#beef jerky jokes until the day I die

[cyberneticfallout]

Chapter Eight: The Yao Guai's Visit

Ch 1 - Ch 2 - Ch 3 - Ch 4 - Ch 5 - Ch 6 - Ch 7 - Ch 8 - Ch 9 - Ch 10 - More Coming Soon

Pairing: Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Fem!Reader Summary: The two of you seek shelter for the night, enjoying a brief moment of domesticity before a glowing yao guai stalks through. Tags: Slow burn (and I mean SLOWWW), angst, eventually more smut, language, canon-typical violence, chem/alcohol use, more tags will be added Posted on AO3: Smoothie and The Ghoul Word Count: 1.7k

The two of you manage to find a ramshackle of a home. Sure, half the roof is missing and there’s a gross amount of radroaches but it feels like a haven compared to the risk of sleeping out in the open. Without wasting time, both of you start working - getting rid of the pests and settling into your newfound shelter.

While he gets a fire going in the more open area of the tiny dwelling, you sit on the floor, rummaging through your bag, contemplating what meal to prepare. You had discovered a few packaged meals like Blamco Mac and Cheese, Cram, and InstaMash from the Super Duper Mart. After a bit of consideration, you decide on Cram mac and cheese for tonight's dinner. You can't help but wonder, though - does he still have his taste buds? It's possible for some ghouls to retain some sense of taste. However, if he's been like this for two centuries, it's highly likely that his taste buds may have deteriorated.

You're grateful that those so-called sheriffs didn't confiscate your weapons or any items from your bag. Although you rarely use the pip-boy nowadays, it's handy for monitoring your health status and checking possibly high radiation levels in new areas. Seeing you fiddle with the device, the Ghoul decides to join you, taking a seat beside you as the fire roars into a steady blaze.

“Keep that on you. It will notify us if there’s any sizable mutants nearby.” He commands.

"Aye, aye captain," you half-heartedly salute him as you secure the pip-boy onto your wrist with a click.

Getting up, you make your way to what remains of the kitchen area and start rummaging for any cookware. After some searching, you find a decently sized pot, fill it with a carton of somewhat purified water from your bag, and position it over the fire. As you begin preparing the meal, The Ghoul silently observes, watching as you cut up the Cram into bite-sized pieces and add the macaroni pasta into the now boiling water. There was something so domestic about the whole thing, a rare moment of nostalgia washes over him, reminding him of a time when such simple comforts were more than just a distant dream.

After some time passes, you manage to create a modest dinner for the two of you. The effort you put into the meal is a bit surprising, but it's a welcome change from the usual scavenged scraps. The scent of the food wafting through the air adds a touch of comfort to the desolate surroundings.

"It’s too bad you can’t smell this," you joke as you hand him a serving with a bent spoon and an intact bowl you found. "I’m hoping you can at least somewhat taste it?"

With a glare, he quickly devours everything in the bowl before setting it down, offering a nod in your direction. He then leans against the nearby wall, the weight of the day's chaos settling between you. The silence that follows is a welcomed break, allowing you both to catch your breath and collect your thoughts. But as the quiet lingers, the unanswered questions from the day's events weigh heavily on your mind.

"What did that guy mean when he said you’re still looking for her?" you ask quietly, taking a bite of food.

"None of your damn business, Smoothie," he retorts, his tone sharp and guarded.

"Is it a wife or somethin'?" you press, unable to shake off your curiosity.

"If you don’t drop the subject, then I will shoot you," he warns, pulling his hat down to cover his eyes. Just as you're about to argue, the geiger counter on your pip-boy starts going off, the sound cutting through the tense atmosphere. The Ghoul looks up at you, alarmed, and rushes to put out the fire. As you stand up and look around for any sign of what could be causing the disturbance, you feel a sudden grip on your arm as he pulls you towards the wall, pressing you against it and covering your mouth with one of his hands.

“Shut the damn thing off,” he whispers urgently to you. You hastily flick through the device and manage to turn off the geiger counter, the sudden silence amplifying the tension in the room.

As you stand frozen against the wall, a hand tightly gripping your waist and another muffling your frightened gasps, he silences you with a shushing motion. The sound of a deep, rumbling growl resonates ominously from the other side of the wall, causing your heart to pound with such intensity that you fear the creature on the other side will hear it.

Desperate for any distraction, your eyes dart towards the nearby window, revealing a glowing yao guai leisurely strolling around the building. His gaze locks onto you, his eyes filled with intensity, as if he can sense the frantic rhythm of your racing pulse beneath your skin. His touch momentarily rubs circle on your waist, but he withdraws abruptly, as though realizing the inappropriateness of the gesture.

Gradually, the footsteps of the yao guai fade into the distance. The Ghoul slowly removes his hand from your mouth, and for a few lingering moments, the two of you simply gaze into each other's eyes. Overwhelmed by a surge of unexpected courage, you reach out and gently caress his cheek, feeling the rough yet surprisingly smooth texture of his scarred skin. Drawing closer, your lips tenderly brush against his.

"You don't want this, sweetheart," he murmurs softly, his words barely grazing your lips.

"And how could you possibly know what I want?" you challenge.

A mischievous smirk dances across his face as he leans in, his breath warm against your skin. "Well, considerin’ you keep referrin’ to me as 'beef jerky,' I'm inclined to believe that most people don't fantasize about dried meat."

"Maybe I do," you assert, the words barely a whisper as you close the gap between you two with a soft kiss. You can sense his hesitation as your part, a subtle tension in his body as he grapples with his own conflicting emotions. In a sudden, bold move, he leans in, capturing your lips with a hunger that takes you by surprise. A low, guttural moan escapes from his mouth, blending with your own as the kiss deepens.

His hand comes up to tug you towards him from the back of your head, intensifying the contact between you. The sensation almost leaves you breathless, eliciting a gasp that mingles with the shared breath between you. You bite his lower lip, a mix of playful teasing and unbridled longing in the gesture. He responds with a deep groan, the sound sending a thrill through you as he presses his hips into yours, the bulge of his arousal evident.

Your heart races as your hands glide down his neck, delicately tracing the contours of his skin. Your touch remains gentle and exploratory as your fingers nimbly unbutton his shirt, slipping beneath the fabric to reach his chest. Tracing the intricate patterns of his skin with care, you relish the intimacy of the moment. He twitches underneath your touch, his bare chest feeling the caress as if for the first time in ages.

Suddenly, he pulls back, his hand gripping your neck and pushing you away forcefully. He stares at you, his grip firm and unyielding. You're left wondering what caused him to snap. Could it have been because you touched his bare skin? You notice his expression shifts from intensity to a hint of vulnerability. His hand slowly releases its grip on your neck, and he takes a step back, creating a distance between you.

Stunned by the sudden denial, you watch as The Ghoul walks away and settles against the opposing wall. With crossed arms and a resigned posture, he leans his head back, uttering a soft “G’night” that hangs in the air like a final farewell to the intense moment you both shared.

Feeling a mix of emotions, you slide down the wall on your side of the room, your breath still heavy and your skin slightly damp with sweat. As you sit there, processing the abrupt end to the passionate encounter, you can't help but feel an anxious pang of rejection. The feeling begins gnawing at you, a heavy ache in your chest that lingers.

The morning sun finds you both silent and tense, caught in the aftermath of the previous night. The air between you is thick, filled with unsaid words and unaddressed feelings. Neither of you managed a good night's sleep, the discomfort of the cold, hard floor only a minor nuisance compared to the war within your minds.

As you both go about packing your things, each movement seems to echo loudly in the silence, punctuating the awkwardness that has settled between you. Neither of you dares to meet the other's gaze, the memory of the stolen kiss lingering in the air like a ghost.

