on a date. Oh, and leave your window open, I’ll just go in through there if that’s ok.”

Your eyes are as wide as saucers, a mixture of giddyness and confusion and every other emotion known to man due to everything that Peter was saying.

You noticed however that some of the things he was saying didn’t exactly make any sense…

“Patrol? W-what? And my..my window? Peter, I live on the 12th floor.”

“It’s okay, I’ve climbed higher,” he states as he retreats back to the door, opening it but turning back to you before heading out.

“Oh, and one more thing?”

He stretches his arm out, a web shooting out as it attaches to the folder you always had near your register.

He pulls the folder towards him and grabs it quickly before any papers fly out.

“I’m a little offended that you didn’t put me on your list of suspects,” he says with a wink, and just like that he’s out the door.

There’s no words to describe how shocked you are. You can’t even move let alone breathe.

Till finally you start to regain feeling in your body again and you’re pretty sure he can still hear you as he’s walking down the block.

“NO FUCKING WAY!!”

He does, in fact, hear you, and he’s chuckling to himself as he turns a corner to switch into his spidey suit.

He can’t wait for tonight.

#peter parker x reader #peter parker x you #tasm!peter x reader #tasm!spiderman x reader #peter parker imagine #peter parker #spiderman x reader #andrew garfield x reader #marvel #marvel imagine #spiderman imagine #tasm spiderman #tasm peter parker #requests

124 notes · View notes

nojey · 4 years ago

Text

finally

feral boys x streamer!reader (separate)

genre: fluff, crack

warning(s): none

synopsis: the feral boys finally meet their favorite streamers

dreamwastaken / clay

word count: 407

the day you met dream, you were on the phone with your best friend george, also known as georgenotfound

he was speedrunning on stream while you were on a discord call with him

his viewers knew who you were, not only because you were george’s best friend but also because you were a streamer too

you weren’t a big one but well known for how well you play battle box in mcc

george was about to end his stream after an unsuccessful speed run when he asked you something

“you know dream right?”

“yeah, of course, he’s one of your other best friends” you answered

“are you okay with me adding him to the call?” he asked you.

“uh sure, but aren’t you gonna end stream?”

“no, i will after this.” he giggled

“why? are you trying to embarrass one of us?” you asked him suspiciously.

“you don’t have to worry about that.”

you heard a ding from discord, indicating that someone joined your voice chat

“hello? dream?” george asked.

“george. why? why are you doing this to me?” dream asked.

“hi dream,” you smiled.

“uh, hi. hi (y/n).”

“george why did you add me to the call?” he asked george.

“well, i know how much you like watching their stream. and considering you’re both my best friends, why not introduce you! perfect right? anyways. i’m gonna end my stream now. let’s raid karl. and you two can talk to each other. bye now!” he left the call so now it was just you and dream in the vc

it really warmed your heart that someone with such a big platform liked watching your streams since it had been quite hard to gain a following since you started streaming

“hi dream,” you said once again

he sighed. “hi (y/n).” “i really didn’t want him to do that, i didn’t want this to be the first time we meet, you know. i just love watching your streams so much and i wanted it to, honestly, be in person. but you know, george does what he thinks he shou-”

“it’s okay dream, i’ve actually been looking forward to meeting you, considering you’re also one of george’s best friends. but i do agree, he does tend to do whatever he puts his mind to.”

after you calmed his nerves, his conversation skills skyrocketed and the conversations flowed very easily

you guys spent the rest of the night talking

georgenotfound / george

word count: 326

being a minecraft streamer and a hypebeast got you some recognition

you were a hypebeast model on instagram and when you had announced you started streaming minecraft on twitch you had grown pretty easily

it didn’t take you time before you were invited to join mcc

not just because you had a big following but because you were actually really good at playing

since you didn’t really know any other mc streamers you got placed in a group with people you had never met

their names were Ph1lzA, WilburSoot, and GeorgeNotFound

the first time you talked to them, they welcomed you with open arms and we so nice

“hi (y/s/n)! i’m philza but you can just call me phil,” he introduced.

“hi phil!” you responded.

“i’m wilbur, is this gonna be your first mcc?” wilbur asked.