In hindsight, kissing him was a foolish decision. You barely know him, and the little you do know paints him more as an uncompromising brute than a potential romantic interest. Despite the brief moments of camaraderie, he's been a prickly, distant companion for the most part. You find yourself questioning your actions, the taste of regret bitter on your tongue.

“So what’s the plan?” You attempt to lighten the mood, “Seems like we’re not after a head anymore.”

“We’re tracking a woman by the name of Moldaver. That's where the head is goin’,” he responds.

"Flame Mother…" you muse aloud, "I wonder what her deal is."

"I find myself askin’ the same about you," he murmurs almost inaudibly.

With an eye roll, you sling your bag over your shoulder, then give him a nod to signal that you're ready to hit the road. The Ghoul briefly mentions a letter he found on one of the men he shot up in Filly that references Moldaver. He believes that the same man was the son of an old associate of his, and that's where the two of you are headed - a long journey ahead. You take a deep breath, activate your pip-boy, and lock eyes with him. "Let's do this, beef jerky.”

Tag List: @fallout-girl219 @ellabellabunny123 @sunnexaltation @coolrobloxkid28 @cheshirecat484 @capan-deveraux2 @rebelmarylou

[thepermanentrainpress]

THE PERMANENT RAIN PRESS INTERVIEW WITH AZRIEL DALMAN

He may only be 7 years old, but don’t let numbers fool you. Azriel (Azi) Dalman already has nearly thirty credits to his name! The accomplished young artist from Vancouver has had a big 2020, but there’s no slowing down for Azi, who has a number of exciting upcoming projects to share with the world. 

Your older brother, Aias, is also an actor. While you are only 7 years old, tell us about your interest in following his footsteps, and what made you want to start auditioning for film/TV?

I loved seeing the completed films my brother was in but I didn’t really understand how he got into them. One day, I was 3 maybe, we went to a commercial audition for my brother and the Casting Director came into the waiting room and asked the kids to practice singing “Old MacDonald.” I knew the song and sang it also. They took the kids in to audition as a group and I asked why this was happening. My mom said it was because they were going to see who should be in the commercial where they sing it. I realized what an audition was then, it meant they were trying out to see who got to be on the video. I asked if I could go do it too and my mom said no because it was not my audition, so I asked if I could get auditions too. After that I got an agent. I never got to audition by singing “Old MacDonald” though so I guess that ship has sailed.

What are your favourite movies or characters?

I love Wall-E and Soul for cartoons. For TV Characters I like Jim and Dwight from The Office a lot. I used to want to be Jake Peralta from Brooklyn Nine-Nine and I think I definitely look like him! And of course I love the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe)!

What is your favourite snack from catering? Is there a food item that you’re most excited to see on the daily menu on-set?

My favourite is a drink, it’s the iced tea. I also like M&Ms but I’m only supposed to have the yellow or orange ones or my mouth will change colours which annoys the people who do makeup... I don’t want to stress them out. I like beef jerky and ramen bowls too but they usually hide those on the truck so you have to ask for them special. For lunch I like trying the new things but my favourite most recent new food was crunchy pork! The 3rd ADs are so nice and deliver the food to my trailer but I like to go for a walk after we eat in the trailer and say hi to the catering people and look at the dessert. On this last project, they learned I liked watermelon on the first day and kept keeping special watermelon for me.

You recently wrapped Coyote Creek Christmas, your first Hallmark Christmas Movie! Congratulations! You worked opposite Ryan Paevey (as your father) and Janel Parrish, tell us about your experience working with Ryan and Janel.

Ryan and Janel are the best humans. They are both down to earth, kind, patient, friendly, funny, loving, talented, and FUN. It was so much fun to work with them because they treated me like a real friend and with a lot of respect. They included me in all of their talks and fun, and never made me feel like I was annoying them because I am a kid. I was very excited to see them every day and now I ask to see their Instagram posts because I love looking at their pictures! I am not surprised they work a lot, they are so good at acting and being around them is so easy. Ryan knows everything about bugs and Pokémon. Both of them are obsessed with dogs and when they saw someone walk by with a dog, they would hug and kiss the dogs... random dogs! It was really funny. They taught me a lot of acting tips also, both on purpose and by accident.

We saw on Instagram that Ryan took you to see Free Guy at the movie theater! Was it easy for you to bond as father-son?

It was easy and instant and it feels like I’ve always known Ryan as a real uncle or something. Sometimes when I am someone’s kid in a movie, I have to do real acting to pretend I am their kid, not because they aren’t nice but because I don’t know them well and I don’t really get to know them too well on the project. With Ryan I didn’t really have to do any acting to pretend I knew him, because I got to know him fast.

What can you share about your character, Noah Bailey?

I don’t think I can say too many spoilers, but I will say that Noah gets to be sarcastic and funny, and I love that. I don’t get to be funny on a MOW (movie of the week) usually, I just get to be cute or scared or sad. Noah was supposed to be a 10-year-old so I got to do some smart lines! And we have some funny scenes too. Ryan said one of the scenes we have together is his favourite scene he has ever done because it’s so funny and cute, and I thought that was really cool.

You can now cross this career goal off your list! Why was a Hallmark Christmas Movie on your bucket list; what do you (and your family) enjoy about them each holiday season?

Christmas movies are the kind of movies you watch every year like a tradition and I love things that are a tradition. My family lives in Vancouver, Canada but MOST of my family lives in America so we don’t get to see them at Christmas. I wanted to be in a Christmas movie so my family far away could see me on the TV at Christmas when they are missing me and so I can watch the movie with my kids when I’m a grown up and say “haha that is me!” For Christmas my family puts up a tree and we eat really good food. We also watch Christmas movies like Rankin/Bass movies, Home Alone, and Die Hard which is definitely a Christmas movie. I basically love everything about Christmas, especially the decorating. My birthday is 2 days after Christmas so I think I’m a Christmas Boy for sure.

Is it funny to see Christmas decorations and fake snow in the summer?

It was a little bit funny but it was also confusing! My brain kept forgetting what season it was. My mom warned me over and over again with every Christmas movie audition that it would be hot, but the joke was on her because we actually had some days that were cold! There were only one or two reallllly hot outside days. We got very lucky. I think the times it was hot on set it was mostly because of the gear and no air conditioning being on. Air conditioning is too loud for movies, I think. It wrecks the sound or something.

You are set to star in the short film Dragon Fruit. What can you share about this project?

Dragon Fruit is going to be so good. The Director, Jeremy Brown, is really nice and smart and made the whole experience really special for all the actors. His props and special effects are amazing... he makes them almost all himself... and the film is going to be... guess what... a sci-fi! It’s post-apocalyptic. A funny thing about it is that I am very dirty in the film so I would go to set clean and they would basically put fake dirt all over me and make my hair messy, then when I left they would clean me up! On one of the shoot dates I had to do a live interview in the middle of the day for another project, so they had to make me dirty, clean me up, and then make me dirty again, and then clean me up again!

Yvonne Chapman will play your mother. She is remarkable in the CW’s Kung Fu as Zhilan. Did it surprise you to see her as the villain in the show?

I was shocked she was a villain because in real life she is definitely NOT a villain type, she is so nice. She is obviously very good at acting! But I am not surprised she is so tough in that show because she does some really tough things in Dragon Fruit too! Yvonne is really nice to work with also, she sits and talks to me and makes jokes with me. I am wrapped on Dragon Fruit now which is sort of sad, because we did it for like 6 months or something, but at least it means the film will be out soon.

You have a part in the action sci-fi Moonfall out next year, and you even made it into the teaser trailer! How exciting! While you likely cannot say much about Sonny Child, what can you share about your initial reaction to booking this movie?

Everything about Moonfall was very exciting. The audition was one of the first ones I got after the forced break by COVID and when we saw it was in Montreal and they were auditioning kids all over Canada we thought it was a long shot, but auditions are opportunities that can be very rare, so you should always do an audition if you are comfortable with it, and always do your best. Anyway yeah, this one was far from Vancouver so when I booked it, we were extra shocked and grateful. Honestly even after the booking, we were not sure it would really happen because of the virus and how things changed every day, so we did not even believe it would happen until we were on the plane! Montreal was the best, I loved it there so much, and I hope I get to work at Grande Studios again!

Did you get to meet and interact with your director, Roland Emmerich? What did you learn from him, and had you (or maybe your parents!) watched any of his previous films?

Yes of course, Roland was the Director so he directed me! Before we left, I watched Independence Day and I was very impressed and thought “This guy really knows what he is doing! I better know my role well!” Roland was very nice and so was Harald (Kloser). They both gave me lots of compliments and I loved that! It was very full-on too, I worked every minute of my time on set there with the exception of my legal breaks and lunch. I loved it so much and I hope I will get to work with Roland on another project someday. I don’t know how to specifically describe what I learned without spoilers, but yeah it was a huge learning opportunity.

What is your favourite object you have gotten to take home from any set?

It’s impossible to choose just one! These are in no order, ok? The first thing is actually TECHNICALLY a lot of things because I often get to take home wardrobe from my character’s “closet” when we wrap. I am obsessed with clothes and was given really cool clothing from the costumers on many sets. Most recently I got a mint hoody I love. I audition in those clothes a lot for good luck. The second thing is a special prop that Jeremy Brown MADE me on Dragon Fruit as a wrap gift. There is a super cool secret weapon in the movie that I will not spoil, and Jeremy MADE me a safer toy version of it. Before my mom saw it was a toy version, she looked very scared when he handed it to me! Third, there are two special items Noah Bailey ALWAYS has with him in Coyote Creek Christmas (no spoilers!) and Ryan, David Strasser (the Director), and Antonio Cupo (the Executive Producer) presented them to me TO KEEP AS GIFTS at wrap in front of the whole crew. It was very special. I am saving these things forever, even some of the clothes! AND one more ok? Fourth, I get to keep the signs that say my name on my set chair and/or trailer door during projects. I hang those up on my wall in my room.

Is there a dream role or character you would like to play in the future? If not character, are there any specific film/TV genres or franchises you would like to be in?

Ok so here’s the thing. I had a few wishes that I wanted to come true in acting... one was the Christmas movie... and one was to play a very specific other actor’s sibling in something. GUESS WHAT? Both those things came true in 2021. Do you know the odds of that sibling thing coming true... my mom said it seemed impossible! But it did come true SOMEHOW. So now I am setting my goals super high and not worrying about how impossible they seem or how many there are. My biggest next goal is to be in Marvel ANYTHING. And you know what, I think Ryan should be in Marvel too, so I think my next goal is to be in Marvel with Ryan! I also want to be a voice of a video game character pretty badly! I also want to do some comedy!

What are your favourite places to visit or eat at in Vancouver?

I am obsessed with sushi and Korean food and lately my favourite place is Shabusen Yakiniku House because you can get both. There’s also a place on Granville Street called The Colony that has a bunch of old arcade games and I love that place too but we haven’t been since before COVID. I hope it’s still there.

You also enjoy other forms of arts like ballet, reading, and writing comics. How do you find the time for all your activities, school, and your growing career in film?

Oh I have a lot of free time. It’s weird. It sounds like I do a lot of stuff but lots of other kids tell me they do like 10 activities really well! I don’t want to do 10 activities because I really like relaxing, so instead of doing like 10, I want to do a few and just do them really well. Ballet is great because I feel like a ninja in the clothes, I don’t have to audition to do it, and it’s definitely a sport. Reading and writing comics I can do while relaxing, and even when I’m on set!

Tell us about the role your parents play in your life and career, not only for you but your brother as well! You keep them busy, but they must be so supportive of you.

My mom does mostly all the acting stuff like keeping track of the auditions and taping and going to set. My dad is a little nervous about going to set for some reason, but I think he would be fine! We are very busy but no one seems to ever complain. The only time it’s a little sad is when we are apart for long during filming but we always do video calls then.

For other young actors like yourself, do you have any advice for how to be confident in front of the camera? What (or who) has helped you prepare for roles and memorize lines?

I think to feel confident you have to know what you are doing. I was confident when I was 3 for some random reason, and then I took some acting classes at LeBlanc School of Acting and those helped me know what I was doing for sure. I have had lots of coaches teach me stuff like Julian, Athena, Kirsten, Natalie, Brian, and Beatrice are a few of their names. Sorry if I forgot anyone! For most specific auditions, I use the things ALL those people taught me and then I work with my brother on the specific scripts. Oh and on the set of my last movie, my new actor friend Naomi King told me that you should learn the scene not the lines... but you will definitely learn the lines once you learn the scene!

We have our signature question for you – if you could be any ice cream flavour, which would you be and why?

Well... I would not want to be ice cream! But if I had to be, I’d definitely be Green Tea or Mango.

Thanks for the insight into your projects and thoughts, Azi! We cannot wait to see you return to action on our screens, and follow as your career grows. To stay up to date on Azi’s upcoming projects and get a behind the scenes look into his busy and exciting life, follow him on Instagram. 

Photo credit (top) to: Candace Woods Special thanks to: NoodleHead Productions

[momentofmemory]

FICTOBER 2020 - day two

Prompt #2: “That’s the easy part.”

Fandom: Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies)

Characters: Ned Leeds, Peter Parker

Words: 1445

Author’s Note: set semi-immediately post FFH, Ned & Peter have a chat on the nature of friendship, and a bit of star wars meta along the way. Ned POV. for @friendofspidermannedleeds

>> the han dies alone

Spider-Man was Peter Parker.

It was a fact that could mean a lot of things to Ned, but all that really mattered now was that it meant something to the entire world.

He’d watched the stream in mounting horror, his phone already blowing up with group messages and twitter mentions, and he had to bite back a hysterical laugh when he got a string of Snaps from Flash—one of which included an invite to an interview, and the rest of which devolved into increasingly confusing profanity.

Ned let them roll in for another few precious seconds, then muted all notifications except from emergency contacts, stuffed a bunch of supplies into the extra backpack he kept for when Peter lost his, and ran the full two blocks east to Peter’s apartment.

It was, to be perfectly honest, an absurd guess. Peter could’ve gone anywhere, but Peter was also a creature of habit—and home was where Peter went when he wanted to feel safe.

Ned’s guess was rewarded when he pounded on the Parkers’ apartment door and was nearly decked in the face by a red-clad fist.

“Whoa, hey, it’s me!”

Peter’s fist fell away instantly, giving Ned his first real look at his friend.

He looked even worse than he’d feared; his normally high-key energy verging on something closer to manic.

“Ned? What are you doing here? It’s not safe—”

“I came for you, man.” Ned hefted his backpack into the air, sliding deftly past Peter and into the hall. “Fifteen hundred piece lego set, beef jerky, granola, and also that history assignment you left on the floor last night.”

Peter stared at him in utter confusion, then shook his head. “You shouldn’t have come.”

“Maybe, but it’s too late now. Where’s May?”

“She’s with Happy.” Peter followed Ned back into the bedroom. “They’re supposed to call when they know more.”

Good. If someone else was taking care of the world, then all Ned had to take care of was Peter.