“yeah, it is. i’m actually really nervous.” you laughed a bit, to get the nerves out.

“ah okay, well no worries. we were all beginners before. don’t worry about trying to score high, just have fun!” phil assured.

“we’re just waiting for one other person and we’ll get started on the practice.” phil continued.

“okie dokie,” you said. you put yourself on mute and wiped the sweat off your hands on your pants.

“hello, hello, sorry i’m late. had trouble starting the server.” you heard.

“well nice of you to join us george.” wilbur said.

“yeah, yeah. hi philza, hi wilbur, hi (y/s/n)- wait, (y/s/n)??” he stuttered

“hi george?,” you said softly.

“oh my god, i’ve watched your streams before, they’re really cool. i enjoy watching them.” he rambled.

you giggled

“well thank you,” you said, still giggling a little.

for the rest of the day you all practiced, everyone giving you pointers, but george watching carefully to make sure you understood the pointers you were getting

and if you didn’t then he knew to tell you which part you were kind of misunderstanding

sapnap

word count: 398

you met sapnap long before you became a streamer

you were a big fan of sapnap

and one day you ran into him in public

it was a short interaction but it really meant a lot to you

so you asked for a picture to remember the moment by

after you took the picture you said your goodbyes and you were extremely excited

a few weeks after than interaction you had made the decision to start streaming

you were thinking about becoming one for a long time and after meeting sapnap you made your decision

because you wanted to be the type of person sapnap was to you

and be a person someone looked up to and meet people that felt the way about you that you feel about sapnap

you’d been a streamer for a few months when you got a raid from sapnap himself

his viewers were suggesting he raided you so he did

you freaked out, you gained a small following and the fact that sapnap decided to raid you? amazed

but what you didn’t know was that he kept watching you

after he saw how appreciative you were he wanted to watch more and he got intrigued

so he followed you and started watching your streams almost every time you streamed whenever he wasn’t busy

after about 2 years of streaming you got a very big following

your supporters were stalking your twitter and found the picture of you and sapnap when you both met

they then began to repost it on twitter tagging the both of you

you saw it and replied, “LMAO i look so small. but big shoutout to sapnap for raiding me as a small streamer and making all this possible <3″

he saw your reply and his eyes went big

HE MET YOU BEFORE!??

he then proceeded to respond to your tweet, “we’ve met before??”

and it went back and forward

“yeah, it was before i was a streamer, we met at like.. the grocery store lol”

“i literally had no idea you were a fan of me”

“yup, i’ve been for the past 3 years”

“dude after i raided you i started watching your streams and you became my favorite streamer”

“well,, you’re still my favorite streamer ;)”

after that sapnap dmd you asking if you guys could meet in person again

and who could pass up that offer

karl jacobs

word count: 510

you and karl met at twitchcon

you had recently become a big streamer and this was your 2nd time going to twitchcon

1st time having a meet and greet

meeting your supporters meant so much to you

you finally get to give each of them a hug, and it may not be all of them but seeing this many people come out to meet you meant more than anyone could imagine

but being at twitchcon also meant you could meet your streamer friends

which made everything 10x more exciting

you decided to meet up with your friend, valkyrae and you guys were going to a creator party

when you finally got to see her you gave her a huge hug that lasted a while because it was the first time you were meeting in person

once you both reached the venue of where the party was being held you all met up with your other friends. you hadn’t met any of them in person but rae had

you saw sykkuno, lily, michael, toast, and a few other people and smiled really big, excited to see all of them

you finally got to them and pulled them into a group hug

“you guys!! oh my god it feels so good to finally meet all of you!” you said.

“it’s nice to meet you in person, (y/n).” sykkuno said smiling at you

you let go of the hug and remembered everyone else that they were with

“hi! i’m (y/s/n) but you can just call me (y/n),” you said with a smile.

“this is karl, poki, and scarra.” toast introduced.

you saw karl and poki whispering to each other while you got into a conversation with everyone else.

poki coughed and said, “hey guys! don’t we have to go to that thing, right? that thing.” hinting at something, looking between you and karl.

you’re pretty sure everyone caught on and they all agreed.