______________________

"You should leave.”

“Yep.” Ned didn’t look up from his econ homework—It was at least the fourth time they’d had this conversation, and explaining opportunity cost to Mrs. Roessler seemed far more important. “Not going to.”

“Ned.”

“Peter. You said you were supposed to stay here until May or Happy texts. So that’s what we’re doing.”

Peter fell quiet for a moment, and Ned went on to the comparison sections for absolute advantage vs comparative advantage.

Then:

“It’s safer for me than it is for you.”

“And it’s safer for me when I’m with you.”

Something about that response seemed to rile Peter up specifically, as Ned could hear him shifting around on the bed. “And what about when the next axe crazy supervillain tries to use you as bait?”

“Then that’s the easy part,” Ned said with a shrug. “You rescue me.”

“Ned!” Peter tumbled off the top bunk, hair disheveled and looking absolutely scandalized. “This isn’t—this isn’t something to joke about—”

“I’m not joking.”

Peter frowned harder, and Ned momentarily stopped chewing his gum. He figured he was probably doing something cool like listening to his heartbeat or counting the beads of sweat on his forehead, so he didn’t want any chewing noises or motions to distract him.

Whatever Peter was looking for, he must not have found it. “Ned, just—just because you’re not joking doesn’t mean you’re serious. They could kill you to get at me.”

Ned sighed and put his homework down on the desk, resigning himself to another late assignment. It wasn’t like they were likely to have school tomorrow, anyway.

Discovering Spider-Man was on Midtown’s roll was sure to warrant at least one emergency “teacher work day” for the administration.

Peter was still looking at him, and the open fear on his face scared him more than he’d like to admit. Ned quickly pulled up YouTube on his laptop and started typing, just to give him something to do.

The second hand on the analogue clock ticked ominously.

Still no word from May.

“Look,” Ned said eventually, sliding another piece of gum out of his stash, “Han Solo was trying to leave the Rebellion when Vader captured him and Leia. He was out, and he still got used as bait.”

“That’s different,” Peter said. “Han was working with the Rebellion for months, and he was still there during the Hoth attack.”

Ned smacked his gum. “But Han himself wasn’t with the Rebellion. Or Luke.”

“But the Empire didn’t know that!”

“So what you’re saying is,” Ned said, “their current status didn’t matter because of their pre-existing relationship.”

Peter had nothing to say to that.

Ned returned his attention to the copyright infringement notice he’d written up. He’d managed to claim almost all of the footage from Mysterio’s reveal, and now anyone trying to repost it would be automatically taken down by the algorithm. It wouldn’t hold up in court, but all he needed was for it to ping YouTube’s three strike rule.

Hopefully that would buy them enough time to come up with a more permanent solution.

Ned heard Peter shift behind him, then launch himself back up onto the bunk bed and out of sight. 

More seconds.

“...Han got tortured,” Peter said, voice muffled. “And then locked in carbonite for months.”

Ned winced. It was a fair point.

“He got the girl, though. Think MJ’d let me kiss her?”

“Ned.”

“I’m kidding! Also I completely respect her both as your significant other and as an individual person, please don’t tell her I said that I don’t want to die.”

Something cracked loudly behind him, and by the time Ned spun the chair around Peter was looking morosely down at the splintered headboard between his hands.

“If you don’t want to die,” Peter said, and the anguish in his friend’s voice finally lowered Ned’s defenses, “then why won’t you just leave?”

Ned tapped his fingers uselessly against the base of his laptop, then abruptly closed the lid. Despite being Peter’s guy in the chair, this was the kind of thing that could only be handled in person.

“Scoot over,” he said, awkwardly clambering up onto the bed that could barely hold one of them, let alone both. But it had in the past, and he was confident it would again.

Peter shifted to the side of the wall to make room, all but squashing himself into the corner, and it was so spider-like Ned didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. He settled for another sigh, and watched the seconds on the clock on the wall tick by. 

It was only a matter of time before some excitable journalist—or worse—showed up at the Parker’s door, but they didn’t have anywhere else much safer until May or Happy called Peter back. He figured since they hadn’t, they were at least okay for now. 

He waited until the muscles in Peter’s arms unwound, and Peter had successfully peeled himself off the corner, to speak.

“We’ve been best friends for ages,” he said, slowly. Unable to hide his own fear from coloring his voice. “If I were going to avoid getting used to hurt you or whatever, I probably needed to stop being your friend like, before high school years ago.”

Peter flinches. “You don’t have to be part of this, we can make it look like a huge fight, or like you didn’t know—”

“Peter,” Ned pressed, “how would me knowing or not knowing make me any less of a target? If I told you to hate me, could you do it?”

“No!”

The words shot out of Peter’s mouth faster than he could fire his webshooters, but he only understood their significance once they were in the air. Peter stared down at his wrists, as if he could see them written there.

“…I just don’t want to lose anyone else,” he said.

“Trust me when I say I don’t want to be lost.” Ned shuddered, then shrugged. “The way I see it, yeah, Han dies eventually. But he also doesn’t die until the trio breaks up, right? Luke’s halfway across the galaxy and Leia’s not much better. So Han dies when he’s alone. Maybe because he’s alone.”

The corner of Peter’s lip quirked up; the closest thing to a smile Ned had gotten so far. “Weren’t Rey and Finn—”

“Literally let me have this for once I feel like I’m making a really good point.”

Peter snorted, and that definitely counted as a win. Ned knocked his shoulder against Peter’s.

“What d’you say. No going Solo?”

Peter bit his lip, still wrestling with the guilt. Then he nodded.

“No going solo.”

[kingyeoms]

neuroscience TA! joshua

pairing: joshua hong x reader (n)  genre: it’s all fluff sorry warnings(?): swearing and just really casual writing in bullet points lol word count: 2,044 a/n: i barely proofread this and this is nothing like what i usually write but i’ve been thinking about this since the start of the new semester and welp here we are. a/a/n: i just realized.. people might not really know what a TA/teaching assistant is! usually someone who is working towards their doctoral degree and are obligated to assist teaching a course in their department, usually in charge of teaching discussion/supplemental sections~ ♡ best read on desktop, use mobile browser if you can’t read under the cut ♡

3rd year phd candidate

does research on neural circuit mechanisms in aging adults

big geek about brains, shows a thirty minute long video of a sheep brain dissection for the first day of section

people fell asleep but it’s fine bc josh is so excited about the video and everyone finds it endearing

always dresses so casually!! comes to class wearing sweats and plain black t-shirts (probably buys them in packs for $3)

but he still has the reputation among the undergraduate students as the “hot neuro TA”

cracks jokes w/ his students all the time

literally everyone wants to take the class that joshua hong is TAing

“joshua what are you teaching next semester??” “topics in advanced neuroimaging, you gonna take it?” “never mind, good luck”

brings his dog named peanut to class all the time

peanut is a giant ass st. bernard who likes to walk around the class and sleep next to people’s feet

super adorable but also a big Drooler

you’re the other teaching assistant for the same neuroanatomy class, but in the psychology department

you’re super down to earth!! honestly you treat your students like friends, talking to them super casually

but when class starts, you know how to get down to business and you’re super passionate about what you’re talking about

the psych undergrads have a ton of respect for you, because not only were you chill but you were mad smart too!!

your kids walking into class: “y/n guess what fucking happened in lecture”

you: “listen, you probably shouldn’t say the f word in front of me but tell me what the fuck happened”

anyways, here’s a funny coincidence: your lab and joshua’s lab are on the same floor

so it’s not a surprise that you and josh have this ongoing “feud” of which is more superior: psych vs neuro

“psych is for people who can’t handle neuro” “neuro is for people who hate themselves”

your office is opposite of his, so he’s always stopping by your room to annoy you or steal something from the jar of candy on your desk.

you: “why am i constantly out of kit-kats?”

josh, fistfuls of kit-kats behind his back: “damn, you should probably buy some more”

he’ll mess with your powerpoint slides, swapping photos of the cerebellum for photos of him and peanut

which SUCKS when you’re teaching,, and josh’s dumb face pops up on the projector,, 

your kids: “nice one josh”

when you’re holding office hours for your students, he stops by and says some dumb shit to your kids like “come to my office instead, y/n doesn’t know what they’re talking about” 

“fuck off, joshua” “oooooh you curse in front of your students? i’m telling the professor”

you just roll your eyes and the two of you just laugh at each other

the students who come to your office hours swear you two have a thing going on

and honestly? you wish

you’ve always thought josh was pretty cute

being a phd student was stressful, especially with research and teaching, but he never failed to put a smile on your face!!

you two were often the last ones on the floor, in charge of locking up rooms and cleaning equipment

he always insists on walking you to your car at night because “the raccoons might attack you”

you’d be lying if you said you didn’t think about kissing him in your office but shhh

during lecture, you guys share a google doc to take notes on what to teach your students

he thinks it’s funny to delete everything you write

you, sitting next to him in the front row: “joshua hong if you don’t press ctrl + z right now i swear to god i’ll change the lock code to the EEG room”

josh: “wait don’t i have a study tomorrow”

proctoring exams with josh: “i can pass out tests faster than you” “are we five???? but no you can’t”

he’s really good… at catching people cheating? the dude has eyes like a hawk lmao and you don’t even notice honestly

“see the kid with the blue baseball cap on? give him a 0″

anyways the professor asks you and joshua to come in on a weekend to grade midterms

you: but i made plans

josh: i’m not ?? even getting paid ??

but you guys do it anyways because it’s not like you have a choice lmao rip

he brings peanut and he’s just drooling all over your bag

peanut not josh

i guess josh is metaphorically drooling because… you looked really good today

not the usual jeans and college sweatshirt you wear during the week

you had originally made plans with your friends to go to the farmer’s market

it was a really nice day :( sunny outside and you actually tried to not look like a mess for once!! you actually brushed your hair today lol

anyways, peanut is still drooling and you look at josh, confused but also a little grossed out

“why is peanut drooling?” “do you have food in your bag?” “i don’t think so?” “oh. maybe he just likes you”

peanut: pulls out a granola bar out of your bag

anyways… you two are grading exams, checking over the answer key for any mistakes

you furrow your brows as you look over the answer choices, so you ask josh to take a look at question 23

“yeah, what about it?” “look at the answer choices, there are two possible answers.” “ah fuck.”

turns out… a lot of the questions are like that..

you and josh just look at each other and groan, realizing you two have to redo the entire answer key

you call your friends to cancel your plans, saying you were stuck at school

joshua feels really bad so he reaches over to grab your stack of tests

“you can go if you want! i’ll finish it, no worries”

you shake your head, pulling out a box of red pens from your bag

“no thanks, my boyfriend would miss me” 

a confused josh: “no i wouldn’t?”

“… i was talking about peanut?” but you’re giggling because josh’s face is beet red at this point

joshua: “anyways, question 40 right?”

truth is, joshua has always found you cute and he liked the fact that when he teased you, you weren’t afraid to tease him back

he just felt.. really comfortable around you

and seeing you smile after he cracked a joke?? best thing in the world to him besides peanut

even when you roll your eyes at him, he thinks it’s so cute!!

cliché moment where you two reach for the answer key at the same time and your hands touch

but neither of you let go wow so cute and you guys kind of just !! grade tests in silence, holding hands

joshua’s the type to rub your the back of your hand with his thumb i’m lowkey crying thinking about it

anyways, you guys end up finishing grading and the sun is starting to set

josh realizes that you two spent the entire day stuck inside the office, so he offers to take you to the farmer’s market

but you don’t wanna be a bother or anything so you shake your head, “no it’s okay!!”

josh insists that he takes you, saying “i gotta take peanut on a walk, come on let’s go”

so you two go to the farmer’s market, the crowds starting to die down a little bit since it’s the end of the day

josh holds your hand and peanut’s leash in the other

peanut keeps dragging you guys to all the booths that sell homemade peanut butter and he’s never been happier, he keeps getting free samples and head scratches

you’re looking at a booth that sells homemade jewelry, think leather bracelets and dainty finger rings

“josh, what do you think about th-” you turn to your side, but josh and peanut are nowhere to be found

and you look through the crowds and the booths next to you, but you can’t find them anywhere

you kind of panic,, because you didn’t think josh was the type to ditch someone? on a date?

was this even a date you weren’t sure to be honest,, but still :( you were kind of upset 

but you finally see peanut dragging joshua back to you, a small bouquet of sunflowers in his hand

joshua’s cheeks and ears are tinged a slight pink when he gives the flowers to you, “i saw a stand selling these and they just looked really pretty, so i bought them for you”

and the flowers are so beautiful and your jaw literally aches from smiling so big and josh thinks you’re so beautiful!!

you two walk around a bit more, hand!! in!! hand!! 

josh: trying to pull peanut away from all the friendly people willing to give him free beef jerky

tired from all the walking, you two buy ice cream, sitting on a bench in front of the tiny shop

peanut eats josh’s ice cream when he’s not looking

josh: peanut what the fuck

you offer to buy him another one, but he shakes his head, taking the cone from your hand, biting into the soft pink scoop

“let’s just share, strawberry is my second favorite anyways”

your jaw just drops because,, who bites into ice cream?

but it’s cute, you two talk about how much you hate the professor and which students you think are annoying

you two don’t even realize how dark it is until you hear peanut snoring, curled up at the bottom of your feet

josh is the first to stand up, his hand reaching out to yours, “it’s getting a little late, i’ll take you home?”

and so that’s how you and joshua ended up at the front door of your apartment

your hand clutching the sunflowers, the other intertwined in his fingers

and when he leans in, you don’t hesitate to close the gap between you two

kissing joshua? definitely better than you expected, the taste of strawberry ice cream still slightly lingering on his lips

your lips move in perfect harmony with his, joshua placing his hand on the small of your back

as soon as you feel josh pull you in closer, you feel a... wet.. tongue on your foot? you both break away to find peanut,, asleep,, drooling,, on your toes

“damn it, peanut” josh groans as you giggle, resting your forehead against his

“i’ll see you on monday, yeah?” you grinned, kissing him on the cheek

"yeah i really,, gotta take this kiddo home,,” and he sighs, waking Big ol’ peanut up “but i had a lot of fun tonight, we should do it again sometime”

“as long as we don’t have to grade 600 midterms again, it’s a date”

the both of you blush because,, was this even a date??

yes, it was

but seriously, what a super cute start to your relationship with josh

you don’t even get mad when you find out it’s josh stealing all of your kit kats

he leaves a giant bag of them on your desk one day to make up for it

but also joshua is the Worst

joshua: “how does it feel to be dating the hot neuro TA on campus?”

you: “shut up before you become the hot single neuro TA”

sometimes josh stops by your class when you’re teaching to give you a kiss on your cheek before he goes to do research,,, embarrassing you in front of all your students (even though pda is probably something that shouldn’t be happening in front of them)

literally Everyone: “we fucking called it”

definitely still makes fun of you 24/7,, just with more kissing

friday nights with joshua: skimming academic papers and talking shit on faculty LOL

going to the farmer’s market becomes a weekly thing for you guys!! mainly because the peanut butter booth would be devastated if they didn’t get to see Mister peanut

sooo,, you may or may not have done it on your desk in the lab LOL

josh in lecture: hey i think you’re pretty cute, maybe we should get dinner tonight?

you: josh can you pls stop flirting with me on google docs you’re LAME

[saintcheesus]

@failedmy-tbtest requested some Charles/Reader action! I hope you enjoy :) 

NSFW/SMUT ahead!!!