“oh yeah! that thing!”

“yeah, we should probably go!”

“yup, don’t wanna be late to that thing.”

you looked at them with an unimpressed look as they walked away, looking behind their shoulders to see you and karl standing there.

“hi, i’m-i’m karl, i’m sorry about that. i just told poki that you’re like literally my favorite streamer and i guess she wanted us to talk more? i don’t know, but it’s really nice to meet you.” karl said.

you laughed as you quickly understood your friends weird behavior

“yeah, you raided me a few times- thank you for that by the way. it helped me a lot in growing my fanbase and i don’t think i’d be where i am if you hadn’t raided me.” you smiled at him. he beamed and smiled back at you.

“yeah, no, it was no problem. like i said you’re literally my favorite streamer and being able to help you with that is absolutely insane to me.”

for the rest of the party, your friends could see both of you talking the night away

and maybe even dance together

quackity

word count: 428

finding out what to do for stream was kinda hard when pretty much all your friends were busy

but then you got a text from karl, asking if you wanted to play jackbox with him and a few friends

you accepted, knowing you wouldn’t have anything else to stream

in the lobby it would be you, karl, dream, sapnap and a few other people you didn’t know

when it was finally time to play, you started up your stream and introduced what you’d be playing that night

“hey guys, welcome welcome, welcome. today i’m gonna be playing jackbox with karl, dream, sapnap, and a few other of karls friends.”

you joined the vc and immediately heard a lot of boys talking very loudly

you let out a small, “hello?”

somehow everyone heard you and stopped talking

“(y/n)!” karl yelled out.

dream and sapnap let out a “hi, (y/n)” and you said hello back.

“hi everyone, i’m (y/s/n) but you all can call me (y/n)” you introduced yourself.

eveyrone else said hi and introduced themselves

you found out you were playing with quackity, wilbur, tommy, and techno too

during mad verse city karl was going against quackity and his rap went something like this

“you talk so weird, i’m gonna need translator, next time (y/n)’s here they’re gonna be a hater, because your big crush on them i’ll see ya later”

your mouth was wide open while all the boys started teasing quackity

“what the fuck! i don’t have a crush on them!”

quackity ended up losing that one.

after the game and you ended you stream you asked quackity to stay

“hi quackity,” you said, with an energetic voice

“... hey, (y/n)”

“sooo, was what karl said true?” you asked.

“mm not necessarily. it’s not that i have a crush on you. you’re.. just my favorite streamer and you know. this is the first time i’m meeting you and i was telling all of them that i’m nervous because i’ve never talked to you before and i think you’re a great streamer and that you put out really funny content and i didn’t wanna embarrass myself but. karl did that for me.” he rambled

you giggled

“i think that’s really cute. thank you for supporting me. you can dm me on twitter or discord if you ever wanna play sometime.” you told him and left the vc.

you then saw all the boys you were playing with pile into the vc and you could only imagine what they were talking about.

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silversatoru · 4 years ago

Text

play-thing — part one

gojo satoru x getou suguru x f!reader

t/w: nsfw 18+, dark content, drugging, manipulation, noncon/dubcon, oral (f!receiving), nipple play, this story contains very dark themes so please do not read it you’re sensitive to any of these topics

synopsis: suguru and satoru are missing something in their lives, and who better to manipulate than an lonely, impressionable girl who just moved to tokyo from another city. they’re willing to take extreme measures to transform you into their perfectly submissive little play-thing.

wc: 1.9k

suguru and satoru do everything together; live in the same house, work at the same company, even share a closet of the most expensive clothes, but something was missing. they both felt it, the empty space between them, and they were determined to find the perfect piece to fill the gaping hole in their lives.

and you practically fell right into the palm of their hands, in a local grocery store of all places. a pretty little thing with a freshly broken heart who’d just moved here from a neighboring city. no friends, no family nearby, anxious and impressionable and desperately in need of a couple capable men to show her around. it all started with an innocent question: “hey, sorry to bother you guys, but could you tell me where the baking aisle is?”

how you ended up here you still weren't quite sure.