-----

They’d been separated from the rest of the gang for hours. Somehow, through all the bullets flying and law that was chasing them, Charles and (Y/N) ended up heading in the same direction during the escape. They ran until their horses were bucking them off out of a desperate need to catch their breaths. They headed on foot the rest of the way after letting their horses breathe and stopped when they saw an abandoned cabin along a string of what looks like a rundown farm. Empty, dead quiet. (Y/N) too tired to care started leading her horse toward it.

“What are you doing? You don’t even have your gun out!”

It was the first time Charles spoke more than three words in all the time they were travelling. She thought it was a shame however, that she had to hear his gorgeous baritone whenever he was nagging her. Sure the advice helped, but he didn’t have to nag, and it made it extra confusing when he only did to her. She rolled her eyes and turned her head without stopping her meandering to the cabin.

“So I can shoot a ghost? I’m about close to knocking out cold from sleep, Charles. (H/N) can’t walk for too much longer no more, and Taima ain’t much further from that neither. If you so worried you take your gun out.”

They’ve usually bickered like this before but she wasn’t lying when she told him she was bone tired. She was already having trouble sleeping before the robbery, she always had some anxiety about upcoming heists. There was always a chance someone could die. Her heart always jumped a little more when she thought about losing Charles during a job. He was always on the frontlines, wedged right in between Sadie and Arthur whenever there was a shoot-out, and besides John, it made sense. Those four were the best shots in the gang. Best shooting skills in the West or not, it always made her fumble when she thought about him getting caught in the cross-fire. She was relieved to see him running with her down the same path when they were fleeing, but she was tired, hungry, and worried about the others so now wasn’t the best time to pick a fight with her about her gun.

Charles stomped ahead of her with his shotgun out, Taima drifting to (Y/N)’s horse lazily after her owner let go of her reins. He opened the door and then took cover in the entrance. She didn’t hear any gunshots and she didn’t see Charles ducking from any.

“No one’s here, Charles! I already told you that.”

He just grunted and holstered his gun before coming back to his horse. He pet her head softly and whispered words of encouragement to her. Taima’s ears twitching happily and her eyes closed in what (Y/N) can only describe as fondness. Her heart fluttered at the sight and she found something like a smile gracing her face even after the rough events of the day. They hitched their horses up and walked inside the dusty and shabby cabin.

“Not the coziest abode but I reckon we can bunker down here for the night. Head towards camp in the morning.”

Charles wasn’t the most chipper out of the gang members, but even by looking at his face she could tell that he was upset. Irritated mostly. He’d been tense since they left the bank, quiet even by his standards. She’ll be honest she never seen Irritated Charles before but she equal-parts disliked it but found it the tiniest bit arousing. But then again a lot of the things he did usually ended up with her touching herself in her tent. Not like she’d ever tell him all that. Especially not with the attitude he was sporting right now.

“Not like we have much of a choice.”

Her eyebrow twitched. She let it go and slid down the wall to sit down and closed her eyes. She could honestly fall asleep right there and it looked like Charles read her mind as well.

“Why are you sleeping on the floor when there’s a bed right there?”

She opened one eye and followed the man’s finger to the dingy bed in the corner of the cabin. Her eye went back to Charles.

“I weren’t going to fall asleep here, thank you very much.”

“Your eyes were closed.”

“Yeah but did you hear me snoring? Was my head lolling about?”

Charles hand shook and his eyes narrowed before he threw both his hands in the air and walked away.

“You know what, I’m not going to argue this with you, do whatever you want.”

“That’s the first time you said something I liked, Charles!”

She half meant it as a joke but when she got a good look at him and saw that he was actually irritated with her, her mood soured considerably. She opened both her eyes and stood up.

“And might I ask why you got such a problem with me right now? If you mad about the robbery going wrong that’s fine but you ain’t right to take it out on me Charles, now if I did something you ain’t agree with, you best tell me now!”

“Or what?”

(Y/N) put her hands on her hips and gave him the nastiest look she could.

“I’ll leave and I’m dead serious.”

She saw the way his face dropped at the threat. He looked like he wanted her to be bullshitting, baiting him into an argument, but she was entirely serious about leaving. Even if she was on the verge of hibernation and the dead of night. She didn’t need to be holed up in a cabin with him if he was going to be short with her all night. It honestly hurt more than it made her angry, but she didn’t want Charles to see that. When he failed to reply quick enough she started marching toward the door, hearing him calling after her name absent-mindedly before coming to his senses and coming towards her.

“(Y/N)…please wait. You were right…I’m starving. Please stay and eat with me and I promise I’ll get my act together.”

He seemed honest and slightly panicked at her attempted exit. She was hungry too, and maybe he was right about them eating first before they started arguing again. They were sharing a dinner of beef jerky and beans and nearly done with their meal before she spoke.

“You ready to tell me why you was catching a fit today?”

His eyes were reluctant to look into her (E/C) ones. He picked at the food with his fork and drummed at the table with his free hand. She smiled, it was kind of cute to see him like that.

“You almost got shot.”

She looked at him a little disappointed at his words.

“Uh, yeah. Kind of a constant in this line of work, Charles.”

A breath of laughter but he shook his head.

“No, I mean today during the robbery. If Dutch hadn’t seen the lawman pointing his gun at you when we left the bank you would have been shot, and...”

“And what?”

“…I was worried.”

She didn’t think that would come out of his mouth. He always seemed more frustrated with her than he did worry. But then if he was always nagging then maybe that was him showing that all along? She nearly dropped the fork.

“Charles Smith…”

“You were distracted during the shoot-out and you almost died! Why weren’t you paying attention?”

“Because I was looking to see if you was alright you big idiot! You think I don’t get mad seeing you throw yourself into the bullets all the damn time! You human just like the rest of us and people would miss you something awful if you died!”

“Like who?”

“Like me!”

(Y/N) was standing up now, she didn’t think before she said it, but it’s been said now and there was no going back. They would either spend the rest of the night in awkward silence or they could act on whatever was lingering between them. Charles was looking at her like he had been struck by lightning and suddenly she felt her cheeks get hot. She coughed and sat back down, picking up her can of beans and forking it around. She felt Charles’ hand rest atop hers and she made careful eye contact with her. Silently, he rubbed his thumb on her hand and stood up to kiss her on her forehead. She felt like they were young children.

“I’m about ready to call it a night, what about you?”

Charles hesitated and looked toward the door.

“Someone….someone should keep watch, just in case.”  

“Charles, ain’t no one coming! We need sleep more than anything if we’re to go back to the camp in the morning. Now come get in the bed with me!”

“But…there’s only one.”

“I’m not that big, and the beg looks big enough to hold the two of us. It’s only for one night.”

Charles thought for a longwhile before he finally agreed to share the bed. They both got settled on the bed. Both were still wearing their clothes but shed their bandoliers and weapons, placing them beside the bed for quick access. Charles was sleeping against the wall and (Y/N) was facing the entrance. She had her eyes closed but she certainly wasn’t sleeping, and she hoped Charles wasn’t either. She pressed her ass against his crotch, and felt herself being poked in return. She rubbed against his jeans and was surprised when she found his arm draped around her waist, pulling her closer and feeling him grinding on her behind. He grunted and that’s when she let out a stifled moan. His other arm, with difficulty, moved under her ribcage as she was now enveloped in his embrace and grabbed at her boob.

The hand that was draped over her waist was now snaking its way into her pants. He unbuttoned her jeans and she shivered when she felt his cold hand travel inside. She moaned louder this time when she felt his finger graze over her clit. He laughed and started peppering kisses alongside her neck and the top of her shoulder. When his fingers went back towards her clit again she gasped and rolled over so that she could be face-to-face with him. Just as he was doing to her, she dove into his jeans and grabbed his erect member, slowly working her way up and down while kissing him deeply. When they broke apart for air, she bared his neck to him and his kisses trailed down the perfect length of it.

“You know I always heard you.”

Through pants she responded, “What?”

“I could hear you everytime you touched yourself at night. The way you’d moan my name when you thought we were all asleep. I’ve always wanted to come into your tent whenever I heard you, but I didn’t know how.”

“Well you’re doing just fine now; oh lord…”

Charles’ fingers started to rub at the spot she reacted to and if she was being honest, it had been a very long time since she been with anyone so she extra sensitive tonight. Charles moans made it harder for her not to cum too quickly. Her hand squeezing and pumping at his large dick, the feeling of him twitch and come undone made her wetter and easier for him to enter his fingers inside of her. Charles had since moved to her tits, sucking at them like a newborn infant eager for milk. She bucked her hips again and again, feeling his fingers go deeper with each thrust. She felt the precum oozing from his cock, the lubrication making it easier for her to rub at the head and jerk him off without friction. His hips were thrusting into the wanking and she loved the fact that he was also sensitive. She went in for more kissing when he parted from her abruptly.

“(Y/N)…please…I’m so close…” he moaned again and she could feel the tightness pooling in the bottom of her stomach. She groaned and panted for him to take his pants off. The minute his fingers left her she was filled with a mad desire to have him back inside. They both shucked their pants off and after she threw her shirt off, he followed. He was sitting up and she was on top of him, his arms wrapped around her waist and mouth sucking and nipping at her hard nipples. Her hands were raked through his hair, grabbing at the soft black locks and tugging everytime she felt that jolt of ecstasy again. She thought she was in heaven with him fingering her, she was ascending when she felt his dick enter her. She rode him harder than she ever did on horseback, and from the speed and energy he had with each thrust she knew that he was giving it his all too. She felt his cock throbbing and increased her pace, her moans growing louder and his turning into grunts as they neared their orgasms. His muscles started contracting and she felt the warmth from his cum entering her, he had short spasms as he rode it out. His breathing hard and satisfied as he grunted with each throb. She was overwhelmed by his orgasm and let her head hang back as she moaned his name through her own climax. They were both panting, sweating, but stuck to each other. He looked up at her and gave her two short kisses before they both moved to lay back down. They cuddled, and it felt a million times better than the awkward way they were in the bed before. She grabbed his dick a few times and rubbed her thumb over the head, laughing each time he twitched and moaned from the sensitivity. He pulled her hand away and draped his arm over her waist.

“Still mad at me?” She asked coyly. She was surprised herself that she had that much energy to fuck him, but she was definitely spent now after using the last of her energy cumming. He chuckled and stroked her cheek.

“No.”

Sleep came real easy to them that night. They found the gang at camp the next day and Charles was subject to many a joke by Arthur, Dutch, and even Hosea after everyone saw the hickeys on (Y/N)’s neck.

-----

I also take requests so feel free to shoot me a message! 

[whydontwe-fanfics]

Vegan (J.M)

Description: When hearing Jonah and the guys mock your life choices, you try a change, but your body doesn't respond so well to it.

Request: could you possibly write one where y/n is a vegan and she hears the boys, including her bf (Jonah), making fun of her behind her back and she attempts to eat meat to try to fit in one night but ends up throwing up and getting really sick and you can go off from there

Warning(s): mockery of vegan lifestyles, swearing, the boys being assholes, angst

PSA: keep in mind this is fiction, I don't know the boys personally, but they're not actual assholes

Word Count: 2.5k

---

You were always a vegan, since day one. Literally. Both of your parents have raised you in a vegan lifestyle since you were born.

You were ten when you had your first taste of actual bacon. Your friends went crazy when they found you've never had pork before and when invited to one of their homes, they peer pressured you into trying it, telling you that you'd love it and your parents would never have to know. So you did it.

And it was disgusting. You remember pretending to like it for the sake of your friends, but the chewy fat in your mouth felt foreign and inedible.

You went home crying that day, admitting to your parents' that you had eaten bacon within seconds of walking through the front door. Of course, you weren't punished and your parents wouldn't admit it until years later but they found the entire situation humorous.

Eight years later, and you haven't eaten a single slice of meat since. Your fifteen-year-old brother had given up being a vegan four years prior, but you quite liked the foods you ate.

Many people tend not to get it, which could be a pain when they repeatedly ask if you've ever eaten steak, chicken, duck, etc.

But Jonah had always understood it. Or so you thought.

"What the hell are vegan oatmeal cookies?" Zach asks as he pulls out a pack of said cookies from the cabinet.

"Exactly what they say," Daniel replies.

"I mean what the hell is in it? And who eats this crap?" He puts the pack back into the pantry before reaching for the Chips-Ahoys.

"Vegan stuff," Jonah shrugs. "I don't know, Y/N likes them."

"I forgot she was a vegan," Jack hums.

"You'd think she'd tell us with every breath," Zach says and the guys all let out small laughs at the overused joke.

"So what does she eat?" Corbyn asks.

"Vegan food, I don't fucking know," Jonah rolls his shoulders.

"Is she an 'I heart animals' vegan or an 'my body is a temple' vegan?" Zach rolls his eyes.

"Pretty sure both," Jonah laughs.

You stood in the hallway with your back to the wall, your arms crossed over your chest as you eavesdrop on the mockery going on in the kitchen. You feel your face heat up as you overhear the guys make fun of you, your own boyfriend apart of the teasing.

"I know plenty of healthy people who are healthy and aren't vegan," Corbyn mentions.

"Vegans just like the title," Jonah laughs and your frown deepens. Why was he saying all of this? Was this what he really thought all along? "It's very inconvenient, too."

"I couldn't imagine going to the market with a vegan," Corbyn further teases, making you feel even more self-conscious.

"How do people go without eating meat? I don't get it," Jack scratches his head.

"By simply not eating meat?" Daniel sarcastically replied. "It's her life choice, leave Y/N alone."

If anything you were shocked Daniel was the only one who defended you. You didn't want to cry, but you felt so embarrassed it was upsetting.

With watery eyes, you push yourself off of the wall and hurry back to Jonah's room, closing the door behind you and sitting on the edge of his bed with a heavy exhale.

You glance to the dried fruit on his desk that you had just been snacking on. With a huff you storm over and throw the bag away, turning your back to it just as Jonah walked through the door.

"Hey, we're leaving in a few minutes," he says, reaching for his sneakers before looking up at you and furrowing his eyebrows. "What's wrong? Were you crying?"

"Yeah-uhm, I hit my knee on the desk," you easily lie. "Just teared up."

"You alright?" He walks your way and kneels down to inspect your bare knee. You turn away quickly and head for your phone on the nightstand.

"I'm fine," you shrug. "Where are we going?"

"Some diner downtown," Jonah began to pull his shoes on while he stayed kneeling. "I checked, they have vegan choices."

You nearly wince at the mention, feeling small goosebumps rise on your skin. Was finding a place always a hassle because of you? Is this why he doesn't like you being a vegan? Is this what he meant when saying you weren't very convenient.