“let us take you on a tour of the city tonight,” satoru had cooed at you.

“there’s a few really nice bars, we could grab some drinks,” suguru added, both their voices smooth and terrifyingly persuasive.

but they seemed nice enough, and you weren't in any position to be picky with making friends right now — after all, you’d have to get accustomed to the city somehow, right?

wear something pretty, satoru had winked at you before you parted ways and continued your shopping, and for some reason you were very inclined to do as he said. they were both intimidatingly attractive and you weren’t exactly sure what their dynamic was yet, but you decided that if you ended up in bed with one of them tonight, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

you’d chosen a short and silky black dress, something elegant but classic that would absolutely catch the eyes of both men. and it did, satoru’s eyes glazing over your body several times before he even bothered to say hello to you. suguru was less obvious, his dark eyes giving you a quick once-over before giving you a warm smile and wrapping his arm around your shoulders as the three of you entered the first bar.

it was small, dimly lit with a few lanterns and packed tight with people. a little too crowded for your level of comfort, so you stuck closely to the sides of suguru and satoru as they led you deeper into the pub. the dark-haired male gestured towards an empty seat at the end of the countertop, the two of them standing on either side of you after you slid into it. satoru spoke with an impressive level of charisma, ordering three of the same drink from the bartender — who he seemed to know quite well.

taking a few sips of the liquor did wonders for you initial anxiety, and the casual conversation with both men was helping you to settle in as well.

so, where are you from?

what made you want to move to tokyo?

what do you do for a living?

you were painfully oblivious to how the conversation stayed entirely centered around you; you still hadn’t learned anything about the two men, but they were learning everything about you.

an hour or so in, a warm dizziness began to swirl around the inside of your head, slowly exacerbating until you felt like you were about to tumble out of your seat. you’d only had a couple drinks, and you normally handled your alcohol fairly well, so why did you feel absolutely sloshed right now?

“guys, i think maybe-” you turned towards your two tour guides and crashed forward into suguru’s chest without warning.

“think you went a little heavy, toru?” he scooped his hands under your plump ass and lifted your unconscious body into his muscularly arms.

“not my fault she has no tolerance,” satoru shrugged, throwing some cash on the counter, “might be easier with her like this anyway”.

“i suppose,” suguru clicked his tongue off the roof of his mouth, “stupid girl, didn’t your parents teach you not to trust strangers so easily?”

the two of them casually made their way out of the bar together, making jokes about how poorly you handle your liquor to anyone who gave them a questionable look — but the bar was so loud and jam-packed with people that they made it out without any incident.

you were slow to come out of your sleepy haze, head nodding up and down as you struggled to maintain consciousness and take in the scenery around you. in a futile attempt to brush some hair out of your face you realized your hands were tightly secured behind your back. panic immediately flooded your system, chest tightening and hot tears brimming at the edges of your eyes.

“just a precaution, angel,” suguru came walking into your hazy vision, a warm smile on his face as he tucked the loose strands of hair behind your ears, “how are you feeling?”

“wha-, whaaat happen- ed?” your words were garbled, your brain barely able to form them.

“don’t worry about it,” satoru appeared next to suguru, “you just drank a little too much, but we’ll take good care of you, won’t we suguru?”

“of course, no need for you to worry about anything anymore,” he gave an affirmative nod.

“i don’t think-” you wracked your brain for any recollection of what had happened tonight, but you found nothing, “i don’t th- think i — understand”.

“you will soon,” satoru flashed a bright smile, but it wasn’t nearly as inviting as the first time you saw it. this time it was eerie, evil, threatening — what exactly was he talking about?

your brain was quickly turning to absolute mush, your vision getting darker and foggier than it already was as you tried to hang on to the sound of their voices.

just relax

we’re gonna make you feel good, you wanna feel good, princess?

you want us to make you feel better?