"Oh, thanks," you murmur, sliding your phone into your pocket.

"You sure you're alright? Anything bothering you?" He stands back up and wraps his arms around your waist from behind, pulling your back against his chest.

"I'm fine, Jonah," you fake a smile and squirm out of his grip before turning to face him. "Just hungry."

His furrowed eyebrows don't rest, but he inevitably complies and takes your hand in his.

As he leads you downstairs, you feel uneasiness poke at your ribs. You knew the guys didn't know you had heard them, but knowing that they had all been so rude about your decisions was embarrassing and unsettling. You grew to think that they didn't like or respect you.

"You guys heading out?" Jack asks once you guys get downstairs. You divert your eyes from him and shift uncomfortably as Jonah unlaced your hands and wraps that arm around your shoulder.

"Yeah, we'll be back in a bit," he declares.

The entire ride there, only one thought consumed your mind - Would it be too late to change? Maybe the first few bites won't taste good, but that's food being food and taste buds reacting. After a while, you'll get the hang of it and will be eating normal foods in a jiffy.

You grew determined in that thirty-minute ride, telling yourself that you'd just have to trick your mouth into enjoying the taste of pork chops or beef jerky. It couldn't be that hard?

"You've been real quiet back there, Babe," Jonah grasps your attention and you make temporary eye contact.

"Just tired," you shrug. "Could you drop me home after this?"

"Yeah, sure," he slightly frowned before looking back at the road.

You shift in your seat and nibble at your bottom lip as you pull into the parking lot of said restaurant.

"C'mere," Jonah pulled you into his arms right after you got out of the car, his chin resting on your head. "You're going to tell me what's wrong after we eat, okay?"

"There's nothing wrong, Jonah," you deny.

"Y/N," he sternly says. "You know you can tell me anything, right? I won't judge."

How ironic.

You find yourself scoffing on the inside as you pull away from him.

"Let's just go eat," you grumble, walking ahead and away, leaving him confused. He reluctantly follows you into the restaurant.

Your eyes rake the menu, a blanket of discomfort on you because now you're aware that Jonah will judge whatever you decide to put into your body.

When the waiter came around, you had decided not to get anything, claiming that you weren't hungry. When Jonah's food came, you just got a water.

"What if we order you something and you just take it home for later?" Jonah asks, pestering you about your decision on not choosing any of the food.

"I'm good, really," you assure him. "And if I'm hungry later, I'll just order something from post mates."

Jonah eyes you for a few seconds before shaking his head and turning back to the bacon burger and fries on his plate. Your stomach churned at the thought of eating that yourself as you eyed the meal down.

"You want a bite?" Jonah jokes, noticing your stare. You glance up at him with wide eyes.

"Really?"

"I was joking."

You furrow your eyebrows and glance back at his burger before grabbing a knife and cutting 1/3 of the patty.

He stares at you with genuine confusion as you bring the food to your lips and take a bite out of it hastily.

"Y/N, what the hell?" Jonah frowns. "You told me what happened last time you had bacon." He takes the remaining piece of burger out of your hand and places it on his plate. "Why would you do that?"

You don't pay much attention to his words as you feel the flavor of the meat fill your mouth, your jaw repeatedly moving because of how chewy the food was.

You tilt your head to the side at the taste. It wasn't nearly as bad as you had remembered, but it still was unusual.

"I just wanted to try it," you say as the mushiness finally goes down your throat.

Jonah eyed you down for a few seconds.

"What?"

"Was it good?"

"It wasn't that bad," you shrug. "Just not used to that kind of texture."

"So you liked it?"

"No, not at all," you find yourself saying honestly. "But I could get used to it." You grab the remaining piece back from Jonah's plate and put it into your mouth, slightly grimacing.

"Don't force yourself to eat it."

"I'm not," you detest.

"Yes, you are," he argues.

"No, I'm not, Jonah, for Christ's sake," you can't help but snap. A sigh leaves your mouth as you turn your attention to your phone, ignoring his confusion-filled eyes.

It didn't take long for his to request for a styrofoam box and the check, meaning he was ready and so were you.

You both silently head to his car and the tension doesn't die when he begins driving.

It's nearly six minutes after you guys have left the restaurant when Jonah decided to speak up.

"You gonna finally tell me what the hell is up or are you gonna just keep ignoring me?"

You roll your eyes just as a feeling of nausea passed over you.

"Hello?" He calls.

You place your hands on your stomach at the feeling of contents moving around unusually.

"Pull over," you mutter.

"What? No-"

"Just pull over!" You nearly yell and he swerved to the side of the deserted road. You quickly opened the door and rushed out of the car, placing both hands on your knees and throwing up on the side of the street.

Jonah grows himself out of the driver's seat and rushes to your aid, pulling your hair back and rubbing your back.

"Shit," he murmurs as your vomit falls from your mouth on three different occasions, small pauses between the vile feeling. Your eyes watered when it was finally over and you heaved, wiping your mouth with the sleeve of your sweatshirt. "Babe-"

"I just want to go home," you nearly whimpered and his heart fell.

"C'mon," he says in a hushed tone, leading you back into the car and kneeling beside you after you sit down. He places his palm on one side of your face, the frown on his face never subsiding. "It was the meat, wasn't it?"

You merely shrug, not looking him in the eye as the sick feeling doesn't disperse.

"Y/N, why'd you eat it when you knew this would happen?"

"I just wanted to be normal," you finally murmur.

"What? You are normal," he says incredulously. "Why wouldn't you be normal!"

"Because me being a vegan isn't convenient," you huff, finally making eye contact with him. He still looks confused for a brief moment before realization washed over him, his eyes widening.

"Why-why would you say that?"

"Why would you say that?" Your voice cracks. "Is me being a vegan that bad for you?"

"No, no it isn't. It never has," he shakes his head. "I don't know why I said that; I was caught up in the moment with the guys and-"

"You didn't defend me," you felt a tear fall and instantly reached up to wipe it away just before another one was released. "Daniel's the only one who stood up for me while my boyfriend was making fun of me."

"I'm sorry," his face fell. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know how bad it was," he gestured to the vile contents on the side of the road.

"It was embarrassing enough being made fun of by the guys, but you? I would've thought you out of everyone there wouldn't join along," you frown.

"You have no idea how sorry I am," he whispers. "I was- I am a jerk, I shouldn't have said any of those things, I didn't mean it."

"It sounded like you did," you protest but he shakes his head.

"Y/N, I love you and your vegan choices."

"I don't want you lying to me."

"I'm not lying," he deadpanned. "Earlier, everything I said was because I was being an asshole and in the moment I thought more of the laughs than your feelings whether I didn't know you had been listening or not."

You remain quiet, closing your eyes as the sickness built up in your stomach, causing you to grasp at your torso in discomfort. Jonah's face fell and he let out a small sigh.

"The guys are going to apologize to you and I'll do it a hundred more times if I have to," he declares. "Just never do something that would hurt you just because of what I or anyone else says... Is that why you were crying earlier?”

"I thought I could grow used to change and show you guys-" you heave, cutting yourself off.

"You don't need to change because we're jerks," he sighed. "I'm sorry that you had to hear that, God, Y/N, I really am."

You merely nod, not opening your mouth because you feel that the second you do, the urge to hurl will increase.

"I'll take you back to your place so you can rest," he finally concludes, changing his mind. "But I'm not leaving until you feel better."

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i would not have forgiven him so easily, but for the sake of keeping the word count under 3k and happy endings, here you go!! // also didn't know how to end it so the last paragraph is halfassed

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Masterlist | Talk to Me

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