“mhm,” you gave them a slow nod. you did want them to make you feel better! you felt groggy and confused and nauseas! so of course you said yes! that is what they were asking? right?

you felt the bed shift around you, several hands tracing over your skin and gently pushing you onto your back. you tried to question them, tried to form the words, but your brain was unable to produce a single word or movement at this point.

a hot tongue connected with the side of your neck, lips latched onto the skin and sucking gently on the sensitive area. another mouth was on your inner thigh, sucking a little harder and undoubtedly leaving a small marking. you subconsciously let out a squeaky, shaky breath, the warmth of their tongues eliciting a response in your doped-up body.

goosebumps raked through your body when you felt a pair of slender fingers slip under your dress and brush over the thin material of your panties. it was satoru, his middle and index fingers prodding at your clothed cunt and sending jolts through your legs. meanwhile suguru continued to cover your neck in sloppy kisses, one of his large hands groping at your covered breasts.

your brain had gone numb, from the drugs, the confusion, the terribly intoxicating pleasure. you hated how clueless you were, how useless your body was right now, but what you hated most of all was that you weren’t even trying to fight back. their touch felt good — too good for you to ask them to stop.

it wasn’t long before satoru’s fingers were replaced with his mouth, his tongue running up and down the fold in your panties and absolutely soaking the material with his saliva. he groaned from the taste, getting just as much pleasure from this as you were. he was quick to push the fabric to the side, sliding his tongue against your sticky folds with hunger and urgency. he lapped at your cunt, flicking your clit with the tip of his tongue and evoking a series of twitches from your lazy body.

“be gentle with her” suguru’s voice sounded far off in the distance as he mumbled into your chest.

satoru heeded to the other man’s instructions, slowing his pace and going more gentle on your sensitive, puffy clit. suguru found your hardened nipples through your thin dress, rolling them in his fingers and enhancing the already blissful feeling you were getting from satoru’s tongue.

the two of them working together was incomprehensibly euphoric, your stomach coiling into tight knots with each swipe of his tongue. without warning he dove even deeper, his tongue shooting into your cunt while his nose rubbed against your throbbing bundle of nerves. between that and suguru giving your nipples a sudden tug, your body was crashing with waves of pleasure — strangled moans and pitiful whimpers the only sounds that your mouth could produce.

it was a near-holy experience, the feeling of the sedatives pumping through your veins as satoru tongued your pussy and suguru massaged your breasts through your heightened orgasm. you felt like you were floating, the room was spinning, and then everything went dark.

a real shame that you wouldn’t be able to remember any of it by the time you woke up.

bright sunlight pierced through your eyelids the following morning, forcing you awake and causing you to jolt up. you were laying in a large bed that was situated at the back of a rather large room, fitted silk sheets cool under your skin. confused of what happened and where you were, you stood from the bed and made your way to the door, feet patting on the soft carpeted floor.

when you opened the door you entered a long hallway that led to a wide stairway covered in the same fluffy carpeting. two voices were laughing and talking beneath you, and curiosity fueled your motivation to walk down the stairs and into an open-concept kitchen and living room.

satoru and suguru, the two men from yesterday were busy at the stove, pancakes and bacon sizzling away on two cast-iron pans. they wore matching aprons, suguru’s reading chef daddy, and satoru’s reading mr. good-lookin’ is cookin’.

who the fuck were these guys?

“feeling better?” suguru was the first to notice you loitering at the edge of the room.

“yeah, how are you? didn’t picture you to be such a heavy drinker,” satoru laughed, flipping a pancake with grace.

you didn’t remember much, nothing past sitting down at the bar with them. you weren’t much for getting wasted but you were plagued with more stress than usual lately — maybe you really let yourself go last night.

“ah, sorry about that, I don’t even remember what i did, honestly,” you shrugged, “thanks for looking out for me though, where’s my stuff?”

“in a hurry to leave? stay for breakfast,” suguru brushed off your question with a captivating smile, his eyes squinting together in the most adorable way.

“we insist,” satoru chimed in, humming as he continued to focus on the sweet-smelling food.

and so you stayed, which was probably the worst mistake that you’d made in the past twenty-four hours of countless terrible mistakes.

part one | part two

a/n: im on a yandere/dark content kick today i cant help it. anyway if u wanna be tagged when i post part two lemme know :) and if u want some yandere megumi go read @katslutski ‘s tell me

(ily kat <33 so happy to have someone to get into very specific obsessions with)

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